I'm gonna have to blame this update on nrfan :p She bribed me! lol So I realise that this isn't as good as the first chapter, but I've tried my best... let me know if you're still finding it enjoyable. lol

Disclaimer: Sue and Henry are mine and I love them. :)

Chapter 2:

She heard their voices from downstairs, how could she not? Nanny Fine's dulcet tones alone were capable of breaking through the thickest walls. But that wasn't what had awoken her from her slumber rather prematurely, or the birds that were lightly chirping outside her window and announcing that spring had come to England. She sighed deeply, inhaling the strong scent of lavender and something entirely different that she'd later come to associate with Niles, and buried her face in the pillows once more. She most certainly wasn't ready yet to wake up and head downstairs to them. A light breeze was flowing in from the opened window and the calming sounds of nature were enough to lull her back to sleep again, if only for a little while. Eventually though the softness of the bed became uncomfortable and moodily she swung her legs over the side and got up. Trudging around the room she picked up bits and pieces of clothing, as well as the towels Sue had provided her with and a bathrobe. She checked the corridor first, but the clanking of cutlery as well as muffled conversation told her that she was still safe and so she hurriedly crossed the hall and moved into the bathroom where she firmly closed the door behind her. It was a cosy room with a toilet, a sink and a bathtub, but the floor beneath her feet squeaked dangerously loudly as she moved while taking off her clothes. When everything lay somewhere scattered across the floor, she picked out her shampoo and climbed into the tub. The water was warm and comforting and she washed herself for a while without letting any other thoughts penetrate the peace. But inevitably the pictures appeared in front of her, so vivid that it might as well have happened the previous night.

Their bodies tumbling, entwined, their ragged breathing that had filled the silence of the little cottage. Her lips swollen and bruised and his eyes dark with desire as they had moved to her bed. He had stripped her of her clothes without breaking the contact, the warmth of his hands burning her and making her want more.

"Niles!" his name, the only whispered confession of her longing for him and the sparkling of his eyes before he made her his.

C.C. shook her head and firmly switched off the water. She stood perfectly still, droplets of water glistening on her body in the light of the sun. She remained this way for quite some time, until her wet hair became heavy on her shoulders and goose bumps were spreading across her skin. It had been a dream and nothing else, yet the thought alone that she might want the butler in such a way was disconcerting. Slowly and numbly she climbed out of the tub again and fiercely rubbed herself dry with a towel until her skin was red and the blood was coursing through her more easily again. Maybe some exercise would help... anything that would make herself exhausted in the end and bring her out of the house and far away from the man. She hid herself in the soft, white fabric of the bathrobe but she couldn't hide the fact that desire was pulsating inside her still.

"Have a nice day, my dears!" Sue called, watching as Maxwell and Fran drove down the country lane in Niles' car.

Her son sat by the table, apparently deeply indulged in the morning paper, but he couldn't fool her. Whenever there had been the slightest creak from the upstairs floor, his head had snapped up. He was waiting for her, but then again, this wasn't exactly news to Sue.

"Maybe you should go and work on her breakfast," she suggested with a smile and Niles' confused blue eyes found hers "I'm sure she'll be down in a minute."

"She just never sleeps so long, she's always there pretty early and..." he mumbled but then stopped, acutely aware of his mother's knowing glance.

He avoided it easily by closing his paper and disappearing into the kitchen. There he extracted eggs, sausages and bacon from the fridge and carried them to the stove. A moment later the bacon and sausages were sizzling in the frying pan and he had broken the eggs into a bowl and was scrambling them. Then he grabbed a tomato, chopped it in half and after seasoning it he shoved it into the grill for a couple of minutes. As if on cue he heard his mother coo:

"Good morning, my dear, did you sleep well?"

In his place in the kitchen, Niles scoffed and flipped the bacon once more before putting everything on a plate.

"Did someone leave a big rock on your coffin again?" he joked and leaned over C.C.'s shoulder to set the plate down in front of her.

"And you've clearly run out of fresh material, Butler Boy." she shot back, trying to hide how she had tensed up at the touch of his body.

To her surprise he merely chuckled again and didn't take the bait.

"Would you like tea or coffee?"

"Coffee, please," she replied and with a silent nod he disappeared into the kitchen again.

"Maxwell and his lovely wife have left already. They're spending the day in town. But I'm sure Niles could take you later, if you want."

C.C. closed her eyes against the warm sunlight that was flooding the kitchen through six large windows.

"Actually, I was wondering if I could go horseback-riding somewhere in the area. I've seen riding paths."

"Yes, of course. There is a farm not very far from here. Henry would love to walk you there."

"Oh, I'd hate to put you out. I'm sure I'll find it myself if you show me its location on a map."

Her answer was polite yet Sue had no doubt that behind it lay the wish to be left alone. For a moment she contemplated whether to address the issue but then she caught her son leaning in the doorway of the kitchen, his blue eyes scanning C.C.'s body.

"Alright, I'll just get you that map then." she said and hurried out of the room.

Niles moved out of his stupor and carried the pot with coffee and some toast to the table and took a seat again, opening the newspaper. C.C. consumed her food in silence but eventually focused on his face.

"Can I have the financial bit?" she asked, pointing at the newspaper.

"Business or pleasure?" he asked, giving her his boyish grin while searching for the section she had requested.

"Pleasure," she replied, forcing herself to keep her voice steady.

"I always knew that your sense of pleasure was messed up, Babcock." he laughed, handing her the finance section.

"Shows how much you know," she purred when her fingers brushed his.

He held her gaze for a moment, before the sound of footsteps on the tiles announced Sue's return.

"Well, here we are." she said, settling down between them.

Niles had left the kitchen pretty much the minute his mother had sat down. He didn't quite understand what was happening between him and C.C., he just knew that it left him nervous and a little short of breath. He climbed the stairs to his attic room and closed the door against the rest of the world. His notebook lay opened on his table by the window and he strode over and sat down, opening his fountain pen. The light weight felt good in his hand and he felt a familiar tingling in his fingers, that meant that he had to write now. If he postponed it, it wouldn't be as right or fresh again as it was at that very moment. The words practically poured out of him, flowed so that he wasn't even aware of rational thought anymore. All that existed was the whirl of the words and the feelings this created. He only came back to the present when he heard the wooden door of their house squeak open. C.C. stepped outside, her hair tied back in a ponytail and she wore an old T-shirt of his mother's. He watched her exchange a few words with his father, who then waved her goodbye and headed back into the house again. He followed the graceful movements of her body until she was out of sight. Only then did he set his pen down and closed his book.

C.C. returned later on in the afternoon when the glow of the setting sun had painted the sky orange. She was basking in the warmth of the light, feeling elated still from her riding trip. She wore a pair of riding boots and pants she had newly acquired and her hair was matted to her face. But she felt better, almost alive again. She could already see them from the little hill she was standing on. Nanny Fine and Maxwell comfortably seated on large wooden chairs and Niles and his father carrying out more chairs and, it appeared, some food. But C.C. didn't increase her pace and leisurely headed down the path that was still muddy from the previous day.

"Did you enjoy yourself, dear?" Henry asked, smiling gently, but she felt Niles' eyes on her.

"Yes, very. The people were incredibly friendly and allowed me to ride one of their best stallions."

"That doesn't happen very often," Niles muttered under his breath as he disappeared into the house again.

"Oh my dear, I thought I heard your voice!" Sue exclaimed, stepping outside and patted her back "Welcome back! We've decided that this day is far too lovely to spend indoors, so we're having a little barbecue outside, the boys are just setting up."

"I really need to shower," she explained with a smile and Sue nodded.

"Go right ahead, dear, and by the time you've returned I'm sure dinner will be ready."

C.C.'s hair was still a little moist when she stepped out onto the terrace once more. But the evening breeze was refreshing and she stretched luxuriously before taking a seat to Niles' right.

"What can I get you, love?" Henry almost instantly inquired "Sausages or a hearty steak?"

"Can I have both, please?" she asked and caught Sue nodding approvingly.

"Finally women who actually eat,"

"Well, we had to in my house. It was every woman for herself and ya better ate quick before Ma got a whiff of it."

"It's true," Niles and Maxwell agreed at the same time and C.C. tried her best to hide the smile that had been playing on her lips.

The evening passed in comfortable conversation and she found herself all too often regretting that they would have to leave again so soon.

"So what's the plan, m'boy?" Henry asked.

"Well, we're trying to find Mr. Kraentzl at his atelier and he will hopefully agree to let me produce one of his pieces." Max said.

"You are aware that he is a bit unusual...his pieces are, as a matter of fact." Niles chimed in.

"That's why we want him," C.C. offered "I think that maybe he's our only hope to revive the business."

"C.C.," Maxwell scolded, with a frown.

"Just facing reality," she replied.

"I'm sure you'll convince him," Niles spoke softly, so that only she could hear it "you won't give up until you've nailed the man."

His compliment was as unusual as the entire situation in itself and she hurriedly averted her eyes.

"I think I'm gonna head upstairs," Fran announced and got to her feet, unable to stifle a yawn.

"Yes, me too sweetheart." Max agreed and followed her.

"I think it's about time Henry and I went to bed as well," Sue suddenly said, earning a confused look from her husband "we have to be up rather early tomorrow morning."

Everyone carried something inside until only C.C. remained on the terrace, too relaxed to move.

"Here," Niles said, handing her a glass with red wine.

Her eyes widened in surprise when he also positioned his jacket around her shoulders.

"I didn't know you had manners," she quipped, giving him a grateful nod as she sipped on her wine.

"You'd be surprised," he smiled, winking at her.

There was a silence, but it wasn't an awkward one.

"Do you ever miss New York?" she softly asked.

He faced her so that she could see the myriad of feelings changing in his eyes.

"I don't know how to answer that without saying the wrong thing." he conceded.

She shifted slightly so that one of her legs was resting on the chair.

"I can't imagine you missing it...not with this beautiful landscape you have here."

"It's home," he shrugged "but there are things I've missed..." he swallowed "things that my memory can't do justice. Things that are so much more beautiful when you could almost reach out and touch them."