A/N: Thanks for your kind comments. I guess I've sort of continued this? lol I'm not planning this...just writing what I feel like so I hope it's ok considering. ;) Let me know!

He hadn't expected her to accept his invitation but then again almost everything about that night had come as a surprise. His brain was so busy processing it all that he didn't have the time to consider the consequences or implications of their behaviour. Or perhaps there was a part of him that knew that the moment could easily be destroyed if inspected more closely.

But as it was, they both left the balcony together, abandoned the reception and eventually found themselves in a bistro around the corner. The small space was almost deserted due to the lateness of the hour and Niles had to suppress a grin when he caught their reflection in the window. Tuxes and gowns didn't seem the appropriate attire for this particular place but looking around he came to the conclusion that he never would've imagined her setting foot into a place like this either way.

Unlike him, however, C.C. didn't seem to have any qualms about the situation. She had taken a seat on one of the tiny bar stools and was busy inspecting the menu. He could tell by the way her brow furrowed that she didn't like the selection. Yet when the waitress came over to take their order, she somehow managed to put on an almost believable smile.

"I'd like to try your cheese platter and…" her eyes slipped to the menu once more, "we'll share a bottle of your house wine."

He wasn't given any say in it but perhaps that was for the best seeing as he was still so dazed.

"Where will you go?" he finally asked.

His eyes were roaming the familiar features of her face for answers as if he could detect the clues he had previously missed by focusing hard enough.

"I don't know," she replied honestly, her gaze dropping down to the little candle that flickered between them on the table.

"You were saying earlier that you were trying to make this decision. Perhaps it was just the wedding…perhaps you should think about it some more."

"Would that make you feel better?" she asked, but the accusation he felt didn't really exist in her voice.

"Yes," he admitted, determined to keep speaking the truth or half the truth at least, "I'd feel better knowing you had carefully considered how this could affect the whole family."

Her fingertip danced over the top of the flame, throwing a shadow across the table that found itself in her face as well.

"I have, Niles," more determination this time, "I've considered myself and them and us. All of it."

His head shot imperceptibly higher at that last revelation and he was almost glad for the interruption the arrival of the waitress caused who set their meal down between them.

He busied himself pouring the wine, hoping that she would elaborate but C.C. seemed to have become fascinated by the cheese instead.

"Freshly imported every day, my ass," he heard her mutter, "imported from where? The local Costco?"

He chuckled amused and gently scooted one glass towards her. "Shall we take the plunge together?"

"I'd say it's about time." C.C. replied, the old glint returning to her eyes, and lifted her wine up in a toast. "To us and our evening."

Her statement send another wave of shock through him so that he was struggling to find enough breath to even echo the sentiment. At some point in his life, he might've started to believe he was being set up for a prank right about now, but there was something about the way she'd been acting the whole night that told him otherwise. The last concerns were washed away with a mouthful of wine that nonetheless left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth.

"Mr Sheffield has always needed you. I know he's never been good at showing his appreciation but we both know that the best decisions for the business were made by you."

"And some of the worst," she shrugged, setting her glass aside and daring to pop a piece of cheese into her mouth instead.

"We've all got to start somewhere and you've improved since then."

"God, Niles! Your compliments are getting a little bit sickening. Just act like yourself, would you?"

The frown split his forehead and the words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I will if you will!"

But C.C. only chuckled while the melancholy crept back across her face. "I suppose that's fair enough."

"No, don't do that!" Impatience was seeping into his voice now, making his words harder. "Don't just…take it. That's not you. I don't know what they've done with you at that place but-"

"It's got nothing to do with that!" She interrupted him; apparently he had finally succeeded in igniting her anger. "I've just come to this decision and I was hoping you of all people would understand and be supportive. Maxwell might appreciate me, yes, but I am not going to spend another decade waiting for him to show it, too. Besides, everything in that house is changing and I'm done living without a purpose, Niles. I mean it. They found a replacement for me when I was gone, I'm sure they can do it again."

"But what about me?" his fingers inched across the table to wrap around hers. "You know there couldn't be a replacement suitable enough…"

"That's not what I've heard."

She said it gently but embarrassment rushed through his body almost instantly nonetheless and coloured his face a deep shade of red. He had hoped that she would never find out about it.

"Miss Babcock, I…"

She silenced him by brushing her finger against his. "You don't need to justify yourself. It's none of my business."

She used her free hand to lift the glass of wine to her lips. It was empty within seconds.

"Now would you mind driving me home?"

Reluctantly he fished out his wallet, too distract to notice that he was placing too many bills on the table. Instead his mind was busy wondering when this evening had taken such a spectacular turn for the worse.