Disclaimer: We don't own any part or character of 'The Nanny'…but if we could choose…well, you know.

A/N: Just another little collaboration with DannyFan66. This one is about 80 percent improv and 20 percent discussed. Let us know what you think.


No More Pretending

Chapter 2

Niles didn't turn around. "Jack, put an empty bottle in front of me and if she asks…" Niles formulated a plan.

Jack smiled. "You're drunk as a skunk." Jack put the empty Johnny Walker bottle in front of Niles and added the empty shot glass. "Good luck."

CC walked into Jack's seeking the solace and refuge this place always brought. She knew that drinking was not the answer, but every time she came here, she always woke up the next morning with a brighter outlook on life. "Hey Jack!" she waved as she started for the bar. She stopped when she noticed who else was already sitting at her favorite stool. "Niles?" His name dropped questioningly from her lips.

Without turning Niles drained the drop remaining in his fake drink. "Oh God, what do you want?" He offered, putting on his best drunken face.

CC had really not been expecting to see him here. Of all places, she felt like Jack's was "hers" and she specifically came here because she never saw anyone she knew here. Realizing that nothing good could come of having a conversation with him so visibly drunk and her already so confused, she turned to Jack "I'll just go sit at the back table, ok Jack? Whenever you're ready, you can bring me a scotch." Jack nodded and backed away from them slightly.

Trying to get away clean, she turned back to Niles "I'm sorry about before Niles. What I said about Maxwell doing much worse, well, I was trying to give you a compliment. Given our history, I couldn't come right out and do that, so it came out...like it did." She sighed, took a breath, and continued, "If you weren't you and I wasn't me, well, I would have said something like, 'I hope Maxwell knows how lucky he is that you have stayed on as long as you have. With all you have to offer and how smart you are, I'm sure they are greater things you could have done than to remain by his side'." She smiled at the dazed look on his face. He probably thinks I'm making fun again; or he's just too drunk to even care what I'm saying. "However, since you ARE you, and I AM me, I'll just be the bigger man and leave you to it." She half smirked at her choice of words, knowing that if he did remember any of this, he would get a kick out of her beating him to the punch on that one.

Niles, hoping to find something he could safely say, that would keep her from going away, and still allow him to play drunk quipped, "Jack, who is this man and why is he dressed like Miss Babcock?"

CC shook her head at his comment. Even drunk he couldn't let the "man jokes" slide. She bit back a reply, not wanting to argue with him without clearing out the way she felt first. She glanced over at him, taking in how his hair was just curling at his neck, and the way his shirt fit snugly on his shoulders and let her eyes drift to his face. He had a drunken smirk on his face like the remark he had just made was the best ever and his eyes...Wait a minute, his eyes are nowhere near as glazed over as they should be with that much alcohol in him.

"What's the matter, Sir? Have I shocked you into silence? Now I know it's not Babcock." Niles did his best fake slur. Why is she looking at me like that? Niles shivered slightly.

Why is he pretending to be drunk? "You're right! No Babcock here." She answered succinctly and headed off to the back table. I really need that drink.

"Chicken!" Niles called after her. His last ditch effort to keep her near him without having to once again admit defeat and slink over to her.

"I knew it! You probably haven't even had a drop!" she snarled as she came back to face him. "Jack, I'll take that drink now." CC took the drink that Jack had already poured for her, and downed it swiftly. "Thanks, Jack." Looking at Niles again and then back at Jack she said "Just put it on my tab, I don't feel like drinking anymore." She turned and was half way out when she strode back purposefully. "Why?"

Niles didn't look at her. "Why, what?" He asked dejectedly.

"Why are you pretending to be drunk?" CC actually didn't give him time to answer. "Why are you even here, anyway? How do you know about this place?"

Niles laughed lightly. "How do you think you wake up every morning tucked neatly into bed after you tide one over here under Jack's watchful eye?"

CC eyes went wide as she processed the words coming out of his mouth. "What are you saying, Hazel?" She narrowed her eyes. "Are you telling me that you...that when I come here, you...?" Unable to even finish she looked for Jack, but he was nowhere to be seen. Taking a deep breath, CC again looked at him and asked, "What exactly ARE you saying?"

"You don't want to know, Babs." Niles answered sadly, knowing that telling her now would only serve to anger her further.

She saw the way his shoulders sagged a little and the sudden sadness that emanated with his words. "Yes Niles, I do."

"Very well," Niles sighed. "In return for catering his annual Super Bowl Party, Jack calls me whenever you…get in over your head. I come and take you home." Niles left out the intricate details hoping CC would be satisfied with the simple explanation.

CC was in shock, and completely amazed. "His annual Super Bowl Party? How long...how long has this been going on, Niles?"

"Four years this Super Bowl." He answered plainly.

"Four years!" CC exclaimed out of disbelief. "Four years," she repeated again more quietly. "Four years..." The first thought that entered CC's mind had nothing to do with Niles. When she heard him put a number to the amount of time she had been coming here with the actual intent on getting drunk, she actually felt like passing out, and grabbed the stool next to Niles to sit down.

Once she felt her emotions collect a bit, she then looked up to the man sitting across from her. He had just admitted that he had been pretty much the closest thing to a guardian angel to her for the past four years. "Why? Why would you do that? Actually, never mind that, why have you never lorded it over me? This is just the kind of thing that would have been perfect to let slip and embarrass me in front of Maxwell. I don't get it?" CC was genuinely confused, and there was no anger in her tone as she searched for the answer to Niles' odd behavior.

"What difference does it make? Just think of it as Niles the butler taking care of one more thing that needed seeing to." Niles couldn't meet her gaze. "Jack, can I have a real scotch now, please?"

His words felt like a punch in the stomach. Truth hurts huh, Babs? CC heard him say inside her head. Of course, she couldn't even deny it. Of course it would be Niles that would take her home and make sure she was safe. Of course he would reply that way, hiding behind his servant status. Of course. He was HIM and she was HER.

She couldn't believe that just a little while ago she could have entertained thoughts that things might ever be different between them. Feeling the tears building behind her eyes, CC knew it was time to go. She watched him turn to take the drink from Jack's hand and just got up and left.

It had just started to rain outside, but CC didn't care. She needed to clear her thoughts, and the rain felt good on her face, leaving her free to let the tears flow.

"I think you blew it." Jack handed him the drink and left.

Niles turned just in time to see her leaving. "She'll never see…" He started to whisper as he lifted the glass to his lips. Wait! Was she crying? Niles put down the drink. "Put this on Babcock's tab, Jack." Jack nodded and a smile crossed his face.

Niles stepped out into the rain and scanned the street in both directions. "No sign of her…what the hell did she do, run?" Niles started off in the direction of her apartment. He made it quickly to the corner and turned to see her just ahead of him. "Babcock!"

"Oh, God," CC groaned looking over her shoulder and then picking up the pace a bit.

Niles took to a jog to catch up and called after her again. "CC…please!" His voice was pleading with her.

CC stopped. His tone struck a note with her heart and she couldn't remember him having ever used her first name. She half turned towards him as he caught up with her.

The thoughts ran through his head as he stood there toe to toe with her; their eyes locked, standing in the soft rain. No more holding back, no more waiting. Having her is definitely worth the humiliation of a slap across the face. Niles pulled her into him and kissed her warmly. His left hand caressing her tear and rain dampened cheek; his right on the small of her back holding her firmly, afraid she'd turn and run.

CC was outraged and insulted that Niles would dare put his hands on her and kiss her. She brought her hands up to push him away when he anticipated that exact tactic and pulled her closer, causing her to gasp a little, giving him just enough incentive to deepen the kiss. The electric current that shot through her left her weak in the knees. Her hands snaked around his neck of their own volition, making sure to entwine in his now wet hair. "Oh, Niles," CC murmured into the kiss, actually giving into the feeling, holding onto to him more tightly.

They stood for what seemed like ages kissing in the rain before the sheer need for air forced them apart. Niles searched her eyes for any hint of what he should do next. "CC…I…I…"

"Come on Niles, we're almost at my place. Let's go talk there." She wove her fingers with his like it was the most natural think in the world. They continued walking, hand in hand, to her building, up the elevator, and into her apartment.

Niles followed CC into her apartment and stood carefully to the side as not to drip on anything of value. He'd never felt as uncomfortable in his own skin as he did in that moment. Soaking wet, his shirt clinging to him, he still felt flush just from the nearness of her. Her, CC Babcock, the woman he'd spent the better part of fifteen years bickering with, tossing insults with, fighting with, and loving in silence. There she stood, also soaking wet, the purple silk blouse she wore hugging her every curve. There they stood, each waiting for the other to speak.