Hi guys!:) Thanks sooo much for your lovely reviews, they really made me happy!;) And to the ton of you who added this to their alert thingy, I'd really love it if you'd review too...doesn't need to be much, just a line or .!;) Over the past 3 days I've been working on chapter 2 and I very much hope that you'll enjoy it. I have planned most of the following chapters and just to warn you, it might take a while to get to the end. (I really wanted a big, new project...plus the title of the fic sorta suggests this :p) I'll be in Jasper for the next 2 days so don't know about wi-fi access where we're staying...but I also doubt that there'll be an update that soon...as I said last time: expect a new chapter within the next 7 days!;)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, only a sprained wrist!

Chapter 2: Surprising Revelations

He was sitting in one of New York's typical yellow cabs, trying to push away all thoughts concerning the gorgeous blonde woman he had just met. C.C. Babcock had been arrogant, but clearly just as beautiful. More than that though he had enjoyed their conversation, the teasing, the mocking. It had been so refreshing to meet a woman who wasn't as prim and proper as the ones that usually surrounded him but instead someone who was willing to fight-all in all she was more like the woman he'd consider spending the rest of his life with. Oh good God, how could he be so smitten with her after only a couple of hours? The whole topic was a mine field and so, instead, he turned his attention to his future employer. Maxwell Sheffield and Niles had grown up together, if also not as equals. Niles' father had been a butler too in Maxwell's father's employ and thus Niles and he had spent quite some time together. Niles was obviously the less privileged one out of the two, if also the more intelligent in some ways, having secret dreams about becoming a barrister. But although he went to Oxford this dream was never meant to be, he was already promised to the Sheffield family. Niles, however, had ignored this as long as it was possible but now money was getting a little tight and so he knew that things had caught up with him.

When the taxi stopped in front of a gorgeous Park Avenue residence he heaved a sigh. Yes, this was the grandeur with which Maxwell Sheffield had grown up. Handing the cab driver the money and lifting his luggage out of the trunk he mentally slapped himself, though born rich Maxwell was still a good man, maybe being employed by him wouldn't be such a bad thing after all. Easily carrying his suitcase over the small steps he finally reached the front door and rang the bell. For minutes there was nothing and Niles mused bitterly that these were the disadvantages of owning such a huge house. But eventually he heard footsteps approaching and the door was opened. In front of him stood a pretty young woman, maybe ten years his junior. She had relatively short, blonde hair and had been plain at best, had it not been for her eyes and her smile. The minute she laid eyes on him the biggest smile lit up her face that made him notice her hidden beauty for the first time.

"Hi, you must be Niles! Come on in!"

Noticing that he was still staring at her he shook his head to clear his mind and followed her inside.

"You have to excuse Maxwell. He's burried in work at the moment… I'm already beginning to get jealous of his desk, that's how much time he's spending in his office. But listen to me prattling on, I haven't even introduced myself, I'm Sara, Maxwell's wife."

"Yes, I've guessed as much." Niles commented dryly.

To his surprise she let out a laugh that sounded like a bell, before pressing her hand to her mouth in embarrassment.

"You Brits, always the same sense of humour."

"Yeah well, we do try." he said, putting down the suitcase at the foot of the stairs "I have to hand it to Maxwell; he's always had good taste in women. I can fully understand that you caught his attention."

"Are you trying to get on my good side, Niles?" Sara teased slipping the bag off his shoulder "Because it might just be working, follow me!"

Massagngi his aching muscles he then picked up his suitcase again and walked up the stairs behind her. They had just reached the top landing when an angry shout could be heard from downstairs.

"Sara Sheffield, you should know better than to carry heavy bags in your condition!"

At this she whirled around to face her husband who was now hurriedly climbing up the stairs.

"I've told you before you should stop addressing me like a child. I also wanted to make the announcement tonight when we're all together, but now you've spoilt it." she said, stabbing him in the chest with her finger.

"Are you pregnant?" Niles asked, surprised.

"Yes, I am, fifth week to be exact."

"Congratulations!" he exclaimed, turning to hug his friend but then decided to shake his hand instead, adding the formal "Sir!"

It left a bitter aftertaste on his tongue, like a distant memory that he had made an effort to forget. Somehow it was official now; he was no longer Niles the man, but merely Niles the servant.

"It's good to see you, old man!" Maxwell said, patting him on the back, for him this transition was clearly easier than for Niles.

"I was just showing him to his room." Sara chimed in smiling happily.

"Continue then, but I am taking his bag."

She rolled her eyes but didn't say a word and simply started heading down the corridor. Several seconds later they arrived in front of an already opened door and Niles followed both of them inside the room. It was barely decorated, including only a nightstand, a desk and a number of chairs but the majority of the room was taken by the large double bed. Another door then led into a walk-in closet where, to his surprise, he could already see several butler attires.

"We'll give you a little privacy in a moment, but for now if you'd like to follow us downstairs? We'll show you the rest of the house and explain a little about your work here."

Niles nodded silently and did as he was told, trying to memorize where the bathroom, the office, and all the other important rooms were.

"Would you like something to drink, a cup of tea maybe?" Sara asked when they reached the kitchen.

"Yes, that would be nice." he replied with a smile while taking the seat Maxwell had offered him.

"At the moment I have an awful lot of work to get done, starting a professional career on my own is harder than anticipated. There are so many scripts to read and you wouldn't believe how ridiculous some of them are! Just today I read one about singing and dancing cats, or human cats, or something like that. I mean, who comes up with these things and actually believes it's going to be a successful musical? Anyway, I feel a bit like I'm wasting my time…"

"That's why we're hiring Chas," Sara said, leaning over Maxwell's shoulder to put the mug of tea down on the table "she's as tough as nails and will help you tremendously."

"She's a friend of Sara's and will get here tonight." Maxwell explained while Niles sipped on his tea "But I still don't quite know if I'm going to hire her for a very long time, at least you're doing something useful."

"Thank you, Sir." Niles said humbly.

"Which brings me to your tasks. I'm sure I don't have to go into too much detail, you've been properly trained. Open the door, cook the meals, dust the house, clean and so on."

"Of course, Sir. But if you don't mind I'd like to unpack now." he said, rising to his feet.

"We also thought that you don't need to work today. You must be very tired and then there's the jetlag. The only thing we'd like to ask you is to be present at dinner tonight, meet my friend and maybe clear away some of the plates." Sara said.

"Yes, that's perfectly fine and I appreciate the time off. What time should I be ready?"

"Between 6 and 7?"

"Ok." he agreed and left the kitchen.

Once in the safety of his room he flopped down on the bed, kicking off his shoes. It was almost as if he could feel every single aching muscle in his body, as if his body was just as reluctant to work as a butler as he was. Crossing his arms over his head he closed his eyes and tried to relax, but every time he was close to succeeding his thoughts drifted off to C.C. Babcock and suddenly a crazy thought popped into his head. Bolting upright he went through the drawers of the nightstand and fished out a telephone book.

"Babcock, Babcock." he muttered while leafing through the pages but there was only a Shannon Babcock and he was almost certain that it wasn't her.

Angrily tossing it aside and cursing himself for being so stupid in the first place, he began unbuttoning his shirt before remembering that he would have to walk across the corridor to reach the bathroom. At least taking off his socks he extracted a towel from his suitcase and, with his shirt halfway undone, he left his room and headed for the bathroom. The warmth of the water proved heaven-sent in finally easing the tension of his body. He came to the conclusion that his attitude was all wrong: yes he had wanted to be a barrister but it hadn't worked out and now he would simply have to deal with it. If he didn't he would only make things harder for himself. Sara had been perfectly charming so he knew that he wouldn't struggle being nice to her but Maxwell… even though he was just as friendly Niles couldn't help but begrudge his wealth, a wealth he hadn't even earned but merely inherited.

"Well, at least he is working now." a tiny voice in the back of his mind said but it was roughly pushed aside. Yes, he would make an effort but it could clearly wait till the evening.

When 6 pm had finally come Niles decided to wear his butler attire, he knew that he wasn't really supposed to work but thought that he might as well look smart for the occasion. He had picked out a white dress shirt that was neatly tugged into a pair of black pants and he had also chosen to wear a blue waistcoat. Running a comb through his hair and checking his appearance in the mirror one last time he jumped into action when he heard the door bell ring. Quickly walking down the stairs he called out to whoever would listen:

"I'm getting it!" adding under his breath "Might as well get used to it now."

As his hand closed around the door knob he still had no idea who was waiting at the other side, but his heart nearly stopped when the door was finally open and his eyes fell on her. His welcome got stuck in his throat and he instead stammered rather pathetically:

"It's you!"

For one crazy, exhilarating minute he thought that she had made an effort to find him but all his hopes were dashed when she said the deadly words:

"You're a butler."

He had thought that no sharp word that left her mouth could ever hurt him, but the disapproving tone of her voice mixed with the disdainful look she shot him was enough to wound him deeply.

"Why don't you come in." he said in a monotone when he heard footsteps approach behind him.

"Chas!" Sara exclaimed and, taking a step back, Niles allowed the two women to embrace each other.

He kept staring at C.C., working out that the new job she had mentioned would be with Maxwell, while wondering how things could have changed so much in a matter of hours.

"It looks like you've met Niles." Sara said, after C.C. had pulled away.

"Yes, we met o-"

"Just now," C.C. harshly interrupted "when he opened the door. Where else would a Babcock have met a butler?"

Niles felt the blow as if it had been a physical one, his shoulders visibly slumped and he walked away.

He spent as much time as he possibly could hiding away in the kitchen. By the time Maxwell summoned him into the dining room his disappointment had turned into pure anger and he was determined to pay her back by any means possible. Declining the offer to have a seat at the table and join in the dinner, he simply stood behind Maxwell.

"I know my place." he said bitterly, glancing over at C.C. who was doing her best to avoid making eye contact with him.

He continued to observe her and hated himself for still admiring her. He liked the way she ran one of her exquisite hands through her blonde hair, the way her eyes flickered up to him when she thought he wasn't looking. Although he tried his best to hate her he secretly knew that he was failing miserably and when she let out a deep, sultry laugh he felt like the perfect fool for getting turned on by it.

"Well, I'm sorry to leave so early, but I'm not used yet to New York time."

"Are you sure that's it?" he cut in aggressively "Don't you think it has more to do with you crying like a baby on the plane because you were so frightened? I mean, I'd be tired too."

She pressed her teeth together until it hurt.

"I don't know what your butler is talking about." she said in a clipped voice, getting to her feet "Maxwell, I'll be in your office tomorrow morning."

When Niles saw that Sara was rising too he gently placed a hand on her shoulder, saying: "I'll throw her out."

When both had left the room Maxwell looked at Sara, asking: "Did he just say "show" or "throw"?"

"I'm pretty sure we've missed something…" Sara muttered, lost in thoughts.

Niles, in the meantime, was practically racing after C.C. and just managed to grab hold of her arm before she made it out of the door.

"Let go!" she hissed but he simply shook his head.

"You insulted me." he growled.

"Well, you just humiliated me." she spat back.

"I guess this makes us even then." and he finally let go off her, the urge to kiss her becoming too overpowering.

"Where you and I concerned, there is never going to be an "even"." she hissed and turned around to hurry away.