Thank you so much for your reviews!:) I really appreciate them and am happy to see that at least some of you are glad I returned!:) Here is Niles' next part! ;) R&R, please!:)

13th October: Huntington Road, York

It had been raining for the past 5 days. He didn't even remember anymore what dry clothes felt like. Everything he owned was either crinkled, soaked, or drying. The air in his basement flat did nothing to help the situation. He had hoped for a dry day to hang them up outside but autumn was merciless when it came to that.

"Merciless like her," he thought almost bitterly.

He had been remembering more and more of her, all images linked to the day of their separation: Rigid posture, ice-cold eyes, mouth in a firm line. If he hadn't been so occupied with his own hurt and disappointment he might have registered the sadness hidden in the depth of her eyes or the helplessness expressed in the way she hugged herself. But he hadn't been in the right state to pay attention, too big had the gap been that had suddenly opened up before him. He had spent most of his life loving her, hoping she'd return his love...that she might not return it had always been something he had reckoned with...that they might separate once together, however, had never been part of the equation. So her announcement had quite literally knocked the air out of his lungs and made him feel dizzy for a life had always been intertwined with hers; there was no life without C.C. Babcock. But obviously he had been wrong; he was surviving without her after all, if this could be called living.

He took his pants from the cold radiator and felt them, they were still moist, but it had to do. Slipping out of his sweatpants that had become too big for him, he put them on, as well as a crinkled white dress-shirt, whose relation to Brooks Brothers could no longer be seen. Shoes, coat and off he went for another attempted job hunt. It was always interesting to see how far he'd get.

He passed the Rose and Crown, the pub that had once been his regular haunt, but resisted its pull for now. He marched through Monkgate, dodged the drizzle of tourists that were always frequenting the street on their way to the cathedral and took a left to reach his destination. Jimmy was already there, putting up the job announcements.

"Anything good today?" he asked, trying to plaster a smile on his face.

"Yes," Jimmy nodded and then took one look at the scruffy looking man before him and sighed "but not for you."

"Well, that's nice," Niles grumbled and ran a hand through his hair.

"Don't take it so hard", Jimmy clapped his shoulder "but no-one would believe now that you once belonged to the Butler's Association."

"You know about my situation," Niles replied defensively "I don't have the money to..." he gestured feebly.

"No, Niles...I think you're just really good at making excuses to stay in that rut you're in."

"I don't need to listen to this," Niles snapped tersely, turned his back on the man and started walking off.

He had already distanced himself quite a bit when he perceived Jimmy's voice. "Clara Smith needs a cleaner; it's not on the list. Consider it a personal favour!"

Niles nodded and with a wave of his hand indicated that he had heard him. Clara Smith was the oldest lady in York and with her 95 years the most disagreeable old dragon around. She was known to hire staff one week and dismiss them the next, when they so much as frowned at her. But she was also known to pay generously if she found someone to her liking.

He was still in a bad mood when the jingle of the bell at the Rose and crown announced his arrival.

"Niles," Gary the bartender exclaimed, moving his towel from one shoulder to the other "haven't seen you here in ages. Isn't quite the right time either yet, is it?"

Niles just gave a small smile and sank down on a barstool by the counter. "Return was inevitable," he muttered under his breath.

"Man, you look rough...are you sure that being here will help you?"

Niles shrugged helplessly.

"Didn't come here to drink, wouldn't have the money in anyway. Just needed a place to think that wasn't home." He explained quietly.

Gary nodded and wordlessly put a glass of water in front of him. "I'll let you be now, if you need anything else or just some company, I'll be in the back."

"I started dreaming about her again, Gary." Niles confessed in a whisper.

"Well, it is autumn..." he shrugged and spread his hands "I'd suggest you call her, but I know you won't."

Niles shrugged and sipped on his water. "Don't waste your breath then..."

Gary gave him a withering look and turned around again to retreat to the back of the pub.

"I got offered a job today." Niles added quietly.

"Then do yourself a favour and take it, if you ever want to get your life back on track again."

"I can't...it's a cleaning job, it could affect my health." Niles argued.

"I don't think you have much more to lose now, old man." And with that Gary left.

Niles nodded and swallowed. He had always somewhat prided himself in being a stubborn man; after all it had been among the traits he had used to win C.C. over. But maybe now his insistence that he wasn't well enough to work could be what stopped him from living. He caught his reflection in one of the glass bottles and closed his eyes instantly. He really looked like hell, he looked homeless. If C.C. would see him now she would probably crinkle her nose and drop some haughty remark. The image made him grin and then wince. The old C.C. would've reacted like that, his C.C. wouldn't. She would be worried but most of all disappointed that he had let himself go like that. He had never endured her disappointment well, even when she had still been pining over Maxwell.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered and emptied his water in one big gulp.

It was time to swallow down his pride, time to get back on track, move on and leave her in the past where she belonged.