A/N: Thanks for your continuing support! :) I'm really glad to see that you like it. This chapter is a bit smaller but afterwards we'll be back to bigger sized chapters. R&R please! :)

Chapter 3:

For the first time in a while he was cursing his instincts. He couldn't say that he had ever truly regretted a prank he had played on Miss Babcock, not even one single zinger no matter how low it might have been. As a matter of fact he found a certain beauty in her fury not to mention that he found her raspy, angry voice a turn on. But now that the clicking of her heels was fading away he yearned for the ability to turn back time or at least the strength to knock himself unconscious again.

Maxwell returned from chasing after her and leaned in the doorway wearing a hangdog expression. Niles tilted his head to his best friend, the nanny, and found a myriad of emotions flickering across her face. Relief at seeing him awake, then mild annoyance when she realised that he had directed Miss Babcock to them and finally disappointment. Standing up she retrieved her little purse and smoothed down her clothes.

"Let's go home, Mr Sheffield. We could both use some sleep and Niles will still be here tomorrow."

The Broadway producer nodded, apparently too wrapped up in his own thoughts to notice the state of his butler and left following Fran.

Niles swallowed. Never before had he received such a cold treatment from her. That kind of behaviour had a definite Babcock-ish quality to it. He wondered if she was simply annoyed with him for interrupting her moment with Maxwell but the disappointment he had witnessed hinted at something else. She had never really commented on the twisted relationship he had with Miss Babcock, nor was she aware of his underlying feelings and yet it felt as if she was saying "I had expected more from you". Or maybe that was just his conscience talking.

He wasted a few moments justifying his actions to himself: Miss Babcock had needed that final reminder that the producer wasn't interested in her. It was about time that she faced the truth. This way he could chalk it up to his emotions getting in the way. The jealousy he had felt for a long time now finally taking the upper hand. But if he was being honest with himself that wasn't why he had pranked her. It had all come down to this bloody instinct. He was vulnerable, Miss Babcock had been in a certain power position so he had to knock her down and what swifter and crueller way than this? Now he pondered bitterly how much his actions would cost him.

Niles remained in the hospital for the rest of the week and Miss Babcock didn't come to see him again. Luckily the nanny wasn't one to hold grudges and so he wasn't left totally to his own devices.

"So what's with the hair?" she asked on her second visit and Niles knew that they were back to normal.

"I was simply trying out a new look," he responded, hoping that she wouldn't probe further. He should've known better.

"Well, I'm all for that but have you learned nothing from me? You don't dye your hair and leave your eyebrows in the original colour. Next time you'll just wait for me, okay?"

"I've seen you work your magic on Miss Babcock and Miss Margaret," he commented dryly "excuse me for not consulting you instantly."

Ignoring his snide remark, the nanny fished a suitable eyeliner out of her purse and started colouring his brows. "Speaking of which, how is Miss Babcock?"

"I don't know. As far as I'm aware she isn't the one recovering from a heart attack."

At this Fran paused momentarily and gave him a strange look.

"What?" he frowned.

"Nothing and hold still," she instructed and continued her work.

"So you and Mr Sheffield?" Niles asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from the guilt-inducing topic.

"Ah…ya know?" she shrugged.

"Not unless you tell me."

"Well…one step forward, three steps back." She rolled her eyes "I know now for sure that he appreciates me as a woman but commitment…oy…will I ever live to see the day?"

He chuckled a bit at her dramatic gestures but then sobered. "He'll come around eventually."

"It's the eventually that I'm worried about." She reminded him with a light grin. Lifting his hands in defeat he chuckled again. "Meanwhile, did ya know that Miss Babcock was with you here the whole time?"

He felt his stomach clench painfully.

"I bet she was the one administering the drugs that kept me asleep for so long." He replied, hoping to joke his way out of the situation but Fran just shook her head.

"She was the one that called us, the one who brought you here and sat with you."

"Miss Fine," he felt the frown burrowing between his brows "I understand what you're trying to say."

"Aren't there rules?" she continued nonetheless "I mean how do you know when one of you has gone too far?"

He stared at his hands that were folded above his stomach. "We send each other subtle signs."

"Honey, let me just give you one piece of advice. Genug with the excuses already! Just apologise to her when you get home."

"And all will be forgotten?" he questioned, raising his freshly coloured eyebrow "If only it was that simple."