Chapter 4:

The next day was less tense than the night before. Niles went back and forth between their lodge and the Sheffield's to cook breakfast and lunch. Meanwhile, CC had decided to check in the nearby SPA the whole morning. Her arrival back to the lodge coincided with the Sheffield's idea of going water skiing. Normally, CC would have also refused it and go back to the lodge, but after being so relaxed and in desperate need of a distraction, she accepted the invitation. What could possibly go wrong? So, CC first went to the lodge to change into something more appropriate for the activity. However, when she arrived she noticed how Niles wasn't with the Sheffields nor in their lodge. She shrugged, grabbed her bag and marched down the lake. As she arrived, she climbed into the boat and sat next to the only empty chair as she wanted to have at least a little space to herself. They were about to go when she saw the butler running towards the boat with a bag of, food, of course. Her eyes grew big as she saw him in tight swimshorts that accentuated his muscles. That was certainly a view of Niles that she never had, and by some reason beyond her control, she blushed. Niles climbed inside the boat and took the only seat available, the one next to CC.

"I didn't know you were coming." Niles said.

"Well, neither did I." CC laughed softly. Niles smiled, but didn't say another word.

After all the family members did an impressive work with the skies on the water, it was CC's turn. She had done skiing on snow before, but she had never done water skiing. Her parents ironically only enjoyed visiting cold places where skiing was the best way to have fun. So, naturally, CC was confident she was going to be able to do it on water. When her turn came, she jumped into the water and grabbed the rope.

"Are you ready, ma'am?" the boat driver said.

"Yeah." CC said as she held firmly to the device. The boat started moving and everything was perfectly fine for about forty-five seconds. When doing skiing on snow, she was used to do all the force with her legs. Yet, on water the force had to be mostly done with the arms. So, she quickly lost her balance and fell into the water, but her body got tangled with the rope and she was dragged around the lake like a merlin on a fishpole. Her attempts to signal the family were in vain, and she went around like that for around three minutes. With each second that past, she could feel the raging pain in her muscles that would definitely indicate that the pain was going to last until Christmas. Fortunately, Niles turned around and saw how CC was struggling like a fish on the back of the boat. He screamed her name and told the driver to stop the boat. The whole Sheffield clan turned around and saw the tragic, yet incredibly hilarious scene. The driver threw CC a life saver to try to help her get up but she was tangled with the rope. Niles quickly saw her struggling and jumped into the water and swam as fast as he could to her. There, he untangled the rope and helped CC hop into the life saver, and into the boat.

"Oh my god! CC! Are you alright?" Maxwell exclaimed.

"Oy! For a minute there I thought we had lost you!" Fran exclaimed.

"Fortunately, Niles rescued you." Grace intervened. "Though for a minute there I thought he was going to take the chance to finally get rid of her." Grace muttered to Brighton and Maggie so low that only the siblings listened to the comment and giggled.

CC just sat with a towel around her aching body. "I'd like to return to my lodge and get changed, if it is possible."

"Yes, of course CC. We will drop you at the lodge now." Max said as he indicated the driver to do so.

As they arrived to the lodge, CC grabbed her belongings and disembarked.

"Um, we will stay on the boat for some time, CC. We will be back after sunset, if you need anything." Max said to her.

"Yeah, yeah." She said as she walked in pain towards the lodge. She wasn't sure if the pain was only because of the injury, or if it was also from the humiliation. CC reached the lodge and entered directly to her bedroom.

Meanwhile, the boat was about to return to inner lake when Niles said: "Wait! I'll better go check if she is alright. Excuse me, Mr. Sheffield."

Niles ran to the lodge and started looking for CC, only to find her silently crying in her bed. His heart crumbled. By some uncertain reason, her pain became his.

"Excuse me, Miss Babcock." He said.

"What do you want, servant? Isn't my recent humiliation enough to feed your ego for at least the rest of the trip?" she answered coldly as she tried to wipe her tears and buried her face again in her pillow.

Niles was about to say a comeback when suddenly it all made sense for him. Her coping mechanism when she felt vulnerable was to insult and hurt others. Yes, maybe something that started as a self defense had become a habit between them. So instead of leaving her alone, he quickly entered into her bathroom and turned the faucet of the bathtub. He made sure the water was nice and warm, yet no so warm that it could burn. He threw in some bath salts and fragrances. Then, he exited the bathroom and said to CC:

"I made you a bath. It will help you soothe your muscle pain." Niles said.

CC turned her face to him. That move took her completely by surprise. It was a nice gesture despite how she had insulted him and not even thanked him for saving her.

"Oh, thank you." CC said as she stood up from her bed. Yet, her legs failed her and almost fell to the ground if it wasn't for the strong pair of arms that rescued her in mid air.

"I've got you." Niles said as he smiled. He helped her walk into the bathtub. She smiled as well. Once her body got into the warm water, it seemed as if all her troubles went away. The warm sensation not only numbed the pain but also relaxed her. Niles was about to leave her alone when she called his name.

"Why?" she managed to say.

"Why what?" Niles replied.

"Why are you being so nice to me after I insulted you yesterday, and today, and didn't even thank you for helping me untangle from the rope and saving my life?" she said.

"I followed you because I wanted to see if you were okay. Well, frankly Miss Babcock, we're past that point where we need to insult each other to acknowledge that we simply care for one another." he said. Might as well try it once and for all. He thought as he spoke.

"What do you mean?" CC said as she let her body submerge a little more in the water.

"I notice what you do. Like, who was the one who visited the most when I had that heart attack? Or, perhaps you'd like to explain how yesterday when I fell asleep on the couch, I woke up with a cozy blanket wrapped around my body? You might not admit it, Miss Babcock, but I know that you care about my wellbeing as much as I care for yours. If I really hated you so badly as I say, my first instinct today wouldn't have been to jump into the water and help you. If you really hated me so badly as you say, you wouldn't have been a little angry about the Sheffields dragging me from their place to another during my 'vacations', or maybe you would have left me to freeze during the night. I know I struggle showing it, and I know you struggle too, but I notice the small things you do for me. And I appreciate them."

"But how can you tell all that when I hurt you so easily with my words?" she said as she dropped her gaze. She couldn't believe he understood her so well and he was not making it all a living hell for her.

"Because I know you well enough to know when you're vulnerable and when you're not. For twenty years we have insulted each other so badly that we have a rhythm we keep up too as a habit of ours. Like for instance, you insulted me yesterday because I may have stepped out of the line and made it seem as if it was a romantic dinner. Or today after you were humiliated and you thought I was about to kick you with an insult. Aren't we already past that point where we have to pretend loathe when we both know that there's something more?" Niles said.

"We are past that point. And you're right. I didn't mean to say that yesterday. And today, I said what I said because I didn't want you to see me so fragile and vulnerable, but not because you were going to insult me. I just didn't want you to see me like that because… well… you're always saying how impenetrable my heart is and how I know no feeling of sadness in my cold heart. And, to be honest, I like that. It might sound preposterous but I kind of like knowing you think I am that strong. I wouldn't want you to think less of me." she said as she winced in pain as she reached her neck.

"Let me help you with that." Niles said as he moved behind her head and started kneading her neck. It felt glorious. For the first time in years she wasn't so tense as she used to be near him.

"I wouldn't dream of ever thinking less of you. You will always be the bravest, strongest, and most wonderful woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, Miss Babcock." Niles said with a smile as he saw her face smile as well.

She suddenly had the courage to do something her heart was asking to do for a while. She placed her hand on top of Niles hand that was lying on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Niles. For everything…" CC said as she turned her head so her eyes could meet his eyes. Her hands quickly started making their way to his face, while his hands quickly moved from her neck to her cheeks. Silence between them grew louder and louder as her face started getting closer to his. Suddenly, they were both united in a kiss. It was tender, and sweet, but at the same time passionate and sincere.

The kiss lasted as long as their lungs permitted it. Niles rested his hands on her shoulders and CC rested her hands on his.

"It feels different to kiss you when we're both sober." CC said as she caressed his cheek.

"Good different, or bad different?" Niles asked.

"Good. Right… Like something we should have done ages ago." CC chuckled lightly and smiled.

Niles chuckled as well. "I agree." He smiled. "How are you feeling? Did the warm water help ease the pain?" He asked.

"It actually did. But my half lower back still hurts a little." She said.

"Well, maybe you should lose that swimsuit first so it doesn't add any more pressure to your muscles. The water is a little cold now, so let me drain it for you and I will refill it with warm water again."

"Alright. Thank you, Niles." CC said as she watched Niles drain the water. For the first time in a very long time she let herself be calm and trusting of Niles. When she builds tall walls around her, she cannot see outside. Yet, Niles could see inside her, and that melted her heart.

"Okay, Miss Babcock. I think the water is ready now." Niles said.

"Niles. Aren't we past that point of calling me 'Miss Babcock'? Please, call me CC. And come here." CC said as Niles got closer and CC pulled him and kissed him passionately.

"Oh, CC, that feels so good." Niles said as he searched for a little oxygen before resuming kissing her.

"I know!" She said. "Ow!" She winced in pain as she placed a hand on her back.

"CC, I really think you should take that swimsuit off. It's adding unnecessary pressure to your back. I'll give you privacy to do it. I'll be in the living room if you need anything." Niles said.

"Alright, thank you." CC said as she tried to reach the back of her top but her muscles in pain didn't allow her to do it. "Wait! Niles… can you help me? I can't reach my back right now, I tried but it hurts a little. I'm sorry, but would you mind undoing my top?"

Niles took a deep breathe. There had never been that much proximity between his hands and her body. All of a sudden he got nervous. "Yes, of course." He managed to say.

His hands travelled through her back and down her spine. He untied the first knot that was in the middle of her back, and then his hands travelled up to her neck. "CC, um, I am about to undo the top, so please...un, hold the front part with your hands." CC did as instructed and Niles untied the knot on her neck. "There you go, you're free as a bird." Niles said without moving from behind her back.

"Oh, God, you were right. I feel so much better. Thank you. Now I need to get off the bottom part…" CC said as she realized that maybe that could be a task she'd also need help. Yet, she wasn't sure if she should even ask for help.

"I don't mean for this to sound wrong, but will you be able to do it on your own? I mean… maybe your legs are still swore as well...and…"

"Are you offering?" CC cut him.

"Are you willing?" Niles responded.

CC smiled. "You're be the only one I'd allow to do it."

Niles smiled. "Alright. I know what we'll do. I'll get into the tub, I'll close my eyes, and you guide my hands to the bottom part. I'll pull. We will work as a team." Niles said.

"Sounds like a perfect gameplan to me." CC said.

Niles got into the tub and placed himself in front of CC. He closed her eyes and placed his hands in front of her. CC grabbed them and something inside her made her immediately guide them to her waist, moving them slowly along her curves down until his hands reached her hips. His hands felt the swimsuit bottom, grabbed it, and started pulling it down. With his eyes closed, Niles could only hope that his body wouldn't physically react to the glorious blonde bombshell body. He felt the bottom piece and his own hands brush against her knees.

"Niles?" CC said. Niles stopped and CC got rid of the top part.

"Yes?" Niles said in a very nervous voice.

CC leaned closer, and when her body was a few inches away from his, she said whispering into her ear: "Open your eyes."

"What?" Niles said.

"You can open your eyes." CC said again.

Niles did as instructed and saw through the crystal clear water the glorious body he'd been trying his thoughts to redirect of.

"You're so beautiful." He managed to say. "Why are you doing this?"

"The hero always peeks." She said. "But you're more gentleman than any other hero."

Niles resumed his task and was left with a very naked CC in front of her. His hands travelled directly to her hands, and quickly started making their way up through her arms, her shoulders, her neck, and finally resting on her cheeks. "You're so beautiful, so glorious, so...perfect." Niles said. "May I kiss you?"

"I'm wondering why you haven't done it yet." CC said.

"Oh, come here!" Niles said as he grabbed her waist and kissed her deeply. One thing started leading to another, and suddenly her hands were travelling down his chest to the waist of his swim shorts.

Niles placed one hand on top of hers and said: "Are you sure you'd like to proceed? Because I know I want, but only if you're completely sure. For me it isn't simple sex. I don't want to wake up tomorrow pretending this never happened. I wouldn't dare to make love to you unless you allow me because you want it as much as I do."

CC closed her eyes and nodded. "I have never been so sure in my life, Niles. Everything feels good, but it also feels right, you know. I feel like I can trust you because you care for me, you respect me, you cherish me, and most of all, you like me for who I am. Nobody has ever made me feel the way you do…" CC started recollecting her thoughts. It all made sense to her. The so called 'loathe' she pretended to have for Niles was in fact something more.

"In fact, Niles...I think I am in-"

"love" Niles added.

"with you." CC finished.

"I am in love with you, Niles." CC said as a warm smile formed in her lips. It felt so good to say it. She felt a calm sensation she'd never felt before form inside her.

With CC's words Niles realized that in fact, that 'something more and deeper' thing he felt for CC was...love.

Niles moved his body a little closer to CC, and grabbed her hands and kissed them. "I don't know if it was your smile, or your eyes, or that beautiful figure, or your wit and intelligence that captivated me, but I am certain that I would never let you go because, CC, I am madly, truly, completely and deeply in love with you, as well." Niles said as pulled her closer and kissed her. "I love you." Niles said as he resumed the kissing. He'd never expected to say it in that trip, but it all fell into the correct places, and it was right.

CC didn't imagine she'd confess something so deep to him, but he was the only one who made it seem so right. On another scenery perhaps CC wouldn't have poured her heart out like that, but whatever his spell was, he was charming her. And to CC's realization, as odd as everything seemed, she wouldn't have it another way.

Niles carefully pulled CC closer, and offered to move to the bedroom. While they were certainly having fun in that bathtub, it still was a little small for both of them. He grabbed a bathrobe, and offered CC the other. He helped her dry her body and made sure to be extremely careful not to hurt her. Fortunately, CC's pains had somehow healed and she felt way better. He caressed her cheek, and CC softly pressed her lips to his. Niles then moved his arms to her back and under her knees and swept CC into the air carrying her to the bed. What happened after was not only magical, but important for their relationship as it made them closer in a level they'd never imagined.