Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to any of the characters of 'The Nanny.'
A/N Ok peeps, this one is yet another in a long line of Niles and CC fictions. It's also a little out there… I just don't want anyone to get bored. LOL Let me know what you think. - FoG
Beauty and the Beast
Chapter 4
Niles arrived at home right on time and when he rang the bell, was speechless at the sight before him. "Dad?"
"Hello, Lad. Is that how you greet your father after more than three years?" Joseph opened his arms. Niles practically fell into his father's arms, he felt almost like a child. "How was your…research, son?"
Niles pulled back from his father. "You left out few things."
"Oh," Joseph's gaze drifted…down. "You've noticed that too, then?" Niles moved out of his father's line of sight. "That part doesn't happen to everyone. I suppose it's because you went beyond the 44th year."
Niles was getting embarrassed. "Ok, Dad, let's move on." Niles looked about the house. "Where is everyone?"
"Max took Fran and the children out for dinner so you and I could talk." Joseph offered his son. "That lovely Miss Babcock is at the theatre and said she'd return sometime later this evening."
Niles dropped onto the sofa. "Well, I managed to get…through it. I borrowed Master Brighton's video recorder. I haven't watched the tape, yet, though. I'm glad that you came, Dad."
"I thought it best. Niles, I told Max." Joseph knew he wouldn't get a good reaction.
Niles leapt off the sofa. "You did what?" Niles started pacing. "Why would you do that?" He could feel the anger building in him and he was a little afraid.
"Max remembered the story, Niles. He wants to help. He loves you like a brother, no matter what the circumstances of your upbringing." Joseph put his hand on Niles' shoulder.
Niles turned quickly and found himself growling a little at his father. Catching himself he apologized. "Oh, Dad…I'm sorry, I haven't really…wait…why is that happening? It's after the full moon."
"Niles, I think this conversation should take place somewhere less public. Let's go to your room. We can watch the video, too." Joseph grabbed the smaller of Niles' bags and the two men headed into the kitchen toward the back stairs.
When the two men reached Niles' room, he offered his father the lone chair and Niles sat back on his bed against the headboard. "Ok, Dad. Give me all of it."
"Alright, Lad, I suppose this talk is long overdue, much of this would've happened even if you'd married years ago." Joseph looked down at his hands clasped in his lap. "Do you remember what it was like when you were younger? The girls seemed…drawn to you?" Niles nodded and laughed lightly. "Max remember that too, seems he and your brother's were a bit jealous."
"They got over it quickly enough." Niles shrugged. "I suppose it was the falling in love and starting a family."
Joseph frowned a little at Niles. "Remember, Boy…" Joseph only called Niles 'boy' when he was a little angry with him. "…you're brothers and their sons all have to contend with this same curse. You can stop it, Niles. You can prevent your nephews ever having to go through a transformation."
"But they'll all still have the 'traits' and 'abilitiess' as you called them." Niles frowned back only slightly contrite.
Joseph smiled. "Yes, Lad, but those things are an advantage in this world, not a curse."
"So what am I to do?" Niles asked his father again.
Joseph thought for a moment. He had questions of his own for Niles. "Maybe we should watch the video first, and then we'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with."
"Alright, Dad." Niles got the video out of his suitcase and put it in the VCR. "I haven't watched it, so I apologize for whatever may be on here."
They sat back and watched.
Max, Fran and the children came home to what appeared to be an empty house. "Max," Fran started. "Where are Papa Joe and Niles?"
"I supposed they are catching up in Niles' room. They'll be down when they're ready to visit with us." Max hadn't told Fran any part of Niles' 'problem' or Joseph's reason for visiting. Well, just enough to way lay her fears that Niles' was sick or in trouble.
The children headed up to their rooms. "Dad," Gracie called back to her father. "Call us when Niles is ready to say hi, please."
"I will, Grace." Max smiled at his youngest daughter who so loved Niles. Max knew that deep down Niles loved the children and would never hurt them. Still, he had to admit that until Niles gained control over his…curse…or broke it, Max would be on guard.
CC blew in the front door then. "Hello, hello!" CC looked into the faces of Fran and Max. "Where's Hazel? Wasn't he supposed to be back by now?"
"I think he's probably in his room with Papa Joe." Fran tossed out to CC.
CC nodded. "Just as well, Max, we've got work to do. I just spent an hour arguing with the ticket office. They have managed to hire some complete moron who has misread more than five hundred ticket orders and screwed up all the seat assignments." CC headed into the office. Max kissed Fran lightly on the cheek and followed after her.
Niles felt a strange stirring in his belly and it didn't go unnoticed by his father. The video had just ended and Niles still sat in awe of some of the things he witnessed. "I feel strange." Niles dropped flatly.
"She's back in the house, you felt it didn't you?" Joseph asked his son.
Niles whipped his head around to face his father. "Who's back in the house…what are you talking about?"
"Niles…I'm a Brightmore, too. Do you think I haven't lived with those feelings as well?" Joseph raised an eyebrow just like Niles does. "I felt her the moment I entered the mansion nearly a week ago. Not to mention, I did see the…reaction you had to her photo on the tape." Joseph smirked and Niles went a deep shade of crimson.
"Dad…she is CC Babcock, and I'm Niles the butler. If I have to count on CC for anything other and an insult, I may as well move to the woods right now." Niles dropped his head into his hands.
Joseph sat down next to his son on the edge of the bed. "Niles…you're in love with that woman. You are more drawn to her than even I was to your mother. It will be your undoing, but she is the woman to save you."
"No, Dad." Niles stood up. "That won't ever happen. Can't I find another woman? There has to be a woman somewhere on the planet who I won't have to use the 'animal magnetism' on. Some lovely woman that will see beyond my station in life and more importantly the 'beast' to the man I am inside. Somewhere there must be a woman that will be strong enough to love me in spite of the 'curse'." Niles looked down at his father with pleading eyes.
Joseph stood eye to eye with his son. "I'm sure there are many women who would stand beneath the full moon and declare their love for you, Lad. The problem lies in the curse itself. If you don't love that woman completely, with your whole heart, and freely commit yourself to her, then the 'beast' will…tear her apart."
"I suppose I'm finished then." Niles dropped into the chair where his father once sat. "I can't remember when I didn't love CC. I guess it was just something I wasn't ready to admit…even to myself. But even I can't deny what I saw on the tape. I'm so embarrassed." Niles dropped his head into his hands…again.
Joseph grinned at his son and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't be embarrassed, Lad. It's not like it's something you could control. You weren't even aware of it." Niles lifted his head with a look that said 'that so doesn't help, Dad'. "I know, Niles…believe it or not, I went through much of these feelings too. I'm actually surprised it took so long for it to happen to you."
"Still not helping, Dad." Niles dropped. "Well, no time like the present to see how I 'handle' person to person contact."
Niles and Joseph made their way down into the kitchen where they found Fran working on a pint of Ben and Jerry's at the table. "Hello, Miss Fine." Niles tossed to her.
"Scarecrow!" Fran leapt out of her chair and embraced her friend. "So, did you work out whatever it was that needed workin' out?"
Niles smiled at her. "I believe I have." Niles felt his pulse race a bit when he hugged Fran, but he knew that's not what he's looking for. Fran called up the back stairs to the kids.
"Kids! Niles is back!" Niles only turned his head slightly at the timbre of Fran's voice. He knew with time, he'd be able to control that too. "They missed ya somethin' terrible. Your dad did his very best, though, to fill your shoes." Fran draped her arm around Joseph.
The children came bounding down the stairs, each calling something different. "Niles! I'm so glad you're alright. We're so glad to have you home." They in turn gave the man they each considered a second father a tight hug, but it was Gracie who always filled Niles' eyes. "Thank you for coming home, Niles. I missed you." Grace's hug lingered as her head rested gently on Niles' chest.
There was a different kind of sensation this time. Not the racing pulse he felt when he hugged Fran. Not the normal beat of his heart when he hugged Brighton or Maggie either. This was different altogether. "I missed you to, Miss Grace." Niles dropped a kiss on her head and she finally pulled away from him.
"I'll go tell Daddy and Miss Babcock you're home." Grace took off out of the kitchen. Maggie and Brighton each smiled and said they wanted to 'fill him in later' on what he'd missed. Then they each went off in different directions.
Fran shook her head. "That girl was a basket case, Niles. I don't know if I should be jealous of you or not."
"Grace relied on Niles for everything after Sara died, Fran." Max entered the kitchen behind his oldest and dearest friend and clapped him on the back. "Welcome back, old man. I missed you. How are you feeling?" Max wasn't sure if Joseph had told Niles that he knew everything or not so he figured he'd play it cool for now.
Niles smiled. "I'm quite well, Sir. I missed you too." CC entered the kitchen and Niles felt a strange flip in the pit of his stomach.
"Hey, Belvedere, how was the vacation?" CC whipped off to him. "It wasn't the same around here without you." CC paused for effect. "It was oddly pleasant."
Niles glanced at his father and smirked at CC. "I missed you too, CaCa."