Disclaimer: I don't own any part or person from the Nanny…yet.

A/N Just another Niles/CC story. I watched the episode where CC is online with Brighton and thought, hmmmmm…

CHAT ROOM

Chapter 6

By the time CC made it to the kitchen Niles was already donning his apron over his polo and jeans to fix himself a little lunch. "Hey, Belvedere, why aren't you in uniform?" CC knew he hated his suits being referred to as 'uniforms' but she had to stay in character.

"Mr. Sheffield gave me the day off. I'm only wearing the apron because I'm making lunch. Would you like something?" Niles offered politely trying to figure out a way to confirm or refute his idea that 'Broadway' was CC.

"Yeah, just make me some of whatever you're making yourself, please." CC tried her best not to falter, and then added, "Just buzz me in the office when it's ready." She quickly turned and left.

Niles sighed and thought. "I guess I'd really better make something fantastic." A slightly evil grin spread across his face and he went about his work. Not too much later, CC heard his baritone over the intercom, "Miss Babcock, lunch is ready in the dining room."

"The dining room?" CC whispered. She stood from the desk and went into the dining room to find two places set. Fran's usual place was set as was Brighton's just across from it.

CC was about to head into the kitchen when Niles came into the room. "Have a seat, Miss Babcock. I don't mind serving." Niles placed a covered plate in front of her and added a glass of some wine to the already poured glass water.

"Niles, you didn't have to go to all this trouble. I'd have been perfectly happy with grilled cheese and tomato soup." CC laughed lightly. "This looks fantastic, though."

There was a bowl of bread on the table and Niles had made them each a small salad.

He removed the covers from the mushroom risotto. "Your lunch is served, M'lady." Niles did a hokey bow and took his seat.

"Wow, Niles. Mushroom Risotto is my favorite!" They sat in relative quiet and ate their lunch making polite conversation only when truly warranted. "I think Tim is going to work out really well as 'Cap'N Andy."

Niles nodded. "I agree. He's got a very big stage presence. How did John take it when you released him?"

"Better than expected. He always thought that he was…what did he say?" CC thought for a moment. "He thought he was to 'understated' to be the larger than life Cap'n Andy."

Niles nodded. "Isn't that rare?"

"What's that?" CC asked him.

Niles sipped his wine. "An actor who knows his strengths and weaknesses?"

"I think that's rare in everyone, not just actors." CC finally met his eyes and regretted it immediately. Their eyes locked and neither said a word for what seemed like an eternity. "Uhm…" CC finally looked away. "What were we talking about?"

"One knowing one's own strengths and weaknesses." Niles responded. "I don't know. I've met a few people who seem to know themselves well enough."

CC nodded taking care not to look into his eyes again. "I suppose I have too. It still seems like a rare thing. Take Fran for instance. She knows exactly who she is and what she wants. She knows her strengths and her shortcomings and works both very well. She was pivotal in bringing Maggie out of her shell. She made Brighton realize that Max did love him despite his lack of attention. Gracie is becoming quite the outgoing little girl and she single handedly brought Max back into the world of the living." CC looked at Niles who sat with his jaw on the table. "What?"

"You called her Fran and used all of the children's names…correctly." Niles was astonished. CC didn't call Fran anything but Nanny Fine and never remembered the children's names.

CC smiled at him. "You can't really think that after all this time I really didn't know the children's names. Not to mention, Sara was my best friend. I was there when they were born, Niles, just like you." CC suddenly felt sad. She'd loved Niles almost from the moment she stepped in the house. Sara was still pregnant with Maggie then…

"Miss Babcock?" Niles started. "Are you alright?"

CC looked up sadly. "I was just thinking about something." CC stood and quietly helped Niles clear the table, despite his protests. When they finished clearing the table CC turned to him. "Thanks for lunch, Niles, it was great. I'll be in the office."

"You're welcome, Miss Babcock." Niles answered. After I finish up here, I'll be on the terrace if you need anything." CC nodded and left the kitchen.

"One o'clock on the dot," Niles said to no one as he logged onto the chat room." He noticed her screen name right way but she must have had something waiting to send when he popped up.

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "Hey Cello…I was thinking about your problem."

Mr. Cellophane says: "Well, welcome back and how was your lunch to you to!" LOL

"Ooopps," CC thought. "I keep forgetting you don't realize you were there." She thought for a second. "I can't really tell him or it would be a dead giveaway. Better make something up, but keep it close to the truth."

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "Sorry, it was amazing. He took me to lunch and we had the most wonderful pasta ever. We chatted a little bit about work and our boss. But there were times when we just sat in comfortable silence."

Mr. Cellophane says: "Comfortable silence? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "It's an incredibly good thing. I hate those relationships where one or the other person feels like someone always has to talk. The sign of a strong relationship is where you can sit together and not feel the burning need to speak."

Mr. Cellophane says: "Ok. I guess I agree with that, actually. But, I think another sign of a strong relationship is where you sit together and both feel the burning need to do something besides talk. Wink, wink." LOL

Niles waited and sure enough he heard it. "That was the laugh. I'm sure of it," He said barely above a whisper. "I'm glad I sat on this end of the terrace close to the office."

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "Well I definitely agree with that! Passion is very important in any relationship."

CC thought to herself… "Should I mention the night in the den when Max and Fran walked in?"

Mr. Cellophane says: "Is 'HE' passionate? Well, could be you don't actually know. That kind of knowledge can't really be guessed at."

"Alright, Broadway…if you are CC, then hopefully this will give me the answer." Niles thought to himself.

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "I agree you can't guess about a person's passion, but you can sense it. 'HE' practically radiates passion. But, I have to confess we did share an incredibly passionate moment, once."

Mr. Cellophane says: "Come on, Broadway…don't leave me hanging…"

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "Well it was after work one night. We were in the outer office having a drink and one thing led to another and I saw a look in his eyes. A look that said 'I'm going to kiss you and nothing you can say or do is going to stop me.' I could barely contain myself long enough to let him make the first move. It was the most passionate, soul numbing, mind blowing kiss I have ever shared with another person in the whole of my life. His lips were soft and warm and wet and when I opened my mouth just a bit our tongues met and danced and touched and caressed until I thought I'd faint dead away."

CC's eyes opened again after she ran that heated kiss over in her mind; her finger hovering over the 'enter' key. Then she saw his post pop up.

Mr. Cellophane says: "Hey if it was that bad you can't write about it, don't kill yourself trying" LOL

CC read his post and hit 'enter'. "If it gives it away it gives it away. I can't deny any of it."

Niles read the very descriptive post. "Wow…that's how I remember it, but that still doesn't really confirm that she's CC."

Mr. Cellophane says: "Wow! That sounds like some kiss. How did you or 'HE' ever stop the uh…one thing leading to another…leading to another…if you get my meaning."

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "We were at work! Neither of us could take that kind of chance. There were…people in and out all the time."

"That's not really a lie, and it could still keep up the charade." CC whispered to herself. "I wish I could tell you how it all started. Bawk, bawk."

Mr. Cellophane says: "My lady' and I had a kiss much like that."

Niles decided this was it, he knew if he posted the bit about 'cluck like a chicken' that it would elicit a laugh from CC. He had to see if she was really his 'Broadway bad girl'.

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "Really? Tell me about it. I told you mine…"

Mr. Cellophane says: "Fair enough. It was much like yours, really. We were enjoying a drink on the sofa in the sitting room at work. We started tossing around our usual banter and I just knew that there was no way I was walking away without kissing her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her into my chest. It was the most passionate kiss I've ever had. If I hadn't been completely in love with her already, that kiss would have sealed my fate. If two of my closest friends hadn't had the worst timing in the known world, I'd have likely taken her right there on the spot. She'd have killed me later, but I'd have died a deliriously happy man."

Niles wanted to be sure he worded his post just right. If it was indeed CC he wanted her to know it wasn't all about the implied 'sexual tension' but the deeper feelings. He also needed to end it carefully so he'd get that sultry laugh he was waiting to hear from the office. He re-read his intended post and hit… 'enter'. Then he ran to the edge of the terrace closest to the office doors.

CC had waited patiently for Niles' description of their kiss. When his screen name finally popped up she read it with great interest.

Niles waited by the edge of the terrace and he wasn't disappointed when CC let out that deep resonating sultry laugh. He felt the telltale twitch in his belly. "It IS her…CC is Broadwaysbadgirl62." Niles raised an eyebrow and smiled his lopsided grin and returned to his laptop.

Mr. Cellophane says: "Well? Is it that bad? What…to desperate? To pathetic?"

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "None of the above. That is a breath taking description, right down to the end. If she took part in this amazing kiss, why do you think she'd have killed you later?"

Mr. Cellophane says: "Just for the sport of it. Rather than have to admit what happened. It did start rather ominously. I played a little prank…She had planned on surprising the boss in his office only I showed up…"

Niles tried to contain his laughter. "I can't let her know it's me."

Broadwaysbdgirl62 says: "What? You asked her to cluck like a chicken? How bad can it be?"

"I wonder how he'll react to that little question." CC thought.

Mr. Cellophane says: "Cluck like a chicken? What in the hell is that?"

"She must not suspect it's me or she'd have never posted that." Niles thought to himself.

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "It's just something 'HE' did to me once. He snuck up behind me and I thought he was someone else, or I let him think that, anyway. I asked him what he wanted me to do and he said 'cluck like a chicken.' I could barely keep myself from laughing when I said, 'what?' Then he whispered 'It turns me on.' So I clucked like a chicken."

Mr. Cellophane says: "Well, you know…thinking about it…that's pretty sexy. I can picture 'my lady' clucking…it does kind of turn me on."

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "Well, if clucking like a chicken gets me a mind blowing kiss like either of us described, I'd cluck like a chicken til the cows came home; in keeping with the farm analogies." LOL

Mr. Cellophane says: "Really? That's all it would take?"

Broadwaysbadgirl62: "I'll never tell…Well it looks like I better actually get to work, at least for a little while. Promise me something, Cello…"

Mr. Cellophane says: "I'm listening…"

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "If we ever decide to meet face to face…that you'll…kiss me like that? Like that kiss on the sofa in the sitting room you described. Promise?"

Mr. Cellophane says: "I'll make you a deal, Broadway. I'll kiss you like I described if you promise to kiss me like you described. Fair?"

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "You've got yourself a deal, Cello… Well, for now I've got to get at least a little work done. I'll meet you back here…seven tonight?"

Mr. Cellophane says: "Seven tonight, it's a promise." – C

Broadwaysbadgirl62 says: "Until seven." - B