Hi! Hopefully you haven't forgotten me. I have had a bout of writers block but I'm back on track! I've really enjoyed reading all of your stories though! Hope you enjoy this chapter. I now have 4 more chapters planned out so another will be out today or tomorrow. Thanks you guys! I appreciate any reviews even though its been so long since the last chapter. :(

Chapter 7

Later that evening after desert, C.C. heard a knock and went to the front door to answer. She felt a disheartening drop in her stomach when she realized it was Sandra, again.

"Hello Sandra, come in." She tried her best to keep the coldness out of her voice. What was this woman doing? Even if this engagement was secretly a scam the rest of the family thought it was the real deal, including Sandra. Why did she insist on visiting her fiance several times a day?

"Hello deary, is Niles home?" She walked in, not realizing that she wasn't exactly welcome by the tall blonde.

"Yes, let me go get him.. and bash his brains in.."

Niles came back into the room with C.C. moments later, "Sandra! Good to see you again, would you like to have some coffee? It's decaf.."

"That would be wonderful." Sandra looked pleadingly at Niles, irking C.C. even more. She left them in the parlor and continued helping Addie with the dishes from dinner. Her thoughts circulating around what Niles and Sandra could possibly be talking about. Were they planning a secret get a way?

As C.C. and Niles retired to their bedroom for the evening Niles couldnt help but take notice of her distant attitude towards him. She almost refused to look at him, let alone talk to him. He watched her as she glided around the room and into the bathroom to change. She had a method he had noticed over the last few nights that she was highly religious about it. Pajamas, slippers, hair up into a pony tail, several methodical steps to a facial cleansing regimen, a thorough brushing of her hair, teeth brushing, face moisturizer and then bed. He enjoyed watching her, but wondered what had her upset at him.

"C.C., is something wrong?" He walked up behind her and put his hands over her smooth exposed shoulders as she stood brushing her teeth in the bathroom mirror. He felt the muscles under his hands relax for a moment and then go rigid as she physically put her guard up.

"NO, what would make you think something was wrong? Besides the fact I'm imprisoned with you in this room every night for the next two days?" She spit into the sink and wiped her hands on the sink towel.

Niles brow crinkled into a confused expression. What could've possibly made her mad in between dinner and now? "C.C., please tell me, if I did something wrong.." Then it registered, and he knew she would never mention it first.. "Sandra. You're upset she was here."

"Niles, you know I don't give a rats ass about who you talk to, it's not like we are in a real relationship." She walked past him so he wouldn't see the look of hurt register on her face.

"C.C., be honest with me, with yourself for once. You know I care about you and I know you care about me. I would never do anything to hurt you.."

She whipped around, "Yes because all your teasing and tormenting in the past has been such a loving gesture!"

"You've seen how my family acts to each other, how the show that they care. Stop hiding behind your walls!" He walked up and turned her around to face him, "What must I do to convince you? She was only here because she has a 13 year old and she doesn't know how to deal with her rebellious nature! She knows I practically raised all the Sheffield children and she needed my advice!"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Merry Maid." She started to pull out of his grasp.

"DAMMIT WOMAN!" And out of exasperation he pulled her into his arms tightly and kissed her. When he finally pulled away he looked into her eyes. Confusion, fear, and a hint of tears is what he found. "I care for you. Please dont be angry at me, I can't bear it."

Afraid tears would spill from her eyes she reached her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry Niles, this is just so confusing for me. I'm grateful what youre doing."

He kissed the top of her head and led her over to her side of the bed, tucking her legs in. He walked over to the other side and lifted covers.

She reached for the light and looked back at him, he was on his side facing her, ready to welcome her into his arms. If they were going to pretend she would make the most of it while she could. Then they would divorce in two years. Could she handle falling in love with him just to have her heart broken down the road?

Saturday was met with many preparations for the wedding and the girls were off in town doing their own thing apart from the boys. C.C. didn't even see Niles until dinner.

Once dishes were cleared and put away Addie explained to C.C. that she had planned a small get together with a few of the local girls and cousins,

"We wanted to throw you a bachelorette party!" Gammie chimed in from her chair at the table.

"Oh, you REALLY didn't have to do that.." C.C. looked from Addie to Gammie.

Addie wiped her hands on a dish towel and removed her apron, "Yes, but we wanted to! Every girl should have one before her wedding!"

Women started showing up around 8 o'clock with desserts and gift sacks, and the men were promptly shooed out the door to the pubs. Niles smiled warmly at C.C. before kissing her lightly and leaving with the rest of the Brightmore men.

C.C. didn't know most of the women who came to her party, but they were nice enough and acted like they had known her all their lives.

"Oh C.C., we are so glad you are marrying our Niles, we thought he would never find a girl over there in the states!" One of his aunts said.

"Yes, you know Niles, no girl is good enough!"

"I can't wait to see the children you two produce: tall, blonde, blue eyes, they'll be real lookers!"

C.C. felt slightly overwhelmed, but it was a good change from her snoody family who hardly said two words at functions like these.

She continued chatting with several of the relatives and friends who had now settled onto the family settees in the parlor. Thirty minutes in there was a loud knock on the door. C.C. saw Addie and Gammie give looks of confusion to each other, "Now who could that be?"

Addie answered the door to a hispanic man of about 35 wearing a Postal service uniform, and in his clipped, latin accent he announced to the party in a rehearsed tone, "Yes, I have a package for Ce Ce Babcock?" All the british women in the room started hooping and hollering.

Gammie leaned over to C.C., that's Pedro, he is the town grocer, postal worker, and erotic dancer! We just LOVE him! Wait 'til you see the show he puts on for you, lass!"

C.C. looked at Pedro as he carried in a large boom box and pressed play, eliciting a loud salsa song. He wasn't, by any New York standard, hott or attractive. She felt the need to look away when he started moving his hips and slowly unbuttoning his shirt to reveal a less than perfect upper body, "Oh Lord. Oh Lord." She covered her mouth, and looked around at the rest of the women who were practically drooling over the dancer, including Gammie and Addie. All the while, C.C. couldn't help but think how much better looking Niles was all around.

Addie came by and stuck a cheap mesh vail on top of C.C.'s head, further embarrassing her, and Pedro made eye contact with her as he started making his way toward her.

C.C. stared frozen as he reached for the crotch of his pants and ripped them off to reveal a small, tuxedo man thong. He danced around her and to C.C.'s horror, started straddling her lap. She closed her eyes and finally decided to just go along with it, smiling at all the women who were looking on at her with their own grins.

"SLAP HIM IN THE ASS!" C.C. laughed when she looked over and saw Gammie making a slapping motion with her hand. C.C. shook her head and the rest of the women started chanting it together..

"SLAP HIS ASS! SLAP HIS ASS! SLAP HIS ASS!"

She finally gave in, knowing they wouldn't stop until she did and Pedro covered his mouth demurely afterwards.

When he was finally gone, the women chatted amongst themselves happily and loudly.

"Alright ladies! It's present time! Gather round, gather round!" Niles mother started bringing the gift bags over to C.C.'s feet for her to open.

She grabbed the first one and read the small card attached, "From Delia?" One woman of about 50 raised her hand and glass of wine. "Thank you!" She took out the pieces of tissue and pulled out what seemed to be a black piece of mesh fabric with velvet strings attached here and there. A few ladies started cat calling.

"Niles will love that!" One of them chimed in.

C.C. turned bright red and nodded another thank you to Delia.

The next gift from a woman named Trish was more traditional, but had a line of red fur attached to the bottom. She received some twenty different pairs of lingerie until she picked up a gift that had a card from Addie and Gammie. Addie spoke up before C.C. could take out the gift, "C.C. dear, I got this for your wedding night, I hope you don't mind."

"Thank you Addie, I'm sure I'll love it." She unwrapped it and inside was the most lovely set of lingerie she had ever seen. It was ivory with silver stitchery and small little beads embroidered into it. The bottom was semi shear and had lace at the bottom of the mid thigh hem. "Addie, this is gorgeous!"

Others oo'd and ahhh'd over the piece as it was passed around.

One brazen, slightly drunk young lady who C.C. assumed to be one of Niles cousins spoke up, "So, C.C. tell us! Is our couz a good lover or what? Don't try to fool us, we see the way he looks at you!"

C.C. blushed a deep red and Addie came to her defense, "Now Chloe, lets not make the girl feel uncomfortable!"

Looks of disappointment spread throughout the crowd and C.C. indulged them with a truthful answer, "Actually Chloe, Niles and I have never been... intimate."

Several gasps could be heard and she saw the looks of surprise exchanged between Addie, Gammie, and most of the other women.

"We just thought it would be more special to wait. Sure we've slept in the same bed, but.. its never come to that."

Moments of hushed whispering followed until Addie announced, "Who wants cake?"

I'll update with another chapter TONIGHT if I get some reviews! WAA HAHA! Thanks you guys!