Hello, Hello. On we go with the next chapter. If the end bit is a tad rubbish,I do apologise, I've been up half the night and my eyes are now aching like hell. It's my own fault, really, though I'd like to blame it on Daniel Davis. My friend borrowed me her copy of "The Prestige" so I was up half the night watching it...he only has 3 scenes but the movie is fantastic,so it was worth it. Niles will make an appearance the next chapter and I will try to get this to you on Friday,so before I return to England. If not it'll have to be Sunday or Monday,but I know myself. :p Please,please,please keep reviewing and let me know what you think...C.C. and a baby is very difficult to write and she may appear a little soft now...but we'll see. I'm very open to advice though!:) Oh and yay to Lauren Lane for getting nominated for an award!:)

Disclaimer: I don't any of the characters,I just love 'em and am deadly obsessed with 'em.

Chapter 7:

A mother's love begins
Before the child is born
And lasts through time
And difficulties
And differences
And many wounds
And days of joy
And days of sorrow
Winding, wearing
Weeping, sharing
Changing
Until, at the end
What remains
Is that solid core
That began as love
Before the child was born.

Anonymous

"How is my beautiful wife?" Niles' voice interrupted her musings and she put the book she had been reading down on the table.

"Still pregnant and nauseous." she replied, closing her eyes against the sun that was warming the rest of her body.

"Your morning sickness again?" he inquired and she merely rolled her eyes.

"No, the butler scent that lingers in the air." she snapped and tried to ignore the goose bumps that spread across her skin when he chuckled.

"Are we a little grumpy today, witch?"

"You're the one who promised he'd be back earlier today." she said tersely.

"So you've missed me?" he asked in a low voice, crouching down behind her chair and let his lips wander over the soft skin of her neck.

She made a noise that was somewhere between admitting and denying it.

"Have I told you lately how much I love you?" he whispered, while he nipped on a particularly sensitive spot on her neck.

"Smooth talk isn't going to help you, Bellboy." she said, trying to keep her voice neutral and composed which was very hard considering the seduction that was going on at the same time.

"I'm merely pointing out the obvious, love. You're beautiful, you're witty, you're smart," he listed, accompanying each example with a kiss "you're very sexy."

He stopped abruptly, now kneeling in front of her, giving her a boyish smile.

"And you, mister, have no idea what you do to me." she replied, cupping his face, suddenly overcome by a wave of emotion.

"Would it be terribly inappropriate if I told you right now how much I want to make love to you?" he asked, placing an innocent kiss in the palm of her hand.

"Yes." she said, but a little grin was tugging at the corner of her mouth nonetheless.

"Would it also be terribly inappropriate," he repeated, this time slowly unbuttoning her blouse "if I told you that I've spent most of the day fantasising about you?"

"That depends on the fantasy." she purred, closing her eyes, when she felt his lips between her breasts.

"I thought about your body, every curve so sensual, beckoning me to touch you." he continued and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks "I thought about your lips, your caress, how you scream out my name."

"Mmh, Niles," she moaned, giving in to his hand that was pulling her towards the floor "not here. We're out on the terrace."

"I don't care woman, I must have you." he growled, pulling once more until she came to lie on top of him.

She knew she didn't stand a chance and so she pinned his hands above his head and crushed her lips onto his. A groan of pleasure escaped both of their throats before suddenly a sharp pain shot through her body.

The pain remained, growing stronger by the minute until her eyes snapped open and focused on the walls of her darkened bedroom. The only positive aspect about the lingering pain was that it chased away the remaining feeling of longing and aching for a man who had deserted her. She reached over to switch on the nightstand lamp and then slowly sat up in bed, her back leaning against the headboard.

"I take it you don't like your current accommodation anymore, eh baby?" she whispered tenderly, placing her hands on her big stomach.

Fully awake now, she carefully got out of bed and waddled over to the wardrobe to pick up the bag she had packed weeks ago. She walked down to the kitchen, for lying down only hurt her back, but she kept a close eye on the watch, needing to time the contractions. It was funny almost how she had been an emotional wreck at the beginning of her pregnancy, for no-one would have thought that had they seen her now. C.C. Babcock had managed, once again, to be perfectly prepared for everything. She had attended all the baby courses on her own, decorated the nursery and gone through her pregnancy several times, mentally of course. And now that the baby was about to be born she didn't feel the usual panic that accompanied such event, but instead a serene calm, because this was, after all, what she had been waiting for. Birth was the first step, she could always worry about the future later. When the next contraction hit her, she grabbed hold on the kitchen counter, trying to breathe regularly. When the moment had passed, she picked up the telephone and dialled a number.

"Sheffield?" Fran's sleepy voice answered.

"Good morning, I think my baby wants to come out now." C.C. stated matter-of-factly and there was a long silence at the other end of the line.

"Oh my God!" Fran suddenly exclaimed, finally realising what C.C. meant "I'll be over in a second. I call the driver, you call the hospital. Can you walk?Yes? We'll meet you in front of the house then."

C.C. chuckled softly, knowing that all hell must've broken loose now at the Sheffield residence, but Fran had insisted on being informed and despite C.C.'s relative calm she certainly wanted someone to come with her. Getting dressed took much longer than she had expected, seeing as she had to pause now and again when pain shot through her and so once they reached the hospital, her contractions were coming quite regularly , with only a few minutes apart. Both Sheffields had come with her to show their support while the newly hired nanny was looking after the twins.

"Are you sure you don't want me ta come in with ya?" Fran checked, as C.C. was wheeled off into the delivery room.

"Positive." she replied with a brave smile.

This was a moment she wanted to burn into her memory forever. The first intimate contact with her daughter whom she loved so very much already and the first human being who'd love her unconditionally ever since Niles had left. And yet she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and helplessness as she lay there, following the nurses' instructions of pushing and breathing. She was really going to do this and on her own and she wished, though she'd later deny that, that Niles was there with her holding her hand and whispering encouraging words.

"One last push." The nurse instructed and C.C. gave everything she had left.

When the cries of her daughter pierced the air, C.C. was caught in what could only be described as a limbo of emotions. She felt a strong possessiveness over this small creature that couldn't defend itself, as well as an overwhelming sense of pride. This child was hers, so tiny and yet perfect and she marvelled at her little nose and fragile fingers. This daughter who was so wonderfully perfect could hardly be hers and so for her it had something miraculous, when the doctor handed her her child for the very first time.

"Hello little Sam." she whispered, placing a careful kiss on the baby's head.

The child opened her light-blue eyes and simply stared up at her in awe. C.C., who was just as stunned by the moment, could only look back at her. Suddenly, when her daughter's cries subsided and she closed her eyes and dozed off, C.C. began to weep. She felt tired and exhausted and she wished she could've seen Niles looking at their child. She longed to see the pride in his eyes, the tears that he wouldn't be able to suppress and she felt completely incapable of taking on the responsibility of looking after this beautiful creature.

"Miss Babcock, she's gorgeous!" Fran cried and then noticed the blonde's tears "Are you ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little bit overwhelmed."

"I know the feeling." Fran said with a proud grin "Can I hold... what's her name?"

"Samantha Claire Babcock." C.C. told her, though it was technically still "Brightmore".

"Hi Samantha, I'm your aunt Fran and this is your uncle Max." Fran said to the sleeping baby, after she had lifted it out of C.C.'s arms.

"She's beautiful, congratulations, C.C." Maxwell chimed in, who was cooing over the baby as well.

A moment later a nurse came in and explained that C.C. needed some rest now and would be woken up later to feed her child. After she had bid Max and Fran goodbye she helplessly watched as her daughter was taken away. And tired though she was, she felt the strong desire to jump to her feet and claim her daughter back. Even though the daunting task ahead of her had become clear now, she had also felt a sense of comfort and calm with the baby so close to her, it felt wrong to leave her even for a little while just for something ridiculous like sleep. But even as she was mentally berating the nurses and doctors, her lids fluttered shut and she drifted off to dreamland once more.


Weeks later, C.C. and her healthy little daughter were managing everyday life alright. As planned she had taken time off work to look after her child and to begin with this task filled her with the greatest joy. As a matter of fact, she felt so protective of Samantha, that the thought to leave her alone was too much to bear. Had she been doubtful at first about her ability of handling a child without hurting it, both of them had soon developed a routine that suggested the contrary. At night when the baby cried, C.C. would race to her side and see what she needed; she'd get up again early the next morning to feed her, then spent a few hours playing with her and carrying her around and then they'd both take a well deserved nap. The only difficulty she had had and was still having, was bathing the baby. The first time she had tried it Samantha had wailed so loudly, that C.C.'s concern had stopped her from pushing on. Tentatively she had told Fran about it who had calmed her by explaining that some babies simply didn't like being bathed and she had offered to help her the next time round. With Fran's help the baby had finally gotten its first bath in the new house, though it had been an ordeal for both, mother and daughter. Samantha had cried her eyes out and Fran thought that C.C. looked as if she was in pain. It was hard, of course, to overcome those motherly instincts that told her to rescue her baby from a situation she clearly hated. And Fran had had to admit to herself that this pregnancy had certainly softened C.C. Later on the blonde had discovered that the best way to wash Samantha was to take her along when she was having a bath herself. The little girl clung to her mother at first, terrified as always, but as her mother had begun to relax, so had she and the skin-to-skin contact was one of the most precious moments of the day. That was, of course, until C.C. attempted to wash her daughter's golden curls. No touch, no words could wipe those tears away and C.C. felt horrible every single time, knowing that it had to be done.


One year later their well-structured morning routine was put to the test, for that particular day was rather special indeed.

"C.C., are you up yet?" Fran called and moments later the blonde emerged in the kitchen, carrying her daughter on her arm.

"Of course we're up, have been for quite a while. But mummy isn't ready yet, so whoops...here we go to aunty Fran while mummy gets ready." C.C. handed Fran her daughter with ease and disappeared up the stairs again.

Today was her first day back at work and though she had been looking forward to this for weeks, now that the time had finally arrived, she was having difficulties leaving her child behind. Her blonde hair was once again cut short, attempting to give her back a little of the severity of the business woman she had been some time ago. Knowing how important appearances were in California she applied her make-up carefully and then eyed herself in the mirror. She had lost a fair deal of her pregnancy pounds, though not enough that people wouldn't scowl at her. Pleased with the image she saw she decided that her outfit choice of a knee-length skirt, black stilettos and a simple white blouse had been the right one, she left the bathroom behind, grabbing her briefcase on the way.

"What are we gonna have for breakfast then, eh Sammy?" Fran was cooing at the baby who giggled happily.

"We've already eaten." C.C. answered for her and Fran shook her head.

"We still wanna have a little nosh."

"Alright, sweety, I know that aunty Fran's going to spoil you once mummy is gone but don't eat too much or you'll look like your great-aunt Sylvia." C.C. told her and Sam listened attentively, before giving her a look of sheer horror.

"Ok, mummy." she answered shyly, still struggling to get the words out.

"That's my girl." C.C. said proudly and lifted her up into her arms again "I'm going to miss you terribly while I'm gone, Sam, but I'll be back soon. So you have fun with Fran." she told her daughter whose blue eyes matched hers exactly.

"Bye, mummy." The little girl said and flung her arms around her neck, while pressing a small kiss against her cheek.

Her practicality where other people were concerned still amazed C.C., never before had she seen such a little girl handling her mother's leaving with such ease. C.C. took a deep breath, finding it hard to get back into Bitch of Broadway mode, when her daughter could melt her heart so easily.

"Knock 'em dead." Fran said and her honking laugh accompanied her on the way out.

As she walked along the path that led to the main house, C.C. wondered if she'd ever feel like her old self again. Fran and Gracie had told her to go out and experience life but C.C. had declined and instead persuaded them to look after her daughter so she could return to work. This was, after all, what life had been like for her before Niles had confessed his love. And maybe this new start would do her good, help her overcome the restlessness she had been experiencing lately.

"Are you ready to work, C.C.?" Maxwell asked who was holding the limo door open for her.

"More than ever," she said confidently and stepped inside.