Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to any of the characters of 'The Nanny.'

A/N Pretty much my all time favorite TV couple. This time it's Max and not Fran who 'meddles'.

Yenta Max

Chapter 8

Over the next few months Niles and CC spent all their free time together in 'their place' as they now called it. Max may or may not have paid attention to the delivery of furniture for the rooms that Niles had been working on before, but Fran was definitely noticing the deliveries that seemed to be coming quite frequently. There was hardly a day that would go by without something being delivered. Fran never had a clue what or why, but something.

"Max, Honey. Are you expecting any deliveries?" Fran asked. CC pretended to ignore the question but was secretly wondering what was arriving.

Max looked up from his desk. "No, Darling. Niles always deals with the deliveries, why are you expecting something?"

"No, it just seems like we've been getting a lot of stuff lately. I hope B hasn't been watching QVC again." Fran rolled her eyes.

Max was suddenly whistling and CC looked at him like he's lost his mind. "Max, are you alright? I don't think I've ever heard you whistle before."

"I guess I'm just happier than usual today, CC." Max looked up at her and winked. "What about you, CC. Are you happy?"

Just then Niles entered as CC answered Max. "Of course, Max. Why wouldn't I be happy?" Niles shot CC an odd look from behind Max's head.

CC shrugged. "Oh…I don't know. I just want everyone to be happy. Fran and I are happy. Aren't we, Niles?"

Niles frowned at Max. "Yes, Sir. I suppose so. Are you sure you're alright, Sir?"

Max took off his glasses. "Tell me, Niles. How long have we been friends?"

"Since we were children, Sir." Niles answered.

Max turned his next question to CC. "CC, do you think I'm good at my job, my profession?"

"Of course, Maxwell. One of the best." CC looked at Max like he'd grown another head.

Max nodded. "Then what makes the two of you think that for one moment I am unaware of what's been going on?"

Niles and CC looked at each other and then both looked at Max. "I…uhm…Sir…I'm not…" Niles stammered.

"Max…I don't know what…" CC stammered.

Max shook his head. "Just look at the two of you. Deliveries have been coming to this house ever since I officially 'gave' you the third floor. I don't care, old man, it's yours to do with as you choose. And now deliveries are coming nearly every day all the while the two of you spend all your free time pretending to be as far apart as possible. How dumb do you two, my oldest and dearest friend and my business partner actually think I am?" Max stood up and started toward the door of the office. "When you two think you can be mature adults about this little affair you're 'not' having. We'll all be a lot happier."

Niles crossed to where CC sat on the love seat and sat next to her. "I suppose it's time we came clean with them, huh?"

"I don't think it's what they expect." CC added.

Niles cupped her face in his hand. "Well, we did the best we could, CC. We can't force their hands. I don't want to hurt either one of them, but we shouldn't have to pretend anymore either."

"You're right, Niles. I want nothing more than to stand out on our balcony and shout it at the top of my voice." CC leaned in and kissed him.

Niles touched his head to hers in their special intimate gesture. "You don't think they'll be angry, do you?"

"Well, there's not much we can do about it now is there?" CC offered him. "We'll just tell everyone at dinner tonight. "I'll call and make reservations at the Rainbow Room. You shouldn't have to cook your own last meal." CC chuckled.

Niles frowned. "Fran's going to be really angry with me." CC leaned in and kissed him lightly.

"Niles, she loves you only slightly less than she loves Max, no way that anger will last that long." CC rested her head on his shoulder.

Niles sighed. "I know you're right. I just wish it had worked out the way we planned."

"The best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go awry." CC quipped. "We did what we could, we tried our best. It's not up to us anymore."

Niles sighed again. "You'd better make those reservations. I'm going to get changed."

CC kissed his cheek. "I'll see you in a few minutes." Niles left the office and CC dialed the phone.

CC found Max in the kitchen. "Max, I've made reservations for dinner for all of us at the Rainbow Room tonight at seven. Can you round up Fran and the children?"

"Uhm…" Max was a little confused. "Yes, CC, I think I can manage that. What about Niles, should I let him know too?" Max made a face mocking her a little.

"No, Max. I think you know very well that Niles is already aware of this dinner." CC started toward the back stairs. "Max, just remember, that Niles and I love you all very much."

Max frowned at CC disappeared up the back stairs. "I wonder what that's supposed to mean."


That night at the Rainbow Room Max, Fran and the children were waiting in the private room for Niles and CC to arrive. Fran was the only one who could see the door so when they entered she was the first to see them. Fran noticed right off that CC wasn't wearing the more bulky business suits she'd been wearing lately, but a lovely pale blue evening dress that made her look not just radiant, but definitely showed off the baby bump that those suits had been meant to hide. Fran's jaw dropped and she thought… "CC Babcock is pregnant!" Fran also took note of the sparkling addition to her hand. Was that a… and what was Niles wearing…?

"Fran, Darling," Max started catching her startled look. "What's the matter?"

Niles and CC reached the table. "Hello, hello!" CC sang as they joined the family.

Niles pulled out a chair for CC as Max and Brighton, ever the gentlemen stood for the lady. Fran stood as well. Well, more like Fran leapt out of her chair. "You're married! And…pregnant!"

Niles looked at CC. "Well, I guess that saves us having to tell them."

"What?" Max nearly fell down into his chair. "I…I…I…I…"

CC lightly smacked Max on the back as Niles took his place next to her. "Spit it out, Max."

The children were all chiming in together. "That's great!" "Congrats Niles, you to CC." "Wow! That's super!"

Niles put up his hands. "Alright, alright, everyone calm down and I'll explain." It only took a few seconds before Niles had everyone's attention.

"Do you remember that trip we all took to Great Adventure, almost a year ago?" They all nodded. "Well that was the beginning of the end." Niles smirked and CC lightly smacked his arm."

"Watch it Bri…Belvedere." CC caught herself. That part of the announcement was for later.

Niles continued. "I realized that day that I didn't want to waste anymore time being careful or afraid. As Master Brighton will attest, I planned a special day for CC and myself. And special it was…" Niles continued weaving the tail of how he and CC spent their safari and then how he showed her the third floor and explained the work he'd been doing up there. "I had already finished the master suite and bath and had mostly completed the…" Niles cleared his throat. "The uhhh sitting room. I showed them to CC and she offered to help me work on the others. We finished the third room, the nursery, after about three months. That was the day I proposed and six weeks later, when I went to London to visit my parents and CC went to the spa, we actually went to Las Vegas and got married."

Fran looked a little sad. "I can't believe ya got married without me, Scarecrow."

"I know, Fran. I'm sorry, but we thought it was best that we be married well before the baby made an appearance." Niles explained.

Max decided to talk now. "So, when exactly is this baby due?"

CC looked at Niles and he nodded. "The, babies are due June 1st. But with my…" CC cleared paused a little. "…age and carrying twins the doctor thinks I'll go a little early."

Maggie chimed in. "Wouldn't it be amazing if they were born on Mother's day?"

Everyone laughed. Niles called to the waiter who was hovering by the entrance to their private room. They placed their orders and the conversations about Niles and CC and 'their project' continued.

"I'll call my friend Terrance in the morning and get his team over here right away to finish your apartment. We can't have those babies moving into the guest room." Max smiled.

CC looked at him and she and Niles shook their heads. "Max, don't you pay attention? The third floor has eight rooms. Niles had the master suite, bath finished ages ago. The sitting room was nearly complete when I first saw it over a year ago and he and I finished the nursery three month later. We're nearly finished."

"But what about renovations, constructions, rebuilds and what not. You don't just want a long hallway with a bunch of rooms and no flow." Max countered.

CC rolled her eyes. "Niles did all that himself, Max. It's really a beautiful apartment. Except for the living room, it's finished. Well, a few little touches and some furniture, but all the big work is finished. We knew the babies were coming, remember Max?"

"Wow, Niles. I never knew you had it in ya?" Fran lightly smacked his arm.

"What's that, Fran, the heavy construction or the twins?" Niles smirked at his friend.

"Niiilleess." CC chimed embarrassed.

"What, Love? I just wanted to make it as easy on you as I could. Two babies only one labor and delivery." Niles kissed her cheek.

CC touched his face. "Yes, thank you, Honey."

"After dinner, can we see your apartment, Niles?" Gracie asked sweetly.

"Absolutely Grace." CC answered. "Maggie, why didn't you invite Michael to dinner?"

Everyone except Niles started in shock at CC. Brighton chimed in. "Hey! Do me now…do me!"

"CC looked at him frowning. "What's that supposed to mean, Brighton?"

"Aha…she knows my name too!" Brighton laughed.

CC chuckled. "Oh, I got tired of the not knowing your names game a long time ago. And as for you…Master Brighton, I'll never forget your name." CC winked at him and he seemed clueless.

"I think I should explain that." Niles offered. "Master Brighton was instrumental with that first date of ours at the safari park. I owe you a debt of gratitude Master Brighton."

Fran decided now was a good time. "So, Niles, CC…will these babies have a last name?"

Niles grinned. "Master Brighton, perhaps you'd like to answer that as well?"

"What!? Are ya tellin' me that B knows your last name and I don't? You're workin' my nerves Scarecrow." Fran blustered.

Max smiled at Fran and his very dear friend. "Well, why wouldn't Brighton know Niles' last name?"

"Yeah…" Brighton interrupted. "I saw it on your credit card when I booked your safari. I thought it would be fun if Sam referred to you and Mr. and Mrs…." Brighton paused for effect.

"B! Come on, would ya!" Fran smacked him from across the table.

"Mr. and Mrs. Brightmore," Brighton said smoothly.

Max chuckled. "Very clever, Brighton, but that's not what I meant. I thought for sure your mother had told you." Max got very reflective for a moment. "Brightmore was a little much for a first name, but Sara thought that Brighton was just lovely and still a fine way to honor our dearest friend."

Niles was a little shocked. "I don't understand, Sir."

"Brighton was named after you, old man. I'm surprised that you didn't know that." Max looked at his friend whose eyes were glistening.

"No, Sir." Niles was visibly moved at this news. CC put her head on his shoulder and her arm around him.

"I want to get back to all the secrets." Fran cut to the chase. "I don't understand why you didn't just tell us that you were dating or married or whatever. Why keep it all a big secret while the two of you kept on with the insults and zingers flying."

CC smiled at them. "We were waiting for you two to get your act together."

Max and Fran's jaws dropped. "What?"

"Oh, Geez." Fran did a 'Niles' and dropped her head to the table.

Niles laughed lightly. "What?"

"We been waiting for you two!" Fran confessed. "Max, that's it, ya got two weeks and I'm marrying the next man who crosses my path.

Max jumped up. "Like hell you will. Francine Joy Fine, will you marry me as soon as we can plan the most outrageous wedding New York has ever seen?"

Fran jumped up, too. "Yes…yes…yes…I will…I'll marry you!"

"If I'd known that's all it would take, I'd have married CC years ago." Niles winked at CC.

Everyone laughed and kidded each other.

"You still have a lot to answer for, Scarecrow." Fran scowled at Niles.

"Fran, I promise you." Niles leaned over and whispered. "I'll give you exactly what you want for me. You just have to let me get there on my own."

CC frowned suspiciously at them. "What are you to yenta's whispering about?"

"Nothing, Love." Niles grabbed her hand.

Max looked at his very happy friends. "Have you thought about any names for the twins yet?"

"Oh, we picked names out ages ago." CC announced flatly. "We agreed almost immediately."

"Really?" Fran was astonished. "I find it hard to believe that the two of you can agree on anything, but immediately and something so important?"

"Uhm…yep." CC grinned.

Max waited. "Well, are you going to tell us?"

"Uhm…nope." Niles laughed. "We promise that when we tell anyone, you two, and of course you children, will be the first two know."

"I can't stand it…all the secrets." Fran put up her hands.

CC laughed lightly. "Oh come on, Fran. Tell me that after you and Max are married you won't have any secrets from Niles?" CC picked at her cheese cake. "What about Max's little plan to get Niles and I together and keeping your burgeoning relationship on hold until Niles was happy, really happy."

Everyone's jaw nearly hit the table. Fran, Max even Niles was shocked to hear the revelation come from CC. "Is that true?" Niles looked at Max and Fran.

"Uhm…" Fran wouldn't make eye contact.

Niles turned his attention to Max. "Max…is that true?"

"Uhm…well, old man. You spent your entire childhood and most of your adult life looking out for and taking care of me...and my family. Don't say it was your job because we both know you went way over and above the call of standard butler duty." Max cleared his throat. "So, yes. I could see how you felt about CC, almost before you knew yourself. I knew you two belonged together and I just didn't feel right about moving on with Fran without you being…settled first."

Niles looked at CC and the laughed. "You bone head." Niles dropped flatly. "If, as you say, I spent my entire childhood and the better part of my adult life looking out for and taking care of you, what in the name of all that's good and holy made you think, I'd seek out my own happiness before seeing to yours?"

Max and Fran both looked shocked. CC laughed. "If you'd really wanted Niles to move on with me, Max your best bet would've been to ask Fran to marry you the day she walked in the front door."

"As I said I think at the time, right Niles?" Fran poked at Niles and again everyone laughed.

CC didn't finish her cheese cake and this concerned Niles a bit. "Love…" He started. "You haven't touched your cheese cake, do you feel alright?"

CC leaned into him. "It's not as good as yours…its a little dry." CC kissed his cheek and whispered. "Honey, I'm getting a little tired, can we go home? We still have to give everyone the grand tour."

Niles stood up. "Alright, people, to the mansion. The wife if getting a little weary and we owe you all a tour." He leaned down and kissed CC. "I'll be right back." Niles left and returned moments later. "Let's move."

Max stood, "You go ahead, Niles and take CC home. We'll be along shortly. I'll get the bill."

"Done and done, Max. This was out little party. You can get dinner the next time." Niles winked and helped CC put on her jacket.