A/N: Another chapter so quickly? That's right, folks, guess who's back!
The Moment
Chapter Eight
Kateandharvey
CC Babcock was standing in front of the refrigerator reaching in to grasp a bottle of water when she heard the swinging door and two dress-shoe-clad feet hit the tile.
"Babcock!" The deep baritone voice rattled through the kitchen.
The blonde closed the refrigerator door, the bottle in her hand and a smile on her face. "Yes, Niles?"
The butler huffed and puffed, his hands clenched together at his sides and smoke nearly coming from his ears. He stalked over to CC. "Your father?"
She shook her head, playing the role of innocent and confused while she grinned on the inside. "I'm sorry? I don't know what you're talking about."
"You told Nanny Bowers I am your father!" He was not at all pleased, and she was loving every second of it.
She laughed deeply, and took a sip of her water. "Oh, yes! That. I did, indeed. You're old enough, you bag of bones."
"Yes, you're very familiar with old men, aren't you, you old hag? They just frequent your street corner!" Niles shook his head, waving his arms about.
"Awe, Niles…" She patted his shoulder patronizingly, "You've been driving by on Saturday nights again, haven't you?"
He shook off her hand. "Stop it, Babcock. I've done no such thing. You're delusional."
CC laughed. "You're delusional to think that you could get Nanny Bowers to do all of the work you're supposed to do."
He shook his head, and slapped his feather duster down onto the island counter. "Well excuse me, Brunette, but maybe I could use a little break every now and then."
The socialite's brow furrowed. "A break from what, servant? The chores you already don't do?"
It was at that moment the youngest Sheffield entered the kitchen. "Hi Niles, Miss Babcock."
"Hello, Miss Grace." Niles smiled at the young girl, "What can I get you?" He scowled at the socialite and turned back to Grace, smiling at her still.
Grace seemed confused, "I was looking for more Nutter Butters but I can't find any. Have you seen any back-ups?"
Niles shook his head. "I have not, Miss Grace. Why not try asking Mrs. Sheffield?"
The girl smiled, "Fran, got it. Thanks, Niles!" Not a moment after the swinging door began to move behind her as she departed, she reappeared once more. "Hey…" she looked between the socialite and the butler, "… you guys alright?"
They both seemed to straighten immediately, and at the same time they shrugged their shoulders. "Fine." CC told the girl, and she looked to Niles for reassurance.
"We're perfectly fine, Miss Grace."
The girl still seemed skeptic. "Alright, then…" and she departed once more.
It was later that night, while he was cleaning up dinner, that he heard a sound he knew all too well- the clicking of six inch heels.
"Hello, Mrs. Sheffield." He greeted the Jewish woman without even needing to look up from the sink where he was washing his largest (and favorite) pan.
The brunette walked over to the island and placed her arms on it. "Hiya, Ny-ules…"
He glanced up at her. "Uh-oh. That is never the sound I like to hear."
Fran's nose scrunched, and she seemed almost offended. "My voice?"
"Please," the butler waved his hand, "I grew used to that long ago. I'm talking about your specific tone." At her raised eyebrows, he sighed. "The please-help-me-Niles-I-need-something-you-don't-want-to-do voice."
She sighed. "Fine. Here it is… Max and I really some alone time for some things-"
"-Yes, Mrs. Sheffield, spare me the details." He put the pan on the drying rack, and sent his hands back into the soapy water.
Fran put her hands together in a praying motion. "I need ya to take Miss Babcock outta the house-"
Drying his hands, Niles threw his towel down onto the counter. "Now you can just stop right there, Mrs. Sheffield. There is no way I will take the Ice Queen out. Alone. At night. No one, no time, and nothing could convince me otherwise."
"How about a four day weekend?" Fran smiled at her friend.
"Mrs. Sheffield…" Niles scooped up his feather duster and headed into the living room. Fran followed behind as he began to dust the banister.
"Niles…"
"Really, Maxwell, we have so much work to do tonight. I need to get to the theater, but I will be back within the hour to really work on the script some more." CC Babcock entered the living room, walking past Niles and the nanny as if she didn't even notice them.
"CC, I'm telling you- I will go to the theater. You need not worry about it." The black haired producer shook his head, and looked at his wife with pleading eyes.
Fran whispered to Niles urgently, "A four day weekend and a bonus in your check at the end of the week."
Niles continued to dust, pretending to be unaffected. "How much of a bonus do you speak of?"
Fran raked her brain. "A hundred?" When the butler seemed unimpressed, she tried again. "Two hundred?"
"Maxwell, I really don't mind going to the theater. What has gotten into you?"
"She's leaving. At this rate, she'll be back in thirty minutes! Niles, a four day weekend, and three hundred in your check."
The butler dropped his feather duster and grabbed the blonde socialite's arm, sighing. "Come on, Babcock." He drug her towards the door, "I'll let you buy me dinner."
"When I said I would let you buy me dinner, this isn't really what I had in mind." The baritone voice rang out on the crowded New York street, and the butler stood next to the blonde, looking upwards at the McDonald's sign.
She shrugged, her arms crossed, and looked at him. "I figured this is in your element, right?"
He shook his head. "Whatever you seem to think, CaCa. I was under the impression that we were in your element." Niles waved around the street corner. "We are on your usual corner, are we not? Besides, I could go for a bit of grease burger, actually."
She rolled her eyes. "Please. Like I would ever been seen with you in a place like that." She gestured towards the building with the bright red and flashing yellow M.
"We're going there." She surprised him by grabbing his wrist and gesturing his hand towards the building directly next door to the fast food restaurant.
His eyes lightened with surprise for just a moment before he covered his happiness with a shrug. "Well, then it's a good thing you're paying, Brunette."
