Disclaimer: I don't own any part or character from The Nanny…but I'm still not giving
up hope.
A/N: I was thinking of a way to throw Niles and CC together. This is what I came up with. It's dedicated to my friend Mel who is now IN the big Apple.
Scavenger Hunt
Chapter 9
Niles and CC had a lovely two weeks in England with his parents and promised to let them know the moment a date for the wedding was set. "You know, Niles. You're parents are incorrigible." CC smirked as he took their bags from the taxi driver and paid him.
"How so…I mean, I'm sure they are…but what did they do exactly to make you mention it." Niles smiled and carried the bags up to the front door.
CC leaned in and whispered into Niles' ear. "They asked me for grandchildren."
Niles' eyes grew wide he turned to see the look on CC's face. "What did you tell them?"
"I didn't tell them anything. I won't know myself for another couple of weeks." CC tossed out and walked in the front door of the mansion leaving a speechless Niles standing in the vestibule.
"Hey, Miss Babcock…" Fran called as she came in from the kitchen. "Where's Niles…geez…ya didn't kill him in England…didja?"
"Not in so many words, Fran." CC offered to Fran's surprise.
"Niles…whatcha doin'?" Fran grabbed his arm and pulled him into the foyer. "We missed ya somethin' terrible. How was England? We're your parents surprised? Didja's have a nice visit?" Fran looked at CC questioningly. "Why isn't he talking?"
CC smiled gently at Fran. "I gave him a bit of a shock in the vestibule…I opened the door myself." CC tossed out. "Niles…" CC looked at him. "Niles…you're scaring Fran." CC looked at Fran again. "Why don't you call Max and the kids and maybe that'll snap him out of it."
Fran turned away and yelled. "Hey every one…Niles is home!"
Niles shook his head and replaced the glassy glare with a goofy grin. As they were joined by the rest of the family in the foyer, he looked at CC and asked the question in silence. "Really? Is it possible?" CC smiled and gave his hand a soft squeeze and nodded.
The children each hugged Niles in turn and it wasn't until Maggie stepped back that Fran noticed CC's newest adornment. "Oh my God! Ya got engaged!" Fran grabbed CC's hand. "Oh Miss Babcock…it's beautiful. Niles…why didn't you say anything?"
"Well, I thought CC should know before anyone else, Fran." Niles smiled finally coming out of his 'I could be a daddy soon' stupor.
Fran and Maggie cooed over CC's ring. "Niles…when did you get this?"
"It's part of a set, Fran. They were my grandparent's rings." Niles answered. "My grandfather, Daniel presented this ring to Elizabeth Carrington almost a hundred years ago." CC couldn't help but stroke his face with her hand.
"Ok, well, children, you've all got things you could be doing I'm sure." Max tossed out. The children all said their congratulations and promised to get Niles and CC all caught up with the goings on in their lives for the last two weeks. "Niles, CC if I could see you both in my office please?"
Niles and CC exchanged a glance as they followed behind Max who didn't bother to wait for an answer. Fran stood in the foyer wondering what was going to go wrong now.
"Close the door, please, Niles." Max asked as he sat down behind his desk. Niles did as asked and joined CC on the little green sofa.
"Well, Maxwell, what is it?" CC asked wondering what it could possibly be since they'd already hammered out Niles contract and wouldn't need to address that issue for at least five years.
Max sighed. "Well first, I want to congratulate you both on your engagement." Max looked up at them with a genuine smile.
"Thank you, Max," the couple said together.
"Now…" Max clasped his hands in front of him. "Once you're married there are going to be some necessary changes. You both still work here and have duties to attend to, so I'm wondering if you've given any thought to where you'll be living?"
Niles and CC turned to look at each other. "We really haven't had much chance to discuss that, Maxwell." CC explained for them.
"Well, your penthouse is too far for Niles to travel back and forth in time for breakfast every morning. And I'm assuming that his room won't really be adequate for the two of you." Max stated plainly. "Here's what I propose…The place next door so is going on the market, and I was thinking you could buy it and move in there. I'll have a vestibule put in connecting the terraces for easy travel back and forth, but you'll still have your privacy."
Max smiled and continued. "That house is a mirror image of this one. Niles, I believe you were instrumental in the design of the kitchen when it was redone a few years ago."
Niles smiled. "Yes, Sir…I was. It's a marvelous kitchen, but I'll still be doing most of my cooking over here."
"Well, that is true, Niles. But, as I'm sure you remember, your new contract gives you the weekends off unless there is a special need. Plus you have all your evenings after 8pm and four weeks' vacation, provided you take it in no more than two week intervals." Max reminded him needlessly since he and CC poured over the items in his contract well before Max ever saw it.
"Well, Max, I have to say this is interesting." CC looked at Niles. "We'll have to have a look at it before we can really decide." CC stood up. "Now if that's all, we've had a long trip and I'd like to take a nap before dinner."
Max reached into his middle drawer. "There is one more thing, CC. I'd like you to look over this contract. You don't have to do it this minute. Take it with you. You'll be staying here for a few days…yes?"
"Yes, Max…if you need me I'll be in Niles' room." CC smiled with no a bit of malice as she and Niles checked again with Max before leaving.
Niles took CC's hand. "Sir, I'd like to take the family to dinner to celebrate our engagement, if you could make the arrangements, I would greatly appreciate it."
"Absolutely, Niles, is the private dining room at the Rainbow Room alright?" Max asked his friend.
Niles nodded. "That will do fine, Sir."
"Oh, one more thing, Niles…" Max started. "Unless we have guests…call me Max."
Niles smiled at his friend who was looking back at the work on his desk. "Very good, Max."
CC was leaning against Niles' headboard in her peach pajamas waiting for Niles to emerge from his bathroom. Niles was just turning off the light when heard her shout. "No way!"
"What?" Niles popped out quickly. "What is it, CC?"
CC started waving the 'contract' Max had given her in the air. "These are partnership papers…for me!"
"What?" These are partnership papers. Max had these drawn up before the race."
Niles frowned. "How do you know it was before the race?"
CC pointed to the date on the envelope. "His attorney mailed them to him."
"They why did he go along with the bet? And why would he ask me to cheat?" Niles suddenly realized. "Max is a good man, CC, but ridiculously clueless. He had no idea about my feelings for you. He thought we'd kill each other during that race. So, he made me furious. Knowing full well I would turn on him and do my best to help you win, just to spite him."
CC frowned. "I don't know, Niles. That seems awfully complex for Max to come up with."
"Oh, he didn't…I used the same trick on him when I was teaching him to pee standing up." CC's head snapped to Niles face. "I know…I know…But it's true…I told him I didn't think he had the aim and he set out to prove me wrong. He did too…eventually."
CC winced and made a face. "I really never needed to know that, Niles."
"Sorry, Love." Suddenly Niles realized they never got the chance to discuss her other potential news. "But…it'll come in handy when I have to teach our son…" Niles rolled on his side to face her. "Why didn't you tell me it was a possibility?"
"Niles…" CC rolled to face him as well and stroked his cheek. "We've been together all of what…two full weeks? How am I supposed to say oh by the way, we very well could be expecting."
"CC, I proposed after we'd been together all of thirty-six hours. I'd say expecting after two weeks is timeline appropriate." Niles kissed her lightly.
CC looked away almost sadly. "Plus, I don't know for sure. I mean…I'm not a young woman anymore, Niles. And while it was just about the right time, that doesn't mean anything. And, I wasn't sure how you'd feel about it. What if I…" CC's vice faded.
"Chastity Claire Babcock…" Niles began very seriously. "I love you…if we live out the rest of our days as just Niles and CC…I'll be happier than any man alive. If we should happen to be so blessed as to have a baby, then I'll be the happiest Daddy in the world as well. But you must know…I love you…with our without a baby."
"How did I get so lucky?" CC asked sleepily.
"Perseverance."
