Hello,Hello!:) So, now it's time for the "M" stories!;) Just to let you know. The next one will definitely be an "M" as well...Anyway, thanks again for all your lovely reviews, I hope you'll enjoy this oneshot too!:) The next one is gonna be about the wine cellar episode,so you've got something to look forward to. (hopefully) Reviews are very much needed!:)

Disclaimer: Don't own anything...

Episode 8. Pinske Business: Maxwell: "She's right,there needs to be a certain level of intimacy." CC:"I've always said that."

She didn't quite know how she had managed to get herself into trouble again. But lately it seemed to be happening more often...a mistake, a slip of the tongue,the tiniest little thing and a catastrophe was about to happen. And this time she had really done it...attacking a potential backer. She sighed,Maxwell had every right to be angry.

It was on days like this that she felt close to giving up. She was constantly alone in her big apartment,no-one to share her life with apart from the Sheffields who were,more or less, forced to endure her presence,and now she even lacked the professional ability that was required of her.

When Maxwell shoved her outside,onto the terrace she complained a little, after all it was pouring down. But then,after a while,then rain stopped bothering her...in a strange way it reminded her of taking a shower. Because the thing was,that C.C. loved hot showers. Whenever a date had gone wrong or she simply couldn't bear the vast emptiness of her apartment she went for a shower. The water was nearly boiling hot and it burned her skin,but she needed it,it was the only way to feel something. Nobody knew...how could they? And even if they did,they would never understand her. It was just that sometimes she couldn't stand it anymore, all that pain that was bottled up inside,so she needed to hurt on the outside,too. It made her sound crazy...and it probably wasn't very healthy either,but she needed it. And now as she stood outside,the rain pouring down on her body,she experienced the same sensation, the only difference was that this time the water was freezing cold. Soon she was completely drenched and shivering,but she remained perfectly still, eyes closed and allowed her tears to mingle with the rain.

She didn't even hear him approach and only noticed him when he spoke.

"Miss Babcock,you can come back inside now!Miss Babcock!" and he placed his jacket around her shoulders,in a feeble attempt to keep her warm. It was useless...the jacket was soaking wet within minutes. "Miss Babcock,please, you'll catch your death." he pleaded again, this time tugging at her.

"Not yet,Niles...I can't." she whispered,still in her dream-like state.

"But why?It's cold out here,come on inside."

"No...I can't...I must feel...something." she cried,still not able to look at him.

Surely he would turn around now,leave her to herself and curse her insanity. But instead she felt his arms around her and without warning he pressed his body against hers. She gasped quietly and her eyes flew open. He was wet as well,rain drops kept running down his face and his white shirt had become see-through and clung tightly against his chest. She could feel the warmth just radiating from his body.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"Protecting my witch." he replied with a soft smile "I won't let you melt,C.C."

And with that he pulled her closer against her,stroking her back soothingly. She allowed herself to be weak for a moment,but his warm touch and wonderful scent soon calmed her.

"That was very brave of you,Scarecrow." she whispered and placed a series of kisses on his neck. Finally she pulled away from him, only a bit so that she could look him in the eye. He was just about to say something but she claimed his lips before he could do so.

"Who are these people?" Fran's nasal voice cut through the air.

But C.C. didn't respond,she was still too wrapped up in her memory of what had happened earlier between her and Niles. It had been foolish,rash and utterly breath-taking, but she had left him,before he had the chance to speak. Somehow she feared that it would ruin everything if he did,that she wasn't able yet to handle his words.

"That's my brother and that's my sister." she heard her own voice from a distance.

What was she to do now?Niles...he had made her feel so safe and content and most of all: alive. But why him..out of all the people?! Maybe she could pass it off as a joke...

"Is this Maxwell's wedding photo?" Nanny Fine asked for the second time.

"Yes,yes it is." C.C. answered,shaking herself out of her stupor.

"My,doesn't Niles look gorgeous?Hoo-ha!" Fran said,fanning herself.

C.C. nodded absent-mindedly and picked up the photo to study it closely. It had been taken just after the cake had been cut,Maxwell was feeding Sara a piece, while her and Niles stood close by,smiling. Niles really looked very handsome, but then he always did. It was one of her favourite pictures,it filled the place where a photo of her own family should have been. But there was something she hadn't noticed before...Niles was looking at her and she was looking back. For the untrained eye it simply seemed that they were gazing at the happy couple,while applauding politely,when in reality...they were looking at each other. C.C. knew that look in his eyes only too well,warmth and love...but it was the way she looked at him that surprised her. She was lost in his eyes, longing for him.

"All this time and I never noticed." she whispered to herself.

"What?" Nanny Fine asked but just then the doorbell rang.

C.C. put the photo back down ,before Fran shoved her into the closet. And no sooner was she inside,did she here "Charlie,hi!Come in, take a load off!" and she sighed to herself...this would be a looong evening.

The minutes dragged by as she listened to Fran's and Charlie's banter,everything was running smoothly until,a moment later, the doorbell rang again. C.C. had to admit that Nanny Fine did her best to keep the situation under control by trying to pass the caller off as a strange neighbour,whilst dragging Charlie into the kitchen. C.C. used that opportunity to jump out of the closet and open the apartment door.

"Niles.." she whispered, not having expected to see him there.

"C.C." he began, but she simply placed a finger on his lips and pulled him back into the closet with her.

Fran is meeting with the backer,right now. You have to be quiet." she said,urgently.

"Well fine, but you will listen to what I have to say." he whispered back.

She rolled her eyes and threw her arms up in defeat. "I can't really run away,can I?"

"What happened earlier on?" he asked.

"I thought I had to listen to you."she hissed,turning her head so that she didn't have to look at him.

"You just ran away and I'd never thought I'd say this,but..you are a coward. You know full well that you love me, but the moment we kiss and something might actually happen,you just-"

But she shushed him again,for his voice was becoming louder the more agitated he got.

"I really can't deal with this right now,Niles." she whispered and watched as he sank to the floor.

For a moment she felt guilty,but then she saw the look in his eyes, he was smiling at her,an evil,satisfied smile.

"What?" she asked,anticipation making the hair on her neck stand on end, she was certain that he was planning something.

"Nothing..." he replied innocently and then,after a while added "I just noticed that you're not wearing any tights tonight."

She couldn't help but blush at his words,but before she had the chance to rebuttal,she could feel his hands on her skin. His fingers were tracing an invisible line up her calves,all the way to her thighs. She wanted to yell at him,hate him for his impertinent behaviour but she couldn't deny that she was responding to his touch.

"Mmh...C.C." he sighed,by now he was kneeling in front of her,kissing her legs,tracing the same invisible line with his tongue.

"Niles...we can't..."she breathed.

"Shh,my love, or they will hear us."

His fingers were wandering over her inner thigh and just quickly brushed over her already wet core. She could barely stifle a moan. He looked up at her,the same smile still tugging at the corner of his mouth as he began to tug at her blouse. Getting the hint she helped him and unbuttoned it quickly.

"You're so beautiful." he whispered and softly nibbled on the skin of her flat belly.

His arms reached around her and quickly undid the zipper of her skirt,causing it to slide down her legs. She closed her eyes,leaning her head back while running her hand through his dishevelled dark blonde hair. She barely registered that he was swiftly pulling down her panties,it was as if her brain couldn't take in anything more. She drew in a sharp breath when his lips touched her clit,his tongue kept flicking over it causing the throbbing inside her to increase. She could feel him tasting her and dug her nails into his skin in an attempt not to cry out his name. Only when he pulled himself to his feet did she realise just how aroused he was. She quickly undid his belt and pulled down his pants and briefs. Before she had the chance to take it all in, he had already slipped inside her. She lifted her legs around his waist and pulled him closer,sucking on the skin of his shoulders as he thrust inside her.

"Niles..." she whimpered,as she was nearing her climax.

"Almost there..."he groaned and then they both tumbled over the edge.

He kept rocking back and forwards until he was sure that her breathing had calmed.

"I love you." he whispered,pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I love you,too." she replied, capturing his lips again "But honestly, they could've walked in on us any time."

"So?" he asked,raising an eyebrow and giving her his boyish grin.