I hope you're still enjoying this. Thanks for reviewing, I always welcome them :) happy easter holidays, if you celebrate it (I do, but my life clings more on N/CC than on religion).

The following days were not as great as CC had thought. First, their fuel ran out and they couldn't make a fireplace anymore, then Niles discovered, the sausages were also about to run out, and the apples were not eatable anymore.

"Seems like we have to live from air and love", Niles had said with the hint of a smile, but CC had just stared at him.

And then she had said it.

"I'm so cold. I think it's time to die."

From that time on, it went worse. CC had a hypothermia with all possible symptoms: she was shivering all the time, her heartbeat was fast and she was as pale as a piece of paper. Niles tried everything, he even put his own jacket off and put it over her like a blanket, but CC's hope was totally destroyed now.

Niles pressed the blonde against his body and wrapped his arms around her. She seemed so small right now ... He was afraid to close his eyes, he was afraid he would sleep and she would die.

In his head he repeated their conversation after they hade made love over and over as if he had missed something important ...

"Since when do you love me?", CC had asked, her eyes shining and her breath fastened. They were lying there in a deep embrace.

"Since when? That's hard ... I guess for such a long time, I have no idea when it started. But I do have an idea of when I realized I love you."

"That was?"

"There were more points than one. First - our first kiss?"

"The accidental one?"

"You told me, it wasn't accidentally. But yes. And the second."

"That evening we were drunk ..."

"Exactly. And if Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield hadn't decided to come home this very moment, I would have swept you in my arms to bring you upstairs and make love to the woman I adore."

"She would have loved that", CC had laughed. "Go on."

"Point three of what made me kind of realize that I love you ... The cruise."

"What?"

"The way you blinked at me? And then you escorted me as my lucky charm?"

"You kissed my hand! I was completely bewitched!"

"It worked, huh?"

"Oh yes" CC had laughes again.

"A few very important points, we already talked about the Awards ceremony and our dance. This made me dream about you forever. Next, my friends wedding, my heart attack of course ... I was living on because I heard your voice calling for me."

"And if I hadn't called your name, you would have died? Nah, don't underestimate yourself."

"You are underestimating yourself here. I heard you calling my name and that was why my damn heart didn't stop beating at all."

"Wow ... And then?"

"When we went out after we had this embarrassing encounter in the kitchen -"

"When Nanny Fine decorated the kitchen? That was so gross."

"Yes, exactly that date. Then, the night in Atlantic City -"

"Which one?"

"You remember that, right?" Niles had laughed. "The hand puppet saying, you don't have to pay me!"

"Oh." CC's cheeks had gone red. "Right. Speaking of it, I really meant it! Why didn't you take me? It was my body, right? I was too -"

"Don't say a word Babcock, you were always sexy. No matter in which shape. I didn't take you, because I knew you were just desperate and you had been drinking. And you, my love, are something for the eternity. You're no one-night-stand, and if we were out of here, I would ask you to marry me."

CC's cheeks had gone deep red then. "Go on ... With the points, I mean."

"Hm ... When we teamed up against Fran?"

"Yes. And suddenly you called me 'sweetie' and I had no idea how to deal with it." CC had glared at him.

"Sorry. May I go on?"

"Please."

"The wedding ... We didn't sleep together, by the way."

"I know, but we danced. And kissed."

"We did. And now we're here ..."

"We are ..."

They had continued just laying in each others arms, caressing each other. Niles had whispered his love for her into her ear over and over, while CC had just closed her eyes, thinking about the fact she a) had finally found someone who loved her, b) she loved him back and c) he had been able to make her cum for the very first time.

Now I can die in happiness, she had thought.

After a while, she had asked, "Niles, did you mean it? Would you ask me to marry you?"

"Is that an offer? I would, I can do it right now -"

"No." CC shook her head quickly. "I'm - I'm not that friendly with marriage. Please Niles, don't ask me. It has nothing to do with you, but I just don't like -

"Hey, no problem!", Niles had said softly. Though his heart had been breaking into a thousand pieces and sinking into his stomach, he had told her it was no problem. He believed her when she said, it had nothing to do with him. "I won't ask you."

CC coughed.

"Do you need something, love?", Niles asked immediately and CC nodded.

"You, just you", she whispered.

"I'm here, love, I'm already here." Niles had tears in his eyes. It was, as if she was miles away.

"I can't see you", she whispered.

"Your eyes are closed, CC, please open them", Niles said desperately. He knew she tried to open them, but she was too weak and too tired. CC sighed.

"Niles ..."

"I love you", Niles whispered against her cold cheek.

"I love you too", CC let out in a soft breath.

"Don't leave me, Chastity Claire." Niles rubbed her back. "I promise you, if you die, I'll come after you."

"Don't", CC just said and opened her eyes a bit. "Hey ... I can see you!"

Niles smiled sadly, as he saw her cheerless, ill eyes. "I am so happy about this."

CC coughed again. "I'm going to die", she whispered, without moving her lips and Niles pressed his on her cold ones. But he didn't answer.

Don't die, he prayed. Please god, don't let her die. She's my everything. She is the reason I still breathe, the reason I stand up every day. I love her, she's the middle of my life -

"Niles?"

"Huh?"

"If I die ... You'll get my things. My penthouse and so on ..."

"Don't be silly, you won't die", Niles whispered and CC let out a throaty laugh.

"Nanny Fine can have Chester", she said, as if she haven't heard Niles. She looked at him and smiled. "You make me happy ... You take away my fear from dying."

"CC ..." A tear fell out of Niles' eye and CC cupped his face.

"I am not afraid, you better also don't be afraid."

"Please, love -", Niles whispered.

"No", CC cut him off and pulled him down to kiss him.

"Marry me", Niles said and CC laughed again.

"No", she said gently and brushed her lips over his. "But thank you for asking me ... Now I don't have to die without being purposed to, not even once." She closed her eyes again.

"You won't die", Niles repeated.