Hello, Hello. Well, no struggles with this chapter, thank God. And I'm actually rather pleased with it, hopefully so will you!;) I'm very grateful that each chapter is still getting so many reviews and I very much hope this will continue. :)

Disclaimer: They aren't mine but they make life better.

Chapter 10:

Even though C.C. had been incredibly scared of the flight to begin with, she still managed to sleep through most of it. Nonetheless, she was in a grumpy mood when they landed at JFK a few hours later.

"Ah, home sweet home!" Fran exclaimed, the only remaining one of the group who hadn't lost her cheerful spirit, after Kraentzl had suddenly become very quiet and thoughtful.

C.C. shrugged and decided that she would be grateful for every minute the artist was silent and instead went to retrieve her suitcase from the conveyor belt. Once the piece of luggage in question was securely in her grasp, she strode to the dark-haired producer and built herself up in front of him.

"I'll be going home now, Maxwell, call me when Kraentzl has settled in and rehearsals will start. Goodbye!"

And without awaiting another word, she turned around and walked away. It wasn't so much that she was keen of getting rid of the group (though Fran's spontaneous suggestion of going out for a meal had strengthened her resolve), but more that she yearned for her own four walls again. Pushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, she got on the next best taxi she could find and watched as the airport whizzed past. They got stuck in traffic, of course, once they had reached the city and whatever brief feeling of euphoria she may have experienced, was disappearing again quickly. Yes, she was coming home, but that didn't mean that anything would change. Well, at least she could now withdraw to her own private space whenever she needed it, but the fact remained that Niles was still too close for her liking, she certainly would've preferred to have seen him an ocean away.

"Ma'am, I don't have all day." The cab driver muttered and that's when she realized that they must've been standing in front of her building for quite some time.

"Oh…sorry…"she mumbled and paid him what she owed, including a generous tip.

God, she was making rookie mistakes. Under normal circumstances she would've just snapped right back at the man and told him where he could stick his money. Giving a brief nod and a small smile to Charlie the doorman, she lugged her suitcase to the elevator and went upstairs to her penthouse. Finally excitement bubbled up again in the pit of her stomach at the prospect of her comfortable bed, her little Pomeranian and her great collection of spirits. But before she had even pushed the door open she remembered that no furry friend was there to greet her and that her first errand would take her to the kennel to pick up Chester. Firmly deciding not to be disheartened by this, she moved inside and carried her suitcase to her bedroom. She'd safe the unpacking for later. Instead she disappeared into the bathroom, rid herself of all her clothes and drew herself a nice bath. It did feel nice to be home again. With a deep sigh she sank into the tub and closed her eyes for a moment.

"So are ya coming home with us, Scarecrow?" Fran asked and nudged Niles in the ribs.

He drew his attention away from the retreating figure of the blonde and instead focused on the pair of chocolate brown eyes that were watching him intently.

"Sorry?" he asked, trying to remember what she had been saying.

"Just wanted to know if you'll be coming back to the house with us." Fran replied with a smile, but there was an air of impatience around her.

"No, actually…I…" he trailed off.

He had made his decision some time ago that he wouldn't move in with them again, but with the whole C.C. situation he hadn't really given much thought where else he'd live or how he'd approach the precarious issue.

"It'd really be no trouble," Maxwell chimed in, giving him a reassuring smile.

"No, I know, I didn't question your hospitality. I just think…" he sighed, knowing that his opinion would stir some old problems "I just think that given our history it would be wiser if I wouldn't move in again."

"Oh…." Maxwell simply said and there was an awkward pause, even Fran looked slightly uncomfortable "well, if that is what you want, old man?"

"Yes, it is." Niles answered firmly.

"But where are ya gonna live?" Fran asked worriedly "You have no family here…no friends except for us!"

"Why, thank you." Niles commented dryly.

"Well, ya know what I mean." Fran hurried to amend.

"Yes, don't worry." he gave her a calming smile "And I appreciate your understanding."

Even though he could already see that he had hurt Maxwell's feelings. Sighing he excused himself for a moment to retrieve his suitcase. When he returned Fran was whispering urgently to her husband who in turn was passively nodding his head.

"Don't worry, he'll forgive you." Kraentzl suddenly quietly said.

"I didn't do anything wrong, there's nothing to forgive." Niles coolly replied, even though he hoped that the artist was right.

Breaking away from him, Niles approached the dark- haired producer who looked less than happy.

"Will it always be like this from now on, Niles?" the man asked, before he could speak "Will this always stand between us?"

"Max," Niles sighed and rested a hand on his shoulder "this has nothing to do with it. But…I'm not your butler anymore and this isn't a weekend stay or a vacation, this could be for weeks or months. I think I need my own space and I hope you understand."

For a moment the brown eyes were observing him pensively, then he gave a small nod. Niles knew he had made things better, but he was also aware that Maxwell's guilt would always make him analyse the tiniest exchange between them.

"But really, Scarecrow, where are ya gonna stay?" Fran asked worriedly.

"With me at the hotel," Kraentzl chimed in and for the first time since meeting him, Niles was glad for the man's input.

"Well, then it's settled." Max nodded with a smile and the group took this as a sign to walk out of the airport.

"Just relax for a while, hun, while Max sorts everything out. There's still a lotta work ahead of you." Fran commented, while eying the cab driver nervously who was lifting her many pieces of luggage into the trunk of the car.

"Don't worry, Fran, I will. Not as young anymore as I used to be." And he flashed his boyish grin.

"Nonsense, Mister, with that gorgeous smile of yours the women will flock in herds to you."

"As long as they're not as stupid as sheep, I won't argue." he chuckled in response.

"Fran, the children are waiting for us!" Maxwell called from inside the cab.

"All came back to see us," Fran pointed out for the umpteenth time, slapping Niles' chest "would ya believe it?"

"Well, they do love you." he replied with a warm smile and hugged her briefly.

"Mrs. Sheffield, it was my pleasure." Kraentzl said and shook her hand, which she soon turned into an embrace as well.

"Pleasure's all mine and make sure to send me the sketches of your coat asap."

The artist nodded and a moment later it was only him and Niles on the sidewalk.

"Well then, Mr. Brightmore, shall we continue to our resort?"

Niles couldn't help but chuckle at this, but then noticed the man's serious face and quickly tried to hide it and pass it up as a cough. They slipped into the next taxi and started their journey into the heart of the city. The hotel was a little bit too posh for Niles' liking who, at that very moment, would've given anything to return to the peace and quiet of his English hometown. But on the upside they knew that Kraentzl was a rather eccentric and highly popular artist and therefore had no trouble preparing another room for Niles.

"I will see you at breakfast, my boy." The man said, before exiting the elevator, leaving Niles to wonder if he had suddenly grown younger over the course of the past few hours.

As a matter of fact, he was quite happy that his room lay a floor above Kraentzl's, right at the top of the building. It gave him some distance to everything that had happened, for somehow the artist had come to signify everything had transpired between him and C.C. and would transpire still. And now here, standing by the window on the fifth floor of the building overlooking Central Park, Niles finally felt free. Maybe the future wouldn't be so bleak as he had felt before, maybe everything would turn out to be alright and he would finally learn to move on.

"Go away," C.C. muttered, when her doorbell rang for the second time that morning.

Granted, it was already past 10 but her body was still on London time. She had been certain that whoever it was would get the hint eventually and leave her alone, but the person apparently was very dense or required her attention urgently. Muttering several more curses, C.C. swung her legs over the side of the bed and trudged to open the door. She had to rub her eyes when she found the tall blonde woman in front of her to make sure she wasn't still dreaming.

"D.D.?" she finally managed incredulously.

"The very same, hi sis." The young woman replied, pecking her cheek and moving past her into the apartment.

C.C. remained by the door for a moment, but then collected herself enough to turn around and close it behind her.

"What brings you here?"

"Well, I thought it was time I'd pay you another visit…you know, go to the beauty parlour, get our hair and make-up done. And judging by your current look I arrived in the nick of time." And she let her eyes disdainfully wander over C.C.'s body.

"Always appreciate your candor this early in the morning." she muttered.

"This early? Sis, it's past 10 already…are you sick?"

C.C. , however snatched her hand away, before her sister could examine her temperature in this faux-compassionate fashion.

"No, I'm perfectly fine. I just returned from London last night. There is such a thing as jetlag."

"Ah yes, happens more to older people, I've heard." D.D. nodded, completely oblivious to her own words.

C.C. took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

"So…are you coming?" her sister pressed.

"Coming?"

"To the beauty parlour, my god you are slow today."

"Yes, sorry." C.C. snapped "But I'd rather go back to bed…"

"You won't get rid of the jetlag that way."

Taking another deep breath of air C.C. decided that D.D. might, for once, have a point and nodded "Give me a moment to change."

And she retreated to the safety of her bedroom, leaving her sister to entertain herself, as she was certain nosy D.D. would. Opening her wardrobe she cursed when she remembered that all her good outfits were in her suitcase, probably wrinkled and impossible to wear. As if it wasn't enough that her little sister had shown up without any warning, now she would also have to look like a right slob next to the woman who had always been her greatest competition in terms of beauty. D.D. was four years younger than her, with long, flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes that captured any man's attention. And if that wasn't enough she also had the perfect slim figure to boot. After a few moments C.C. reappeared wearing some casual black business pants and a simple white blouse.

"Now really, every time I see you, you have to wear one of those ridiculous pants…" D.D. criticized as they headed out the door "you are a woman for heaven's sakes, show a bit of leg!"

C.C. closed her eyes and swallowed down a snappy retort. Little did her sister know that she wore skirts plenty of times to impress the men in her environment, but she sure as hell wouldn't tell her that she felt too fat around her to slip into a skirt now.

Even though she hadn't particularly liked the idea at first, C.C. was now quite enjoying herself at the beauty parlour. She was lying on a comfortable chair, one woman attending to her nails, the other one giving her a gentle face massage. D.D. who had been endlessly droning on about her various flings, had finally had to shut up when the masseuse had spread facial cream around her lips. C.C. had made a mental note to give the woman a generous tip. Now that the silence engulfed her and the hands of the masseuse were so soothing on her skin, she allowed her thoughts to drift. She wouldn't see Niles for a while…a part of her had felt a sense of loss at first but now she was reaching the conclusion that maybe distance would do them some good. Yes, it was time to focus on herself for a while. The massage continued for another 20 minutes and was followed by a complete makeover. And when C.C. looked into the mirror and saw the strong blonde of her freshly dyed hair and the red of her lips she smiled. The Bitch of Broadway was back.

It was around 3 pm in the afternoon and Niles was standing by the sink brushing his teeth, when a knock on the door caught his attention. Calling back in what could only be described as toothpaste gibberish the caller didn't seem to understand, he saw himself forced to answer the door.

"Ah busy I see, my boy." Kraentzl said, after having taken one look at him.

Niles nodded and headed back to the bathroom, the artist on his heels.

"I've been thinking about our living arrangements and it occurred to me that we can't live here forever, it is quite expensive and one does feel like a beast in a cage."

Niles nodded and continued to brush.

"So here's my suggestion. Why don't we both rent an apartment together?"

"Together?" he echoed, spitting out the toothpaste.

"Yes, we both don't have very much money, we're around the same age. It could be fun, couldn't it?"

Less than thrilled with the idea Niles, however, reminded himself that he was talking to the man who could possibly ensure him a lot of money in the future and so he chose to be wise.

"Yes, fun. But it is rather tricky finding properties in New York."

"Not when one has a knowledgeable source." Kraentzl argued.

"That's certainly true but…"

"Miss Babcock."

"What about her?"

"She has connections…" the man explained.

"Yes, but…" Niles sighed, not liking where this was going.

"We should ask her, I'm sure she'd be delighted to help."