Decided to give you an early update! Thanks for all the reviews! They definitely keep me writing! I can honestly say this is probably my favorite story that I've written thus far. :D
Chapter 12
Sleep was impossible that night for both CC and Niles. While Niles was trying to figure out how to get C.C. to not only let him be involved in the pregnancy and the baby's life, but also make her fall in love with him, C.C was trying to decide how she was going to be able to raise a baby by herself.
"It's not like I want to raise this baby by myself," she voiced to the canine sitting at the edge of her bed as she rubbed her still flat stomach. "I just can't even imagine raising a baby with Rochester. I mean, I'm sure he'd be a great dad, what with raising Maxwell's children and all, but I always thought if I ever had a kid I'd be married first. I don't want to end up like my parents who were forced to marry because they were pregnant with my brother. Why they had more children I'll never understand," she sighed softly before getting up out of bed and leaving Chester on her heels as she headed into the kitchen to make herself a cup of hot chocolate.
After pouring the boiled water into the mug with hot cocoa powder, she sat herself down on the couch and pulled the blanket draped along the back of the sofa onto her lap before turning on the TV.
She smiled to herself as she saw It's A Wonderful Life displayed on her 32" screen. She loved this movie and thought the chemistry between Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed was incredible. It made her want a love like that. Her thoughts immediately went to Niles and all the dances and awkward, yet passionate few times of affection they showed toward one another.
She sipped her hot chocolate and sighed softly as she sat back on the sofa and watched the scene when Mary told George they were going to have a baby.
"I wish I could have told him like that.."
Back at the mansion, Niles had the same idea as he walked into the kitchen and made himself a cup of the chocolaty liquid.
"I can't see why me being my handsome gentlemanly self wouldn't make her want me in not only the baby's life but hers as well. I know I need to show her that I will be a great father and maybe even husband."
After adding the water he walked back upstairs into his bedroom and got under the covers, grabbing the remote and turning on the TV before flipping through the channels. He, too, stopped on the famous black and white movie before placing the remote down and sipping his hot cocoa.
"I should take her out for dinner and dancing. She's not huge yet after all, on the contrary to what I tell her most days, and we always enjoy dancing together. Just being close to her makes my brain turn to mush. But how is that going to convince her to tell the Sheffield family that I'm the father and let us work together as parents? Maybe just being a nicer version of myself will help her make her decision…"
He smiled to himself as George found out he was going to be a father. He couldn't deny he was ecstatic as well when he found out she was carrying his child. He just wished things were different between them and their 'relationship.'
"I wish she could have told me like that…"
Both parents-to-be fell asleep in their spots with their empty mugs in their hands before Niles was awoken by his alarm and C.C. was awoken by the sunlight through her living room drapes.
"Shit," she gasped before she quickly flipped the covers off of her and ran into her bedroom to dress for work. On the way to the mansion she caught a wave of nausea and had to open the window to the cab for air if she didn't want to throw up the mug of coffee she had yet to finish in her hand.
By the time she arrived at the mansion, Niles had been waiting for her at the door for the last twenty minutes. Though they didn't end their eventful afternoon on great terms, he still wanted to make sure she arrived safe and sound. She was carrying his child after all. He grinned from ear to ear as his worried expression faded and he opened the door for the mother of his unborn child.
"Good morning, Miss Babcock. Let me take your coat."
C.C sighed as Niles started to take her coat off in the same old fashion he did every day.
Why is this bothering me? I shouldn't want him to act differently toward me. And how am I going to just come out and tell everyone that I'm pregnant and that Niles is the father? I've already missed breakfast and I thought I'd tell them then...
She was broken from her thoughts as the feeling of his hands on her shoulders was different from usual. He lingered longer and was more gentle as his fingers grazed her shoulder blades. She couldn't deny it to herself that she felt her stomach turn and it wasn't from morning sickness.
"Uhh yes. Thank you, Niles."
Niles sighed softly to himself as he studied her profile from behind. It was even more beautiful knowing it was carrying her child.
Why can't you see I'm in love with you.
The feeling of C.C turning around snapped him out of his thoughts and he turned to put the cream-colored peacoat in the closet before turning around to face her, but she had already rushed out of the living room and into the office.
"Damn it," he grumbled. "How am I supposed to ask her out and be nice to her if she won't even allow me to talk to her?"
Niles aimlessly walked into the kitchen to clean up breakfast that CC had missed from being late before it hit him.
Five minutes later, Niles walked into the office carrying a tray with two Belgian waffles, two pieces of turkey bacon and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice pulp-free; Just the way she liked it.
Luckily, Maxwell wasn't aware of Niles' arrival, or he just simply didn't care, and the butler took the opportunity to place the tray next to C,C. who raised her reading glasses to look over at the tray and then lowered them as she looked up at Niles in confusion.
Without speaking, Niles took a single red rose that was in the vase in the kitchen with a small paper wrapped around the stem and placed it on her tray with a satisfied smile.
Thinking it was some prank, she picked up the rose and dropped it on the floor before picking up a piece of the greasy meat and taking a bite.
Niles frowned as he picked it back up and placed it on the tray once again before pointing to the note in silence.
She slowly reached for the rose and took off the paper before hesitantly reading it. She didn't know what she was expecting to read but the temptation outweighed the fear.
Opening the tiny note, she read the simple note inside:
Dinner and dancing tonight at 7?
Let me show you I can be there to catch you whenever you may fall.
C.C looked up at the father of her unborn child and wrinkled her brows in a silent attempt to ask where he was getting at. Obviously she knew, but she couldn't help but be stubborn at the worst times.
Niles sighed realizing it was probably a horrible plan and walked out of the office more than a little embarrassed by his effort.
Finding the gesture very sweet despite her attempt to find it ridiculous, she quickly got up and walked out of the office and after Niles.
"Niles, wait." She quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist before forcing him to turn around.
She felt her heart nearly break at the depressed expression on his face.
"What?" The harsh tone made C.C's stomach turn once again and while she wanted to say forget it, she knew she needed to be adult about this. She dropped her hand from his wrist before speaking.
"That was.. very… nice.. of you."
He scoffed before he placed his hands into his pant pockets in a very 'unlike Niles' manner.
Hmm why doesn't he do more human like things? It's kind of a turn on…"
"Miss Babcock, if you didn't want to go out with me all you had to say was '-"
"Yes."
His saddened expression quickly turned into a shocked one as his eyes nearly bugged out of his head whilst that simple word meant so much at that moment. "You- We can- 'yes'?"
C.C let out a soft chuckle as she nodded her head. "I'll admit, what you just did- you know, in there, was very... Unnecessary but sweet nonetheless and we are going to be parents so... Yes. I'll go to dinner with you tonight."
"And dancing? I mean the whole cute little note was directed at the dancing. You know, 'catching you when you fall'?"
She let out that sultry laugh that always got his pants to grow tighter, before nodding. "Yes, dancing was included in that."
The bright smile on his face nearly melted her heart. "Great," he said letting out a sigh of relief. "Then, I'll pick you up at your place at seven."
"Seven it is," she nodded with a smile that was ready to burst through.
He smiled softly before he gave a final nod and turned on his heels before walking back toward the kitchen.
C.C walked into the office and sat down on the green settee before slowly picking up the rose and smelling it. While she wouldn't admit it, she couldn't remember looking forward to anything like she was looking forward to tonight.
And while C.C. wouldn't let herself be considered soft in any way, the sight the nosey butler witnessed as he quickly looked through the glass doors was enough to make him believe that might be the case.
