Just when I think I have a lot of reviews you go and give me even more: thank you!I thought I'd squeeze in this update seeing as today I officially finished my MSc and will be travelling as of tonight/tomorrow morning.I know the chapter is not quite as exciting as the past few - more of a filler really - but it's just the setup for the final chapter. Reviews mean quick updates!:)

Chapter 14:

It was late on a Wednesday afternoon when C.C. returned home from work. Nick was still busy and she was grateful for that, having him around while she did her packing probably wouldn't have been good at all. Dragging her suitcase out from under their bed, she thought back to the evening at the theatre she had spent with Niles two weeks ago. In one simple moment she had finally made her decision and stopped denying what Bort had been hinting at all along. She had feelings for Niles; the only thing she didn't know was whether she had had them the entire time or if they had only developed over the course of their affair. The other point that desperately needed clarifying was, of course, whether he shared those feelings or not. Her conscience continuously kept reminding her of the teeny tiny yet highly important fact that she should really consider Nick in all of this and maybe fill him in, but for now she kept pushing these thoughts away and focused on the other task at hand. Opening her suitcase she turned to her wardrobe and studied the various outfits carefully. A few days after their night at the theatre, Niles had called her again and asked for a repeat of their night at the hotel. Despite the excited beating of her heart she had hesitated.

"Nick's in town…" she had sighed "it's too risky…but I'd love to get away with you."

There had been a small silence at the other end of the line before Niles had spoken again.

"Then we'll go elsewhere…we won't stay in New York this time…a friend of mine owns a cabin in the woods, we could go there?"

"Yes," the word had slipped out before she had given the whole idea much consideration, but then her conscience had caught up with her. "What am I going to tell Nick and what will you tell Nora?"

She heard him heave a deep sigh at the other end of the line. "Don't worry about me," he finally answered "Nora knows that I go away from time to time. Can't you tell Nick that you're going away for the weekend with a friend or so? Or your brother?"

She chuckled mildly and shook her head. "Yes…I can…you do know that we're slowly turning into a cliché, don't you?"

"Yes…I'm sorry, maybe this was a bad idea," he sounded disappointed.

"No…Niles…no…I want to go away with you, trust me…I just…never thought the two of us would do something like this. I feel like a character in one of the musicals Max and I used to produce."

"As long as you don't expect me to suddenly break into song." He commented dryly and she couldn't help but chuckle.

This was their territory; this was what made it feel so right.

"God no," she replied, using the same dry tone "I've heard you croaking out some notes under the shower, I definitely don't need a repeat of that."

"But you have to admit that I can dance," he sounded confident and she could vividly picture his handsome smile.

"Yes…that you can." Her voice was soft and reminiscent.

"We haven't danced in a while, C.C."

"We should change that." She offered and he sighed happily.

"We should…"

In the end she had gone with the plan that Niles had suggested cliché or not, although she still didn't know how she had managed to keep a straight face when telling Nick. Sometimes she still thought that he knew how guilty she was. She reached for another sweater, a warmer one this time and placed it in the suitcase with the rest of her clothes. The only item of clothing that she hadn't packed yet was a red nightie that had been momentarily discarded onto the bed. She knew by now that Niles appreciated the colour red, but were they really ready for another stereotype? Hadn't they gone too far already? She sighed and sat down and fingered the fabric pensively. Somehow dressing up for a man made her feel cheap and desperate, emphasizing too much her desire to please him and be appreciated. She spent another 5 minutes running her hands over the nightie, before she finally made a decision and put it back in the closet. Niles would appreciate her in anything, even her regular pajamas.

At the same time Niles was also packing his bag at the other end of the city. He had taken 5 days off work and entrusted his kitchen to the Sous Chef, certain that his restaurant would still be standing by the time he returned. While he neatly folded his underwear, sweaters and pants he mused that this trip was no ordinary one and if things went the way he wanted them to, the trip could even prove to be life-altering. He paused momentarily, considering the many ways this weekend could go, before walking into the bathroom to retrieve his toiletries. He hadn't quite figured out yet how to approach the topic of his feelings for her and he knew that he couldn't just spring it on her or she would bolt in the usual Babcock fashion. Perhaps filling her in about the recent developments concerning Nora was the best way to go. At least he was certain that he would tell her the truth about that…

C.C. awoke very early on the morning of their trip. A mixture of anxiety and excitement had been keeping her up since 6 o'clock and tired of tossing and turning she had finally slipped out of bed at 7.30. Nick had grumbled incoherently and then turned over again, hugging her pillow to his chest. A mug filled with coffee in hand, she repeatedly kept glancing at the clock while the queasy feeling continued to spread across her stomach. She was afraid of leaving Nick, knowing full well that it was already a goodbye of sorts and at the same time incredibly guilty for looking forward to her time alone with Niles. At 8 o'clock she showered and dressed and pulled her still slightly moist hair back into a ponytail, before returning to the bedroom. Nick had taken the day off work to see her off and she hadn't been able to sway him. She carefully caressed his arm while taking a close look around the room as if it was her last. This was the life she'd be leaving behind; this was the man she was going to lose. It all weighed so heavily on her and she selfishly wished to just be rid of it all.

"I have to go now, darling." She whispered softly, her hand still caressing his arm.

Nick turned, handsome even though still half asleep, and cupped her face. "Have a wonderful trip, love and I hope you can work out whatever it is that has been bothering you these past few weeks."

She swallowed and was only able to stare at him. He smiled softly at her and leaned in to peck her lips.

"I don't deserve you," she sighed and returned the brief contact before standing up "goodbye, Nick."

And without a second glance back at him she left her old life behind.