"I'm right here. I had to step away for a minute." Marsha (Niles) came up to her. "I went to see if I could get some food from the butler."

"Was he there?"

"Yes, and I got all I needed from him." She smiled and wanted Marsha (Niles) to sit down next to her.

"You miss him don't you?"

"I just…." She looks at Marsha (Niles), a twinkle in her eye. "Kind of." There was a tug at his heart. Niles' mind: so she still cares, that's good. She still has no idea what I've done to her.

CC once again cuddles up with Marsha (Niles). Marsha (Niles') mind: I don't think that I can do this anymore. Look at her. Marsha (Niles) smiles. She has made so much progress, that I think that Marsha might need to leave her soon. He frowns. She can handle it on her own, I think. I'll ask Fran tomorrow what she thinks. I know this day would come but I'm not prepared for it. I never was. How am I going to handle it?

I'll think about that later. I have a beautiful woman in my arms right now. I must enjoy her. I don't know when I'll get another chance too have this. He knew from CC's slow breathing that she was already sleeping. He breathed in her sent. A sent he would never forget.

Marsha (Niles') mind: She had an eventful day. No wonder she went to sleep real fast. Oh well, time for me to get some shut eye too. He yawned which made CC stir. She stretched. Instead of moving away from Marsha (Niles) like she normally did, she came closer.

He wrapped his arms around her. Marsha (Niles)'s mind: Her body heat is getting to me. Her soft breath a pond me. Oh, I'm getting turned on again. Don't go there. He tried to shake the thoughts from his head but it was no use. All he could do was think about her.

Marsha (Niles)'s mind: My body's already got use to her being with me. I just hope that she doesn't notice cause there's no way I'm going to get up and get a cold shower now. Not when I'm this close. He shook his head. I wonder what she's thinking over there? He looked down at her. He heard her soft breathing, so soft. He thought as her breath was felt on his arm.

Marsha (Niles)'s mind: Still she's so close to me yet so far away. I just want to stay with her always. He smiled at that thought and closed his eyes. CC's mind: This is where I belong with people who care about me. But why Marsha, what's so special about Marsha? CC mind drifted into a dreamy state.

Fran who heard nothing from Marsha (Niles) in the last hour, not even a peep decided to call him, just to check up. When she dialed the number the couch rang.

"I see that he didn't want to be disturbed this time." Max joked as he retrieved the phone from the couch cushion. He handed it to Fran laughing.

"Yeah, I suppose." Fran said, now worried about the two of them.

"Oh let them be. You were right, he has done wonders for her."

"Wha?" Fran looked at him with aw.

"I said that you were right." Max repeated.

"Say that again mista." He shook his head. Max's mind: oh brother here it comes. Now she's never going to let me forget it. Oh well. But she was right; Niles was and is exactly what CC needs. How does she do it?

"You were right about what CC needed. All she needed was what Niles could give her. What ever that might have been?"

"I think that it's called love." Fran responded. Max smiled at her. "That's all it ever takes is someone to take the time to care. Just the problem is she doesn't know it's him and may never know."

CC woke up to find that Marsha (Niles) was still with her. CC's mind: She must have been worn out from yesterday. I know I sure was. But it was worth it. I got to go all the way downstairs. I'm not afraid anymore. I think. That's a big step in the right direction and I owe it all the woman next to me for pushing me to my limits yesterday. CC smiled. I never would have made it without her. I will have to thank Nanny Fine for finding her. Where she did, I have no idea? But she was what I needed.

The door creaked a little as Fran slowly opened it. CC thought she better act like she was asleep just in case. Fran and Max peered in the room.

"Look how good they look together." Max commented as he stepped more into the room. "Just like they should be."

"Shhh.. Mista Sheffield ya gonna wake her up. Then what. I'm not sure that she is completely healed yet. She might try to hide again."

CC's mind: I will…I will not hide any more Max. Lookie lookie I said it. I'm… I'm ok. I can do this I can……I can……I can. I don't think you had anything to do with it Max. I don't. I see that now. Marsha showed me that. I just hope that Niles didn't. oh Niles where are you?

Marsha (Niles) starts to leave still thinking that CC is asleep. Marsha's (Niles') mind: CC please forgive me for what I'm about to do. I think that it is time that you are on your own again. I know that we will be here for you. You can count on us. It is just time.

Niles had a sad look on his face. He didn't want to disappoint her again but he had too. It came with the plan. He knew that but he wasn't quite ready for it either. He sighed which made Max look at him. Marsha (Niles) starts to move. He slowly with care pushes what he believes to be a sleeping CC over a little at a time. Max and Fran leave down the hall they don't want Niles to see that they were watching him and CC together in each other's arms. Somewhere Max and Fran both thought that they would end up but not like this.

"Take care my love. I will always love you." He bent down and kissed CC on the top of her head. He really wanted to kiss her on the lips. Frustration started to invade his blood. He had to control himself a little longer. "Good-bye." He slowly walked towards the door. He sighed. Marsha's (Niles') mind: Thank you for this time. I know we make a great team. I owe all of this to Fran. We got though this together like so many other things you just wont know it. Maybe someday I will tell you but for now rest my baby. You will be yourself in no time.

CC was not all the way asleep. CC's mind: Good-bye. Why is Marsha leaving me? she can't leave me, not now. We just got to know each other. Why? She could feel tears forming in her eyes. I knew that you would leave but not this soon. I'm going to miss you. Maybe it's just for now. She will be back to check up on me. I'm sure of that. That made her smile. Think positive CC.

CC got up from the bed when she heard the door close. She listened at it. She heard two people talking in the hall. One of them she was sure Nanny Fine. No one can mistake that voice. She cracked the door a little to see who it was. She wanted to hear what was going on as well.

"Hiya Niles."

CC's mind: huh? Niles. Wow, look I said his name. I did it. Why is he back? He wasn't due back till….wait a minute. She peered through the creak to get a better look. Why is he holding a…..a….what is that another?….oh no couldn't be….a wig? Na. I'm seeing things.

"Hello, Ms. Fine."

"How's you know?" Fran pointed to CC's room.

CC's mind: she's pointing at me. Now would he? He wouldn't? CC starts to replay all the odd things back though her mind. Na. Niles going to vacation which, he never does, that is without the family there, and other times that Niles was never around. then there's the story…that story that was told to me. that was just like us. Wait a minute it's all makes since that story was our life. That's why it was so like ours and haunting me.

"She's sleeping like a baby." Niles' mind: The baby I know. The baby I've seen in these past weeks. My baby. He smiled and continued to tell Fran why it was best for Marsha to leave. "That's why I had to end this plan now. She's almost well enough to be on her own again." CC's mind: on my own again? he….why I oughta get him…How could he?

"I just think it's time for her…"

CC's mind: for me to…wait Niles say it. I want to hear it. All of it.

Fran finished the sentence for him, "To be herself. She can do it. She has all the confidence she needs. She doesn't need any more help from Marsha. Is that it?"

Niles looked in the direction of CC's room and nodded. Fran patted him on the shoulder.

"We did good." She smiled. "Well, you did." Niles felt a smile creep across his face. Niles' mind: I did, didn't I. But now…oh I don't know. She will be fine. She has too, for all of us. He turned and walked into his room. CC just watched, when she didn't hear anything more she peered out of her room. She stood in front of his door.

CC's mind: When he comes back out he's going to be a dead man. How could he? How could he do this to me? She heard the doorknob slowly turned. She raced out of sight. Moments later he starts to walk down the hall. Right behind him, unknown to him, a furious CC was ready for him, ready to follow and confront him. She followed his every move. If they weren't inside one would think she was his shadow. When he got to the bottom step of the stairs she made her move. She taped him on the shoulder.

"I need to talk to you." He turned around not believing the voice he heard. Niles' mind: Oh no. I thought she was a sleep. I left her that way any. But was she?

"How could you!" CC yelled. Bring the attention of Max and Fran who were both downstairs talking in the den.

Niles' mind: she found out. How? I have to come clean with her about all of it. But she won't listen to me. Look at how furious she looks. I'm dead now. I just know it. He sighed. "When did you know it was me?" he swallowed.

"After the stairs. After…." CC's mind: After last night. Oh what a night. She shook away the thoughts. "It doesn't really matter when but I added it all up." She looked over at him with an icy glare. One that Niles saw all the time, that's why he called her 'The Ice Queen'. She wanted to know what he was thinking. "Why, why did you do it?"