Hello,Hello!:) I'm feeling a lot better today^^ This is partly due to the fact that beMMADfabulous published our story ;) I had a wonderful time writing it and she's really a wonderful author so yeah,I'm very happy about that. But enough about promoting our story, now on to this It's another piece of fluff(lol)but I'm actually rather happy with it!^^ But please tell me if I'm getting too corny or boring!Also,I'd like some help,guys. As you've probably noticed,my native language isn't English...and I've got a bit of trouble with the verbs "to lie" and lay...so...is it "They lied down", "they lay down","they laid down" or something completely different? Help would be very much appreciated!! This is a "What if.." story btw, basically...what if it had been C.C. who put up that sign on Valentine's Day? Tomorrow's oneshot will be about the line "You can lick the spoon" ;) lol

Disclaimer: I own nothing,only my weird imagination and some Ben&Jerry's...oy...

Episode 19: Love is a many blundered thing

Never,ever would she listen to Nanny Fine again. In retrospect, the entire idea was stupid, pathetic and totally unlike C.C. Babcock. She was almost certain now that Fran had set her up. They were, after all, competing for the same guy, so why would she want to help her?

"And that's why you should never trust anyone." she could hear her mother's voice say. Sighing, she wrapped her arms around her legs and enjoyed the cool breeze that caressed her skin,high up over New York City.

And to think that it had all just begun like a harmless,regular day. The only difference:it was Valentine's Day. And as always,C.C. felt particularly vulnerable and aware of her loneliness. Both, her and Nanny Fine, had decided that this day was the best to try again and win over Maxwell. But it had been Nanny Fine who had suggested she'd go for a bold gesture,a sign that no-one could overlook. It wasn't until later,that she had been brought back to reality. She heard how people talked about her...how stupid she was. And, quite frankly, they weren't exactly wrong. She had acted completely uncharacteristically on a silly impulse and now all the world could see what she had done and laugh at her if(and that was almost a given)Maxwell would decline her offer.

Meanwhile, in the Sheffield household a mild panic had broken out. Maxwell had gotten wind of C.C.'s plan(due to a certain Yenta)and was trying to contact her, to ask her what had made her act like that and to remind her, that she was only his business partner,nothing else. He still couldn't fathom what had led her to such actions, without considering that it might make Sheffield-Babcock the laughing stock of society.

"Niles!" Maxwell shouted and the Butler appeared in his office.

"You bellowed,Sir?" he asked,in his usual dry tone.

"Yes,I can't get hold of C.C.!You don't suppose she's gone and done something stupid?"

"More stupid than putting up a sign,asking you out,for all of New York to see?I doubt it.." Niles chuckled to himself.

"Why can't you be serious for once?" Maxwell asked,getting annoyed.

"Because sometimes it is easier to laugh,than to deal with the reality." he thought to himself but said out loud: "Well, to be honest ,I am a bit worried about her,too. When I spoke to Fran she said that Miss Babcock sounded rather distraught."

"Exactly, and now I can't find her anywhere. I've called the theatre,I've called her cellphone...everyone that might know where she is, but no-one has seen her."

Niles thought for a moment,before saying: "Leave it to me,Sir. I think I know where she is. May I take the evening off,Sir?"

"Yes,alright. But talk some sense into her,will you?She's usually so composed..."

"Too composed."Niles muttered and left the office to fetch a few more things.

C.C. was still sitting underneath the sign on one of the roofs above Times Square. It had already gotten dark and the wind had picked up, but she still felt reluctant to leave. Closing her eyes for a while she almost enjoyed the cold of the wind. It was certainly better than the cold inside her...

"You're not considering to jump,are you?"a familiar baritone filled the air "You'd probably look really ugly on the sidewalk."

Lifting her head she glared at him.

"Don't be ridiculous..." she replied, but her answer was weak.

He could see it in the depth of her eyes,the truth, that she had considered it,that some part of her had already given up and it made him feel nauseous. The idea of a life without C.C. Babcock was unbearable.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

"Mr Sheffield was trying to get hold of you." he answered truthfully but still remained rooted to the spot "And he got worried,so he told me to come and get you."

"How did he know where I was?" she asked quietly.

"Oh,he didn't..."Niles replied softly and finally approached her.

"Aren't you going to make fun of me?" she asked,turning her head away.

"No,Miss Babcock, I would never hurt you in such a way." he said,hoping that she would understand that he was being honest.

"Well,I'm not ready to go yet." she huffed,wrapping her arms around her body.

"I never suggested you were." he said,smiling softly and turned around ,rummaging in a basket. It was the first time she noticed that he had brought something with to her great surprise, he was setting up a picnic right before her eyes.

"Niles,what are you doing?" she questioned,narrowing her eyes.

"What does it look like,Miss Babcock?" he asked,while pouring some wine into glasses.

But she continued to look at him, expecting a proper reply.

"It's Valentine's Day still,Miss Babcock. And I thought you very much deserve a date..."

"Spare me your pity." she spat,already scrambling to her feet.

"Come on,Babs,give me a chance. I'm actually asking you to take pity on this old servant...Would you like to have dinner with me?It may not be at a fancy restaurant and at the standard you're used to...All I can offer you is my food,the stars and my company."

She stared at him,completely speechless. How could she not have noticed? Behind all the barbs and zingers was a man who cared deeply about her,someone she could always count on, and she hadn't even realised it.

"I'd love to have dinner with you,Niles." she said genuinely and sat back down next to him.

"Wonderful." he said,smiling contently,before adding:"Would be a shame to waste all this food." And he handed her a glass of wine.

She gratefully took it from him and took a sip. "Do you think I'm pathetic,Niles?" she asked after a while.

"No,I don't.I think you're a remarkable woman who is willing to fight for..."

"A lost cause?" she interjected resignedly.

"Well,I'm sure you'll come to your senses soon enough." he replied,winking at her "And until then,I can wait..."

The evening became incredibly enjoyable from then on. C.C. found that Niles couldn't only make her laugh, but that he was an attentive listener and a true gentleman.

They slowly made their way through a series of courses that Niles had prepared and forgot completely about the time. They were just eating some cheese,when Niles noticed that she was shivering.

"Allow me,Miss Babcock." he said,getting to his feet and gently put his coat around her shoulders.

And at that moment something remarkable happened. For such a long time she had been pining over Maxwell,trying to get his attention and,all of a sudden, all she really wanted to hear was Niles' voice telling her that he loved her.

"Well, it is getting rather late. I should really take you home." Niles said,completely misinterpreting her silence.

"No,not yet." she whispered and the softness in her voice took him by surprise.

He watched her curiously as she laid down on the roof,staring up at the sky. He smiled,fascinated by her behaviour and followed suit. They laid,side by side, in a comfortable silence for quite some time. After a while,he felt her fingers brush against his hand and he was just beginning to wonder if it had been by mistake, when she took his hand into hers.

"You're cold." she whispered softly.

"I don't mind." he replied,truthfully.

There was another silence,before she asked: "How long have we known each other?"

He thought about it for a moment. "About 20 years,I would say."

"And how long have you been in love with me?"

"Since the first time I saw you." he replied,without missing a beat.