Disclaimer: I don't own any part of The Nanny…yet.

A/N: I don't know where this will go… Let me know what you think.

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Chapter 38

After Dinner

"Niles…why didn't you just tell me right away?" CC asked him as they waited for the valet to return the car.

Niles looked at her warmly. "Would you have believed me?"

CC smiled. "Nope."

"There's your answer." Niles leaned down and kissed her softly. "It was never my intention to deceive you really. Fran came into the kitchen and told me what you and she were planning. I just wondered what would happen if I filled out a form too."

"What did you hope would happen?" CC smiled as Niles opened the door for her when the car pulled up.

Niles paid the valet and slipped into the seat behind the wheel. "Well, I was kind of hoping for this." Niles smiled and pulled away from the curb.

"Really? How could you really expect this to be the outcome…did you cheat and look at my form?" CC reached over and grabbed the hand he had resting on his thigh.

"I didn't have to cheat. I just answered each question as honestly. All I could do is hope that when you filled out the form you did the same, and not with Maxwell blinders on." Niles smiled and gave her hand a light squeeze.

"You know," CC started. "When I first filled out the form it was even a shock to me. I realized then that Max just didn't fit the frame."

Niles frowned and glanced sideways at her while he drove to her penthouse. "What frame…what's that even mean?"

"I'll show you when we get to my place." CC tossed him a sultry look and Niles' eyebrows shot to the top of his head.

There they stood at CC's apartment door. Niles couldn't count on both hands the sheer number of times he'd been at that door. None before was he ever as nervous as he was this time. "You're coming in…right?"

"Would you like me to?" Niles asked politely.

CC smiled softly. "Oh, yes…very much."

"Then I'm coming in." Niles couldn't keep his heart from pounding.

CC opened the door and walked easily through the door, Niles behind her closing the door after him. "So…" CC turned to look at him. "I'm going to change if that's alright. Could you get me a mineral water…"

"With a twist of lime…absolutely." Niles winked and watched as she made her way into the bedroom. Niles made her drink and made another for himself and moved to the sofa.

CC stepped out of her bedroom in her black silk negligee and matching robe. She stopped only for a moment and just watched him sitting on her sofa sipping his drink. He looked, so handsome, so relaxed, so natural, just like he belonged there. "Hey…is that my drink?" CC moved right behind him and rested her hands on his shoulders, keeping him from seeing her.

"Of course not, I made one for myself." Niles offered. "Now, are you going to tell me about this frame that Max didn't fit into?"

CC moved lifted the sterling silver heart shaped frame from the console table and smiled at the face it held. Then she handed it around to him, still taking care not to be seen. Niles took the frame and released a small gasp. "See, Nana gave me that frame for my 16th birthday. She said that someday I'll know the person to put in there. I tried photo after photo until that one. It fit perfectly. I actually got a good laugh about it at first. But no matter how hard I tried, and I did…no other photo seemed to fit."

"CC…" Niles ran his fingers over the younger version of himself and then at the engraving at the top… 'CC's Heart'. "I thought you meant metaphorically…but this…where did you get this photo?"

"I took it, at Grace's baptism." CC still rested her hands on his shoulders.

Niles sighed heavily. "I was so…young then."

"Niles…it was only ten years ago…you're not so much older. Besides, some things improve with age." CC found herself caressing his shoulders .

"CC…" Niles set the photo on the coffee table. "Why don't you…" He stood and turned to finally see her and froze at the sight.

CC panicked. "What? Niles? Oh God, it's too soon isn't it…I shouldn't have…I didn't mean…" CC wrapped the silk robe and her arms around her and turned her back to him, embarrassed at the thought that he was uncomfortable by her appearance.

Niles reached her in fewer steps than he imagined possible and had given some thought to leaping over the sofa just to reach her and put her at ease. "Dear God, Woman…no it's not that…you're…God you're stunning! No…" Niles shook his head. "Even stunning doesn't do you justice…" Niles thought for a moment. "Aphrodite is humbled in your very presence." Niles took her in his arms and kissed her warmly. "Come and sit with me for a bit, please."

Niles held her hand and led her back to the sofa. They sat and CC leaned into him. "CC…I have to know that you're sure about this…about us."

"Niles…" CC softly touched his chin and turned his face to hers. "I love you." It was a statement of fact. Not flowery or fancy or convoluted, just three simple words that was absolutely everything of import between two people. "Now…can we please go to bed?"

"Of course, Love." Niles leaned in and kissed her. CC wrapped her arms around his neck and he lifted her easily and took her into her room.

They spent the rest of the night exploring the love they felt and held inside for so long. It would be held back no more. Niles loved CC and she loved him. That was it. There would be no repercussions, no regrets, just love from this moment forward.

That night, as they fell asleep in each other's arms, CC whispered. "I love you, Niles."

"I love you, too, CC."