AU for the season one episode "Deep Throat" where Niles voluntarily takes Maxwell's place as CC's reunion escort for the evening.
It had been a couple of hours after CC departed the hospital to go to her sorority reunion alone. Even though he promised he would come join her later, it didn't look like Maxwell was going to leave the hospital anytime soon. Maxwell didn't realize how long he was going to stay with Fran and the children and ultimately forgot about his original evening plans. Being in the situation of confusion from Fran, his mind drifted off elsewhere, even though Niles reminded him that Fran was heavily drugged up for the surgery.
More time passed, and Niles couldn't help thinking about CC being forced to not have an escort for a while. He couldn't imagine what she was feeling and the anticipation she had believing Maxwell would show up for her. He knew deep down she didn't deserve to be let down like this, even though they had somewhat of a rivalry. Knowing Maxwell's demeanor, he had an idea. Checking his watch, he took a look at the time and then turned to his boss.
"Sir, I believe Miss Babcock is still at her reunion alone," he said trying to remind Maxwell.
"What?" Maxwell asked as he was brought out of his trance thinking about Fran. He then started to think and widened his eyes at how he already forgot about his promise. "Oh! Niles, I promised her I'd catch up with her later. I'm sure CC's doing just fine on her own."
How could this man be so insensitive? Poor woman's been alone nearly the whole time, and he's already forgotten? Niles thought. "Sir, the party is supposed to end in two hours."
"That's plenty of time for Miss Fine to go into surgery and recover," Maxwell responded confidently. "Don't worry about it, old man. I'm sure she's had a few drinks with her friends and is having a blast. I said I was going to show up, wasn't I?"
"Well, yes sir, but wouldn't you think now would be a good time to leave so you won't miss anything with her?" Niles asked with concern.
Maxwell fidgeted with his watch and looked over at the nurses who were assisting Fran. He was really stuck in a predicament and wasn't sure if he was able to get out of it. "I'll leave when I'm ready. I just... I hope Miss Fine will be alright. Can't believe she'd admit her feelings to me like this.."
Niles couldn't believe what he was hearing. He immediately went to grab his coat and put it on. "You know what? If you're this concerned about Miss Fine, why don't you just stay with the woman? I'll escort Miss Babcock myself!"
Maxwell's eyebrows furrowed. "This doesn't sound like you at all. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Well where would you rather be? Here or the reunion?" Niles asked as he finished putting on his coat. Maxwell didn't answer him. He knew where he wanted to be; he just couldn't bring himself to admit it in front of Niles. "That's what I thought," Niles added as he passed the car keys to Maxwell. "I'm hailing a cab. You can take Miss Fine and the children home."
Normally, Maxwell would've stopped him, but he was too immersed with what Fran said that nothing phased him in that moment. "Send CC my apologies, would you?" He asked. With that, Niles left the hospital to get dressed in his formal attire and find CC.
CC waited two and a half hours for Maxwell to show up, just like he said he would. If it weren't for Nanny Fine, he would be here by now. Doesn't he care? Doesn't anyone care? she thought as she took a sip of her third drink. Her head was starting to spin from the intoxication of the alcohol, which was a normal side effect. She held her face in her hands as she was watching her old sorority sisters with their escorts talk amongst themselves. They seemed to be having a good night. Why couldn't she have that?
Looking up at the two women she was talking to earlier, she grabbed her glass and decided to head for the punch bowl again. Another drink wouldn't hurt, right? As she downed her fourth drink, her two former sorority sisters, Adele and Jacqueline, approached her heading for the punch bowl.
"CC, darling, please join us," Adele said, nearly begging her.
"Your Maxwell has obviously been entertained by something more important," Jacqueline remarked. CC rolled her eyes at her former sister's comment.
God if we weren't here right now, you'd be six feet under, CC thought to herself before she acknowledged the women. "Oh he'll be here any minute. He adores me.. absolutely worships the ground I walk on."
Jacqueline couldn't help but quip, "So I guess this evening he'll be worshipping you from afar?" Both her and Adele chuckled to themselves watching their former sister wallow in misery.
The comment made CC's blood boil. Maybe coming to this reunion was a bad idea. "Can it, Jackie," she hissed slamming her glass on the counter and approached them.
"What's the matter? Upset your imaginary date won't show?" Adele quipped which made the two laugh again. CC's left hand clenched into a fist as she watched them pick on her. Dammit, Maxwell. I can't believe you'd let me be humiliated like this, she thought, trying not to cry out of frustration.
She was about to throw up something to Adele until she gasped softly feeling a strong hand wrap around her waist. "Well, I wouldn't call myself imaginary, but quite a sight for sore eyes," a familiar voice sounded behind her. CC's eyes widened when she realized who exactly was behind her. She turned to face Niles glaring at him out of fear and confusion. "Hello, darling. Sorry I'm late."
CC sucked in a breath hearing him call her 'darling.' Now wasn't the time to argue though since Adele and Jacqueline were still standing in front of them. Instead, she put on a fake grin and linked arms with Niles. "Ladies, I'd like for you to meet the light of my life, Maxwell Sheffield. Maxwell... this is Adele and Jackie, my former sisters," she said introducing him to the women.
"You're Maxwell Sheffield the Broadway producer?" Jacqueline asked furrowing her eyebrows. "You're... a bit shorter and more rotund in person."
"Doesn't change the fact that I'm successful and have this beautiful woman beside me all the time," Niles said to her. CC swallowed nervously. He called her beautiful.. did he really mean it? Wait.. she had a little bit to drink.. it had to be the alcohol talking. "Where are your dates?" He asked after a moment of silence.
"Oh. My husband's out on a business trip overseas," Jacqueline replied sternly.
Taking a sip of her own drink, Adele couldn't help but blurt out, "Bill's out in Barbados. I know because I told CC one time he told Jackie he was going out on a business trip when he was really taking me on vacation.." she chuckled to herself.
Jacqueline's eyes grew wide hearing what Adele slipped out. "My Bill?!" She asked furiously.
CC snickered remembering what her and Adele talked about on the phone the other day. "Oh I thought you already knew.. oops," she said as she sipped her drink. Soon enough, the two women were out of their sight. CC immediately turned to Niles. "What are you doing here, Toilet Brush?!" she asked quietly yet sternly.
"What does it look like I'm doing here? Acknowledging the elephant in the room," Niles quipped which made CC roll her eyes.
"Where's Maxwell? You better have a damn good explanation for this," CC said crossing her arms in front of him.
"Mr. Sheffield sends you his apologies for this... inconvenience as you may call it... but he decided to stay behind and look after Miss Fine. He insisted that you'd do well by yourself here, but knowing your high maintenance, I disagreed," he replied.
CC didn't want to believe that, but she probably knew that much was true. "Please.. Maxwell wouldn't leave me hanging like this.." she huffed in denial and crossed her arms.
"No he actually would. You'd still be there after your bucket was kicked," he quipped again. He couldn't help himself even though CC was in a situation where she wasn't in the mood for his jokes and antics. "You want to hear the truth? He forgot about your pathetic excuse for a sorority reunion. So much so to the point where I voluntarily stepped up and decided to escort you instead of him."
CC was rendered speechless after hearing what Niles just told her. "Maxwell never forgets about me," she chuckled nervously and stated in denial.. yet again.
"Forgive me for saying this Miss Babcock, and don't tell him I said this to you, but Mr. Sheffield is a twat," he bluntly stated. "He forgot about you halfway through this party. I couldn't just leave you alone to wallow in your own misery, so I told him I'd replace him as your escort for the night. An outfit change and drive here later, and voila! Plus, who was gonna drive you home? God knows you wouldn't get lucky here."
She didn't know what to say. CC couldn't possibly think that Niles would escort her. He hated her for goodness sake! He always found a way to insult her and make her look bad on a daily basis. Why was he being so nice now? She pursed her lips together and looked down sadly before looking up at him. Her eyes showing thankfulness. "You... it was your idea..? To be here with me..?"
"Did I stutter, Miss Babcock?" Niles asked raising his eyebrow with a sly grin.
CC could feel tears well up in her eyes. She had been waiting what seemed like forever for Maxwell to come back, but seeing as he was the least bit interested, she had given up. Who would've thought Butler Boy was her savior for the evening? She smiled endearingly at Niles and leaned in to kiss his cheek as a token of her gratitude. "Thank you, Niles," she whispered taking a deep breath managing to hold back her tears.
Niles was about to say something until the lights in the room dimmed and some slow music started to play on the loudspeakers. Some of CC's former sorority sisters and their dates started to dance, and that left them both looking over at the formation on the dance floor and then back at each other. It took them a moment of silence before Niles held out his hand. "So.. Morticia Addams.. may I have this dance?" He asked significantly thinking of her tall slender figure in the black dress she was wearing. To him, she was the most stunning woman in the room.
CC chuckled deeply and replied, "I'd love to... Cousin It." CC found her own quip to be hilarious and made herself laugh.
"You infuriating woman," Niles shook his head and grinned as he still held his hand out for her. "Just dance with me." She then gingerly took his hand and allowed him to take her onto the dance floor. Once they got out there, they began to dance with one another swaying to the music. CC didn't think her night would end up like this. After all of what her sisters were saying to her, she thought she'd never find a string of happiness at this reunion. Now, all she felt was elation even though she didn't want to admit that Maxwell's butler made her feel this way. She couldn't believe it. He was a domestic, and she was way out of his league.
For once in his life, Niles was actually enjoying his time with her other than poking fun and calling her names. He had never danced with her like this before, and had to admit, it felt incredible. He enjoyed spinning her around and dipping her on occasion which incited giggles out of the blonde socialite. Soon enough, they were left alone on the dance floor without a care in the world.
At one point, the two locked eyes with one another. Her blue eyes met his blue eyes and the atmosphere felt as if they were the only two people on earth. Nobody else around them mattered anymore. His hands slowly wrapped around her waist and hers around his neck. They brought themselves closer to each other to where their foreheads were almost touching.
"Niles.." she whispered trying to pry herself out of their close state, even though she couldn't bring herself to.
"CC.." he replied in his soft baritone voice which made her heart skip a beat. She hadn't heard him call her that in a long time.
As they gazed at each other, Niles couldn't help but smile softly. This made CC bite her bottom lip nervously but return the gesture as her right hand snaked up to his face and stroked his cheek gently. Soon they found themselves moving closer to each other and pecked their lips softly. However, another quick peck turned into a soft, yet heated romantic kiss. Niles' hands tightened around her waist and CC's fingers ran through his hair. She tasted like a mix of the alcohol punch and her cherry flavored lipstick. Just that alone nearly made Niles quiver under her touch. CC felt her knees go weak but she managed to compose herself and grip onto him tighter. Who knew that it was Maxwell's butler that made her go weak in the knees and not Maxwell himself? She certainly didn't until now.
It seemed like an eternity that they were spending this deep intimate moment between each other. After a while, their lips unlocked so they could both catch their breath. They did not break eye contact and after being silent for a little bit, they both chuckled at what just happened.
"What the hell was that..?" CC asked after a while not managing to lose her smile.
"A mere domestic warming the heart of the ice witch," Niles replied. "Seeing from the fact that you hadn't pulled away and called me repulsive, my guess is that you enjoyed it but won't admit it."
He was right. She damn well knew she wasn't going to tell him that. After another moment of silence, CC decided to break the ice again. "You know, you don't dance that bad for a decrepit old man," CC said trying to change the subject.
"I was going to say the same thing about you," Niles quipped back at her and winked. It immediately made the socialite blush and roll her eyes playfully.
"Great. We're going back to this again, aren't we?" CC asked sighing in defeat. "Try not to kill the mood, Beulah. I was actually enjoying your company for a moment. Don't make me change my mind."
"Or what? You'll burn me at the stake?" Niles asked. CC glared at him before he continued what he was going to say. "Because for a mean old witch like you, I've certainly fallen under your spell."
CC shook her head and laughed not believing what she'd gotten herself into. "You're pathetic," she said.
"And you're irritating," he said back to her. This was the kind of back and forth wordplay they were into. CC wrapped her arms around him tighter and leaned her head on his shoulder. The music was starting to die down a little bit, but they didn't want to leave this embrace they had. For once, CC was actually grateful this night turned out the way it did. She didn't have to be humiliated in front of her former sisters and saved her breath from anticipation on Maxwell showing up. This moment was all that she needed right now. All of a sudden, the two were pulled back into reality hearing a Spanish man's voice behind them.
"Señor.. señorita.. we're closed now," the maintenance man said as he continued to vacuum and pick up the mess from the party.
They were too into the moment to the point where they hadn't realized the guests had left and the party was over. They looked around the room and then back at each other. How much time had passed? "I- I think I'll just take you home," Niles said as they pulled away from each other's arms to gather their belongings.
CC furrowed her eyebrows as she found her handbag and coat. "You didn't take a cab like all the other domestics do?"
"Mr. Sheffield will have to pay for a cab tonight, I'm afraid," Niles said dangling the car keys in front of her. "Come. It's getting late."
"Is that what you say in bed to your dates?" CC laughed as he took her hand and led her out of the club outside. Niles wasn't thinking about quipping back at her at the moment, so he just smirked to himself and let her win for once.
After they got in the car, the two decided to stay silent the whole drive to CC's apartment complex. Halfway through the drive, Niles noticed that CC's hand rested on the glove box between the two seats of the car. He couldn't resist the urge to gently take a hold of her hand, even though there was a chance he'd get slapped. However, after what they did on the dance floor, he felt like taking a risk.
It took CC a minute to register what just happened. Normally, her hand would've instinctively pulled away quickly, but her body didn't respond to that fight or flight instinct at all. She let him grasp her hand gently, a gesture that made her feel safe and secure. To return the favor, she squeezed his hand to let him know she was okay with this. The two held hands the whole ride back to her apartment. Once they got there, they both headed into the complex without saying a word. Niles let CC lead the way since he hadn't been there in what seemed like ages ago.
Once they arrived at CC's doorstep, they both stopped and turned to face each other. CC was closer to the door since she had to open it eventually. "Thank you again, Niles," she said to him with a soft smile. "I had a great time tonight."
"It's a pleasure, Miss Babcock. I uh.. quite enjoyed the festivities as well," he responded nervously also showing a genuine smile to her.
She stepped closer to him and let one of her hands run through his hair softly. Immediately responding to the touch, Niles leaned in for one more kiss and she reciprocated. It had a little bit more passion than the one they shared on the dance floor. Their arms wrapped around each other as they basked in another moment of passion.
After a moment, they pulled away, hesitating to let each other go. However, CC's fatigue was catching up with her, so she let go of him and reached for her front door. "Goodnight, Niles," she said opening the door.
"Goodnight Miss B--CC," he replied catching himself. Instead of berating him, she gave him another smile and then finally entered her apartment closing the door behind her. Niles stood there grinning with pride. He couldn't believe what came over him the whole night. He had to admit, even though he figured CC was going to regret it tomorrow, this night was worth every little moment they spent together. He then finally turned to head back to the elevator to drive home.
Inside her apartment, CC also couldn't get over how suave and attractive Niles was that night. The thought of being escorted by a domestic, let alone being kissed by one was something she never would've even considered. However, she didn't feel guilt in the very slightest. She lightly touched her lips with her fingers, the feel of his lips still lingered with her. Sitting on her couch and grabbing a small glass of whiskey, she leaned back and sighed contently. She thought about the way they danced with each other and every little touch and caress that happened. Surely she knew that throughout their lives, there would be more opportunities to dance with him.. as long as he was her plus one.