BB Babcock sat at a large round beautifully decorated banquet table in the rainbow room, and let out a long deep sob, before putting her head up and muffling it with her handkerchief.

"Oh Mother, stop blubbering. They're already married." CC sat up straight with her arms down in her chair beside her mother's left side as she stared at the dance floor in front of them.

BB's blonde hair was pulled back into a tight twist and her bangs framed her face in a curtain on each side. She slowly turned to CC as she put the handkerchief down and glared at her.

"It's not like it's the first gigalo she's marrying. It's the third." CC's voice was a flat mismatch for her beautifully beaded dress and makeup. She sat back casually in her chair. Her chin went down as she stared at the newlyweds on the dance floor.

"Must you shove it in my face, Chastity Clare?"

CC hated it when her mother used her full name. She took a deep breath and turned her head away. "I'll shove something in your face, all right."

"I beg your pardon?" BB said icily.

CC turned back with a barely civil smile. "I said, she doesn't have your good taste."

"Careful Kitten, you're sitting too dangerously close to your mother to be so flip." CC looked up to see that her father was standing in front of their table.

CC smiled at Stewart Babcock as BB continued as if he wasn't there in a raised voice. "We must hope she gets tired of this one quickly, and that she doesn't have to wait around to be widowed like I was."

"Still standing here, BB. I'm standing here alive, actually." Stewart winked at CC as he leaned over to shake the hand of BB's escort who sat at BB's right side.

BB turned back to CC. "My husband was barely ever home when we were married. I assumed he'd died."

CC sighed loudly because it was time to escape. "Excuse me, I'm going to go find my date."

BB then looked toward Stewart, "As long as there are no children, the annulment should be quick and easy."

CC snorted loudly and then began to walk away from the table giving her father a knowing smile. Stewart grabbed CC's hand and pulled her to him, leaning forward to speak in a low tone. "Don't let your mother get to you, CC"

CC shrugged. "I think mummy may be in for a rude awakening this time. This gigalo might actually stick."

Stewart angled his head back quizzically. "Really."

She nodded.

Stewart kissed her head. "Ok, Kitten."

CC walked to the other side of the dance floor and stopped to lean back against a railing behind her as she watched DD and Andrew twirl. She smiled at their giggles.

It was always innocent in the beginning, all smiles and giggles. Then came the arguments, yelling, and fights that ended with DD in a room at the Four Seasons, and a quickie annulment in the end.

CC crossed her arms as she leaned back thinking about her lunch with DD last month.

After ordering, CC leaned forward with excitement. "Have you heard about Noel's new associate, Sophie Vanderhoover something or other?"

DD nodded. "Yes, I remember Noel mentioning something."

CC grinned evilly. "Well, listen to this…"

DD suddenly leaned over. "CC, I'm pregnant."

CC stopped and stared at her. "Come again?"

DD smiled slightly. "You heard me correctly, CC."

CC blinked in disbelief as DD continued. "It's Andrew's."

CC shook her head. "Who?"

"You know, Niles' closest friend, Andrew?"

CC's mouth opened. "DD, you didn't? You actually slept with him that same day?"

"And every day since." DD smiled.

CC shook her head. "The butler? You've been sleeping with the butler?"

"Well, it's not like he was my butler. Although that would have been very convenient."

CC shook her head again. "So, now what?"

DD's smile grew wider. "We're getting married."

"What?! But you've only known him for a few months." CC's mouth became very dry and she began sipping her water.

"It's longer than I knew my last husband."

CC almost choked. "That's not saying much."

"Come on, CC. It's not like you haven't been divorced before."

"I'm not eager to repeat that mistake." CC could feel her appetite disappearing as her voice went up. "And DD? A baby? You can't be jet set with a baby in tow."

"It didn't seem to bother mummy."

CC rolled her eyes. "I rest my case."

"Maybe, I want to try out a calmer existence."

"And you think babies are calm?"

"I've made up my mind, and I want you to be matron of honor."

"But what about-" CC began again.

"CC," DD pleaded. "Please."

CC placed her hands flat on the table. "I don't understand how this happened."

"Well, I was crazy attracted to him, because he is very handsome, after all-"

"-But a butler." CC said under her breath.

DD cocked her head to the side in a threat, and CC conceded, "Continue."

"Anyway, as you so sweetly mentioned earlier, he is a butler, so, I didn't think too much about anything long term. But we got along so swimmingly and…" DD smiled with a little blush. "Well, we just never stopped seeing each other. We couldn't bear to be apart."

CC shook her head almost imperceptibly.

"I'm not like you. I can't just turn it on and off like a robot."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, like you and Niles for instance."

CC did choke on her water this time. "Me and Niles?! There is no me and Niles!" She put her glass down a little too loudly.

DD grinned slowly. "Thou doth protest too much, sister."

CC picked up her napkin to wipe her mouth and get up quickly. "DD you've obviously lost your mind. First the butler, and now this. I'll be in your wedding if you promise never to mention such a ridiculously revolting idea again!"

DD reached over and grabbed her hand. "CC, sit."

She complied and DD continued. "I know we haven't been very close. But I want that to change. And even though you don't understand this relationship right now, I really am in love. So, could you please, just try for me? Besides, once mummy finds out about the wedding, things are going to be hard enough."

CC nodded at the thought. "Oh, that's going to be a picnic."

DD's voice became calmer. "I mentioned Niles, because Andrew seems to think there is something going on between the two of you."

CC interrupted, "Not!"

"CC, the two of you are closer than you and I are."

"That's not saying much."

"You're always together."

"Same employer."

"You two have looked at each other like you have a shiny new toy for years."

"You've mistaken my cringe for something else."

"You're obviously holding back."

CC blinked again. "The only thing I'm holding back is his murder. He is the most obnoxious man I've ever met." CC waved a hand. "Now that's the end of it."

. . . .

Now, back in the Rainbow room, CC looked across the room at Niles standing with his date. CC pursed her lips as she watched. Niles leaned forward and whispered something into the woman's ear, and she laughed while gently pushing at him.

CC could almost hear Niles' deep laughter over the music from across the room.

CC thought back to the day that DD met Andrew. -About how she and Niles fought over the door. -How close their bodies were leaning up against each other. It seemed so natural at first, and then the look in his eyes changed everything.

She thought about the kiss from a year ago. She thought it was a fluke, or it had to be the Jack Daniels and Johnnie Walker. But the day they fought over the door they were completely sober. Her mind wandered to how similar the day could have turned out.

Some details about the kiss were blurry, but she remembered Niles calling her a brunette, and then they collided. Their mouths met, and the kiss was like a hot fluid that burned from their mouths down through her entire body, until she thought she was going to lose it right there before tumbling to the couch. She bit her bottom lip, experiencing it all over again.

As if he could feel her looking at him, Niles moved only his eyes as he laughed with his date and their eyes locked from across the room. His smile faded somewhat as they made contact. She felt herself completely still, waiting for something before he turned back to his date.

"I have your drink, CC" She looked up abruptly to find Chandler standing next to her. "Are you ok? You look a little flushed."

She stood straighter and took the drink with a tight smile. "I'm fine."

Chandler looked past DD to the other side of the dance floor as if he was scoping out what she was looking at. He narrowed his eyes at Niles and his date.

CC put her hand on his chest. "DD is a beautiful bride isn't she?"

He nodded and turned back, "Not as beautiful as her sister." CC patted his chest and smiled as she focused on him.

The music stopped and the lights came up. Andrew and DD were brought a mic. Andrew handed it to DD. "We wanted to thank the matron of honor and the best man. Without CC trying to get rid of me as soon as possible that day, and the two of them going into the other room to fight in their usual manner…" Chandler glanced at CC as DD continued. "…we would not have met, and I just want the two of you to be as happy as we've been."

"That could have been worded better," CC mumbled, and she continued to smile as guests glanced in her direction.

"As everyone knows, this is my third and last time getting married, so there will be no speeches. But I'd like Niles and CC to start the next dance for us."

CC could feel her body involuntarily sucking in air as she forced a gracious smile, and she walked to the dance floor as thoughts of choking DD, Andrew, and Niles played out in her head.

She walked up to DD, and gave her the nicest smile she could muster while covering the mic. "What are you doing, DD?"

DD smiled and spoke through her teeth. "A favor. Now dance."

The lights dimmed and CC turned around to see Niles standing next to her with a smirk. His eyes shining in the light, tux as crisp as ever and she rolled her eyes as he bowed.

He stood up and as the music started, he put his hands up waiting for hers to follow.

"Get lost, " CC said under her breath with her smile intact.

Niles smiled back, and made an impatient gesture. "Come on, Babcock everyone is waiting. Including your Beau Chandler." Niles looked out at the audience. "Would you like me to wave to him?"

"Stop!" CC took his hands quickly to keep him from waving, and their bodies slipped together. His arm was instantly around her flashing beaded dress, and one of her hands rested on his chest.

"That's better." He said firming his grip on her. "A moment longer and all the guests would have turned to stone from the sight of you." The crooked smile still planted on his face as he murmured.

CC let her head fall back and remarked through gritted teeth. "Oh funny, very funny, methuselah."

He gave her a fake glare as he twirled her and she rolled her eyes as their smiles became genuine. The other couple began to join them on the dance floor.

The lights were brought lower, and CC shook her head. They'd always danced well together; intuitively understanding each others' every move. He turned her and as they fell into their rhythm, she relaxed into his arms."Rochester, this is all your fault."

Niles raised an eyebrow "Me?"

"Yes, all you had to do was take your little butler friend and leave that day."

"Aww, but then you wouldn't have a reason to get Chandler-pooh to date you again."

"Watch it." Her voice went to it's graveled tone before, she looked up at him realizing they were smiling a lot like the last time they danced. She shook her head. "I think this is the worst thing we've ever done."

He shrugged and looked over. "They don't seem so unhappy about it. Cheer up, at least it's not us about to have a baby."

CC snorted. "No baby will ever be our baby."

Niles smiled evilly. "Oh, I don't know. A fifth of Johnnie Walker might change all that."

CC stood up straight "Excuse me, Rubbermaid? How much have you had to drink tonight?"

"Oh, about this much." Niles turned her and dipped her, never breaking eye contact. He brought her up so slowly, she had time to consider what would happen next.

When she came up, he pulled her in and held her hand against his chest, his arm pulling her snug around her waist. Their lips within inches.

CC could feel her mouth speaking, but she couldn't connect with the words any longer as the music began to fade. Their lips brushed, and suddenly everyone was clapping, and it snapped them out of it.

She looked around and then looked back at his crystal blue eyes looking up at her as he seemed to be coming back to reality. His face was soft again.

Still resting in his arms, she pulled him to her, bringing his ear closer. "I think your date might have something to say about that."

Chandler had appeared at her side during this, and she and Niles prepared to let go of each other as if in a trance.

Chandler put his arm out for CC, and CC squeezed Niles' arm as she let go slowly. She put her head down for a moment before she walked off the dance floor with Chandler. She glanced back at Niles, willing herself to say something as he continued to look at her.

DD ran up to them at the edge of the floor. "Be a dear and let me borrow her for a moment, Chandler?" DD pulled her aside speaking lowly. "CC, that was amazing. It was as if you'd been rehearsing for months."

"No, just a few years." CC looked up to see Niles on the dance floor with his date hanging on him and kissing his cheek. CC could feel the adrenaline dissipating and her agitation rising. She took a deep breath. "DD, please stop pushing. There's nothing there."

"But you and Niles-"

"-DD don't interfere again." CC's face threatened.

Everyone that CC knew would have exited by now, but DD merely straightened up defiantly and said, "I'm not promising a damn thing." With that, DD turned on her heel, and walked back to Andrew with a big smile.

CC seethed, balling her fists, and beelined it to the bathroom. She went to a vanity table, and sat down, slamming her hand on it.

"Are you ok, Miss Babcock? CC turned to find Nanny Fine standing behind her.

"Yes," CC said too loud to cover her feelings. "I just need a little space."

Fran turned to leave, and CC slammed her hand down again turning to the nanny. "I mean who the hell does she think she is?"

"Who? DD?" Fran turned back.

I mean, one good wedding, and she thinks she knows me? -Knows what's best for me? -And what the hell is wrong with her anyhow? How dare she just…just…go and…and…"

"Be happy?"

"Exactly." CC pointed at Fran. "She just breaks all the rules, and does whatever the hell she wants. And now she thinks she can tell me what to do?"

CC fidgeted in her chair. "Does she think everyone is just going to throw their common sense out the window, and just…just..."

"Follow their hearts?" Fran said softly.

CC blew her air out, and Fran put a hand on her shoulder. "You have a right to be happy too."

Fran began to leave and then she looked at CC through the mirror. "By the way, you and Niles looked wonderful out there. You were both glowing." Fran turned and left, and CC slumped for several seconds.

Finally, CC stood, fixed her makeup, and walked back out to deal with Chandler.