"I don't know," Fran commented as C.C. slowly turned in front of the three-way mirror. "I think it should have some bows, or ribbons, or…something."

"I'm really not the frilly type," C.C. replied, sighing heavily and trying to maintain her composure. It had been a hellish day, driving from bridal shop to bridal shop in Encino. She had begun to wonder if, during Fran's bridal consultant days, she had ever heard of the expression "the customer is always right." C.C. had finally steered Fran to Rodeo Drive, and was modeling an elegant Armani suit in pale peach. The skirt fell to mid-calf and had a seductive slit. The jacket had satin lapels and cuffs, and the fabric hugged her curves. C.C. turned again and murmured, "with just the right hat…."

"No, no, Jonah!" Grace's voice interrupted her. The lanky teen rushed past the staging area and grabbed Jonah just as he was about to topple over a mannequin. Grace scooped up the toddler and wrenched his little clenched fist from the skirt's beaded fringe in one motion.

"Aw, he just loves pretty colors," Fran cooed as she bent over and kissed her son's head.

The salesgirl appeared with one more frock for C.C. to try on. She trudged into the dressing room and emerged in an ivory Vera Wang dress with a double-breasted bodice. The scalloped hem just barely reached her knees, and the sleeves and shoulders were inset with Victorian lace. Even Fran had to admit that the garment looked as if it were made for C.C.

"It's simple, yet elegant," Fran enthused. "If you're dead-seat against wearing a gown, then I'd say this dress is first runner-up."

C.C. placed her order and made an appointment for her fitting, grateful to have at least one wedding chore finished. Tomorrow she'd buy matching shoes, gloves and hat (having convinced Nanny Fine that she would not wear a veil), and then she'd be free to worry about the arrival of her family just three weeks hence. She still had a hard time believing that her mother and father were taking time out of their hectic social calendars to see her get married. Hell, neither of them had bothered to visit her when she was recovering from being shot in the head, for crying out loud. So somehow her wedding was an important enough occasion for them to deign to visit her? Wait until they found out her husband was a butler. Well, former butler, anyway. He was taking the bar exam next Wednesday.

C.C. slid into the passenger seat of Maxwell's Mercedes as Grace buckled Eve and Jonah into their seats. Her neurologist had cleared her for driving, but Niles, the old worrywart, didn't think her capable of navigating L.A. freeways. Fran got behind the wheel.

"I have to say," Fran told her as she backed out of the parking lot, "you're a lot calmer than I would be."

"It's just a dress," C.C. replied.

"No," Fran said as she pulled onto the freeway, "I mean about meeting Niles' parents. I remember when I first met Max's mom. I didn't even have a chance to make a good first impression, because I bumped into her before I knew who she was!"

Niles' parents. Oh, dear. C.C. had been so busy pondering the arrival of her own family, she'd almost forgotten that she'd be meeting her husband's folks for the first time. This was just what she needed – more stress. As if she didn't already feel lousy these days, with being tired all the time, and dizzy to boot. Work at the studio was becoming overwhelming, since Maxwell seemed otherwise occupied, and then there was motherhood to fit in between… Oh, how did the women in those Lifetime movies do it!

"Did ye find a dress, Missus?" Nanny Barnes asked when C.C. returned home.

"Yes, finally," C.C. replied. "How's Prudi?"

"Sleepin' like the proverbial baby," Nanny Barnes smiled.

C.C. went into the nursery and smiled down at her daughter. Prudi wriggled in her sleep, then opened her eyes. She looked up at her mother and smiled. C.C. picked her up and hugged her close. Prudi began to gurgle a string of incoherent sounds, and then, suddenly, and quite plainly, uttered "BaBa."

C.C. clutched the babe close to her chest and buried her face in Prudi's sparse hair.

"Oh, my, I think you're trying to say 'mama'," C.C. murmured, her eyes misting over. "Or maybe 'dada.' My little girl is trying to talk!" Prudi babbled a little more then let out a wide yawn. "OK, sweetie, I can take a hint. Down you go." C.C. gently placed the child back in her crib and watched her for a few moments before leaving the nursery. If someone had told her a year ago that she could have such feelings for a tiny human, she'd have laughed in their face. But somehow, unbidden, her daughter had completely entwined herself around C.C.'s heart. She couldn't put her feelings into words, but she was linked completely, infinitely, body and soul to her little Prudence, and would lay down her life for her. As she would for Niles. "I must be getting soft," she thought to herself as headed to her bedroom to change clothes. "I never thought I could feel anything for one person, let alone two!" She sat on the edge of her bed and kicked off her shoes. "Love. Who knew!"

C.C. padded down to her home office in her fuzzy slippers and checked her voicemail. She made notes of the calls that needed to be returned, and then logged onto her computer to check her email. She downloaded a file sent by the associate producer of their show; the season finale was to be a "clip" show, with highlights of past episodes, and right now the show was running six minutes overtime. C.C. had to decide what portions they could afford to excise. There was also an email from her brother, Noel.

Can't wait to meet my niece. I hear both Mother and Dad are coming. Enter the gladiators!

Even though they had room at their house, C.C. had felt that her parents would be more comfortable at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. "O.K., so I'd be more comfortable with them there," C.C. had told Niles when he'd cast a knowing glance at her. Besides, his parents were going to be staying with them, and that was going to be stressful enough. She mentally starting reviewing her "to do" list while keeping an eye on the computer screen as the clips played. "New towels, washed once to remove sizing. Check. Clotted cream for scones in refrigerator. Check. 300 thread count sheets on their – "

"Hello, hello!" came a mocking voice with a distinctively British accent. Niles strode into C.C.'s office and bent down to kiss her. "What are you up to?"

"About five foot nine," C.C. replied sarcastically.

"If you dare to take time from your Web surfing," Niles raised his nose imperiously, "I was sparing a few moments from my busy schedule to listen to your so-called day."

C.C. removed a slipper and threw it at him. He ducked in time and they both laughed. Niles sat down on the sofa, and C.C. settled down beside him. She reached over for another kiss when Nanny Barnes appeared.

"Your tea, Mister Niles," she smiled as she set down the tray. C.C. sighed loudly and sank back on the couch. "Hope I wasn't interruptin'," the nanny added, glancing at the couple.

"Of course not," C.C. said in a loud, sarcastic tone. "I was about to tell my husband that our child spoke her first word, that's all."

"Oh, he already knows, Missus," Nanny Barnes chuckled as she turned to leave. "We were both there when she said 'BaBa' yesterday." She paused in the doorway. "Mister Niles even joked that she was trying to say 'Barnes.'" She chuckled to herself as she left the room.

C.C. was gathering for an explosion. "Do you mean to tell me that our daughter spoke her first word and you didn't even tell me?"

Niles placed his hands on hers in an effort to calm her down. "Now, wait a minute, before you fly off the handle, just listen…"

"…and you have the gall to tell that, that….woman that Prudi was saying her name!"

"First of all, I was going to tell you about her talking yesterday. But when did I have the chance? This is the first time we've sat down together in three days."

"It's not my fault that I've been busy, if Maxwell would only – "

"I didn't say anything was your fault," Niles interrupted. "My point was, I wanted us to be together, relaxed, alone when I told you. I didn't want to shout our baby's milestone to you as you were running out the door."

C.C. frowned and looked off into the distance. "I feel like I'm missing everything. Like she's growing up without me."

Niles slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "I can't help but feel the same way sometimes." He sighed. "If I'm not studying at home, I'm off driving to some review class…and everything in this city seems to be so far away…"

"I know," C.C. murmured into his neck. "When we first rented this place, it didn't look so far from the studio on the map. What we didn't count on was Los Angeles traffic. And I though New York was bad…" She paused for a few minutes, her brow furrowed. Then she sat up and looked at Niles directly. "I hate to admit it, since I originally encouraged Maxwell to come out here, but I really miss our old lifestyle in New York.

"Ahh, yes," Niles smiled, pulling her head back to his shoulder. " Illicit nights stolen away in my tiny bedroom…"

"To be honest, I even miss that." She reached over and stroked his chest. "I never thought I would…maybe it just reminds me of 'home'. I think if you're not born and raised here, the West Coast is an acquired taste."

"I think someone needs her bean sprouts," Niles said in a sing-song mocking tone, as he pulled her closer and she kissed his neck.

C.C. stood nervously in the "arrivals" lounge at LAX. She had changed her outfit three times before they'd left for the airport. After all, this was the first time she'd be seeing her in-laws, she wanted to make just the right impression. Niles sensed his wife's nervousness and slipped an arm around her waist reassuringly. They watched as people emerged from the jetway.

"Maman!" Niles suddenly called and waved an arm in the air. C.C. instinctively stepped forward with him to greet the staid-looking gray-haired woman who emerged. Her hair was pulled back in a severe bun and she was dressed in a conservative suit that matched her demeanor.

"Niles!" Phyllida Worthington extended her arms.

"How was your flight?" Niles asked, as he hugged his mother.

Phyllida stood straight up and straightened her clothing. "As much as one would expect. Where on earth is your father?"

A few moments later a smiling man in a tweed suit emerged from the jetway laden down with carry-on luggage. He stopped in front of the trio and set down his baggage. "Right, would you believe this one case is strictly your mother's cosmetics? I told her that surely no one could be that homely!"

C.C. lowered her head and tried to suppress a smile. "Mother, Dad, I'd like to you meet my wife, C.C.," Niles said.

Malcolm Worthington embraced C.C. in a bear hug. "So nice to finally meet you. Our boy has written us some very nice things about you, you know."

Phyllida offered her hand and then leaned forward, kissing C.C. lightly on one cheek. "How do you do," she said stiffly.

"Let's collect your bags, shall we?" Niles suggested. "We have a driver waiting outside."

"You don't look a bit like Attila the Hun," Malcolm joked to C.C. as they walked to the baggage claim area.

"Well, Niles took my sword away from me after the baby was born," C.C. replied, playing along.

"Yes," Phyllida added, "we did hear about how you, shall we say, swept our son off his feet."

"Look!" Niles interjected. "Here's a luggage cart, what are the odds?"

C.C. stood apart while Niles gathered his parents' luggage. "This is going to be an interesting visit," she thought to herself.