CC stared at the hypnotic deep red of her wine glass as Chandler ordered dinner for them. The evening was perfect, except the feeling in her stomach. It was stuck back outside the Sheffield's kitchen door.
"Was there anything else, CC?"
CC raised her head to see Chandler and the waiter looking toward her. She gave a slight shake of her head and forced a smile.
Chandler nodded and continued to add to the order, and she turned back to her glass, putting her left hand on the stem. Chandler's engagement ring flashed at her. The sight of it on her slender finger filled her with a little pride.
Then the image of Niles picking her hand up as the ring glinted at him appeared. They stared at the ring together. Brunette, what is this? Then came the look in his eyes.
She felt her eyes well up as her other hand curled into a fist. What the hell kept getting into her? She wouldn't allow this. Not here. Not now.
"CC?" Chandler put his hand out to her on the table.
"Yes." She blinked a few times as she came back to the present to find the waiter gone. She slid her hand on top of his while drawing up one corner of her mouth.
"It's marvelous, isn't it?" He looked down at her hand on his and moved it from side to side eyeing the points of light before looking up at her.
"It is." She smiled back as she took in his game winning smile.
The appetizer came and they sat up taking their hands back. Once the sever left, Chandler leaned forward again. "So, when shall we set the big date?"
"I haven't thought about that yet." CC adjusted the gold choker she was wearing. What looked good with her off the shoulder black dress was now an absolute torture device. She reached for her wine.
"We shouldn't delay too long. We may want to get started on a family soon."
CC choked on her wine and Chandler leaned forward. "You did want a family, didn't you?"
CC continued to cough.
"CC?"
Once her airway was clear, CC couldn't help but think about how much toilet duck would have enjoyed that scene. He would have smacked her on the back commenting rudely. Slow down Babcock, the fifth bottle is free.
She swallowed painfully. "I never really considered children."
"Oh?" Chandler leaned on his elbows.
CC swallowed again with a grimace. "Are children important to you?"
"It is what usually comes after marriage."
"I'm not what you'd call child friendly." She tried to say it with a light tone, but she could hear a slight panic in her voice.
"Maybe in time you'll change your mind." He picked up his wine glass to toast her.
CC brought her glass up and touched his lightly. "And maybe not."
She drank quickly as Chandler stared at her for a moment before drinking.
CC sat curled up on her couch wearing her cream silk robe. She put her glass of wine down on the end table and took out her phone.
She held it in her hand a moment before she leaned on the armrest of the couch and turned it on. Picking up her wine again she watched the phone update, vibrating as each voicemail messages and missed call notification came in.
She took a sip of her wine, and then played the first message that could be no one, but DD. "CC, you may as well speak to me because I will simply keep calling."
CC hit the button and DD's next message played. "CC, I mean it. I'm only going to call again." CC rolled her eyes.
Another tap of the button greeted her with exasperation. "CC, I'm your only sister for god's sake!"
CC half smiled as she hit the button for the next message. There was a pause before the deep voice came on "Babcock."
Her smile faded as she waited for Niles to continue. "It's me." There was another long pause. "It seems as if we agreed to talk…before things ended badly this afternoon. If you agree, and you see fit to cool down and talk this out…"
"You've got a lot of nerve." CC glared down at the phone speaking aloud to no one.
Niles continued. "…if you feel the same way, call me tonight, Babcock. We should meet."
CC chewed her bottom lip slightly as she stared at the phone.
The image appeared of Niles' head slowly leaning toward hers as he held her in his arms—her body drawing to meet him. Then the nanny opened the terrace doors, and she didn't even think to move. She stayed there the entire time the nanny babbled and then the doors shut.
She took a deep breath. She should have let Chandler spend the night. At least she'd be far from focused on this message.
After dinner, Chandler stopped the driver and opened her door to help her out himself. Their hands were joined as he began to walk with her to the entrance of her building. She stopped and turned toward him taking both of his hands. "Chandler- "
He looked at her puzzled.
She took a breath and began, "Today…" Chandler stared as she went quiet.
Niles your girlfriend is here. Nanny Fine biting her nail ran through her mind. The nanny's face wasn't just embarrassed. Was that pity?
She absentmindedly squeezed Chandler's hands a little too hard and he winced. "CC, are you ok?"
She nodded and then looked up at him. "Chandler, what do you think I like?"
"Other than that ring on your finger?" He winked and took a step closer using his smoothest voice. "You love producing success, and with your productions and my theatres, we're going produce a whole slew of it."
A smile crept onto her face, and she leaned over and gave him a peck on the lips. "True. Maybe you do know me."
Chandler tried to follow her as she backed away smiling. "Good night, Chandler."
"Does that mean not tonight? I thought our celebration might be a bit more than dinner."
"Soon." She used her quiet voice and turned to make her way into her building with the shoulder drape of her dress gliding behind her.
She'd stay there in that earlier moment. It was safe and undemanding. CC looked at the phone in her hand and moved her finger away from the button that would return Niles' call. "He does know me, toilet duck."
She felt a sudden urge to call and tell him. Then she flipped the phone to the other end of the couch away from her.
She sipped her wine and crossed her arms, turning her head away toward her view.
