The next morning, CC made sure to arrive at the mansion at her usual time. She stood quietly for a moment after letting herself in the front door. There was no sign of the handi-wipe again.

"Miss Babcock!"

CC jumped and looked up the stairs to find the nanny headed towards her and she ruffled. "Nanny Fine! Do you have to yell so early in the morning?"

"Yeah, that's what's bothering you," The nanny said sarcastically as she walked up to her and put her hand out for CC's coat.

CC complied looking at her sourly. "Why are you doing the houseboy's job?"

Fran took the coat and hung it up and then turned back around waving a hand at her. "Miss Babcock, you wouldn't be so grouchy in the morning if you'd just find a nice man and settle down."

"Well, I just happen to be engaged, soo…" CC wiggled her ring finger at the nanny.

"Whaat?!" The nanny pulled CC's hand up while looking at the ring. "Where did this come from? -Not to mention, I can't believe he didn't tell me-and when did this happen!?"

CC rolled her eyes as the nanny pulled it closer eyeing it for inclusions. "And how could he afford this?"

CC pulled her hand back from the fluttering nanny. "Nanny Fine, why would my fiancé tell you anything?"

"Well, we do talk all day long…"

CC's face went flat. "You talk to Chandler?"

Nanny Fine dropped her hand. "No. I meant Niles-" She stopped and made a face. "Weren't you listening? I said to marry a nice man!"

CC then turned on her heel and headed toward the office to find Maxwell missing yet again.

CC began unpacking her bag at the desk as the nasal voice entered the office. "But Miss Babcock, how could you? -Especially after yesterday?!" Fran's mouth hung open.

CC stopped and shrugged crossing her arms over her black pin-stripped skirt suit as she leaned back slightly. "What was yesterday?"

Fran took a deep breath "I can't believe it…after …" She pointed to the terrace door, then back at CC, "-You! Niles!" She pointed at the terrace door. "I saw! - And you…"

Niles entered the office dressed in a matching black suit. "-Oh, did Miss Babcock fail to return your call too?"

CC and Fran looked at him as he stopped at the corner of the desk. "Don't be so hard on her. She did just get engaged. I'm sure she has better things to do. Despite what she promises."

CC slammed the files in her hands on the desk. "Listen, buella. I never promised a god damned thing."

"Oh. I beg to differ, Missy!" Fran raised her voice and leaned toward CC.

Niles and CC both went silent and turned to Fran. She looked between the two of them for a beat before exclaiming, "Well, anyway, you just think about what I said!"

Fran backed up to the door. "I think I hear Grace calling. -Bye!" She left swiftly and shut the door behind her.

The two turned back to staring at each other in a standoff.

Niles finally broke the silence as he stared at her. "Why would I expect anything from you now? You know, now that you're a big important fiancée of a theatre owner and all."

CC walked to the other side of the desk and leaned over it. "Well, don't kid yourself. You couldn't expect anything before either." With that, she sat down in Maxwell's chair.

He smirked as he approached, and she shut her eyes crossing her arms. She wished this was less fun than Chandler's dinner last night.

She had to stay on course. "Niles, ever since I met Chandler, I …I knew."

Niles came to her and knelt turning the chair toward him and he waited. When she opened her eyes, she found his blue crystals looking up at her, and it sent a shiver down her spine as he spoke. "Knew what, Babcock?"

Her mouth opened slowly, and she heard herself speak but the words seemed to belong to someone else. "I knew that…he was…the one."

Niles looked down at Chandler's engagement ring and took her ringed hand in his. The urge to protest was replaced with the sensation of heat that once again crept across her body as she watched him think.

His hair was shining in the office light and his neck above his collar looked smooth and inviting. An urge to run her hand through his hair tenderly and kiss him on the neck ran through her. She shook her head and decided to stop this once and for all.

Niles finally looked up at her from his kneeling position. "Babcock, is this really what you want?" His voice penetrated every part of her.

Her breast sightly heaved, and she sat up straight staring at his hand holding hers as he knelt before her. She meant to sound menacing, but her voice was apologetic. "I really want to try it…you know, the thing with Chandler."

He looked down at her hand again and nodded.

Then he stood and looked down at her in the chair. "I want you to be happy."

"You should be happy too." Her voice was more formal than she intended.

They stared at each other for a moment, and she watched as the part that she knew to be him pulled away from her.

The glow he held only for her slowly became flatter, until it morphed into a look she'd never seen. -Not even on the first day they met.

Niles bent over and kissed her hand, and then took a step back. "I'll leave you to it." He walked formally from office and the room went quiet.

She had turned to Maxwell's desk as Niles left and she tried to steel herself, but then the silence became deafening.

She stared at the pictures on Maxwell's desk, the posters on the wall, and then the green couch that she'd been sitting on for the last few years. She gripped the desk. It all looked empty.

Her stomach became heavy, and she heard a small squeak. She looked around and realized it had to have been her own. She grabbed a tissue to dab whatever nonsense was in her eyes.

The nanny opened the door and rushed to front of the desk. "Miss Babcock, are you ok?"

CC dabbed her eyes again. "Of course, I am. Why are you asking?"

The nanny pointed and commented softly. "Because your eyes are leaking."

"It was that glorified bell boy." CC shut her eyes against the tissue.

"What about him Miss Babcock?" Fran sat on the desk with her voice almost a whisper.

CC shook her head.

"Aww. You can tell me."

"It's just that…" CC squeezed her eyes tighter

"What?"

CC dabbed her eyes again, slammed her hands on the top of the desk and stood. "If that dust mop would do his job, my allergies wouldn't be kicking in!" CC grabbed her brief case without packing it and headed for the office door.

"I didn't know you had allergies. When did they start?" Fran jumped off the desk calling after her.

"Now!" CC yelled from the hallway then doubled back to slam the door.

"Oh." Fran said to herself looking around. "Ok." She walked to the office door then looked back at the desk. "Barely anyone works here anymore," the nanny muttered to herself.