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"Are you two Oooo—OH MY GOD!" Fran said as she ran back to the hallway, closing the door. "Jesus you two! I know we're goin' through somethin', but that doesn't mean you shouldn't…no nope my mind is in denial. Why did you lock the door?!"

"You wait for a 'come in' first before you open it!" CC yelled back.

They laughed as they heard her walking away hearing her say something like 'my eyes' and other words they couldn't quite hear.

They were still in each other's arms, heavily breathing. CC placing her head on his shoulder, while Niles kissed her on the neck taking a few seconds to catch their breath.

"That woman has terrible timing." He said. Pulling away to face her. She smiled and so did he. He leaned in for another kiss, softer this time, before going for her panties that were on the floor by the balcony doors. He gave it to her once he had it.

"To be continued." She said as she was putting on her panties. She hopped of the desk and started going towards her shirt that was by the couch on the floor.

Fran was waiting for them in the living room standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed. Looking like a mother who was waiting to punish her children. They both had guilt in their faces.

"You're both very lucky the children decided to go upstairs. What do you two have to say for yourselves!?" she said, and then smelled the alcohol. "You two are drunk?! Oi vey you two! Alcohol is nevah the answah!"

"We're not drunk, Nanny Fine. We're almost drunk," They both laughed.

Fran rolled her eyes. "What if it was one of the kids? What if it was Gracie?"

"They would've knocked correctly." CC said with an annoyed face.

"What are you two trying to do? Is this because you think you need to be togethah for Gracie?"

"What? No, of course not. We didn't force it…it just happened. And honestly Nanny Fine, probably would've happened without the alcohol. Besides, it's none of your business,"

"It is when it comes to Gracie. What do you think she'll think?" She said concerned.

"She's not your daughter Nanny Fine, so can you please just butt out!"

"Ms. Babcock," Niles said, as he took her arm pulling her towards him. He saw how hurt Fran looked, and sighed. "I think we all need to take a break. Babs lets go get some air. Before we say anything, we'll regret later."

CC sighed. "Fran…I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to say that." She said in a low voice, taking a few steps towards Fran who was fighting back tears.

"You're right Ms. Babcock. I'm not…I thought one day I could be, but…why would she want me as a mother when she already has two. Where do I fit into this family?"

"You were there for her after Sara died, you helped her grow into the person she is now. You treated her as if she were yours. I'm grateful for that…Fran. That's why you're part of this family. You fit in as a mother figure to those children. I'm truly sorry."

Fran smiled and gave CC a hug. It surprised CC, but she returned the hug nonetheless.

"You shouldn't be Ms. Babcock. I don't know how I would've acted if I were in your shoes."

"Well—,"

"Shut up Niles." CC said before he can finish. Fran smiled and shook her head.

"I guess we all need some time to really sink this in." Fran finally said. "I should go check on Mistah Sheffield," walking towards the stairs. She knew they needed some time alone after what could've happened, happened.

CC nodded.

"It 'probably would've happened without the alcohol'?" He raised a brow at her,

"Oh shut up."

"Do you think she's right? Do you feel like we have to be together now that we have Grace?"

"We've always had Grace. We just didn't know it. And no. I don't know. Maybe, unknowingly…no." she sighed. "I-I didn't even think about it." She said, finally being honest.

"Ditto."

"I think we should…not talk about it. We don't even know what will happen with us after Sara's secret. I don't want Gracie to think we're getting together because we think that's best for her."

"It's not? She's our daughter. You don't think we should at least talk about us?"

"Niles, we just found out she's our daughter. Hell, we didn't properly process this until we were alone in the room, and how many times did it have to sink in? Too many to count. We should talk to her and plan on how we are going to move forward."

"I guess you're right. This is all about her after all."

CCNCCNCCN

Niles CC and Grace were in a restaurant, sitting down on a round table their chairs equally separated. They were on the second floor of the restaurant, outside on the balcony, CC had tipped the waiter to have the whole balcony to themselves. It was early and the middle of the week, so there weren't as many customers anyway.

"Was it really necessary to buy the whole floor." Niles said

"I didn't buy the whole floor, I asked for privacy on the balcony. In case more people come in. They always close this part of the restaurant when there's only a few customers anyway."

"You didn't ask, you bought the privacy. I bet if you asked nicely you didn't have to spend $200 for it."

CC rolled her eyes. "I can't play nice. That's why I paid the man. Besides, he was happy to take it."

"Guys," Gracie interrupted them. "Please don't fight, he's coming."

"Sorry," they both said.

After they ordered and waited for the waiter to take their menus and left for their drinks, they all looked at each other, not knowing how to start the conversation.

"I honestly don't know what to say." CC said, uncomfortable.

"Well how about we start by introducing ourselves. I'll start… hi my name is Niles,"

"Very funny Dust bunny." CC said, holding back a smile, while Gracie laughed.

"How about we start by how we feel about the situation, we need to express ourselves in order to understand the situation and how it affects us individually." Gracie said.

They both stared at her surprised. CC cleared her throat. She was about to continue but the waiter had returned for their drinks

"Your order will be ready shortly, will there be anything else?" The waiter asked.

"Not for me thank you, Gracie would you like anything?" CC asked. Gracie shook her head no. Then she turned to Niles, he also shook his head. "That'll be all thank you."

"Who wants to start?" Gracie asked,

"Well I guess I should. At first…I was angry. I felt betrayed, lied to…those were all I felt the second I read the letter. They were people I trusted."

"That's understandable, Ms. Bab—what should I call you?" She asked, confused.

"I—I don't really know. Whatever you feel comfortable with. We can start with CC if you'd like."

"Start with? Does that mean one day I can call you—mom? Or…something like that?"

"Sweety, we won't force it on you. If one day you decide to call me mom, that is completely fine with me, if you don't I will understand." She smiled sympathetically. "Why don't you start by telling us how you feel."

"I have to admit this is rather confusing. I know I should be mad at them for doing such a thing. But…I mean I am in a way. I just…if they didn't I wouldn't be alive today. I guess I just wish they did it differently."

"Don't we all." Niles said.

"I also feel betrayed, lied to…dad had all this time to tell me…I feel like at times, he wanted to but couldn't. I understand what's done is done. Maybe that's why I forgive them for it. I just cant forgive them for keeping it from me. And can't forgive them for betraying their closest friends. Confused because I know how much they love me and should be happy that they went to such great length to have me…but the way they did it…it ruined my childhood. It was all a lie. At least that's what it feels like. Is it wrong to feel that way?"

"It's never wrong to feel, Ms. Grace."

"Please, Niles…call me Gracie." She said smiling at him. Tears forming. "Every time I think of a time dad was there with me, I ask myself, 'why didn't he tell me then?' then I feel guilty for giving him excuses…" a tear fell down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it off.

"He's your father Grace. Of course you would, hell I do it all the time with mother."

"Is he though? He's not biologically…" more tears fell.

"Gracie…he loves you…as much as it hurts to say this, he has a right to be your father because of how much he loves you. He is your father no matter what. Hopefully one day you'll see me that way too." He reached for her hand, almost afraid to reach for it.

She squeezed his hand, "So it's ok to still call him dad?"

"Of course," They both said.

"Grace…we won't feel betrayed if you still see him that way. It's going to take some time to forgive him, but we both understand that even though he did what he did, he still loves you and it's ok to say that you love him too."

The waiter came back with their food, looking at Grace with concern. She smiled at him letting him know she was ok. He smiled at her and left.

"He better walk away." CC said glaring at the waiter as he walked away.

"Oh leave him alone, not his fault they don't have kibble."

CC gave him an evil look, "Can it King Kong. You didn't see the way he smiled at her."

His eyes were wide and turned to look for the waiter. "He better smile at someone else, he looks like he can be 16 or 17,"

"He was not." Grace said, shaking her head no while holding back a laugh when she saw Niles' reaction.

"So was," CC said in the same teenage tone Grace had,

"Was not!"

"So was!"

"Oh god." Niles hid his face from the two women before him. They laughed at him.

"How do you feel about this, Niles?" Asked Gracie, while taking her fork and started poking her food and twirling around the rice before scooping it with it and then eating it.

Niles smiled. "That's how I eat. I pick on my food with a fork before eating it." Grace smiled

"I noticed, also prefers to eat with a fork then a spoon." CC said,

"That's so weird how we never noticed." Grace added. "So are you going to tell us?"

Niles cleared his throat. "Well, I was confused…I didn't know whether to take it as a joke or seriously. I've known Mr. Sheffield for a long time, we grew up together. And Sara, she was a sweet woman, perfect for Mr. Sheffield. I didn't want to believe it. Then I saw the proof that was in the envelope. I saw Ms. Babcock here punch Mr. Sheffield, and I had realized that it was true, even before he admitted it being true. I felt betrayed…and very angry. That man had it all, a career, money, a home and a family. And he still decided to take something from me. I'm sorry," he said noticing he was getting too deep,

"Don't be Niles, I understand. At least we know now right? I mean, I do wish we found out sooner, but we can't keep wishing to change the past. We just got to move forward and work on a future we want to have together." Grace said as she smiled at them.

Niles and CC both smiled at her and then at each other, very proud of the child they both made unknowingly.

'she got that from me,' CC mothed to Niles, once Grace began to pay more attention to her food.

'you wish demon,' he mouthed back.

"I got it from both of you," Grace said, startling the two blondes. They all laughed.

After they finished eating they decided to go to the park to walk around. As they got up from their chairs, they noticed there was a lot of noise coming from downstairs.

"Jeez it sounds like there's a crowd outside," Gracie said, following CC as she finished paying the bill.

When they went downstairs, they realized it was reporters and possibly paparazzi.

"What the hell are they doing here?" CC said,

"Is there a celebrity here?" Niles asked an employee.

"They keep shouting 'Ms. Babcock'. I'm guessing that's you?" The employee said, as he noticed the cameras were taking pictures of CC and of Niles and Grace.

"Why?" Grace asked,

"Not like they cared before."

"Shut up Niles. I have no idea. We don't even have a play out yet. What do they possibly want from me?"

"Guess we'll have to find out. It's our only way out." Niles said.

When the doors opened, questions have stormed in

'Ms. Babcock is it true you have a child with Mr. Maxwell Sheffield?"

Their eyes widened, "What?! Where did you hear that!? That's a lie!" CC shouted,

'No the source said he stole her child, he's' pointing at Niles 'the father'

'is it true? The late wife Sara and your partner Mr. Sheffield stole your eggs to have their own child?'

"Mind your own damn business!"

She said as Niles grabbed her arm to pull her away from the crowd, holding Grace by the shoulder making sure he doesn't lose her.

'Miss' now speaking to Grace 'How do you feel about CC Babcock, Bitch of Broad way being your mother?'

Gracie took CC's hand and looked up at her, shaking her head, telling her she disagrees with the name calling.

'Do you believe to have Stockholm Syndrome for the imposter Mr. Sheffield?!'

Gracie stopped, stunned and hurt by the last question, CC turned around angry,

"Who said that!?"

"I was just—" CC didn't let him finish, she grabbed him by the shirt with one hand and punched him with the other.

"Ms. Babcock!" Niles screamed as he was by CC's car holding Grace in his arms as she was in tears.

She ran to the car as he helped Grace sit down in the back sit,

"Sit with her I'll drive us home." Niles said,

"You're better at this than me, I'll drive." She said,

He looked at her hand, as she was holding it with the other, massaging it.

"Can you?"

"I'm fine Niles, at least to drive I am. I can get a bag of ice when we get home."

Niles climbed back in the car and took Grace in his arms. "It's alright, he didn't know what he was talking about."

"That was Frank Moore, always asks the most disgusting questions to get a good story." CC said. Trying to calm down her anger, knowing it wouldn't help Grace if she saw her that way.

When they arrived, they noticed there were more of them by the front door.

"Fuck! Those Vultures!"

"How did they find out? Who told them?"

"I don't know Niles, but we need to go through the back. I'll drop you two off, I'll park my car about a few blocks away, I'll walk from there. Leave the back door open."

When CC entered the kitchen, everyone was waiting for her. The three children were sitting on the table, Maggie hugging Grace as she cried, Niles Maxwell and Fran stood behind them. Niles had a bag of ice wrapped in a towel waiting for her.

"Thanks." She said as she took it.

"What happened?" Fran asked, "Did you punch of them?"

"one of those assholes asked something stupid." She said, placing the bag on her hand.

"They asked if I had Stockholm syndrome," Grace said in tears. Maxwell looked hurt. And Maggie held her tighter.

"Don't listen to them sweety, they're all monsters who have no hearts and are only after a good story." Fran said as she took a chair, sitting next Gracie, taking her hand.

"How did they find out?" Niles asked, looking at Fran.

"I didn't! I mean I talked to Val bu—,"

"Well there's our answer. That blonde bimbo is the biggest yenta after you Nanny Fine! You need to call her now!"

"Val wouldn't say anything! She promised me she wouldn't…I'll call her." She said after noticing all eyes were on her.

"Do you think they heard us in the restaurant?" Grace finally spoke,

Maxwell shook his head, "No I don't think so sweety, they were here about 30 minutes after you left. We tried to call you CC but you didn't answer."

"I didn't bring it with me."

"She said she didn't tell a soul…but she was in a public place." Fran said, "Val, did you happen to have your phone on speaker?" She sighed. "Alright Val…no no it's not your fault, you didn't know. I'll talk to ya later ok?" Fran looked up at the people before her. "She pressed the speaker button on accident and didn't know how to shut it off. She was at a park. Anyone could've heard her."

CC rolled her eyes. "Well if your voice was on speaker, the whole city heard it!"

The phone rang. "It's been ringing all day." Maxwell said, massaging his temples. He looked like a mess, it was 10 in the morning still in pajamas, hasn't shaved for days, and his eyes were red, with dark under eyes. Not to mention the black eye he still had.

"And no one wants to know who's been calling." Fran explained.

"I have to get my phone." CC said as she left the room.

"What if it's family? Your mother sir?"

"It could also be one of those idiots out there." Maxwell said. "I also don't think its my mother, and my father wouldn't care at all. Word doesn't travel that fast. They just found out this morning."

CC came back in, phone in hand, her face pale as a ghost.

"Ms. Babcock what's wrong?" Maggie asked,

"My mother." She turned to Maxwell. "She's…not happy at all Maxwell. She threatened to take you down…along with Sara's parents. And she's on her way."

So far, I'm really happy with where this story is going. I hope you do as well! Still don't know the ending though. So I hope I don't get writer's block along the way. *knock on wood