Chapter Three: Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

It had been three days. Three whole days since he'd last seen C.C., but it felt like an eternity. She was never off his mind, he felt almost like he was obsessed with her, but that didn't seem like it at all. The feeling he was feeling was love obviously, but like he'd thought before, she'd only think of him as the hired help.

Niles sighed as he buttoned up his shirt. Why had done what he had? Why had she done what SHE had? He looked down at the bandage on his arm and chuckled. He knew he'd have a scar from her teeth marks, but he couldn't help but admit he deserved it.

When he was all dressed, he went downstairs and started breakfast. If there was one thing about this job he hated, it was how early he had to get up. Five AM every single morning, unless he was sick or had the day off, which both were very rare occasions. He decided though this morning that the family would have to just have an easy day, he was too tired to really do anything else, he hadn't slept in two days, surprisingly he thought it was out of guilt, but oh well. Didn't matter that much anyway. He heated up the pop-tarts and when they were all done, he set them in the holder and then set the table with glasses and small plates.

As he did so, he was thinking about her again. God, why wouldn't she just leave him be? It was like a ghost in his mind that would haunt him forever. His thought was broken when the sound of an alarm went off and he knew that soon Mr. Sheffield would be down, followed by the children, and Miss Fine would appear last.

He set out everything and he put his jacket back on before walking out into the dining room to await his employer.

"Good morning, Niles." Maxwell said as he sat down at his normal place.

"Morning sir. Sleep well?" Niles asked. He immediately began to pour the coffee in the cup and then held out the tray of pop-tarts. He grabbed a strawberry one and then Niles set the holder back on the "buffet" table and waited for him to speak.

"Very well. What about you? For the past few days, you've seemed a bit...off." He asked.

"I haven't been sleeping lately sir, I don't know what's wrong with me." He replied.

"Well old man, it's strange to be in a new place, but don't worry, you'll get used to it soon. How's your wrist? I can't believe Miss Babcock did that." He asked pointing to Niles' wrist.

"Oh it still hurts a little sir, but I have to admit it, I kind of brought it on myself." He said raising an eyebrow and clutching his wrist for effect.

"Yes well, now you know not to do it again." Maxwell said.

"Oh yes sir, never again." Niles said with a sarcastic tone. He stepped into his spot beside Maxwell and placed his hands behind his back. Yeah right, like he was going to let her get away with what she'd done. He had a plan already forming in his English head and if it turned out anything like it did in his head, he couldn't wait to see it live.

"Chastity, are you alright? You seem a little out of your element." D.D. Hand asked as she sat down on the couch next to her sister. D.D. was the carbon copy of C.C., except her hair was cut shorter and her eyes looked even colder, which didn't really fit her persona at all.

"Whatever do you mean? I'm content right where I am." She said as she looked up from her book she was reading.

"Well, you've barely spoken since you've got here, poor Tormund can't even get you to look at him, much less speak to him, what's going on with you?" She asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She looked back down at her book.

"Sis," DD groaned as she took the book from her lap and held it out of her reach as she groped for it. "You act as if someone took away your puppy." C.C. stared annoyingly at the wall. Oh the irony.

"I am just fine! There is nothing wrong with me, now give me back my book!" She said as she sat up on her knees and grabbed at the book again.

"Stop it petite bebe!" D.D. shouted in her French accent. They'd inherited their knowing of French from their mother's side, she'd taught them all a little something and she had always called C.C. that, seeing as she was the baby of the family. "Now look, you seem to be more annoyed that usual, is it that time of the month again or something like that?" She asked.

"No! I just want to read my damn book!" She screamed. She watched as her sister's face fell into a frown.

"C.C., you have got to tell me what's the matter. Did your boyfriend break up with you?" She asked.

"That's kind of hard to say when you haven't had a boyfriend in a year." She said as she placed her hand under her chin and propped her elbow on her knee.

"Oh, sorry. Please tell me what's wrong though. I'm worried about you."

"All right, fine I'll tell you. Maxwell has this new butler and he is really starting to get on my nerves. He's teased me ever since he met me, saying these horrible things about me, he even called me a dog!" She explained. D.D. nodded for her to go on. "But I got him back, I bit him on his wrist." She smiled proudly and her sister's eyes grew wide.

"You what? Chastity!" She scolded and C.C. just shrugged.

"He started it, that's my argument." She said.

"And that's why you're so pissy? Because of something a servant said?" She asked confused.

"Yeah, as weird as that may sound. It really hurt my feelings." She said.

"I can tell." The front door opened and in walked Tormund, D.D.'s husband.

"Honey!" She said excitedly as she jumped up from the couch and rushed to greet him. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Hello dear." He kissed her cheek and smiled down at her and she returned the smile, it made C.C. want to puke. She hated the lovey dovey stuff like that, but she guessed that's what married people did, she'd never seen her parents act that way for the short period she'd seen them married. "And of course hello to my favorite sister in law." He said as he looked over her and smiled at her. She smirked at him and then picked up her book and began to read again.

Tormund sighed and shook his head, he knew C.C. didn't like him very much and he never knew why. He'd always been good to her, but he just never could get her to like him whatsoever. He did know she did like something about him and that was the fact he was not troubled in the money department. His family had been oil tycoons, and when he'd met D.D., or Danielle as he called her more than anything else, he knew he'd found the right person for him. They lived on a ranch in Texas and C.C. couldn't help but love the fact they had horses for her to ride whenever she came, which wasn't very often.

"Sis, how long are you supposed to stay away from New York?" DD asked as she went back to the couch with Tormund following closely behind.

"Just a few more days then I'll be out of your hair for a while." She replied.

"You don't have to leave so soon, we'd love for you to visit for a little longer, it's nice to have family over." Tormund added in and for the first time in a long time, C.C. actually smiled up at him fully.

"Thanks Tor, but I really have to get back to work, I'm sure Maxwell is probably having a spasm because I'm sure Andrew Lloyd Webber has outdone him again." She said as she rolled her eyes.

"Just know our doors are always open for you." He added in and smiled.

"I appreciate that, and I have to ask you two a question," C.C. started and they both nodded. "When am I going to have a niece and nephew to dote on and spoil?" The pair looked at each with wide eyes.

"I had no idea you liked children C.C." D.D. asked.

"I do...I just can never remember their names." She said honestly and they all laughed.

"Hopefully soon, we need someone to leave our business to." Tormund replied.

"Good! Because mummy isn't going to get any children from me." She said.

"Why do you say that? You're what? Thirty-two? You still have time to get married and have children." DD said as she put her hand on her sister's knee.

"I doubt it highly. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going out to the barn., Satan I'm sure has missed me dearly." She smirked as she stood and then walked out the door.

"Miss Babcock! Did ya have a nice visit with your sister?" Fran asked as she opened the door for C.C. to enter.

"Yes Nanny Fine I did. Where's Maxwell?" She asked.

"He's in his awfice. You have no idea how we missed ya!" She said as she rushed after her.

"Is that pathetic excuse for a human being still here?" C.C. asked as she stood outside the office door. She was startled when the door opened and out walked the very man she had just been talking about. She narrowed her eyes at him and he did the same at her.

"Servant." She hissed.

"Miss Babcock." He replied.

"What? No insult?" Her face softened.

"Not at this moment, believe me, you'll get what's coming to you." He smiled and then walked off, leaving Fran with her lips pressed together tightly and a very nervous and wide-eyed C.C.

So was this chapter better than the last? I made C.C.'s sister nice because we never really heard much about her so maybe she could have been nice. I have no idea why I chose the name Tormund for her husband, but it just sounded like a dignified name haha. Like I said before, reviews make me want to update even faster, so please be kind! And let me know if you want me to change anything, I would love all the help I can get from you fantastic writers and readers!

Ashton