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Chapter 3

When the ceremony had finally started it had proceeded as planned and once it was over, the reception proceeded as planned as well. Maxwell and Fran had been worried about how their families and friends would get along seeing as they were all so different from each other, but they were relieved that everyone was getting along and enjoying themselves. However, their focus had mainly been on each other since the reception began and at the moment it was no different.

Niles looked from his place in the corner of the room and watched Maxwell and Fran dance and kiss. He smiled to himself. Fran was finally Mrs. Sheffield, and he was thrilled about that. He looked around the room at all the happy faces. It made him smile as well, and he realized that he'd actually had a wonderful time so far.

As Maxwell's best man, he'd been sitting at the head table with Fran and Maxwell and the closets family members. But when dinner was over and everyone had started to mingle, he'd walked around chatting with everyone from both sides of the families. He'd had quite a good time talking to Fran's family and friends, but had also quickly come to the realization that they were all a lot like Fran. Loud and nasal.

He glanced around at Maggie, Brighton, and Gracie and it warmed his heart to see how happy they were about their father finally marrying Fran. His eyes then caught CC, who had just taken a seat after dancing with Yetta. The sight of them dancing together had made him smile and laugh, but that was also the only time CC had made him smile during the reception.

During the evening he'd kept a close eye on her. She'd been seated next to some of Maxwell's acquaintances, but far away from the main table. He'd watched her try to make conversation with the people, she was seated next to and also after dinner, but no one had really seemed to want to talk to her. The single men she'd tried talking to seemed more interested in Fran's single, female friends and family members, and they hadn't really bothered giving CC the time of day. That meant that she'd pretty much been left to herself for most of the evening so far, and it broke his heart to see her so sad.

Deciding to cheer her up, he walked over to the bar and got two glasses of whiskey, and then walked over to where she was sitting.

"Miss Babcock, I thought you might like to have this."

She looked up and was glad to see Niles standing in front of her smiling at her and was even happier when he took a seat next to her. Then she looked at the whiskey he was offering her. She sighed but kept smiling a little and took the drink.

"Thanks, Niles, but you know, I'm not really supposed to do that. I promised myself that I wouldn't really allow myself that kind of hard liquor anymore."

After getting out of The Place, she'd promised herself that she'd turn her life around for the better. Although she'd quit smoking a long time ago, she'd still allowed herself the occasional cigarette whenever she was anxious or nervous. However, she'd now completely given them up not feeling the need or want for them anymore. She had also started exercising regularly and eating healthier wanting to get rid of all the weight she'd gained. Because of her depression she'd taken medication, which had been the reason for the weight gain. She was ashamed, embarrassed, and disgusted with herself of how much weight she'd gained, and she was determined to do her best to get back to her normal weight. Knowing that she wasn't beautiful on the inside, she thought that by losing all the weight, she'd at least look half decent on the outside, and maybe then men would look her way again.

Her drinking habits had changed too. She knew that most times in the past, she could control her intake of hard liquor. But she also knew that if she hadn't started to watch it and turn things around, she could've very well turned into an alcoholic, if she wasn't careful. However, she would still allow herself alcohol, but not in large dosages. When a meal called for wine, she'd have that, and she would not deny herself drinks, champagne, or any kind of alcoholic beverages when the occasion called for it. However, she'd decided that she no longer needed to drown her sorrows in hard liquor, so she'd sworn to herself that she would stop having a drink in the afternoon when working, or at night when she was by herself and feeling lonely and depressed.

However, knowing how miserable she'd been for most of the evening, and knowing that this was a happy occasion, where she could actually allow herself such a drink, she decided to have the whiskey. Thinking that having a slight buzz wouldn't be so bad right now and might actually cheer her up, she gulped the drink down and emptied the glass.

Niles stared a little wide eyed at her.

"And just how many times have you not done that tonight?"

Knowing that he didn't fully know of her decision to change her life for the better, she thought she might as well let him believe that she'd had plenty to drink already. Putting on the act she thought about her answer for a few seconds.

"Oh, I'd say about seven."

She heard him chuckle and saw him slightly shake his head, but was glad when he didn't throw a zinger her way. He then looked at her after taking a sip from his own drink.

"Well, the wedding is a very happy occasion, and a perfect reason to celebrate." She nodded and smiled.

"Yes, it is."

"Then why don't you look happy? A few hours ago you convinced Mrs. Sheffield to get married and you said that you fully support the marriage. Your lack of displaying happiness wouldn't be because you've changed your mind, would it?"

He didn't think that was the reason, but he wanted to make sure. He was relieved when she shook her head.

"No, absolutely not. I meant what I said. I fully support Maxwell and Fran's marriage, and I wish them nothing but happiness and love." He nodded and then asked a bit more softly.

"Then what's with the mood?" She sighed and realized she might as well tell him.

"There are a lot of single men here, but not one of them seems to take an interest in me. They're all too busy looking at Fran's female friends and family members. I guess a woman who's young, thin, brainless, and wears a low cut and short dress is what they want more than an old, bulky, matron dressed woman like me. I might as well just give up on ever finding a man, who'll look at me that way. My life just seems so over."

He sighed at hearing her describing herself like that, and without thinking he said what he was thinking.

"Honestly, Miss Babcock, why do you always underestimate yourself when you have so much to offer a man? Just look at you. You're beautiful, you're sexy, you're witty, you're sophisticated, you're smart, you'r…." He stopped talking when she looked at him like he'd grown an extra head.

However, thinking he was clearly drunk, she rolled her eyes and nodded her head towards his glass of whiskey in his hand.

"And just how many times have you done that tonight?"

He quickly looked into his drink being relieved that she thought he was drunk, when he'd confessed what he thought of her.

"Um, about ten." He quickly gulped down the rest of his drink for effect, and was relieved to watch her nod her head from the corner of his eye. Knowing she thought he was probably half or completely drunk, he saw it as the perfect opportunity to ask her to dance. He put his empty glass down on the table behind him, and then stood up reaching his hand out to her. "Come on, Babs. Dance with me."

He was thrilled to see her flash a full and happy smile at him, and a shiver ran through his body when he felt her place her hand in his.

"Alright, Butler Boy, you're on."

He pulled her to her feet and seconds later they were out on the floor dancing perfectly together as if they'd done it their entire lives, and not just on a few occasions in the past.

After dancing in comfortable silence for a while, Niles decided to find out something that he'd been thinking about since CC showed up at the wedding.

"So, Miss Babcock, I was wondering. Why did you arrive so late for the wedding? Obviously it wasn't because you didn't want to watch Mr. Sheffield get married."

CC smiled a little. Despite the pranks, the insults, the banter, and the zingers, she could always count on Niles to take notes of her, even if it wasn't the kind she really wanted. After all, he was the only one, who'd visited her at The Place. Never one to be completely honest and open, she did feel comfortable enough to be honest with Niles.

"My father was visiting. He's been out of town on business for quite some time, but got back last night. He called me to ask if he could stop by, and even though I knew I had plans, I didn't want to say no. Not seeing as he's already going out of town again tomorrow. We ended up having such a good time that I completely lost track of time."

He couldn't help but smile softly at hearing what she'd said. He was happy that she was closer to her father now than she'd been, when he'd been at the mansion a few years ago. Having heard her talking to her father on the phone at the mansion, and heard her mentioning having dinner or lunch dates with him, he knew for a fact just how much closer they'd become. And he couldn't be happier for her.

"It's nice that you've gotten closer to your father."

"Yeah, I'm really happy about that. I've gotten closer to DD as well, and even closer to Noel, though we've always been rather close. I finally feel like I'm part of a family, and it feels great."

He could see how vulnerable she looked. She really had been lacking close family ties over the years, and once again his heart broke for her. He might've had issues with his parents over the years and particular his mother, who insisted he follow in his father's footsteps even though he wanted to do something different with his life. However, he had always had loving parents, who cared and loved him, who took an interest in him and who spent time with him, and that had mattered more to him than anything else.

"I'm very happy for you, Miss Babcock."

She looked into his eyes and could tell that he was being completely honest. She felt a warmth spread through her heart and smiled softly at him.

"Thank you, Niles." He smiled back at her just as softly.

"You're welcome."

Niles and CC continued to dance for a long time while chatting and bantering, and stayed together for the rest of the evening.

TBC