Hello all. :-) It's time for another chapter. I hope you'll like it. Thank you to everyone who reads, and an extra special thank you to everyone who reviews - the lovely reviews make my day. :-)

NOTE: Tomorrow I'm going home to visit my family. I don't know how long I'll be staying, but I'll either come back Thursday next week, or I'll be staying for nearly 2 weeks. My parents don't have wireless internet, but I'm going to upload chapter 9 to my Document Manager, so that way I'll be able to upload the next chapter using my parents' computer and internet. However, my mom's retired and my dad only work a couple of hours a day and is home from work early in the mornings, so I don't know when or even if I'll be able to post chapter 9. It's not that I'm not allowed to use their internet :-D but I just don't want to be bothered by them and have them ask me questions about what I'm doing online. Parents can be so nony. :-D But I'll see if I can't make it online when they've gone to bed, so hopefully I'll be able to post chapter 9 next Tuesday, though it'll probably be posted later than usual. If I stay home for nearly 2 weeks, then I should be home at my own place on Monday the 8th, which means I'll have no problem posting chapter 10 the following day. At least I don't expect to stay home longer than the 8th - I think spending nearly 2 weeks with my family is quite enough. :-D Okay, sorry for rambling like this, but just wanted to let you know that I might not be able to post next week's chapter on Tuesday, but I'll do my best. :-)

Chapter 8

As CC had left the locker room, she'd spotted Niles talking to Tracy. She'd quickly gotten angry and left the gym in a hurry without him noticing. When she'd arrived at the mansion for lunch, Niles had thrown a zinger about her not having showered. She'd thrown one back in his face about him having sprayed himself with Lemon Bowl Fresh, which came out a bit harsher than her normal zingers. He's frowned slightly, and she'd left in a hurry requesting her lunch in the office.

For the rest of the day CC had stayed in the office working and done her best to avoid Niles. However, Niles had been there to serve her tea and an afternoon snack. He'd also tried to dust in the office, but CC had ordered him out saying she needed silence when working. Feeling that something was a bit off, he'd obeyed her wishes, though they'd still bantered a bit every time, he'd been in the office.

CC had thought about turning down the invitation to stay for dinner if she was asked, but when Gracie asked, she couldn't turn the offer down after all.

Dinner hadn't been much different from the previous nights, and CC's angry mood towards Niles had subsided. However, when the children had left the table, she'd decided to head home like on the other nights.

The next day went much as the previous day with the exception of Niles and CC going to the gym, and without CC being angry at Niles. However, they'd bantered and thrown zingers at each other as they always did, which was much to Niles' delight, since they hadn't done much of that the previous day.

CC had decided to have her afternoon tea and snack with the children, and after helping Maggie with some homework, she'd returned to work in the office where she'd stayed until Brighton announced that dinner was ready. And just like on the previous nights, CC left after dinner.

When she was about to leave, she debated with herself if she should tell Niles, she wouldn't be there for breakfast as she was going to the gym. However, she merely told him that she had plans and that he shouldn't expect her for breakfast. He responded that he was heading for the gym after breakfast, and when she'd heard that, she made the decision to be at the gym much earlier than planned not wanting to end up being there with him again at the same time. He had wondered if she was heading for the gym too, but decided not to ask her about it. After that she'd quickly told him, she'd be there for lunch and had then left saying a quick goodbye leaving Niles sighing deeply.

At dinnertime the next day everyone was seated around the table just like the rest of the days during the week. Brighton looked around at everyone.

"Well, here we all are again." He looked at Maggie and smirked. "And once again a Friday night where Maggie's at home without being out on a date, because she has no social life and no boys like her."

Maggie was about to open her mouth to protest when CC beat her to it.

"And what does that say about you, Brighton? You're home too on a Friday night with no date in sight."

CC laughed as did the rest with the exception of Brighton. Gracie raised her water glass in toast to CC.

"Good one, Miss Babcock." Maggie nodded and looked at CC too.

"Yeah, and a really good one. Thanks." CC looked at Maggie and smiled.

"My pleasure." She then looked at Gracie and raised her glass toasting back.

Brighton gaped at the women and then looked to Niles for help.

"Niles, back me up here."

"Sorry, Brighton, but I actually agree with Miss Babcock." He looked around at four surprised faces and then nodded. "Yeah, surprised me too." He looked at CC and smirked. "Or rather scared me." She smirked back.

Brighton rolled his eyes and shook his head taking a sip of water before coming up with a response of his own.

"Well, it's not like you have a date either, Miss Babco…..ow!" He grabbed his leg and rubbed the part where he'd been kicked before looking at Gracie. "Gracie, why did you kick me? I didn't offend you. And all said was that Miss Babc….ow!" He started rubbing his other leg that Maggie had just kicked. "Why are you kicking me too? I can understand you wanting to kick me a few moments ago, but I didn't take a swing at you again. I merely said that Miss Babcock doesn't have a da…." He looked at CC, who was looking down in her plate and slowly toying with the food, and when he also saw Niles sending him a warning glare, he finally knew why he'd been kicked. He swallowed and cleared his throat looking apologetically at CC. "I'm sorry, Miss Babcock. I didn't mean to say that you…I'm mean I didn't mean to imply that you….that you have no…..eeehh that you're singl….." He shook his head and sighed. "Oy, I really don't know how to say this without saying the wrong thing."

CC chuckled slightly and looked at him.

"It's alright, Brighton. After all I took a swing at you, so you should be able to take a swing at me, right?"

Brighton merely shrugged fearing that a response would only bring him in deeper waters. Gracie then decided to smooth out the situation.

"When you look at it, we're all in the same boat. We're all without dates tonight." Brighton rolled his eyes.

"But, Gracie, you're too young to date." He then looked at Niles and smirked. "However, Niles, who's more than old enough, has no date either." Now Niles rolled his eyes and answered Brighton a little irritated.

"Yes, well thank you for that observation, Brighton." Brighton smirked at Niles feeling glad about having gotten back at him.

"My pleasure, Niles."

CC was happy to hear Niles' answer and how he'd responded. She wouldn't be surprised if the hussy from the gym wanted to get her claws into him. But she was grateful that it sounded like Niles hadn't been on a date with her, and that it didn't seem like he planned to. However, that didn't mean she had to like the hussy.

When Niles heard Maggie and Gracie chuckling slightly he groaned out loud and rolled his eyes.

"Can we please concentrate on something else?" Maggie nodded.

"Of course. Sorry, Niles."

"Thank you."

They continued eating their dinner while chitchatting about their day.

When they were done with dinner Gracie looked around at everyone.

"Well, seeing as we're all part of the 'alone club' tonight, how about we watch a movie together?" Brighton and Maggie nodded as Niles stood up.

"Good idea. Why don't the three of you pick a movie, while I clear the table and make the popcorn and prepare other snacks?"

CC fumbled with her napkin in a silly attempt to prolong her stay. Deciding that she couldn't avoid the inevitable, she put the napkin back on the table and stood up.

"I guess, I better be off then."

"But, Miss Babcock, aren't you staying?"

CC looked at Gracie surprised, and then looked at Maggie and Brighton, who like Gracie, smiled at her.

"You want me to watch the movie with you?"

"Well, in case you didn't hear what Grace said, she did mention that we're all part of the 'alone club' tonight, so that includes you. Do you want us to recap what was mentioned earlier about you not having a date tonight?" She glared at Niles, who had a big smirk plastered on his face.

"If you're not careful, Benson, I'm going to kick you a lot higher than where Maggie and Gracie kicked Brighton."

Maggie, Brighton, and Gracie grinned, a little, as they watched Niles retreating a few steps from CC. Brighton then cleared his throat.

"I think we better choose that movie now." Niles nodded.

"Yes, you do that, but no need to choose one with a real historic event." He pointed at CC with a smirk. "She's lived through all of them, so it would just be too boring for her to watch the movie version."

CC picked up the knife she'd used during dinner and started walking towards him rapidly. Niles quickly spun around and ran into the kitchen. She placed the knife back down on the table and laughed throatily. She might not always be able to throw him a good zinger to shut him up, but she was glad that she had other ways of getting at him.

She turned around and faced the children, who all had a small grin on their faces.

"Shall we go and choose that movie?"

They had ended up watching two comedies with one being a romantic comedy, and the living room had been filled with laughter for hours.

CC had a wonderful time and couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun. But towards the end of the second movie, she knew the evening was coming to an end when all the children started yawning.

When the second movie was over Niles looked around at everyone.

"Anyone interested in watching another movie?"

CC was hoping either Maggie, Brighton, or Gracie wouldn't be as tired as they seemed, and say yes. She knew that would be the only way she could stay, seeing as it would just seem too odd if she said yes to watching another movie.

However, Brighton shook his head standing up and stretched.

"I'm out, and off to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Brighton."

Maggie yawned and rubbed her eyes before standing up.

"I don't think I could keep my eyes open to watch another movie." Gracie nodded and stood up as well.

"I don't think I could either. And I would rather sleep in my own bed than in front of the TV." Niles chuckled and nodded.

"Then it's probably best if you go to bed. You're too big to carry to bed anyway." Gracie smiled at him.

"Goodnight, Niles." She then looked at CC. "Goodnight, Miss Babcock. Have a nice weekend." CC smiled back.

"Goodnight, Gracie. And thank you, you too." Maggie smiled at CC too.

"Goodnight, Miss Babcock. We'll see you on Monday." CC nodded.

"Goodnight, Maggie. Yes, see you then."

"Goodnight, Niles." He smiled at both of them.

"Goodnight, girls."

Assuming CC didn't want to stay and watch another movie with just him, Niles started to clean up. He could stand to her making jokes at him on a daily basis, knowing it was all in good fun, but he couldn't handle her turning down his offer to stay and watch another movie with him, when he'd be asking her sincerely. He feared that she'd just laugh in his face and make jokes.

Seeing that Niles started cleaning up, CC sighed deeply inwardly knowing that it was time to go home and spend a lonely weekend by herself. Knowing that Maggie had just told her, she'd see her on Monday and that Gracie had told her to have a nice weekend, she didn't think it would be appropriate to come to the house and work during the weekend. She thought it would just make her seem too desperate for company and too lonely. She didn't want anyone taking pity on her or feeling forced to spend time with her.

Wanting to spend as much time with Niles as possible before having to go home, CC stood up and started to help him, reaching out for the plate he was about to take.

"I'll get that." Niles raised his eyes a little in surprised, and then smiled. But he quickly replaced his smile with a smirk.

"Oh yes, I nearly forgot you were housetrained." She rolled her eyes, put the plate back down, and crossed her arms.

"If you're going to be like that, I'm not going to help you after all." He rolled his eyes.

"Oh, don't be such a big baby, Babcock. Come on, and give me a hand." She smirked.

"Okay, I guess I can do my bit for charity." He gave her an un-amused look, which just made her smirk at him even more.

She picked up the plate again, and a few other items, and then sauntered towards the kitchen. Without taking notice of it, she swayed her hips a bit more than usual. However, Niles took notice and enjoyed the little show making his mind wander. But when he felt a familiar stirring in his pants, he quickly sat down and took a few calming breaths until he was ready to clean up, and face CC again.

When he entered the kitchen CC was loading the dishwater.

"I didn't know you were this charitable." She just rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yada, yada, yada. What took you so long?" He shrugged.

"I just took an extra glance around the room wanting everything to be in its right place." She snickered.

"And here I thought it was because your old limbs were too stiff for you to keep up with me."

He stared wide eyed at her, but was thankful that she had started to put the rest of the things in the dishwasher, so that she didn't see him.

If she'd only known that one of his limbs had started to get stiff alright. And he would like to think that he could keep up with her, if he was ever given the chance. However, knowing that those fantasies would only ever be just that, he groaned not wanting to think about them now in case something started stirring again.

"Don't go there."

CC looked at him confused.

"Don't go where, Niles?" He looked at her like a dear caught in the headlights.

"Hmm?"

"You said 'don't go there', and I just asked where you shouldn't go. Are you alright? You seem a little pale." He cleared his throat and nodded at her smiling.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Then what did you mean?"

"Oh nothing." She cocked an eyebrow at him.

"You mumble something which doesn't make sense, then end up looking pale like you did a minute ago, and then end up telling me it meant nothing?" He nodded.

"Yes, exactly."

She crossed her arms, gave him a slight glare, and got a bit angry. If there was any chance of him feeling ill, she wanted to know. She didn't want him to have another heart attack. But feeling she couldn't come right out and tell him that without it ending in him ridiculing her, she had to find a different approach to making him tell her what was going on.

"I don't buy that crap for a minute. Now just tell me what's going on." Knowing she wouldn't let it go, he came up with a lie. He feigned a groan of annoyance for effect.

"I was just considering whether I should stay up and watch a scary movie. But I remembered that I'm not particularly fond of them, so I guess the thought alone just made me a little frightened and pale."

Inwardly she sighed in relief that he hadn't been feeling ill. But not being able to show him that, she laughed instead and then mocked him.

"Oh don't tell me that you're afraid of a little, itty-bitty, scary movie? Are you scared that there'll be a monster under your bed? A big hairy, scary monster that's going to eat you while you sleep?"

She laughed throatily. Niles just shook his head. He didn't mind her laughing at his expense as long as it meant, she wouldn't keep asking about what he'd meant. However, when a comeback was so inviting, it was impossible for him to resist throwing a zinger her way.

"Yes, I know it's quite ridiculous to be scared of a scary movie. You'd think I wouldn't be scared of that seeing as I'm around a scary monster like you all the time." She stopped laughing and then groaned at the big smirk plastered on his face.

She went back to loading the dishwasher and then started it up.

"There. All taken care of."

"You're quite good at that. I think you should do that every day, you're here." She smirked at him.

"No, I wouldn't dream of stealing part of your job. After all, I assume that loading the dishwasher is a lot more fun then scrubbing the toilets, or washing everyone's dirty underwear." He rolled his eyes knowing, she was right. CC looked around the kitchen to see if there was something else to help with. But when there was nothing left to do, she realized she couldn't prevent the inevitable any longer. "Well, I guess I better be off."

Niles nodded realizing there was nothing keeping her at the house. He would love for her to stay longer knowing that he wouldn't be seeing her for the entire weekend, but seeing as she'd stayed later than she'd done on the other nights of the week, he sought comfort in that.

"Allow me to throw you out then." She rolled her eyes at the smirk plastered on his face, and then started walking towards the front door.

Niles sighed when she was out of the kitchen, but then soon followed her.

When he reached the living room she was already standing by the front door with Chester in her arms. He wouldn't have been surprised if she'd left without saying a word, but he was glad she'd waited for him. Though at the same time, he couldn't quite figure out why she'd waited. Deciding that it was impossible to come up with an explanation, he decided not to think more about it.

"Well, Hazel, I'll see you on Monday."

"That'll only happen if someone hasn't left a rock on top of your coffin." CC groaned while Chester let out a small bark. Niles smiled at the dog and scratched it on the head. "Don't worry, Chester. If that happens, I'll come and get you." She then smirked at him.

"That'll only happen if your old stiff limbs can carry you all the way to my apartment."

"Oh god not again."

She watched him close his eyes and groan, which made her utterly confused. She didn't really think the jibe had been that funny. However, deciding she wouldn't be able to get an honest answer out of Niles if she asked him about it, she thought it would be best to leave.

"Bye, Rochester. Try not to work too hard during the weekend."

He nodded at her but didn't really dare look at her directly.

"Mmhmm, you too, Babcock."

She shook her head still being confused and then left. Like the other nights, Niles watched her leave until he couldn't see her any longer. Once he closed the door, he leaned against it taking some calming breaths before he was ready to walk properly.

When he pushed himself off the door, he sighed heavily before walking around the house turning off the lights and locking the doors.

It was going to be one hell of a long weekend to get through.

TBC