Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to any of the characters of 'The Nanny.'
A/N Pretty much my all time favorite TV couple. I know it's a long time coming, but I really wanted to finally get the story out on paper. Well, I guess it's not really paper but you understand…
Time To Tell - CC
Chas…come on, Chas, you need to wake up." The voice was familiar but seemed far away. CC couldn't be sure she'd heard anything at all. "Chastity Clair Babcock, I said wake up!" CC shot up in her bed in the guest room and searched it with her eyes.
"Who's there? Niles if this is some game I'll kill you." CC new she'd heard that voice before, but Niles didn't know her full name. "Mother, Dad, DD, Noel, Sara, no one else."
"It's alright, CC. You didn't have that much to drink, it's just a dream, but you really have to listen." The familiar voice spoke sternly to her.
"I don't understand, why can't I see you?" CC asked the voice.
"Well, I wanted you make sure you were ready. I don't want an emergency call to Dr. Bort." The voice knew CC very well.
CC's faced showed her shock as the wispy vision became clearer and more real at the foot of her bed. "Hey, Chas, I've missed you."
"Why did I eat that Chinese food? Even some of Niles' left over Rosemary Chicken would've been better." CC rubbed her eyes several times yet the vision didn't change. "This doesn't happen."
The spirit stood before her looking as if it were the last time they'd been together. This spirit, which now seemed very real, climbed up and sat next to CC. "No, Chas, Niles' Rosemary Chicken has sage in it, you're allergic."
CC made a face. "I'd take a little itching over hallucinations any day.
The spirit whispered. "Look behind you, Chas."
CC turned and looked behind where she sat and saw herself still asleep. "I'm gonna be sick," CC said flatly.
"Chas, come on, I have another appointment. We need to get to this." The figure cut to it.
"You still have appointments?" CC asked, "For what?"
"Yes, for special occasions." The figure answered.
"If I'm still sleeping…" CC paused. "…then how can I be here, talking, too?"
"I told you, Chas, it's just a dream. But an important dream, that's why all the dramatics. You know that was always more of Max's thing." The figure put its hand on CC's leg. "Ya ready?"
CC nodded. "This isn't going to be some sort of bizarre flight over the city showing me all the people I've been terrible to, is it? I'd really rather just get some sleep."
The figure smiled at her. "I really have missed you, Chas. No, we're not leaving this room. We're just going to watch a little…home movie if you will."
"Oh great, just what I need on Christmas Eve!" CC tried to smile. "I'll never forgive you for this."
The figure sat on CC's bed and watched as faint pictures moved across the wall. "Do you remember this day?" CC nodded as she saw a younger version of herself in a pretty sailor suit. Nanny Bobo took me to the park. "She needed an excuse to see her boyfriend the Carter's gardener. I couldn't have been more than six years old."
"That's right. Do you remember what happened there?" CC nodded. The picture changed and the little blonde girl in a sailor suit was being pushed around by another group of girls. CC watched as the younger version of her was pushed to the ground.
"Hey…leave her alone!" The other girls ran off and a young boy with reddish blonde hair extended his hand to help her up from the ground. "Are you alright?" CC looked up at him and a tear slipped out of her clear blue eyes. CC watched herself in amazement.
Little CC sniffled. "They said that I have a nanny 'cause no one loves me and no one ever will."
The boy shook his head. "Hey, don't let them bother you." He brushed the tear away. "And don't ever let anyone push you around. No one can tell you who you are. You're strong and you're beautiful. You make your own way."
"You're very handsome," CC said and giggled.
The young boy blushed and lowered his eyes. "Thanks, but my friend is the handsome one."
The little girl looked over the boys shoulder and lifted his chin. "Nah…to pretty." They laughed. The boy looked like he was about to speak but Nanny Bobo came up and pulled CC off.
The figure spoke. "That little boy changed your life that day, CC. You never let anyone ever pick on you again…well, almost. Let's watch the next one, shall we?"
CC just nodded still thinking about that little boy.
The pictures changed to Max's college graduation. He was with Sara talking to a man CC thought looked familiar, but she only saw him from the back as he walked away from them.
"Sara!" CC called. "I have been looking all over for you!"
"CC!" Sara hugged the CC tightly. "Max, this is my dearest friend in the world. CC Babcock. She's a business and finance major, minoring in Theatre." Sara leaned in pretending to whisper. "She's brilliant."
Max smiled at CC as she rolled her eyes at the praise. "It's nice to finally meet you, CC. I may be in need of your services after you graduate."
"Max is going to produce plays and musicals!" Sara beamed at her friend.
CC grinned. "I love the theatre. Are you going to America?"
"Eventually, I want to get my feet wet here first." Max answered. "Still, I imagine we'll be seeing a lot of each other in the mean time. Since you're Sara's best friend an all." Max pulled Sara in for a hug and kissed her cheek.
"I was so happy for them." CC recalled.
The figure spoke. "Chas, you know Max barely graduated Oxford. He had the help of a dear friend." CC looked a little confused. It was that man who was leaving as you arrived." CC nodded.
When the next pictures started to flash on the wall CC shook her head. "No, please don't make me watch these. I can't go through it again."
"Alright, Chas, I won't make you watch. But this one part, you must see." The figure touched CC's shoulder.
CC sniffled, "Alright."
"Miss Babcock, Miss Babcock..." Niles sighed heavily at the sight of the drunken CC lying on the office sofa. Niles lifted CC easily off the sofa and carried her up to the guest room where she'd stayed often. "I don't know who taught you that the bottle was the way to handle grief, but if I ever find out I'll personally ring their neck." Niles softly kicked the door open and easily pulled down the blankets and laid CC in the bed. He slipped off her shoes and covered her. Got a glass of water and two aspirin from the bathroom and put them on the table. "I miss her too, my friend. I miss her too." Niles looked at her for a moment and brushed a lock of hair from her face. "Sleep peacefully, Miss Babcock." Then Niles turned and left the room.
"Wow…I never knew…I mean I always suspected it had to be Niles, Max was so…" CC started to explain.
"Wait…" The figure cut her off. There's more, CC. Keep watching."
"…What the hell do you mean you don't know?" Niles barked at Max who sat drunk at his desk.
"I don't remember, Niles. We ate dinner and we drank and she was dancing with some guy so I left." Max slurred at him.
Niles grabbed the very drunk Max by the collar and yelled. "You just left her there drunk with some guy? Where?"
"Where what?" Max tried to focus.
"The bar, Max, what bar where you drinking in?" Niles spat.
"Baker Street on 63rd." Max whined. Niles exploded out of the house and the pictures on the wall changed to just outside 'Baker Street'.
"Sure, baby, I can take you home." The surly man oozed as he supported a very drunk CC coming out of the bar. "We just need to make one stop first."
"Oh…" CC paused. "I don't think that's a good idea. I have to work tomorrow."
Niles barely waited for the cab to stop before he leapt out of the back and called to the driver, "Wait!" Niles made it to CC and the man in three steps. "Hey, you…get your hands off my wife!"
The man and CC shared a look of shock. "Oh, Niles, Honey…" CC extended an arm for him.
The man spat at Niles. "How do I know you're her husband? I think she really wants to go home with me." He tried to pull CC back.
Niles grabbed CC from the man. "If I wasn't, would I come out at all hours of the night looking for her?"
CC fell into Niles' arms. "Oh, Niles…do you really love me?"
Niles looked into CC's red rimmed eyes. "Of course, my love. Always have, always will." Niles swept CC into his arms and carried her back to the taxi.
CC cried. "I had no idea I let myself get so bad. I don't even remember that."
"Do you want to see what happens next?" The figure asked. "We could skip it; it's a little sappy, really."
"No…" CC said. "I'd like to see it, please."
The pictures changed again. Niles opened the door to CC's apartment and sat her on the sofa. He closed the door and went to the kitchen to get her a glass of water and some aspirin. When he came around the counter heading back to her she threw a vase of flowers at his head. She missed. "CC…what the hell is that for?"
"Why are you in my apartment, Niles?" CC slugged off her coat.
Niles didn't mention Max. "You had a little too much to drink and I wanted to see you home safely." He handed her the water and medicine and she took them.
"He didn't blame Max?" CC looked at the figure.
"I'm going to be sick." CC tried to stand and fell into Niles.
Niles lifted her again. "Let's get to the bathroom, then." He took her back to the bathroom and she dropped to the floor and started emptying her stomach. Niles carefully pulled back her hair and ran some water on a washcloth. When she'd finished, Niles handed her the cloth and helped her to stand. She leaned on the sink and quickly cleaned her mouth and Niles helped her get into bed and pulled up the covers. Niles turned to leave and asked, "Do you need anything else?"
"Don't leave, Niles. Stay 'til I fall asleep…please." CC's eyes fluttered.
Niles sat on the edge of the bed. "Alright."
"Niles?" CC started.
"Yes, Miss Babcock?" Niles responded.
"You really love me?" CC's eyes closed.
"Of course, my love. Always have, always will." Niles leaned down and kissed her forehead waited for her to fall asleep and left.
"I don't believe it. It's always been Niles, hasn't it?" CC turned to look at the spirit. "Why am I not surprised to hear myself say it?"
"This is the last part. Taking each of the pictures we've seen as separate entities, each apart from the other the outcomes of your life would have been very different save for one consistency. That's the lesson you must learn tonight. I want you to know these next images are merely shadows. Are you ready?"
"What must Ia learn?" CC asked.
"Just watch, Chas…watch and you'll see…" The voice responded. The boy in the park that day…his name is Niles…"
CC's eyes grew big. "Niles? My…"
The figure smiled. "That's right CC… Your Niles. If he hadn't been there to stop those girls and say what he did… This is where you would be today…
"Hey! I'm home!" He was a large and angry looking man in a very expensive suit. "Chastity, where the hell are you! Why aren't you here with my damn drink?"
A very different looking CC runs into the room. She's still beautiful, but the spark, the fire is gone. Her eyes are dull and she looks desperately sad. "I'm sorry, John, I'm sorry. The delivery man was at the back door and I…" CC didn't get to finish before his hand came across her face with a loud crack taking CC to the floor.
CC's mouth was bleeding and she was shaking as she looked up and begged the man. "Please, John, I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
"Screwing the delivery man? You're nothing but a whore. Chastity… what a joke. If it wasn't for your money I'd have been gone a long time ago." John hauled CC up off the floor and tossed her into a chair. "Don't bother with dinner, I've got a date. Don't wait up." The ape left the room and CC crumbled into a ball and sobbed.
"I don't believe it. I'd never have…" CC started very angrily.
The figure stopped her. "Yes, Chas…that's exactly what you'd have… If Niles hadn't been there that day to stop the tormenting and give a little girl some affection and empowerment, it's exactly where you'd be."
CC opened her mouth to complain. "Now," The figure continued. "Let's see the next 'might have been'. The man I said helped Max get through school…the one you saw leaving he and Sara the day of his graduation? That was Niles, too. The Sheffield's paid for Niles to go to Eton and Oxford so he could help Max; with, the 'condition' that he'd train as a butler and work for Max after graduation."
"I didn't know… He never said anything." CC blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.
"He's never told anyone, Chas. Even Max doesn't know about the 'condition'." The figure relayed.
The pictures started moving around again…
The next set of pictures started flashing up on the screen. Andrew Lloyd Webber paced in his office. "Sheffield!...Sheffield, where are you with those scripts!"
Max came running into the office carrying a large pile of scripts and managed to trip on his way to putting them on the desk. "I'm sorry, Mr. Webber. I'll get this mess cleaned up straight away."
"You know, Sheffield, I had hoped you'd over come failing out of school. I mean, it's been quite some time. But you've been here for years and you're still not doing very well." Andrew Lloyd-Webber wasn't cross with Max more embarrassed for him.
Max was stacking the scripts on Mr. Webber's desk. "I'm sorry, Mr. Webber, I'll try harder. I really love my work. And my wife, you've met her, Sara? We've just had another baby, that's three and I can't afford to lose this job."
"If your father hadn't invested a huge amount of money in my company, I'd have never given you the job. Why don't you just ask your father for money?" Webber practically scoffed.
Max looked at the floor. "My parents cut me off and rescinded my trust fund when I failed out of school. After all, according to them it wasn't rocket science it was a theatre program."
"Well," Webber started. "I suppose you can stay on as long as you don't get in anyone's way."
"Oh, thank you, Sir. I'll keep out of the way, Sir. Thank you, Sir." Max backed out of the office.
CC stared at the wall. "Max works for Andrew Lloyd Webber? I can't believe it. Why aren't I there? Why aren't we partners?"
"Max didn't graduate, Chas. You went to work for your father," The figure said flatly.
CC sighed heavily. "I don't like where this is going…"
"Come on, we've got more to watch. These aren't going to be easy, Chas." The figure placed a hand on CC's shoulder. "You remember the pictures of Niles tracking you down and taking you home?" CC nodded. "Well, that happened rather…often just after Sara…"
CC interrupted, "Please, don't say it, I get your meaning…"
"Very well, but you must know that it happened much the same each time…" The figure moved away.
CC watched herself being supported by the surly man from the earlier pictures.
"Almost there, baby. We're almost there."
CC looked up. "This isn't my apartment building."
"No, baby, this is my apartment building." CC tries to pull away from the man. "Easy now, baby, I promise you'll like it, just be still while I get my key."
CC tried to pull away. "I asked you to take me home." CC continued to struggle with the man.
"I am takin' you home…my home. Now shut up and behave or I may have to get rough." The surly man oozed. He found his key, opened the door and shoved CC inside.
CC sobbed softly. "I didn't say yes…" She whispered to herself. "I didn't give in…"
The pictures changed again to CC lying in bed crying. "Get out," The surly man said from next to her. "And thanks for the party. Maybe I'll run into you again." The man laughed. He passed by her and tossed CC's dress onto the bed as he went into the bathroom and closed the door.
CC moved slowly, got dressed and left the apartment solemnly with her shoulders low.
CC watched knowing what happened without having to 'see' what happened. CC sobbed and her shoulders shook from it. "How many times did that happen?"
"It never happened. Not once. I told you these are shadows of what might have been, if not for that one consistency."
CC blinked back the shock in her eyes. "Niles…right? But…why?"
"You'll see…later. Chas," The figure stood and stepped away. "This is the last one, Chas. You need to see how you've behaved…it needs to change, Chas. It needs to change now."
CC looked at the figure, "Why? What's going to happen?" CC asked. The figure just nodded at the wall.
The pictures starting moving again, and CC saw herself lying in her bed, light was streaming in through the slip in her bedroom curtains. She stirred lightly and the picture moved to Niles sleeping in a chair next to her bed.
CC sprang up in her bed. "What in the hell are you doing here!" CC shrieked at him.
Niles nearly fell out of the chair with a start. "I was brought you home and you passed out. I was afraid something…"
CC pulled the covers up around her. "Why in the hell did you stay?"
Niles looked nearly broken. "You asked me to."
"Get out!" CC turned her face away from his eyes. "Get out now, Niles!"
Niles stood slowly. Handed her the glass of water and aspirin from the nightstand and left the room. CC took the pills and the minute she heard the front door of her apartment close she broke down and cried.
"Niles is right about me. I am a cold hearted bitch." CC wept.
The figure smirked. "Niles' has never said that, Chas. Yes, he's called you the Ice Queen. But if you look beyond the words…" The figure sighed. "Chas…listen to your heart instead of your mother's voice in your head. Please just once, for me." The figure was nearly gone now. "I'm going to leave you with one more set of pictures…remember and learn my dear friend. I've missed you. Don't waste anymore time, Chas. It's time to tell. Tell him. Take care of yourself…and take care of him. I'll miss you, Chas. I'll miss you."
CC looked up at the darkness. "I'll miss you too, Sara. Good-bye my friend."
The pictures on the wall moved around again and CC recognized what she saw all too well.
Niles' face went ghostly white and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed. Then CC was sobbing at his side. "Please, God, no. Don't you dare die on me, Niles."
The pictures changed again to CC in the ambulance with the unresponsive Niles. The paramedics worked quickly taking Niles' vital signs and putting in his IV. CC cried, like she'd never recalled crying before, not even when Sara… "Niles…please don't die." CC whispered. CC bent down next to his ear and whispered again. "Don't give up Niles. I need you…I…love you." CC wept again.
"Oh my God, I did say it." CC listened to her own voice say the words. "I love Niles."
Then the pictures moved and changed one last time. CC was sitting next to Niles' bed and the doctor was standing over Niles. CC leaned down, lightly kissed his lips and whispered again. "It's always been you, Niles. I love you." Then she left and that's when she heard it.
"Love you...CC." Niles barely whispered.
CC's head dropped into her hands and she wept. She doesn't remember when she laid back down or went back to sleep or if she'd even been awake. But she remembered Sara, she was as real as she'd ever been and she came to tell CC something important. She was who she was in large part due to the love of a man. A man, up until that night, CC thought hated her.
There was a light knock on CC's bedroom door. "Miss Babcock?" The familiar nasal tones rang out from the other side of the door. "Are ya up yet?"
"Come on in, Fran." CC called to the door. "I can be ready in two shakes." Fran watched in shock as CC nearly leapt out of bed and threw on her robe and pulled a brush through her long blonde locks. "Come on…it's Christmas!"