Hello, Hello!:) Oy...I'm really sorry for this delay. Tuesday night after my last chapter something really horrible happened to two of my friends and I stayed with them till early in the morning. I was quite shaken afterwards and tried to write...but just nothing came into my head. So I wrote this chapter...well, essentially yesterday and today...it's not brilliant, but it's at least something and I hope I haven't let you down too much! Anyway, happy fluffy Niles/CC stuff coming up...hopefully that'll conceal my dreadful writing. Right, for those of you in the USA Lauren Lane will be on Fran's new talk show on Tuesday. Can any of you watch it? lol I'm over here dying of jealousy! Next update will hopefully be ready by Wednesday, I'll try my best. Read and review and cheer me up, please!

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine...I just have an unhealthy addiction and like to toy with em!

Chapter 6: Confusing Love

Niles led her up the stairs; brushing his thumb over her skin to ensure himself that she was really still there holding his hand. They made it as far as her bedroom and once the door was closed C.C. turned him around and kissed him again. He moaned against her lips and she used the opportunity to dip her tongue into his mouth. Once his touched hers, however, both realised that they were heading towards dangerous territory, and with a lot of effort Niles finally pulled away.

"You drive me crazy," he said hoarsely and nearly groaned when she merely grinned naughtily.

"Well, we're both adults," she said shrugging after a while "and I'm sure we've both done it plenty of times. I know that I want you, so you just have to make up your mind."

And she seductively ran her hands up and down his chest.

"Don't think that I don't want this," he replied, stopping her movements by tenderly taking her hands in his "but you're hurt and I don't want to take the risk."

"Oh, will you stop babbling on about that stupid injury?" she snapped and he smiled and placed a kiss on her knuckles "I could take you now and drive you to ecstasy so that you think you're the one with the head wound."

He laughed silkily at that and said: "No doubt. But be patient, my love, sooner or later I won't be able to resist."

"Alright," she said nodding, seemingly content "but you're still staying with me tonight. So would you help me undress? You know, I am feeling a little dizzy."

It was a lie, of course, if anything she was craving him. She might not remember what she had been like or what they had been like, but she was certain she knew how to get what she wanted.

"Ok," Niles agreed, still looking a bit suspicious.

"I'll just sit down on the bed and you can undress me."

Niles swallowed, feeling something stirring in his pants again. Carefully he kneeled before her and slowly unbuttoned her blouse. The silky fabric brushed against his fingers and awakened a memory that made him feel even warmer. Her full breasts were restricted by the bra she was wearing and he cursed his desire to touch her. When he was done, he helped her rise to her feet again and pushed the blouse over her shoulders. He could've sworn that he heard her sigh and smiled when he saw goose bumps covering her skin.

"Are you cold?" he whispered, rounding her and pressing his lips against her neck.

"A little," she answered breathlessly.

His smile broadened as he wrapped his arms around her, the palms of his hands resting on her firm stomach while his lips trailed kisses down to her shoulder.

"Could you unhook my bra?" she requested.

With the lightest brush of his fingertips he undid the clasp. Once opened he placed both of his warm hands on her shoulders blades and gently pushed the bra over her shoulders. He then reached for her pyjamas which were hidden beneath her pillow and held the top out for her so she could slip her arms into it. From his place behind her he could only make out the mounds of her well-formed breasts and, for his own sake, refrained from taking a closer look. She buttoned up the top by herself and then undid her pants and kicked them off. She turned around with a winning smile and asked sweetly:

"Could you possibly hand me my pyjama bottoms?"

Niles blushed, having been caught admiring her long legs, and did as he was asked.

"I know you can't remember, but I still wonder if you'd always be this confident." he voiced as she continued dressing.

"I think it is you," she stated matter-of-factly, while her fingers were busy unbuttoning his dress-shirt and tugging it out of his pants.

"What do you mean?" he asked confused, but let her work.

"You're right, of course, that I cannot remember. But I feel safe around you somehow and I know that you appreciate what you see."

"I certainly do," he growled and pulled her closer until both her hands were resting against his naked torso.

C.C. smiled and lightly pecked his lips before she let go off him and disappeared underneath the covers of the bed. Niles just took off his shoes and socks, before joining her.

"Sweet dreams, Butler Boy," C.C. said with the soft purr of a woman who knows exactly how to work a man.

"Good night," he replied as she snuggled into the crook of his arm.

The next morning Maxwell Sheffield found himself in a peculiar situation. He had got out of bed experiencing the mild guilt that only goyims could live with and he had then proceeded into the dining room. To his surprise, however, he discovered that it was completely deserted and that not even the table had been set. A little while later he was joined by his three children who merely gave him angry looks and took their seats without any comments whatsoever. Finally he had enough and, banging his fists on the table, exclaimed:

"Has this entire house gone insane? My children aren't talking to me, my business partner went and got herself injured and is now conveniently suffering from amnesia! My Nanny is suddenly overly sensitive and has quit and my butler who claimed to hate my business partner has completely disappeared with her! There is no breakfast on the table, my newspaper isn't here and as I'm speaking Andrew Lloyd Webber has probably produced another hit!"

Nothing but silent awkwardness followed until Max directed his gaze towards the door and saw Fran standing there, hands on her hips.

"Well, I was gonna ask if ya'd missed me but after that speech...Oh and the oversensitive Nanny ordered take-out, because she could tell with her big nose that breakfast hadn't been prepared. So when the bell rings you might wanna get off ya tuchus coz otherwise ya'll starve!"

And with that she turned around and exited the room. Her anger nearly carried her out of the house completely but then she thought about the children and decided to look for Niles instead. When she didn't find him in his room she grew slightly worried and so went to check on C.C.

"Miss Babcock?" she called, softly knocking on the door.

Unfortunately her voice didn't have the same gentle quality and so she stared in surprise when the butler emerged looking clearly disgruntled and signalling her to be quiet.

"She's still fast asleep," he explained while Fran looked him up and down.

He was bare-foot, his dress pants crinkled, his shirt halfway undone and his hair a mess.

"Niles, you dog!" she exclaimed, elbowing him in the ribs.

"Shh," he told her again and guided her away from the room "what are you doing here?"

"It's 9 o'clock and breakfast isn't ready."

"Yes, I can see why that would worry you." he said, sotto voice.

"Meanwhile, what happened with you and Miss Babcock? I thought you hated her!"

"Hate is a strong word..." he said evasively.

"What happened then? Did ya put dishwater in her coffee again and had to test her mouth for any left traces?"

"Nothing happened." he insisted.

"Why do ya have red lipstick on ya mouth then?"

"Where?" he grumbled, frantically trying to wipe it off.

"Nowhere! But ya clearly kissed her then!" she cried out triumphantly.

Niles glared at her, although he was more angry with himself for not realising the trap. "Yes, I did." he conceded by stating the obvious.

"But how did this happen? Spill it, mistah! Do ya like her?"

"No, I mean...she's C.C... and since the accident we have been quite close."

"How about that time looong before she lost her memory when Mr. Sheffield and I found you two snogging in the den?"

"We weren't "snogging"," he denied "besides we were drunk, that's all."

"You weren't drunk last night." Fran pointed out.

"She just annoyed me."

"So ya kissed her?"

"Well, it's complicated. I guess, there's always been this spark between us...we did share that kiss..."

"Just a minute ago you were trying to pass it off as a drunken mistake." Fran remarked sternly.

"I don't know, Fran, ok?"

"Oy!I cannot believe you men," Fran complained slapping him hard "you kiss us, you tell us you love us and the next day you're sitting alone at breakfast, ranting about the oversensitive Nanny."

Niles merely eyed her in confusion, certain that he had missed something vital. But before he had the chance to inquire further Fran had already walked away and into her room, slamming the door shut behind her. Niles remained where he was, unable to do anything but think about the twisted relationship with C.C. He had slowly fallen for her, ever since her accident. Her genuine nature and softness had sneaked up on him, conquered his heart without him noticing. And now he couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she ever regained her memory. What if she went back to her old ways and he disliked her again? Could he really continue being with her when this risk existed? But then he thought about their kiss, thought about C.C.'s sharp comment and his sudden urgency to feel her lips. It had been like a reminder that the old C.C. was still there somewhere, that her temper hadn't changed completely. And he realised, with a start, that it might have been her softer side that had persuaded him to lower his guard but that he truly needed the old C.C. That, in fact, he loved her. Her snide comments, her quick wit, her excitement when they were sparring. He loved her and apparently had had strong feelings for quite some time, now he only hoped that she would still feel the same way about him if she ever got back her memories.

Fran, in the meantime, had spent several moments sitting on her bed muttering curses. But it didn't help, nothing helped. All she could think about was why she had returned to a man who was so complicated, who messed her about so often. But there were the kids and she did love them as if they were her own. She could only hope that Maxwell's bad mood would pass and until then she needed a task, something to keep herself busy. Maybe it was the combination of the two topics, but she suddenly recalled the conversation they had had while eating cheesecake. Maybe she could put her curiosity to some use and find out who attacked C.C. Now all she had to do was find a list with the names of the cast members and the people who had access to the theatre and it could begin. She quietly sneaked out of her room and into the Broadway producer's office, counting on her best friend's spectacular cooking skills to keep him down there waiting until she had everything she needed. Mouthing the code she opened her employer's safe and extracted a folder with the recent play's notes. Scribbling names and telephone numbers down as quickly as she could, she then returned to her room.

"Hello, yes, this is Fran Fine. I am working for Maxwell Sheffield and he asked me to meet you for lunch to discuss some details for the show." she explained, having dialled the first number on her list.

One step closer to finding C.C.'s attacker, one step closer to dangerous territory.