CC walked quickly into the ball room, hoping the large group of people would hide her from anybody who was chasing her. She started walking quicker when she heard Niles' rich voice call her name. She looked behind her to see him walking past people, making his way closer to her.
He noticed her red eyes, and the wet tears on her face. Worry filled his eyes, and she finally surrendered and stood in front of the dance floor. He protectively wrapped his arms around her, and led her out into the back hallway where nobody could see them.
He sat her down on the bench, and sat next to her, wiping the tears from her face softly.
"Why are you being nice to me?" she asked, her voice full of tears. He looked into her cerulean eyes, absorbing the moonlight that filtered into the Gothic windows in the hallway. Niles sighed and rested his hand warmly on her cheek. She looked at the gesture confused.
"Because I care about you, CC. I-I," he looked down, he didn't know what to say. She looked at him, curiosity in her tear stained eyes. He looked back up at her, his eyes serious.
"I love you, CC," he said quietly. A gasp escaped her red painted lips, but she smiled. Quickly and suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug, barrying her face in the crook of his neck, smelling his wonderful scent.
"I love you, too," she mumbled into his shoulder. He smiled, taking in the scent of strawberries in her hair. He pulled away and looked into her eyes.
"Let's get out of here," he said. She nodded. Linking her arm with his, she wiped away the last of her tears, and followed Niles back into the ballroom, and heading to Max and Fran's table. Fran looked up at CC, concern in her eyes.
"Are ya alright?" she asked. CC smiled and nodded.
Niles looked at her, then spoke.
"We're going to head out, if that's okay with you, sir. Ms. Babcock needs some rest," he said looking back at her, a glint of humor sparkled in his eyes. Maxwell nodded.
"Of course, old man, go ahead," he said smiling. They both smiled and headed to the exit.
Fran turned to her husband.
"Did you see the looks they gave each otha? And the way they held arms?" Fran widened her eyes then looked down at her plate of food, suddenly having a liking for caviar.
Niles led CC into the cool spring night, the wind blowing her dress.
"Did I ever tell you how lovely you look tonight?" he said, stopping and turning toward her, cupping her face in his hands. She smiled.
They came up to the valet and grabbed her keys. They walked hand in hand to the Corvette.
Niles got into the driver's seat, and CC sat in the passenger's. She looked out the window as he pulled onto 7th Avenue, watching the bright neon lights of Times Square as the car passed by them. Niles looked over at her, noticing that she was unusually silent.
"CC, are you okay?" he asked, looking over to her at a red light. She shook her head and looked over at him.
"Do you really love me?" she asked, looking at him. He smiled.
"I love you more than anything in this world," he said, grabbing her hand that was resting on her knee. She looked down at their hands and smiled. Niles was the only man that made her tingle just by touching her.
"I love you too," she said, looking back up at him as the light turned green.
Ten minutes later CC unlocked her door to her apartment, and led Niles into the large living room with an entire glass wall on the west side, showing a marvelous view of Central Park two blocks away. CC walked in and set her keys down on the glass coffee table, and headed to the mini bar.
"Since we didn't have anything to eat at the gala, would you like something here?" she said, walking toward the opening to the kitchen. Niles smiled and followed her into the suprisingy large kitchen, with a island and a full stove. Niles looked at his new favorite kitchen.
"Here, let me give you a tour," she said, noticing how he liked the place. She walked through an archway from the kitchen, and ended up in a room with a table, and a large window looking over the north uptown.
"This is obviously the dining room," she said, heading to a swinging door at the back of the room. She opened it, to reveal a small "L" shaped room, containing silverware, cooking supplies, cleaning supplies, and a small sink.
"And this is Angelica's pantry," she said smiling. Niles nodded and followed her back into the kitchen as the ding of the microwave went off.
They went back into the living room, and finished their meals on the coffee table. After they were both finished, CC stood and walked toward the glass wall, Niles following her. She stared out at the city lights twinkling in the dark, hearing the faint sounds of sirens and horns, and every other sound the city that never sleeps made.
After a few silent moments CC felt Niles' arms wrap around her waist and his breath on her neck, making her having to stifle a moan.
"Is this okay?" he whispered into her ear. She slowly nodded and smiled.
"Yes," she said quietly.
They sat there, staring out at the city until CC's eyes started to feel heavy. She pulled away from Niles and headed to the master bedroom. She turned around when she noticed Niles wasn't behind her.
"You can come if you want to," she said, looking back at him. He smiled and followed her into the room.
Her bedroom was painted with light blue walls, and her bed was splashed with different shades of blue.
"Blue's your favorite color too?" he said, pulling her to him. She looked up into his eyes and nodded.
"Yes, they match your eyes Butler Boy," she said with a grin. She pulled pulled away and headed to her bathroom. Niles walked across the room, and sat down on her surprisingly comfy bed. He watched her in the bathroom as she pulled her hair slowly out of it's twist.
It fell gracefully down a slight bit past her shoulders in soft curls.
He felt his mouth water uncontrollably watching her. Finally, he stood up and walked into the brightly lit room and stood behind her. She kicked her heels back into the bedroom, and he looked surprised as he saw that she was quite shorter than him. She smiled at his expression and quickly combed through her hair.
After removing her makeup, she kicked him out of the bathroom so that she could change into her PJs. He sat quietly on the bed, watching her shadow move under the door. His mouth watered again as he thought of her undressing.
Finally right when he was about to burst she walked out of the bathroom in blue pajama pants and a white tank top. She smiled at him as he stood up and grabbed her hands.
"You look beautiful my love," he said softly looking her in the eyes.
"Do you want me to tuck you in?" he asked. She nodded childlike, not telling him she had never been tucked in before. She lay down on the bed, and he slowly pulled the blankets up to her chest, his fingers grazing her stomach that sent tingles up her spine.
He leaned down, and kissed her on the cheek before starting out the door, but her hand stopped him, as it was still holding onto his. He turned around and looked at her. She met his eyes and the smallest of a smile appeared on his face.
"Will you stay with me?" she asked, her eyes glistening. He smiled as he made his way to the opposite side of the bed, pulling off his shoes and socks.
"I would love to," he said, sitting into the bed and wrapping his arms around her. She turned toward him, a warm smile that gave him butterflies on her red lips. He stared at them intently. She sighed, noticing where his glance had headed.
"Oh, just kiss me already!" she said playfully. He smiled, and slowly met his lips to her's making them one. He smiled when he heard the soft moan come from her throat. He hesitated, but decided to try to deepen the kiss.
Slowly, her grazed his tongue over her bottom lips, which she parted to his surprise. After a few wonderful moments they separated for air. CC ran her fingers along her bottom lip like she always did when she had an amazing kiss.
"Wow," she said, he cheeks turning warm as she looked up to him. Niles smiled, his chest rising and lowering quickly. She smiled back, and nestled into his strong hold.
Niles smiled and rested his hand on her arm and his head on her's before dozing off just as she did.
Their dreams took them to another place, although.
The sun was lowering in the sky as dusk came into the September air. CC walked out of the Sheffield mansion, followed by Sara both laughing.
"So, girls' night out, where are we meeting the rest?" Sara said, getting her keys out and heading to her car, CC following. They hopped into the seats.
"We're eating at the Rainbow Room, then meeting at the Cinema for the movie," CC said, getting in beside Sara, and buckling her seatbelt. Sara smiled at CC.
"Thanks for inviting me, I really needed to get out. I love the kids and all, but sometimes, three young kids is exhausting," Sara said, starting the engine. CC smiled and patted Sara's knee.
"Hey, it's no problem, you needed it, and to be honest, I needed it too!" she said. They both laughed as the car pulled onto 75 street. The twenty minute drive to the Rainbow Room was filled with laughing talking, catching up on things.
Sara parked the car on 6th Aveune. The two girls got out onto the busy streets and walked across the street to the alley that would take you to the back entrance of the Rainbow Room that the girls went through to get faster seating.
CC and Sara were stopped in their tracks when a tall slender man was standing in the doorway. CC smiled at Sara.
"They finally got a doorman!" she said, smiling at the man, who had olive skin, and deep blue eyes. But he didn't open the door. CC felt Sara's pedicured nails grip tight on her through her flannel coat. The man, surprisingly strong, pushed them against the brick wall on the other side of the alley.
CC smacked her head on the wall, and crumpled to the ground.
"CC!" Sara screamed, grabbing her best friend, feeling blood on the back of her head. The man grabbed Sara, and covered her mouth with a cloth, inhaling, she smelt chloroform. Her eyes felt droopy, and she immediately passed out.
CC opened her eyes to immediately feel a horrible skull numbing headache. She looked around the room, to see it as a common loft. Out the window she could see Central Park, dim in the night sky. She tried to move to Sara, on the other side of the room, but realized duct tape was wrapped tightly around her wrists and ankles, and her mouth.
A lone tear dripped from her eye, when she realized she may never see the outside world again, ever.
CC barely saw Sara's eyes flutter open before the door opened and the man, now completely reaveled walked into the room.
He had tan olive skin, dark black hair and stunning blue eyes that CC thought were very attractive if it wasn't for the fact that he was kidnapping them. He looked at CC and smiled, his bright white teeth blinding her.
Sara started to make noises under the duct tape when he started to walk toward CC. She scooted back from him as far as she could before a stabbing pain hit her lower back. She realized she had run into the door stopper.
The pain shot up her back, and she whimpered partly from pain, and partly because the man was right in front of her. He softly soothed his hand across her slick blonde hair, before walking back to the middle of the room.
"I'm going to take off the tape over your mouth, but if you scream or make any noise that can be heard, I will make sure to kill the other, right in front of you. Got it?" he said. His voice was soft, yet it was terrifying. They both weakly nodded.
He took off CC's tape first, and smiled at her before he went to Sara.
To CC's surprise, Sara didn't object and start screaming, instead, she just gave the man an ugly glare. Smiling, he made his way back to CC. He pushed her forward and undid the duct tape around her wrists, intentionally touching her back in the process.
She pulled her hands from behind her body and looked over at Sara, fear in her eyes.
"Don't touch her!" Sara finally burst out, her blonde hair messed up, and dirt somehow on her face. The man looked over at her, his light eyes suddenly dark, and scary like the ocean during a storm. He looked back at CC, a knife in his hand.
CC gasped when he trailed it along her jaw, the cold blade pressed up against her skin. He quickly flicked his wrist, and a trail of blood started to drip from her neck. CC immediately grabbed her throbbing neck, feeling the blood collect in her hand.
"I said don't touch her!" Sara yelled louder from the corner of the room. CC looked at her, giving her a glare that said "shut up!"
The man stood up and walked over to Sara, his nose less than an inch from her's. His voice was suddenly tense and gruff.
"I said don't yell," he said slowly, bringing the knife to her neck.
"Please! Don't hurt her! She's got kids, I don't! If you're going to hurt anybody, please, let it be me!" CC said, tears in her eyes. He turned around and walked back to CC, his eyes fierce. He roughly tugged at her blouse, ripping it off her shoulder.
"No!" Sara yelled, tears in her eyes as she watched her best friend die inside.
CC choked on her tears as he ripped off her skirt, an evil glare in his eyes.
Thirty minutes later, CC was sobbing uncontrollably as the man pulled up his pants. Sara cried as well.
"You will pay for this! I told you not to touch her!" she screamed. The man, fury in his eyes, grabbed his knife and walked over to Sara.
"What did I tell you?!" he yelled. Sara looked up at him, her green eyes clouded.
"Burn in hell!" she yelled. Her eyes widened when she felt the stabbing pain in her stomach. She looked down to see the knife in her stomach. She looked back up at the man, his eyes immediately lightened, realizing what he had just done.
"No!" CC screamed, tears pouring out of her eyes. The man left the knife in Sara, and ran back to CC, covering her mouth. His eyes were soft now. It almost looked as if tears were forming in them. He grabbed the duct tape and covered CC's mouth, who sobbed up against the wall.
He grabbed her coat, and covered her, tying her hands after.
Sara lay on the ground, her skin pale, and her breaths were weak. She watched in pain as CC sobbed. The man walked over to Sara, and quickly pulled the knife out of her. He looked into her eyes, and she saw sorrow in them.
Everything was a blur for her, as she felt him pick her up. She heard CC's whimpers also as she felt the cool wind on her face, then being put in the back of a car.
CC scooted over to Sara, her mouth still taped.
"CC, you have to promise me, to always tell the kids how much I love them, all the time," she said weakly. Tears poured from CC's eyes as the van stopped. The man came to the back, and pulled both girls out of the car, setting them in the muddy gravel, rocks and sand.
Sara could see the blur of the Brooklyn Bridge glowing in the dusk. She could hear the waves from the East River close by.
The man bent down by CC, ripping off the duct tape.
CC couldn't speak, her throat was clogged with tears, she tried to scream in his face, do something, but she couldn't.
He looked her in the eyes, a stray tear falling onto his tan cheek.
"I'm so sorry," he said before running over the rock cliffs and driving away in a white van.
CC lay in the sand, unable to move. She was so weak, she felt useless. She looked over at Sara, who was still breathing faintly, a big circular stain of crimson on her white shirt. Finally she found her voice.
"Sara, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice barely audible over the waves crashing onto the sand. Sara nodded, gasping for breath.
"I'll always be there for you, Chastity," she said weakly.
Sara died right at sunset the same morning, CC sobbing at her side. Soon, she was blinded by headlights, and saw the least expected man, Niles, running toward her, his eyes wide as he saw Sara laying in the sand.
He looked over to CC, seeing her crying face, and immediately cradled her in his arms as she sobbed into his chest, the gray sky above them starting to drop thick, heavy raindrops onto them.
They never told Maxwell or the kids the truth, they knew it would hurt them too much.
CC sat up quickly in bed, small beads of sweat on her forehead. Bright sunlight filtered into the bedroom as she looked back at Niles' sleeping figure. She smiled, and stroked his hair. He fluttered his eyes open and smiled at the first thing he saw.
After taking showers and getting dressed, Niles using clothes that Colin had left, they fed Chester and headed out into the early cool April morning in New York.
"Where do you want to go? Today is our day off," Niles said, looking at her glorious smiling face. She looked up at him.
"You want to go to Central Park?" she asked. He smiled and nodded.
They walked the two blocks to the park, grabbing two hot dogs from a vender, and sitting down on a bench, watching the taxis and cars pass. They walked deeper into the park.
Niles looked down at her hand, swinging by her leg. Hesitantly, he reached out, and grabbed her soft hand, and entwining his fingers with hers. She looked at him and smiled.
"I've been waiting for you to do that," she said. He laughed.
They walked down to the baseball fields, and watched a game on the fields.
Sitting in the bleachers, Niles leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"You know, I used to be pretty good at baseball," he said. She looked at him and smiled.
"Really?" she said. He nodded and she laughed. They left the fields and headed to the ice skating rink that they turned into a carnival during the spring.
After riding a couple of rides, and learning that CC was terrified of rocking on a ferris wheel, they hailed a taxi to Battery Park.
Looking at the water taxi taking people to Miss Liberty, CC looked back at Niles.
"What do you want to do?" she asked, smiling. Niles knew what she was thinking.
"Well, it looks like Colon left some money in his pocket," he said with a smile, purposely miss pronouncing Colin's name. CC laughed.
"Do you want to go to The Statue of Liberty?" he asked. She nodded childlike, and they headed toward the docks. While on the water taxi, CC looked up at Niles.
"So, I guess this is a first date, right?" she said, smiling. Niles looked at her, his heart suddenly beating quickly. He smiled.
"Yes, yes it is," he said, holding her hand tighter. She smiled and leaned into his chest. They got off of the taxi, looking up at the tall green statue.
CC smiled and leaned into him.
"This is the best first date I've ever had," she whispered into his ear. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist, walking toward the statue.
She smiled as the wind whipped through their hair as they sat at a bench on the statue, looking at the lower Manhattan skyline.
"It's beautiful," she said, smelling the salt being kicked up by the wind. Niles ran his hand through her hair. She smiled and looked up at him.
"Will you kiss me on Lady Liberty?" she said, giggling as his lips met her's. They headed back down to the ground, and walked through the small park there, eventually sitting on the bench. CC smiled as she was right about to kiss Niles again, when she saw someone out of the corner of her eye.
She quickly pulled back, and looked at the man in the black jacket, walking away from them. She quickly stood up and followed him, Niles right behind her.
"Darling, what's the matter?" he asked, grabbing her hand. CC turned pale white when the man turned around. He had tan skin, and deep blue eyes.
The man's eyes met CC's, and immediately, they widened. He didn't take his eyes off of CC, as he quickly walked toward the water taxis. He quickly turned around and started running. Niles caught CC as she started to fall to the ground, her eyes still wide.
"CC!" he said, taking her to the closest bench. He brushed the blonde hair out of her face. She looked up at him, hears in her eyes.
"That's him, that's the man who killed Sara," she said weakly.
I hope you guys liked that chapter! Please review if you did! (Or even if you didn't!) More to come!