Author's Note: So glad you guys enjoyed the first chapter. Here's the next installment! :)
Bundle of Joy Chapter 2 – Brighton
"Look, Chad, I don't care what the hell came up. You will have the finale choreographed by this time next week, otherwise I will personally see to it that you never work in this town again!" CC storms into Maxwell's office, paying little attention to her surroundings as her face flushes red with rage at the loser who has dared to cross her on the other end of the line.
"Idiot thinks he can get out of his contract just because his grandmother died," She mutters to herself as she slams the phone down and sinks into Maxwell's chair behind the desk.
"Who's an idiot?" A small voice startles her.
It is then that she notices Brighton Sheffield sitting in her typical spot on the leather green loveseat, hands folded in lap, denim overalls stained with god knows what.
"Oh. Why are you in here?" CC asks the boy, decorum be damned.
"I'm in time out," Brighton explains.
"Oh," CC nods.
An awkward silence engulfs the room as CC mindlessly shuffles through a pile of scripts on the desk trying to avoid eye contact with the child. A quick peek out of the corner of her eye tells her that the kid is still looking at her. Tossing the pile of scripts into the trash (an insult to the trash, really, CC notes), she focuses her attention on the kid once more.
"So, what did you do to land yourself in time out?" She asks.
Brighton sighs exasperatingly and CC finds herself hiding a smile. This is not his first time out and she has a feeling it will not be his last. The kid has a heart of gold, but always manages to attract mischief wherever he goes. CC suspects it is somehow that no good butler rubbing off on him, but Sara insists all little boys are rambunctious and that CC should stop trying to get Niles fired. Whatever.
"I stepped on the cat's tail and it made a loud noise and woke up baby Gracie," Brighton explains.
"Oh that's not so-wait a minute, wait a minute," CC shakes her head, "Since when do you people have a cat?"
"Oh yeah," Brighton suddenly remembers what is probably the most crucial detail of the story, "there was a cat outside. He looked sad and hungry. So I thought I could help him."
"You let a stray cat into the house?" CC asks incredulously.
As if on cue, a loud screech is heard from the kitchen followed by a loud crash and muttered curse words from Maxwell.
"He looked nice," Brighton offers as explanation.
Again, CC finds herself hiding a smile as she pictures her boss trying to tackle a stray cat.
Suddenly, the door slams open to reveal a very frazzled looking Sara Sheffield, holding a red-faced, screaming baby Grace.
"Brighton Millhouse Sheffield! You will sit on that couch until dinnertime. And no dessert for a week! Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mommy," Brighton sighs, unsurprised by the punishment.
"CC, I hate to bother you, but could you watch him? I have to calm the baby down and Maxwell is busy trying to catch the cat to take to a shelter," Sara looks at her friend with big, pleading eyes.
"Me?" CC suddenly wishes she hadn't tossed the scripts into the trash, as now she can't even feign being busy.
"I wouldn't ask you if I wasn't completely desperate, Ceec."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," CC says sarcastically, but unable to stand the sound of the crying baby any longer, she sighs yieldingly, "Alright, alright, fine. I'll watch him."
"Niles can take him when dinner is ready! Thanks so much, CC! Brighton, behave yourself," Sara instructs and in a flash, she is out of the room.
An awkward, but appreciated silence envelops the room as CC waits for the ringing in her ears from the screaming baby to dissipate.
"So," she finally says, "what am I supposed to do with you?"
Brighton shrugs. "I dunno. Stuff."
CC looks around the room helplessly, "Um, well, I really should get some work done, seeing as your father is a little preoccupied at the moment. I guess…you could…watch me yell at cast members over the phone?"
"Okay, cool," Brighton grins mischievously.
Niles rounds the corner, careful not to let the contents of the tray spill. As he prepares to open the door to Maxwell's office, an angry yell from Miss Babcock startles him. He nearly tips the tray over as he storms through the door, prepared to find Brighton in tears over the demon woman's shouting.
"BABCOCK, WHAT THE—" He promptly shuts his mouth in shock, finding himself speechless in her presence for the first time in his life.
For instead of Brighton cowering in fear, Niles finds the child rolling on the floor in hysterical laughter while Miss Babcock berates some poor, unfortunate soul over the telephone.
If Miss Babcock is embarrassed or startled, she does not show it.
"This isn't over," she threatens into the phone before slamming it down on its cradle.
"What the hell do you want, Lurch?" She asks, paying no mind to the innocent ears taking in her every word.
"Well seeing as the kitchen is currently a disaster zone, I took the liberty of bringing you your dinner in here," He motions to the tray in his hands.
CC eyes him curiously, unaccustomed to him ever doing anything remotely thoughtful for her.
"I know how you get when you're hungry. Remind me, how many military biplanes did it take to get you down off the Empire State Building the last time?"
CC glares at him as he sets the tray down in front of her, "Oh, go away, Servant."
"Certainly, Kong."
CC makes a point of picking up the knife he's supplied for her sandwich, and Niles immediately steps out of her line of fire. She smiles wickedly to herself and sets to work devouring her meal.
"Master Brighton, I will return shortly for you when your dinner is ready," And with that he is gone from the room.
CC quickly finishes her dinner and lifts the lid off a smaller plate to reveal a big piece of chocolate cake.
"Perfect. Lysol-breath wants to ensure I'm the size of a horse so he has something else to make fun of me for."
"Who?" Brighton inquires from his spot on the sofa, causing CC to nearly spit out her iced tea in surprise.
"What? Oh. You're still here."
"Who's Lysol-breath?" Brighton asks.
"Niles." She answers simply.
"Why did you call him that?" He asks curiously.
CC sits befuddled for a moment. She's never had to deal with children before. Somehow she doubts that answering truthfully (that Niles is a useless oaf who lives to make her life miserable) is the right route to take.
"Ooh!" She suddenly snaps her fingers. "It's his last name!"
Brighton breaks out into a giggling fit at this revelation.
"Is that why Niles doesn't want anyone to know his last name?"
Oh this is too good to be true.
"Yes. That is exactly right."
"That's funny," Brighton says through peals of laughter. His laughter is infectious, and CC cannot help but join in.
"But remember, Niles doesn't want anyone to know his last name, so don't go saying it around your parents. Deal?" She may not know how to interact with children, but at least she can cover her own ass so said children cannot get her into trouble with her employer and his wife.
"Deal," Brighton grins, proud of himself for being entrusted with such a big secret.
The door swings open and Niles is back.
"I swore I heard laughter in here, but I thought your kind fed off the tears and crushed dreams of innocent children?"
CC rolls her eyes, "No, Niles, it's the tears and crushed dreams of not-so-innocent butlers that really give my life meaning."
It's Niles turn to roll his eyes.
"Master Brighton, your dinner is ready," He turns to the green sofa, but Brighton is no longer seated there.
Instead he is at CC's side, eyeing the chocolate cake on the desk.
"Are you gonna eat all that?" He asks.
"I-" CC starts but is suddenly unsure of how to finish. The kid is banned from dessert for a week. But they're getting along so well.
Niles chuckles. "I'm not sure if watching Miss Babcock unhinge her jaw and swallow cake whole is really what your parents had in mind when they punished you."
"Don't be a jackass, Niles," She crosses her arms and glares up at him.
"Yeah, don't be a jackass, Niles," Brighton imitates, complete with arm crossing.
CC's jaw drops. 'Oh this is fantastic. Niles will surely tell Sara, and I will be banned from working from their home ever again.'
Her jaw drops further when instead of getting angry, Niles is laughing. Relieved, CC joins in.
"Oh, my God," Niles sighs, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes.
"Really though, what did Sara expect when she left the kid with me?" CC asks innocently.
"Certainly not spoonfuls of sugar or raindrops on roses," Niles shakes his head.
CC sighs and looks at the boy, who is staring intently at the cake, unaware of the commotion he has caused.
"Here you go, kid," She hands him the fork. Brighton's eyes widen incredulously, and he digs in.
"But he's not supposed to-" Niles starts, but CC cuts him off.
"I won't tell if you won't."
He looks at her and she shrugs.
"Fine," He acquiesces. "I have some other errands to attend to. I will be back in a little while."
"Sure, Niles. Go ahead and attend to your errands. Maxwell's brandy isn't going to drink itself."
"You would know, lush." He smirks at her.
She opens her mouth to retort but Niles has already moved on.
"Master Brighton, you stay here with Miss Babcock. I will be back in a little while for you."
Brighton looks up from the cake, "Okay, Mr. Lysol-breath."
Niles shakes his head as CC cackles, slapping her own knee.
"Try not to do any more damage before I get back," He instructs as he exits.
Sighing gleefully, CC grabs another fork off the tray. She clinks it against the boy's as if they are toasting champagne.
"Good one, kid," She takes a bite of the cake as Brighton grins up at her, chocolate covering his entire face.