A/N: Hello hello! Very excited to share this chapter with you all. Please review if you love it or hate it for that matter! Anyways, special thanks to Lucky Starz for being the lone reviewer of chapter 2! Anyways, hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 3- Operation Fran Matchmaker

Fran and C.C. still walked in silence as they headed up the stairs to her one bedroom apartment.

Still on edge, C.C. was shaking as she fumbled for her keys to open the apartment door. Finally, she was able to get a hold of them and open it. Fran followed behind her through the apartment door. She shut and locked it before opening her mouth to speak.

Her tone was that of complete and utter shock and surprise:

"OH MY GAWD! C.C. did I hear you correctly."

"Yes, don't make me say his name again" she said in a quite soft, but anxious tone nonetheless.

"How did this happen? I saw you with him, but then you were asked to dance with John. What happened? Oh, must have been those 20 minutes I snuck away to go the ladies' room."

Fran could clearly see the look of distress and conflict on C.C.'s face. She was having a hard time speaking about what just happened. It, in her mind, was the most wrong thing she had ever done, but in her heart something about it felt….right. It scared her to no end, because those two parts of her being were normally on the same page.

"C.C. what's wrong? It's ok! It was just a kiss after all, not a lifetime commitment. Everyone does crazy things at the club once in a while. Just blame it on alcohol."

C.C. continued to struggle internally, however, it was on the verge of coming out.

"Oh, Fran, it's different with him. I can't just run away from all this, he works closely with Mr. Sheffield on a daily basis. I see him all of the time."

"I am sure he was just as embarrassed as you at his loss of control. Trust me, he won't mention it again. Don't worry about work, no one will ever find out…OH MY GAWD! Your are not worried about work…C.C., do you have feelings for him?"

"NO….maybe."

"You do! I can see it in your eyes! How did this happen? When did it happen, tell me! Don't leave me hanging, C."

"Well this kiss happened when I was waiting downstairs for you. Needless to say, he was bombed out of his mind when it happened. He just grabbed me by the shoulders, after I first insulted him for smelling like a bottle of scotch and then he kissed me…and I sort of kissed him back."

"Oh my Gawd, you have got it bad for him."

"No I don't!"

"Yes, you do, I can see it written on your face and you are a terrible liar."

"No I don't, I despise him! He makes me so angry."

"No he makes you hot, not angry. It has been so long you forgot the difference."

"Well I am sure he doesn't feel the same way, for he was extremely inebriated."

"Well there is only one way to find out for sure, missy!"

"How?"

"Tell him how you feel, and I know just the perfect time to do it."

"When?"

"The benefit. We will go shopping tomorrow! I will help you pick out a gorgeous dress. He will ogle you all night, and then you will tell him."

"No I can't tell him, I hate him! He hates me and that is how it's always been. He's so damn arrogant! Uh, he makes me…."

"Crazy, your heart pound wild? Baby, that is not hate!"

"Well, what if he doesn't feel the same way. I can't make a fool of myself in front him. Oh God, he would never let me live that down."

"Oh, honey I understand where you are coming from, but you can't spend the rest of your life wondering and waiting forever. You have to know. You deserve to know."

"Well what about the floozy he said he was bringing. He told me he had a date."

"Don't worry about her, leave it all to me, honey. He needs to know the truth and if he feels the same way, some cheap little harlot will not stand in the way. Oh I can't wait to go shopping tomorrow! Oh and I love glasses as much as the next girl, but C., you should really invest in some contacts for this event. He needs a glimpse of your lovely eyes!"

C.C. was truthfully getting tired now as Fran continued to talk a mile a minute. She was on the couch, beginning to doze off.

"Whatever you say, Franny," she said sleepily.

"Don't forget, in the afternoon, we are shopping tomorrow!"

"Mhhmmm…" she mumbled drowsily.

"C.C., I am losing you honey, I think you better head to bed."

Half asleep, C.C. stumbled to her bedroom, attempted to brush her teeth, changed into her pajamas and plopped down onto her bed, where she almost instantly fell asleep.

Of course her dreams went instantly back to the forceful kiss he planted on her lips that night, but also delved into what could have happened if she hadn't fled from him.

Images poured into her dreams as she saw herself going into his apartment and being led into his room, where he slowly undressed her while caressing her soft skin and playing with her nut brown locks. He planted kisses down her neck as her dress fell gracefully to the floor revealing her undergarments.

He continued to dominate her as ran his hands down her stomach, taking in the feeling of her creamy alabaster skin. He took the small of her back in one hand and pulled her towards him. He fumbled with her bra, while she simultaneously fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.

Finally they both had succeeded and were down to almost no clothing at all. He pulled her close to him and crushed his lips on top of hers. A melody could have been attached to the rhythm of their lips as their tongues danced and entwined with one another.

They continued to ravenously kiss one another as Niles somewhat forcefully pushed her down onto the bed. He would have his way with this infuriating woman soon enough. He slipped off her panties and ran his hands up her thighs about to begin teasing her…

DUNT DUNT DUNT DUNT DUNT DUNT DUNT!

She was awaken immediately by the sound of her quite annoying alarm clock going off. She slammed down the snooze button and attempted to enter her reverie once more, but with no such luck. Sadly, that was as far as this fantasy would go.

She sprang out of bed, and quickly jumped into the shower, needing to relieve the tension that this dream had caused. No denying it had left her extremely hot and bothered, for she had woken up dripping in sweat.

She hopped out of the shower, able to relieve the physical urges for now, but still having a hard time shaking the mental images of him out of her mind.

She slipped on one of her dresses, decided to put a little makeup on before drying her hair and slipping her glasses up her nose. Her long brown hung down the sides of her face as she walked out of the room, ready for work.

She came downstairs and saw Fran still sleeping on the couch. She debated whether or not she should wake her and decided against it. As much fun as Fran appeared to be, C.C. figured that she still had to be a little upset about her husband. She decided to leave her a note.

Hey Fran,

I am headed to work. Just come to the mansion when you are ready. I already booked the afternoon off for our shopping trip. I need your help finding a nice dress for the benefit, for I know no one with tastes as impeccable as yours. Anyways, see you soon, just use the spare key and lock the door on your way out.

XOXOXOXO

C.C.

She left the note on the kitchen counter. Surely with that appetite of hers, Fran would see it at some point.

C.C. walked out and took a cab to work.

…

Maxwell had picked the script for his next show and although it wasn't C.C.'s favorite, she thought it was decent nonetheless. Work, however, was not coming so easy to her today as she continued to think about both what happened at the club and the dream thereafter. She continued to picture it in her mind, not even noticing that Niles, himself had just walked into the room.

She was shaken out of her fantasy however, by the sound of his voice as he talked to Maxwell. She couldn't help but stare as he talked to Max in what appeared to be a completely cool, calm, collected and self-assured state.

I hate him! I hate him! I hate him! Why is he so damn good looking? And why is he making me feel this way. I have never been so damn confused in all of my life.

She continued to take in everything about his physical appearance hoping to make a beautiful picture of him in her mind. She hated the fact that she caught herself doing this, but she continued to do it nonetheless.

She waited for his daily insult of the morning, but it never came. Something was different about him now, as he turned and looked at her. He had a hard time meeting her eyes.

He merely mumbled: "Good morning, Miss Babcock", before dashing out of the room.

This strange behavior caused her to wonder just how much he remembered from the night before.

…

Niles dashed straight into the kitchen, where he took a deep breath. Oh God, I can't even look at her. I might lose control again. She looks so pretty today. Damn, man, pull yourself together; just blame it on the booze. I doubt she will even mention it anyways. Oh my gosh, why does she do this to me?

He was interrupted in his thoughts, as Fran Fine entered the kitchen. She went to retrieve a piece of chocolate mousse pie and noticed him sitting there, anxiety chiseled on his face with his head in his hands.

"Good morning, Mr. Brightmore, what's eating you?"

"Oh, nothing, just some stress at work, no biggie."

Fran could see right through this lie immediately, but for the first time in her life, she decided not to get involved, mainly because she didn't know him well enough to do so.

"Oh, I understand. Well surely things will look up. Are you going to the benefit this weekend?"

"Yes, I am! I have a date lined up and everything. I can't wait; C.C. did a real great job planning the event. "

Fran could clearly see the gleam in his eye as these words came out of his mouth.

"Yes, she did. I just hope Mr. Sheffield notices and gives her a little more credit once in a while."

"Yeah…well, I better get back to the office. Nice talking to you Mrs. Imperiali."

"Yeah, you too."

He walked out of the room and Fran couldn't help but have a smirk on her face. He is smitten, I can tell. Wow, who would have thought? They need to be together, C.C. works hard and deserves to be happy. Even though I initially thought this man was a complete pompous ass, clearly his love is softening him slightly. Well, Fran the matchmaker is in business.

She was interrupted in her thoughts as the door opened and C.C. walked into the room. Fran just smiled at her friend and thought that although she was a geeky girl, she had a very charming air and numerous cute traits about her nonetheless. She planned on enhancing these traits for the benefit and maybe then these two totally different individuals would end up in the arms of one another, as it should be.

"Fran, I am ready to go shopping are you?"

"You don't have to tell me twice sister."

And with that, the two of them headed out of the house, arm and arm ready to hit the shops. C.C. Babcock would be look elegant and gorgeous soon enough!