Matchmaker, Matchmaker

Final Curtain Call

Thank you all for reading, reviewing, and enjoying my story! It's been a long couple of months for me, and I'm sorry it took so long to finish up writing this. I hope you'll all come back for future stories, and I appreciate your kind words regarding my work! Please enjoy the final chapter, 'Final Curtain Call.'

Story by Miko1725-I do not claim to own any of the characters or original storylines from the show. Thank you, and happy reading!

"Maxwell, wait!" C.C. chased after him, but the door slammed sharply in her face. Her eyes burned as she turned to the four conspirators standing around looking just a little bit ashamed.

"When are you people going to get it?" She threw her arms up in exasperation: "they're never going to be together, whether they have feeling for each other or not-I still can't even begin to fathom what he seems in her to begin with! They are from two different worlds; it would never work out."

Niles, who until this point had stood silent, stepped forward and stopped within inches of her face:

"and when are you going to get it, Ms. Babcock? Mr. Sheffield is never going to be with you either: you are down right cold and heartless at times, you can't even remember the names of his own children for Pete's sake. What I can't fathom is what makes YOU think you have a better chance with him that Ms. Fine would? She's warm and kind and has brought a spark back to this home that hasn't been here in years; you, Ms. Babcock, have never supplied that."

His harsh words, which we so uncharacteristic for him, dropped in the room like lead and silence followed as the children waited for a response.

None came. C.C. merely looked at the ground and sighed heavily, but with dignity, before gathering up her bag and papers. The look on her face was not her normal one of cold confidence, but of a deeply wounded woman and Niles knew in that instant that he'd gone just a step to far. Before he could say another word she had made her way to the door and slipped out.

Niles stood silently as the blonde woman walked confidently out of the mansion, but he'd seen beyond the cold, hard exterior in that brief moment and seen the woman who desperately long to be loved by a man that would never want her in that way.

"Niles," Gracie murmured, breaking the silence.

He inhaled deeply and then turned to the children with a comforting smile: "why don't you all call in Chinese tonight. I think I've just had an errand come up that requires immediate attention. You don't mind, do you?"

Maggie smiled softly and assured him they would be fine; a knowing glance was exchanged and Niles hurried out the door after the wounded woman.

Cold. Heartless. Granted, she was ruthless; she had to be. C.C. wandered quietly down the sidewalk, waiting for her ride to return. She didn't mean to be cold, it just came with the territory of being a strong business woman: in a field with mostly men, she had to stand out and show that being a woman did not impair her ability to do the job just as well, if not better, than they could. Unfortunately, that skill of the mindset that acted as a strength for her job was a detriment to her social life. It just wasn't in her to be warm and kind with Maxwell's children, it was nothing personal against them. Maybe, one day, she would have the patience and tolerance to be around kids in general, but now was not that day.

It hurt.

His words, Niles carefully picked words, had stung and continually replayed in her head. She never even realized that a few tears had trickled their way down her cheeks and she rushed to wipe them away.

"Ms. Babcock."

C.C. turned with a start at the voice behind her and was surprised to see Niles standing there looking almost a little nervous. She frown and turned away again.

"Shall I arrange for the limo to take you home?"

She laughed bitterly: "Oh come on Niles, you didn't come all the way out here to see if I needed a ride home. Come on, out with it, say whatever snide comment is on the tip of your tongue!" Her tone was low, and even she could tell the hurt was barely contained in her voice.

"You're right, it's not."

She knew it. No quip he could toss out now could make anything worse, so she stood and prepared mentally for any necessary come back that would be required.

"I'm… I'm sorry, Ms. Babcock."

"Yeah, well I-wait a minute… did you just say…"

"Oh please, let's not make this more difficult than it has to be!" He rolled his head back as he often did while mildly irritated.

"You just said you're sorry…"

"Yes, okay, yes. I am sorry. I was out of line to speak to you so frankly."

He stood there in front of her; this was her chance. He was feeling guilty, and she knew she could milk it for all it was worth. It was the moment of a lifetime and she'd be crazy to waste it.

"Thank you, Niles."

For the life of her, C.C. couldn't understand why she was letting him off the hook, and yet her she was doing just that. Their eyes had met, and she had see the earnestness of his apology reflecting there.

"Well, don't just stand around here Benson-call the limo to take me home! God, I need a drink."

"Bossy old witch," he muttered, leaving to make the arrangements. Neither noticed the soft smile the other wore from the tenderness of the moment.

"You are aware that Dad and Fran are both going to kill us, right?" Maggie had flopped onto the couch, the open box of Lo Mein resting on her knee.

"For the set up, or the eating in the living room thing?"

"What have we got to loose at this point," Brighton retorted. "I'm betting at LEAST a weeks worth of grounding here."

"Oh ho, you guess wrong."

All three heads turned, not even having noticed the front door open and shut; some how, the three guessed Fran and their father had been quiet about it intentionally. Maxwell's eyes fell on the food being eaten in his living room and a sudden panic pushed all three to close containers and move them to the coffee table ASAP. The look he was giving them was unnerving, but they were hoping it'd be worth the impending punishment:

"Hi Daddy," Maggie finally said meekly. She glance up for only a moment before meeting those fierce eyes and glancing down again.

"First of all, you owe Ms. Fine an apology for tonight. It was wrong to mislead her, no matter how good your intentions were." His look was softening now but the children were looking down and didn't notice.

Fran sat on the sofa next to Brighton and placed her arm around him:

"Sweetie, what possessed you kids to do this? You put your father, Ms. Babcock, and me out and into a very awkward situation. Now, I'm sure you meant well and all, but this wasn't the right way to go about this. You know that, right?" She waited for the quiet, almost silent "yes" from each before turning to Maxwell and smiling weakly.

"Grounded, for two weeks, each of you. Both weekends, you will help Niles in the kitchen and with the cleaning. There will be no video games, no television, and no dating. There will also be no complaining because, I assure you, I can make this punishment much, much worse."

Fran shook her head as a muffled sigh of resolve filled the room:

"Okay, I get the whole punishment thing and I'm not going to argue it, even if I do think it's a little unfair…"

"You'd better being going somewhere with this, Brighton."

"Did you and Fran have a nice time together? I mean, if we're gonna be punished, it'd be nice to know it was worth the sacrifice and all."

A small blush across Fran's face and a flustered 'that is none of your concern," from their father was the only needed response and he smiled smugly as he and his sisters headed up to their rooms to begin their richly deserved, and very worthwhile, punishment.

THE END