Hiya!:) I'm afraid I've already got another update! This one is a little shorter than the last, but I thought it was about time I brought the first Sheffield child into this story. I had a lot of time to write yesterday, coz we spent half the day waiting around for ferries!;) I have now filled 5 pages of my little notebook with ideas and plans for the following chapters...oh dear...I keep adding more and more stuff in so that this keeps moving in small steps, which I hope you guys won't mind!Anyway, thank you so much for your reviews,I can't emphasise enough how happy they make me!I hope you'll enjoy this!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters only a head that is buzzing with ideas of what to do with them!;)

Chapter 6: Niles and the Baby

To Niles' surprise C.C. had given him a bit of a break after their speech writing session. He was certain that this wasn't noticeable for Maxwell, for they still weren't being particularly nice to each other, but he could feel that her insults weren't as hurtful anymore. Rather they had fallen into a routine of tossing zingers at each other, it was something that seemed to amuse C.C. as much as it amused him, he had noticed how her eyes lit up every time they sparred. Meanwhile the musical C.C. and Maxwell had produced was celebrating its premiere, opening to fairly good reviews. To make up for using him his employer had invited Niles along, who had enjoyed the evening tremendously. He had a hard time though not to stare at C.C. who looked especially stunning in a red, tight fitting dress. The show wasn't the worst he had ever seen and he reckoned that it would be alright for their first production, although Niles had to fight the urge to duck for cover whenever JC was near. C.C. seemed to find his behavior very funny, but it didn't go unnoticed by either, Niles nor Sara, that she kept glaring at the actress as if that would warn her to stay away from them.

The only fear Maxwell had had, that Sara's water would break at the opening night, proved unfounded. As a matter of fact it didn't happen for another week, which seemed surprising, seeing as Sara was already as big as a house. It was late at night and Niles was finally drifting off to sleep after a particularly strenuous day, when he heard some commotion in the house. Pausing to listen for a moment he flopped back down his stomach when nothing else happened. Then suddenly a couple of minutes later, his room door was flung open and a panic-stricken Maxwell barged inside.

"Water broke-" he managed to choke out "Taking Sara to the hospital, bring her bag, please!"

As the adrenalin pumped through his body, Niles jumped out of the bed. Doing a thousand things at once was something he was normally used to but which proved more difficult this time. He had just managed to put on his pants and was pulling a blue sweater over his head while simultaneously trying to run a comb through his hair. Then he hurriedly put on his shoes and ran into the Sheffields' room to grab the already packed bag, which Maxwell in his panic hadn't even noticed.

The scene that Niles was confronted with once he reached the hospital was much calmer than the interruption he had experienced at night. After having asked for directions twice he soon found Maxwell slumped on a chair, waiting.

"They're just preparing her for the delivery room." he said and Niles nodded, handing him the bag "I will go in with her, I think."

"Try your best not to faint, Sir." Niles commented dryly, taking a seat next to his employer.

They sat in silence, the only sound coming from Maxwell who was strumming his fingers against his thigh nervously until the nurse left Sara's room.

"You are the husband, aren't you?" and when Maxwell nodded, she said: "Follow me please."

Giving his friend an encouraging smile Niles finally managed to relax for the first time that night, until he remembered that he would have to call C.C. It had never been discussed but he had a feeling that C.C. wouldn't be happy to miss out and that Sara surely wanted her best friend to be there to meet the baby. Checking his wallet for some coins he walked down the corridor to the next pay phone. It rang several times before C.C. picked up.

"Yes?" she asked, sounding clearly disgruntled.

"Miss Babcock, it's Niles." he began but before he could say more she interrupted him.

"If this is some sort of a prank, I swear-"

"Oh please, Babcock. The world doesn't revolve around you. I'm using my last quarters to call you from the hospital, Sara is having the baby, I thought you might want to be informed."

"I'm coming." C.C. said and had already hung up when he muttered "Take your time".

She arrived at the hospital half an hour later, looking clearly rushed but otherwise flawless. Somehow it annoyed him that even at a time like this she seemed to care so much about her image, about perfection.

"How long has she been in?" she asked, sitting down next to him.

"Oh, for about an hour now." Niles stated checking his watch.

When he heard C.C. chuckle he looked up to see that her blue eyes were twinkling with mischief.

"Have you looked in the mirror at all?" she asked, pointing at his clothes.

His black pants were full of wrinkles and his white shirt was sticking out underneath his blue sweater.

"Sorry, not everyone makes a pact with the devil to look immaculate any time of day." he retorted to which she only shook her head, but the smile still lingered on her lips.

"So, are you ready to become a godfather?" she asked, taking off her coat to reveal a white, silky blouse.

"More than you'll ever be." he muttered, staring at his shoes.

"Hey, I was just making polite conversation." she said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"I apologise for noticing so late that you were being polite." he said ironically, getting to his feet "I'm going to get us some coffee, I get grumpy when I'm tired."

And with that he lightly winked at her and went down to the cafeteria. When he returned he immediately realized that his timing had been good, for C.C. was blinking several times in order to keep herself awake.

"Here, try this." he said softly, pushing the cup of coffee into her hand.

"Thanks." she said with a smile, taking a sip.

"What? No snide remark about me being used to fetching the coffee?" he asked grinning.

"At least your coffee is good, this is horrible. " she said and Niles playfully grabbed his heart

"Was that a compliment?"

"Don't get used to it Butler Boy!" she growled.

He had to turn away from her to hide the smile that was spreading on his face.

"This can't take much longer, can it?" she asked after a while.

He began to laugh at her naiveté but when he noticed that she was glaring at him he stopped. "Miss Babcock, when my brother's wife went into labor it took 16 hours before the baby was born!"

"16 hours?" C.C. exclaimed "There is no way I am ever having children."

"True, you would have to find a husband first." Niles said, grinning even broader.

"Watch it, Dust Buster. I'll let you know that I'm a very desirable woman who's gotten a lot of offers in her time." C.C. snapped good- naturedly.

At this Niles couldn't help but drink her all in. "I do have eyes, Miss Babcock." he said quietly and when he noticed that she was looking at him with confusion evident in her eyes, he added: "You're nearly a hundred; it's not surprising that someone might have shown interest."

She merely rolled her eyes but generally seemed to be coping better with his insults than his honesty.

"How old is your brother?" she suddenly asked.

"He's Maxwell's age, so four years younger than I am. He had his first kid when he was in his mid-twenties and the little girl when he was 30. But it was the boy who was the problem, if you want. It took 16 hours before he was born and the whole birth was a little complicated. But he's here now and he's a gorgeous little boy." Niles explained and his chest swelled with pride.

"I guess you know a lot about kids then." C.C. said who had to smile at Niles' behavior.

"Yes, you could say that. I've looked after them for quite some time…I think I'll never have any of my own and so it's very easy for me to shower them with affection."

"Yes, you seem like that sorta guy." C.C. said who's eyes were fluttering shut despite the coffee.

"Once you hold that little creature in your arms it's very hard not to, Miss Babcock." Niles said softly and when she didn't reply he turned around to look at her.

Leaning over to grab her coat from the chair next to her he gently tugged it around her shoulders, muttering quietly: "What is it about my presence that makes you fall asleep?"

It was about noon when Maxwell finally came to find them.

"I'm a daddy." he said, tears still glistening in his eyes.

"Congratulations Max." Niles said hugging his friend and ignoring their different stations.

"Thanks, old man. You can come and see her now, she's with Sara."

"Sure, I'll just wake up Miss Babcock." he said and grinned as Maxwell walked away, knowing for sure that the little girl had already wrapped her daddy around her little finger. "Hey, witch." he called softly, turning his attention back to the blonde still sleeping in the chair.

When she didn't stir he softly rested his hand on her shoulder and squeezed lightly, calling her again. Red lips curved into a smile before her light blue eyes found his.

"Are you ready to meet our godchild?" he asked, getting to his feet and extending a hand to her.

She tiredly rubbed her eyes and tried to fight off the drowsiness sleep brought along. Her cold, delicate hand rested in his warm one for a while and before he let go off her his thumb lightly brushed over her skin, leaving her to wonder if she had imagined it.

"Congratulations Mrs. Sheffield." Niles said once they had entered the room.

C.C. who had been standing behind him hurriedly rushed to Sara's side but at the last minute seemed to change her mind and came to a sudden standstill quite far away from the bed.

"Meet your godparents, Maggie." Sara whispered softly, still looking exhausted but was tenderly stroking her newborn child.

"She's beautiful." Niles complimented after he had stolen a peek while C.C. still stood frozen where she was.

"Would you like to hold her?" Sara asked and Niles eagerly nodded.

She carefully pushed herself up in bed while Niles leaned closer to take the baby into his arms. Every move seemed confident, as if he had done it a hundred times. He gently cradled the baby against his chest, while supporting her head and began to rhythmically bump her up and down to sooth her nervous crying. C.C. watched the smile on his face as he cooed over the baby and instantly felt an weird pulling in her heart.

"I'm your uncle Niles and I'm going to take good care of you, yes I will. And over here is your aunty C.C." and he met her eyes still smiling ecstatically.

She looked away again, a light blush creeping across her cheek at the familiarity he was creating. As he approached her with the baby she instinctively took a step backwards, shaking her head.

"Keep her, she's comfortable now…I'm not good with kids."

At her side Sara could feel Maxwell tensing at C.C.'s rejection of his newborn girl. She softly shook her head and squeezed his hand, signaling him to keep quiet.

To Sara's slight disappointment C.C. found excuses for not visiting her and Maggie in hospital. She knew her better than Maxwell and was aware that C.C. in no way disliked the baby, she only hoped that she would lose her fear soon.

A week after they had been dismissed from the hospital Maxwell took her out to celebrate their already passed wedding anniversary. She knew, of course, that it was thanks to Niles her husband had stopped working for one night and she was determined to make it up to him sometime. Although the evening was highly anticipated Sara found it hard to leave her baby behind for the first time.

"I promise I take care of her." Niles said for the umpteenth time and she managed a weak smile "If anything is wrong I'll handle it and I will call you. Now go, spend some time with your husband!"

After she had leaned down to kiss her baby goodbye they finally left the house and Niles picked up the bouncing chair and carried it into the kitchen.

"You're going to be a good girl tonight, yes Maggie?" he asked, waving at the baby before beginning to do some dishes "Mummy and Daddy will be back soon and till then I am going to give you your bottle and you can take a little nap."

After he was done with his task, he walked around the counter to gently brush his thumb over the baby's chubby cheek. Maggie produced a gurgling laugh that made him break into a smile as well.

"You look just like your mother." he whispered softly and then walked to the fridge to get some milk.

Sara had been producing so much that they had managed to fill some of it into bottles, but it looked like this time she had forgotten it in her room.

"Be good." he called to Maggie "I'll be back in a second."

It didn't take the baby long to realize, however, that it was all alone and so it began to cry which attracted C.C.'s attention who had just entered the house to drop off some contracts. Carelessly putting them down on a table in the living room she walked into the kitchen to see what was wrong with her godchild.

"Why are you crying?" she asked the baby almost as seriously, as if she was actually awaiting a reply.

Quickly scanning the room she realized that no-one was around and answered her own question by saying: "I see, you're all alone, I don't like that much either."

She leaned in closer until her blonde hair fell into her face, causing the baby to try and grab it. She gave a low chuckle when Maggie indeed managed to get hold of a strand and tugged at it.

"Hey, let go." she whispered softly and tried to loosen the baby's hold.

Once she had accomplished it , however, Maggie began to pout before starting to cry again.

"You are one demanding little girl." C.C. scolded and picked her up, holding her awkwardly while trying to sooth her just like Niles had done.

Almost as if on cue the butler emerged from the backstairs where he had been hiding and observing the entire thing.

"You have to be careful with her head." he corrected her gently.

Realising that she had been caught with the baby in her arms and doing it wrong as well, C.C. hurriedly tried to put Maggie back down without hurting her in the process.

"You just left her!" she said accusingly "I had no choice and I really don't like kids."

"Give it up, Babs, I saw you." he growled in a low voice "Besides, it was only a little mistake, easily done when you're not used to interacting with babies."

He could tell that C.C. was somehow determined that she would hurt the child, but instead of admitting it she simply put on a front.

"Come on, let me show you." he pleaded, walking over to the quietly fussing Maggie.

"I just came here to give Maxwell some contracts, I don't have time to play happy family with you." she said icily but Niles ignored her.

He picked up Maggie and walked towards C.C., noticing that with every step he took the fear in her eyes seemed to grow. He carefully thrust the child into C.C.'s arms and guided her hand to rest against the baby's neck, propping up the head. As he was certain that C.C. had everything under control, he began to rub Maggie's back in small circles, noticing that she was the only thing that separated his body from C.C.'s.

"See, all she needed was some reassuring contact." he said, getting lost in C.C:'s light blue eyes for a moment "Just keep her that way until I've got the bottle ready."