I was half tempted not to post this tonight as I feel a little silly for already having finished another chapter. Yesterday I was having real difficulties writing even 1 page and then tonight I wrote 3...I'm so sorry guys. Anyway, you're gonna hate me even more coz I'm gonna have to leave you with a cliffie for a whole week..but on the bright side,there will be a kiss!;) Please review and let me know what you think coz only then I start giggling so stupedly...lol I'm taking my notebook with me, so I'll try and write a chapter worth so I only need to type it up next Friday...fingers crossed I'll get something done!lol

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, but wish I had a butler boy every once in a while!;)

Chapter 17: A Kiss and its Consequences

The evening they shared at the Broadway Guild Awards banquet seemed to have changed their relationship quite profoundly. Not only did C.C. sleep so well that night as she hadn't done in a very long time, she also was incapable of shaking that warm feeling that had taken hold of her entire body, ever since she and Niles had entered the Sheffield residence. After Niles had dropped her off at her penthouse she had instantly fallen asleep and had only awakened once during the night. Her mind still fuzzy at that point she had reached for a pillow to wrap her arms around and had whispered the name of the man whose scent still seemed to linger in the air. Of course she couldn't remember any of that in the morning…

When she returned to work the following day she still felt confident and elated, two things Niles could only hope for. Instead though he dreaded her arrival, trying in vain to predict what her behavior would be like and how, in turn, he should behave. He nearly jumped when he heard the door bell ring and almost reluctantly made his way across the den to answer it. The first thing he noticed when he laid his eyes on her was that she looked perfectly glowing, her smooth skin looked a little less pale and her light blue eyes were sparkling.

"Did you have a liver oil treatment; your coat looks so shiny." he commented and she rolled her eyes.

"Can it, Niles, nothing is going to take away that glorious feeling I have."

Hadn't he been so self-conscious he might have made the connection between the evening they had spent together and her newfound happiness, but given their complicated relationship he was prone to uncertainty.

"Oh goody, did they develop some new tablets?" he commented dryly and took her coat.

"Yes, they have, but we wouldn't wanna put you down just yet." she finally retorted and he smiled. That was much better!

"Mr. Sheffield's already in the office." he said and then exited to finish his duties in the kitchen.

Maybe he should have mentioned that Maxwell was particularly easy to anger that day, because once C.C. entered the office she got the feeling that everyone was out to ruin her wonderful mood.

"C.C., you're five minutes late!" he snapped and she glared at him.

""C.C., congratulations on winning!" would've been the better way to go, Maxwell." she corrected him, taking files out of her purse.

Niles was chuckling as he listened to the ongoing conversation. Some people listened to audio books because it helped them relax, he had the intercom on while he was working. He, of course, was already well aware that Maxwell's foul mood had been brought on by the impeding visit of Fran's pen pal Larry.

"Oh Nyules!" the nasal voice of his best friend could be heard and he turned around to find her posing on the backstairs.

With all the feelings he had bottled up for Miss Babcock it still didn't escape him that Fran Fine was a very attractive woman, and wearing only a red dress that was as low cut as it was short, he didn't feel the least bit guilty for staring at her.

"Hubba hubba." he commented and Fran instantly elicited her honking laugh.

"Ya like?"

"I'm giving you a standing ovation." And with that he returned to his duties "But don't you think it'll make Mr. Sheffield even more jealous?"

"Jealous? Ya think? Hell, if this doesn't make him jealous I dunno what will." And she nudged him in the ribs.

"In the meantime I will have to bear his anger." he sighed.

"Pu-leaze, Niles, it's for a good cause. I haven't hadda date in ages, it's almost like charity, really."

"Charity? Miss Fine, I can't even recall the last time a woman has looked at me!"

"Oh stop whining, it's not as bad as ya think."

"Really? I mean, we can't all throw ourselves into a sexy dress and parade around town."

"Though if ya did that you would certainly attract attention." And she laughed again.

"I would pay to see that." C.C. commented, who had entered the kitchen without either one of them noticing.

"Sure you would, you're used to paying, aren't you?" Niles quipped.

"I came to escape from Maxwell, you have no idea how hard it is to be around someone who constantly snaps at you." C.C. said and Fran and Niles exchanged looks "But now I appear to have stumbled upon the domestics' daily meeting."

"I get his tea ready." Niles replied, already putting two mugs and some cake on a tray.

She exited without another glance at either one of them and Niles couldn't help but sigh as he watched her go.

"I wonda what's put her in such a good mood." Fran muttered and Niles was glad when Val knocked on the backdoor and kept her distracted.

When everything was placed on the tray he picked it up and made his way into the office.

"Oh please, Maxwell," he could hear C.C. beg and was immediately interested in what was going on.

She was sitting at the edge of the table, the spot Fran usually occupied, and was showing him what appeared to be a brochure.

"C.C., I told you before, I will not waste my money on a silly little house!"

"Silly?" C.C. exclaimed and Niles grinned as her poured their tea "it's got a swimming pool, is in close proximity to the sea and it even has a little servant shack, we can keep Niles there if he isn't waiting on us."

She had rounded him while speaking and had actually whispered the last part into his ear, making it sound more seductive than he dared hope she'd intended. Planned or not it didn't lose its appeal and his voice was clearly raspier as he asked: "Lemon cake?" his hands struggling to put it on a plate.

"C.C., we don't have time for this, there's work that needs to get done!"

"Maxwell-" she began, wanting to tell him that their previous show was still running rather successfully and that there was no need for such dictatorship, but Niles, as always, managed to say something before her.

"Sir, why don't you just tell Miss Fine how you feel about her? This way you can be certain that nothing will happen when she meets Larry."

"Don't be preposterous, Niles, what Miss Fine does in her free time is none of my concern."

"Of course not." Niles remarked ironically, shaking his head.

Somehow C.C.'s mood changed drastically when she noticed that Maxwell was still interested in the nanny, it simply was not possible that he would prefer that woman when he could have her.

"Maxwell," she said, moving around the table to stand behind him and massaged his shoulders "I completely agree, we need to focus more on our work. I propose we meet up Saturday evening for a late working session, what do you say?"

Normally Niles would have responded with bitter jealousy and anger, but on that particular day, when the memories of their evening together were still so fresh, he couldn't help but be just a little optimistic. C.C.'s half-hearted attempt to win Maxwell's love couldn't possibly have to do with actual feelings, so instead he chalked it down to the ongoing rivalry between the women.

By Saturday Niles really couldn't say that he hadn't tried everything in his power to convince Maxwell, and at last it looked as if the man was ready to do something in his own way. But instead of talking to Fran directly, as Niles had hoped he would, he had instead decided to accompany her to the Russian Tea Room to at least wait until Larry arrived. Fran, who had been too nervous to argue and too dependent on his display of affection, had instantly agreed and so both of them had left the house together ,just as C.C. Babcock had arrived at the mansion. Everything from the strapless, black dress she wore to her designer heels suggested that this wasn't meant to be a regular working session.

"Maxwell, where are you going?" she asked upon noticing the man by Fran's side.

"Oh C.C.," Maxwell began, who, to his credit, looked somewhat embarrassed "I'll only be gone for a moment, you can start without me!"

Niles closed the door behind them and grinned in her direction: "Now that's something I'm sure you're used to." But the blasted beauty of a woman had simply lifted her chin and made her way into the office, bearing no signs of a woman who had just been dumped again.

Niles was having a rather hard time concentrating on his dusting duties, firstly his mind was with Fran and Maxwell and a hopefully successful evening and secondly it was with C.C. whose outfit had created a very strong reaction in him and who still hadn't reemerged. Glancing at his watch a little while later he realized that over an hour had passed and, putting down his feather duster, he walked to the office to check on her. His eyes widened when he saw how she had decorated the office and when he noticed that her back was turned to him he saw the perfect opportunity for a prank. Careful not to make any sound he reached for the light switch and dimmed the light.

"Maxwell, darling, is that you?" she asked, her voice low and seductive.

He couldn't deny the effect this had on him and he prayed that one day she'd address him in that tone.

"Ssh, don't turn around." he whispered back, hoping she wouldn't recognize his voice.

"Tell me what you want me to do!"

He grinned from ear to ear and gleefully rubbed his hands together, this was going to be good! He thought long and hard for a moment, knowing very well that a situation like this wasn't very likely to present itself to him again. Finally he decided to go with the first thing that popped into his head and he whispered: "Cluck like a chicken!"

Suppressing a giggle he hoped she wouldn't realize that this was a prank. Seconds drifted by without any reply and he busied himself staring at her exposed back. C.C. was someone who, unlike the nanny, hid her body behind clothes and he cherished the few moments he got to see some skin.

"What?" she finally asked incredulously.

"It turns me on." he replied, making sure to almost graze her ear with his lips.

The situation was almost proving to be more than he could handle, when C.C. finally broke the tension by actually clucking like a chicken. He had real trouble not to laugh out loud when he noticed that she even accompanied it with arm gestures. When she finally did turn around and saw who was standing behind her she screamed and Niles erupted in loud laughter.

"Mr. Sheffield still hasn't returned, you didn't think I was him, did you?"

For a moment she looked as if she was about to strangle him before, to his surprise, she began to chuckle as well. The grin was wiped clean off of his face, as he asked: "Did you find that funny?"

"No, but it suddenly occurred to me that this must have been the closest you have ever gotten to a woman."

How did this infuriating woman manage to somehow get the upper hand?

"Don't flatter yourself, Babcock, I yet have to find something womanly about you."

"Swine." she growled, angered by his hurtful remark.

"Chicken." he replied with ease.

"Servant!" she hissed, trying to find a name that would offend him.

"Trollop." he retorted, suddenly angry as he moved closer to her.

"Bell Boy!"

As she moved closer to him as well, she suddenly noticed the excitement coursing through her veins. She felt the crazy desire to insult him and yet touch him at the same time.

"Snob!"

And before he had uttered the final sound, they had both simultaneously taken another step and his lips crashed against hers. C.C. instantly threw her arms around his neck, while his hands came to rest on her lower back, pulling her closer. As he felt her breasts press against his chest everything around him ceased to exist and in front of his closed eyes he was beginning to see red edges around the darkness. C.C. let her hands wander through his blonde hair, feeling the softness against her skin and whimpered when she felt him nibbling on her bottom lip. She was just about to lie down on the table, pulling him on top of her when the sounds of a door being closed reached her fuzzy brain. Painfully slowly he pulled away from her and adjusted his clothes. She did the same, only worrying about an alibi for Maxwell rather than the entire situation. When she looked up again she found him eyeing her wordlessly, his blue eyes astounded and afraid at the same time. She carefully reached out to smooth his hair before allowing her hand to rest on his cheek and still neither one spoke.

"I have to go." she forced herself to whisper, wiping traces of lipstick from the corner of his mouth.

And he knew that she was right, he had to let her go and figure things out for herself, for if he forced her to stay he would never get the result he wanted. He nodded weakly and lowered his head as she rushed out of the room. For a long while he stood in the office, savoring the lingering taste of her on his lips, but his body seemed incapable of calming down. His heart was racing unnaturally fast and it was making him feel light-headed. If every time they kissed he would feel like that… "You dreamer." he scolded himself gently.

"Dr. Bort!" a deep voice called her and as she turned around she found C.C. Babcock hurrying towards her.

"Miss Babcock?" she asked.

"Dr. Bort, I have to talk to you, it's urgent!"

She waited until C.C. was level with her and then continued to walk down the corridor that led to her office.

"Why didn't you call my secretary and arrange an appointment?"

"You don't understand, I have to talk to you now!"

"I'm afraid that's impossible, I have patients scheduled all through this afternoon."

"I can't wait that long!" the blonde suddenly snapped impatiently "Look, I got into a fight with the butler and it escalated."

"Miss Babcock, arguments do happen, especially where the two of you are concerned, can't we discuss this later?"

"We kissed." C.C. whispered and now she had Dr. Bort's full attention.

She quickly scanned the blonde's facial expression and then took a look at her watch.

"Normally I wouldn't do this, but I still have a couple of minutes before the first appointment, you better talk fast!"

"I was planning a romantic evening with Maxwell, but he went out with the nanny…again…so I decided to wait, when Niles pulled this stupid prank on me." C.C. explained and began to outline Niles' joke, casting a stern glance at Dr. Bort when she began to laugh "Naturally I insulted him and then he told me there was nothing womanly about me, we called each other names and suddenly we were in each other's arms, kissing like some love struck teenagers."

"And, did you enjoy it?" Dr. Bort asked who couldn't manage to hide the smile that was tugging at her lips.

"Well, yes of course I did!" C.C. said firmly, before pulling a face when she realized what exactly she had just admitted.

"Then what's the problem?"

"He's the butler!" C.C. exclaimed as if it was obvious "We only insult each other."

"Yes, but clearly not out of dislike."

"No…but he's… I mean, he's Niles…" C.C. mumbled helplessly.

"What do you feel for him?" Dr. Bort gently probed.

"I loathe the man, every time I see him the insults just write themselves but I don't know what to do…maybe he'll use all of this as ammunition."

"That's certainly a possibility, though to be quite honest with you, from everything you've told me about him I'd still doubt it."

"But what do I tell him? He'll be expecting…something." C.C. continued, running a shaky hand through her hair.

"Miss Babcock, you seem to care an awful about the wellbeing of a man you just claimed to loathe a minute ago."

"Tell me what to do!" C.C. begged.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Miss Babcock."

C.C. was a mess for the rest of the entire day, unable to focus on anything but the kiss and how good it had felt. It wasn't so much the kiss that had confused her- that could be blamed on all the pent up lust they both had- but it was her behavior afterwards that worried her the most, the fact that she had actually felt unwilling to let go of him. When she still wasn't any wiser the next morning, she decided just to go to work and see how Niles would act. It wasn't the butler, however, who answered the door, but the youngest Sheffield ,who also told her that he was driving Fran to the airport. Maxwell had left early in the morning for London to try and find new inspiration for a play and Nanny Fine, determined to finally get him to admit his feelings had followed behind.

Aimlessly she wandered through the house until the faint sound of voices coming from the kitchen attracted her attention. She slowly opened the door to find Brighton sitting at the table listening to a tape recording.

"Don't be afraid to pull the woman you desire into your arms and show her how passionate you feel about her. But afterwards make sure to let her see your vulnerable side, this way she'll feel too guilty to dump you. And now repeat after me: You can get women!"

She tried to hold on as long as she possibly could, but finally a laugh escaped her lips.

"Oh, Miss Babcock!" the boy said, jumping to his feet.

"Aren't you a little too young for that? Hell, you're hardly a man!" and she let out her cackling laugh.

Brighton, wounded in his male pride, crossed his arms in front of his chest and replied: "It's not mine, it's Niles' and it seems to work for him, even though you never call him a man!"

And as Brighton exited via the backstairs she felt an inexplicable stab in her heart. Everything on that tape sounded exactly like the moves Niles had used on her. Maybe this was just another huge prank and he had attempted to show that even the ice queen could be melted. Unable to explain the tears that suddenly stung in her eyes, she resorted to the only emotion left: anger.

"Oh hello, Babs!" a cheery Niles greeted her as he walked into the kitchen, completely oblivious to what had expired "And I was beginning to wonder why the house was so deadly silent!"

One look at his twinkling blue eyes was nearly enough to crumble her resolve but then she remembered how humiliated she'd be, once word of their kiss got out.

"I came to borrow some mouth wash, Tidy Bowl, mine doesn't seem capable of erasing that disgusting servant taste." she said icily "Oh and Niles, a tape alone won't help you get women, not when they still have to meet with a fat, old butler."

Niles spent many sleepless hours that night trying to figure out what could've caused her reaction and finally came to the only possible conclusion: She saw a problem not only in their different stations, but also in their age difference. And when he risked a glance at himself in the mirror after having showered, he suddenly understood her repulsion. He was getting chubbier as he got older and the skin around his chin was beginning to look saggy. She, on the other hand, seemed to have reached the peak of her beauty. She looked curvaceous and gorgeous, her skin was smooth and wrinkle-free and her hair had grown considerable, emphasizing her femininity and rendering his pathetic insult null and void. If there had even been the slightest chance she had enjoyed that kiss, it seemed to have disappeared the minute she had imagined more. That morning in front of the mirror Niles vowed to change and starting the next day he began a jogging routine.

When everyone around him noticed the change but C.C. who kept insulting him mercilessly, he decided that the only way was to get a complete make-over. And so he upped the hours of exercise, bought some fashionable new clothes and even dyed his hair jet-black. But still C.C. only commented in snide remarks and so, night after night, he found himself in front of the fridge, feeding on Camembert and Ben&Jerry's- a mixture which proved to be deadly, as he was about to find out.

"Hey, macho man," C.C. called him one day, chuckling about her own joke "how long are Maxwell and Nanny Fine planning on staying in England? I mean, there is a business to run here."

Niles eyed her through the mirror and continued to flip a strand of his hair until it was the right shape.

"Oh, they decided to extend their visit, it seems Mr. Sheffield has taken some pleasure in introducing Miss Fine to all things British."

"Ugh, Niles, you're making me sick!" C.C. complained and was counting on a fitting retort but none came "Niles, don't make me get ugly!" she prompted him again.

"C.C., my arm's going numb…" he whispered and when he turned around she saw that, although he looked pale, he had broken out in sweat.

"Niles!" she yelled, rushing to his side as he sank to the floor, clutching his chest.