Disclaimer: I don't own any part or character from The Nanny…yet.
A/N: I just watched the movie 'Baby Boom' and thought…what it that had been CC? This starts out on the same idea, but with a definite twist. Let me know what you think – D
Little Man
Chapter 10
Niles carried Scottie back into the master bedroom. "CC…" Niles stood outside of the bathroom door. "Come on, CC…don't spend our last hour with him in the bathroom."
"I can't Niles. What if he…says it again?" CC called tearily from behind the door. "It's going to be hard enough already."
Niles sighed. "Alright, Love, I won't force you." Niles went about getting Scottie dressed and fed and packed up the remainder of his things and put all of it into the crib for easy transport back to Lucy's apartment.
CC finally showered, dressed and made her appearance; mostly just so she could watch Scottie while Niles showered and dressed himself. She refused to hold the baby fearing she'd never give him up. She sat at the dining room table with her coffee and Scottie sat on his blanket a good ten feet away. That is until he decided he wanted her, whether she was willing or not. Niles padded into the living room dressed in his jeans and polo and carrying his sneakers just in time to see little nine month old Scottie crawl his way across the room to where CC was trying her best to ignore him. It wasn't until he reached her chair and plopped onto his butt that he made his presence known to her. "Ma!" He did it again and this time CC just couldn't restrain herself.
"I love you to, Scottie." CC lifted the boy into her arms and let the tears flow again. Niles stood frozen in his tracks trying to keep his own emotions in check and failing miserably. He walked over to them, his little family for the next half an hour and knelt to hold them in his arms and join the woman he loved in crying over the impending loss of…this baby they love so much.
It was exactly a half an hour later when the knock came at the door. Niles and CC had somehow managed to put on a brave front. Niles held Scottie and CC opened the door to reveal a happy and exited looking Lucy. "Hi Lucy, I'm so glad you're feeling better." CC couldn't begrudge Lucy's excitement to see her son. In fact, CC understood all too well.
"There's my boy!" Lucy called and took the two steps to where Niles held her son. Niles held Scottie out to her and he seemed apprehensive, but didn't fuss. "I know, Scottie, Mommy's sorry she had to go away for so long. But I'm back now and better than ever." She hugged him tightly to her chest as Niles moved to wrap his arm around CC's waist. "Thank you both so much for taking such great care of Scottie for me. Miss Babcock, I want you to know you can come down and visit Scottie anytime you like. In fact, next Friday night, both of you come to dinner. That'll give me a chance to get settled and it'll help Scottie get used to things. Alright? You promise you'll come?" They nodded. "Six o'clock sharp."
"We'll be there, Lucy. You just give us a call if you need anything, day or night. Just until Scottie gets used to things again." CC offered solidly, surprising even herself at how well she stayed under control. Jack rolled the fully loaded crib up the hall of the penthouse and out into the corridor.
Lucy sighed. "Well, I guess that's everything." Lucy carried Scottie out into the hallway and turned back to face Niles and CC. "Thanks again." Scottie reached his little arms toward CC and Niles held her a little tighter when she started chewing her lip.
They moved into the corridor as Lucy, Scottie, Mrs. Richards and Jack made their way down to the elevator and watched until the doors closed. They returned to the apartment and closed the door and held each other as they cried like babies.
It was about 3am the following morning when the phone rang. Niles sprang from the bed to answer in hopes that it wouldn't disturb CC. "Hello?"
"Mr. Brightmore?" The voice started. "It's Lucy, I can't seem to get Scottie to take his bottle. Did you and Miss Babcock have any trouble with him last night?" Lucy asked and Niles could hear Scottie fussing in the background.
"Did he wake up hungry?" Niles asked her.
"No, but I've had the alarm set for 2:45 am so I could have his bottle ready for him. He just won't take it." Lucy was concerned.
Niles nodded. "I'm sorry, Lucy, I thought I'd put all that in the file I sent with Scottie's things. He's been sleeping through the night for almost two weeks. He just stopped waking up for a bottle."
"Oh, well, I haven't had a chance to look at the file you sent yet. I'm sorry. I'll just put him back to bed then. I'm sorry I disturbed you. Good night, Mr. Brightmore, and thanks." Lucy hung up the phone.
Niles couldn't hold in the tear that slipped down his cheek. "Is he alright?" CC asked softly.
"She hadn't read the file I sent and woke him for the 3 am feeding. He wasn't happy, but he's fine." Niles lay back down and pulled her back tightly to his chest. "I'm sorry I woke you."
"Niles…?" CC whimpered.
"Yes, Love?"
"I miss him."
They fell asleep in each other's arms missing the 'little man' who'd finally been the magnet which drew them together.
The next afternoon, well technically it was just later that same day if you start your days at 3 am, Max called to give Niles another week off since he knew how badly 'giving Scottie back' would affect both him and CC.
"I insist, Old Man." His polite accent drifted through the phone. "Fran's been trying to get me to take the children on a vacation for weeks anyway. Things are slow now at the office so it's the perfect time. You just take care of CC and yourself. We'll be back in a week."
"Thank you, Sir. CC and I appreciate it." Niles hung up the phone and turned to find CC wrapped in a ball at the end of the sofa. "Max sends his love, and has insisted we both take the week off. Fran has been after him to take the children on vacation." Niles moved to her and pulled her into his arms. "I miss him too, CC. But we're going to have to move on eventually. Won't it be easier if we start earlier rather than later?"
The words had barely left his mouth when the phone rang. "I'll get it, Niles. It's probably Max with a few final instructions." CC shook her head and answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Miss Babcock? It's Lucy…I need to run to the pharmacy for my prescription, could I leave Scottie with you for a short while?" Lucy asked.
CC perked up and Niles noticed immediately. "Sure, Lucy, would it be easier if we came down there?" Oh…ok, we're here, just bring him up." CC hung up the phone and spun around looking practically giddy. "Lucy has to run to the pharmacy and she wants us to watch Scottie for her."
"Really? Is she bringing him up now?" Niles perked up as well and then he face grew dark again. "You know, CC, it's just going to make it more difficult if we keep seeing him like this."
"I don't care, Niles. I want him…I mean I want to see him." CC frowned. "Please, Niles…"
Niles sighed and pulled her back into his lap. "I know, Love. I want to see him too. I'm worried about you, that's all."
"I'll be fine." There was a knock at the door and CC leapt off Niles' lap to get to the door. She tossed open the door to Lucy holding Scottie and a diaper bag. "Thank you, again, Miss Babcock. I completely forgot my prescription when Scottie and I were out this afternoon. I promise I won't be long."
"That's alright, Lucy. We'll be fine." CC offered as she finally took both Scottie and the diaper bag from her.
Lucy gave Scottie a quick kiss. "He's just had a bottle so he should be fine until I get back." With that Lucy turned and left CC to close the door.
"Well!" Niles called from the sofa. "Hello, Little Man." Scottie reached his arms out to Niles as CC got closer to the sofa.
Niles took the boy and sat him on his knees. "I can't believe it's only been a day…he already looks bigger."
"Niles…" CC took her place next to him. "Don't be silly. You tell him, Scottie, tell him you haven't changed a bit."
Scottie cooed and did it again. "Ma!" He called his eyes locked with CC's as his hands patted Niles' cheeks.
"Now, Scottie…" Niles started. "Don't keep doing that."
CC smiled and a single tear slipped down her cheek. "Don't worry, Niles. I think I'm ok. He's just at the right age and I happened to be the one he focused on. He probably calls Lucy Ma too."
They sat and they played for a while. Then they put Scottie on the floor and he crawled around the room following one or the other of them, usually CC. "Well, you're moving pretty good now, aren't you?" CC turned and looked down at the boy. "I'll bet you're keeping Lucy on her toes." Scottie took CC's stopping as an invitation and he grabbed onto her jeans. "Scottie, what are you up to now?"
It wouldn't take long for CC to get her answer. Scottie, with a bit of CC's jeans clutched tightly in each chubby fist pulled himself up to his chubby little feet and looked up at her with his silly grin.
"Uh…Niles…" CC called softly so not to alarm Scottie and cause him to fall before Niles could get the camera. "Niles did you get it?"
"Oh yea…would you just look at him? If I remember correctly Gracie was the first to pull herself to her feet and she was at least eleven months old." Niles flashed his goofiest grin.
CC shook her head. "I wish I had a picture of you right now."
"Why?" Niles frowned.
"You have the cutest grin on your face. All proud Papa and…" CC frowned when she realized what she'd said. "I'm sorry Niles…that was stupid."
Niles smiled at her again. "No, CC. You're exactly right. That is how I felt." Niles scooped Scottie up into his arms and swung him around bringing loud peals of laughter from his little face.
They sat together on the sofa again to settle Scottie down before Lucy returned for him. They didn't want to send him home too excited to fall asleep. CC held him on her lap and Niles sang a few soft little lullabies.
Just as Scottie leaned back against CC's chest there was a knock on the door. Niles moved to answer it and there was Lucy. "I'm sorry it took so long. How was he?"
"Oh he was fine, we played a little and he crawled around…" CC was just giving Lucy the update.
"He crawled?" Lucy seemed shocked. "Wow, I can't get him to crawl downstairs. But there isn't as much space in my place."
"Alright, Scottie, time to go home." CC carried Scottie to the door where Niles stood with Lucy.
CC handed him back to Lucy and he scowled a little. "Ma!"
"Oh my God! Did you hear? He said Ma! When you handed him to me he said Ma!" Lucy hugged Scottie tight and Niles softly rubbed CC's back, so proud of how well she handled the situation. "Thanks again!" Lucy left the apartment and as Niles closed the door he could hear Lucy prodding Scottie to 'say it again.'