Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to any of the characters of 'The Nanny.'

A/N Pretty much my all time favorite TV couple. I know it's a long time coming, but I really wanted to finally get the story out on paper. Well, I guess it's not really paper but you understand…

Christmas in Switzerland

Chapter 3

"Horses!" CC was almost giddy. Well as giddy as CC Babcock could muster. "It's a stable?"

Niles nodded. "Come on, let's go." CC held Niles' hand but didn't move. "What's wrong?"

"Where are we going?" CC asked him confused.

Niles chuckled. "Horseback riding. You didn't really think I'd let Max plan every activity for two full weeks did you?" Niles pulled her once to get her legs moving. "As soon as he told me about this vacation I did all the research I could about the area, the resort, winter activities, all the places to go and things to do. I made a reservation yesterday morning."

When they got closer the lead stableman addressed them in French. "Bonjour, êtes vous Niles?" (Hello, are you Niles?)

CC opened her mouth to answer but Niles beat her to the punch. "Oui, c'est moi. Nous préférerions seul monter, ainsi nous n'aurons pas besoin d'un guide, il qui est autorisé." (Yes, that's me. We would prefer to ride alone, so we won't need a guide, if that's permitted.)

The stable man smiled and winked at Niles. "Naturellement, monsieur. Tant que toi et la dame êtes tous les deux accomplissent des cavaliers." (Of course, Sir. As long as you and the lady are both accomplish riders.)

Niles nodded. "Je peux vous assurer que, monsieur, nous sont." (I can assure you, Sir, we are.)

With that the man led Niles and CC to their horses. They were beautiful. Niles would be riding 'Midnight' a black stallion with flecks of white on his neck and underbelly. CC's horse was very pale palomino called 'Enchantress'.

"God, I can't wait to see him straddle that animal." CC's thoughts ran wild. And she didn't have to wait long before Niles mounted up and settled into the saddle.

Niles watched as CC put her foot in the stirrup and whipped her leg over 'Enchantress' securing herself in the saddle. "Fitting the enchantress riding 'Enchantress'. Niles thought.

" Monsier, vous avez les chevaux pour le jour. Veuillez les renvoyer à l'écurie par 5 heures. Ayez un tour gentil." (Sir, you have the horses for the day. Please return them to the stable by 5 o'clock. Have a nice ride.) The stable man handed Niles some paperwork to sign and then gave him his copy with Niles shoved into his pocket.

"Ready?" Niles looked as CC. "What?"

"Since when do you speak French?" CC asked him.

Niles laughed. "Since I was a child, my mother is French, CC. I thought you knew that."

"I knew she was a French maid…I didn't know that meant she was a French French maid." Niles grinned and CC laughed at herself. "Geez, I've been hanging around Max too long." They laughed again. "Alright, Mr. Clean, lead on."

Niles tossed her an evil grin, tightened his grip on the reigns, gave a slight kick to his horse and called "Heya." Midnight took off and Enchantress needed no coaxing on CC's part to follow him.

Back at the chalet, Fran and Max settled down in front of the fire and the children got out a board game. Gracie wanted to play scrabble, but Maggie and Brighton decided that Monopoly would be more fair to everyone concerned.

"Max," Fran started. "What do you think Niles and CC are up to?"

Max rubbed Fran's back a little. "Oh, I don't know. I'm sure he found something out there while he was doing all his pre-vacation research."

"His pre-vacation what?" Fran asked.

Max chuckled. "Fran, you don't think that Niles would go away on vacation and not find out everything there is to know about the place, do you?"

"Really? He does that? Why?" Fran was a little confused.

Max sat up a little straighter. "Niles is actually a very active person, Fran. He always needs to be doing something. He doesn't think I know about it, so I just let him do his thing and I do mine."

Fran touched his cheek softly. "That's so sweet, Max. You're such a good friend to Niles, I never realized."

Max sighed. "I wouldn't be where I am today without Niles, Fran. It's like I told you after his heart attack. I wouldn't have gotten through school without him. I'd have never survived coming to America alone and then after Sara died…he held us all together. And he loved Sara too. I don't know how he managed. I never even asked him."

"I'm sorry, Max. I didn't mean to make you sad." Fran sighed. "Come on, lets see if we can beat the kids in this Monopoly game they got going."

"Niles!" CC called to him. "Come on, Enchantress, we've got to catch him before we lose them. Heya!" CC leaned in and pushed Enchantress to go faster and suddenly they were in a clearing…alone. CC looked around trying to see any trace of them in the snow. "That bastard. I can't believe he'd…"

"Can't believe he'd what, CaCa?" CC heard that sexy baritone coming from just behind her.

CC grinned. "I knew you were there, Tidy Bowl. I could smell you a mile away."

"Me or the horse, Shrew?" Niles asked.

CC shrugged slightly without turning. "Same difference."

Niles brought Midnight up next to Enchantress and the horses nuzzled. "It would seem the enchantress likes the stallion." "I can't tell if my heart is racing from the ride or from the woman."

CC turned to look at him. "It would definitely seem so." "Just look at him. He looks so natural on a horse."

Their eyes locked for a moment and Niles started to lean in just as a big pile of snow dropped off a low hanging branch and spooked Midnight. The horse lurched forward throwing Niles off. CC quickly dismounted and was at Niles' side. "Niles…are you ok?"

"Damn horse. That's not exactly what I was hoping would happen." Niles couldn't look at CC.

CC smiled at this different side of Niles. He was genuinely embarrassed. "What were you hoping would happen?"

Niles realized that they were about to have a real live conversation about something they just didn't have conversations about. "I was hoping you'd get thrown from the horse."

CC smacked his chest. "You can be such an idiot, sometimes." CC made a move to get up and Niles grabbed her hand bringing her down onto his chest. "Niles!"

"I'm sorry. I just can't not do this any longer." Niles brought his lips to hers. It was soft, wet and warm. CC hands found his face and Niles hands snaked around her. Niles tried to keep it simple, but CC was having none of it. She licked at his bottom lip which elicited a soft moan from Niles' throat and he allowed her access to his mouth. Their tongues tickled and danced until both were in desperate need of air.

When they pulled apart they were both breathing hard and their eyes never left the others. "Uhm…CC…" Niles started.

"Yes, Niles?" CC said barely above a whisper.

Niles gave her that lopsided grin that she loves. "If I don't stand up soon, I'll have frost bite on my ass."

CC stood up and helped Niles to do the same. "Well, we definitely don't want that." CC looked into his sky blue eyes. "Niles, give me a leg up will you?" CC lifted her foot for Niles to help her re-mount her horse.

Niles brushed the snow off his butt and re-mounted Midnight. "Now listen here, Midnight. I'm on top that means I make the rules." Niles looked at CC and noticed the evil grin. "What?"

"I'm going to remember that." CC offered before you gave a holler to her horse and she took off toward the chalet.

"Remember what?" Niles asked before taking off after her.

Fran saw Niles and CC coming up the steps to the deck. "Hey! They're back!"

Niles opened the door and allowed CC to enter. "I need a shower. That was a really long ride, Niles."

Max, Fran and the children stared at them in shock. "Uh…what?" Max asked cautiously.

"A long ride, Max." Niles added for effect knowing full well how Max had misinterpreted. Then winking at CC he added. "I'm sorry, CC. Are you sore? I hadn't meant to go on so long."

CC caught on and decided to have her own fun. "No, I'm fine. I haven't ridden like that in years. It felt great!"

"Shall we have another go after lunch?" Niles asked trying to get the last word in.

CC almost laughed knowing the face that Max must be making behind them. "If you think you're up for it. I'm game."

"I think I need a shower as well. I'll walk you up." Niles put his hand softly on the small of CC's back and they started up the stairs.

"Oh my God, I love it when he does that." CC thought."Ok, Mr. French, but you stop at the bedroom door." CC tossed off.

"Well, if you insist." Niles wanted the last word and thought he'd gotten it until he heard Fran say…

"Oh…look Max, horses!"

CC and Niles shared a glance and shook their heads.

After a most delicious lunch the children went off with their friends to attend the more youthful activities offered at the lodge. Max and Fran were left home alone at the chalet while CC and Niles took a short ride to return the horses.

"Max, why did we automatically assume that Niles and CC were…well you know." Fran asked him.

Max tilted his head to think. "I've known them both for a very long time, Fran. I've watched the little dance they do. It was part of the reason I made sure that CC came along on this trip."

"I'm a little lost, Max." Fran loved Niles he was her best friend and confidant. "I know they throw the insults pretty freely. But I don't understand the 'little dance' bit."

Max smiled at the innocence of her look. Fran really had no idea. "Well, I suppose that maybe Niles hasn't felt comfortable enough to tell you. Or, he's still just an old mother hen and worrying about me. He's always been like that."

"An old mother hen? Niles? My Niles? Gee…duh, Max." Fran rolled her eyes. "I still don't see what you're getting at."

Max sat Fran down on the sofa. "Fran, Niles has looked after me for almost my entire life. Everywhere I went, Niles was there. I didn't like having the Nanny give me orders, but whatever Niles did, I wanted to do to, so he took care of me almost as much as Nanny Mueller."

"Yeah, Niles told me all about that." Fran explained. "Your parents sent him to school with you to help you study and take care of you."

Max nodded. "That's right. He's always put my needs first. Even when Sara died, he worried about me, my needs, and the children's needs. Niles even looked after CC. She was Sara's best friend."

"But that's a good thing, right?" Fran frowned.

"I thought so, but no one looked after Niles. He loved Sara too." Max looked sad. "Now…he's still doing it. He won't allow himself to be happy, really happy, until he knows that I'll be alright. After all these years, he's still putting me first." Max's guilt showed on his face.

Fran caressed his face. "That's what he does, Max. Niles loves you. You're like a brother to him. A spoiled little rich brother who never gives him anything he doesn't work for or beg for, but a brother."

"Fran?" Max frowned.

"Sorry." Fran thought for a moment. "Is that why you seem to be throwing him at CC?" Max nodded. "Do you really think she can make Niles happy?"

Max smiled at Fran. "Come on, Fran. Look at him whenever they 'volley'. You tell me a time when he's ever looked happier. CC too for that matter. She's been pretending to love me just to drive him crazy. I've known it for years. That's the only reason I've put up with it for so long."

"Well, then what's with the change of heart. Why are you suddenly studying to be a yenta first class?" Fran asked.

Max stood. "It's time I did something for Niles. Put his needs before my own. Well, technically I'm putting my wants and needs first, but it's what's best for him too."

"Max, you know I confuse easily. Could you explain that one more time for the Jewish girl?" Fran asked.

Max shook his head. "Not tonight, Fran. We've got to get dressed and out of here before Niles and CC get back from the stables."

"Oy, Max. When do I get to be in on the game?" Fran smacked his arm.

Max smiled that loopy smile of his that Fran just adores. "Christmas morning, I promise that you'll be brought in on the conspiracy on Christmas morning."

"Alright, Mista. But I'm gonna hold you to that." Fran and Max started toward the stairs to get changed for their special dinner at the lodge.