Disclaimer: I still don't own any part of The Nanny…but I'm still hopeful!
A/N: Happy the site was having trouble day...you get an extra chapter... LOL
The Reunion, The Visit, and The Grand Charade
Chapter 7
"Maman...what are these?" Niles looked down at the most beautiful wedding set he'd ever laid eyes on. It contained an engagement ring with a platinum filigree setting and a 3 carat marquise cut diamond and two matching wedding bands.
"Those were your grandparent's rings. I was supposed to give them to you on the occasion of your engagement. I didn't expect it to take this long, Son. I suppose that being English instead of French, it's to be expected. Not to mention spending all your time with Maxwell." Marie spoke softly. "I noticed that Chastity isn't wearing a ring. It's high time she was. You've loved that woman for more years than I can remember Niles. It's long overdue."
Niles looked at his mother in shock. "Maman, what are you talking about?"
"I'm your mother, Niles. I know things even you don't. For years, nearly twenty all you've talked about is CC this and Miss Babcock that. Harsh words, true enough, but that's what you saw growing up. Your father and I couldn't love each other more and all the flowery words in the world won't change that. You and Chastity are no different. It's just taken you much longer to realize. Now, I'm not getting any younger and while Patrick and Gabby are expecting another baby, I want to see your children before I die, Niles. Please, stop wasting time."
"I promise, Maman." Niles smiled softly at his mother.
When Marie and Niles joined the others CC looked at him curiously. He rolled his eyes are her as if to say... 'mothers!'
"Well, Lad?" Joseph waited and looked at his son.
Niles looked pleadingly at his father. "What?"
"Aren't you going to give it to her big brother?" Patrick asked bouncing Gin on his knee.
CC smiled at him. "Give what to me, Niles?"
"Uhm..." Niles stammered not knowing what he was supposed to do or what would happen.
"Well, come on Butler Boy, what have you got for me?" CC flashed her slightly evil grin.
Niles reached into his pocket. "Well, it's..."
"Hey, big brother..." Patrick interrupted. "Do it the right way now."
Niles face showed his turmoil and he looked down at CC and mouthed 'I'm sorry.' Then he knelt in front of her. "Chastity," Niles looked into her eyes... "Will you marry me?" Niles held up the beautiful engagement ring.
CC cupped his face in her hands. "Yes...Niles. I'll marry you." Niles looked again into her eyes and tried to read them. His thoughts went wild. "Really...she said yes...does she mean it...but that would me that she loves me...does she love me...do I love her?"
"Niles!" His father's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"What!" Niles yelled back louder than intended.
"Put the ring on her finger, Lad." Joseph touched his son's shoulder.
Niles looked still again into her eyes. This time he saw the tears forming in the corners. "I love you, Chastity Claire Babcock. I will spend the rest of my days trying to make you happy." Niles slipped the ring on her finger and CC pulled him to her and kissed him.
"Yeah!" Gin yelled as she jumped of her father's lap. "Uncle Niles is getting married!" Gin ran into her uncle's arms. "Can I be your flower girl?"
Niles smiled and looked up at CC who nodded. "Of course you can, little Gin." Niles hugged her tightly.
"Alright, that's enough of that. It's time for lunch. Let's go, I'm not serving you lot." Marie announced and made her way back into the kitchen.
Niles and CC lingered in the living room for just a moment. "I'm sorry about that...they are definitely different than most people."
"It's alright, Niles. Patrick gave me a heads up." CC winked at him.
Niles stood silent for a moment. "What?"
"Patrick told me about the rings. He said he overheard your parents saying it was time you had the talk and since he didn't think it was about the birds and bees that left the rings." CC explained.
"So you knew...what was going to happen...you were ready for it?" Niles asked.
CC nodded. "Yes, but I have to say, it was very beautifully executed." She kissed his cheek and headed into the kitchen.
"So it wasn't real...she knew it was coming and just kept up the act...but what about before...the kiss...I thought we...I...I...thought..." Niles thoughts kept him silent until CC called after him.
"Niles!" CC called from the door to the dining room. "Niles, are you coming into lunch?"
Niles turned to look at this woman who he thought had changed, but now he just couldn't be sure. "Yes, Love...I'm coming." Niles put on a good face and kept up the polite conversation during lunch.
"Chastity, we'd better leave or we won't have time to get ready before the banquet." Niles stood and offered his hand to her.
CC frowned. "I swear if I didn't make promises that I'd be there, I'd just stay here in this very chair all night."
The good-byes were said and Niles and CC rode quietly back to the hotel in their cab. Niles father insisted that he stay in the city with his fiancé so Niles' luggage was in the trunk. He still didn't know what to make of this fake or real or part fake and part real relationship.
They walked into the hotel and Niles took his suitcases from the driver. A bellman approached. "Sir, may I take those up to your room for you."
Niles looked a little shell shocked. "Uhm..."
"Yes..." CC answered. "We're in the penthouse. Thank you." CC spoke to the man. "Niles are you alright, you've been awfully quiet since we left your parents house."
Niles sighed. "I'm fine; I guess I'm just a little nervous about tonight."
"We have about an hour and a half. Why don't go freshen up and get dressed?" CC smiled and extended her hand to Niles.
Niles took her hand. "Good idea." Niles let CC lead him to the elevator much as she'd done the night before. She unlocked the door to the penthouse and the dishes had been cleared away and it smelled like it had been cleaned. "It seems like the staff is very attentive."
"Thank you, Niles for doing this." CC hugged him tightly. "I know you'll make me pay for it later…" CC regretted the words the moment she saw the look on his face. She was confused, but knew he was hurt by them.
Niles broke their embrace and looked at her slightly hurt. "Yes…I suppose I will…" He crossed around her. "Since this is your suite, would you like to go first or should I?"
"Niles…I'm sorry I didn't mean it the…" CC tried to explain herself.
Niles stopped her. "No, you're quite right, Miss Babcock. I do have ulterior motives. I'll go first." Niles turned without another word and closed the bathroom door behind him.
"Nice job, CC…" She whispered to herself. "The man saved you from embarrassment. He proposed to you in front of his parents and you go and say something stupid. How could he not misunderstand?" CC sat down in the overstuffed chair just outside the bathroom door she knew she deserved to have closed in her face and looked around the room.
Niles' suit was hanging on the door of the closet and his dress shoes on the floor just below. The dress she wanted to wear was hanging just inside the closet. The shoes he'd worn to his parents were toed off just next to the chair she sat in. Her shoes flipped off just at her feet. His pajamas were neatly folded on the dresser just inside the bedroom door and hers were tossed on the bench at the foot of the bed. His things there and her things here, their things sharing space in a room…it just seemed natural somehow.
CC walked over to the vanity and sat down. She noticed a pair of Niles' cufflinks and a tie tack. His Rolex, a gift from Max after fifteen years of service, was on the vanity as well. Then there was the box that CC had seen earlier. She checked to see if the water in the shower was still running, certain that it was she slowly opened the box. She gasped slightly. She hadn't seen the wedding bands before, just the solitaire Niles held in his hand when he proposed. The solitaire that she now wore on her finger. The finger that until that very afternoon had always remained barren. The bands were nearly as beautiful as the solitaire. They were brushed platinum and about a quarter of inch wide. "Where on Earth did he get these?" CC whispered.
"They were my grandparents'." Niles answered from behind her. CC watched him explain in the mirror. He was wrapped in his robe his hair tousled and damp from his shower. CC couldn't remember when he'd looked more handsome than he did at that moment.
"Niles…" CC started.
"You'd better get showered." He interrupted. "I'll be dressed by the time you finish."
CC nodded. "What do you think I should wear? I was thinking the blue slip dress, but I have a darker burgundy dress too." CC walked to the closet and opened the door for him to see.
"I think the blue," Niles said from behind her. "It brings out your eyes."
CC pulled out the simple blue slip dress and the few items she'd need and headed to the bathroom. "Thanks, Niles. I won't be long."
CC let the hot water run over her and her mind ran wild. "Why can't I ever think before I speak? I can't believe I'd accuse him of making me pay. But why so angry…I mean…everything was going so well at his parents' house. And out on the horse…that kiss…" CC closed her eyes and remembered how very perfect a kiss it was. "Everything was fine until the proposal thing. Is that it? He didn't really want to…it was his family…they made him…Oh God, what if that's it? CC you can be so stupid. I have to find out the truth…finally. "
Niles let his thoughts fly freely as he dressed. "Why does she say things like that? Why do I? Everything was going so well…out on Champ…she asked me to kiss her. We were good up to the proposal… It was real…to me…but maybe she didn't understand that…thought that it was part of the ruse… Niles you can be so stupid. I have to know…finally."
