Disclaimer: I still don't own any part of The Nanny…but I'm still hopeful!
A/N: Well, we've extablished this isn't a one shot... I'm really lovin' this story...it may need a sequeal...but I'll wait until we've reached the end and see what you all think...let me know... - D
The Reunion, The Visit, and The Grand Charade
Chapter 11
"In the clouds." Niles looked up into the sky and smiled.
"Is there more?" CC asked still lying against his chest.
Niles wondered. "In the clouds?"
"No, silly, more about you…as a child?" CC rested on his chest and looked into down into his face.
Niles sighed. "I never felt more loved than when I was at the family house visiting my grandparents, when I was away from the 'life of service'. But once Max was a little older, around eight or nine, we were thick as thieves, inseparable. That's when the real trouble began."
CC smiled and looked down at him. It was hard to concentrate on anything but his eyes. There was mischievousness behind them. "What kind of trouble?"
"The usually kind, CC." Niles looked into her pale eyes and thought he'd get completely lost. "We were boys, pre-teen boys. I remember the summer we finished the tree house at my grandparents, Max was about ten." Niles recounted the story…
"Max…I can't believe you…" Niles called from the ground below. "You've got to climb down…I can't carry you."
Max looked down at his friend who seemed much further away than ten short feet. "I can't do it, Niles…I'm scared."
Niles thought to himself for a second. "Stay there, I'll be right back." Niles ran as fast as his legs would carry him to the stable. "Excuse me Sara…are you finished your riding lesson?"
"Yes, Niles…I'm so glad that your grandparents let me use Valentine for my lessons. He's a good horse." Sara was no more than ten but lovely all the same. Niles thought of her more like a little sister than anything else. Her grandparents lived not far from Niles' grandparents and she spent every summer here in England while her parents did whatever rich people do in the United States. "Is something wrong, Niles?"
"Could you come with me? Please?" Niles asked as nicely as he could.
Sara frowned, she knew Niles wasn't really scared, but whatever it was it was important. "Ok, Niles, let's go." Niles and Sara ran back to the tree house. "Wow! This is great! Is this what you and that other boy have been working on all summer?" Niles nodded.
"Niles!" Max popped his head out of the window. "Is that you?" Max looked down and saw the pretty blonde looking up at him. "Uhm…Hi…"
"Hi!" Sara called from where she stood next to Niles. "Are you coming down?" Sara looked over at Niles and saw the mirthful grin. "Is he scared to climb down?" She whispered. Niles just looked at her without really answering. "I'm coming up!"
"Why!" Max yelled down.
Sara winked at Niles. "I want to see the view. I bet you can see all the way to the village from up there." Sara made her climb and once she arrived she joined the now rather flustered Max on the 'balcony' of the tree house and both looked over at Niles. Sara waved. Max glared.
They stood there for a moment and looked around. "I'm Sara Westerly…my grandparents live just up the road from Niles' grandparents. I'm here every summer. Where do you live?"
"Uhm…I'm Max Sheffield, I live in London with my parents." Max looked away.
"Well, Max. I'd better go." Sara turned and looked down at the ladder and froze. "Oh…it didn't seem as high on the way up. I don't think I can make it. Max…can you help me…I'm scared."
"Uhm…" Max smiled at her. "Sure…I'll go first and you follow me down. Just keep looking straight ahead and if you look down, you'll see me. Ok?" Sara nodded and smiled softly at him.
Max started down the ladder and Sara followed. When they got to the bottom Sara looked at Niles and winked then looked at Max. "Thank you, Max." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I'd better go…I'll see you tomorrow, Niles!" Sara ran off toward the house where her grandparents would be meeting her.
"You did that on purpose!" Max turned to Niles.
Niles raised an eyebrow. "It worked didn't it?"
Max smiled his most goofy smile. "Thanks, old man." Max clapped Niles on the back. "We'd better head back as well."
"So you really did introduce him to Sara." CC confirmed.
Niles sighed. "Yes. That was the beginning of the end for Max. Every summer after that it was the three of us…The Three Musketeers…my grandparents used to call us."
"Not much fun for you, though." CC spoke softly.
Niles laughed lightly. "At first it was the most amazing fun…but then we started getting older and well…I became a third wheel more often than not." Niles felt CC shiver a little as the evening grew chilly, and wrapped his arms around her. "I loved them both and they loved me, but they loved each other…more. So I found other…things to occupy my time."
"You mean girls…" CC whispered softly against his chest.
Niles sighed heavily. "Well, I was a growing boy, a young man by that time, really. I just wanted what Max and Sara had. But I just couldn't find it." Niles paused for a moment and thought carefully about his next words. "I was looking in the wrong places. You were in a completely different country." Niles waited. "CC?" Niles waited again.
James came up next to where Niles and CC were laying. "Hey you…oh sorry, I didn't realize Ceec was sleeping."
"Neither did I." Niles smiled at his new friend. "What's up, James?"
"The party's breaking up and I wondered if you and Ceec wanted to grab a movie with me and Becks, but I guess not, huh?" James smiled. "I'll see you guys tomorrow at breakfast then." James did a little salute as he left Niles and the sleeping CC behind.
"CC?" Niles whispered again and softly rubbed her back. "CC, Love…you need to wake up." Niles spoke a little louder. Niles was nearly laughing now. "CC…I don't think it's safe for us to sleep in the park…wake up." Niles couldn't believe his luck. He's lying with the love of his life sleeping in his arms and he has to wake her up. He practically burst into laughter as it was really starting to get dark and he feared they wouldn't be able to find their way back to the hotel. Finally she spoke.
"Niles, Honey…come on…lay still would ya?" CC said sleepily.
Niles adjusted slightly hoping he could get a better position so he could extricate himself and lift her off the ground. "CC…you really need to wake up, Honey." Niles brushed her hair from the side of her sleeping face.
"Niles!" CC nearly barked and grabbed him in a place no man ever wants to be 'forcibly' grabbed pulling a loud gasp from Niles. "I said lay still…I'm sleeping."
Niles decided decorum be damned. "CC! We're in the park!" He nearly yelled.
CC popped up quickly and her 'grip' loosened by remained in place. "What!" CC blinked her eyes a few times and remembered where they were. "Oh…I guess I fell asleep." Then realizing where her hand was she pulled it away as if suddenly burnt. "Oh my God, Niles I'm so sorry." CC nearly leapt up to her feet and looked down at Niles who was now full on laughing.
"It's quite alright, really. Just don't play so rough the next time." Niles flashed his boyish grin.
"Very funny, Niles; come on, let's get back to the hotel." CC helped him to his feet and they started back to the hotel.
"Thank you, CC." Niles whispered as he slipped his arm around her waist.
CC leaned her head on his shoulder. "Thank you for what? Subjecting you to my study abroad friends or falling asleep in the park and assulting you?"
"No…" Niles laughed. "Thank you for including me in a different part of your life." Niles kissed her head.
CC sighed. "Then I owe you a thank you as well. For including me in a part of your life even Fran hasn't seen." Niles stopped dead in his tracks. "What?" CC turned and looked up at him as they stood just a few feet from the hotel doors.
"You called her Fran!" Niles couldn't hide his shock.
CC frowned. "That's her name."
"Yes…but you've never called her anything by Nanny Fine." Niles smiled softly.
CC rolled her eyes at him and took his arm again. "It's a different world over here, Niles. One has to make certain adjustments."
