Thank you all for the reviews so quick. It made me "as giddy as a schoolgirl". x3 Sorry it took long to update. I have to share the computer amongst the whole family and sometimes I just get distracted. Heh. Enjoy ~
I do not own anything of the Nanny.
Chapter 2
The next morning, C.C. was released, mostly because she insisted that her "daddy" would take care of her. Niles really did want to burst her bubble, but at her mental state, who knows what would happen. His life was going to be hard from now on––he couldn't play nasty tricks on her like he would. When he accidentally insulted her out of habit, she pulled a "daddy doesn't love me" line, which sent him falling in guilt. He couldn't lie; young C.C. was adorable, despite being forty-five and vicious in actuality. But it still didn't keep him from hating her. Eventually, she'd return to the way she was and then he could toy around with her mental health like the good ol' times.
C.C. would never be able to live on her own in her own house, and there was no way Maxwell would have Niles stay with her. Being his business partner's daddy didn't change his position in the house, after all. So, C.C. was temporarily moved in the Sheffield house in the guest room.
The children, of course, we were really, really, really weirded out. But hey, shit happens. Shit always happened.
Like the five year old she thought she was, she buried her daddy with nonstop questions. "Who's house is this?" "We moved?" "Who's that?" "What's that?" It really didn't surprise Niles that she was still annoying even in the state of mind as a little kid. In the end, Niles explained with a bit of a twist that Fran was her nanny, Maxwell was their butler, and the children were just… random children that lived here. He couldn't find another reason for them being here. She didn't ask.
Niles was carrying her bag of belongings from her apartment into the house when he found her sulking on the living room couch.
"What's up, kiddo," he asked only because he knew she wanted him to.
"I'm booooored," C.C. whined. "And no one gave me anything for Christmas to play withhh."
Fran walked in with Chester in her arms. "Ms. Babcock–I mean, C.C., Chester's here."
"OH MY GOD," C.C. gasped as she turned around, clutching the back of the sofa. "You got me a puppy??" Her eyes were sparkling in innocent and honest surprise it was hard for anyone not to grin.
"Uhm, why yes," Niles responded. "I got you a … puppy."
Fran laughed as she placed Chester in C.C. anxiously reaching arms. It was almost shocking to see Chester respond to C.C. positively; he couldn't keep his tail from wagging or his tongue from licking.
"Wow," Fran said, as she walked over to Niles. "Even Chester likes the new Ms. Babcock more."
"Oh please," Niles glared at C.C. "This one's more devilish."
"And why do you think that?" Fran put her hands on her sides.
"I can't be bitter anymoreeee," he whined as he buried his face on Fran's shoulder. "Oh what am I to make of my life? My hobby is goneee."
Fran rubbed his back in sympathy. "Aww don't worry Niles, this won't last long. But for now you just have to pretend to be Ms. Babcock's father. Who knows? You're replacement hobby can be father duty."
"Oh just shoot me."
"Daddy daddy daddy!" C.C. called as she turned around to Niles. "Can we go to the park with Chester? Pleeeease?"
"Um." Niles tried to think of an excuse to keep away. "Daddy has work today… sweetie." He nearly gagged.
C.C.'s bright and hopeful smile sunk into a heartbroken frown. "But you never spend time with me."
Niles looked at Fran and she nudged him over, but he still wouldn't answer.
C.C. continued to frown. "You're always at work and whenever you're at home you're fighting with mommy."
Niles just stared, setting his mouth to the side. He was caught in a sob story and he didn't want to.
"Pweeeeease?" She put on a pouty puppy face, and Niles swore that Chester did the same.
He looked over to Fran for a second and looked back to see her with the same facial expression.
"Oh, alright, we'll go."
"Yaaay!" C.C. celebrated to herself as her wide bright smile was back again. Fran patted Niles on the back as she took the luggage he was holding to put in C.C.'s room.
He helped C.C. fasten on the leash as they went outside on their way to Central Park.
Just as they left Maxwell came out of his office into the living room. "What? Where's Niles going?"
"Daddy duty," Fran scoffed as she came down the stairs.
--
The park was nearly half empty, which saved Niles the trouble of worrying if anyone would raise eyebrows at them. C.C. had her arm around his as he reluctantly let it hang and C.C. held Chester's leash with her free hand. It didn't strike her weird at all that she was taller than her "dad." She was actually pretty well controlled out in the public––even then she tried to keep her poise.
Niles supposed they blended in fine––just a normal looking couple walking their dog... now he'd rather people see them as a father and his cracked out old daughter.
However awkward and uncomfortable, Niles had never seen her this wholeheartedly happy since, well, never. He never knew that her happiness could be so contagious, and he found himself smiling at her delight. He sat down on a park bench to rest while C.C. played fetch with Chester––which he never used to even dare to do normally.
For a moment, he actually felt like a father.
C.C.'s joyful playing came to and end as she held at her stomach. "Daddy, I'm hungry. Oh oh, can we go to McDonalds?" she asked as she bounced around in a begging tone.
Niles laughed and nodded as he stood up and fastened Chester's leash and they headed for the ol' Micky D's.
It was only a block away, and C.C. walked especially faster because of her hunger, basically dragging Niles on the way. As they entered the fast-food restaurant, C.C. was relieved that there was no line.
"Umm daddy I want a happy meal." She requested in a low voice in Nile's ear.
The cashier stared at her with a puzzled expression––come on, a grown woman wants a happy meal. Niles spotted the young man's face and whispered an explanation. "Just released from the hospital," he said as he made loops around his ear with his index finger.
"Uh, okay," the young man said indifferently. "That'll be $3.54, sir." (AN: that was a totally made up price.)
Niles made as C.C. clapped to herself in joy. She just couldn't wait what kind of toy would come with it.
Incoming customers also noticed C.C. and eyed her suspiciously. Niles felt somewhat uncomfortable as they passed by. He took C.C. by the waist and led her to a table outside by the Play Place as she giddily carried her happy meal and Chester waddled in front of them.
The tables were almost entirely empty, which relieved Niles the discomfort from staring eyes. He felt… embarrassed for C.C. He usually liked seeing her humiliated, but when she was as oblivious as this, it wasn't fun, it was just sickening.
"Niiles!" A nasally voice called from the far right. Niles turned to see Fran sitting at a table with Gracie and Brighton and waved cheerfully. Niles was relieved that he found a group of people that didn't care all too much how strange C.C. was right now. She was quite delighted to see them, as well.
Niles and C.C. took a seat at their table as Chester lingered under the table, sometimes lying down at C.C.'s feet as she ate. After she finished, she dug into box to find her toy, and was satisfied and distracted for a good while. Brighten and Gracie already were aware as to her strange childish behavior, so they didn't find it that awkward. In fact, they enjoyed C.C. like this. She was a lot nicer, polite, and playful––something she could never really pull off.
Afterwards she, Gracie and Brighton went off to play in the Play Place, coming in and out of the slides, racing inside and crawling all over the place. Fran and Niles could not watch C.C. with a straight face. They only thanked that it was a busy day and not much people had time to take their children out to play with little C.C. Boy, would that be disastrous.
"I don't get it, Ms. Fine," Niles started as he kept his eyes on the children (and C.C.). "How could a child that wonderful grow up to be like… you know?"
"Well, Niles," Fran responded as she chomped on her fries. "She did spend all her life with her mother. God knows how vicious she might have been even then. And remember, she never spent time with her father––remember that one time?"
"Yeah, you almost became her mother."
Fran laughed her nasal snort. "The point is, that she never got to really be happy with her daddy, and instead followed miserably in the footsteps of that thing."
"How deep, Ms. Fine." Niles sat and thought as he watched C.C. "My god, does that mean when she returns she won't be a bitter old rag?"
"We'll hope so," Fran joked as she drank her coke.
"You know as good of news it might be, I don't think I'd like Ms. Babcock to stay this way," Niles confessed.
"And why not?" Fran looked at him like he was insane. What did they put in his burger?
"I won't be able to play tricks on her like I used to."
Fran laughed as she playfully hit Niles' shoulder. "What are ya'll, masochists?" She mumbled.
They were all just exhausted when they arrived back home. C.C. was just about ready to sleep her head off. She went upstairs to get in her panda-patterned pajamas (at which both Niles and Fran were shocked to see her have) and had her daddy tuck her in, while Chester took his rest on the living room couch.
One day without Niles, and Maxwell was practically suffering. He claimed his day was horrible because he actually had to get up and get his own drinks––which was pretty much hell for him since he didn't know where anything was in his own kitchen.
"I'm sorry, sir," Niles apologized as he immediately went back into butler mode and came to Maxwell with a light drink on the tray. "But I'm sure you would rather not put up with Ms. Babcock."
Maxwell laughed in the truth as he took the glass and sipped some of it. "How's that going, by the way, 'daddy'?"
Niles gave him a joking glare. "It's not as bad as I expected, to be honest. How is work?"
"It's been slow," Maxwell sighed. "But I'm sure I can pull it off."
Niles returned outside to finish whatever had been left in the kitchen or floors. With the house empty for almost a day and Maxwell trapped inside his office, Niles' job was made even easier.
It was late already and they all were exhausted––Niles, from having to take care of C.C.; Maxwell, from working single handedly; and Fran, cause well, she's Fran. Niles said his goodnights as he went into his room to settle into his pajamas.
Suppose you could say Niles got a little into daddy duty and developed a father's intuition, and decided to check on C.C. in her room. He found her door half-open, and came inside quietly. She was sitting up against her pillows, securing herself with her blankets. "Daddy?" she called out quietly, her tone scared.
"Why aren't you asleep?" He asked softly as he stepped inside and sat beside her. She clutched at his sleeve.
"I'm scared. Can you sleep with me?" Her eyes glistened to near tears in fright and the need to be accompanied.
Coming from a grown woman, it was awkward. But coming from a grown woman whose mental health was in the toilet, it sounded sweet.
"Why? There's nothing to be afraid of," he tried to assure. Honestly, Niles wouldn't sleep with her if it weren't absolutely necessary.
"I don't like being alone."
There's a shock, Niles thought. "Alright then," he said as he scooted himself closer and covered himself with part of her blanket as she happily made room for him. He half-sat up against the headboard with the intent of leaving after she fell asleep.
"Thank you," she said quietly as she cuddled his arm and tried to sleep. Niles silently sighed now that he wouldn't be able to escape without waking her. He'd have to wait a good twenty minutes after she fell asleep before he fled.
He watched her as she closed her eyes and fell silent and tried to find her peace. Her face was so content and relaxed, when only a few moments ago, she was stressed out to the extreme. Her breathing seemed lax, which reflected her sense of security.
Niles found himself smiling lightly. He couldn't resist from thinking, well, that she was beautiful. He always thought so. When she furious from some stunt he pulled, disappointed, or wickedly grinning to some evil plot, she was beautiful. Sometimes, when he couldn't get her off his mind, he would play "She's Always a Woman To Me" by Billy Joel on his stereo on low volume. To him, her worst was lovable. And at this point, this was definitely her worst.
Spending time with C.C. like this was actually a pleasure to him, no matter how he tried to push it away. It's happened countless times. He'd think he'd be happy if she were to leave or maybe even die, but the next moment he'd find himself incomplete. She would always find a way to tear his heart open––whether she meant to or not. The only sad thing was that the only way C.C. would accept him is if she was fooled into thinking he was her father…
Whether it hurt or not, this was the only way he could repay her. The guilt of being the cause of her suffering ate at him. There was so many times when he went overboard, and the only way he could make up for it was to at least be there.
He stroked away a strand of hair from her face and ran his hand through her hair and sighed as he decided that he didn't want to leave and rested his head on hers and drifted to sleep.
Niles' sleep was penetrated as he slowly came awake. He turned to C.C., who was clutching his arm harder. Her breathing was unsteady, and it startled him to feel her slightly shivering.
"What's wrong?" He whispered as he lifted his head to look at her. She looked up at him, her eyes sore and watery.
"I had a bad dream."
Niles sighed and smiled at some relief (cause he thought something was seriously wrong) and scooted up to have his back straight. "Aw now don't be too frightened. Tell me about it, I'm sure it's really nothing to be scared of," he found himself telling her endearingly.
C.C. held his arm a bit closer. "Well," she started. "I was walking down the stairs…"
Niles felt guilt tripping him over again.
"And I fell and hurt myself. I asked you to help me up but you couldn't hear me and instead you were laughing at me, and then you walked away and mommy came to take me away." Her voice was so broken in sadness.
Niles' heart nearly broke in two as he heard this. Whether it hurt five-year-old C.C. or the normal C.C., the fact that she was so horrified of being abandoned.
She looked up at him once more. "You won't really leave me like that, will you, daddy?" She asked with a gleam of hope in her tone.
Niles looked at her eyes, so damn innocent she actually lived up to her real name, and rubbed her back. "Of course not, sweetie."
C.C.'s fright turned into a feeling of security and relief as she hugged him. "Then I'm not going to be scared anymore. Love you, daddy."
He smiled and held her close, feeling warm in his heart. "I love you, too."
And with those words of pure assurance, she was covered in ease and felt true honest love that she had never actually had before.
Oh dear, Niles thought before he went back to sleep. Being a daddy is fun.
XD I hope you liked this chapter ~ it's actually the longest one I've ever written for any fanfic o.o
I'm seriously just writing as I go, so if any of you can make suggestions as to what should happen next, I'll gladly consider them.
Reviews & Feedback are much appreciated.
-Rei
