Disclaimer: I don't own any part or character of The Nanny…but I'll never give up hope.
A/N: Answer to a RUNHP challenge.
The Rules:
1. Either Niles or CC is involved in an accident.
2. The accident victim believes they are married to the non-victim.
3. The 'spouse' and family must play along via doctor's instructions.
MIND GAMES
CHAPTER 4
CC put it off as long as she could make up reasons, but eventually they had to go to bed.
"CC…" Niles yawned. As you have made abundantly clear, I was hit by a car and need my rest. Why don't we continue the movie tomorrow and go to bed?" Niles stood from his place next to her on the sofa. "I promise I won't try to seduce you. It's nearly 3 AM and I'm just too damn tired."
CC swallowed. "Alright, Niles. You go ahead and I'll be there in just a few minutes. I want to clean up in here."
"No!" Niles almost barked.
CC was shocked and just slightly hurt by his tone. "What do you mean no?"
"I don't know what's been wrong with you today, but we're going to bed, together, now." Niles stood firm.
CC stood and picked up her glass. "Niles…I just want to clean up the table here." CC couldn't meet his eyes.
"No…what's gotten into you?" Niles took the glass and returned it to the table and took her hands in his and sat her down with him on the sofa. "First you nearly jump out of your skin when I woke you in the bath. Then you've concocted every reason from let's play cards or watch a movie to we should reorganize the kitchen to keep from going to bed. Please…will you just tell me what has you in such a state?"
"You do." CC leapt up from the sofa and turned her back to him. "What in hell am I going to tell him? He thinks we're married, still in the honeymoon stage for that matter. How do I explain why I can't share his bed?" CC couldn't control her thoughts. "I'm afraid, Niles."
Niles moved to her and wrapped his arms around her. CC felt suddenly calm. "Afraid of what, Love?" Niles whispered in her ear his breath grazing her neck sending a slight shiver down her spine.
"It hasn't even been a year since your heart attack and now this. I…I'm afraid of…losing you." The words came out more like a breath than even a whisper. CC was far more shocked than Niles by her words, and by the tears that formed in her eyes.
Niles held her tight. "I promise you, I won't get excited without your permission."
"Don't make fun of me, Niles." CC meant the words even though the meaning behind them was different for her than for Niles.
"CC…" Niles turned her to face him. "I'm not making fun of you. But I'm tired and I need to go to bed. I want you there with me…please."
"You promise you'll behave?" CC cocked an eyebrow at him.
Niles lifted three fingers. "Scouts honor."
"Very funny, Niles. Alright, let's go to bed." They moved slowly around the sofa and into the bedroom and to 'their' sides of the bed without speaking another word. When they were both under the covers and the lights were clicked off Niles rolled over and pulled CC's back tightly into his chest. "Good night, Niles." She whispered resting her hand on top of his.
"Good night, CC." Niles kissed the back of her neck softly. "I love you." Niles couldn't be sure as he drifted to sleep but he thought he heard an odd gasp at his words.
CC woke still wrapped in his arms more rested than she could ever remember waking. "What is it about him?" She thought to herself as she rolled over to face him. "Just look at him, so peaceful and handsome in sleep. His hair is mussed and his face has a silly pillow wrinkle, but he's still as handsome as ever." CC brushed an errant lock of his wavy reddish blonde hair from his face and saw the deep purple bruise that was there. CC leaned up and dropped a soft kiss on the bruise. "My poor Niles." She whispered.
Niles pulled her close. "Good morning, Love." Niles kissed her before she could react to his greeting. "What shall we do today?"
CC sighed. "Good morning, Niles." CC lay on her back and tucked her arm up under her head. "Oh, I thought we'd paint the living room."
Niles frowned. "What? Why?"
"Well, three days before your accident, you said how much you hated the color." CC smirked.
Niles raised an eyebrow. "Is this some sort of test, CC?" CC's eyes grew very large.
"What do you mean a test?" CC asked still staring at the ceiling.
Niles lifted himself up to look down into her eyes. "Are you testing my memory?"
"Why would you ask me that?" CC was curious…did he remember something…did something come back?
Niles leaned down and kissed her longingly. "You know full well I love that color blue…it matches your eyes."
Their eyes locked. "Oh." CC spoke softly still shocked at this man who was in her bed. This man, who for years had little to say to her that wasn't harsh, boarding on cruel. This man, who continually shows his knowledge of her, his understanding of her and his love for her. This man, who treats her as she can never remember being treated by anyone, like she mattered. She mattered to him. She mattered to him because…he loves her. Niles loves her.
"CC?" Niles looked down at her again. "Are you alright? You seemed a little…out of it for a second."
CC looked up into those vibrant blue eyes that held such love for her. "I'm sorry, Honey." CC herself smiled at the endearment. "I was just thinking..."
Niles sat up on his knees. "What about, Love?"
Sighing she answered him. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am…to have you." CC cupped his face in her hands. Happy at her realization of what Niles really meant to her and sad at the same time that all too soon this version of Niles would fade away and…where would that leave her?
"Why don't you jump in the shower and I'll fix us some breakfast?" Niles nearly leapt off the bed.
CC laughed at his odd childlike behavior. "What's gotten into you this morning?"
"I don't know. We sleep like that all the time, but it felt almost like the first time. I've never slept so comfortably. I feel like I could take on the world." Niles kissed her again and strode off.
"I understand completely." CC smiled as she watched him head into the kitchen.
They spent the day doing what Niles wanted to do. He packed them a picnic lunch and they went into the park and people watched. Then after Niles took a short nap while CC made a call to the doctor just to check in and a call to Max to update the family, they went 'out' to dinner.
"Niles…it's not necessary for us to go out to dinner. Especially to the Rainbow Room." CC stood getting ready for their night out.
"I know it's not necessary, Love. But we get this chance so rarely I want to take advantage. Please…" Niles slipped his arms around her waist. "Indulge you poor old recently injured husband?" Niles pulled out his best pouty face and CC couldn't help but smile.
"Oh, alright, Butler Boy." CC slipped on her earrings. "But at the first sign that you're getting fatigued, I'm bringing you home." Niles dropped a kiss on her cheek and went to finish getting ready. CC watched his reflection as he moved about her room. "He looks perfectly at home here. He seems to know where everything is and where I keep all my things too. It all seems so natural, so ordinary, so…right."
Niles turned at caught her. "Hey…what's the frown?"
"Are you spying on me, Niles?" CC smiled and he shook his head. "I was just wondering, when did you make these reservations?" The thought just popped into CC's head, but seemed as good an excuse as any.
"I called this morning when you were in the shower. I knew we would need to get out of the house." Niles returned to stand behind her. "Ready to go?" CC nodded.
They had a marvelous dinner and danced well into the evening. Niles was instructed by his doctor to stay away from alcohol for a week and anytime he took the pain medication they gave him in case he had any headaches. CC decided she wouldn't temp Niles as she kept her beverage of the non-alcoholic variety as well.
They sat down at Niles looked at CC lovingly. "What's that face?" She had to ask him.
"I was just admiring my beautiful wife and thinking that there is no man alive who could be luckier than I." Niles winked and sipped at his mineral water. "Are you ready to head home?"
CC was shocked that he'd made the suggestion. He insisted they come out and insisted that they dance nearly every dance. "Are you getting tired?" She placed her hand warmly on top of his.
"No." Niles had an odd look in his eyes. She could only recall ever seeing it one other time. That night, there had been many drinks in him…in both of them for that matter. They had practically polished off an entire bottle of Johnny Walker Black. "Come on. I'm taking my wife home." Niles stood and extended his hand for her to take.
CC stood and took his hand. "Niles…" CC swallowed as he entwined their fingers and they walked out of the restaurant. "I've seen that look before. And I'm not sure it's a good idea."
Niles stopped dead in his tracks, turned to her and pulled her into his arms. "You listen to me, CC Brightmore. I'm fine. I'm absolutely fine. Better and stronger than I have ever been. I love you and I miss my wife." Niles didn't wait for a response from her before his lips pressed warmly but firmly to hers.
CC felt the warmth of his hands on her waist drifting up her bare back. Her hands moved instinctively up around his neck and she deepened the kiss and her mind raced. "This is wrong CC…wonderful…but wrong…it's taking advantage…he doesn't know what he's doing…you do…you have to take control…you have to…oh hell…deal with the fallout later." "Let's go home, Niles."
They didn't speak another word until they crossed the threshold into CC's penthouse. No sooner had CC closed and locked the door than Niles was upon her. He kissed her like his life depended upon it. "My God, CC…I know it's only been a few days, but I've miss you so much."
"Niles…take your time. We aren't going to be interrupted, there's no need to rush." CC whispered softly against his cheek and he nuzzled into her neck.
Niles pulled back and looked at her. "How can you be so calm?"
"Niles…I want this to be special…not just another quickie or a release of pent up frustration. I want…I want…" CC was oddly nervous and felt almost faint.
Niles wrapped his arms around her waist and dropped his chin to her shoulder. "You act like it's the first time we've ever done this."
CC turned in his arms. "That's what I want…I want it to be like that…like it was our first time. Can you do that…for me?"
Niles had never seen CC look so vulnerable. "I would fly to the moon if you asked it of me." Niles stroked her cheek with his thumb. "So beautiful…" Niles swept her up into his arms eliciting a light giggle from her. He carried her into the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. CC started to sit up and take off her shoes as Niles untied his tie. "A…a…a..." Niles chastised her. "You said you wanted it to be like our first time…so that is how it shall be. You just be still."
CC laid back as he instructed and watched him as he slowly and carefully undressed. It was painstakingly slow…but equally exciting and erotic. When he had finally divested himself of his clothing completely, he turned to face her and smiled as she took in the sight of him. Niles laughed a little. "You look like you've never seen me before."
"First time…remember?" CC said on a breath as she marveled at the muscular man who stood before her. She couldn't help but think how his 'uniform' definitely didn't do his body justice. He sat on the edge of the bed at her hip, leaned down and kissed her lightly.
Niles reached down from his spot on the bed and slipped off her heels letting them drop to the floor softly. Then he carefully leaned her forward into his chest and slowly pulled the zipper on her pale blue dress down until it stopped just at the small of her back. He slipped the wide straps off her shoulders and dropped kisses in their place. He ached to ravage her and it didn't go unnoticed by CC either, but he was giving her all she'd asked for…What man did she know who would be so patient, so loving…none.
When Niles had fully removed the dress her gazed at her. "God, CC…you are so stunning." CC smiled slightly embarrassed by his adoration. She was lying rather provocatively. Niles laid her against the pillows and she had one leg slightly bent and the opposite arm tucked under her head. "I love you."
CC couldn't help but flinch every time he declared his love. It wasn't that she didn't' believe him, but it was just something she wasn't used to hearing from him. To be honest…it wasn't something she was used to hearing at all. If put to the test, she couldn't remember the last time anyone had said it to her.
Niles slipped his fingers up through the legs of her silk panties and leisurely slid them down her long legs until they joined her shoes on the floor. He straddled her legs and moved carefully up her body keeping his gaze on her face, flush with excitement. "CC…" Niles gazed into her eyes from where he hovered above her. "Are you sure?" CC frowned slightly with confusion. "First time…remember?" Niles winked at her.
"Yes, I'm sure. Make love to me, Niles." CC could feel her heart racing and her anticipation growing. She cupped his face in her hands and brought him down into a kiss so full of love it shocked her. "Please, Niles…don't wait anymore."
As Niles made them one, CC knew in her soul it was right. She felt the love in every fiber of her being. Not just the love she could feel radiating from him, but the love that seemed to suddenly envelope her. Like a flood gate had finally been opened allowing her to love, really love. And she did. It was this moment, when they became one, forever frozen in time that CC Babcock realized she was absolutely and completely in love with Niles.
