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 5

They spent the rest of their week off doing all the silly things that couples do. They took walks in the park with Chester. Fran brought him back to the penthouse as soon as Niles mentioned him. They went to movies and caught a couple of shows. Went out to dinner, went out dancing, they even went to a few museums. On the last evening of their vacations, Max and Fran insisted that they dine with the family at the mansion. CC hoped maybe something there would jar Niles' memory. He hadn't really 'forgotten anything, it was just the memories of him and CC that were altered.

"CC, Love. It's just Fran, Max and the children…what's taking you so long?" Niles stood at the door in his coat waiting to leave.

CC turned the corner from the bedroom and Niles audible gasp brought a smile to her face. "You like, Butler Boy?"

"I like!" Niles waggled his eyebrows. "I don't think I've ever seen you in those jeans before. Aren't they a little…sexy for a married woman?"

"Oh, come on, Honey…who's going to be looking? Certainly not Max with Fran right there…" CC looked at him as he raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Master Brighton?" Niles smirked.

CC grinned at him. "Oh Honey, are you jealous of little Porchepuppy?"

"Woman…you are incorrigible." Niles grabbed her into a warm kiss. "Just promise me that no one gets to peel you but me."

The evil smirked slid across CC's face and she raised two fingers. "Scouts honor."

Niles pinched her rear and she shot out the door followed closely by her doting husband.

They arrived at the mansion and CC was noticeably worried. "What's the matter, Love?" Niles asked her as they walked up to the interior door.

"Oh, Niles, I just want you to know how wonderful everything has been this last week." CC wrapped him into a tight embrace.

"Hey…" Niles lifted her chin and their eyes met. "Why the tears?"

CC started chewing her bottom lip. "I need to say something…alright? Will you humor me…please?"

"Of course, Love." Niles led CC to the small stone bench against the wall in the vestibule. "Now…what is it you need to say?" Niles smiled softly.

CC took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Niles, I know that we didn't have the easiest relationship…our history well it reads more like war than peace, but now…it's different. I don't ever want to go back to that." Niles opened his mouth to speak, but CC shook her head at him. "No, please let me finish, Niles. I love our little teasing and the name calling. I don't even mind the occasional practical joke, but before it was bordering on hurtful…now it's all done with affection. I never thought it could be like this…not with you…not with anyone. But you've shown me what it is to love. I love you, Niles. I know I don't say it enough. I want to change that. I'm going to say it more…I promise. I love you."

Niles stroked her cheek softly. "I love you, too. Nothing and no one will ever change that or keep you from me. You have to remember CC…for as long as you live, I love you." Niles kissed her softly. "Now come on…I don't want dinner to get cold waiting on us."

The door to the mansion opened and David nodded at his friend and CC. "Niles, Mrs. Brightmore. It's lovely to see you."

"Hi David, where is everyone?" David took Niles' and CC's coats and hung them in the closet. "They're about somewhere, my guess is Mr. Sheffield and Miss Fine are in the office. And the children are probably still in their rooms. Why don't you go through to the office and I'll call you for dinner shortly." David nodded and left them heading into the office.

The door was closed so Niles knocked lightly and tossed open the door to Max's 'come in'. When the door opened fully the shouts of 'welcome back' nearly knocked Niles back out the door. "Surprise, Honey." CC whispered in his ear. Everyone of import was there. Max, Fran, the children, Sylvia, Yetta and even Val were crammed into the office to welcome him back.

"Thanks everyone. This is a wonderful surprise…I'm not going to have to clean this up tomorrow…am I?" Niles smirked at his friends.

David stepped in behind Niles and CC. "The buffet is all prepared, Mr. Sheffield."

"Very good, David, thank you. Well, everyone, shall we?" Niles and CC stepped aside and let their guests file out into the foyer and den where David has rather quickly set up the buffet.

"You knew about this didn't you?" Niles wrapped CC into his arms.

CC smiled. "Ya got me, Hazel. I can't help it if I CAN keep a secret." CC kissed him lightly. "Surprised?"

"In more ways than you'll ever know." Niles winked. "Let get out there before Sylvia gets all the good stuff."

It was an amazing party and CC and Niles thought a nice walk around the house could be fun. CC wanted to see if it would jar his memory at all and Niles wanted to take inventory of how well David had done in his absence. "Niles…do you want to see your old room?" CC asked a little worried.

"Sure…I don't imagine there's much to see though. I moved everything that mattered to the penthouse ages ago." Niles opened the door to see a barren room. CC stood next to him her head on his shoulder. "Fran did a great job emptying this room. It looks like he's been out of here forever."

"Niles…does this remind you of anything?" She asked him softly.

Niles turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"

CC looked away from him. "I mean does it remind you of anything? I know it's empty now, but you lived here for years. What kind of memories do you have in this room?"

Niles stood and looked around the room and a small smile crossed his face. "I remember being sick in here, delirious with the flu. And you were taking care of me. I remember looking up and seeing your pale blue eyes clouded with worry." Niles looked over at CC. "What do you remember about this room?"

"I remember you're being sick and taking care of you…I also remember you icing my ankle here. When I'd got tangled in Chester's leash and this was the closet room. You carried me up the back stairs." CC turned to look at him. "Let's go home, Niles."

"Alright, Love." Niles half smiled as they made their way back down the hall toward the front stairs. "Well, people…" Niles started as he opened the closet. "CC and I are going to head home for our last night of vacation. "I'll be here to prepare breakfast for the family as always." David opened the door for them. "You've done an excellent job here, David. Thank you for taking care of them."

"It's my pleasure, Niles. You'd do the same for me." David winked at his friend. "It was nice seeing you again Mrs. Brightmore."

"It was good seeing you too, David. Thanks for making it easy for Niles' return tomorrow." CC smiled at the man she knew well.

"Ok, so ya's are both gonna be here in the morning then?" Niles nodded.

Niles tilted his head knowingly. "What would you like for breakfast, Fran?"

"Oh, nothin' special, maybe Belgian waffles and some scrambled eggs…you know just whatever." Fran winked at him. "I've missed you Scarecrow. You look good though, happy. I like this look on you." Fran winked.

"CC…we've got a mountain of paperwork to go over. Nothing we can't handle, and just paperwork for a change so, it shouldn't be too difficult a day for us either." Max smiled at his business partner. Max put his arm around Fran's shoulder as they watched Niles and CC leave the mansion and slip into CC's BMW. Niles looked back and waved one last time. And Fran closed the door and sighed heavily. "What's the matter, Fran? They both look ridiculously happy."

"I know, Max. I'm just wonderin' how long this is gonna last. You know what the doctor said. This sort of thing is never permanent. I'm really worried about what's going to happen to Niles?" Fran leaned against Max's chest.

"I'm worried to, Fran. When the time comes…we'll all have to handle the fallout." Max kissed the top of her head. "David, can you finish up here? I don't want Niles to be greeted in the morning with a Fine family mess." Max tilted his head.

David looked around and nodded at Max. "Certainly, Mr. Sheffield, I wouldn't want Niles to have to contend with this on his first day back."

"They'll be a little extra in your check tomorrow, David." Max offered then after assessing the room again. "A lot extra, David…thank you." Max and Fran turned and walked slowly up the front stairs.


Niles was back at work first thing and had Belgian waffles and scrambled eggs as well as fresh diced fruit, toast and all the other breakfast standards ready when the family came down to breakfast. Fran, Max and the children waited with baited breath for CC to join them all in the dining room. Then they hear it.

"Hello…hello!" CC's voice rang out as she made her way into the dining room. Niles moved to the doorway to greet her.

She stepped through the door and into his arms. "Good morning, Love. How did you sleep?" Niles pulled out the chair for CC to sit and then moved to the buffet to make her plate.

"I slept wonderfully. Better than I have in a very long time. I was exhausted after last night." Max cleared his throat as Niles set CC's plate down. "After the party, Max. This is wonderful, Niles…as always."

"Thank you, Love." Niles smiled as he poured her coffee. "Would you like anything special for lunch?"

Fran frowned. "Niles…how come you didn't ask me if I wanted anything special for lunch?"

"Well, you're not my wife, and you got to choose breakfast." Niles winked at his friend. "Besides, I heard it from a very reliable source that you won't be here for lunch."

Max cleared his throat again. "Alright, children, you'd better get going or you'll miss the limo to the club for your lessons."

"What lessons?" Niles asked. CC's head popped up.

Maggie stood and smiled broadly. "We're all taking horseback riding lessons."

Niles looked at Fran and asked softly. "Did I know that?"

"No, old man," Max started. "I only just scheduled them. It should make things easier for you at least for a while." Max clapped Niles on the back and started into the office calling as he left. "CC…as soon as you're finished…I'll be in the office."


It went on much the same day after day. Days became weeks and weeks became months and Christmas was approaching. "Fran…" CC was near tears. I don't know what to do. I talk to the doctor every week. He can't explain why his memories haven't come back."

Fran sighed heavily. "CC…have you thought about how maybe Niles is just happier with this version of life?"

"I suppose I have thought about that." CC had thought a lot about that. She had never been happier. But it wasn't technically real. She and Niles weren't married. They were barely civil until that accident. "I've never been happier. It just doesn't seem fair to him. I feel like I'm taking advantage of his false memories."

"CC…" Fran started again. "These dream memories, that the doctor called them…if they were Niles' dreams, then this is the life he's dreamed of…a life with you. That may be why his other memories haven't come back…This version is too happy for him to allow the unpleasant memories to return."

"Geez, Fran," CC looked at her funny. "Since when did you get all wise and stuff?"

Fran laughed. "Hey, I've had my time in therapy too. But it's not hard to figure out. The happy life would far outweigh the unhappy. Ma used to call it 'selective' memory. I'd choose the best parts of stuff and that's all I would remember about something." CC went suddenly pale. "Geez…CC are you alright? You don't look good."

"I feel a little dizzy, Fran. I'd better go have a little nosh with Niles." CC stood. "Thanks for our little talk."

CC made her way slowly into the kitchen where Niles was standing staring into the fridge. "Hey, Hazel…what ya got for me to snack on?"

"Hello, Love." Niles leaned out of the fridge and saw how pale CC looked. "Hey…you don't look good." He took her arm and helped her to a chair at the table. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I was chatting with Fran and I suddenly felt dizzy. I figured maybe I didn't eat enough breakfast. Could you whip me up a little nosh?" CC looked up into his concerned eyes.

Niles smiled at her choice of words. "I most certainly can. How about I make you a little ham on rye with my special mustard?"

"Oooooo…" CC's face lit up. "Do I get all the fixin's?"

Niles frowned a little. "Fixin's?"

"Lettuce, tomato, pickle…you know…fixin's" CC winked at him.

Niles laughed. "One ham on rye with special mustard and all the fixin's coming up." Niles made quick work of tossing together two sandwiches for he and CC to have a little morning nosh together.

"Oh Niles…only you can make a simple ham sandwich taste this good." CC leaned in and kissed him lightly.

Niles whispered to her. "That's because I add a secret ingredient."

"What's that, Niles?" CC smirked knowing too well where her 'husband' was going.

"Love. Nothing tastes the same without it. It makes everything better, don't you think?" Niles smiled. CC nodded suddenly remembering her talk with Fran.

The next morning CC missed breakfast and Niles was visibly worried. "I don't understand where she could be. She didn't say anything last night or when I left the house this morning. Where is she?" Max entered the kitchen as Niles was pacing in front of Fran just in time to hear his question.

"Oh…I'm sorry Old man, did I forget to tell you. CC called my line to say she wasn't feeling well and was going to see the doctor. She thinks with all the snow and dampness we've had that she's picked up the flu that's going around." Max clapped Niles on the back. "I'm sorry, no sooner had I hung up with CC than I got another call form Mrs. Harrison…that prickly woman who insists she wants to invest, but is practically making me beg."

Fran stood up and hugged Niles. "There you go, Niles. CC should be getting' here any minute."

"Thank you, Fran." The words were barely out of his mouth when CC tapped at the back door.

"We'll leave you two alone to say hello." Fran shoved Max out of the kitchen.

Niles opened the door. "Hello, Love…I was worried. Max forgot to tell me about your call. What did the doctor say?" Niles pulled out a chair and helped her to sit. "CC…you're chewing your lip again. What is it?"

CC was worried. But there was no containing herself. "Niles…I'm pregnant."