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 8
CC popped up in her bed finding it empty. "Oh God no! It couldn't have been!"
"Couldn't have been what, Love?" Niles strolled into the room with a tray full of CC's breakfast favorites.
CC leapt up onto her knees. "Don't you 'Love' me…I don't ever want to wake up to an empty bed again…do you hear me Niles?"
"Where's this coming from? I have to get up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready and get to the Mansion in order to prepare breakfast for the family. You always wake up without me." Niles asked rather amused at her behavior.
"Well that's why Max gave us the third floor of the mansion. When the hell is that supposed to be finished anyway. I refuse to schlep my ass back and forth after I get as big as a house, carrying this little servant spawn around." CC grabbed a waffle off the plate and nearly devoured it. Niles stood in dead silence and stared at his wife waiting to see if she had anything more to say. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
That goofy grin we all love slipped across Niles' face as he sat on the edge of the bed. "You remember that Max gave us the third floor of the mansion?"
"Of course I remember…it was a wedding present." CC looked at Niles and then her eyes started to mirror his own knowing expression. "I remember!"
"What else do you remember?" Niles waited… "Don't force it, Love. You're here and that's all that matters to me."
CC sipped her juice and laughed. "What do you mean 'I'm here'. This is MY house…technically you're here."
"Well," Niles smirked. "Either way…we're together and I don't care if that's all you remember."
"There is one other thing I remember, Niles." CC got that sultry look.
Niles waited for her to 'confess'. "What's that, Love?"
"Last night, you promised me something…" Niles grinned and waited. "You said this morning, you were all mine." CC leaned back against the pillows. "Well?"
Niles moved the breakfast tray and tossed his robe to the chest at the foot of the bed. "That I am, my Love, now and forever, I live you serve."
They woke up just before noon still wrapped in each other's arms. "I think we missed breakfast." Niles whispered. "CC…"
"Hummff?" She drowsily responded.
"What did you mean this morning…'it couldn't have been'?" Niles asked gently.
CC looked up into his deep blue eyes. "I…I was afraid it was all a…dream." CC tried not to laugh at how completely ridiculous it actually sounded.
"It is a dream, Love. It's a dream come true." Niles kissed her softly. "Now…what would you like to have for lunch…I'm starving." Niles rolled over the get out of bed grabbing his robe and wrapping it around him.
CC leaned up on her elbow and the sheet dropped loosely around her middle. "Nothing too fancy…I don't want it to take too long." She cooed at him.
Niles turned to see her 'exposed' and with her 'come hither' look. "I can grab a box of cereal and be back in here in ten seconds."
CC laughed deeply. "No, I think we'll need more sustenance than cold, dry cereal. Maybe I'll just come and help." CC slipped carefully into her robe and stood up into his offered arms. "I love you, Niles Andrew Brightmore." CC leaned up to kiss him.
"Hey! You remember my middle name?" Niles asked knowing it was something he specifically left out of the 'script' .
CC frowned. "Niles…we've been married for nearly a year…of course I remember your middle name." Niles eyes grew to the size of saucers and he waited to see if her memory was of what she'd been recently told or the real memory. "Niles!" We've been married nearly a year!" She kissed him firmly. "Show me Niles." Niles frowned. "I want the photo album. I know it's around here somewhere."
Niles shook his head. "No…I want you to remember because you remember, not because you looked at the photos."
"Niles, please…I really want to look at the pictures…" CC paused waiting for him to soften. "I want to see you in your white tie and tails and the goofy grin on your face when your mother straightened your tie. I want to see Fran wiping off the smudge of lipstick she'd pressed onto your cheek." CC's hand found his cheek as she spoke. I want to see the look in your eyes…and mine when Brighton caught us in the foyer closet, with his camera. Now…Will you get me the photo album?" CC whispered.
"You remember?" Niles could feel the tears threatening to fall.
CC smiled at him. "It was the happiest day of my life…of course I remember. I remember when Father Thomas said you may kiss your little witch…and we were the only ones who laughed. I remember when you took me to dinner at the hot dog vendor's in Central Park on my birthday because you wanted your proposal to be different. I remember when we argued about my grandparents rings, because you wanted to buy my engagement ring. But instead, you got me that beautiful sapphire pendant. I remember the week we spent on the beach in Jamaica pretending we weren't the oldest newlyweds at Sandals resort." CC cupped his face. "I remember it all, Niles. I remember it all." Niles lifted her carefully and turned her around.
"I love you, Witch." Niles kissed her.
"I love you, too, Dust Mop." CC giggled as Niles' morning stubble tickled her neck. "Maybe lunch could wait, just a little bit longer."
Christmas morning at the mansion was an exciting time for everyone. CC's memory returned completely, and she and Niles decided that they would do their best never to let anything as silly as a little misunderstanding get in their way again.
The Sheffields, Fran, and Niles and CC spent a lazy morning opening gifts and telling stories. When they'd finished opening gifts and eating breakfast it was time for Niles' surprise. He winked at Max and he and CC went to their apartment, the third floor was finished by Thanksgiving. After they'd showered and changed, which took longer than expected since they decided to shower together, they made their way back down stairs to bid the family farewell.
CC still had no idea what this surprise was about and Niles had planned it meticulously, down to the last detail. They slipped into the back of the town car and Niles winked at his wife as the car pulled away from the mansion.
"Niles…who's driving the car?" CC asked worried that she didn't recognize someone she should.
Niles grinned at her concern. "It's alright, Love. He's a hired man for the day. David has a family he wanted to spend Christmas with too, you know."
CC frowned. "Don't make fun of me, Niles. I'm going to be wondering for sometime if I should remember this or that."
"Like I told you the night you confessed. You and I are together and we're going to be parents. I don't care if you never remember another thing." Niles kissed her softly.
CC hadn't been paying attention to where they were going so when the car pulled up at the airport she wondered. "Why are we at the airport?" Niles slipped out of the car and moved around to help her out as well. "Are your parents coming for a visit?"
The hired man was unloading the trunk onto a cart. "No, Love, my parents aren't coming to visit. We're going to visit." Niles waited to see her reaction.
"We're flying to England…now?" CC's eyes got very big. "But…how…when…?"
Niles pulled her into his chest. "You never had any idea about this one, CC. I kept it a secret from everyone except Max. I had to discuss it with him for obvious reasons. Time off, use of the car, and he made all the arrangements since I knew you'd either find my notes or catch me doing it."
"We're going to visit your parents?" Niles nodded at her innocent question. "For how long?"
Niles laced his fingers with hers as they started into the airport. "Two full weeks, just you and me…well, and my parents. But don't worry…they're both losing their hearing." Niles winked at her.
"Niles…that's not funny." CC playfully smacked his arm. "Besides…I can be quiet."
Niles nodded. "Yes well…they can't." CC's shocked expression told Niles that she understood the implication.
Niles and CC arrived in England and were practically swept away to Niles' parent's home. Joseph and Marie Brightmore had retired ages ago from service to the Sheffield's and moved permanently to what was now the 'Brightmore Estate'. It wasn't a huge estate, but an estate none the less. It had been a gift from the Duchess of Carlisle after the unfortunate incident that got Niles' father in so much trouble. And while at first the idea of accepting the estate from 'the hussy who tried to seduce her poor unsuspecting husband', as Marie Brightmore still referred to the duchess, Joseph made her see the benefits.
"Maman, Dad!" Niles called to his parents as he opened the front door to the house. "I've brought the wife!"
Marie Brightmore was a woman of medium build who had silver hair with just a hint of its former red here and there. "Children!" She pulled Niles and CC into a hug. "You are a sight for these old eyes. "Merry Christmas. How was your flight?"
"It was lovely, Maman." CC answered hugging the woman.
Marie pulled away quickly and looked into CC's eyes with the same expression of joy that Niles often wore. "You're expecting!"
Niles and CC exchanged a glance. "Yes, Maman…Merry Christmas!" Niles grinned proudly.
"We must go tell your father…" Marie took both their hands and started pulling them through the house. "Come on, now…he's out in the stable."
"Stable? You have a stable?" CC's eyes shined at the thought.
"Oh there is much to see on the estate, Dear. For now, though it should just be your father." Marie led the happy couple out the back of the house and down the short distance to the stable. It was a good sized barn and could house about a dozen horses with ease. It held only three. CC stood in shock when she stepped through the door.
"Rampart?" CC whispered on a breath and turned to look at Niles as she made her way slowly to the horse in question. He was a chestnut stallion, truly a beautiful animal. "But…I lost him…to Noel in that bet about Fran and Jeopardy?"
"I know…and I won him…from Noel in a bet about a certain witch and servant spawn." Niles raised his eyebrow.
CC frowned. "You bet on our baby?" CC wasn't sure if she was angry or not.
"No, Love. I bet on you. I told Noel in passing that we'd wanted children. He said I would never convince you to have a baby. I said that if I did I wanted Rampart. He said I was on." Niles smirked.
CC narrowed her eyes as she stroked Ramparts nose. "And what if you'd lost?"
"Dad!" Niles avoided answering finally seeing his father step out from behind the all white Mare in the next stall over. "You look wonderful. Thank you for taking such good care of Rampart here."
"He's a lovely animal, Son. And look at this beautiful creature!" Joseph looked like an older version of Niles. He was still roguishly handsome with shining blue eyes and silvering blonde hair. He even had that same boyish smirk. "Give us a hug woman!" Joseph opened his arms to CC.
"Hello, Dad. It's good to see you. Thanks for keeping Rampart for me." CC kissed the man's cheek sending a rush of pink across he cheeks. "This is one amazing son you've got here." CC wrapped her arm in Niles'.
Joseph frowned just a bit as he looked between CC and Niles. "You're expecting!" Joseph pulled them in for another hug.
"Niles…" CC laughed lightly. "Do the people in your family have some weird six sense about babies?"
Niles raised an eyebrow and waited knowing one or both of his parents would offer some answer. "Not just about babies, dear." Marie took CC's arm and started pulling her back into the house.
"Dad…" Niles started. "Should I be worried about what Maman is telling my wife?"
Joseph offered Niles his wry smile. "I would be, son, I would be." Joseph sat on a tack box and patted the space to his side and Niles took it. "How is she, Niles…really?"
"She's fine, Dad. We couldn't be happier." Niles smiled at his father. "Are you happy about the baby?"
Joseph stood and started into the house. "Don't you mean babies?" He tossed over his shoulder.
"Dad!" Niles leapt off the bench and started after his father. "I haven't told her yet, Dad. I'm not sure she'll appreciate that I've kept it from her. Do you think Maman is telling her now?"
Niles no sooner asked the question than CC was at the back door yelling. "Niles Andrew Brightmore…get in here now!"
As Niles stepped into the kitchen door his mother and wife stood side by side glaring at him with narrowed eyes. "Now, CC…" Marie began. "You can't be upset with Niles for not telling you about his gift. It's rather frowned upon. He was born into a family of servants, CC. Niles is the seventh generation Brightmore born of two servants."
"I know, Maman, Niles lives to serve." CC winked at him and noticed his down trodden look. "Niles…I thought this was behind us. I don't care what you do just so you are always mine."
Niles gave her a half smile. "You don't know the half of it."
"Niles couldn't help but be yours. Even if he wanted to…" Marie touched CC's hand. "Niles has a certain sense, CC. He knows what people want, long before they do. Haven't you ever noticed how he'll say just what you need to hear, before you even know you need to hear it? Or he'll bring you just the thing you didn't know you wanted?"
CC's eyes searched her memory and as the realization came over her a small grin moved slowly across her face. "So you're saying that he knows what someone really needs even before they do? No matter what that 'need' may be?"
"That seems to be the case, dear, yes." Marie waited to see if CC would pick up on the larger picture.
"Wait…you said Niles couldn't help but be mine…what did you mean, Maman?" CC asked half knowing the answer.
"From the moment he saw you…he knew you needed him." Marie dropped flatly and Niles audibly groaned.
CC met his eyes and smiled. "I wanted to tell you, Love. But I wasn't sure you'd believe me or what you'd think. I mean... confessing to you that I knew you needed me…that was even a bit pompous for me."
"Oh, Niles." CC pulled him up from the chair and pulled him tightly into her arms.
"Tell her, Lad." Joseph added.
CC pulled back. "There's more?"
"Well, it's just a little thing." Niles smirked. "But you'd better follow me into the palor for this part." Niles laced their fingers and they walked into the palor followed closely by Marie and Joseph. Just before the stepped into the room Niles turned. "Close your eyes, Love."
"Niles…" CC started suspiciously. "You'd better not be pulling my leg."
Niles grinned and lifted three fingers. "Scouts honor. Now, please, close your eyes." CC did and he led her the rest of the way into the room. "Alright, open your eyes."
CC did and what she saw made her gasp. "Oh, Niles…they're beautiful! They look practically brand new, but old all the same." CC knelt down and examined with great interest the two hand carved cradles. One had roses carved all along the edge and a large rose blossom in the center of the head board. The other had horses carved along its edge and a horse reared up on his hind legs in the center of its headboard. "Where did you get them?"
"I made them." Niles confessed simply.
"But, how…you haven't been in England except for short visits for…" CC tried to think.
"More than twenty years, Love." Niles finished for her. "I made them just before I started in service."
CC stood and looked at him. "Why did you make two?"
"I knew I'd need them." Niles rested his hand softly on her still flat tummy and their eyes locked.
