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 10

EPILOGUE

"Hey!" The boy ran to the raven haired girl to help her up. "Are you alright?"

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Yeah…they were saying I talk funny. Do I talk funny, Danny?"

"Don't worry about them, Eve. You have a very unique voice. I think it's beautiful, just like you. Don't you ever let anyone tell you to be something different than you are." The stocky boy said.

"You're not too bad yaself, handsome." She said and giggled.

Danny blushed and lowered his eyes. "Thanks, Eve, but I'm not as handsome as Jonah."

"Oh please, Danny. Jonah looks just like Daddy, he's way to pretty." They laughed. Eve leaned up and kissed his lips softly. "Ya know, I could get used to that."

"Alright, you two…" Fran joined them where they stood. "It's not nice makin' fun of ya Mom and Dad, Danny."

Niles laughed. "Oh, don't worry about us, Fran. We love the little reenactment." Niles kissed CC's neck.

"Well, it's not alright with me." Max tossed is two cents into the conversation. "Eve's practically a baby, she shouldn't be kissing anyone…let alone a boy of Danny's age."

"Max…" Fran rejoined the other adults on the blanket they were using for their picnic. "Danny is only 14, and Eve is far from a baby. She's twelve."

Max's head spun around to face his wife. "Is she really twelve already?" Max seemed suddenly sad. "Why do I feel so terribly old?"

"We're all terribly old now, Max." Niles offered. "Its how we behave that makes all the difference." Niles stood and offered his hand to CC. "Shall we walk a bit, Love?"

CC smiled up at him. "Absolutely. Fran…can you keep an eye on the twins?"

"Mine…or yours?" Fran laughed. "Go, walk…they're teenagers what can they do?"

Max groaned. "Teenagers? Then now is really the time to worry about what they can do."

"Max…are you insinuating that my son would behave in anyway less than a gentleman with Eve?" Niles raised an eyebrow at his stodgy and overprotective best friend.

Max sighed. "Of course not, Niles. It's just that…" Max turned to see Niles practically groping CC and nuzzling her neck. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"Oy, Max…leave them alone. It's their anniversary." Fran playfully smacked Max's arm.

"It's our anniversary?" CC yelled. "Niles…it's our anniversary…why are we here?"

"Very funny, Love." Niles laughed and laced his fingers with hers. "Come on, I have something I want to show you."

"Niles…should we really do that here?" CC winked at him. "It's a public place."

Niles shook his head. "Just come on." Niles walked and CC held his hand and waited. "CC…close your eyes, please." Niles stopped and asked softly.

"Niles…this is silly, it's a public park…" CC moaned at him.

"Please, Love…humor me?" Niles gave her his best puppy face.

CC sighed. "Well, only because it's our anniversary and we're in your homeland." CC smirked at him and closed her eyes.

"Now, just step carefully." Niles moved CC slowly into place. "Are you ready?" CC nodded. "Ok, open your eyes."


"Lauren," Fran started as the young blonde who so resembled her mother joined them on the blanket. "Where's ya Dad takin' ya Ma?"

"Daddy didn't tell you about his surprise, Aunt Fran?" Fran shook her head and frowned. "Wow…he's been planning it a while. I'm surprised he managed to keep it a secret, you know how bad Daddy is with secrets." Lauren laughed.

"So…" Fran coaxed the girl.

"Oh…" Lauren got that 'CC evil grin' look on her face. "It was a surprise for Mom. Its around by the main park fountain. Near the play park."

"Ok, do I have ta go and see it myself or are ya just gonna tell me?" Fran stood up.

Lauren relented. "Ok, don't go over there. Daddy designed a statue for the play park. It took a lot of time to get approval and stuff. It was supposed to be ready last year, but it wasn't finished in time so that's why we had to be here…in England, in the middle of the February."

"Awww…" Danny teased his slightly younger sister. "Does Lauren miss Tommy?"

"Oh shut up, Danny. It's not fair that every time we ever go anywhere you get a vacation with your girlfriend." Lauren barked back.

"Wait!" Max was finally paying attention. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Max looked between Lauren, Danny and his wife. "Daniel…is your sister implying that you and my little girl are dating?"

"Oh, Max." Fran rolled her eyes. "Where ya been?"

Jonah bounded up. "Hey Mom, that girl over there kissed me. What do I do?"

Max grinned. "That's my boy. I'll take care of this, Fran." Max stood and draped his arm around Jonah and they strolled off.

"I'll never get through to him no matter how many years I have to try." Fran muttered to herself. "Danny, stop teasing Lauren and go take a walk with Eve before Max gets back."

"Absolutely, Aunt Fran." Danny smiled that boyish grin Fran has seen on his father's face more times than she can remember.

"A walk, Danny…just a walk…" Fran called after them. "Now, Lauren what's this big surprise your Dad planned?"


CC couldn't help but gasp. "It's…it's…us." She whispered softly. And it was…Niles and CC from all those years ago. A bronze statue of a young Niles leaning down and offering his hand to the fallen CC. Their eyes locked forever in that single moment in time. "Niles…how did you do this?"

"Do you like it?" Niles asked.

CC chewed at her bottom lip hoping to keep the tears at bay. "I love it…what's the plaque say?" CC moved closer and ran her fingers over the words in quotations, 'Are you alright?'. Then she read the words at the bottom. "Extend a hand and lift a heart." CC couldn't hold the tears in any longer. "You really did know way back then. I thought…" CC felt his arms encircle her, the warmth of his body seeping into her. Her arms covered his at her waist. "Thank you, Niles."

Niles turned her in his arms. "Thank you for what, Love?"

"For loving me, even before you knew me. For knowing what I needed before I knew myself, and for waiting, a little less than patiently for me to realize I needed it." CC took his face in her hands. "Thank you for loving me, Niles. I never knew love until I knew you."

"You're more than welcome. Now, we'd better get back. If I know Fran she's trying to pry as much information out of the children as she can." Niles offered his arm and CC wrapped hers through his and they rejoined their friends.

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER…

CC sat on the park bench chatting into her cell phone. "No Lauren, you and Tom take your time. The house will be ready when you arrive. I know how hard it is for the two of you to get away at the same time. Not to mention you have two year old twins…how are Niles and David?" CC smiled as she listened to her daughter regale her with tales of the two year old boys. "Well, Daddy and I will just have to spoil them more rotten when you get them here. Ok, give Tom our love. See you in a few days. I love you too. Bye."

"What did she say?" Niles asked as he joined CC on the bench.

"They are in the middle of a big case, but it's going to settle out of court so they'll be here in a few days." CC answered simply.

Niles wrapped his arm around her. "How are the boys?"

"Lauren said, and I quote, 'more ornery than even Daddy was' end quote. I don't think she could've asked for anything more. She says it's like having two little Daddys around all the time." CC laughed. "Niles is forever tidying up and David is always pulling little pranks on her and Tom. They are very smart little boys."

Niles laughed. "Maybe we should re-think having them stay at the house. I don't know if I can handle that much fun anymore."

"Don't even try it Niles. You are just as ornery now as you've ever been…more so in some ways." CC kissed him.

"Nana!" The small golden haired girl scolded. "This is a public park!" She shook her head at CC and grabbed Niles' hand. "Come on, Grampy, I need ta ask ya somthin'."

"I'm coming, Princess." Niles rose from the bench and was quickly in tow.

"Is that really you?" The little girl asked. "It sure is, Princess." Niles whispered to her. "And that's really Nana. She wasn't much older than you."

"Why does Nana look kinda sad?" Claire asked him.

Niles sighed and knelt down. "Well, Princess, there were some mean girls picking on Nana and they pushed her and she fell."

"I'd never do that." She whispered softly.

Niles smiled. "I know, Princess. Can you read that?" Niles pointed to the plaque.

"It says…are you alright?" Claire answered. "Is that what you said to Nana?"

"Uh huh. I helped her up." Niles added.

"Ex-tend a hand and lift a heart." Claire turned to face her grandfather and placed her hand on his face. "Did you lift Nana's heart?"

"He stole it, Claire," CC said from just behind them.

"Nana, don't be silly. No one can steal a heart." Claire smiled and her grandparents. "Why didn't Mommy and Daddy bring me to the park today, Grampy?" Claire was an intuitive child.

CC sighed. "Well, Claire, it's like this. Mommy and Daddy wanted some special alone time. So Grampy and I volunteered to bring you and Andy to the park. Where is Andrew, by the way?" CC looked around for the dark hair of her grandson. She couldn't help but gasp when she saw him. There she watched her eight year old Grandson, who looked like the perfect mix of his parents, dark hair like his mother and the shocking blue eyes of his father, offer his hand to a fallen little girl.

CC nudged Niles and nodded in the direction of her grandson. "Here we go again," Niles whispered as they watched the very familiar scene together.

"Niles…do the kids…do any of them have…" CC didn't wasn't sure how to ask.

"The gift?" Niles finished for her. "I don't know, Love. I doubt we'll ever know for certain. I didn't exactly share it with anyone…my parents…you…that's it."

CC cupped his face. "I'm glad you have the gift, Niles. If you hadn't, who knows what may have happened to me. You were always right where I needed you to be. Here in the park…in the mansion that first day I started work…the night we lost Sara…all those times I needed and escort…that morning in the street…the whole time I'd lost my…memory…when I delivered the twins…when I my father died…you were always there. You always knew just what to say and just what to do. I love you, Niles."

"I love you, CC…and I was born to serve…you."