Disclaimer: I don't own any part or character from The Nanny…
A/N: Ok, the big reunion is about to start, so all aboard for the festivities
Chapter 5
All Aboard !
"Wooha, Niyules! Looking good"
"Thank you Mrs. Sheffield."
"You're going to trip the fantastic with Miss Babcock."
"Actually, there will be no dancing tonight." Niles answered, with a sad note.
"You sound disappointed by that. I thought you'd be happy not to have to be so close to the "witch"".
"Of course I'm happy about _that_" Niles emphasized, trying to save the situation. "It's just that I love to dance, even if it's with Miss Babock" (especially with her, only with her, forever with her…) he thought to himself.
"Humph,hrmmpph" she nudged him.
"Oh sorry Mrs. Sheffield, what did you say?"
"How come there is no dancing?" Fran had see that dreamy look in Niles' eyes, but she, surprisingly, was ok to wait until he was ready to tell her about it…well, at least for a little while longer.
"The reunion is taking place on a train. From what I understand, there are booths of four people and we are to switch a few times during the evening."
"Sounds kinda kinky" She winked and Niles smiled back.
"Well, it IS a witches gathering, so who knows?!" Niles smirked at that comment. He knew that CC had him under her spell anyways, so he didn't mind. "I've got to go and pick Miss Babcock up, have a good evening."
"You too Niles . I can't wait to hear all about it."
CC had been waiting in the lobby so when she saw Niles come out of the limo she quickly joined him. He held the door open for her, not out of duty, but because he loved making her feel special. As she nestled back into his arms, he kissed her softly on the lips and said "You're nervous".
He could read her so well; it made her feel so loved that it almost appeased her nerves…almost.
"Yes, well, I haven't seen some these people for a long time and I'm worried about what they'll say, what they'll think of me, what …"
"…they'll say when they find out I'm a butler." Niles added with a questing sigh.
"Yes" she sighed in return.
"But you know right? I mean you have to know," she turned towards him, looking into his eyes, nay his very soul "that I LOVE YOU. ALL OF YOU, and it makes no difference to me what you do, because who you are is so more important to me. I really mean that. So that's why I can't figure out why I'm so nervous, because it really…"
Niles knew all of this; they had talked about it already at length when she had come back to his room the night he had resigned. Hearing it again, though, just made his heart swell and so before she could finish, he hugged her to him very tightly.
"Can't…breathe…" she gasped
"Sorry" he said sheepishly, and kissed her quickly.
He then offered, "We can make something up you know. I could be an investment banker, or a British millionaire, or…"
"Oh Niles, you know what? I love you. If they can't handle it, screw them!" The Bitch of Broadway had spoken, so the subject was closed! Just in time too, as they had arrived at the train station.
David came about and opened the door for them.
"What time should I pick you up, sir?"
"I'm not sure of the itinerary David. It will be at least three hours, so how about I call you from the train?" Niles replied.
"That will be fine, sir."
"Thanks for getting us here safely David. Have a good evening." CC said to him as she took Niles' arm and headed off to the station.
David slowly closed the door to the limo. As he walked back around to the driver side, he thought to himself. It was pretty amazing that his friend Niles, the Sheffield Butler, had ended up with The CC Babcock. Even more amazing was that the pairing had made her almost human. He hadn't had many experiences with Miss Babcock in his time with the Sheffields, but they had left scars. She had not been a nice woman and he did not relish having to driving her anywhere. Now, it was different. She was cordial to him and almost seemed to appreciate his effort. Even though no one was supposed to know she and Niles were dating, David had been driving them more and more frequently and, in fact, it was Miss Babcock's personality change that really had tuned him in to the fact that her and Niles were more than just friends. He was happy for them, because they just seemed so happy to be together. He smiled and headed off for a local bar where he knew he could get in a few games of pool or darts before he had to come and pick them up again.
There had been a big poster in the main lobby with the details on seating arrangements. Beside it, a table had been set up with name clips (no tacky name tags for this crowd), and each couple had received an envelope with the table switches for the duration of the ride.
Niles and CC had quickly found their seating, number 14, and were anxious to see who they would be starting off this ride with. They were the first couple to arrive at the table, so they picked the side of the table so they would face in the direction the train would be going. Niles let CC have the seat near the window, and was happy to realize that since the seats were quite snug, they were sitting close to each other. Above each table was a little LCD screen and they quickly noticed that it was showing a slide show of pictures of all the young ladies who had attended the finishing school together. Niles wondered if he could pick CC out on the slides. He wasn't really paying attention to anything else, so he was a bit surprised when he heard
"CC Babcock? Is that you?"
"Gladys? Gladys Williams? Wow, you look good!" CC smiled.
"Thank you CC. I go by Patterson now (pointing to her husband). You look radiant! Could it have anything to do with this handsome man here?" She extended her hand to Niles.
"Niles Brightmore, this is Gladys Williams. I'd tell you we went to school together, but I think you've already guessed that?" She laughed softly.
Niles kissed Gladys' hand, and as Gladys sat down, she introduced her husband to them. "And this is John."
They all finished shaking hands and John and Gladys sat down facing Niles and CC. As everyone else was also getting seated, there was too much bustle and noise around them to actually continue a conversation, so all four of them either looked outside at the scenery or at the screen of photos and once and while Gladys or CC would make a comment about what was being shown.
Soon, the train was underway, and the first course had been placed in front of them. Niles thought the presentation was well done, and the taste was even better. It was a lovely celery root salad topped with a slice of cooked apple and some mild goat cheese…with a sprig of parsley as decoration. A treat for the palate as well as they eye.
"You know, I think I'll remember this CC, I could easily jazz up supper with something like this. You think the kids would go for it?" Niles asked.
"You know, I think they would actually. I think the key is that the cheese is not too strong, and there is not too much of it to overpower the whole dish. Also, there is just enough creaminess to the dressing that the celery is toned down. I really like it, I'm sure even Gracie would eat it. Though who knows about Fran." CC tossed at the end, and then they both laughed!
"Oh, you have kids? How many?" Gladys inquired.
Niles looked at CC to see how to answer, he would follow her lead on this.
"Oh no" she smiled. "When Niles was referring to the kids, he meant Maxwell's children. You remember, Maxwell is my partner, we produce plays together, as in Sheffield-Babcock productions?"
"Really?" said John. "You're that Babcock? That's impressive! We've been to a lot of your plays. I just never really made the connection. Sorry about that." John apologized.
"No problem John. Gladys and I haven't really spoken in ages, so how would you know, right?".
Niles joined in, keeping the topic off him as much as possible, "So, you both like theatre I take it? What's your favourite play?"
Gladys looked at John, and answered, "Well…it's…"
"Ah, I get it, " Niles commented, "You're not too sure how CC will react if you mention Phantom, or Cats, or something equally mesmerizing but not a Sheffield-Babcock production, right?"
They both nodded.
"Then let me put you at ease. " CC interjected, "Niles and I have seen all of Andrew Lloyd Webber's plays, and we even own a couple of the soundtracks. Of course, we would never tell Maxwell. If he ever found out… wow, would we never hear the end of it!" she laughed and Niles joined her, and soon the whole table was all smiles.
They were actually having a good time, learning about each other and just chatting in general. Soon, it was time to switch tables for the main course. The organizing committee had planned this part out very well, so it only took about 10minutes for the thirty-six couples on the train to get to their new seats.
Niles heard CC groan as they came up to table number 24.
"What's the matter, Love?"
"We're sitting with Lydia Hardcastle. She is such a nosy little… " Of course, when they sat down, CC put on her best social façade. "Why hello Lydia. How are you?"
"Fine dear. And how are YOU CC?" Niles could hear that CC wasn't the only one straining to be polite.
"Quite good actually. I'm enjoying the theme so far. We just had a great visit with Gladys and her husband John. Do you remember them? Gladys was on the yearbook committee and head of the school paper?"
"Oh yes. Little Bookworm. I remember she had those horrendous glasses, she always looked so mousy, and never had her shirt tucked in the right way. Of course, she never hung around with us, it would not have been proper back then…. Oh goodness, where are my manners, this is Beau Garrison, my fiancé."
Beau extended his hand to CC, who, after shaking it, introduced Niles "And this is my boyfriend, Niles Brightmore." The men shook hands, but Lydia had to make a comment.
"Boyfriend? Really CC, we aren't in high school." she sneered.
"You're right, Lydia, but it takes much too long to keep introducing him as "The love of my life and most amazing lover I've ever had", however for you, I'll make an exception".
A/N: Ok, the description of the train setting is straight from my life, as 2 weekends ago, my husband's youngest sister had this exact setting for her wedding reception. It was a very fascinating evening, though we didn't switch around. The LCD screens were over our heads, and she had set up a super slide show of her whole life so far with her husband. And we actually had that entree, it was yummy!
