CHAPTER 27

Niles stormed into the kitchen and noisily rummaged through drawers and cabinets in the kitchen and pantry gathering equipment and ingredients to prepare the soup on his recipe. He snatched a few vegetables from the fridge and banged a pot onto the stove.

The water began to boil just as his temper did. There is nothingwrong with this recipe! He told himself. She loves my soup! It's the best she's tasted! It's better than any she'll ever have because this soup is the only soup that'll ever be good to her - good for her!

He stopped suddenly, his heart still pounding, half in anger at Damon and CC, half in surprise at himself.

Then he dropped the wooden spoon that had been gripped tightly in his hand as he heard her sneeze behind him.

He quickly picked it up as she moaned about how lousy she was feeling.

"Mmm, you're making soup for dinner?" She asked, smiling.

"Um, yeah. Would you like to take some home later for tonight?" He asked.

"Oh, no. Damon is taking me to an exclusive benefit and I'll need to go with an empty stomach if I want to enjoy the spicy Indonesian delicacies they'll be serving," she lied and moved to peer inside the pot.

"Spicy delicacies? Are you sure that's wise when you're feeling sick? Well, I suppose you've probably put your body into much worse situations... Or rather, much worse has been put into your body." He joked a bit harshly and then regretted it.

Luckily for him, she decided to ignore it and tried to smell the soup with her half blocked sinuses.

"Just have some," He relented, knowing she wasn't going to any benefit. She looked at him.

"... Is it ready?" She asked finally.

"Just a while longer."

She sat at the kitchen table. "Ugh, I'm going to sneeze!" She said as her face began to scrunch up. He quickly handed his handkerchief to her. She grabbed it and sneezed.

"Ah. Now my germs are all over your hanky," she said and rubbed her eye with her fingers.

"If I were worried about all the germs you carry, I wouldn't have let Mr. Sheffield bring you home from the pound all those years ago." He teased and was happy when a soft giggle came out as she hummed her 'distaste'.

He continued stirring and things grew quiet. When the soup was just about ready, he reached for a bowl from the cupboard and ladled some of the soup into it. He took extra care to fish for some of the meatier chicken and vegetable pieces to give her serving some more substance.

"Ding, ding! Order up!" He said joyfully as he turned to face her. She jolted, lifting her head from her arms as she had fallen asleep. He placed it in front of her along with a spoon, napkin, buttered bread, a glass of water and a pill.

He collected the same for himself and sat down to eat with her. She purred her approval as she ate. "Love this recipe," she muttered. "I wish I had you in my kitchen every day."

They looked up at each other, both remembering the dirty talk scene they had created in which they were in the kitchen of CC's apartment.

CC jumped to correct herself. "You know what I mean." She waved a hand in the air.

He smiled.

"What do you eat all day when you're not here? I mean besides gnawing on the carcasses of the ex-dates you have locked up at your place."

"Oh, whatever, buster. I can cook, you know! I can do things by myself! I'm an independent woman after all."

"You can cook?" He scoffed. "If I recall, Mr. Sheffield fell ill around the same time you decided to take cooking classes."

She glared at him. "Well some men can't handle what I have to offer."

"Some? I think you mean all." He ridiculed.

"Yeah, yeah. Including you. That's why I live alone."

"Hmm yeah, that's why." He scoffed, highly doubtful. "You can't do everything alone for the rest of your life."

"Says who? I had this very same discussion when I went out with Nanny Fine and that dimwitted blonde sidekick of hers. There are very few things you need a man for and that's the truth."

"And yet you would be the first to run out the door the minute another chancer shows up here."

"Huh?" She asked.

"Chandler."

"Oh, him. Yes, well, look how great that turned out." She pursed he lips.

"I was surprised he didn't last. He didn't seem to be afraid of you like all the other helpless creatures."

She laughed. "Well, like you said... He was beneath me."

They looked at each other and spat out at the same time, "Not anymore!". They burst into fits of laughter at the memory and then both quickly tried to stifle their shared enjoyment, feeling strange that they were on the same side of the fence together.

"Oooh, Miss Babcock. When the time is right, a handsome prince will ride up on his noble, white stead and slay you to get to his princess. You'll be out of your misery in no time, you'll see!"

She slapped his shoulder.

"So it won't be you that'll be the death of me? Because you're definitely no Prince Charming." She teased.

He laughed and shook his head. "Touché."

"Anyway," he said as he rose to clear their dishes, "If you do decide to hire someone to cook your meals, I'm available at a price. I need some extra income to pay for all the weaponry I use against you. It would be a thrill to know that you're paying for your own demise." He winked and grinned.

"Funny. Don't be too surprised if I do take on your services. And I'd make sure you work for your pay, slacker. I'm no ignorant Sheffield!"

"And let's hope you never will be." He chuckled.

"She shook her head and huffed. I'm going back to the office now." She informed him.

"And?"

And... Why am I telling him? Just walk out, CC.

"Just letting you know I'm still going to be here for a while so don't assume nobody is here to walk in on one of your Old Time Rock 'n Roll routines." She smirked.

He narrowed his eyes at her as she left the room.