Here we go again, in this never ending battle of wits with cannon!

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Kisses to everybody who is still interested in this project.

The marriage

Chapter 15: The different approaches

Niles was standing in the middle of the church, looking around and trying not to frown in front of the people who were already seated, waiting eagerly for the ceremony to begin.

He was, let's be clear, extremely happy. In a matter of moments, one of his dearest dreams would be coming true, and it made him feel especially confident in the power of Fate. It had, after all, created the perfect situation for two people from different worlds to meet and realize how perfectly suited they were for each other.

(Truth be told, Niles was feeling very close to the top of the world, once he knew how helpful he had been to Fate, in this case. He even adjusted his fancy suit in order to hide the beaming of pride he knew he had on his face just at the thought of his accomplishments).

Looking around again, the frown was quickly back.

He loved Maxwell and Fran dearly, and hoped they had all the happiness in the world. He had fought for this day to happen for too long, to not enjoy it, now.

However, there was no better word to describe what he was seeing in their wedding than overdone.

Surely, he had no qualms about being at the center of things. He was glad to have been promoted to Best Man after Nigel's revelation at Maxwell's bachelor party – he thought justice had been made, after all. No one had more rights to the position than him and he intended to honor the opportunity.

It was not ordinary day when Maxwell Sheffield permitted himself to publicly acknowledge the butler's role in his life, either.

Niles smiled, remembering the moment the producer made clear he was invited to his Bachelor Party – at the time, they didn't know how things would still change.

More than the invitation, CC's reactions on it were the most surprising thing, then.

They were in the office, Maxwell made the invitation and, before Niles could say anything, CC turned to him with wide eyes.

Realizing she was a bit anxious at what was exactly going on, he thanked his boss and excused himself from the office, gesturing to her that he would be just outside, waiting.

Niles heard her humming something, whistling (he loved the woman, but she could be such a bad actress, sometimes!), announcing she needed some tea and getting out of the office.

When she closed the door, she found Niles not even pretending he was dusting the old pictures on the corridor walls. He kept smirking at her, his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for what she had to say.

'Does a Bachelor Party mean drinking, smoking and pawing barely dressed hired women as if the world was going to end?', CC asked, crossing her arms over her chest, too.

Niles was now grinning, and he uncrossed his arms, trying to show her he had nothing to hide or be defensive about, 'If Nigel is into this, then probably', he shrugged, 'But you know I don't smoke and I haven't been drinking for a while'.

She kept looking at him, her head slightly tilted, as if she was not sure if he was serious or not.

When Niles grew serious and opened his mouth to clarify things, she talked, 'I can make it up for anything that could happen there'. She had a very distressed expression on her face, 'I understand if you really want to go, once it is… No, I'm not lying, I don't understand. I hate it. Sincerely, I can't imagine anything more degrading than a bunch of men…'

'I didn't plan on going', he interrupted her, giving two steps into her direction.

She blinked, surprised, and then let a slow smile lit her face, 'Really?'. When he just nodded in return, eyes locked with hers, she smirked, 'Well, I'll still try to make up'.

(What she really did. The woman could accomplish any task she had her mind set on!)

CC never asked, but Niles could have easily explained why he didn't really want to go to the Bachelor's party: it was the kind of celebration that put women in an objectified position and he had no interest in it, now that he had a whole relationship with her.

He was not against it, let's be clear. If he was still single, he would probably go and get loose; however, this marriage had fulfilled him in such a way he could not feel satisfied with any connection with a woman that was not similar to this one he had with his wife.

In fact, when you come to think about it, it was a bit scary to feel like this… The truth was that he couldn't bring himself to be interested in other women and, more than this, he couldn't imagine life without CC. The simple idea of losing someone so dear to him made his heart ache, and the level of co-dependence they had developed made him fear for their well-being, sometimes.

A bit disturbed by the thought, Niles breathed deeply, touched a flowery ornament with his fingers and focused his mind in another set of recent good memories.

Next day, Fran had told them the scandal of her getting out of the big cake, in Marilyn Monroe fashion, the exact moment Maxwell's younger brother mentioned their affair.

Niles made a pained face at the story. After all they had gone through, Nigel came out from nowhere and ruined everything!

CC turned to him and, seeing his expression, said, somewhat apologetically, 'Well, I couldn't have anticipated that'.

It took him some moments to understand that she had gotten his face as a signal he was disappointed for not being there for the show that Maxwell's reaction must have been.

It was very sweet of her to feel sorry when she thought she had denied him amusement.

He smiled as a fool at the realization, looking at her, and took her hand, shaking his head at her.

Somehow she understood that he didn't regret staying with her, squeezed his hand back and they had to make an effort to pay attention to the drama Fran was unfolding for them.

At the end, CC made a commentary over Maxwell's own affairs through the years, and that solved the situation.

One more point to that stunning witch…

Niles heard a commotion and his mind went back to the church. His sense that all of this was fancier than necessary was back full force, too, now that he had remembered his option of staying with his wife, while Maxwell agreed with a Bachelor Party and Fran provided one last crazy situation when they were still not married.

Obviously, those two were a couple of extremes: from their behavior in general to their behavior together, every single detail about Maxwell Sheffield and Fran Fine was opposite and dramatic.

Then, it was just fair they had a big and somewhat noisy wedding…

The commotion he had heard was Morty and Sylvia Fine guiding Yetta and Sammy to their appointed places in the church.

Niles smiled softly, realizing how emotional he felt about old couples, and how he would probably get misty eyed quickly if he stayed looking at them any further.

He greeted the family quickly, turned and started walking towards the altar.

He had made that same walking on a chapel, an ocean away from here, some months ago.

His parents insisted in driving them to the chapel. They were so ecstatic they wanted to pamper CC for having the wedding there.

When they reached the place, the Father came to meet them, as previous settled, opened the doors and showed the interior of the rocky building to them.

CC seemed enchanted, and made a lot of questions regarding the history, the statues and the meaning of minor details.

When the group reached the main door after a short trip, she confirmed her intention of having the wedding there. Niles' parents were almost jumping in joy, but they behaved – and went out with the Father, in order to clarify some details, giving some space to the younger couple.

Niles kissed CC lightly and walked to the altar to take a last look at his surroundings. He had come to that chapel a lot of times, when he was a child, and he could barely believe now he was back with the woman of his dreams. The fact he was already married to her made him even calmer about this ordeal, once he knew that the life he had was exactly what he wanted. This ceremony was just a kind of confirmation.

He turned to the main door to explain he was just reminiscing and to ask CC if she already wanted to go, and had to stop just to look at her.

She was still standing there, observing her surroundings with a peaceful and contented expression. Her hand was posed on an old wooden carving, and the way she seemed to be sensing the material with her skin made Niles smile.

He stayed observing her, enjoying the warm feeling she emanated, when she looked at him and chuckled.

'What?', he asked, confused.

'Is it a fantasy of yours?'

'Uhm?'

'You're behind the Lord's table… as if you were celebrating something. Do you want me to go there and pray for you?'

'Sorry… I think I don't follow. Do you mean as if I was a preacher?'

'Yeah… Like in Madonna's Like a prayer', she grinned and recited, 'I'm down on my knees/ I'm gonna take you there'.

Niles reddened instantly, 'Please, woman, have some respect!', he couldn't help but smile, 'Of course, if you think about it, I lived in celibate for years; I suppose it would not be such a far-fetched notion…', he shook his head, now grinning, 'Argh, stop the impure thoughts!'

CC laughed, happy he had not taken her joke to the heart. He was quite serious about this religious thing, and she feared he would not like her saying certain things inside a church. She was glad he enjoyed her joking style. It was not a lot of people that could get it, even less who liked it.

Well, that was the reason why they were together, after all – they really had no problems getting each others' meanings.

She felt a warm feeling take her as a whole when Niles walked absentmindedly around the table and came to stand in what she thought was the correct spot of the groom.

'Want me to come to you?', she asked him, interrupting his musings. 'No pun intended, now. I swear'.

Niles planned to make some witty remark, but he discovered he couldn't. He didn't plan to give her the idea, but seeing her thinking about their wedding made it too much close to the real thing.

When she sported that honest and open expression, he couldn't say a word. He just squared his shoulders and nodded at her.

CC walked graciously to him.

It was the perfect setting for evil and vampire zingers, but all Niles could think of was how amazing that woman was, her elegance very obvious while she showed how really at ease she felt.

In times like this he felt struck as the first time he realized he was in love with her – that night after the backer's party where he had seen her talking to Maxwell and Chandler. That night he was forced by the circumstances to face it, but the truth was that the feeling of irreversibility had assaulted him a lot of times, already. Niles had no idea anymore of how long it had been since he started paying attention to her and trying to make her reciprocate the interest.

She reached the altar, and he descended a step to take her hands in his.

He was still speechless, and she decided to ask what was in her mind, 'Can you feel it, too? That ours will be the most beautiful ceremony ever?'

He looked down shyly and cleared his throat, 'I'm glad you liked it here. I was afraid you would find it too plain'.

'What do you mean by 'plain'? It is not plain; it is beautiful in its simplicity and, at the same time, full of meaning in every detail… You know, Niles, I've learned that some amazing things are just reachable when we don't evaluate them based on stupid misconceptions'.

Now, in this enormous church in New York, Niles blushed slightly remembering how he had kissed her tenderly after that speech, how he had thought vaguely that a chaste kiss would be a better option when she deepened it, and the fact that they just came out of a rather heated clinch when three throats were cleared loudly at the main door.

Maxwell appeared at the other end, and smiled to the people. He was obviously happy.

Niles looked at his watch. It was almost time. He exchanged nods with his boss and walked to him, going to the correct position, besides Val, to make the rehearsed entrance.

He was a bit nervous about CC. She said she would come later, that she had no patience for Fines and Sheffields and that maybe, just maybe, she would consider not attending the ceremony at all.

He knew she was especially furious when Maxwell's young sister came to the mansion to tell she was divorcing Lester, her ex-chauffeur turned husband. CC thought it was very insensitive of her to say such things when there were two inter-class couples in the house.

Niles agreed with her, and that is why he didn't insist on her coming with him. Maybe it was for the better if she just arrived for the party. She had been heroic enough barking at the woman until she agreed on not getting near Fran…

The ceremony began: the Sheffield children entered, Niles and Val, and then Maxwell appeared and stayed there, basking in the attentions.

Niles couldn't feel happier for his friend, and he really seemed radiant, when seen from the altar. Even if the butler thought his own wedding would be more romantic, he wouldn't deny the peculiar beauty of this context.

It was not for him, but he could respect that.

Suddenly, CC appeared from nowhere, dressed in a white gown, took some flowers and put them on her head. Then, she hooked her arm around Maxwell's, grinning as a lunatic at him, and saying something that made the man jump in surprise and embarrassment.

Niles was by their side in a second, taking CC's arm and pulling her to him. The groom fled.

'What the hell do you think you're doing?!', Niles asked her between clenched teeth. He knew they were making a scene in the middle of the church, but he couldn't care less. They were going nowhere until she explained herself.

CC could barely suppress her laughter, 'Hey, Butler Boy, what would your mother say if she heard you saying these things inside a church?'

'What would she say if she saw you doing these things inside a church?!'

She rolled her eyes, 'I was just spoiling their moment a little bit, Niles'.

He relaxed his grip on her arm, 'What do you mean?'

'I never really forgave them for not choosing you as the Best Man since the beginning. I have the right to punish them! Is there any better way than pretending I was going delirious and trying to occupy Nanny Fine's place, as I would do in the older days?'

Niles breathed deeply and put a handover his chest, 'You almost gave me a heart attack, woman'.

She threw her arms loosely around his neck, 'Oh, stop that! It was worth it! Have you seen his face?'

Niles rolled his eyes and put his hands on her waist. Then, he looked around them and murmured to her, 'Have you seen her face?'

CC looked to what he was indicating and saw the murdering glare Sylvia was throwing her. The older woman seemed ready to say something very nasty when Yetta got up and yelled, 'I said we were late! It's over! Just go and get a room, you two!'

Maxwell face-palmed and a good part of the people inside the church started laughing. Niles blushed and CC gave him a peck on the lips, 'Sorry, lover. The opportunity was too good to miss. Now go there and show them who the best man around is'.

Niles grinned, led her gently to sit and returned to Maxwell's side, nodding to his boss and pretending nothing had happened.

When Fran entered, CC was the only one that didn't turn around to see her. She and Niles had locked stares and nothing could be more important than their own universe – an island of subtle understanding in that ocean of festive emotions.

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At the reception, Niles saw CC sitting alone when he was finished helping Fran to calm down some in-laws who were having an argument.

'Hey, Blondie', he greeted while sitting besides her. Even if she smiled at him, it was easy to see she was annoyed, 'Something troubling you?'

'Oh, Niles, you know, I'm not supposed to… I shouldn't feel like this… They are very sweet, aren't they?', both looked at where Fran was now trying to take her hand away from her mother, who wanted to rub her ring in the face of a big old lady, while Maxwell tried to help her, pulling her by the waist, 'I should be happy for them… but… They are so… so… No, I won't say or think things like this. I won't do it'.

He looked at her knowingly, 'How many times have you not done that tonight?'

'About eight', they snickered, and then she sobered, 'I wish I didn't feel like this. I mean, we had such a wonderful time, last weeks. I got closer to Nanny Fine… When we went shopping with her and you two sang Does your mother know? in the car, just to annoy me, I felt that we were really getting along! I mean, she sang and I found that funny, even if I could go deaf… I thought I had got over our differences, but I still feel annoyed by her lack of class… and by his silliness… ', CC frowned and looked at him, 'I am really a horrible person'.

Niles shook his head, 'Oh, Babs, you always underestimate yourself. You're witty, you're sophisticated, you're beautiful, you're sexy...', Niles took her hand, 'You have all the qualities that really matter'.

'You are not helping, here', she smiled, 'Confess: how many times have you done that tonight?'

'I don't know… About twelve?', he winked at her, 'I lost track of how many times I had to stop myself from grinning just at the thought of the two of us and how amazing our wedding will be. I understand how you feel, but I gave up pretending I feel bad about it. I'm proud of us – of our way of doing things, of our behaviour…'

'Really? Even if we are being a bit arrogant?'

'It's just between the two of us. We are not parading our feelings around, or being disrespectful to them… Even when you did that creepy routine in the church, I thought it was cute, because you were taking revenge for what we believe', they exchanged a smile over the joined hands, 'I loved you way before you gave any signal of being a warm person; now that you are showing this good side, too, I feel like I have gained a bonus'.

CC chuckled, 'Oh, Niles… You know what? I'm just so happy Maxwell is taken! He has so many emotional difficulties, and he has found someone who doesn't get what they are in time to really get bothered by them. It is perfect!'

'Now you're being mean…'

'Yeah, I know', she reclined into his direction, 'And I feel wonderful because I can be mean and you always understand me. You're the right guy for me in any aspect I can think of'.

'You can count on me, witch', he came closer and kissed her softly.

When they parted, CC had her eyes shining, 'Can you believe it will be us, in a couple of months?! I'm thrilled!'

Niles grinned, excited by her giddiness, 'Miss Babcock… Dance with me!'

She laughed and stood up, feeling the bolt of energy they had between them, 'With pleasure, Butler Boy!'

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Maxwell and Fran said their goodbyes and CC barely waited for them to disappear from view in order to warn Niles she needed to go home.

He noticed she was acting different since they went to the dance floor. In the beginning, they chatted and observed their surroundings, but even then she was quieter than normally. Niles respected her silences, and just enjoyed their closeness.

So, he was not exactly surprised when she demanded to go home. He asked for a minute, in order to make sure the children were really staying with Sylvia and Morty, and joined her out of the building to get a taxi to the mansion.

She still didn't get why they had to stay there while the masters of the house (Dear God, his way of talking was interfering in her thinking!) were not there, but Niles insisted he was still the butler and couldn't let his work be compromised.

(The argument that they could have the mansion all for themselves served her better, and then she agreed).

Niles had no idea of what was happening, but he thought CC could be tired, once they were having a good time dancing at the party, even with her growing more and more silent and looking at him with renewed attention.

Maybe she thought he was tired? She was being more attentive, lately, and he wouldn't find it all surprising if that was the reason.

But then they entered their bedroom and she started kissing him and grabbing him and saying how delicious he was in that tuxedo… and he realized she had plans for the night.

Niles let CC take the lead, curious and excited by her maneuvers, and she seemed to enjoy that: she motioned for him to help her with her dress, took all of her clothes, then helped him with his, took him by the hand and led him to the bathroom.

Silently, she showed she wanted them to shower together, washing the other slowly while more looking into each others' eyes intently than kissing.

With all the mystery involved, Niles couldn't prevent his hardness: that silence and the deliberate tenderness kept him not knowing exactly how she wanted to do things – and it was always a big turn on for him.

She turned off the water and took the towel to dry him off.

The suspense was making him tremble with desire, now. Each move she made surprised him at some level, and her silence made her eyes speak volumes at him.

Niles understood she wanted them free of anything even remotely related to the world outside: no more memories of that fancy wedding, of Sheffields and Fines and all their routines.

It was almost disturbing how they understood the other, and how much power she had over him, just by the care she had while silently touching him through the towel.

The way she looked at him was mysterious and very clear at the same time, and he was completely dominated by it.

After she was done with him, she dried her front while looking at him. He gulped, knowing how obvious his desire to touch her was, and understanding her stare meant he should stay just looking.

She put the towel on her back and signaled for him to do the rest for her.

He came closer to take the towel and, when he started moving it, CC helped him by coming so close to him their chests were touching.

Niles breathed deeply and kept bravely ignoring the way his erection was grazing the skin of her stomach.

He moved to look where he was rubbing the towel, just to have something to distract him, and CC started kissing his neck and jaw.

He let out a needy sound that seemed to get to her, because she gave a step behind and took the towel from his hands.

It was easy to see the blush on her cheeks, now. She was struggling for control, too.

She threw the towel away, took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

Arriving there, she let go of his hand and went to lie down on the center of the bed. She was on her back, her legs open, feet planted on the mattress and knees apart. Her eyes told him the Come here she was not saying.

Niles went to her, knelt between her legs and supported himself on his hands, at each side of her head.

He looked her in the eyes and waited.

She put her hands open on his chest, palming it, and moved her hips to signal for him to come to her.

'Like this?', he murmured.

'Yeah', she agreed, never breaking eye contact and letting her hands reach slowly his shoulders and then go down by the outstretched arms until they reached his hands, at each side of her head, 'I want to watch your face while you fuck me, tonight'.

Niles was speechless for a second, and then the eroticism of her asking caught him. He nodded, positioned himself and entered her, maintaining the eyes locked and starting the steady rhythm both loved when they wanted things to last, but were already at very advanced stages of arousal.

CC breathed deeply, savoring his scent, and let her hands roam back to his chest. She wanted to feel his movements under her fingers, as she was feeling his hips moving between her thighs. She loved the feeling of him moving to create their pleasure.

More than this, she loved how their eyes locked in a connection that was beyond anything she had ever felt before, while he went in and out of her, with no worries and no hurry. Just the intimacy and the loss of the track of time.

At some point her hands created a life of their own, went to his nape and pulled him down, so their foreheads touched, their noses touched, their lips touched, and Niles understood it was not just him that couldn't take it anymore, and the rhythm went faster, and next thing they knew both had closed their eyes and were yelling each other's names with a despair that reflected how much they craved to be close.

When it was over, she pulled him all over her and they exchanged soft kisses and murmured I love you's.

It felt like they were already in a kind of honeymoon, no matter what the social conventions said.

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Niles descended the back stairs, humming happily. Last night had been amazing in so many ways he couldn't quite wipe the silly grin from his face.

He and CC had a good time at the reception, but it was when they arrived at the mansion that things got even better – he felt on cloud nine just by remembering how together they got to be.

Until he looked at the empty kitchen, in the morning after.

Truth be told, he had been feeling strange since Maxwell and Fran finally got together – an eerie feeling, as if something could go wrong, exactly when everything seemed perfect.

He couldn't pinpoint where the feeling had come from when it first appeared, but now, seeing the empty kitchen and knowing people were not at home, he felt it again, and knew where he had felt it before: it was the days after Sarah accident, when Maxwell locked himself in his room, CC didn't come to work and the children were temporarily taken by their mother's parents.

Niles had never grieved so badly as in those mornings, when he tried to maintain routine and normalcy; he knew someone had to be strong and pretend everything would stay the same when Maxwell and CC went back to work and the children came back home. He tried his best, and considered himself lucky to have those horrible mornings all alone, so he could let despair take him and there was nobody around to see it.

He realized his fears were coming from the fact they had lived an enormous change when that tragedy happened, and he doesn't want things to change… Not after all they had conquered in the last year…

Niles made an effort to focus on how things were different, now: Maxwell was starting something new, there would not be car accidents and tragedies. It was like Fran fitted in their lives so perfectly that she had come to stay, and the déjà vu was just Niles' mind playing tricks on him.

Not mentioning he and his witch being so incredibly happy. It was impossible that things would fall apart… wasn't it?

He breathed deeply and supported himself on the counter. Life had changed for the better, and he couldn't let ghosts come into the way.

To his surprise, CC appeared in the back stairs and stopped in the middle of it to yawn very unladylike and to stretch lazily inside a too enormous and not intentionally Christmas themed red robe.

(At some point of the night he had seen her emerging from the bathroom in it and couldn't suppress the jibe, Santa? Is that you?, at what she grinned and came over him like a cartoon villain, Yes, it's me. And I have something for the good boy… Oh-oh-oh!)

Finished the display, she threw him a smile, 'Thank God you are here! You were taking so much time I thought you had lost your mind and went to the streets in that charming outfit'.

Niles smiled back. For some moments, he could just send his most sincere gratitude to whatever force had put that woman in his life and made her like him to the point where they could be together like this, teasing and understanding each other.

He cleared his throat to make sure she wouldn't notice how emotional he was this morning, and walked nonchalantly to stand at the sink, 'Sorry. I couldn't decide what to do to eat. I must have lost track of time'.

'I can't believe I married a man who can loose it so easily', she shook her head playfully and came to his arms, adjusting herself to him, her arms around his middle, her head on the crook of his neck.

Niles rested his hands on her back and closed his eyes. He loved to have her close to him, like this. It made him feel how well they fitted together, and how they completed the other. Especially after such a moment of remembering his solitary pain, he was glad just to hold her like this.

Surprised at his silence, she murmured, 'Are you all right? It is not like you to be all quiet after an event that was the coronation of your efforts'.

Niles sighed, 'I feel strange'. CC started going back to look at his face, but he hugged her tighter and talked softly into her ear, 'Please, stay with me'.

'Of course', she answered, kissing his neck delicately, and then relaxing and staying in his arms. 'But you should tell me what is putting your guts in a knot'.

He kept silent for some moments, enjoying their closeness and pondering if he wanted to share it. Then, he decided, 'I just remembered how the mansion was empty, exactly like this, when… Sarah had the accident'. He had to clear his throat again, 'It's silly, I know, but I just couldn't take it out of my mind when I came here'.

'Oh, baby', CC caressed his back soothingly, 'It's not silly. You had the brunt of it, when it happened, and you're afraid it will happen again. But it won't'.

'You don't really know it', he murmured, feeling stubborn and idiot by contradicting an optimistic CC.

'Oh, yes, I know', she assured him, 'Nanny Fine is crazy enough to find her way out of any situation. I'm sure she will manage to pester us for many years, being now your boss and the wife of my boss'. She noticed he had somewhat relaxed, and smiled, 'And you have me, now. I have witch powers and some wicked tricks…', she backed off enough to see his half-hearted smile and got serious, 'You will never have to face anything alone, again'.

'Promise me?', his voice came out in a whisper. He noticed she had become emotional too, and was fighting bravely to not show it.

'I promise you, love', she answered firmly and pressed against him, making his back touch the sink, 'You have nothing to worry about', her hands started opening his robe, 'I'm not going anywhere', she opened her own robe and joined their nude bodies, 'I wouldn't let this behind', her fingers were treading through his hair, and she felt his hands come inside her open robe, 'Too good to let go…'

Both quickly forgot any sad or strange feelings, and were consumed by each other. They kissed hungrily and rubbed together as if they had not done it in a while (as if!), and got lost in the moment.

CC was glad she had managed to change the subject. She was still uncomfortable when that time of their lives was discussed, because she felt that, in some sense, she should have done something to support the two men of the house emotionally, but couldn't bring herself to do it. She understood that fawning over Maxwell and demanding he worked was at least partially positive, but she regretted accepting Niles' angry remarks as the only way to reestablish their connection. They were negotiating something before the tragedy (Sarah often mocked them about their verbal abuse and was not very subtle about the kind of tension she thought was behind those), but something was definitively broken after that, and they had gone to a point where she was not answering him, and he would get more and more aggressive, trying desperately make her pay attention to him again.

Her consoling thought was that she had managed to get closer to him, eventually, and all is well when ends well.

Niles let go of his bad feelings and was overwhelmed by the happiness this woman had brought to his life. He couldn't think of anything else but how much he loved her and the things she had been doing for him. Now, for example, it didn't matter if she planned on it, but the admission of her desire to share everything with him and her way of making their naked bodies touch, with such trust and lust, made him forget completely whatever was worrying him before.

He could feel his heart soaring with affection and another part of his body making clear how much he needed to be with her, in her, and soon. Niles knew that what he felt for her was the most perfect thing he had ever experienced, and her tongue in his mouth and her hot hands on his shoulders, pulling him to her under the robe, made him sure she felt the same.

When she rubbed her breasts on his chest and put a leg between his, coming incredibly close to his body, he let out a whimper, what made her chuckle in the low tone of voice that made him crazy.

Always the tease, she bit the side of his neck and licked the pain away. He shuddered, opened his eyes and looked at her with that serious air of challenging.

Niles was ready to tease her and get the upper hand, but she never broke eye contact, palmed his ass and pulled him against her forcefully, and he let out a needy moan, 'Oh, Miss Babcock…'

CC turned serious and her eyes gained a darker shade of blue, 'Damn! I love it when you call me this!'

Lips met lips again, and her hands tugged at the edges at the sides of his robe, not quite decided between pushing it from his shoulders, to let it fall to the floor, and clenching her hands in it to guarantee she would be able to support herself on her trembling knees.

Sensing her indecision, Niles sneaked his arms around her waist and pushed her even more against him, enjoying the feeling of her hot skin. He too, couldn't decide if he wanted that red robe away or if he needed it in place to be able to not interrupt the foreplay to simply ravish her right there and…

Knock, knock, knock, 'Helloo-o!'

Both looked at the back door, eyes wide.

There, waving at them and smiling, was Sylvia Fine. Niles couldn't suppress an extremely pained face, 'Oh, God…'

CC turned back to look at him, 'What the hell is she doing here? Aren't the kids with her?'

Niles blinked some times, trying to clear his mind, 'I suppose that is why she wanted them to stay with her…'

'So she could come and have free meals?'

Niles just leaned his head in doubt.

Knock, knock, knock, 'Hello-o!'

CC bit her lower lip and looked around, while closing and tying Niles' robe, before stepping back from him. Confused, he asked, while tying her robe, 'Are you looking for something?'

'I'm just making sure there are no knives around. I don't deal well with frustration'.

Niles smiled, 'Let's make it quick'.

'Oh, Niles… I couldn't do it in front of her…'

He grinned, 'Stop that! You know I meant getting rid of her!', he pecked her lips and went to open the back door, frowning at the woman standing there. 'Sylvia, they're on their honeymoon, your daughter is not here, why are you?'

Fran's mother entered, still smiling, 'I smell bacon!'

'It must've been coming from next door…'

'Well, I don't know them', and she enters and goes directly to the table, 'Good morning, Miss Babcock'.

CC just grunted.

Niles went to the fridge and started talking, 'I don't know if I can do something proper for your breakfast, Sylvia'.

'Why? You came home early. You should be well rested. I wouldn't have come if I were to give you any extra work. I'm not this kind of person'.

CC grunted again.

Niles smiled and decided to tease his wife, 'Well, I didn't sleep well. I had the strangest nightmare that Santa Claus was trying to have his way with me'.

'Yuck', CC played along, feeling slightly better, 'You're not telling us, are you?'

He closed the fridge and turned to her. 'Maybe I should, so it would jog some memories'.

'Memories? You're implying it could have really happened?'

He gave her the once over, 'Well, I'm not sure. Say ho-ho-ho'.

Their chuckles were interrupted by the forgotten figure at the table, 'People should take care what you do in this house. It has a lot of glass. Things may be seen, and you both know how conservative my son-in-law is. How would he react if he imagined people clad as children characters running around the house and doing the nasty?'

CC was wide eyed, 'Maxwell can never know that this might possibly have happened'.

'It is not going on my resumé', Niles tried to act nonchalantly.

'I can't talk if my mouth is full', Sylvia reminded them.

CC looked at him pleadingly, and he nodded, 'All right, I'll make you pancakes'.

'Thank you', both blondes answered.

The phone rang, and CC took it.

Niles kept picking things to prepare breakfast, but then he saw the worried expression on CC's face, the way she quietly thanked the person she was talking to, and he stopped to listen to what she had to say.

'It was the Coast Guard', was all that took for the grip of fear take him again.

ncncncncnc

Niles was sitting by the sofa in the main room, looking at the worried little family.

He was impressed by CC's way of dealing with this situation.

She related the news to him and Sylvia the most delicate way possible and started giving orders to Fran's mother: she made the woman go to Queen's and bring the children home, so they could stay together and protected from the reporters.

When the woman was out, she turned to him and took him by the arms, 'How are you? You're pale! Are you with me?'

'I'm… in control', he looked her in the eyes to show he was all right.

'Good!', she took his hands, 'I'll call some people I know who can help in the search'.

He nodded, 'Do it. We must make sure to use the phones before people start calling'.

CC pecked his lips, squeezed his hands one last time and took her cell phone.

Things happened very quickly, after that: she called a lot of people, hired a bunch of helicopter pilots, gave them directions, called Sheffield/Babcock marketing people to make sure they were informed enough to talk to the reporters.

Niles went to the mansion line to order some take out, to make sure they had what to eat when the press was informed, and when he put down the receiver, it rang.

It seemed the Coast Guard was quick on passing news around, because it was the first reporter.

The phones didn't stop anymore, to the point they decided to call the Coast Guard and inform her cell phone as the reference number, so they could disconnect the line of the mansion. It gave them some peace when Sylvia was back with the children.

When the worried little group arrived, Niles and CC had already taken care of everything that was possible. They didn't have time to talk about their feelings on it, and Niles thought it was for the better. CC knew her energy and self confidence had put him in motion, and that was all they need to know at the moment.

Seeing Niles was not alone anymore, CC said she had to go to get information and would be back as soon as she could.

Their goodbyes were hurried, but they exchanged looks that made sure they would be all right.

She kept calling him and maintaining the family updated on the discoveries for the entire day, but nothing new was happening, and CC was growing more and more annoyed by what she called 'those slimes that call themselves life savers'.

At the middle of the afternoon, she called to say she was coming to the house to talk to them, because she 'had to do something'.

He could barely imagine what she meant by that, but he was relieved he was finally going to see her. He was trying to maintain himself occupied, consoling the children and cooking for a very distressed Sylvia, in order to not think of the current situation, but it was really hard.

When she finally arrived, everybody stood and she explained the Coast Guard was doing what they could, that her pilots were helping, but that it was a difficult operation. After some brainstorming, Sylvia mentioned how she could 'feel' Fran, and CC asked her to go with her in a helicopter.

Sylvia went to collect the things she may need, the children went to help her, and Niles seized the opportunity to finally get closer to his wife and speak his mind.

Before he could say anything, CC met him halfway, kissed him and spoke softly, 'Please, let me go. I must do this'.

Niles closed his eyes, obviously thorn by the possibilities. He opened them to see she was waiting for his answer. He sighed, 'Just promise me you'll take all the care you can and a bit more'.

'I promise'.

'All right. I'm sure if there is someone that can do it, it's you'.

CC grinned at him and gave two steps back at the sound of the arriving group, 'Don't worry, children, I'll bring your father back!'

'And my daughter!'

CC huffed, 'Yes, even if I'm sure someway this is all her fault…', she noticed the glare the woman was throwing her and made a pacifying gesture, 'Let's go, Sylvia. Let's bring our family home'.

It all happened two days ago, but he felt like it was a week.

The women were spending their days flying over the ocean, and spending their nights in a hotel near the coast. CC called him every lunch break and every night, but it was not enough – each time his phone rang, he feared it would be her voice with terrible news, or worse, the voice of a stranger telling him something horrible had happened to her, too…

If it was not enough he was worried about Fran and Maxwell, about the hearts of these children who have already lost a very important person while so young, he had to deal with his panic over the possibility of something happening to his witch.

Of course, she was doing the right thing, and he knew she was doing it because she cared, but the 'what if's' were killing him.

Niles got up from the sofa and tried to sound his dry old self, 'Do you want something to eat, children? With Sylvia out of the house, we have plenty of options'.

The three siblings managed to smile at him, and Maggie spoke for them, 'Thank you for the normalcy, Niles'.

He smiled back, 'You're welcome… but I'm serious. What will Fran say when she gets back and discovers I've been neglecting your meals?'

It was a rhetorical question, but Gracie jumped in, 'She will curse you based on an obscure or made-up Jewish tradition!'

'And Dad will probably get confused at this and confess something he didn't even know was a sin', Brighton added.

Niles opened his arms, 'Well, we can't take a risk, can we?'

The children got up and started for the kitchen, but Niles's phone rang.

He took it quickly. 'It's CC's number', he informed the children, who came back anxiously. He could barely hear himself over his pounding heart. 'Yes?'

'They're safe, Niles! We did it!'

He grinned madly at her voice, an sensed the fear and the tension disappear, 'Oh, thank God!', he turned to the children and made a thumbs up. While they cheered, he turned back to the phone and gave some steps to be apart from the commotion, 'You did it, love. Are you all well?'

She was silent for a moment, and he knew she was registering his compliment, 'Yes, we are. Don't worry. How are you?'

Niles needed some moments to be able to talk, now.

He didn't know what to say.

She was probably asking not just about the general feelings of the house and what they had done to survive the agony of the last days; she was asking about him, about how he was coping with the relief, after all of that.

Maybe he should answer he was all right and extremely grateful, but there was no way gratitude was enough to describe what he was feeling now. He had thought he would have to pass through all of that again, and he wouldn't… just because she was an effective part of his life, now…

She had made a difference to all of their lives, especially his, and she deserved to hear it.

But not now, miles apart, with his eyes full of tears and his throat constricted.

He said the only thing he found slightly fair to the situation, 'I love you'.

The smile and the tears were obvious in her voice, 'I'll be home as soon as I can'.

'I'll be waiting'.

'I know', she cleared her throat and changed gears, talking loudly, 'Hold the fort for a while, Niles. You have no idea what I'm going through with these three insane people around me, and Lord only knows we will have to help those children to put some wisdom in their heads'.

Some indignant Fine yells were heard in the background, CC gave her throaty laugh and murmured a quick 'Love you too' before hanging up.

Niles smiled as a fool and turned to see three young Sheffields hungry for details.

'She said they are unharmed and coming back home soon'.

More celebratory hugs were exchanged, and the group automatically started for the kitchen, as if eating something was mandatory, now.

The younger people just stood around while Niles chose what they were going to eat. He opened the fridge and resumed talking, 'She also said you have to be the ones to give them some advice, once they usually put themselves in this kind of messy situations'.

Brighton frowned, amused, 'Who would say Miss Babcock would turn to be so cool?'

Gracie shook her head at him patronizingly, 'We were all blind, but Niles always knew she was that cool'.

Maggie smiled at him, 'Is that true, Niles? You could see how she really was under that… ahn…'

'Cold witchy façade?', he completed for her, grinning, 'I sincerely don't know. I always knew she had something especial, but she keeps surprising me, in fact'. He closed the fridge and turned to them, 'Lasagna sounds good? I have some leftovers'.

'Quick! Warm it before Sylvia and Fran are home!', Gracie answered pretending panic.

Everybody laughed, because it was a relief to know they were really returning home.

And everybody loved and Gracie made her old 'The scream' act.

When Brighton and Maggie went to the dining room to start preparing the table for them (no sense doing something small when they would soon have two Fines around), Gracie turned to Niles, 'Have you noticed B said Miss Babcock was cool, and then you said she was cold, and neither of you meant it as a bad thing?'

The butler stopped his task and faced the teen girl, 'Now that you pointed it out… Yes, it is true'.

'It makes me think of icebergs'.

'I beg your pardon?'

'Icebergs are dangerous because they are mostly under water. If you misjudge them, you're at risk. Some people are like this: if you get to know them, you learn things about them and don't need to be afraid. You even learn to appreciate their peculiar beauty'.

Niles smiled, 'Why, thank you, Miss Gracie. I'll make sure CC knows you consider her a beautiful freezing magnificence'.

The girl smiled back, 'I should be the one to thank you, Niles, because I've grown in a house where people of very different natures are appreciated'.

He couldn't hide his shock when she exited the kitchen to help her siblings.

Babcock was right: the children were the ones with sense, in this house.