Hi, friends. New chapter! Thanks to all of you that are with me!

I want to point out that Seirina's amazing story, Bathing Miss Babcock, made me very excited about the ideas that dealing with canon facts can arise. I mean, CC really could have 'known' the sweet touch of her beautiful Niles at some point...

So, here I am, back to the battle of mixing the series scenes with my own fantasy world!

The marriage

Chapter 16: A Matter of Reciprocity

The Sheffield children were at the kitchen, doing homework and chatting, while Niles was occupied between the oven and the sink, baking, cleaning and organizing what seemed to be a lot of things at the same time.

When they least expected, he produced dishes with slices of an amazing smelling chocolate cake, and gave it to them while throwing one more of his trademark sarcastic comments.

The general tone of the scene was of warmth, because sarcasm from Niles was a worldly known form of affection that Maggie, Brighton and Gracie were used to recognize. They even cherished it now that they were old enough to get it.

The fact he would throw dry remarks and chocolate cake in the same gesture made them understand a bit better the probable dynamics of his way to relate to his wife, too. They stopped finding it confusing and started finding it endearing.

In fact, the three siblings had been going to his place of the house more often, lately, and they had at least two very simple reasons.

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The first one was that, after Niles and CC marriage, the kitchen was less of a zone of war and more of an amusement park – before, people never knew when those two were fighting; now, they knew they were never fighting, even when they obviously were.

For example, just the other day the children were there, munching on cookies with milk that Niles had served. As always, the butler kept walking from one side to the other; however, that afternoon he was often looking at his watch, too.

At some point he paused, mused over something and, taking a decision, went out through the lateral door.

CC entered the kitchen by the swinging door as soon as he disappeared, announcing herself in a joyful tone that people had grew used to associate with her, 'I'm reeeaaady…'. She paused, frowned in confusion and then looked at the table, 'Hi, brats. Where is Hazel?'

Before anyone could answer, Niles reappeared through the side door and smiled once he saw her, 'Oh, witch, here you are'.

She turned to him, annoyed, 'Of course I'm here! We were supposed to meet here! Where were you?'

He frowned at her, 'I went out for a second to…'

She interrupted, arms crossed, 'Are you chickening out? Because, if you are, just tell me and I'll go alone…'

'Me, chickening out?! Are you crazy?! Oh, that was a stupid question…'

She snarled, 'Yes, I got the animal wrong. For a second I forgot that you are the swine in this relationship'.

He came to stand in front of her, opened his mouth, closed it again, visibly changed gears and talked with certainty, 'Well, I could easily be a Sphinx, and mix various animals at once, just to reach your standards. You just have to say the word, mistress, and I'll be ready to make you happy'.

CC licked her lips to gain time and control her grin. He could disarm her easily with comments like that, even if he was pointing out how irrational and unfair her fury was. Well, maybe because he was lucid and brave enough to point things out for her. 'You'll make me happy going to…', she looked at the kids and dropped her voice, '… that shop with me'.

Niles shook his head, and moved to take the keys, 'I never said I wasn't going. If you were not such a furious hag, we could be on our way, right now'.

She crossed her arms, observing him, 'If you were here at the appointed time, I wouldn't need to be furious'.

He went to her, put his hand on her hip and winked at her, 'But always a hag, aren't you?'

Now she let the grin out, 'What can I say? You know me so well…'

They kissed softly (finally greeting properly), Niles put his hand on the small of her back and started leading her to the swinging door, 'We'll be back soon, children'.

The siblings, who were in awe by the way the starting argument had quickly turned into an affectionate moment, nodded and said agreement words, looking at the couple with attention.

CC had stopped at the door, turned and was observing the scene. For a moment, by the way that Niles had spoke, it felt like those children were theirs.

She wondered how it would be if they were.

Would she and Niles act like this, freely, in front of them? Would they have personal time, as a couple, letting their clever children taking care of themselves for a while?

Would their children look at them with respect and warmth, like these ones were doing now?

She felt, not for the first time, but the deeper she had ever felt, that it was a pity they could not have children. CC was sure they would be good parents.

She noticed Niles looking curiously at her and decided she had to pretend there was a suitable reason for her to look disturbed, 'I already told your father…', she stopped, because again that could be the beginning of a typical phrase, if the children were theirs, 'I already told Maxwell that we had something important to do this afternoon. If he forgets you tell him… that I… well…had to go to the…'

'Drugstore?', Niles suggested.

'Yes…', CC agreed, 'I needed… What did I need there?'

'Something related to fleas?', he suggested again, grinning.

'No! This is gross!', she retorted. 'Maybe drugstore is not a good idea'.

'Always resisting to modern Medicine, aren't you, witch?'

CC was going to answer, but Margareth said, 'We can say you went to the grocery with Niles because you needed Sprinkles and didn't know how to locate them by yourself'.

'Or that you went to a musical shop to buy a DVD of Phantom and use it in an evil ritual against Andrew Lloyd Webber', Brighton said, 'Niles went with you because you had to buy a new caldron, too'.

'Or that you went to the museum to see some relatives', Gracie said, 'History or Natural. And Niles went with you because he said they sometimes wouldn't let you get out'.

CC looked at them, frozen, for some moments, then smiled sweetly, 'Pick what you think it's funnier', she looked at Niles, in awe, 'I loved them all!'

The butler noticed his wife was getting an enormous soft spot for those three brats. 'Me too. Aren't they amazing?', he smiled at the Sheffields, turned to her and tugged at her hand gently, 'Come on, Babs. Those children are really smart. They will cover for us adequately, and they will tell us how good it was when we're back'.

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The second reason for their presence in the kitchen was that, since Fran had gotten obsessed about getting pregnant, the three children found it comfortable to have different motherly and fatherly figures to be around until things went back to normal.

It came as a certain surprise that they would consider Niles and CC like this, in the beginning, but soon it was clear to them that those two had some things their parents lacked. Maggie was initially confused, Brighton a bit disturbed, but then Gracie was positive that it was healthy to see the interaction of such a peculiar couple, and the other two relented and started really enjoying it.

The butler had always been a positive influence, in fact, once he was a lot more sensitive to personal questions than their own father, and was witty enough to point out his opinions in such a way that bordered disrespect but was incredibly enlightening for everybody.

When he said things such as, Master Brighton, I am not amenable to the way you are using that sandwich to mark a route around the house, the boy knew he should pay attention to the man who took care of the place he lived in. And not just because he was able to break something to make his point, but because listening to the specialists is a lesson to be remembered through life.

CC Babcock was another story. She had, for years, been scary and strange around them, but had turned into an openly caring person, after marrying Niles. One of the most amazing things about her now was the fact she was not shy when personal things were at stake: when she couldn't get something that was going on, she simply asked, not minding if it made her seem inexperienced or naïve (what she generally was not). Her lack of prevention got her really close to the Sheffield children, who felt it very stimulating to discuss things in front of her.

Sometimes, she would stay looking at them discussing a subject such as Maggie's dates, and then she would suddenly chime in, But, if the boy hesitated in going out with you, what are you waiting to crush him?, and it was surprisingly clarifying, because Maggie had to analyze her own feelings to answer that.

(Gracie simply loved to interact with Niles and CC, since forever. She adored her parents, but those two made her mind reel in positive psychoanalytic ways).

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Of course, sometimes even the Sheffield children were not able to keep watching the interactions.

That afternoon, for example, when Niles stopped moving around in his multiple chores and started cleaning the island where the chocolate cake was, CC entered and greeted him with a hint of seduction in her voice, 'Hyia, baby'.

He opened a bright smile (he was surprised by her presence, but he always found it adorable when she acted charming like this) and came closer to her, a piece of cake quick on a plate, 'Hi, dumpling'.

She looked at the piece of the chocolate covered cake, at him, at the children (who were pretending they were not listening, as they usually did when the couple seemed to be too engrossed in each other), and smirked.

Niles tensed and got prepared. He already knew when she was up to something that would probably affect his work and he was prepared to answer in such a way to not let her down but to do some damage control.

CC drew her finger on the chocolate cover and put it in her mouth. 'Uhmmm… It's delicious, Niles'.

Now he was wary and starting to get aroused, but managed to answer with a somewhat professional smile, 'Why, thank you. I thought you would like it'.

'You know I love the way you deal with chocolate covered things'.

Oh, there she goes, 'I'm good at dealing with a lot of things, Miss Babcock', he said, put the plate on the island, near her, and stood waiting for what she would do, looking attentively at her.

'Aren't you?', she sustained his stare, licked her finger one more time and asked, 'And I keep thinking… How is it you are always smelling this good, with all the cooking you do? Aren't you supposed to reek of onions and sour eggs?'

He smirked, leaned into her direction and said as if it was the sexiest of the answers, 'It's the power of Lemon Bowl Fresh'.

She leered at him as if she really found the answer provocative, reaching out with her hand, 'I think I've grown attached to the smell…'

'Well, I…', he tried to keep the conversation going while observing her approaching hand, but she came to take his hand, and he couldn't concentrate anymore.

Niles was disturbed by all the finger licking she was doing before, when she was doing it to her own finger; however, now she finished talking with a warm stare, took his hand, and was using his finger to take some of the chocolate cover.

And then she took his finger to her mouth to lick it and made it deliberately sensual.

Niles shivered uncontrollably and whispered, 'Please, would you stop it?'

She just chuckled. She knew exactly how sensitive his hands were, and the effect her hot mouth around any part of his body had on his very imaginative mind.

Her present goal, disturbing him in public, was perfectly accomplished.

The children looked at one another, not knowing if it was already time to get out. Maybe Niles' whisper was their cue to abandon the kitchen before things got too intimate. They usually knew when to go, but it was knowledge in process.

The butler sighed, resigned to take part in her scheme, once she seemed to be very proud of herself.

Well, if she wanted mischief, he could do it, too.

Niles took his hand from hers slowly, turned partially on his heels and licked his own finger, maintaining his eyes on hers.

It was her time to look at him as if he was something she really wanted.

Niles hid his smirk turning completely and cleaning his hand with a hank discretely. He circled the island by the other side from the table, took a fork, cut a small piece of cake and put it on his mouth. 'I'm glad you came, once I did this cake thinking of you, and was anxious to know your opinion on it'.

CC deduced he was retreating, once he was changing the subject. She had learned to accept when he did it, especially because he just did it when things were too much for him. Satisfied for the time being, she closed her eyes, stretched lazily and relaxed against the island, giving up her schemes for a while, 'You know I always like your cooking'.

His voice sounded sweetly from the back of the island, 'But maybe you wouldn't be able to try it, once we have so many Fines running around – and I'm including the adopted ones'.

The children snickered at that, forgetting for a while they were pretending they were not listening.

CC opened her eyes and was going to comment, but his hands touched the sides of her neck delicately, to not startle her. She couldn't bring herself to talk. She loved the way he could deal with the tension in her neck – she had made a lot of kneading jokes already, making clear to him how great she felt at being touched like that.

Niles' voice sounded now from right behind her, really close to her ear 'You're not wearing those extra shoulder pads, are you?'

CC smiled, finding funny how his accent sounded while he had his mouth half full, 'I'm wearing none', she whispered, provoking him.

'Better', he praised, his fingers making a bit more of pressure, as he knew she really loved.

CC couldn't believe he was caressing her that way in the middle of the kitchen. When she felt the soft kiss he planted on her nape soon after he stopped talking, she was convinced she should never believe when Niles retreated quickly.

The man could surprise her: he usually was the one worried about being caught, but now he decided to be daring, and she had no willpower to stop him.

Those talented fingers were working their magic on her muscles, and she felt like opening some buttons of her shirt to help him to reach more skin.

It was an amazing sensation by itself, but it didn't help that she had interesting memories of some situations that had started with this massage.

Unable to stop herself, CC closed her eyes again, gave a very satisfied moan and started leaning on Niles, wanting to feel the heat of his chest against her back.

When she reached him they sighed at the shared heat, she turned her head to the side and he moved. Their stares locked, and their lips were almost touching…

…when a hurried voice and the sound of chairs scrapping the floor were heard, and they stopped to look at the table, surprised that there was someone there.

'Oh, ok, ok, you win! We're out!', Brighton said, while getting up and being followed by his sisters. The girls were laughing their heads off at his embarrassment.

Once they disappeared, CC shook her head, 'It's so easy to mess with his head… He really takes after Maxwell…'

Niles took her hips with his hands, 'You know you are messing with my head, too, don't you?'

She smiled at him, feeling his physical reaction to her presence against her backside, 'We all have to accept war causalities, love'.

The almost kiss was still hovering between them, so he smiled back and leaned to let their lips meet.

They were lost in it for some time, marveling in the contact, especially the different angle they were using: once he was 'above' her, he set the pace to slow, pressed his lips to hers, nipped at her bottom lip delicately, let her feel his tongue lightly and refused to deepen the kiss – what made her whimper.

Not being one to accept rules, CC set to her own teasing, and started to flicker her tongue on his lips, too, giving him a taste of her and showing how willing and ready she was.

Her strategy worked: every time he advanced a bit, she was there, ready to take him. Soon he was not able to resist anymore, and he opened his mouth and gave her the wet and intimate French kiss she was demanding.

The chemistry between them exploded in moments like this, when they were pressed against each other, comfortable to taste whatever feeling their closeness stirred.

When they parted, he rested his forehead on the side of her head and united his hands in the front of her waist, sighing, 'I really can't have a break. Shouldn't you be at the theater, witch, and not here disturbing my work time?'

She snuggled against him, 'Yes, but Maxwell was being obnoxious. I made a scene and said it was enough, that I was not there to be treated like that, took my purse and came home'.

He parted a bit to look at her with raised brows.

She shrugged her shoulders, 'Oh, well, I really made a scene and announced I was coming to the mansion. I thought it was better to be here with you, once Nanny Fine kept calling and interrupting all the time and there was no way we could get any work done. The fact he came with me may be related to that or to her last phone call. Who knows?'

He nodded and rested his chin on her shoulder, their ears touching, 'She is really obsessed'.

CC rubbed her ear lightly against his, knowing he liked every touch she provided for them, 'Can you believe it? She is married to the guy she wanted, and she can't get satisfied… I just can't understand that moron', her hands went over his to cover them. She had learned with him to like the small touches, too.

Niles felt a wave of tenderness for her, because she was saying she thought a woman who was married to the man she wanted was naturally satisfied – what seemed to be her case. He brought her even closer to him, 'I think she always dreamed of having a complete family'.

CC tensed and tried to get away from him, 'What do you mean? That ours is not complete?!'

He prevented her from escaping by holding her more firmly, 'Whoa, Babcock! Where do you think you're going?!'

'I'm getting away from the man who agrees with the floozy!'

He let her loose enough to make her turn to him, and hold her again, pressing her against his body and looking into her eyes sternly, 'We are complete because we satisfy each other, and we don't care what the traditional models are. However, what society dictates is that a traditional family is not complete without children. That's what I meant'.

'Uhum', she said, looking him in the eye and seeing he was sincere. Even if both of them knew they would be happy to have children, it was clear without saying that they were happy without them, two.

It was wise to change the subject to something lighter, especially because he was kind of manhandling her, and it was a great turn on; so, she licked her lips, 'Well, my business partner is upstairs with his traditional wife and I am not in the mood for working alone', she put her hands on his chest and purred, 'Any suggestions?'

Niles accepted the change of course in the conversation, once it usually meant she agreed with him but was not ready to admit it. He relaxed and pecked her lips, holding her close again, 'I wish I could keep you company, but I must get out of the house in half an hour'.

She enjoyed the closeness, freeing her arms and messing his hair with her fingers, 'Where are you going? To the grocery? I could go with you. There's no way I'll have any work done with that crazy woman around the office all the time, and then we could be alone for a while and choose some things for us… I would enjoy doing something like this, to compensate such a stressful day…'

'It would be great, baby. However, we can go to the grocery just later. Maybe I could come over to get you when I'm back from my appointment. You could wait in the mansion until I…'

She was quick to back away and frown at him, 'Appointment? What kind of? And why I am not invited?'

He was hesitant, 'Well… I…'

'Is it with someone from my family? Is DD pestering you again with the German surgeon?'

'No! And how did you know about that?!'

'Noel told me', she wavered nonchalantly, 'We have a deal to always tell the other about DD's things against one of us, so we can be prepared'.

'Oh', Niles pondered over it for a moment, deciding he was glad she already knew about it. 'No, it's not your sister, nor anyone from your family'.

'Then who is it?', she frowned deeply, 'Is it a lawyer?'

He was surprised, 'Why would I want a lawyer for?'

'How would I know?! It is you with the mysterious outings!', she pursed her lips at him, thinking, and then groaned, 'You want to get a divorce, don't you?'

Niles got closer again, put his hands on her hips and looked at her with curiosity. 'Do I seem like a man who is unhappy and wanting to get away from you?'

She seemed a bit less tense, but was not ready to give up totally the theory, 'Maybe you're pretending there is nothing happening, so you can sue me after going away, thinking I won't be able to chase and murder you'.

Niles grinned as a fool, his hands going to her upper arms to caress her, 'You would chase me if I run away?'

'Have you heard the part when I mentioned I would murder you, too?'

'Yes, I heard you trying to say you couldn't accept life without the two of us together', he answered and pulled her to his arms again – he needed to hug her tightly, because he adored when she said her kind of affectionate words.

His feelings soon made him kiss her neck. It was like he couldn't resist her, especially when she said those 'romantic' things without even noticing. It made him want to taste all of her.

'Oh, well, people hear what they want to hear', she tried to sound nonchalant, but sighed and tipped her head to give him more access to her neck, 'I really like the notion of hunting you like… Hey!'

Niles was surprised at being pushed away, 'What happened?'

'You have another woman!'

He stomped his foot at that, 'Dear God, CC! I don't know if I feel offended, because you don't trust me, or flattered, because you think I can perform like that with you and still have another woman!'

She crossed her arms, amused by his reaction, 'Someone is very cocky…'

'You're the one saying it'.

'Niles…', she warned.

'Seriously…', he pleaded, 'Can you even imagine something like that? I mean, even if we didn't get along as well as we do – and we do! –, we have sex quite often... Do you really see me as some stud that can do it so many times?'

She found his distressed face endearing and went to his arms again, to caress his cheek, 'Oh, Niles! You know the important thing is not the frequency, but the intensity…'

He pouted just for effect, 'Try to remember this next time you come all three-nights-in-a-row-and-the afternoons-in-between over me'.

She smiled, 'See who talks, Mister It's-weekend-who-cares-about-the-time-let's-do-it- again'.

'Are you complaining?'

'Not in a million years, baby', she pecked his lips, 'Just if you were. Were you?'

He chuckled, 'No, I was not. Never'.

A new round of kisses kept them distracted, until CC managed to say, 'You still have to tell me…'

'What?'

'What you were going to tell…'

'I don't remember anything'.

'There was a question…'

'Really?'

'Yes, there was… It was about the appointment'.

'Oh, I see. Maybe I won't tell'.

'I'll make you'.

'Keep trying'.

She knew he was joking and distracting her, so CC decided to use heavy artillery. She slowly transformed their heated kisses in tender ones, finished giving him some soft pecks on the lips and went away enough to look him deep in the eyes and ask, her eyes showing open concern and her mouth forming a pout, 'You know I worry about you… Won't you just tell me where you are going?'

He knew she was using her charms on him, but he couldn't resist anyway, so he sighed and started answering, his hands tidying up her shirt and his eyes not quite on her face, 'I am going to see a doctor'.

'Why?!', she asked, now plain panic on her face, 'Are you feeling something?! Why haven't you told me before?!'

'No, no, calm down. I felt like doing a check-up, contacted the medical center and they just called earlier confirming my appointment for this afternoon'.

'But… a check-up? Just like this? For no reason? What kind of person does a check-up when there is nothing wrong?!'

'A person that knows how older than his partner he is and wants to be sure everything will be all right when he finally gets to accomplish his dream of marrying her in a beautiful ceremony'.

'Oh, again this thing about you being older. We have already talked about that'.

'Yes, and you reassured me you don't mind – all right, you reassured me you prefer a wise and experienced man like me, stop smirking – but this is not about preferences. You may adore antiques, but they are fragile things all the same, and all your feelings will not make them unbreakable'.

CC was serious again and put her right hand on his chest, over his heart, 'Are you afraid you have something?'

'No, love. It is not about being afraid. It is about prevention. I don't want anything to happen to me, now that we are together'.

She tilted her head, her eyes fixed in her hand, as if imagining how it would be if he was sick. 'I feel strange thinking about it'.

He kept looking at her face, seeing her distress, and spoke softly, 'You have seen me ill, and even if it was just the flu and you were wonderful, I think it is my obligation to see to my own health'.

She was still resisting to the explanation, 'If there is nothing, why weren't you telling me?'

'I had not decided yet when I was going to tell you. You were supposed to be at the theater, remember? I was pondering about what good it would do to call you to say I was going to the doctors. I didn't want you to think it was something important'.

'But it is. I mean, you want to make sure you are all right… It is important'.

'Yes, but there is nothing you can do about it… Oh, this sounded bad'.

She leaned her head, agreeing with him.

'I meant it would be better if I told when I was back, and it was all over… Oh, this still sounds bad…'

'I got it, don't worry', she affirmed and breathed deeply, 'I just need some time to deal with it. The idea of you being horribly sick is…'

She didn't find the words, and he moved his head to make her look at his face, 'I'm not horribly sick. I just want to make sure I don't have one of these silent things, as a heart condition, and that I can start a safe exercising routine'.

'Oh', she blinked at the idea, 'Really? You want to hit the gym?'

He shrugged, 'I think I should. As much as I do physical activity every day, I think it's time for some specific things', he smiled at her, 'Can't you see the advantages of me seeing a doctor? You get a certificated healthy husband and a soon-to-be sweaty sexy muscular husband'.

She smiled back, even if she was still a bit shaken, 'All right, hunk, I'm convinced. Just promise you will tell me about all the exams you'll make and show me all the results'.

'I told you, there is nothing to be afraid of…'

'It is not about being afraid, love', she imitated him, 'It is about curiosity'.

He opened his mouth and closed it again. Pointless discussing.

She looked at him winningly, 'And I'll be waiting here for the grocery trip. If I kill someone in the meantime, I'll blame it all on you'.

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Fran entered the living room and wandered about, pacing as if there was something very important happening and she was not sure she was ready to tell, and at the same time exploding to tell.

'Care to chat, Mrs Sheffield?', Niles never stopped dusting.

'Oy, Niles, I don't know what to do!', she went to him and clang to his arm.

'What is happening?'

'Let's go to the kitchen. Max can walk on us anytime'.

He obeyed, but had to add a dry comment, 'As kinky as it sounds, I hope you have not made something that would put any of us in trouble'.

They entered the kitchen, she went to the table and he started preparing tea. 'No, I just need help to reach a decision'.

Niles came to sit by her side while they waited for the water, 'Dish, girlfriend'.

'Tell me, Niles… You usually know when your wife is… in that time of the month?'

He grinned at a shared joke of them, 'You mean when the credit cards send the bills?'

She grinned back at the reference and waved her hand, 'No, sweetie. Miss Babcock is rich, and she probably doesn't care about this. I mean the other one'.

'In fact, I have no idea', he made a face at her when she looked at him as if shocked, 'What?'

'It's the first time you say you don't pay attention to something related to her'.

'Oh, it's not that I don't pay attention… It's that…'

Niles was not sure how to proceed. The fact was CC had no regular menstrual cycle. Sometimes (three or four days in a two or three-month period, usually) she would have a slight headache and discomfort, followed by short fits of irrational fury and little patience for the world, and would inform him she was not 'accessible'. That was enough information for him: he knew she was PMSing, soon would be in her period, and he had to stay around but cautiously out of what he called, to her amusement, her 'magical circle'.

The fact it was not regular meant neither of them knew when she would be at her hormonal peak, or when a sudden rage was more than day-to-day business. He had learned to accept that, with her, things were always adventurous, and it didn't bother him. If fact, it added more thrilling to their partnership, once he had to be always attentive – sometimes, he would detect what was happening even before her.

Even if Niles was sure they had the subject very well settled between them, he was not sure CC would be comfortable if he shared this kind of personal information with Fran. His wife could be very sensitive when her female traits were at stake.

(He often regretted his jokes about her not being a woman, now that he knew what she had to go through when she discovered she had not normally functional female inner things).

The butler looked away from Fran, 'The truth is we decided not to pay attention to this'.

'How so?'

Now he looked at her sternly, 'It's personal, Mrs Sheffield. May we talk about your problem?'

Fran accepted defeat. She had something a lot more pressing in her mind.

She told him she was pregnant, they hugged and cheered, and then she said that he must keep it a secret, once she was not sure how Maxwell would take the news.

Niles didn't know what to say or think. Of course, as obsessed as Fran was, it was a question of time for this to happen, but he still was a bit shocked: it was a lot of information, her getting pregnant and not telling the father, and telling him, and asking for secrecy…

When Maxwell called her and Fran exited, yelling, his mind was still reeling, and CC entered the kitchen, annoyed, 'Oh, please, look at her, yelling around the house. This way she can't keep any secret, even less a big one as this'.

Niles gulped and looked at her, surprised. He didn't have the time to think about it, and was confused by the possibility of her being into it, 'Do you know the secret?'

'Yes, of course. It's no big deal'.

'I'm surprised. I thought it would be like a bombshell to you'.

'Oh, Niles, please. Not everything Nanny Fine considers huge is really huge'.

'You don't consider the fact she is finally pregnant something huge? Even if she is not telling Mister Sheffield, yet?'

'She is pregnant and not telling Maxwell?!'

'Wasn't it your secret?'

'No!'

'Oh'.

CC made a pained face, and Niles thought that maybe he had a crisis on his hands. Maybe his wife was not in peace with Fran's female accomplishments.

She started to talk slowly, staring into space, 'I can't believe it… She is making everybody crazy with this obsession and now that she did it, she is not telling him…'

Niles frowned and went to stand some steps behind her, observing her reactions. The point seemed not to be Fran's pregnancy, but the breaking of the news… He decided to proceed in that direction, 'She is insecure about his reaction'.

CC turned to him, and by her annoyance he knew he had hit the mark, 'Is everybody crazy?! Maxwell will love the idea! He is as much of a softie as you!'

'Things have happened…'

'I know, but it's nothing like he would have the heart to reject a child of his own!', she huffed, exasperated and turned to the swinging door, 'For God' sake! I'm telling him!'

Niles came closer, 'Please, please, don't tell him! Let's give her the opportunity to do things her way!'

She turned to him again, furious, 'What is her way?! A big surprise party?! Isn't she satisfied by all the messing she has been doing?!'

He made a calming gesture with the palms of his hands turned to her, 'She will tell him soon…'

'It would be better if he already knew! I swear, I'll have a fit if I don't…'

'Please, CC, don't do anything…'

'She will be around us while we try to do some work, and I'll just kill her, I know!', she turned from him and started walking decisively to the swinging door, 'I have no reason to stay around if she is going to pretend nothing is changed…'

'I'll be your slave until she tells!'

'… and now I have', CC smiled and turned to him, 'I can't believe you will do it for her. It will cost you so big…'

He made a face, 'I know, and I don't care. I just want you far from the eye of the storm'.

She squinted her eyes at him, 'Oh, you're such a sissy!'

'Call me what you want, but it is their business, and we must be out of it'.

'They are never out of our business'.

'We don't follow the bad examples, dearest', he declared and went to do the sink to start preparing tea. The crisis was under control, and he was resigned to whatever Fate was to bring on him, once he was officially her slave, now.

Not that he wasn't her slave in a daily basis, even before they were officially together, anyway. Sometimes he thought about it and was surprised at how blind he had to be to his own need of her to not make his move… He would do anything she asked, and try to guess the things she didn't, even if he declared to hate her most of the time…

'Whatever you say', CC said, noticing he was smiling to himself, 'Are you starting tea?'

'Uhum', he agreed, without looking at her. He put the kettle on the cook and turned, noticing she was looking at him pensively. 'What?'

'I was thinking… I won't wait for the tea'.

'Why?'

'I have an errand to do'.

'Oh, really? Do you want me to go with you? We can have tea together later'.

'No, I prefer to go alone. I will buy some hair dye. I want to try a new color'.

He frowned, 'Why? This blonde is one of your trademarks'.

'Yes, and I know you love it, but we're probably going to start a new life in the West Coast in some months. I think it is time for a change'.

'I see. Well, you were quite beautiful with your dark locks… Thinking of reverting to them?'

She smiled, as she always did when he let it slip he found her beautiful a long time ago, 'I was thinking something more in the line of red'.

'Uhm… You're surely the proverbial red-head…', he smiled at her, looking as if he was imagining the change already. Then he took two mugs, 'But why don't you try a wig, before really doing it? Miss Fine used to do that, sometimes, when she wanted a radical change in appearance. This way you could have tea with me now and we could go together to try some new visuals, later or even tomorrow'.

'Nah, it's not the same'.

'I guess so, but I still think you should try it before really doing the thing'.

'I feel like trying a lot of colors, so it is better to start soon'.

He frowned, 'Are you sure? You want to do it the hard way?'

She smirked, 'Always'.

He shook his head, 'All right, do as you wish. I suppose I'm just disappointed with the possibility of loosing the good effect of my Ice Princess jokes'.

'Good', CC said, seeing him put one of the mugs away, 'That's it. I'm going to the drugstore'.

'Want me to go with you? Maybe I should have a word', he asked hopefully while turning to take the kettle.

'You will have. And don't worry, I'll bring some of the easiest to wash away, so you won't have to keep it for long'.

'Well, you… Hey… wait… what do you mean by me?'

Niles turned to the swinging door in time to see CC blowing a kiss at him and disappearing.

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Later that night, CC woke and looked at Niles' sleeping form.

She was feeling a bit guilty. Yes, they had already made up, but she still felt like she had betrayed him.

She was finding the slave thing funny. She could have asked him to do chores like giving her massages and skipping work time to have sex with her, but this they already did in a daily basis; so, she decided it would be really funny if she made him try some colors in his hair.

She chose the most horrible ones she could find, and when she demanded him to start trying them, he seemed to be very patient about it. Even if it made his day at work a combination of unnecessarily hurried activities, strange looks coming from their boss and his need to wear a very ugly looking coat (that he would not care to eventually get stained), he was just resigned to do what she asked of him.

Until that last one.

She yelled at the closed powder room door, while passing by, 'Come on, slave! I don't have all day!'

He came out and walked to stand by her side, annoyed, 'How is this?'

She looked at him, an immense thing covering his shirt and the ridiculous color on his hair, 'Uhm… No good. It would look too brassy on me. Let's try pepper mint', and she handed the box to him.

'That will look awful!'

'Not after is perm'd'.

Niles looked at her, his face crunched in an expression that was of realization and then turned into disgust, 'I thought you were really…'

Maxwell bellowed, breaking the moment and stopping him from saying whatever it was he was going to say to her. Niles took off the white cloth and threw it at her, warning just after she took it, 'Take care… It's wet'.

He walked away, and was obviously furious at her.

CC couldn't understand. What was he mad about? It was just a prank… They had done things like this million of times!

She decided to make him face the subject as soon as possible. He had to stop being such a baby, after all.

Realizing she still had the offending thing in her arms, she went to the powder room to let it there.

When she opened the door, she realized why he was in such a bad mood.

A lot of things were happening in the house: people coming and going (including Betty Midler), Nanny Fine afraid her marriage was in danger, Maxwell saying stupid things with horrible timing, and Niles was there, dying his hair in stupid colors and having to clean up the mess it made, just because CC had decided she could prank him like this.

He could have a normal day – well, as normal as a day in the Sheffield residence with Fines around could be – and not wearing that ugly old coat or having to cover the powder room sink with such care, but he was not, because she had decided to put him through this, just for her pleasure.

It seemed she still didn't quite deal very well with the balance of power in their relationship.

CC went after Niles soon after and told him he should wash his hair, that the game was over. She made sure he noticed she was regretful.

He just thanked her quietly. It was obvious he was disappointed.

Later she asked to go to the penthouse that night, so they could talk and be certain to be alone.

They went, they sat on her sofa and they talked.

It was a difficult conversation, in the beginning: he kept silent, hands on his lap, looking at her seriously and patiently waiting.

Then she finally created the courage, she said with some formality, 'I'm sorry for all the unnecessary hard work I put you through'.

Niles had a sad look, 'It was not the work… I don't mind working for you', he smiled briefly at her, to put her more at ease, 'It was the useless aspect of it all. I mean, I really believed you wanted to change your hair colour and was counting on me for help. I couldn't accept the fact I was going through that for nothing'.

'I didn't think… It just occurred to me that it would be funny, as it was in the old times…'

She stopped talking and Niles kept silent, looking at her until the limit of comfort. Then, he leaned his head, 'There were so many other great things you could have required of me as a slave… I don't think remembering 'old times' even qualify as an option…'

She was speechless at this, and he seized the opportunity to prove his point.

Niles approached her, got one of her hands to put it on his nape and looked deeply into her eyes.

She was wide-eyed at the gesture and at the intensity of the desire on his face.

'I know you like to have power', he murmured, 'Why don't you simply take me? You know how I feel about it…'

He didn't have to wait long for her answer – she pulled him to her and they did, for hours, every single thing that came to her mind.

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And now, looking at him asleep, she thought that, even if she saw the disappointment being quickly washed away from his eyes (and turned into something much better), she still felt like she was in debt with him.

She supported her head on her hand and decided she had to do something to show him she cared.

CC was not very good at planning shows of affection, so it occurred to her she could just imitate something he had done: she could go to her doctor, ask for a check-up and show the results to Niles, as he had done for her.

She remembered thinking it was a stupid idea, in the beginning, but the feeling of relief she felt when he showed her he was healthy was very much real. The doctor had pressed him to have an exercising routine, to protect his heart, and the couple never regretted buying the machines that were at a room in the penthouse. They had discovered a lot of interesting things to do with them, besides exercising.

So, the check-up was a good idea. Maybe she would be able to convey the message that she thought he was right most of the time… and that she should listen to him more… and that she simply loved every little thing he did… and had never intended to hurt him with a childish prank… and especially that she loved when he let her do what she wanted…

Her thoughts were getting confused, sleep started to get to her again, CC yawned and got closer to him, nestling against his side and putting her arm across his waist.

Niles' hand came to her arm, and he adjusted to her body, sighing contentedly and never waking up.

She smiled at how obvious it was he felt absolutely safe around her, and she surrendered to sleep with her mind at peace, firmly settled on the idea of showing Niles how special she thought he was.

Maybe mimicking his action was the most adequate tribute ever, after all.