Chapter 2

It Was Always You

"Where do you keep going every Friday evening, Scarecrow?" Fran asked, leaning over the counter and observing Niles load a small basket with a homemade chocolate cake. "I know you said it's personal, but ya can't keep us in the dark forever!"

Niles barely looked up from what he was doing as he shook his head. He knew the former nanny was practically dying out of curiosity, and she'd use any opportunity to beg him to tell her the truth behind his weekly escapades, but the butler hadn't caved in.

"I certainly can, Mrs Sheffield," he replied, putting the lid on the basket. "And for now, I am afraid I will."

"But Niles," Fran whined, edging round the counter and tugging at his sleeve, "why would you keep secrets from yer best friend?!"

Because C.C. asked me to, he thought.

After their first encounter a month and a half ago, Niles had made a habit of visiting her once a week. They had agreed to try and be friends, so their weekly dinners had helped them get reacquainted and slowly begin rebuilding the bond that had been almost lost.

It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Niles could only agree. He was still head over heels for her, and the years that they had been apart had only worsened his need for her. That's probably why being just friends was a bit of a challenge for Niles.

Friendship wasn't what he wanted, but he wouldn't dare to ask for more.

It was all up to her now...

They hadn't discussed her time in Argentina or Amelia's father – as a matter of fact, he hadn't seen Amelia again since that day at her kindergarten. He always came late in the evening – he had to cook dinner for the Sheffields first – and they had dinner way past Amelia's bedtime. Not to mention that he and C.C. had agreed to get up to date with each other and see where that took them before he started spending time with her daughter.

But for them to properly be on firm ground, he knew that they needed to talk about what had happened all those many years ago. She was clearly reluctant of doing so, and he was more than willing to give her all the time she'd until she was ready to open up about one of the most difficult times in her life.

And it wasn't like having dinner with her was unpleasant – far from it, in fact. The zingers were slowly finding their way back into their conversations, they had become more comfortable around each other, they had learnt about each other's lives, Niles had heard everything about Amelia (which was wonderful in Niles's opinion. He knew getting along with her daughter would be pivotal for them to have any kind of relationship) and about C.C.'s new life and job.

Of course there had been emotional and difficult conversations, too – such as when C.C. had told Niles about her mother briefly vanishing her from her life when she'd found out about Amelia – and each of these conversations had only strengthened their ever-growing bond.

So, considering the delicate situation they were in, they had agreed not to involve the Sheffields for the time being. Thus, every Friday Niles would say he had an engagement with an old friend before retiring to the blonde's house. This mysterious friend had piqued Fran's attention, to say the least, but Niles, in a very uncharacteristic manner, had kept his mouth shut.

"Mrs Sheffield," Niles sighed, turning to face Fran. "How long have we known each other?"

"Ten years. But wha-"

"Have I ever kept any secrets from you?" he asked, looking into his friend's eyes.

"No..." the former nanny muttered.

"Then, if I am withholding information from you, don't you think it's because I truly have to?"

A long silence reigned in the room. Fran seemed to be considering his words with care, and despite the fact that she was dying to know what was going on with Niles, she had to accept he did have a point. She and Niles were two Yentas, and neither kept secrets from the other unless it was strictly necessary.

She knew he trusted her, so he probably did have a good reason for not telling her about this friend of his.

"Alright..." she held out her hands in defeat. "But promise me you haven't gotten into somethin' weird or dangerous."

The butler grasped the former nanny's hands. "I promise you I haven't."

Fran pulled him in for a tight hug. "Thank ya, Scarecrow. And I only believe ya because you've been a lot happier since ya started visiting this friend of yours."

"Indeed I am," he laughed, returning the hug. "But now I should really be going."

"Then I won't keep ya any longer," Fran pulled away and jokingly pointed a warning finger at him. "But I want a chocolate cake for the house, too!"

"It's already done – look in the oven," Niles grabbed the basket and crossed the kitchen to the back door.

He heard Fran humming in delight as he walked out of the mansion and began his way to C.C.'s home. He was at her doorstep barely ten minutes later, being allowed in by her maid. He followed her to the backyard, where C.C. awaited.

And the sight he found there almost melted his heart – C.C. was sat on a hammock, gently swaying back and forth as Amelia napped. The young girl was lying on her upper body, with her head on C.C.'s chest and her tiny arms wrapped around her mother's back. He thanked the maid, who returned to her duties in the house, and approached quietly, greeting her with a silent wave as she slowed the hammock to a halt.

"Hey," she beamed, keeping her voice low and quiet. "You all ready?"

"As I'll ever be," he grinned in reply, holding out his hands, which had been behind his back, to show her the basket he'd brought with him. "As I know you wouldn't take kindly to a gift of a bottle of wine, I made us some dessert instead."

C.C. gasped quietly, taking a hand to her chest as best she could, what with Amelia lying on it, "Oh, Niles, thank you!"

He shook his head, "No need to thank, it was a pleasure. Do you need some help standing up by any chance?"

It was C.C.'s turn to shake her head, "No thanks, I got it."

Carefully holding her daughter to her, she rose from the hammock, and leaned the child against her shoulder.

"If there's one thing you learn from being a single parent, it's how to do things like that," she said, smiling, before indicating up to the house. "Come back inside, we can put her down in her room, and then I can show you what we have for dinner."

He felt a mixture of awe and sadness. He truly admired her for being such a good mother to Amelia – even though she was rich, single parenthood wasn't easy, and she excelled at it – but he was saddened by her having to do all by herself. He wanted to offer his help, but he wouldn't push the subject.

It was her decision, after all.

They went into the house and climbed the stairs to the second floor. There were a number of doors down the hallway – they walked past the first one and came to a halt before the second door. It was easy to see that it was the entrance to Amelia's room – there was a wooden sign on which the child's name had been carved. It was painted in lilac and white. She then opened the door to reveal an ample room, equipped with everything a young child could need. There was a library full of books, a small desk, loads of toys, stuffed animals and toy chests, an elderberry canopied bed...

It was beautiful.

The walls were filled with drawings Amelia had made, and with pictures of C.C. and her child. He could feel the love in that room – all the effort that had been put in it, and it made him smile.

"Hand me her pyjamas," C.C. whispered. "They are under her pillow."

He quickly did so and be busied himself with preparing the bed for Amelia while C.C. changed her into her pyjamas.

"All set," C.C. cooed as he daughter blearily blinked up at her – she had awoken when C.C. changed her. "Ready to go to bed, sweetie?"

"Yes, Mommy. But can you read me a bedtime story and give me my goodnight kiss?" the girl mumbled.

Niles hoped C.C. said yes. He wanted to see this – it somehow helped her imagine what it would feel like to be a family.

C.C. quickly looked up at him, "You don't mind, do you?"

"No, of course not," he smiled back, shaking his head a little.

He was actually beyond happy that she'd been concerned about what he'd think before making her decision. It had nothing to do with him, and yet she'd made the decision to ask first.

He was important to her, he knew that. But this let him know that it was a special kind of importance.

She smiled back at him gratefully, and began to tuck her daughter in, comfortably and cosy. The little girl was still half-asleep from her nap, really, and C.C. didn't think it would take too long for her to fall asleep again.

She then took down a little book of fairy tales from a shelf, seated herself on the edge of Amelia's bed, and began to read Cinderella.

Niles watched from a distance, entranced and enchanted. C.C. really was the perfect mother – she did all the voices, and all the actions to make her daughter giggle (he even found himself laughing at one stage!), and eventually the book was done.

"Read me something else, Mommy," the little girl pleaded, stifling a yawn. She was determined to stay up, that both adults could see.

C.C. pulled a face at her, thinking. She didn't want to disappoint her daughter, but at the same time, she didn't want to keep Niles waiting. Maybe a poem from the book next to the one she'd picked out...

"Alright, but just one more..." she reached up, brought the book down, opened it and started to read.

"Where am I going? I don't quite know.

Down to the stream where the king-cups grow-

Up on the hill where the pine-trees blow-

Anywhere, anywhere, I don't know.

Where am I going? The clouds sail by,

Little ones, baby ones, over the sky.

Where am I going? The shadows pass,

Little ones, baby ones, over the grass.

If you were a cloud, and sailed up there,

You'd sail on water as blue as air,

And you'd see me here in the fields and say:

"Doesn't the sky look green today?"

Where am I going? The high rooks call:

"It's awful fun to be born at all."

Where am I going? The ring-doves coo:

"We do have beautiful things to do."

If you were a bird, and lived on high,

You'd lean on the wind when the wind came by,

You'd say to the wind when it took you away:

"That's where I wanted to go today!"

Where am I going? I don't quite know.

What does it matter where people go?

Down to the wood where the blue-bells grow-

Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know."

She remembered the time when, many years ago, she hadn't minded or known where she wanted to go, either. Anywhere had been better than New York, and despite the hardships that had come along the way, she knew she had made the right decision. Being a single mother wasn't easy – at times it was actually incredibly challenging – but she wouldn't trade her little one for anything in this world.

Actually, it was more like Amelia was her world, if she was being honest.

She had always been a rather aloof and detached person – she struggled to bond with people and her personality was challenging – but with Amelia it was different. The love she felt for her child was deep, all-consuming and total; she would die for Amelia, and she had never known it was possible to love someone this much.

And, honestly, she liked loving someone that much and being loved back, too.

But sometimes, she craved a different type of love – romantic love, to be more precise. A love she hadn't allowed herself to experience since she'd returned from Argentina.

As she finished the poem (and much to C.C.'s relief) Amelia finally fell asleep. Just as promised, C.C. gave her a goodnight kiss, and tiptoed out of her room, leaving the door ajar in case she needed something.

"Sorry for the delay," she gave Niles an apologetic smile. "She can't go to bed if we don't do this."

"It's no problem – actually, it's quite nice seeing this softer side of your personality."

C.C. smirked. "Who knew I had it in me, right? Well... I guess being a mother changes you. It's really hard to explain this to someone who doesn't have children of their own, but the love you have for your child is... limitless. I would give my life for her and she is my driving force – my everything. It's a selfless type of love... you don't expect anything in return. Just seeing her happy and smiling is enough."

Her little speech warmed his heart considerably. Seeing her happy and smiling was enough for him, too, but he knew it wasn't exactly the same feeling. Being a parent was something out of the realms of his experience, even if he had looked after children for parents and cared like they were his own. There was a line between acting like a parent and actually being one. He wondered if he would ever get the opportunity, if C.C. would allow him the opportunity, to help be a parent for Amelia.

But that was a question for another day. They had agreed to be friends, and he wasn't going to jeopardise it by trying to rush things. She had him entirely, and he was going to take everything at her pace, until they were both ready to see what the future held.

They made their way downstairs to the kitchen, where C.C. began to remove ingredients from the fridge for his inspection and approval – it was to be their dinner that night, so she wanted to make sure it was the best it could possibly be.

"Take a look, Martha Stewart," she gestured to the array of different items out on the counter. "What do you think of the selection?"

Niles smirked openly, but inside he felt something deeper stir. She was asking his approval before she made them anything. Again, she valued his opinion. He perused over the choice, making a series of strange, overly-dramatic intrigued faces, succeeding in making her laugh.

"I think you've done well here," he eventually said. "The vegetables all look fresh, the salmon isn't a bad colour...but..."

C.C. froze, not understanding what could be wrong. She'd bought everything that morning, it couldn't be bad. She'd so wanted this dinner to go well, it was her first time cooking for someone who wasn't a relative, and she wanted to do it right. Especially because that someone who wasn't a relative was Niles...

He leaned over, smiling softly, "How about I prepare and cook them? You've been working so hard, I think it's your turn to take a break."

The suggestion took C.C. by surprise. Part of her wanted to say no – he was her guest, the proper thing to do would be to cook for him – but at the same time she'd simply love Niles to cook for her. Back when Amelia was a baby, C.C. remembered that she had taken cooking classes so she could give her child proper an md tasty meals when she'd grown older, but nothing that she cooked could ever equal Niles's cooking.

It wasn't that her meals tasted bad – actually, she had become quite a good cook over the years – but there was something about Niles' food that made it special. Maybe it was the simple fact that he cooked it, but it was definitely special.

So maybe they could reach a compromise – she wouldn't be cooking dinner by herself but neither would Niles.

They'd do it together.

"Although this newfound altruism suits you," she grabbed a spare apron from one of the kitchen cupboards and gave it to Niles. "I still want to show you that – unlike what happened when I took cooking classes when I was a producer – my meals are now edible. Let's cook together."

He squinted his eyes at her, trying hard to hold back a beaming smile. "Are you trying to poison me? I should watch you closely to check you don't slip anything weird in my plate."

The producer chuckled and swatted at the back of his head. "Please, if I wanted you dead I would kill you in a much more entreating way than by poisoning you, Hazel. Now, come on, let's get down to business!"

"Bossy, as usual," he retorted as he observed her grabbing a knife and a cutting board so she could begin chopping the vegetables. "Do tell me, now that you are no longer a producer, who do you scream to on a daily basis? I remember you loved to scare the poor choreographers and stage managers."

"Interns are my new preys," she replied airily, an impish smile playing about her face. "But now that I have you back in my life, I am being easier on them and sending all the zingers your way, of course."

The butler sighed exaggeratedly as he poured some oil on a frying pan and put it on the oven's burner grate. It was still turned off for he still had to season the fish. "Ah, I shouldn't have expected anything else from you – you do love to make my life as hard as possible."

She smirked at him. "And would you have it any other way, Minute Maid?"

He grinned back as he thought about his answer. No. He wouldn't. If there was one thing he knew he loved about her, it was the fact that even when they were blatantly insulting each other and setting elaborate pranks, they both knew how much they were enjoying it. That kind of thrill was something he'd especially missed when she'd been gone, and now they were back, in the same room and speaking, he was glad they had the opportunity for it again.

He hoped she was, too. If the glint in her eyes was anything to go by, he'd say yes.

"I think we both know the answer to that one, don't we?" his features softened, until he was smiling at her with what he hoped was only a hint of the adoration he felt. He didn't want to go overboard and have it all blow up in his face by her asking why he was looking at her like that.

He didn't know when the right time to talk about moving forward would be. But he was almost certain C.C. would say that time wasn't now.

"I think we do," she replied gently, and there was a pause before she returned to chopping the vegetables. "But we'd better get these underway and cooking, before we both starve."

He nodded in agreement, and returned to preparing the salmon. C.C. had actually made a fine selection in the food she'd picked, and he was rather impressed, to tell the truth.

Friends, more than friends, whatever it was that they were, it was surely going to be a marvellous dinner with the two of them working together to make it good.

Once the meal had been properly prepared, Niles took care to set the table while C.C. plated their meals. The smell inside the kitchen was heavenly, and it was slowly wafting into the living room, making his stomach growl. C.C. had prepared steamed vegetables and a Waldorf salad for them and he was sure it would go wonderfully with the baked salmon.

As C.C. didn't drink anymore, he quickly prepared some orange juice for them and poured it in two glasses. He then cut some of the homemade bread C.C. had made that afternoon and settled it in a bread bin which he then took to the table.

They sat down, but C.C. briefly got back to her feet and turned on the stereo so that there was some background music. The soft, dulcet tone of Ella Fitzgerald's voice danced around the room, awaking something that had been dormant in both butler and former producer. The singer's voice made them think of that night, all those many years ago, when they had danced together. They'd held each other close, not wanting to let go...

"So, how is it?" she asked as she got back into her chair and took a bite of her salmon. "I must admit your cooking is still amazing, Julia Child, but what about mine?"

He feigned a look of disgust as he swallowed some of the steamed vegetables – in truth they were absolutely delicious.

"Meh... it could be worse," he quickly gave her a smile when he noticed her worried look. "Just kidding. It's wonderful."

"That's what I wanted to hear," she grinned. "You know, I should make you taste Locro and alfajores! Patrick and I..." C.C. trailed off, grimacing. "I mean... Amelia's father introduced me to those two things."

Silence. Silence for a very long time.

She had said it… she had mentioned Amelia's father.

They needed to talk about her time in Argentina, and what had gone on with Patrick. She needed to hear him accepting what had happened, because even though he had accepted that she had Amelia, it could be a completely different story when he'd heard about what happened between her and the other man.

It wasn't like they could do anything about it, but she didn't want it hanging over them.

Niles didn't want it hanging over them, either, and he settled his cutlery down, leaning back a little in his seat to look at her. He supposed that if any time was a time for questions, it was now. Before things got so serious that leaving them any longer would be the opposite of beneficial.

"I see," he bit the inside of his lip, thinking. "If I might ask...how did the two of you meet?"

"He was staying in the same hotel as me, in Buenos Aires," C.C. kept her eyes on her food, but didn't touch it. "We became good friends, and ended up spending a lot of time together. We went out sightseeing together, and had a lot of fun."

He couldn't help but feel his stomach churn more than a little at the prospect of some other man out in a beautiful city with C.C., taking in the sights and enjoying both the day and her company. Nonetheless, he allowed her to continue without interruption. He had a feeling the next part was going to be the worst part, and it would be best to get it over and done with, anyway.

"So much so, that...well, we went to a party. A celebration of Argentina's independence," she said, her tone almost completely flat. "We danced. We laughed. We had far too much to drink, and… the rest is history."

In the silence, Niles swallowed, "Yes..."

"I didn't see him after that," C.C. continued, still not looking up at him. "I was embarrassed, and he left the country before I knew about Amelia. So I went it alone."

Alone. It sounded like she'd much rather prefer she hadn't. Maybe she'd wanted this Patrick to stay – with her and with their daughter. He had to know, in some way or another, if this was the case. A part of him told him this was far too personal. He had no right to be delving in so deep. But another part didn't care. It wanted to know if he was holding out for a woman who was already lost to someone else.

His voice was almost hoarse as he asked his final, and perhaps most important, question, "Did you love him?"

And it was then when she finally looked up and into his eyes. She didn't look angry, but she did appear uncomfortable. He didn't know if it was due to his question alone or due to the topic they were discussing in general, but he did hope his question didn't get him kicked out of her home for good. He was afraid of what her answer would be, too. If she was in love with Patrick, then he wasn't sure if he'd be able to bear her rejection.

But rejection was the last thing in C.C.'s mind. As a matter of fact, she was pondering over what she should do – should she tell him the whole truth? About her hanging out and then sleeping with Patrick because he reminded her of the butler? Or should she hide that?

Somehow she felt like she had to be honest with Niles.

Years of therapy had allowed her to realise just how much she (still) loved Niles, but at the same time, she didn't want to put him in an uncomfortable situation. Motherhood and fear been what had pushed her to avoid contacting both Niles or the Sheffields for half a decade... so would it be fair to spring Niles with a declaration of love?

There was no correct answer, but she did know what her heart wanted to say.

She could only hope it would shatter their incipient... relationship? Because, by this stage of the conversation, they both suspected that the other wanted more than being just friends.

"No... I didn't love him. I never did. He was just a really good listener and helped me out with many of my emotional struggles, but I was attracted to him because he looked like someone I loved – that I still love."

Niles felt his heart breaking. Surely the man looked like Mr Sheffield – he must have been tall, well-mannered and rich, with charming brown eyes... he'd been a fool to believe that C.C. could love him back. She was still taken by Mr Sheffield. That's probably why she had stayed away from the mansion – because she now had a child that depended on har, and because she'd surely wanted to spare herself the pain of seeing the man she loved being married to someone else.

"And I still remember when I first met Patrick," her voice interrupted his troubled musings. "His eyes were the first thing that called my attention – they were a bright shade of blue. Beautiful, and full of life. They complemented his charming lop-sided grin."

She said all this wile staring into the butler's eyes.

"He was just like you."

And then his heart stopped. Or it sped up so fast it gave that impression. He couldn't tell and he didn't care. The blood had been pumping loudly in his ears, but he could have sworn that...she'd just basically confessed to loving him...!

He couldn't believe it. Patrick had been a substitute for him, because she couldn't have the real thing? She loved him, oh God, she loved him! His chest felt like it could burst, and he wanted to sing his joy from the rooftops, that out of all the most insane fantasies he'd ever had in his life, the one which seemed least likely was the one to come true...

He wanted to get up, to round that table right then, take her into his arms and kiss her. Kiss her long enough to make up for all the years that they'd not had each other, until Buenos Aires and everything that had happened there had happened a long time ago...

Maybe it had happened a long time ago. Maybe for the sake of what she was saying right then and there, it could be put into the past and they could move forward. Together.

Like they both wanted.

But how to do it? He couldn't keep her waiting longer than he already was. It was probably making her nervous to see him so silent...

"It was me, all along?" he asked, still almost not believing as tears sprang to his eyes. "I'm the one you love..."

"Yes," C.C.'s own eyes were wet, too, and her breathing hitched. She had to know what he was thinking, what he was going to say next...it could make or break them forever.

"Good," Niles gave her a beaming, if watery, smile. "Because I don't think I'd be able to handle it much longer if I couldn't say how much I love you, too."

They didn't know who stood up first, but what they did know was that they were soon clinched in a tight embrace and their lips were melding together.

For some moments, the world around them ceased to exist – it was just them and their lips touching. Despite the many years that they had spent apart, the kiss wasn't forceful or rushed – it was more like a caress... like the feeling of silk rubbing against skin.

It was soft, sweet and fulfilling. Basically, everything they had been craving for.

Niles wound his arms around her waist as they kissed, while C.C. linked hers around his neck. They could hold each other forever, and neither of them wanted to let go.

They had been apart for too long. Now it was time to be together.

They pulled away only when they couldn't relinquish oxygen any longer, but they rested their foreheads together as their ragged breathings went back to normal.

"I love you, Niles," C.C. muttered, showering kisses all over his cheeks and lips.

"And so do I... I love you very, very much."

C.C. chuckled, although her laugh also hid a choked sob. She was so happy... but she had been afraid too. Afraid of her love not being requited; of Niles not loving her.

"It was always you... in Argentina I finally understood that I love you – that I need you."

"Then why didn't you come back to me?"

In his voice, she detected the pain, and knew right then and there rhat she'd made a grave mistake by thinking that her love wouldn't be returned.

It didn't help that she had thought, maybe, he'd not want her upon knowing she'd had a child. That he'd consider her someone else's in a way that he'd never been, or maybe even be. It had hurt her to think that he could look on her with hurt in his eyes, or even scorn, and reject her because of Amelia...

But he hadn't. He wouldn't. And she felt a little ridiculous.

"Because I was afraid," she confessed, bringing her hand to his cheek. "I was afraid that you wouldn't love me back. Not after everything that we'd been through, not after me running away like I did...and especially not after having Amelia. I thought you wouldn't want the burden of a child that wasn't yours. And I thought that you wouldn't be able to love a woman who'd had another man's baby. And even though I thought of you the entire time, I didn't think that would be enough. You'd want someone who hadn't gone away and done that at all..."

Niles stared at her, before bringing his own hand to cup her cheek, and pressing his lips to hers again. In that kiss, he demonstrated all his love, affection, and desire for her – physical proof that he wanted to reassure her of all of those things, and that her fears were nothing more than unwarranted anxiety.

As he released her from it again, he rested his forehead back against hers, "I'd love you no matter if you went or not. Amelia or not. She is a wonderful little girl, and I would never shame or refuse you for keeping her. You are her mother, that is a part of you, and I love all of you. I wouldn't trade you in any way, for anyone, or anything. What happened before now, in Argentina with Patrick...that's all in the past. And, if you want it, we could try to move forward...together."

Tears were running down C.C.'s cheeks as they held each other – why on Earth had she doubted him? How on Earth had she allowed the man she loved to be away from her? Maybe, if she had spoken to him sooner, they would have been able to sort things out many years ago; maybe they would have built their own family by this stage...

But the chance hadn't been lost. They still had the opportunity to, as Niles had said, move forever together.

It wouldn't always be easy, but if they were together then they would overcome any obstacle that came their way.

"Thank you," she said, her words sounding muffled as she burrowed her face in the crook of his neck. "I love you."

"I love you too," Niles responded.

They remained in a tight embrace for an endless moment. But then, they began to sway to the music that was still sounding in the background. They had missed dancing with each other, and there was probably no better opportunity to do so.

"I missed this," she muttered, her head resting comfortably on Niles' shoulder.

"Me too – I missed you," he carefully dipped her, making her laugh.

"Remember that time when-"

"Mommy?" Amelia's sleepy voice suddenly interrupted them. It was coming from the bottom of the staircase. "Mommy, I had a nightmare."

Niles pulled C.C. out of the dip as Amelia blinked up at them and they could only blink back.

He let her unwind her arms from him, and hurry over to her little girl, taking her in her arms.

"Oh, sweetie..." she sighed, picking her up. "You wanna talk about it?"

Amelia shook her head, and buried her head against her mother's shoulder. C.C. kissed the side of her head, stroked her hair, and rubbed her back.

"You want me to take you back upstairs?" she murmured.

Amelia nodded, "Mm-hm..."

"Alright, then, let's go..." C.C. made her way to the stairs, hesitating a little. She didn't entirely like the idea of abandoning Niles downstairs like this, even if it was for a good reason.

He seemed to pick up on this.

"Alright if I come, too?" he asked. "I've had a lot of experience, with the Sheffields, in getting children back to sleep."

Or he could just be his usual, caring, selfless self. But he was letting her make the decision - he didn't want to intrude where he probably felt he had no right.

But he had a right, in her mind. If they were going to be together, they should learn to do things like this together.

"Sure! That is, as long as you are fine with that, Little One?" C.C. looked down at Amelia – it all lay upon her now. The girl was used to being just them, so Niles wouldn't blame her if she wanted only C.C. to be with her right then.

"It's okay, Mommy," the little girl slurred, already feeling sleepy again.

And so, both adults climbed up the stairs and made their way to Amelia's room. The door was open and the sheets were tangled – no doubt due to Amelia having thrashed on the bed due to her bad dream – so, while C.C. held her daughter close, Niles tended Amelia's bed once again.

"Can you get in bed with me for a little while, Mommy?" Amelia asked as C.C. carefully lowered her onto her mattress.

C.C. didn't hesitate – she toed off her shoes and slipped in bed next to her daughter, who snuggled against her side before being enveloped by C.C.'s arms.

"Better?" C.C. asked and dropped a kiss on Amelia's forehead.

"Mm-hm," the child replied. "Can you tell me a story?"

"Oh, sweetie, I can't read if I am holding you," C.C. began, but was promptly cut off by Niles' clearing his throat.

"But I can," he said and looked at Amelia, who was peering up at him from the safety of her mother's arms. "Miss Amelia-"

"Mia," the child corrected.

"Alright, Mia, would you like me to read you and your mother a story so you can go to bed?"

The little girl thought for a moment, before smiling and nodding.

"Alright, then; that's what I'll do," he said, taking a look through the books she had on her shelf.

The girl had a number of fairy tales stored there, and he picked the one he thought might amuse her the most. He didn't want to send her off to bed dreaming of something frightening. Not again. She deserved a good night's rest.

Besides, if he and C.C. were going to be together, he should get to know Mia as well. He liked her already – she seemed a bright and happy child, but he knew that she would also have a say in how things developed between him and her mother. And of course he would respect that decision, but he would like it very much if she liked having him around, too.

He'd like it even more if they could be a family, but that was asking for too much, too soon.

He opened the book that he had picked out, cleared his throat, and-

"Sit on the bed," Mia told him, gesturing down towards the foot. "Like Mommy does."

He raised an eyebrow at C.C., asking her permission before moving. She nodded in return.

"It's okay, go on."

Smiling at her given permission, he seated himself on the edge of the bed, his lower back pressed against C.C.'s legs. Not on purpose, it was just that there wasn't so much room for two adults and a child...

They were sharing space, like an actual family...

He began again, "Many, many years ago, there lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money so that he might have them..."

He read through the whole story, pulling silly faces to make her laugh, and reading the voices in different accents, and enjoying hearing her enjoying herself...

Even C.C. was laughing. Just like he had been when she'd read the first story, earlier.

They were having a good time, all together.

He didn't stop to think too much about how much like a family they looked like – as he had said before, that would be far too much far too soon.

For now he'd enjoy his incipient relationship with the former producer and he'd try to start getting to know her little girl. He liked her already, if she was being honest, and he was honoured that he had been allowed to be part of a personal and private moment such as tucking her in at night after a nightmare.

As the story came to an end, C.C. held her child – whose eyes were drooping – for a few minutes until she finally fell asleep. She was still quite young and depended a lot on C.C., but the former producer didn't mind to be there for as long as she needed her.

"She's asleep," C.C. whispered, carefully disentangling herself from her little girl and standing up. "Let's go back downstairs."

Niles nodded and carefully stood up, heedful of the need to be extra silent now that Amelia was back in bed. He stored the book in the shelf once again and the two adults tiptoed to the door, which they later left ajar.

After a brief excursion to the living room and the kitchen (Niles helped her clean up and cut two pieces of chocolate cake for them to enjoy) the former producer moved back to the stairway, beckoning for him to follow.

He wondered where he was taking him now, but he didn't complain. He'd go wherever she wanted...

Eventually, she opened the door to reveal an impressive and enormous, earth-toned, en-suite room. C.C.'s room.

"It's late already and I'd rather be closer to Amelia if she needs me," she offered, laying her plate on the bedside table and sitting on her bed. She then looked up at him – he was still stood at the door.

"Well," C.C. patted the empty side of the bed. "Are you coming or not?"

Niles blinked, his mind starting to conjure up questions for the images it was manifesting. What exactly did she want him to say? What was she expecting him – them – to do?

Surely anything like that was off the table for now? They had only just decided to try being together, let alone anything else.

At any rate, Amelia was only next door, which could prove awkward as well...

Perhaps it was best if he asked. Just be honest with her, and see what happened. She couldn't fault him for wanting to know what was going on, and he'd of course apologise for thinking something inappropriate if that's not what she had in mind.

"Uh..." he edged his way into the room, swallowing. "I hate to appear indelicate, but...what exactly were you thinking?"

C.C. studied him for a moment, and then her eyes widened in understanding.

"Oh!" she almost cried out, her hand going to her mouth and then to the plate of cake. "I didn't mean...I didn't just assume you'd want to-"

"No, no, please don't apologise," his pace quickened as he moved to sit where she'd patted. "I thought it might be too soon, and with Amelia right next door, well..."

He drifted off, settling his own plate on his bedside table, and C.C. nodded.

"Yeah, yeah...I thought so, too," she sighed, and picked up her plate, starting to prod at the sponge with her fork. She looked up at him very quickly, pleased that he wasn't disappointed, and watched him toe off his shoes. "It just...makes me wonder how we're going to tell her about us."

Niles tilted his head to one side, his eyes glazing over. That was certainly a very good question... he and C.C. had known each other for twenty years, but Amelia had barely gotten to know him a few days ago. He could understand that it would be hard for the little girl to suddenly welcome a complete foreigner into her and her mother's lives.

But there surely was a way... there had to be one! They just had to think about what they'd say.

They had the whole night to think about it – by this stage it was quite clear he'd be spending the night – so they weren't exactly in a rush.

"That's... a more than valid question," he offered lamely. "Do you have any ideas?"

C.C. laid her body against the mound of pillows behind her and heaved a troubled sigh. "I am not sure... saying you are my boyfriend sounds so... juvenile! And I doubt she'll understand what I mean if I say you are my partner."

Niles grinned at her, rolling to his side and propping the side of his head on the palm of his hand. "So I am your boyfriend?"

The producer gave a hint of a smirk, too. "We are both far too old to call each other boyfriend and girlfriend, Methuselah."

"Ah, yes... although I suppose your teen years were spent trying to survive the Black Plague and the Inquisition rather than in trying to find a boyfriend," he teased back, stroking her thigh.

She smacked his hand, which only deterred him for a second, before he was back to repeating the soft and oddly pleasing motion. She relaxed into it, and continued to think.

Well, think about what to tell her daughter and have fun at Niles' expense at the same time.

"This coming from someone who looks like he didn't actually survive the Black Plague," she retorted, before pulling a face at the ceiling as she wondered, lowering her plate of cake into her lap. "Hm. There must be something we can tell her to make her understand that you're not just a friend, like other people I stop and talk to."

"I'd say that you have to make more of an effort than just stopping and talking to people to actually be friends with them, but I highly doubt that will get us anywhere right now," Niles slipped his hand away from her leg and sat up, snatching up his own plate and coming to sit right next to her, their legs now touching. "But we should really eat our dessert before it turns stale. If we eat and think at the same time, when either one of us comes up with an idea we think might work, we can say it."

"Agreed," C.C. said, digging her fork into the soft sponge.

They absentmindedly began eating their cake, thinking over the possibilities. "Best friend" sent the wrong message, even if it was true in a number of ways. Amelia wouldn't even be able to say "significant other" yet, let alone know what it meant. "Special someone" was true, but it felt vague, and Amelia might not know that the 'someone' part meant a specific person...

Maybe if they combined...

C.C. lowered her fork to her plate.

"How about...special friend?" she suggested.

Niles arched an eyebrow. It wasn't the first time he heard the term, but he'd hear it being used to talk about a special someone in a same-sex relationship. The idea was good, though – it basically was easy for her child to understand and more or less explained their blossoming relationship. Not to mention it gave him the opportunity for a perfect zinger.

"Special Friend? Finally admitting you are a man, Babs?" he joked, stroking her thigh once again. If there was something she wasn't, it was a man.

"Not at all, Rubbermaid, but I do wear the pants in this relationship," she lowered her plate on her bedside table and threaded her fingers through his hair.

"Being in charge has always been one of things that define you," he mused aloud, his eyes closing in delight as her nails gently raked his scalp.

"And liked being bossed around is a charming trait of yours, lover," she cooed with fake sweetness.

How had either of them gone on without this for so long? Twenty years of knowing each other and six years of silence... he was surprised he hadn't gone insane!

If he was being honest, sadness rather than madness, was what he had feared the most...

"So... Special Friend it is?" she asked, edging closer to him and nestling against his side.

"I think so," he replied, slipping his empty plate onto his own table, and wrapping his arms around her. It felt so good to have her there, and to know that the feeling wasn't going to go away. "When shall we tell her?"

C.C. rested her head on his shoulder, turning more towards him so she could press herself as close to him as she could.

"Well, ideally as soon as possible," she mused aloud. "I don't want...anything to happen and for it to be too late if it turns out she'd prefer it was just the two of us."

"Of course," he rested his head on top of hers. It was only natural that she'd want Amelia to like him and not to be upset by the idea of being in their lives. He hoped, with all of his heart, that she would. But there was no guarantee.

He'd need to spend time with them together. Getting to know Amelia as well as just having time with C.C..

He looked down towards where she was still thinking everything over, and tapped her arm, "Why don't we take her on a few days out first, and then tell her? It might be a bit overwhelming otherwise – all of a sudden, this man shows up mostly in her mother's life and he's getting just as much of her attention. And it could give her and me time to get to know each other, too. What do you think?"

That sounded like a plan. It would give her girl some time to get accustomed that it wasn't just the two of them anymore, but she wasn't forgetting her either. It was a new chapter, and she was eager to start reading – or rather, writing – it.

"I think that's one of the few good ideas you've had," she said, enjoying the feeling of his body against hers.

Nothing would happen that night, they knew that, but being close was enough. She needed this – they needed this – and after years of waiting they were back in each other's arms.

"You know what's another good idea?" she muttered, feeling increasingly sleepy as he held her. "Getting into our pyjamas and following Amelia's example and go to bed."

True. He needed to sleep, and certainly he wouldn't refuse to spend the night in her bed. Tomorrow was Saturday, so he basically had the whole day free – they could do anything they wanted.

Maybe even visit the Sheffields.

"You are always full of brilliant ideas, Babcock," he replied as they sat up and both began to take off their clothes. C.C. gave him a spare set of pyjamas – they were one of her old maternity pyjamas and Niles looked rather funny in them – before putting hers on and getting back into bed.

"Night, lover," she said and pecked his lips before lying her head on his chest.

"Night, my love."

AN: And here you have another chapter! We hope it's to your liking :) We greatly appreciate reviews! They make our life better and let us know if you are enjoying yourselves.

Thanks for reading.

HL