Chapter 3

Encounters and Accidents

Niles wasn't awoken by the warm sun streaming through then window or even by to the warm presence snuggled against his side! No, the slumbering man was awoken by the sound of the door being creaked open and by the feeling of a small hand tugging at his sleeve.

"Psst, are you awake?" a familiar voice whispered. "I am hungry and Mommy isn't awake yet."

Niles' eyes shot open.

There, in front of him, was Amelia. Still clad in her pyjamas and clutching a toy monkey under her arm. She blinked up at him.

"Why are you in Mommy's bed?"

"Uh..." he had to think fast as he quietly spoke back to her, pulling his arm back into the bed so that he could start to sit up. "Well, it was very late and I was too tired to go home, so your Mommy let me sleep here."

"Oh," the girl seemed to take this as a reasonable explanation, before cocking her head to one side as she looked at his attire. "Those are Mommy's old pyjamas, from when I was in her tummy."

"I know," Niles smiled at her gently, and patted his front. "I didn't have my own, and even though I don't have a baby in my tummy, I have enough tummy to fill it out all by myself!"

Amelia giggled, before starting as her own tummy rumbled. She stared down at it, and then up at him again.

"I need breakfast," she mumbled. "Can you please help Mommy wake up so that I can have some?"

The butler had an even better idea than that. They'd wanted to try and arrange some time for him to get to know Amelia – well, this was a perfect opportunity, and C.C. wouldn't mind. It wasn't like they would be leaving the house...

"Oh, I can do better than that," he rose to his feet, stretching a little. "Why don't you and I let Mommy sleep, and I'll make you breakfast instead, hm?"

She looked wary for a few seconds, and tightened her grip on her monkey. This strange man was really nice and he had read her a story...

But could she really ask him for breakfast? She had seen him around once or twice before (on occasions when her Mommy had allowed her to stay up after her bedtime), but she didn't know what to expect from him. Her Mommy usually made her scrambled eggs with toast or cereal with hot chocolate – would this man do the same for her?

"I'll make you anything you like," the butler added in a whisper, taking care not to wake C.C..

… And that was enough to convince Amelia and seal the deal.

"Like waffles with chocolate milk or orange juice?" the little girl squealed enthusiastically, a wide smile making its way across her little, beautiful face. A face that reminded him of her mother's.

"Exactly. We can even make your Mommy some breakfast in bed! Would you like to help me cook?" he asked as the both of them walked out of the room and into the hallway.

"Yes!" the child squealed again. This was the most fun she'd had on a Saturday morning.

"Excellent! Go put on your robe and slippers so we can get started."

Once the girl had put on those two items and left her monkey on her bed, both she and Niles climbed down the stairs and went into the kitchen. He helped her into an apron – the one C.C. had used last night – and began preparing breakfast.

"What do we do first?" the girl asked, peering up at him. "And how should I call you? Mommy calls you Hazel... is your name Hazel? Isn't it a girl's name?"

He nearly burst out laughing at that, "Yes, yes...Hazel is a girl's name."

She stared at him curiously as he gathered ingredients from the fridge and cabinets, "Then why does Mommy call you it? You're not a girl..."

"No, I know," he replied amusedly, setting his finds down on the table next to the mixing bowls. "It's just your Mommy being silly, that's all."

Amelia peeked over at the selection, as her eyes went back to him, "Oh. Then what do I call you?"

Momentarily leaving the unmixed ingredients in the bowl, he crouched so he could look her in the eyes, "You can call me Niles."

The little girl thought, and then nodded, "That's a nice name."

He smiled back, "Well, thank you! I've always thought Amelia was a nice name, too. Would you like to help me mix all of these things together?"

She nodded in agreement, and together they prepared the waffle batter. Niles ladled it into the hot iron as Amelia watched, and then as they waited for the breakfast to cook, they got out plates and prepared the juice and the chocolate milk. He slid a waffle onto the plate in front of Amelia only moments later, a generous amount of cream (and a few strawberries from the fridge) on top.

"Here we are. A breakfast fit for a princess!" he exclaimed overdramatically, bowing to her to make her laugh again.

He then cut it for her – he didn't know if C.C. allowed her to use a knife yet – and gave her the fork so she could dig in.

"This is great!" she said after swallowing a few pieces. "You are the best cook ever!"

Niles felt a strange warmth spreading through his chest. He had just met the young girl, but there was an urge to protect her... to make her happy and kerp her safe. It was then when he knew that (hopefully) bonding with Amelia wouldn't be too hard.

"Thank you very much, Little One," he said as he took a seat in front of Amelia. He was going to let her eat before taking his and C.C.'s breakfast upstairs. "The princess of the house deserves nothing but the best!"

"And what about the queen, huh?" a third voice said from the kitchen door.

C.C. was awake and bad been stood there for some time, neither Amelia nor Niles knew exactly for how long. She had a pleased smile on her face, and in her eyes there was... endearment? Happiness? Love? He didn't quite know, but he sensed it was a good emotion.

"Mommy!" the child exclaimed as she jumped from the chair and ran to greet her mother. "We were going to take your breakfast on a tray! Niles said you deserved to have breakfast in bed!"

C.C. quirked an eyebrow and picked her daughter up, kissing her cheek soundly, "Well, if I'd known that, I'd have stayed in bed!"

She bounced Amelia up and down as she took her back to the table, plopping her down in her seat so she could finish her breakfast.

"But it looks like I'm just going to have to deserve it down here," she took a chair opposite Niles, and grinned at him. "And of course, that gives me the opportunity to say good morning to our very own personal chef!"

Niles smirked back, "Coffee and waffles?"

"Sounds perfect," she answered, pouring Amelia more orange juice as he got up to bring over their breakfasts and the freshly brewed coffee.

"The waffles are really good, Mommy," the little girl told her excitedly. "Niles is great at cooking!"

"That he is, sweetie," C.C.'s eyes travelled to the plate Niles put in front of her, and as he retook his seat and she began to cut her breakfast up, she began to think about how the day was going to go. "Do you have any homework this weekend?"

Amelia's brow furrowed as she thought. "Just a little bit. I have to finish a drawing for my art class and colour a picture for my English class," the girl said, taking another bite of her breakfast.

C.C. nodded. That was good... she didn't have much to do! That meant they could enjoy the day with Niles and then worry about Amelia's homework. And speaking of Amelia's school, now that she and Niles had reconciled, C.C. felt it was rather necessary to visit the Sheffields. Besides, their children were classmates, they'd meet sooner rather than later. Given the situation, she'd prefer their reunion to happen in a private and quiet environment rather than at a parents meeting or in a school event.

It was time...

"Very well then," C.C. said and gulped down some coffee. "You know what we are gonna do today, Amelia? We are going to visit another of Mommy's old friends!"

Both Niles and Amelia looked up at her confusedly. "What friends, Mommy?"

"Well, remember I told you that Mommy once worked as a Broadway producer?"

The girl nodded.

"Well, I worked with this friend for many, many years and I want to visit him again! He is Eve and Jonah's father and Niles lives in his house!"

Amelia's eyes widened. "Really?!"

"Indeed!" C.C. said, delighting in her enthusiasm. "Finish your breakfast so we can get you bathed and all dressed up to go!"

"Okay!" the girl began to wolf down her breakfast, but Niles tenderly reached out a hand and lay it on her arm.

"It's alright, we're not rushing off right this second," he told her. "Take it a little easier."

The girl smiled, and started to eat slower. Niles finished his own breakfast, too, and took his and C.C.'s empty plates and cups over to the dishwasher. She joined him at the sink, and they began to chat quietly.

She had her doubts about whether or not he approved, and they probably needed to talk about that.

"You think it's too soon?" she asked.

Niles emptied the dregs of the coffee into the sink before placing the cup in the dishwasher, "That's not my decision to make."

C.C. quickly eyed her daughter – she was still eating, and not paying attention – before turning back to him.

"I'd like your opinion anyway."

He straightened up, and after he'd taken his own look at Amelia, he began to speak.

"I think now is exactly the right time. You haven't seen them in so long, delaying it wouldn't do anyone any good. And seeing as you ran into me so easily at the children's school, it might be best if we get all of this sorted somewhere more private, don't you think?"

She did think. It was amazing how well their minds could come up with the same suggestions...

She nodded, and he continued, giving her an encouraging smile.

"But, like I said: it's your decision, not mine. I'll just be there to support you, whatever ends up happening."

"Thank you," C.C. said and quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek when Amelia wasn't looking. They hadn't told her about them being a couple so, for the time being, they'd have to limit their displays of affection to just hugs or things of the sort when Amelia was around.

"No problem, love. When she's done I'll clean up so you can bathe her," the butler offered, placing a clear dish on the dish drying rack.

She agreed with his suggestion so, after Amelia had finished eating, Niles took care of cleaning the kitchen while C.C. cleaned her little girl. Having Niles around was proving to be a tremendous help.

Bathing Amelia took C.C. a good hour, though. Enough time for Niles to clean, get dressed and make the beds. He wasn't present when C.C. dried and dressed her child, but he did get to see how a certain blonde dressed up while the girl was left in her room watching a cartoon.

"You look beautiful," he muttered as he came from behind and wrapped his arms around her middle. He couldn't resist the temptation of kissing her neck.

He felt almost smug when her breath hitched – he had found a sensitive patch of skin.

"You think so?" she turned in his embrace and pecked his lips. "It's just one of my suits."

"You look good in anything, Babcock," Niles said as he gave her a kiss of his own.

"Smooth talker," the words were muffled by his kiss, but neither minded.

"Only for you, woman."

They reluctantly cut the snogging session short – they'd have time for that later, they needed to get to the Sheffield mansion – and retrieved Amelia from her room. After they had all put on their coats, the three covered the distance between the two mansions.

They almost looked like any other family, walking hand by hand on a Saturday morning.

Seeing as Niles had the key, they entered through the kitchen door...

Only to come face to face with Maxwell Sheffield himself.

The poor man nearly choked on his breakfast, having looked up at just the wrong moment from eating to look towards the door.

"What the-? Niles? C.C.?!"

He dumped his cutlery and leaped from his seat, eyes darting between the two adults and the little girl in front of him. He hadn't the faintest idea who she was, even though she looked remarkably similar to his former business associate...

"You're...back..." the dark-haired British man was still confused, and he had no idea where to begin with what to do or say!

It was at that moment that Fran pushed her way through from the dining room, "Honey, I heard shouting, is everything-oh my God!"

Now the former nanny was staring, too. And it was starting to make C.C. feel uncomfortable. Niles noticed, and used one hand to squeeze her shoulder reassuringly.

Amelia turned to them, puzzled, "Mommy, why are they staring?"

"Mommy?!" both Sheffields shrieked.

The voices of their parents had also brought the twins running, and they beamed as they caught sight of Amelia.

"Mia!" Eve shouted to her.

They waved to each other, and Amelia looked to her mother again.

"Mommy, and I go and play with Eve and Jonah?"

"Huh?" C.C. was still half-frozen in place from the Sheffields' reaction, but she shook herself out of it long enough to answer. "Oh, yes, as long as their Mommy and Daddy say it's okay..."

She and Niles both felt it might be. The conversation that was about to start was going to be long, and it wasn't for the children. Fran and Max sensed this, too.

"Of course it is okay!" the former nanny exclaimed, beaming down at Amelia. "You go play with Jonah and Eve! If you need anything you just call..." she glanced at C.C., still uncertain, "… your Mommy or any of us."

That seemed to be enough explanation for Amelia. The child nodded, gave her mother a kiss and ran after Eve, who was babbling about playing with her new Barbie mansion.

As soon as the children were gone, the kitchen became uncomfortably silent. Although Niles had guided C.C. inside, the former producer didn't sit down or move. They were in a kind of limbo for almost five minutes, but eventually Fran took matters into her own hands.

"Well, come here and sit down!" the brunette said, smiling at C.C. as she beckoned towards the kitchen table where Maxwell still sat, mouth agape. "We have a lot of talkin' ta do! Don't cha think, honey?"

Maxwell started, almost as though his wife had brought him out of a trance. "Oh... sure! Yes... yes… please, sit down!" he indicated towards the seat by his side. "It's been so long and we have a lot to discuss!"

C.C. finally moved forward, feeling a little bit more at ease.

"Indeed!" Fran piped up, bringing a tray filled with treats to the table. "I wanna know everything about yer wedding and about yer daughter's daddy! I wish you had invited us-"

"Mrs Sheffield…" Niles tried to shut her up, but the damage was done.

Fran froze, mid-sentence, a look of confusion on her face. That was, until Niles slyly indicated down towards C.C.'s hand – very much without a ring on it. Her look of confusion became one of shocked understanding, and then immediately horror.

She held out her hands as if to try and placate the blonde, "Miss Babcock, I swear, I didn't mean ta-"

Maxwell put a hand on his wife's shoulder, "Fran, I think it's best if we just-"

C.C. held up a hand for silence and she got it, "No, no, Maxwell. It's perfectly understandable to assume."

Her understanding didn't make her voice sound any less upset, though. She was well aware that in the society and social class they were living in, it would be more of the done thing to have been married before having a child.

"Perhaps we should all sit down and talk this over," Maxwell pulled out a chair for his wife, as well as taking one himself. "We can start from the beginning, and C.C. can tell us all that she needs to."

Niles pulled out a chair for C.C., and she almost fell into it. She wasn't relaxed about this, even as Niles took a chair and pulled it up next to hers so that he could discreetly hold her hand under the table for comfort. But she was going to have to tell them everything. They were her friends, and some of the most important people in her life. She might have been afraid at the possibility of their rejection, but she'd never know until she talked to them and found out. And besides, they'd let her into their homes and into their lives when most other people would say she didn't deserve it – why would they turn her away now?

The fear was there, but it was overpowered by the desire to reconnect with the people she had considered her closest friends.

There was a teapot filled with tea from Maxwell's breakfast, so the British producer poured some of it into a clean cup, added a splash of milk and a spoonful of sugar before handing it to C.C.. The blonde gave a sharp nod to thank him.

Fran, who was still looking mortified, offered her a piece of Niles' cheesecake, which C.C. promptly took.

"Thank you," C.C. sighed as she was handed a fork.

"It's no problem, C.C.!" Maxwell said. "So... how have you been?"

C.C. pursed her lips. She knew what Maxwell was trying to do – engage in small talk as they batted around the bush. But she wasn't interested in doing that; she'd rather be straightforward and discuss what she needed to discuss.

"I have been okay, thank you for asking," C.C. spoke, taking a bite of her cake. "I am sure you two have many questions and I'd rather go to the crux of the matter. I assume you want to know about my daughter, Amelia, correct?"

Maxwell and Fran exchanged a look, a bit surprised by the blonde's resolute and straightforward attitude. She clearly wanted to clear things up quickly.

The Sheffields nodded.

"Very well," C.C. lay back against her chair and took a deep breath. "When I first quit, I travelled to Argentina and became friends with a man called Patrick. He was staying in the same hotel as I and we toured the city together. We ended up going to a party together – a celebration of Argentina's Independence Day – and we had one to many and… well... a month later I discovered I was pregnant."

Fran looked like she wanted to ask something, but Maxwell stopped her. It seemed he could tell that it was best to let her keep going. Interrupting her flow could upset her, or potentially make her lose track of what she had to say.

And she wanted them to understand everything completely, so she was grateful for the opportunity.

"I had no way of contacting Patrick after I found out – we were only friends, and hadn't talked much about where we lived," she continued. "But I decided to keep Amelia. To raise her by myself, with some help from my father and my brother. And I don't regret it. She is the most precious thing in my life, and with a new job at my father's company, a mansion of my own not too far from here, and now...maybe with all of you back in my life...I feel like perhaps I've started over."

"Started over from what, C.C.?" Maxwell asked, leaning forward in his intrigue.

Well, here came another difficult aspect. C.C. took in a breath to calm herself before explaining.

"I left because I was in a bad place, Maxwell, you know that. After coming back from my stay at the...mental hospital, and no longer thinking I was losing everything I had, I realised that this place wasn't going to help my recovery. I had to get out, relax, and take some me time to clear my head and to think about what I wanted to do with my life. But I think I've done that now. I certainly am much happier than I was back then, and Amelia has a lot to do with that."

Maxwell could only think that he understood. He remembered C.C. had been in a really dark place around the time he and Fran had gotten engaged, and he was glad that – despite the hardships – she had found a balance in her life. He was a little shocked about Amelia, that was certain, but if the girl made his friend happy, then nothing else mattered.

What he couldn't understand, however, was why she hadn't contacted them when she had returned to the States. Why hadn't she said anything? Why had she chosen to hide from them and raise her child by herself? They would have helped her! Offered their support! So, in a way, it hurt him that C.C. hadn't trusted them enough to approach them after her time in Argentina.

"That's... understandable," the British producer eventually said. "However – and pardon me if I appear insensitive – why... why didn't you talk to us when you came back? Why did you shut us out from your life all these years?"

Although the question had certainly caught her unaware, it was the hurt in his voice what disconcerted her the most. Never in twenty years of knowing Maxwell Sheffield had he showed such concern for her or such hurt at her actions... his words were few and simple, but were full of meaning and unspoken feelings. She had supposed (and been partially right) that the Sheffields would be upset by her not telling them about Amelia, but she had never thought they'd be hurt. But it seemed she had underestimated her former associate.

"Maxwell, I was afraid," she started, stirring her tea. "When I found out about Amelia I was still healing and trying to change my toxic habits and-"

"I know that, C.C.. I knew it would take time for you to get over your stay at the sanatorium, but why did you hide from us when you came back? Why did you stay hidden for all these years? We could have helped you... you know we'd have been there for you!"

C.C. heaved a sigh, "That's what you don't seem to understand, Maxwell! I didn't know that! Part of me knew I could trust you, but the possibility of you not accepting my situation as a single parent was a fear that I wasn't able to tackle! I was – still am – worried. Worried about how my daughter is going to be treated by her peers, and part of me feels it is my fault..." she trailed off, and Niles squeezed her hand. She was doing well, but it was a hard conversation. "And I guess that, as years went by and I began to rebuild my life I kept putting this reunion off. Seeing as so much time had passed there was a part of me that was certain that you wouldn't want to have anything to do with me."

The kitchen went almost unbearably quiet. C.C. continued to stare at her tea, not making a move to try and drink any of it. Niles looked at her, his own beverage also untouched.

The Sheffields exchanged their own sorrowful glance. She'd been too afraid of what they'd think of her to come for help...she was their friend, they wouldn't have refused her!

And they weren't going to refuse her now she had chosen to come back, either. They were going to make sure, between them, that she had a support system, and that she always had people to turn to if she needed them.

Niles had been seemingly acting that way at least since he'd stepped into the kitchen with her. He hadn't been surprised about anything, like they had.

That day the twins came home late... and all the Friday evenings that Niles had sneaked out to have dinner with his "old friend"! C.C. must have been the friend. He must have met with her all those weeks ago, they'd talked and had been frequenting each other ever since. It was good that one member of the household had been able to support her, but now it was time for all of them to follow suit.

Fran reached over, and clutched at C.C.'s hand comfortingly, "Well, you can rest assured, Miss Babcock. We want you back here, with us, where ya belong. And we'd be delighted ta have yer little girl, too. You're family, and so is she."

The producer looked up at the former nanny, a spark of hope flashing in her eyes. She couldn't believe she had once hated this woman... and despite their story of animosity she was welcoming her and her daughter back into their lives.

In a sense it was a lot more than she thought she'd be given, and C.C. was thankful.

"Really? You... you think that I am family?"

"But of course you are!" Maxwell piped up, smiling. "And so is Amelia. We are delighted that she and the twins have become friends."

"And so am I," C.C. agreed, smiling truthfully.

Their children befriending one another had happened more than accident than by design, but it was a nice turn of events. Deciding that their children deserved to have some fun while their parents reconnected, the Sheffield, Niles and C.C. spent the day at the mansion, catching up on one another's lives.

And so, hours went past and morning turned into afternoon and then dusk. The light had almost completely drained from the previously light-blue sky when C.C. and Niles agreed that it was time to go home – Amelia had to be fed, bathed and put to bed, so there was no time to lose.

As if on cue, three sets of footsteps ran into the kitchen through the swinging door. They were all dressed up in costumes and had the happiest grins their parents had ever seen on them.

"Mommy, Daddy," Eve said and ran to her parents. "Can Mia spend the nigh here?"

"Yeah, can she stay?" Jonah supported his twin sister.

Fran looked between her husband, Amelia and C.C.. "Well, does Mia want to stay?"

"Yes!" the blonde girl practically screamed before running to her mother. "Please, Mommy, can I stay over?"

The three parents looked at each other and their faces broke into three beaming smiles.

"As long as Maxwell and Na-" C.C. stopped herself in time and gave Fran an apologetic look. "... and Fran agree, then I don't see why not!"

"We'd be pleased to have her with us," Maxwell said, standing from her chair to properly address Amelia. It was remarkable just how much she looked like C.C. "You and your mother are always welcome here."

Amelia giggled and wrapped her arms around Maxwell's legs. "Thank you!" she then turned to her friends. "I can stay!"

The twins cheered and C.C. bit back a chuckle.

"And seeing as you'll be staying over, I'll go get your bag from home," C.C. said and walked to the back door. "I'll be right back."

The former producer quickly left, but it didn't take long for Niles to realise that she had forgotten her keys on the kitchen table. He grabbed them and took after her. He spotted her just a few meters ahead of him, crossing a street, but just when he was about to reach her, he heard the blearing sound of a car horn honking and only moments later, a car coming the wrong way down the street hit C.C., sending her flying across the street.

AN: A bit more dramatic than the first one, we must say. But don't worry, things are not as bad as they look! We'll be uploading a second chapter tonight, too!

As usual, we appreciate reviews and thank you for reading.

HL