Chapter 12

"Mommy?" Amelia´s soft voice asked, poking her head round C.C.'s door. "Mommy are you there?"

C.C. looked up from where she was lying on her side of the bed, barely having moved after her bath. She'd just about managed to put pyjamas on, let alone anything else.

She tried to give her daughter a smile, but found it incredibly difficult, "I'm here, sweetie..."

She wasn't sure she wanted to be, though. That fight with Niles had probably sent things in a horrible direction for them. She wanted to make it up to him, but she wasn't sure how, or even if she could...

Amelia wandered over, and C.C. reluctantly sat up to help lift her daughter onto the bed. The little girl wound her arms around her neck, and the former producer couldn't help but smile at least a little. It was always nice to get a hug from someone when it felt like everything was coming apart at the seams.

And it felt like everything had finally come undone, when Amelia spoke her next words.

"Niles said he had to go out."

C.C.'s felt like a sob caught in her throat.

Go out. Probably a gentle phrase to stop Amelia from worrying. But she knew what it meant. It meant he wasn't coming back. Their fight had been the last straw, and the last they'd ever have. She'd been right all along… he'd wanted out, and their fight had been the incentive he'd needed to finally leave.

There would be no more nights where he'd treasure her entire body, and make her feel like the most sublime woman on Earth. No more waking up in his arms, feeling comfortable and adored. No more getting to spend the time with him and Amelia, pretending to be the proper family that she so very much wanted.

It was going to be just her and Amelia again from then on, and she wasn't sure if she really knew how to cope with that...

And there was no one else to blame but herself.

She had pushed him away instead of talking things out, like Noel had suggested. She had been the one who'd begun a fight when he had only brought her a cup of tea to make her feel better...

She glanced at the cup, still lying on her night table and filled to the brim with Niles' favourite British tea. It was frigid by now, but she intended to drink it. Almost as if to try and briefly forget about the irrevocable and dreadful truth that the love of her life and the man who had been the closest thing Amelia had had to a father, was now gone. Gone thanks to her…

C.C. had to close her eyes tightly so as to try not to cry in front of Amelia, but she didn't quite manage it. A few tears rolled down her cheeks, and much to her surprise Amelia was the one to brush them away.

"Sweetie, I-"

"It's okay, Mommy, you can be sad if you want to. Niles says crying heals the soul," her daughter cut her off gently and went back to hugging her.

Maybe it was the emotion caused by Amelia implicitly allowing her very own mother a moment of weakness, showing a maturity beyond her years in doing so, but C.C. simply couldn't hold herself together any longer. The former producer cried her eyes out, holding onto her baby girl for consolation. She was growing up so fast...

When had she gotten so big?

It seemed only yesterday that she had brought her home from the hospital.

Alone... like she found herself again.

She'd been so sure things between Niles and her were going to work! Why hadn't they?

God... why hadn't they?!

She missed him already, but she couldn't bring herself to leave her bed. Sadness was like a weight tied to her body, and she allowed herself to just lay there, holding her daughter as she cried.

"I promise it will be okay, Mommy, you'll see," the six year old muttered, playing with a loose strand of C.C.'s hair.

She didn't see how, but Amelia was only a little girl and she didn't want to say something so negative in front of her, so she kept it to herself. Tomorrow they'd be back to the routine they'd had, what now felt like a lifetime ago. Her doing everything for her daughter, and no one else would be allowed into their lives again.

Not just because it would hurt too much if someone else left, but because she knew she didn't want to move on from him, even if that meant leaving a gaping wound in her heart for as long as she lived. So she concentrated on her daughter, feeling a numbing depression coming over her at the thought of having had everything but losing it because of her own stupidity. She stroked the girl's back, and made to lie down.

She felt tired. Drained. Like all the happiness was going from her, and it was being replaced by a need to sleep.

She'd sleep. And she's probably dream. She'd probably see him in it, too – maybe they'd be out somewhere, enjoying the day as the family they'd never have. Or maybe they'd be having the fight again, only this time she'd be able to fix it, only to wake up and realise that she couldn't and the despair would take over again. She didn't know. All she knew as she closed her eyes was that she was hoping for a dream in which Niles appeared, if only to be able to see him again.

"Can we see a movie?" Amelia's voice started her out of her forlorn thoughts and her eyes snapped open.

Her first answer would have been no. She didn't want to see any movies or hear any music or even eat anything tasty... she just wanted to sleep.

But it wasn't Amelia's fault that things hadn't worked out between her and Niles; she'd be damned if she failed her daughter, too. She had just costed her a father figure, so the least she could do was humour Amelia and watch a movie together.

"What movie do you want so see?" she said, making a gargantuan effort to at least give her a half-smile.

"Hercules," the girl said. "Do you want me to get us some popcorn?"

C.C. shook her head. "You put on the movie while I prepare some popcorn for the two of us."

She tried not to show just how much she detested saying "the two of us". She loved Amelia, but she missed Niles...

She wanted him back...

She shook herself out of it as she rose to her feet and made her way to the kitchen, though. She couldn't break down now... she had to be strong for Amelia.

As she covered the distance between the room and the kitchen, C.C. tried to endure the heart ache that seeing his possessions lying around the house caused her. He'd probably come for them later during the week. She had to make sure Amelia was not home when he did. She didn't want her to see him leaving…

Eventually, she was back in her room with a bowl full of freshly made popcorn, and mother and daughter snuggled in bed together before they dug in as the movie progressed.

The former producer didn't really know when she fell asleep, but by the time she felt someone slipping underneath the covers with her, the room was silent. She supposed the movie had just ended and Amelia was getting comfortable to sleep.

"Goodnight, Mia," C.C. mumbled, attempting to hug her.

A large – too large for a six-year-old – pair of arms wound their way around her, and it made her open her eyes, confused. She thought she must have been dreaming at first, because even though the eyes she met looked like Amelia's, they most definitely didn't belong to her.

It was Niles.

He'd come back!

And he had a gentle smile on his face. She could feel something behind her, like he had something clenched in his fist, but that didn't matter.

All that mattered was the fact that he was there.

"Mia's asleep in her own bed," he murmured. "I thought it would be easier for us to talk."

He wanted to talk...she hadn't ruined everything to the point of no return?

"You want to talk? Really talk?" she asked, feeling more than a little stupid, especially considering he'd just said they were going to.

And maybe even more so for putting them in a position where they had to.

But he'd returned, and that was what mattered. She shouldn't have doubted him to start with, and she was going to make sure to make things right.

"Of course I want to talk! I love you, and we are just going through ha rough patch, that's all. And we'll solve this, by talking things out! As we should have done," he leaned in and pecked her lips. In a sense, it was like waving a white flag after a long war. It made an unexplainable warmth spread thorough her chest, and she could only hold him close after having thought she'd lost him forever.

"Thank you," she nearly cried, her eyes welling up by the second. "For coming back and for wanting to… to try and solve this."'

"You don't need to thank me!" he moved one of his hands and the strange thing pressed against her back stopped bugging her. "But before we speak, I have to attend to slightly more pressing matters."

C.C.'s brow furrowed. What did he mean by that? What could be more urgent than trying to talk out why they'd nearly split up?!

"Niles, wha-"

"All of what happened, was just a big misunderstanding," he began as he sat up and beckoned for her to do the same. "And we both were too stubborn and fearful to make our concerns known. I love you, C.C.. You are the woman of my life, and I was a coward. I should have told you what I wanted instead of keeping it to myself. But better late than never, right? I want you and your daughter in my life – you are my family, and I want to spend the rest of my days next to you."

She nodded mechanically; she had no clue of what he was talking about. A misunderstanding? Him being a coward? And what did he say that wanted?! But before she could ask, he extended his left arm and opened her hand – on her palm, she could see a little Tiffany & Co. box.

Was this...?

"I guess that what I am trying to say is," he took a deep breath and opened the box with shaking hands. "Will you marry me?"

And C.C felt like she could burst into tears all over again. Scratch the "could", actually; she did burst into tears all over again, and she brought her hands up to cover her mouth due to the overwhelming tidal wave of feelings that were washing over her as a result of his completely unexpected proposal.

He did want to marry her! He wanted her and Amelia in his life, and her stupid thoughts had been nothing but unwarranted anxiety! She felt it dropping away the longer she looked at him and he looked back at her, hope in his eyes and his arm still outstretched.

She couldn't hold it in anymore, with a cry of delight, she threw her arms around him and kissed him hard.

When they eventually pulled away, equally breathless, Niles swallowed.

"So, I, um...I suppose this is your way of saying yes?"

"Yes, Niles!" she laughed, the tears leaking from her eyes now signifying her joy. "Yes, this means I am saying yes!"

And Niles felt his own heart burst with happiness. After dreading the possibility of their relationship suddenly being torn apart, he was now looking forward to them spending the rest of their lives together.

They were going to be a family, and nothing was going to take it away from him!

So, laughing and crying himself, he reached for the hand that C.C. had offered him, and slipped the ring down her finger. She couldn't help but gasp when the piece of jewellery was properly settled on her finger, both because the simple fact she was getting married was marvellous, and also because the ring was breathtakingly beautiful!

He had gotten her a gorgeous cushion-cut Tiffany diamond surrounded by bead-set diamonds. The metal was red gold, and she didn't really know how many carats was. Not that she cared, either. She was just a bit concerned about him spending so much money on her! She knew that they had been living together for over a year now and that, as a consequence, he had been able to save, but he wasn't exactly rolling in money.

Right then it didn't matter, though. Nothing except for the feeling of their hands touching mattered as they both took their time to silently admire the new ring adorning her finger.

They were going to be married...

"I love you!" she exclaimed, making to lie down and pulling him with her.

She almost wordlessly gestured for him to lie on top of her.

"Don't worry," she said, sensing his reserve to lie on her – he feared he would squash her! "I can take it. And I need you... please."

After nearly losing him, she needed to get lost in his arms – she needed to feel him some way. They'd talk, but first she needed reassurance.

There was a part of her that was afraid of this being just a dream...

But it soon went away, as Niles huffed out one single, quiet laugh through his nose, and lay down on top of her, as she had asked, settling between her legs so that he wasn't entirely crushing her. It wasn't a dream. It can't have been a dream – no dream of him (and she'd had plenty) had ever felt this real.

He slipped his arms beneath her, putting them between her and the mattress, and she held him to her, stroking his face and teasing with sliding her fingers up into his hair as she breathed in the warm, familiar scent of his cologne.

He nuzzled his head against hers, and stroked her own cheek with his hand, "I love you so much, C.C..."

"I love you too, Niles," she whispered back, and pecked him on the lips once. Twice. Several times over. She'd come so close to never being able to kiss him again, and she was going to take advantage of the fact that she hadn't.

And then she was going to treasure what she had for the rest of her life.

But first they were going to talk things through. They had to, now that neither one was upset or mad. They could have a proper conversation, and clear the air fully.

And then they'd move forward.

But to move forward, she needed to take the first step – and that step was talking. Talking about everything that was hurting and puzzling her. Only then she'd be truly and really at peace.

"We have to talk," C.C. said softly, threading her fingers through his hair.

"I know," Niles dropped a kiss on her chest and gently rolled them over, so they were spooning. He then wrapped an arm around her waist and nuzzled the back of her neck. "And I agree."

C.C. sighed contentedly, basking in the feeling of being held in his arms; she could also feel the even pace of his heart against her back. The conversation wasn't going to be easy, but it didn't seem impossible, either. It was mainly a way to clear the air – to help them get rid of their fears and misconceptions.

"Good," C.C. entwined one of her hands with Niles'. "And considering everything that has happened I will be straightforward."

"It's probably for the best," Niles crooned, kissing her cheek. "Might I ask why you were so angry with me today?" Niles made a small pause, mostly to prepare himself for the question he was to ask. He knew that Amelia had most likely only listened to a portion of her mother's conversation, but he truly didn't know why she'd ever feel he didn't want her because of Amelia! "Did it have to your conversation with Noel? Because... well... Amelia overheard that perhaps I didn't want you because of her, which is not true at all."

C.C. twitched, as though she were considering turning over to look at him, "It isn't?"

"Of course not," he replied. "How could I not want Amelia? She's your daughter, and..."

He sighed, trailing off.

C.C. made that strange half-twitching, half-turning motion again.

"And, what?" she asked.

Well, here it went. He was about to disclose everything, whether or not she thought it appropriate just yet.

Well, they were engaged now, how could it not be?

"I...love her, as if she were my own," he finished. "I just didn't know if it was the right time to say it. I didn't know if you'd think I was imposing by saying something like that. I wanted to wait until I knew for sure that you wanted me to have that kind of relationship with her."

There was a pause, and C.C. turned in his arms, so that she was facing him. She looked...overjoyed, and overcome by it.

At least the tears in her eyes were happy ones.

"You were waiting..." her voice was almost a whimper, "for me to be okay with it?"

"Yes," he told her quietly, bringing a hand up to cup her cheek and catch any stray tears. "I didn't want to pressure you. Just like I didn't want to pressure you into marrying me. I am sorry, I should have asked about all of this far sooner, but...I just got afraid, that was all. You have Amelia to think of, and I know she comes first. It's only right. I was scared that maybe you wouldn't want me to...fill any kind of role in her life, and that would be enough of a reason to keep you from saying yes if I proposed."

This man...

Oh this wonderful, wonderful man!

What a fool had she been! What fools had they been! It was all a big misunderstanding – one that would have never happened if they'd talked this out sooner. But now they were, and she was completely touched by his words.

He'd wanted to wait for her... wait for her to let him in when she'd already done so! All that she wanted was for them to be a family, and it seemed that so did he. He wasn't imposing anything, by any means! He truly was the love of her life, and he was the closest thing Amelia'd had to a father. What's more, she'd wanted him to feel that way, and it was a blessing that he did.

But then again, their fears had come to try and wreak havoc, and only now where they quelled.

"I love you," she said and pecked his lips before throwing a leg over his hip and wrapping it around it. "This is what I always wanted – this is what Amelia wants! You aren't imposing, by any means, so you don't need to be afraid of that."

She pecked his lips again before pulling away.

"And I am sorry for how I made you feel... I was just sacred! Scared that maybe you didn't want me anymore – that you didn't want us. It was just that... well... you always avoided replying Amelia when she told you she loved you and you also avoided talking about marriage! I thought that maybe you wanted out – that maybe you didn't want too many responsibilities."

"That couldn't be further from the truth," Niles pulled her in close again, kissing every part of her face that he could reach. "I love you. I love you both, so much...I wouldn't want to go a day without either of you!"

"I'm glad to hear that," C.C. was on the brink of bursting into loud sobs. "Because we couldn't imagine a day without you."

She really couldn't. No matter how much she'd just had to think about it for the sake of Amelia, the entire image hadn't seemed real. It had been like a nightmare, complete with the veil that seemed to separate it from the waking world, and the terror that went along with that.

But it wasn't a nightmare. It wasn't even a dream. It was all real. All deliciously real. And she was in his arms; her favourite place to be, if she was being honest.

And she was going to spend the rest of her life in them. She'd wake up like this every morning, and go to bed like it every night...

The thought was terrific – exciting, and overwhelming, and all the most wonderful feelings.

He wanted her. He wanted them both, and it wasn't going to change.

She turned her attention to kissing him back, out of happiness, relief, love, everything she was feeling went into it. It didn't take long for the kisses to deepen. It never did when they were there, like that. But Niles pulled away, pressing a finger against her lips. She whimpered in protest, but knew he must have had a reason for it.

"Hold that thought," he almost growled, a shiver creeping up and down her spine in the most glorious of ways as he got up and hurried to the door.

Checking that it didn't look like Amelia was outside, he closed the door and locked it.

Right now it was time for the two of them to celebrate their engagement in private.

He went back to the bed, climbing on top of a grinning C.C. and starting to caress her body as he kissed her.

She kissed him back, deeply and passionately, and even though the word fiancée sounded brilliant, he knew that he couldn't wait for the day he was able to call her his wife. At least they could get a little head start on the delightful activities of their honeymoon, he thought as he dipped his head and started nipping and kissing at the skin of her neck.

"I love you," she breathed out, wrapping her legs around his middle. She didn't know if it was a gesture of possessiveness, but the only thing she cared about was about having him close. "So very much..."

He continued to kiss her, leaving a trail of kisses along her jaw and neck. His hands had travelled downwards, and they were hitching up her nightgown.

"And I love you," he said, stopping his kisses, but his hands were restless. "And I think it's time for me to show you just how much I love you."

She couldn't help but moan when he carefully removed her underwear. His touch was light, but deliciously teasing at the same time. The way he caressed her skin and the way he kissed her as he did so, it was simply erotic!

After he'd given her one last, intense kiss, he settled in between C.C.'s legs. He teased at first, using his tongue to entertain her but it wasn't nearly enough.

She needed more.

She needed him!

"Niles, please!" she whimpered, and Niles chuckled under his breath as he delivered kisses around her innermost area.

He was teasing her! And she'd be damned but she loved him – she loved this.

"As you wish, love," he crooned and his tongue finally made contact with her awaiting core.

He couldn't see the expression on her face, but the way her fingers tangled in his hair, and her loud moan of satisfaction, told him all he needed to know as his tongue traced circles over her clit, each one harder and slower than the last.

"Oh, God, Niles...yes," she breathed, rolling her hips to meet his tongue harder. "Yes, just like that..."

Well, if this is what she wanted, then that was what she was getting. He curled his forearms around her thighs to hold her steady, and continued to lick, feeling the familiar twitching starting up a little too soon so he returned to her folds, kissing them to prolong her pleasure.

C.C. could only clutch at his locks harder, her breath leaving her in short, loud bursts, "Yes...yes...!"

She could feel herself tightening as his tongue slipped back inside her again, and this time it was joined by his fingers, too, and she could only cry out in pleasure as they started to work her in a steady, pumping rhythm.

God... why was he so good?

It wasn't the first time he went down on her, but it seemed it got better every time they did it. Or, at least, the feeling of his tongue on her and his fingers inside her were making her see the stars. She had to muffle her cries of ecstasy with a pillow as she entangled her other hand in Niles hair. She was close... she could feel it, and so could he.

He sucked harder and pumped his fingers in and out of her, and C.C. was lost in a haze of pleasure and love. And truly, she loved him so much... she'd been terrified of losing this – of losing him... she was truly thankful that he'd come back, because he belonged there.

He belonged with her and Amelia.

"Just like that... yeah... oh God, this feel so good," she rambled, unconsciously spreading her legs farther apart so he had more room. "I love you so much..."

He would have replied, but he had matters to attend to.

And she was only moments away from getting to his goal...

Suddenly, after Niles had given one last expert lick, C.C. had to swallow back her scream of pleasure as her orgasm ripped her body, the waves of pleasure hitting her one after the other.

As her whole body shook, and she caught her breath back while allowing the feeling to ebb away, Niles gave her sensitive core one last, lingering lick, kissed the insides of both her thighs, and climbed back up to hold her in his arms, pressing his lips against hers.

She could taste herself in his kiss, but that didn't matter so much. And as nice as being held by him was, she wanted the next step as well.

"God, I love you so much," she murmured. "I need you..."

"I need you, too," he breathed against her skin, returning to kissing her neck as his hands travelled up and down her sides.

"Then take me," she slipped her hands to his pyjama bottoms, fingers teasing at delving into them. "Come on, Butler Boy, I'm all yours..."

He wasn't going to deny her what she wanted because he wanted it, too, and with a smirk he closed his hands around her wrists, slipping her hands beneath the fabric of his pyjamas. Within moments, they were off, and kicked away onto the floor.

Her nightgown soon followed, and he teased her with the head of his shaft as he settled in between her legs. He rubbed it lightly, always hard enough to stimulate her but never hard enough so as to throw her off the edge.

"You... tease!" she moaned as he continued his delightful assault, rubbing his shaft against her clit.

"Never, love," he replied, looking into her eyes as an impish grin crossed his features. "I love you."

And with that, Niles took a deep breath and plunged into her. He had to muffle their moans of pleasure by pressing their lips together; they simply took a few moments to bask in the glory if being so intimately connected.

It was almost as if everything was right with the universe for an instant – a beautiful instant that seemed to stretch into infinity.

The spell wasn't exactly broken, but rather it was changed as Niles slowly began to thrust. His movements were tranquil and calculated – his thrusts were even, long and deep. He'd take a few moments to press his hips against hers before pulling out, all the while bathing her in kisses and caresses.

But eventually fastening the pace became a bit of a need. The pleasure was building, and to some extent he had to let himself be taken over by it. So the thrusts became harder, and quicker, and deeply felt. But he wanted to last, so he held back, wanting C.C. to feel every possible surge of satisfaction that she could get from his movements.

C.C. wasn't going to complain. Her legs were once more wound tight around his middle, and her nails dug into the flesh of his back as he moved back and forth, her breath hitching every time he pulled in and out, holding onto him like she would never let him go.

God, he felt so good...she couldn't help the myriad of pleasured moans and panted breaths issuing from her body.

She didn't want to. She wanted him to hear just how satisfied he made her.

"Oh, Niles..." she grunted, closing her eyes and biting her lower lip. "Don't ever stop...!"

If he could comply with her wish, he would. Nothing else felt like this, and pleasuring her for the rest of his life sounded like the best way to spend the rest of his days. But he knew he couldn't do that, even in his hazed lust, so he settled for pleasuring her in every way he could right then and there instead.

Besides, he could feel they were close to their peak – at least he wasn't. The intense quivering of her inner walls were a clue that she was also close, and in his mind making her come became foremost. She just had to go before him, even if he felt he was about to explode.

"God... yes... just yes..." she moaned, pulling him closer and muffling her moans by pressing her face against the crook of his neck. "I love you so much..."

He wrapped his arms even tighter around her, almost as if not wanting to ever let her go. He'd been so afraid of losing her... and yet here he was! Here they were – their bodies moving in time, and their hearts pumping against their chests. The feeling was heavenly, and if it were up to him he'd stay inside her forever, but the end was in sight.

It was just a few thrusts away, as a matter of fact.

But wait...

No.

This wasn't going to end!

Not yet.

He suddenly rolled them on the bed, so they were left facing each other. He slowed his thrusting and caught one of her nipples in his mouth as one of his free hands travelled to her clit and began stroking it.

Truly, he intended to make C.C.'s senses go into overdrive.

He felt C.C.'s nails scrape their way up his back and neck and dig in against his scalp, his locks of hair twisted around her fingers, and one of her feet digging hard into the small of his back.

"Oh, God, Niles...!"

His only response was to suck and stroke harder, his tongue circling her nipple as his fingers worked her, occasionally joined by another thrust from his manhood. He slipped his one free hand, which had been on her back, out from under her and caressed it up and down her side, eventually settling it on the nipple he wasn't pleasuring with his mouth. He began to pinch and squeeze and stroke it, and massage the supple flesh around it as he did.

Using everything he had available to him seemed to be working, if the way C.C. was writhing beneath him seemed to say anything about the matter.

"God, you are good," she grunted as he gave another, slightly harder thrust, and lapped at her nipple some more.

He couldn't help the smirk, but it lasted a mere instant. He had more important matters to attend to, and he intended to take her to the brink of ecstasy and back as many times as he could. He would make her cry out in pleasure – make her come the hardest she had ever come...

He wanted to give her an amount of pleasure she'd never felt before, and he wanted it to be special. This was a special night, after all, and he was determined to make good use of it.

And indeed, he expertly took C.C. to the edge, but pulled her right back when she was about to fall into a blissful abyss. He would stop thrusting or slow his movements, and C.C. was too far gone to even protest. The only thing that seemed to exist was physical pleasure – that and the immeasurable love she had for the man who was skilfully worshiping her body.

She loved him so much...

And he loved her. Just as much, it seemed. And for her, that was the only thing that truly mattered.

"Niles... God... please!" she whimpered as he stopped moving just as she was about to come.

"What do you want?" he said softly, too lost in his own pleasure.

"Please..." C.C. felt like her body couldn't take this for longer – she needed to come.

"Tell me what you want!"

"I... I need to come... please... Niles... now!" she cried out, and Niles – who had an impish smirk practically stuck to his face – complied with her wish.

He fastened the pace until he was ramming into her, and using his lips to muffle her cries of ecstasy.

"Niles!" C.C. cried out as she finally got to her powerful (and blissful) culmination alongside him.

And as he emptied himself inside her, he pressed his lips, hard, against her neck, collapsing on top of her from exhaustion and the effort. The kind of effort he would make every day for the rest of his life if it was allowed, as long as he could pleasure her like he had just done.

He was truly spent, and after a few moments in which he caught back some of his breath, he rolled over and off C.C., allowing her to shift so that she could snuggle against his side. He could still feel his heart racing, and hers too. That truly had been a vigorous and passionate session...not that every session wasn't vigorous and passionate, but something about it made them both feel like that particular one had had an extra layer of meaning to it.

Maybe it was because they had talked everything through and cleared the air. Maybe it was because it had been their first in a while, after everything that had gone on. Maybe it was because they were getting married, and they were excited for the fact that they could spend every night for the rest of their lives exactly the way they were, right then.

Or maybe it was a combination of all those things. It didn't really matter.

Niles angled his head, and pressed his lips against C.C.'s forehead, "I love you, so much."

"I love you too," she murmured in reply. "And I must say, that was quite a way to make up."

Niles grinned, "The best way to make up. I'll tell you what: any time we argue from now on, we be sure to talk everything through properly, and then we make up like this. Deal?"

"Deal," C.C. said giving Niles a kiss on the cheek. "But now I think the best thing to do is rest," she gently began stroking his chest and smiling impishly. "Amelia has school tomorrow, so we have an entire day to continue "making up"."

Niles chuckled as he carefully disentangled himself from her and moved to the door so as to unlock it. They also got back into their pyjamas – it wasn't like they could be completely naked in case Amelia needed them during the night!

"That sounds like a wonderful plan to me!" he said as they slipped into bed and he wrapped the covers around them both.

As usual, C.C. nestled herself against his side and rested her head in the crook of his neck – it was her favourite position to sleep in; it made her feel... safe. And loved.

"I love you," C.C. whispered against his skin.

It wasn't hard to detect the trace of her old fears – the fears that had caused them to fight in the first place. It wasn't that she still thought that Niles didn't love her, but rather she was afraid of having doubted him in the first place.

But they weren't going to go back there – not after this.

Instead, Niles simply held C.C. closer to him and dropped a kiss on the crown of her head.

"And I love you too," he said just as softly. "Goodnight, Babs."

C.C. sighed contentedly and finally allowed herself to close her eyes. "Goodnight, Hazel."

And so, the newly engaged couple drifted into the most peaceful sleep they'd had in a long while.

AN: And there you have it! We hope you've enjoyed the chapter :) We'd love to get your reviews!