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CC absent-mindedly flipped through the script in her hand. After Fran had left, she knew Niles would be along shortly, so hadn’t seen the point in trying to go back to sleep. The ex-Nanny had already confirmed that her ‘boyfriend’ had gone looking for her in what was now Maxwell’s room. She’d raised an eyebrow at the use of the term ‘boyfriend’, but Fran had sworn up and down that she’d heard Niles refer to her as his girlfriend, and CC couldn’t help the blush that crept up on her cheeks. It was still very surreal to use those kinds of words in reference to him - their strange relationship had gone undefined for so long that referring to it in any sense was still a bit of foreign concept. Not to mention how bizarre it was talking about it in said terms with other people, especially Fran.
She’d decided that she may as well use this time to look over some of the scripts she’d brought with her to work on while she waited. Eventually, the door opened and there he was. He’d been a bit longer than she’d anticipated, and she wondered how much of that time he’d spent standing in the corridor working himself up into an anxious mess over her reaction to, what appeared on the face of it to be, his lack of faith in her.
“So… exactly how much trouble am I in?”
CC’s eyes flicked up to look at him over the top of her reading glasses. Despite his overdramatic sad puppy dog face, she could feel the nervous energy radiating off of him from across the room. She had intended to remain expressionless when she looked at him, to keep the upper hand in this little exchange, but seeing him standing in the doorway with his shoes and suit jacket in hand and that ridiculous expression on his face, she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.
She took a second to look him up and down. Very early on in their relationship, she had concluded that there was very little Niles could wear that she did not appreciate for one reason or another. She loved his suits for making him look smart and presentable. She loved his jeans because it was such a rare sight, a little treat, and oh how well they fit him. She even loved his gym gear, if for no other reason than she liked to look at his surprisingly muscled arms and calves. Muscles built from a lifetime of manual labour, and toned nicely thanks to his doctors insisting he frequent the gym. Much to her surprise though, she found that she did have a penchant for his sweaters. She especially loved stealing them rather than putting her own clothes back on. They were always soft, and warm, and always smelled like him, even when freshly washed. The blue one he was wearing now was one of his softest and, as he was well aware, one of her favourites.
Damn that man. He wore that on purpose.
“Less than you would have been if you didn’t look s’damn cute, mister.”
He flashed her his boyish grin and closed the door behind him. He dropped his shoes and the jacket next to the couch and made to climb onto the bed next to her, but she held up her hand.
“Uh-uh. No way. You have exactly one minute to explain this, or you’re banished to the couch.”
He pouted for real this time. “I thought I wasn’t in trouble?”
“I said less trouble, not no trouble. Which is why I said couch and not corridor. 45 seconds.’
He sighed, dramatically looking up to the heavens and placing his hand over his heart. “I regret to inform you, my dear, that you have in fact fallen in love with a complete and utter moron. One who doesn’t deserve you, but would like to spend the rest of his days trying anyway. It would be an honour - nay, a privilege - to be allowed to grace the mattress of one such as you, my beauty.” He took the hand she was holding up and gently kissed her knuckles.
CC tried so hard not to laugh, she really did. And she was almost successful. But when he lowered his head and looked at her through his lashes she gave in, snorting loudly. “Well at least you’re self aware. Gotta give you credit for that I guess”. She patted the space next to her on the bed, “You’re forgiven, Butler Boy.”
Niles grinned and hopped up to lay next to her, stomach down, and rested his chin on his folded arms. She rolled her eyes and shook her head fondly at him and, removing her glasses and placing them and the script on the bedside table, reached out to run a hand through his soft reddish-blond hair. “I must admit though, I can’t say I’m sorry to see you.”
He just lay there, smiling contentedly up at her. The way he looked at her still took her breath away sometimes; she couldn’t remember anyone ever looking at her like that before in her life. Not family. Not former lovers. No-one. Just him. The sheer amount of love and adoration emanating from his entire being could bring her to tears if she thought about it for too long.
“So,” she began, “want to tell me the real reason you followed Fran halfway across the country on a fool's errand?”
“I-,” he realised what she said and an eyebrow raised in surprise.“Fran?”
“Niles, when a woman has been in your bed, it’s only polite to call her by her first name.” He just stared at her, and she nodded. “Yup, you know what? It feels weird saying it. And you are avoiding the question, Hazel.”
He sighed. “Fran’s my best friend. She got a bit worked up over this whole psychic thing, what with her being right about Val and Mr Sheffiled going to Beverly Hills, and she got me worked up too and, well, it wasn’t like I was going to let a woman in her condition fly across the country by herself.”
“Mh-hm.” CC hummed, still stroking his hair, and still feeling like he wasn’t telling her something. “And…?”
“And… I missed you.” he admitted quietly.
She laughed. “I haven’t even been gone 24 hours, dummy.”
“Yes I know, but I don’t just mean this. You two have been working so hard these last few weeks. And I get it Babs, I really do. This sitcom is such a huge deal for the company and I’m so very proud of you. But…” he hesitated and looked down, fingers playing with the pillowslip in front of him. “You just left,” he murmured.
“Oh.” CC paused. Looking back, she really had just left that morning without saying anything to him. Not that they really had time - Maxwell had given her a grand total of an hour’s notice to prepare before leaving for the airport, and she hadn’t even been aware that he was in the mansion when she left until she passed him, assuming he was still out grocery shopping. Still, he had given her more warning when he left for England, and let her give him a proper goodbye. She hadn’t even allowed him a peck on the cheek.
She scooted closer to him and he reached out an arm, wrapping it around her waist, and burying his face against her hip. Her heart ached as she held him. After a few minutes, she moved to lay next to him, and gently cupped his face. “I’m sorry baby. I did,” she kissed the tip of his nose, “leave you,” and on the cheek, “a very cute,” and his forehead, “note.” One final soft kiss on his lips.
He smiled at her. “Yes I did see that. Although only after I had decided to chase you here,” he chuckled. He had almost missed the note, having flung his previous clothes on top of it accidentally when he had decided to change into something “cute”. It was only when he’d turned to leave his room he saw the yellow of the post-it on his bed covers. Short and sweet, she had apologised for her hasty exit, and promised to make it up to him on her return. He didn’t want to admit to her that seeing it had quelled his greatest fear.
It must have shown on his face regardless. She studied him for a moment, and when she spoke her tone was gentle yet serious. “Be honest with me. Did you really believe that I’d leave you for Maxwell? After everything it took to get us to this point?”
“Intellectually? Logically? No, I know you wouldn’t. I really do trust you. But in here?” he gently tapped his chest just over his heart. “I’m terrified you’re going to wake up one day and realise that you could do so much better.”
She leant forward until their foreheads touched. “You were right, you know. Before. I have fallen in love with a complete moron.” She smiled at him, thumb stroking his cheek. “But he’s so smart, and kind, and looks so very handsome in that sweater. I think I might keep him around forever.”
He couldn’t help the tears that began to form at the corner of his eyes as he beamed at her. “You know, that’s the first time you’ve admitted that you love me, witch.”
“No accounting for taste I’m afraid.” she shrugged, laughing loudly when he pounced on her, rolling them over so he was on top, and began to pepper her face and neck with kisses.