#fran likes pulling c.c. in a Lot | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

kassandra-lorelei · 7 years ago

Note

Please keep writing about Charity and Jonah. I am loving this storyline.

Here we are, my friend! I had my film festival event yesterday so I got time to finish this last anonymous prompt today! However, I must say that for now I cannot take any more prompts - I’ll be going on holiday on Saturday, and for two weeks I’ll have no way of editing prompts/fics to make them presentable on this site. I’ll be able to take them again when I come back, on 30th June. But for now, please enjoy this fic (and the one other I’m planning on doing to release tomorrow)! <3

@missbabcocks1 @holomoriarty

It was approaching six thirty and Niles was preparing dinner whenthe doorbell went again. He knew exactly who it would be, and he would’verushed to be the one to answer the door had he not been occupied with cuttingup the tomatoes to go in the sauce. It meant that C.C. got there before he did,and he heard her loudly and cheerfully greet Jonah, before bringing the boyinto the kitchen.

He might not have been able to put the boy on his toes bybeing the first person he saw at the house, but wielding a large chef’s knife seemedto achieve the same effect. If C.C. had been close enough, Niles got thefeeling that she would’ve smacked it out of his hand (the glare she wasdirecting at him really and truly helped in that regard), so he settled it downon the counter, put the sauce ingredients on a low simmering heat, and turned to size theboy up.

He’d obviously taken C.C.’s advice earlier to heart. He wasdressed in perhaps the finest suit his parents’ money could buy, and clutchinga bouquet of roses which could almost rival the ones Niles himself had beencultivating for C.C.. Not that he was going to mention how lovely they looked –it was only right and proper that he should bring the nicest flowers he couldafford for Charity-Charlotte!

It was what he himself had done, back during the whole LynnRedgrave incident. Fortunately, now he and his wife shared a whole garden,which he spent many long and happy hours tending to. And when C.C. got homefrom work early enough, they’d sit outside together and enjoy the peace oftheir own home.

Well, they’d also once or twice ended up doing more in thebushes than just pruning, but that was besides the point. And it was certainlynot what he wanted to think about when addressing the boy in front of him.

“Evening, Jonah.”

“Hello, sir,” the boy went to shake his hand but stopped,looking over Niles’ shoulder at the stove. “Oh, you’re making dinner. Is this…maybea bad night after all?”

Before Niles could say anything, C.C. spoke up, giving theboy a reassuring pat on the arm.

“It’s alright! It just means there’ll be leftovers, that’sall,” she smiled. “Where are you gonna take Charity?”

Jonah shuffled, and cleared his throat, “I, uh…I booked areservation at that Italian place just the other side of Studio City. Well, ifshe wants to go, anyway. Is she here now?”

Charity was at home. She was up in her room, probably reading orlistening to music.

“I’ll go get her,” C.C. replied, before quickly leaving to headupstairs. “Charity! Jonah’s here…”

They heard a faraway cry that sounded like a teasing “Oooh!”,before their eldest snapped at Hope to shut up. Then C.C.’s footsteps were onthe stairs before Faith could join in too much, and the noise settled down alittle bit as their mother broke up whatever was about to start.

Either way, it left the two men alone, and this time it wasNiles who wasn’t sure how to start. He had been anticipating the moment thisscenario would arrive all afternoon, but he hadn’t been sure of what he’d say.The things he’d managed to talk about when the boy had come to see him earlier hadjust…well, they’d just come out.

Luckily Jonah spoke up first.

“Thank you for your advice earlier, sir,” he said, shiftinghis hand about as he held onto the stems of the roses. “I know you probablywanna go over a few ground rules with me, before Charity and I go anywhere…”

Niles had to give him some credit – he was clearly tryinghis best to be respectful, even if he was nervous as anything.

It reminded him of the first time he’d proposed, in a lot ofways. He’d tried starting off with respect, intending to just have aconversation with her, but C.C. had gone straight to a zinger and the whole thinghad fallen apart. Of course, it had led to just under twenty years of happinessso far, but Jonah getting a better start such as he was felt more like how mostcouples should start out.

It actually relaxed him, as well. Finding little similaritieshere and there seemed to help ease the tension.

“Well, in a lot of people’s minds, it is a father’sprerogative,” he said, going back to the stove to check on and stir the sauce. “I’msure your father had a few words of his own to add, before your mother cut in.”

“Oh, yeah,” Jonah sounded more relaxed as well, at themention of his parents. “He told me that I should tell you my exact plan, beforeMom kind of grabbed hold of me so that I could tell her everything as well.”

Niles wouldn’t have expected any less from Fran. She adoredher children, and anything to do with dating or their love lives would be a subjectof great interest.

“Sounds familiar,” he nodded, before turning away from thefood again. “So, what is your exact plan?”

Jonah looked like he was thinking about it as he wasanswering, “Well, we’ll go to dinner at the place I told you about, and then Ithought we might go to Universal Studios Citywalk. It’s really nice at night…”

He seemed to take Niles’ silence at that for disapproval, becausehe continued placatingly after.

“But we won’t stay out long, I promise!” he very nearlycried. “We’ll be home by ten forty-five, tops!”

Niles hadn’t been upset, he’d truly just been thinking. Theboy really was making an effort, and he had to respect him for that.

He actually started to smile. It was only little, but it wasa smile nonetheless.

“Alright,” he said, before pointing one finger at Jonah. “Butyou do understand that I’m going to hold you to that promise?”

Jonah smiled as well, and nodded.

“Yes, sir,” he replied. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

That had to be good enough for Niles. The boy wasrespectful, he took advice when it was given to him, and he never seemed to puthis own needs above Charity’s, or anybody else’s.

There were some things Niles still couldn’t fully accept,but that – as some would say – was also a father’s prerogative.

But before he could say anything on the matter, two sets offootsteps – both in heels – came back towards the kitchen.

“Here she is…!” C.C. announced, bringing Charity forward.

Mother and daughter had obviously spent some time trying onclothes and getting hair and makeup sorted, because Charity was dressedexquisitely. The redness of her short dress only highlighted the goldenness ofher cascading hair, and a simple pearl necklace hung about her neck.

She smiled at her boyfriend, “Hey, Jonah.”

The boy looked awestruck.

“Hi, Charity…” he was practically gaping. “You look…beautiful…”

Niles couldn’t do anything else but agree. Charity did lookbeautiful, and he was filled with the same sense of pride that he’d had when they’dfirst brought her home from the hospital.

That was so long ago now. Where had the time gone?

“Oh! These-these are for you,” Jonah remembered to hold outthe flowers that he’d brought for Charity.

She accepted them gratefully, a hint of a blush creeping toher cheeks as she smiled down at them.

“Thanks…” she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “So,um…where are we going?”

Jonah told her, and when Charity readily agreed (more thanhappy at the fact that he’d decided to do something like this), her parents sawthem off from the front door.

They didn’t leave until Jonah’s car drove off and around thecorner, and C.C. must have felt that Niles’ expression was rather forlorn becauseshe gave him a playful nudge in the side.

“Come on, you can’t really think he’s that bad!” she said,teasing but gentle.

Niles sighed, finally turning back into the house.

“I suppose not,” he said. “It’s just something I’ve got toget used to.”

C.C. closed the door, and hurried to catch up with him.

She linked arms with him as they went back into the kitchen,smirking, “They’ve been dating for two years now, Hazel – I know the term“sloth-like” applies to most things you do, but I would’ve thought even yourancient brain would’ve had time to catch up by now!”

Niles rolled his eyes.

“I meant the fact that our little girl is growing up,Babcock!” he explained. “She’s going out into the world! She’ll leave home, probablyget married and have a family of her own…! The time just goes by so fast, I…”

Heaving another sigh, he let go of his wife’s arm and wentto check on the food to distract himself some. Not that it entirely worked – hecould watch after dinner in his sleep, practically.

It wasn’t enough to keep him from what bothered him mostabout the whole arrangement.

“Now that she has Jonah, I’m starting to feel like shedoesn’t need us so much.”

He felt C.C. slip her hand into his own, and pull so that he’dstep away from the stove, turn around and face her.

“Niles, that’s the way it’s supposed to be!” she told him,taking his other hand as well. “Neither one of us lived with our parents forlonger than we had to, and we certainly don’t live with them now!”

Niles pulled a face, “In the case of your mother, can I bethe first to say “thank God”?”

C.C. chuckled low in her throat.

“Get behind me, Dust Buster – I called dibs on head of theline back when we first got married,” she pulled him closer, and wound her armsaround his neck so that he’d settle his on the small of her back. “But I stilllove my father, don’t I?”

Niles wasn’t entirely sure where she was going with what shewas saying, but he nodded anyway.

“Yes, you do…”

His wife slid her hand round to cup his cheek, making surehe was looking her in the eyes.

“Then what makes you think our little girl – or either ofher sisters, for that matter – will be any different?” she asked softly. “Shemight not need us as much anymore, but nothing else is gonna change! It’s alljust a part of life. And no matter how old Charity, Faith, or Hope get, we willstill be a part of that life.”

He paused, considering it all carefully, and could only cometo the conclusion that C.C. was right. Children growing up, falling in love andmoving away was all part of life – he’d known that from the start. There wasn’tany reason to be afraid of it – feelings, shared things, probably even the amountof time spent together weren’t going away, and they probably wouldn’t change verymuch, either.

They were still the same old family, the Brightmores and theSheffields combined. It was just the adventure that would be new. And perhapsthat wasn’t so scary after all.

Even if certain parts of it were still going to make himdispleased with Jonah, whom he’d probably have to practice calling his futureson-in-law, at this rate.

But he wasn’t going to think about that just for the moment.Not when he had his wife in his arms, and she’d just managed to soothe theworry that had been nagging at him for a long time now.

He rested his forehead against hers, “How did I get solucky, to marry such a wise woman?”

C.C. smiled, and reached up to brush her lips over his, “Youcertainly hit the jackpot.”

That he had. And to show her how grateful he was, he leanedin more to capture her lips in a kiss. One kiss quickly became several, andsoon they’d moved across to the table, where C.C. could sit and hold himbetween her legs as they continued to kiss and trade light touches.

It gave Niles more than an idea.

“You know…dinner won’t be ready for a while,” he murmured, pepperingher neck with kisses from her collarbone all the way up to her ear. “How aboutwe have a little dessert first?”

C.C. pulled away to raise an eyebrow at him, “On a tablewhere we’re about to eat with our children?”

That was a good point. Faith and Hope were only upstairs –they could come down at any time, and he didn’t want them to catch their parentsin the middle of something he’d rather they didn’t see.

What they had to do was find somewhere they were unlikely togo, at this time of the day. It was early evening and even though there wasstill a little bit of light it was getting low, so maybe…

He took a step back to allow C.C. to get off the table,before taking her hands with a smirk.

“How about a long walk in the garden?”

#anon asks #the nanny #niles and cc #niles the butler #cc babcock #otp: always been bitter together #otp: butler bitch

7 notes · View notes

kassandra-lorelei · 7 years ago

Note

And I want the reunion scene, please. @holomoriarty

Here we are, sweetie! Enjoy! <3

@holomoriarty

The apartment was clean, it was late morning, so it wasn’ttoo early for visitors, and Niles had just made a cup of tea for C.C. whilstthey waited for the Sheffields to arrive. Even if the New York couple had gotan early flight, they’d probably rested at the hotel for a while first. Franmight not have wanted to, but he could imagine Maxwell insisting – it wouldn’tbe polite to storm down the door of someone’s flat at some God-awful hour ofthe morning, demanding answers to questions.

There was plenty of time for that later in the day.

He carried the steaming mug into the living room, findingC.C. where he’d left her – comfortable on the sofa, apparently deep in thought.

“Here we are, love,” he announced, holding the tea out toher as he prepared to seat himself. “You ready for the big moment?”

C.C. took her drink appreciatively.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied with a sigh. “Really I’mjust mentally preparing myself for all the questions I know are gonna comeflying at us.”

Niles lowered himself onto the seat next to her, “I’d belying if I didn’t say I’d been doing the same. Both Mr and Mrs Sheffieldsounded like they have quite a large number of them.”

She took a sip of her tea, and settled it on the end tableso that she could cuddle up close to him, “Well, I suppose we set ourselves upfor this – we did want them to know.”

“Indeed we did. And it’s the right thing to do, even ifit’ll be difficult,” he wrapped his arm around her, beginning to nuzzle at herear with his lips. “Of course, we could always just go out for the day andpretend they got the wrong address if they call…”

“Oh, stop…!” C.C. chuckled deeply, and poked him in thechest. “We’re not backing out; we’re accepting the fact that they’re comingover, like we wanted them to.”

Niles feigned a grumble as he kissed her cheek, “Spoilsport.”

“Only when it matters, lover,” she purred in return, bringingher lips up to meet his.

He was more than happy to give her the kiss that she wanted,and it quickly grew quite heated. It was hard not to, when she was so close tohim, and her hand was still on his chest, starting to massage just over hisheart. He slipped his hand onto her waist, gripping at her shirt, and moved it downto-

The doorbell cut through the apartment, and they pulled awayin surprise.

C.C. smirked, “Sounds like we have company.”

Niles pouted, and dropped a kiss on her neck, “Hm, just whenthings were getting good…”

“Answer the door, Niles,” she put her hand on his cheek togently push him away. “Things can get good again later.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” he muttered, kissing her palm andgetting up.

He went to the door, opened it, and was immediately knocked almostcompletely back by the sheer force of a colourful, heavily pregnant blurrushing him with a hug in mind.

“Niles!”

“Mrs Sheffield!” it didn’t take too long to overcome theshock, and he rubbed her back a few times before releasing her and gesturinginto the living room. “Hello! Please come in…!”

Fran hurried as quickly as she could to go and greet C.C.,and he was left looking at Maxwell.

The other man’s entrance was far more sober and serious, andhe held out his hand to shake, “Hello, Niles.”

“Hello, sir,” he took the proffered hand, and directed himto follow his wife. “Come on in, please – take a seat. Can I get anybody some tea or coffee?”

“Oh, he hasn’t changed a bit!” Fran said, seating herself onthe arm of the chair that Maxwell took. She then paused, clearly thinking aboutthe situation, and spoke again. “Well, I mean, some things clearly have, butthe basic things are the same.”

“But, as we have all probably gathered, we are not here todiscuss the things that are the same,” Maxwell interjected, leaning forward inhis seat. “That being said, I think we should get started with the most basicquestion.”

Niles blinked, and pointed between them. “No tea or coffeethen?”

“Not right now, Niles,” the British producer replied. “IfI’m going to ask this, I want to ask both you and C.C..”

“Together,” Fran folded her arms over her belly. “Like ya’veboth been fer how long without telling us?”

Her husband’s eyes widened up at her, “Fran!”

“I’m sorry, honey, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer!” shecried in return, before turning on their friends. “Why didn’t ya tell us ya’dmet up? After everything that happened back in New York we were convinced yanever wanted ta see each other again!”

Letting out a sigh, Niles retook his seat next to C.C., “Wethought that too, at first! But…well, we were wrong.”

Maxwell hmphed, “When did you figure that out?”

“We ran into each other again on the way here,” C.C.explained. “For some reason, fate decided that it’d have one last laugh byputting our seats next to each other on the plane. And, after that, weeventually got to talking.”

“And ya’ve been together fer all that time without tellingus?!” Fran was incredulous, probably remembering the number of phone calls they’dhad in which the subject hadn’t come up. “It’s been two whole months!”

“We haven’t been together that long!” Niles argued back,taking C.C.’s hand in his. “After we landed at Heathrow, we went our separateways for a while. I went to start managing the restaurant, C.C. got startedwith a production company in the West End…”

“Then how did you end up coming back together?” Maxwellasked.

“It was…really kinda simple, to be honest,” C.C. answered,looking at Niles and stroking his fingers with her thumb. “We missed eachother.”

It didn’t sound like their former employer could believethat, “You…missed each other?”

C.C. rolled her eyes some, “What, Maxwell, is that so hardto believe?”

“After the way you acted towards each other back in NewYork? Yes, I’d have to say that it is!” he yelled back.

“We talked that over! It was a simple case of misplacedfeelings and misguided attempts at interaction,” Niles wasn’t going to let C.C.stand alone when clarifying the next part. “I was trying to get C.C.’sattention in completely the wrong way by playing pranks and tossing zingers ather, but I was desperate, and it was the only way I knew how.”

“And I was ignoring my feelings for Niles because I knew myfamily wouldn’t want me to be with a butler,” C.C. gripped his hand a littletighter, and kept looking between their joined hands and his eyes. “It…made mekind of bitter, knowing I couldn’t be happy and getting frustrated with myselffor not being happy the way my family wanted me to be. But when I got here andfound a new life away from my family and all the stress of New York, I got tothinking. I didn’t want to be the way I was before. Things had changed. I’dchanged. And I decided that I was going to move forward and be happy, the way Iwanted to be happy. So, I went to Niles’ restaurant, we talked, and the rest ishistory.”

She finished with a little smile. Niles knew she’d been muchhappier recently, and he was glad to be a part of it. After making each othermiserable, it was a lot nicer to watch her smile.

“When did that happen?” Fran’s question brought them back toreality.

Niles answered her question, “That was two, nearly threeweeks ago.”

“And you didn’t tell us before then because…?” Maxwellgestured as though cuing them to answer that, too.

“We both wanted to, but we hadn’t talked about it,” C.C.said. “Niles was waiting for me to feel comfortable before he did anything. Wecalled you as soon as we’d talked it through.”

“Oh,” Maxwell looked like he’d deflated a little. Perhaps someof the anger had left, making him physically smaller. “Well, I suppose we can’tfault you for that…and if you really did talk everything through and make yourpeace, then we can’t fault that, either.”

“We did, sir,” Niles smiled at C.C., and squeezed her hand.“And even if I do say so myself, I’d say we’re rather happy.”

C.C. responded by shuffling closer to him, “Try “completely”and you’ll have it right, Hazel.”

Niles chuckled, “Alright, then. We’re completely happy.”

There was a moment of silence, in which the New York coupleapparently contemplated everything they were seeing. It must have seemedstrange to them, but hopefully they’d explained well enough to straighteneverything out.

Eventually, Fran clasped her hands together over her heart.

“Oh, you guys…!” her voice was full of emotion as she got upto give them both a hug. “I wanna stay mad ‘cause ya didn’t tell us, but I lookat you like this, and I just can’t!”

“It’s okay, Nanny Fine,” C.C. patted the former nanny’sback, before pulling away.

“Yes, it’s all alright,” Niles didn’t linger long afterC.C., and looked at their friend. “Now we’ve explained everything, can we allmove on?”

“I think I can,” Fran sniffed, trying not to cry, nodded andturned to her husband. “Max, honey, what about you?”

They all looked at the man, who stared back at them withmore than a look of sadness and disappointment.

It was making Niles concerned, “Is everything alright, Mr Sheffield?”

Maxwell swallowed a little, “So…neither of you wants to comeback to New York?”

“Max, we talked about this!” Fran wandered back to her husband,hands on her hips as much as she could manage. “You said you weren’t going toask that!”

“I can’t help it, Fran!” Maxwell exclaimed. “Lawrence is a decentbutler, but it’s not the same as having Niles around! And C.C.’s the bestco-producer a company could ever ask for! Choreographers all over New York havecome out of hiding since you’ve been here, but the business just hasn’t beenthe same! Can’t…can’t you maybe just think about coming home…?”

He sounded so upset, Niles couldn’t help but soften just alittle, but he shared an understanding look with C.C. and knew what he had tosay. He had to convince the man that things had changed.

“But sir, this is our home now…!”

“Exactly! We can’t exactly just up sticks and move back toNew York! We have jobs here, and we’re happy where we are!” C.C. agreed.

Even Fran was on their side in the matter, “Max, honey, thisis why I didn’t want you ta say anything! They’re our friends, and if they’rehappy where they are, like Miss Babcock said, we can’t force ‘em ta come backwith us!”

“I know that!” Maxwell wiped his eyes with one hand, beforerunning it back through his hair. “But…I thought I’d give it a try anyway. I’msorry, it’s obvious the two of you are just fine where you are, and I’m veryhappy for you both. I…suppose I’ve just missed the two of you as well. Thehouse hasn’t felt quite the same, and the company…”

Niles and C.C. exchanged another look, and before he couldreply, she’d turned towards the other producer.

“I’m sure it’s doing just fine, Maxwell,” she reassured. “Infact, I think the partners at my company might want to do a deal, I hear it’sdoing so well…”

That seemed to perk him up almost immediately, “A deal?”

“Yeah. A, uh…a transatlantic collaboration of some sort,” C.C.started to smile. “Setting up the same play, both companies running it togetherat the same time, swapping casts; the possibilities are endless!”

Niles didn’t think he’d felt prouder of her – not so far intheir lives together, anyway. She’d just managed to diffuse the whole situationby offering Maxwell a compromise!

And it was one he’d be willing to make as well, if it meantgetting to see his friends more often.

Maxwell was still thinking it over, “So…we’d be workingtogether, even though you’d still be living here?”

“In a sense,” C.C. replied with a half-shrug and a nod.

Niles slipped his free arm up and around her shoulders witha smile, “And I could always take a vacation from the restaurant if we had togo back to New York for any extended period of time. If there were deals to bedone, and whatnot.”

“When would we know if you could make a deal?” Fran asked,apparently excited at the thought.

“Well, I did recommend that my colleagues try out a certainfine dining establishment today,” C.C. grinned at Niles, then at theSheffields. “They might be there right now. If we all go down for lunch, we could catch them and set up the groundwork?”

That definitely caught Fran’s attention, “Ooh! What can weexpect ta be served?”

“We offer a wide range of delicacies from all over theworld,” Niles told her cheerfully, always happy to promote the restaurant. “Ipersonally recommend the Welsh lamb shank, followed by the orange zestcheesecake.”

Fran looked at her husband eagerly, “Whaddya say, honey?”

Niles could see that C.C. and Fran were holding their breathas well as him, as they waited for Maxwell to answer.

And, eventually, the man began to smile.

“I say…that it all sounds like a wonderful idea,” he beamedup at them as he rose to his feet. “Come on, let’s go.”

With a cry of delight, Fran let him wind his arm around herand they began to walk to the door. Niles and C.C. got up too, and weren’t farbehind, until she put her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder.

“And uh, once we’ve had lunch, said goodbye to theSheffields and come back…” she kissed his ear, murmuring. “You and I aregonna have our own transatlantic collaboration, my British Butler Boy.”

Smirking, Niles reached around her back and slipped his handonto her behind, squeezing, “I’m still going to hold you to that, my Americanwitch.”

C.C. chuckled deep in her throat, “Wouldn’t have it anyother way.”

He angled his head to kiss her on the lips, and she releasedhim. Then, hand in hand, they made to follow their friends.

A nice lunch was calling, and if a deal could be made sothey could see the Sheffields and New York a little more often, then all thebetter.

#missbabcocks1 #the nanny #niles and cc #niles the butler #cc babcock #otp: butler bitch #otp: always been bitter together

12 notes · View notes

kassandra-lorelei · 7 years ago

Note

So, new HC this afternoon. Here in the states they had on a special honoring Andrew Lloyd Webber and all I could imagine was Maxwell, Fran and N/CC watching it. The whole show max just whines and claims all the facts are wrong and "that play wasn't really that great" and the whole time N/CC trade whispered jokes and make fun of how dramatic he is behind his back. He's oblivious but Fran hears and keeps supporting her husband while trying not to laugh. Can you write something like this for me?

This was actually an awesome idea, Anon, thank you! Sorry it took a while, I’ve had a busy couple of days between uni, a doctor’s appointment, and my brother moving out of the house. I hope it’s worth it - enjoy! <3

@missbabcocks1 @holomoriarty

Niles had been finishing up his chores for the evening whenhe saw it – Fran curled up on the living room sofa, her arms wrapped around a largebowl of popcorn, and her eyes fixed on the television screen.

Usually there wouldn’t be anything strange about it. It was,after all, her usual routine when Maxwell and C.C. were busy making importantphone calls to the studio workers in the office, and all of the children were elsewherewith their friends. She’d put her feet up, fetch herself a snack or get him tomake one for her, and watch a rom-com or something until their spouses came in,finally finished from a long day’s work.

But what Fran was currently watching looked like a televisionprogramme – and not one of her usual Netflix bouts.

He approached the back of the sofa, “What are you watching?”

“It’s that NBC special, the one markin’ Andrew LloydWebber’s birthday – oh! I cannot believe that man is seventy and still doin’theatre musicals like he does,” Fran answered, grabbing another handful ofpopcorn. “You’d’ve thought that after the knighthood and then the lordship andall the royalties on top o’ that, he’d decide enough was enough and retire offsomewhere, but no.”

“Hm, I suppose some people just live for what they do,”Niles set down the papers he’d been tidying away and rounded the corner of thesofa to take a seat as well. “Pass the popcorn this way.”

She did so, and he settled into watching along with her. Theprogramme was actually quite interesting and enjoyable, once you got into it.

But still there were more interesting things to the butler,and one of them made herself known with the familiar clicking of heels againstthe hardwood floor. C.C. must have finished her work for the evening, and comedown to join them for an evening of light entertainment.

He smiled up at her as she came in, and she stared back theminute she noticed what was on the screen.

“Why are you watching this?” she asked, slightly incredulous.“You both know how much Maxwell hates Andrew Lloyd Webber!”

Niles shrugged back at his wife, “He’s not here.”

“And we still like the shows,” Fran said. “Besides, Maxwellneeds ta learn that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s successes are not his failures.”

C.C. pulled a thoughtful face and sighed, “You do have apoint, there. We’ve been working in television for nearly twenty years, it’sabout time your husband got over all that pettiness.”

Niles smiled to himself. Both women were, of course, rightabout how Maxwell should have been moving on past his grudge against the otherproducer, but they all knew it wasn’t going to happen. It had been a source ofirritation in the household for so long now, it was practically integral. Andit had lasted longer as a source of tension in the house than his and C.C.’s rivalry,which even they had had to admit was impressive.

It had led to all Andrew Lloyd Webber productions being bannedfrom the new house, back when they’d moved to California just before the startof the Millennium. But C.C. wasn’t exactly trying to turn the television off orover, either. And Niles knew why.

“You like Lloyd Webber musicals as well, and you knowit,” he smirked, and rose to his feet to wind his arms around her waist,crooning into her ear. “Now come; sing once again with me our strange duet, mypower over you grows stronger yet…”

He pulled her back onto the sofa with him, and C.C. let outa soft yelp and a chuckle.

“Well, that’s not creepy at all,” she rolled her eyes,before stroking one finger down his chest. “At least the Phantom only had towear half a mask when he went outside…”

Niles hummed pleasurably, and went to brush his lips up herneck, “Play your cards right, and I won’t wear anything…”

“Hey, hey! I’m tryin’ ta watch!” Fran protested, shifting onthe sofa and taking the popcorn bowl back. “If yer gonna do the whole foreplaything, could ya perhaps go somewhere else where there are no other people?”

C.C. lifted his chin up with two of her fingers, so he’dlook her in the face.

“Later, lover,” she murmured with a wink, before addressingFran louder. “Sorry, Nanny Fine. We’ll watch the show now.”

That seemed to settle Fran, “Thank you.”

They got back into watching, Fran keeping mostly a firm holdon the popcorn bowl and Niles keeping a completely firm hold of C.C., who had swungher legs over his lap and had her body resting against his.

They all appeared to be relaxing, Niles nearly dozing off,when a loud voice started them all back to the present moment.

“What the hell are you three doing?!”

They nearly leapt out of their skins; Niles and C.C. clutchedat each other for dear life, and Fran let out a screech as she just about clungonto the popcorn bowl. They all spun to look over the back of the sofa, heartspounding and catching breath back.

“Maxwell, you just gave us all heart attacks!” C.C. exclaimed.

The other producer marched around to the front of the sofa,his face like thunder.

“Like that’s the biggest crime going on in this room!” he shouted,gesturing wildly between the three of them and the television. “Why are you allgathered in here, watching this…this rubbish about Andrew Lloyd Webber?!”

“Because it’s a good show, with some good showtunesattached!” Fran argued back. “Ya might not like the man, honey, but ya gottagive credit where it’s due!”

Her husband folded his arms in a huff, “I can give creditwhere it’s due, Fran. By letting the show go on without me or any member of myfamily watching.”

Niles cocked his head from side to side, “Well, you achievedmost of that – none of the children are here.”

“Don’t be clever, Niles,” Maxwell was on the verge ofsnapping, and he seated himself heavily. ““Credit where it’s due”! It’s notlike there’s so much to make a fuss over…!”

C.C. raised her eyebrows at Niles, muttering, “And yet herewe are…”

Their employer didn’t hear her snide comment. He was too busycaught up in his own bitter jealousy.

“Half of these ideas came from other people anyway!” he saidin contempt.

That left him open to a lot of fun, for the time being.

Niles copied C.C.’s expression back at her, “Remind me howmany writers the sitcom has…?”

“And the other half aren’t even good!” Maxwell complained.“Remember what a flop Love Never Dies was?”

“Remember before this conversation started?” C.C. askedquietly.

Fran heard that one. Niles saw her try not to laugh as she rubbedher husband’s forearm.

“We all remember, sweetie,” she said reassuringly. “And yersitcom’s been a massive success.”

“As big a success as Cats?” Niles asked his wife, a hint ofirony in his tone.

The corners of C.C.’s mouth were twitching into a smile, “Ifit was, he’d turn it down, too.”

“It has, hasn’t it?” Maxwell was only paying attention toFran still. “He can’t even get a simple stage musical right, I’d like to seeAndrew Lloyd Webber try turning his hand to television!”

That was too good an opportunity to resist. Niles puffed hischest out and ran a hand through his hair to make it wavier, and launched intoa pompous impression.

“I’d like to see Andrew Lloyd Webber turning his hand totelevision…!”

Stifling laughter, C.C. joined in with her own impersonation,“Yes, seeing as the last time he turned his hand, it was to give me thefinger…!”

Fran couldn’t help but let out a splutter of laughter atthat. And it finally caught Maxwell’s attention.

“Is something funny, Fran?” he asked, clearly still verymuch annoyed.

“No, honey, nothin’s funny, nothin’ at all…” she repliedquickly, putting the bowl of popcorn down on the coffee table and taking his hand.“Well, apart from yer sitcom, of course! In fact, we have the boxset upstairs,don’t we? Why don’t we let the rest o’ the country get on with celebratin’Andrew Lloyd Webber, go somewhere else, and watch yer show?”

Something about that perked Maxwell up some, “Really? Youmean it?”

“Of course I mean it! You deserve ta celebrate yer own successes,not get caught up in somebody else’s, and you’re my husband,” Fran squeezed hishand “And both of those things are more important than anything else.”

“Well…alright,” Maxwell nodded, calmer as he stood up. “Ithink the boxset is by the television in our bedroom.”

“Then we’ll go find it,” Fran began to beam, and got to herfeet as well. “We can forget all about this whole Andrew Lloyd Webbernonsense!”

They made their way out of the living area, heading for thestairs. But as her husband went up, Fran turned back, snatching up the popcornand shooting a warning scowl at Niles and C.C..

She pointed first at them, and then at the television, “Youtwo are not funny! And record the rest of that for me!”

Niles pressed a button on the remote for her, “Got it.”

“Thank you!” she called out as she left again.

As she did, the remaining married couple breathed a sigh ofrelief.

Niles let his head rest back against the sofa, “Well, that’sanother crisis averted, for another day.”

C.C. shifted, and relaxed back against him again, “Yeah,until they have the next Andrew Lloyd Webber special.”

“Which hopefully won’t be any time soon,” he put one arm aroundher back. “We’ve, um…got this recording – you want to keep watching?”

His wife looked up at him, a teasing glint in her eye, “Why,what else did you have in mind that we could be doing?”

“What you said about…later,” he growled, using his free handto trace patterns on her thigh.

“Oh, I see…” she grinned. “Maxwell and Nanny Fine went totheir room, so you want us to go to ours and think up our own entertainment?”

In one swift movement, he had her lying flat on her back onthe sofa, and was on his hands and knees over her.

“Who said anything about moving anywhere?” he smirked.

C.C. chuckled, “You’d better hope they’re binge-watchingthat boxset, Butler Boy…”

He slowly leaned down to kiss her, “Like the threat ofpeople walking in’s ever stopped us…”

The special on TV eventually finished, but neither of themnoticed.

Some things in life were just too interesting to bedistracted from.

#anon asks #the nanny #niles and cc #niles the butler #cc babcock #otp: butler bitch #otp: always been bitter together

9 notes · View notes

kassandra-lorelei · 8 years ago

Note

Prompt: Niles takes a dancing lesson during the cruise ship (Ship of Fran's) and somehow C.C. tags along. (Maybe he blackmails her hahahahahahaa)

Of course, my friend! I couldn’t fit the blackmail element into it, but I hope you enjoy it just the same. <3

@missbabcocks1 and @holomoriarty

“Remember: slow, slow, quick, quick, slow,” the instructor repeated for what seemed the thousandth time in the past fifteen minutes, if that were even possible. Niles was almost completely sure he should be having more fun than this learning to tango, as he was. When it had been announced over the ship’s speakers by the pool that noon time that there were going to be several varieties of dance lessons available that evening down in the nightclub, he’d actually pretty much jumped at the chance. It seemed a good way to get out and meet people. Besides, he was starting to become resented at the casino. Since he’d discovered that Miss Babcock gave him more luck than a bunch of four-leaf clovers shaped like a horseshoe, he hadn’t lost a single card, dice, or slot game. In return, he’d happily put up with sharing a room with Yetta, and buying the occasional round of drinks afterwards. Well, maybe not ‘occasional round’ so much as ‘all’, but it was still worth it.That was until they said he wasn’t allowed to participate anymore. They were sure he was some kind of cardsharp by this stage, and it was becoming bad for their business for him to keep returning like he was. So, he turned to other pursuits on board instead, including the situation he now found himself in. Stood there, clasping the hand of an older woman who kept babbling at him excitedly about how much fun she was having and how nice it was to meet such a charming and good-looking man when she’d come on the cruise looking for a little fun. He smiled politely – he hoped he was smiling – and nodded in an unsure fashion, and tried to concentrate on the next step, without treading on his dance partner’s toes.Over her shoulder, he could see Miss Babcock doing pretty much the same thing, except she was blatantly ignoring the conversation her partner was trying to have with her. He had no idea why she’d decided to show up as well, probably similar reasons to the woman he now wished he hadn’t asked to dance, but he would have imagined other things on board would be more her style when it came to meeting men. The bars, for instance, or maybe the pool area. He hadn’t actually had any idea of meeting someone in that sense, just to go out and mingle would be enough for him. But when everyone had gathered on the sun loungers out on the pool deck and after Miss Babcock had sufficiently snickered to herself over the prospect of him dancing to something like that, the Sheffields and Miss Fine (the nanny in particular) hadn’t stopped commenting on how romantic it would be if he locked eyes with the woman he was supposed to be with across a dancefloor, and they began to tango. He’d laughed it off, of course. And it appeared as though he was right to do so. There was definitely no spark going on where he currently was. No chemistry, despite how much his partner’s eyes wandered over him and she made comments which weirded him out more than a little. He was just thinking about moving along to the rhythm, let alone anything else.Maybe that was why it all seemed rather lacklustre.And it seemed the dance instructor had a similar thought to him, “I’m not seeing a lot of movement here, ladies and gentlemen! Let’s try to spice things up! Change partners!”“Oh dear, and here we were, having such a lovely time!” the woman’s words came out like a nervous, high-pitched chuckle. But, thankfully, she released the almost death-like grip she had on him. “If you see me around afterwards, I’d love to get a drink, or, or something…”She began playing with the ends of her hair, seeming to be acting coy, but Niles was barely paying attention. He was already looking for his next partner, and he was certain that she’d make him feel less uncomfortable than the partner he’d just had. Maybe they could toss a few zingers around at the expense of this terrible dance class.Luckily, she seemed to have the same idea as him, possibly bored of the other lonely souls who’d taken refuge in this tango. She caught his eye, and nodded, not even seeming reluctant. It had obviously been worse than he’d thought.“Yeah, um…if I see you around,” he muttered hastily to the other woman whose name he hadn’t even learned, before swiftly moving past her to the corner of the dancefloor the one person he knew in the room was currently occupying.“Might I have this dance?” he asked, a smirk playing about his features. “I know that in ballroom it isn’t usually traditional for two men to partner, but as we’re on the high seas, I thought they might allow an exception.”She quirked an eyebrow in response as they began to start afresh, with the music going back to the beginning to draw them back into the dance.“That’s funny, I never realised you actually considered yourself a man,” she retorted, slipping herself into his hold anyway. His arms slipped so naturally around her back, he almost forgot about the insult as they began to move to the rhythm. But not quite.He looked deeply into her eyes as he replied, “Maybe you just haven’t met enough to know one when you see one.”The producer seemed to consider, before the corners of her mouth twitched into a smirk.“Maybe not. There certainly aren’t a lot of shining examples in here.”He felt a bubble of laughter catch in his chest, “Your last partner lacking something?”“Lacking a lot of things, more like it,” she replied, almost looking like the effort to not roll her eyes at him was painful. “But it seemed like what mine lacked, yours made up for in spades. I’m surprised she didn’t leave indents in your arms, the way she was clutching at you like that…”There was something odd about her tone. Like she was almost upset at the fact that a woman had been so interested in him. Maybe her own first partner had just been going through the motions, too, and hadn’t really been paying attention to her.Well, it wasn’t like all attention was good attention. Some kinds – from some people – definitely felt better than others.And it was feeling that way right then. He hadn’t heard the instructor call out anything negative, if he’d heard the instructor call out at all. He hadn’t been paying attention to other things outside their own conversation, and he was surprised that they were keeping to the rhythm when they could so easily make their own…and he so wanted to make their own. Holding her so close, with her lithe, curvaceous body pressed against his, the heat and the friction between them building gloriously…The steps flowed smoother. The turns were sharper. The beat was pounding in his head and in his chest.It was electrifying.Other couples stopped, and started to watch. The woman he’d been partnered with at first started to glare. The instructor praised them for their obvious skill and chemistry. But they saw and heard none of it. They were locked in each other’s eyes, arms, and in the music. As the dance came to an end and he brought C.C. back up to face him, he murmured to her seductively, his face bare inches from her own.“There’s only one person around here I’d let leave a mark on me.”She gulped heavily, trying to control her heavy, almost pant-like breathing, “A visible one?”He tightened his arms around her waist, and growled, “Depends on how many clothes I’m wearing.”“My cabin or yours?” she purred back at him, and gripped his shoulders as he pulled her closer than the tango had ever made them be. The other dancers had been asked to return to their lesson, so they didn’t feel quite as shameless as they would have done.“Yours,” he said, very quickly nipping her ear as she pressed her hips against his. “The last thing I need is an old woman wandering in asking if this was the place where they gave the massages.”A chuckle made its way up from her throat, “Well, maybe massages will be involved. After a private dance or two, of course.”He unwound himself from her, and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the exit as he crooned, “Muy bien, mi belleza.”

She might have commented on the lack of real men in the room, but she was going to see one as soon as they got back to her cabin. And they certainly weren’t going to lack chemistry there.The tango lesson continued after they’d left, but all the heat had gone with them.

#the nanny #anon asks #niles and cc #niles the butler #cc babcock #otp: butler bitch #otp: always been bitter together

14 notes · View notes

kassandra-lorelei · 8 years ago

Note

Prompt: Niles doesn't prank C.C. when he awakens after his heart attack - instead, he appreciates her company and kindness

Of course, my friend! Here you are…

@missbabcocks1 and @holomoriarty

The delighted squeals that could only come from Miss Fine were the first things he heard above the beeping of monitors when he opened his eyes, finding himself in an unfamiliar hospital room. But his friends were nowhere to be seen. Strange. He’d definitely heard Fran crying out Mr Sheffield’s name over to his left…where there was a curtain pulled across. That could surely only mean…in a hospital room, next to him as he lay there in bed?He thought about coughing, or calling out to try and get their attention. And to potentially stop someone from walking in on them.But he thought better of it. It was better leave them to it. It had certainly taken them long enough, and as long as no one went behind the curtain for a while, everything would be fine. Their relationship would move in the right direction.The sight of a blonde head with a smiling face appearing at the door made him wonder about certain relationships of his own. His mind kept wandering back to the dreams he’d experienced – seeing himself rich, powerful, and perhaps most importantly of all, loved by the woman he now found himself blinking up at. He’d never seen Miss Babcock smile at him the way she had in his dream – full of hope, and with willingness when he’d wrapped her in his arms – but the way she was looking at him now somehow made him feel just as good. Especially considering the last thing he remembered before all of this had happened was a growing look of concern on her features, accompanied by the pain in his chest.Now, she looked happy. More than happy. She looked relieved.“Niles, oh, I’m so glad you’re awake!” her voice was soft, and oddly tender as she approached his bedside, an arrangement of flowers in her hands. He’d never seen her quite like this. And they never talked about how they felt. Was she taking extra care to be gentle because he’d just had a heart attack? That didn’t seem like her at all. Had his heart attack made her realise something about them? A large part of him doubted that, too, but it was a nice thought to have. What was even nicer was being able to see her, even if she wasn’t quite as she had been in his wild, cardiac arrest-induced fantasy. She settled the flowers on his bedside table, and removed a paper bag from beside him as she seated herself, “How are you feeling? Is there anything I can get for you?”A dark place in his mind told him to ask her for another pillow, forcing her to go behind the curtain and see for herself that their employer’s interests clearly didn’t lie with her so she should look elsewhere. That dark place was more than a little angry – perhaps frustrated because their reality didn’t match what his mind had invented. But he couldn’t let that place win. It wasn’t completely her fault the dream wasn’t real; he had a lot to do with it, too. And their relationship, if that is what it could be called, had been improving a lot recently. He could see it getting even better, too, if they were both willing to try. Did he really want to sabotage that strengthening connection, all for the sake of satisfying a small, bitter part of himself?No. Even if saying it out loud just yet would be uncomfortable, he knew she was worth more to him than that.“I’m…alright, really. And no, thank you,” his voice came out slightly rasping, and he swallowed to try and clear it.“Do you need some water?” the producer asked immediately, seeming to move to reach either for the call button, or to perhaps go and find him water herself. He held out his hand to stop her, “No, no…thank you. If…if you don’t mind, Miss Babcock, could you perhaps just…sit with me? At least, for a while?”The words surprised her almost as much as they surprised him. He didn’t know where the sudden boldness had come from, and he wasn’t sure if it had been the best idea. Her asking him if there was anything she could do had clearly been too tempting for the part of him ready to get on with advancing their relationship. He expected her to perhaps take back her offer to get anything for him and then leave, rather than having to face whatever happened next.But her smile, although slightly smaller now, didn’t falter for an instant, “Of course I can.”She slipped her handbag off her arm, settling it on the floor beside her, and as she looked up again he noticed something. A redness, around her eyes, and a slight wet trail leading half-way down her cheeks, as though tears had been there but had been quickly wiped away.He reached for the button that would lift his bed up, so he was more upright, and observed her more carefully in the silence that followed. Yes, they were definitely there – it hadn’t been just a trick of the light. There were actual tear stains on her face, some apparently hastily covered up by more makeup, but some still slightly showing through.He blinked slowly, “Miss Babcock, I, uh…I hate to appear indelicate, but…have you been crying?”She immediately turned her head away toward the door, “No.”He frowned, “Then…why aren’t you looking at me?”“Why should I?” her stubborn words shook a little, as though she were going to start crying again.“Because when someone visits someone else in a hospital, they usually at least try to look at them,” he replied. “I hear it’s common practice.”She choked out a laugh. It sounded half like a sob, “Yeah, well, I don’t come to hospitals very often.”She made what she thought was a discreet move by reaching up with one hand and rubbing part of her neck, but he knew her sleeve was being used to catch tears before they could roll down her cheeks. Her other hand was resting on the mattress, next to him, and he longed to reach out and take it; to squeeze it, and reassure her that everything was fine. That he was fine. Well, there was one way he could do that without touching her. One way he could make everything go back to normal without making any gesture that might be too odd or uncomfortable.“Really?” he asked. “I assumed that, as the Grim Reaper, you’d have to make hospital visits regularly.”That got her to look at him. There were still some signs of tears in the corners of her eyes, too, but her look was unamused. Really and truly unamused.“Really? You’re gonna make death jokes, after what just happened?” she asked, swallowing.He felt a pit open up inside him, and he wished it would open up so wide he’d collapse in on himself. At this point, no part of him was denying that she had been crying for him, even if she wouldn’t say so. It had most likely been an extremely emotional time for her, and if she mentioned it to him or not, she had cared enough both to be moved to tears and to try and put on a happy front when she entered his room. His zinger really hadn’t been the best thought-out one. It had just come to him naturally.“You’re right,” he sighed, shaking his head and looking away from her, towards his bedsheets. “I’m sorry. I just…I saw that you were upset, and I thought that maybe a little wordplay might set things back on the right track.”The producer said nothing (not even to clarify what “on the right track” meant in this case), but his head snapped back towards her as he felt a hand reach out and envelope his own, gripping it as though hanging on for dear life. His blue eyes met her own, and in them he swore he could see a hint of affection as the corners of her mouth turned upwards.“Let’s just…focus on you getting better first, okay?” she rubbed at his fingers with her thumb, before bringing her other hand up and clasping his hand between both of hers. “We can pick up right where we left off when you’re out of here.”His heart might have not been working only hours ago, but now it felt like it belonged in the chest of a much younger, healthier man. And it was bursting with happiness. Whatever was going on between them wasn’t going away; they both knew that. It was going to get stronger, as long as they kept working at it. “Thank you,” he couldn’t help but whisper, his own smile coming back to match her own.“Any time,” Miss Babcock said, and he knew she meant it. “I know I don’t come to places like this too often or…well, really say stuff like this, but, uh…I’m glad I’m here. To see you get better again, I mean.”“I know what you mean,” he replied, nodding a little. “And I know I don’t say it so often either, but I’m glad you’re here, too.”They smiled at each other, and fell silent again as their eyes drifted back to their hands. At some point in the conversation, their fingers had become intertwined. Neither of them made to change this. It felt strangely comfortable, and very secure – like even something as frightening as staring one’s own mortality in the face wasn’t going to be enough to separate them. He realised then in his head and in his heart that he wasn’t going to let it separate them. He silently vowed that as soon as he got out of the hospital, he was going to make sure that nothing ever did again. That cardiac arrest-induced fantasy would be a dream come true yet.

#anon asks #the nanny #niles and cc #niles the butler #cc babcock

22 notes · View notes

kassandra-lorelei · 8 years ago

Note

Sorry for bothering you again, but I was wondering if you could actually write something with Max and Niles, because I would love to see something of their relationship(friendship of course). Maybe Niles getting sick when the kids and Fran are out and C.C is at home. Of Niles being drunk as hell? At least Max taking care of his butler for once? I would love it.

Please don’t ever think you’re bothering me, honey, I love talking to people on this site. Here you are, sweetie! The first thing that came to mind was Niles being unwell, so I went with that, if you don’t mind. Also it’s set post-Season 6. Enjoy! <3

It wasn’t often that it was just the two of them in the house anymore. With Fran and the children out shopping with her parents and C.C. offering to hold the fort down at the studio (once every party involved had agreed that it wouldn’t be too much of a strain for her, given her pregnancy), that left Maxwell some time by himself to really relax while Niles got on with his duties. It had been a while since he had taken a break for this long, what with the twins arriving and the move to the new house in the new state and a new exciting career that required a large amount of his attention.He was rather looking forward to it, as it so happened.It was amazing how plans could change so quickly, really, as he found out when he called for the butler to bring him some tea, and Niles shuffled in, white as a sheet and looking like he were about to vomit all over the carpet. Maxwell was just about to flippantly ask for the tea and perhaps one of the muffins he’d seen the butler baking the other day, when he actually looked properly at his friend. It was more than just being pale and appearing nauseous – there was sweat starting to appear on the man’s forehead, and he was shaking.He sat up straight on the sofa, looking him up and down, “Are you alright, Old Man?”“Just a slight cold, sir,” Niles dismissed him with a vague wave of his hand, and swaying slightly on his feet with the movement. “What can I do for you?”“Well, you can start by sitting down before you fall down,” the producer leapt up from his seat, and patted the cushions, indicating that the butler should sit there. “This can’t be just a cold, Niles. You look more like you’re coming down with the flu, Old Man.”A pained and slightly irritated look crossed Niles’ face, “Just my luck. I was feeling perfectly fine this morning.”“Yes, well, these things happen,” Maxwell seated himself on the coffee table in front of Niles. “The important part is making sure you get better again, so I’m going to insist that you take the rest of the day off, and get some bedrest. Alright?”The butler nodded, “If you insist, sir.”He tried to get up from the sofa, but it was taking almost a gargantuan effort. Maxwell watched his friend for a moment, concern growing on his face and inside him in general. The poor man was clearly very ill and had probably been keeping it to himself for the entire day. He supposed that Niles hadn’t wanted C.C. to worry about going to work. Well, she’d find out when she got home, anyway. Perhaps he should call her and let her know…no, she was busy doing both their jobs right that minute and would have enough on her mind there. The last thing she needed was to hear that her husband was unwell as well. It was the two of them. Just like when they first came to New York. Only this time, it was his turn to look after his friend. Niles had looked after him for so many years and they’d been through so much together, he supposed it was only right and fair. And, truth be told, he didn’t like seeing him like this at all.Rising from the coffee table, he slipped an arm around Niles’ back and pulled the butler to his feet, turning to help him towards the stairs without another word. Niles blinked slowly at his employer, “Sir…what are you doing?”“Helping my friend, because he clearly can’t help himself,” Maxwell replied firmly. “You couldn’t even get off the sofa, Old Man. I’m not risking you falling and injuring yourself on the stairs.”There was a pause, and then Niles muttered, “Thank you, sir.”“Not a problem,” his employer said. “Now, let’s get you to your room.”They climbed the stairs in silence, and Maxwell managed to manoeuvre a staggering Niles into his and C.C.’s room, settling him on the bed and even taking off his jacket and shoes for him and plumping up some pillows behind him as Niles tugged the covers up around himself. Maxwell then paused, his hands on his hips as he thought out loud, “There…well, what do I do next?”“You don’t have to do anything, sir,” Niles said. “You got me up here, I’ll be fine now.”“No, no – you take care of all of us all the time, and now it’s my turn to repay the favour,” the producer clasped his hands together, rubbing them slightly. “So, what should I do now? Do you need water? More blankets? Should I give it a go at heating up some soup for you?”Niles looked at him, a deadpan expression showing through the haze of his illness, “Would you like me to burn the house down and just save on the trouble of that last one, sir?”Maxwell gave him an unimpressed look in return, and Niles relented.“It’s the illness speaking.”“Of course it is,” Maxwell nodded, turning for the door. “I’ll bring you some water, and then see about making you some soup – how does that sound?”“Fine by me. Thank you, sir,” his friend called out weakly, and he heard the rustling of sheets as the butler got more comfortable.“No need to thank,” Maxwell took one last look over his shoulder. “Just helping out a friend.”Niles smiled gratefully, “Soup recipes are in the book, in the top drawer…to the left of the sink.”“Thank you, Old Man,” the producer nodded, knowing full well he wouldn’t have had a clue as to what to do otherwise. He was happy that Niles knew he wouldn’t, either.He left the room, and headed downstairs. Now that he was committed to helping his friend for the day, he was going to try his absolute hardest to make sure the man rested and got better again. He knew that meant lots of fluids, making sure he was comfortable, and maybe calling the studio so that the butler could at least talk to his wife for a while.His own day of rest and relaxation would just have to happen another day.

#myaimwentaway #the nanny #maxwell sheffield #niles the butler

6 notes · View notes