Quoth the Raven

Quoth the Raven....Part 2


C.C. laid on her couch, her end table holding half a bottle of vodka and an almost filled ashtray. She was fuming! She glanced at the clock again. 11:30pm. Where the hell were they?! Didn't Raven come out to spend time with her, not some male maid! And why wasn't Niles home in bed, like a good little domestic? Just as C.C. was about to light yet another cigarette, she heard Raven's laughter outside her door. She rolled her eyes and laid down. However, when they didn't come in right away she lept off her couch, crossed to her door and looked out the peephole. Raven was kissing Niles! What the hell? As Raven turned to put her key in the lock, C.C. rushed back to the couch and pretended to be sleeping.

Raven shut and locked the door, then leaned back against it. "How could that man be right under your nose and never ask him out? C.C. you are just not right!" Raven crossed to the couch and said "C.C. I know you are not sleeping. I heard you walk to the door." Which was the reason that Raven kissed Niles.

C.C. opened an eye and said, "Did you have a good time?"

Raven noted with satisfaction the anger in C.C.'s voice. "Yes it was wonder-" she stopped when she noticed the bottle on the table. "Man, C.C. you should really cut down or quit drinking. I worry about you."

"I'll quit drinking when you quit smoking." C.C. said with a huff.

"You smoke too!" Raven pointed out.

"Only when I am extremely stressed."

Raven eyed the ashtray on the table with a smirk.

"I have a big investor I have to schmooze tomorrow." C.C. said defensively.

"Schmooze?? Yeah, ok. I am gonna get a shower and go to sleep. Gotta big date tomorrow afternoon, while you are busy with your 'investor'.

"A date?" C.C. said, following Raven to the bathroom. "With who?"

"With Niles. We are going to take a carriage through Central Park and then we are going to have a Picnic. Sounds very romantic, if you ask me."

C.C. said nothing, just turned and went to bed.

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The next week was hell for anyone around C.C. She snapped at everyone. Her anger came quick and for those who she had no emotional attachments for it meant physical pain. C.C. managed to put an investor who backed out at the last minute, in the hospital. Maxwell was enraged when he had to bail her out of jail.

"Alright C.C." he said in the limo ride home. "This has gone far enough! I don't know what you're problem is and frankly, I don't care. But I am telling you now, you better get it solved, because I simply cannot work with you in this state of mind anymore. I think that you need to take some time off and get your life sorted out. That is, if we can get you out of the assault charges."

C.C. said nothing, just gazed out the window and gave a small sigh.

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Raven burst in the Sheffield's's home without knocking. She rushed into the kitchen where Niles was.

"What do you mean C.C. has been arrested? What happened?"

Niles looked at her in shock. "That was quick! What did you do, fly here?"

"Yeah," Raven said, with a small smile. "On C.C.'s broom. Now what's going on?"

"Well, you know the mood that C.C. has been in the last week. She finally blew. A man who was suppose to invest in the latest show backed out and to put in mildly, C.C. took it upon herself to beat the snot out of the man. Which in turn, prompted the man to press charges. While I think that you're intentions were good and honorable, I think this has gone far enough."

"I disagree."

"What?!?" Niles said looking at her like she was crazy.

"I disagree. Don't you see Niles, this is the time. She needs that extra little push now."

"No, absolutely not. There is no telling what she will do."

"Look, tell ya what. You tell C.C. that you are going back with me to Wyoming. If she looks like she is going to rage, maim and/or kill, I'll tell her everything and take full blame for it. If it works out as I believe it will, C.C. will be begging you to stay and telling you that she loves you. You really have nothing to lose, either way."

"You'll take full responsibility for this?" Raven nodded. "Fine but if it looks like it is too much for her to take, the game is up."

"Deal." said Raven.

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Maxwell walked into the house, followed by a dazed looking C.C. As C.C. stepped down off the landing Niles and Raven appeared in the room, Raven's arm tucked into Niles.

"Well, we have some news." said Raven, beaming.

"When Raven returns to Wyoming I am going with her." Niles said.

C.C. glanced at them with a weary look on her face and started up the stairs. "I am going to go lay down." she said.

Raven's mouth hung open as she watched her friend disappear at the top of the steps. Raven glanced at Maxwell and Niles, then said "I am going to go talk to her. Why don't you tell Maxwell what is going on so he will shut his mouth." Maxwell stared at them, with his mouth still agape.

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Raven found C.C. laying down in Fran's old room. She sat on the bed next to C.C. and said "Hey sweetie, are you ok?"

Still facing away from Raven, C.C. replied "Why now, Raven? In all our years as friends you have never betrayed me. Why are you betraying me now?"

Raven's heart began to race. Does she know about this trick? "What are you talking about C.C.?"

"You have all those friends back in Wyoming. All those people who really care about that you, that are always there for you. All I have is Niles. You can't take him from me." C.C. flipped over. Raven was surprised to see tears streaming down C.C.'s face."Don't you understand? He is all that I have!"

Bingo, thought Raven. Instead she said "Don't you think you should be telling him this and not me?" C.C. started to say something but Raven put her hand up to stop her. "We all have to take risks sometimes in life, C.C. even if we are not sure we are going to like the results. If you spend your life playing it safe, then you are not going to have much of a life. Anyway, you never know. He might just surprise you."

C.C. lowered her head and said with a sigh. "I know that you are right. I've spent my whole damned life playing it safe and look what I have. Nothing. Would you please send him up to me?"

Raven leaned over and kissed C.C.'s cheek. "Sure will."

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After Niles explained the situation to Maxwell, Maxwell sighed and said "No wonder she and Fran got along so well. They both like to play in peoples lives."

"Well sir, I must admit at the time it sounded like a good plan But I fear it backed fired."

At that point Raven came down the stairs, a huge grin on her face. She looked at Niles and said "Go talk to her. Now. She is up Fran's old room. She has somethings she wants to tell you."

Niles raised an eyebrow. "Would you get going?!?" Raven said, bursting out with laughter.

Niles flew up the steps taking them two at a time.

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Niles entered the room to find C.C. sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up at him and said, "Please, sit down." Niles said nothing, simply complied.

Taking a deep breath, C.C. began to speak. "There have been few things in my life that I have actually cared about. And the few things I have cared about, haven't panned out. Just look at Chester. I love that little dog, but he hates me just like most everyone else on this planet. And I guess I don't blame anyone, I just want to know why. Why doesn't anyone care?"

"I don't think that it is that no one cares, C.C. You need to give a little to get anything in this world. You have to be willing to share yourself with others just a small fraction before they will open up to you."

CC turned away for a moment, mulling over his words. Forcing herself to be calm she turned back to Niles. "Niles I......" Her eyes brimmed over with tears and her voice began to tremble. "Please don't leave me!" She buried her face in his chest. Her words were muffled but Niles could still understand her. "You can't go! I'd be lost with out you! I know I act like I hate you but....but....just please don't leave me!" she wailed.

Niles felt as though he were going to burst with happiness. But she had not uttered the words that he wished to hear. Wrapping his arms around her, he said "C.C. what has brought this on? I thought that you hated me. Hell, you have told me that you hate me. Why now-"

He was cutoff as C.C. placed her fingers over his lips. "I know that I have said in the past and please I don't want to hear it again. I have often times been dreadful towards you. I know that and I am sorry. Damn it, Niles you can't leave me! Do you love her? Does she make you happy? Is that why you want to leave?" C.C. raised her head and looked Niles in the eye. "If she truly makes you happy, then tell me and I will send you off with best wishes. But be DAMNED sure this is what you want before you go."

"No, C.C. I don't love her. But I do need someone to love. I cannot take this solitary lifestyle anymore. I have been alone far to long." He let out a small sigh. "I need someone. I have waited and waited on the woman I love to take notice of me, but she never does."

"There is another woman as well as Raven?!?" C.C. gasped.

"Yes, C.C. there is."

"Who is she?" C.C. whispered looking off into space.

"You know her quite well, quite well indeed. She seems like such a bitch but I know under that hard exterior lives a kind and loving woman. Ok, well maybe not kind." he chuckled.

She looked at him in confusion. "I don't know anyone like that."

Gathering her hands in his, he said softly "C.C. sometimes you are very dense, you know that? It's you, I am talking about you."

"You love me?" C.C. questioned.

"I do and I have for a long time. For as long as I can remember. I should have told you before, it's just the time never seemed right with you for some reason." He grinned.

"Oh Niles" C.C. groaned "What fools we have been!"

"What do you mean?"

"I have loved you for as long as I can remember as well. I have been so stupid. I have allowed social status to get in the way of something that is truly important. I never hated you. I acted like I did in hopes that some day I would hate you. But it never happened. And I have been a fool."

Niles eyed her. "You really love me?"

C.C. said nothing, just gazed into his eyes. Then slowly she brought her hand up behind his head while moving her face closer closer to his. Cupping his face with he other hand she kissed him. Her kiss spoke of love and suppressed passion. Her kiss answered all his questions.

When they finally came up for air, Niles said "Not that I am not enjoying myself, but perhaps we should go downstairs and let everyone know what is going on. Mr Sheffield looked very shook up I am afraid."

"Oh, no! But what about Raven! She will be heartbroken!"

Niles chuckled "I don't think so C.C. Let me tell you a story but you must first understand that it was done by people who love you and done for your own good. You must promise not to get angry."

C.C. narrowed her eyes for a moment, then said "Alright, I promise."

Niles proceeded to tell C.C. Raven's plan. When he was finished he said "C.C. you are awfully quite. I hope you understand why we did it and I hope that you are not angry. I think you and I would be in a retirement home before acknowledging our feelings for each other if drastic measure weren't taken."

C.C dropped her gaze to the floor and said nothing. Niles patiently waited for her to gather her thoughts.

Finally she looked up and smiled. "I think that I have one of the greatest friends on the earth. She risked alot as did you. I am lucky to be loved by two such giving people. Niles, thank you for opening my eyes." With a strong hug and a peck they headed downstairs.

Raven was pacing back and forth when C.C. and Niles finally made an appearance. Raven's eyes flashed nervously back and forth between C.C. and Niles, her pacing coming to a halt.

C.C. said nothing, just came down the stairs and headed straight for Raven. Raven flinched back, her arms up in mock distress. "NOT THE WIRE HANGERS!!" Raven screamed. C.C. laughed heartily, then wrapped Raven up in a big hug.

"I am so lucky to have you." C.C said in a strained voice in Raven's ear. "Not many people would do what you did, risk what you did and for that I am truly thankful."

"I love you C.C. I just want to see you happy. You have spent so much time unhappy and it just breaks my heart. You deserve Niles. Though I am not quite sure what he did to deserve you, poor man." Raven teased.

"I love you too. You are the most wonderful friend a woman could have. Though ofcourse you know that this means if I ever get out to Wyoming, I am going to have to do a little match-making of my own. I am not the only one who should be happy."

"Ha-ha! Don't EVEN think about it!" Raven's replied with a gleam in her eye.

Raven left for Wyoming the following day. C.C. and Niles enjoyed the now outed love for each other to the fullest.