A/N: Hi guys. Here's the prologue again of a story I posted in the advent calendar. It's written for oldpaul who wanted a story where Niles and C.C. have to pretend to be together. I'll be updating gradually as I write the next few chapters. In the meantime, read and review please! :)

Charades

Prologue:

"And people actually like this?" C.C. Babcock asked sceptically while her friend gently shepherded her through the masses of people.

"This is the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, how can you not?" she chuckled in response and tugged her closer by her elbow.

C.C. swallowed down the snarky comments that were already forming on her tongue and instead had another look around. The bare trees had been decorated with a multitude of lights that made the place look pretty enough, that much C.C. could follow. But the rest of it was bordering on insanity. Stalls had been squeezed into every available corner, forcing the visitors into a close line of elbow bumping and foot stamping that nobody in their right mind could consider enjoyable. But what was the greatest turn-off for C.C. was the fair-like atmosphere. A giant Ferris-wheel had been assembled at the back of the market, looming dangerously above it all; vendors were praising their products noisily from every angle and Christmas music was blaring over it. If C.C. hadn't been there with a friend she would've already left the place a while ago. But Cathy seemed to love it if the smile on her face was any indication and C.C. found that friends were hard to come by these days so it was in her best interest to keep this one happy.

"How about something to eat?"

"No, I'm alright." C.C. shrugged it off but Cathy would have none of it.

"You complained earlier how hungry you were. Now let's get you something, perhaps that'll get you more into the mood."

"Into the mood to throw up…" C.C. muttered under her breath "is this even safe? I mean, do they have a food license?"

"Oh for God's sake, don't be such a snob. Just trust me on this, you'll like it."

And allowing not one more word of protest Cathy dragged her towards the centre of the market where they had previously passed the food stands, bars and taverns. Truth be told, C.C. wouldn't have argued anymore either. Her friend's attitude and behaviour was sometimes so reminiscent of Sara's that she found it difficult to deal with or say no to.

"So what do you fancy? Some German food at the Bavarian Village? Some farmhouse food at the Fire Pit? Some more traditional food? Or…I know! The House of St Nicholas! They have a moose head mounted on the wall that'll sing Christmas songs!"

"Oh fantastic! That's just the kind of experience I was afraid I'd miss out on!" C.C. remarked with her own brand of dry enthusiasm.

"Oh just shut up or I will drag you to the moose. His name is Ernie, by the way."

"Good to know," C.C. grinned and craned her neck to identify the least horrible location "how about the Star Tavern? Hog Roast doesn't sound too bad."

"That's the spirit," Cathy smiled and led her in the direction of the little half-timbered houses but before they could reach them, she let out a brief squeal of delight, let go of C.C.'s arm and steered away through the crowd.

"Hey," C.C. frowned and followed suit.

Apparently her friend had spotted someone she knew but when C.C. noticed just who it was she stopped dead in her tracks and was swallowed up by the crowd a second later. Fortunately, this gave her a moment to make sure it was really him she was seeing and to pull herself together. Because there was no doubt, deep in conversation with her friend and smiling happily was none other than Niles Brightmore, the Sheffield's butler. Several years had passed since their last conversation on the stairs of the Sheffield's mansion and they had both aged and changed since then. As a matter of fact, C.C. could only imagine what Niles would've said to her new hairstyle and colour had things been normal between them. But everything was far from that. She could remember his hurtful words very well, his threatening warning that she'd end up old and alone seeking solace in alcohol because she wasn't ready to commit to his ridiculous proposals. Likewise, she assumed, Niles would still be just as sore about her rejections. Nonetheless, she couldn't possibly stay hidden forever and finally took a step out of the crowd. His shock was priceless and his facial expressions almost an exact replica of hers just a moment before.

"Oh there you are," Cathy smiled "I thought I'd lost you."

"Well, you shouldn't have run off then, should you?" C.C. commented, keeping her eyes firmly on her friend.

"Yes yes, no need to snap. I just suddenly spotted Niles," she turned a bit to gesture to him "Tom used to work at his restaurant before we moved to London."

"You have your own restaurant now?" C.C. asked, arching an eyebrow but Niles only nodded. "Congratulations." Her voice was devoid of emotion even though a part of her was proud of him for finally taking such a big step.

"So you 2 know each other?" Cathy interrupted surprised, although C.C. was certain that she was able to surmise from their brief but chilly exchange that they weren't on particularly good terms.

"Yes," they both said and left it at that.

An awkward silence fell over the little group and C.C. could practically hear the gears in Cathy's mind turning, wondering if she should dare to ask how they knew each other. But luckily it didn't come to that.

"Ah Niles, finally I've found you!" an old woman announced who robustly pushed her way through the crowd.

She was short but round and although her face was lined with wrinkles her eyes were fierce and alive and she seemed much lighter on her feet than expected for a woman of her age.

"It was you who suddenly disappeared, Maman." Niles replied, chuckling amused.

"Well, one of the vendors had calissons and I remembered how much your father liked them so I had to buy a bag. Perhaps we can drop it off at the hospital tomorrow." She stopped abruptly and looked from C.C. to Cathy "I'm sorry, how terribly rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself. Marie Brightmore."

"Cathy Sinclair," C.C.'s friend smiled and offered her hand "a pleasure to finally meet you. My husband used to work for your son a while ago and we're still talking about some of your amazing recipes."

"Are you now?" Marie asked, shooting a look at Niles who seemed to squirm on the spot "Would that be those recipes you never asked my permission for to use them?"

"I thought we had settled this, Maman…" Niles began but Marie lifted up her hand.

"And this must be her then?" she continued, her eyes resting solely on C.C. now.

Suddenly Niles' previous reaction didn't seem so ridiculous anymore; there was definitely something about his mother that made her want to stand up straighter.

Niles' jaw twitched and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "Yes, that's her."

C.C. frowned but wasn't given the chance to ask if he had really blabbed to his mother about the events in New York.

"Oh my darling, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you!" Marie exclaimed happily and enveloped her in a warm embrace "You really work too much but now that you're here you must come and meet me and my husband."

C.C. opened her mouth to ask what kind of game was being played but the stony, almost angry expression in Niles' eyes made her stop.

"Uh yes," she cleared her throat "why don't we go and get you two some hot cocoa, mmh? It's freezing."

"That'd be lovely," Marie smiled and then tugged her closer "and tell them to add a little bit of Bailey's."

"Sure," C.C. nodded numbly and then manoeuvred her way through the crowd again and towards one of the stalls, Niles right behind her."What the hell is going on?" she hissed, after she had ordered the drinks.

"God's idea of a sick joke, apparently," Niles muttered but eventually started to explain more when C.C.'s annoyed stare became too much "My father hasn't been doing so well lately. He isn't nearly as mobile anymore as he used to be and after…well," he paused and cleared his throat "after I returned to England he grew more and more concerned about my love life. My parents are both very family oriented and he just didn't want me to end up alone…"

"How ironic," C.C. muttered bitterly "and how touching. But how do I fit in the picture?"

Niles' heart clenched painfully; there had been a time when he had known and imagined several ways in which she could fit into his life.

"I told my dad a while ago that I was seeing someone and that we were getting serious…I just wanted him to stop worrying."

"And they never wondered why you didn't bring anyone home to introduce them?" C.C. probed, disbelieving.

"I came up with excuses," he shrugged "I told them she was a successful business woman, travelling the globe a lot. I told them she wasn't comfortable around families or meetings with the in-laws."

He had basically been describing her, Niles realised quietly.

"And they bought that? My God they're naïve!"

"Hey," Niles warned her sharply "you can say all you want about me but do not insult my parents. Of course I know that this couldn't go on forever," he hastily continued before the conversation could escalate further "so I told my mother that she was in town and that we'd meet her at the Christmas market. I was hoping to get away with another excuse…that we didn't find each other in the crowd or…I don't know…something that would at least make them believe that there would've been a supposed meeting. But then Cathy saw me and you appeared and then my mother asked and well…here we are…"

He stopped and ran a hand through his hair that was moist from the melted snowflakes.

"If you're expecting me to pretend to be your girlfriend you've got another thing coming." C.C. remarked and picked up two cups of hot chocolate but suddenly Niles' hand closed firmly around her wrist.

"You owe me, Babcock," he growled lowly and quietly and with such hostility that it made her freeze.

She'd seen him angry before and had never much enjoyed it (his annoyance or grumpiness had always been much more entertaining) but now he was deadly serious and she knew that he wouldn't take no for an answer. Normally that wouldn't have bothered her in the least and in that moment it really shouldn't have done either considering the things he had said to her in the past. But there was a part, albeit miniscule, that felt guilty for the way she had handled things in New York. And there was a part that didn't want to let the old lady and her sick husband down.

"Fine," she agreed quietly "I'll act out this farce with you but only this weekend. One trip to your father's hospital and that is it."

"Fair enough," Niles replied coolly and released her hand once more "now let's return before Maman gets some crazy ideas as to what we've been up to."