DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters of Niles, Frasier, Daphne, Roz,
Donny, Martin or Mel and am in no way affiliated with the people at
Paramount or Grub Street. I do however own the character of Mason and am
in no way profiting from this story.
"And have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now."
Everyone was clapping heartily, and Daphne Moon joined in distractedly. "All right now, who's ready for a spirited game of ' the ministers cat'?" Frasier said excitedly enthralled that he finally had guests at his Christmas party. A few people grimaced; including Martin, but most looked on with interest as Frasier began to explain the rules. "It's all very simple really."
Daphne made her way to the sofa and sat down. She was feeling quiet disconnected, and wasn't sure why. She laughed out loud as she watched Frasier trying to talk Donny into playing. "I don't know.," Donny said, making a face. "Please?" Frasier said, that little whine Daphne found so annoying creeping into his voice. "We need another player." Donny looked around franticly and smiled when his gaze fell on Daphne. Niles joined them then and followed Donny's gaze, his own reflecting a quiet thoughtfulness, he was studying her. "Why don't you play Daphne? You can have my place and you both can be on the same team." Niles said, smiling that awkward boyish smile of his. "Oh I don't think so Dr. Crane, I'll sit this round out." She said smiling in return. She thought back to their talk on the balcony. She'd been so sure that Niles was going to tell her how he felt about her, how he'd loved her for the past seven years. But he only wanted his gift back. Daphne hated to admit it, but she was disappointed. She'd walked out onto that balcony preparing to tell him that nothing could possibly ever happen between them.but she couldn't. Deep down she knew she wasn't sure that she DIDN'T want anything to happen. She remembered when he and Mel had joined in on the singing. She could still hear his soft baritone ringing in her ear, such a pleasant sound as it was.
"Daphne?" Daphne was shaken out of her thoughts by Nile's voice. He had sat next to her and was frowning slightly, his brow furrowed in friendly concern. "Are you alright?" "Oh yes Dr. Crane, I'm quiet well." Daphne said with fake cheeriness. She found herself falling into his eyes. They were so blue. "I just wanted to apologize again for the gift, of course you know I'll replace it." He looked so adorable, sitting there with that impish smile of his. Daphne wondered why she hadn't noticed before how incredibly handsome he was. She found herself staring openly at him, as if she were looking at him for the first time. He looked so crisp in his navy suit. She remembered the little red suspenders he was wearing and grinned to herself. He was really quiet a looker. His hair was cut close to her head, which was shaped wonderfully indeed. He was blemish free and she found her gaze lingering on his lips longest of all.they were so soft looking. Kissing him must be.. "Oh Stop It!" She thought to herself. Here she was, an engaged woman, fantasizing about another man's lips when her fiancée wasn't even twenty feet away! "I'm sorry Dr. Crane, what were you saying?" Niles looked a bit uncomfortable, he was fidgeting under her gaze. "I know this may sound a bit strange, but I was wondering if you and Donny would care to join Mel and I for dinner some time next week."
Daphne was a bit startled. Niles had never invited her out right to something when Frasier or Martin weren't attending. She was flattered, ecstatic really. "That would sound LOVELY! I'm sure Donny would agree, it would be wonderful!" She gushed. Niles smiled at her and her heart melted. "It's settled then!" He said, sounding excited himself. "I'll call you later in the week to make arrangements." He started to say something else but Frasier joined them. "Come on you! You're holding up the game!" He said good-naturedly and Niles rolled his eyes. "Excuse me Daphne" He said and went to join the others.
Daphne's mind was reeling. She was so confused by all these feelings that Niles was evoking inside her. Not once in the seven years that she'd known him had she ever.well she couldn't make that claim. There had been a time or two when they had come close to.well.becoming more then friends, but Niles had always been to gentlemanly to take advantage of her. She'd always believed it was because he valued their friendship too much, but she knew better now. It was because he valued HER too much. She basked in a glow that was becoming familiar to her now. She had been the object of his affection for seven years now. She didn't even notice Mel sitting down next to her. "Hello Daphne." Mel said coolly, and Daphne jumped. "Oh Mel, hello." Mel smiled frostily at her. "I noticed you and Niles talking just now. You seemed very cozy." She said acidly. "Oh.Yes. Dr. Crane was wondering if Donny and I would join the two of you for dinner some time next week." She said. "Oh My God" she thought. "We looked cozy? Is it that apparent?" Mel looked suprized. "Really? He hadn't mentioned it to me." "Oh?" "Yes.in fact Niles hardly mentions you at all." Mel said. Daphne didn't respond. She studied Mel. Mel was very cool and collected, but Daphne had a feeling that their was an anger just below the surface, waiting to explode. "Look" Mel said, her voice dropping low as she leaned closer to Daphne. "I'm on to you." Daphne looked at her blankly. "Don't play innocent with me, I saw the way you looked at him just now.and I'm warning you." Daphne laughed. "You're warning me? What are you going to do?" "Trust me honey, I can make your life miserable. You are messing with the wrong woman. Now leave Niles ALONE." Daphne shook her head dismissingly. "I don't know what you are talking about. Dr. Crane and I are good friends. That's all! For goodness sakes, I'm engaged!" "That's right you are," she thought. Mel straitened herself out and plastered on a smile. "Just head my warning Daphne." She said standing.
Niles walked up to them. "Hello Darling" he said, giving Mel a chaste kiss on the lips. "What are you two up to?" "Daphne was just telling me that you have invited us all out to dinner." "Oh yes pet, I'm sorry, it was a spur of the moment thing and I hadn't been able to confirm things with you.." "That's all right darling. I think it is a wonderful idea." Niles smiled at her. "Well that's good." He said. Mel yawned loudly. "Tired?" Niles asked. "Why don't I take you home?" Mel nodded in agreement and Niles went to fetch their coats. Mel smiled at Daphne. "See?" Daphne just glared at her. Niles returned with their coats and wrapped Mel in hers. "Ready Darling?" He smiled at Daphne and the three of them started for the door. "Well, I had a good time tonight." Niles said. Both Mel and Daphne said "Me too." Mel lifted her chin. "It was nice chatting with you Daphne" Niles smiled widely at the two of them, obviously pleased. "I had a lovely time chatting with you Mel" Daphne said with fake cordiality. Frasier and Donny came to bid them good-bye. "Well, it turned out to be some night." Fraise said smiling. "Yes.well good-night all" Niles and Mel started to excite and Daphne was closing the door when Donny interrupted them. "Wait! Look!" He gestured up and they found that Niles and Daphne were standing under the mistle toe. "Oh Donny." Daphne began but Donny held up his hand "Now, you know it's bad luck if you don't kiss." He said. Frasier rolled his eyes but Donny was insisted. "All right!" Daphne said. She looked sheepishly at Niles who seemed to be frozen. She took a deep breath and kissed him.
The kiss couldn't have lasted more then a few seconds, but it seemed to go on forever. Nile's lips were soft and warm, they tasted like sherry. She tried to keep herself in check, but what started out as a friendly peck quickly became much more then that. Niles seemed surprised at first, but then he began kissing her back. Daphne had never been so shaken by a kiss before. Niles kissed her very shyly, and she returned his kiss with a passion she didn't know she possessed. They were both breathing a little hard when they parted, and an awkward silence hung in the air. Mel glared menacingly at Daphne, and Donny's face darkened. "Well..Night." Niles mumbled closing the door.
"What the hell was that?" Donny asked quietly as Daphne turned around. "What?" Daphne demanded a bit sharper then she'd intended. "You're the one that insisted we kiss." "NOT LIKE THAT!!" Donny shouted. The room went completely silent. "How long has this been going on?" "Going on? Donny it was an innocent kiss!" Donny was so angry he was shaking. "That kiss was a lot of things, but innocent? I don't think so." Donny stalked to the coat tree and yanked his coat off so hard that it fell over. Daphne trailed after him. "Donny Please!" "Don't 'Donny please' me.you're in love with him aren't you?" Daphne was so shocked by the question that she didn't answer. Donny interpreted her silence as a yes. "I don't' believe it.you and Niles? Well I hope you're happy with him." He said opening the door. "Have a nice life." He slammed the door so hard that the wall shook. The crowed stared at Daphne and she burst into tears.
It was raining hard. Daphne drove on and on, not caring where she was going. She'd tried to explain things to Donny, but he wouldn't have any of it. He very politely asked for his ring back and then closed the door in her face. She didn't know what to do. She loved Donny.didn't she? She wondered if it was possible to love two people at once, because she was quiet sure that she loved Niles. She smiled. He was so sweet and thoughtful. If something like this had happened to them he would have given her the chance to explain. Daphne sighed. "Damn" she said. The roads were slick with rain, and it was getting harder and harder to keep her car under control. "I'd better turn back," she thought. She was on a deserted road, so she began pulling into a U-turn.
Mason was happy. He was also drunk. "Tra-La-La-Boom-Dee-Aye" he sang at the top of his lungs. He swerved a bit and squinted to see the road before him. It was really raining hard. "Pennies from heaven! Wait." he said, and giggled to himself. "Music" he said, looking down as he rummaged around for his tape. He didn't notice the car just down the road that was pulling into a U-turn. "What the hell?" He wondered as he saw the bright lights coming toward him. "Wait.Oh!" The car was speeding toward him. He tried desperately to pull off the side of the road, but he couldn't.the last thing he of what side of the road he was supposed to be on, then all went dark.
***
Niles shot upward from his bed, suddenly wide-awake. He wasn't sure what had woke him, but he felt uneasy. Like something bad was happening. He tried to shake it off, but couldn't. He lay back down. "Go back to sleep" he said to himself. He started drifting off, a picture of Daphne in his minds eye and the pressure of her lips on his. He smiled in his sleep......
"And have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now."
Everyone was clapping heartily, and Daphne Moon joined in distractedly. "All right now, who's ready for a spirited game of ' the ministers cat'?" Frasier said excitedly enthralled that he finally had guests at his Christmas party. A few people grimaced; including Martin, but most looked on with interest as Frasier began to explain the rules. "It's all very simple really."
Daphne made her way to the sofa and sat down. She was feeling quiet disconnected, and wasn't sure why. She laughed out loud as she watched Frasier trying to talk Donny into playing. "I don't know.," Donny said, making a face. "Please?" Frasier said, that little whine Daphne found so annoying creeping into his voice. "We need another player." Donny looked around franticly and smiled when his gaze fell on Daphne. Niles joined them then and followed Donny's gaze, his own reflecting a quiet thoughtfulness, he was studying her. "Why don't you play Daphne? You can have my place and you both can be on the same team." Niles said, smiling that awkward boyish smile of his. "Oh I don't think so Dr. Crane, I'll sit this round out." She said smiling in return. She thought back to their talk on the balcony. She'd been so sure that Niles was going to tell her how he felt about her, how he'd loved her for the past seven years. But he only wanted his gift back. Daphne hated to admit it, but she was disappointed. She'd walked out onto that balcony preparing to tell him that nothing could possibly ever happen between them.but she couldn't. Deep down she knew she wasn't sure that she DIDN'T want anything to happen. She remembered when he and Mel had joined in on the singing. She could still hear his soft baritone ringing in her ear, such a pleasant sound as it was.
"Daphne?" Daphne was shaken out of her thoughts by Nile's voice. He had sat next to her and was frowning slightly, his brow furrowed in friendly concern. "Are you alright?" "Oh yes Dr. Crane, I'm quiet well." Daphne said with fake cheeriness. She found herself falling into his eyes. They were so blue. "I just wanted to apologize again for the gift, of course you know I'll replace it." He looked so adorable, sitting there with that impish smile of his. Daphne wondered why she hadn't noticed before how incredibly handsome he was. She found herself staring openly at him, as if she were looking at him for the first time. He looked so crisp in his navy suit. She remembered the little red suspenders he was wearing and grinned to herself. He was really quiet a looker. His hair was cut close to her head, which was shaped wonderfully indeed. He was blemish free and she found her gaze lingering on his lips longest of all.they were so soft looking. Kissing him must be.. "Oh Stop It!" She thought to herself. Here she was, an engaged woman, fantasizing about another man's lips when her fiancée wasn't even twenty feet away! "I'm sorry Dr. Crane, what were you saying?" Niles looked a bit uncomfortable, he was fidgeting under her gaze. "I know this may sound a bit strange, but I was wondering if you and Donny would care to join Mel and I for dinner some time next week."
Daphne was a bit startled. Niles had never invited her out right to something when Frasier or Martin weren't attending. She was flattered, ecstatic really. "That would sound LOVELY! I'm sure Donny would agree, it would be wonderful!" She gushed. Niles smiled at her and her heart melted. "It's settled then!" He said, sounding excited himself. "I'll call you later in the week to make arrangements." He started to say something else but Frasier joined them. "Come on you! You're holding up the game!" He said good-naturedly and Niles rolled his eyes. "Excuse me Daphne" He said and went to join the others.
Daphne's mind was reeling. She was so confused by all these feelings that Niles was evoking inside her. Not once in the seven years that she'd known him had she ever.well she couldn't make that claim. There had been a time or two when they had come close to.well.becoming more then friends, but Niles had always been to gentlemanly to take advantage of her. She'd always believed it was because he valued their friendship too much, but she knew better now. It was because he valued HER too much. She basked in a glow that was becoming familiar to her now. She had been the object of his affection for seven years now. She didn't even notice Mel sitting down next to her. "Hello Daphne." Mel said coolly, and Daphne jumped. "Oh Mel, hello." Mel smiled frostily at her. "I noticed you and Niles talking just now. You seemed very cozy." She said acidly. "Oh.Yes. Dr. Crane was wondering if Donny and I would join the two of you for dinner some time next week." She said. "Oh My God" she thought. "We looked cozy? Is it that apparent?" Mel looked suprized. "Really? He hadn't mentioned it to me." "Oh?" "Yes.in fact Niles hardly mentions you at all." Mel said. Daphne didn't respond. She studied Mel. Mel was very cool and collected, but Daphne had a feeling that their was an anger just below the surface, waiting to explode. "Look" Mel said, her voice dropping low as she leaned closer to Daphne. "I'm on to you." Daphne looked at her blankly. "Don't play innocent with me, I saw the way you looked at him just now.and I'm warning you." Daphne laughed. "You're warning me? What are you going to do?" "Trust me honey, I can make your life miserable. You are messing with the wrong woman. Now leave Niles ALONE." Daphne shook her head dismissingly. "I don't know what you are talking about. Dr. Crane and I are good friends. That's all! For goodness sakes, I'm engaged!" "That's right you are," she thought. Mel straitened herself out and plastered on a smile. "Just head my warning Daphne." She said standing.
Niles walked up to them. "Hello Darling" he said, giving Mel a chaste kiss on the lips. "What are you two up to?" "Daphne was just telling me that you have invited us all out to dinner." "Oh yes pet, I'm sorry, it was a spur of the moment thing and I hadn't been able to confirm things with you.." "That's all right darling. I think it is a wonderful idea." Niles smiled at her. "Well that's good." He said. Mel yawned loudly. "Tired?" Niles asked. "Why don't I take you home?" Mel nodded in agreement and Niles went to fetch their coats. Mel smiled at Daphne. "See?" Daphne just glared at her. Niles returned with their coats and wrapped Mel in hers. "Ready Darling?" He smiled at Daphne and the three of them started for the door. "Well, I had a good time tonight." Niles said. Both Mel and Daphne said "Me too." Mel lifted her chin. "It was nice chatting with you Daphne" Niles smiled widely at the two of them, obviously pleased. "I had a lovely time chatting with you Mel" Daphne said with fake cordiality. Frasier and Donny came to bid them good-bye. "Well, it turned out to be some night." Fraise said smiling. "Yes.well good-night all" Niles and Mel started to excite and Daphne was closing the door when Donny interrupted them. "Wait! Look!" He gestured up and they found that Niles and Daphne were standing under the mistle toe. "Oh Donny." Daphne began but Donny held up his hand "Now, you know it's bad luck if you don't kiss." He said. Frasier rolled his eyes but Donny was insisted. "All right!" Daphne said. She looked sheepishly at Niles who seemed to be frozen. She took a deep breath and kissed him.
The kiss couldn't have lasted more then a few seconds, but it seemed to go on forever. Nile's lips were soft and warm, they tasted like sherry. She tried to keep herself in check, but what started out as a friendly peck quickly became much more then that. Niles seemed surprised at first, but then he began kissing her back. Daphne had never been so shaken by a kiss before. Niles kissed her very shyly, and she returned his kiss with a passion she didn't know she possessed. They were both breathing a little hard when they parted, and an awkward silence hung in the air. Mel glared menacingly at Daphne, and Donny's face darkened. "Well..Night." Niles mumbled closing the door.
"What the hell was that?" Donny asked quietly as Daphne turned around. "What?" Daphne demanded a bit sharper then she'd intended. "You're the one that insisted we kiss." "NOT LIKE THAT!!" Donny shouted. The room went completely silent. "How long has this been going on?" "Going on? Donny it was an innocent kiss!" Donny was so angry he was shaking. "That kiss was a lot of things, but innocent? I don't think so." Donny stalked to the coat tree and yanked his coat off so hard that it fell over. Daphne trailed after him. "Donny Please!" "Don't 'Donny please' me.you're in love with him aren't you?" Daphne was so shocked by the question that she didn't answer. Donny interpreted her silence as a yes. "I don't' believe it.you and Niles? Well I hope you're happy with him." He said opening the door. "Have a nice life." He slammed the door so hard that the wall shook. The crowed stared at Daphne and she burst into tears.
It was raining hard. Daphne drove on and on, not caring where she was going. She'd tried to explain things to Donny, but he wouldn't have any of it. He very politely asked for his ring back and then closed the door in her face. She didn't know what to do. She loved Donny.didn't she? She wondered if it was possible to love two people at once, because she was quiet sure that she loved Niles. She smiled. He was so sweet and thoughtful. If something like this had happened to them he would have given her the chance to explain. Daphne sighed. "Damn" she said. The roads were slick with rain, and it was getting harder and harder to keep her car under control. "I'd better turn back," she thought. She was on a deserted road, so she began pulling into a U-turn.
Mason was happy. He was also drunk. "Tra-La-La-Boom-Dee-Aye" he sang at the top of his lungs. He swerved a bit and squinted to see the road before him. It was really raining hard. "Pennies from heaven! Wait." he said, and giggled to himself. "Music" he said, looking down as he rummaged around for his tape. He didn't notice the car just down the road that was pulling into a U-turn. "What the hell?" He wondered as he saw the bright lights coming toward him. "Wait.Oh!" The car was speeding toward him. He tried desperately to pull off the side of the road, but he couldn't.the last thing he of what side of the road he was supposed to be on, then all went dark.
***
Niles shot upward from his bed, suddenly wide-awake. He wasn't sure what had woke him, but he felt uneasy. Like something bad was happening. He tried to shake it off, but couldn't. He lay back down. "Go back to sleep" he said to himself. He started drifting off, a picture of Daphne in his minds eye and the pressure of her lips on his. He smiled in his sleep......