Niles opened the door to his apartment. "Pack your bags, we're going away for the weekend!"
Both David and Daphne looked up when they heard his announcement. Niles loved the excitement on both their faces. He adored his wife and son more than he could ever say.
"Where are we going, Sweetheart?" Daphne asked, walking over to greet him. It was clear that David had been about to ask the same question, if his mother hadn't spoken first.
"I have rented…..a Winnebago. I thought the three of us could spend some quality time with Mother Nature."
Daphne moved closer, putting her arms around him. "A Winnebago, huh?" She gave him a mischievous look. "I haven't been in one of those in years."
Niles enjoyed her kiss for a long moment. "I know, my love, that's why I thought it would be a perfect vacation. With David starting school again in a few weeks, I decided we should spend some time making memories this summer before it's gone."
"Nature?" David asked. "Why couldn't we go to Disney World, or at least to a water park? I don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do!"
"Oh, David, don't be such a pessimist. I know we all love our gadgets and such, but sometimes it's nice to stop and see the world around us."
"Well, OK, I'll go, if I have to. Even if there's no Wi-Fi, I can always read a book. Or listen to my iPod."
For a second, Niles had a flashback. When they were children, he and Frasier had reacted similarly whenever their parents took them on a vacation. Now, as an adult, he wished he could have those days back. He thought about telling David this, but decided against it. David was almost a teenager, which meant he was biologically incapable of listening to a father's advice, no matter how well-meaning.
Daphne could see on her husband's face that he was thinking back. "Now, David, your father's gone to an awful lot of trouble to surprise us with this trip. I know it isn't exactly what you wanted, but I think the least you can do is appreciate what your father's trying to do."
"Thank you," Niles whispered. "I thought about making this a romantic getaway for the two of us, but then I thought about how quickly David's growing up. I don't want to miss these chances with him."
"I know," Daphne whispered back, kissing him. Though Niles' work took him away often, he always did his best to remember that his family was his first priority. It was one more reason to love him, although she could think of dozens of reasons without help.
Much to David's dismay, his family woke very early the next morning to start packing the Winnebago for their trip. Daphne had made sandwiches, and bought snacks and such. "That should be enough for the weekend," she said, loading it into the camper.
"Why can't we eat in a restaurant?" David asked.
"Because, son, we're going to be enjoying nature. Once you go outside the city, there's a lot of areas where it's nothing but trees and grass. It'll be just us and the animals."
David gave his father a look that clearly said, "Kill me now."
"Oh, don't be so negative," Daphne said. "A little time with your parents won't kill you."
All David did was shrug and sigh, before getting into one of the back seats of the Winnebago.
Niles and Daphne took seats near the front. Looking at Daphne, he couldn't help but think back. "Fasten your seatbelt, Daphne."
Daphne grinned, knowing what he was thinking. "Fasten yours, Niles."
From his seat, David heard the exchange and saw the looks his parents gave each other. He could only roll his eyes before returning to the novel he'd been reading.
Niles and Daphne were in a world of their own as they drove off. Though they knew David was with them, it was almost as if they were reliving their escape from Daphne's almost-wedding. Soon they had left Seattle, and were on a road that had virtually no traffic. Niles saw a turn which led to a small dirt road lined with trees. It was perfect, exactly what he'd pictured. He drove a bit farther, and it was almost hard to believe they were still in Washington state. "Here we are," he announced, as he put the camper into park.
"Dad, we're in the middle of nowhere!" David exclaimed when he looked out the window.
"I know, just like I said we would be. This'll be fun, you'll see," Niles said.
"Niles, this place looks lovely," Daphne said as she stood and looked out the door. Not only were their surroundings almost like a postcard, but she was with Niles. As long as he was there, Daphne would gladly travel anywhere.
Niles walked over to her, taking her hands in his. "My love, I want this to be a family trip, but it's also important for us to spend time together. There's no one in the world I'd rather be here with."
David groaned, watching the scene before him. "Are you guys gonna look at each other like that the whole time?" If that was going to be the case, it would be a very long weekend indeed.
