The drive back to the house was quiet. Daphne kept her eyes on the road, unable to look at Martin who was sitting beside her. She could hear him sniffling softly. It was a sound that only increased her tears. And although she felt his pain still she could not look at him. The turn signal clicked steadily, the noise deafening against the silence in the car's interior. She wanted to say something, anything to let Martin know that she cared. But no words seemed appropriate. The usual words people said in these situations simply would not do. And so she remained silent.

She turned right and drove down the tree-lined street, coming to a stop in front of the small blue house. Their seat belts clicked apart and they both climbed out of the car. Quickly she walked around to the passenger side and grabbed Martin's hand, amazed that he didn't refuse her help as he usually did. His free hand gripped his cane and together they walked unhurriedly toward the front door. He moved much slower than he used to. It was a condition brought on not by the bullet lodged in his hip, but by his increasing age. Many years had passed (Over eleven now) since she'd first met him and back then, he was simply her charge. Never in a million years did she imagine that this sweet old man would one day become her father-in-law.

When they finally reached the front door, she smiled at him, barely noticing that her fingers were trembling so badly that it was impossible to insert her key into the lock. lock. But before she could try again, she felt the doorknob turn and the door opened unexpectedly. Ronee stood before them, a surprised smile on her face. "Oh, hey! What a surprise! I was just coming outside to water my-Oh, how'd it go? Where's Eddie?"

Daphne turned away, trying to hide her tears and then looked back at Ronee, whose own smile quickly faded.

"Oh no…"

Martin was stone-faced, wearing no expression whatsoever, and Ronee immediately took his hand, slowly helping her husband into the house. "Marty?"

"I-I need a beer! And the Seahawks game is on! What's the score?" The gruff words were the first he'd spoken since they'd left the vet over an hour earlier. She knew that she should have driven him home right away for he was visibly shaken, but she was in a state of shock as well. And so she took a slight detour into an unfamiliar but lovely neighborhood. She expected Martin to protest, and demand to know why they were in a strange part of town, but he simply gazed out the window as the world floated by. For Daphne, the fact that he'd finally spoken have been a relief, but it was in fact, more painful than the silence. At least the silence wasn't tinged with sadness.

Wordlessly, Ronee put her arm around her husband and led him into the family room. He stood there, numb as she gently removed his jacket and hung it in the closet. And then, in her loving manner, guided him to his beloved and worn chair coaxing him to sit. Daphne smiled through her tears at the familiar sight of the chair that held so many memories. He'd been sitting in that chair the first day she arrived at Frasier's hoping to be hired, and over eleven years later, Martin still loved it dearly. Try as she might, Daphne couldn't picture him anywhere else but in his favorite chair.

Daphne smiled yet again when Ronee kissed her husband's cheek and she hoped that she and Niles would still be as loving toward one another when they became Martin's age.

"I'll be right back with your beer, Honey." Ronee said, pausing to kiss him once more.

"I'll get it! " Daphne said quickly.

"Daphne, you don't have to do that." Ronee said.

"I want to." Daphne replied. She needed a few minutes alone, and the kitchen seemed as good a place as any. But then she saw Ronnie holding David in her arms and her heart began to pound in her chest. Never had she needed to see David's sweet, cherubic face more.

"David..."

The baby reached for his mother and as soon as Ronee handed him over, Daphne cradled him to her body, kissing his forehead her tears dampened his blue and green outfit. "My sweet angel." She whispered. "Mommy loves you so very much."

"Where's my beer?"

The sound of her father in law's voice made her gasp and she looked at Ronnie in horror. "Oh God... I-."

"Let me take him, all right? I'll put him in the other room." Ronee said. With a tinge of reluctance, Daphne handed her son to his grandmother, but not without giving him a kiss on his cheek. Her heart warmed when her son smiled at her, and she headed for the kitchen.

"Turn the game on!" Martin ordered. "I want to see the score!"

"Um… Martin…" Ronee began carefully. "The Seahawks play on Sunday and today is Wed-."

Daphne returned to the living room and touched Ronee's arm as their eyes met in a sympathetic gaze.

"Um, you know what, Hon?" Ronee finally said, glancing at Daphne once more. "I think… Hold on and I'll find the game for you, okay?"

"Fine." Martin grumbled.

Daphne retreated into the kitchen, grateful for the small chance to allow the threatening tears to flow freely as she opened the refrigerator and reached inside. The only real indication that she'd grabbed the right can once she'd popped the top open was the familiar color. She ran her thumb over the ice cold beer can as a hundred memories washed over her. One in particular made her heart clinch in her chest; the Christmas that she and Niles had given Martin a six pack of Ballantine Beer which they let him open early while Frasier was emceeing the annual Christmas parade in Downtown Seattle.

From the living room she could hear the cheers from the television and she walked into the living room to get a better look. The sight made her smile. Martin had gotten his wish. The Seahawks game was going strong, even on a Wednesday afternoon. It was odd that Seattle's football team would be playing on a Wednesday. She was no expert on football by any means but she knew from watching countless games with Martin that games were usually played on Sunday with occasional games on Monday or Thursday. But it only took a few moments to realize how Ronee had bought the Seahawks game into their home on a Wednesday.

It pained her to think that Martin seemed oblivious to the fact that he was watching a recorded version Sunday's game. It was odd that it seemed so familiar for she rarely paid attention, but on that particular Sunday, just three days earlier, Martin and Ronee had invited Daphne, Niles and David over to their house to watch the game. Surprisingly Niles did not protest the invitation, even though Daphne knew that Niles absolutely hated sports of any kind. She loved him for wanting to spend time with his family and she smiled at the memory of they way all of them sat around the television after lunch to watch the Seahawks play the Falcons. She had to admit that watching football on a Sunday wasn't really her idea of a good time.

However, the game turned out to be an amazing one. The score went back and forth, making it exciting enough that even she and Niles were cheering toward the end. The best part was seeing the Seahawks kicker successfully kick a field goal with mere seconds left in the game, exciting her so much that she ran around the room, hugging everyone in sight. She couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed herself more. And the win was followed by a wonderful family dinner. Never had she loved her family more. She blinked back tears, remembering the way Eddie had jumped onto the couch and rested his head on her lap. She was only too happy to pet him. But now he was gone.

Despite the incredible play by the young beloved Seahawks kicker, the play that one the game, Martin simply stared at the screen showing no emotion whatsoever. Hesitantly Daphne went to him and put her arms around his shoulders. "I'm so sorry, Martin. Eddie loved you so much. You have to believe that. And I know that you loved him. I'm so sorry…" She took a deep breath, willing her voice not to break as she squeezed him a little tighter. "If you need anything, anything at all, Niles and I will be here for you. And David will be here too. We all love you, so very much."

Martin said nothing. He simply stared at the screen, withdrawn.

The tears streamed down her cheeks and she kissed her father-in-law on the forehead. "I love you, Martin." She turned to find Ronee holding David in her arms, and the two women embraced.

"I'm sorry for getting so bloody emotional, Ronee."

Ronee smiled and hugged her tighter. "Don't apologize, Sweetie. Why don't you just go on home and get some rest? It's been a long day." At Daphne's worried glance, Ronee kissed Daphne's cheek. "We'll be all right. We'll get through this. I'll call you if we need anything."

Daphne nodded tearfully and took David out of Ronee's arms. "Say goodbye to Grandpa and Grandm-." she gasped when she realized her faux pas. "Oh, I'm sorry, Ronee…"

Ronee kissed David's cheek. "It's all right. I am your grandma, isn't that right, sweetie?" The baby laughed as Ronee tickled his tummy, bringing a tentative smile to Daphne's lips.

"You promise to call if you need anything, right?"

Ronee nodded. "We will. But don't worry. We'll be fine. It's going to take some time."

With a heavy heart, Daphne carried David out to the car and buckled him into his car seat. As she drove toward the Montana, it was hard to ignore the emptiness that consumed her broken heart.