A/N: This is a Christmas present for a couple of my favorite people: Andrea, Kristen, Leigh Ann, Julia and Mary (even though she hasn't written Frasier FF in ages *nudge, nudge*). They're wonderful people, great writers and I wish we weren't an ocean apart! This is my little Christmas gift for all of you – because I'm afraid if I wrote a story for each of you individually, we'd still be here next year! Hope you like. And to all of you a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Dust flittered into Niles' nostrils as he opened the door to the cottage. The little particles tickled him and he tried holding his breath. But it didn't work. His eyes filled with water and then he was sneezing. Once, twice and before he knew it he felt light-headed. Merry Christmas, he thought bitterly as he got his emergency pack of tissues out. He blew his nose before he looked around the place he hadn't been to in many, many years. Maris had wanted this cottage when they'd been married for just a short time. Back then life with her had been much easier. She had even smiled at him on occasion. In the years that followed they went less and less to this place. Before Frasier came back to Seattle, Niles and Maris would spend their Christmas there. It was quiet, which they both loved. Unfortunately, it was also remote. Standing in the middle of the dark living room, Niles thought of all the times his wife had sent him on errand runs, simply because she had needed this luxury or that. No more. Maris was no longer his wife for starters. The thought hurt, but not for the obvious reasons. He didn't miss having to deal with her idiosyncrasies. Sometimes, he couldn't deny that, he missed having a person around. Truth be told, Maris had always been more of a theoretical presence than anything real, but on cold and lonely nights it had been better than nothing at all. Niles hated being alone. The loneliness wasn't the reason either. No, it was the failure that burdened his heart.

Now he could add another one to it; the loss of this cottage. He should have sold it as soon as they stopped coming here for Christmas. Back in the day when the memories of the happy times spent there were still glued to the walls inside. With the heavy winds of endless winter days they were swept away into the air for no one to catch and preserve them. All that remained was emptiness. Maris had called him a week ago, telling him to make the cottage presentable. She wanted to sell it and since he had bought it, he was responsible for getting it back in shape. No matter how hard he tried to get out of it, Maris wouldn't listen to him. She didn't care that it was Christmas time and that Niles wanted to spend it with his family.

"You see them all year long, Niles. The potential buyers are only here for the holidays."

Those had been her exact words and they rang through Niles' brain like an unwanted piece of music. So here he was in the middle of nowhere in a dark cottage all alone two days before Christmas. And he had no idea where to start.

Daphne couldn't stop humming Christmas songs. Once or twice she'd caught Dr. Crane roll his eyes, obviously annoyed with her cheerfulness. But it was Christmas and she refused to stifle her good mood. Once he had even left the room when Daphne and Mr. Crane had sung their own rendition of Jingle Bells. Even days later she had to chuckle about it. Entering the apartment with the last of her Christmas shopping, she felt exhausted yet happy. This year she wasn't able to fly to Manchester and spend the holidays with her family, but she had a wonderful surrogate family right here in Seattle. At least Mr. Crane loved Christmas as much as she did. The older Dr. Crane always tried not to care, but his brother would usually succumb to the festive mood quite early. This was the younger Dr. Crane's first Christmas without his wife. Daphne wanted to make sure it would be a happy one for him. Sometimes he had such a sad air upon him that she just wanted to take him into her arms and cuddle it away. Daphne smiled a secretive smile to herself. She really shouldn't have such inappropriate thoughts! And to think of Dr. Niles Crane as some sort of lost puppy in need was most definitely inappropriate.

It was only after she put away her bags that she realized that the two Crane men were fighting. At first she believed it to be about the Christmas decoration. Mr. Crane tended to go big on decoration and some of it was corny, but after all he put up with Dr. Crane's questionable taste in art the whole year. His son could at least give him this.

"It's not my fault that he lets Maris decide his fate. He divorced her, why does he even care what she thinks?" Mr. Crane said angrily and sat in his chair. For some reason Daphne's heart began to beat faster and it made her feel uncomfortable.

"I'm just telling you what he told me."

"I guess there's nothing we can do about it." The unmistakable sadness in Mr. Crane voice rattled Daphne. She often felt like she should stay out of the family's business, but her heart was heavy with worry and so the question tumbled out of her mouth:

"Is something the matter with Dr. Crane?"

"He still lets that ex-wife of his dictate his wife," Mr. Crane explained with a huff, "and here I thought we were finally free of that witch!"

"Dad…"

"But it's true, Frasier! I never liked her and why should I keep quiet? She kept my son away from me for the longest time and now, even though they're not even married anymore, she still does it!"

"What did she do?" Daphne asked feeling they might have forgotten about her not knowing what all of this was about. Truth be told, she had never liked Mrs. Crane either. Of course she had never said anything – and wouldn't start now. But she was glad, too, that the woman was out of their lives. Daphne thought that Dr. Crane was much better off without her. He deserved a woman who cherished him and took care of him. She knew how much he hated being alone. That was the only reason why his divorce made her sad. Daphne always encouraged it when he wanted to come and stay for dinner or just to hang out. On occasion she feared she might bore him if it was just the two of them. Gentleman that he was, he never complained.

"Oh, she made him go to that cottage of his – it's really beautiful, especially in winter. Anyway, she wants to sell it and somehow she's convinced that it's Niles' responsibility to make the place look respectable. The potential buyers want to look at it in a couple of days." Dr. Crane finally explained.

"But that's awful! Oh, I hope he doesn't get stuck in traffic on his way back."

"Daphne, he won't be here for Christmas." The softness in Dr. Crane's voice betrayed his disappointment that his little brother wouldn't be with them this year.

"No," Daphne said and shook her head to give it more meaning, "he can't be alone on Christmas in some… some… dusty old cottage!"

"He won't listen to us." Mr. Crane told her. It was true; all three Crane men were way too stubborn for their own good. And while their hearts were always in the right place, their loyalties sometimes made them stumble and fall. Daphne wouldn't let it happen. Poor Dr. Crane! He hated living alone; how would he feel celebrating Christmas all by himself? Her heart broke for him. She didn't question why she felt so strongly about this, but she knew she wouldn't be able to go through with it.

"If he can't come to us, we've got to drive out there!"

"Are you crazy?" Frasier asked her.

"He's all alone, Dr. Crane!" Daphne pleaded. Tears stung her eyes, because she could just imagine him there all by himself. He wouldn't be eating right, she knew. Maybe he would cry himself to sleep.

"That's his decision."

"No, it's not! Mr. Crane, please!"

"We can't do anything, Daphne."

"Why can't we drive up to the cottage?"

"Because I don't like driving in this weather." Frasier answered.

"Then I'll drive."

"No!" Both Crane men answered in unison.

"Maybe Daphne is right, Fras…"

"Dad, you can't be serious."

"It's Christmas." Daphne bit her lip to keep herself from grinning. She knew that she had Mr. Crane on her side. But she knew how disappointed Dr. Crane would be if they came without his brother.

"But… the traffic. And the weather and…" The moment he trailed off, Daphne knew they had him. A warm feeling spread in her chest; she knew it was love for this man, his father and the other Crane who was currently lost and alone.

"Let's just pack a few things and get on the road." Dr. Crane finished with a sigh and Daphne squealed in delight. She quickly hugged him before she ran to her room to get everything she would need for this trip.

TBC