Patrick's Note: So delighted to be working on this with the wonderfully talented Andrea. Many, many thanks to her for suggesting this project. This is part 3 of a story I started called 'The Edge of the Rain and can be found on my Fan Fiction page by title or my pen name Pat2Trivia4Me.
Andrea's Note: As soon as I finished reading Pat's "The Edge of the Rain" this idea came to me and likewise I'm glad that we decided to write this story together. I love creating and expanding on characters from beloved TV shows; 'Frasier' in particular.
Standing in the living room, she reached into the laundry basket and grabbed a pair of Niles' knickers. Unexpectedly, a memory washed over her as she folded the light blue knickers into a neat square, brushing it lightly against her face. She'd been using the same washing technique for years; fabric softener and twice through the fluff cycle. And it still worked its magic.
And then another memory hit her…
"Daphne, I'd like you to meet my brother, Niles."
Wearing a grey suit, the handsome man with blue eyes and blonde hair looked at her as though he'd seen a ghost. "You're Daphne?"
She smiled and continued folding the laundry, amused at his comment. For she was the only other person in the room. "Why, yes I am!"
In a daze, he'd walked toward her and extended his hand. She shook it gently, but he held onto her hand; wearing a dreamy look in his eyes. "When Frasier told me he'd hired an Englishwoman, I pictured someone a little more…. not quite so…. You're Daphne?"
She smiled, and her heart warmed just a bit at his shyness. He may have looked like his brother, but now she could see that he was quite a bit different. If only she'd really known then the real reason for his shyness…
"It's nice to meet you." She replied.
The cotton undershirts and knickers blurred before her eyes and suddenly the tears began to fall, making their way down her cheeks before splashing onto the clean clothes.
Great, now she'd have to do the whole bloody load all over again. And that made her cry even harder.
She felt his presence even before he laid his gentle hand on her shoulder. "Daphne, why are you crying?"
The laundry forgotten, she turned to face her handsome husband. "Oh, I was just thinking about how me life really started when you and I got together. And now David is at that same starting position with Danielle."
He was rubbing her back in that soothing circular motion that she had grown so accustomed to. "You're right, Daphne. I never realized that before. I-."
She turned in his arms and began to sob into his chest. "Oh Niles, I love him so much! I'm going to miss him!"
He held her close, continuing to rub her back while she cried. "I know… I-I love him too. And I'll miss him as well. Terribly in fact."
She heard the unmistakable catch in his voice, the one that told her that he was hurting just as much as she. But she knew that he would never admit that he was on the verge of losing his composure. He wasn't the sort of man who let his feelings show so easily, but he didn't have to tell her how he felt. She knew.
He loved David so deeply, just as she did. And she had to let him know that she understood. She kissed him; a lingering kiss, and then hugged him a little tighter.
"Hey, Mom… Dad… what's going on?"
Daphne pulled out of Niles' arms, discreetly wiping her eyes with the handkerchief that Niles handed her. "Just finishing up this last bit of laundry."
Her handsome son, who had the same features as his father, approached her, regarding her carefully. "Mom, have you been crying again?"
She looked up sharply. "What? No, I-."
"Well, good. Because I don't want you crying over me, all right?"
"I'm not." She lied. "I'm fine, really. I-."
He went to her, engulfing her into his arms. "I love you, Mum. And don't worry. San Francisco's not that far away. The time will go by before you know it. Besides, Uncle Frasier is there. He'll look after me. Not that I need looking after, do I Dad?"
She felt Niles' warm hand on her back. "We have a very intelligent son."
"Dad, don't start that again. I'm not nearly as smart as you."
Niles smiled and left Daphne's side to go and hug his son. "That's nonsense. I'm proud of you, David. You're going to do a great job."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Well, I guess we should get going soon."
Daphne took Niles' hand and then David's. Her chest ached with unbearable loneliness, despite the fact that her son was standing beside her, holding her hand.
"What time does your flight leave, David?"
David squeezed her hand. "A few hours, Mom."
"We really should get going, then." Niles said. "The airport's likely to be jammed at this time of day, not to mention the traffic."
Daphne's heart clinched in her chest. This was becoming all too real. "All right. I'll get me purse. David, do you have your bags?" The question was asked before she spotted the neat pile of luggage by the front door. And that's when it hit her.
Her son was leaving.
A pair of arms went around her and two lips brushed against her cheek. "We should go." Niles' sweet voice whispered into her ear.
She nodded silently and took his hand. As soon as they arrived at the airport, however, she knew that her life would never be the same again.
