Disclaimer: I don't own Frasier, so please don't sue.
A/N: This fanfiction is from Maris' viewpoint, and takes place sometime after she kicks Niles out of her house in season 3. The inspiration for this story comes from Aria's (crazysockmonkeys) story "Fabulous Life", because it is a Maris POV story, and her Frasier/X-Files crossovers. For those of who are X-Files fans, I thought it would be fun to mention Charles Scully because like Maris, he is an invisible character. So I thought it would be neat if two invisible characters had met one another in person.
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Why I Married Niles
In a way, I did love Niles Crane, despite what you might think. It's clear I never loved him like I should have as his wife; I'm not oblivious to that. From the day I married him, he was always good to me, and I meant it when I recited my wedding vows and said that I was sipping from the font of his perpetual adoration. It's true, I was… the only sad thing was that I wasn't giving him my love and adoration in return. Well, at least that's how most see it. I know for a fact that this is the reason Martin and Frasier couldn't stand me; I know they thought me strange, but I can't help who I am.
Maybe you wonder why I married Niles. To tell you the truth… there's a variety of reasons involved. First off, Niles and I both seemed to be comfortable around one another. I never really agreed with him about anything, but whenever we were together, each silently doing our own thing, whatever it was, his presence seemed to make me feel complete. I'll give you an example: one night, after helping his father and brother search for that nuisance of a Jack Russell terrier, Eddie, Niles came home scared stiff after having gotten temporarily lost in the park. I was on the couch trying to recover from a panic attack that I suffered after accidently walking into the kitchen instead of my bedroom, and Niles joined me, asking if he could hold me. Since we were both in a frantic state, and I wasn't thinking clearly, I let him; his tight embrace was a little awkward, but I felt whole, and comfortable in that moment.
I guess that the fact that we're both a little awkward also brought us together, in a way. I have my small, elite group of friends and can't really stand to associate with anyone else, whereas Niles' advanced intellect seemed to place him at a level above everyone else. He couldn't really communicate with others like a normal person, not even with me. That's part of the reason I never talked to him often. (The other reason was because I thought my silence was doing him a favor. I could go about my business without having to answer to him, and he could do the same without having to answer to me). I guess the socially awkward get along best when with one another. Our companionship, which was another reason I married Niles, was at its best when there was silence between us. Although I was never really that happy with him, a husband brings more to the table in terms of companionship than money, servants, or a high-class social group like that to which I belong, none of which love truly love me, like he did. My money comes and goes; I receive it and spend it. After I kicked Niles out of my mansion, my servants wanted to go with him; and as for my elite circle, I am only liked for my money. Should I ever lose it all, I'll become nonexistent in their eyes.
The main reason I married Niles, I think, was because I loved that he tolerated me. During the course of our marriage, I pretty much got my way on everything. Like my mother, I've never had to work or answer to anybody. I'll admit, it's a personality flaw brought on by my upbringing, but it's so ingrained in me and I can't shake it off. In all honesty, I don't really want to if I can afford not to. I could go on three-day shopping sprees and just take off; I'd come home and he'd greet me with a "Maris, darling, welcome home." Being married to Niles, I could have a husband and keep all of my freedoms intact. He never put up a fight or complained about it, until of course his jerk brother counseled him to let out his anger and encouraged him to lash out at me. But before then, he said not a word about my habits; instead, he just accepted my ways.
I know full well that had my husband been anybody else, our marriage would not have lasted a month. Anyone else certainly would have tried to place restrictions on my life, something that I could never get used to. Sometime before I met Niles, I was in a relationship with a navy captain by the name of Charles Scully. At the time, I liked him, I really did. He was kind, independent, and well brought up by his family. Bill Scully Sr., his father, a navy man himself, was a respectable man, and his mother Margaret was gentle and kind. Like Charles, his brother was also in the navy; his sisters, on the other hand, had kind personalities, but they were a little strange. One believed in the psychic abilities and paranormal forces, much like Martin's caretaker (Daisy, I believe her name is), and the other pursed a career in medicine, but last I heard, she was considering working for the FBI. That's hardly a feminine career, I must say. But back to Charles, he was like Niles in the sense that he was so caring and that my social status was irrelevant to him. But the problem was, he knew of my desire to maintain a stable, lavish lifestyle, and he wasn't too fond of that. Being a navy captain, his work often required he be moved from one base to another, constantly moving and on the go. If I married him, I would have to follow, and that was something I knew I could never do. The other thing was that he wanted a family, and I respect that, but that's a no-can-do for me. Sure, if I had kids, I could always hire a nanny to raise them, but the problem is I would still be their mother, and that alone would strip me of some of the freedoms I relish to some degree. Plus, if I married into his family, my name would have been Maris Scully. That wouldn't have suited me, and chances are I would have preferred to keep my maiden name, but what husband-to-be would have appreciated that? Needless to say, my relationship with Charles didn't last, and I haven't seen him since we broke up.
When I did marry, and took Niles for my husband, I admit I didn't think our marriage would last as long as it did. When it came to blows after my latest shopping spree, a small part of me was saddened, but another part of me figured that maybe it was about time. I knew I wasn't entirely happy with Niles, and I soon sensed that maybe deep down, he felt the same way. Even I know that my compulsive spending habits, pickiness, and constant health problems are a lot for any man to deal with. But he took care of me, nonetheless. How sweet of him it was to call me and make sure I was consuming enough fluids when I was sick, and to avoid bringing me chocolates and roses, remembering my allergies and hypoglycemia. In spite of all my flaws, I was his Maris. I loved him for these things, but I guess I was just never in love with him. Indeed Niles was a true gentleman; I just never returned his affection for me like I should have. I may not show it, but a small part of me is sorry for that. But we're free of each other now. I'll move on with my life, he'll carry out his, and that's all there is to it.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the story. Please R&R. As always, I welcome all feedback.