Author's Note: It's been 9 years since I've written and posted a Fan Fiction. I'm so grateful to Hallmark and WeTV for airing reruns of Frasier! Watching these episodes again has inspired me to put my fingertips to work and start writing again. I can't believe how many ideas have popped into my head. My first story goes back to a line from "Visions of Daphne" where Martin said "I'd give anything to fix this for you." Written from Martin's POV, he takes his chance in this story and says "I'm Going to Fix This". The story picks up the evening of Daphne's infamous road trip to Portland for a box of cereal. I had intended this to be a one shot but alas…it is much longer
I appreciate any and all feedback. Frasier and its characters are property of Paramount Television and Grub Street Productions.
"I'm Going to Fix This"
By Sydney Long
This past year has been one for the books to say the least. I watched my youngest son finally rid himself of that tyrant of a wife. He was, at last, free and clear to tell the woman of his dreams that he was in love with her. I also watched my older son step in time and time again to keep that from happening. I could kill him for doing that. Niles has had to live in Frasier's shadow his whole life. I just don't understand why he can't have this one thing.
Frasier says that Niles is just extremely attracted to Daphne. I think deep down he knows that these two are destined to be together and Frasier is so jealous of the thought of Niles being happy that he'll do whatever it takes to prevent it from happening. He has stepped in so many times, I've lost count. I've watched him ask Daphne do something just to get her out of the room when Niles is there. Just because Frasier has failed at love, doesn't mean that he has to drag his brother down with him.
I know better though. They think that just because I'm sitting in front of the TV, I'm not really paying attention. I know exactly what's going on. I've been watching things very closely since that day when I sat beside Niles and watched Daphne say yes to another man. I wasn't kidding when I said that I would give anything to fix things for him. I'm watching and waiting for the right moment because I AM going to fix this for him...for both of them.
I knew the moment Niles met Daphne that there was something special there. They formed a close friendship almost instantly and for the last 7 years, I've been watching them fall in love right from the comfort of my recliner. I see it in the way they look at each other, how they manage to sit just a little closer to each, and how much they want to just reach out and touch one another but are just too scared to do it. When Niles confided in me several years ago that he was starting to have feelings for Daphne, I wasn't the least bit surprised. I just wondered if and when she would notice.
It was pretty obvious to me but I knew what I was looking for in my son's behavior. He was relaxed and nervous at the same time. He looked deep in to her eyes. He looked in to her heart and soul. I know it sounds silly, but this is just how Niles works. He's very passionate and I've never seen him more passionate about something than he is about Daphne. He had baggage to let go of though. He would never even entertain the idea of putting Daphne through anything that had the potential to hurt her. That is why he waiting so long to tell her. He has more respect for her than he does me, I think.
Niles was married and while he was falling in love with Daphne, he was also trying to salvage his marriage. Not one to give up, he thought it was the right thing to do. Shortly after Donny came into the picture, he told me "I've made the biggest mistake of my life." When I asked what he meant by that, he told me that he shouldn't have held on to something that really meant nothing. He should have reached for something that did. He should have reached for Daphne.
After sitting here in this chair for 7 years, I agree with him. Part of me also holds Daphne responsible too. I see right through her act of pretending not to notice the little things that Niles says or does for her. I think the boyfriends she brought in and out of the apartment were just place holders. I also think that part of her wanted to see Niles' reaction to it. Then there is the whole class, employer thing. Which if you ask me is a load of crap. Love is love and these two are in love, I don't care what anyone says.
Things really got crazy around Christmas. That's when I think Daphne found out the truth. Well, I mean that's when I think she actually heard someone say it out loud. I've never seen more confusion come from someone's eyes. One minute they were so excited at the thought of getting married. Then faster than I could pop open a Ballentine, they went dark. I'm pretty sure that's when she realized she was planning a wedding and the groom wasn't Niles.
I don't know what she sees in Donny other than a last chance. They don't even look good together if you ask me. They have absolutely nothing in common and I can tell that Daph's just miserable. Just like Niles though, she isn't one to give up. That's why I think she's having such a hard time with this. She said yes to Donny and now she feels like she owes it to him to go through with the wedding. If you ask me, she's doing the same thing Niles did with Maris, holding on to the wrong thing.
When I think of Niles and Daphne together, it seems like such a natural, happy thing. They complement each other very well. They look amazing together and they seem to grow as people at the same rate. In my head I can even picture them having children, something I know they both want. They enjoy a lot of the same things, even if Daphne doesn't think so. I have to tell her that the real Niles doesn't march to Frasier's drum. The real Niles is her other half. I just have to let her know before it's too late.
The problem is, I still haven't found the right moment to step in and fix this. Or maybe I kept my mouth shut for too long and I have let too many opportunities pass by. I don't know but then something happened today and I can't ignore. I think my moment just presented itself. Daphne took off and drove to Portland today. After some strange conversation about their eyes, she just took off. That's when it hit me. I knew that tonight was the night; I'm going to fix this.
I've known for some time that Daphne hasn't been sleeping well. I've gotten up in the middle of the night on more than one occasion only to find her on the balcony with a glass of wine. She just sits there looking up at the stars. Even when Donny stays the night, she'll be out there. What she doesn't know is that right across town; someone else is doing the exact same thing.
Keeping my mouth shut just isn't an option any more. I'll start with Daphne first. She's the one that took that damn road trip today. I had to talk to her and I had no doubt that she was out on the balcony tonight. I can't imagine her sleeping a wink after what happened today. And that is exactly where I found her.