I hesitate to write a prequel to my own story, but writing Looking through the eyes of love brought back so many memories that I had to expand upon it. I hope you like it.

It was picture day, and Niles and Daphne were nervous. David had had his picture taken before, first in the nursery (where the doctors proclaimed him in his suit and tie the best dressed baby they'd ever seen!) and later at a month. But now David was smiling and showing bits of his personality. What if he cried getting his picture taken?

Daphne had arranged to meet Niles at the photographer's studio during her husband's lunch break. She'd stopped over at Martin and Ronee's to get David's favorite blanket.

"Daph..you sure look nervous. Who's the one getting their picture taken?" Martin laughed as Ronee playfully mussed with his hair.

"I don't know. I just want things to go perfectly. What if he cries? What if he fusses? What if the photographer thinks I'm the worst mum in the world?" Daphne sighed.

"He won't think that. You want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because Grandpa Martin's going along to set him straight if the photographer gives you any trouble!"

"You'd do that for me?"

"More importantly, I'd do it for David. I've missed out on so much of my own boys' lives and then there's Frederick who I never get to see…the least you can do is humor an old man's free time."

"Plus," Ronee added. "It gets him out of therapy for the day. Don't think I don't see right through your little ploy." She laughed, causing Daphne to laugh as well.

"All right, old man, let's get there before we miss this appointment. We've had to wait ever since the day David was born just to get in!"

"Why in my day you could take the kids down to the corner drug store and get the picture taken…"

"And pay with a buffalo nickel?" Ronee teased. Martin glared at her before he left.

0000

At the studio, to their surprise, it wasn't Niles that David was happy to see. It was Martin. Once in the car and Martin had climbed in David had begun to giggle in that cute little baby's laugh of his that he'd just discovered. At first Daphne couldn't figure out what was so funny.

Then she glanced over and saw Martin making faces at David. This was priceless, she smiled to herself. Now this was the shot the photographer should get. Frasier would just love it.

At the studio, David kept grinning and laughing. His laughter was contagious.

"What's so funny?"Niles asked in a soothing voice to his only son.

"Look, Niles. I think he's laughing at your dad."

The photographer smiled. "She's right. This boy adores his grandpa, doesn't he?"

Niles and Daphne looked at David, then at Martin. "He sure does."

"Sir, I hate to be an inconvenience….but would you mind standing next to your daughter in law? I can't get the shot otherwise."

"Sure, no problem."

It was strange to Niles to witness how accommodating his father had become. When did his father become so agreeable all of a sudden?

And true to the photographer's prediction, David's focus remained firmly on Martin, who by now was laughing right along with his beloved grandson. The pictures went so smoothly, it was almost as if it were only the eldest and youngest Crane men in the room.

The photographer smiled. Some days he truly loved his job. This was one of them. He didn't even need a toy to calm David….David had all he needed with his grandpa in the room.

This was going to be one heck of a phone call that Niles would place to Frasier that night.

The end