"A Christmas Tale, part 1"

By Genevieve Thibeault

It had been more than 6 months since Niles' world fell apart. Daphne was going to marry Donny, and he couldn't do anything about it. He had been in therapy for 2 months now, and he was making some progress. He started dating 3 weeks ago. Noémie was an absolutely wonderful woman. She came from Quebec and was in the United States to give French courses. Niles met her through an ad. He wanted so much to get over Daphne that answering ads became an option to consider. Who would have thought? He met all kinds of women, most of the time the kind Frasier liked, gorgeous but stupid. Noémie was different. She was cute, no question there, but she was not a supermodel. She was very small (only 5 feet), very smart, and had a lot of culture. She taught Niles a whole new culture, the Quebec culture, and he was trilled to discover a whole new world. He was in a way admiring that woman; not a lot of persons could teach him new things! It had been the best 3 weeks he lived for a very long time, and he was almost getting over Daphne. Almost.

There were those nights where he would lay in bed asking himself what it would be like to wake up next to her, to be able to kiss her, to make love to her. With her. Those nights were pure torture. He knew that sleep would never come, and that they would be filled with visions of her. Lately, however, those nights were not as frequent. He knew Noémie now. He knew she would make him happy.

Noémie had invited him to a Christmas party. She worked at an institute where all kinds of languages were taught, and it would give him a chance to practice his French. He was quite good at it. A little bit of practice and it came back to him naturally. The night was going splendidly, everything was perfect. Noémie's co-workers were interesting people; they all had great stories to tell from their past, from where they grew up to the reason why they chose Seattle to stay. Niles couldn't keep his eyes off Noémie: the woman never ceased to amaze him. And the fact that she could make him feel like an idiot by proving him he was wrong was a major turn-on. He liked it.

They danced all evening long and they made quite an impression. They were perfect for each other. She completed him perfectly. Everybody was talking about them. Niles even thought that maybe he had found the woman for him. He didn't even think about Daphne. Until the last dance.

Niles had never heard that song before, neither did he know who sang it. All he knew is that it was called "Dance With a Stranger ". Holding Noémie close to him, he felt every word stabbing his heart. This singer was saying everything he felt, and Daphne came back in his mind, in his heart, in his soul. He knew then he wasn't over her. He knew he would never be. He loved her. Not Noémie.

Since you and I have been drifting apart

Nights are forever alone

No matter what my head keeps on telling my heart

I'm regretting letting go

I had my reasons to close all those doors

I thought that in time I'd survive

To dance with a stranger is all that is left for me now

To stay alive

And I dance with a stranger tonight

And I'm holding on tight

Thinking of you

And I dance with a stranger again

But my heart still remains

So cold and blue

All in good time I've been telling myself

Love will break through in the end

If only you were holding me I'd know full well

There would be no more need to pretend

And I dance with a stranger tonight

And I'm holding on tight

Thinking of you

And I dance with a stranger again

But my heart still remains

So cold and blue

Thinking of you...

A tear fell down his cheek to fall on Noémie's shoulder. When she asked what was wrong, he just said that he didn't feel well and that he wanted to go home. When she asked if he wanted company, he turned her down gently, saying that he needed to be alone. He kissed her and went home at the Montana, walking in the freezing rain to hide his tears.

--------------------------

It had been a while since Daphne saw Niles. She vaguely heard from Frasier that he was seeing somebody. Surprisingly, she wasn't able to set her mind on it. Usually, she was cheerful when Niles had some new flame in his life, just like she was when she learned about Phyllis, but this time she couldn't. He still dropped by the apartment quite often, as he always did, but he was acting different with her. He didn't offer his help, didn't comment on her appearance, didn't look at her the way he used to. He was...well, very distant. It disturbed her, and she didn't know why. It wasn't the first time one of her friendship changed, and she didn't bother that much. Why was it different now? She had no clue. All she knew is that she missed the old Niles. The one who seemed to care.

She saw a glimpse of this old Niles once last month. She was trying on what she thought was her wedding dress and came in the living room, screaming that it was awful. And it was. She saw him standing up and looking at her with his beautiful blue eyes, shocked. She was yelling at Donny through the phone, but she was looking at Niles. She knew this Niles wasn't dead. She had proof, and she was happy about it. What she didn't get is why it mattered so much. And why when she thought about Niles she was forgetting about Donny. And why it happened so often lately.

Donny.

Now that was another thing. Her visions were more and more frequent, and her commitment to him didn't change anything about them. She wasn't sure she had made the right decision. She couldn't see what attracted her to Donny in the first place. She was acting cheerfully in front of everybody, did her best to look excited about her upcoming wedding when in fact the thought of it was depressing her. When she thought about it and the consequences of this wedding, she could only think of one thing : she would be stuck with Donny. It scared her to death, and she didn't know how to get out of it. She always thought that getting married was something exciting and was based on true love. She didn't feel neither of this.

So there she was, alone and depressed, thinking of her wedding as a death sentence. She was feeling so blue lately that she stayed alone in her room most of the time; she didn't want Martin or Frasier to find out about it. And besides, it was almost Christmas, that would cheer her up. She opened the radio and the woman was announcing the weather. Still raining.

-And now, for those of you who are not sure about their relationship, here is "The Right One ".

It caught her attention and she listened to the lyrics carefully. All kinds of emotions were running through her heart. She could stay single. She could stop rushing into relationships. She could wait for the right one. She would know when the right one comes along. The lyrics of the song kept ringing in her ears :

They say your heart will know

If you let it all flow

I suppose, I suppose

They say look in his eyes

'Cause it's hidden inside

I suppose

So I try and try to find a piece of heaven

Searching for the keeper of the flame

And I'm waking up in places

That are never the same

So we live and learn

As we crash and burn

Waiting till the right one comes along

There's a girl inside

Getting ready for love

But experience just hasn't taught her well

So we live and we learn

We crash and we burn

It just takes its toll over time

But it's well worth the wait

When love has its day

I'll make up my mind

He'll be one of a kind

And I'm waking up in places

That are never the same...

So we live and learn

And we crash and burn

Waiting for the right one

To keep love alive

Underneath the skies

Waiting til the right one comes along

I'll be waiting til the right one comes along.

Daphne stayed alone in silence, curled on the sofa, afraid to get married but even more afraid that there may not be a right one. And knowing that Donny was not it at all.

------------------------

She just finished decorating the house for Christmas. Martin's taste in that department was not the best there could be, so she decided to take the lead this year. The apartment was superbly and tastefully decorated, and she was quite proud of it. She was alone; Frasier had to drop Martin to Duke's house for a poker's game, and she wasn't in the mood to see Donny tonight. She wasn't very often lately. Just the sight of him depressed her. She was looking at him and couldn't believe she would spend the rest of her life with this man. Nobody noticed this change in her attitude, not even Donny. She was a very good actress.

She was lost in her thoughts when she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door : to her surprise, Niles was standing in front of her. She felt so happy to see him, she just wanted to hug him. « How strange? », she asked herself. « Why this sudden mood swing? ». She saw Niles often, but lately the sight of him was the only thing that could cheer her up. She took a moment to look at him : he was very cute in this suit. However, she did enjoy seeing him in his squash uniform : he looked so sexy in it, defining every curve of his body, of his legs, of his butt...she regained control of herself. « What was the matter with her? » she asked herself again.

Niles was happy to see Daphne, but even happier to see that she was alone. When they were together, he could finally be himself, and when Donny wasn't there it just felt like old times. Donny...How could he forget about him? There she was, so beautiful in front of him, the woman of his dreams, and she was with that slob, that jerk, that...well, for the moment, it didn't matter. She was there, smiling at him and, as always, he felt his heart beating faster.

- Hi Dr.Crane! I'm so happy to see you! Come in!

- Hello Daphne! You look beautiful...as always!

She blushed, and she was angry at herself. She acted like a bloody teenager! She told herself to stop staring at him. But she couldn't. God, he was cute!

- So Dr. Crane, I heard that you've met somebody. How wonderful!

She tried to act cheerful, but the thought of him seeing somebody else was killing her. "Somebody else? " she thought. "He's not with you in the first place, you lunatic! "

- Yes, she's a wonderful woman. Her name is Noémie and she works at an language teaching institute. She is fascinating.

- Do you think it might be serious?

Daphne was hoping to hear him say no. God, she was getting on her own nerves. She couldn't control herself.

Niles fell in a deep silence. He didn't know what to answer on that one. He thought he even heard some kind of deception in her voice. But he imagined so many things about Daphne...

- Yes, I think it's serious.

"...But if you love me, if you have any feelings for me, if Donny isn't the one for you and that you can finally see that I'm only waiting to make you happy, I'll dump her. " he thought.

- And how's Donny?

- Who?

- Donny! Your husband to be...

Daphne came back to reality. Donny.

- Oh, he's fine. The wedding is coming along superbly. I already bought my wedding dress...and it's not a Las Vegas one!

She tried to sound cheerful and, somehow, she managed to fool him. "Look at him. " she thought. "Lost in his thoughts again. He is so beautiful! "

Niles was picturing Daphne in her white wedding dress. He was seeing her coming down the aisle, a goddess as usual, only to picture her be given away to Donny. This was killing him.

- That's good. I won't be able to stay long, I have a date with Noémie tonight. I just came to give this book back to Frasier.

She was disappointed to see him leave so early, but she couldn't do anything about it.

- And by the way, Daphne, I have to say that the Christmas decorations are very beautiful this year. I can see that you're the one who did it. They're more...classy.

She walked him to the door.

- So kind of you to notice it. I hope you have a nice date.

She then realized something.

- Dr. Crane, we're standing under the mistletoe.

They looked at each other. Neither of them knew what to do. Daphne finally got the nerves to say something.

- If you don't kiss me, it's gonna be bad luck for both of us.

She was blushing. And Niles' heart was racing so hard he thought he would have an heart attack.

He took a step forward. They were very close : Niles could feel Daphne's breasts on his chest. He looked at her and, finally getting all his courage together, he kissed her. Very shyly.

He closed his eyes. This had to be the greatest moment of his life. He thought he would faint dead away. And dying tasting Daphne's lips would have to be the greatest death in the world.

When he opened his eyes, he found with great surprise that Daphne too, had closed her eyes.

She never felt anything like this before. There was this spark when their lips touched. Her heart stopped for a couple of seconds. It was so intense, so great, so...Niles.

She opened her eyes. He was blushing. They were caught in a moment; she knew he felt the same way. At least right now. They were staring at each other, not knowing what to do.

After seconds that just seemed like an eternity, Daphne made a move. Niles was pretty sure she would slap him and make him leave as fast as he came. Instead, she passed her hand into his hair, very slowly, always looking at him.

His heart stopped. He just closed his eyes and was able to whisper only one thing :

- Daphne...

She never thought she would find the courage to do it. She passed her other arm around his waist, bringing his body next to her, and she whispered in his ears :

- Niles...

He couldn't handle himself anymore. Her kissed her again, very shyly at first, but passion was gaining over him and he kissed her with even more passion from one kiss to the other. He wanted her so badly his body was aching. His hands were running down her back, her hair, her neck. He so wanted to make love to her. One time. To feel her skin on his, her hands on his body, her kisses on his neck. To feel her.

Daphne was surprised about her own reactions. And Niles' reactions. She was shivering at every of his touch, at any of his moves, at the closeness of his body. She wished that he would take her to the couch and make love to her right away. She desperately wanted his body. She was caressing him, touching him, feeling him, and she wanted to tear his clothes off to discover every part of his body. She kissed him with all the tenderness she had in her.

They kissed forever. They couldn't stop touching and kissing each other. They were both out of breath, but at that time they didn't even know if they were still alive. Or if they were dreaming.

It was then that Frasier got off the elevator.

End of Part 1