Niles' Point Of View
This story starts with an alternate view of the Daphne Hates Sherry episode. What if Daphne didn't forget her pills? What would have been the consequences of that night?
Also based on the song « That Night » from Tony Banks.
Mel is lying peacefully next to me, and has been for the last hour or so. As for me, I can't even close my eyes, cause every time I do my heart goes crazy, my body starts to burn, and I have to open them again.
You're certainly wondering why all this is happening to me, and why it happens now, 3 days after I got married. I'll tell you why. Daphne kissed me tonight. A real kiss. A kiss full of passion, full of desire, full of love. She kissed me tonight. I had forgotten how it was to be kissed by her, be wanted by her, to be the object of her desire. Now you're wondering what the hell I am talking about. You have the right to wonder, cause I never told a soul what happened between Daphne and me. I know Frasier would have given me THE speech, and I really didn't want to. It was such a long time ago it seemed irrelevant anyway. But truly, I'm not sure I wanted anyone but us to know. It was fine by me, and has been for the last 3 years. But now that THIS happened, that everything is coming back to me, hitting me with the strength of a sledgehammer, I have to think about it again. I can't help it. And since you're reading my thoughts, well I guess there's no point denying it. So here it goes. It all happened one night. That night.
I was always insecure
I never was too sure
That what we did that night was right
Or very wrong
It was never in dispute
It was always understood
But I can't leave it there
Now what am I supposed to do about it?
Now it's all because of you
That I don't know what to do
My memory's confused when
I recall that night
Now the coin is in the air
And I don't know if I care too much
Which way it lands
Oh and what am I supposed to do about it?
I was lying on the sofa, my main occupation being to forget about the heat and concentrate on the book in my hands. It wasn't easy though. Somehow this impossibility to focus on the book made me think of a lot of other things. I was thinking about the weather, and Daphne, then my appointments, and Daphne, the last pathetic date of my brother, and Daphne, my last pathetic date, and Daphne, my loneliness, and Daphne, and finally simply Daphne. How I wish she was here with me…
Somebody knocked on the door and got me out of my thoughts. I was rather annoyed by it, cause I was particularly enjoying my last thought about Daphne, imagining her lying on my bed, naked…this person really did have a bad timing. But hell, I'll have all the time in the world to go back to it, won't I?
Well, I guess I won't.
I opened the door, only to find Daphne herself facing me, the effects of this burning temperature being evident when looking at her shirt, which was white…God I wish she wasn't wearing a bra…Well, anyway, to my biggest surprise, happiness, confusion, and all those feelings I had at the same time that made me faint, she asked to spend the night. When I opened my eyes again, I found out that she was unbuttoning my shirt, and the thought of her fingers touching my chest was too much to bear…and I fainted again. When I finally was able to stay conscious, I made up some stupid excuse to explain myself, talking about the heat and the wine making me dizzy. But then she went to the fan, started waving her shirt up and down to cool herself down, and I wished I had 8 eyes and/or a camera to never forget I saw that much of her. I was pretty glad I didn't faint, cause I would have kicked myself for many years to come if I had.
Anyway, after these first few minutes that nearly made me go out of my mind, we finally sat down and talked. She explained her fight with Sherry, how she drove her out of the house, and how she told her to go out and just have sex with someone. Ok. Still conscious. Now all I had to do was pray that she would follow Sherry's advice and that that someone would be me (she can be quite brilliant sometimes this Sherry, who would have thought? If anything happens, I'll have to send her flowers to thank her…). Since there was nobody else around, I thought I had a chance. And I had…but I'm getting ahead of myself now.
She then asked me if she could take a bath. Well, actually, she said first that she wanted to get out of these sweaty clothes. All I could think of was "Anytime you want, Daphne, anytime...". By the time she went to the bathroom, I was so turned on I could hardly breathe, and I had no idea how I would control myself any longer. But then I found a little tiny part of my conscience that told me it was wrong and not to do it, and I decided to hang on to it as hardly as I could. When she came back in the room, however, the wind from the fan opened her bathrobe to reveal her beautiful legs, and I went totally crazy. Bye bye conscience.
Then we began a crazy game of cat and mouse, about who would be the first to make the first move. Cause there was gonna be a move. There wasn't a doubt in my mind, nor in Daphne's eyes and body language that there would be a move.
She sat on the couch next to me, started drinking champagne and eating fruits (she can eat fruits in the most indecent manner…), and then one thing led to another…she laid back on the couch, talking about how the heat takes over your entire body, and the bathrobe I lent her opened just a little bit, just enough to reveal her knees and a little part of her thighs…being a gentleman, I had to do something about it. I told her she would get cold like that (it must have been at least a hundred degrees out there, what a stupid comment…), took the robe and put it back on one of her knee. Doing so, I let two of my fingers touch her skin, barely brushing it, feeling both the silkiness of the robe and the satin sensation of her perfection. I did the exact same thing for the other knee, this time allowing all my fingers to touch her. She just looked at them, then at me, and I went back to my flute of champagne, always looking at her. I didn't know if I had to take this look as a go ahead gesture, so I innocently offered her some more fruits. I dipped one of the strawberries in whipped cream ( I didn't even know I had some left, I mean, what is the use of whipped cream when you're single?) and ate it.
It was her turn now. I had made my move, she had to make hers. She started giggling, looking at me the whole time, making some comment on the whipped cream I had on the corner of my mouth. She leaned toward me, looking very serious all of a sudden, and passed one of her fingers on it. I couldn't help but close my eyes. Her touch was electrifying, and I could feel my whole body become an inferno. I asked her if she wanted some fruit now, to which she responded positively. I dipped a strawberry in the cream, brought it to her mouth, and she ate it. We were looking at each other the whole time, feeling the electricity, the tension, the desire building up between us. She then put both her hands on my thighs and leaned forward, so that our faces, our mouths would be only inches away from each other. She then innocently asked me if it would be a terrible faux-pas if she would kiss me. I was trembling from head to toe at that point, anticipating this fabulous moment, hoping I would not wake up. All I was able to whisper was "No", and then next thing I knew she was leaning a little closer, and a little closer again, until her tender lips touched mine, barely brushing against mine. I opened my lips, taking hers in mine, so tenderly that my heart stopped beating for a moment. I returned her kiss, sliding my arms around her waist, bringing her body closer to mine. I could hear her moan as our kiss deepened, as she was wrapping her arms around my neck. The taste of strawberries was still hanging from her lips, and every time I was taking her lips in mine I felt my whole body shivering in the suffocating heat. We stayed like this for what seemed to be an eternity, neither of us wanting to ask THE question, whether or not we would allow it to go any further. But then Daphne answered that unasked question herself, laying me on the couch, her on top of me. She kissed me again and again, leaving me breathless, and just whispered to me that I wasn't going anywhere. And I didn't. We made love for the first time on my fainting couch (ironically I didn't faint this time…), and then we moved back to my room, making love another time, until we fell in each other's arms and she fell asleep.
I didn't sleep a wink that night, I just couldn't; I knew that if I closed my eyes she would disappear, and that this magnificent night would all be a dream. I spent the whole night looking at her, stroking her hair, letting my fingers draw the contours of her body. I had no idea what would happen in the morning, but right now she was mine, and nobody could take that away from me.
But morning came, way too soon; I made her the breakfast of a queen, waiting for her to wake up. When she came downstairs, I could see that everything was different, that what happened last night was never going to happen again. It was a moment of passion, would always be the greatest night of my night, but it was over. I could see how uncomfortable she was, not looking me once in the eyes, and calling me Dr. Crane instead of Niles. She sat down at the table, so did I, but nobody talked. There was tons of things to say but neither of us wanted to start the conversation. Someone had to do it though, so I took the reins. She seemed relieved that she didn't have to do it; in fact I had the feeling she was totally ashamed of what she did last night, and that she didn't know how to face it. But I told her it was ok, that it was just a one-night stand, that it happened to a lot of people, and that nobody had to know about it. She agreed to the fact that it was our secret, something that was only ours. That 2 friends sleeping together was not a shameful thing. These things happen, and it did a lot of good for the both of us. In fact it really did. I felt way better than I had ever been, and the magic of that night would make me go on for many years to come.
She got dressed, took her things, and thanked me. That was something. I don't think any woman ever thanked me for having made love to her. And I never had the feeling any of them enjoyed it anyway. But it was different with Daphne. Somehow I seemed to have pleased her. That was quite an ego boost to please a goddess, believe me. I followed her at the door, and we looked at each other, not really knowing what to do. She just kissed me, bringing her lips on mine, but it was a friendly kiss this time, a thank you kiss. And then she left, her perfume hanging everywhere in my apartment, and I smiled. The unthinkable had happened. Just one night, just two times, but it happened. That night.
Mel is still sleeping next to me, and I still can't close my eyes. I'm exhausted, of course, but the feeling of this kiss, of that night, of her is way too present and don't want to go away. The best thing is to just get out of bed, go sit somewhere and think. And not disturb Mel, of course. Maybe the best thing to do would be to leave the room.
I open the door of the room, and just sit in the corridor. Where else to go anyway? The bar is closed, and I'm in my nightgown. And Daphne's room is right in front of mine. I just want to be alone, thinking of her, and what better place to do that that in front of her door?
I look at the wall in front of me, and can't help but smile. Daphne loves me. She told me she loves me. If she would have told me that just a little earlier we would not be here, she wouldn't be sleeping in the same bed as Donny, and I wouldn't be sitting in the corridor of an hotel, thinking of her. We would be together, away from all these people, on an exotic island or something like that.
Daphne loves me. At least I'll be able to cherish that for the rest of my life. She found a way to love me.
Daphne kissed me. Again. Like she did 3 years ago. But this time there was love and despair in this kiss, feelings that were added to all the other feelings of that night. That's what makes this kiss even more fabulous than the others of that night. Daphne kissed me. She kissed me because she loves me.
The opening of a door makes me open my eyes. I thought I had waken Mel up, but instead it's Daphne's door which opens, leaving me breathless, again. She is wearing a satin nightgown, one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life. It helps a lot also that the most beautiful woman in the world is wearing it. She smiles at me, and sits down right in front of me. We can't help but look at each other, not really knowing what to do, or what to say.
"Quite a night, wasn't it?"
Thank God she broke the silence. I had no idea what to say. Lifesaver that you are, you always find le mot juste.
"Yes, it has been…" What an answer…
Another silence. I know what I want to ask. I want to know if it's true. Do you love me Daphne? Tell me. Give me the verdict. I love you. I don't know why people think 'I love you' is a statement. It's more a question than a statement. Saying 'I love you' is asking 'Do you love me too?' Why is that so hard to say? I wish I could say it…
"Niles…"
I'm scared now. And happy at the same time. She never calls me by my first name, and she didn't even do it tonight. All she said was "Oh, for God's sakes, Dr. Crane…"….and then she kissed me. Daphne kissed me.
"Niles…"
"Yes?" Wow. You have quite a vocabulary tonight…
"…Do you really love me the way you said….I mean what you said…was any of this true?"
Smile Niles. Tell her. What difference would it make anyway?
"I love you Daphne. I have loved you for 7 years. That's the truth."
Silence again. Why does she keeps staring at me? She knows all this, it's no big deal…Ask her. You have nothing to lose here.
"Do you love me Daphne? Do you really love me?"
That's a stupid question. Of course she loves me. The look in her eyes is unmistakable.
"I do. I love you Niles."
She said it. She loves me. Daphne loves me. Not Donny. Me.
I get up and sit down next to her, wanting to feel her near me. I can't help but smile. I feel like a teenager, making his first move on the girl he likes. Except that I know the girl loves me. My problem is more complicated than that. The girl is getting married, and it's not with me.
"What do we do now?"
Well, what can I say? She took me off guard.
"Well, we could do 2 things. We could forget about it, forget about the fact that we love each other, that I don't love Mel and you don't love Donny, and still go on with our lives, or we could give ourselves a chance, and see where the wind takes us."
Now I took her off guard. She looks at me. I can see the tears in her eyes, and it's tearing me apart. Why don't you believe me Daphne? Why can't you see that's it isn't the impossible situation that you think it is? I'm the one who's married, not you. You can just walk out on him.
"Niles, tell me what to do. I can't take the decision on my own."
No. I can help you, but I won't do it for you Daphne. You need to do it by yourself.
"Listen to me Daphne, I'll tell you what I'll do. Maybe it'll help you take a decision. I'll kiss you. I'll kiss you with all the love I have in me, all the passion and desire I keep retained since the first and only night we made love, that night I kept for myself and cherished for the last 3 years. If you can return my kiss with all the love you have for me, and that this kiss leaves you breathless and sure that I'm the only man for you, then leave with me. If not, stay with Donny. He'll make you as happy as I can make you."
Damn it. Silence again. But then, to my great surprise, she turns to me, and she asks me innocently if it would be a terrible faux-pas if she would kiss me instead. I can feel my heart going crazy, my lips burning from the anticipation.
"Not at all."
I know what you're thinking. I like to torture myself. If she decides to go to Donny I will live with this kiss for the rest of my life. I will live with what could have been instead of what is. But somehow I don't have the feeling I will have to. I have the feeling that I will win this time, unlike any other time.
She leans forward, puts both her hands on my thighs, brings her face inches away from mine, and whispers to me:
"Doesn't that remind you of something?"
She remembers. All this time I thought I was the only one living with the memory of that night, but she remembers. And I couldn't be happier than that. I'm stunned too, and it seems to show in my face, for she just smiles at me and add :
"Well, you're not the only one for whom that night was memorable. I remember every little detail of it."
And to show her point, she just leans toward me, getting closer and closer, until our lips meet, just like the first time. I can feel her lips brushing against mine, taking mine between hers, closing her eyes to feel it even more. But this time the passion of it is instantaneous, her lips hanging desperately to mine, her hands all over my body, tears running from her eyes. Daphne kisses me. Daphne loves me.
"I… love… you! I… love… you... so… much…!"
I can hear her tell me that she loves me between kisses, between sobs, hanging on to me, driving me crazy, and I have the certitude that she will not go back to Donny, not after this. She can't. Nor can I go back to Mel when I can hold Daphne in my arms all my life, kissing her all the time, making love to her every night.
I take her in my arms, holding her so close I don't know which body is hers and which one is mine. Does it matter anyway? I ask her if she wants to leave, and she says yes. Simple, really. We just take the Winnebago and drive away, away from the world, away from everything. I'll probably take her on an exotic island or something. Like I thought I would. We'll just deal with everybody else when we get back.
Daphne kissed me. Daphne loves me.
I kissed Daphne. I love Daphne. Simple as that.