A/N: This story came on a whim, based on one insignificant line that I inadvertently left out of "A Crane's Love"
The kisses they shared were sweet, passionate and loving, making Daphne feel warmth inside her unlike any she'd ever known before. It had all happened so quickly and it was so unexpected. But what surprised her most of all was that she had been the one who set it all in motion.
In her relief from being rescued, in a sense, she'd found an angel in the form of her friend, Niles Crane. The idea that he'd completely abandoned a dinner party that meant so much to him in order to come to her rescue was, to put it lightly, incredible. And his sweet words still resonated in her mind;
You have the most generous, loving and kind heart of anyone I know and I love you so much.
He'd told her that he loved her, after so many years of knowing one another. And it wasn't the kind of love between friends, but real love… the kind that comes from the heart. She didn't need a psychic vision to tell her that she felt it too.
Until now she couldn't quite bring herself to say the words back, but as his hands curled around her neck, his fingers splayed through her hair, she knew that the time had come.
"I love you... Niles."
He drew back and stared at her with tears in his eyes. "Daphne… Are you saying…?"
His boyishness made her smile and she brushed a lone tear from the corner of his eye.
"Yes, Niles. I love you. I should have seen it long ago. And I'm not saying that because you came to me rescue, although I'll never forget that for as long as I live. But it's a hundred other things. Your smile, the way you make me laugh, how sweet and thoughtful you are and… Oh God… your party! Niles, I can't believe you gave it up for me!"
"Daphne, that's in the past. When you called, sounding so frantic, I-."
She smiled and caressed his cheek. "I know… but I still can't quite believe this is real. You're me best friend and that's why I bought you all those gifts. I know I went a bit overboard, but-."
"I love them all." He said, kissing her once more. He glanced at the coffee table and picked up the slender box, opening it to reveal the first gift. "A beautiful silk tie, this wonderful silver pen and… the cologne. It's my absolute favorite. How could you possibly have known?"
"We've known each other for a long time." She said, unable to stop smiling. "I might not have said anything, but it was hard not to overhear the conversations that you had with your brother or the clothes you wear, the colors you prefer. And when I walked into that store, Hart and Marx, the man knew exactly what I should buy."
"Well, you're the most perfect gift of all." He said, warming her heart once more.