Author's Note: Thanks to Kristen3 for giving this idea to me, and for being my "unofficial" editor! :) And don't worry, I'm still planning on working on "A New Life Beginning" too. I just wanted to get this up before Christmas. Enjoy! :)
Niles and Frasier were sitting at their usual table in Café Nervosa, discussing Christmas presents. Niles wanted to give an extra-special gift to Daphne. But he didn't want to tell Frasier, since he would undoubtedly shoot it down. They weren't technically a couple yet, but they were spending more time in each other's company. Niles was hoping this gift would bring their relationship to the next level.
"Niles…are you even listening?!" Frasier's voice pulled Niles from his thoughts.
"Yes, Frasier. I'm sorry, what were you saying?"
Frasier looked at Niles in surprise. "I just spent the last ten minutes telling you what I got for Dad this year. What's going on?"
Niles took a sip of his coffee, and said, "Nothing. Just thinking about my patient load. It's getting quite hectic with the holidays coming up." Which wasn't technically a lie. But Niles just didn't want Frasier to know about his gift to Daphne just yet.
"Oh really?" Frasier knew Niles was lying. Any second, it would be confirmed with a ferocious nose bleed
Niles nodded. "Seahawks tickets for Dad sound great. He would love it.
"I hope I can get him something close to the first row. You know he likes to sit up close." Frasier rolled his eyes and looked down in his cup so Niles wouldn't see. He must've been wrong.
"I just hope we won't be forced to go to a game too. Hey, Frasier, listen…Can we cut this short? I've got a session in about half an hour and I have somewhere to go first."
"Where?"
"Oh, just an outing." Niles rose from his chair. "I'll see you later," and he left Frasier sitting there staring helplessly at the door.
Niles arrived at the ticket window. He wanted to get Daphne's present while he still could. He was about fourth in line. He couldn't wait to give Daphne this gift. She had mentioned once that Annie was one of her favorite musicals, and when he read that it was coming to the Fifth Avenue Playhouse in Seattle, he knew he had to get tickets for them both to see it. He wasn't thrilled about seeing a kids' play, but he'd do anything to please Daphne. And he wanted her to know it.
Suddenly, he was next in line, and the woman at the counter said, "Next in line, please." And it was Niles.
"Yes, I'd like two tickets to the first available night show please, with the closest to the front."
With a few punches on her computer, she said, "Looks like we have December twentieth on the third row open. Would that suit you, sir?"
Third row?! He was speechless. That was the best he could've hoped for. "Yes please, I'll take them." After that, Niles paid for the tickets and left. He could hardly wait to see Daphne's reaction when he gave her the tickets.