Niles stared at the Seattle Psychiatrist's Review for several minutes before realizing that he'd read the same paragraph four times. With a sigh, he put down the

newsletter and rubbed his tired eyes. He knew returning to work would be difficult, but he just didn't think it would be this difficult. He'd already dismissed three

patients; barely listening to their problems, and then making some shoddy excuse (that even he couldn't believe) before ushering them out the door.

At the thought of what he had done, a peculiar ache settled in his chest. Determined to at least pretend he was working, he resumed his reading. However, try as he

might, he still couldn't concentrate. A glance at the clock was a painful reminder that his workday was barely half over. And when he was unable to take it any longer,

he rose from his desk and pressed the intercom button.

"Mrs. Woodson?" he called.

"Yes, Dr. Crane?" came her tinny voice through the tiny speaker.

"I'm not feeling too well, and I think I'm going to go home. Could you cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day?"

The door to his office opened, and he looked up to find his secretary smiling at him. "Certainly, Dr. Crane. You're under tremendous stress, what with the new

baby and all. You've been working so hard lately. Why don't you take a few days off and just relax?"

Niles sighed. "As wonderful as that would be, I simply can't afford the luxury of a vacation right now. I have my family to think of."

Two weeks after David's birth, he was still amazed at how those words warmed his heart. But sadly the unexplained emptiness he felt inside was still there.

Mrs. Woodson smiled. "I understand, Dr. Crane. But the offer still stands if you need a babysitter. You and Mrs. Crane deserve some time to yourselves once

in a while."

"Thank you, Mrs. Woodson. I know Daphne will be touched by your kind offer."

"I hope you feel better. Dr. Crane." Mrs. Woodson said, gently squeezing his hand.

"Thank you. I'm sure I will." Niles answered, wishing he could believe his own words.

Mrs. Woodson was probably right.

Ever since David was born, his life had changed dramatically.

Gone was the freedom that he used to enjoy. There were no more casual visits to Café Nervosa, no weekly Wine Club meetings and certainly no impromptu parties or

operas.

He still did all of those things of course, but the occurrences had been few and far between. Not that he was complaining of course. He loved his newborn son more

than he ever thought was possible to love anyone-or anything. Wine, opera and coffee... once his passions were mere hobbies compared to the happiness he felt from

being a husband and father.

Now as he drove along Queen Anne Avenue, he remembered the folded piece of paper in his pocket; a reminder of a promise that he'd made to his older

brother.

Even though Niles had tried to reassure Frasier time and time again that the postal service would indeed foreword his mail, Frasier had insisted that Niles pay one last

visit to his beloved condo and mailbox at the Elliot Bay Towers. Of course Niles was more than happy to grant his brother this favor. It was, after all, but a small token

of appreciation for a favor that Frasier had unknowingly granted him years ago. If it weren't for Frasier's admission to Daphne about Niles' love for her, Daphne might

never have realized that she felt the same way about Niles.

And he'd never know how truly wonderful life could be.