Author's Note: After months of having this story on the back burner, I finally have it up! Thanks to Kristen (Kristen3) for all the poking & encouragement for me to get this finished. And for editing it too! Thanks to Sydney (Sydney3) for reading an early draft of this. And I couldn't post a story without thanking Andrea (iloveromance), Andress (Andress Jade), and Melinda (SamandDianefan10) for their amazing friendship & encouragement as well. You guys rock! Please R&R! Hope you like the story! And usual disclaimer goes, I don't own the characters or am affiliated with anything related to Frasier in any way.
Dearest Daphne,
I have never been prouder of you! Our little boy is finally here. He is perfect, just like his mother. I'm sorry I fainted when you needed me. But when I came to, and saw you with our little David…It just took my breath away. Our fears about him having one or the other of our families' genes seem nonsensical now. I know we will raise him to be a good, strong man. We Crane men aren't perfect, but maybe little David will turn out ok. I know his grandpa will spoil him rotten, just like he said…His Grandma Ronee will too, I'm sure, when she gets used to the idea of being a grandmother. Well, you're asleep now, but David is stirring. I will be as quiet as I can so I won't wake you. I love you always. You'll never know how much…
Yours,
Niles
David Crane looked at the note from his father to his mother. He found it in an old photo album. Funny, he'd looked at this album many times, but he never noticed this note way in the back. He didn't know the story of how his parents fell in love, but he was sure there was a good story behind it.
When he put the album away, he went to find his mother. She was in the kitchen, making them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. She smiled when he entered.
"Hi David, are you ready for lunch?"
David looked back at his mother and smiled. "Sure am. Can we eat in the living room?"
"I guess so. You know how your father fusses at that, but he's not here." Daphne carried their sandwiches into the living room. They sat on the fainting couch, using the coffee table to hold their plates.
"Did you put the photo album away?"
"Yes, mom. I found something in there that made me curious." David said, in between bites of his sandwich.
"Really? Haven't you looked at our pictures plenty of times before?" Daphne couldn't imagine what he might've found.
"Yeah, but I found a note tucked in the back that I never saw before. From Dad to you when I was born."
Daphne suddenly remembered the note. She hasn't read that in years, ever since Niles first wrote it. "Why did that make you curious, David?"
"I was just wondering about the story behind it. You know, about how I was born, and how you and Dad first fell in love and stuff."
Daphne stopped mid-bite. She wasn't ready to tell her son that story yet. She would've preferred he be a little older than seven when he asked. She would have to talk to Niles first.
"Why don't you wait until your father gets home?"
David was a little disappointed at the answer he got, and he started counting the hours until his dad came home.
Daphne was distracted after David's question. She didn't mind telling David the details of how she and Niles came together. It was just that some parts of the story weren't really appropriate for a 7-year-old boy. Like how demanding Maris and Mel were, and Niles' subsequent divorces from them. Sometimes she was still amazed at how they managed to get together after all that they went through with Maris and Mel, and Donny. She still thought of Donny once in a while, whether he was as happy in love with someone as she was with Daphne never regretted professing her love for Niles, she did regret breaking Donny's heart. He would've made her happy, she knew, but she could never have been with him and had the same kind of relationship she now had with Niles. Niles was her true love, and always had been. But she wasn't sure if she could tell all of this to David now. She needed to talk to Niles about it first.
As Daphne was lost in thoughts of the past, she heard a key enter the lock. She smiled when she saw Niles enter the apartment. She was never really herself until she had him in her presence…They came together and kissed.
"How was your day?" Daphne asked.
"Oh, the usual. Seeing patients, and counting the hours until I could be with you and David." Niles said as he set his briefcase down on the couch.
Daphne's heart swelled Niles' comment. He really did love being around her and David. How she managed to marry a man like Niles Crane was beyond her imagination.
"What about you? How's our boy today?" Niles said, looking around for him.
"Oh, he's fine. He's playing at the moment. But, Niles, I wanted to talk to you about something first."
