"Is it possible that Daphne could have feelings for me?"
That question haunted Niles for days. Even though Frasier had tried to convince him that he was imagining things, Niles wasn't so sure. He felt the tenderness in her touch, the longing in her gaze. He knew because he touched her that way, he looked at her that way for so many years. It could be that his mind was playing cruel tricks on him, but he wasn't so sure. There was the time that Daphne told him that he had beautiful eyes, then ran out of the room. He could swear her face turned three shades of crimson, which if it were an innocent compliment she wouldn't have reacted that way. She reacted the way he did, tripping over his words, looking for a way to get out of a suddenly overheated room. In other words, she acted like a person in love.
He had to know. He was thinking of taking his relationship with Mel to the next level and moving in with her but there was no way he would if there was the slightest chance that Daphne shared his feelings. He felt light-headed thinking about it. Daphne, in love with him? He'd waited years, a lifetime for this and there was no way he was going to let this opportunity pass him by. Frasier be damned. He would talk to Daphne as soon as he got the chance.
He came over to Frasier's, unannounced, and was pleasantly surprised when Daphne announced that Frasier had taken his father to the steak house. He nearly passed out at the scent of cherry bark and almond that he'd gotten so used to over the years.
"What are your plans for the evening Daphne?" Niles asked as nonchalantly as possible.
"Oh I'm going to Donny's in an hour. We're renting a movie. Nothing exciting."
"Watching a movie with you any night of the week would be exciting for any man," Niles sighed, wishing Donny were him.
"Oh, Dr. Crane, you are so sweet, you always know just what to say. Sometimes I wish.."
"You wish what Daphne?" he prompted.
"Oh it's nothing."
"Please tell me. We're nothing if not friends. What's a friend if you can't share your feelings with?" If she only knew.
"I was going to say sometimes I wish Donny were more like you."
They looked at each other for a moment, not able to speak. Dare he ask how?
"In what way?" Niles smiled.
"You're so attentive. You notice everything about me. You constantly compliment me and you go out of your way to make me feel good about myself. You treat me like a lady and that's why I l…." Daphne's eyes widened and she ran out to the balcony.
Niles ran after her. "What were you going to say Daphne?"
"I can't say it. It's not right. I love Donny."
Niles' heart sank. "Then I'll say it. Daphne I love you. I love your passion and your wit and your beauty and your enthusiasm. I love the way you move across the room with such grace and I love the stories you tell. I love how patient you are with my father and how well you handle my brother. I love your sense of style and your individuality. I've seen these men come and go and I've been dying to tell you how I feel. What they don't appreciate I see as your greatest strengths."
Daphne looked at him. "Oh, Dr. Crane. I'm not sure I'm worthy of your affections…"
"You're worthy of my affections and so much more. You deserve to be treasured like the goddess you are. I would take care of you, cherish you, honor you. What I need to know is… could you possibly return my affections?" Niles asked hopefully.
With tears in her eyes, Daphne nodded her head. "I do love you Dr. Crane-Niles. And I know that you're the only one for me."
It wasn't easy, but Niles broke up with Mel and Daphne broke up with Donny, and six short months later Daphne and Niles were wed in a lavish ceremony surrounded by their family and friends. They knew from that moment in Frasier's apartment that they had finally found The One.
The end