A/N: This story grew from a small paragraph in Kristen3's story "A New Purpose"
Daphne sat in Café Nervosa, anxiously sipping her cinnamon tea. She was meeting Roz here, and she could hardly wait for her friend to arrive. She'd lost count of how many times she'd looked out of the window, but she was certain that it was well over the norm, as Roz would say. And just when Daphne was convinced that she'd go crazy with anticipation, Roz appeared with Alice by her side. Roz Doyle was, as always, incredibly beautiful, her hair swinging from side to side. But it was the smile on Roz's face that made Daphne take notice.
Roz and Alice had barely entered the café when Daphne sprang from her chair and rushed to embrace her friend and her niece. Roz would never know how touched Daphne was when she became known as Aunt Daphne. It was as though at that moment she'd gained a sister after having only eight brothers for the previous years of her life. After a long moment she let go of Roz and turned to her niece, scooping the little girl into her arms.
"I missed you, Aunt Daphne!" Alice said, hugging Daphne's neck tightly. Even though Daphne loved her nephew Frederick more than anything in the world, but because of the fact that he was much older than Alice and Daphne never knew him as a baby or a very young boy, she was more than happy to spend time with Roz's young daughter. She simply could not get enough of this little girl.
"Oh, I missed you too, sweetheart." Daphne replied, carrying Alice to the table. She sat the little girl in a chair while Roz motioned for the barista. Amazingly the barista came at once.
"So, how was Wisconsin?" Daphne asked, barely able to contain her excitement.
Roz shrugged. "Oh, you know… same old same old. Angry relatives, and of course my parents. God, they are the worst, aren't they? I hope Alice doesn't see me like that."
Daphne smiled at the little girl who was now busy drinking a cup of apple juice, and smoothed her soft brown hair. "You're a wonderful mom, Roz. So now, tell me about this reunion!"
"I told you, it was no big deal!" Roz insisted.
But Daphne wasn't buying it. "Come on, Roz! I've been dying to know!"
Roz blinked in surprise. "Wow, you're really excited about this, aren't you?"
"I could hardly sleep last night for thinking about it. Niles thought I was completely daft!" At Roz's perplexed look, Daphne laughed. "Now I know what you're thinking. Niles never come out and said the words, I could just tell that he knew that something wasn't right. Maybe it was me psychic powers or maybe I am daft, but I couldn't help meself!"
"Well you are if you're getting excited about Wisconsin!" Roz replied. "It was just a high school reunion, Daphne. No big deal."
"Are you kidding me? It's an extremely big deal! Seeing old friends, remembering good times… I mean, I can't even imagine…"
"We're almost the same age and you act like you've never been to a high school reunion before! You must have gone to at least one!"
"Actually no, I haven't."
"You're kidding me! But I thought-."
"I've been out of high school a long time, Roz, just like you. But I've just never made it back to Manchester High."
"It's because of Niles, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"He's holding you back! Damn it Daphne, I knew this would happen!"
Perplexed, Daphne stared at her friend. Roz had said some hurtful things about Niles in the past, but since they had gotten married, Roz was like part of their family. Daphne had no idea where this was coming from.
"What are you talking about?" She asked again.
"How could you let Niles keep you from your high school reunion, if you wanted to go so badly?"
"Well Roz, in case you haven't noticed, Manchester is a bit further than Peshtigo, Wisconsin!"
"Hey, don't get so worked up! I was just making conversation." Roz said. "All right, if you really want to know about my reunion, I'll tell you."
Daphne leaned forward, ready to hang on her best friend's every word. She had no idea why she was suddenly so interested in a high school reunion that took place in a small Wisconsin town with the population that would fit in the Elliot Bay Towers, but she couldn't help herself. "So, how was it?"
"Well, it was-."
Roz's annoyed frown turned into a grin… and then a little bit more.
"Oh my God, Roz! You're blushing!"
"No I'm not! I'm..." Roz looked at her daughter who was busy eating Cheerios at the table. "Oh, who am I kidding, Daphne! I had a great time! I'm… freaking out here!"
"Why? What is it, Roz?"
"Ever since we came back, I…"
Daphne had never seen Roz so happy before and she was certain if she didn't find out what went on at that reunion. "Roz, what is it?" She pleaded.
"Well you know that guy I told you about… Peter Hollinger?"
"The one you went to the prom with?"
"Yeah, well he was there and… Oh God Daphne he was so gorgeous! It's like he went from a geek to a GQ model in one night. Well, actually he is a GQ model, but anyway, when we saw each other again, something happened…"
"What, Roz? What happened?" Daphne asked, clamping Roz's hands in her own.
"Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, Daphne…. But I'm in love!"