Yeah, I know. Everybody hates Mel. Gotta admit, she was a lot less creepy than Maris. Truth is I kinda felt bad for her being in such a crappy situation. I think in her terms she loved Niles and was growing to enjoy Daphne's company. If she and Donnie's roles were different, they would have been a good time. Donnie and Mel deserve their cake and should get to eat it too so I'm trying something from a different angle. (Even though it doesn't pertain to the story I had in mind, there will be a Niles and Daphne M scene…It wouldn't be me if there wasn't.)

MEL

As always it was raining heavily in Seattle and the skies were grey. The traffic was bustling as always and Daphne was walking about the park with Martin Crane and Eddie. Daphne rarely missed her walks with Martin even though she was no longer living in the same apartment. She was still Mr. Crane's physical therapist and now, the daughter he never had.

Martin always thought that Niles' crush on Daphne was just infatuation and lust that had to be avoided for he was already married. He also thought it was a harmless and temporary set of emotions. Little did he know that something much larger than he could imagine with the pair of them was so artfully in the making. He watched until she finally caught on, seeing her toss the very pure emotions through her mind almost stupefied that he carried a torch for her this long. It set the carousel in motion until fate finally decided it just had to have them both, blowing up a marriage and a wedding in the process. This power unfortunately broke two hearts that were just the innocent bystanders. Despite the mess, the kids were much happier now and Martin could see it as clear as day on their faces.

"Hey, Daph?" Martin raised his arm at her waist to stop her in mid-walk. "Isn't that Mel?"

They both looked through the windows of their usual haunt, the Café Nervosa and sure enough it appeared to be the distraught face of Mel. Judging from her hand movements and facial expressions she was talking to someone sitting across from her. Daphne moved a little closer too see who her partner was and she was rather surprised.

"Donnie?" Daphne looked on questioning their interaction while Martin looked at her cautiously trying to gage her emotions. Daphne looked back at him clearly recognizing his concern. "I'm fine, Martin. You know I love your son."

"I know that." He grinned. "But sometimes it can be hard to see past lovers move on."

"Quite the opposite." Daphne stated. "I hope Donnie finds someone he loves and loves him back even if it is Mel. He's a good man."

The café was as busy as it always was and the scents of cinnamon and flavourful coffees invaded everyone's senses. No matter how rough a day that's been had one can always rely upon the comfort that the café offered. At this hour it was Donnie and Mel in need of a little comfort as they were just made aware of Daphne and Niles' marriage. They understood why one was divorced and the other left at the altar but it still hurt nonetheless. Mel sipped her vanilla late as she gazed out the window with Donnie.

"How could I not see how infatuated he was with that cockney maid whore before I married him?" Mel asked rhetorically spitting nails.

"Hey!" Donnie snapped at her for taking that language with him. "That was the woman I loved you're talking about. She's not a whore."

"But-"

"Enough!" Donnie sighed. "I know you're angry and that's okay, I was too. But there's no reason to be rude."

"Donnie, I actually loved him." Mel protested for once letting down her guard.

"I know." He consoled her. "But this would have been the outcome no matter what. They both thought they didn't have a chance with each other so they tried to move on with us unfortunately. It kinda blew up in their faces."

"How could they get us in the middle of their so called everlasting love story?" Mel sighed. "Why couldn't they just come clean before meeting us?"

"It's complicated." Donnie answered in sympathy. "Sometimes these things have no easy or real answers. But here's an easy one. Would you like to join me at a movie matinee?"

She observed Donnie carefully almost more curious than anything. After a moment of silence she spoke. "You don't strike me as the kind of person to attend movie theatres."

"I rarely do." Donnie admitted but decided that now would be a great time to do just that.

"Alright. I would love to." Mel nodded with a curt and timid smile as they both shuffled off to head out of the café, hand in arm.