Title: Chance at Parenthood
Disclaimer: I do not own Frasier, Grub Street Productions and Paramount do.
Author's Note: Random idea came to mind, what if Daphne was given a baby carriage at random and whoever left the without a second word? I have read a great many Niles/Daphne stories on fanfiction and are all super well written. I think mine might pale in comparison.
A/N 2: Not betaed and any errors made are my own. Please be nice as it is my first Fraiser fic.
Genre: Family/General
Rating: T (just to be safe)
On a crisp and cool January afternoon in Seattle, Daphne on her way home after helping Martin with his daily exercises. Now normally she would be driving home, but her car was in the shop once again so she took to the bus home. She was near the lobby at the Montana when she felt something crash right into her. Once she had her footing she looked up and saw a young man who looked no older than twenty, average height, weight and Asian. Daphne felt a diaper bag and a baby carrier being thrust into her hands. Soon Daphne heard, "Please ma'am take the baby I can't take care of her."
By the time it all made sense of what happened the young man took off running in the opposite direction. Unable to give chase to the young man turns around and walks towards the apartment when the doorman, Emerson Archibald says, "Mrs. Crane, I saw what transpired and have notified the authorities. Should I call Dr. Crane?"
Daphne nodded. Before she gets in the lobby she hears whimpering from the baby carriage. So she finds a seat and once she had the baby carrier and bag set down she flips over the blanket and gasps. Laying there was a newborn baby girl swaddled in pink and looks no more than a week old. Feeling her heart melt she places the blanket on the marble seat and proceeds to get the infant out and place her gently on the blanket wrapped her up, carefully picked her and cradled her. The whimper dies down as she senses warmth. The infant snuggles into Daphne and she coos, "You're a sweet'eart aren't you?"
As Daphne held she saw that the baby was of Asian descent and saw how much hair she already had that was sticking out from the hat she had on. Daphne saw a hint of a smile and she could not help but let out a sigh. As she cradled the little baby she saw a note in the carrier. She slowly reaches for the note and with one hand opens it and reads it:
January 17, 2003
To Whomever Will Take Care of the Baby,
I am the baby's father and cannot take of her as I have no more resources to care for her. Her mother, my wife and the love of my life Xu Biyu (Bianca) died shortly after giving birth and I am heartbroken. My baby daughter does not have a name yet is only known as Baby Girl Zheng and she was born at Harborview Medical Center less than a week ago.
Please, I ask that you take good care of her and pick a good strong name for her.
Thank you,
Zheng Bingwen
Daphne sighed. She put the note back in the carrier and thought, poor baby she has been in the world for not long and her life was hard already, losing her mother and now possibly her father too.
She knew that she shouldn't get attached but she had already fallen in love with the infant. She and Niles knew they wanted to start a family and soon ; maybe they can start by taking care of this infant. Who knows even adopt her, that is if it works out. Looking at the little baby in her arms reconfirms her feeling about having a family. During the next twenty minutes, she was interviewed by the detectives and the CPS representative who was sent there. After giving her the statement and the note that she had read she sat back down with the infant. While there she had seen the infant wake and began whimpering. Only this time it was a different whimper and she knew what was coming; especially with changing a few diapers. Quickly looking to the diaper Daphne fished out a diaper and made a dash for the ladies' room to change the stinky diaper. Once that was done and her hands were cleaned, she headed back to the lobby and sat back down and found a bottle of formula and fed the infant.
She was lost in watching the little one sleep that she didn't see Niles come into the lobby.
Niles had come by as quickly as he could after getting a call from the doorman, Emerson Archibald. Good thing he was done for the day when he got the call, otherwise, he would not have been able to concentrate. When he made it back and was in the lobby he saw the doorman being interviewed by the police detective and also saw a child welfare representative he wondered, what is going on?
Then he saw Daphne sitting with a small pink bundle in her arms he couldn't help but really wonder what was going on. Niles walked past the doorman, the police detective, and the child services representative and made the beeline for Daphne. "Daphne, my love what is going on?"
Daphne looked up and put her finger to lips to signal 'keep your voice down' before continuing. "Well as I came home I had run into a young man who said she could not take of this infant any longer and he gave the bag and baby carrier. I have given my statement to the detective and the representative and it is up to the representative to decide the next move."
Daphne showed Niles the little infant who had fallen asleep after she been given a bottle. When she saw Niles saw her he smiled. Daphne said, "She is darling isn't she?"
Niles nodded and then Daphne added, "I am thinking if they place the baby with us, we can care for her until further notice."
Niles looked at her and asked, "Are you sure? I mean I will support your reasoning and…"
Right then Daphne lifted her head and said, "Of course I am sure."
Niles nodded his head again when Daphne looked up and said, "Here comes the representative and the detectives."
They stood up when the representative, a plump and petite woman who was in her forties and had a calm demeanor approached them and said, "Dr. and Mrs. Crane? My name is Debra Gea the head of the Seattle CPS facility. We have concluded with the interviews. Now normally I would take the infant into our care as per normal protocol. However, since the facilities is overcrowded plus it is the holiday weekend thus a placement would be hard. In which case Detectives Sterling and Gray cleared it with their CO and a judge and I have cleared it with my supervisor to have her place temporarily with you two. Next week I will call to make an appointment to come and take things from there. In the meantime will look into if she has any living relatives."
Pausing briefly, Debra got out her business card and gave it to Niles and said, "Here is my card call me if you have any questions. Also, I will take on your case personally."
Daphne and Niles smiled; they were elated. They would be able to care for the infant at least for a few days!
A/N 3: Thanks for reading the first chapter of "A Chance at Parenthood". Please review!
