A/N: In reading Carylfan10's wonderful Frasier/Cheers crossover story "The Love He Left Behind", I was inspired by a small scene that she included involving Niles and decided to expand on it. That being said, I am using some of the same words and dialogue that she wrote, so I credit her with writing the beginning of this story and thank her for allowing me to 'continue' it. I hope I can do justice to what she's already started, even though hers wasn't intended as a story of its own.

His heart beating like mad, Niles rushed into Café Nervosa, grateful to find his brother who was sitting with a handsome dark haired man.

"Frasier! Thank God you're here!" He said breathlessly. "Daphne has a date! With our server!"

Frasier's eyes moved upward in annoyance. "You mean Eric?"
"Yes, exactly! We cannot allow that! He is simply incompatible with our Daphne! For one thing he earns tips for a living!"
"Niles-."
"DO NOT EXPECT ANY GRATUITY FROM THIS TABLE!" Niles shouted at the unsuspecting barista.

Frasier turned to the man next to him. "Don't mind him. This is my brother, Dr. Niles Crane. Niles, I'd like you to meet Sam Malone."

Niles' mouth fell open in surprise. "Sam Malone? The Boston Sam?"

"Yes, that would be me." Sam replied, shaking Niles' hand. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Crane." Then he turned to Frasier and laughed. "Boy, it's a good thing I never had to call you Doctor."

"Yes. Things were rather informal in Boston." Frasier explained to Niles.

"So I gather." Niles said absently. "Anyway, Frasier... What shall we do about Daphne? This has disaster written all over it!"

"Niles, calm down!" Frasier said, not bothering to hide his annoyance. "What Daphne does is her business. You are a married man, are you not?"

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"

Frasier turned to Sam. "Will you excuse us?"

"Sure! Take all the time you need!" Sam said.

Frasier grabbed Niles by the arm and dragged him to the door. "I'd love to stay here and help you obsess over a woman that you shall never have, but I have some catching up to do!"

Annoyed, Niles pulled his arm away from his brother's grasp. "Oh, all right! But if there is kissing involved tonight, I can't be held responsible for my actions!"

With a sigh Niles walked out of Café Nervosa. He should have known that his brother would be of no help whatsoever. But he had to do something.

The idea of his Daphne going out with that... that... community college barista was simply unfathomable! Whatever did she see in him anyway? The man was pompous, rude and as he'd told Frasier, the man earned tips for a living!

How could this Eric person possibly think that Daphne could live a life where her soul means of financial stability depended on whether or not people enjoyed the lattes her husband served to others at Café Nervosa?

Niles knew for a fact that his lattes were less than stellar, especially when he'd been forced to return to the counter after receiving his drink. How difficult is it to add a whisper of cinnamon? Had he no shame?

He turned his head once more and glared at the red-haired pony-tailed man. Appalling! Daphne didn't deserve someone like him. She deserved someone who would love her the way she deserved to be loved.

Someone with an education. Someone who was soft spoken and intelligent and who hung on her every word. Someone who found her beauty indescribable and the scent of her hair completely intoxicating.

Someone... like himself.

But who was he kidding? It would never happen. Not in a million years. He was a married man and there was no refuting that. Married or not, he couldn't say it was a happy marriage. He often wondered if he would be less lonely if he were single.

And even if he did, he and Maris both knew it would be a lie.

He took one last glance at Eric and walked out the door. And suddenly he knew what he had to do. He had to warn her, somehow. The last thing he wanted was to see her get hurt.

But sadly he was afraid that his fear would become a reality.

Without hesitation, he hurried to his car in the hopes that he wasn't too late.