As Niles lay beside Daphne, inhaling the fragrance of her hair, he thought about all of the memories they'd shared over the past thirty-five years. Some were painful, (Donny), some were bittersweet (David and Elizabeth graduating and leaving the house), but there wasn't a one that Niles would trade for all of the money in the world. Each one had his beloved wife's fingerprint attached to it, and for that he could be truly thankful. As he watched her sleep, he couldn't help but be thankful for all of the years they had shared together. Somewhere on his gratitude list his brother Frasier's name was included, for if he hadn't pulled him aside the night before Daphne's ill-fated wedding, who knew where they'd be today? Surely they wouldn't be lying there tonight on this cold January night, buried underneath layers of blankets struggling to stay warm.

"Darling, are you staring at me again?" Daphne opened her eyes only to have her question answered.

"I'm sorry, my love. I couldn't sleep. I was just thinking…"

"That's always been your problem. You think too much," she gently scolded him. "I hope you weren't thinking anything troubling."

"No, how could I when I am lying next to you? I was just thinking how blessed I really am-how we are."

"Niles, the heat is out, it's 10 degrees, and I can't get warm. Do you really call that luck?"

"As long as I'm with you I don't need heat. I don't need anything for that matter, as long as I have you by my side."

Daphne looked at him. "Oh darling. I know it's been rough on you ever since Frasier…"

Niles nodded. "I miss him every day."

"We were truly lucky. He was something. Remember how upset he got if I folded his socks the wrong way? Sometimes I did it on purpose just to watch his forehead wrinkle that certain way it did," she laughed, causing Niles to join in.

"And his wine- heaven forbid he didn't get in the wine club of his choice."

They looked at each other, remembering their loved one.

"You know, as terrible as it is without Frasier, I am thankful for one thing…"Niles started.

"What's that?"

"That I still have you by my side. I don't know what I would do if I were to ever lose you. You truly are an angel. I cherish every day I have with you and if something were to ever happen…" his voice started to break and his eyes started to moisten.

Daphne pulled her close to him. "Ssh now. That's enough of that. We're together now and that's all that matters. You have changed me life too you know."

"I have?"

"Yes. I was just a simple girl from Manchester with me crazy psychic visions and simple beliefs and you came along and validated those beliefs. I was right to never settle. I was beginning to think that I would never find true love and then you told me those three little words. I'll never forget that as long as I live," she smiled.

"And you changed mine from the moment you walked into my life. How could I have known that it was fate that threw us together?"

"Oh Niles, you old softy, kiss me," she laughed. He gladly obliged.

"I love you Niles," Daphne said as she snuggled up to him, suddenly not terribly minding the lack of heat in the house.

"I love you too, Daphne." Niles responded, meaning it more than ever. He'd been through a lot, but he knew as long as he had his wife by his side, he could get through anything. Even a cold winter night such as this one.

The end