"Hey, Daphne?"
She had shut off the lights minutes ago, as they prepared to turn themselves in for rest. However, he laid there reluctant to let sweet sleep take him just yet.
"Yeah?" she spoke back softly, though evidently not thrilled to begin engaging in conversation.
"Thank you."
In the quiet he could hear the soft sounds of her breathing. Feel the heat that radiated from her skin, that rested mere centimetres from his. If he closed his eyes, he could see the image of her. Peaceful, blissful, beautiful, in her own angelic, modest way. Once again, overcome in a spontaneous moment of absolute adoration for the woman beside him, he was left dumbstruck. He had these moments often, long before they were dating, and long after they had gotten married. Every day he was left astounded that he could possibly love her any more than he already did. Those feelings burst forward of their own accord. Both when he was with her and when he was not. He could only wonder how he had become so lucky, after all his years of misfortune.
"For what?"
She had become used to him; to this. His spontaneity. She was the one who brought it out in him, even if she didn't know it.
"Just…" he spoke almost aching to say more than he did, "…everything."
In the darkness, she smiled. He could hear it in her voice.
"I love you, Niles."
She knew he had more. He always did.
He didn't say anymore, but he thought it. She knew it, too.
Thank you for choosing to become a physical therapist. Thank you for coming to Seattle. Thank you for taking the job with my father. Thank you for entering my life. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for watching me grow. Thank you for showing me these feelings. Thank you for changing me. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me.
"I love you, Daphne," he said in the same breathless way he'd first said it all those years ago.
She rolled to her side to face him, and held his hand to her, wrapping her arms around his.
He dropped his head to hers, and adjusted himself. Now, he was ready for sleep. He had thought the thoughts he always reminded himself of. That he couldn't be happier. That he had everything, and more. More than he ever could have dreamed of.
Thank you for being you.