Daphne's hand trembled as the pen in her fingers hovered just above the paper. But it was more than a piece of paper. It was a document; the most important document she would ever sign in her life, even more so than the document that brought her from Manchester to Seattle all those years ago.
"Daphne, you don't have to do this."
At the sound of his voice, she whirled around to see Niles standing behind her. And the look on his face was more than disturbing. "Wh-what are you saying? Niles I love you."
He smiled and took her hand bringing it to his lips. "And I love you, my angel. I'm sorry if I scared you. I just wanted you to know that if you're not ready to do this, I'll wait for you. I'll wait as long as it takes."
Tears fell onto her cheeks and she kissed him softly. "Of course I want to do this, Sweetheart. There's nothing I want more. But…"
"But what?"
"It's just a huge change. Once I sign that piece of paper, I'll no longer be Daphne Moon. I'll be Daphne Crane."
"That's exactly what I meant, my love. You don't have to change your name."
She looked at him in confusion. "But-."
"Your last name is special. You were born with it. The name Moon is part of your identity. It's who you are. And it's a beautiful name. If you want to keep it, that's fine. I completely understand." And then he grinned. "Or you can hyphenate. You know, Moon-Crane?"
She laughed, remembering how silly she'd been, worrying that her old boyfriend Clive was going to come and ask her to take him back. And yet here she was standing beside the man whom she'd pretended to be married to, all to make Clive jealous. The man of her dreams had been beside her all along.
Impulsively she kissed Niles, preventing him from saying any more. "I love you, Niles Crane. And I can't wait to become Daphne Crane. I want to take your last name. I want to share everything with you for the rest of our lives. I love you, Niles Crane."
He chuckled and brushed a few tears from her cheeks, touching his forehead to hers. "I believe you said that already; that you love me, I mean."
Another kiss followed and she smiled at him. "I do love you, Niles Crane. And I could never say it enough."
"Then what are we waiting for, Miss Daphne Moon; soon to be Mrs. Niles Crane? Let's get married."
She squeezed his hand, her heart beating madly as they walked up to the minister who smiled at them. Her life as Daphne Crane was about to begin. And what a wonderful life it would be.
~Fin~/TBC