Chapter 2

Because the Crane boys do it best

It took Alice a 20 minute bus trip to get to Niles and Daphne's place. And when she finally made her way into the Montana, all the way up the stairs and to the front door of their apartment, she was greeted by a very unhappy-looking David.

"Hey, dude!" she said cheerfully to him as she walked in, "Where's your Mom and Dad?"

David shut the front door, then leaned back against it as he turned to face Alice. "They're in their bedroom, just 'grabbing their coats'", he said, using his hands to make air quotes for the last part of his sentence. "They've spent all day smooching on each other, it's bloody ridiculous!"

Alice chuckled to herself quietly. "Boy, you really are your mother's child aren't you?" she mumbled. Hearing the distant giggles of Niles and Daphne, she spun round to greet them, not getting the chance to see David give her a weird look and mouth, "Huh?"

"Oh, hello Alice!" said Daphne, as she pulled Alice into a quick hug. "Thank you ever so much for coming out here. I'm sure we'll be back by about 11 at the latest, so you needn't worry about getting home too late."

I knew it, Alice thought to herself, as she smiled and nodded knowingly at Daphne.

"Come on Daphne, we'll be late, you know how the people at Le Soeurs Insensé always insist we get there 25 minutes early," complained Niles impatiently, as he rushed out the front door.

"Alright, alright," called Daphne. She leaned down to kiss David on the cheek, then looked up to the stairs and shouted "Goodnight Nicole!" before following Niles out of the apartment.

Alice sat herself down on the couch, putting her feet up on the coffee table in front of her. Turning to David, she smirked and then asked, "So, where's your sister?"

David rolled his eyes. "Hang on, I'll get her then," he said, an exasperated tone to his voice. Suddenly Alice jumped in fright as David rushed over to the bottom of the stairs, and screamed, "NICOLE! GET DOWN HERE, GEEK!"

Alice giggled slightly. Sure, he was Niles's son but he sure didn't act like it - in fact, she thought, he reminded her of one of the Moon boys rather than a Crane boy.

A few short moments later and little 8-year-old Nicole Crane emerged from her bedroom, clutching a book in her hands. "I resent being called a geek, David," she said in an annoyed tone of voice, "And I also think you should know, dear brother, that the official definition for the word geek is, and I quote, a person regarded as foolish, inept or clumsy. Am I any of those things? No. Now run along before I force you to read me a 800 page bedtime story about Sigmund Freud."

Alice couldn't help but laugh as she watched them. And as Nicole sat down on the couch beside her, she remarked, "You are so much like your father, Nicole, do you realise that?"

Nicole gave Alice an almost sympathetic-looking smile. "Alice. My father is a Jungian. I, however, would like to consider myself a Freudian, like my dearest Uncle Frasier," she explained. Her eyes glazed over for a moment. "Uncle Frasier, how I miss him. Although I do see cousin Freddie occasionally, I am sad to say that he does not possess the certain wonderful qualities that his father has."

Alice stared at Nicole, mouth wide open in shock. "Woah... it's like you're a 40-year-old trapped in an 8-year-old's body!" she said.

Nicole gave Alice another quick smile, although this time it was a rather spiteful-looking one. "If that's a compliment, I suppose I accept it. Anyway, moving on.. how is your mom?"

Alice nodded. "She's good, thanks. Always talking about your Uncle Frasier though.. I think she kinda regretted not being able to see him when he visited at Christmas."

"I'll send him her love when I speak to him again. Although I'm sure they'll get their reunion, as I've been told that he may be coming to Seattle to visit Freddie. If he does come down here, I'll tell him to go visit your mom."

"Thanks."

The two girls just sat there for a few awkward moments afterwards, not knowing quite what to talk about.

"So, what's the book about?" Alice asked finally, pointing to the book Nicole still clutched tightly in her hands.

Nicole gently stroked the front of the book, and then smiled. "It's my journal, actually. I found some of Daddy's old journals a few weeks ago, and it inspired me to get one of my own."

"Well, that's great." Alice looked up at the kitchen door, and a thought suddenly occured to her. "I'm gonna go into the kitchen and get a drink, would you like one?"

Nicole shook her head. "No, thank you," she replied politely.

Alice grinned. "Alright," she said, and she got up from the couch and made her way into the kitchen.

It took Alice a few good minutes looking around opening each of the cupboards before she could find a glass and a bottle of Coca Cola. In fact, she was so preoccupied with her search that she barely noticed the sound of the doorbell.

"I'll get it!" called Nicole from the other room.

Finally, as she put the bottle back in the cupboard, it finally hit her what Nicole had said. Picking up her glass, she turned and walked back into the living room, only to find the front door open and someone standing in the doorway, talking to Nicole.

"Who is it?" Alice asked.

Nicole turned to Alice and smiled, again - but this time Alice was sure it was a genuine smile. "Alice, I'd like you to meet somebody. This is my cousin, Frederick Crane. Freddie, this is Alice Doyle."

Alice put her glass down on the coffee table and walked over to greet Frederick. But as she finally took a good look at his face, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, and almost gasped.

Oh my god, she thought, He's...gorgeous!