Chapter 2

Are you in love with Daphne?

The question Frasier had asked the day they had coffee often came back to him during random times of the day. Right now, Niles was struggling with the fact that Maris was having an affair with her fencing instructor.

Despite his relationship—or lack of—with Maris, he was distraught that she could do such a thing. He knew they were in a rut, but he always thought they would try to bridge the gap and power through it. Obviously, she had other ideas.

Daphne was a good listener. She put aside the laundry she had been folding and went straight to making Niles a cup of tea. Her company and friendship actually lifted his spirits, and he was able to see a bright side in all of this.

If Maris couldn't find any hope for their marriage, there was no reason why he should. He could move on. He could find something that would make him happy. Lord knew he wasn't very happy where he was right now.

But, moving on wasn't as easy as all that. He had been so comfortable with the familiarity of Maris that the prospect of moving on scared him a bit. He didn't even know what to do. Did he just find someone and hope for the best?

Daphne's hand was on his, and he was tempted to do what he couldn't before: kiss her. He still thought about that night, and he still thought about her nearly every waking moment.

In the end, though, he decided he had to take matters into his own hands. He had to stay in his comfortable little world or risk rejection. So, the only thing to do was to fight for Maris; only then, would his world stay intact.

As he left, he smiled at Daphne, and she smiled back. Was he in love with her? He didn't quite know.