"Oh my... I certainly wasn't expecting that." Niles said, tugging nervously at his tie.

"Well... Um... Holly... As much as I'd love to, I'm afraid I'll have to pass. You see, I-"

Holly looked away in disappointment. "You don't have to explain. I understand. Well, I'm glad I got to meet you anyway. I hope you'll do another lecture at U-Dub soon."

"Where?"

"The University of Washington. Most people call it U-Dub... for short."

"What a strange nickname for such a fine educational institution!" Niles said.

"It's short for U of double- oh never mind. I'll see you around Dr. Crane. It was a pleasure meeting you both."

Holly said with a wave to Frasier.

"Take care, Holly." Frasier said.

When she was gone, Frasier glared at Niles. "Have you completely lost your senses? A beautiful woman asks you out and you turn her down?"

"Frasier, I barely know the woman and you expect me to just drop everything and go out with her?"

"Well of course I do!"

"I can't." Niles said.

"Oh why not?"

"Well... she's not really my type." Niles said.

"You mean she's not Daphne Moon."

"Now, I never said-."

"You don't have to say it, Niles. It's written all over your smug little face!"

Niles looked at his brother in horror. "You take that back!"

"No I will not! Not until you go after Holly and apologize for hurting her feelings."

"I'm not dating that woman! That's it and that's final!" Niles said. "I can tell just by looking at her that we aren't

compatible."

"Because she doesn't have an English accent? Niles why can't you just accept the fact that you and Daphne were simply not meant to be! The woman has never even given

you the time of day!"

"She did so! We'd come home atrociously late from the opera and we were standing by the door, laughing and carrying on about the way the singer managed to miss a few

notes-high ones I might add."

Frasier laughed. "Oh yes, I remember that quite well. Truly embarrassing moment."

"For him anyway, but it provided a much needed bit of laughter for myself." Niles said, resisting the urge to join his brother in laughter.

"So go on with your story." Frasier urged.

"Well, Daphne walked into the living room wearing that exquisite silk robe that made her look like a goddess and yelled, 'Niles Crane, do you have any idea what time it is?' To

which I said 'No, I don't.' And then she said 'It's after 4am'!"

"But Niles, That was a rhetorical question! You of all people should have known that! And besides you and Daphne... you have no chemistry together! You're complete

opposites!"

"Well I can change, you know." Niles said.

"Niles please! What have you got to lose by going out with Holly? She's a polite, funny and beautiful woman."

"If she's so wonderful, why don't you go out with her?" Niles asked.

Frasier swallowed hard and nervously tugged on his tie. "Well... she doesn't want me, she wants you! If you don't take this opportunity now, you'll be missing out on the

chance of a lifetime!"

"Do you really think so?" Niles asked.

"Absolutely!"

"Well... she is quite lovely and she finds me fascinating!" Niles said.

"And...?"

"Oh, all right. I'll do it."

"Bravo!" Frasier yelled, patting Niles on the back a little too hard. "Oh, I'm sorry Niles. Are you okay?"

"Um, sure. I'll be fine." Niles coughed.

"Look! There she is! Right outside the door! Now go out there and make some magic!"

"Your enthusiasm scares me." Niles said.

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

"I-I'm not sure. For some reason my feet won't move."

Frasier rolled his eyes and grabbed his little brother by the forearm and began to pull him toward the door. "Oh for God's sake! Come on, Niles!"

"Wait! What are you doing?"

"Trying to keep you from losing out on a tremendous opportunity."

They stood just inside the café doors, staring at Holly through the window. "Go on..."

"All right, but don't watch." Niles said.

"Well of course! I'll just sit right here and order another cappuccino." Frasier said.

Niles walked woodenly out the door, glancing back at Frasier who had purposely taken a seat by the window.

"Thanks a lot Frasier." he mumbled.

Holly stood with her back to him, waiting at a nearby bus stop.

Could he really do this? Go out with a woman he'd just met? The thought was both ludicrous and exciting at the same time.

He glanced back and saw Frasier peering out of the window. When their eyes met, Frasier quickly turned away.

Might as well get this over with. It was now or never.

Slowly he walked up to Holly and tapped her on the shoulder.

To his surprise, she turned around and smiled at him.

"Dr Crane!"

"Um, yes. About before..."

"Yeah?"

"Well... I'm sorry if my reaction to your invitation was a bit harsh. You see, I'm new at this and I just..."

"It's okay, really. I'm just glad you found me!"

"So am I. In another thirty seconds you could have been heading off on a big Metro bus going to... God-knows where!"

"Home, actually."

"Ah. And home would be where, exactly?"

"The Elliott Bay Towers."

Niles felt his knees give way and he grabbed on to the nearest lamp post. "I-I'm sorry. Did you say the Elliott Bay Towers?"

"Well yes. I just moved in as a matter of fact. I'm on the first floor and... Hey... you don't look so good! Are you

okay? You're awfully pale."

"Oh, I'm fine. Just a little... surprised."

"Really? Why?"

"Well, this is quite a coincidence because... I happen to live there too!"

"No!"

"Small world isn't it?"

"Wow... this is... amazing!" Holly said. "Oh darn! Here comes my bus. It was nice to meet you, Dr. Crane."

Niles' heart pounded in his chest as he watched the bus zoom down the street and come to a halt in front of the bus stop. His shaking hand reached into his pocket and

pulled out his business card.

"Here you are. My card... I mean... it has my phone number on it. I-I'd love to go out with you."

Holly's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Well yeah, I mean I just-."

To his amazement, she threw her arms around him.

"Oh, thank you, Dr. Crane! Thank you so much!"

He put his arms around her and patted her back, praying that he wouldn't faint.

"Well... You're welcome and... You don't want to miss your bus... um. Holly and..."

She reached into her purse for a pen and scribbled her name and phone number on a Café Nervosa napkin and then handed it to him.

"Wow... Well, I certainly won't lose this."

"Call me, okay?" She asked as she boarded the bus.

"I will." Niles said as the bus sped away... and his heart beat faster.