The night air outside the Elliot Bay Towers was crisp and clean. What a beautiful night. The waning gibbous moon hung in sharp focus of the clear Seattle sky. A few wafting clouds could barely be seen that journeyed across the sky with the steadiness of sailing ships. The breeze was a bit chilling, but fresh. The city lights were a bit brighter tonight as if the entire city was lit up for them.
Daphne wrapped her arm inside of his. "Where do we go from here?" she asked.
"Well… I thought you wanted to take it slow?"
She playfully slapped his upper arm. "I do silly. I was asking which way you wanted to walk."
He gave a playful nod with a feather of a grin. "Oh… of course. It really doesn't matter to me. In fact…"
Daphne leaned in, listening with interest.
He continued, "… at the risk of sounding nauseously sentimental, together with you is my favorite place to be."
"Oh!" She squeezed his arm tight. "You've given me chills." She then stopped him to turn to look into his eyes. For a moment… for a wonderful, glorious breath-taking moment, they both stood there without saying a word. They just looked into each other's eyes. The wind blew her hair back in a beautiful way that Niles would hold that image in his heart… perhaps forever. She then kissed him, warming her lips on his in the brisk air. After a long gentle kiss that doubled Niles' heart rate, Daphne pulled back to then nudge her lips playfully against his. She took him by the arm again and they held onto each other tightly.
Niles dipped his hands into his coat pockets for warmth. Daphne's hand went inside his pocket and laced his fingers with hers.
"I feel so safe with you," she said.
"After what happened back at Frasier's apart…"
"No it's more than that," Daphne had cut him short. "It's much more than that. I feel like I could tell you anything."
"And I feel the same. I am so in love with my best friend."
She glanced into his eyes and noticed a funny smirk. "Alright Niles, you're holding something back. What is it?"
He let out a half-laugh. "No, it's just that I just recalled a famous quote."
"Well let's hear it."
"It's by Jonathan Carroll: 'You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip'."
She let go of a good laughed.
His hand was trembling as he held hers.
"Niles, what's wrong? Your hand's not cold enough for you to be shivering like this."
"Daphne… it just so perfect. I've loved you for so long and I'm afraid that I'm just going to wake up from this wonderful dream."
"Oh this is real. It's unbelievably real."
"Daphne, could you do me one favor?"
"Anything." She leaned lovingly into him as they walked.
"Just to play it safe, could you refrain from pinching me?"
They laughed together as they walked on through Queen Anne Hill.