His heart grew heavy as he returned to the living room and watched as Frasier gave yet another performance of the poem he'd read on the KACL airwaves just hours before. Ordinarily, Niles would have rolled his eyes at his older brother's attempts at trying to prove that he was the better Crane.

But now he found himself blinking back tears.

He looked up to find Kenny standing in the center of the room; garnering everyone's attention.

"Hey, I'd like to make a toast!" Kenny yelled.

Frasier's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh! Well, all right." He peered into the kitchen. "Dad? Daphne? Ronee? Everyone gather around! Kenny wants to make a toast!"

"Everyone raise your glasses-." Kenny began.

"Hang on Kenny! Let me and get my beer!" Martin replied, sending laughter around the room.

Niles could hardly contain his smile. Leave it to his father to stand out in a crowd.

"Does everyone have a glass?" Frasier asked when the guests were all assembled in the living room.

There were murmurs and nods in response.

"Friends, family, collages..." Kenny began. "Let's raise our glasses... and beer can... in a toast to Dr. Frasier Crane! A man without whom KACL wouldn't be as successful. He's not only been a terrific on air personality, but a wonderful friend. And he's leaving us to embark on a new adventure."

"To Frasier!" The guests said, clinking their glasses together.

"Yes... Frasier Crane..." Kenny continued, causing the guests to put down their glasses in surprise. "A man who is... the symbol of Seattle. A-a man..."

Kenny's voice began to break, causing Niles to sigh deeply.

"Well..." Kenny continued. "We're going to miss him. To Frasier!"

"To Frasier!" everyone said again, pausing to see if Kenny would continue. When he didn't, they emptied their wine glasses and then asked for refills.

His eyes filling with tears, Frasier stood in the middle of the room, smiling at the people in front of him.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am to be surrounded by family and friends, and I in turn will miss you all terribly."

Once again, Niles blinked back tears and finished his wine; immediately heading for the bar to make himself a sherry.

Glass in hand; he quickly drank it down before making another one.
He'd barely put the glass to his lips when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"You'd better take it easy there, Niles. You've got three people to get home safely tonight."

At the gentle voice, he turned to find Frasier smiling at him; his older brother's presence easing Niles' aching heart.

"Three?"

"Well of course. I don't... I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you."

Niles swallowed hard, determined not to cry. It was too soon and he had to be strong.

"Thanks, Frasier."

"Well, it looks like the party is winding down." Frasier said, emptying his glass of sherry. "Perhaps I should begin saying my goodbyes."

The words stung more than Niles had anticipated, but it was only a matter of time before he'd be without his older brother for the first time in eleven years.

And once more his heart was filled with pain.