Daphne

He told her he loved her every chance he got. He wondered if she ever got annoyed with him, but if she did, she never said anything. She always smiled and told him she loved him too, and it never failed to make his heart sour like a kite.

He often asked himself how he got to be so lucky. He never thought he would be with her, not in a million years. He loved every minute with her. How could he not? She was a beautiful, eccentric woman that always made him feel alive. Just everything about her was perfect, and he wouldn't change it for anything.

He had his arms around her, and her head was buried in his chest. He could smell the cherry bark and almonds from her shampoo, and he remembered every maddening moment when he pined for her from afar. He remembered every secret glance he stole, every fantasy he ever had about her, and every time she made him happy.

"You okay?" Daphne asked.

"Yeah. Just thinking."

Daphne chuckled. "About your patients? I know I can't ask, but it's always a curious subject."

He laughed and kissed the top of her head. "No, my love. I was thinking about you and me, and how in the hell I got so lucky to have you in my arms."

"Oh, you… You can always make me smile."

"That's the mission."

Had it really been seven years since he met her in Frasier's apartment? Had it really been that long since he held her hand for the first time and couldn't catch his breath? Had it been that long since he realized he was goner, and she would always have his heart? He remembered when Donny proposed to her, and everything seemed so hopeless. And now, everything was beautiful, and he never wanted to let go.

Things didn't work as he expected. He fully expected to stay with Mel, never uttering those three words to her because he knew his heart would always belong to Daphne. He expected to be miserable for the rest of his life, and frankly, he was okay with that because there was nothing he could do. Now, he had Daphne in his arms, and every tear that came to his eyes was a tear of happiness, of disbelief, of love…

"You know, " Daphne spoke up. "Why think about me when you can have me?"

"That's something I never thought I could do," he admitted with a chuckle.

Daphne shifted in his arms and gazed at him. It always made him so happy to see the love in her eyes, the love directed at him. "You're amazing, Niles Crane. I don't know how I got so lucky. I love you," she said softly.

"I love you, too," he said without hesitation. "I love you so much. I love you…" He was generous with the kisses against her cheeks and neck.

Daphne chuckled. "I never get tired of hearing that."

Niles took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply, making sure to savor every single moment he had with her. When he pulled away, she was smiling, and he was wearing a smile of his own. All he could think was:

Thank you.