Daphne sat nervously in the waiting area, knowing Niles would be with her shortly. He was supposed to go to lunch in a few minutes, but after learning that Daphne had stopped by to pay him a visit, he decided to order lunch for two. After finishing up with his patient, he stepped out into the waiting area and smiled at the sight of his most unexpected of visitors.

"Daphne, what a pleasant surprise! I hope this is a friendly visit- although I hope you know that my door's always open for you." Judging by the look on her face, he knew that it wouldn't be just a friendly visit. "Daphne, come in. Mrs. Woodson, will you please call me when lunch has arrived?"

After Daphne settled on the chair facing Niles, she had no idea where to begin.

"Daphne...I can see that something is troubling you. While I cannot treat you as a psychiatrist, I hope you know that I consider you a dear, dear friend- probably the best friend that I've ever had, and would be more than happy to help you if there is something on your mind."

"Oh, Dr. Crane," she sighed. "I don't...I don't even know where to begin."

"Well...at least can you tell me what it's about, so we can have a starting point? Is it your mother- has she been pressuring you for grandkids again?"

"If it were only that simple. No, Dr. Crane. I don't think me mum will be asking for grandchildren from me...not now nor ever," Daphne sighed.

Very concerned, Niles tried his best to guess what was at the heart of Daphne's troubles. "Has there been...has there been an accident? I know this is none of my business, but I hope you know I only want to help..."

"Thank you, Dr. Crane. You're so kind. You've always been so kind to me. No, I haven't lost a child, if that's what you were wondering."

"Then what..."

"Dr. Crane...remember that night on the balcony, right before I married Donny?"

How could Niles forget? It was the night he finally declared his love to Daphne, who at first seemed to return his affections. But after some thinking, she had decided that she owed it to Donny and to Mel and to everyone in her life to marry Donny. It had broken his heart to know that she might have loved him had he not married Mel. Knowing that his heart still belonged to another, he'd quickly divorced Mel and threw himself into his work, accepting that a life of celibacy might be in the cards for him.

"Yes, Daphne. I remember..."

"Oh, Dr. Crane," Daphne started to cry. "I think I made a mistake, a terrible, terrible mistake!"

More confused than ever, Niles tried to find the right words to comfort her. "What are you saying?"

"It's Donny. He wants a divorce!"

Niles was more than furious. Donny had won the heart of the most beautiful, amazing woman in the world, and for him to throw away her love...that was unfathomable! "Are you sure? Maybe you two had a fight, and sometimes couples say things in the heat of the moment that they don't mean..."

She handed him the divorce papers, and then he saw why her heart was so broken. It had taken them months to reestablish their friendship, but eventually they had, and Niles could not recall a single conversation where Daphne thought that her marriage would not work out. "Oh, Daphne, I'm so sorry. If there's anything you need, anything I can do or say..."

"That's awfully kind of you, Dr. Crane. But it's me bed. I made it, and now I must lie in it. I just wish..." Daphne stared out the window wistfully, leading Niles to wonder what she was thinking.

"Please...you can stay with me if you like, until you can sort things out," Niles offered.

"Oh, Dr. Crane, I couldn't, I just couldn't. That's awfully kind of you, but I still am a married woman and until I know what in the world Donny is thinking..."

"Of course. I only want what's best for you, Daphne."

"May I make a confession, Dr. Crane?" Daphne asked softly.

"Of course."

"I think about...what might have been. I think about it all the time. But I suppose all of that business is a lifetime away. There's no point in looking back, is there?"

With all of his heart, Niles wanted to say that while they couldn't look back, they could go forward. That this might be the sign that she'd been looking for to let her know that Niles, not Donny, was her true love. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn't impose his fantasies on her, not at her lowest. Instead, he recognized that she came to him as a friend, and a friend he would be. Even if it killed him, he would keep his feelings for her to himself. After all, he'd gotten used to hiding his love for Daphne.

"No, I suppose not," Niles sighed.

"Oh, Dr. Crane...what if..."

"Yes?"

"What if it was you I was supposed to marry, not Donny? I knew you loved me and I was so scared..I hope you don't hate me for that," Daphne stood up and took his hand in hers.

"Daphne, there is something you should know. I have never, ever, ever stopped..."

"Yes?" Daphne's eyes met his, and for a moment Niles thought he was dreaming. This was it. The moment he'd been waiting a lifetime for. He closed his eyes, ready to kiss Daphne, to let her know that it wasn't over for them, at least in his heart.

Suddenly the moment was broken by the sound of Daphne's cell phone. Reluctantly, she pulled away and grabbed her phone from her purse.

"It's Donny. I really should take this..."

"Of course."

And once more their near-kiss only served to remind Niles that he would never, ever stop loving that woman. Never.

tbc