So, this is what a broken heart really feels like, Niles thought as he watched Daphne walk back inside the hotel. Not what he felt when Maris left or even when he witnessed Daphne accept Donny's proposal. To hear her say that she loves him but can't be with him, that was his new definition of a broken heart.

Niles turned away from the hotel room and stood in lone silence. Yes, he could hear the sounds from the party inside Frasier's room, but in his head there was initially silence. Soon, however, his mind started racing. He couldn't comprehend what had just happened in the last ten minutes. One minute he's dancing with his new wife, and the next he was declaring his love for the true love of his life - the woman he never imagined he stood a chance with. But Frasier had spilled the beans and now everything was out in the open. There was no going back from here. Daphne knew how he felt, and he knew how she felt. How was he going to face her tomorrow, or even ever again? How was he going to face Mel?

Niles decided he needed to find Frasier. He mustered his way through the crowd inside the hotel room party, hoping and praying he could find Frasier before Mel found him. He remembered that his father would be in the lobby, so he turned for the elevator and decided that was his best bet.

Luckily, he was right. Frasier was conversing with Martin in front of the fireplace. Frasier saw Niles scurrying towards him and quickly jumped to his feet.

"What happened?" Frasier asked.

The painful look coming from Niles' eyes told the whole story.

"Oh, Niles," Frasier continued. "Here, sit here," he said to Niles, pointing at the chair between him and Martin.

"She's still going to marry him. She told me she loves me, but she's going to marry him anyway."

"Son, I'm so sorry," Martin softly said.

Niles raised his eyebrows.

"Frasier told me what happened."

"Did she say why?" Frasier inquired.

"She said she made a promise to Donny and has to keep it. She loves me, but has no idea how we would be together. I just think she's scared."

"When she talked to me the other day it sounded to me like she was ready to leave Donny. She's probably just scared of hurting him though," Frasier admitted.

"Putting the needs of others above her own. Sounds just like her," Martin said.

"What are you going to do?" Frasier asked.

"I don't know. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to go back upstairs and be around Mel pretending like nothing happened," Niles said in a painful tone.

"I'm so sorry, Niles. You took a chance though, and at least now you know you tried," Frasier said, trying to cheer him up.

"She kissed me, Frasier."

"She did?"

"Yes, and now all I'll ever feel is her lips against mine for that one moment and know that I can never feel it again. For a split second though, I was on top of the world."

"Niles, I wish there was something we could do for you," Martin heartbreakingly declared.

"I just need to be alone. Or at least I need to tell Mel I'm tired and try to sleep." Niles stood up and pointed towards the elevators. "I've, I've gotta go." He quickly turned and started to walk away.

"Niles!" Frasier shouted.

Niles didn't respond. Instead, he decided he had to try and convince Mel that he needed a good night's sleep. Despite her attempts to turn him on when he returned to their room, he was able to convince her that he wasn't in the mood. Instead, he would be alone with his thoughts for at least the next eight hours. There would be no sleep for him tonight though. Images of Daphne entrapped his thoughts as he lay still in his bed next to his sleeping wife.

How did this happen, he thought. He had so many questions. How long had she known about his feelings? How long had she felt this way about him? The idea that they both loved each other without the other knowing tugged at his heartstrings. He started replaying recent moments with Daphne in his head. When he had burned his hand while they were cooking, she had rubbed ointment on it so tenderly. She had recently told him how beautiful his eyes were after he complimented hers. And her surprise shower. God, she looked so beautiful that night. Had she put on a brave face that entire evening?

Niles glanced at the clock. 3:30 AM. Several hours had now passed since he had poured his heart out and he only felt worse with every passing minute. His stomach churned at the thought of watching Daphne marry another man in only a matter of hours. He knew he was going to have to try and move forward with Mel though, right? It wasn't her fault he had married her on a whim. If Daphne could give her heart to someone else, then he could too, couldn't he? His head tried to tell him that he really wanted Mel, but what his heart really wanted was Daphne.

Morning came and Niles realized he was lucky if he got an hour of sleep. His body ached like his heart, but he had to try and make it through the day. Mel was cheerful as she suggested they order room service for breakfast. Good, he thought. One less chance that I'll run into someone I don't want to see downstairs.

As noon came and went, Mel was starting to become aware that something was off with Niles. He had been nearly silent all morning, spewing one-word answers as she tried to make conversation with her new husband.

"Niles, you look fantastic," Mel complimented, helping him put on his boutonniere.

"Thank you, darling. You as well," he whispered, barely able to get the words out.

"Niles, what's the matter? You've been acting weird all day."

"It's nothing, sweetheart. I just didn't sleep well. I'll feel better once we get home and can get settled," he lied.

"Well, we have a long day ahead of us. You better drink some more coffee," Mel encouraged.

"You're right. I think I'll run downstairs and get some from the café. I need to run out to the Winnebago too. I think Dad's bug repellent is in there. The mosquitoes here are awful and you know how they love me."

"Well, the ceremony starts soon. Do you have time to do all that?"

"Yeah, it'll be fine. I'll just meet you downstairs before it starts."

"Okay, honey," Mel replied, leaning in to give him a kiss.

Niles mustered up enough courage to reciprocate, but in reality he didn't want to even touch her. Every new word he said, and every new action he executed was a lie. He started to leave the hotel room.

"I love you," Mel said softly.

"I love you," Niles replied, without turning around to look her in the eyes.

As he entered the hallway, Niles exhaled a large sigh of relief. It was his first moment alone in hours. At this point, he knew he would not be able to watch Daphne get married. It would just bring more agony to his already broken heart. The Winnebago would act as a fine hiding place, he thought. Parked far enough from the hotel, he thought there might be a chance no one would see him go in.

Alone with his thoughts once again, Niles settled into the Winnebago. It was such a beautiful day, and no one deserved to have her wedding day in a setting like this more than Daphne. He just wished it would be him at the end of aisle waiting to take her hand.

As he exhaled slowly, the Winnebago door opened to reveal Frasier and Martin. They had come to check on him. And while they briefly cheered him up, it wasn't enough to get him to leave with them. He still needed to be alone to ponder how he would mend his broken heart. Little did he know, his life was about to change with a sudden knock, knock, knock.