That night, in bed, Daphne tried to lose herself in the romance novel she was reading. It was an old favorite, but still, she got swept up in the story, no matter how many times she'd read it before. But not tonight.
Niles heard his wife sigh. "Something wrong, my love?"
Daphne knew she couldn't lie. Niles had spent years studying her. He could read even the subtlest change in her emotions. "It's just Lily. When I was just a bit older than she is, I would've killed to be able to dance for real. But of course, we never had much money. And what little we did have either went to dad's pub, or to me brothers."
"I know you had a rough childhood," Niles said. "But that's in the past now."
"I know. And I'm so grateful for where we are, believe me. But is it so wrong that I wanted to see her up on that stage? It would be like me childhood dream was finally coming true."
"As a parent, it's only natural to want to live out one's fantasies through a child. But steering them in a direction they don't want usually only leads to conflict and anger."
"You're right," Daphne sighed in disappointment. "I suppose I was also thinking of another dream of mine. One that actually has come true."
"What dream is that, my love?" Niles thought he knew all there was to know about his wife. It amazed him that, after so many years, there could still be more to discover.
"Going to a fancy ball. You gave me that. For that one night, I felt just like a princess."
Niles slipped his hand into hers. "I felt like the luckiest man in the room. Holding you in my arms was heaven on earth. It didn't matter that I was going through a bitter divorce, or that my so-called 'friends' were talking about me behind my back. I had you, and it was all I ever wanted. It still is."
Her eyes suddenly damp, Daphne leaned over and kissed him for a long moment. "If I'd known then that we'd end up here, I wouldn't have said what I did. I know now that you weren't acting."
"I was hurt. I'll never deny that. But it was also the greatest night of my life. I chose not to dwell on the heartbreak."
"I'm glad. I just wanted Lily to have that experience for herself. I know that makes me a terrible mum, but..."
"You are not a terrible mother," Niles said immediately. "You're just human. Look at Dad. He tried as hard as he possibly could to share sports with me and Frasier. It didn't work. It took a very long time, but he's learned to accept us. We have two wonderful kids, Daphne. I think we should let them be themselves, no matter how much it hurts."
Daphne put her arms around Niles. Even that simple gesture warmed her heart beyond words. "How did you ever get to be so smart?"
"Well, I got a lot of it from growing up around Frasier. And going to some very prestigious universities didn't hurt. But, if you ask me, the main reason is that I once met a beautiful, kind woman who taught me that there is more to life than books and stuffy operas. She changed my life, and I'll never be able to thank her enough."
"You're right, Niles," Daphne said, after wiping tears from her eyes, yet again. "The way we got together wasn't exactly perfect, but it still turned out well enough. And if David and Lily don't exactly follow our plans, they'll probably still end up happy. That's all that matters, right?"
"I think that may just be the wisest thing you've ever said." He kissed Daphne on the cheek. Even the simplest gestures could thrill him, as he often remembered the years when he couldn't even do that. Without a word, Niles put his arm around her, and they pulled the covers up.
As Daphne drifted off, she realized that Lily would likely never be a world-famous ballerina. But it didn't matter. All she really wanted for her daughter was happiness. What more could a mother ever want?
The End
