One day, something wonderful happened.

She was standing over the laundry basket, fluffing Dr. Crane's knickers. She'd dressed casually that evening, choosing a pair of black leggings, black flats and an oversized denim shirt, choosing the items randomly. If only she'd known what was to transpire.

The song she was humming to herself stopped when the doorbell rang and she hurried to answer it. Most likely it was one of the neighbors asking to borrow some flour. But when she opened the door, she gasped in surprise. For it wasn't a neighbor at all.

At once her heart grew warm and she stared at the visitor in disbelief.

"Dr. Crane…"

"He-hello, Daphne."
Her eyes moved to the bouquet of flowers wrapped in green paper that he held in his hand. "Wh-what are those?"

He looked down at the flowers and slowly brought his arm toward her. "Oh, these are for you. I-."

At once her emotions broke and she burst into tears. He sat the bouquet on Frasier's credenza and wrapped his arms around her, holding her closer than he'd ever held her before.

"Oh Daphne…"

She cried against him, damping the lapels of his suit, but he didn't seem to care. And when he spoke, his voice trembled, bringing her briefly out of his arms. She gasped at the sight. For he, too was crying almost just as much as she.

"Dr. Crane…"

"Daphne, I'm so sorry, I-."

But she shook her head, looking at him through tear-filled eyes. And like the true gentleman that he'd always been, he reached into his pocket and held out his handkerchief.

She took it with trembling fingers and blotted her eyes, but the tears proved to be relentless. "No, the fault was mine, Dr. Crane. I'm the one who-."

"Daphne, no. Please don't blame yourself. It was entirely my fault.I-I can't believe that I said those terrible things to you."

"I said some horrible things to you too, Niles. And I'm so sorry."

"Please don't do this to yourself, Daphne. The fault is mine. I-I hurt you, I-"

To her disbelief, he began to sob, and as he had done just moments before, she took him into her arms and held him close.

At that moment, they were closer than ever before, both physically and emotionally. She slowly began to realize that, perhaps the argument had been the best thing that happened to them, for it seemed to strengthen their relationship in ways that neither of them could have ever imagined.

"I missed you so much." She said, inhaling the scent of his cologne. "I-I was afraid that I'd never see you again and I couldn't-."

"I know, I-I'm sorry for staying away for so long. It wasn't easy and Frasier told me time and again to come over, but I was afraid."

Her lips went to his cheek. "It's all right. I-I felt the same way. But I'm glad you're here now. I'm so glad."

"Me too."

When she looked at him again, he smiled at her. "I'm so very sorry, Daphne. I will never hurt you again. Can you ever forgive me?"

She returned his smile and knew that there was only one way to answer him. She hoped that the kiss on his cheek and the warm hug would only be the start of showing him how much she cared about him.

Sometime later he drew back but this time he was looking her up and down in a way that he'd never looked at her before.

"What's wrong?"

"Um, nothing. I…"

The way his eyes moved across her body made her a bit uncomfortable and she looked away. "Dr. Crane…"

"I'm sorry, Daphne. I don't mean to stare. It's just that you…"

"Yes?"

"You look so beautiful."

His words were all too familiar and she laughed. "Oh Dr. Crane, you're sweet, but I'm hardly-."

"Yes, you are. And your outfit…"

"Oh, this? I wish I had put on more suitable clothes. If I had known that you were coming over I would have worn-."

"No, it's perfect."

"That's sweet, but-."

"I'll never forget the first moment I saw you. You were wearing the exact same outfit."

His memory of their brief first meeting surprised her. "Oh, really?"

"Yes and…" He went on giving a moment by moment recount of their first meeting at Frasier's and she felt a slight tinge of guilt that she didn't remember it as well as

her friend. But she knew that she would remember this, the day that he came back to her, for the rest of her life.