They stood face to face. Niles was smiling (how could he not? He was alone with his angel, albeit temporarily) on Frasier's balcony. But Daphne wore a look of slight annoyance. And he couldn't blame her.
"So what is so important that you had to interrupt the most wonderful moment of my life?"
He winced. He really should have seen that coming.
"I'm sorry, Daphne. I know, I know. I picked the worst possible moment to do this but actually it's the perfect time."
"I-I don't understand."
"When I saw Donny offering you that engagement ring, I-"
"You what?"
He swallowed hard. "I-I just-."
"Dr. Crane, please stop beating around the bush as they say and tell me what you dragged me all the way out here to tell me!"
His eyes moved up and down her slender body and it took everything inside of him not to whisk her into his arms and kiss her passionately.
She crossed her arms. "Well?"
"You're so beautiful."
Her expression softened and she gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Dr. Crane, but you already-."
"I love you."
The moment the words were out of his mouth he wanted to sink into the concrete floor of the balcony. This was not the way he had intended on pledging his love.
What was he thinking, blurting it out like that? But to his surprise, she kissed his cheek.
"I love you too, Dr. Crane."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Could she really be saying-?
"Y-you do? You love me?"
Amazingly she laughed and threw her arms around him. "Of course I love you, Dr. Crane! You're my friend and I love you just like I love your father and brother!"
His heart sank. Of course. He should have known. He smiled sadly. "Thank you, Daphne. That means a lot to me."
"And you mean a lot to me."
"Daphne, I-."
"Now look. I know exactly what you're going to say and you're wrong. You don't have to worry at all."
"W-worry? About what?"
"I want you to know that whatever I decide about Donny, it has no bearing on you and I. Your friendship means the world to me and nothing will change the way I feel about you. I promise. So if you're worried about that, just push the thought right out of your head, because-."
He couldn't wait any longer. "I'm in love with you, Daphne. I've been in love with you for six years."
