As he stared into her eyes, which held a look of disbelief, the silence that followed was deafening.

"Daphne, did you hear what I said?"

She nodded but no words came.

"Daphne, is something wrong?"

She sighed deeply and ran her hand through her hair.

"No, nothing's wrong. I just... I don't quite know what to say."

"I understand, Daphne. It's a lot to take in. I'm sorry for not being able to tell you before. I guess I was a coward. I've wanted to tell you so many times, but-."

"You mean you've felt this way for a while?"

He lowered his head, ashamed of his shyness. "For several years, actually."

"What?"

"I'm so sorry for springing this on you now. On Christmas Eve of all days! I guess I just thought that using Frasier's ridiculous notion of a gift that comes from my heart would be a good idea but now..."

He felt her touch his cheek, gently lifting his face to meet hers.

"Actually I think it's a wonderful idea."

The words were so soft that he barely heard them.

But in fact he had heard them.

"Wh-what did you say?"

"I said... that it's a wonderful idea."

After a moment of staring at her in disbelief, a smile crossed his face. "Daphne, do you mean-."

Despite the darkness, and the dim glow of the Christmas tree lights, he could see her blushing. And he was sure that she could hear the thundering of his heart.

"I-I'm not sure how it happened. You're always so sweet to me, given me compliments I don't deserve, listening to me when something's bothering me and you gave me that beautiful sweater and scarf. No one has ever given me something so lovely before."

"I certainly hope that isn't true. Because you deserve all the lovely things the world has to offer."

When the tears in her eyes slid down her cheeks, he gently cupped her face in his hands.

"Daphne, please don't cry."

"I-I'm sorry. I can't seem to help meself. When I saw you stumble through the doorway, all battered and bruised from the elevator mishap, I was so scared! I thought-."

"What did you think?"

The tears slid down her cheeks like a waterfall.

"I-I didn't want to lose you. And that's when I knew..."

"Knew what?"

"That I love you too."

He could hardly fathom what he was hearing.

"Daphne... Y-You really mean-."

"I do..."