Daphne was grateful to Martin for his kindness, for in the years that she'd been his physical therapist he'd become so much more than a client. He'd become a friend and at times (like now) a father figure in so many ways, perhaps even more than her own father.

Martin had his moments when he infuriated her to no end but she couldn't deny that she'd grown to love the old man, along with Frasier and even Eddie. She just didn't tell him often enough how much he meant to her.

Well, there was no time like the present. Frasier may have gone to bed and Eddie was probably hiding under the sofa.

But that was no reason that she couldn't have a heart to heart discussion with Martin. Or at the very least tell him how much she meant to him... no matter how uncomfortable it would make him feel. She loved him.

Brushing the tears from her cheeks, she hurried into the living room to pour her heart out to the man who had given her so much. But when she reached the living room, she paused to smile.

For when she looked over at Martin, She found that he'd fallen asleep in his beloved chair. Feeling a sudden rush of love for him, she covered him with a blanket and turned off the television. He would most likely wake up later and find his way to his bedroom, but for now it was best to let him sleep.

When the living room lights were turned off, she kissed Martin's cheek and looked around the darkness. The moonlight cast a glow across the carpeted floor and she followed its beam to the window.

Peering through the glass she smiled at the beautiful structures that made up downtown Seattle. And overhead the stars twinkled alongside a full moon. She'd give anything to be standing on Frasier's balcony right now, wrapped in the arms of a man who loved her.

Of course given her track record with men, that was never going to happen.

Thank goodness for her romance novels. But reading about couples in passionate embraces and happy endings proved to be too much to handle.

And when she could hold in her tears no longer, she hurried to her room as quietly as possible and closed the door...

Crying into her pillow as though she would never stop.