Daphne walked into the living room, both dismayed and thankful to see that the party had begun to wind down.
Her heart beating rapidly, she crossed the room preparing herself for endless questions from Donny about why she disappeared so quickly.
When she neared the hallway, she heard voices and gasped in surprise. Curiously, she followed the voices until she reached Frasier's room.
Doing her best to stay hidden from view, she peeked into doorway, relieved when she saw Donny sitting on the bed, deep in conversation with Frasier.
They were discussing a caller who had been trying to reconcile with her husband, even though they were on the brink of divorce.
Leave it to Donny to discourage love between two people. It was a wonder that he'd proposed at all!
With a sigh, she returned to the living room, pausing to look out the window.
The city looked so beautiful at Christmastime, but for some reason tonight, even more so. She was about to return to her room when she noticed movement.
Intrigued, she quietly walked to the door and peered outside.
Niles...
Her hand went to her heart and she stared at him for moment.
He was looking out at the Seattle skyline, sipping a glass of wine. And when she saw the expression on his face, it tore at her heart.
She hesitated for a moment before opening the door as quietly as possible. A cold breeze swept over the balcony and she shivered, wishing that he would offer her his jacket... or his warm, strong arms.
It was a ridiculous thought; a dream, really. How could she expect him to return her feelings when he was hurting so deeply? Besides, she had Donny. Niles would never do anything to come between her relationship with him.
Still, it pained her to see him hurting so badly.
No... It was wrong to bother him at all. Best to leave him alone.
But when she heard him sniffle, her rational thoughts vanished and she walked out onto the balcony.
In one fluid movement, she went to him.
"Dr Crane?"
His name came out softly, almost a whisper.
Slowly he turned toward her and blinked, wiping a tear from his eyes.
"H-hello, Daphne."
"Dr. Crane." She said again. Slowly she reached up and brushed a tear from his cheek with her fingertips.
"I'm so sorry." She said softly.
He tried to smile but a sob escaped and she took him into her arms, amazed at how easily he filled them.
She held him close and rubbed his back, whispering soothing words as he cried softly.
"I'm so sorry. Shhh... Hush now. Everything will be all right."
He rested his head against her shoulder and sighed.
"Daphne?" He said into the fabric of her dress.
"Yes, Dr. Crane?"
There was a long pause before he continued.
"Daphne? Do you think that anyone will ever love me again?"
The question made her gasp in surprise. Surely he wasn't suggesting that-.
She held him closer and stroked his hair.
Oh, Dr. Crane. How could anyone not love you?
It was only when he smiled at her that she realized she'd spoken aloud.