Daphne brushed away her tears and silently knocked on her bedroom door. When there was no answer, she slowly opened it and walked inside. The sight warmed her heart. Niles was sleeping like an angel. She went to him at once, feeling the bed shift under her weight. She laid her hand on his back, smiling when he lifted his head and looked at her.
"Hello, Sweetheart." She said softly. "How are you feeling?"
He groaned and moved to a sitting position. "Better. Thanks to you."
Daphne felt her heart warm as she leaned to kiss him. "You're sweet. But I need to talk to you. And I need to change these bandages."
She got to work immediately, not wanting to waste any more time.
"Is something wrong, Daphne?"
"No, but I was just thinking…" Carefully she removed each bandage, wincing as she tried not to hurt him.
"Yes?"
She paused, feeling a sudden sense of guilt. She couldn't tell him that she'd told his brother and father the things that he'd told her in confidence. He would find out the truth soon enough and he might possibly even be angry with her. But she'd deal with that when the time came-if it came at all. Instead she smiled and took his hand, caressing it before bringing it to her lips.
"About what I should wear tonight, for our date."
"It doesn't matter what you wear, Daphne. Whatever you pick will make you look absolutely beautiful."
She blinked back tears and kissed him. "I love you, Niles Crane."
"I love you too, Daphne Moon." He replied, touching his forehead to hers.
She poured some antiseptic onto the cloth she held in her hand and looked at him. "This might sting a little, okay?"
He smiled. "I'm used to it."
His words were meant to be lighthearted but a lump formed in her throat and she started to cry. "Oh Niles…"
"I'm sorry, my love. I didn't mean…"
"I don't want to hurt you." She said; her voice broken.
"You could never-."
"But your skin…"
"Is healing nicely." He said. "Thanks to you. I don't know where I would be if it weren't for you, Daphne. I love you so much."
She sat the bottle of antiseptic down and kissed him again and again. "I love you too."
After the kisses ended, she carefully cleaned each wound and smiled. "You're right. They are getting better. But we'll keep watching them every day."
"I like this." He said simply.
His statement made her laugh. "You're joking. You couldn't possibly-."
"I meant this… being here alone with you. It's all I've ever wanted since the moment I met you."
She felt new tears streaming down her cheeks and she gathered the wrappers from the bandages and the bottle of antiseptic, pleased with her work on his cuts.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I'll let you rest. And then we'll go to the restaurant, all right?"
"Okay."
They kissed once more and she touched her cheek before quietly leaving the room. And at that moment she felt enough love for him to fill a grandstand.
