Her admission floored him; for he couldn't fathom why she would be afraid. He was the last person on earth who would ever hurt her. But now he was terrified of what she might think of him.

"Daphne whatever I did to upset you, please..."
"It's not you, Dr Crane... You couldn't possibly hurt me."

"Then what is it? I'm here for you, always. You mean more to me than anyone on this Earth. I hope you know that."

The statement was dangerously close to what was in his heart and he panicked as he waited for her reply.

Thankfully that reply came as a smile and a light kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you... For being so sweet."

He swallowed hard; his cheek burning from the touch of her lips and he had to resist the urge to kiss her in response.

"I'd do anything for you, Daphne."

The words, as he said them, sounded as though they came from someone else.

"Daphne, please tell me what's wrong. I can't stand to see you this upset."

"All right." She said after a silence that was much too long.

He continued to rub her back in slow circular motions while she regained her composure.

"I just... keep remembering the last time we came to Canada. With your father and brother."

The memory made him smile. "Ah yes... When we took a detour en route to Mount Rushmore?"

"What if... What if something happens to me, Dr. Crane?"
"Daphne... what could possibly happen to you?"

"What if... when we come back, they won't let me back into America? I'll be stuck in Canada all alone and they'll probably throw me in jail where I'll sit for hours with no food or water and-."
"Shhh..." Niles unfastened Daphne's seatbelt and slipped it off of her shoulder, allowing him to move even closer.

"Don't cry, Sweetheart. Everything will be all right."

She sat up abruptly and stared at him.
"But how do you know? You're an American! Of course they'll let you back in! But me, I'm just a-."
"Wonderful and beautiful person with the kindest heart of anyone on this Earth." Niles finished.

"Dr. Crane, I can't go through that again! I was so scared before that they were going to find out who I was and haul me off to jail and-."
"Then I'll go with you."
"What?"
"Daphne I would never let anyone hurt you and if the customs officers insisted on making you stay in Canada... Well... Then I would stay with you... for as long as it took to get you home safely."

The words came out in a rush and he could hardly believe that he was saying them. But there was no turning back now.

She looked at him with tear filled eyes. "Really?"
"In a heartbeat." Niles said.

"I love you, Dr. Crane."

The words stunned him but the quick kiss on his lips that followed astounded him even more; for he could hardly believe that this moment was real.