When Mrs. Woodson was gone, Daphne smiled and leaned into Niles' embrace. Even when he was hurting, he still managed to make her feel so loved.

"Why don't you change out of that stuffy suit and I'll put David to bed?"

Instantly she saw the hurt in his eyes and realized her mistake. He was always so particular about looking his best and she couldn't resist teasing him.

But now he was in such a state of vulnerability that even the most innocent comment seemed cruel.

"You look extremely handsome." She whispered into his ear. When her comment brought a smile she was filled with relief.

"Now go on and get into something more comfortable."

Several minutes later David was sleeping soundly and Daphne hurried downstairs to the kitchen. Soon the aroma of Niles' favorite meal wafted through the apartment.

Her heart warmed in anticipation of his arrival downstairs. After the stressful afternoon she'd had, she wanted so much to have a romantic dinner with her husband.

He wasn't fond of her cooking, but when it came to his favorite meal, he devoured it happily. However, several minutes after she'd called for him, he still hadn't come.

Perhaps she was a bit too anxious.

He was probably still changing clothes. Niles Crane always had to look his best, no matter what the occasion.

She sat at the table and poured two glasses of wine. Surely he'd be down any minute. But several minutes passed with no sign of him. She tried not to worry but the feeling worsened.

Finally when she could take it no longer, she hurried up the stairs, taking only a minute to check on her tiny son.

The sight of him playing contentedly in his crib made her smile and she headed for the bedroom to check on the other man she loved so much.

"Niles?"

She expected to find him in the master bedroom engrossed in a book about some fascinating subject that she'd never be able to comprehend. But instead what she found filled her with worry.

Dressed in his pajamas, he laid in their massive king sized bed, looking sadder than she'd ever seen him.

"Oh Niles..."

Tears filled her eyes, but she willed them away. No doubt Niles would be concerned if he saw her crying. But she couldn't have him worrying about her.

She needed to be strong for him; the way he always was for her.

Quietly she entered the room and sat down beside him. When he turned to her, she smiled and lovingly stroked his hair.

"Sweetheart, I've made your favorite meal. Would you like to come downstairs and have some with me?"

He sighed deeply and moved his arm from beneath the sheets to take her hand.

She tried not to cry when she saw the loving smile on his face; the smile that was tinged with sadness.

"Perhaps later, my angel."

Her hopes of coaxing him back to happiness sank and the tears she'd tried so hard to keep at bay threatened to fall.

Suppressing a sob, she kissed his cheek and attempted to keep her voice steady.

"All right. I'll keep your dinner warm and you can come downstairs when you're ready."

"I love you, my angel."

His sweet words touched her heart and she paused in the doorway, staring at him.

"And I love you, Niles."

Quietly she slipped into David's bedroom, dismayed to find that he was crying. Perhaps he'd had a bad dream, or he sensed that his daddy was going through a state of distress.

"Come here, sweet boy."

Cradling David in her arms, they sat in the rocking chair, letting the gentle rocking motions soothe them.

But no sooner had David's tears ceased; Daphne's returned.