His heart racing once more, he climbed out of his car and reached into the backseat for the bouquet of flowers that he'd purchased earlier. They were beginning to look almost as shabby as he, but it was only a small part of his plan to make things right. Or attempt to make them right, anyway.

He entered the building and crossed the lobby, relieved to find that the night doorman had stepped away. He didn't need any questions as to why he was in the building so late. But he didn't want to take chances, so he hurried as quickly as he could. Within seconds he was in the elevator that whisked him up to the nineteenth floor. And suddenly the moment was upon him.

Standing at the door, he clutched the bouquet of flowers in his hand. As in his dream, he was nervous, but not because he would soon be face to face to with his angel. The nervousness came from what was about to happen; what he feared would happen.

He knocked softly on the door and then waited, but to his dismay (although he should have expected it) there was no answer. He tried again, a bit harder but the result was the same. He considered using his key, but the last thing he wanted to do was to frighten Daphne. He'd already made a mess of things and scaring her would end their friendship for certain. If that weren't bad enough, it would also produce disastrous results. He made the decision to try the doorbell. When there was no immediate answer, he tried again and then waited, praying that she would be home. Seconds later, he was about to give up all together and leave the flowers on the doorstep when his prayers were answered.

He could hear the sound of the lock turning and suddenly the door opened. He whirled around to find her standing before him, wearing her lavender terrycloth robe adorned with large multi-colored teacups. She looked, as always, completely adorable. He had no idea what to say to her, but her name was out of his mouth before he even realized that he'd spoken.

"Daphne, I-."

His next words, whatever they might have been, were silenced by her sweet lips on his; the softest, most gentle kiss he'd ever had the pleasure of receiving. And then he was pulled into her arms, his cheek resting against the softness of her robe.

"Niles…" She sighed, making his heart beat faster at the sound of his name on her sweet lips. "Oh Niles…"

He tried to lift his head to look at her, but she held him closer. "I was so worried about you! I thought that something had happened. I'm so glad that you're all right."

Content to hold her for a few more seconds (heavenly seconds); he knew he couldn't stay there forever. He had to do what he'd come to do. And so slowly, reluctantly, he drew back. But oh how he hated to leave the warmth and comfort of her arms.

Her face registered surprise and her hand reached to touch his cheek.

"Oh Niles, what's wrong? What happened?"

Now it was he who was surprised. "What? I don't…"

"You're crying."

He blinked, suddenly aware of the tears that were making their way down his cheeks. And he was utterly, completely humiliated. "Oh…"

Carefully she unbuttoned his coat and attempted to remove it. But he was so surprised by the seemingly romantic gestured that the bouquet of flowers fell to his hand, falling to the hardwood floor with a soft thud.

His coat over her shoulder, she leaned to pick up the bouquet of flower. For a moment she didn't speak, but instead stared dreamily at the bouquet. "These are beautiful."

"I'm glad that you like them. I'm sorry they're a bit disfigured."

Her eyes met his in disbelief. "These are for me?"

"Yes, of course. I-."

She kissed him again, letting her lips linger on his a bit longer than before. "This is… so sweet, Niles. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome Daphne."

They stared at each other, and he was barely aware of the way she'd slipped her hand into his. Finally the silence was broken. "I need to hang up your coat."

He nodded wordlessly. "A-all right." And to his astonishment, she kept his hand in hers as she moved to the corner and hung up his coat.

They returned to the foyer and she picked up the flowers from the sideboard and pressed them to her nose. "These smell wonderful. Thank you so much, Niles."

"You're very welcome, Daphne. I-."

Her arms went around him and she squeezed him tight. "Oh, I was so worried about you!" She said, her voice becoming unsteady. "I didn't know…"

"Daphne, there's something I need to tell you."

Slowly she drew out of his arms. "A-all right. Let's sit on the sofa. Can I get you something? Some tea or biscuits? I just made them earlier, when…" her voice trailed away, but he knew all too well why she'd made them. They were for him, for their evening together. The evening that wasn't. The evening that had been ruined because of his stupidity.

And her face was blurred by the tears in his eyes that he was all too aware were there.