Daphne Moon… Would You Marry Me… Again by Patrick Councilor

Daphne was home alone with David when the phone rang. "Hello?"

"Daphne."

"Niles, did you find Maris?"

"Yes, she was there. I'll tell you all about it when I see you."

"Are you at the airport? Do you need me to come get you?"

"No, but could you please meet me at Waterfall Garden Park?"

"Now?"

"Put an evening dress on. Bring David out here. I'll be waiting here for you. Don't worry about parking."

Daphne dressed up and did her hair up nice. She knew her husband and by the sound of his voice, he was planning something big.

When Daphne arrived at the corner where the waterfall park was, there were on-lookers looking into the park. The sun had just started to set. Two gentlemen in red sports coats and red bow ties approached her car. She rolled down the window just a crack to talk through it.

"Mrs. Crane?" one of them asked.

"Yes, that's me."

"Dr. Niles Crane hired us to valet your car."

"Oh, thank you."

One of them opened the door for her and the other was there to escort her into the park. He helped David out of the car. The park was roped off with an attendant there, who unlatched the rope to allow access for Daphne and David.

There were small tree lights in the trees and in an open canvas overhead that made it look like stars in the purple sky. David was so excited, he kept pointing out new views of them to his mother.

Niles was sitting at a table in the center of the park. The water falls behind him were cascading. David laughed when he noticed the waterfall. Niles was dressed in a black tux. He stood when they approached.

"Niles," Daphne said before giving him a kiss. "What do you have planned?"

"You will just have to wait and see." He pulled a chair back for her to sit. Once she did, Niles picked up David and gave him a kiss. "I missed you, my little man." He took a seat, still holding David. He made a gesture to their evening's maître d'. Normally, they don't rent out the park nor do they serve food here.

"Niles, tell me about your trip," she insisted.

"Well, I spent hours at the Neiman Marcus when a sales lady approached me. I didn't recognize her in the least, but it was Maris. She started crying. She never thought that she would be in the working class, not even incognito. I told her I was not taking her money and that she was on her own with this. I told her not to contact me for any reason. And that's all I want to say about the matter. I want to focus on you and David now."

The maître d' brought out their dinners. Niles put David in his seat.

"Oh my," Daphne said when she saw her plate presentation.

"Daphne, I want to thank you for supporting me through all of this."

"It was my pleasa."

"You are so incredible," he said with a smile.

They starting eating. David had chicken nuggets and fries while they ate poached salmon. A saxophone player came up and played softly by their table.

Niles put his fork down and took a sip of his wine. "Daphne, would you care to dance?"

"I'd love to."

They stood. Niles took her by the hand and led her into a near-by space to dance. He held her tenderly in his arms. "I love you so," he whispered to her.

"And I love you."

David grabbed them by the legs and tried to sway with them as they danced and it made them laugh.

"Daphne, I know I've already asked you this, but…" Niles went down on one knee and opened a ring box to reveal an exquisite wrap-around ring for her engagement ring. It had three red diamonds on each side of the band. "Daphne Moon… would you marry me… again?"

She took the ring from him and kissed him good when he stood back up. "Of course I will marry you… again… and again… and again." She hugged him so.

There were distant applause from the on-lookers from the other side of the rope at the edge of the park.

Niles had a little trouble talking, the hug was so tight. "We'll have to get the wrap-around attached to your engagement ring."

"Oh, I hate to be without my engagement ring. It won't feel right not having that next to my wedding band, but I can manage. I love you Niles Crane."

"And I love you."

After dinner and dancing in the park illuminated by tree lights, the three of them went on a horse carriage ride through downtown Seattle. Daphne and David snuggled into Niles.

"You still didn't answer me question," Daphne noted.

"Question? What question?"

"Seychelles or Australia?"

Niles smiled. "What do you think of Seychelles?"

"As long as you'll be there, I'll LOVE IT."

"You'll have a hard time getting rid of me."