It was a month later and there was no doubt to anyone visibly that Daphne was pregnant. Tomorrow was the day of the ultrasound and she could think of nothing else. She would find out how healthy the baby would be, of course, but she would also find out the gender. She'd been going back and forth in her mind whether or not she wanted to know what it was but she couldn't come up with a square answer. Her mother had a doctor's appointment for her bunions so she couldn't go with her. She would be all alone, a feeling she was beginning to know all too well. Her brother had flown back to Manchester and her mother hadn't been over as often, she was still in the apartment that she and Niles had helped to put up for her. She hadn't said anything but Daphne knew that she was worried about where she was going to stay now that Niles wasn't her to subsidize her rent. Daphne wasn't able to keep on paying, so this was a converation that she was dreading having with her Mum. How do you tell your Mum that she would have to be completely financially independent or else move back to England?
Avoiding her mother, she knew she didn't want to go to her doctor's appointment by herself. Daphne thought about her recent conversation with Frasier and thought that this might be the ticket to pulling him out of his blues. This might be what the doctor ordered so to speak for Frasier Crane. Yes, Daphne smiled, she would invite him to go along with her to her ultrasound.
So she called him and much to her delight he gladly accepted with joy in his voice. It brought her great delight to know that this baby meant so much to the family. Martin still was having a hard time accepting that Niles wasn't going to be around to see his child, and she understood that feeling well. Most of the time she felt the same way. There were some days however she actually found herself looking forward to the baby and felt something strange-happiness. She knew Niles would want her to feel that way, but when she stopped to think about him a wave of sadness would come over her the depression would sink in all over again.
"Frasier, thank you for meeting me here," Daphne smiled on the day of the appointment.
"No, it is I who should be thanking you. This is a momentous occasion and I can only be honored that you asked me to share it with you," Frasier said after pulling his sister-in-law into a hug.
"Me mum couldn't make it and so I thought of you. I hope Roz won't be offended," she thought suddenly.
"I'm sure she'll understand. We'll just call her with the results…that is if you feel comfortable. I don't want you to rush these things," Frasier said, concerned.
"No, everyone has a right to know. And maybe it will help your dad. He's had an awfully hard time of it. I'd hoped the news would help him come around but he's so lost."
"Dad will be fine. He just needs a little time. He was the same way after we lost Mom. We tried to get through to him but he just needed his space."
"Mrs. Crane, you can come back now," the nurse said.
"Okay. I'll have the nurse call you back when I'm ready," Daphne smiled nervously.
So after some questions Daphne undressed and prepared for the ultrasound. The nurse went and got Frasier who eagerly went back.
"Oh Daphne, he's healthy. Look at his head there and look at his heartbeat," Frasier said excitedly.
"His?"
"Yes, Dr. Crane is right. Mrs. Crane, you are having a healthy baby boy," the doctor smiled.
For the first time in months Daphne cried tears of joy.
