Author's Notes:

Okay, wow, it's been a long time. Sorry about the delay, but school unfortunately has to come first. Or at least before fanfic. I promise I will finish this story, so don't worry! Thanks to eccentric, JanieSternin, lucifer's lush lover, and AvidTVfan for your reviews, and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint.

P.S. Marissa, I can totally relate to what you're saying. Thanks for the fic recommendation, it was fabulous, and I will finish Freshman Year, promise. Thanks for reading!

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I stepped forward and caught hold of his coat sleeve. "Brian, do you have a moment? I'd like to talk to you."

"Of course," he replied politely, sitting down on the sofa. I couldn't help but be amazed at how polite he was to me, even after everything I'd done. If Louis Pascal had wanted to talk to me after he'd slept with Lilith, I wouldn't have said "of course" and waited for him to speak.

I sat down in a nearby chair and tried to think of how to begin. Finally, I decided to be honest. "Brian, I don't know how to tell you this."

He blinked, but didn't say a word. He wasn't making a scene, but he wasn't going to make this easy for me either. Not that he needed to. He didn't owe me anything.

"I remember how I felt when Lilith cheated on me," I finally began. "It felt like she'd ripped out my heart and torn it to pieces. I wanted to kill the man she'd been with, and I didn't understand how someone I didn't even know could have shattered my life like that."

Brian nodded again, no expression readable on his face. I had no idea what he was thinking.

"What I'm trying to say is that what happened was the most devastating experience of my life," I concluded. "And it makes me sick to know that I've put you through the same thing."

"I appreciate your telling me this, Frasier," Brian finally responded. "It can't have been easy to say."

"No, it wasn't," I agreed. "Brian, I'm so sorry I hurt you like that. I know we haven't been the best of friends, but I've always respected you and appreciated how well you took care of Lilith."

"She's an incredible woman," Brian answered simply. "You're a lucky man."

"I am," I agreed. "I just wish the circumstances could have been different."

Brian sighed. "I don't know what to say to that, Frasier. I wish I did."

"You don't have to say anything," I answered. "You're the one person in all of this who didn't screw up in some way. You and Frederick, anyhow."

A wistful expression crossed Brian's face at the mention of Frederick. "He's a great kid," he told me. "You and Lilith have done a fantastic job with him."

"The credit is mostly Lilith's," I insisted. "She's been there with him his entire life."

"Take good care of her, Frasier," Brian told me, standing up to leave. "She loves you so much."

Where had this lump in my throat come from? "I will," I promised.

Brian stuck out his hand. I shook it numbly, overcome again by his generosity. We would never be friends, Brian and I, and he would likely harbor some feelings of resentment toward me for a long time. But he was willing to talk to me man to man, and shake my hand even after I had shattered his life and cost him his marriage.

"I appreciate your talking to me," he said simply. "Goodbye, Frasier."

I nodded. "Goodbye, Brian."

He left and I shut the door behind him. It had gone as well as could have been expected. I didn't feel any better about what I had done to him, and suspected that I might never. But I had recognized my actions, and I had apologized for them. I felt like I could finally face myself again.

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When I looked in on Frederick, he appeared to be sleeping, however he lifted his head when I tiptoed into the room. "Mom?"

"Hi, sweetheart," I whispered. "Did you have a good time tonight?"

My son nodded. "The game was real neat and Brian let me get four hot dogs."

I shook my head slightly. "I hope you won't be sick tomorrow from that."

"Aw, Mom," he complained. "You always say that."

"Fair enough," I agreed. "I'm glad you and Brian had a good time."

"Can you and Dad and me do something together tomorrow?" Frederick asked.

I smiled. I'd have to call in sick from work, but it would be worth it to have a day like that with my family. No matter what had happened between Frasier and me, or what might happen, the three of us would always be our own little family. "I'm sure your father would enjoy that, Frederick."

"I miss him," my son complained. "How come he has to live so far away?"

Good lord, how was I supposed to answer that? "I know he misses you a lot, sweetheart," I began nervously. "And he's hoping he'll be able to see you more often."

"I wish he would," Frederick remarked wistfully. "Is he ever going to move back here?"

Why was he asking so many difficult questions tonight? "I don't know, Frederick," I admitted. "But no matter what, your father and I will always love you very much. And that's a promise."

"I love you too, Mom," my son replied, throwing his arms around my neck.

I hugged him tightly and dropped a kiss on his forehead. "Get some sleep now. It's way past your bedtime."

"Aw, Mom," he complained, yawning. "I'm not tired."

"You're a growing boy and you need your sleep," I stated firmly. "And soon it'll be tomorrow morning."

"All right," Frederick grumbled. "Night, Mom."

I touched his shoulder and stood up to leave. "Goodnight, Frederick."

When I returned to my room, I found Frasier waiting by the door. "Is Frederick asleep?" he whispered.

"Almost," I replied quietly. "He's had a big night."

"I think we all have," Frasier agreed. "I just wanted to say goodnight to you."

"If you're not too tired yet, would you like to come in for awhile?" I offered. "I don't think I can fall asleep yet."

He grinned and followed me into my bedroom, watching me as I kicked off my shoes and sat down on the edge of the bed. "You're actually inviting me in? For coffee, perhaps?"

"Frasier, coffee would be totally impractical at this hour and you know—"I broke off when I saw the smirk on his face. "You think you're so funny."

"I am funny!" he argued. "You wouldn't be laughing if you didn't think that was funny."

I stared at him with my most serious expression. "I'm not laughing."

Frasier stared back. "Yes, you are."

I folded my arms. "No, I'm not."

Frasier stuck out his tongue at me. The absurdity of the situation made me break into giggles. He smiled triumphantly. "Yes, you are."

"You suck," I sighed, smacking his arm. "Have I ever told you that?"

"Not if you ask like that, I don't," he grinned.

I sighed and fell back on the bed. "You win."

Frasier laid down beside me and gently stroked my hair. "I had a wonderful time tonight."

I smiled. "So did I. You sure know how to surprise a girl, Dr. Crane."

Frasier slipped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. I rested my chin on his shoulder and let myself think about how good it felt to have him here with me again. I'd missed having him sleep next to me, and even though I'd had Brian for the last two years, he and I never fit together like Frasier and I did.

My eyelids became heavier and heavier, and before I knew it, I'd fallen asleep.

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When I woke up the next morning, Frasier was gone. I felt a twinge of disappointment, but reminded myself that it was better this way. There would have been more than a few awkward moments if Frederick had seen us asleep in the same bed, no matter how innocent the situation.

I pulled on my bathrobe and wandered downstairs. A delicious aroma was coming from the kitchen, and as I walked in it became obvious that Frasier was cooking breakfast. Frederick was standing at his side, still clad in pajamas, and I stopped in my tracks, not wanting to disturb this scene quite yet.

"Can I flip the pancakes?" our son pleaded. "Please, Dad?"

Frasier raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure, son, maybe next time."

"Come on, Dad, please?" Frederick begged. "I can do it!"

"Oh, all right," Frasier gave in. "Just remember that the trick is to toss with enough momentum to flip, but not too much so that it sticks to the ceiling or worse. Like this."

He tossed the pancake in the air. It flipped fine, but landed on the counter. Frederick began giggling.

"Oops," Frasier muttered, his face turning red. "Don't tell your mother. She'll laugh at me. It'll be our little secret, all right?"

"Too late, Frasier," I grinned. "And you're right, I will laugh at you."

Frasier swept the ruined pancake into the trash can and pretended to pout. "You're so mean to me."

"Can I try now, Dad?" Frederick begged. Frasier poured some more batter into the pan, and Frederick flipped it perfectly. "Wow, cool!"

"It looks like you've been beaten, Dr. Crane," I called to him. "By a nine year old, no less."

"I'm gonna be ten in three months!" Frederick protested.

"Sit down, Lilith," Frasier instructed me. "The boys are making breakfast this morning."

I resisted making a remark about needing to run for the fire extinguisher, and sat down at the kitchen table to watch my ex-husband and my son make breakfast for me. When we sat down together ten minutes later, I had to admit that it all tasted delicious.

"I'm going to be spoiled if you keep this up," I remarked. "I won't want to cook for myself anymore."

"Mom? Dad?" Frederick asked, his mouth full of eggs.

"No talking with your mouth full, Frederick," I reminded him.

"That's right," Frasier agreed between bites of pancakes.

Frederick swallowed. "Can we go to Adventure Island today? Please?"

Frasier shot me a questioning look. "Adventure Island?"

"An amusement park by the Cape," I explained. "It just opened last fall."

"So can we go?" my son persisted.

"I don't know, Frederick," I replied. "A museum might be more educational."

"Aw, Mom," my son complained. "We do educational stuff all the time at school. I wanna do something fun!"

"He has a point," Frasier answered. "It is his spring break, after all."

I sighed. "All right, Adventure Island it is."

"Yay!" Frederick exclaimed, jumping up to high-five his father. "Can we go on all the water rides? And the roller coasters?"

Frasier and I exchanged looks. Neither one of us was too crazy about either, but this was Frederick's vacation, and a day at an amusement park wouldn't be too much to tolerate.

"Maybe not all of them," I replied. "But we'll definitely go on some. Your father will have to go on the roller coasters with you, though."

"What?" Frasier whined. "All of them?"

I smiled sweetly. "Unless you want me to get motion sickness."

"Ew!" Frederick yelled. "Gross!"

I laughed and shook my head. "Finish your breakfast and go get dressed. "We shouldn't leave too late."

That was all the motivation Frederick needed. He wolfed down the rest of his eggs and pancakes and was up the stairs in a flash.