Chapter 9

Ashling stands at her parents' bedroom door and tires to turn the doorknob but to no avail. Why would they lock the door in the middle of the day? They never do that. Ashling becomes worried so she begins to knock.

Niles and Daphne are in the throes of passion, their heated bodies pressed together. Their passion is so extreme that they don't realize their nine year old daughter is on the other side of the door until they hear her knocking.

Niles face is buried in Daphne's neck. Daphne turns her head towards the door.

"Niles, there is someone at the door." she manages to say between pants.

"Just ignore them, they'll go away." Niles whispers into her hair.

"But Niles, what if it's one of the children?"

"They have their grandfather and their uncle, they will be fine."

Daphne tries to focus on what Niles is doing to her, but she can't help but be distracted. She is worried that one of the children might need something. She and Niles have never made love in the daytime, not since the children were little.

Daphne feels Niles lips on her neck, which helps her get her mind back on the task at hand. There is something different in Niles today, she has never felt this kind of urgency in him. It's almost like he feels this will be the last time for him. Daphne doesn't even want to think about that. Niles takes his mouth off her neck as he looks her in the eyes. He gives her a look she has never seen before, a look of desperation and need. She can't help but reach her hand up and caress his cheek.

"I love you, darling." he whispers to her.

"And I love you, so much." she whispers back.

Niles places his lips back on hers as they continue where they left off.

Ashling stands there for a moment wondering why her parents aren't answering the door. She hopes nothing is wrong with them. She is a bit worried so she goes back to the party to find David and Emily. She spots David with Grandpa Martin so she approaches him.

She pulls on his sleeve to get his attention.

"Davey?"

David looks down at his sister.

"What do you want?"

"I was looking for mummy and daddy, and Aunt Roz says they went to their room. But when I got there , they wouldn't answer the door. I think something might be wrong."

David just smiles at his baby sister.

"I'm sure they're fine, sis. I think they just want to be alone."

"But why, doesn't daddy want to spend some time with us too?"

"Of course he does, but I think that he just wants to be alone with mum for a little while."
"But Davey-"

"Ashling! Just leave mum and dad alone, they will be back in a little while okay? Why don't you go find Emily and see what she is doing?"
Ashling knows better than to argue with her big brother, so she goes to find Emily.

Niles and Daphne are in their bedroom, getting dressed. Daphne squirts a bit of perfume on herself as Niles splashes a bit of cologne on himself. Even though people will have a pretty good idea of what they were doing, there is no need for them to have them smell like they were doing something. Daphne runs the brush through her hair one more time as she checks herself in the mirror, to make sure her lipstick or makeup isn't smeared. Once they have finished they come out of the bedroom, hand in hand to join the party. Roz is the first one to notice them and she can see the looks on their faces and the all too familiar flush of their cheeks. She knows what they were doing but of course she has to say something about it to Daphne.

Roz approaches Niles and Daphne and decides to tease them a little bit.

"Hey you two, it's about time you got back to the party. What took you guys so long? What were you doing in there?"

Niles and Daphne both give Roz identical guilty looks as their cheeks turn crimson.

"You don't have to say it, Daphne. I can see it written all over your face." Roz grins slyly.

"I'm borrowing your wife for awhile, Niles. Why don't you go make conversation with Frasier? You need to cool off anyway."

Niles flashes Roz a dirty look.

"Thank you, Roz." Niles manages to say between gritted teeth as he goes to find his brother.

Roz manages to find a place where she and Daphne can talk. They both sit down as Daphne puts her hands in her lap and looks at the floor.

"So what happened, Daphne?"

Daphne gives Roz a skeptical look as she turns to face her.

"You know exactly what happened, Roz."

"Yes I do, but that doesn't mean I don't want details."

Daphne stands up.

"Roz! That's none of your business! What happens with me and Niles is nobody's business but our own!"

Roz is taken aback by Daphne's sudden outburst.

"I'm sorry, Daphne. I wasn't trying to pry, it's just that you usually tell me everything."

Daphne sits back down as she rubs her face with the palms of her hands.

"I'm sorry, Roz. I didn't mean to just blow up like that but I am a bit distracted."

"I can tell. Is it because of Niles' surgery tomorrow?"
"That's part of it but there is something else. The way Niles was with me earlier, it was so strange, it was almost like he was holding onto me like it would be the last time he ever would. There was an urgency in him and a look of want in his eyes that I have never seen before. I'm scared Roz. I'm scared that he will go into surgery and never come out." Daphne says as she starts to choke up.

Roz wraps her arms around Daphne to comfort her. Daphne leans into Roz as she continues to cry.

Niles is standing with his father and brother, listening to their conversation. Frasier notices how quiet Niles is being and becomes concerned.

"Niles, are you all right? You seem distracted."

Niles looks at his brother.

"I'm fine Frasier, just a little scared about my surgery tomorrow. I'm scared of what might happen."

Frasier wraps his arm around his brother.

"I understand Niles. But, don't worry you will be in the best of hands and you are the strongest person I know. You made it through heart surgery, so I know you can make it through this."

"Thank you, Frasier. You are a good brother, I don't know what I would do without you."

"You will never have to find out."

Niles smiles at his brother when suddenly his vision becomes blurry. He rubs his eyes but that doesn't help, in fact it makes it worse. Suddenly, everything goes black and Niles can't see a thing, he panics.

"Frasier! Where are you? I can't see anything! Why can't I see anything!"

Niles tries to grab onto something, anything but all he keeps grabbing in thin air. He feels his leg his something as he falls forward. Things crash to the ground with a racket as Niles lies there on the floor, helpless.

Daphne approaches her husband and joins him on the floor.

"Niles!" Daphne cries as she tries to pick Niles up.

"Daphne? Daphne, is that you?" Niles asks as he puts his hands on her and touches her face.

"Yes Niles, it's me. Are you all right? What's wrong?" Daphne asks him with tears in her eyes.

"I can't see you, Daphne. I can't see you! Why can't I see you? What's wrong with me? Why is it so dark in here? Who turned out the lights? Help me!"

"I'm right here, Niles. I'm not going anywhere." Daphne tells her husband as she holds him and cries.

To be continued...