Chapter 10

Daphne can't believe who she is seeing when she looks up. Once she realizes who it is, she smiles.

"Hello, Daphne."

Daphne jumps up and wraps her arms around him.

"Frasier! I can't believe you're here!"

Frasier hugs Daphne back.

"Yes, Ronee called me and told me what was going on, I got here as soon as I could."

Daphne pulls out of the hug and looks at Frasier curiously.

"How did you get here so quickly? And where's Charlotte?" she asks.

"Well Charlotte is back home in Chicago, I was at a medical conference in Portland when Ronee called me and I drove straight here."

"I'm sorry you had to come here under such sad circumstances. It seems like something terrible is always happening to bring you to Seattle."

Frasier gives a solemn nod.

"Yeah, it seems so."

He looks down as he sees the contents of Daphne's purse still scattered on the floor. He gets down on one knee as he helps Daphne pick up the rest of it.

"Here let me help you pick this up, Daphne." he says as he starts handing her items.

Before long everything is back in Daphne's purse as she manages to get her change out that she had been previously looking for before everything fell out onto the floor.

"I'm going to get a cup of coffee, would you like some?" she asks.

Frasier smiles.

"Sure, but let me pay for yours as well. You've been through enough today."

Daphne gives Frasier a look of affection.

"Thank you, Frasier. David is going to be so happy to see you. I'm really glad you could make it." she tells Frasier as he is getting their coffee.

"So am I." Frasier replies.

Before long, they both have their coffee and head back to David's room.

Meanwhile...

Niles and Emily are finishing up their lunch as they order some food for Daphne and David. Once they finish eating they pick up the food and head back to David's room. They enjoyed their lunch date together. It's not often they get to spend time together, just the two of them.

Niles notices how much Emily is taking after Daphne more and more. She's just like her mother and Niles couldn't be happier about that.

Ashling, he realizes is more like him and he's not sure how he feels about that. He's happy that at least one of his children is interested in the same things as him, but he's not sure that he likes the fact that Ashling is such a sensitive and emotional girl. He was the same way and still is in a lot of ways. He knew that when he discovered she was cutting herself when he was sick last fall.

Now David is a little bit like both he and Daphne. Niles sees a lot of Daphne in him but then he also sees himself in his son. They may not have a lot of the same interests but they have a lot of the same mannerisms. David is very smart, sensitive, caring, neat, funny and responsible. Niles is so proud of him and is proud of how well he is handing his paralysis. He's being very mature about the whole thing. When Niles first found out he was going to be a father, he was very happy but also very nervous and scared because he didn't know what kind of a father he would be. He didn't know how his son would turn out, if he was going to be more Moon or Crane but it turns out that Niles' fears were all for naught. David got the best of both of he and Daphne and he loves being a father, he never imagined that he would be where he is right now. He's married to the most amazing, beautiful woman who has given him three beautiful kids. Even after all they've been through, he and Daphne are strong in their love and in their marriage. Niles loves Daphne now more than he did when he first met her and he will never take her or this life for granted.

Before he realizes it he and Emily have reached the door to David's room as they enter and see David awake and talking to Michelle. David hears them as he turns and look at them.

"Hi dad, hi sis." he says as he waves.

"Hello, David. How are you feeling, son?"
"I'm feeling a bit better, dad. My headache is gone and my arm isn't hurting much right now."

Niles smiles at his son.

"I'm glad to hear that because your sister and I brought you and your mom some food."

David nods as Niles looks around the room with a confused look on his face.

"Speaking of that, where is your mom?"

David shrugs but before he can answer, Michelle chimes in.

"She went to get some coffee, she should be back anytime."

Niles nods.

"Oh, okay."

Emily sets the food on the table next to David's bed as she pulls out a styrofoam container and hands it to David.

"Here you go, David. We brought you your favorite, cheeseburger and fries."

David smiles as he takes them from her.

"Thanks, Emily. Did you bring me something to drink?"

Emily smacks her forehead.

"Shoot, I forgot your soda! I'll go to the soda machine and bring you one back, okay." Emily exclaims as she leaves to get David a soda.

David nods as he takes a big bite of his cheeseburger. He shares his fries with Michelle.

Niles sits down in the chair across the room as he waits for Daphne to get back. He picks up a magazine and starts reading it while listening to David and Michelle talk and laugh across the room.

He gets engrossed in the article he is reading that he doesn't realize that Daphne has come back.

Daphne gets his attention as she stands in front of his chair.

"Niles?"

Niles looks up and sees Daphne smile at him and then his eyes are averted to the person standing next to her.

He can't believe who he's seeing.

"Hello, little brother." Frasier replies.

To be continued...