A/N: WOW it's been a long time since i've updated. I've had a crazy summer , most of which I spent working on archeological projects in Germany then moving once I got home. But now I am back and it's time to post the next chapter. Thank you so much to all my loyal readers and I apologize about the time gap Looking at all your lovely reviews really got me to kick my butt back into the grove to write this chapter. Anyways, I hope you enjoy :)

After dropping Alice off at a neighbor's house Roz headed straight to the hospital. It was an odd feeling rushing to the hospital, her sense of panic messing with her thought process. Frasier met her down in the in the parking lot, he was fidgeting around and she could tell he was tense all over. She wanted to reach out and hug him, but the space between them was unfathomable even as they stood side by side on the elevator. They made their way up to the room without conversation other than Frasier filling her in on Niles' condition. Even in Niles hospital room time ebbed in a odd way and the whole situation didn't feel quite real to her. Sickness was something that happened to other peoples friends. Not hers.

Roz, caught up in thought, had zoned out as four of them were sitting in the waiting room, the other three still conversing between each other. Ever since they had all been in Niles's hospital room she couldn't help but think about what he had said to earlier about hospitals having memories. The comment launched her into a barrage of memories about her family and friends over the years. She broke from her daydreaming as Frasier suddenly got up form his seat, throwing the magazine he held in his hands down onto the side table and making his way towards the hallway. She shot Martin a questioning look, which he replied to with a helpless albeit annoyed shrug, as Daphne muttered something to herself.

She made the split decision to get up as well, trailing him. "Hey, slow down!", she followed him down the hall, struggling to keep up to his fast pace without running, "Where are you going?"

He turned around abruptly causing her to nearly crash into him, "What do you want Roz?"

"I just want to make sure you're okay." she reached out gently grabbing his forearms. It was the first time in more than a week she had touched him, and the feel of his skin underneath hers caught her of guard for a moment.

"Well then you can stop following me because I'm fine.", he sounded aggravated but he didn't shrug off her touch, "I just needed to get away from everyone."

She was suddenly embarrassed, regretting her choice to get up and follow him, "I'll go-"

"No." He fumbled around with his hands, "I mean you can stay here if you want. It's just Dad and Daphne." He sighed, " I know they're dealing with this in their own ways but it's just too much." He paused for a moment, thinking, his face was flushed and his eyes watery, " I just can't imagine what I would do without Niles. And I'm not quite sure he knows that."

As he dropped his head Roz could see his shoulders start to shake and she pulled him into a tight embrace. She lightly rubbed his back and could feel his cool tears hit the skin on her neck.
They stood tangled together for some time until Frasier finally pulled back, "I'm sorry." He leaned against the wall slowly slouching down to sit on the ground in the hallway. She followed his lead.

"Don't be sorry." She replied, furrowing her brow in concern.

Frasier reached blindly into the small space between them to find her hand. Finding it, he gripped it tightly it as they sat in silence.

He spoke quietly, "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too."

They sat in silence as they watched the hustle and bustle of the hospital pass by hands still entwined.

"What can I do for you?"

He paused thoughtfully before answering, "What caused you to end things between us at the benefit?"

"Well, I was think more along the lines of something to eat or drink." She tried for a halfhearted smile but it didn't quite make it to her eyes, " But okay. Although I really don't know what you want to hear."

"I suppose I just want to hear what you were thinking. You see, I've been wondering why it feels like the worst break up i've had since, well since Lilith left me, when we were never even dating in the first place."

"Frasier ... things were never going to work out between us. Even if we would have gave it an honest to goodness shot."

"Why's that?"

"I'm not the kind of person you need. Or want for that matter. There's no need to get invested in something that's not real, we both new it was coming to an end I just was the one to acknowledge it."

"I might not have fully realized it at the time, but was real to me." he turned his face in towards hers," You're real to me Roz. We could have something real."

She looked down shaking her head.

His voice softened, "What's the problem?"

"I love you Frasier, that's the problem. I love you, more than a friend should, and I was scared. I thought it was better to quit while I was ahead. "

He leaned over, slipping his hand to cradle her face as he kissed her. She leaned into his touch reciprocating the kiss, it was short but left her breathless.

Frasier spoke again, "I want to take the risk. Because I think if we don't we'll suffer more for not knowing."

Before Roz had a chance to respond Martin scrambled around the corner with a wide grin on his face oblivious to what was going on between the two.

"There you two are. The doctor said Niles is in the clear. I told ya he was probably just faking the whole time; he was never one to pass up a big show. It'll be a few hours till he wakes up though." Martin then shuffled away, saying something about finding the cafeteria.

Frasier turned to Roz smiling, "What do you say we get out of here and grab something actually palatable to eat while we wait?" not giving her a chance to respond he continued, " Let me rephrase that. Roz Doyle, will you go out on a date with me? Not to make someone jealous or get out of a bad date, not to cover for some one or to perpetuate a farce, just to go out and have a good time, together. I know we've done things a little backwards but now, I want to do it right. I want to-"

She interrupted him,"If I say yes will you stop talking?"

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes."

A/N: Sooo, there is still more to come! At least a chapter or two, but perhaps even more depending what story line i chose to follow ( I have tow ideas as of right now ). Thank you for taking the time to read and hopefully (?) review.