Visions in the Light of the Moon
Everyone had gone home except for Frasier who stayed back to help clean up. Niles came down stairs. He had tucked Daphne into bed and sat with her for almost an hour before she finally cried herself to sleep. "Well, Daphne's finally asleep."
"Good. That poor girl has been through a lot." Frasier stacked the last of the dirty dishes to take them into the kitchen.
"By the looks of that eye, she's not the only one." Niles, who was already brought up to speed on Frasier's black eye, said.
"Oh, yes."
"Would you like to adjourn to the library for a night cap?"
"I would love that." Frasier smiled.
In the library, they settled in, Niles poured their drinks, and he handed Frasier a glass.
"How's your eye?" Niles asked.
"It's a little numb, but I'm starting to get used to it. It's a good thing that I'm on the radio and not television."
"Here-here." Niles held out his glass and Frasier touches his glass to the one Niles was holding. "That was some party, eh?"
"Oh come now Niles. We've had many parties under our belts. You'll be able to find many people to vouch that many of our other parties where much greater disasters than this."
Niles laughter faded. "I moved the date over from Friday to lift her spirits and get her mind off of her visions."
"I'm still trying to get over Danielle."
"Oh come now Frasier, you didn't even know her."
"Yes… I know. But… if I were to judge a book by the cover… just this once… that was a fine crafted hard cover."
They touched glasses again.
"Here I am Niles, feeling like I'm completely looking in the wrong direction while the parade is passing by behind me. In the meanwhile, my father has struck it rich and seems to be having the time of his life."
"Oh, so he didn't mention Pamella."
Frasier did a double-take when he looked at Niles. "What? What's this?"
"Dad's new riches were enough to give him the confidence to ask out that lady in 1306 that he didn't have the nerve to talk to before."
"Oh great. Dad's riding in the fast lane of life and I'm broken down at the side of the road in my go-cart."
"Come now Frasier, there are peaks and valleys."
"I would like to complain a bit more, but you speak the truth, of course. This valley does seem pretty low." He took another sip of his sherry. "What about you Niles?"
"What do you mean?"
"What are you going to do tomorrow?"
He rubbed his hand over his jaw. "I am deliriously in love with Daphne, but if I allow a vision to interfere with my profession, what does that say about me as a psychologist?"
"Yes, ethics can be a big monster with an evil eye sometimes. Is there anything I can do for you at all?"
Niles slowly shook his head. "You're a good brother Frasier."
They touched glasses again. "I love you too, Niles."