Daphne's POV

Daphne couldn't understand it. Ever since Dr. Crane had blurted out after a massage session that his brother (also Dr. Crane) was in love with her, she found it hard to think about anything else; or anyone else for that matter. Everywhere she looked she saw his face, handsome and smiling. She heard his voice, so soothing and warm, even more so than his brother's signature radio voice. And despite the younger Dr. Crane's annoying habits and snobbishness he was very sweet. And suddenly she realized why she'd been unable to get him out of her mind.

She was in love with Niles Crane.

Although she knew that she felt something for him the reality that it really and truly was love struck her and struck her hard. It wasn't possible. He was her friend; her best friend and she loved him so much. Oh God…. Had she really said the words aloud, if only in her subconscious?

The night passed slowly and the morning and afternoon that followed moved even slower. By early evening she was a complete basket case.

This was absolutely crazy.

It was just a birthday party for her boss; an event that happened every year and one that was worlds away from the fancy parties he threw for his wine club members or for his prestigious (read; snobby) friends. It was just a family gathering, but that meant that Niles would be there.

And for the first time in her life she wasn't quite sure she could handle it.

"Daphne, is everything ready?"

She looked up in surprise at the sound of her boss's voice. "What?"

He shook his head in annoyance. "Dear God, what do you mean what? For the party, Daphne! My party! My birthday party!"

"Oh… yes, everything is ready, Dr. Crane. I just need to change me clothes."

"Well what are you waiting for? Niles will be here any minute!"

Her heart raced as she ran to her bedroom, against Frasier's protests pushing clothes around in her small closet in haste to find the perfect outfit. After several ill-fated attempts, she finally decided on a soft pink sweater with three-quarter-inch sleeves, and a matching white skirt with an antique pink design. It was an outfit she rarely wore and had it been any other day, she would have been completely comfortable in her jeans and t-shirt. But now things were different. For the first time in her life, she'd actually taken great care in her appearance, even more so than had she been going out on a date.

Everything was different.
And as if on cue, the doorbell rang. Woodenly she went to answer it, and her heart did a tiny flip in her chest. And then that same heart raced as she stared at him, noticing, certainly not for the first time, how incredibly handsome he was. It would have been so easy to engulf him into her arms for a soothing hug.
But everything was different now. She was different.

"Good evening Daphne." He said a little too politely.

She nodded, barely able to speak. "Dr. Crane."

He stared at her for a moment. Could it be that he knew how she felt about him? Could he see the love that she held for him in her eyes? Dare she hope?

"You look different somehow." He was saying, making her heart skip a beat.

"I do?" She stammered.

"Have you done something new with your hair?"

She stared at him, her hand automatically going to her head to remove the silly birthday party hat. She'd almost forgotten that she was wearing it. No wonder he was looking at her like she was a complete loon. She certainly must have looked like one. Slowly the hat came off and she continued to stare at him.

He barely gave her another glance. "That must be it."

He moved past her, going straight for his brother. "Frasier, happy birthday!"

"Oh, is that for me?" Frasier remarked, his tone a bit too enthusiastic for her taste.

Of course." Niles said. "It's from Mel and I-."

As the voice of the man she loved trailed away, she swallowed hard, no longer able to control the hot tears that filled her eyes. "I'll be right back. I need to do something in me room." She said, crushed even further when she realized that no one was listening to her.

It was completely ironic. Niles, who had hid his feelings for her for six years, no longer felt anything for her. But she loved him more than she'd ever loved anyone, even Donny.

Especially Donny.

Never in her life had she felt so alone.