Niles was so stunned that he could hardly breathe. And it was several moments before he could speak.
"Frasier, you've said some cruel things to me in our lifetimes, but this..."
"Niles, you have to believe me. I'm telling the truth! Daphne loves you! That's why she wanted me to take her to your office. She wanted to tell you in person. And although I didn't discourage her, it was hard for me to assure her that your reaction would be one of happiness. She confided in me and if I hadn't been so damned concerned about my ego, I would have just gone directly to your office. But I didn't and-."
"If you had, I wouldn't have been there. I've made a horrible mistake, Frasier! One that I can't ever forgive myself for."
"Then why don't you make amends?"
"How, Frasier? There's no way I could possibly-."
When they heard movement in the room, they looked up to see Daphne heading for the kitchen.
"I was just going to get meself some tea. I-I'm sorry to disturb you."
"Daphne, Niles has something to say to you."
"Well, I have nothing to say to him, so-."
"Niles? Can you give us a minute, please?"
Niles sighed, feeling a strange sense of relief. "Of course."
"Let's... go out on the balcony, okay?"
"All right."
Daphne followed Frasier to the balcony and sighed deeply. "Dr. Crane if you're trying to convince me to make things right with your brother you can forget it! He's-."
"Daphne, he loves you, deeply!"
"But... that's impossible! He was with..."
"Lillith, I know. And I should be furious. I should be... mad as hell right now! But I know how Lillith is. She's forceful and vindictive and whatever she said to him must have touched his vulnerability. Because Niles is the last person who would ever... Daphne, what I'm trying to say is that he's extremely remorseful for what he did. But if you never give him a chance to explain, you'll be missing out on what could be a wonderful relationship."
"I don't know..."
"Just... talk to him, okay? Tell him how you feel. And how seeing him with Lillith made you feel. If you feel that strongly about it, I'd say you're more in love with him than you realized."
"But..."
"Niles loves you. Just remember that."
She sighed deeply.
"What about Lillith?"
"I suppose I should talk to her. She had no right treating you the way she did."
"I'm afraid she had every right, Dr. Crane. I had no business-."
"Daphne?"
They looked up to see Niles standing in the doorway.
"Yes, Dr. Crane?"
"May I... say something?"
Frasier smiled and touched Daphne's shoulder. "I'll leave you two alone."
And as Frasier stepped aside to allow Niles to move onto the balcony, he patted his brother's shoulder.
Alone at last, Daphne stared at the city skyline framed by a rainbow of colors from the setting sun.
"Isn't that beautiful?" She sighed.
"You're beautiful."
She turned around, suppressing a sob. He was always saying the sweetest things, even at the worst possible moment.
"Dr. Crane..."
"And you're right, Daphne. The sunset is stunning. But you... you're more beautiful than anything I've ever seen."
"Why are you saying that?"
"Because I love you. And if Frasier hadn't told me-."
"Well he was wrong, okay? Because I don't-."
"Love me?"
She swallowed hard, the tears forming a knot in her throat. "Yes. I-I thought I did but that was before-."
"Daphne, I can't tell you how ashamed I am of what I've done. Even if you hadn't... walked in on us... I... I was hurting and vulnerable and I-I never should have answered the phone. But when I heard Lilith's cry for help, I knew I had to do something. I couldn't just-."
"Oh spare me your Florence Nightingale story, Dr Crane! How could you sleep with her? Lillith of all people? She's horrible! She's' a horrible, cruel person and-."
Unexpectedly her voice broke and she found herself in his arms.
She wanted to pull way, God how she wanted to. But the soothing touch of his hands sliding up and down her back and the masculine scent of him only drew her closer. And soon she was sobbing onto his shirt, resting her head against his chest.
He held her close, never once saying a word. And she was suddenly aware of how dark it had become. Slowly she pulled out of his arms and looked at him.
"You'd better go. It's late and-."
"No, Daphne. Not until you tell me honestly. How do you feel about me? If you truly don't love me, just say the word and I'll leave. I'll walk out of that door and I'll never come back. I swear it."
"But your father... and your brother-."
"They'll understand. I'll just make arrangements to see them when I can. Truth be told, the only real reason I come over so often is to see you. And now I've violated your trust and ruined our friendship. For what it's worth, I'm so sorry, Daphne. Not just because you found Lillith and I in such a compromising position, but because I hurt you. When Frasier told me why you were at the hotel... I just... I still can't believe it. I can't believe that someone like you... a goddess and an angel that I've loved since the moment I first met you... could fall in love with me. It's like a dream come true. But I guess dreams die, don't they? I hope in time that I'll be able to regain your trust and your friendship. Because Daphne that means the world to me. I can't... take back what I've done, but I can assure you of one thing..."
"Wh-what's that?"
"I'll spend the rest of my life making sure you know how much I love you. And how deeply sorry I am for-."
She began to sob, and he went to her, but instead of letting him take her into his arms, she kissed him deeply. The saltiness of her tears made their kisses seem sweeter. She had no idea that kissing him would make her feel this way.
And his eager response made her realize that what he had been saying was the truth.
He did love her.
But all too soon he pulled away.
"I'm sorry, Daphne. I-I should be going. I never... I never meant to hurt you. I'm sorry." His last words were but a whisper on his lips.
"Dr. Crane, don't-."
"I love you, Daphne. I always will."
As soon as he reached the living room, she engulfed him in her arms and kissed him once more, running her fingers through his hair. "Please, don't leave me. I couldn't bear it. I love you, Dr. Crane."
"Niles..." He corrected, never taking his lips off of hers. "I love you too, Daphne. I love you so much and I'm so sorry..."
"Hush..." She said, holding him tighter. "It's all right. I didn't mean to over-react. I had no right-."
"Daphne you had every right. And if I had known how you felt, I would never have made such a horrible mistake. I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"
She kissed him everywhere; his cheeks, his chin, his mouth, his forehead.
"Of course I can... I already have. And I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier. I just-Oh..."
She felt herself swaying and he caught her just before she fell.
"Daphne! What's wrong?"
"I don't know... I'm a bit dizzy all of a sudden."
Without hesitation, he put his arm around her and led her to her bedroom. "Here, lie down and I'll get you some aspirin."
As soon as her head hit the pillow, she began to cry once more. The tears of relief dampening her pillow case. She was just about to drift off to sleep when she heard him return.
"Here you are, Daphne. These should make you feel-."
He stopped at the sight of her tear streaked face. "Oh my angel. I'm so sorry. Are you sure you don't want me to go?"
"No." She whispered. "Just stay with me? Please?"
He handed her the aspirin and water, waiting patiently while she took the medication and then coaxed her to crawl under the covers. And when she was settled, he turned out the light and moved closer to her, stroking her hair as she drifted off to sleep.
In her sub conscious, she could hear him whispering sweet words describing her beauty and kindness, words that she surely didn't deserve. But it was his actions that touched her most of all.
He climbed onto the bed next to her, gathering her into his arms. And it was there that she fell into a deep slumber. She knew that they had a long way to go before either of them would forget the incident with Lillith, but it was a road she was willing to take.
They loved each other; a fact that she once thought impossible. But now she realized that nothing was impossible.
Because love was the most powerful emotion of all.
THE END