Author's note: Hello, all! I apologize for the short chapter. That is all, enjoy!
Daphne slept until almost lunchtime, and Niles kept careful watch over her. Although it didn't make much sense to do so, he often opened her door softly and peered in at her inquisitively with the hope that she would stay asleep.
Frasier arrived promptly at nine as he promised, bringing along a guest.
"I don't care who she is, I'm not letting a sick woman be taken care of in a house full of men," said Roz Doyle after introductions had been made. Roz was Frasier's newest friend, a woman who worked as a radio producer who had met him the month before.
Martin and Roz hit it off very quickly, exchanging jokes and talking about sports, but Niles was slower to warm up to her. When she was out of earshot, he whispered to Frasier, "Might I ask what compelled you to being her here?"
"Oh please, Niles. Just because she's of a lower standing on the social ladder. Would you like Daphne any less if she were, say, a physical therapist?"
"Of course not, I would love her no matter what she did for a living. And that is not why I don't want Roz here. You do understand that we're going to have to make things up about our lives, don't you? Daphne won't truly be able to relax. Besides, isn't she a bit…much?"
"What was I supposed to say to her, Niles, she wanted to help and she has good reason to. Perhaps it's best if Daphne has at least one woman here to help her."
Niles sighed. "Oh, all right." He went over to the couch and sat next to his father.
"So Niles," asked Roz, "Frasier gave me a little description of the story, but what exactly happened to Daphne?"
Frasier and Niles exchanged looks. "Uh…didn't I tell you, Roz?" Frasier said.
"Like I said, you only gave me a brief run-down. You said that she and Niles went to a party and Daphne had a drink, and it turned out there was something in it."
Niles began to make up the rest of the story and told Roz what Daphne's symptoms were. She listened with half-interest. After a few minutes, he got and began to head towards Daphne's bedroom once again.
"Why do you feel the need to keep checking on her every fifteen minutes?" Roz asked.
"Because…because I…need to make sure she's all right."
"You don't have to—"
"I just have to know."
Roz shrugged. "Do what you want, I guess."
Slowly, Niles put his hand on the doorknob to her room, draping his fingers over the round globe. When he had turned it completely, he pushed the door open carefully and peeked through the gap.
She was sleeping perfectly. Niles couldn't help but walk inside the room leaving the door open slightly to get a better look at her. She was asleep on her back, the light coming through her window framing her face and neck. Her long and tangled hair was behind her as it should be, and her eyelashes looked perfectly elongated.
How can an angel exist on earth?
He couldn't leave her now. There was no way he could force himself to do it. He walked to the other side of the room, took off his shoes and with as little pressure as possible he sat himself on her bed directly next to her.
What is falling in love? If this is it, I must have been doing something wrong with every other woman I've ever…
Niles let his thoughts trail off. Her hand was lying next to her, was calling to him. He reached out his arm and eased his fingers under her hand, the placed his thumb over the back. He laced the fingers from his other arm between hers and with both caressed her hand, then brought it to his lips. Starting at her palm, he went to her wrist, and then the knuckles. Working his way up the fingers, he covered her hand in his kisses.
Niles had practically lost his mind for those moments, so much so that he forgot that Daphne was sleeping. She stirred after a little while, and he immediately peeled his lips from her hand. Her eyes opened softly.
"Niles?" she said.
"Daphne, I am so sorry I disturbed you."
"No, it's all right." She was still lying down with her head against the pillow. "Were you—"
"No," He immediately said, bringing his grip on her hand to an end.
Yes, I was, because I love you and you're more beautiful than the stars themselves.
"It's all right if you were," she said. Daphne took the same hand he had been holding and picked up his, placing a single kiss on his palm and letting go.
"I love you," Niles blurted.
"You know how I feel, but I don't think we should—"
"You're right. Forgive me for saying that, Daphne. And for last night too…"
"Don't apologize. I love hearing those words. And I love saying them!"
They both sighed. There was no way to fix this.
After a few minutes of sitting in silence, Niles talked to Daphne about Roz and then left her to go back to sleep, feeling the sadness creep back up into him.