Niles could hardly contain his excitement as he led his older brother down the hallway. When they stopped in front of his father's door, Niles was unable to stop grinning. He turned to Frasier, almost giddy with anticipation.

"Dad is going to be positively thrilled to see both of us tonight!" He knocked rapidly on the door to the tune of "Shave and a Haircut".

"Who is it?" barked his father's muffled voice through the door

"Niles and a special guest!"

"Oh geez, hold your horses, will ya?"

Niles turned to Frasier and laughed out loud. "Hold your horses! How does he come up with those?"

The door opened and his father stood before him, wearing a gruff expression as well as a worn green sweatshirt and a pair of wrinkled khaki pants.

"Look Dad, it's Frasier!" Niles announced.

"Well I can see that!" his father snapped. "Frasier, come on in."

When his father opened the door a bit wider, Niles and Frasier walked into the small apartment and shut the door.

"Thanks Dad." Frasier replied.

They sat down on the couch while his father sat in his beloved recliner, the one with the hideous color combinations of green and brown stripes. The mere sight made

Niles shudder. A sporting event of some type blared from the television.

"So Dad, big game?" Frasier asked.

"Nah, the Mariners are losing again." His father replied. "Pitcher's a bum."

Niles knew nothing at all about baseball, but there was no harm in trying to pretend to be enthusiastic about the subject. And besides, he was so giddy that it wasn't hard to pretend at all. "He's a bum!" Niles shouted as he rose to his feet to do a little dance next to the sofa. "He's an absolute hobo! Isn't that right, Skipper?"

But his father and Frasier were not amused.

"Niles, what in the hell is wrong with you?" His father yelled. "Are you drunk?"

Niles threw his head back and laughed. "Don't be ridiculous! The three of us together? Who needs alcohol?"

"I do!" his dad and Frasier yelled in unison.

"I'll get you a beer." His dad said.

"Thanks, Dad." Frasier replied.

When their father disappeared into the kitchen, Frasier glared at Niles. "You liar!"

"What?"

"You said he'd changed!"

"Well it got you here, didn't it?" Niles hissed. "I've been dealing with him by myself ever since Mom died! So now it's your turn!"

Niles sat down on the sofa next to Frasier just as his father's Jack Russell Terrier jumped on the arm beside him and began to stare. After a few seconds, Niles couldn't take it anymore. "Oh will you stop staring at me?" He yelled, scowling at the annoying little dog.

Just then his father returned with two cans of beer and handed one to Frasier. "Here ya go."

"Thanks, Dad."

Niles took the opportunity to plan his escape. "Dad, Frasier was just telling me that he'd like to spend some quality time with you alone, so I'm going to slip out."

His father shrugged. "Suit yourself."

As Niles got up to leave, he noticed that Eddie was still staring at him. He picked the dog up and turned him around to face Frasier, smiling in satisfaction. "This is Frasier. He's the first born!"

"Niles, what are you doing?" Frasier asked.

As Niles rushed out of the apartment, he glanced at his brother. "The torch has been passed!"