His pace slowed as he reached his car and he stood in the parking garage, trying to collect his thoughts. What was he doing, letting his father and brother run his life? He no longer cared about the consequences of making contact with Daphne before their divorces were final. Whatever happened would happen. He and Daphne were guilty of nothing but falling in love. When she had accepted Donny's proposal, Niles tried to deny his feelings for her. He tried to tell himself that he'd lost her forever. But his heart knew the truth. He would never stop loving her no matter what.

This was why he wasn't going to sit idly by and let Daphne go through her situation alone. He promised to be there for her no matter what and at the very least he could let her know that she wasn't alone.

He turned on the heels of his Italian leather shoes and marched back into the building. With a renewed sense of purpose, he went to the elevators, grateful when the doors opened quickly. Minutes later he was standing in front of Frasier's door.

"Niles, I thought that Dad and I told you to go home!" Frasier said.

"You did, Frasier, but you're not my keeper!" Niles snapped. "I'm a grown man and I can do what I want. And what I want is to talk to Daphne!"

"And I told you, Niles, that seeing Daphne right now is not a good idea!"

"Well, perhaps not, but there's no way that I'm letting Daphne feel that she's alone."

"Niles-."

"You can't stop me, Frasier!"

"Oh yeah? Well, try me!"

Niles pushed his way into the apartment, despite protests from his father and brother. He made a beeline for Daphne's room, fully aware that he was being followed. His hand moved toward the door, prepared to knock, but suddenly another hand pushed it away. It was the hand of his brother.

"Fraser, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing, Niles?" Frasier shouted. "I'm trying to save you from making a very big mistake."

Niles swallowed hard, refusing to be treated like a child by his brother, even if he was the youngest Crane in the room. "Well, then, it will be my mistake to make." He spoke the words as calmly as possible, but inside he was anything but.

"What if someone sees you?" His father asked.

"Then they will see how much I love Daphne." Niles replied. "I have to do this, Dad. Frasier. Please… Just let me see her for five minutes."

Frasier sighed and exchanged glances with his father. And then he looked back at Niles. "You really do love her, don't you, Niles?"

Niles nodded. "You know I do. I can't even believe you'd question it."

Frasier knocked on Daphne's door and then patted Niles on the shoulder.

"You're a good kid, Niles." His father said as he and Frasier walked away, leaving Niles alone in the hallway.

Niles smiled, knowing what a huge breach of ethics it had been for Frasier and his dad to allow him to see Daphne. And he'd never been more grateful.