The dread that had been building in his chest finally rose up once Roz, Alice, his nephew and his father managed to sweep Jasmine toward the kitchen, leaving him alone with Frasier. The older man's blue eyes seemed to look right through him. "Let's step out onto the balcony." He didn't sound angry, but determined.

Niles sighed and gulped down the last of his wine before following Frasier outside. The air was crisp and clear. He'd forgotten how much he'd missed this view of Seattle. "All right, what is it that you want to know?" He asked, feeling suddenly bored with what he knew would be another of his brother's tirades. A year away might not have been enough.

Frasier stared at him, and Niles could see his jaw was working, though he hadn't said anything. "You could start with what happened when you decided to abandon us, but I'll start with what's really interesting- there's a model in my kitchen!"

Niles shrugged and couldn't help the guilty smile that cracked over his face. He raised his hands in a helpless gesture. "I don't...it just sort of happened. And then it happened again. And again and again, and it's been happening for the past several months." Niles said, trying not to laugh at his brother's shocked expression. He rolled his eyes. "Don't look at me like that- she was the one who started it, and I've kind of...been along for the ride since."

Frasier took a moment to regain his footing. This was a new Niles- unapologetic, proud and obviously much more content than he'd been in years. His brother looked admirably satisfied. "This is a lot to take in."

"That's what she said," Niles joked.

The brothers laughed for the first time that night, laughing for several long minutes. With that joke, tasteless as it was, it seemed that the past year between them had melted away. The brothers Crane were back again.

Shaking off the last of his laughing fit, Frasier asked, "Niles, please tell me, how exactly did this happen?"

Again, the younger man shrugged. "We met in an English bookstore. I was looking for your title and she ran into me. We recognized each other from a shoot. I was assisting her photographer and she was doing some print work. Anyway, we just started talking, which led to coffee, which led to a visit to her flat... and now we're a few months later."

"Not a love match, then?" Frasier pressed.

Niles frowned. "It's not that serious- I won't marry again and...we sort of have an understanding."

"Which is?"

Ha faltered at the direct questioning. "You're nosier than I remember. It's difficult to put into words. Basically, we make plans to meet, either her place or mine. We'll talk or eat for a while and then, well, you know."

Niles's blushing cheeks should have been enough to make Frasier double over laughing again, but the news that his brother had found himself a model lover was more than funny- it bordered on impossible. "My God, I knew I shouldn't have left France after college- it rains beautiful women!"

"That it does. Take dad next time you go- maybe we could find him a charming madame."

"Frasier, don't grill him!" The brothers turned to find Roz stepping out onto the balcony to join them. She was as striking as ever, made even more so by the anticipated wedding.

Niles smiled at her. "Roz, you're looking wonderful as always. And Alice, she's beautiful."

"Cut the crap, Niles. You're looking good too, but I'll bet it has more to do with the exercise your little girlfriend gives you." She teased him, but Niles was startled to realize how much he'd missed her barbed tongue.

"And you're as subtle as ever. You're not giving Jasmine too hard of a time, are you?"

She shook her head. "No, I couldn't even if I wanted to- she's sharp. And I think your dad is in love."

Frasier shrugged. "Well, she is very pretty and very...young."

Roz raised her brows at him. "Anything else you'd like to add?"

"No, I think I'm done." Frasier said, taking her hand.

"So do I." Roz smiled and turned to Niles. "And you, you sneaky little dog. She's a catch, how'd you bag that one?"

Niles laughed. "Things are different in Europe."

"I'll say. Now are you two coming in? Dinner's almost ready."


"That wasn't too bad, was it?"

"No, Niles. They are lovely people, your father was especially kind." Jasmine said as they made their way back into the hotel suite. Niles paused to watch her undress beside the bed, and quickly locked the door behind himself.

He smiled. "My father has a weakness for beautiful young women." He said, drawing her close to him.

For a moment, Niles simply held her against him, and they swayed slightly, a timid drunken dance. She lifted her lips to his. "That weakness must run in the family, Dr. Crane."

Reacting, Niles pulled away. "Don't call me that."

Eyes wide, Jasmine fumbled for words. "What? I'm sorry, Niles. Roz told me that you were-"

"I was. I am not anymore, you know that."

She lowered her eyes. "I know very little about you, I see that now."

A twinge of guilt shot through his chest; it was his own fault for omitting so many truths of his past, how could he become defensive now that she was curious? He'd been stupid to hope that things wouldn't change between them after she'd met his family. Jasmine knew things about him now that he should have been man enough to explain to her himself.

He took her hands. "I'm sorry Jasmine. I should have been more honest with you."

"Why should you? We are lovers, not in love."

She had a point. Their relationship had not moved but a few steps past the bedroom and neither of them had been too eagert to change things. They had both been selfish, preferring the sex above conversation and committment but truly they'd had no reason to take things deeper.

He lifted a hand to touch her hair. "You are right, but you still have the right to know about me, if you want."

Shrugging, she moved out of the circle of his arms. "No, Niles. I know what I need to know. I know you are my lover and that you wouldn't hurt me. It's enough."

Hers was a genuinely Eurpoean mindset. There was no need for complete honesty and the sharing of every feeling; so long as she knew Niles had no intention to hurt her and had no want to break their arrangement, there was no reason for her to have much concern. He still had trouble adjusting to the Old World frame of mind- an American woman would have left him by now.

He kissed her. "I won't hurt you. That's the last thing I want."

She molded her body to his, subtly writhing against him. Bright green eyes laughed at him as he softly groaned against the warm skin of her throat. "And what is the first thing you want, Niles?"

Jasmine began to lead him toward the bed, and Niles found he didn't have the will to stop her.