They followed the flow of the crowd out of the elevator and to the inside of the observation deck. As they headed toward the steps that would take them to the outside viewing area, Daphne's heart raced and she could feel Niles' fingers holding hers so tightly that it almost hurt. But she wouldn't dare let go. Not if her life depended on it. "Niles, are you sure you want to do this?"

He nodded, barely able to look at her. But she could tell that he was absolutely terrified. "Mm hmm..." was the only answer she received.

"All right, if you're sure."

Slowly they walked down the few steps that led to the observation deck, surprised to find that they were alone. She could feel his body trembling as they made their way around the spire, surprised to find that they were alone. "What did you want to show me, Niles?"

He pointed out of the bars of the observation deck waiting until her gaze followed his finger. And when she realized what he was showing her, she couldn't believe her eyes. "Oh my… H-how did you… I-I mean, how could you have possibly known…."

"Actually I didn't." He admitted. "But I hoped..."

She looked down at the most incredible sight she'd ever seen. The fog that had once surrounded them had somehow managed to fall, covering the city completely. But above them, there was nothing but feathery clouds, blue skies and sunshine. It was so beautiful that it brought tears to her eyes.

"I don't understand. Why would you want to come back here after what happened before? We're a long way up…five hundred and twenty feet to be exact- and I know how uncomfortable it makes you."

He took her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. "Th-that's true. I am a bit uncomfortable being so high up and under different circumstances I wouldn't have brought you here at all… unless you had wanted me to. I would do anything for you, Daphne, Anything at all. But it hurt me to see you so upset about your cruise being canceled. I know how much it meant to you and I wanted to make it up to you. I know this isn't exactly a cruise and I do hope you'll be able to go on another one with your friends soon. But if not, I'll gladly take you. It sounds heavenly and-."

He stopped when he noticed the tears on her cheeks and his trembling fingers reached out and brushed them away. "Oh Daphne, please don't cry. I can't bear it. If I had known that a cruise was so important to you, I would have taken you on one long before now. I-."

She kissed him impulsively quelling anything else he might have said and when she drew back, he was staring at her in astonishment.

"Daphne…"

"I can't believe it. You did all of this… facing your fears… for me?"

He smiled and kissed her again. "I told you. I would do anything for you and I would do it a hundred times over, Daphne."

"But I don't understand. Why…"

"Because I love you."

More tears slid down her cheeks and she cradled his face in her hands, staring at his handsome features through blurry eyes. And then she took a deep breath, no longer afraid to say the words that she'd carried in her heart. "I love you too, Niles. I love you so much."

He smiled shyly. "Y-you do?"

"I couldn't love anyone more. I'm just sorry that you had to get sick at the Space Needle and be ridiculed by your father and brother for me to realize it. But to be honest, I think I've loved you all along."

He brushed a fallen lock of hair from her forehead. "I'm not sorry… for any of it. And I'll never be sorry. Sure, it hurt when Frasier and Dad treated me the way they did, but if I hadn't gotten sick, an angel wouldn't have come to my rescue. And she wouldn't be standing here with me… Five… um, how high up are we again?"

Daphne laughed. "Five hundred and twenty feet."

He gasped audibly, his face tinged with fear, but he managed to smile at her. "Dear God... F-five hundred and t-twenty feet off the ground… as close to heaven as I've ever been with an angel who looks so beautiful that she takes my breath away."

Holding him close, hoping to make him feel safe, she kissed him again, deeper this time, and stared but for a moment into his eyes of blue. "I love you so much. Thank you Niles." She whispered before their kisses resumed again in their own private heaven… far above the fog and the world below.

THE END