(Niles' POV)

Niles did his best to concentrate on the model ship he was building with his father. It wasn't often that they were able to bond like this and he wanted to hold onto every moment, not matter how superficial it might seem. But it wasn't easy, what with Daphne standing next to his father, telling stories about her ancestor who was a mutineer on the HMS Bounty and landed safely on Pitcairn Island. But after Niles had broken the wooden mast and sent the piece flying over the table, he knew he had annoyed his father to no end. It definitely wasn't the first time. And then he discovered that something was amiss.

"Dad, did you take the spanking aft?"

"Yeah, I pre-glued it for you." Martin replied.

Niles held up his hand, horrified to discover that the flat piece of wood was now firmly glued to his skin.

"Thanks, Dad." He mumbled, hoping his father would catch the sarcasm. And judging from the rolling of Martin's eyes, it worked. But victory had its price, for Niles couldn't bring himself to look at Daphne. However, when he did, she was smiling.

"Oh, don't worry, Dr. Cane. That sort of thing used to happen to me brothers all the time!" I can get that off with some nail polish remover. Come with me."

His heart beating faster, Niles rose from his chair and followed Daphne to the bathroom. "So your brothers built a lot of models?"

"No, actually I suspect that they just sniffed a lot of glue." Daphne replied.

Niles was alarmed. "That sort of thing can cause brain damage!"

"Oh, well that explains it then!"

Niles chuckled. Daphne had the most wonderful sense of humor.

"Now, just sit there and I'll fix you right up!" She exclaimed.

Confused, he looked around the marble tiled bathroom, complete with gold features and he was just about to quiet her when she smiled and spread a towel along the edge of the sunken tub. "This marble can get awfully cold, even in the peak of summer."

He sat on the towel and smiled at her in gratitude, his heart warming with love for her. It was a simple gesture, but it meant so much. And then she was beside him, holding his hand, dabbing ever so gently with alcohol. The smell penetrated his nostrils as it blended with the heavenly scent of her hair and her perfume, making him feel a slight dizziness. But he had to admit that it was the most unique aroma he'd ever encountered.

Meanwhile, Daphne worked to free his hand from the piece of wood, but he barely noticed her efforts, concentrating instead on how gentle she was, rubbing his palm as she lifted the wood in a painstakingly slow manner. At this rate they would be here all night, and he was definitely in favor of that. But she was working much too hard and he refused to take advantage of her in this way.

"Daphne, you really don't have to go to all of this trouble." He insisted.

She smiled and continued to rub his hand in small circles until miraculously; the piece of wood was free. "There! I bet that feels a lot better, doesn't it?"

He sighed, trying not to be pulled in by her beautiful chocolate brown eyes. "It feels wonderful, Daphne. Thank you so-."

Suddenly her eyes widened and she gasped lightly. "Oh dear!"

His heart jumped in distress. "What?"

"Your hand…"

"Oh, it's fine Daphne, thank you. I-."

"No, it's not fine! You poor man! Hold on a second and I'll be right back!"

"But Daphne-."

She was gone in a flash leaving him even more confused. His hand felt fine, more than fine and he simply didn't understand. But then she appeared in the doorway.

"All right, here we are. Why don't you wash your hands and I'll fix you right up?"

He rose to his feet and washed his hands, grateful to have the smell of nail polish remover and glue off of his skin. But he soon found himself in the same hypnotic state as before, when Daphne took his hand in hers. "I couldn't find the aloe cream but I found something better. Your brother's moisturizer. This should make your skin feel wonderful."

Before he could protest (or at least pretend to), she was rubbing the moisturizer on his hand massaging his fingers and his palm. The sensation warmed his heart and suddenly he forgot all about Maris and the way she'd jeopardized their marriage by having an affair with her Bavarian fencing instructor.

But Daphne wouldn't let him forget. When she was finished rubbing his hand, she clasped both of his hands in hers. "Dr. Crane, this really isn't me place to say but your brother told me about what happened with your wife and I just wanted to tell you…" She looked away, causing him concern.

"Daphne, are you all right?"

She smiled and squeezed his hand, obviously embarrassed by the faint sheen of tears in her eyes. "Yes, I'm fine. How's your hand?"

"It's wonderful. Thank you, Daphne. I-."

Suddenly he was in her arms, her hand running up and down his back. "I care about you so much and I hate to think of you hurting. I hope you and your wife can work things out."

He held her close, resting his cheek against her hair. "I hope…"

"What?"

He smiled, realizing that Maris wasn't important at the moment. What mattered was the love he felt for the woman in his arms, even if she didn't have a clue. Suddenly there was only one thing to say. "I care about you too, Daphne."

And those six little words were all it took to be rewarded with a kiss on his cheek. A kiss that was dangerously close to his lips.