"Daphne..."
"I know it's ridiculous. I mean, we're in the middle of the ocean and we're stuck on this bloody ship for the rest of the week so how can we possibly..."
"Actually, there is a way."
Her eyebrows rose ."How?"
He grabbed the piece of paper that lay on the adjacent table and glanced at it. "Well, according to this we're supposed to arrive at our first port of call in a few hours, so when we disembark, why don't we just take a float plane back to Seattle? We can catch a cab back to Frasier's. My car is there anyway."
Daphne couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You'd do that for me?"
He grinned shyly. "I'd do anything for you, Daphne."
Her eyes filled with tears and she hugged him warmly. "Thank you."
They spent the morning sharing breakfast in her room and when her bags were packed, he called for his bags to be brought to the front of the ship. He hoped that he and Daphne would be long gone by the time Frasier read the e-mail that Niles had sent from the ship's computer. He didn't feel like explaining himself or listening to Frasier's ranting about how he was making the biggest mistake of his life.
In Niles' mind, the biggest mistake he'd made in his life was not telling Daphne that he loved her. But that was going to change as soon as possible. She needed him, and he needed her.
There was a knock on the stateroom door and Niles went to answer it.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Crane. Your bags are at the front of the ship as you requested and I've noted that you will both be disembarking the ship at the first port of call."
Niles reached into his wallet and handed the porter a large tip. "Yes, thank you. Daphne, are you -." He paused, suddenly worried that she was no longer standing by the bed and he turned to the porter. "Would you mind waiting just a second?"
The porter smiled. "Of course, Dr. Crane. Allow me to take Miss Moon's bags to the front of the ship and then I'll be back shortly."
"Thank you. We won't be long."
When the porter was gone, Niles closed the door and looked around the stateroom, fearful when he saw no sign of his love. "Daphne?" And seconds before panic set in he saw her, standing on the small balcony. He hadn't even noticed a balcony before and it made the stateroom even more spectacular. He went to her at once, taking her hand.
"Daphne? I was getting worried. Are you ready?" She turned to him with tears in her eyes. "Yes."
"What's wrong?"
"I was just thinking about how I was supposed to be here with John and-."
He sighed deeply. He knew that it would take time for her to get past what had happened with John and he certainly didn't want to push her into a new relationship so quickly. But he wanted her to know that someone loved her; someone who was also her friend. And so he smiled and squeezed her hand.
"I understand, Daphne. Look, the porter is bringing our luggage to the dock and as soon as we get to the port of call, we'll find the float plane company. The porter says it's right around the corner. You still want to do this, right?"
She nodded tearfully. "I do. I can't stay on this ship another minute, Dr. Crane, I can't!"
When she cried harder he took her into his arms. "I know... And you won't have to, I promise."
"Thank you." After a few minutes she let go of him and smiled. "I'm ready now."
They joined hands and walked out of the state room, eager to get to the dock. But when they'd disembarked and found the float plane office, Daphne sighed, as though disappointed. "I didn't realize how beautiful Alaska really is; the mountains, the trees, the water..."
"Daphne, if you want to stay here just say the word. I can find us a hotel or a bed and breakfast..."
She smiled and touched his cheek, making him shiver from the softness of her fingertips. "It's all right. You've done more than enough for me to last a lifetime. I couldn't possibly ask you for anything more. I just want to go home."
He had to admit that Alaska certainly was beautiful but that he was eager to arrive home as well. And soon they were standing on the dock near the water, waiting to board the float plane that would take them to where they really wanted to be... Home.