The kiss was unexpected and not at all what she dreamed it would be. It was better… much better. Niles' lips were so soft, even softer than they had been the night that before her wedding to Donny. She'd give anything to take back what happened that evening and make the situation different. And now she'd been given another chance, which she intended to use to the fullest. She quickly gave into her desire for him and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer.
"I love you so much, Niles…"
He drew back only for a moment, as though astonished that she'd called him by his first name. But the pause was oh so brief as he returned his lips to hers for kisses that were sweeter than before.
"I love you too, Daphne."
The words, the ones she'd waited so long to hear, made her emotions break and she began to cry once more. He took her into his arms and held her. His soft lips were on her damp cheeks, his fingers splayed through her hair. He held her for a long time and when she drew back she paused for only a second before moving to kiss him again. "I love you…"
She found that she simply couldn't say the words enough, and she knew that she would never tire of hearing them in return. Oh how she loved him...
When they were both breathless, he drew back and smiled, brushing the fallen locks of hair from her face. "Are you hungry? You must be. It's a long flight from Seattle to-." He froze, regarding her carefully. But his gaze made her feel uneasy.
"Niles, what's wrong? What is it?"
"H-how did you find me? Not that I… mind of course."
"Your brother." She replied. In their moment of passion, it was understandable that he'd forgotten that she'd already explained how she came to be in New York. But it was a story that she didn't mind telling. As long as it had a happy ending. "I-I'm sorry Niles. I just-."
"Don't be sorry, Daphne. Actually I'm the one who should be sorry."
Her eyebrows rose and worry crept into her chest. "What are you saying?"
His warm hand slipped into hers. "Daphne, I'm so sorry that I left without saying goodbye. It was wrong of me to leave without telling you goodbye. The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt you."
She grasped his free hand with hers so that she was holding onto both of his hands. "You were hurting and it was my fault." She tried not to cry yet again, but the tears were relentless as they made their way down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry…"
He pulled her into his arms and held her. "No more apologizes. For the moment anyway. Why don't we have dinner?"
She smiled and kissed him. "I'd love to."