With the last of the dishes finally cleared off the table, Martin wiped it down before getting ready to park his fanny into his chair. Normally, he would've enjoyed the rare Daphne-free to-hell-with-his-cholesterol breakfast, but he hadn't been particularly hungry that morning, as he couldn't stop worrying for Niles. Worried that his divorce case was in trouble, but much more worried that his chances with Daphne might be ruined. It simply wasn't fair.

He was just sitting down when Frasier unlocked the door and walked in.

"Hi, dad."

"Hey Fras, how was brunch with your brother?"

"Oh, not terrible. The food wasn't quite up to normal standards, but still passable. Not really worth fussing over right now."

"Niles go straight home?"

"To work, actually. He wanted to knock out some sessions today before meeting with Donny tomorrow. Speaking of which, did Donny call?"

"Yea, we're all set to meet at his office tomorrow afternoon."

"Good, I'm meeting with him just after lunch. Guess he's trying to fit us all in."

Frasier sat down, a few moments of silence piercing the room, until Martin mentioned what they were both thinking.

"You as worried about Niles as I am?"

"Well, he seemed to be holding up well at brunch. I think he's more worried about Daphne, to be honest."

"Well, that would be just like him."

"All the same... yes, I'm worried."

"Yeah... me too."

A few more seconds of silence, which was once again broken by Martin.

"Fras, I know better than to ask this, but... there's no chance you would consider... during your deposition..."

"Dad. no."

"I'm just saying, Maris is responsible for this divorce. Niles' feelings for Daphne have nothing to do with it!"

"Dad, it's perjury! I'm sorry, but I can't do it."

"Even if it torpedoes your brother's case?"

"Honest question dad: what if I DO lie, and I got caught?"

"...That's fair."

"And besides... I don't think it's the case you're worried about."

"No, it's not. And I don't think it's what has you worried either."

"...no."

More silence. Nothing but the thoughts of Niles and what might become of his livelihood. The shared fears that he might lose Daphne forever. And the downright dread of the thought that they could very possibly ALL lose Daphne forever.

There was very possibly no light at the other end of this particular tunnel, and they both knew it.

Finally, Frasier spoke again, feeling a weight he needed to get off his chest, "You know I have to admit something... all these years I never would've thought I'd hear myself say it, but... I really want Niles and Daphne to end up together."

"No kidding, I thought it was just me," Martin sighed, himself never believing he'd hear his brother admit to a feeling that he himself had had even before Niles and Maris had separated. "You weren't here the week leading up to the Snow Ball, but the time together that they spent learning how to dance, and Daphne being so eager to fill in as his date... I caught myself wondering if there wasn't the tiniest chance she might feel the same way about him."

Frasier nodded. "For me, it was the heatwave. Maybe it's the psychiatrist in me, but I couldn't help but feel there was a reason that he was the first person she ran to after that fight with Sherry."

"You said yourself though, it would've been a mistake."

Frasier paused, the issue coming into focus, "Well... that's just it, dad. I always thought that. And I never stopped reminding him of that. 'It isn't going to happen Niles.' 'This isn't the right timing, Niles' 'Just give a day, Niles.' Now I wonder if standing in his way was really the right thing to do..."

"Now Fras, don't YOU start feeling guilty."

"I can't help it!" Frasier started to shout, before instantly calming down, as though admonishing himself for raising his voice to his father. "I can't help but feel that this would all be so much easier if Niles had told her sooner. And if I'd been more supportive, maybe he would have."

"Well, you weren't the only one who could've encouraged him more. I mean, how could Daphne possibly say no to one true date if he'd just mustered up the courage to ask?"

"Well, it's true that his marriage was an insurmountable obstacle. And back then, it seemed more like just harmless infatuation that would never blossom into true love. My god, the man could turn into a child just at the smell of her hair!" Frasier couldn't stop himself from a light-hearted chuckle at that one.

"Hey, remember the time we all got caught in her room because he just couldn't resist going in there?"

"Yes, or the time he kept bringing her stock dividends out of his own pocket?"

"Or the time he volunteered to go ice fishing with me just to impress her?"

"Ah yes! 'Skinny Elmer Fudd!" Now they were both laughing hysterically at Niles' expense. "He really was a damned fool in puppy love, wasn't he?!"

They took a moment to calm down, then started feeling mollified again, before Frasier resumed their conversation.

"Still, after all he's been through, after all she's put up with from all of us... I can't help but think that she's exactly the kind of companion that he needs in his life. I remember him telling me over coffee once about a boy who'd received his first pair of new shoes from the Salvation Army, and the look of utter happiness that that boy felt, and... that he'd never experienced that sort of pure happiness once in his entire life. Now I can't help but think that all it would take is for Daphne to simply tell him 'yes, I'm free for a date!' Maybe I shouldn't have..."

"Fras, I think we've had enough of this. It was none of our business then, and it isn't now. Niles wasn't ready to tell her, and maybe Daphne wasn't ready to hear it. Maybe we should've been more supportive of him then, but he didn't know what he truly wanted back then, not even where Daphne was concerned. All he was focused on was finding ways to stay with Maris, and we both knew it was the wrong thing to do, but he had to figure it out for himself. It wasn't an easy thing for him to do, and it made things with Daphne all the more difficult for him. We can relive it all we want, but there's nothing we can do to change any of it. Best thing we can do right now is to support them both, no matter what happens."

"I suppose you're right. But I can still hope. For both of them."

"Amen to that."

Note: this particular chapter was admittedly cobbled together as a bit of filler, as I'm having trouble finishing the next chapter. Still, it's a nice (I think) little heart-to-heart between Frasier and Martin that I hope you find enjoyable without slowing down the pace too much. As always, keep the feedback coming :)