"Miss Moon, take us back the night of six February 1996. You accompanied Dr. Crane to an event?"

"That's right. The Snow Ball."

"Would you tell the court about it?"

"We drank champagne, we danced, we had a good time. And then we left."

"How many dances?"

"I wasn't keeping count, if you'll forgive me."

"Fair enough. Tell us about one dance in particular. The tango that cleared the floor."

"We were... demonstrative. We decided to put on a show, so we acted accordingly. We told each other we adored each other, loud enough for the entire room to hear."

"And... then?"

"And then the song was over. And then we... kissed."

"And it was all an act?"

"As I've said before, YES!"

"To both of you, or just to you?"

"Both of us."

"How did you know it was an act to him?"

"I don't know, I didn't ask him!"

"So you don't know for sure..."

"Oh damn, I'm sorry Donny, I walked right into that one..." Daphne admonished herself, knowing they had rehearsed a different answer to that particular question.

"It's okay Daphne, you got a little caught up. That's exactly what they'll be looking for. You just have to be more careful."

"I know. Can we try it again?

And so they did.

"And it was all an act?" Donny repeated, once again acting as the lawyer on Maris's team who would be leading Daphne's line of questioning.

"Yes. To both of us."

"Are you sure it was just as much an act to him as it was to you?"

"Yes."

"But you never talked about putting on a show with him."

"I didn't have to. I know him well enough to know what he was thinking."

"But it was never explicitly stated by him?"

"Again, he didn't have to."

"Because you just know him that well?"

"Yes!"

"Because you love each other?"

'Now wait a minute..." Daphne froze, unable to come up with the right answer. "Donny, I keep getting tripped up on that one."

You just say no, Donny thought. It's the truth, isn't it?

"Just be honest here, Daphne. You don't love him like that, so just say so. There's no reason to hesitate."

"Okay..."

Donny took a deep breath, ready to resume their rehearsal, but suddenly feeling hesitant to dive back in.

"You really care about him, don't you?" Donny asked.

"Pardon?"

"About Niles. I can tell how much you want to come through for him."

"Yes, I do. And I can tell you want to do the same."

"Well, it's my job. I'm considered one of the best for a reason. But... yeah, he seems like a good guy, and I certainly don't want to see that spoiled brat get over on him."

"You must be used to it by now."

"Used to... what?"

"Well, being in the divorce business. So many destructive, loveless marriages ending in all sorts of toxic ways that you get to see first hand."

"Yea, you could say that. Deep down, I've always been a bit of a romantic, but some of the things I've seen... it does make you a little cynical. That's definitely the one part of this job I hate. To see all the selfishness out there, the malodorous sewage that some human beings are... makes you realize that, well, no, there's not somebody for everybody. Because not everybody deserves it. I only hope I'm not one of those people."

Daphne smiled at him. "Well, for what it's worth, I don't think you are. You'll find it."

"Thanks." Donny suddenly felt melancholy, and yet... Daphne was definitely warming up the room, making him feel the sudden need to open up even more to her. "I thought I had it for a while... with Roz."

"Oh my, I'd forgotten, Dr. Crane mentioned that you used to date her."

"Oh wow, we had so much fun together, I was pretty nuts about her. Maybe even in love with her. And I'm pretty sure she felt that way about me too. We just... wanted different things. I knew I wanted a family, and she wasn't ready for that. At least she said she wasn't..."

"No, Donny, I know Roz. To be more accurate, she didn't think she was. It took her getting knocked up on a one-nighter and becoming a single mother to realize that you don't have to be ready for it."

"Yea. Some kind of ironic, isn't it?"

Daphne suddenly felt the need to comfort this man, and she knew how. "For what it's worth, Donny, I know how you feel. I went through a similar heartbreak a couple of years ago. Turns out he wanted different things too."

"Such as?"

"Well, for starters, a different woman."

Neither could resist a morbid chuckle. "You're kidding," Donny replied.

"If only. We were always sort of on-again-off-again, but after almost a year, he dumps me out of the blue, and not TWO MONTHS later he's engaged to some other trollop."

"Geez, I'm sorry Daph."

"Oh it's alright, I was lucky Dr. Crane was there for me. He's the one who introduced us, actually tried to warn me about him, but never once said 'I told you so' when it happened."

Of course he didn't.

"Well, I guess we'd better get back at it then..." Daphne replied, suddenly feeling distracted and wanting to get the meeting back on track.

And so they did.

More rehearsing, more preparation, and a few more laughs & melancholy stories about their failed love lives in between. What had started as a grueling meeting had turned out to be much more enjoyable than either one of them had thought it might.

A lot more.

Several hours had passed before they knew it, but they were both starting to feel it.

"You know what Daphne, we've been at it for the whole day, and I'm getting pretty worn out. What do you say I go downstairs and grab us some coffee and dessert? The bakery in the lobby kiosk has a pretty good turtle cheesecake."

"Oh, thank you, sounds wonderful," Daphne could barely hide the relief in her voice. "Just let me pop into the loo while you make that trek, I need to freshen up a bit."

"No problem. Be right back."

As Donny made his way out of the office toward the elevator, Maria got his attention.

"Donny, Portia just dialed me. She needs a moment with you as soon as possible."

"Fifteen minutes, Maria. My meeting's almost done. Be right back."