"I'll never forget that night as long as I live." His words made her heart flutter, but they also disturbed her. How could he be so happy, when it was she who was about to change both of their lives forever with two little words?

"Niles, I-." She started to say more but she knew that anything she could say would sound completely daft. And so she remained silent. However, in the silence that fell between them, Niles reached for her free hand and gazed into her eyes.

Was all that she could think of to he would think her answer daft, but he surprised her once again as he reached for her free hand and gazed into her eyes.

"Daphne, I'd be lying if I told you that I wasn't surprised by what happened between us."

Another wave of guilt washed over her. Why did he have to be so wonderful? "Niles…"

"But I'd also be lying if I told you that making love to you wasn't the most wonderful experience of my life, because it was something I'll never forget as long as I live. It was absolutely perfect. You were so gentle and loving the way you…."

He continued to talk, but his sweet voice trailed away while bestowing praise upon a subject that she was hardly her expertise. It was praise that she didn't at all deserve. And although his voice warmed her heart, the tears that filled her eyes began to make their way down her cheeks.

He froze, staring at her in disbelief. "Daphne, what is it? What's wrong?"

Horrified, a sob escaped and she covered her mouth with her hand. In the sweetest gesture she could have ever imagined, he reached into his pocket for his handkerchief and began blotting the tears from her cheeks. But the act made her cry even harder.

"I'm sorry, Niles! I never meant to-."

His hand went to her damp cheek and his other hand stroked her hair. "Shh… Sweetheart, don't cry. Everything will be all right."

"No…" She said so quietly that she wondered if he'd even heard her. "No, it can never be!"

"What are you saying?"

"I-I'm sorry, Niles."

"Daphne you have nothing to be sorry about! What's wrong?"

She placed her fingers through his and brought both of his hands to hers, trailing kisses across his soft skin. "I'm so sorry…" Her voice was but a hushed whisper.

"I'm so sorry, Niles! I-I never meant for this to happen. I…"

He sat down beside her and put his arms around her; first one and then the other until he was holding her close, rubbing her shoulder. She cried for a bit, finding comfort in the warmth of him, but the abundance of tears she held inside were just waiting to release themselves.

He moved closer, bringing her further into his arms, until she was able to cry into his chest. Being held by him was the most wonderful feeling in the world, second only to their lovemaking and their kisses and she felt extremely blessed. However, she soon realized the depths of comfort he was offering her and suddenly she couldn't take it any longer. She couldn't allow him to hold her; not when-

She drew back more forcefully than she'd intended, leaving him with a confused and hurt expression; a look she'd seen many times before but one that she'd never dreamed that she would be the cause of. "I-I can't, Niles! I can't do this! Not anymore! Not when-."

"Daphne…what is it? What's wrong?"

His handsome face was blurred by the new tears in her eyes and her chest hurt; oh how it hurt. "I-I need to tell you something. I've been avoiding you ever since we… since that night at your…. home. And when I called to ask you to meet me here, it's because I need to tell you something really important and I can't put off telling you any longer!"

"All right, what is it?"

"I-…."

"Daphne…"

She burst into tears once more. "I can't! I'm afraid!"

"Daphne you have no reason to be afraid. You can tell me anything; anything at all."

She nodded. "I know that, but…"

His hand moved toward her face and he brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. "But what? What are you afraid of?"

"I-I'm afraid that once I tell you this, you'll hate me!"

His expression changed to one of disbelief and he shook his head. "No, never. Never in a million years. I could never hate you, Daphne. It's impossible."

"But… you have no idea what I'm going to tell you!"

"It doesn't matter, because whatever it is, we can get through it together. I'll always be here for you Daphne, no matter what. Now what did you want to tell me?"

She cried harder. "Oh Niles… I-I'm pregnant!"