Chapter 20: Daphne
Daphne was dressed for dinner. She was hiding in the kitchen, fretting quietly. This would be the first time since she and Niles started sleeping together that they would be spending any sort of time together with Frasier and Martin. Notwithstanding the brief visit when they were actively trying to resist each other – that was so brief they barely said three words to each other.
I'll have to call him Dr Crane.
She figured that would be easy, though Daphne liked how they'd reached a level of comfort together that she called him Niles. It felt... natural. But that was the least of her worries. She had about 30 other things to stress about.
Should I avoid sitting next to him? Standing too close? Maybe I should give dinner a miss...
No. He just signed divorce papers, Daphne wanted to be there to support him. She could hear Frasier and Martin talking in the living room. Mainly about Niles and wondering what he was going to do about Maris and the divorce. It seemed like Niles hadn't told his brother or father what he had decided yet. So, she would have to act surprised about that too.
The doorbell rang. Frasier called out to her.
"Daphne, could you get that please? I'm just on hold with the restaurant."
Great. So much for hiding.
Daphne left the kitchen. Frasier was on the phone, looking slightly annoyed. Martin was in his chair, watching something on TV. She walked across the living room.
Deep breaths, Daphne. Just act natural, like nothing has changed.
She opened the door.
Niles stood there, looking like he had been hit with bad news. His face seemed a little puffy, like he might have been crying at some point. Daphne just wanted to whisk him away and hide him from the world, from whatever had hurt him so. He looked at her, and smiled sadly.
"Hello, Daphne. You look stunning this evening."
"Thank you, N- Dr Crane." Damn, she almost slipped. Niles noticed, but he was the only one. He gave her another smile as he entered.
"Is everything okay?"
Daphne hoped the worry in her voice wasn't too much. She wanted to seem like concerned friend, not anxious lover.
"Thank you." Frasier finished his phone call. "Well, they've bumped our reservation back half an hour. Sherry, Niles?"
"Yes, thank you." Niles answered Frasier before he turned to Daphne. "I'm okay, just... a bit of a rough 24 hours."
"Yeah, Frasier told us Maris served you divorce papers. I'm sorry, Son." Martin was sympathetic. He wouldn't miss Maris, but didn't like seeing his son upset.
"Thanks, Dad."
Niles sat down on the couch as Frasier brought over his drink. Daphne hovered for a moment, before sitting down on the couch next to Niles. He smiled at her as he took a big swig of his sherry.
"Well, I guess I should let you all know that I, uh, signed the divorce papers."
"Oh, Niles. That's a big step." Frasier looked at his brother with concern. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Certainly not what I hoped, but I think it's for the best." Niles waved his hand at Frasier's concern, trying to reassure him, though one look at his face showed he was anything but okay.
Daphne decided to risk squeezing Niles' hand. Her showing sympathy wouldn't be out of character.
"I'm sorry, Dr Crane. You deserve so much better."
Niles looked at her, affectionately. Daphne worried that look might raise suspicion, but no one questioned it.
"Thank you, Daphne. That means a lot to me."
"So, how did Maris react to you signing the papers?" Martin was curious.
"Oh..." Niles paused, then looked like he changed his mind on what he was going to say. "I'm not sure, I haven't spoken to her. Maris won't have a chance to look at them until about now. And I don't really plan on talking to anyone else this evening."
Frasier nodded.
"Yes. Well, we know how Maris can be if she can't get her way. I hope that she is able to grant you a speedy exit to this marriage."
"Agreed." Martin downed the rest of his beer.
Niles finished his sherry, and indicated to Frasier that he wanted another, which Frasier happily obliged. Daphne suddenly realised she was still holding Niles' hand. She slowly removed her hand, hoping that no one noticed. She looked back at Niles' face curiously. It wasn't raising questions with his brother or father, as they assumed it was just about signing divorce papers. But Daphne knew Niles signed them last night, and he was in a much better frame of mind when she left this morning. Not the best, but she felt like something else had happened that he hadn't mentioned yet. Niles looked back at Daphne. She raised an eyebrow in question, and he tapped his watch subtly - he would tell her later.
The four of them made small talk until it was time to leave, and Daphne found herself relaxing a little. This wasn't so hard. She could see him later tonight perhaps, find out what happened then.
At one point in the evening, they found themselves alone together at the table. Martin had gone to the bathroom; Frasier was on the other side of the restaurant, trying to speak to someone he recognised from his opera society.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" Niles looked over at Daphne adoringly.
Niles had quite a few drinks already during dinner and had started getting bold, flirting with Daphne. She worried it would raise questions, but so far seemed to have gone unnoticed by Frasier and Martin. She tried to shush Niles, mad that he was being so careless with his words.
"Now's not the time to get all flirty with me. Your brother or father might hear you."
"Maybe..." Niles finished his drink, and poured himself a little more wine. "They'd just tell me to stop anyway. As usual."
"What do you mean by that?" Daphne was confused. Niles looked at her.
"Oh, they're always telling me to –"
He was interrupted by Martin coming back.
"Are we gonna order dessert here? I saw a pudding option which I think I would like to get acquainted with." Martin chuckled.
Frasier returned too, and the four of them looked over the dessert menu. Daphne peered over at Niles, perplexed.
What on earth is he saying? He's a bit drunk, but still...
After dinner, they returned to Frasier's. Niles poured himself another drink before collapsing on the couch. Daphne excused herself to her room to change; stopping to bend down to pick up a newspaper that had fallen onto the floor. She thought she heard Frasier hiss at Niles under his breath as she left the room.
What was that about?
She stood in her room debating whether to change straight into her nightgown. Daphne had been considering sneaking over to see Niles after he left, to talk about what had happened earlier that day. He was in a bit of a state though. Daphne thought it might be better to stay home and find time to talk to him tomorrow. She finished dressing; slipping on her nightdress and dressing gown.
She exited back to the living room.
"...Maris, doesn't mean you can-" Frasier stopped mid-sentence, noticing her. "Hi, Daph." He smiled at her.
Daphne felt like she had walked into some lecture she wasn't supposed to hear. Frasier was staring at Daphne, as if nothing was going on. Niles was lying on the couch, looking decidedly despondent, glass empty in his hand. He seemed to perk up when he saw her.
"Hello, Daphne. Thank you for joining us for dinner tonight. I really appreciated it." He smiled at her. She nodded, slightly concerned about him.
"Of course, Dr Crane. That's what friends do, they support each other through difficult times."
Niles tried to take another sip from his already empty glass. Setting it down on the coffee table, he groaned, closed his eyes and laid back on the couch.
"Oh, I think I may have drank too much tonight."
Frasier gave him a look, unimpressed by his brother's state.
"Indeed."
Daphne smiled sympathetically.
"Would you like some water, Dr Crane?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful, Daphne."
She returned with a bottle of water from the kitchen and handed it to Niles.
"Daphne, you're an angel. Thank you." He looked at her fondly.
"Niles." Frasier's voice had a slight warning tone to it.
Did he notice?
Niles was acting very cavalier with his flirtations, and Daphne worried that their fling would be exposed. But at the same time, something felt like this was how they normally acted together. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. Daphne looked at Niles, still worried.
"Dr Crane, I don't think you should drive home like that tonight."
"Yes, Daphne's right. You can spend the night here, on the couch." Frasier agreed.
Daphne froze. She glanced at Niles, trying to gauge his reaction at the prospect of them staying under the same roof, given their current history.
"Thank you, Frasier. I might just do that." Niles seemed unfazed by the suggestion.
"Maybe we should get Dr Crane a cab? He might be more comfortable in his own bed." She worried that Niles might let something slip - he had been pretty open with flirting with her tonight.
Frasier looked at Daphne. He walked over and motioned her closer, speaking quietly.
"He probably would, yes; but look at him. I'm a little worried and want to make sure he's okay."
They both glanced over at Niles; sprawled on the couch, eyes closed. He looked like he had been on an emotional roller coaster and barely hanging on as he went on a second trip. Daphne felt that surely something other than the divorce papers must have happened today. He seemed fine – not great, but coping – just that morning.
Or did I misjudge how hard this was on him?
"You're right. I'll go fetch some pillows and blankets for him."
"Thank you, Daphne." Frasier smiled, grateful.
Daphne left down the hall and pulled out the spare blankets and pillows from the cupboard. She returned, arms full. Frasier was talking to Niles again.
"Goodnight, Niles. Ah, if you need anything at all, we are right here."
"Thank you, Frasier. You're a good brother."
Frasier left, and Daphne heard his door shut.
Daphne stood in the living room alone with Niles. She suddenly realised he didn't know she was there – his eyes were still closed. Daphne looked around. The other two Crane men had retired for the evening, she could probably let her guard down a little. She walked towards the couch.
"Dr Crane?" Niles grunted, eyes still closed. Daphne looked around again. "Niles, I brought you a pillow and some blankets."
Niles opened his eyes. He smiled weakly at her.
"Thank you, Daphne. Oh, I'm so sorry, I've made a bit of a spec-spectacle of myself tonight." His tongue tripped over his words as he sat up. He slumped forward, head hanging.
Daphne put the bedding down, and sat next to him.
"Did something happen today? You seemed like you were okay when I left this morning."
Niles turned towards her, looking like he might cry, but instead he just shook his head.
"There was something, but I'm not really ready to discuss it right now. I'm not exactly in any condition to, either."
"I'm here when you're ready." Daphne put her hand on his shoulder, understanding.
Niles rested his hand on her knee. Daphne felt shivers run up her spine from his touch. They looked at each other and she knew Niles felt the same electricity from her. Moving together at the same time; they leaned forward into a kiss. They held it for a few seconds, before breaking apart. Niles rested his forehead on hers – Daphne could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"I'm so sorry, Daphne."
"Don't worry about it, we can talk later. Here, let me make the couch up for you."
Daphne stood up. Niles did the same, swaying for a couple of moments before sitting back down on the coffee table. She organised the couch so it would be comfortable for him. Niles tried to take off his jacket. Struggling with the task, Daphne helped him remove it. He stood again, briefly, but fell back onto the couch. She took hold of his legs and removed his shoes, and made sure he was positioned comfortably. Daphne tucked his shoes out of the way for the night, and hung up his jacket. Niles appeared to be asleep when she returned. Daphne took the blanket and covered him with it. Suddenly hit with a wave of affection for the man lying on the couch, she kissed him on the forehead.
"Goodnight, Niles."
"Night, Daphne..." Niles mumbled sleepily, not entirely conscious. "...I love you."
