Chapter 22: Daphne
"You said that you loved me."
Niles didn't need to answer. Even in the dark, the reaction on Niles' face was enough to confirm that yes, he did indeed love her.
I needed to know.
His words had been eating away at Daphne for the last few hours, and she couldn't sleep. Her mind was doing its best to suppress it – pass it off as him just loving her as a friend – but something prevented her from locking it away like she did any other time her mind wanted to question their relationship. Daphne didn't think she would have an opportunity to speak to him until the next day. She had made her way to the kitchen for a drink, unable to sleep. She fully expected Niles to be asleep, completely unconscious. Instead, she nearly ran into him in the kitchen. Daphne had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't even see him, and nearly screamed out in shock. Luckily she didn't. Last thing they needed was to wake up the whole apartment.
She immediately felt nervous around him, overthinking his every movement, his every word; as well as her own. Niles had seemed to pick up on that almost immediately, and Daphne suddenly found herself wondering if that was because he loved her.
Niles seemed insistent on talking about things then – wanting to apologise and explain his actions. Daphne considered trying to put him off until the next day, when hopefully they were both in a better frame of mind, but movement further in the apartment as Eddie came running out of Martin's room startled her. Before she knew it, she had pulled Niles into her room. His explanation made sense, Maris seemed intent on ruining his life. Daphne felt proud that Niles was still standing up to her. She knew he struggled with that, and considering the years of abuse that woman put him through - was still putting him through - she wasn't surprised. She was sympathetic, hurt that he was hurt, but unable to fully focus until he explained why he had said what he said.
However, when Niles made to leave back to the couch without addressing what he had said - those three words - Daphne realised that he probably didn't remember. She fought with herself about whether or not to bring it up, but she couldn't let it go. Daphne needed to ask so she could start to work out what was currently going on in her own head. Her thoughts were so deafening at the moment, she would never sleep if she didn't ask.
I wanted to know.
Daphne watched Niles flounder, clearly unprepared for what she asked, trying to work out a way to answer her question. She couldn't help but feel bad dropping this on him when he was going through so much, especially considering how drunk he was. But the voice in the back of her mind whispering to her wouldn't shut up. Insisting that his statement was genuine, trying to force her to examine what he said.
And now I've got my answer.
There was only so long Niles could stall for, and he knew it.
"I, uh, do- as a, a friend," he said lamely.
They stared at each other. Daphne laughed disbelievingly, and shook her head. Niles sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to get away with as weak an answer as that was.
"And so much more than that, too. I'm sorry. This is probably not a great time to spring this on you." Niles looked guilty
"Huh, you think?" It came out a little harder than she intended, and Niles looked hurt at her response. Daphne softened. "Sorry, Niles. I didn't mean to be so harsh. It's... a lot to take in. Along with everything else."
Niles walked back towards the bed. He knelt down, and looked up at Daphne. She was nervous about what he was going to say next; knowing that whatever was said now, their friendship - their relationship would be changed forever.
No going back now.
"Daphne…" Niles paused, choosing his words carefully. "I've been in love with you since we met. I never said anything before - I always assumed that you would never return my feelings, or give me a second look. But recent events have made me think that maybe it's not so impossible. This last week with you has been the absolute best week of my life." He reached out and held her hand. "I would love the opportunity to be with you, be in a relationship with you. I understand that this might be a lot right now, and I'll give you space for as long as you need, but I hope you consider it."
Daphne sat there in stunned silence. She still struggled to believe that it had only been a week since they first slept together. It felt longer than that, as if they'd been dancing around these feelings for years. Maybe they had been. Daphne felt overwhelmed by everything at the moment.
How the hell do I reply to that?
"I... don't know what to say..." she trailed off. She was really struggling to put words to her thoughts.
"You don't have to say anything. Not right now. I know this has probably blindsided you." He sighed, and looked at her, remorseful. "This is not the way I would have wanted you to find out. And it's definitely not the way I wanted to tell you."
Niles stood up. He wrestled with some internal thought for a moment, before he leant forward and kissed Daphne. Like every time that week, his kiss was full of passion, and it lit a fire within Daphne. She deepened the kiss, and pulled him towards her onto the bed.
Then she pulled back, pushing him away. Niles looked devastated, but tried to put on a brave face. Daphne shook her head, trying to clear her mind.
"Niles, I need some time to think... I don't know what to even think. This is a lot to take in right now. Especially in the middle of the night." She glanced at her alarm clock, the digital numbers glowing in the dark. "I have to get up in 3 hours – I've barely slept. Can we talk later? I'll... call you when I'm ready."
Niles nodded, seemingly afraid to speak. He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly. He gave her one last look before he left her room. As the door clicked shut, Daphne fell back onto the bed and let herself cry, tears streaming down her face silently. Four years' worth of memories flooded her mind - and the feelings, hints and observations behind them were no longer locked away. It was all there.
The ways he looked at me- In the words he said to me- How he was always there for me- That he would always come to me first- Whenever he needed a friend- Whenever he needed comfort- Or when he just wanted to be with me-
And-
Daphne suddenly realised how obvious Niles' feelings for her had been. How obvious they've always been.
So bloody obvious to everyone on the planet... Except me.
Daphne eventually fell asleep, and thankfully didn't dream.
