Chapter 39: Niles


Niles felt nervous. He wasn't even sure why, exactly. Maybe because Daphne seemed nervous tonight.

Or maybe I'm imagining that...

He handed Daphne her drink, when he remembered the gift he bought her.

"Oh, just a second." Niles went and got it from the shelf and handed it over to her. "Uh, I saw this, and thought of you."

He watched as Daphne looked at the present, as if trying to guess what it was. She started to blush, and Niles could feel his face heating up too. As Daphne put down her glass so she could unwrap the gift, Niles suddenly started panicking.

What if she thinks it's jewelry or something really expensive? What if she's disappointed? What if she doesn't like it?

Daphne finished unwrapping the gift, and just stood there, staring at the bath salts he had bought for her. Not quite identical to Frasier's – he had a special blend custom created – but the same scent Daphne mentioned, and as high quality as Niles could find and afford.

"Um, so you don't have to keep secretly borrowing them from Frasier's stash."

She looked up at him, and he noticed there were tears in her eyes. Niles suddenly felt like he might have missed the mark with the gift, when she spoke.

"I love you, Niles."

His whole world shifted.

Niles didn't know if he was standing still or moving, as the room seemed to spin. He sat down heavily in the chair behind him, feeling his breath catch in his throat.

"...what?"

The word that left his mouth was barely above a whisper. The one in his thoughts was a lot more thunderous.

WHAT?

Niles hardly believed what he heard.

Surely I heard wrong. She said that she loved it, the present, not me...

Niles looked at Daphne again. The tears in her eyes threatened to spill over, and he suddenly recognized the look she was giving him.

It was the same one he gave her every single day.

Daphne spoke again, and this time, Niles knew there was no mistaking what she said.

"I love you."

Niles stood, finding his feet again on solid ground, and pulled her towards him.

"I love you, Daphne." Oh god, how he loved her. And she loved him.

He buried his face into her neck, feeling her do the same. Her voice was muffled as she spoke.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to realize. But I can't deny it any further. I love you so much, Niles Crane."

Hearing those words again made Niles heart beat faster. He pulled back, and stared into Daphne's eyes. Her beautiful, brown eyes, full of love – love for him, and he felt himself drown within them. His hand reached up, and traced along her jaw, tipping her face as he leaned forward, kissing her. Her lips were soft as she returned the kiss, desire and love and passion behind it. Niles found himself taking his time, appreciating the sensation; every touch, every movement. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him as their kiss deepened.

Daphne's hands found themselves in his hair, as she ran her fingers through it, before they trailed down along the line of his jaw to his neck and his shoulders as Niles captured her lips with his. As they kissed, Daphne's hands seemed to keep travelling up to run through his hair, or explored along his shoulders, back, chest, as she seemed to be similarly entranced in the sensations of the moment.

Niles enjoyed every single second. He realized that he would never have to doubt whether it would be the last time they kissed; instead he could just bask in the moment. In Daphne's love.

They broke apart, and Daphne whispered those words again.

"I love you."

Niles didn't know what it was like to be high, but imagined it might be similar to how he felt now. He let out a laugh, completely full of happiness.

"Oh, Daphne..." Niles trailed off, and glanced over to the wall where his bed was hidden. Embarrassed, a slight blush crossed his cheeks. "I'm sorry, I do feel like I've got to apologize for the... location."

Daphne's eyes followed his to the wall. She pulled away from Niles, and walked over, opening the cupboard doors. The bed fell, unceremoniously, with a thud. Daphne let out a laugh as she moved out of the way, and Niles couldn't help laughing too.

One of the first things Niles had done was get a brand new mattress. He did it the day he moved in, knowing he would never sleep if he kept the previous one, even though he couldn't really afford it. It was cheap, thin, and somewhat lumpy, but clean. He suddenly felt grateful that he had, as he watched Daphne smooth out the sheets.

She looked up at him, and Niles suddenly felt like there was too much space between them. He crossed the room, and swept her back into his arms, continuing his earlier thought.

"Oh, Daphne. I love you so much. Do you have any idea how happy you make me?"

Daphne looked at him.

"Show me, Niles."

Niles did.

They undressed each other, taking more care than they had previously, as if they knew they no longer needed to rush. His hands moved down, slipping her skirt off her hips, and underneath her underwear, caressing her behind. Daphne had unbuttoned his blazer and started on his shirt, her lips kissing along his neck and jawline, continuously in contact with him.

He moved one of his hands up under her shirt, finding her bra strap, and he fumbled with trying to undo it one handed. Daphne paused what she was doing long enough to reach behind and undo it for him. Niles, whose lips were kissing the spot behind her ear, moved into a smile.

"Thank you," he murmured underneath a small chuckle at his ineptness.

Daphne had finished unbuttoning his shirt, and she moved her hands down, starting on his belt and pants. Niles moaned softly, and pulled her closer, interrupting her actions. He took her shirt, and pulled it over her head in one easy movement, before tossing it to the side. Niles started to trail kisses down her neck, as Daphne helped relieve him of his own clothes.

They fell to the bed, clinging to each other in a tight embrace. He entered her, and they became one. Niles found words spilling from his mouth in between kisses, caresses, thrusts, as his emotions took over.

"I love you... I adore you... You are my everything…"

Daphne seemed similarly possessed, as they moved in an almost perfected rhythm.

"I want you... I need you... Oh, Niles, I love you..."

Niles pulled her close, and in one movement, shifted them so Daphne was now on top. She leaned forward as they continued the tempo, her forehead resting against his as they moved, kissing, and exploring each other, totally lost in each other's eyes and the moment.

Daphne came, shuddering as ecstasy overtook her body, Niles' name escaping her lips. Niles, who had been holding himself back until she reached her peak, followed shortly after – watching Daphne as she submitted to her pleasure was enough to help drive him over the edge too. Their movements slowed, then stilled. Still staring into each other's eyes, they kissed; long, passionate and tender, before they settled into a tight embrace.

They laid there, absorbing what had happened over the last few minutes. Daphne rested her head on Niles' chest, and lay there, eyes closed, completely content. Niles had a slightly shell-shocked expression on his face as he stared at Daphne, lying there in his arms, almost in disbelief of what had just happened.

I love her. She loves me. How did this happen?

He didn't know, but he had never felt so happy. He kissed the top of her head.

"I love you."

Daphne opened her eyes and looked up, staring deeply into Niles' eyes.

"I love you, too."

Those words made his heart skip yet again, and Niles let out a delighted giggle. Daphne smiled.

"What's so funny?
"Nothing, I'm just deliriously happy." He smiled back at her. "I love you."
"And I love you."
"I could listen to you say that all night."
"Well, I'll keep saying it. I love you, Niles. I love you."

Niles sighed contentedly.

"So, what do we do now? Do we tell people? Go out on a date?" Niles had a faraway look in his eye, thinking of the future. His future – their future.

Daphne shifted, and sat up, looking nervous again. Niles looked at her, suddenly concerned.

"What's wrong?"
"Niles, I wanted to wait until your divorce with... Mrs Crane is finalized before taking our relationship further. I don't want to go out together in public, or tell anyone about our relationship until you are officially divorced. I know it may sound silly, but I would feel more comfortable if we waited." She looked down, looking almost fearful about what he might say. "I'm sorry, I hope that doesn't disappoint you."

Niles thought on what Daphne said. He desperately wanted to sing it from the rooftops, tell everyone he knew that Daphne Moon loved him, him, but he also understood what she was saying. While to Niles things were completely over between himself and Maris, other people might not see things that way, or infer unpleasant things, before the divorce was finalized. He didn't want to put Daphne through anything that might make her uncomfortable, or might cause rumors.

Niles sat up and reached out to Daphne, pulling her into his arms again. She turned to look at him, and he kissed her, deeply.

"I'll see if I can push my divorce through quickly. If not telling people, or being public with our love until that's all done is what makes you comfortable, we'll wait. You are worth waiting for."

Daphne smiled at Niles, relieved he understood.

"I love you, Niles Crane."
"And I love you, Daphne Moon. With all my heart."