""So we're all packed for morning, right?" Roz asked as they finished putting up the dishes and were preparing to put Alice to bed.
"Yes, we can leave for the airport right after the show tomorrow." Frasier agreed, hanging up the dishtowel.
"I'm glad Niles and Daphne could take Alice on such short notice. I'm going to miss her so much while we are gone." Roz sighed.
"We'll be back before you know it," Frasier assured her as he scooped up Alice from her pile of blocks to carry her back to the nursery.
"I know, the time will fly." Roz agreed as she took Alice from Frasier and tried to lay her in her bed. Alice though had other ideas as she clung to her mother. "Alice, let go honey, it's time for bed." Roz tried getting her daughter to release her. "I swear Frasier this isn't like her."
"Did you tell her we were going away?"
"Yes, of course I did. I told her she was going to spend the weekend with her Uncle Niles and Aunt Daphne and we would be back in no time. She didn't get upset though." Roz was unsure of what this new behavior by Alice could mean. "Do you think she's sick, maybe I should take her to the doctor."
"Roz, calm down, you forget you're talking to a trained psychiatrist here.... as well as a father. Frederick did the exact same thing the first time Lilith and I were leaving him alone for a weekend. She just knows you're going and is going to miss you."
"Oh, good, then it's nothing serious, what should I do." Roz said cuddling Alice, who was obviously happy with the change.
"You essentially have 2 options, both of which are highly debatable in many psychiatric circles. One is to make her lay down and leave her in her bed crying, or let her sleep with you. Now the potential negative impact of leaving her in bed crying is...."
"Oh hush Frasier, I'm not in the mood for psychobabble right now, I need to sleep. Those are the same two options I had when she was an infant and would cry at night. I'm going to do the same thing I did then." Roz stated as she began carrying Alice out of the room. "So what did you and Lilith do when Frederick was throwing the fit?"
"We had a debate all night long over the different theories and the validity of the psychiatric viewpoints. We finally decided to let him stay in the bed and cry, when we realized it was daylight and he had fallen asleep while we were arguing." Frasier smiled, slightly amused by the memory as he mechanically picked up his pajama's and headed into the bathroom to change.
"So is there still room for me in this little party?" He asked when he returned to see Roz and Alice snuggled down into his bed.
"Geez Frasier, she's a little girl, not a linebacker." Roz laughed, "Just stay on your side this time," she teased him, laughing.
Ignoring the assault Frasier just gave a signature glare as he pulled back the covers and crawled into the bed.
"Night Roz, Night Alice," He said as he reached over to turn off the light.
"Goodnight Fras, goodnight sweetie." Roz replied as she settled down in the bed.
"G'nite mommy 'n daddy." Alice whispered as she rolled over to curl up to a stunned Frasier.
You could have heard a pin drop for the next few minutes as Frasier and Roz stared at the ceiling, not quite sure how to react.
"She called me Daddy, wow she must really adore me. But what about when Roz and I split back up? I wonder what Roz is thinking about this latest development." Frasier was panicking silently, though he couldn't fight the warm feeling that had shot through him at what Alice had said.
"Oh no, I bet Frasier is freaking out. Wonder if I should say anything to Alice or just let her keep calling him Daddy. On one hand it's great that they're getting that close for the custody hearing, but how will she react when this is all over and he is just Uncle Frasier again. Is there any harm in her calling him Daddy?" Roz's mind was racing also but she couldn't bring herself to say anything and drifted to sleep still thinking.
All to soon the alarm clock rang went off, waking them up. Frasier shut it off and sleepily realized that Alice had her little arms wrapped around his neck, still sleeping. "Psstt... hey Roz," he nudged her under the covers, she had covered her head with a pillow trying to go back to sleep.
"Whhhaaattttt...I only wanted 5 more minutes." She whined as she sat up, but stopped when she saw the cause for his nudge. "Awww look at her, isn't she sleeping so soundly. I almost hate to wake her up." Roz smiled at her daughter, sleeping so soundly nestled up to Frasier.
"Here I'll take her" She reached over to pick up the sleeping Alice and carry her to the nursery. "I'll get her ready to go, and we can drop her off on our way to the station. Frasier nodded as he picked up a towel and headed to the shower. He couldn't help feeling a paternal instinct as they left.
LATER
"I still don't see why we couldn't drive." Roz complained as they boarded the plane that would carry them to the California coast.
"I already told you it would be 14 hours of driving, and that was just a little to much in my opinion for a weekend trip." Frasier grouchily replied. "You've complained for the last hour about this flight, I don't understand why, unless you're afraid of flying or something."
"Wellll....." Roz said, the tension obvious on her face.
"You're kidding me, you're afraid of flying?" Frasier laughed.
"It's not funny Frasier" Roz was clinging to the chair handles as the plane started taxiing down the runway.
"Oh calm down, what's the worst that could happen?" He tried to reassure her as he took her hand, surprised at how suddenly cold and clammy it was.
"Let's see we could plummet 10,000 feet to the ground and die in a flaming pile of debris." Roz's tone was sarcastic. "I'll be okay though, I'll just do what I usually do on a plane." She motioned for the flight attendant. "Vodka please!"
"Getting drunk is not the answer Roz," Frasier took the drink away before she could gulp it down.
"Oh c'mon, don't make me endure this flight without alcohol." Roz whimpered.
"Sorry, but just think of how psychologically rewarding it will be when we land and you haven't had to drink." Frasier assured her.
"Yeah, uhh whatever, oh good the seatbelt sign went off, I've got to go to the bathroom." Roz stood up and headed quickly to the back of the plane.
"I can't believe she's afraid of flying," Frasier chuckled to himself as he opened a magazine waiting for her return.
"Hey, guess who I saw back in the coach section," Roz said as she returned several minutes later.
"It certainly took you long enough, I was beginning to wonder. So who did you see?" Frasier replied as he closed the magazine back up.
"Vince Collins, a guy I used to date a couple years ago." Roz laughed, seeming much more relaxed.
"The plane left from Seattle and he's the only guy on here that you've dated?" Frasier said in mock surprise.
"Oh hush," Roz laughed in his face, making Frasier grimace as the smell of alcohol filled the air.
"Roz, you were drinking!" He accused.
"Too late to stop me now though," she laughed, obviously unconcerned.
The rest of the flight was fairly uneventful, though Roz had to hold onto Frasier's arm for support while they disembarked. She had made a couple more trips "to the restroom" after the plane had hit turbulence.
"I love this weather!" She shouted as they exited the airport into the hot California sun.
"Roz, you're loaded. We'd better get to the beachhouse before you pass out." Frasier gently prodded her into a waiting cab, as he carried the two suitcases and placed them into the trunk.
They arrived at the beachhouse just a little bit before sunset as Frasier paid the driver and carried the bags, and almost had to carry Roz indoors.
"I certainly hope you aren't planning to do this for the flight back." He huffed as he sat the suitcases in the living room.
"Mmmmm whatever, just point me to where I can sleep, nice place by the way," Roz commented as she walked around the beachhouse in a daze. There was a spacious living room, with kitchen to the side. A marble floor, white lacquer cabinets and granite countertops. There was a sliding glass door that lead to a large tiled balcony complete with a small jacuzzi and lounge chairs to enjoy the sun. The one bedroom in the house was also quite luxurious, boasting a waterbed and decorated in burgundy and stained hardwood. The adjoining bathroom also looked fairly spacious and was nicely decorated. "This will be a great vacation." Roz mumbled as she laid down on the bed, sleepy due to the drinks she had consumed on the plane, almost falling asleep instantly.
"Well goodnight to you too." Frasier murmured as he placed her suitcase in the room and went into the kitchen, opening a can of peaches since the meal on the flight had definitely been substandard. He also made a mental note to go shopping first thing in the morning for some fresher food than the few cans of food in the cupboards. There wasn't much point in keeping it well stocked considering how rarely it was used. Niles and Daphne had been there once or twice soon after their marriage, and he had been down once for a vacation, but it remained empty a good deal of the time.
Though the night was still young he still felt tired after the long
day and it didn't take him long to change into shorts and a t-shirt and
grab a blanket and a pillow and curl up on the large sofa for the night,
totally unaware of the person lurking on the balcony.