"Well there you two are. I hope you don't mind but Selena and I want to go sailing so I thought I could that last photo session out of the way and then we're all free until the flight back." Vince's approach made them jump apart in surprise.
"It's kind of early isn't it? The sun has barely come up." Frasier observed.
"Yeah yeah, so we get some nice handholding on the beach at dawn stuff." Vince was obviously in a hurry to get with his girlfriend. "So how did last night go? You both should certainly consider professional acting careers if that was all fake. Selena thought you two were getting ready to hit the floor and go all the way." Vince was less than subtle.
Roz and Frasier both blushed but chose not to pursue the subject.
"You know Vince, maybe you should consider a career in film." Roz joked as she changed the subject and stood up to brush the sand off her tanned legs.
"You're definitely getting bossy these days." Frasier agreed as he stood up and pulled Roz close to him and they began walking down the beach while Vince snapped pictures. This time there was no mistaking the sparks flying between the couple as they strolled hand in hand on the shoreline, neither making an attempt to hide the enjoyment of being so close.
"OK, how about a nice silhouette kiss and then we'll call it quits." Vince called as they reached a spot right in front of the fiery red morning sun.
"The trials we must endure huh?" Frasier laughed softly under his breath as they stood in silhouette with their faces only inches apart.
"Yeah, talk about a hard task." Roz grinned in anticipation as their faces neared for another kiss.
They once again kissed, enjoying the now familiar feelings and sensations they were becoming accustomed to. It began slowly and softly, once again increasing in intensity until Vince interrupted. "OK, guys, that'll do it, see you at the airport in the morning." He said as he hurriedly stuffed his camera in the bag and waved goodbye to the couple, still standing together in the early daylight.
"You know I could really get used to this." Roz said huskily as she looked up into Frasier's blue eyes, which she realized looked darker than usual, making her wonder what he was thinking.
"Same here, I'm beginning to see even more clearly how you enchant so many men." Frasier said softly as he leaned in close again, just barely brushing her lips softly with his own before pulling back an inch so that their noses were barely touching as they gazed deeply into each others eyes.
"We did say that an occasional kiss would be ok right?" Roz reminded him as she pulled herself back up, effortlessly meeting his lips again for another kiss, this time there was no pretense, just two people kissing because they wanted to, and because they loved each other, even though neither could admit it even to themselves yet.
The day passed by quickly as they did some shopping for souveniers and packed, getting ready for their return flight home. In no time at all they were boarding the plane as Vince once again snapped a few pictures of them holding hands and boarding the plane before he took his seat in the coach section as they settled in first class.
"I don't suppose you're going to let me drink are you?" Roz started getting queasy as the plane started taxiing down the runway.
"Now Roz, we discussed this. You don't need alcohol, remember how you helped me get over being scared of the ocean."
"Fine, if you want to dunk me underwater then do it, otherwise I'm going for the vodka." Roz's breathing started to sound suspiciously like she was about to start hyperventilating as she stared out the window at the concrete they were fast getting ready to leave.".
"Well I can't dunk you under water, but I can certainly distract you," Frasier mumbled then without warning reached over take her chin and gently pull her away from focusing on the runway, to face him as he abruptly kissed her, she froze for a minute out of shock and then eagerly reciprocated. She didn't even notice as the plane left the ground and began soaring through the sky.
When they finally broke apart they were embarrassed to hear a lot of clapping from the surrounding passengers. Apparently they had not been very discreet, as the stewardess offered them champagne, saying she had not realized they were newlyweds until seeing the way they acted. They blushed furiously, but couldn't help but smile at the moment they had just shared. Every time Roz started to get nervous it was not hard at all for Frasier to distract her, by the time they were beginning their descent Roz had fallen asleep with her head nestled comfortably on his shoulder.
AT AIRPORT
"Mommy Mommy..." Alice yelled as she left Niles and Daphne to rush towards them as soon as they stepped off the plane.
Roz was overjoyed to see her daughter again and their reunion was truly a touching sight to all involved. It didn't take long to collect the luggage and begin the ride home. Alice chatting merrily all the way about the fun she had over the weekend, going to the petting zoo, and the park.
"Well here we are!" Niles announced as they entered the elevator at Elliot Bay Towers, I'm sure you two are tired after your trip." Daphne spoke quickly. Suddenly Frasier got the distinct impression something was up but did not have time to figure it out as they opened the front door to be greated by a chorus of "SURPRISE". The shock on their faces was evident at the sight of all their family and friends gathered near a table of gifts.
"This is certainly a surprise, what's the occasion?" Roz finally found her voice.
"What do you think, it's a wedding shower. Surprised?" Martin laughed as he explained what was going on. "And here's another surprise." Roz turned white as he stepped aside to reveal her mother standing there with a look on her face that though outwardly cheerful Roz knew did not bode well for her later.
"Mom." She said cheerfully as she went to hug her, keeping up appearances sake since it was obvious a lot of trouble had been taken to get her there.
Soon the party was in full swing, it was an odd assortment as the Seattle Elite hobnobbed with some of the lesser citizens as Roz's and Frasier's friends mingled, surprisingly well. The opening of the gifts was fun, though slightly embarrassing when Roz opened some surprisingly revealing lingerie from one of her friends in front of everyone. She blushed almost as hard as Frasier did when he opened a bag containing a can of whipped cream, from the former head of the wine tasting society no less.
The party was over it seemed in no time, and the guests had departed from the class mixing party that had served beer and pretzels right alongside with wine and caviar.
"It was fun guys, we're going to run though." Niles and Daphne began to excuse themselves.
"Trying to get out of here before we can get you for setting us up, aren't you?" Frasier teased back, unware of Roz nervously trying to avoid her Mother's stare as they said their goodbyes.
"Well I'm beat, we can clean up this mess tomorrow right kids?" Martin, obviously a little worn down began heading to his room, also sensing some tension in the room. He wasn't sure what the cause was but he certainly wasn't going to stick around and get caught in it.
"So do you need a ride to a motel or...." Roz began to question her Mother as to where she was staying.
"No thank you I'll call a cab when I'm ready to go." Joanna Doyle's tone was icy.
"Well I'll go check on Alice and...." Frasier started edging out of the picture.
"No, you're staying right here." She demanded in a no nonsense tone that she had perfected as an attorney general. Frasier audibly gulped, he wasn't quite sure what she was upset about but it didn't look good.
"Mom, don't get upset, I meant to tell you...." Roz began explaining.
"I can't believe I find out about my daughters wedding a WEEK after it happens, and by her in-laws no less when they're inviting me to a wedding shower for her."
"Roz, you didn't tell your mother about marriage?" Frasier was shocked.
"Oh hush Frasier, I don't need both of you fussing at me." Roz got defensive.
"You also neglected to mention you were even dating him. When did you start shutting me out of your life?" Joanna started sniffling.
"Mom, you don't understand...." Roz was becoming upset, seeing her Mother cry was even worse than having her yell.
"Ladies, calm down." Frasier said in his most soothing tone as he stood back up and stepped over to the still irate, yet tearful Joanna.
"Joanna, it's not as bad as it sounds. Roz didn't tell you we were dating because we weren't. It happened very suddenly, in a matter of hours to be honest. One minute we were having dinner together and the next we were eloping. My family didn't know either, and like you Niles was a bit upset at not being told beforehand. Then after the wedding, we got so caught up in packing and moving and just being newlyweds that she probably never got the chance to call you, I kept her quite busy." Frasier blushed slightly at the implications of the last statement.
"So you weren't trying to shut me out of your life?" Joanna cleared her throat as she reached for a tissue.
"Oh no Mom, I would never do that. I love you." Roz said emotionally as she reached out to hug her mother. She mouthed a thank you to Frasier during the hug. Frasier couldn't help but feel a surge of pride that he had turned what was building into a painful and probably loud mother daughter argument into this tearful moment of bonding.
Finally they pulled away from each other, both now drying their eyes and starting to laugh.
"I'm sorry if I overreacted."
"No Mom, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." The two women began apologizing.
"Welcome to the family Frasier, I must say this is quite ironic." Joanna began to laugh.
"Ironic?" Frasier questioned
"Yes, you two tried to set Martin and I up and here you are the ones that get married." She laughed.
"I had almost forgotten about that" Roz started laughing at the memory.
"I should be going, but honey before I go." Joanna's voice became serious again. "I want you to know I'm proud of you, and I'm happy that you finally found a man who really knows you and loves you for who you are. And Frasier, I know that with you I don't need to worry about whether she's being treated right. I used to worry about what kind of man she would settle down with, and I'm pleased with her choice."
"Oh Mom" Roz's voice started to get shaky again.
"Thank you Joanna," Frasier wasn't quite sure what else he should say.
"Nonsense, you must call me Mom now." Joanna reached out to give him a large hug, squeezing tightly,
"OK, Joanna... uhhhhh Mom, would you like to stay here tonight, there's plenty of room." Frasier offered.
"Oh no thank you, I've got an early flight out due to a speaking engagement in the morning and should get back to the motel. You two come visit me soon though." Joanna grinned widely as she hugged them both one more time and then turned to leave.
"Whew, good save Frasier." Roz exhaled as soon as the door had closed.
"Yes, well if she's anything like you when you get angry I wanted to put that fire out as fast as I could." Frasier laughed as Roz threw a pillow at him.
"I'm just glad she reacted that way, I thought she might be upset at me for marrying a radio shrink like you." Roz chuckled and then ducked as the pillow was launched back in her direction.
"Well it's been a long day, and we have to work again tomorrow."
Frasier's tone was taking on a note of uncertainty as they began walking
towards the bedroom. This would be the first time they slept together
in the same bed after the events that had transpired over the weekend,
and there was a new tension in the air now.