Just A Stare
Part III

        By Laura Brown


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Niles~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had never been so tormented in my life. My entire world was crumbling around my feet. I was now a divorced man who had to have the love of his life spend time with him out of pity. I could have handled it if Daphne was doing this as a friend, even if she kissed me under false pretenses. For the whole thing to be a scheme, however, was devastating. I was angry with my family, I was angry with Daphne. And I felt utterly alone.

I made it back to the Montana and headed towards my bar. I stopped short, I didn't want any alcohol. I didn't want to numb the pain and end up feeling sorry for myself, or even forgiving of their actions. That thought scared me. I was never one for anger, always avoided it endlessly, and now I was thriving in it. I contemplated purchasing a punching bag but realized that no stores were open this late at night. I stood by my couch wondering if I could punch it without destroying it when the doorbell rang.

I ignored it. It rang again, then came knocking. I sat on my couch and listened. Eventually came a voice, Daphne's voice.

"Niles, if you're there I need to talk to you." Silence, I stared at the door. "Bloody hell, I know you are there and you must know that I need to explain to you what's been going on." I continued to stare at the door, rage building inside me. And it hurt; it hurt to be this angry with Daphne. "For God sakes Niles! Open the door. We've been fooled, they've been playing a bloody scheme on us." I sat there, motionless, as her words began to seek in – we? We've been fooled? But I thought…

I finally got up and moved over to the door.


**Daphne**

I didn't expect it to take this long to get him to open up the door. I was kicking myself for hurting him so. When he did let me in, however, I was surprised at what I saw. He was angry, fists clenched, jaw tight, practically steaming. I knew that I had hurt him but how did I make him angry?

He glared at me and yet somehow I knew he was surprised as well. I took a few cautious steps inside and began to speak.

"You see, apparently everyone's been involved in a scheme –" He cut me off.

"I know." The door closed with a great deal of force behind me.

"What do you mean you know?"

"Dad told me about it tonight, how could you?" And now hurt was playing in his eyes again. His hands had become unclenched but they instantly tightened up again.

"How could I? I don't understand, I just found out about this tonight." He had turned away from me and suddenly he was facing my again, anger all but vanished from his face.

"You what?"

"I just found out about this. Why, what did you think?"

"I thought – I thought. I thought you were in on this." Oh dear! Without being leery of his enraged state I moved towards him and placed my hands on his shoulders.

"I was not. Bryce has been in on this too. He was the one who set this whole thing in motion, without either one of our knowledge's." Niles pulled away from me and began to walk around the room.

"I don't understand, why would he do this?" He stopped and looked at me. I took a few deep breaths. It was not or never, wasn't it?

"Because he realized something that I did not." Pause, deep breaths, keep his stare. "Because I'm in love with you."


**Niles**

I was on a roller coaster of emotions. My anger had begun to leave me. I believed Daphne when she said she didn't know. She was practically a wreck in front of me. She seemed so unsure of herself and I couldn't help but to lose all anger towards her. And then my emotions got another dose of chaos. She told me she was in love with me.

Everything in the room went blank except for her. We continued to stare at each other except now her eyes were pleading with mine. I slowly let what she said sink in: she loved me. She loved me, Bryce knew this. Yet she's engaged. No wonder she's been so confused.

"Please, Niles, say something, anything." She broke our stare and was now looking at the floor. In all my years of loving her I never thought that she would be the one to say it first. Wait, I shouldn't be telling myself this, should I? Come on Niles, you have no reason to back out now. Just say it.

"Daphne," she's looking at me again, good. Pause. Come on words, I had you just a moment ago, come to my mouth. "Daphne," she's holding her hands, "in all my years of loving you I never thought you would be the one to say it first." There, now that wasn't so hard, was it? She let out a breath; apparently she had been holding it in.

"So what now?"

"I don't think that's for me to decide." Daphne moved and sat down on my couch.

"Well I haven't been doing very good with this decision. Why do you think I've been so nutty these past few weeks? I knew that there was some reason why I didn't want to go to England and when I found out that reason was you –" I couldn't let her continue speaking, I practically ran over to her and kissed her. I've been what's keeping her here, but I've also caused her such confusion. And to see her so tormented was breaking my heart. But she loved me, what reason did I have not to kiss her?

Her arms instantly were around me. She felt fragile in my arms. I began to stroke her cheek. Our kiss ended when she let out a slight chuckle, I pulled away.

"As nice as that sentiment is, it's not helping me much." She said, we both sat down.

"Really? I thought it might do you some good." She gave me a smile and I returned it.

"Well, it did but I think we talking is a little more important, wouldn't you agree?" I nodded and held her hand. How had I gone from showing anger to showing love in such a short amount of time?

"What would you like to talk about?" I asked, she sighed.

"Well, for starters, what is this?"

"You mean," I dared to say the word, "us?"

"Yes. If you could have things your way, what would this, us, be?" I placed my other hand on top of our joined hands, more for some sense of comfort and drive, and gathered up my courage to answer her.

"Honestly?"

"Yes, honestly." She gave my hands a squeeze.

"If I could have things my way I would have told you how I feel a long time ago. I would have had the courage to tell you, to ask you out, to date you. I see this as nothing light, Daphne. I want you in my life, now and forever, as so much more than just a friend." A few tears were forming in her eyes; I took her face in my hands and brushed her tears away. "I love you Daphne, it doesn't get any clearer than that. The question now is, what do you want?"


**Daphne**

What did I want? Yes, that was the question, that's what the question has always been, hasn't it? Asking Niles to go first was just stalling, although I did love to hear what he said. To hear just how deep his feelings were for me, it was glorious.

"That's what I've been trying to figure out," I replied, my nerves beginning to go into overdrive, and glanced down at my hands.

"It seems to me, Daphne, you have two options and two suitors. You have to decide which one is right for you." I looked up at him, it really was that simple, wasn't it? Bryce or Niles, that's what's it's always been. And being with Niles has never made me think of Bryce, but being Bryce has made me think of Niles. This very simple answer had been hiding under so much junk I had lost site of how easy this whole thing was. I didn't even bother to work things out with Bryce when he told me of this scheme. No, I jumped into my car and sped over here. Why had it taken me so long to sort this out?

I noticed that Niles, my love, was shaking. This is what he's always been afraid of, hasn't it, rejection?

"Niles, can I ask you a question?"

"Anything," his voice shook.

"What has kept you from making a move, as you've said, all these years? Has it been rejection?" He glanced downwards, my heart leapt, this is what it was, rejection, he's been scared.

"Yes," he replied almost inaudibly. I placed my finger under his chin and lifted his head up so that he could look into my eyes.

"Never fear that, especially with me," slight smile forming over his face, "I love you and I want to be with you," now a full-fledged smile. My god, he's absolutely radiant. I decided it was time to return that kiss he gave me earlier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Martin~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I went after Niles as he left McGinty's but I'm just an old man with a bum hip, there was no way I was catching up to him. I debated whether or not to follow him home but decided I needed to talk to Frasier about this, to let him know the cat was out of the bag.

I never expected to find Bryce when I got home.

"Bryce, what brings you here?" He looked solemn; Frasier was with him and turned to speak to me.

"Hi dad, let's just say that things have finally come to an end."

"Yeah, tell me about it." I replied, Frasier looked confused.

"No, Marty, Daphne knows about the scheme," Bryce said. I wasn't the only one to let the plan drop?

"Has Niles been here?" I asked.

"No, Daphne left to go find him," Frasier said. I remembered the rage that was in Niles when he left, this was not good.

"We've got to go after her," I said while turning towards the door.

"Why?" Bryce asked. I turned back around.

"Because Niles thinks that Daphne's in on the scheme as well."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Niles~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had somehow managed to step out of my poor excuse of a reality and step into my dream world. I wasn't delusional, though. I realized that for whatever reason this was all real. That Daphne was truly in my arms, in love with me, kissing me. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.

My doorbell knocked us back to our senses.

"Bloody hell, who's that?" Daphne said while reluctantly pulling away from me. My head was still very high in the clouds and Daphne's statement only succeeded in pushing it up higher. I somehow found my senses and made my way towards the door, not before I heard my father speaking.

"Niles, it's your father. I have to fully explain to you what's going on, let me in. I've led you to a false conclusion." I stopped halfway towards the door and turned to face Daphne. We knew exactly what the issue at hand was and neither one of us could control the laughter building inside us. We both burst out laughing, she leaning forward on my couch as I was practically bending over. After all the emotions we've both been through it was wonderful to truly laugh.

"What should we do?" I asked once I gained a small amount of composer.

"Just to let him in would be too easy now, wouldn't it?" She replied. A knock occurred at my door. I started to pray my neighbors weren't home.

"Niles, open up!" Well, Frasier's out there as well. Looks like we've got a double header.

"Should we have some fun with them?" I asked. I then realized that Daphne had sobered up upon hearing Frasier's voice.

"No, let's not." Why does it feel like she's regressing?

"Daphne?" I asked. She looked up at me.

"Oh no! It's not that, it's just that when I left your brother last Bryce was with him." Ahh.

"Shall we let them in?" Daphne stood up.

"Not quite yet, can I use your phone?"


**Daphne**

I was fine with Bryce butting into my life in this manner, he had every right to. I didn't think Frasier, Martin, and Roz deserved the same cordiality. So I called Bryce's cell phone. Sure enough, I could hear it ringing on the other side of the door.

"Hello?" Bryce asked.

"Bryce, it's me, don't let Frasier or Martin know who your talking to."

"Alright…" Oh dear, I needed to come up with an excuse, didn't I?

"Just pretend I'm Sara, calling from England." I soon realized the fault of my plan.

"Why are you home at three in the afternoon?" I may be breaking this guys heart, but he was teasing me nonetheless.

"Bryce, just pretend your sister got home early and decided to give you a call," I practically begged him.

"So what's up, Sara?" He asked playing along, I was so grateful.

"I wanted to talk to you in some form of privacy seeing as you are right outside the door with Frasier and Martin."

"Yet I won't be able to say anything back to you."

"That's your problem," I joked. "We'll set up some time to talk later?"

"That would be much appreciated, you can tell me the full story tomorrow, say around six?"

"Wonderful, I'll be at your place then." I then took a deep breath, time to tell him the short story. "Bryce, I hate to tell you this, but you were right all along. Looks like I won't be joining you in London." I paused, I wasn't sure what else to say.

"I knew that," he replied solemnly.

"Bryce, I am so sorry."

"Don't be unless you fail to answer this question correctly, are you happy?" Thankfully I finally have an answer to that.

"Yes."

"Good."

"Thanks for being such a good friend." He paused before replying.

"So what do you want me to do, I'm in the middle of raiding in on a scheme here." And then I heard Frasier's voice.

"If we ever get in, that is." Oh dear, impatient isn't he?

"Well, what would give you some enjoyment?" I asked, looking around the room to find out where Niles had gone. I found him sitting at his dinning table, trying to give me some privacy. He was still listening, obviously, and came over when I gave him a small wave.

"Honestly, having some fun with that crazy extended family of yours and seeing my baby sister happy for once." I chuckled over the phone.

"Alright, prepare to be shocked," I warned him.

"How much so?" he asked.

"Remember Molly Keen?"


**Bryce**

Oh dear lord, do I remember Molly Keen? Of course I remember Molly Keen. I began laughing right then and there. Martin and Frasier were glaring at me, both still thinking that we had an angered Niles on our hands and anxiously waiting for me to finish with my phone call.

"Of course I do," I said into the phone once I had regained some composure. "Time?" I asked Daphne.

"Oh crap, I have no idea how fast I can do this, just stall until they start bloody pounding again!" She exclaimed and hung up the phone. I kept mine to my ear for a bit to try to compose myself. I knew I was about to enter a difficult situation but I also knew that I was in on what was about to happen. Surprisingly I was even looking forward to it. I finally put the phone away.

"Sorry Lads, me baby sister needed to talk to me."

"Sounded pretty light," Frasier smirked.

"Only at the end, the poor dear was a wreck at the beginning of the phone call."

"Can we get back to Niles and Daphne?" Martin asked. Oh no, I needed to stall them.

"Not yet, let him think we've gone away. It wouldn't hurt if we knew what we were saying before hand, now would it?" They both glared at me. God's speed, Daphne.


**Niles**

Daphne hung up my phone and turned to me with a goofy grin.

"Who's Molly Keen?" I asked, Daphne chuckled.

"Before I tell you, are you ready to have some fun?" she asked me, almost teasingly so.

"With who, Dad and Frasier?" She nodded her head yes. "I suppose so."

"Alright then. We'll have to talk and act at the same time; Bryce is not going to be able to stall your family for long. Do you have any candles?" How do candles help this situation? I decided to austerely put my faith in Daphne.

"Of course, follow me." As we got the candles and set them up Daphne spoke.

"Molly Keen is an old girlfriend of Bryce's. She was an awful vixen and was cheating on him. She claimed it was a one time mess up, Bryce soon found out that it was a regular occurrence with a large sum of men. So I helped Bryce get even. One weekend I came for a visit on a day when we knew Molly would be coming by later. We decorated the apartment with candles, flowers, and the such, and then made a mess out of the bedroom. When she finally rang the doorbell I opened it up, seemingly wearing only a sheet." I realized where this was going and had to steady myself by leaning up against the wall. "She instantly asked me who I was, so I told her my name was Daphne and asked who she was. With a huff she practically shouted that she was Bryce's girlfriend. So I turned into the apartment and called out, 'Bryce, your girlfriend's here,' at which point Bryce appeared, wearing only pants. Molly left soon there after and Bryce and I laughed for a good half hour." We had now set up a fair amount of lit candles around my living room.

"So this is what we are going to be doing?" I asked, nerves taking over my body at the mere thought of pretending to have made love to Daphne. She, however, still had her cool.

"Yup, I'll need to borrow a bed sheet, if you don't mind?" she asked. I then led us both upstairs and proceeded to ask Daphne a question.

"Then what did happen here, because the last time Dad saw me I was fuming with anger at both him and you?" I stopped at my closet, pulled out one of my best sheets, and handed it to Daphne.

"Well, either we knew what was going on the whole time or we cleared up the confusion at a faster pace."

"Let's go with the second one, no sense in perplexing the matter more." I said and she shook her head. Suddenly I noticed that Daphne was becoming nervous.

"I guess now we have to, um, play the part," she gave me a weak smile. As her nerves increased mine had decreased.

"That shouldn't be too hard," I said as I took her into my arms and kissed her passionately. That's when the doorbell rang causing us to break apart.

"We're going to have to work faster than that," she replied and began to tousle up my hair. I took off my suit jacket.

"Well, what about you?" I asked as I removed my tie.

"I'm the easy part," she chuckled. She then hiked her skirt up to above her knees, slipped her shoes off, took her arms out of her shirt so that her shirt was below her armpits, and wrapped the sheet around her. "Tada!" she exclaimed.

"I'm impressed, but what about your hair?" She bent over and ruffled it up a bit. The doorbell rang again.

"Now, I'll let you figure out what you need to do," she said while giving me a quick but intense kiss. "And hurry up, your brother's liable to break down your door!" She went back downstairs and I stared after her in capricious disbelief before heading to my bedroom to find my pajama bottoms.


**Daphne**

This scheme was so much easier when I did it with Bryce. Back then there was no romantic friction between us, nothing to make the situation uncomfortable. But with Niles and I it was a little too close to reality. If it hadn't been for the darn doorbell I would have willingly continued kissing him. Then there wouldn't be a plan going on, just reality.

As I made it downstairs they started knocking at the door. I soon heard Martin's voice.

"Niles, open up, you've got to listen to me!" The poor guy sounded really distraught. I turned to see Niles come down the steps in only his pajama bottoms. My, my, could we just ignore them on the other side of the door…

"Niles Crane! This is completely boorish of you!" Frasier's voice reminded me that they would not be ignored.

"Shall we?" Niles asked me as he gave me a kiss.

"Let's get one more shout out of them," I said as Martin began to speak.

"Alright, at least listen to what I have to say. You were wrong about the scheme. Yes, Frasier and I were in on it but Daphne –" I decided that would be a good point to open the door.

"Daphne what?" I asked, only peeking my head around the door. Frasier and Martin both dropped their jaws in shock. Bryce gave me a wink; he seemed to be doing all right, good.

"Um, may we come in, Daphne?" Frasier asked. I turned around and then back to them.

"Well, you've caught us at a inopportune moment," I replied as I saw Bryce stifle a laugh and could feel Niles doing the same. Frasier glared at me.

"It's ok, Daphne, let them in," Niles spoke from behind me. I moved back to let them in so that my appearance would be one of the last things they saw, just to round out the picture.


**Niles**

My father and brother have never had such dubious expressions on their faces before. My outfit instantly startled them; I very rarely ever wear only pajama bottoms. No, I think that's a never. Then they noticed the candles. Then, finally I saw them both gasp silently at Daphne's attire. Bryce was just accepting of the view, he knew that no one would be looking at his expressions for a few moments. I took the time to give him a silent nod, which he returned. It seemed that even we could be on decent terms.

"What is going on here?" Frasier finally found the words to ask.

"Frasier, This is not something that you should need spelled out," Daphne said, while walking over to me.

"But you were so upset," my father said.

"Yes, I was," I responded. "But then Daphne came over here and set me straight." I gave her a quick kiss, a little hesitant to do so around Bryce.

"Well, ahh, we're sorry for disturbing you," my brother said and actually turned as if he was going to leave. Daphne took the reigns.

"No sense leaving now, you've already caused enough of a distraction. Why don't we all have a nice little chat?" And now she's casually sitting on the couch. She was holding both Frasier and Dad's stairs. I glanced at Bryce and the two of us had to look away to prevent from breaking into laughter. I was beginning to like the guy and be pleased that he wasn't upset with us.

"Aww, Daph!" My father exclaimed, shifting uncomfortably.

"Now, now, Dad," I said as I moved to sit down next to Daphne. "I think we deserve a full explanation of this 'scheme' that you pulled over us, now don't we?" My family made no attempts at moving. Bryce, however, moved towards the closest chair.

"Right you are," he sat down, Dad and Frasier gawked at him. Bryce turned to address them, "it's only fair to give them the details." Daphne gave my hand a quick squeeze and Bryce a quick glance; I took it as a warning.

"And then we'll share ours," I had no idea she could say that so innocently. My father turned to face the door and my brother scratched his head. Both Bryce and I were having a hard time keeping smiles off our faces. Daphne glanced back and forth between the two of us; I sense that she was loosing it too.

"Oh bloody hell!" She exclaimed as all three of us burst out laughing. My brother stopped scratching and held his hand in the same position. My father turned around sharply, both men were glaring at us.

"Niles, what's going on here?" my brother asked. I took a few deep breaths and answered him.

"It wasn't my idea," I then resumed my laughter.

"I don't understand, your attire, the room…" My father's voice trailed off. Daphne, now only chuckling, reached into her sheet and put her arms back in her sleeves. She then stood up, removed the sheet, and pulled her skirt back down.

"As you were saying?" she asked while looking at my father.

"That's not even funny," he replied.

"And lying to Niles and I is?" she retorted.

"Bryce, you knew about this?" Frasier asked him.

"Sorry mates, that was Daphne on my phone earlier. Though I think it's safe to say that I deserved to be clued in on this."

"But it was your plan!" My brother's voice went up an octave.

"Yes, and Bryce was my fiancée." Daphne said, suddenly becoming solemn again. She moved towards Bryce and took off her engagement ring.

"I'm sorry," was all that she could say. He grabbed her arms and puller her down to kiss her cheek.

"It was good to laugh with you, once again." She knelt before him.

"You'll be alright?"

"I survived Molly Keen, didn't I?" And now the three of us are laughing again.

"Who's Molly Keen?" my brother and father asked at the exact same moment.


**Daphne**

I never knew that such a difficult situation could be so expertly handled. It seemed that Bryce and I were back on track to being friends. Even Niles and Bryce appeared like they would soon be chums. Frasier and Martin were a little upset at first but in no time all sides had come clean with the plans that had been set up. The only person left to include was Roz and Niles had very eagerly asked for that opportunity.

In the end Bryce, Frasier, and Martin left. I stayed behind to continue talking things out with Niles. As soon as we closed the door Niles began to blow out a few of the candles. I moved over to him and stopped him.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked. He looked at me questioningly. "Might as well put those candles to good use, right?" I pulled him close to me. I may have resumed my former attire but Niles was still only wearing pants and I had eagerly been awaiting being able to feel his skin under my hands. I kissed him as I rubbed my hands up and down his back; his hands were soon doing likewise to mine.

"Oh Daphne," he sighed as he pulled back a bit. "Should we really rush into this?" His eyes were searching mine. I moved away and began to blow out a few candles.

"Oh, you're probably right. This little plan of ours just got me thinking…" I paused and faced him to blow out a few candles; I could tell that I was getting to him. "But no matter, there's plenty of time for that latter, isn't there?" I turned back and blew out the last candle.

"Well, we wouldn't need the candles in here anyways, would we?" Niles asked, a smirk forming over his face. He was starting to get the picture.

"We wouldn't?" I asked innocently. He picked up the sheet that I had since discarded and walked over to me.

"Let's see if we can get you back into this, shall we?" And then the last conscious thought I had was of his lips on mine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Niles~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up the next morning convinced that I had had way too much to drink the night before. I laid in bed with my eyes closed thinking about these images that were in my head: Daphne and I kissing, she leaving, my meeting with Dad, the anger I felt, Daphne choosing me over Bryce, a lurid scheme, Daphne and I making love…

My brain suddenly began to be conscious of the warmth that was against my skin, warmth from another body. And then it realized that I very rarely sleep with no clothes on.

I opened my eyes quickly to see Daphne lying beside me. I closed them again, slowly realizing that I had not envisioned any of the thoughts in my head. It made perfect sense; my head was not throbbing with a hangover. My heart was what was throbbing, throbbing with love. Another region of my body happened to be throbbing as well, just proving to me that I was not hallucinating at all.

I opened my eyes again and began to stare at Daphne, at my beautiful love. I tried to memorize everything about her though I soon remembered that I wouldn't have to. This was for real, for keeps. She was in love with me.

I kissed her cheek and she began to stretch, sending shivers down my spine. She turned over and looked at me, stunned for a second, then let out a laugh.

"My, my, it was real, wasn't it?" I laughed at that point.

"You too?" She looked at me, fully realizing that we were both disillusioned, and snuggled up close to me to give me a kiss.

"Think Frasier or Martin would be surprised that I didn't make it home last night?" she asked me saucily.

"Even if they would normally be I think we surprised them enough in one night to last them for a while." We chuckled and I wrapped my arms tightly around her.

"Oh Niles, I just don't want to move, this sheet is quite comfortable." She winked at me. In fact that sheet was the only blanket we had used, the rest of my bed remained perfectly intact underneath us.

"You think I would have picked anything less than my best for you, the woman I love?" I actually had a quiver in my voice when I said that, she gave me a kiss."

"I'll never tire of hearing that," she sighed. I kissed her fiercely.

"I love you, Daphne," I said, staring into her eyes, into her soul.

"I love you too, Niles," she replied, staring back. "What do you say," she began to run her hand down the side of my body, "to having a slow morning?" I didn't need to respond to that, I pulled her close to me and kissed her. My hands were instantly exploring her naked body, as her hands did likewise to mine. If my eyes hadn't caught of a glimpse of my clock I would have continued quite gleefully. Instead I had to pull away.

"Oh, no," I sighed, "as much as I love that sentiment, I'm running the risk of being late for work." I began to get myself out of bed, I had an hour before my first client, this was not good. Daphne gave a chuckled behind me.

"You're going to be able to work in your state?" danger flashed in her eyes.

"I have no choice, I have an hour to get to work." I began to head towards the bathroom.

"I'll join you," she replied, getting out of bed as well.

"Daphne I don't think that you are going to be very entertained sitting in my waiting room –" she cut me off by placing a finger on my lips.

"I meant in the shower," and then she left me standing in a bit of shock. Momentarily she returned and pulled me towards her, towards the bathroom, and towards her lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Martin~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was not surprised that Daphne never showed at the breakfast table, Frasier was a different story.

"Dad, do you know where Daphne is?" I unwillingly laughed out loud.

"You know as well as I do where she was last night."

"Yes, however I wouldn't think they would jump into something like that." Oh geez.

"Yet you were fooled by their little scheme?" He gave me his trapped by a cop look, I continued eating my cereal.

"Well, I, oh alright!" He finally exclaimed, heading into the kitchen to make himself some breakfast. I was quite proud of the night's happenings. To see Daphne and Niles that happy and together made me happy.

Frasier continued to grumble a bit throughout breakfast, he doesn't take to being fooled very well. I just let him vent, I knew eventually he would leave for work. Before he did so I reminded him not to mention anything to Roz, I got a glare from him. He can be such a pain sometimes.

A few hours later Daphne finally made it home.

"Hello Martin," she blushed a bit as she entered the door.

"Hey Daph. I take it things went well?" I asked, she gave me a smile.

"Yes, yes they did," the smile faded. "Are you ok with all this?"

"With you sleeping with my son?" she gave me a cross look.

"With me dating your son, the sex has nothing to do with you, old man." I laughed with her.

"I am very ok with this, Daph. I noticed that you were falling for Niles, that you two would work great together. I'm just glad that the whole thing worked." She came over to me and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you old man. Now, if you excuse me, I'd like to go change." She left to her room as if she was walking on air. Yeah, she'll be my daughter-in-law in no time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Niles~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During my break I waited for Roz to arrive at Nervosa. Luckily she showed before I finished my first cup of coffee.

"Hey Niles," she said after she placed her order.

"Hello Roz," I replied. After last night I could not discontinue beaming even if I wanted to.

"You seem to be in good spirits," she said.

"The best."

"Too bad Daphne's been down in the dumps." Yes, Roz had no idea that the scheme had been laid to rest.

"She seemed fine the last time I saw her," better then fine, she was positively radiant.

"That's odd, she was really upset the last time I saw her, do you know what changed?" And Roz is leaning forward, prying, dying for answers.

"Nope, no idea." I then noticed Daphne enter the café. Her timing was perfect. She looked at me questioningly and I shook my head no, she then joined us.

"Hello Roz, Niles," she said my name timidly.

"Hey Daph," Roz said.

"Hello Daphne," I replied, Daphne was avoiding direct eye contact with me, I assumed it was for the ploy. "Would you like a coffee?" I asked her.

"Yes please." She gave me her order and I left the two alone to chat.


**Roz**

Niles seemed a little too happy, but Daphne seemed timid, I had no idea whether this scheme was succeeding or not.

"So Daph, you feeling any better?" I asked.

"Oh god Roz! Things just keep getting worse. Do you know that Bryce set me up for a scheme." Uh-oh, what would be a good answer to that…

"What? You're kidding me?" Ignorance is always best.

"Yes, apparently he thought I had feelings for Niles."

"But you do, don't you?"

"That's not the point, he tricked me, my own fiancée tricked me. So I broke up with him." Maybe that's why Niles was so happy. Still, this didn't sound good.

"I'm so sorry Daphne." Niles then returned with her coffee.

"Here you go," he said while sitting down.

"Thank you," she replied. I didn't know whether or not to continue our conversation. Daphne answered that question for me.

"I'm just so upset with Bryce right now. How could he do such a thing to me! A scheme of all things! A true friend, never mind more than a friend, would never do that!" I started to feel really crappy. My coffee came and I put more sugar in than I really should have.

"Daphne, you're better without him for what he did," Niles said sincerely. His goofy grin had somehow left. Daphne resumed speaking.

"To top it all off Frasier and Martin were in on this as well, I thought they truly cared for me." Daphne began to sob and Niles passed her a handkerchief. "Would you do anything like this, Roz? Would you?" Oh great, now I was on the spot. Time to fess up.

"Actually, Daph, I would." Both Niles and Daphne gasped.

"So all those times you told me to spend time with Niles, that was part of a scheme?" she was leering into me now, oh boy.

"Yes but I realized it was for your own good." Wait a minute, the scheme was to get Niles and Daphne together, and they're both here, talking to me about this together…

"What's going on here?" I finally asked.

"What on Earth do you mean?" Niles asked.

"Well, the scheme was to get you two together, so it doesn't really make sense that you're both sitting here interrogating me about this." They looked at each other.

"She's got a point," Niles said.

"Drats." Daphne responded. I was growing a strange suspicion that I had just been conned.

"Fess up, you're pulling one over on me, aren't you?" They looked at each other again.

"She quicker than Dad and Frasier," Niles said.

"I told you."

"Niles! Daphne! Hello!" I shouted and then the two of them started laughing.

"Yes, Roz, you've been fooled. The whole plan fell through last night," Daphne finally told me.

"And they didn't tell me?" I exclaimed.

"Well, for starters it was quite late at night, and Daphne and I begged them to let us tell you." Hey!

"That's not fair."

"Oh, it is, wait till you hear what we did to them." Daphne then proceeded to tell me the story of what happened last night. She was right, I did get a better share of this deal.

"So the plan did work?" I asked, just trying to clarify.

"Yes, Roz, the plan did work. Bryce and I have broken off the engagement and resorted back to being long distance buds," Daphne told me. "And Niles and I – Oh dear, honey, what are we?" He gave her a giddy smile.

"Two people in love?" Oh man is he corny!

"Well, congratulations you two," I said while rising.

"Thanks Roz," they both replied as I put on my coat.

"Oh, and Roz," Daphne began, "If you ever do that again I'll have your head."

"Right," I said and left Nervosa to go yell at Frasier for getting me involved in this whole mess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Frasier~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roz was delightful today at work. She growled at me the whole time, as if the whole first scheme and second scheme were my fault. I growled back. We would have continued bantering back and forth if we hadn't end up scaring Noel in the process. That just killed the friction and sent the two of us into a laughing fit.

When I arrived home I was hoping that Daphne was there, I hadn't seen her since last night. Dad and I knew full well what that meant. I entered my apartment to find her cleaning up.

"Hello Frasier," she said happily.

"Hello Daphne. Gosh, it's nice to see you in good spirits for once."

"I have been down in the dumps a bit, haven't I?" she chuckled.

"Indeed you have. So how are things between you and Niles?" I asked.

"You were here last night, you know I didn't make it home," she smirked at me. I smiled slyly at her.

"You know that's not what I meant." She glared, she knew me too well.

"I'm only here for a little bit then I'm off to see Bryce. Did he seem ok last night after he left?" She asked, smile fading from her face.

"Surprisingly Daph, he did. I talked to him for a bit, making sure he wasn't just putting on a brave face, but he genuinely seemed fine."

"Oh, that's Bryce for you. He has the ability to adjust quickly, especially when the adjustment is called for. Knowing about the scheme now that's why he wanted to keep his distance. It allowed him to be able to handle me loving your brother."

"I thought the distance was so that you would fall for Niles."

"It had a double reason." Dad then entered with Eddie.

"Hey Fras, hey Daph."

"Hi dad, how was your day?" I asked.

"Well, once Daphne made it home things were pretty good." Daphne continued cleaning up.

"Excuse me for sleeping in, especially when I know that you really don't mind." I chuckled to myself and headed for my bedroom, it was nice to have things back to normal around here.


**Daphne**

I left soon there after to go to Bryce's place. Truth be told, I was nervous as all hell. I didn't want to ruin our friendship or hurt him in any way. I couldn't imagine him really being fine with all this.

He answered the door and seemed happy to see me.

"Hey Daph, come on in," it was like this past few months had never happened.

"Bryce McGee, are you alright?" I asked in response to his cool exterior.

"Daphne Moon I am recovering, what more would you want?" he gave me a smile and I gave him a hug.

"I was so worried about you," I said.

"Don't be, now sit here and tell me the full story." I shifted a bit in my seat. "And try to pretend that we never got involved romantically. Remember, I'll know if you're hiding anything," he gave me a 'Bryce wants all the answers' smile; I knew he really did want to hear to full story. I also knew that he could handle the story as well.

I ended up explaining to him everything, cutting out only the details of the previous night that were certainly not any of his business, he caught me on it.

"All right Daph, you're omitting something," the problem with people who've known you too well for too long.

"Only information that you are really not interested in," I replied and he gave out a chuckle.

"Working fast, I see," I slapped his arm.

"Bryce!" It was like nothing had changed. "How are you this relaxed about the whole thing?"

"Because I had a month to make myself get over you."

"And you're completely over me now?" I asked.

"Are you?" this was becoming awkward.

"No, of course not."

"And neither am I. Daph, we crossed lines, we will always be somewhere beyond friends. However both you and I know that us would not have worked, if for no other reason then Niles. I'm fine with that. You two work together, I saw that last night." And I knew he was right. I knew that I would have a few problems with his first girlfriend but those problems would never amount to anything and I could even become close friends with her.

"We are an odd pair, aren't we?" I finally asked.

"Nah, we're just normal," I shot a look at him.

"You call this normal?"

"Well, maybe healthy is the better word here."

"Yes, I'll agree with healthy."

"So tell me about this Doctor of yours, you love him?"

"Of course I do."

"Is he 'the one?'" I thought about that for a moment.

"You expect me to know this quickly?"

"Having left an engagement for him, yes, I do." I thought a bit more.

"Yes, I think he is."

"Well 'think' isn't going to do it. Daph, you know you like to chicken out, become afraid for no reason what so ever. Answer me this, honestly. For me, for yourself. Is Niles Crane the one?" And I thought. And a smile formed over my face.

"He is." I said, lost in thoughts of him in my head. I was brought back by Bryce's laughter. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, just how far gone you are," I slapped his arm one more time.



After my meeting with Bryce I decided to see how Niles was doing.

"Hello love," he said while giving me a kiss. Had we really only been a couple for one day?

"Hi Niles," I stepped in and he took my coat.

"How did your meeting with Bryce go?" He asked as we sat down.

"Quite well, we talked everything out and were really able to clear the water."

"Was he upset?"

"Surprisingly no."

"So you're still friends?"

"Yes we are, in-fact, he wants to get together with the two of us tomorrow night."

"The three of us are going to hang out?"

"Does that bother you?" I was afraid Niles might have some bad feelings towards Bryce.

"No, not at all, just shocked me a bit, that's all."

"Bryce bounces back easily, he'll be fine."

"Well, I hope so," Niles began while moving closer to me, "because I have no intensions of letting you go." My heart quickened its pace. This was real.

"Is that so?" I asked.

"Do you have any objections?" His face was now inches from mine.

"None what so ever," I managed to say before he kissed me. I had to break off the kiss. "I know I asked you this earlier but I think I could use an answer, what exactly are we?" Niles sat back next to me.

"What do you mean?" I took a deep breath, Bryce was right, I scare easily from relationships.

"Well, I was talking with Bryce today and he asked me if – if you were 'the one.'" Niles perked up instantly.

"What was your response?"

"Yes," I barely whispered. When I dared look up from my hands I was met with a huge grin on Niles' face.

"I feel the exact same way," he said while taking my hand in his.

"So this, us, is serious?" I asked, my heart beating even faster.

"It's always been for me," he replied, gripping my hand a little tighter. I guessed the same amount of jitters I had were also coursing through him. "I've never just wanted you lightly, Daphne. It's always been so much more than that, even when I thought things were still good with Maris. Even then I wanted you, physically and emotionally. When I separated I began to think of what would happen if we got together, if we got married, if we had children…" his voice had gotten softer and eventually trailed, he was staring at my hands. Oh my god, he wanted to marry me. And I knew instantly that I wanted all those things with him as well. I let go of his hand to push his chin up so that he was looking at me.

"I want that too," I said softly. He kissed me at that moment, fiercely, intensely, knocking half my logic out of my head. I gasped and got a few more words out.

"This still has not answered my question," I said, he sighed playfully beside me.

"I just thought that to do anything rash when we've been together, " he glanced at his watch, "less then twenty-four hours would be a bit irrational, don't you think?"

"No, not really," my nerves were getting the best of me; I apparently wanted this, badly. "That is, if you don't think it's rash?" Now he's breathing as heavily as I was.


**Niles**

Oh my god, what is about to transpire here? I was staring down at my hands; I knew Daphne was doing the same. I also knew that she was, coaxing me. She wanted a commitment, a commitment of the highest kind. And I wanted it too. So why the hell were we both exceedingly apprehensive? I took a deep breath.

"I've loved you for so long that I don't think it's irrational at all." Silence filled the room. We both shifted uncomfortably. "If we're both this nervous shouldn't we just wait –" she cut me off.

"No!" Now she's looking at me. "I mean, I know myself. I want this, Niles, I really do. I just get so afraid, I don't know why. And I don't want to back out on this. I love you too much to do so." Wow, she wanted this. And I knew exactly what 'this' was. Yet I felt the urge to clarify.

"So, you want me to, propose?" I asked, we stared at each other, eventually she started chuckling.

"This is silly. Yes, Niles, I do want you to propose, but it doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow, or next week. Just at some point, whenever you feel it is right. I would like that, with all my heart." She had broken the tension that had filled the room. And I suddenly realized what I was about to do.

"I don't want to wait," she gasped and I knelt before her, my hands beginning to shake as I reached for hers. "Daphne, I love you. I've loved you for so long. To finally have you here, with me, is better than any present I could possibly have received. You complete me; you are the sun that shines in my world. To have you with me would be to have the sun shining everyday, even in Seattle. I want to share my world with you, now and always. Daphne Moon, will you marry me?" A few tears fell down her cheeks.

"Yes, yes I will marry you," she flung her arms around me and kissed me passionately. I pulled back.

"I never thought I would do that unplanned and without a ring," she laughed nervously.

"Those things aren't important. All that matters is that it was between you and me." I kissed her again and picked her up. Needless to say this made two nights in a row that my Daphne never made it home. I had a feeling she would never be sleeping at Frasier's again and I did not mind that sentiment, not one bit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bryce~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I amazingly had a wonderful time in my last month in Seattle. Things really were working out for the best. Daphne and I soon found out that our friendship had not been tampered with, even though our engagement had fallen through. We spent a lot of time together in the last month, purely as friends. I also spent a lot of time with Daphne and Niles. Competitors at one point, Niles and I found out that we were quite fond of each other. Daphne could not be happier to see, as she called us, 'her two men' become close friends. They happened to stop by as I was packing up my belongings to head home to London.

"Hello?" I asked having answered my door.

"Hey Bryce," Daphne said while giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello Bryce," Niles replied while shaking my hand.

"Hey you two, what brings you here?" I asked while letting them in.

"Well," Niles began, "we thought you could use a good going away present." He then handed me a bag.

"Oh mates, you shouldn't have done this!" I exclaimed.

"We did and we have, so deal," Daphne teased me. I sat down and opened the present, what I pulled out was an envelope. I looked inside and was greeted with a wedding invitation for Niles and Daphne, a real one. I had known about their engagement, the ring on her finger was hard to miss, but I had no idea they were already planning. I let out a laugh.

"So you like it then?" Daphne asked.

"Of course I do," I said while giving them both a hug. "Making sure I make it back to America?

"The sooner the better," Niles said. I glanced at the invitation again; it was to be held in three months time.

"You'll be able to make it for the wedding, won't you?" Niles asked, noticing the concern on my face.

"I'm sure if I explain the situation, that I need to go to my ex-fiancée's wedding, they'll be so confused that they'll have to let me go." We all laughed at that.

"If that doesn't work you can tell them the full story," Daphne chuckled.

"I'm sure I'll be able to make it."

"You better, you're going to be one of our attendants," Niles said to me. I was a little shocked.

"Are you serious mate?" I asked.

"Quite so," Daphne replied. I didn't know what to respond to that, so I gave them both another hug.

"Are you sad to be leaving?" Niles asked me.

"Nah, I miss London. I am sad I have to go before pulling another ploy over on your family," the three of us laughed.

"You know that if we did one more they would just turn around and get us back, don't you?" Niles asked.

"Of course I do. You're just forgetting that I would be safely in London by that time." Daphne gave me a glare.

"And I have phone numbers to most of your family," she smirked at me.

"You wouldn't!" I exclaimed and then changed my tune and responded to that at the same time Niles spoke the exact same words, "she would." Daphne let out a gasp and slapped both of us on the arms.

"Go on, leave this country you lazy git!" She exclaimed at me. "Why did I ever let you two become friends?" Niles moved over to her and kissed her cheek.

"Would you prefer us to be fighting over you?"

"We can do that, you know," I said to help him out.

"No, no, that's perfectly alright."

"Oh, Daphne," Niles began, "I forgot the other present in the car, would you mind getting it, I want a word with Bryce."

"Sure," and then she left.

"What's up?" I asked. Niles sat down across from me.

"Are you really ok with this?" he asked.

"With your wedding?" I asked back.

"Yes."

"Niles, haven't you learned by now that I want you two to be together, that I am happy for the two of you with no bad feelings?"

"I know that, Bryce. I just don't know how you do it. If I were in your position I'd be dying," I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Maybe that's why you're the one with Daphne now," he gave me a smile. He understood what I was saying. The past month had proven to me that Daphne and I were not meant to be together. What she and Niles had was so much more than anything we ever had. I was anxious to find that for myself. Jealousy was the last thing on my mind.

"So you're truly alright with this?"

"As her ex-fiancée I give you my blessing." We then both let out a chuckle as we gave each other a quick hug.

"Now isn't that cute," Daphne had returned and was leaning against the door. "My two men are bonding," she grinned at us. Niles took the bag from her hands and handed it to me.

"Now for the real gift," he said. I opened this one up to find a book of photographs of American landmarks.

"So that you get to see everything you missed," Niles said proudly. Daphne shook her head from behind him.

"There's a little something else in there," I held in a laugh, we both knew that Niles' nice sentiment wasn't exactly my thing. I soon found a gag book, I looked up at Daphne.

"Ideas that have not yet reached English soil," we both laughed.

"Thank you both."

"Can we steal you away from your packing for dinner?" Daphne asked. I looked at my half started mess.

"Sure, why not."



I came back to Seattle three months later to participate in their wedding. The only downside was that I came over with Daphne's family, all fourteen of them. Luckily the Moons are part of my history and it was enjoyable to be annoyed by them again, as strange as that sounds.

The wedding itself was beautiful. More beautiful were the speeches that Niles and Daphne had composed for each other, a few tears had even come to my eyes. Afterwards I let Daphne in on a little secret of mine, it was the first time I had gotten a chance to really talk to her since I had landed.

"Bryce McGee, how are you old friend?" she said with a huge smile plastered on her face.

"Not to bad, Daphne Crane," I winked at her, she thought for a moment.

"That's going to take some getting used to. Do you know how many times I've said Mrs. Crane in reference to Niles' first wife?" We chuckled a bit.

"I can imagine. Daph, I have something I want to share with you." I took out my wallet and handed her a picture.

"Pretty little thing, who is she?" Daphne asked, I only smiled at her. She caught on.

"Name," she demanded.

"Ashley Peters."

"Nice?"

"Sweetest little dear I have ever met," I said a little dreamily.

"Verdict?" I came back to my sense and looked at Daphne.

"Think you'll be able to make it to London at some point."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The End~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~