The perfect picture
by Konnie
Disclaimer: see part one.
PART 3
Seventh item: The sherry glass.
There was a knock at the door. Niles got up from his couch, turned off the TV, and went to answer. Frasier stood at the entrance with a concerned look.
"Fraiser, hi! What are you doing here at this hours? Don't you have a plane to catch tomorrow?"
"Hello, Niles. I need to talk to you. I hope I didn't wake you." Frasier looked around the not very spacious living room. "Were you still up?"
"Yes, I'm having a bit of trouble sleeping lately. Nothing big. Come in, sit down. Can I offer you something?"
"Sherry would be nice."
"Uhm,...I don't have any, perhaps..."
"It's ok. I figured as much. That's why I brought you some. Here." He handed him the bottle. "Like a good bye present."
"Oh, Fraiser! Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Now let me see if I can find the sherry glasses."
"You still have those, right?"
"I think I put them...uhm..." he opened a little cabinet, and started taking out all kinds of cups, glasses, dishes, even pans. "I don't have people over anymore, you see. I think I haven't drank sherry since I left Seattle. Lets see...Here! I've found one."
"Are we shearing?"
"No, no. You drink sherry. I'll pour my self a glass of wine. Now, what did you wanted to talk about that couldn't wait 'til the morning?"
"About Daphne."
"What is there to talk about?" he said a bit angrily.
"I don't want to leave doubting that you have really moved on. Thinking that this new persona of yours is just a facade. You have avoided the subject for two weeks, but we are talking about it, whether you like it or not."
"About this new persona you mention, it's not new. Just because you hadn't seen me, doesn't mean I hadn't changed. I've lived here for a year now. And about Daphne, people brake up everyday. I don't go bothering you everytime you brake up with someone. I would have to quit my job!"
"But I don't move half way across the world everytime I do!"
"If I'm not mistaken, you moved from one corner of the country to the other once Lillith left you."
"Yes! And she was my wife. That's my point! This is not just another break up. And if my memory doesn't fail me, before that, I tried to kill myself!" Niles looked down, nervously. "Oh, Niles,...you didn't...Did you?" he stood up abruptly, his voice starting to brake.
"Enough Fraiser! All of that is in the past. I have a life now! Maybe it was a bad idea to invite you at all."
"And what life is that? I've never seen anyone as lonely as you! And now I found that my little brother, no, my best friend, tried to kill himself, and I didn't hear about it!"
"Frasier, please...I'm..., I'm over all that. I'm ok, really."
"Then why are you crying?" Niles sat down, beaten, and Frasier sat next to him.
"Maybe I should talk to her after all. To know what did I do that pushed her away from me. I miss her. But I'm not going back to Seattle, ever."
"Would you be friends with her again?"
"No. It was ok when that was all there ever was. But she was mine, and I lost her. I can't go back to be just friends with her. As much as that hurts."
"Do you still love her?"
"With all my heart."
"Then you should have this." He handed him the letter, and walked to the door. "If you're ever willing to tell me what happened, you know, about your..."
"I will. I know you need to hear about it, and I sure as hell need to talk about it. Thank you, Frasier, and I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I wish I had been here for you then. I'll leave you to yourself. I see you tomorrow. Try to sleep, ok?"
"Yeah, by Frasier."
"Good bye Niles."
Niles sat back on the couch, with the letter in front of him like a death sentence. He pour himself a glass of sherry, and stared at it a long while before reading it.
***
"Dear Daphne:
I also think we need to talk. I hope you'll understand if I don't go over there, and if I don't want you to come here. I think neutral ground would be more appropriate. Next month I'll be in Amsterdam for a conference. April the third. I'll talk to Frasier over the phone and ask him to give you all the information you'll need. I look forward to seeing you again.
Sincerely.
Niles."
Eighth item: The mirror.
Daphne's hands were shaking. She got of the plane, and tried her best to control her breathing, for fear that she would hyperventilate. She waited for her bags, and took a small mirror out of her purse, to check her make up. She felt like she was waiting for her execution, trying not to look around, to prolong the waiting as much as she could. If she didn't see him, and kept her back to the crowd, she could gain some time to compose her self. A man's figure caught her attention in the reflection of the mirror. 'He can't be!" She thought. He was wearing blue jeans, a white shirt, a brown blazer with a patch on the left arm, and sway shoes. His hair was longer and messy, and to top it all, he was smoking. Sure, Roz had warned her about that, but she just couldn't believe it. 'That can't be Niles Crane!!'
After the first shock of seeing him, she took a long glance at him, studying him from head to toes. He looked too different. She suddenly felt like she was meeting a stranger. She took a deep breath, put her mirror back in her purse, and started walking towards him. When she was right next to him, he still hadn't seen her.
"Niles Crane smoking. I had to see it with my own eyes to believe it."
"Daphne." He said coldly. "Is good to see you. Walk with me to my car. I don't have too much time, I have to be in a conference in an hour."
"But,...Niles, I thought we were going to talk."
"I don't see why can't we talk in the car. I don't think there is to much to say anyway. Is it?"
"How long are you staying?"
"A week. But I'm not here on vacation, you know?"
"I think that maybe we could go out to dinner, somewhere quiet, and have a long talk. To tie loose ends and stuff."
"If you want to. I've heard you have a new job, How's that working for you?"
"I love it. Mrs. Flanaghan is not as grumpy as your father. I don't like her as much either."
Daphne realized right away that he didn't feel comfortable talking to her, unless they were talking about trivialities, so, for the time being , she wouldn't push the subject. He loosened up a bit on the ride to their hotel. She could tell he was angry at her, but he tried to hide it. They said good bye at the lobby, once they had made arrangements to meet after his conference.
***
"Dear Roz:
You weren't kidding when you said he's changed. I had a rough time recognizing him at all. But he looks good. Before your trip, I had pictured him living like a king, having fun, dating all kinds of women. But I had a talk with Dr. Crane, and he told me a few things I wasn't prepared to hear, I guess. Thinking that he was living well took of my back a lot of the guilt I was feeling. But he looks good, anyway. Despite everything. One thing's for sure. He's really angry at me, but he tries his best not to show it. And I can see under his new found tough exterior. He's the same Niles he's always been under all that. I still haven't had the chance to really talk to him. He avoids it every way he can.
Amsterdam is nice. Though I wish I had a chance to see Paris. I've always wanted to go there.
Wish me luck!!
Daphne."
Ninth item: The napkin.
Niles escorted Daphne to their table. He had been treating her in the most formal way he could, as a way to avoid the confusion about his feelings. He pulled out her chair, and then he sat down. They hardly said a word until their orders arrived. He knew that he wouldn't be able to delay the conversation he was fearing any longer. It was, after all, his last night there. He was sure she was nervous as well, cause she kept playing with her napkin, twisting it around, and didn't look straight at him. 'If I had known that there was a dance floor here, I would have picked another place.' He thought, whilst the band played a soft forty's song. Nobody was talking, and he felt the urge to brake the silence, but didn't know what to say. Luckily, she spoke first.
"Niles, Would you like to dance?" well, maybe not luckily.
"No. I don't feel like it."
"C'mon. We mind as well enjoy the evening while we can. We both know that we wont enjoy it later." She said sadly.
"Well..., oh, ok. But just once."
They moved to the dance floor, and Niles felt really uncomfortable. That brought back a lot of memories. He was stiff as a board, and didn't know how to react when she started to pull closer. His knees started to weaken, and after a lot of mental struggle, he gave up, and pulled her closer as well. Soon, his head was resting on her shoulder, and the scent of her hair was making him feel faint. 'How can she still do this to me, after all this time?' She started softly kissing his neck, and he was not able to control him self anymore. He closed his eyes and kissed her, shyly at first, passionately towards the end. When the kiss broke, he was in a trance-like state. She caressed the back of his neck, and whispered something that brought him back to his senses.
"I love you." She said, and it was like a bucket of cold water. He stared at her for a moment, and then pulled back from their embrace. He walked slowly to their table, grabbed his jacket, and leaving enough money to cover the bill, and tip, he left without saying a word to her.
He tried to contain his tears, but they were pouring fiercely. He could hear her footsteps behind him, but didn't turned around. A moment after, he felt her hand in his arm and stood still, with his eyes closed.
"Niles, please, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong!?! Have you lost your mind!?!" He snapped.
"I thought..., What did I do? I just told you the truth!"
"I wont let you do this again! Here. Take a cab home. I don't ever want to see you again in my life!"
"Niles, I'm sorry, but it's true! I do love you."
"No! You don't love me. You always do this! You make me feel like I'm in heaven, just to shove me full force to the worst of hells! You did it at the snowball, the night before your wedding to Donny, and the day I proposed to you. You're not doing it tonight. I wont survive another time."
"Don't you think I know how much I've hurt you? Leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life, I wont do it again."
"Perhaps I should kill myself right here and now, to avoid us the tedious waiting! Is that what you want?!"
"No! Niles, please. I love you, and I was in there just now, I know you love me too. We'll figure a way to work things out."
"Daphne, just go."
"Niles..."
"Good bye." She stared at him, whilst tears started running through her face. Then she nodded understandingly, and turned around.
***
"Dear Frasier:
You told me the last time I saw you, that you wished you had been here for me when I was having a hard time, so to speak. If you meant it, then come now. I'm loosing my mind here. I guess Daphne must have told you what happened. Did I make a mistake? Frasier, I don't know what to do. Please come as soon as you can.
Yours
Niles."
tbc
by Konnie
Disclaimer: see part one.
PART 3
Seventh item: The sherry glass.
There was a knock at the door. Niles got up from his couch, turned off the TV, and went to answer. Frasier stood at the entrance with a concerned look.
"Fraiser, hi! What are you doing here at this hours? Don't you have a plane to catch tomorrow?"
"Hello, Niles. I need to talk to you. I hope I didn't wake you." Frasier looked around the not very spacious living room. "Were you still up?"
"Yes, I'm having a bit of trouble sleeping lately. Nothing big. Come in, sit down. Can I offer you something?"
"Sherry would be nice."
"Uhm,...I don't have any, perhaps..."
"It's ok. I figured as much. That's why I brought you some. Here." He handed him the bottle. "Like a good bye present."
"Oh, Fraiser! Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Now let me see if I can find the sherry glasses."
"You still have those, right?"
"I think I put them...uhm..." he opened a little cabinet, and started taking out all kinds of cups, glasses, dishes, even pans. "I don't have people over anymore, you see. I think I haven't drank sherry since I left Seattle. Lets see...Here! I've found one."
"Are we shearing?"
"No, no. You drink sherry. I'll pour my self a glass of wine. Now, what did you wanted to talk about that couldn't wait 'til the morning?"
"About Daphne."
"What is there to talk about?" he said a bit angrily.
"I don't want to leave doubting that you have really moved on. Thinking that this new persona of yours is just a facade. You have avoided the subject for two weeks, but we are talking about it, whether you like it or not."
"About this new persona you mention, it's not new. Just because you hadn't seen me, doesn't mean I hadn't changed. I've lived here for a year now. And about Daphne, people brake up everyday. I don't go bothering you everytime you brake up with someone. I would have to quit my job!"
"But I don't move half way across the world everytime I do!"
"If I'm not mistaken, you moved from one corner of the country to the other once Lillith left you."
"Yes! And she was my wife. That's my point! This is not just another break up. And if my memory doesn't fail me, before that, I tried to kill myself!" Niles looked down, nervously. "Oh, Niles,...you didn't...Did you?" he stood up abruptly, his voice starting to brake.
"Enough Fraiser! All of that is in the past. I have a life now! Maybe it was a bad idea to invite you at all."
"And what life is that? I've never seen anyone as lonely as you! And now I found that my little brother, no, my best friend, tried to kill himself, and I didn't hear about it!"
"Frasier, please...I'm..., I'm over all that. I'm ok, really."
"Then why are you crying?" Niles sat down, beaten, and Frasier sat next to him.
"Maybe I should talk to her after all. To know what did I do that pushed her away from me. I miss her. But I'm not going back to Seattle, ever."
"Would you be friends with her again?"
"No. It was ok when that was all there ever was. But she was mine, and I lost her. I can't go back to be just friends with her. As much as that hurts."
"Do you still love her?"
"With all my heart."
"Then you should have this." He handed him the letter, and walked to the door. "If you're ever willing to tell me what happened, you know, about your..."
"I will. I know you need to hear about it, and I sure as hell need to talk about it. Thank you, Frasier, and I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I wish I had been here for you then. I'll leave you to yourself. I see you tomorrow. Try to sleep, ok?"
"Yeah, by Frasier."
"Good bye Niles."
Niles sat back on the couch, with the letter in front of him like a death sentence. He pour himself a glass of sherry, and stared at it a long while before reading it.
***
"Dear Daphne:
I also think we need to talk. I hope you'll understand if I don't go over there, and if I don't want you to come here. I think neutral ground would be more appropriate. Next month I'll be in Amsterdam for a conference. April the third. I'll talk to Frasier over the phone and ask him to give you all the information you'll need. I look forward to seeing you again.
Sincerely.
Niles."
Eighth item: The mirror.
Daphne's hands were shaking. She got of the plane, and tried her best to control her breathing, for fear that she would hyperventilate. She waited for her bags, and took a small mirror out of her purse, to check her make up. She felt like she was waiting for her execution, trying not to look around, to prolong the waiting as much as she could. If she didn't see him, and kept her back to the crowd, she could gain some time to compose her self. A man's figure caught her attention in the reflection of the mirror. 'He can't be!" She thought. He was wearing blue jeans, a white shirt, a brown blazer with a patch on the left arm, and sway shoes. His hair was longer and messy, and to top it all, he was smoking. Sure, Roz had warned her about that, but she just couldn't believe it. 'That can't be Niles Crane!!'
After the first shock of seeing him, she took a long glance at him, studying him from head to toes. He looked too different. She suddenly felt like she was meeting a stranger. She took a deep breath, put her mirror back in her purse, and started walking towards him. When she was right next to him, he still hadn't seen her.
"Niles Crane smoking. I had to see it with my own eyes to believe it."
"Daphne." He said coldly. "Is good to see you. Walk with me to my car. I don't have too much time, I have to be in a conference in an hour."
"But,...Niles, I thought we were going to talk."
"I don't see why can't we talk in the car. I don't think there is to much to say anyway. Is it?"
"How long are you staying?"
"A week. But I'm not here on vacation, you know?"
"I think that maybe we could go out to dinner, somewhere quiet, and have a long talk. To tie loose ends and stuff."
"If you want to. I've heard you have a new job, How's that working for you?"
"I love it. Mrs. Flanaghan is not as grumpy as your father. I don't like her as much either."
Daphne realized right away that he didn't feel comfortable talking to her, unless they were talking about trivialities, so, for the time being , she wouldn't push the subject. He loosened up a bit on the ride to their hotel. She could tell he was angry at her, but he tried to hide it. They said good bye at the lobby, once they had made arrangements to meet after his conference.
***
"Dear Roz:
You weren't kidding when you said he's changed. I had a rough time recognizing him at all. But he looks good. Before your trip, I had pictured him living like a king, having fun, dating all kinds of women. But I had a talk with Dr. Crane, and he told me a few things I wasn't prepared to hear, I guess. Thinking that he was living well took of my back a lot of the guilt I was feeling. But he looks good, anyway. Despite everything. One thing's for sure. He's really angry at me, but he tries his best not to show it. And I can see under his new found tough exterior. He's the same Niles he's always been under all that. I still haven't had the chance to really talk to him. He avoids it every way he can.
Amsterdam is nice. Though I wish I had a chance to see Paris. I've always wanted to go there.
Wish me luck!!
Daphne."
Ninth item: The napkin.
Niles escorted Daphne to their table. He had been treating her in the most formal way he could, as a way to avoid the confusion about his feelings. He pulled out her chair, and then he sat down. They hardly said a word until their orders arrived. He knew that he wouldn't be able to delay the conversation he was fearing any longer. It was, after all, his last night there. He was sure she was nervous as well, cause she kept playing with her napkin, twisting it around, and didn't look straight at him. 'If I had known that there was a dance floor here, I would have picked another place.' He thought, whilst the band played a soft forty's song. Nobody was talking, and he felt the urge to brake the silence, but didn't know what to say. Luckily, she spoke first.
"Niles, Would you like to dance?" well, maybe not luckily.
"No. I don't feel like it."
"C'mon. We mind as well enjoy the evening while we can. We both know that we wont enjoy it later." She said sadly.
"Well..., oh, ok. But just once."
They moved to the dance floor, and Niles felt really uncomfortable. That brought back a lot of memories. He was stiff as a board, and didn't know how to react when she started to pull closer. His knees started to weaken, and after a lot of mental struggle, he gave up, and pulled her closer as well. Soon, his head was resting on her shoulder, and the scent of her hair was making him feel faint. 'How can she still do this to me, after all this time?' She started softly kissing his neck, and he was not able to control him self anymore. He closed his eyes and kissed her, shyly at first, passionately towards the end. When the kiss broke, he was in a trance-like state. She caressed the back of his neck, and whispered something that brought him back to his senses.
"I love you." She said, and it was like a bucket of cold water. He stared at her for a moment, and then pulled back from their embrace. He walked slowly to their table, grabbed his jacket, and leaving enough money to cover the bill, and tip, he left without saying a word to her.
He tried to contain his tears, but they were pouring fiercely. He could hear her footsteps behind him, but didn't turned around. A moment after, he felt her hand in his arm and stood still, with his eyes closed.
"Niles, please, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong!?! Have you lost your mind!?!" He snapped.
"I thought..., What did I do? I just told you the truth!"
"I wont let you do this again! Here. Take a cab home. I don't ever want to see you again in my life!"
"Niles, I'm sorry, but it's true! I do love you."
"No! You don't love me. You always do this! You make me feel like I'm in heaven, just to shove me full force to the worst of hells! You did it at the snowball, the night before your wedding to Donny, and the day I proposed to you. You're not doing it tonight. I wont survive another time."
"Don't you think I know how much I've hurt you? Leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life, I wont do it again."
"Perhaps I should kill myself right here and now, to avoid us the tedious waiting! Is that what you want?!"
"No! Niles, please. I love you, and I was in there just now, I know you love me too. We'll figure a way to work things out."
"Daphne, just go."
"Niles..."
"Good bye." She stared at him, whilst tears started running through her face. Then she nodded understandingly, and turned around.
***
"Dear Frasier:
You told me the last time I saw you, that you wished you had been here for me when I was having a hard time, so to speak. If you meant it, then come now. I'm loosing my mind here. I guess Daphne must have told you what happened. Did I make a mistake? Frasier, I don't know what to do. Please come as soon as you can.
Yours
Niles."
tbc