The perfect picture
by Konnie
Disclaimer: see part one.
Author's notes: this is the end guys, I hope you'll like it.
PART 5
Thirteenth item: The waffle.
Niles woke up, feeling the coolness that comes after the fever brakes, slightly lightheaded. He looked around looking for Daphne, and sighed, half out of sadness, half out of relief, when he didn't find her. He jumped out of bed, and into the shower. After freshen up, and getting into a clean set of pajamas, he took a cup of coffee from the kitchen, a blanket from the bedroom, and after relocating the TV to it's original place, snuggled into the couch. He took an aspirin and lit a cigarette. As soon as he had finally accommodated himself, the front door of his apartment opened, and Daphne came in carrying shopping bags. She dropped them on the table, and, with the most serious face she could muster, she stood in front of him.
"Niles Crane, What do you think you're doing?" he still felt a little confused, not being fully awake.
"I'm...I'm having breakfast?" he said shyly.
"You are supposed to be in bed! And you call this breakfast?! A cup of black coffee and a cigarette?!" she said, not really angry. "You should be taking care of your self. Now, give me that!" she took the cigarette away from him, and finished it herself. Niles watched her quietly, amazed. When she turned it off, she grabbed the bag she had brought and took it to the kitchen.
"Now, I'm going to make you a good breakfast. You go back to bed."
"No, Daphne, I feel better, I'm bored to death of being in bed. I didn't realise you smoked."
"I don't, I used to. I only do it when I'm having a bit of a dry spell, if you know what I mean, and it's been a year, you know?" she said teasingly. He blushed a bit.
"I know what you mean. Even with my newly acquired careless look, my nails have never looked better." He said thoughtfully, looking at his hands. They both laughed, and he stood next to her. "So, how can I help?"
"Don't touch anything. So what would you like? Scrambled eggs, waffles? You say the word, I'll make it."
"Waffles sound like a good idea. I don't have any maple syrup, or honey, to put on them, though."
"I bought some honey, for your tea, so that should do the trick. Now, let me work."
"Alright."
She had made a pile of them already, and Niles kept bugging her like a bored child, with all kinds of silly questions, and trying to steal some waffles before she had finished.
"You are insufferable today, you know that?" she said hitting his arm.
"I dare you to flip a waffle in the air, and catch it on the pan again." He said defiantly.
"That's easy." She said, flipping the one she was making, just an inch or so into the air.
"That's the best you can do?" he took the pan away from her, and flipped the waffle so high, she had to look up to follow it's pad.
"Oh, I can do that, you pretentious brat!" she said laughing. She retrieved the pan, and threw the bruised and burned waffle in to the air as high as she could. It flew up to the ceiling, and fell right on top of Niles's head.
"Ow!" he whined.
"That's what you get for being annoying. Now go sit, breakfast is almost ready."
"Fine, Mum!" he teased.
Once they were sited having breakfast on the kitchen table, Daphne fell silent for a moment, looking pensive.
"What's with us and kitchens?" she asked finally. He looked up from his plate, and sighed.
"I'll never know. We do make a great team, though."
"Yes, when you are not hanging around me like a hungry puppy, that is."
"Oh, shut up! I was bored!" he said chuckling.
***
"From the diary of Niles Crane
March 15/2003
I feel utterly and absolutely fine for the first time in a year. I don't know what is it with this woman, that even when she still frightens the hell out of me, can make me happy with the silliest things. I know I still love her. I told Fraiser as much, but I hadn't realised how much she affected my everyday life. It's going to be hard to get back to my monotonous routine once she's gone. But I can't go back home. I just can't. She says she loves me. I know she's trying to get us back together. But I'm scared. I can't go through that again.
I mind as well enjoy it while it last."
Fourteenth item: The Ring.
Daphne and Niles were walking side by side through a little street near the river, and Daphne reached for Niles hand, and held it. He just smiled at her, and slightly squeezed it. She noticed that that evening Niles seemed awfully quiet and melancholic.
"What's on your mind?"
"Uhm?" he looked at her, puzzled.
"You seem preoccupied. Is everything alright?"
"Oh, yes. I was just thinking, you'll be leaving in a week."
"Are you going to miss me?" she said with a mischievous grin. His face turned deadly serious, and they stopped walking.
"Yes, and that makes me a bit mad."
"Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Did you sold your practice?"
"Why do you want to know?" he asked taken aback.
"Well, did you?"
"No, I didn't. I rented it. Why do you think I can afford an apartment with it's own bathroom?" he said smiling.
"But you've never thought about going back."
"Er,...no, I couldn't, I mean..."
"And now?"
"Now what?!"
"Would you come back?"
"No."
"You'll miss me, though."
"Yes, and it's not fair. Everything was alright with the world. I had a life, a pitiful one, yes, but it was mine. And you come here, and now, well, I'll probably should move away to Australia."
"Why?"
"Because now this place will remind me of you, and that we are not together, and it pisses me of!" he said mock anger.
"Then, come back."
"And be your friend?" he said in a whisper.
"Would you like to be something else? You know very well I'm not the one holding us back."
He threw his hands in the air, in defeat, and sighed.
"I'm so confused!" he sat on the stoop of a building, and Daphne sat right next to him.
"I know, and it's my fault, but you can't run away from your problems forever."
"I didn't run away when I came here. I had to start over, and I did."
"Yes, and as much as it hurt me, you kind of did the right thing, but now you're running."
"How come?"
"You now know I love you, and that I want to be with you, and you're too scared to give it a try."
"I know that you think that you love me, and even if you really did. What's going to stop you from dumping me the next time you feel insecure?" there was no reproach on his voice, Daphne could hear a hint of fear, but he said it in the kindest of ways. She took his arm in hers, and rested her head on his shoulder. He sighed again, and rested his head on hers.
"Niles, I do love you, with all my heart. I can't assure you I always will..." he looked at her, with a questioning look on his face. "I know I'll always love you, but I can't promise you it will work, and we will live happily ever after. I know I said I'm a bit psychic, but I'm starting to doubt that. I can promise you something, though."
"And that is?"
She took his face with both hands, and caressed his cheeks.
"That I'm going to try my best for that to be true, and that I'm never going to keep any insecurity or fear about us to myself ever again. If I had talk to you on the first place, this would have never happened."
"We must be the most silly people in the world." He said with a chuckle.
"Why?"
"Just think about it. We are madly in love with one another, and it took me seven years for me to tell you, and for you to realise about it. Then we screwed things over, because we were too afraid to talk about our fears. I have a little confession to make. I suspected that you were just afraid of commitment, but I couldn't find the guts to talk to you, for fear that you would tell me that you'd never loved me to begin with. So I left." She felt a tear falling on her cheek.
"You're madly in love with me, you silly sod?"
"Yes, you nimrod."
"Oh, we are dumb, aren't we?" she said with a chuckle. He kissed her slightly on the lips.
"Oh, yes my love. That we are. Can I ask you a question now?"
"Sure."
"What did you do with the ring I gave you?" She blushed a bit, and retrieved a little golden chain hanging from her neck, that was hidden under her blouse, which carried the engagement ring.
"I always kept the hope of you wanting me to wear it again."
"Well, you should keep it safe, then. I mean, I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet. But I have the feeling that it won't be too long before I am."
"Does that mean you are coming back with me, Dr. Crane?" she teased.
"Oh, you knew that I would all along, didn't you, Miss Moon?"
"Well, maybe I am a bit psychic after all." He stared at her, lovingly, still a bit unsure of how to proceed.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked shyly.
"Why, yes Dr. Crane. You sure can." She said with a warm smile. They kissed, this time tenderly and both certain of each other's feelings.
***
"Dear Fraiser and Dad (a.k.a. Dr. and Mr. Crane):
We are coming back, yes, you've read correctly, "WE". As in "us", as in a couple!! Fraiser, you were right all along. (keep this letter well stocked, 'cause you won't hear me say that ever again.) If we had talked, we would have saved a lot of time and pain. I guess we had to learn that lesson the hard way, but the important thing is that we've learned it. So, a week from today, I ( as in Niles.) am going to reacquaint my self to Seattle's lovely weather, and, hopefully, get my old life back. As for myself (as in Daphne.), I know you'll miss me, now that I won't be moping around the apartment all day, but think about it. You can get your old study back! Yet again!!
Well, we both know that we owe this almost entirely to you, and we are more than thankful. And remember me to thank Roz with a soapy kiss when I get back. She'll get a kick of me making fun of her life again. I think I missed home more than what I was ready to admit, but, hell! Now that I'm coming back, I don't have to deny it anymore!
I hope I can get my apartment at The Montana back. I have all my things stocked in a deposit, and it won't be easy to find an apartment big enough for them, if they don't take me back.
With that been said, I hope we see you all at the airport's gates next Thursday, at seven-ish in the evening.
We're coming back!!!
Love and kisses.
Niles and Daphne.
(As in an item, as in a soon to be engaged couple, as in, well, I'm at the end of my rope here.)"
Fifteenth item: The Dragon.
Daphne was hanging the last of Niles's suits on his closet, their closet, whilst Martin and Roz chatted on the living room, and Fraiser struggled with one of the boxes. It had taken them three months to finally be able to move back to the Montana, but things were starting to take shape again. She looked at the balcony, and saw Niles smoking, whilst he ran through a few things in a small box. She was trying to convince him to quit, and she knew that she would do so, sooner or later. She stepped outside, and hugged him from behind.
"Hey love, what are you doing?" he moved towards her to kiss her, but she literally dogged him. "Oh, no! You're not kissing me smelling like that!" he laughed, and pulled her close to him.
"Really?" he said, arching an eyebrow. She gave in, and kissed him. "Uhm, I see, I have you under my thumb, don't I?" she hitted his arm.
"Don't push your luck! Shouldn't you be at work, dear?"
"And miss this lovely unpacking party? Never! Besides, I will be working at the practice just in the morning from now on."
"And why is that?"
"I've taken a job at a local university. I miss teaching."
"Miss all those young girls drooling at you, don't you?"
"Very funny."
"Hey, Niles!! Look what I've found!" shouted Roz, coming into the bedroom. Daphne gasped when she saw what she was holding.
"Oh, God! Of all things that I've lost in this moving, why couldn't I loose that!" he said, taking the small wooden dragon that Roz had given him as a gift, four years ago.
"Hey! I thought you liked it!"
"Yes, Roz. It's so tasteful I had to hide it, so it wouldn't make my other ornaments jealous."
"Oh, stuff it! You big snob!"
"I'm sorry, Roz. I really appreciated the thought, though."
"Whatever." She left the room, and when Niles turned to Daphne, he noticed she was crying.
"Daphne, darling, what's wrong?" he said, taking her in his arms.
"Oh, Niles...It was you, all along, it was you, and I hurt you so much!"
"Honey, what are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm sure, I'm certain, that you are the love of my life, and I'm never, ever letting you go again. I'm so sorry."
"Water under the bridge, as they say. You shouldn't be thinking about those stuff. Though I'm glad to hear you're planning on staying this time." He said teasing.
"You are so stuck with me!!" she answered, and kissed him.
"Good...Uhm, Daphne?"
"Yes love?"
"Do you still have that little chain on your neck?"
"Yes, why?"
"Would you take it off, please?" he said, his face unreadable.
"Why? What's going on Niles?" she asked nervously, taking the chain off.
"I don't think you should wear that around your neck anymore, it doesn't suit you." he looked at her in the eye, and took the chain away from her. After removing the ring, he kneeled down before her, and his hands begun to shake. Daphne covered her mouth, as tears started pouring from her eyes. "Would you do me the honour of wearing it on your finger?"
"You mean..?"
"This feels a little bit like deja vu, Daphne, would you marry me? If you don't want to, just tell me, don't dump me, please, because you know were that got us the last time, and I mean, there's so much space in my passport and I..."
"Shut up, you big dope! Of course I'll marry you!" she hugged him tight, and they were both crying. Fraiser, Martin and Roz walked in on the scene.
"Oh, God, You're not breaking up again, are you?" asked Fraiser, a bit preoccupied. Daphne just lifted her hand, and when they all saw the ring, they started silently to walk away, leaving the couple alone, whispering congratulations.
Epilogue:
As everyone rested quietly, a small girl, about five years old, rubbing her eyes, came down the stairs to the kitchen for a glass of water. Her brown, curly hair was messed up. She took the glass and sat on the piano bench, staring at all the pictures above it. There was a really old one, of her family standing next to a bear, that always made her laugh. There were a few of her mum's family, her grandma, and uncles, but she didn't see them often enough to remember who was who. There was one of his cousin Freddy, who always treated her like a little kid. She would get really mad at him sometimes. There was one of her aunt Lillith, everyone seemed to hate her, but she thought she was nice, and very smart. There was one of aunt Roz, and cousin Alice. Well, they weren't really her aunt and cousin, but she didn't mind. Then there were a lot of all of them together, at Christmas, or her birthday. One of her alone, as well as one of her big brother, in his school uniform. But among all of those pictures, there was one that had always been her favorite. Right in the middle, in a beautiful frame that just last week she had learned, it was art deco, (though she still didn't quite understand what that was), there were her Mum and Dad, on their wedding day. They looked so happy, and both so pretty. Even if she knew her dad would probably freak out about it, she took the frame with her, and sat under the piano, just to look at it. After a while, she heard footsteps, and tried her best to remain unseen. But soon enough, a pair of arms were pulling her out, and up. She thought her dad would get mad, but instead, he just took the frame, and glared at it with a nostalgic look, before placing it back on top of the piano. He picked her up of the floor, and kissed her cheek, before starting walking to her room. Her Mum came looking sleepy, and kissed them both. After saying good night, she finally fell asleep.
The End.
So, did you like it, did you hate it? Please let me know. And if you got this far, well then, thank you.
by Konnie
Disclaimer: see part one.
Author's notes: this is the end guys, I hope you'll like it.
PART 5
Thirteenth item: The waffle.
Niles woke up, feeling the coolness that comes after the fever brakes, slightly lightheaded. He looked around looking for Daphne, and sighed, half out of sadness, half out of relief, when he didn't find her. He jumped out of bed, and into the shower. After freshen up, and getting into a clean set of pajamas, he took a cup of coffee from the kitchen, a blanket from the bedroom, and after relocating the TV to it's original place, snuggled into the couch. He took an aspirin and lit a cigarette. As soon as he had finally accommodated himself, the front door of his apartment opened, and Daphne came in carrying shopping bags. She dropped them on the table, and, with the most serious face she could muster, she stood in front of him.
"Niles Crane, What do you think you're doing?" he still felt a little confused, not being fully awake.
"I'm...I'm having breakfast?" he said shyly.
"You are supposed to be in bed! And you call this breakfast?! A cup of black coffee and a cigarette?!" she said, not really angry. "You should be taking care of your self. Now, give me that!" she took the cigarette away from him, and finished it herself. Niles watched her quietly, amazed. When she turned it off, she grabbed the bag she had brought and took it to the kitchen.
"Now, I'm going to make you a good breakfast. You go back to bed."
"No, Daphne, I feel better, I'm bored to death of being in bed. I didn't realise you smoked."
"I don't, I used to. I only do it when I'm having a bit of a dry spell, if you know what I mean, and it's been a year, you know?" she said teasingly. He blushed a bit.
"I know what you mean. Even with my newly acquired careless look, my nails have never looked better." He said thoughtfully, looking at his hands. They both laughed, and he stood next to her. "So, how can I help?"
"Don't touch anything. So what would you like? Scrambled eggs, waffles? You say the word, I'll make it."
"Waffles sound like a good idea. I don't have any maple syrup, or honey, to put on them, though."
"I bought some honey, for your tea, so that should do the trick. Now, let me work."
"Alright."
She had made a pile of them already, and Niles kept bugging her like a bored child, with all kinds of silly questions, and trying to steal some waffles before she had finished.
"You are insufferable today, you know that?" she said hitting his arm.
"I dare you to flip a waffle in the air, and catch it on the pan again." He said defiantly.
"That's easy." She said, flipping the one she was making, just an inch or so into the air.
"That's the best you can do?" he took the pan away from her, and flipped the waffle so high, she had to look up to follow it's pad.
"Oh, I can do that, you pretentious brat!" she said laughing. She retrieved the pan, and threw the bruised and burned waffle in to the air as high as she could. It flew up to the ceiling, and fell right on top of Niles's head.
"Ow!" he whined.
"That's what you get for being annoying. Now go sit, breakfast is almost ready."
"Fine, Mum!" he teased.
Once they were sited having breakfast on the kitchen table, Daphne fell silent for a moment, looking pensive.
"What's with us and kitchens?" she asked finally. He looked up from his plate, and sighed.
"I'll never know. We do make a great team, though."
"Yes, when you are not hanging around me like a hungry puppy, that is."
"Oh, shut up! I was bored!" he said chuckling.
***
"From the diary of Niles Crane
March 15/2003
I feel utterly and absolutely fine for the first time in a year. I don't know what is it with this woman, that even when she still frightens the hell out of me, can make me happy with the silliest things. I know I still love her. I told Fraiser as much, but I hadn't realised how much she affected my everyday life. It's going to be hard to get back to my monotonous routine once she's gone. But I can't go back home. I just can't. She says she loves me. I know she's trying to get us back together. But I'm scared. I can't go through that again.
I mind as well enjoy it while it last."
Fourteenth item: The Ring.
Daphne and Niles were walking side by side through a little street near the river, and Daphne reached for Niles hand, and held it. He just smiled at her, and slightly squeezed it. She noticed that that evening Niles seemed awfully quiet and melancholic.
"What's on your mind?"
"Uhm?" he looked at her, puzzled.
"You seem preoccupied. Is everything alright?"
"Oh, yes. I was just thinking, you'll be leaving in a week."
"Are you going to miss me?" she said with a mischievous grin. His face turned deadly serious, and they stopped walking.
"Yes, and that makes me a bit mad."
"Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Did you sold your practice?"
"Why do you want to know?" he asked taken aback.
"Well, did you?"
"No, I didn't. I rented it. Why do you think I can afford an apartment with it's own bathroom?" he said smiling.
"But you've never thought about going back."
"Er,...no, I couldn't, I mean..."
"And now?"
"Now what?!"
"Would you come back?"
"No."
"You'll miss me, though."
"Yes, and it's not fair. Everything was alright with the world. I had a life, a pitiful one, yes, but it was mine. And you come here, and now, well, I'll probably should move away to Australia."
"Why?"
"Because now this place will remind me of you, and that we are not together, and it pisses me of!" he said mock anger.
"Then, come back."
"And be your friend?" he said in a whisper.
"Would you like to be something else? You know very well I'm not the one holding us back."
He threw his hands in the air, in defeat, and sighed.
"I'm so confused!" he sat on the stoop of a building, and Daphne sat right next to him.
"I know, and it's my fault, but you can't run away from your problems forever."
"I didn't run away when I came here. I had to start over, and I did."
"Yes, and as much as it hurt me, you kind of did the right thing, but now you're running."
"How come?"
"You now know I love you, and that I want to be with you, and you're too scared to give it a try."
"I know that you think that you love me, and even if you really did. What's going to stop you from dumping me the next time you feel insecure?" there was no reproach on his voice, Daphne could hear a hint of fear, but he said it in the kindest of ways. She took his arm in hers, and rested her head on his shoulder. He sighed again, and rested his head on hers.
"Niles, I do love you, with all my heart. I can't assure you I always will..." he looked at her, with a questioning look on his face. "I know I'll always love you, but I can't promise you it will work, and we will live happily ever after. I know I said I'm a bit psychic, but I'm starting to doubt that. I can promise you something, though."
"And that is?"
She took his face with both hands, and caressed his cheeks.
"That I'm going to try my best for that to be true, and that I'm never going to keep any insecurity or fear about us to myself ever again. If I had talk to you on the first place, this would have never happened."
"We must be the most silly people in the world." He said with a chuckle.
"Why?"
"Just think about it. We are madly in love with one another, and it took me seven years for me to tell you, and for you to realise about it. Then we screwed things over, because we were too afraid to talk about our fears. I have a little confession to make. I suspected that you were just afraid of commitment, but I couldn't find the guts to talk to you, for fear that you would tell me that you'd never loved me to begin with. So I left." She felt a tear falling on her cheek.
"You're madly in love with me, you silly sod?"
"Yes, you nimrod."
"Oh, we are dumb, aren't we?" she said with a chuckle. He kissed her slightly on the lips.
"Oh, yes my love. That we are. Can I ask you a question now?"
"Sure."
"What did you do with the ring I gave you?" She blushed a bit, and retrieved a little golden chain hanging from her neck, that was hidden under her blouse, which carried the engagement ring.
"I always kept the hope of you wanting me to wear it again."
"Well, you should keep it safe, then. I mean, I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet. But I have the feeling that it won't be too long before I am."
"Does that mean you are coming back with me, Dr. Crane?" she teased.
"Oh, you knew that I would all along, didn't you, Miss Moon?"
"Well, maybe I am a bit psychic after all." He stared at her, lovingly, still a bit unsure of how to proceed.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked shyly.
"Why, yes Dr. Crane. You sure can." She said with a warm smile. They kissed, this time tenderly and both certain of each other's feelings.
***
"Dear Fraiser and Dad (a.k.a. Dr. and Mr. Crane):
We are coming back, yes, you've read correctly, "WE". As in "us", as in a couple!! Fraiser, you were right all along. (keep this letter well stocked, 'cause you won't hear me say that ever again.) If we had talked, we would have saved a lot of time and pain. I guess we had to learn that lesson the hard way, but the important thing is that we've learned it. So, a week from today, I ( as in Niles.) am going to reacquaint my self to Seattle's lovely weather, and, hopefully, get my old life back. As for myself (as in Daphne.), I know you'll miss me, now that I won't be moping around the apartment all day, but think about it. You can get your old study back! Yet again!!
Well, we both know that we owe this almost entirely to you, and we are more than thankful. And remember me to thank Roz with a soapy kiss when I get back. She'll get a kick of me making fun of her life again. I think I missed home more than what I was ready to admit, but, hell! Now that I'm coming back, I don't have to deny it anymore!
I hope I can get my apartment at The Montana back. I have all my things stocked in a deposit, and it won't be easy to find an apartment big enough for them, if they don't take me back.
With that been said, I hope we see you all at the airport's gates next Thursday, at seven-ish in the evening.
We're coming back!!!
Love and kisses.
Niles and Daphne.
(As in an item, as in a soon to be engaged couple, as in, well, I'm at the end of my rope here.)"
Fifteenth item: The Dragon.
Daphne was hanging the last of Niles's suits on his closet, their closet, whilst Martin and Roz chatted on the living room, and Fraiser struggled with one of the boxes. It had taken them three months to finally be able to move back to the Montana, but things were starting to take shape again. She looked at the balcony, and saw Niles smoking, whilst he ran through a few things in a small box. She was trying to convince him to quit, and she knew that she would do so, sooner or later. She stepped outside, and hugged him from behind.
"Hey love, what are you doing?" he moved towards her to kiss her, but she literally dogged him. "Oh, no! You're not kissing me smelling like that!" he laughed, and pulled her close to him.
"Really?" he said, arching an eyebrow. She gave in, and kissed him. "Uhm, I see, I have you under my thumb, don't I?" she hitted his arm.
"Don't push your luck! Shouldn't you be at work, dear?"
"And miss this lovely unpacking party? Never! Besides, I will be working at the practice just in the morning from now on."
"And why is that?"
"I've taken a job at a local university. I miss teaching."
"Miss all those young girls drooling at you, don't you?"
"Very funny."
"Hey, Niles!! Look what I've found!" shouted Roz, coming into the bedroom. Daphne gasped when she saw what she was holding.
"Oh, God! Of all things that I've lost in this moving, why couldn't I loose that!" he said, taking the small wooden dragon that Roz had given him as a gift, four years ago.
"Hey! I thought you liked it!"
"Yes, Roz. It's so tasteful I had to hide it, so it wouldn't make my other ornaments jealous."
"Oh, stuff it! You big snob!"
"I'm sorry, Roz. I really appreciated the thought, though."
"Whatever." She left the room, and when Niles turned to Daphne, he noticed she was crying.
"Daphne, darling, what's wrong?" he said, taking her in his arms.
"Oh, Niles...It was you, all along, it was you, and I hurt you so much!"
"Honey, what are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm sure, I'm certain, that you are the love of my life, and I'm never, ever letting you go again. I'm so sorry."
"Water under the bridge, as they say. You shouldn't be thinking about those stuff. Though I'm glad to hear you're planning on staying this time." He said teasing.
"You are so stuck with me!!" she answered, and kissed him.
"Good...Uhm, Daphne?"
"Yes love?"
"Do you still have that little chain on your neck?"
"Yes, why?"
"Would you take it off, please?" he said, his face unreadable.
"Why? What's going on Niles?" she asked nervously, taking the chain off.
"I don't think you should wear that around your neck anymore, it doesn't suit you." he looked at her in the eye, and took the chain away from her. After removing the ring, he kneeled down before her, and his hands begun to shake. Daphne covered her mouth, as tears started pouring from her eyes. "Would you do me the honour of wearing it on your finger?"
"You mean..?"
"This feels a little bit like deja vu, Daphne, would you marry me? If you don't want to, just tell me, don't dump me, please, because you know were that got us the last time, and I mean, there's so much space in my passport and I..."
"Shut up, you big dope! Of course I'll marry you!" she hugged him tight, and they were both crying. Fraiser, Martin and Roz walked in on the scene.
"Oh, God, You're not breaking up again, are you?" asked Fraiser, a bit preoccupied. Daphne just lifted her hand, and when they all saw the ring, they started silently to walk away, leaving the couple alone, whispering congratulations.
Epilogue:
As everyone rested quietly, a small girl, about five years old, rubbing her eyes, came down the stairs to the kitchen for a glass of water. Her brown, curly hair was messed up. She took the glass and sat on the piano bench, staring at all the pictures above it. There was a really old one, of her family standing next to a bear, that always made her laugh. There were a few of her mum's family, her grandma, and uncles, but she didn't see them often enough to remember who was who. There was one of his cousin Freddy, who always treated her like a little kid. She would get really mad at him sometimes. There was one of her aunt Lillith, everyone seemed to hate her, but she thought she was nice, and very smart. There was one of aunt Roz, and cousin Alice. Well, they weren't really her aunt and cousin, but she didn't mind. Then there were a lot of all of them together, at Christmas, or her birthday. One of her alone, as well as one of her big brother, in his school uniform. But among all of those pictures, there was one that had always been her favorite. Right in the middle, in a beautiful frame that just last week she had learned, it was art deco, (though she still didn't quite understand what that was), there were her Mum and Dad, on their wedding day. They looked so happy, and both so pretty. Even if she knew her dad would probably freak out about it, she took the frame with her, and sat under the piano, just to look at it. After a while, she heard footsteps, and tried her best to remain unseen. But soon enough, a pair of arms were pulling her out, and up. She thought her dad would get mad, but instead, he just took the frame, and glared at it with a nostalgic look, before placing it back on top of the piano. He picked her up of the floor, and kissed her cheek, before starting walking to her room. Her Mum came looking sleepy, and kissed them both. After saying good night, she finally fell asleep.
The End.
So, did you like it, did you hate it? Please let me know. And if you got this far, well then, thank you.