PART 8---Telling the Family
When Niles and I finally immerged from my room the next morning, we found the apartment to be incredibly quiet save for the light rattling of dishes in the kitchen. My grip on Niles hand tightened and I found myself wanting to turn back and hide behind the locked door again.
"Daphne," Niles whispered to me, "it's going to be all right. I promise it will. But we can't stay holed up in your room for the rest of our lives. Don't you think it would be the best thing for everyone if we get everything out in the open? I don't know about you, but I'm tired of hiding the way I feel about you and after last night, I refuse to do it."
"I know you're right," I said burying myself in his arms, "I'm just so frightened."
"Why," he asked with a kiss to my forehead.
"Oh I don't know," I said, "what if everyone turns on me for the horrible thing I have done to Donny."
"Honey," he said calling me by a pet name for the first time. I melted when he called me that. When he says it, it sounds perfect. He was meant to call me that. "I can't imagine Dad or Frasier being anything but happy for us. Roz too, why I don't exactly know, but she probably will be. As for me, I think you know my feelings about all of this."
"Yes, you showed me quite a few times," I said feeling my cheeks redden slightly.
We lingered in the hallway outside my room and in each other's arms for a few more minutes. Yes we kissed, such a beautiful kiss too but mostly we just held each other. He made me feel safe and I knew right then that no matter how difficult things would be, at the end of the night I would be right back in his arms again.
"Are you ready to face the world," he asked kissing my forehead.
"If I get to face it with you," I answered.
"You do," he said taking my hand and leading me into the living room, "I promise."
Dr. and Mr. Crane were at the table reading the morning paper. When they heard our footsteps coming toward them, they looked at each other and then at Niles and I. Once again, I tightened my grip on his hand and held on to his arm with my other hand.
"Mornin'," Mr. Crane said to us with a cheery tone. Niles was right, he's not going to have a problem with this.
"Niles, Daphne," Dr. Crane said. He said Niles name rather casually, mine however, took a completely different tone. I don't even know the best way to describe it, but it scared me.
"Good morning," I said quietly. I quickly made the decision to jump right into this conversation rather than put it off. If I did that, I would probably find myself hiding under the piano like Niles once told me he used to do. "I know I owe everyone an explanation."
"You're in love with my son," Mr. Crane said standing up, "there's not much more to explain."
"I am in love with your son. I'm madly in love with him," I said smiling at Niles, "but that doesn't exactly explain my behavior."
"People in love do crazy things," he said moving closer to us. "I just have one request and I'm not going to say anything else."
"What," I asked looking at Niles.
"If you're going to be sleeping my son, I refuse to let you call me Mr. Crane anymore," he said with an excited smile growing on his face. Sleeping with his son, my goodness, he just comes right out and says what's on his mind. One of these days I'll have to tell him I prefer the term making love with his son.
"So Dad," Niles said, I think he realized that I was too stunned to speak. I expected Mr. Crane to be disappointed in me and my actions. "You're okay with this?"
"Okay with this," he said pulling me into his arms, "It's about damn time."
"Oh thank you," I said feeling the tears well up once again. I hugged the man, so tightly he probably would have turned blue had Niles not touched my back and gently pulled me back.
"I told you," Niles whispered in my ear.
"Dr. Crane," I said nervously. I had crossed one major hurdle with Mr. Crane. I knew he would be the easiest one to cross. Dr. Crane is a different story however.
"Daphne," he said again, "if you don't mind, I would like an explanation."
"Frasier, I don't think." Niles said. God I love this man so much, he's trying to make sure this isn't any harder for me than it already it is.
"No honey," I said smiling as I called him a pet name for the first time. It just rolled off of my tongue as if I had been saying it for years, "if he wants an explanation, I'm going to give him one."
"Thank you," he said.
"Dr. Crane, for the past six months, I have been sitting on a secret," I said, "a secret that someone else has been sitting on for nearly seven years, a secret that was shared with me by three other people and finally as of yesterday, the person himself."
"What," Dr. Crane asked.
"I've known about Niles' feelings for me for months now," I said, "I found out just before your birthday. I'm not blaming anyone for telling me, especially as I received confirmations from everyone. And yesterday, I got to hear it coming from him. You probably saw right through my "I'm not upset" act that I pulled yesterday. The letter I got in the mail was from Niles. He told me everything he had been wanting to tell me from the moment we met."
"What did he say," Dr. Crane asked glaring at Niles.
"That's really none of your business," I said. I don't plan on sharing the letter with anyone. "but it was exactly what I needed to hear. I've been having the same sort of feelings for him for such a long time now. I'm not quite sure when they started. The only thing I'm sure of is the fact that I can't remember not having these feelings. And then I got his letter and I knew that I had given up on all of my dreams too soon. I realized and as bad as this sounds, I settled for Donny. My dream had been right in front of me for so long. Yesterday I came to the conclusion that no matter how wonderful Donny might be, I couldn't give up on my dream. Especially with him being right beside me. Niles is my dream, he's my miracle. I believe in us. And I'm willing to give up everything so that we can have a shot."
"Niles," Dr. Crane asked.
"What," he responded. Answering his brother meant he had to tear his eyes off of me. I'm just glad I got to see his excitement before his eyes dimmed a bit.
"Do you have anything to say," Dr. Crane asked.
"Yes," he said, "I love Daphne. I love her. But you knew that. Everyone knew that. And Daphne knows now. I did write that letter. I had to get my feelings out somehow. If I couldn't tell her verbally, at least my feelings would be documented in some form. I couldn't keep them bottled up inside me anymore. If I did, I probably would have exploded at some point and the last thing any of us need is to be picking up pieces of Niles all over the place."
"I'd prefer it if he were in one piece" I said, "I've already got a broken heart to mend."
"You already did," Niles whispered to me.
"Really," I asked.
"Of course," he answered, "Daphne, the only thing I've ever needed in life is you. And having you heals any and every wound that I may have had. I don't feel the pain of heartache anymore."
"I'm glad," I said kissing him as gently and quickly as I could therefore not starting something I knew could not be finished.
"You know," Dr. Crane said to us, "I woke up this morning and had no idea how to respond to what happened last night. Don't be angry but I was kind of hoping I wouldn't have to see you. I didn't know whether I would congratulate you or kill you. Last night stunned even me."
"Yeah, his jaw hit the floor before Donny's did," Mr. Crane said jumping into the conversation. His sarcasm always manages to break the tension. It's one of the many little quirks that I have come to love about Mr. Crane.
"I knew something had upset you when you got that letter,' Dr. Crane said, "I had no idea that it was from Niles. And I should have recognized the handwriting. I was truly worried while you were gone. I called Roz just to see if she had talked to you. I guess I worried her and that's why she showed up last night."
"I should have told someone why I was running out like that," I said. "Poor Donny, I was really rude to him yesterday. Pushing him away from me and everything, but it just didn't feel right. It hasn't for quite some time. There was always a little part of him that made me uncomfortable, I couldn't figure out what it was though. I did yesterday though. He isn't Niles. Now I don't feel anything but complete."
"Daphne," Dr. Crane said walking over to me and placing his hands on my arms, "I want to be sure that you realize that Niles wants forever with you. I don't think any of us could handle anything less than that. You've always been a part of this family. You're the sister I never had."
"The daughter I never had," Mr. Crane chimed in.
"You've always been so much more to Niles," Dr. Crane said looking directly at Niles, "from the very beginning. We've all watched his love for you blossom and become so intense, it was inevitable to become jealous of it. For me, it was much easier to deny his feelings than accept the fact that he is experiencing something I have yet to. Something I didn't even know was possible. Niles only needs one thing in life. That's you."
"He's the only thing I need," I said, "it just took me a little while to figure it out. Before I even realized it was love that I feel for him, Niles was the most important person in my life. He has given me more things than I ever hoped I would receive, even more than I thought I deserved. He has given me support, guidance, friendship, respect and love. I want you to know that I plan on giving him whatever he needs to be happy. All that I am just isn't enough, he deserves the world and I'm going to see that he gets it, no matter how long it takes."
The looks on the faces of the three men who gave me a new life are priceless. Especially Niles as he is so close to tears. Without saying a word, I know that is the first time anyone has ever said anything like to him. The same goes for Dr. and Mr. Crane. It's the first time they have ever heard a woman say that to Niles. Perhaps it's the first time they have heard it period. Yes, they know he deserves to be happy but I don't think they ever expected him to find someone who made him as such. Nor did they expect someone to put forth all that she is for him.
I'm woman who is going to make his dreams come true. I've come to realize that he is more than worth all of the confusion and heartache that I have experienced these last months. It's truly amazing how one person can come into your life and make everything okay by simply being there. We've helped each other in more ways than I can even begin to recount. This is my chance to do those things publicly. I want the world to know that my mission in life is to love and take care of Niles Crane.
"I hope you mean that because this isn't something that's going to go away," Dr. Crane said, trying to explain to me something I already knew. "Niles is going to love you until the day he dies. And I know your relationship is the most important thing in the world to him. I know it's pretty important to you as well. I would just hate for either of you to get hurt."
Dear Dr. Crane, always looking out for everyone involved.
"I know. I'm going to love him forever. Although I don't think," I said looking over at Niles. "Forever is long enough though. Is that okay?"
"That's perfect," he said.
"So are you guys going to get married," Mr. Crane asked. I can tell he's wanted to ask us that from the moment we walked into the main room of the apartment. At times I could actually see him squirm in his chair and ring his hands under the table.
"Dad, Daphne has made me a proposal," Niles said reaching to stroke my cheek, "that I simply could not refuse."
"All right," Mr. Crane said jumping out of his seat and embracing us both, "congratulations!"
"Thank you," I said once again looking for Dr. Crane's approval.
"Daphne Crane does have a nice ring to it," he said, "let me be the first to officially welcome you into our family."
"Oh thank you Dr. Crane," I said.
"You can't call me that anymore," he said, "we're family now. My family calls me Frasier."
"Well, thank you Frasier,' I said. It felt so strange to call him that. I have no choice other than to get used to it. We're going to be family for quite a long time. Those children Niles and I are planning to have are going to call him as such. It would be quite unusual for their mother to call their uncle by his professional name.
"Don't worry, it will take some time to get used to," he said, "for both of us."
"And you better start calling me Dad," Mr. Crane said.
"You mean now," I asked, "we're not even married yet."
"Well, how long before you will be," he asked.
"Dad, we're not going to run off and get married tonight," Niles said coming to my rescue. "We're going to take some time to sort a few things out."
"But soon," I said. I don't want to wait more than a few months to become Mrs. Niles Crane.
"I guess I can wait," Mr. Crane said.
"I can work on Martin though," I said.
"I can live with that," he said hugging me.
"Daphne, if I may bring up a rather nasty topic," Frasier said quietly.
"Yes," I said, knowing exactly what he was going to say.
"What are you going to do about Donny," he asked.
"We were actually talking about that before we came out here," I said, "and I took care of it. I'm meeting him at Nervosa on his lunch break."
"I see," he said, "are you going with her Niles?"
"No," he said. "Daphne wants to do this on her own and I'm going to let her. I'll be here when it's over."
Hearing him say that gave me the strength to gather up my might and make things right with Donny. As much as I want to stay here in the comfort of my boys, I have a job to do. And when it's over, I'll be right back here in the arms of the man that loves me and surrounded by a family I'm thrilled to be a part of.
When Niles and I finally immerged from my room the next morning, we found the apartment to be incredibly quiet save for the light rattling of dishes in the kitchen. My grip on Niles hand tightened and I found myself wanting to turn back and hide behind the locked door again.
"Daphne," Niles whispered to me, "it's going to be all right. I promise it will. But we can't stay holed up in your room for the rest of our lives. Don't you think it would be the best thing for everyone if we get everything out in the open? I don't know about you, but I'm tired of hiding the way I feel about you and after last night, I refuse to do it."
"I know you're right," I said burying myself in his arms, "I'm just so frightened."
"Why," he asked with a kiss to my forehead.
"Oh I don't know," I said, "what if everyone turns on me for the horrible thing I have done to Donny."
"Honey," he said calling me by a pet name for the first time. I melted when he called me that. When he says it, it sounds perfect. He was meant to call me that. "I can't imagine Dad or Frasier being anything but happy for us. Roz too, why I don't exactly know, but she probably will be. As for me, I think you know my feelings about all of this."
"Yes, you showed me quite a few times," I said feeling my cheeks redden slightly.
We lingered in the hallway outside my room and in each other's arms for a few more minutes. Yes we kissed, such a beautiful kiss too but mostly we just held each other. He made me feel safe and I knew right then that no matter how difficult things would be, at the end of the night I would be right back in his arms again.
"Are you ready to face the world," he asked kissing my forehead.
"If I get to face it with you," I answered.
"You do," he said taking my hand and leading me into the living room, "I promise."
Dr. and Mr. Crane were at the table reading the morning paper. When they heard our footsteps coming toward them, they looked at each other and then at Niles and I. Once again, I tightened my grip on his hand and held on to his arm with my other hand.
"Mornin'," Mr. Crane said to us with a cheery tone. Niles was right, he's not going to have a problem with this.
"Niles, Daphne," Dr. Crane said. He said Niles name rather casually, mine however, took a completely different tone. I don't even know the best way to describe it, but it scared me.
"Good morning," I said quietly. I quickly made the decision to jump right into this conversation rather than put it off. If I did that, I would probably find myself hiding under the piano like Niles once told me he used to do. "I know I owe everyone an explanation."
"You're in love with my son," Mr. Crane said standing up, "there's not much more to explain."
"I am in love with your son. I'm madly in love with him," I said smiling at Niles, "but that doesn't exactly explain my behavior."
"People in love do crazy things," he said moving closer to us. "I just have one request and I'm not going to say anything else."
"What," I asked looking at Niles.
"If you're going to be sleeping my son, I refuse to let you call me Mr. Crane anymore," he said with an excited smile growing on his face. Sleeping with his son, my goodness, he just comes right out and says what's on his mind. One of these days I'll have to tell him I prefer the term making love with his son.
"So Dad," Niles said, I think he realized that I was too stunned to speak. I expected Mr. Crane to be disappointed in me and my actions. "You're okay with this?"
"Okay with this," he said pulling me into his arms, "It's about damn time."
"Oh thank you," I said feeling the tears well up once again. I hugged the man, so tightly he probably would have turned blue had Niles not touched my back and gently pulled me back.
"I told you," Niles whispered in my ear.
"Dr. Crane," I said nervously. I had crossed one major hurdle with Mr. Crane. I knew he would be the easiest one to cross. Dr. Crane is a different story however.
"Daphne," he said again, "if you don't mind, I would like an explanation."
"Frasier, I don't think." Niles said. God I love this man so much, he's trying to make sure this isn't any harder for me than it already it is.
"No honey," I said smiling as I called him a pet name for the first time. It just rolled off of my tongue as if I had been saying it for years, "if he wants an explanation, I'm going to give him one."
"Thank you," he said.
"Dr. Crane, for the past six months, I have been sitting on a secret," I said, "a secret that someone else has been sitting on for nearly seven years, a secret that was shared with me by three other people and finally as of yesterday, the person himself."
"What," Dr. Crane asked.
"I've known about Niles' feelings for me for months now," I said, "I found out just before your birthday. I'm not blaming anyone for telling me, especially as I received confirmations from everyone. And yesterday, I got to hear it coming from him. You probably saw right through my "I'm not upset" act that I pulled yesterday. The letter I got in the mail was from Niles. He told me everything he had been wanting to tell me from the moment we met."
"What did he say," Dr. Crane asked glaring at Niles.
"That's really none of your business," I said. I don't plan on sharing the letter with anyone. "but it was exactly what I needed to hear. I've been having the same sort of feelings for him for such a long time now. I'm not quite sure when they started. The only thing I'm sure of is the fact that I can't remember not having these feelings. And then I got his letter and I knew that I had given up on all of my dreams too soon. I realized and as bad as this sounds, I settled for Donny. My dream had been right in front of me for so long. Yesterday I came to the conclusion that no matter how wonderful Donny might be, I couldn't give up on my dream. Especially with him being right beside me. Niles is my dream, he's my miracle. I believe in us. And I'm willing to give up everything so that we can have a shot."
"Niles," Dr. Crane asked.
"What," he responded. Answering his brother meant he had to tear his eyes off of me. I'm just glad I got to see his excitement before his eyes dimmed a bit.
"Do you have anything to say," Dr. Crane asked.
"Yes," he said, "I love Daphne. I love her. But you knew that. Everyone knew that. And Daphne knows now. I did write that letter. I had to get my feelings out somehow. If I couldn't tell her verbally, at least my feelings would be documented in some form. I couldn't keep them bottled up inside me anymore. If I did, I probably would have exploded at some point and the last thing any of us need is to be picking up pieces of Niles all over the place."
"I'd prefer it if he were in one piece" I said, "I've already got a broken heart to mend."
"You already did," Niles whispered to me.
"Really," I asked.
"Of course," he answered, "Daphne, the only thing I've ever needed in life is you. And having you heals any and every wound that I may have had. I don't feel the pain of heartache anymore."
"I'm glad," I said kissing him as gently and quickly as I could therefore not starting something I knew could not be finished.
"You know," Dr. Crane said to us, "I woke up this morning and had no idea how to respond to what happened last night. Don't be angry but I was kind of hoping I wouldn't have to see you. I didn't know whether I would congratulate you or kill you. Last night stunned even me."
"Yeah, his jaw hit the floor before Donny's did," Mr. Crane said jumping into the conversation. His sarcasm always manages to break the tension. It's one of the many little quirks that I have come to love about Mr. Crane.
"I knew something had upset you when you got that letter,' Dr. Crane said, "I had no idea that it was from Niles. And I should have recognized the handwriting. I was truly worried while you were gone. I called Roz just to see if she had talked to you. I guess I worried her and that's why she showed up last night."
"I should have told someone why I was running out like that," I said. "Poor Donny, I was really rude to him yesterday. Pushing him away from me and everything, but it just didn't feel right. It hasn't for quite some time. There was always a little part of him that made me uncomfortable, I couldn't figure out what it was though. I did yesterday though. He isn't Niles. Now I don't feel anything but complete."
"Daphne," Dr. Crane said walking over to me and placing his hands on my arms, "I want to be sure that you realize that Niles wants forever with you. I don't think any of us could handle anything less than that. You've always been a part of this family. You're the sister I never had."
"The daughter I never had," Mr. Crane chimed in.
"You've always been so much more to Niles," Dr. Crane said looking directly at Niles, "from the very beginning. We've all watched his love for you blossom and become so intense, it was inevitable to become jealous of it. For me, it was much easier to deny his feelings than accept the fact that he is experiencing something I have yet to. Something I didn't even know was possible. Niles only needs one thing in life. That's you."
"He's the only thing I need," I said, "it just took me a little while to figure it out. Before I even realized it was love that I feel for him, Niles was the most important person in my life. He has given me more things than I ever hoped I would receive, even more than I thought I deserved. He has given me support, guidance, friendship, respect and love. I want you to know that I plan on giving him whatever he needs to be happy. All that I am just isn't enough, he deserves the world and I'm going to see that he gets it, no matter how long it takes."
The looks on the faces of the three men who gave me a new life are priceless. Especially Niles as he is so close to tears. Without saying a word, I know that is the first time anyone has ever said anything like to him. The same goes for Dr. and Mr. Crane. It's the first time they have ever heard a woman say that to Niles. Perhaps it's the first time they have heard it period. Yes, they know he deserves to be happy but I don't think they ever expected him to find someone who made him as such. Nor did they expect someone to put forth all that she is for him.
I'm woman who is going to make his dreams come true. I've come to realize that he is more than worth all of the confusion and heartache that I have experienced these last months. It's truly amazing how one person can come into your life and make everything okay by simply being there. We've helped each other in more ways than I can even begin to recount. This is my chance to do those things publicly. I want the world to know that my mission in life is to love and take care of Niles Crane.
"I hope you mean that because this isn't something that's going to go away," Dr. Crane said, trying to explain to me something I already knew. "Niles is going to love you until the day he dies. And I know your relationship is the most important thing in the world to him. I know it's pretty important to you as well. I would just hate for either of you to get hurt."
Dear Dr. Crane, always looking out for everyone involved.
"I know. I'm going to love him forever. Although I don't think," I said looking over at Niles. "Forever is long enough though. Is that okay?"
"That's perfect," he said.
"So are you guys going to get married," Mr. Crane asked. I can tell he's wanted to ask us that from the moment we walked into the main room of the apartment. At times I could actually see him squirm in his chair and ring his hands under the table.
"Dad, Daphne has made me a proposal," Niles said reaching to stroke my cheek, "that I simply could not refuse."
"All right," Mr. Crane said jumping out of his seat and embracing us both, "congratulations!"
"Thank you," I said once again looking for Dr. Crane's approval.
"Daphne Crane does have a nice ring to it," he said, "let me be the first to officially welcome you into our family."
"Oh thank you Dr. Crane," I said.
"You can't call me that anymore," he said, "we're family now. My family calls me Frasier."
"Well, thank you Frasier,' I said. It felt so strange to call him that. I have no choice other than to get used to it. We're going to be family for quite a long time. Those children Niles and I are planning to have are going to call him as such. It would be quite unusual for their mother to call their uncle by his professional name.
"Don't worry, it will take some time to get used to," he said, "for both of us."
"And you better start calling me Dad," Mr. Crane said.
"You mean now," I asked, "we're not even married yet."
"Well, how long before you will be," he asked.
"Dad, we're not going to run off and get married tonight," Niles said coming to my rescue. "We're going to take some time to sort a few things out."
"But soon," I said. I don't want to wait more than a few months to become Mrs. Niles Crane.
"I guess I can wait," Mr. Crane said.
"I can work on Martin though," I said.
"I can live with that," he said hugging me.
"Daphne, if I may bring up a rather nasty topic," Frasier said quietly.
"Yes," I said, knowing exactly what he was going to say.
"What are you going to do about Donny," he asked.
"We were actually talking about that before we came out here," I said, "and I took care of it. I'm meeting him at Nervosa on his lunch break."
"I see," he said, "are you going with her Niles?"
"No," he said. "Daphne wants to do this on her own and I'm going to let her. I'll be here when it's over."
Hearing him say that gave me the strength to gather up my might and make things right with Donny. As much as I want to stay here in the comfort of my boys, I have a job to do. And when it's over, I'll be right back here in the arms of the man that loves me and surrounded by a family I'm thrilled to be a part of.