Thank you to Sydney for sitting through Niles' & Mel's wedding reception
for me when I needed to iron out some of the details. It was a brave and
unenviable task.
In memory of Kardeshim, another kind heart whose gentleness will be
remembered. Always.
Your Average Night in Hell
By Amy (amydekanter@yahoo.com)
There was nothing Martin Crane wanted more at this moment than to take his boys by the throat and shake some sense into them. In other words, he was in tired, old territory.
He squinted at the mirror and adjusted his tie.
"What d'ya think, Eddie, is it straight enough for a fake wedding reception?"
Eddie raised his eyebrows, unimpressed.
"You're right," Martin said, pulling it off and starting over. "Okay, let's try this again." It occurred to him that his buddy's disapproval might not have anything to do with the tie. After all, Eddie knew the boys as well as their father did.
Frasier and Niles had gotten themselves into these kinds of scrapes their whole lives. Their own breed of scrapes, mind you, not the kind of problems other men's sons had. No problems with the law or drinking or fighting or women or crazy driving. But theirs was still trouble and it was still neck deep and it was still patently Frasier and Niles.
"I don't know, Eddie. I love them and god knows they have their hearts in the right place, it's just that... they're always so worried about doing the right thing that they think it to death and confuse themselves into doing the wrong thing."
Eddie yawned. He had heard this a million times before.
"Look, I'm sorry, it just drives me crazy. I mean, can you tell me how in the space of hours and with only the best intentions, one son gets himself slapped with a lawsuit and the other gets himself roped into dumping the best thing that ever happened to him? In exchange for what? For an evening with that Mel woman, that's what. I wish you could tell me how they get themselves into these situations, because it beats the hell out of me."
Wearily, Eddie lay down. Martin new exactly how he felt.
"It's not like we've never seen Niles and Frasier miss out on a good thing. Hell, it's their habit, especially with women. They score with the freaks and miss with the good ones. I've gotten used to it. But this time..." Martin sat heavily on the bed. "This time it's different, isn't it, boy? This time it's Daphne."
Eddie bounded onto the bed and rolled over, demanding a good belly rubbing. Martin gave it to him. It didn't make either of them feel much better.
"She's like a daughter to me, you know?" These were the kinds of things he could only say to Eddie. Saying them to a person sounded sappy, but Eddie understood. Martin could tell it from the expression on his face; Eddie understood. Martin had liked Daphne the moment he met her and no matter how often they fought, he always knew that making Frasier hire her was the best decision he'd ever made.
"I never wanted a daughter, you know? I always wanted a son. " Eddie raised his head and looked at Martin pointedly. Martin sighed. "Yeah, I know, a son would have been nice. But you take what you get. Anyway, I never thought of myself as a daughter kind of man. And after seeing what the boys dragged home I sure as heck didn't see myself as a daughter-in-law kind of man. Think about it.... Maris, Mel...." He didn't say Lilith's name out loud because he knew it upset Eddie.
"But Daphne..."
He'd gotten so used to having her around. To tell the truth, he was more used to Daphne than Frasier or Niles. More comfortable with her than with anyone outside the bar... except for Eddie, of course. Martin had been hurting ever since she got engaged to Donny. He tried to be philosophical about it, but he'd been hurting. It was the empty nest syndrome Hester had described when the boys went off to college. He'd been too busy then and he'd never been close to them anyway. Now he finally understood.
In truth, he'd always wished for someone like Daphne for one of his sons. Kinda like wishing they would learn to love basketball or one day volunteer to go fishing with him .... It was a dream but it just wasn't going to happen.
Except, it had.
"Niles with Daphne, can you beat that?" Eddie couldn't. Martin stood and finished dressing, cheered by the memory.
"You should have seen it, boy: it was perfect. You know how I feel about weddings, but this was something else. Niles swooped Daphne away from the altar as if he were John Wayne or someone. That was pretty neat, I'll tell you. And what's even neater is that their getaway car was my Winnebago. Now that is a story to tell the grandkids." Eddie didn't react. He'd heard this story three times already.
Martin hadn't told Eddie the rest of it. Not the part where they came back. Not the part where crazy Mel spent an hour screaming abuse at his son. And especially not the part where Daphne got slapped. He didn't tell that to anyone, just as he had promised. He himself didn't think about it much because it burned something inside every time. He didn't care who that woman thought she was, all he knew was that seeing her hit Daphne made him feel worse than anything since he'd retired as a cop. And all he could say was, thank god he didn't have his gun with him at the time.
Angrily, he knotted his tie, wincing when he pulled just a little too tight. He loosened it a little. There, he looked presentable. He pulled his lips back over his teeth.
"Does this look like a proud father smile to you?" he snarled. Eddie hid his head under the pillow. Martin nodded, satisfied. That was the reaction he'd been looking for.
He hated the idea of this evening. He would have hated it regardless, because it would be stuffy and boring, like all of Niles' and Frasier's friends' parties. Even the fact that it was all make-believe, something that at least made it interesting, made him feel worse instead of better. Sure, Niles had gotten himself into this particular tight spot, but this time the one who was going to get hurt most was Daphne. He could just bet on it.
"Why the hell can't Niles see that?" Eddie's head was still under the pillow so didn't answer. But he looked as depressed as Martin felt.
"Dad?"
"Ready, Frasier. Come on, Eddie."
Martin felt better when he walked out into an empty living room. Maybe Niles and Daphne were together, straightening things out.
"Where are the kids?"
"What? Niles left right when we went to get changed. I don't know where Daphne's gone. Come on, Dad."
Eddie sat mournfully on the couch, staring at the kitchen. Martin cursed softly.
"You go ahead, Frasier. I forgot something."
"Okay, I'll bring the car round."
Martin found Daphne in the kitchen, just where Eddie said she'd be. She had her back to him, her hands gripping the counter.
"Hey, Daphne... you're okay, right?" It was a stupid thing to say. He knew damn well she wasn't.
Daphne didn't answer
"Look, I'm going to keep an eye on him for you, so don't you worry about a thing." Daphne didn't say anything. Her shoulders were shaking. As Martin came closer he saw big tears splashing onto the countertop. Aww, geez. Martin looked around helplessly as if he could make a solution materialise out of thin air. Where the hell was Roz when he needed her? Nowhere, that was where.
Cautiously, he put a hand on Daphne's shoulder, knowing such an action would invite her to fling herself at him and leave watermarks all over his jacket. But she didn't. She just kept her arms tight against her sides as if she were trying to keep herself from falling to pieces... and crying as if she already had. It damn near broke his heart.
"Come here." Martin pulled Daphne towards him hugging her as well as he could with one arm. It was like hugging a board. A hard, stiff, shaking board.
"Daphne, I know my boys. Niles is crazy about you. He's been crazy about you for years. Now, I don't agree with what he's doing tonight, but let's get that over with and then take it from there. Okay?"
"Dad, are you ready?" What was Frasier doing back?
"Oh, dammit, I'd better go." He knew Daphne would hate to have one more person see her like this. He wouldn't say anything to Frasier or Niles because he knew Daphne would want him to keep quiet about this too. That's what a dad would do, right? But he was tired of all these secrets. He gave her one last, awkward hug. "You promise me something too, okay? You promise me you won't give up on him yet."
Daphne didn't look at him, didn't answer. She stayed where he left her, shaking and crying big tears.
He made it back to the living room just in time. Frasier was rushing in from the bedrooms, searching for his father and looking frantic. Martin didn't bother explaining.
"Come on," he said roughly. "Let's get the hell out of here."
##
Daphne had not meant to worry Mr. Crane. She didn't mean to worry anyone. She just couldn't stop crying. She tried to attribute it to exhaustion and confusion, but she knew that wasn't it. At least not all of it.
Whatever had happened had happened so fast. She had known by Niles' face that he had some bad news for her but she had been prepared for it. As long as they had each other they would get through it. She knew that. And he had said it. He had said they would get through it together. But they were not together. He was gone and she was alone.
She was alone on the evening she had looked forward to all day. Or all her life. It was the evening she was finally going to have her first date with someone she had put off loving for far too long. Her Niles.
Tears continued their steady stream down her face. Her Niles who was spending the evening with his wife.
His wife. Those two words... they made it sound like he was doing the honourable thing. As if Daphne had no right to expect any different. A man should be with his wife. Not with... whoever the hell Daphne was.
Don't do this, she begged herself. Niles loved her. Daphne. He had said as much, just now. Not 'I love you,' but he had said he didn't want to be with anyone else.
Even though now he was.
He was being toasted as half of a happy couple. And Daphne was not the other half.
Her fingers dug into the countertop. It was wet, flooded with her tears. Tissues. She needed tissues. She found a new box from the cupboard but did not return to the kitchen. Why should she? It had been a hiding place and now there was no one left to hide from. She was alone.
Nor she could bear to go back to her room. Not with her special first date dress hanging on the door, waiting to be disappointed.
Ripping the box open, Daphne wandered unsteadily into the living room.
"Move," she told Eddie. Eddie jumped off the sofa and onto Mr. Crane's chair. Daphne took his place. He fixed her with his brown eyes and wagged the tip of his tail as if in concern.
"I guess that makes you my date for the evening," she sniffed. It could have been worse. Thank god she had managed to get rid of Simon.
It also could have been better.
This was the third night someone had prevented them from being together. The first night it had been Daphne herself, the night before her wedding. The second had been Dr. Crane, who was very right to do so, under the circumstances.
Tonight it was Mel, someone Daphne expected would make Niles' divorce difficult but not someone who would be able to keep them physically apart.
Not forever, Daphne reminded herself. Just for one night.
"He loves me," Daphne told Eddie, feeling better when Eddie did not disagree. And it wasn't as if she hadn't seen Niles at all today. She thought about how happy she had been this morning, when they'd kissed in the kitchen, stealing the moment like a precious treasure. She almost smiled when she remembered how very polite and proper and adorably Niles he'd been when she had pretended she had to think about whether she was free to go out with him on a date tonight.
Almost smiled. A fresh gush of tears poured down her cheeks faster than she could mop them up. Now that it was Niles who wasn't free it didn't seem so funny anymore.
It was just the disappointment, she told herself. That was why she was feeling so terrible. Of course she had been looking forward to tonight. So had Niles. He was the one who had made all those wonderful plans. This evening was just as spoiled for him as it was for her.
She thought of Niles' serious face as he had delivered the news, as if he were afraid to tell her. She did not want him to be afraid of her. As much as this hurt it had to be a hundred times worse for him. At least she didn't have to pretend to be love with anyone but Niles. As if she could.
Daphne curled up on the couch as she pulled yet another tissue from the box. She was tired. Tired of crying, tired of questioning, tired of defending, tired of feeling sorry for herself. She was tired. Period.
And she wished Niles were here.
Not just for their date. The plans had seemed romantic because Niles had gone through such trouble. Tonight, as time for the date that wasn't to be grew near, Daphne could barely remember why she had been so excited about it all. If anyone asked her now she did not want any of it. Not the smart restaurants or elegant dinners or fancy places people just went to dance.
All she really wanted was...
"Niles..." Daphne whispered. "I want Niles." Eddie stared at her as if he wished he could help. But he couldn't. Nobody could. And there was only one thing Daphne could do. She buried her face in her arms and sobbed.
##
The first two drinks made Roz stop hating her three-inch spikes. The third made the 'check engine' light in her car seem almost funny. But no matter how many she followed up with, she hated being here.
Earlier she had thought such a farce would be too good to miss, but she'd forgotten that these things are only fun when they happen to strangers or people you hate. Speaking of which...
Roz figured she was finally drunk enough to seriously embarrass her hosts. She staggered over to the smiling newlyweds.
"Great wedding reception!" Roz said enthusiastically. "You guys should definitely throw these more often."
"It would not be the same without you, Roz. Any friend of Niles and Frasier..." Mel did not have to finish the sentence. It was obvious there was no love lost there. Oh, goody. Roz turned on the saccharine.
"Mel, I just wanted you to know... what Frasier said just now in his speech.... That goes double for me." She kicked back the rest of her martini. "Niles used to have the worst taste in women, real side show material, you know? I can't believe he finally made such a great choice."
"Roz, I think you're being missed at the bar." Niles was obviously panicking. Roz didn't care; it served him right.
"And Niles, I honestly can't believe you are doing something like this. I would have thought your style was more... I don't know... some super romantic evening for just you and your ladylove."
Even though she was furious with him, Roz regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. Niles looked like a puppy who had just been smacked for no reason. Frasier came over to see what was happening.
"So, Roz, how is single motherhood treating you?" Mel raised her voice so nearby guests would hear. Frasier looked appalled but Roz didn't give a damn. She had learned such comments said more about the person saying them than at the person they were aimed at. Volumes more.
"Great!" Roz said, just as loudly. "How about you? Any plans for a litter of your own?"
"Roz! Frasier..."
"I'm on it, Niles," Frasier's hand closed firmly around her arm. "Excuse us, Mel. Roz, let's get some air."
Roz tried to fight him off but there wasn't much she could do in her present condition. Without her heels and blood alcohol level, she could have taken him blindfolded.
"Let me go, dammit!" He finally did when they were safely outside on the terrace.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" He asked angrily.
"What's the matter with me? What's the matter with your brother? It was supposed to be their first date tonight and he's here feeling Mel up for cavities."
"What's that?" Marty had wandered over.
"Nothing, Dad." Frasier glared at Roz. She glared back. Screw him.
"Tonight was supposed to be Niles and Daphne's first date. He had everything arranged and she went out and bought a new dress. With shoes."
Martin and Frasier stared at her, then at each other. Oh yeah. The dress was supposed to be a surprise.
"Oh, crap. I'm going to get a drink." Martin looked like he could use it. "Roz? Anything?"
"You don't have enough hands. Better send over a waiter."
"Gotcha."
"I didn't know they had a date tonight." Frasier looked upset. Roz was glad. It was about time they all stopped acting as if everything were hunky dory and peachy keen.
"Yeah, well, go figure. I guess Daphne was the only one who thought that leaving her fiancé at the altar should be treated like a big deal. But it was. She bought a dress." Fresh air was having exactly the opposite effect Frasier had intended; Roz was starting to feel extremely woozy. "A shiny one. Not just anyone can wear a shiny dress, you know?" If she closed her eyes real tight then opened them fast she could almost see it. Roz tried it a few times. Pretty.
"Okay, Roz, what's going on?"
"Oh, come on, Frasier. You're the one with the famous sense of irony and you need me to draw you a picture?" That was pretty eloquent to someone who'd had approximately four score and seven drinks. Roz chuckled to herself. Four score and seven... that was pretty funny. She tried to stand up but fell back down into the seat again. She didn't feel so good. "Frasier, does 'score' mean twenty or a hundred?"
"In your case it may run into the quadruple digits." She may be plastered but he wasn't fooling her. He was broken up about the date thing. It was her duty as a friend to try and cheer him up.
"Hey, how much d'ya wanna bet I can make up a dirty limerick about our founding fathers?"
"That's it," Frasier stood up and helped her to her feet. "I'm taking you home."
"Hold it, sailor. Don't you even want to know my name first?"
"I don't know, it seems you're doing a fine job of making a name for yourself already."
"You think I give a rat's ass about these people? I don't. I hate everyone here. Especially the waiters."
Frasier suddenly stopped steering her to the door. Instead, he put his arm around her and gently led her back outside.
"Except your dad," Roz admitted. "I don't hate Martin. You're okay too," she added. After all, the man was helping her sit back down. She looked up at his blue eyes. They actually were quite nice eyes when they weren't trying to look superior or ironicacacal. "I love you, Frasier."
"I love you too." Frasier pulled out his handkerchief and started dabbing her face with it.
"Eeeeew." Roz tried to struggle away but Frasier held her fast. "Your handkerchief is wet."
"It is now," he said.
"Aw, man. I'm crying?" When did that start? "How's my make-up?"
"I'd say good enough for a roomful of people you hate."
"Oh, right." Why should she care? "Am I still crying?"
"Just a little." Frasier smiled at her. His blue eyes were kind. Roz leaned up against him. She sighed and let him keep wiping her face.
"I don't really have anything against waiters," Roz said. "It's just that I told the baby sitter I'd be back by midnight and they only get off at one."
"I understand." Frasier was still had his arm around her and was rocking her a little, the way she did to Alice when she cried. No wonder Alice liked it so much. "How about Niles?" Frasier asked.
"Niles, are you kidding me? He's already got more than he can handle. He's really not my type, anyway."
"No, no." Frasier sounded resigned. "I mean... do you hate Niles?"
"He kissed Mel, Frasier. How could he kiss Mel?"
"Don't remind me. I'm trying to keep down these h'ors d'oeuvres as it is." Roz pushed at him but he held her tight.
"This isn't funny, Frasier. He's supposed to be on a date with Daphne and he's here tongue sparring with another woman. I just want to kill him!"
"Roz...." The dry Frasier humour was gone. Now he just sounded troubled.
"Don't you dare defend him. Just because he's your brother..."
"Yes, he's my brother, and that's why you have to trust me. I know Niles and I know, more than anyone else, what this is doing to him."
"What about what it's doing to Daphne?"
"Roz," Frasier hugged her closer. "You have to remember that Niles is not the enemy. Everything else is against them but he loves Daphne. We need to help them both."
Roz felt some of her anger - not all - drain away. She relaxed back against him.
"Damn, I must be drunk," she said. "You're actually making sense."
"It's not the drink, those weren't my words. I'm just repeating the lecture Dad gave me yesterday."
"Oh, no wonder." She thought of Daphne alone at the house with nothing for company except a new dress and Donny's lawsuit. Frasier started in with the handkerchief again. This time Roz knew she needed it.
"She was so excited about that damn dress, you know? About the whole evening actually. It was like the one thing that was keeping her going. This whole lawsuit business was like the last straw for her, Frasier. She tried to be brave about the whole thing for you guys, but it really messed her up. You know what it's like to see someone you care about cry like that?"
"I can imagine," Frasier said gently. He was still rocking her. "Roz..."
"Oh, sorry." Martin looked embarrassed as if he'd interrupted something. But he didn't leave.
"What are you staring at, Dad?" Frasier sounded irritated.
"Nothing, just thinking... it took Niles and Daphne seven years to see they had a good thing. Let's see how long it takes you two."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Roz was wondering the same thing.
"Never mind," Marty said, as if they'd proved a point for him. "In case you're interested, the party is winding up. It looks like we can get out of here soon."
Not soon enough for her.
"Can you walk?" Frasier asked Roz.
"I need some help." Even if she hadn't, it felt nice having him around. "By the way... that was a really great speech."
"Yes, I thought so as well. I just wish Daphne had heard it."
"Don't worry, she will." In the blow-by-blow account Roz was planning to give her tomorrow.
People were lining up to say good-bye to the newlyweds. Mel was showing her sharp little pearly whites to everyone. Niles, however... there was something about his face that made Roz sober up fast. Like with Frasier, Roz was used to seeing the dry, ironic, one-eyebrow-raised-to-the-world Niles. And like with Frasier, tonight Roz was seeing a different person.
There was something about his eyes that made him look like he was somewhere else... with someone else, more likely. He looked small and sad and lonely. Occasionally Mel would give him a hard nudge and then he would plaster on that smile and put his arm around his wife, but Roz no longer believed any of it. Not after seeing that look. Poor guy.
When Roz and Frasier reached them she gave Niles a big hug... which, after a shocked moment, he returned.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm really, really happy for you. And Mel," Roz turned to the woman who had it within her power to make everything difficult or easy for Niles and Daphne. "I apologise for the way I acted earlier... I guess you know I love Niles, which gives us something in common... I think we both know he deserves to be happy."
"Oh Roz, your opinion means so much to me," Mel gave her a quick, jerky hug for the benefit of people still waiting in line. Then she stood back. Roz's heart fell as Mel put her arm around her husband of six days, her teeth glistening like icicles. "And I promise you, I have every intention of giving Niles exactly what he deserves."
##
After the last guest had gone, Mel had abruptly turned away from Niles without even a good-bye.
"I'll call you tomorrow," she had said. "Don't make any plans for this weekend." As if any plans could be made.
Well, thank god that at least the reception was over. And as he promised Daphne, it was only eleven o'clock. It was still too late for them to go out anywhere, and Niles was drained from the reception as it was, but he had to see her.
He had to see her. There was that heaviness in his heart again. Had to. Had to tell her something. Just last night every thought of Daphne had sent him spiralling to cloud nine, every moment apart was spent in anticipation of seeing her again. Just last night all he 'had to' tell her was that he loved her, over and over again. As dictated by his heart.
But now... now it was Mel who was doing the dictating. Twice he had gone to Frasier's apartment feeling only the dread of the obligation ahead, of saying something Daphne wouldn't want to hear. And carrying that heaviness.
Dad hadn't said two words to him since he'd told them about Mel's newest condition. He had only stared at Niles with a terrible look, not just angry and disappointed but resigned to the fact that Niles was either too incompetent or too weak to come up with a better solution. Couldn't Dad understand that there was no other solution? Not for what Niles wanted more than anything in the world. And Niles was almost certain Daphne would not understand either.
"Are you all right back there?" Frasier asked from the driver's seat.
"Yes." Niles lied. He finally had the woman he'd secretly loved for seven years and he had to lie simply about being all right. He followed up with something true. "I'm a bit tired."
"That's understandable," Frasier said. "You have been strong, Niles, you just didn't anticipate you would have to keep it up for so long. I suspect you thought you could just hand over the whole mess to some lawyer and be done with it."
He was right. Niles had not expected to be involved with his own divorce proceedings. He had not expected Mel's terms to include an agreement of prolonged involvement. He had not expected Mel to ask for anything of him ever again. But she had and he felt he owed it to her. It was the least he could do, blameless as she was for all this. Besides, she was being so generous and understanding about his wish for a quick divorce. It was the least he could do.
Niles concentrated on taking slow breaths as Frasier unlocked the front door. The lights were on in the apartment. Frasier walked in first and held up a hand to stop the others from following too quickly.
"Shhhh," he warned.
The three of them stood by the door and Niles could almost feel the cloud of remorse descending upon them as they gazed at Daphne, curled up on the couch, fast asleep.
"Do you think she was waiting up for us?" Frasier asked. Niles moved towards her.
"Daphne?" He bent over her and lightly stroked her hair. "Daphne..."
"Aw, let her sleep," Dad said. "If she's that tired, just leave her there. I'll get a blanket." He hobbled off to his room.
"Um...a drink, Niles?"
"No, thank you." Niles knelt next to Daphne, still stroking her hair, moving it gently out of her face. Could it be that he had forgotten how beautiful she was? Only if he had also forgotten, right up to this moment, how the sight of her always made him feel.
"Niles, you're doing all you can," Frasier reminded him. "It's the only way to get the divorce quickly and painlessly."
"Quickly yes, but painlessly?" Not according to his heaviness in his heart. Daphne's breaths were deep and slow, her eyelids still with dreamlessness. Even in sleep she looked exhausted.
"Here you go," Dad handed him a blanket. "I'm off to bed. Don't wake her."
"Thanks, Dad." Gently, Niles pulled the blanket up over her body. As he did, Daphne stirred and her had dropped off the sofa. It was clenched around something. Niles touched it and her hand fell open, revealing a crumpled tissue. For the first time, Niles noticed the many more, like wilted flowers, strewn on the floor next to the sofa. Stricken, he stared up at his brother.
"Frasier..."
"Oh, Niles." The unhappy look on Frasier's face told Niles he had seen and now knew too how Daphne had spent the evening of their first date.
"Daphne...I'm sorry," he choked. His heart now so heavy he could hardly move, Niles leaned over and kissed her cheek. It tasted of salt. He closed his eyes. "I'm so sorry." He felt his brother's hand on his shoulder.
"Go home, Niles." Frasier said quietly "Get some rest."
He didn't want to go home. He wanted to stay here, next to her, lying on the paper garden she had watered with her tears. He wanted to be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes tomorrow, the first person she heard, telling her how very much he loved her... before telling her once more that he was about to break her heart.
Unsteadily, he got to his feet. He did not deserve to touch Daphne again.
She needed her sleep. And he needed another day. He had already broken the promise he'd made yesterday, to kiss her again and often as he had just before she'd gone to break off her wedding with Donny. True, they had had no time alone today, but how hard would it have been to make the time?
He had also broken the promise he had made to her this morning. He asked her on a date and then left her alone to cry herself to sleep on his brother's couch.
As he said good night to Frasier, the heaviness in his heart grew even heavier, making it almost impossible to walk to the door. He took one last look at Daphne before leaving. Sweet dreams, he wished her silently. Like a prayer. Grant her one good night's rest to prepare her for tomorrow. Just a twenty-four hour delay, he had promised. Then they would finally have that first date they had so looked forward to. The date that would convince her once and for all that she had made the right choice.
Tomorrow it would be three days since Daphne gave up everything to be with him. And tomorrow it would be three promises Niles had broken to the person he loved more than anyone in the world.
The apartment door safely closed behind him, Niles sagged against the wall and slowly sank to the floor. He had also promised her he would be strong, so that made four broken promises.
"Daphne," he whispered one last time before he buried his face in his hands and cried.
Your Average Night in Hell
By Amy (amydekanter@yahoo.com)
There was nothing Martin Crane wanted more at this moment than to take his boys by the throat and shake some sense into them. In other words, he was in tired, old territory.
He squinted at the mirror and adjusted his tie.
"What d'ya think, Eddie, is it straight enough for a fake wedding reception?"
Eddie raised his eyebrows, unimpressed.
"You're right," Martin said, pulling it off and starting over. "Okay, let's try this again." It occurred to him that his buddy's disapproval might not have anything to do with the tie. After all, Eddie knew the boys as well as their father did.
Frasier and Niles had gotten themselves into these kinds of scrapes their whole lives. Their own breed of scrapes, mind you, not the kind of problems other men's sons had. No problems with the law or drinking or fighting or women or crazy driving. But theirs was still trouble and it was still neck deep and it was still patently Frasier and Niles.
"I don't know, Eddie. I love them and god knows they have their hearts in the right place, it's just that... they're always so worried about doing the right thing that they think it to death and confuse themselves into doing the wrong thing."
Eddie yawned. He had heard this a million times before.
"Look, I'm sorry, it just drives me crazy. I mean, can you tell me how in the space of hours and with only the best intentions, one son gets himself slapped with a lawsuit and the other gets himself roped into dumping the best thing that ever happened to him? In exchange for what? For an evening with that Mel woman, that's what. I wish you could tell me how they get themselves into these situations, because it beats the hell out of me."
Wearily, Eddie lay down. Martin new exactly how he felt.
"It's not like we've never seen Niles and Frasier miss out on a good thing. Hell, it's their habit, especially with women. They score with the freaks and miss with the good ones. I've gotten used to it. But this time..." Martin sat heavily on the bed. "This time it's different, isn't it, boy? This time it's Daphne."
Eddie bounded onto the bed and rolled over, demanding a good belly rubbing. Martin gave it to him. It didn't make either of them feel much better.
"She's like a daughter to me, you know?" These were the kinds of things he could only say to Eddie. Saying them to a person sounded sappy, but Eddie understood. Martin could tell it from the expression on his face; Eddie understood. Martin had liked Daphne the moment he met her and no matter how often they fought, he always knew that making Frasier hire her was the best decision he'd ever made.
"I never wanted a daughter, you know? I always wanted a son. " Eddie raised his head and looked at Martin pointedly. Martin sighed. "Yeah, I know, a son would have been nice. But you take what you get. Anyway, I never thought of myself as a daughter kind of man. And after seeing what the boys dragged home I sure as heck didn't see myself as a daughter-in-law kind of man. Think about it.... Maris, Mel...." He didn't say Lilith's name out loud because he knew it upset Eddie.
"But Daphne..."
He'd gotten so used to having her around. To tell the truth, he was more used to Daphne than Frasier or Niles. More comfortable with her than with anyone outside the bar... except for Eddie, of course. Martin had been hurting ever since she got engaged to Donny. He tried to be philosophical about it, but he'd been hurting. It was the empty nest syndrome Hester had described when the boys went off to college. He'd been too busy then and he'd never been close to them anyway. Now he finally understood.
In truth, he'd always wished for someone like Daphne for one of his sons. Kinda like wishing they would learn to love basketball or one day volunteer to go fishing with him .... It was a dream but it just wasn't going to happen.
Except, it had.
"Niles with Daphne, can you beat that?" Eddie couldn't. Martin stood and finished dressing, cheered by the memory.
"You should have seen it, boy: it was perfect. You know how I feel about weddings, but this was something else. Niles swooped Daphne away from the altar as if he were John Wayne or someone. That was pretty neat, I'll tell you. And what's even neater is that their getaway car was my Winnebago. Now that is a story to tell the grandkids." Eddie didn't react. He'd heard this story three times already.
Martin hadn't told Eddie the rest of it. Not the part where they came back. Not the part where crazy Mel spent an hour screaming abuse at his son. And especially not the part where Daphne got slapped. He didn't tell that to anyone, just as he had promised. He himself didn't think about it much because it burned something inside every time. He didn't care who that woman thought she was, all he knew was that seeing her hit Daphne made him feel worse than anything since he'd retired as a cop. And all he could say was, thank god he didn't have his gun with him at the time.
Angrily, he knotted his tie, wincing when he pulled just a little too tight. He loosened it a little. There, he looked presentable. He pulled his lips back over his teeth.
"Does this look like a proud father smile to you?" he snarled. Eddie hid his head under the pillow. Martin nodded, satisfied. That was the reaction he'd been looking for.
He hated the idea of this evening. He would have hated it regardless, because it would be stuffy and boring, like all of Niles' and Frasier's friends' parties. Even the fact that it was all make-believe, something that at least made it interesting, made him feel worse instead of better. Sure, Niles had gotten himself into this particular tight spot, but this time the one who was going to get hurt most was Daphne. He could just bet on it.
"Why the hell can't Niles see that?" Eddie's head was still under the pillow so didn't answer. But he looked as depressed as Martin felt.
"Dad?"
"Ready, Frasier. Come on, Eddie."
Martin felt better when he walked out into an empty living room. Maybe Niles and Daphne were together, straightening things out.
"Where are the kids?"
"What? Niles left right when we went to get changed. I don't know where Daphne's gone. Come on, Dad."
Eddie sat mournfully on the couch, staring at the kitchen. Martin cursed softly.
"You go ahead, Frasier. I forgot something."
"Okay, I'll bring the car round."
Martin found Daphne in the kitchen, just where Eddie said she'd be. She had her back to him, her hands gripping the counter.
"Hey, Daphne... you're okay, right?" It was a stupid thing to say. He knew damn well she wasn't.
Daphne didn't answer
"Look, I'm going to keep an eye on him for you, so don't you worry about a thing." Daphne didn't say anything. Her shoulders were shaking. As Martin came closer he saw big tears splashing onto the countertop. Aww, geez. Martin looked around helplessly as if he could make a solution materialise out of thin air. Where the hell was Roz when he needed her? Nowhere, that was where.
Cautiously, he put a hand on Daphne's shoulder, knowing such an action would invite her to fling herself at him and leave watermarks all over his jacket. But she didn't. She just kept her arms tight against her sides as if she were trying to keep herself from falling to pieces... and crying as if she already had. It damn near broke his heart.
"Come here." Martin pulled Daphne towards him hugging her as well as he could with one arm. It was like hugging a board. A hard, stiff, shaking board.
"Daphne, I know my boys. Niles is crazy about you. He's been crazy about you for years. Now, I don't agree with what he's doing tonight, but let's get that over with and then take it from there. Okay?"
"Dad, are you ready?" What was Frasier doing back?
"Oh, dammit, I'd better go." He knew Daphne would hate to have one more person see her like this. He wouldn't say anything to Frasier or Niles because he knew Daphne would want him to keep quiet about this too. That's what a dad would do, right? But he was tired of all these secrets. He gave her one last, awkward hug. "You promise me something too, okay? You promise me you won't give up on him yet."
Daphne didn't look at him, didn't answer. She stayed where he left her, shaking and crying big tears.
He made it back to the living room just in time. Frasier was rushing in from the bedrooms, searching for his father and looking frantic. Martin didn't bother explaining.
"Come on," he said roughly. "Let's get the hell out of here."
##
Daphne had not meant to worry Mr. Crane. She didn't mean to worry anyone. She just couldn't stop crying. She tried to attribute it to exhaustion and confusion, but she knew that wasn't it. At least not all of it.
Whatever had happened had happened so fast. She had known by Niles' face that he had some bad news for her but she had been prepared for it. As long as they had each other they would get through it. She knew that. And he had said it. He had said they would get through it together. But they were not together. He was gone and she was alone.
She was alone on the evening she had looked forward to all day. Or all her life. It was the evening she was finally going to have her first date with someone she had put off loving for far too long. Her Niles.
Tears continued their steady stream down her face. Her Niles who was spending the evening with his wife.
His wife. Those two words... they made it sound like he was doing the honourable thing. As if Daphne had no right to expect any different. A man should be with his wife. Not with... whoever the hell Daphne was.
Don't do this, she begged herself. Niles loved her. Daphne. He had said as much, just now. Not 'I love you,' but he had said he didn't want to be with anyone else.
Even though now he was.
He was being toasted as half of a happy couple. And Daphne was not the other half.
Her fingers dug into the countertop. It was wet, flooded with her tears. Tissues. She needed tissues. She found a new box from the cupboard but did not return to the kitchen. Why should she? It had been a hiding place and now there was no one left to hide from. She was alone.
Nor she could bear to go back to her room. Not with her special first date dress hanging on the door, waiting to be disappointed.
Ripping the box open, Daphne wandered unsteadily into the living room.
"Move," she told Eddie. Eddie jumped off the sofa and onto Mr. Crane's chair. Daphne took his place. He fixed her with his brown eyes and wagged the tip of his tail as if in concern.
"I guess that makes you my date for the evening," she sniffed. It could have been worse. Thank god she had managed to get rid of Simon.
It also could have been better.
This was the third night someone had prevented them from being together. The first night it had been Daphne herself, the night before her wedding. The second had been Dr. Crane, who was very right to do so, under the circumstances.
Tonight it was Mel, someone Daphne expected would make Niles' divorce difficult but not someone who would be able to keep them physically apart.
Not forever, Daphne reminded herself. Just for one night.
"He loves me," Daphne told Eddie, feeling better when Eddie did not disagree. And it wasn't as if she hadn't seen Niles at all today. She thought about how happy she had been this morning, when they'd kissed in the kitchen, stealing the moment like a precious treasure. She almost smiled when she remembered how very polite and proper and adorably Niles he'd been when she had pretended she had to think about whether she was free to go out with him on a date tonight.
Almost smiled. A fresh gush of tears poured down her cheeks faster than she could mop them up. Now that it was Niles who wasn't free it didn't seem so funny anymore.
It was just the disappointment, she told herself. That was why she was feeling so terrible. Of course she had been looking forward to tonight. So had Niles. He was the one who had made all those wonderful plans. This evening was just as spoiled for him as it was for her.
She thought of Niles' serious face as he had delivered the news, as if he were afraid to tell her. She did not want him to be afraid of her. As much as this hurt it had to be a hundred times worse for him. At least she didn't have to pretend to be love with anyone but Niles. As if she could.
Daphne curled up on the couch as she pulled yet another tissue from the box. She was tired. Tired of crying, tired of questioning, tired of defending, tired of feeling sorry for herself. She was tired. Period.
And she wished Niles were here.
Not just for their date. The plans had seemed romantic because Niles had gone through such trouble. Tonight, as time for the date that wasn't to be grew near, Daphne could barely remember why she had been so excited about it all. If anyone asked her now she did not want any of it. Not the smart restaurants or elegant dinners or fancy places people just went to dance.
All she really wanted was...
"Niles..." Daphne whispered. "I want Niles." Eddie stared at her as if he wished he could help. But he couldn't. Nobody could. And there was only one thing Daphne could do. She buried her face in her arms and sobbed.
##
The first two drinks made Roz stop hating her three-inch spikes. The third made the 'check engine' light in her car seem almost funny. But no matter how many she followed up with, she hated being here.
Earlier she had thought such a farce would be too good to miss, but she'd forgotten that these things are only fun when they happen to strangers or people you hate. Speaking of which...
Roz figured she was finally drunk enough to seriously embarrass her hosts. She staggered over to the smiling newlyweds.
"Great wedding reception!" Roz said enthusiastically. "You guys should definitely throw these more often."
"It would not be the same without you, Roz. Any friend of Niles and Frasier..." Mel did not have to finish the sentence. It was obvious there was no love lost there. Oh, goody. Roz turned on the saccharine.
"Mel, I just wanted you to know... what Frasier said just now in his speech.... That goes double for me." She kicked back the rest of her martini. "Niles used to have the worst taste in women, real side show material, you know? I can't believe he finally made such a great choice."
"Roz, I think you're being missed at the bar." Niles was obviously panicking. Roz didn't care; it served him right.
"And Niles, I honestly can't believe you are doing something like this. I would have thought your style was more... I don't know... some super romantic evening for just you and your ladylove."
Even though she was furious with him, Roz regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. Niles looked like a puppy who had just been smacked for no reason. Frasier came over to see what was happening.
"So, Roz, how is single motherhood treating you?" Mel raised her voice so nearby guests would hear. Frasier looked appalled but Roz didn't give a damn. She had learned such comments said more about the person saying them than at the person they were aimed at. Volumes more.
"Great!" Roz said, just as loudly. "How about you? Any plans for a litter of your own?"
"Roz! Frasier..."
"I'm on it, Niles," Frasier's hand closed firmly around her arm. "Excuse us, Mel. Roz, let's get some air."
Roz tried to fight him off but there wasn't much she could do in her present condition. Without her heels and blood alcohol level, she could have taken him blindfolded.
"Let me go, dammit!" He finally did when they were safely outside on the terrace.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" He asked angrily.
"What's the matter with me? What's the matter with your brother? It was supposed to be their first date tonight and he's here feeling Mel up for cavities."
"What's that?" Marty had wandered over.
"Nothing, Dad." Frasier glared at Roz. She glared back. Screw him.
"Tonight was supposed to be Niles and Daphne's first date. He had everything arranged and she went out and bought a new dress. With shoes."
Martin and Frasier stared at her, then at each other. Oh yeah. The dress was supposed to be a surprise.
"Oh, crap. I'm going to get a drink." Martin looked like he could use it. "Roz? Anything?"
"You don't have enough hands. Better send over a waiter."
"Gotcha."
"I didn't know they had a date tonight." Frasier looked upset. Roz was glad. It was about time they all stopped acting as if everything were hunky dory and peachy keen.
"Yeah, well, go figure. I guess Daphne was the only one who thought that leaving her fiancé at the altar should be treated like a big deal. But it was. She bought a dress." Fresh air was having exactly the opposite effect Frasier had intended; Roz was starting to feel extremely woozy. "A shiny one. Not just anyone can wear a shiny dress, you know?" If she closed her eyes real tight then opened them fast she could almost see it. Roz tried it a few times. Pretty.
"Okay, Roz, what's going on?"
"Oh, come on, Frasier. You're the one with the famous sense of irony and you need me to draw you a picture?" That was pretty eloquent to someone who'd had approximately four score and seven drinks. Roz chuckled to herself. Four score and seven... that was pretty funny. She tried to stand up but fell back down into the seat again. She didn't feel so good. "Frasier, does 'score' mean twenty or a hundred?"
"In your case it may run into the quadruple digits." She may be plastered but he wasn't fooling her. He was broken up about the date thing. It was her duty as a friend to try and cheer him up.
"Hey, how much d'ya wanna bet I can make up a dirty limerick about our founding fathers?"
"That's it," Frasier stood up and helped her to her feet. "I'm taking you home."
"Hold it, sailor. Don't you even want to know my name first?"
"I don't know, it seems you're doing a fine job of making a name for yourself already."
"You think I give a rat's ass about these people? I don't. I hate everyone here. Especially the waiters."
Frasier suddenly stopped steering her to the door. Instead, he put his arm around her and gently led her back outside.
"Except your dad," Roz admitted. "I don't hate Martin. You're okay too," she added. After all, the man was helping her sit back down. She looked up at his blue eyes. They actually were quite nice eyes when they weren't trying to look superior or ironicacacal. "I love you, Frasier."
"I love you too." Frasier pulled out his handkerchief and started dabbing her face with it.
"Eeeeew." Roz tried to struggle away but Frasier held her fast. "Your handkerchief is wet."
"It is now," he said.
"Aw, man. I'm crying?" When did that start? "How's my make-up?"
"I'd say good enough for a roomful of people you hate."
"Oh, right." Why should she care? "Am I still crying?"
"Just a little." Frasier smiled at her. His blue eyes were kind. Roz leaned up against him. She sighed and let him keep wiping her face.
"I don't really have anything against waiters," Roz said. "It's just that I told the baby sitter I'd be back by midnight and they only get off at one."
"I understand." Frasier was still had his arm around her and was rocking her a little, the way she did to Alice when she cried. No wonder Alice liked it so much. "How about Niles?" Frasier asked.
"Niles, are you kidding me? He's already got more than he can handle. He's really not my type, anyway."
"No, no." Frasier sounded resigned. "I mean... do you hate Niles?"
"He kissed Mel, Frasier. How could he kiss Mel?"
"Don't remind me. I'm trying to keep down these h'ors d'oeuvres as it is." Roz pushed at him but he held her tight.
"This isn't funny, Frasier. He's supposed to be on a date with Daphne and he's here tongue sparring with another woman. I just want to kill him!"
"Roz...." The dry Frasier humour was gone. Now he just sounded troubled.
"Don't you dare defend him. Just because he's your brother..."
"Yes, he's my brother, and that's why you have to trust me. I know Niles and I know, more than anyone else, what this is doing to him."
"What about what it's doing to Daphne?"
"Roz," Frasier hugged her closer. "You have to remember that Niles is not the enemy. Everything else is against them but he loves Daphne. We need to help them both."
Roz felt some of her anger - not all - drain away. She relaxed back against him.
"Damn, I must be drunk," she said. "You're actually making sense."
"It's not the drink, those weren't my words. I'm just repeating the lecture Dad gave me yesterday."
"Oh, no wonder." She thought of Daphne alone at the house with nothing for company except a new dress and Donny's lawsuit. Frasier started in with the handkerchief again. This time Roz knew she needed it.
"She was so excited about that damn dress, you know? About the whole evening actually. It was like the one thing that was keeping her going. This whole lawsuit business was like the last straw for her, Frasier. She tried to be brave about the whole thing for you guys, but it really messed her up. You know what it's like to see someone you care about cry like that?"
"I can imagine," Frasier said gently. He was still rocking her. "Roz..."
"Oh, sorry." Martin looked embarrassed as if he'd interrupted something. But he didn't leave.
"What are you staring at, Dad?" Frasier sounded irritated.
"Nothing, just thinking... it took Niles and Daphne seven years to see they had a good thing. Let's see how long it takes you two."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Roz was wondering the same thing.
"Never mind," Marty said, as if they'd proved a point for him. "In case you're interested, the party is winding up. It looks like we can get out of here soon."
Not soon enough for her.
"Can you walk?" Frasier asked Roz.
"I need some help." Even if she hadn't, it felt nice having him around. "By the way... that was a really great speech."
"Yes, I thought so as well. I just wish Daphne had heard it."
"Don't worry, she will." In the blow-by-blow account Roz was planning to give her tomorrow.
People were lining up to say good-bye to the newlyweds. Mel was showing her sharp little pearly whites to everyone. Niles, however... there was something about his face that made Roz sober up fast. Like with Frasier, Roz was used to seeing the dry, ironic, one-eyebrow-raised-to-the-world Niles. And like with Frasier, tonight Roz was seeing a different person.
There was something about his eyes that made him look like he was somewhere else... with someone else, more likely. He looked small and sad and lonely. Occasionally Mel would give him a hard nudge and then he would plaster on that smile and put his arm around his wife, but Roz no longer believed any of it. Not after seeing that look. Poor guy.
When Roz and Frasier reached them she gave Niles a big hug... which, after a shocked moment, he returned.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm really, really happy for you. And Mel," Roz turned to the woman who had it within her power to make everything difficult or easy for Niles and Daphne. "I apologise for the way I acted earlier... I guess you know I love Niles, which gives us something in common... I think we both know he deserves to be happy."
"Oh Roz, your opinion means so much to me," Mel gave her a quick, jerky hug for the benefit of people still waiting in line. Then she stood back. Roz's heart fell as Mel put her arm around her husband of six days, her teeth glistening like icicles. "And I promise you, I have every intention of giving Niles exactly what he deserves."
##
After the last guest had gone, Mel had abruptly turned away from Niles without even a good-bye.
"I'll call you tomorrow," she had said. "Don't make any plans for this weekend." As if any plans could be made.
Well, thank god that at least the reception was over. And as he promised Daphne, it was only eleven o'clock. It was still too late for them to go out anywhere, and Niles was drained from the reception as it was, but he had to see her.
He had to see her. There was that heaviness in his heart again. Had to. Had to tell her something. Just last night every thought of Daphne had sent him spiralling to cloud nine, every moment apart was spent in anticipation of seeing her again. Just last night all he 'had to' tell her was that he loved her, over and over again. As dictated by his heart.
But now... now it was Mel who was doing the dictating. Twice he had gone to Frasier's apartment feeling only the dread of the obligation ahead, of saying something Daphne wouldn't want to hear. And carrying that heaviness.
Dad hadn't said two words to him since he'd told them about Mel's newest condition. He had only stared at Niles with a terrible look, not just angry and disappointed but resigned to the fact that Niles was either too incompetent or too weak to come up with a better solution. Couldn't Dad understand that there was no other solution? Not for what Niles wanted more than anything in the world. And Niles was almost certain Daphne would not understand either.
"Are you all right back there?" Frasier asked from the driver's seat.
"Yes." Niles lied. He finally had the woman he'd secretly loved for seven years and he had to lie simply about being all right. He followed up with something true. "I'm a bit tired."
"That's understandable," Frasier said. "You have been strong, Niles, you just didn't anticipate you would have to keep it up for so long. I suspect you thought you could just hand over the whole mess to some lawyer and be done with it."
He was right. Niles had not expected to be involved with his own divorce proceedings. He had not expected Mel's terms to include an agreement of prolonged involvement. He had not expected Mel to ask for anything of him ever again. But she had and he felt he owed it to her. It was the least he could do, blameless as she was for all this. Besides, she was being so generous and understanding about his wish for a quick divorce. It was the least he could do.
Niles concentrated on taking slow breaths as Frasier unlocked the front door. The lights were on in the apartment. Frasier walked in first and held up a hand to stop the others from following too quickly.
"Shhhh," he warned.
The three of them stood by the door and Niles could almost feel the cloud of remorse descending upon them as they gazed at Daphne, curled up on the couch, fast asleep.
"Do you think she was waiting up for us?" Frasier asked. Niles moved towards her.
"Daphne?" He bent over her and lightly stroked her hair. "Daphne..."
"Aw, let her sleep," Dad said. "If she's that tired, just leave her there. I'll get a blanket." He hobbled off to his room.
"Um...a drink, Niles?"
"No, thank you." Niles knelt next to Daphne, still stroking her hair, moving it gently out of her face. Could it be that he had forgotten how beautiful she was? Only if he had also forgotten, right up to this moment, how the sight of her always made him feel.
"Niles, you're doing all you can," Frasier reminded him. "It's the only way to get the divorce quickly and painlessly."
"Quickly yes, but painlessly?" Not according to his heaviness in his heart. Daphne's breaths were deep and slow, her eyelids still with dreamlessness. Even in sleep she looked exhausted.
"Here you go," Dad handed him a blanket. "I'm off to bed. Don't wake her."
"Thanks, Dad." Gently, Niles pulled the blanket up over her body. As he did, Daphne stirred and her had dropped off the sofa. It was clenched around something. Niles touched it and her hand fell open, revealing a crumpled tissue. For the first time, Niles noticed the many more, like wilted flowers, strewn on the floor next to the sofa. Stricken, he stared up at his brother.
"Frasier..."
"Oh, Niles." The unhappy look on Frasier's face told Niles he had seen and now knew too how Daphne had spent the evening of their first date.
"Daphne...I'm sorry," he choked. His heart now so heavy he could hardly move, Niles leaned over and kissed her cheek. It tasted of salt. He closed his eyes. "I'm so sorry." He felt his brother's hand on his shoulder.
"Go home, Niles." Frasier said quietly "Get some rest."
He didn't want to go home. He wanted to stay here, next to her, lying on the paper garden she had watered with her tears. He wanted to be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes tomorrow, the first person she heard, telling her how very much he loved her... before telling her once more that he was about to break her heart.
Unsteadily, he got to his feet. He did not deserve to touch Daphne again.
She needed her sleep. And he needed another day. He had already broken the promise he'd made yesterday, to kiss her again and often as he had just before she'd gone to break off her wedding with Donny. True, they had had no time alone today, but how hard would it have been to make the time?
He had also broken the promise he had made to her this morning. He asked her on a date and then left her alone to cry herself to sleep on his brother's couch.
As he said good night to Frasier, the heaviness in his heart grew even heavier, making it almost impossible to walk to the door. He took one last look at Daphne before leaving. Sweet dreams, he wished her silently. Like a prayer. Grant her one good night's rest to prepare her for tomorrow. Just a twenty-four hour delay, he had promised. Then they would finally have that first date they had so looked forward to. The date that would convince her once and for all that she had made the right choice.
Tomorrow it would be three days since Daphne gave up everything to be with him. And tomorrow it would be three promises Niles had broken to the person he loved more than anyone in the world.
The apartment door safely closed behind him, Niles sagged against the wall and slowly sank to the floor. He had also promised her he would be strong, so that made four broken promises.
"Daphne," he whispered one last time before he buried his face in his hands and cried.
