"With an emotional crash, he realized what he had just done, what he had just said... Horrified, he looked at her with wide eyes that begged her to forget his last statement. But she wouldn't. And neither would he."
Weeks passed, and yet Niles did not take his father's advice. Reasoning had a lot to do with it... after all, she had seen him at his several of his weak points now. Under the piano, explaining her hair, holding her in his arms -- she didn't need to see him as desperate as well as obsessive and miserable, did she?
Of course, he was desperate... But that wasn't the point.
Anyway, very slowly, Niles had started to regain some of his patients: A few women who were sympathetic, and thought it was charming he hadn't wilted under the temptation to have an affair; three or four men who had thought that Maris was a witch, and applauded the nervous Dr. Crane for putting up with her for such a long time. He at least had a schedule now. This way, he didn't feel like such a pathetic waste of space. And his cashflow was starting up again, which was very good news. In a couple of months he would have enough saved to move out of the Shangri-La and into a place with a bit more class... The Montana, Frasier called it. He said it had a very good reputation, and that Niles would feel right at home.
A few months after he moved in there, he would have enough for another Mercedes. Yes, Life was beginning to pick up again...
Or so it seemed.
The truth was, no matter how hard Niles tried to be happy, to forget about Daphne and move on with his life, to be excited that his practice was being accepted once again... But he couldn't. He was his usual self on the outside, but on the inside... On the inside he was just a euphemism for Dilusional Moron.
He had tried explaining this to both Frasier and Dad, but neither seemed to comprehend it. Frasier probably had trouble because Lilith had been incapable of loving him back, anyway, and Dad... Dad had probably taken the bold sort of action he had advised to his youngest son.
Niles couldn't do that. And he needed someone who could need him back.
He thought about all this as he stood outside Frasier's door, waiting to be let inside. The only reason he had agreed to come over at all was that his brother had assured him Daphne was out of the house. That did relieve him, but it also made him rather sad. Apart from the heartache and the general embarrassment, he did love seeing her and speaking with her.
The door opened. Frasier stood there with an interesting expression on his face, and Niles would have questioned it if he had time. But his brother yanked him inside faster than a person could draw a breath, and shut the door with a snap behind him.
"Niles," Frasier said. "Thank God you're here..."
"Er... yes?" Niles said, feeling more than a little confused.
"Niles," his brother said again. "Well... Um. It turns out that Dad and I had some previous plans we forgot about that you could not possibly join in on... and so... well... We'll be leaving you here to watch the house until Daphne gets back."
He raised an eyebrow. "Frasier," he said. "What on earth are you up to?"
"...Nothing!" Frasier said, smiling nervously. "Er... Dad's out in the car. I'd better be going."
The door closed.
And Daphne entered from her room.
"Oh," she said, smiling. "Good evening, Dr. Crane. What're you doing here?"
That's what I'd like to know...
"I'm... not exactly sure," he said. "Frasier called and asked me to come over, and then left the moment I got here..."
Tell her, and kiss her hard on the mouth...
That was odd. He'd never thought anything remotely like that before... Alright, he had, but never with the same exact wording. His father's advice came pouring into his headl, although he tried very hard to keep it out.
Tell her,
No, I'd really rather not. She already knows.
Tell her,
She was watching him. Knowing her as well as he did, she could probably see this internal struggle written on his face. She was giving him a very scrutinizing look...
"Daphne," he said, before he could stop himself. Oh, hell, what am I doing?
"Yes, Dr. Crane?"
"I... I love you."
He looked up at her very slowly, feeling his pulse start to race. She was still watching him, although his vision was now fogging and he could no longer see the expression on her beautiful face... This is the last time I ever take Dad's damned advice! he thought angrily.
Then he hit the floor.