What if it Were Strawberries and Cashews Instead?
Ironically, even though she had psychic visions of her own and always followed them to the letter, she was never one who adhered to kismet, and even went so far as to scoff at the poor silly sods who believed that their lives were "predestined".
But it was on a night much like tonight, chilly and rainy, that things changed.
She met him, and everything changed.
Like in all the fairy tales she read and acted out with her dolls as a small child, she met her knight in shining armor when he came to her rescue.
Like the storybook tales, he confessed his love for her and they fell in love.
But unlike the storybook tales, and thanks to her, they didn't live happily ever after.
After he told her he loved her, she told him she couldn't return his feelings.
Despite his protests to the contrary, he was hurt and humiliated and left her the following day.
She never thought she'd ever see him again.
"Seattle was a large city and coupled with his amnesia, what were the odds?"
Whatever the odds, they were against them.
"Frasier?"
"Yes Niles?"
"Do you smell cherry bark and almonds?"
Head Over Heels
Daphne glanced at her watch.
"Bloody hell!" she spat. She had no idea how late it had become.
She quickly gathered up her things as she heard the predicted late afternoon and all evening rains arrive.
If she didn't leave now, she would never make it to the corner of Hyde Park and Victory for her bus. With the rain coming down as heavy as it was, she didn't feel like standing around for another 40 minutes for the next one.
She darted into the living room and in her haste to leave she tripped and fell.
All three heads turned in reaction to Daphne, who was now sprawled out on the floor and on her stomach.
"Oh my God! Are you alright?" Martin asked her.
Frasier rushed over to help her up.
More embarrassed than hurt, with Frasier's assistance, she started to push herself off the floor.
She lifted her head. As she did, her eyes made contact with his.
Bending over to help her up, Frasier met with her lifting head and caught a quick sniff of her hair.
"Cherry bark and almonds," Frasier muttered, inaudible.
"Are you sure you're not hurt?" Frasier double-checked as he got her to her feet.
All she could do was nod.
"Oh m-my God," Niles stammered breathlessly under his breath and the on the brink of a full-blown anxiety attack.
Sensing something was wrong, Martin said, "Frasier, I think there's something wrong with your brother."
'Brother?' Daphne mentally repeated.
"Niles?" Frasier went over to the couch. "Niles, what is it? Just calm down, small breaths." Frasier starting soothing Niles' back in an attempt to help him breathe easier.
Niles was still having trouble catching his breath.
Noticing Daphne's bewildered look Frasier apologized.
"I'm terribly sorry. You see my little brother is prone to anxiety attacks and he has been through a rather traumatic experience and…"
"D-Daphne…" Niles interrupted his big brother before blacking out.
What If It Were Strawberries and Cashews Instead?
Daphne helped Frasier carry the now unconscious Niles to the guest bedroom where they laid him down on the bed.
She sat down next to him.
While Frasier went to retrieve a washcloth and a bowl of water per her instructions, she propped up the pillows behind Niles' head and gingerly laid his head down on them.
Some things never change.
Like the very first night when he lay before her on her couch, her fingers once again trembled as she unbuttoned the first few buttons of Niles' shirt to help him breath easier.
"How in the world did you know it was me?" she questioned aloud.
"Cherry bark and almonds."
Daphne turned around as Frasier walked in the room.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"Niles has always had an incredible sense of smell…" Frasier explained as he walked over to her and handed her the requested items.
Taking the items from Frasier, "Thanks." Daphne said and she set the bowl down on the nightstand, slightly moistened the washcloth and started to stroke his face.
"I seem to recall once when he was six, he nailed a bordelais at 20 yards," Frasier concluded his story.
With her back to Frasier, she commented, "I never thought I'd see the silly sod again."
"So, how do you two kids know each other?" Frasier questioned.
Pillow Talk
Lightning illuminated the now darkened room just enough so she could make her way back over to the bed without any additional lighting source.
She quietly walked back over to the bed and to him, careful not to disturb him from his slumber.
She leaned over and turned the bedside lamp back on and sat down beside him again on the bed.
Like so many times before when he first came to lie before her, she stroked his hair behind his ear.
He slowly stirred.
"Shh… just rest," she whispered.
"Daphne? Am I dreaming? Is it really you?" he groggily inquired.
She took one of his hands into hers and lifted it to her cheek.
"I never thought I'd ever see you again, you silly sod."
Even though he still couldn't see her, he looked away from her, ashamed.
"I know. About that, I owe you an apology."
"An apology?" she echoed, perplexed. "What on heaven for?"
Still looking away, he took in an unsteady breath before starting.
"Our last night together and how I reacted. I handled things poorly. I was rude, disrespectful…"
"We don't need to talk about this now."
"Please, let me finish. You were right. It was unfair of me to think you could actually commit to me or love me not knowing anything about me."
His words were starting to slur together while his eyelids were getting heavier.
She was losing him to sleep.
"I'm sorry Daphne."
"Apology accepted," she whispered to his now sleeping form.
Against All Odds
She looked down and studied the sleeping form before her with a new set of eyes.
Before he was her knight. A knight with a past that couldn't be told, and that scared her.
Now he was her knight. A knight with a past that could be told, and that scared her too.
A soft rap on the bedroom door made her jump and caused her heart to skip a beat.
The door creaked opened.
"Daphne, are you ready?"
She took a deep breath and leaned over and gave him a small peck on his forehead.
She got up and covered his slightly shivering body with the afghan that was folded neatly at the foot of the bed.
She turned and walked over to the door and to where Frasier was standing and waiting with a couple of photo albums tucked under the crook of his arm.
She nervously bit her lower lip and looked back over her shoulder and at her sleeping knight.
The moment of truth was now upon her.
It was also at that moment the vision commenced.
While the vision itself may have lacked longevity, its impact would last a lifetime.
Two lifetimes.
She reached for the doorknob.
Against all odds they found each other again.
Quietly, with a newfound sense of confidence, she shut the door behind her, secure that a new one was about to open.
To be continued…