Standing Up For Niles
"How's your headache?"
Niles massaged his throbbing head as if resigned to the pain. "At least I haven't seen anymore of those awful flashes."
"You should have Daphne give you a massage when I make your tea. And perhaps then you should take a nice, long nap and afterwards Dad and I will take you dinner."
"I appreciate your offer Frasier, but I'll have to take a rain check."
"Daphne's invited too, of course."
"No, it's not that. Daphne and I have an appointment with the cater this evening."
"I thought you and Daphne had already decided on one."
Niles continued to rub his head, as the pain was starting to intensify.
"We did, but it was yet another thing Daphne's mother suggested. She thought it might be better to go with a buffet…"
"Buffet?" Frasier frowned. "But I know what you're going through Niles. When Lilith and I were planning our wedding, you would not believe the awful things Lilith's mother insisted we have. But, you have to remember Niles, they are paying for this wedding and Daphne is their only daughter…"
"Yes, but did Lilith's family insist on having a deejay?"
"Oh dear God!" Frasier gasped in horror. "Did you say a deejay?"
Neither brother spoke, letting the ramifications of having a deejay opposed to a band sink in.
Their thoughts of utter horror and chaos were quickly interrupted when the elevator chimed twice, announcing its arrival in the lobby.
"Here we are Niles," Frasier stated as he helped Niles into the elevator and pressed for the 19th floor.
"I suppose it's just easier to bite her tongue than to engage in some kind of ugly confrontation," Frasier reasoned.
Niles wasn't convinced.
"Well, maybe so, but if you heard the way she talks to Daphne, and Daphne just takes it…it's just frustrating to see Daphne so timid. "
Frasier laid a supportive hand on his baby brother's trembling shoulder.
"I know Niles, I know. But remember what I said, they are paying for this wedding and she is their only daughter…"
Frasier helped Niles off the elevator.
"I wish she'd stand up for herself or stand up for us…" his voice trailed off.
Frasier fished out his house keys and unlocked the door.
"You'll see Niles, everything will work out for the best."
Niles sighed and winced. The pain was worsening.
"And just what's wrong with these flowers?" Daphne inquired while shaking her already planned on bouquet around.
"They're fine love, but only…"
"What?"
"They have no baby's breath in them."
"I don't like baby's breath Mum," Daphne countered.
"According to your Aunt Evelyn, every bride's bouquet should contain baby's breath for good luck and fidelity…."
"Mum…"
"Yes. I know. You don't like it. If you would rather not abide by the wishes of your own Mum, who is paying for this wedding…" Gertrude Moon pouted.
"All right Mum. All right." Daphne conceded another defeat. "If it means that much to you, I'll…"
A loud thump interrupted Daphne and she turned to the front door, to where the noise was coming from.
She gasped and rushed over to Niles, who was on his knees and with his hands over his eyes and face, screaming in bloody terror.
Standing Up For Niles
Niles flinched in reaction.
"I'm sorry," Daphne apologized as she tenderly placed and pressed the cool compress over Niles' eyes and head. "How does that feel My Love?"
It was too late, he was already knocked out by the painkillers the doctor had just prescribed.
She played with and stroked his hair behind his ear with her one free hand.
As she and Frasier got Niles into bed, Frasier had told her how it went at the doctors.
That they conducted several tests, all of which turned out to be negative and had deduced that Niles' migraines were stress induced.
Daphne cried softly and her mind went back into overdrive.
The stress in this case was the planning of their wedding, and she wasn't helping matters any by cowing down and catering (Ha! How was that for sweet irony?) to her Mum's every wish, or more like it, demand. Yes, Mum and Daddy were paying for it. Yes, she was their only daughter, but after seeing what all this wedding planning was doing to Niles, was it worth it? He had already suffered too much pain on account of her.
She quietly pushed herself off the side of the bed and kissed him softly on the top of his head so not to awaken him.
It was long overdo. It was time she do something for him. For Niles Crane and the love she had for him and for the love they shared.
She quietly shut the bedroom door behind her and called out,
"Dr. Crane…I need a favor from you…"
To be continued…