Disclaimer: I still don't own the magnificent ­Frasier characters, events, etc. It's quite a shame.

Author's Note: No, I don't know Lilith's middle name, but this sounds like it would work, so I say it works…Read and review, and I'll update soon (hopefully).

Chapter Seven

Frasier blinked twice again in shock as he removed his hand from Lilith's back. "Niles is the father?" he repeated warily. "My brother Niles is the father of your baby?" he continued as he stood up. His face was flushing with anger. "Lilith Anne Sternin, am I hearing you correctly?" he shouted as he turned back around to face the couch.

"Damn it, Frasier, this is what I was afraid of!" Lilith yelled back. She could barely see Frasier through her tears, and she doubted he could fully understand her through her crying. She clutched the pillow closer to her chest and looked down. She could not bear to look at Frasier any longer. "I knew this was a mistake."

Frasier shook his head as he drew in a deep breath. "No, Lilith, it wasn't," he said as he began pacing back and forth in front of her. "I know how hard it was for you to do this, and I'm here to support you any way you feel necessary." He sighed again. "It's just a lot to take in. You're my ex-wife. You shouldn't be having my brother's child."

"Believe me, this isn't how I pictured my second child either," Lilith said as she reached for a tissue. She then began dabbing at her eyes. "It was supposed to be perfect."

"It still can be," Frasier began as he sat down next to her. He placed one gentle hand on her back just below her shoulders. While he was still furious with the situation, he could not take his anger out on Lilith. She was, after all, the one who was pregnant, and that alone was enough to make her unpredictable. He had dealt with her like that when they were married. The best thing for him to do was just to be there for her. Besides, being angry and in denial would not change the situation one bit. "You're an excellent mother," Frasier informed her as he took her hand and held it in his.

Lilith smiled weakly up at Frasier. "Thank you, Frasier," she said. "I knew I could count on you." She slowly rose and began walking back to the kitchen. "Hey, why don't you tell Niles for me? He obviously likes you better anyway. He never liked me, and I only really tolerated him for your sake."

Frasier shook his head as he followed Lilith into the kitchen. "I'm supportive, Lilith, but there is a limit. I never liked the fact that you slept with my brother," he told her in a slightly cross tone.

"I still blame the tequila," Lilith muttered as she began cleaning up her platter of vegetables.

"Blame whatever you want, Lilith," Frasier told her as he put the lid back on the dip. "You're avoiding the problem," he pointed out as he placed the container in the fridge.

"Well, this isn't something I'm used to facing," Lilith argued back as she walked over to the fridge and placed the dip on its proper shelf. "I don't even know where to start. I'm scared, Frasier."

Frasier nodded sympathetically as he pulled her into his arms. He rubbed her back soothingly and kissed her forehead gently. "I know, Lilith," he began.

"No, you don't," she immediately countered crossly.

"No, I don't," Frasier agreed. Sometimes it was better just to go along with her than to argue. "Tell you what," he began as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He began guiding her back to the couch.

"What?" Lilith asked. "Frasier, there's still dishes," she pointed out. "Frederick will be home soon. He can't see the house like that."

"I think he'll survive," Frasier told her as the two of them sat down. "This is about Niles."

Lilith immediately shut her mouth. "Go on," she prodded.

Frasier took his cue from her. "As you know, he has a right to know that he's the father of this child."

Lilith nodded.

"He also has a right to hear the news in person from you," Frasier continued.

Lilith sighed, but she eventually nodded in agreement. Frasier was right, and she knew it. "But Frasier, I can't take Frederick out of school and fly to Seattle," she pointed out. "He doesn't even know that I'm pregnant."

"Let me finish," Frasier interrupted.

Lilith once again shut her mouth. It was not like her to be this submissive to other people, but she was at a complete loss of what to do. She would take advice from almost anyone at this point.

"You told Frederick I was here for a conference, correct?" Frasier asked.

Lilith nodded again as a small smile formed on her face. "I think I see where you're going with this."

Frasier nodded back. "You always knew what I was thinking before I had to say it," he told her with a small smile. "But like I was saying, I could get Niles to come out here. I'll tell him something, I don't know what."

"The hospital's giving a seminar on self-psychology, and we would be honored if he would be a guest speaker," Lilith filled in for Frasier. "Given his jealousy of your fame, I know he'll accept if he knows that you're not invited to speak."

Frasier nodded again. "Yes, you've got that right," he noted. "Wait, isn't that you're blanket excuse for coming out to Seattle whenever you need something?"

"When have you ever known your brother to pay enough attention to me to remember that?" Lilith asked. "And not always," she pointed out. "Sometimes it's a conference or a talk."

Frasier rolled his eyes. "Same basic thing," he told her. He gasped. "We're going to need to get Niles a ticket. If the hospital is really doing this, he'll need a ticket and a hotel."

"I can't afford to keep your brother in a fancy hotel," Lilith argued. "Or fly him first class. You know that's how he's going to want to fly." She frowned for a minute then shrugged. "It is Boston General Hospital," she pointed out. "They wouldn't pay to fly him first class either. I'll call the airline."

Frasier smiled at her. "I'll call Niles as soon as you're done," he promised.