Chapter Eight

"The flight's tomorrow at four Seattle time," Lilith told Frasier as she hung up with the airline. "If he needs to make himself feel more important, he can upgrade the seat himself," she added. "I'm finishing these dishes before Frederick arrives. You call Niles from my bedroom. I don't want him overhearing you," Lilith said seriously. With that, she turned around and turned on the sink to begin washing off her plate.

Frasier smiled at her and obeyed. He quickly walked up to her bedroom and grabbed her phone. Not knowing where Niles would be at the time, he figured it would be best to call his brother's cell phone. He was halfway through dialing the number when he stopped as he realized something. "Lilith?" he called as he put the phone down. He walked back downstairs over to her. "Lilith," he added.

"What?" Lilith asked. "The phone should be on the table right next to the bed."

"It is," Frasier assured her.

"Then what's the problem?" Lilith asked impatiently.

"Our story is that the hospital only wants Niles," Frasier reminded her.

"Right, otherwise he won't come," Lilith said irritably. "Come on, it's not that difficult."

"Lilith," Frasier said in that warning tone. "That story would explain why Niles needs to come out here. What about me? I can't tell him the real reason I'm here."

Lilith frowned. "Damn it, you're right," she muttered as she sat down at the table. She sighed heavily. "Well, we can't drag Frederick into it, and he does have to hear the truth from me."

Frasier sat down next to her and placed a hand on top of hers. "We'll think of something," he assured her.

"What does anyone already know?" Lilith asked. "We have no idea what they could be discussing over there. What one person knows, everyone could know," she reminded Frasier.

Frasier nodded as he tried to think of what exactly he told people that night. He had only talked to his father and Roz about the phone call. "My dad knows that there is a test involved, but he does not know that it was a pregnancy test," he began. "He and Roz know that it's something serious, and that I'm here in Boston with you. That's it."

Lilith nodded. "Ok, I think we can work with this." She was silent as she started trying to figure something out in her head. She frowned as she put her head down on the table. "We can't work with this. Why'd you have to do a stupid thing like that?" she asked irritably.

"I was worried about you, Lilith," Frasier told her. "I thought you had cancer or something," he added. "I thought you were going to leave me."

Lilith picked her head up weakly. "What was that?" she asked.

"Lilith, I know we're not married anymore, but the truth is I--" Frasier started.

"No, before that," Lilith interrupted.

"I thought you were going to tell me that you had cancer," Frasier repeated. "The way you were speaking on the phone," he continued. "It sounded inevitable. I mean, you were talking about test results, your world ending, and you were doing all of this between tears."

"And Roz and your father know all of this?" Lilith asked skeptically.

Frasier nodded. "I mentioned it to my father for sure."

A small smile was present on Lilith's face. "Perfect," she said. "It's extremely shallow, but it would explain your continued presence here at least long enough for me to explain the real reason to Niles."

"It seems a little risky," Frasier began.

Lilith frowned. "Do you have a better idea?" she asked. "It's the only logical explanation."

Frasier nodded. "Ok, fine, but I'm just saying that we're pretty sure it's cancer." He started his way up the stairs before turning back around. "What kind?" he asked. "Just in case?" he asked.

Lilith shrugged. "I don't know, Frasier. Make something up. Just not skin cancer, because that would be stretching it," she reminded him. She glanced out the window and noticed Frederick walking towards the side door. "And no more talk of this. Frederick's home," she informed him.

Frasier smiled at the information before he walked upstairs. He knew he had to make that phone call before Lilith killed him. He walked over to the bed, picked up the phone, and dialed Niles' cell phone number. His brother answered after two rings. "Niles, are you busy?" Frasier asked.

"No, just having some coffee at the café," his brother answered. "And I'll be pleased to stay on the line for as long as necessary. Maris' lawyers keep thinking they can call me at anytime," he remarked bitterly.

"Are you busy on Saturday?" Frasier asked simply.

"Not anymore," Niles responded. "I assume that you're still going to be in Boston this weekend."

"Yes," Frasier said with a sigh. He did not really want to talk about it. He hated lying to Niles, and he hated lying about Lilith's health. Even though he knew it was not true, he did not like the thought of Lilith having cancer.

"Is everything ok there?" Niles asked. His voice actually showed some concern. "Frederick?"

"Freddy is fine," Frasier quickly said. "I haven't actually seen him yet. He's been at school, but he's fine and healthy." He shook his head and quickly changed the subject. "But you are free all Saturday?" he asked again.

"Yes," Niles said. "I'm not going to the opera alone. You are still in Boston, and you still have yet to explain your reason for your visit. Roz already started harassing me to cover your show, and I need to know if I should do it."

"You should," Frasier said. "But not this week because there's a talk on self-psychology at Lilith's hospital, and they want you to be one of the speakers. Your flight leaves tomorrow at four Seattle time."

Niles frowned. "Is that why you're in Boston?" he asked.

"No," Frasier said quickly.

"Then why?" Niles demanded. "Is it Lilith?"

"Niles, this is a great opportunity for you. I'll even bump you up to first class myself," Frasier offered.

"You just want me to come so you can gloat because your speech is better since you knew about it longer," Niles snapped. "Forget it, Frasier," he said as he hung up.

Frasier groaned as he hung up the phone. He picked it up again and redialed the number. "Niles, I wasn't invited to the seminar," he confessed.

"Oh?" Niles asked, intrigued. "Then why are you in Boston? Stop putting it off."

Frasier sighed. He hated this. Lilith had better explain this all to Niles. She had better explain that it was all her idea. He did not want any part of it. She had better explain it all to him as soon as he got to Seattle. "It's Lilith," Frasier admitted. At least that part was true.

"What about Lilith?" Niles asked. His voice was back to the concerned voice he had earlier when Frasier had first called. "Is she all right?"

"No, Niles," Frasier said seriously. "She's not." He was still not lying. Maybe if he was vague enough, Niles would just see it as none of his business.

"What is it?" Niles asked. "Is she sick or something?"

Frasier frowned slightly as he tried to think of a way to answer that question while still telling the truth. "It's more complicated than that," he said finally. Please, Niles, don't ask any further questions, Frasier mentally begged his brother.

Niles' mouth dropped open in shock. "My god, Frasier, I'm so sorry," he said. "I had no idea." He tried to think of something to say without being too invasive of Lilith's privacy. "Are they sure?" he asked.

Frasier nodded. "She went to the doctor this morning."

"How much longer?" Niles asked.

Frasier frowned for a moment. He did not think Lilith mentioned a due date, but based on when she was last in Seattle, it would have to be…"I think they said around December," he said finally. He glanced at the clock again. "Now, Niles, please, I'd like to be with her," he said finally. Niles could take that to mean whatever he wanted. Frasier had to stop that conversation.

"Of course," Niles said sympathetically. "And I'll be on that plane, even if I have to fly…coach," he said. He stopped for a moment. "At which hotel will I be staying?" he asked curiously.

Frasier frowned. "Oh, Boston General was only putting its guests at the cheaper ones. We thought you might want to stay with us."

"With Lilith?" Niles was tempted to ask, but he kept his mouth shut. He could always get a hotel room later. He did not want to further upset Frasier after all. "I'll see you tomorrow night," he told his brother before he hung up the phone.

Frasier placed the phone back down and on the table. He walked back downstairs and saw Frederick. "Hello, there," he called as he pulled his son into a nice, welcoming hug.

"Hello," Frederick said excitedly. "Guess what?" he said. "I got a new microscope!"

"You did?" Frasier asked. "Why don't you bring it in here so I can see it?" he asked. He smiled as Frederick dashed towards his room. He then glanced up at Lilith and noticed that she was cooking dinner. "You sure you want to do that in your condition?" he asked.

Lilith frowned. "What condition?" she asked. "I can certainly prepare a simple meal for three."

Frasier took the spoon that Lilith was using to stir the sauce with away from her. "No, you sit," he told her. "I know they call it morning sickness, but it can happen at any time of the day," he reminded her.

"Shh!" Lilith scolded. "Frederick! I haven't told him yet." She sighed as she did sit down at the table. "What'd you tell Niles?" she asked.

Frasier sighed back as he added a few spices to the sauce. "Nothing specific, but I did not lie at all," he informed her. "Everything I told him could apply to your current situation." He smiled as he saw Frederick coming down the stairs carefully with a silver box in his hands. "We'll talk about it tonight," he told her. "After he's asleep."