A/N: We all know Frasier couldn't keep up the "Martin is gay" charade forever...

Frasier was alone—at last—with Emily. He was thrilled, yet at the same time, his conscience prickled him. He'd gotten himself wrapped up in a tangle of lies, all to "keep" Emily. Damn it! Why had his dad lied about being gay, none of this would've happened…

But deep down, Frasier knew he was just as—no, even more—complicit in continuing the deception. And after all his talk to his listeners (and Roz and Niles) about how important honesty was in a relationship.

"It's too bad about your dad's boyfriend dumping him like that," Emily spoke up.

"I-I'm sure he'll be fine. Dad's resilient," Frasier answered, getting even deeper into the lie, despite his

I'll tell Emily the truth later, he tried to justify. I wasn't thinking rationally because I was terrified at losing my chance at her. I can get her to understand. We all do stupid stuff for love, don't we? I'll show her just how sorry I am…

But that little voice in the back of Frasier's mind wouldn't leave him alone…

"You're pretty silent," Emily quietly broke into his thoughts.

"I just like sitting with you," Frasier said quickly. "Sometimes silence is nice."

Emily smiled. "That's sweet. You wouldn't believe how many men I've dated feel the need to talk and talk and talk."

And then she turned and kissed Frasier, long and lingering. Another wave of guilt passed over him.

Emily broke the silence after a little while, wanting to know more about Frasier's life. He told more about Martin moving in with him and how they had both grown to enjoy living together; he talked about Frederick and how his love life had plummeted since his divorce from Lilith.

"Until I met you, that is," he said.

Emily beamed and kissed him again. "Aw, that's so sweet. I want to make you happy. It's terrible to be unlucky in love, isn't it?"

"Well, it's a Crane family tradition," Frasier said carelessly. "My brother, Niles, has been even more unlucky, if that's poss—,"

The moment the words were out of his mouth, Frasier froze. In one moment, he realized he'd given himself away. Emily was looking at him in shock. She knew. In one move she had risen, and shot Frasier a look of icy outrage.

"Wait, Niles is actually your brother?" she said furiously.

"Yes," Frasier finally told the truth.

"Was this all a charade?" Emily's tone was accusing.

"Well…"

"So your father's not gay, is he? He just couldn't stand the idea of dating my mother! And then when I found someone I thought would make him happy—not knowing you were lying to me—to us!—you had Martin and his 'boyfriend' play along so you could have me?"

Now Frasier went from terror at losing Emily to shame at what he had done. He knew he had gotten himself in too deep now. Why hadn't he explained about the misunderstanding before he'd let the pretense go on so far?

Emily leapt to her feet, snatching up her purse and shawl. She walked away in cold indignance, head held high. Frasier thought for a moment to offer to drive her home, but he knew that Emily, in her injured pride, didn't even want to hear another word out of his mouth.

"Don't see me out, don't ask me to let you drive you home," she said coldly, as if reading his mind.

She didn't even look back. The door slammed behind her, and Frasier escaped to his bedroom. Martin would be back any moment, and Frasier knew his dad would ask when he was planning to clear things up with Emily.

Frasier spent the night tossing and turning.

At least one thing he'd said to Emily was true; he was unlucky in love—and he had no one to blame but himself.

But what about Dad? He lied about being gay, first, Frasier tried to excuse himself.

But you're the one who kept the lie going...

Shut up, conscience.