A/N: This story also ties into 'Crock Tales'.

Daphne lay in Niles' arms, resting her head on his chest after finally steadying her racing heart. They had just made love to each other, with each other, for the first time, and it had been wonderful.

This first night of passion was certainly hadn't happened they had way she and Niles had envisioned. They'd planned a weekend at the Crane family's cabin, where nothing and nobody could interrupt them. Their night of romance would be preceded by a gourmet, catered meal, before they retreated to the bedroom for the rest of the evening, accompanied by candlelight and soft music (the CD of arias that Daphne had selected when Niles had had a "date" with the mysterious "Phyliss", to be exact), as they got to know each other on a deeper level, both physically and emotionally.

It turned out that the consummation of their relationship was destined to be spontaneous. Strangely, it was their first fight that proved to be such a turn-on.

Daphne was the first to regain enough composure to speak.

"Niles?"

"Hmm?" Niles said quietly, turning to her with a soft smile.

"You…you were amazing," she said lovingly. "If I'd known it would be like that, I would have driven myself mad, waiting."

Niles pulled her deeper into his embrace and she complied readily, savoring the closeness of their bodies and the warmth of his skin on hers. She'd never shared this kind of passion with anyone—and this was just the beginning. There was so much to still to discover about each other in an intimate way.

"You're being much too flattering," he teased.

Daphne spoke again, but a hint of trepidation crept into her voice.

"How was it for you?"

Niles looked searchingly into her eyes, and even in the soft light of the lamp on her nightstand, he read and understood the root of Daphne's fears. He felt a wave of guilt over how he had responded to her earlier concerns, and knew he had only one chance to reassure her.

"It wasn't what I expected," he answered at once.

Daphne pulled away slightly, and Niles cursed himself as he realized how stupidly he had given his answer.

Bringing her back to him, Niles kissed Daphne tenderly.

"That came out wrong, Daphne," he apologized. "I meant that it's so much more than I ever imagined. So much more."

He paused briefly to gaze intensely at her. "I've never felt what I did tonight. It just blew me away, Daphne."

Relief overtook Daphne's features.

"It did seem like you were enjoying it," she said flirtatiously, "but I just wanted to make sure."

Niles nuzzled her neck and then fixed her with a searching glance.

"My love, I'm so sorry if I made you feel you had anything to live up to," he said seriously. "And I'm sorry for hurting you like I did at your homecoming party. But know this, Daphne Moon…I'll always love you, weight gain or not, and you'll always be beautiful to me. And I'm so proud of you for how hard you worked at the health spa. I just wish I hadn't been, well, a 'jackass' as Dad so eloquently put it."

Now it was Daphne who initiated a kiss.

"I could've been more tactful," she confessed. "You were so excited to bring me home and I just sprung that on you—I should've waited for a better time so we could have an open conversation. We both said things we didn't mean, Niles, so why don't we move on from here?"

A gentle kiss from the man she loved was the only answer she needed, and moments later both drifted off into contented slumber.

Niles stirred out of a sound sleep some time later. For a moment he was startled by the feeling of a bare body pressed against his and an arm draped around him. In his half-asleep state, he momentarily panicked, thinking of the time he and Lilith—

Pushing the thought of that humiliating mistake away, he opened his eyes. The sight that greeted him was the most exquisite vision imaginable. Daphne lay beside him, in all her natural beauty. He gazed reverently at her sleeping form, his eyes scanning every curve of her.

The urge to touch her was irresistible. Niles kissed Daphne slowly but softly, not wanting to wake her, but needing the contact to make sure this moment was real. Niles had often woken up beside her, but never like this. The kiss deepened, almost beyond his control, and Daphne awakened.

Repentant, Niles pulled back.

"I-I'm so sorry," he stammered. "I didn't mean to wake you up, Daphne. I was terribly rude, and—"

But Niles' words were stopped by Daphne's lips on his and he responded in kind. The kisses were gentle at first, but quickly became fiery as passion was reawakened.

All too soon, Niles had to excuse himself. During a lull in their lovemaking, he glanced at the clock on the nightstand.

"I'd better slip out of here before Frasier and Dad wake up," he whispered, and Daphne unwillingly let him go.

"I know, my love," Niles said understandingly. "But now isn't the best time for them to find out about our new relations. Of course, they'll have to know eventually if I want to spend the night again. I mean…not in detail, but…"

"I get it," Daphne laughed softly at his boyish awkwardness. "Well, why don't I come over to your place tomorrow—or should I say tonight?—and we can…get to know each other better?"

"It's a date," he said eagerly. He finished dressing and leaned in for one more kiss before sneaking out of Frasier's apartment.

Daphne still felt the bliss of the previous night when she awakened. She hummed contentedly as she got dressed, and responded to Frasier's and Martin's "good morning" as if in a fog.

"Wonder why her head is in the clouds?" Martin mused as Daphne went into the kitchen.

"Maybe she's having another 'psychic vision'," Frasier jested, evidently thinking Daphne was out of earshot.

Even this barb at the subject of which she was usually so sensitive didn't faze Daphne as she happily prepared breakfast. When she laid out the plates before the two men, Martin stared at her as if she had gone insane.

"Sausage? Ham omlette? Pancakes?" her patient said. "You keep telling me I'll fall over and die if I eat like this. Just what are you after?"

"I just wanted to give my favorite patient a treat," Daphne said sunnily.

Martin didn't argue, instead attacking the food with alacrity. Frasier also ate in a hurry, which was not his usual habit.

"Busy day, Dr. Crane?" Daphne asked.

"Yes, I need to pick up Roz's gift. It was out of stock and the store just got it in," Frasier explained.

As he rose from the table, he added, "Don't forget to pick up dinner from the caterer's," he reminded her.

"Oh, right! Roz's party! I almost forgot!"

Frasier looked at her oddly. "We've been planning it for a week! How could you forget?"

"I'm just a little distracted this morning," she said lightly.

Daphne was grinning to herself as she cleaned up the breakfast dishes. She couldn't wait to tell Roz about what had happened between her and Niles last night (and again this morning). Nothing too descriptive, of course, but enough to get Roz to take back all her snide remarks that Niles' slight build and mannerisms probably matched his "skills" in the bedroom.

Won't she be surprised…maybe even jealous, Daphne thought wickedly as she got ready to put Martin through his exercises.

It took all of Niles' focus to keep his mind on his patients that morning, and he often had to hide a dreamy smile behind the ledger he used for taking notes during sessions.

It was a welcome respite to take an afternoon break at Café Nervosa, where he could freely replay in his memory the intimacy he'd shared with Daphne. His drink (half-caff, no-foam latte with a whisper of cinnamon) grew cold as he recalled how she had touched him, how she electrified all of his senses and—

"Niles? NILES!"

Frasier's bellowing voice snapped Niles out of his thoughts.

"Hello," he answered absently.

When Frasier's coffee had been brought to him and the barista walked away, he gave his brother a searching look.

"So…how did things go with you and Daphne?" he asked.

Niles didn't answer, but he smiled that silly smile again and shifted his gaze to Frasier. The look told the elder Crane brother everything he needed to know.

"Ah."

"And you know the best part, Frasier? It wasn't at all like I imagined it."

Frasier smiled approvingly, and the two clinked their glasses together as if in a silent toast.

"Well, that explains why Daphne was in such a good mood this morning," Frasier teased. Then he said a bit awkwardly, "I suppose she'll want you to stay the night sometimes."

Niles was quick to intercept.

"Yes, but before you get all weird about it, we promise to be very discreet. Besides, she'll probably come to my place more often than not."

Frasier raised his hand.

"Easy, Niles. I was just going to say I don't have any objections."

"Thanks, Frasier," Niles said. "Gee, I thought you'd be much more difficult about this topic."

"And now that this has been cleared up," Frasier said, ignoring the remark, "I want to update you on the plans for Roz's party tonight."

But Niles was barely listening, for his thoughts drifted back to Daphne.

A/N #2: I've always felt that the "fade to black" in 'Daphne Returns' was a bit of a weak ending, and I would've liked to see at least a "morning after" scene to tie everything together since this was a big milestone for them.