Note: this will be split into two separate stories, one preceding the wedding and the other following it. This one picks up right after the end of "Moons Over Seattle".
They were almost at the elevator when Niles stopped abruptly.
"Niles?" Daphne looked at him quizzically. "Is something wrong?"
"We need to go back."
Daphne pulled away, hurt. "Do you mean…you don't want to do this?" she asked. Nervously.
"No!" Niles said quickly. "Of course, I want to do this. But we can't just go running off like we are. Like booking a flight, packing, little things like that."
He grinned mischievously at Daphne.
"I guess I wasn't thinking practically," she said. "But to be fair, I do want so badly to be Mrs. Niles Crane that I couldn't think of anything else."
Niles affectionately stroked her hair as they reentered the apartment.
"And I'm beyond glad. I can't think of anything I want more than for you to be my wife, Daphne Moon."
Niles went into his office to book a flight and a hotel for the night while Daphne went to the bedroom to pack a small bag with a few essentials for the trip for both of them. It came in handy that she kept a few of her things at the Montana (for when she and Niles had clandestine meetings after a prying and disapproving Gert went to bed).
They met at the same time in the living room.
"I've got some necessities for our trip," Daphne said, shifting the overnight bag in her hand.
"And I've scheduled a flight and hotel. We'd better hurry; the flight leaves in two hours."
They left the apartment hand in hand.
"Thank goodness Mum is staying with a friend after…what happened," Daphne commented. "Now we can make our 'escape' and be back before we're missed."
Niles and Daphne were the only ones in the elevator, and the latter took full advantage of this, gently backing Niles into a corner and kissing him, long and deep. He captured her lips just as passionately and they didn't pull apart until the elevator reached the lobby floor.
"You ready for this?" Niles asked as they stepped outside to meet the waiting taxi.
"Ready for this? Niles Crane, I would marry you right this minute if I could."
(later)
Though it was relatively late—almost nine o'clock—the airport was like a colony of ants—disorganized, hectic ants that dashed in all directions, many not caring who they inconvenienced as they bumbled past. And once the "madding crowd" from the concourse was left behind, travelers were rushed with military precision through the security check, leaving many an elderly citizen scrambling as fast as they could through the scanner.
"Electronics out and in the bins provided! Take off your shoes and proceed through the scanner!" the TSA agent was shouting. "All backpacks and other bags on the belt!"
"What is this, boot camp?" Daphne muttered.
"It's his job to keep things moving. He's just coming on a bit—strong," Niles tried to make the best of the situation.
"A bit strong?" she repeated as she watched a woman who couldn't be younger than eighty hustled through the line, almost causing her to almost trip over her own walker.
"This is pretty insane," Niles admitted just as it was their turn.
Once past security, they relaxed—or would have if their flight wasn't leaving in fifteen minutes…from the very last gate. They sprinted away, weaving through groups of other travelers. By the time the couple arrived, they only had two minutes to spare.
"Well, at least—we—made it," Niles panted.
"Now we can relax," Daphne said gratefully as they settled into the comfortable first class seats.
After the plane had taken off, Niles and Daphne ordered a light meal.
"We still have a lot ahead of us," Niles reasoned. "So we should have some sustenance."
Comfortable and content, they settled down for the short flight to Reno—and their destiny.