(Niles' POV)
He stared at her in complete disbelief, unable to fathom what she'd just told him. He'd imagined a similar scenario moment many times before with Maris or Mel but never Daphne; never from the woman whom he loved above all others. She'd completely shattered him with her confession and now he could see how remorse she felt. But it was nothing compared to his feelings.
"Look… I know you're angry, but please… say something-anything!" She was pleading, as though her words would make everything all right; as though her sweet voice would be enough to weaken him. And it might have worked in the past, but not now… and perhaps not ever again. He tried to be calm, but he just couldn't.
"Angry doesn't even begin to describe it!" He yelled.
"Niles-."
"You have violated this person's privacy! I-If she ever finds out… I-I could lose my license!" But that wasn't why he was so angry. Not even close.
"Niles… I'm so sorry…" She said again.
"You… don't trust me!" He said the words hurting like hell as they left his mouth. "How could you possibly think that there was someone else?"
"Because I was someone else!" She snapped.
And yet again he was completely baffled. "What?"
"You were married to two other women while you claimed to be in love with me! Now that we're together! H-how can I be sure… really sure that there won't be another-."
"Because this time it's different." He said, speaking with more confidence than he'd ever spoken in his life. "Our love is different. It's not based on someone's expectations."
She was staring at him, as though not truly understanding what he was saying. And so he spoke even further from the heart. "When I was with Maris and with Mel, all I could think about was you. Now we're together and… all I think about is you. It's never going to stop."
She blinked back tears and hugged him tightly, kissing his lips. "I love you, Niles."
"I love you too, Daphne."
"I'll let you get back to work." She said softly, kissing him yet again.
"All right. We'll talk more about this later." His tone was serious, but she smiled and caressed his cheek. "I'd like that."
"I'm still mad at you, remember?" He replied, unable to hide his grin.
She smiled and leaned her forehead against his. "I know."
After one last kiss, she drew back and headed for the door, but just as her hand reached for the doorknob, she collapsed onto a ball, sobbing.
"Daphne!" Heart racing, he sprang from his desk and went to her, taking her into his arms before she reached the floor. His arms around her, he guided her to the sofa and sat beside her holding her tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably onto his shoulder.
"Dear God…"
"I'm so sorry, Sweetheart! I'm so sorry I read your files! I'm a horrible person!"
He held her closer, kissing her damp cheeks. "No, my angel, no… You're not. You're wonderful."
"I'm horrible, Niles! How could I have done something so stupid? I love you so much, and- I'm so sorry!"
As angry as he was, he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty as well. He'd never gotten so angry at her before, even though he had good reason. Clearly she was devastated by her actions, which softened his mood a bit.
"Don't cry, my love."
"But you must hate me, Niles! And you have every right to! I'm horrible!"
"Daphne, no…" She looked at him through tear-filled eyes, prompting him to brush the hair from her face. "You're so beautiful…" It wasn't at all what he'd intended to say, but at that moment it was the only thing that felt right. And no words had ever been truer. "I could never hate you, Daphne; never-no matter what you've done. I know you didn't come to the decision by yourself."
"But I'm horrible!" She said yet a third time, crying even harder as he held her so close that he could feel her heart beating against his.
"Please stop saying that because it's simply not true and it will never be true; never!"
"But-."
He stopped her with his kiss. "I love you, Daphne. And we'll get through this… I promise."
