(Daphne's POV)
She could hardly wait to put down the heavy bag of groceries. Her arms were killing her. But the moment she opened the door, she froze as the bag became weightless compared to what she was hearing.
"Dad, whatever you do, do not mention this to Daphne!" She looked at her husband in surprise. "Mention what to Daphne?"
Niles turned and stared at her, as though shocked by her presence. "Here, let me help you with those bags, my love." He leaned to kiss her but she drew back, staring at the splint on his arm.
"Niles, you can't! Your wrist is sprained! You shouldn't be carrying anything at all!"
"It's your fault you know."
Niles turned to his father. "Dad, please!"
Daphne peered around her husband to her father-in-law who was sitting in his chair, the basketball game blaring from the television. "What are you talking about, Martin? What's going on?"
"I'm saying that Niles never bothered to tell you the truth about how he got that sprained wrist in the first place. And as a man who is about to become a father, he needs to learn that honesty is always the way to go and to forget about his damn ethics for once!"
"DAD!" Niles yelled.
But Daphne went to the table and sat the bag of groceries down and then stepped in front of her father-in-law. "Martin, what are you saying? And I want to hear it from you, not your son!"
"Niles didn't fall out of bed or trip in the house or whatever he told you he did to get that sprained wrist." Martin explained. But the explanation wasn't enough.
"I don't understand."
"Well, according to Niles, you rolled over on him in your sleep and pinned his arm so badly, that… well…"
Daphne gasped in horror.
"Dad, I told you not to say anything! How could you?"
"It serves you right, for making me miss my show! You and Frasier were going on and on about some damn wine right here in this living room and you were going so loud that I finally gave up on it and went to my room! Now I'm never going to know how much that cedar chest with the image of the Virgin Mary went for on Antiques Roadshow!"
But Daphne simply looked at her husband in disbelief. "Niles is it true?"
"Yes, Daphne. Frasier and I were arguing about which wine should have been the best pick at the Sonoma Valley-."
"I mean about my hurting you!" She said, smacking his arm.
"Ow!"
"I mean it, Niles. I need to know the truth!"
He sighed deeply. "All right, Daphne. Yes, that is how I sprained my wrist. But you'd never know about it if it weren't for my father's big bazzoo!"
Her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh God…"
"Now don't worry, everything will be fine. The doctor says-."
She ran to the door and out onto the balcony, while Niles shared a few choice words with his father. The Crane men arguing only upset her even more and she looked over the railing remembering the night of Frasier's Christmas party when she'd almost (and should have) told him that she loved him. But fortunately they had lived a happy life-until now. She began to sob, the Space Needle blurring before her eyes.
And a few minutes later she heard the door open. But she didn't turn around. Seconds later, his hands were on her shoulder, gently turning her to face him. "I'm so sorry, Niles. I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you!"
"Daphne, hey, it's all right. It's not your fault."
"But it is, Niles!" She cried, pulling out of his arms. "If I wasn't so bloody fat-."
"Hey." He said kissing her softly. "You're not fat. You're absolutely beautiful." He placed his hand on her large abdomen. "You're carrying our son or daughter and you have no idea how happy that makes me. I love you so much." He leaned and kissed her stomach and then rubbed it gently. "Daddy loves you and I can't wait to meet you."
Tears were streaming down Daphne's cheeks and when he stood upright, she kissed him again and again. "I love you too, Niles and I promise from now on, I'll sleep in the guest room. At least until the baby is-."
He silenced her with a kiss. "You'll do no such thing. I want you beside me at night. All night. Every night."
"But what about-."
"My wrist will heal. And if need be we can get some pillows to support you while you sleep. But only on one condition."
"What's that?"
"That I can still hold you in my arms."
She kissed him again and then smiled. "You know, I am a bit tired. Grocery shopping for your brother takes a lot out of me."
He looked at his brace. "And my wrist could use a bit of tending to."
No words were needed as they joined hands (carefully of course) and headed for home. Slumber would be nothing less than sweet.
