Author's Note:Yes,I finally managed to write another chapter! lol I was a bit busy with exams and stuff. But now I've got summer holidays...but saying that I should add that work experience will keep me busy for the next 3 weeks,working from 8 till 4 and also taking driving I have no idea when chapter 4 will be up,but it'll be asap!:) Um...as per usual,please read and review!:)
Disclaimer:Sadly I own nothing,only my 2 cats;) and um...at the end of this chapter another "Frasier"character appears,I don't own her either!;)
Chapter 3:
Niles' Point of View:
He could see an expression of shock cross Milly's face while his father simply shook his head. But all of that was forgotten when he looked into Daphne's beautiful brown eyes. When they reached the middle of the dance floor,Daphne gave him a warm smile and softly squeezed his hand. Immediately Niles moved closer and put an arm around her back,instantly assuming the classical dance postion. Daphne let out a small chuckle upon feeling the warmth of his hand on her back and tutted scoldingly. "But Dr Crane,this isn't Ballroom dancing. It's a slow dance,you know? Holding the lady tight,melt her with the closeness of your body..." Niles felt a well-known heat rise inside him. "Daphne,I couldn't possibly...I..." "Oh Dr Crane,you're such a gentleman but please,just for me?" Niles sighed and nodded eventually. "Alright,if you insist."
Daphne moved closer,placing her arms around his neck,her cheek gently touching his. By the time Niles had put his arms around her waist,there was no gap between them,just their bodies moving in unison."We haven't danced like this for quite some time.",Niles whispered in her ear. "It's a shame really.",Daphne replied, "you are a wonderful dancer." He closed his eyes giving in to the softness of her skin and the wonderful scent of her hair.
But when he opened his eyes again the magic was broken for staring back at him was a pair of furious brown eyes,Donny's eyes. And looking just as angry was his brother Frasier, he could almost hear him reminding him of his place and with a thud Niles was back in reality. He was such a fool to fall for her...he had known from the beginning that Daphne had just wanted to dance with him to make Donny jealous but he couldn't help it...the minute their bodies touched he felt so close to her and he forgot everything else. Taking a deep breath he stepped away from her. "Excuse me.",he said and left her alone in the middle of the dance floor.
Frasier's Point of View:
He had spent his entire evening chatting with seemed to have some sort of connection,having talked about almost everything from opera to wine and she had the most wonderful sense of humour. "You gotta be kidding me.",Donny said and Frasier reluctantly turned his attention away from Charlotte and followed Donny's glance. What he saw could only be described as one of the worst cases of hopeless love. His brother and Daphne were dancing together,giggling,talking and especially Daphne seemed to be displaying flirtatious behaviour. Frasier was sure that this could only go wrong.
And almost certainly a few minutes later his brother seemed to come to his senses,leaving the ballroom and Daphne and Donny to themselves. Frasier decided that this was an ideal moment to leave as well and,making eye contact with his father, he got up. "Goodnight Charlotte,I think I will turn in,it was wonderful meeting you,you are an enchanting woman." Charlotte laughed softly. "Oh Frasier,you sound like an old man when you talk like that. But it was nice to meet you 'll probably run into one another again." "I'll make sure we do.",he said,kissing her hand and then he turned and left.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!",his father exclaimed,"she's a married woman!" "I was simply...how did you even know that,you weren't sitting with us." "I was a detective,remember?" "Well,Sherlock...indulge us please...how could you possibly know when you weren't sitting anywhere near us?" "Ok,listen! You were constantly talking to her,laughing with her,so I could tell you had a thing for her,so I took a closer look at the guy next to her,she was holding his hand,they were cuddling. You do remember that I took a bullet to my hip and not to my eyes,don't you? Besides,when I just came over I noticed that she was wearing a ring. And that ,smartalec,is a vital part of being a detective:focusing on a person,watching and attention to detail." Frasier huffed rolling his eyes. "Her so-called husband was busy flirting with other women and paying her no attention." "She is still married though,Fras.",his father repeated.
Daphne's Point of View:
After a fiery argument with Donny,a reconciliation had soon followed and Daphne was now trying to find Dr Crane to aplogise to him. She was glad that Donny had understood that he couldn't treat her like one of his posessions-no matter how much he loved her-while she had to admit that her behaviour had been somewhat childish. When she didn't find Dr Crane in the cabin,however, she grew slightly worried. He had been somewhat reluctant in the first place and then there was the strange way in which he had left. She sighed and stepped outside onto the open deck of the ship and eventually found him standing alone beside the dark pool staring up into the sky. "Dr Crane?",she asked softly. "Yes,Daphne.",he said but didn't turn around. "I came to apologise for my behaviour.",she said, her voice steady although her concern grew,"it was childish and...are you alright?"
She heard him letting out a sigh and finally he turned around. "No Daphne,I'm not." She wanted to ask him what troubled him so,but somehow she couldn't. "I love you,Daphne...I have done since I first laid eyes on you and I can't lie to you anymore.",he spoke very quietly and calmly and yet Daphne couldn't believe the emotions in his eyes. She swallowed,trying to grasp what just had happened. "Dr Crane...I'm...",she took a deep breath trying to collect her courage," you are a wonderful friend...you're almost like a brother to me...so kind and caring and...but Donny is...",she stopped annoyed with herself for sounding as confused as she felt and not as calm and collected as he seemed to be. "I understand.",he said,only two words and yet they seemed to change everything between them. She looked into his eyes until she couldn't stand the emptiness within them anymore,then she fled back inside.
Niles' Point of View:
He stood there quietly for a while,just breathing in and out,in and out,a rythmic pattern until her words came flooding back to him...it was over,she'd never be his...his last shred of hope destroyed by the finalty of her words. He stood there for a while until a voice said:" Well,seems the Crane boys are never lucky in love." Niles turned around to where the voice was coming from. "Lilith!",he exclaimed.