That night. Freddie hung out with Frasier, Niles, Daphne and David, while Ronee took Martin home where she prepared a nice meal for him. They didn't say much. His already well-worn recliner was really showing signs of age. Unlike Frasier, who'd never really adapted to the sight of that ghastly looking chair that had meant so much to Martin (even though, thanks to Frasier, this was a very expensive replica. 'if you don't like it you can throw it off the balcony and set it on fire" was a well repeated joke between Martin and Ronee after he'd informed her of the incident leading to the replacement chair.

She was going to let him sleep in his chair, preparing to cover him with a comforter, when he looked at her and squeezed her hand. "I want sherry," he looked into her eyes.

"You've been hanging around Frasier too much already," Ronee teased. "how about I bring you a beer? I just picked some more up.."

Martin shook his head. "I want sherry."

Ronee wanted to laugh, to scold him for being so silly. Sherry was definitely not his drink of choice. On one hand, she believed very much in treating her husband the same way she always had- with a sense of humor, gentle teasing, and with respect. But right now, she really, really just wanted a good night's sleep. All of this worrying about Martin was taking it's toll on her. She hadn't told anyone, but she had been seeing her cardiologist again. Her blood pressure had been getting higher and higher, and she was now on a new regiment of medication. But she couldn't worry Martin, and certainly not Frasier nor Niles. This was her lot in life, and she would carry herself with dignity.

So she made a discreet phone call, and within twenty minutes Frasier, Freddie, and Niles had shown up with a bottle of sherry just for Martin. Daphne had to get David home to bed. Along the way to their father's house, the Crane brothers discussed how odd Martin's drink craving was, but Niles surmrised that perhaps he was just wanting to connect with them. How could they refuse this opportunity?

Upon arriving, Ronee quickly served the men, save for Freddie, of course, a glass of sherry. Frasier proudly served it to his father. Or at least, he attempted to serve it to him.

"What the hell is this?" Martin grumbled.

"It's sherry, Dad," Frasier grumbled. "I learned that you were wanting.."

"I know what it is!" he shoved the glass away from him. "You know I don't drink that stuff."

"But Dad," Niles gently interjected. "Ronee said that you were wanting sherry.."

"no, no, no," Martin waved his hand in the air. "not sherry. Sherry! Sherry!"

Ronee looked on in confusion, as did Freddie, while Niles and Frasier exchanged nervous and worried glances.

"Not sherry," Frasier sighed. "Sherry. As in.."

"That Sherry?" Niles covered his hand with his mouth.

"Okay, boys, I know it's late, but will one of you kindly enlighten me as to what's going on here..." Ronee jumped in, and looked around for answers.

Frasier took her hand. "This is unfortunate...but I don't believe Dad was asking for a glass of sherry. I believe he was asking for Sherry...his one time paramour..."

"His girlfriend?" Ronee asked, shocked.

"Yes. It was a long time before he met you, and, well, things were obviously never meant to work out between them.."

"Frasier," Niles stepped over and whispered. "Perhaps you and Ronee could go into the other room to discuss this. I think we should consider Dad's feelings in having this conversation..."

"Of course. His feelings," Ronee sighed. "Let's all not forget Martin's feelings!"

Everyone, including Martin, stared at her.

Tired, worried not just about her husband, her marriage, but now her own health, Ronee finally expressed her frustrations, albeit in a sudden fit of anger. "Yes, let's not worry about upsetting Martin; if he doesn't want to sleep in his own bed with his own wife...if he'd rather watch tv all night alone in this chair, than to be with the woman he married...that's just fine. Let's worry about not hurting his feelings when I have to remind him to use his cane for the tenth time before noon. Let's not let him know everything because we don't want to upset him. Let's just worry Ronee instead! What does it matter to her? It's only her husband she's losing...but who the hell cares about Ronee?"

She grabbed her keys and stormed off. Frasier started to follow her, but Niles held him back. "Let her go. She just needed to blow off some steam. We've both worked with family members who unfortunately bear quite the burden of this disease..."

"Yes," Frasier looked on as he watched Martin lose himself in a tv show. "But advising other people on how to deal with a family crisis is one thing; it's quite another matter when it's your own family drowning in sorrows and fears and an uncertain future."

Freddie wasn't sure what to do, but Niles patted his brother on the back, and they sat at the edge of the hallway, each Crane men processing their ugly and real emotions differently.

tbc