He was on his fifth or sixth glass of champagne-he really hadn't noticed. He'd been sitting alone so long he'd also failed to notice that he was the only attendee left.

Seconds later he felt a hand on his back. It was probably just someone from the cleaning crew, ready to throw him out.

As if he hadn't been humiliated enough for one evening.

Slowly... reluctantly, he turned around, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw her.

"Daphne..."

"Dr Crane, I..."

"I thought you'd gone home with Dad and Frasier. What are you doing here?"

"Your father and brother can find their own bloody way home!" She said.

"What's wrong?" he dared to ask.

"The nerve of your family; leaving you alone like this! And your brother, showin off like that in front of everyone!"

Was it just his imagination, or did she actually seem angry?

No... it wasn't possible. Daphne would never think of him as anything but a friend.

He smiled slightly, thinking about that word... friend. In the years that he'd known Daphne, she'd become so much more...

His best friend.

"It's all right, Daphne. He had every right to feel proud. After all, he worked very hard on it."

A feeling of shame washed over him then and he did his best to hide it. But as usual, Daphne knew he was hurting.

Must be her psychic powers.

"You worked hard, too Dr. Crane. And it's terrible that they just... completely ignored you. They didn't even give you an award!"

Niles blushed. "Well, Daphne. I hardly deserved it. I was a terrible actor! I disgraced myself and Frasier by making a complete disaster out of the production he worked

so hard on. No wonder Frasier and Dad are ashamed of me because I'm ashamed of myself! I should have just-."

"Shhh..." Daphne said.

At the touch of her fingertips on his mouth, he shivered.

"Daphne... I was terrible. I was..."

"Nonsense, Dr. Crane. You were wonderful."

He grinned shyly at the compliment. "I-I was?"

She laughed then. "Of course you were! I was so proud of you! Oh come here, you sweet man!"

His heart raced when she hugged him fiercely.

"Oh, thank you, Daphne." He said, sighing contentedly in her arms. "You're being much too kind. I really wasn't that good and-."

"You were wonderful." She said sweetly.

Before he knew what was happening, she leaned over and kissed him.

When she drew back, he was sure the room had begun to spin; or maybe it was his mind, trying to believe that he'd just been kissed by the woman of his dreams.

After a few seconds he found his voice again. "Daphne? Since everyone else is gone-."

She looked at her watch. "Oh God, you're absolutely right! I didn't realize how late it had gotten. I'll take you home right away. Your brother and father are probably

worried about us and-."

"Actually, Daphne... I-I was going to say... Well, since everyone else is gone, would you like to have a drink with me? The bar in this hotel is quite nice with a dance

floor and-."

Her eyes lit up, making her more beautiful than he thought was possible. "Dancing?"

"Well, yes... But we don't have to-."

She smiled and took his hand. "I'd love to, Dr. Crane. After all, you're the best dance partner I've ever had."

Niles felt a rush of love for her as they headed for the bar; ready to dance the night away with his goddess...

THE END