A/N: This is the last part! Thank you for reading and please leave a review :)

Daphne finds herself in the park. She can't remember if she's ever been here without Eddie. The gentle rays of sunshine on her puffy face almost hurt. At least she's no longer crying. It's warm enough to sit down on a bench and so she does. She's always liked to watch other people. Today, Daphne seems to be caught up in her own soap opera though. When a man in an impeccable suit hurries by, she thinks of Dr. Crane. Which one? Her mind nags. The one who kissed her or the one she wanted to kiss? It's the latter, it's Niles. She tries out the name in her mind like she's done a few times before. She likes it.

As Daphne thinks about the last few hours, she is not sure what to think – or feel. First Dr. Crane kisses her. The memory is disturbing. Yet, she doesn't harbor too many bad feelings about it. He's done it in a spur of a moment thing, she thinks. Because he was hurt and somehow she understands. Even if she won't tell him right away... let him feel guilty for a while. In the end, no harm was done. Then she thinks of Niles. She is not sure what to make of his confession. He is in the middle of a terrible divorce from an equally awful woman. How can she trust his feelings? How can he trust his feelings? Daphne wonders as she looks ahead but the suited man is gone. Other people walk by who don't remind her of Niles. If she's honest with herself, she wants to see him. Right now.

"Daphne." Surprisingly, Niles is the first to utter her name. He has to fight the urge to rush over and take her into his arms. Especially with Frasier near. Despite everything he wants his brother to understand Daphne is his. If she chooses to have him that is.

"Daphne, I must tell you how sorry I am." Frasier takes a step forwards and is stopped by Niles. He doesn't even do it consciously; it just happens. The hand on Frasier's arm is not threatening in the least. Just a small reminder. Daphne just looks at the two brothers.

"Have the two of you made up?" She asks to the astonishment of the three Crane men. Of all the things that could be on her mind, she wants to know this.

Frasier and Niles look at each other.

"They pretty much have. Fras, get me a beer." Martin says hoping to end this awkward situation once and for all.

"Why me?"

"Because I told you so." Martin finally slumps into his chair.

"Can we talk... Niles?" Frasier, on his way to the kitchen stops, turns around with his eyes as big as saucers. Neither Niles nor Daphne notice, because they only have eyes for each other now. Martin sees him though. He looks at his son angrily telling him without words not to disturb them.

"Sure, sure. Where do you-"

"Balcony." Daphne says, leading the way. Niles follows her with his eyes glued to her form.

"So..." They're alone again, finally, even if they're still visible through the glass. Somehow the situation makes Daphne more nervous than she thought it would.

"You called me Niles." Niles can hardly contain his happiness; his eyes dance and he's grinning like a little boy.

"I- what you said earlier today. I thought about it." The smile vanishes and is replaced by a worried expression. Daphne wrings her hands nervously. While she tries to find the right words, Niles prepares himself for the let-down. For the "I'm sorry, but" speech. Her fidgety hands unsettle him so he just takes them into his. Daphne is clearly surprised by his actions, but she doesn't pull away from him.

"Dr – Niles, I-I- this is kinda hard." She giggles awkwardly. Suddenly, Niles feels self-confident. This is the feeling he's felt this morning. The same confidence that led him to speak up for himself runs through him now like a form of energy. He hopes he isn't wrong about Daphne, about the emotions he thinks he sees there on her face.

"Daphne, would you do me the honor and go out with me tomorrow night?"

"Yes." She answers, this time without hesitation but a big grin on her face. Niles realizes they have to do this slowly. They can't just jump in. This is a beginning, their beginning. He doesn't let go of her hand when he leads her back inside. Before he manages to open the door, Daphne stops him and has him face her. She's so close and he can smell her scent. He can see every sparkle, every dot in her beautiful eyes. Shyly, she leans forwards and kisses him. It's a soft and gentle kiss; short, but promising.

"I just had to check if I was right." She tells him and then walks inside.

"Check what? And were you right?" Niles asks dumbfounded, but he doesn't receive an answer.

Daphne, already inside, just smiles to herself.

The family dinner goes by awkwardly; everybody tries to engage in small talk without mentioning anything incriminating. Niles and Daphne occasionally catch the other one's eyes and they have to keep themselves from grinning and acting like silly teenagers. Eventually, Martin says goodnight and leaves. Daphne is the next to go. Her eyes linger on Niles for the last time this evening and she tells him how she's looking forward to the next evening.

"You and Daphne?" Frasier asks when the two brothers are finally alone.

"Yes." Niles is just too happy to let the question bring him down.

"I'm happy for you. I really am. Who knew this day would end on a pleasant note." Without asking his brother, Frasier pours them both a sherry.

"Well, your face looks nice, too." Niles can't help but mention.

"Very funny, Niles." Frasier considers throwing the sherry into Niles', but he is tired and they've hurt each other enough already. Also, he needs to save something for their next fight, which is inevitably looming there, somewhere in the future.

"Frasier?"

"Hm."

"Are we ok?" Niles repeats the question he's asked so many hours ago. It feels like days, considering everything that has happened since then.

"No. But we will be." His brother's answer is the same as well. Only this time it's a promise; it's the truth.

END