He ran his tongue across his dry lips and tried unsuccessfully to slow his racing heart. His angel, the one woman whom he loved above all others, was asking him to spend the night with her. Not in the romantic sense, the way he'd always dreamed, but as a friend, someone to comfort and perhaps, protect her. He should have been disappointed, but he was, in fact, overjoyed. However he had to give his answer carefully.

"A-are you sure?"

She hugged him tightly until they were so close that he could feel her heart beating. "Please Niles."

The sound of his name, his real name, was so unexpected that he thought he might have imagined it. But real or imagined it was the most wonderful sound he'd ever heard. "A-all right. But…"

"What?"

He looked down at his suit and tie which were still damp and smiled sadly. And strangely she understood. "Oh…"

"I can go back to my stateroom and change. It's not that far, but…" He hated to leave her, and given the size of the ship he wasn't certain that he'd be able to find his stateroom, much less find his way back again. "It's all right. I'll make due. Of course I'll stay with you tonight. I'll do anything for you, Daphne. If Frasier and Dad don't approve, then…"

She kissed his cheek and smiled. "I can't tell you how much this means to me. I'm going to get ready for bed now." The whispered words made his heart sing with anticipation, but he quickly quelled his growing desire. Now was not the time or the place for such fantasies, regardless of how badly he wanted to act on them.

When she disappeared into the surprisingly spacious bathroom, he pondered the situation of sleeping arrangements… and sleeping attire. He really should have gone to his room to retrieve his clothing, but he couldn't leave her; not just yet. And so he hoped that his boxers and a t-shirt would be modest enough. Although in her emotional state, he suspected that she wouldn't mind. He felt a bit lost without his things that he used during his nightly ritual for getting ready for bed, but being with

Daphne was a sacrifice that he was willing to take.

A short time later she emerged from the bathroom in a white lace nightgown and matching robe, looking even more beautiful than she had the night she'd spent at his mansion during the terrible storm that caused the electricity outage and she'd worn Maris' nightgown. This one fit closer to her body, showing curves that he didn't realize she had. She was so beautiful that she took his breath away. In fact, she was absolutely stunning and it took all the willpower he possessed not to take her into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless.

"D-Daphne…" He managed to choke out. "You look…"

She blushed and looked down at her attire. "I know it's a bit much and I should have worn something else, but it's all I have. I had already packed and-."

He swallowed hard, his eyes moving up and down her angelic frame. "You look so beautiful." The words simply tumbled out, surprising him. "I-I mean…"

She moved closer and took his hand. "Thank you."

"Well, I guess I'll..."

She nodded in understanding. "Of course…"

"I won't be long."

He entered the bathroom and closed the door and when he'd finished with all he needed to do he entered the stateroom. His heart warmed at the unexpected sight.

His angel was already in bed, sound asleep. He looked around awkwardly, wondering what he should do. He didn't want to take advantage of her and he would never in a million years dream of doing so, no matter how much he wanted her. But what the stateroom had in the way of pleasant design, it lacked in sleeping quarters.

Clearly it was meant for a couple on their honeymoon, but the thought of just slipping into bed with her was…

At that moment she began to whimper, the soft cries sending him to the bed to comfort her. And there was nothing left to do but to climb under the sheets and hold her while she cried. As though she sensed that he was there, she immediately snuggled against his chest. The scent of her silky hair made him dizzy and he put his arms around her to draw her closer. He knew it was wrong, but at that moment nothing could have felt more right. It was there that he fell asleep, an angel in his arms.