The doorbell rang and Frasier rose to answer it. "That will be Niles."

"Like clockwork." Martin said. "His surprise visits are getting less and less surprising."

"Niles! What a nice surprise!" Frasier said, smiling at his father when the door was opened.

"Hello all." Niles said. "I was just in the neighborhood and I thought I'd stop by to see if you've seen this."

He handed Frasier the latest edition of the Seattle Times.

"Good news, I hope." Frasier said, opening the paper to the Arts and Entertainment section.

"Right there on Page three. The most wonderful thing imaginable! Carmen is coming to McCaw Hall, three weeks from tonight."

Martin put aside the pictures he'd been going through. "Carmen Miranda? That woman's been dead since the fifties!"

"Oh dear God..." Frasier groaned. "The opera, Dad."

"Oh!" Martin said. Then, as though he realized how ridiculous his comment

was, burst into laughter.

"That was pretty funny, huh? Me thinking she was coming to Seattle!"

"It's a complete riot, Dad." Niles said. "Frasier are we really related to him?"

"Don't start that again, Niles." Frasier said. "So how do we get tickets?"

"Well, we..."

Niles stopped mid-sentence staring at the vision that entered the room.

"Hello, Daphne. You're looking lovelier than ever this evening."

Daphne blushed, and glanced at her flowered dress; the one she'd had for ages. "Thank you, Dr. Crane."

Frasier clapped his hands together and walked around the room. "Niles, I have a proposition for you."

Niles looked at his brother with interest. "Oh? And what might that be? A new wine perhaps?"

"How does a trip to the Grand Canyon sound?" Martin asked before Frasier could answer.

"In Dad's Winnebago? The whole family?" Frasier added.

Niles cringed in reply. "You can't be serious!"

"Well, of course I'm serious!" Frasier said.

"Why that's the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard!" Niles said.

"What's so ridiculous about it?" Martin asked.

"Dad, have you completely forgotten our last trip to the Grand Canyon? It was a complete disaster!"

"Niles what are you talking about? We had a great time! Your mother and I went to great lengths to make sure you boys had a good time! We planned that trip for

months!" Martin retorted.

"And we had a wonderful time, didn't we, Niles?"

"Speak for yourself, but I refuse to go to that place ever again! And the idea of riding in Dad's RV doesn't interest me at all; especially when I'm forced to ride for days

through several states just to get there."

"Oh, but Dr. Crane we'll have a wonderful time!" Daphne said. "I wish you'd change your mind and come with us!"

"I'm sorry Daphne, but I just can't-." He stopped, shivering when he realized she was touching his arm.

"Did you say us?"

"Why yes! Your brother and father invited me to come along!" Daphne said, unable to stop smiling.

Feeling a bit dizzy, Niles walked to the sofa and sat down on the arm. "That certainly is wonderful. You know Frasier? A trip to the Grand Canyon sounds fascinating!"

Martin rolled his eyes. "Of course it does! Now that you know that Daphne's going! Otherwise to hell with the rest of us! You'd be happy going to the World Series if

Daphne was going to be there."

Daphne looked at Martin in horror. "Mr. Crane!"

"Dad, that's a ridiculous assumption!" Niles said; his face burning with embarrassment. "Besides, everyone knows that the Seahawks have virtually no chance of ever

playing in the World Series."

Once again, Martin rolled his eyes. "You've got that right."

"Well, it doesn't matter anyway." Frasier said. "The point is that we're all going together as a family."

"Oh, this is so excitin', I can hardly stand it!" Daphne said. "When do we leave?"

"First thing in the morning." Martin said.

"Well then, I'd best be finishin my packin." Daphne said. "Definitely some lightweight clothes. I hear it gets awfully hot at the Grand Canyon."

"Would you excuse me, please?" Niles said, rising from the sofa.

"Is something wrong, Dr. Crane? You look awfully pale." Daphne said, rushing

to feel his forehead. "You're awfully warm as well. "

" I think I just need some water." Niles said as he walked into the kitchen.

He fanned himself with a nearby cookbook as he watched Daphne pour him a glass of water and hand it to him.

"There you are, Dr. Crane."

Niles took the glass of water, drinking the contents down in one gulp. "Thank you, Daphne. You're an angel."

"You should best be getting yourself home to start packing Dr. Crane. We have a long journey ahead of us." Daphne said. "I need to finish packin' meself."

"I'll help you." Niles said turning to follow her into the hallway. When he reached Martin's chair, Frasier grabbed his arm.

"That won't be necessary Niles. Daphne can pack by herself. Now why don't you take her advice and start on your own packing. I'm sure Maris will want to know that

you'll be out of town."

Niles mouth opened in horror. "Good Heavens! I completely forgot about Maris! She's probably livid that I haven't come home! Well, off I go."

"Shall we stop by the mansion and pick you up in the morning or will you be meeting us here?" Frasier asked.

"I'll meet you here. Maris is a light sleeper and just the slightest sound will wake her. Why, the other day, I had the audacity to open the window just a crack at the

precise moment a gust of wind passed through. She never let me hear the end of it. Apparently I'd woken her from a dream of being swept out to sea to live with the

mermaids."

"Sharks would be a better dream for me!" Martin said as he and Frasier burst into a fit of laughter.

Niles frowned. "I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear that."

Still laughing Martin said "Well you can pretend all you want, but believe me, I said it!"

"Goodbye Dad; Frasier." Niles said opening the door.

"Goodbye, Dr. Crane." Daphne said with a smile. "I'll see you soon."

Noticing that Daphne was the only one in the room not ridiculing him or his wife (however estranged his marriage might be), he kissed her hand.

"Dear, sweet Daphne. I bid you a fond farewell."

Daphne blushed. "Dr. Crane..."

"Oh Geez!" Martin said. "The thing I said about Maris and the sharks? It was just a joke!"

"Goodbye, Daphne." Niles said, ignoring his father's comment.

When he was safely in the elevator, his heart beat rapidly at the thought of being with Daphne for an entire week, in the secluded confines of his father's Winnebago.

Suddenly he couldn't wait to tell Maris about his adventure.