When they found themselves alone, Daphne turned to Niles and gently took the flour sack from him carrying it into the kitchen. But the rushed way in which she did so caused him alarm. He hurried to follow her and stopped in surprise when he saw her place the flour sack on the counter and then lovingly brushed it off with a towel.
"Daphne?"
She looked up, obviously surprised at the sight of him. "Oh… Dr. Crane…"
Slowly he moved closer, concerned at the way her eyes were glistening with what could only be construed as tears. "Daphne, are you all right?"
Almost instantly her gaze fell upon the flour sack and she resumed brushing off the bag. He knew it was best to say nothing, for she must have a reason for thinking that the flour sack was a real baby. But he couldn't hurt her feelings.
"Daphne, if this is about what Dad said, I'm sorry he spoke to you that way. You're certainly not crazy. You're kind and compassionate and I know I keep saying this but I sincerely appreciate everything you've done for me."
His comment was rewarded when she walked toward him and embraced him, allowing him to smell her hair and feel the softness of her arms around him. And it took nearly all of his strength not to melt against her and close his eyes. But all too soon she released him.
"I think he'll be okay, but we really should put him down for his nap."
Niles eyebrows rose. This was certainly odd for her to be so adamant about something that wasn't even real. But he didn't dare laugh. It was best to act casual and play along. He cleared his throat and smiled.
"Perhaps he'd be more comfortable on the sofa."
As soon as he said the words, he gasped remembering what had happened before. "Oh… but what about…"
"Don't worry about Eddie. I'll make sure to keep him away. Now come on."
Carefully she wrapped the flour sack in a freshly laundered towel and placed it in Niles' arms. And then together they walked into the living room.
"Would you like to do the honors, Daphne?"
She smiled and took the flour sack, nestling it into the corner of the Cocoa Channel sofa where it was surrounded by pillows. Frasier would be absolutely livid if he saw what she had done. But he wasn't about to breathe a word of it to a soul.
"Sweet dreams, my darling." She whispered, leaning down to lightly kiss the flour sack.
Niles wanted to say something but he was once again at a loss. He couldn't tell her what he was thinking… that it was completely unhealthy for anyone to think of a flour sack as a real child and he suspected that she was merely acting on her own secret desire to become a mother to her own child someday. And so he simply smiled and patted the flour sack gently.
"Goodnight, Son." He whispered.
To his complete and utter surprise, he felt Daphne's arms around him in the most wonderful embrace… even more wonderful than the last hug she had given him. And as he leaned against her, he could feel the faint rhythm of her heartbeat and the soft, steady way she breathed in and out. But most of all, he loved the heavenly scent of her perfume as it wafted beneath his nose.
"We make such wonderful parents, don't we Dr. Crane?"
For a moment he said nothing, once again unsure if he wasn't dreaming. Had she really said what he thought she said? She had no idea how long he'd wanted to hear those words, how many times he had dreamed of the two of them, taking care of their own baby; the one that had her smile, her beautiful eyes, her chestnut brown hair... The most beautiful baby imaginable.
He knew that she was referring to the flour sack and it had nothing at all to do with their relationship which was nothing more than a deep friendship. But he relished it just the same.
"Dr. Crane, don't you think we make wonderful parents?" She repeated. And when she hugged him tighter, he knew that he was without a doubt not dreaming. With the utmost gratitude, he returned the hug, smiling at the flour sack, which he could have sworn was sleeping peacefully.
"You're absolutely right, Daphne." He said after a brief silence "No flour sack could ever be more loved by two people."
THE END.