"Maris…" She said aloud, hating the sound of the woman's name. Bloody hell, how could she have forgotten Niles' wife? No matter how much Daphne loved him, he was still a married man. It was wrong, loving him knowing that he belonged to someone else, but she simply couldn't stop.

"I'm sorry, Niles. She's your wife and you have every right to-."

"That's over. My marriage I mean."

Stunned, she raised her eyes to meet his. "What? But I thought-."

"I didn't tell you before, and quite honestly, I didn't want to tell anyone."

Her heart was thundering. "Tell me what?"

"Maris knew about what happened. The car crash, all of it. Well, all of it except that I've been in love with you since the moment I laid eyes on you."

Barely aware of the sentiment, she could only concentrate on the subject at hand. "Sh-she knew?"

"She knew almost the moment it happened."

Daphne couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"She… found out from the police when they called the house to inform her about the accident."

"Of course… she's your wife so she'd be listed as your emergency contact."

"As are Frasier and Dad and Mrs. Woodson."

"But I don't understand. Then why-."

She sent messages to the hospital, instructing them to fax her with updates on my condition. I guess the publicity would be too much for her and so she chose to stay away. And even when they thought I wouldn't make it, she still…."

He sat in the darkness, unable to go on. But even in the darkness she knew that the pain in his eyes was deeper than Puget Sound.

"Don't do this to yourself, Niles. Please."

"She left notes for the staff." He said after a prolonged silence.

"What did the notes say?" She asked quietly.

"I don't know. She sent them to Dr. Watson but he kept them, saying that he didn't want me to see them. But the truth is that I don't have to see them. I know what they said. And when Dr. Watson finally showed them to me, I realized that I was right."

"What did they say?" she whispered. Her attempt to reach for his hand was met with resistance as he drew back.

But he only shook his head. "It doesn't matter. The jest of it is that now I realize that Maris never loved me at all. The years I spent hoping and praying… were all for nothing."

This time he allowed her to caress his cheek.

"I'm so sorry…" She whispered as tears fell onto her own cheeks.

"I've… contacted my lawyer and am in the process of what I hope will be a quick and painless divorce. I told him in no uncertain terms that Maris can have anything she wants; my car, my money, all of it. I don't want anything more to do with her. She has caused me enough hurt in our marriage to last a thousand lifetimes. I'll meet every demand she throws my way and show her that I'm not the coward she perceives me to be."

The pained expression on his face was unbearable and she ran her fingers through his hair. "I'm so sorry. I know how much you love her."

"I did love her once but not anymore. And I don't think I've loved her for a long time. I realize that now. You're the one I love, Daphne. You're the one I have always loved and will always love for as long as I live."

"But I know it hurts…"

"What hurts is that I can't show you how much I love you. Because I'd give anything Daphne, anything at all…"

She moved closer until she could feel his breath on her face. "I know… and I want to make love to you too, so badly."

"I'm so sorry I can't give you what you want, Daphne."

"I have all I want right here. And it won't be forever, Niles. I promise." "

"I know, but until then…"

"It's all right, Sweetheart. I understand."

"Daphne with my impending divorce and my recovery, it might be a long, long time before we can…"

She wrapped the blanket around both of their shoulders and rested her head against his chest, listening to his beating heart. And then she turned her face toward his and kissed him tenderly.

"Then I'll wait for you, Niles. I'll wait forever."

THE END