(Niles POV)

Eager to see Daphne, but curious as to why his brother insisted that he come over, Niles rang the doorbell. He couldn't contain his worry over what was in store for him. Frasier wasn't usually so secretive about things. And so when Daphne answered the door, he felt some of his worry begin to fade. Somehow with her angelic face and caring demeanor, she always managed to make him feel better.

Could it be that she really was psychic and in some way sensed his unease?

"Hello, Dr. Crane." She said warmly as she opened the door for him. As usual, she was a vision of loveliness, wearing gray slacks and a short sleeved burgundy sweater. He wondered if she'd noticed that he too was wearing burgundy and grey. A grey suit with a burgundy tie. Perhaps it was a sign that they were meant to be together.

Or perhaps it was his ridiculous imagination running wild yet again.

"Dr. Crane are you all right?"

Brought out of his thoughts, he blinked in surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was just-."

"You're worried about this meeting too?" she asked. And then she exhaled deeply. "Oh, I'm so relieved!"

Amused at her perception, his eyebrows rose, and she gasped as though embarrassed. "Oh, I didn't mean that, Dr. Crane. It's just that… well… your brother usually isn't so secretive about such things. Believe me, since I've been living here, there's very little I don't know about his life. But it's not like him to insist on a family meeting, without telling anyone. And I had a vision that it's not going to be good news. In fact just this morning, I-."

"Niles! I'm glad you came!" Frasier said, interrupting their blissful conversation. Daphne's mood concerned him and he wanted so much to reassure her, but how could he, when even he wasn't certain what would transpire?

"Fras, are you going to finally tell us what this is all about?" Martin asked.

But Frasier simply smiled and motioned for them to come to the table. "Have a seat everyone."

Niles and Daphne did as he asked but Martin only grumbled when he saw Frasier begin to distribute folders as though he was conducting a business meeting.

"Oh geez, is this going to take long? Steve Largent is throwing out the opening pitch!"

"Who?" Niles asked.

"Steve Largent! The Seahawk!"

"Never heard of him, Dad." Frasier said.

"You kids make me sick!" Martin said. "Steve Largent is a legendary Seahawk player! The first football player in Seattle to be selected for the pro-bowl! How can you not know who he is?"

When Niles and Frasier gave their father a look, Martin sighed. "Oh right… How could I have forgotten? Well, let's get this over with then. By the way do we have to do this now?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt your busy day!" Frasier snapped. "Now come on! This is of the utmost importance!"

"All right, fine!" Martin said, taking a seat next to Daphne. "But can you hurry it up? What's so important?"

Frasier took his place at the table and smiled. "Everyone open your folders, please."

"What is this, high school?" Martin groaned.

"No, Dad, this is not high school!" Frasier snapped again. "It's something much more serious that concerns all of you!"

As Niles flipped through the pages, his worry returned, and this time even Daphne couldn't ease his discomfort. "Frasier, what is all of this?"

"Well, as you all know, especially you, Niles… Dr. Newman suffered an untimely death and being that he was the same age as I, it's possible that the same thing could happen to me. And so I've prepared these documents, outlining the details of my final wishes. Now on Page 2 you will notice-."

But Niles was no longer paying attention. He was looking at his angel who abruptly rose from her chair.

"Daphne, where are you going?" Frasier demanded.

She glanced at him worriedly. "I-I just remembered that I left something on the balcony. Please excuse me."

"It's freezing outside, Daphne!" Martin said. "Don't you want your coat?"

But she ignored him and opened the door to the balcony. Almost immediately a blast of cold air went through the condo, causing Niles to shudder. And when the door closed, Frasier cleared his throat.

"All right, shall we continue? Now, on page 4…"

As before, Niles wasn't listening. He was staring out the window where his angel stood facing the cityscape. Her arms were folded across her chest and she was sure that she must be freezing. He certainly couldn't have that.

While Frasier and Martin were arguing about who knows what (probably the fact that the Mariners football game was about to start), Niles rose from his chair and went to the balcony, cautiously opening the door.

She turned at once when she saw him and to his relief she smiled. "Dr. Crane…"

"Daphne, are you all right? It's awfully cold out here."

"Yes, I'm fine. Tell your brother that I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly and that I'll be right back. I just needed some air."

She shivered, breaking his heart. He simply couldn't let her stay out here alone in the cold. And when he moved closer, his heart broke even further when he saw that she was crying. Instantly he took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders.

She turned to him and smiled, a tear sliding down her cheek. "You're so sweet. Thank you, Dr. Crane."

"It's my pleasure. Daphne, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I-."

"Is it what Frasier was talking about?"

"No, I-Oh, Dr. Crane, I feel so silly, crying like this but I can't help it! Every time your brother brings up his own mortality it scares me, you know? It's like me Grammy Moon! One day she was happy and laughing, telling me stories to last a lifetime and the next moment we're saying goodbye to her at the cemetery! I just… I don't want to lose anyone else I care about!"

When she began to sob, he went to her and wrapped his arms around her, stroking her back while she cried into his shirt. "It's all right… I'm here." He said, trying to soothe her pain. No wonder she was so upset. He'd heard her talk about her Grammy Moon many times and it was obvious how much she loved her. He had no idea that the dear, sweet woman had passed. It was the first time Daphne had ever mentioned it in his presence and his heart went out to her.

Finally after several moments she pulled out of his arms and looked into his eyes, brushing the tears from her own. "I'm sorry for crying like this. It seems that every time we see each other you end up comforting me. I'm sure you think I'm an overly emotional person."

"Not at all." He said, resisting the urge to brush a fallen lock of hair from her forehead. "You're the most caring, wonderful person I've ever met."

She smile and hugged him once more, and then to his astonishment, she slowly lowered her face to his and gently kissed his cheek. At that moment, he felt as though he was in heaven.

"It's all right, Daphne. I'll comfort you anytime you need it. Any time at all, I'm here for you."

As he held her close, he smiled to himself. Truer words had never been spoken.

To his slight disappointment, she lifted her head and smiled at him. "Come on, let's go inside."

"All right."

They walked back inside and she handed him his jacket back. "Thank you, Dr. Crane. You're always so thoughtful."

"Are you okay, Daphne?" his dad asked when he saw them.

"I'm fine, Mr. Crane." She said smiling when she realized that het meeting had apparently been canceled.

"Well, I suppose I should go." Niles said. He slipped on his jacket and began to walk to the door when he heard her voice.

"Dr. Crane?"

He turned in surprise to see her smiling at him. "Yes, Daphne?"

"May I see you in the kitchen, please?"

He found it hard to hide his smile and he relished the thought of being alone with her. "O-of course."
With his heart pounding wildly, he followed her into the kitchen, even more nervous than before. Could his dreams finally be coming true?

"Dr. Crane, about your plant…"
And his dreams suddenly came to a crash at his feet.

"Oh right, the plant I bought for Maris. Daphne, you don't-."

"Well, I was so touched that you wanted me to take care of it and I didn't want to let you down."

"Daphne, you could never-."

Her fingertips pressed against his lips, silencing him. And then she smiled.

"When you gave me that poor plant, I was convinced that there was nothing I could do for it. But I went out and bought plant food, I watered it every day and I even talked to it in me room. Your brother and father thought I was completely daft. I thought it was getting better but I finally realized that there was nothing more I could do for it. I'm so sorry."

His heart soared at what she'd done for him. No one had ever done anything so kind before. "Daphne-."

She turned away and reached into the corner and then turned around to face him once more. And when she did, his eyes opened in astonishment.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save your plant, but I thought perhaps…"

He stared at the potted plant she placed in his hands. "What's this?"

"I… I bought you another one at Pike Place Market. The man who sold it to me said that it requires very little water and just a bit of sunlight." And then she laughed a sound that was music to his ears.

"It sounds rather funny since Seattle doesn't see a lot of sunlight at times, but he said any natural light would do."

Now it was he who felt like crying. "Daphne, this is…. The most wonderful thing you could have ever done for me. Thank you, so much."

Once more she put her arm around him and kissed his cheek. "You're welcome. And tell Mrs. Crane that I hope she enjoys her new plant."

"Thank you." He whispered hoarsely, before engulfing her into a hug. And as he went to the front door, he gave her one last smile.

On the way to his car, he was still smiling and he couldn't wait to get home. He had no intention of giving Maris this plant, for he knew that she wouldn't care for it, in any form. He'd keep it in his room and tend to it every day. Daphne had given him such a wonderful gift, that he would never forget.

He could hardly wait to see her again.