(Daphne's POV)

Daphne stared at Martin in shock, unable to stop the tears that had turned from sympathetic tears to hot and angry with one startling revelation.

"How could you do such a horrible thing?" She shouted.

But Martin only shrugged. "What?"

"How could you do that to your sons… just lie to them like that?"

"Daphne, I wasn't-."

"YOU WERE!" She yelled, no longer caring that she was making a complete fool of herself. "Why did you do that? You knew that I was upset, so why-."

Anger surged through her and she lunged at him, intent on hurting him. But Frasier arrived in the nick of time.

"Dear God, what's going on in here?"

"She's gone crazy, Frasier! Look at her!" Martin replied.

"You're the one who's crazy, old Man! How could you do such a thing? You-."

Frasier moved between them, holding Daphne's hands to keep her at bay. But she continued to thrash about, having no idea what was wrong with her.

"Daphne, Daphne, stop this, right now!" Frasier said sternly as though he was talking to Eddie. She wasn't a dog for God's sake! "What has gotten into you?" Have you lost your mind?"

She said nothing, but instead glared angrily at her boss. He didn't understand. No one would. And the fact that he'd spoken to her as though she were a child angered her even more. "How dare you, Dr. Crane! I'm not a child and I don't deserve to be spoken to in such-."

"What's going on?"

Daphne looked up, mortified to see Niles standing in the doorway.

"She's a nut, that's what's going on!" Martin grumbled.

Daphne swallowed hard and pushed her way past Niles, unable to look at him. She'd humiliated herself enough for one day, and insulted his family as well. She stared straight ahead and didn't look back until she'd reached the balcony.

Slamming the door behind her, she unleashed the tears that she'd been holding in. Instantly the skyline of Seattle blurred before her eyes. Bloody hell, what was wrong with her, freaking out over one fabricated story? Martin had only told the story to get Niles and Frasier to stop fighting and make up but when she found out that it wasn't real, it hurt her deeply. It was so like Mr. Crane to fabricate such a story. Maybe Niles and Frasier had found it amusing but she certainly didn't.

"Daphne?"

At the sound of his voice she whirled around, brushing the tears from her cheeks. "I-I'm sorry, Dr. Crane. I-."

He moved closer to him and instinctively she held out her arms, beckoning him to hold her. She'd never been so bold with her emotions before but he went to her willingly. She leaned against him sobbing into his chest, not even knowing why she was crying so hard. He held her close, stroking her back and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. But she couldn't stay like this forever, as much as she wanted to. It wasn't right. And it was hard to let go.

"What happened?" he asked quietly.

Slowly she drew out of his arms and looked at him. "I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry I got so mad at your father and brother. But I just couldn't help meself. If your father hadn't told that story about Gus-."

Niles nodded. "Yes, that was unfortunate, wasn't it? Makes you realize that you can't take one minute of your life for granted."

"Dr. Crane, about that story…"

"Yes?"

She looked down at her feet and moved her eyes to his. "It's not true."

His mouth fell open. "What?"

"Your father, he made it up! I mean this must be a shock to you. It was to me. And to think that I got so upset over something that wasn't true! I feel so stupid! I can't believe your father would do something like that to you!"

"It's all right, Daphne. I think I know why he did it."

"No, it's not all right! It's terrible!"

"I suppose I understand why he did it. Niles said. "To teach Frasier and I a lesson. And we needed one."

"You must think I'm completely daft."

"I would never think that, Daphne."

She turned to face him, unable to believe what she'd just heard. "You mean you don't think I'm completely-."

"I think you're a kind and caring soul. I've never met anyone with a heart as big as yours."

She brushed away a tear and hugged him tightly. "I love you Dr. Crane."

Beneath her touch she felt him gasp lightly. And then he held her closer. "I love you too, Daphne."