Daphne and Frasier exchanged stunned glances and it was hard to tell which of them was more surprised. Her gaze shifted from Frasier to his father, who was doing his best to avoid eye contact.

"You sent me this flower, Mr. Crane?"

There was a brief pause and then he shrugged. "Yeah, it was me."

She took a step forward. "You sent me this flower?"

"I said it was me, didn't I? Don't go reading anything into it like Frasier does."

Normally she would have been angry at his sarcastic comment, but at the moment she couldn't bring herself to do so. Instead she brought the rose to her lip once more and inhaled the wonderful scent, sighing deeply at the fragrance. And then her tears began to fall.

"Oh geez, Daphne, I didn't think the damn thing would make you cry!"

She brushed away her tears and smiled. "I'm sorry Mr. Crane. I'm just so flattered by this and I don't understand why-."

His expression changed and he started to move toward his chair but she stopped him by touching his shoulder.

"Oh all right, I'll tell you why I sent it. I sent it because… Well, I just wanted to thank you, Daphne. For everything."

"Mr. Crane…"

Unexpectedly, he drew her into a hug and she began to cry into his shirt, trying not to laugh at the way he groaned. Clearly the affection made him uncomfortable, even if he had been the one to initiate it. She held him closer, taking comfort in the way his hand was warm against her back.

"Hey, come on, don't cry now. It's all right."

She released her hold on him and then kissed his cheek. "I don't know what to say, Mr. Crane, except thank you for this. I love you so much and… I'll treasure this forever." She inhaled the fragrance once more. "It's absolutely beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it, Daphne." Martin grumbled. "Good thing that Frasier over there didn't open his big bazzoo wider. He almost gave away Niles' secret!"

Daphne looked up in surprise. "What secret?"

"There you go, Dad, now look what you've done!" Frasier snapped.

Martin covered his face in embarrassment. "Damn it! This is your fault, Frasier! I knew that sending that rose would only cause trouble and now we've both done it!

Um, Daphne, look. Just forget I ever said anything at all."

"I don't think I can…" She said.

"It's nothing really. And as long as we didn't exactly spill anything, there's no harm done, I guess."

"You mean there's more?"

"Go on, Dad, you've told her this much. Might as well tell her the rest!" Frasier prompted. "But if Niles asks how this happened, I'm not taking the blame!"

"The blame for what?" Daphne asked.

"I guess there's no sense in keeping it a secret anymore." Martin said. "You were going to find out sooner or later. Probably later if I know my youngest son. Either that or you'd figure it out by yourself. Hell, Frasier and I figured it out, so I'm sure that you-."

Daphne was completely confused. "Mr. Crane what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about Niles, Daphne! And the fact that he's-."

"Dad!"

"What? I'm trying to tell her! Isn't that what you wanted?"

"No, it is not!"

"Well, it sure as hell looked that way!"

"Dad, I need to see you in the kitchen."

"Now?"

"Yes, now!"

"Can't it wait till we tell her? This is ridiculous! It's gone on for long enough! Years, in fact! She deserves to know and if he won't tell her himself, I will!"

"But what about Niles? Doesn't his privacy mean anything to you?"

"Believe me, he'll thank us, eventually."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Oh, you and your damn ethics, I swear, Frasier-."

As Frasier and Martin argued back and forth, Daphne's head was spinning. "Will someone please tell me what in the bloody hell is going on?" She shouted.

The men fell silent and stared at her, but when Frasier's expression changed, the pieces fell into place like a puzzle.

And she felt incredibly stupid for not seeing it before.