The room was eerily silent and Daphne's heart was racing. She turned to her husband. "Niles Crane, I don't know what in the bloody hell has gotten into you but you need to apologize to your father right this instant!"
"No I will not apologize, Daphne!" Niles shot back. "I've done nothing to be sorry for!"
Daphne sobbed harder. "Niles, please! You're ruining David's birthday party!
Niles glared at his father. "As far as I'm concerned, the party was ruined a long time ago!"
To Daphne's horror, both Ronee and Martin stood and began gathering their belongings. "All right, that's enough!" Martin yelled. Come on Ronee! I know when I'm not wanted! Let's go home!"
Ronee cast a glance at Niles and Daphne. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea, hon."
Daphne was frantic. "No, please! Don't leave! Martin, please! Ronee, I'm sorry, all right? Look, I'll go and wake up David. I'm sure he's feeling much better now and we'll all have some cake! I even have ice cream!"
"I'm not staying here another damn minute!" Martin shouted. "And as for the presents we brought, well I'm sure you can find someone who will appreciate them, Daphne, because I can see that you and Niles sure as hell don't!"
"We do, Martin! We do appreciate them! More than you'll ever know!" Daphne pleaded. "I'm so sorry that the day has turned out like this but if you'll just stay a little while longer I can fix it! I promise! We can-."
"Goodbye, Daphne!"
Helplessly Daphne watched as Martin and Ronee headed out the door. Before it could close, Daphne ran toward them, looking weakly at Ronee. "I-I'm so sorry." She whispered.
Ronee smiled sympathetically and touched Daphne's shoulder. "It'll be all right. I'll call you tomorrow."
Touched by her mother-in-law's kind words, Daphne kissed Ronee's cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too, Sweetie. I'll call you tomorrow."
Daphne nodded tearfully, knowing that there was no possible way to get them to stay even a moment longer. Martin's mind was made up. The door closed and she turned away. For a moment there was nothing that Daphne could do but stare into space. And then their eyes locked.
"Niles…"
He looked at her with such anger that it frightened her even more than she'd been frightened by his actions earlier. But it was the way he headed toward his office, slamming the door so hard that the walls rattled that shook her to the core.
She was still sobbing when she ran up the stairs toward the noise that came from the hallway. Sure enough, the moment that she reached David's room, the noise became more prominent. Her son was crying. Most likely he'd been awakened by the slamming door.
"Damn it, Niles…" she mumbled. Never in her life had she been so angry at her husband. But as she opened the nursery door, she forced herself to calm down. No doubt that David would be able to sense her anger were she to bring it into his room with her. It was best to leave it in the hallway. The last thing David needed was more stress. He'd been through so much already, battling a terrible cold at such a young age. It was the first of many, she feared. And that, in turn, upset her even more.
Her trembling hand on the doorknob, she took a deep, shuddering breath, as David's cries grew louder.
"Mum's coming, sweetheart." With a gentle turn of the knob and a small push of the door, it opened. The doom was dark, save for the bright moonlight that filtered through the window. Her heart melted when she saw David standing in his crib, wearing the sweet blue and green pajamas adorned with tiny black and white pandas. He was getting so big. Soon he'd be walking, and then running, then going to school… and before she knew it, he'd be married with children of his own. The thought made her a bit sad.
"There's my sweet boy. Come on, honey." She lifted him out of his crib and into her arms. The kiss she placed on his forehead should have made her happy; for he was no longer burning up. The fever was gone. But the fact that he'd been sick in the first place only reminded her of the events that had occurred that evening.
His cries continued and she grabbed his soft fleece blanket (a gift from Martin of course, this one adorned with colorful balloons) and wrapped it around his tiny body. The minute they sat in the antique rocking chair (the one that once belonged to Hester and the one that Hester rocked Niles and Frasier to sleep in), Daphne began to do the same for David. Back and forth, back and forth. And while David's tears slowly began to subside, Daphne's tears began anew. She kissed his forehead, her lips lingering on his soft blonde hair.
"I'm so sorry you're sick my darling. I wanted your first birthday to be so special. I know that you'll never remember it, but I will. And I just…" her voice, even as a whisper, caught in her throat and she found it difficult to go on. "Oh I wish the day hadn't gone like this. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Your grandpa and Ronee brought over such wonderful gifts. I can't wait for you to see them." Tears fell from her cheeks and landed on David's head but she quickly kissed them away.
She stopped rocking him for a moment, wondering if he might be hungry. He must be. Sure enough, after she adjusted her blouse and positioned him against her breast, he began to nurse. Guilt settled in and she wondered how long he'd been crying. She'd been so concerned about getting Ronee and Martin to stay for the party and so angry at Niles for his behavior that she'd neglected to take care of her son.
Her sobs began anew. When David was finished nursing, she moved him closer to her shoulder and patted his back. He was asleep within minutes. And soon thereafter, so was she.