In a haze, Niles hung up the phone and stared at his son, who was still sleeping soundly and he suddenly felt a rush of love for him. It was ungodly late; morning would be arriving in just a few hours. But now he was curious as to his brother's request. He admitted that he found the movie enjoyable, but there were a million other things he'd rather watch, and he certainly didn't enjoy the idea of watching it alone. But his curiosity got the better of him.

He padded downstairs to the television and found the DVD in the cabinet. To his dismay, he realized that it wasn't the only Disney movie that David owned. But he'd deal with that later. He picked up the colorful box and stared at the picture; the red-headed mermaid and colorful fish and sea creatures that accompanied her. Next to her stood a surprisingly handsome cartoon figure of a man with short dark hair and a white shirt. And as he popped the DVD into the player, he was still shaking his head in dismay. What on earth could any child possibly see in-.

"Daddy?"

The sound of his son's voice carried Niles' gaze upstairs, where David was peering at him through the railing. Within seconds, Niles had forgotten all about the DVD and rushed upstairs, scooping the child into his arms. "What's wrong buddy? Couldn't sleep?"

"Where's Mommy?"

"Would you like to come downstairs with me and watch The Little Mermaid?" Niles asked, grateful to have a reason to change the subject. "I know it's one of your favorites."

But the dismissal of his son's question made Niles' body turn cold. He couldn't tell David where Daphne was without telling a lie, and David was so young that he'd never understand. To his relief, David smiled nodded happily.

"I want to see Flounder!" David shouted.

Niles carried David downstairs and sat him on the fainting couch.

"Where's Mommy? I want her to see Flounder too!"

"Mommy's not here right now. She's… at your Aunt Roz's house." Niles replied. It wasn't a lie, but he certainly couldn't tell his son the truth. And so he'd compromised. But just as he feared, David started to cry.

"I want Mommy!"

Niles sat beside David and pulled David closer to him. "Mommy will be home soon, I promise." His heart clinched in his chest, for in his determination to be honest, he may have, in fact, told David another lie. Daphne might never come home again.

Calming David proved to be a chore, and Niles sighed with relief when David finally began showing interest in the animated film. He couldn't help smiling as he watched David's eyes light up as though he was seeing the movie for the first time and soon Niles was absorbed in the story as well.

"Look Daddy! There's Flounder! Mommy likes him! And Prince Eric too! She says he's han-some!"

Niles froze and turned to his son. "What did you say?"

"There's Flounder! David repeated, pointing to the yellow and blue fish on the television screen.

"Um, no…I mean… about Mommy."

"Mommy likes Prince Eric! She said he's han-some! What's han-some, Daddy?"

Niles stared at the screen, unable to believe what he was seeing. The mermaid was talking to a statue that looked remarkably like this Prince Eric.

"Why Eric, run away with you? What would my father think? This is all so sudden!" the mermaid was saying.

And then it hit him like a ton of bricks. Frasier had been right. Niles had, in his haste to jump to conclusions, had destroyed his family, the most precious thing of all.

"It's…. You know what, David? Why don't you sit here and watch the movie? Daddy has to make a phone call."

He rose from the fainting couch and slowly moved away. But David hardly noticed his father's absence. He was completely engrossed in the film, clapping his hands and singing along to the silly songs that accompanied the story.

However, Niles wasn't thinking about the enjoyment that David was getting, watching a Disney movie of all things. His mind was somewhere else. There had to be a way to fix this. There had to be. For love was stronger than anything. He just hoped that he wasn't too late.