Breaking Storms Part 4

Usual disclaimer applies, and once again I have nothing of value, unless you value odd socks, old copies of Top Gear Magazine and many, many pictures of Jenson Button.

Daphne was trying to keep her mind from wandering, unfortunatley it was in vain and she began thinking about what she should buy Roz and Alice, fortunatley Niles didn't notice this as he was far too engrossed in Rigoletto. For Daphne it didn't matter that they were seeing it in the world famous La Scala, it could be on in McGintys and she still wouldn't be interested. According to Niles this was payback for Blackpool, for the first time, probably ever, she wished she was back at the Elliot Bay Towers, doing the laundry or the dishes, anywhere but here, her only consolation was the almost child-like joy Niles expressed when they first arrived.

After what felt like days it was finally over. "You look rather bored" Niles observed, Daphne just said that she was tired, as it had got quite late Niles hailed a taxi to take them back to the hotel. "Well I'm just not that big an opera fan, and you had a very similar attitude to our day in Blackpool, so we're even."

They spent the next two days just wandering around Milan, until the morning of what was to be their final day there, when Niles noticed there were a lot of people in football shirts. Apparantley it was the AC Milan V Inter Milan derby match that evening. Having experience of what a derby match could be like from her brothers going to the Manchester United V Manchester City match, Daphne wisley suggested that they make their way to Rome, after enquiring when the next filght was, and discovering that it wasn't until 9pm that evening Niles did something totally out of character and booked them two tickets on the next train, first class of course.

When they arrived Roma-Termini station it was early evening and the rush hour traffic was just beginning to dissipate, but there was still a crush accompanied by a cacophany of horns at major junctions. Niles booked them into the nearest plush looking hotel, as they had not eaten since mid-morning and they both wanted to get something to eat. Eventually they found a small restraunt down a side street, unfortunatley any illusions they had about having a quiet meal were shattered when suddenly there was the crackle of a radio followed by a man shouting in rapid fire Italian, Niles managed to translate a small part of it, and it was as he feared the commentary for the match, he reasoned that they weren't going to find anywhere that wasn't showing it or having it on the radio so they decided to stay where they were. When they had finished eating they attempted to make their way back to the hotel but frequently found their path blocked by people spilling out from bars that were showing the game. Eventually they made it back to the hotel unscathed but a little shaken as AC Milan scored as they tried to make their way through a crowd and it seemed that every person in Rome had a horn and had sounded it when the goal was scored.

The next day Niles awoke with his ears still ringing from the night before, which wasn't helped as it was rush hour, so once again they were treated to a symphony of car horns.

"What shall we do today?" Daphne called from the bathroom, Niles thought for a second and replied "Well I think we should go dancing this evening, so I am going to buy you a dress and myself a suit so we can stun everyone." On returning from the bathroom, Daphne kissed him and agreed that going dancing was a wonderful idea.

After they had finished shopping Daphne insisted that they go to the Trevi fountain and toss a few coins in as, despite the over-excitable football fans she did want to return to the city, natrually Niles dismissed this as nonsense for the tourists but went along anyway as it made Daphne happy.

Later in the evening when they were preparing to go to the ballroom that the man behind the front desk of the hotel reccomended, Niles was sat on the bed waiting for Daphne to return from the bathroom, he never thought that he could be this happy, he could now see that his 'marriage' to Maris was the act of a desperate man who had not had much luck in the romance department, he was distracted from his train of thought by the bathroom door opening, he didn't see it open but he was suddenly assaulted by the mingling scents of cherry bark and almond shampoo, and the lavender bath salts, turning round he was once again stunned by the vision before him, he had seen her in the gown earlier in the day when he bought it, but now she had her hair and make up done, she impossibly looked even more beautiful. The dress was similar in style to the one she had worn to the Snow Ball, if a little more low cut, and in a royal blue satin rather than red, she let out a small giggle when she looked at Niles, he was wearing the same goofy expression he had the night they got together. He, naturally was wearing an impeccably cut tuxedo, that when he turned round accentuated his butt, Daphne noticed.

Just outside the hotel Niles hailed a taxi as the venue they were going to was on the other side of the city and after the adventure of the previous night he would rather play it safe, also Daphne was wearing heels that would not be comfortable for walking. When they arrived Niles was pleased to see that there was a small bistro next door, when they entered it was clear that the majority of the other guests were also going to the ballroom, as the women were elegantly dressed in ball gowns and the men in tuxedos.

Just after Niles and Daphne had recieved their dessert, the maitre'd came and stood in the middle of the small dining room to announce that the ballroom was open and people could make their way up at any time they wish. About half an hour later they left from the table and made their way up the stairs, when they reached the top Daphne was stunned, it was not a ballroom as such but an open terrace with a dance floor in the centre with a bar and tables around three of the edges, at the far end there was a further raised area with a stunning veiw of the city. Niles went to the bar to get them two glasses of champagne, walking over to the terrace he was amazed by Daphne, the low light of the candles that fickered on the guard rail and the hazy light from the setting sun bathed her in an almost angelic glow. "You look more beautiful than I have ever seen you" Daphne blushed, no matter how many times Niles called her beautiful she could never truly belive him. He slipped his arm around her waist as they watched the sun slowly drop to the horizon.

After they had both finished their drinks they crossed over to the dancefloor, the band began to play a tango, sharing a small smile Niles and Daphne made their way to the centre of the floor, within seconds all eyes were on them, as they were now the only people on the dancefloor, as they had at the Snow Ball they put on quite a show, to the extent that when they had finished dancing a ripple of applause came from around the room. Later in the evening the band leader evidently wanted a reprise of the events earlier in the evening as he played the same tango as he had before, and invited Niles and Daphne to take the floor to demonstrate how a tango should be danced for those who had missed it before.

Once again there came a round of applause but it was more enthusiastic this time, only when he looked at his watch did Niles realise how late it was, and with this sudden realisation a sense of lethargy and general tiredness overcame him. "Shall I get us a cab?" Niles said. When she looked at him to reply the lateness of the hour was noticable not only in his face but hers too. In the taxi on the way back to the hotel the conversation drifted towards the events of the evening, "Did you get a sense of deja vu?" asked Niles

"The first dance or the second, if it was the second, then yes as we had done the same dance not two hours before" Daphne said with a chuckle, looking at Niles' expression she could tell that is not what he was referring too, "If you mean the Snow Ball, then yes I did get a slight feeling that I had been in that situation before." Niles suddenly kissed Daphne with a passion that surpised her everytime, she was used to seeing the repressed Niles, even after they had made love that night he still seemed to be repressing his feelings towards her, wether it was due to him divorcing Maris or not she didn't know.

"This is better than that night" Niles said, breaking Daphne out of her reflection, "I get to go home with my dance partner, rather than to an empty apartment, where all I could do was hope that some day you would reciprocate my feelings, and if I am being honest trying to picture you naked."

"You used to picture me naked, well I think that is deserving of punishment" Daphne said completley deadpan. The look on Niles' face said it all he looked totally shell-shocked, very quickly her face broke into a broad grin, "I'm kidding, it's nice to know that someone was picturing me naked." Relief quickly spead over Niles' face, "Well we seem to be back at the hotel, and I have spent the entire night thinking how incredibly sexy you look in that dress, but I have to admit you would look even sexier out of it" Niles said with a glint in his eye.

"Well let me think about that, I have just been propostioned by an incredibly handsome doctor, hmmm I think my response will be, race you to the room!"

They woke late the next day, and neither wanted to get out of bed, and on opening the curtains Niles saw that staying in may well be the best idea as the weather had turned from being still and clear the night before to being a torrential downpour. Eventually they left the room at about 3pm after the worst of the rain had subsided, as Niles wanted to go to the travel agents as they had a flight booked from Nice to Manchester in three days time in order to fly back to Seattle. Booking the fight to Nice was more of an ordeal than Niles expected but they eventually aquired two tickets for a flight at 11.30am the next day. After having dinner Niles and Daphne returned to the hotel as they wanted an early night due to the fact that they had to be at the airport for 9.30 the next morning, and they still had to pack.

When they arrived in Nice the next afternoon Niles speculated that they had brought the rain with them, as once again they were caught in a monsoon-like downpour, it didn't help that the woman at the car hire desk had told them a space where their car wasn't, eventually after 45 minutes of wandering around the car park they eventually found theirs, Dpahne was on navigaition duty, as Niles had managed to get them a room at the Hotel De Paris in Monte Carlo, and as niether of them had been there before. Thankfully the traffic was light until they reached the ouskirts of Monte Carlo, when evidently every resident of the surrounding 10 mile radius was making their way into the city. On arrival at the hotel Daphne wass surprised by how familiar her surroundings felt, until she noticed the Armco barriers out of the corner of her eye, "Of course the Grand Prix track runs right past here" she thought recalling her brother's enthusiasm for the spectacle of men driving in what is effectivley a circle.

Their suite was as luxurious as any she had ever seen with a huge four poster bed and a glorious view of the harbour, whilst Daphne was admiring the view Niles had ordered a light meal from the room service as he intended to go to the casino later in the evening, and neither of them were that hungry anyway. Daphne noticed the ballgown they had bought in Rome hanging on the back of the door, along with Niles' tux, Niles explained that they were going down to the casino later, and that there was a minimum dress code and these were the only clothes they had that were suitible.

After an evening of playing roulette, Niles and Daphne returned to their room having, only lost about $50, when they were in the casino there was a small commotion when a German man joined them at the table, neither Niles nor Daphne recognised him, but after he left as he only stayed a short while, they were told by the croupier that it was Michael Schumacher, the Formula 1 driver. The croupier was surprised that they didn't recognise him as her thought that they were visiting for the race, which was taking place that weekend.

Niles was becoming increasingly anxious, he had not proposed to Daphne yet, he intended for them to return to Seattle as a betrothed couple, but he had yet to find the perfect moment, the closest he came was in Rome when they went dancing, but he chickened out as there were too many people, he had to do it the next day he thought to himself as they wandered up to the room.

The next day was spent walking around the shops, where most of the merchandise was vastly over-priced, even for Niles, they spent the afternoon packing, as they were leaving the next morning, neither Niles nor Daphne wanted the trip to be over but both recongnised that they would have to go back to reality at some point. That evening they dined in a small bistro reccomended by the concierge, Niles was a little a wary, but was pleasantly surprised as it was a locally owned establishment specialising in local seafood. When they were walking back along the harbour, occasionally stoping to admire the boats, once again their luck with the weather struck again and the heavens opened accompanied by a crack of thunder. Instead of rushing to cover as Daphne was trying to, Niles stopped, and dropped down on to one knee. "Daphne, I have been trying to find the perfect situation to ask this since we were in Manchester, and now I have found it. In the past year you have made me happier than I ever thought I could be, so I have to ask will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" at this instant he produced a small box containing the ring he had carried with him for the past 5 1/2 weeks.
"Oh yes of course I will" Daphne said the shock evident in her voice, as she slipped the ring onto her finger the rain intensified, "I think we should get back to the hotel, as not only do we have an engagement to celebrate, but my outfit is getting a little to see-through for my liking." Daphne said running towards the canopy of a bar across the road. Niles quickly ran up to the hotel to retrieve their hire car, so Daphne had a chance to dry off, and so her outfit could become a little more opaque.

When they eventually got back to the hotel Niles had a bottle of champagne delivered to the room, "I would like to propose a toast, to the most wonderful woman in the world who has just agreed to spend her life with me, To you, my goddess, my Daphne" Niles said.

"Actually I would like to add a little bit if I may, to the man who by propasing to me has inadvertantly let himself in for relentless questioning from my mother about when we are going to have children, the man who puts up with me at my most irrational, not only to you Niles, but to us."

"To us" Niles and Daphne said in union.

Please R&R

To quote the Loony Toons "That's all folks!" although I may write a sequel if there is enough interest, thanks for reading. Kat