Niles' first thought as he awoke and found himself looking into Daphne's eyes was that maybe he'd died, and this was what heaven looked like. If that were the case, he wouldn't have been disappointed. But he slowly realized he was still on earth. That wasn't a disappointment, either.

"Morning," Daphne said with a smile.

"Good morning, Daphne." Once again, he had an impulse to kiss her. But he resisted it. He reluctantly got out of bed.

Daphne followed suit. Barely saying a word to each other, they changed into their clothes from yesterday. Then they checked out of the motel. Luckily, there was a diner not far from where they were. While eating, they once again said little. Niles was more determined than ever to get Daphne home safely. But in the back of his mind, something told him he would have to speak up eventually. He'd narrowly missed a tragedy, and that gave him a new purpose. One which he hoped to share with Daphne when they were back in Seattle.

As they got back on the road, Daphne began to sense that something was on Dr. Crane's mind. She wanted to talk to him, to find out what was bothering him. But something told her he didn't want to talk yet. Instead, she watched out the window as they drove on. All the while, she prayed that whatever was upsetting him, he would tell her about it whenever he was ready.

Once Niles saw the "Welcome To Seattle" sign, he breathed a sigh of relief. They were home, or nearly home. He'd done it, he'd gotten them both home safely. Now there was just that other matter to consider. He headed straight for Elliot Bay Towers, knowing his father and brother would be waiting for them anxiously.

He parked his car, and they got out. As they rode up nineteen floors in the elevator, Niles felt his pulse begin to race. If he wanted to speak to Daphne, it would have to be now, before they faced their family, and the many questions they would surely have. When they stepped off across from Frasier's apartment, Niles gently touched her arm. "Daphne," he said.

"What?" Daphne replied, surprised.

"I'm sorry I've been so quiet. It's just that I've been thinking..."

Daphne immediately took his hand. "If you're worried about last night, you know, sleeping with me, well, you shouldn't be. I liked it." She blushed as she said it, wondering what he would think of her now.

Niles laughed. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something." He paused, remembering that moment when he'd seen the tree looming in front of him. That could've been the last thing he ever saw. That was why he had to do this. He saw Daphne watching him, waiting to hear what he had to say. "Do you think I could borrow one of those books, the Richard Wilder ones?"

"Why, Dr. Crane, are you suddenly interested in romance novels?" she asked with a laugh. "What would your brother think?"

Niles felt a surge of love for her. It made him feel even more certain. "No. It's just that...there's someone who's very special to me, and I think I need to tell her that. I thought maybe I could get a few pointers."

Daphne took both of his hands in hers. "Oh, Dr. Crane," she said, sighing. "All that time we were together, and you never even told me you were interested in someone! If you love her so much, why haven't you told her yet?"

Niles smiled. He loved the way she cared about him, trying to give him advice, not even thinking for a moment that she was the person he loved. But that was about to change. "Well, it's a bit awkward. You see, she lives with my brother."

Daphne's heart stopped for a moment. She gasped as the meaning of his words sunk in. He loved her? A million questions raced through her mind. She hardly knew what to say. But then she remembered the previous night. Even though she knew she should've been frightened after the near-accident, she'd felt completely safe. As long as he was with her, she knew she would be OK. That meant only one thing. She belonged with him. Slowly, she leaned forward. When their lips met, the kiss confirmed what her heart already knew. As the kiss continued, Daphne realized something. Happy endings didn't only exist in romance novels and fairy tales. Once in a while, they happened in real life, too.

The End