Watching David with his friend, Daphne squeezed Niles' hand. Her son looked so happy and that's all she ever wanted for him. Finally he had found a friend who was

different from all the others-and yet he treated her with such sweetness that filled her heart with joy.

When the children had finished with their snacks and the credits for the cartoons began to scroll on the television set, Daphne moved toward the couch and smiled.

"David why don't you take Andrea upstairs and show her your room?"

David didn't hesitate. He jumped off of the couch and eagerly turned to Andrea.

"Okay, Mom. Come on, Andrea."

"Where's your room?" She asked.

David pointed towards the ceiling. "It's upstairs. Come on, it's really cool!"

But Andrea froze, staring at the many stairs that led to the second floor.

"It's okay."

"Come on, please?" David pleaded. "It'll be all right. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."

Daphne watched as David took Andrea's hand and very slowly-even slower than Martin-they walked up the stairs, taking much longer than usual.

The girl seemed to be struggling to make her legs move faster, but David never let go of her right hand, making sure that she held tight to the handrail with her left.

"Just go really slow-like at school. I promise you won't fall."David said.

Daphne's heart raced with every agonizing step and she could feel Niles' arms around her as she watched her son and his friend.

They came closer and closer to the top and finally, like a runner racing to the finish line, they reached the landing. The sight of Andrea's little foot stepping on the carpet

made Daphne gasp and she had to fight with her entire being not to burst into applause.

She knew what a magnificent effort it must have taken.

"Oh Niles..."

She felt his lips kissing her cheek, indicating that she had spoken aloud. And she leaned into his warm embrace.

"That's the most wonderful thing I've ever seen!" She said tearfully.

"It certainly is." Niles agreed.

Together they stood in the living room, staring at the landing, which was now empty. But neither of them would ever forget the sight of their son-or that sweet little

girl, whom they knew would be friends for a very long time.


A few hours later, Niles and Daphne sat snuggled on the fainting couch, slightly disappointed when the movie they were watching ended.

"I guess I should take Andrea home now. Her mother is probably expecting her." Daphne said.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

Daphne kissed her husband. "I know you're busy and it was so wonderful of you to interrupt your work to spend time with David and Andrea-and with me."

"Spending time with my family is never an interruption my love. I embrace it wholeheartedly." Niles assured her. They kissed again but then quickly drew back from one

another when they saw David appear with Andrea on the landing.

"Are you ready to go?" Daphne asked.

Andrea smiled brightly. "No, I like it here!"

The words warmed Daphne's heart. "I'm very happy to hear that but I'm sure that your mum wants you home for dinner. You can come back anytime you want. We'd

be happy to have you."

"Yes, by all means." Niles said.

Andrea hesitated before speaking. "Well... All right. I can't wait to tell my mom about your house David! And your room is so cool! I want to show you my room, too! It's

not as neat as yours, but I like it."

"Okay, then let's go!" David said, displaying a sudden burst of enthusiasm.

Andrea looked at him worriedly. Clearly she was afraid that she would fall.

Just as before, David took her hand, going more slowly this time as they took each step as though it were fragile. And after several long and sometimes worrying

moments, they were on the ground floor again.

This time Daphne couldn't help herself. She gently wrapped her arms around Andrea, giving her a hug.

"You did wonderfully, Andrea. I'm so proud of you, and I know that your mom will be just as proud when we tell her!"

"I was really scared!" Andrea said "I was afraid I was going to fall!"

"But you didn't fall." Niles pointed out, carefully reaching out to touch Andrea's shoulder. "You held onto David's hand and he led you safely to the ground."

David turned to Andrea. "I'm proud of you too, Andrea."

Andrea smiled, and then gasped in surprise when David hugged her.

Daphne brushed away her tears and hurried the children out of the apartment. If she kept Andrea any later, her mother might become angry and not let Andrea come

over any more. And she couldn't risk destroying her son's happiness over something like that.

"I'll just run Andrea home and then David and I will be right back."

After taking a moment to kiss Niles, she touched his cheek and headed out the door with the children in tow.


About forty five minutes later the door opened causing Niles to look up from his paperwork. Daphne and David were finally home. He couldn't wait to shower his son

with praise and tell him how proud he was. He doubted that no father in the entire world had ever witnessed a prouder moment from his son.

Children could be so cruel and he thought about what David had said; about how the older kids laughed at Andrea because of the way she walked. And the thought

burned him. For he knew all too well what it was like to be ridiculed by kids at school. He prayed that David would never be subjected to such cruelty, but the idea that

his friend; that sweet little girl, was subjected to it was disheartening.

When he heard the lock turning in the doorknob, he carefully opened the door, his heart warming at the sight.

His angel stood in the doorway, holding a sleeping David in her arms.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Darling but I stayed over a bit to talk with Andrea's mom. She's such a lovely woman and David was having such a good time, looking at Andrea's

room, I hated to rush them. But we left as quickly as we could, and David fell right asleep in the car!"

Niles smiled and took David out of Daphne's arms. "Well then I'll just put him to bed."

"I'll go with you." Daphne said.

They walked up the stairs and when they reached David's room, Niles took off the boy's shoes and socks and tucked him into bed where he was sleeping soundly

within seconds.

Closing the door behind him, he turned to Daphne and pulled her into his arms.

"Now, where were we?"

Daphne feigned a smile and gestured toward the doorway. "Well I know we were in the bedroom, but I may need you to refresh me memory about the rest."

They shared a passionate series of kisses, and then joined hands as they made their way to the bedroom.

Several moments of passion and intimacy grew into something that brought pure elation and pleasure into both of their hearts.

And later, as they had done before, Daphne lay in Niles arms, sighing as he stroked her bare arm with his fingertips

"What are you thinking about?" Niles asked.

"David and Andrea." Daphne replied.

"David worked so hard today taking care of that little girl." Niles said. "I've never been prouder of him."

"And the way she walked up and down those stairs. Niles, I just can't believe how wonderful David is. I can't believe he's really ours."

Niles kissed her deeply, brushing away the tears that lingered on her cheeks. "He is ours, Daphne. We created him. And that's why he's so wonderful. Because he has

a wonderful mother."

She sighed and curled up against him once more. "And a wonderful father. And I hope that our next child is just like him."

Niles raised his head and propped himself up on his elbow, smiling at his wife with interest. "Our next child?"

"Yes. I want to have more children, Niles. Because we've done such a good job with the first one."

"Daphne, is there something you're trying to tell me?"

She laughed and kissed him again. "No, Niles. I'm sorry to tell you that I'm not pregnant! Far from it!"

And in response, Niles laughed mischievously, pulling her so close to him that she could feel his heart beating.

"Well in that case my love, we'd better get busy!"

THE END