(Cheers, 84 Beacon Street)
"Frasier, I cannot believe you've dragged me here."
"Now Lilith, it's just my way of showing my gratitude. Besides it's been a long time since you've seen Sam and the gang."
"But what is it going to look like if I walk in there with a child?"
"I'm not a child, Mom! I'm a handsome young man!" Frederick said. "Daphne said so!"
Frasier and Lilith laughed and ruffled the boy's hair.
"Well, Sam doesn't normally let kids into Cheers but he said he would make an exception." Frasier said.
He leaned down to his son's level. "Now Frederick, promise me that you'll be on your best behavior."
"That goes for me as well." Lilith said.
"I will, I promise." Frederick said.
"Well, come on, Son! I'll show you my old hangout!" Frasier said, using Frederick inside.
As soon as they entered the bar, Frederick covered his ears. "Why is it so loud in here?"
Martin laughed. "That's just people having fun, Freddy!"
"Whoa! Is it Halloween already?" Norm asked when he saw the Crane family standing in the doorway.
"Why would you ask that? It's nowhere near Halloween!" Cliff replied.
"Are you sure about that? Because there's a witch in here!" Norm said, pointing to Lilith.
The bar patrons broke into hysterical laughter, which annoyed Frasier to no end.
"That's very funny, but Lilith is here with me."
Sam tossed his towel onto the bar and walked to the front door.
"I can't believe it! Lilith and Frederick in my bar!" he said. "How the heck are ya?"
"We're just fine, Sam." Lilith said. "And Frederick is doing wonderfully."
"Mooomm!" Frederick groaned.
"Sam, I owe you a debt of gratitude." Frasier said.
"You don't owe me a damn thing." Sam said. "Now come on over here and have a beer! And that goes for all of you!"
"But I can't drink beer!" Frederick said, causing them to laugh.
"No, but how about a nice mug of root beer?" Sam suggested. "As long as it's okay with your parents."
"It's fine." Lilith said.
"Thanks, Sam. Don't mind if I do." Martin said as he climbed onto the barstool next to Norm and Cliff. "Hey! The game's on! Want to make another bet?"
"No way!" Cliff said. "Remember what happened last time?"
Cliff laughed. "Yeah! You lost bad!"
"Hey Martin! Twenty bucks says that Jefferies hits this one out of the park!" Norm yelled.
"Jefferies is horrible this year!" Martin replied. "You're on!"
"We'll see about that!" Cliff said, shaking Martin's hand.
"Your father and brother look so happy." Daphne said.
"Thanks to you." Niles replied.
She blushed and put her hand on Niles' arm. "Dr. Crane, I didn't do anything."
Niles shivered at her touch.
"Daphne, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Dr. Crane."
"Daphne would you-."
"Niles! Daphne, come on!"
They looked over to see Martin waving at them.
"What's going on, Dad?" Niles asked when they went to join Martin at the bar.
"I want to get the hell out of here, that's what's going on!" Martin said.
"Yeah, you wouldn't be so eager to leave had Rodriguez caught the ball!" Cliff laughed.
Niles glanced at his watch. "Oh damn! Dad, why didn't you tell me it was so late? We're gonna miss our flight!"
Martin glanced over at Lilith. "Exactly, and I don't want to spend another minute here with that witch! I'm grateful that she let us see Freddy, but I want to be at home
in my own chair with a Ballantine watching the game."
"All right, Dad. Don't make a scene. We'll just say goodbye to everyone and then leave." Frasier said.
"Hey, Sam!"
Sam walked over to his friend. "What's up, Fras?"
"We're leaving, that's what's up!" Martin answered.
"Leaving? So soon? But you just got here!" Sam replied.
"Yeah, well we've got a plane to catch!" Martin said. "And I'll be damned if I don't get home in time for the game!"
"What game?" Niles asked.
"Um... the Sonics." Cliff replied. "If they win this game they might even go to the World Series!"
This prompted a hysterical round of laughter from Martin and the gang.
Daphne however was not amused. She looked over at Niles who was staring blankly at his father.
"What's everyone laughing about?" Niles asked.
"Don't pay them any attention, Dr. Crane." Daphne said as she hugged him affectionately. "You're a kind-hearted man; no matter what anyone says."
When she let go of him, he blushed deeply.
"Well, I guess this is it." Frasier said.
"I'm gonna miss you, Fras." Sam said embracing his friend.
"Me too, Sam."
"Niles?"
Niles shook Sam's hand. "Bye, Sam."
Sam turned to Daphne, who hugged him, completely unaware of Niles watching her.
"Thank you, Sam. For everything."
"No problem, Darlin'." Sam replied.
When they'd said their goodbyes, they walked out of the bar, followed by Lilith and Frederick.
Frasier turned to his ex-wife and son.
"Well Frasier, it's been interesting, as always." Lilith said.
"Thank you Lilith. So much." Frasier said, hugging his wife tenderly.
As she rested her head against Frasier's chest, he held her even closer.
"Everything will be okay, I promise." He whispered into her hair.
"I love you Frasier."
"I love you too, Lilith."
He then turned to his son. "Frederick, I'll see you soon, okay? And I'm looking foreword to that letter you promised."
The boy's eyes sparkled. "I'll start on it right when we get home!"
"I love you, Frederick." Frasier said, hugging his son fiercely.
"I love you too, Dad." Frederick replied.
Daphne, Niles and Martin hugged Frederick goodbye and then walked back to the car.
But halfway there, Daphne stopped suddenly.
"I'll be right back."
"Something wrong, Daph?"
When she didn't answer, the three men watched as she hurried across the street to the bar.
Hesitantly she walked over to Lilith who was engrossed in conversation with a man Daphne didn't recognize.
"Daphne!" Frederick said, running to throw his arms around her.
"Hello, Frederick."
"Why'd you come back? I thought you had to go back to Seattle!"
"Well, I do. I just... Frederick I need to talk to your mom for a minute, okay?"
Lillith turned to Daphne in surprise. "Well this certainly is unusual."
"I know. I just..."
"What is it, Daphne?"
"I just wanted to thank you for what you did for Dr. Crane." Daphne said. "He's been so upset lately and seeing Frederick has made him so happy. And Niles is-."
"Niles? You've certainly become more relaxed around him, haven't you? And yet you address Frasier so formally, even though you've known him longer."
Daphne blushed. "I-I don't know what you mean."
"I think you're quite enamored of Niles."
"T-that's ridiculous. Dr. Crane is just a friend." Daphne said.
Lillith smiled. "That's what I thought you'd say. Classic denial."
Daphne looked over at the rental car that was parked across the street, fully aware of Niles, Frasier and Martin watching her.
"I-I'd better go." She said.
"Bye Daphne." Frederick said.
Daphne hugged the boy and kissed his cheek. "Goodbye Frederick."
Lillith held out her hand. "Daphne..."
When Daphne hugged her, Lillith gasped in surprise. "Thank you, Lillith. For everything."
"Just remember what I said about Niles, Daphne." Lillith said.
Lillith watched in amazement as Daphne climbed into the car, which disappeared from sight.