Outside, rain pelted the roof of the cabin, but inside she felt safe. She sighed contentedly; her cheek resting against the smoothness of Niles pajamas.

With her arm draped across his body, she could hear his heart beating; a steady rhythm that lulled her to sleep once more.

"Niles..." She whispered when he turned his head; his lips brushing against her cheek. She pulled the blanket over her, trying to savor this blissful dream for just a little

bit longer.

Her hand moved slowly upwards, from his chest to his neck; her fingertips caressing his cheek. And when her lips met his, the kiss sent her emotions reeling. The touch

of his hand on her cheek only increased her heartbeat and she sighed once more; kissing him again.

"I love you, Niles." She breathed, arching her neck to allow him to trail kisses from her chin to her collar bone.

The dream kept getting better and better and she hated the thought of waking up.

"Daphne?"

Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of her name and she gasped when she found herself looking into his blue eyes.

"Dr. Crane!"

She bolted upright, her heart beating faster than she thought possible. It was only then that she realized it wasn't a dream. Oh God... How had she gotten here? In

bed with him? What would he think? Oh God... Oh God... Unable to look at him, she turned her face away only to feel him gently turn her face toward his seconds later.

"Daphne..."

She climbed out of bed and stared at him, feeling a horrible sense of shame.

"I-I'm so sorry, Dr. Crane. I don't know how I ended up-."

"I'm afraid it was my fault"

"Your fault? But-."

He smiled and brushed a lock of hair from her face.

"I-I... had to get up for a few minutes and when I saw you on the sofa, shivering, I just couldn't bear it. I woke you up and coaxed you off the sofa. I figured you'd be

much more comfortable in the bed. But Daphne, I know I should have taken the sofa right then and there. I don't know what I was thinking. I-I wasn't trying to take

advantage of you, I swear it. I would never-."

She swallowed hard and stared into his deep blue eyes; the ones she'd gotten lost in so many times.

"Dr. Crane, it's all right. I-."

"Wait, there's something more I want to say."

"Of course."

"Daphne, I know I was a bit foreword in asking you to come here and I'm sorry. I just... I can't thank you enough for what you did for Frasier. Being able to see

Frederick again made him so happy."

"But Dr. Crane, I really didn't-."

"Niles." He said with a smile. "You called me that earlier, remember?"

Her confused expression made him grin. "I-I did? Oh.. I'm sorry, Dr. Crane."

"Don't be. It was nice hearing my name, actually."

"But this is much too generous. I really didn't do anything."

He touched her cheek with the back of his hand. "You did more than you'll ever know.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh.. I should probably get back to me sofa. I mean, this is your bed and all and-."

His hand grabbed hers and gently pulled her toward him. She could feel her stomach tighten as she turned to face him.

"Daphne, can I ask you something?"

"Oh... of course, Dr... I mean... Niles."

He grinned at the sound of his name.

"Did you mean what you said before?"

She stared at him in confusion. "B-before? I-I don't..."

"When you said you loved me."

"Oh God... I'm so sorry, Dr... Niles. I didn't realize I-."

"But did you mean it?" he asked again.

She starred at him a long time before answering, and then tears filled her eyes.

"Yes. I-I meant it with all me heart."

Finally she climbed back into bed, her breath catching in her throat when he kissed her tenderly.

"That's good because I love you too. In fact, I've loved you since the first moment I saw you."

The tears she'd been holding in streamed down her cheeks.

"You-you have? I-I mean you do?"

He kissed her again, deeper than before. "Yes, my angel."

She snuggled against him, leaning her head in the curve of his neck as the morning light streamed through the windows above the bed.

"So what would you like to do today, my love?"

"Just this.."

She brought his lips to meet hers in a series of deep kisses.

He pulled her closer, taking a few seconds to smell her hair. "I was hoping you'd say that."

And before she could respond, he moved even closer, kissing her again and again.

THE END