"Niles Crane."

Frasier smiled at his little brother's formality and he could almost picture the atrocious mention where Niles lived with his shrew of a wife. The idea that a man of Niles' stature would marry a woman like Maris-.

"Hello? Is anyone there? Look, if this is some kind of prank I don't find it very funny! My wife and I were just about to-."

Frasier cringed. "Niles please! I do not want to hear the details of your intimacy with that... that..."

"My wife!" Niles said sternly. "And her name happens to be Maris!"

"Right."

"So, did you call for a valid reason or simply to insult me?"

"Niles..."

"What?"

Frasier sighed deeply. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little on edge. You see, I need some advice."

"You're asking me for advice?"

"I don't know where else to turn." Frasier said, pressing the phone against his ear as he paced back and forth. "Please Niles! I've run out of options and I don't have much time!"

"All right. What's on your mind?"

Frasier ran a nervous hand through his hair, grateful that Niles couldn't see. "Well, it's Lillith. You see, something happened... something that neither of us planned and... We've decided to try for another child. Well, it was my suggestion, but..."

A long silence followed. "Ah, I see."

And then more silence.

But when Niles resumed speaking, his voice rose with every word.

"I don't hear a word from you for months on end and then when you finally do call, you throw it in my face that you have a son and I don't! Well thank you very much but for your information, Maris and I are trying very hard to-."

"Niles, dear God, I didn't call to do any such thing! I have a serious problem and I need your help! I'm desperate!"

Niles cleared his throat and sighed. "I'm sorry Frasier. I've been a bit perturbed lately."

"What's wrong, Niles?"

"It's Maris. She's... Well, since we got married, she's turned into a completely different person. And frankly I'm not sure I like who she's become."

"Oh Niles, I am sorry. What seems to be the underlying problem?"

"It's... never mind. It's not important. So what's the problem you're dealing with?"

"It's Lillith. You see, she... experienced a loss today. A big loss and I'm afraid... She takes her work very seriously and-."

"Oh dear, that is difficult, losing a colleague. When you work with someone for a number of years, people tend to bond as friends. How long had this person been with the company?"

Frasier swallowed hard. "Well, it's not exactly a person."

"I don't understand."

"It seems that Lilith's beloved lab rat Whitey has passed away."

Another long silence followed.

"Niles? Niles are you there?"

"Yes, but I wish I wasn't! I have a good mind to-."

"Look Niles, I know it sounds ridiculous and believe me, the loss of a rodent is highly insignificant, but she's completely distraught! She... enticed me to take her home and ... now she is determined to have another baby."

"Well, it seems like you have everything under control, so I don't know what you want me to-."

"I need moral support, Niles! I know Lillith isn't your favorite person but she is my wife and I love her! She's hurting and I don't know what to do!"

Niles sighed. "All right Frasier. I'll help you through this but only because you're my brother and I love you."

Frasier smiled at his brother's generosity. "Thank you, Niles."

"So what's the problem?"

"Well, when Lillith suggested another child, and said that she was in the mood for sex... Niles, you have no idea how that made me feel."

Niles cleared his throat. "I have a general idea, Frasier. I mean, I am a married man and I do know a few things about sex!"

"Niles, I didn't mean-."

"I'm sorry. Go on."

"I couldn't get us home fast enough and I could think of nothing else but making love to her! She so rarely asks for sex that it was impossible to pass up this opportunity."

"Dare I ask why you're talking to me about this instead of having physical relations with your wife?"

"Because Niles... I... the idea of having another child in order to ease Lilith's pain just feels wrong! You have very strong ethics. What do you think? Are we acting in haste?"

"The real question is yours Frasier. What do you want? Do you want another child?"

"Well of course I want more children, Niles, but not this way! I would love nothing more than for Frederick to have a little brother, like his father. But I don't want to end up regretting our decision. It's hard to imagine now, but Lillith won't be grieving forever. What would you do in my situation?"

"Sadly I don't think I'll ever be in that situation." Niles sighed. "Maris doesn't like displays of affection and rarely if ever does she show interest in sex. At this rate I'll never experience the joy of fatherhood."

Frasier felt a wave of sympathy for his brother and he had the strangest urge to hug him. He knew how badly Niles wanted to be a father and suddenly he felt guilty. This conversation couldn't have been easy to hear, especially from his older brother. They were always competing, trying to one-up the other. But Frasier was genuine in his quest for guidance. But he should have thought it through before acting in such haste.

"Niles-."

"I'm sorry Frasier. I can't give you the answer you need, but I know you'll do what's best. And if it's meant to be, it will happen."

Frasier smiled. "Mom used to say that to us all the time..."

"She was the best at giving advice, wasn't she?" Niles asked.

"Actually Niles, you're pretty invaluable in that department. I suppose having a child for the wrong reasons is a bit-."

"Frasier?"

Frasier spun around, his heart beating madly at the familiar voice.

"Lillith..."