Her heart clinched in her chest as the elevator doors closed and then whisked her skyward. Before she knew it, the doors opened, revealing a beautiful hallway.

"All right, Ms Moon. Here we are. Dr. Crane lives in that apartment right over there. No go on. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you."

She looked at Rick worriedly, but he shook his head and smiled. "Everything will be fine. Dr. Crane's waiting."

Daphne smiled and kissed Rick's cheek. "Thank you." And within seconds, she was alone in the hallway. She swallowed hard and when she reached Niles' apartment, she paused, pressing her face against the cool wooden door.

Faint sounds came from inside along with movement and she could just picture the man she loved so much waiting for her on the other side. Almost instantly, her heart rate increased and she willed her fears away as Rick's words echoed in her mind;

Everything will be fine...

She smoothed the invisible wrinkles from her and opened her purse. A light spray of her favorite perfume and a run of the brush through her hair completed her look. And with a trembling hand she knocked on the door.

"It's open!" his muffled voice yelled.

She hesitated at first, wondering if she should leave. But she needed him more than air and leaving would be the worst mistake she could have made; one that she would regret the rest of her life. She had no idea or what she would find on the other side of the door, but she knew she had to try.

As slowly as possible, she turned the knob and pushed the door open. Tears filled her eyes at the sight of him.

He was pacing the floor of his beautiful living room, a cordless phone in his hand, clearly deep in conversation with someone.

"That's what I said!" he was saying into the phone. "Can you believe that? And then the woman has the nerve-."

Niles swung around, frozen when he caught a glimpse of her. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth.

"Um... Frasier? I... have to call you back."

Woodenly he pushed the button on the phone and made a very bad attempt at returning the phone to its cradle. It landed on the table with a clank and Daphne was tempted to upright it. But she didn't dare move. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn't take her eyes off of him.

Was it just her imagination or was it possible for someone to become even more handsome in merely six months?

He was, not surprisingly, impeccably dressed, wearing a slate grey suit and a blue tie that matched his gorgeous eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.

"H-Hello..." she said, her eyes locked with his.

"Daphne..."

The sound of her name on his lips caused her mouth to tremble and the tears spilled down her cheeks. He went to her in one fluid motion, wrapping his arms around her. They were so close, she could feel his breath on her face and she could no longer control her desire for him. She kissed his cheek and the corner of mouth. His lips found hers again and again, fulfilling the void of six months without him in a passionate series of kisses. Oh how she'd longed to kiss him again, to feel his lips on hers.

The kisses became sweeter, more sensual and deeper than she had ever imagined. And when they were breathless, she still found it possible to tear her lips from his. His skin was so soft and he smelled so good; an intoxicating, beautiful blend of musk and sandalwood. Her mouth trailed down his chin and to his cheeks, his jaw line, and his neck and to the collar of his shirt, until she felt as though she might faint.

He held her close and she could hear his labored breathing as he stroked her hair.

"I thought I'd never see you again..." he whispered as his chest rose and fell. "I thought..."

She kissed his lips once more. "I know... I..."

"How did you find me? Why..."

"Because I love you." She whispered against his mouth. I love you... so much..." Her voice became unsteady but she made no effort to control it. "I just... I missed you terribly and you never... so I came meself."

"Oh Daphne, my angel." He whispered, kissing her chin, her cheeks, and her mouth. "I'm so sorry... I..."

She moved away, more abruptly than she intended, anger surging through her. "Why didn't you call me?" She yelled, saying the words she'd wanted to say for so long. "I waited so long and then after a while I thought..."

He took her hand and led her to the fainting couch where she sobbed openly. At his gentle insistence she sat down beside him and tried to relax, but her trembling body wouldn't allow it.

She was so angry, so hurt, so happy... and so in love.