Roz showed up an hour later. Frasier, despite being the blabbermouth he was, opted not to tell her the news. He figured it was something Niles and Daphne should tell her, should they want to. Once Roz was in the apartment, Daphne told her everything.
Roz frowned and hugged Daphne tightly. "Wow… that's heavy. I'm sorry, you guys."
Niles shrugged. "It happens. Thank you, Roz."
"But don't think it's your fault, you big doily."
"That's what I've been telling him!" Daphne exclaimed and laughed.
Once they sat down with their pizza, Roz became pensive. She munched on her pizza, staring into space.
She stayed that way for a while until Frasier said, "You okay, Roz?"
"Huh?" Roz shook her head slightly and put her half eaten slice back on the plate. "Yeah, I was just thinking. It may be too soon to think about it, but Niles, Daphne, if you really want to start a family… You could always adopt."
Niles's swallowed his pizza and put the rest of it on the plate. He hadn't even considered that. He and Daphne were so focused on having a baby that was biologically theirs that he hadn't even thought of adopting.
"I understand it's not everyone's favorite option," Roz went on.
"No, no," Martin spoke up. "I think that's a great idea. Of course, it's up to them."
Martin would still get a grandchild, even if it didn't have his blood. And he was fine with that. There were children all over the world without parents, and why should Niles brush them off just because they didn't come from him. The idea was becoming more and more favorable.
"Daphne, Roz has a point. We could get a young child, or we could look for a pregnant mother who can't take care of her child."
Daphne bit down on her lip as she considered it. "I think it's a good idea. I think we should look for a pregnant mother. I want a baby, Niles. One I can raise like my own."
Niles smiled and took her hand. He kissed it. "That's just what I was thinking, my love."
They put an ad in the local newspaper for a woman who was pregnant, but could not take care of her child. They also included a photograph of the two of them, as well as their backgrounds. Niles thought they really outdone themselves with their descriptions. There was no way anyone would reject them.
"We're on our way, my love," Niles told Daphne after they had come home from placing the ad.
"Oh, Niles, I'm so excited."
"So am I." He grew thoughtful. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you a child." Daphne opened her mouth to protest his apology, but he raised a hand. "But, I am glad we're going to have a family."
Daphne smiled. "A family of our own."
"Do you think we added enough to our ad?" he asked nervously.
"Of course we did. Who can deny a psychiatrist and a physical therapist? It means we make good enough money to raise a child." She frowned. "Well, at least you do."
"I'll be sure to talk to Frasier," he chuckled, kissing her hand. "Come on; let's go celebrate."
Niles and Daphne stopped by a bistro on the way home. Luckily, it wasn't too crowded today, so the fact that they didn't have reservations wasn't held against them. They were escorted to a nice table next to a large window.
Niles couldn't help but smile at the couple at the table next to theirs. They had a daughter in a highchair, and the mother was laughing as she spoonfed her.
"She's a beautiful child," Daphne spoke up.
"Oh, thank you," the woman said. "She's just about 5 months. Time sure does fly, doesn't it, Charles?"
Charles nodded. "That it does, Miranda. It seemed like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital."
"Do you have children?" Miranda asked Niles and Daphne.
"No," Daphne responded. "We… we just placed an ad for adoption. We can't have children of our own."
Niles sighed. He shouldn't feel upset. After all, he and Daphne were going to have a child, even if it wasn't biologically theirs. Still, it felt so unfair.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Miranda said. "But, still, adoption is a good way to go. You will still have that family."
Niles nodded. "Yes." He took Daphne's hand from across the table and stared into her eyes. "We will." Even if he couldn't give it to Daphne in the way he wanted, he had to give her the family they both wanted in any way he could.
Niles felt discouraged. It had been a week since they placed the ad, and they hadn't gotten any responses. He supposed it was a bit stupid of him to expect to get a response so quickly, but the wait was driving him crazy.
"Niles, it will happen," Frasier assured him. "As much as it pains me to say it, there are many mothers out there who just can't take care of their children. Don't give up hope."
"Yeah. I don't know why I'm getting so worked over this."
"Well, it is a child we're talking about. It's not as if you're waiting to see if you've been accepted into some exclusive club."
"I'm still waiting on that, too."
"You applied for a club?" Frasier snapped. "And you didn't tell me?"
"Like I want you at every club I join."
"Why not? I'm your brother. And I'm pretty awesome."
Niles snorted. "Thank you, Frasier. I needed that."
"Hey, guys," Roz said, sitting down at their table. "How's the search, Niles?"
He shrugged. "Haven't heard from anyone yet, but like Frasier says, I mustn't give up hope."
"That's the spirit! Hopefully you get someone good."
"Yes… wait, what do you mean?" he asked nervously.
"What if the mother is a criminal?"
Niles said nothing. He hadn't really thought of that when they wrote the ad. What if the child grew up to be some sort of criminal?
"Yeah, like what if your kid starts robbing banks and pushing old ladies into traffic?" Roz was saying, but as she spoke, Niles could hear the smirk in her voice. He glared at her, and that was when she began to laugh. He should've known Roz would try to get a rise out of him.
"Very funny, Roz. Daphne and I will raise our child perfectly, thank you."
"There's no perfect way to a raise a child, Niles," Frasier pointed out. "If you expect your child to be perfect, you're putting unrealistic standards on him or her. I'm just saying."
"What I am saying is we'll raise our child right. As a psychiatrist you should know the effects parenting has on a child. Negative parenting will bring about a negative person."
"True," Frasier agreed. "Sometimes, it can be the opposite, but I won't go into that. Your baby will be just fine, Niles. You and Daphne will know what to do."
Just then, Daphne entered the cafe with a smile on her face. Niles wondered what the smile represented, but he dare not get his hopes up. She could be smiling over something else, such as a good day working with Martin or finding a beautiful new dress. He smiled back. Whatever the case, he just loved seeing her smile. It always made his knees weaken.
"Good afternoon, all," she said. There were no seats, so she sat on Niles's lap and put her arms around him.
"What's got you into such a chirper mood?" he asked.
"Well, I'll give you a hint. I got a letter in the mail today." That was all she had to say before the grin spread across his face.
"Really?"
"Uh-huh! A young mother is looking for someone to adopt her child."
"Whoa!" Roz exclaimed. "That's awesome, you guys!"
"Thank you, Roz. I've already made arrangements to meet with her this Friday afternoon, after you've finished work."
Niles's response to that was pulling her down for a kiss. He could feel her smile against his lips.
Author's note: I don't want to sound conceited, but the old ladies in traffic thing makes me laugh.