She looked at him, wanting so badly to kiss him, the way she'd done on the balcony only hours before. And then she felt him take her hand. "Daphne, I don't want things to be uncomfortable between us. I still care about you, very much, so if there's something you want to talk about-."

"How can you be so calm?" She practically shouted. "I thought you'd be furious with me! You should be furious! I hurt you last night! You should hate me!"

"Daphne, I could never-."

"I'm sorry for waking you up so early. Ni-Dr. Crane. Mel must be absolutely livid with you… and with me. Tell her it's my fault! It's all my fault! I never-I'm so sorry, ."

She began to cry, but drew back when he tried to hold her. "No… I can't."

He let out a breath. "All right. But please believe me when I say that I'm here for you. I'll always…"

"I don't deserve you. I don't! But last night when Donny and I were in bed, I realized something."

Clearly uncomfortable, he tugged on his shirt and she could only imagine what he'd been thinking. What she had said would have made anyone uncomfortable. "Um… what did you... realize"

She stared at him, not knowing what to say, or how to say it. She just knew that it had to be said. "I realized….. I don't know if I can marry Donny."

"Daphne, if it's nerves…"

"It's not nerves, Dr. Crane. It's not that at all. It's…"

"What?"

She stared at his lips, his sweet, soft lips. It would be so easy to kiss him, right there in the lobby. But she didn't want to embarrass him. And what if he rejected her? What would she do then? He had every right to do so. After all, she'd hurt him more than she thought possible. He'd offered her his heart and the world and she'd turned him down, walking out on him, leaving him alone in the warm night air.

"Daphne…"

She rose to her feet and turned away from him, crying quietly. And then she felt his hand on her shoulder. "Whatever it is…"

"I… I can't…"

He gently turned her to face him. "Daphne I promise that whatever you say will just be between us. No one else will ever have to know."

"But that's where you're wrong, Dr. Crane! Everyone will know eventually! And Mel… I can only imagine what she'll do when she finds out on her own, or when someone tells her. She'll be furious, and hurt…. Like Donny will be when I tell him."

"Daphne, I have no idea…"

"I know you don't. And I wish I could tell you, but I don't know how! Oh, this is horrible! Why didn't I think of this last night? Why couldn't I have said what was in me heart then, while we were standing on that balcony?"

He stilled. "Last night? Y-you mean…"

"Yes, I'm so sorry I hurt you, Dr. Crane. I never meant…"

"But you were only doing what you felt was right in your heart. Yes, it hurt when you rejected me, but I understand."

"H-how can you? Because I don't!" I haven't slept all night, thinking about it... about you... and I couldn't wait to talk to you. To tell you…"

"What are you trying to say?"

She began to sob and put her hand in front of her mouth. And when he moved closer, she put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him, the way they'd kissed on the balcony.

After several seconds he drew back, staring at her in utter disbelief. "Daphne…"

"I can't marry Donny, Niles. I'm in love with you. I love you so much. And I want to be with you."