Another sigh came as he turned and padded down the stairs into the familiar library. He poured a glass of wine and settled onto the sofa, wishing that he had a way to pass the time. He had no idea what time Daphne would awaken but he guessed that it wouldn't be until at least six thirty or seven and even that was a conservative guess. But he needn't worry about that now. He had to find something to do to pass the time. But what?
He picked up his book, which was still sitting on the coffee table, marked with the place where he'd left off. He opened to the page and began to read. But thirty pages in, he had absolutely no recollection of what he'd just read.
Angrily he slammed the book shut. This was absolute madness. Surely there must be something… And then he spotted it, the pieces scattered exactly as they had left them. Of course… the puzzle. What better way to take his mind off of things, than by absorbing himself in the mystery?
He began with the straight edge pieces. Those always seemed easiest. He tackled them the way he did everything else, with a plain, albeit an impromptu one. Finding pieces that fit together proved to be somewhat difficult (most likely due to the late hour and perhaps given the amount of wine that he'd consumed) but he soon found a comfortable rhythm. He worked diligently, paying little attention to how much he was accomplishing. But when he noticed the first sign of morning light, he knew that he needed to stop.
Daphne would be awake soon and he needed to be prepared.
Forgetting all about the puzzle (at least for the moment) Niles stood and went into the kitchen. He set to work with the same enthusiasm that he'd used in putting together the puzzle. It only took a few minutes to assemble them on a plate. He moved back and forth from the kitchen to the breakfast room. Just as he emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray of jams, jellies, cream and sugar, he saw her come down the stairs. She was dressed rather casually but she was as always an absolute vision.
"Good morning." His voice sounded raspy; a sure indication that he hadn't slept well. But he hoped that she wouldn't notice.
"Good morning, Dr. Crane. I-" She paused, as though she was going to say something else, ask him a question perhaps, but then fell silent.
"I'll just set this on the table." He moved toward the breakfast room, taking in the sight of his presentation. He had to admit that it was impressive for such an impromptu effort. When he turned around she was smiling at him.
"You've been busy."
He was lost only for a moment until his gaze followed hers to the puzzle. And only then did he realize how engrossed he'd been in putting the puzzle together. All four sides were connected and the surrounding pieces nearing completion. When he looked closer, he realized that images were starting to form. He'd put together three people and the dog. And suddenly he was worried that he'd disappointed her. He liked to think of the puzzle as their project. Theirs…. What a wonderful word that was.
"I hope you don't mind." He said of the work he'd done on the puzzle. "I had trouble sleeping."
Back in the kitchen he felt her enter as he prepared another batch of Swedish pancake batter. "Coffee?"
When she nodded, he moved to get her a cup of coffee, but she shook her head.
"You're busy. I'll get it."
He poured the batter into metal pancake molds, watching her prepare the coffee. He'd been over to Frasier's a hundred times before when she'd made him coffee, rarely asking how he preferred it. But somehow she just knew; cream and sugar. It was such a small thing, but it meant the world to him. Dare he hope that she'd been paying more attention to him than he'd imagined?
Graciously he took the cup of coffee from her. "Thank you, Daphne."
He could feel her watching him as he brought the steaming cup to his mouth. But instead of consuming it right away, he inhaled softly, taking in its scent. And when her gaze did not move from his, he took a sip, smiling. "Perfect."
Her smile was, at that moment, the most beautiful sight imaginable. Then again, it always was.