From that moment foreword, everything changed. Of course, he knew that it would, even though he feared that their moment of weakness and their unplanned night together in each other's arms would have made it impossible for them to be around each other, much less stay in the cabin together. But instead, the moment had forged a bond between them; a bond of deep trust unlike any that he'd ever known. It was not a strong enough bond to allow them to openly express their deepest feelings and thoughts, but a bond that they both knew would enable them to come to each other whenever they needed to escape.
They comforted one another. Their arms invited each other in without question or explanation. More than once, Daphne would drop whatever she was doing and come to rest in his arms. As always he gladly het her in. But it worried him, knowing that her tears would start to fall again at any given moment. Whenever she came to him, he was aware of how his breathing changed; especially when reality set in and he knew that their days together would soon come to an end.
It was then that he would start to panic. He had no idea what he would have done; what he would do, without her beside him to soothe his breathing, reminding him once again that she was there. He'd never felt so loved, even if it wasn't truelove in the romantic sense. He could not stop loving her. He had no idea how to even think about doing so. Even during his relationships with Mel and Maris, and the scattered dates with other women in between, he still could not stop loving Daphne.
He hadn't intended on falling asleep last night; that much was established. But still it had happened. He and Daphne had been working on the puzzle of London and the next thing he knew it was morning. When he opened his eyes fully, he realized that his sweater, his shoes and his belt were lying on the chair adjacent to the sofa. His feet were on the sofa cushions and a blanket covered his body. An angel had done all of this; Daphne.
"It's part of my job." she had explained one night while they were eating dinner at Frasier's. "I bathe and dress people who are no longer able to do it for themselves."
Dad had scoffed at the notion. "I look forward to the day that I'm so lucky."
"So do I." Niles had replied, referring to himself. His comment earned him a swift kick in the leg under the table from his brother.
The memory faded and he looked at his angel once more. Daphne was sleeping in the plush armchair and for a moment he simply watched her. But when, yet again, he realized that he would lose her, he gasped. The noise sent her scrambling to his side; one hand on his chest, the other stroking his hair. They no longer used the paper bag method to control his breathing when they realized that Daphne was able to calm him on her own. However, this time proved to be more difficult. He saw her eyes, which were wide and he tried to say something to reassure her that he would be fine. However, it was impossible to do so.
"It's all right, Dr. Crane." She said softly. "Just breathe slowly."
But try as he might, he could not do it. When at last he was able to focus (albeit just barely), he saw the fear in her eyes; the panic on her face.
"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, please…"
He tried again. He tried with all of his might. She was stroking his forehead, his hair. He was for the first time, terrified. Oh God, he couldn't die, not here not now; now during the greatest days of his life. With each attempt at a breath, he saw her panic increase.
"Dr. Crane, please… Stay with me! I love you!"
Like an answered prayer, he began breathing normally. Daphne was once again sobbing and he couldn't help feeling guilty. For she wouldn't have been so upset had he been able to breathe normally. But he was alive and at the moment that was all that mattered.
Overcome with relief, he pulled her into his arms, but it pained him that his actions only served to increase her tears. He said nothing; just held her in his arms as her tears dampened his shirt. It was the only place he wanted to be.