Daphne sighed, reaching out for Niles' hand. They sat on two folding chairs just outside their camper. David was inside playing a game on one of the electronic gadgets he'd insisted on bringing. "This is lovely."
"Yes," Niles agreed. "And do you know what this reminds me of?" When Daphne didn't answer for a moment, Niles grinned. "Standing with you on the balcony, the first time you kissed me."
Immediately, Daphne remembered the moment. "I just wanted you to bloody shut up. I figured that was the best way to do it."
"Well, it worked. I was having a hard time remembering to breathe, much less speak."
"But I'm so sorry for what happened after. When I left you standing there. The next day, all I could think about was how hurt you looked when I walked away."
Niles gave a dismissive wave. "That's ancient history. You have nothing to feel bad about."
Though Daphne knew he would say that, it felt good to hear it. "When I think about when I first met your brother, I can hardly believe we're here now. I was silly and strange, and I know Frasier didn't like me at all." She laughed, remembering her first conversation with her future brother-in-law.
"You were an acquired taste," Niles said. "Much like certain wines."
Daphne blushed. "I'm so glad you did this. Being in a Winnebago brings back so many memories."
Niles ran his thumb over her hand. "For me, too, my love." He leaned over, barely reaching her lips. The kiss was awkward, but sweet all the same.
For a moment, they were both quiet, each lost in their memories. But the silence was suddenly broken by the sound of the screen door opening, and David unexpectedly coming outside.
"My goodness, what's brought this on?" Daphne asked in astonishment.
David shrugged. "I got bored. Playing video games is no fun if there's no way to play with my friends. There's no way I can get online out here."
"Didn't you bring a book? Or more like ten?" Niles asked, once again remembering himself at that age.
"Yeah, but I'm tired of reading," David said. He sat on the steps outside the camper, looking hopeless.
"I know you don't want to be here," Daphne said. "But your father and I are having a marvelous time, so don't go ruining it." She gave David a look, one that made it clear she wasn't kidding.
David sighed. Not only was he stuck out here, miles from any sort of civilization, but he had to pretend like it wasn't the stupidest vacation ever. He stared at the ground for several moments. Then he looked up, seeing that his parents were, once again, lost in their own world. "Why do you guys do that?"
"Do what?" Niles asked, having all but forgotten David's presence.
"Ever since we got here, you two have been giving each other these weird looks and smiling all the time. Now I see why Grandpa watches sports so much when we're over."
Daphne laughed. "Well, your father and I love each other very much, as you know. You've heard all about how your father saw me standing with a load of your brother's laundry."
"Yeah, like a million times," David said, rolling his eyes.
"Well, you haven't heard the whole story," Niles said. "For years, I kept my feelings a secret. Your mom saw me as a friend, nothing more. But I was OK with that, because even that was better than outright rejection. But then your mother met someone."
Daphne nodded. She sometimes wondered what would've happened if she hadn't met Donny Douglas. She and Niles might never have gotten together at all. But those details were more than David needed to know right now. "Yes, I began dating someone, and…..he proposed to me."
"You were engaged to someone before Dad?!" Suddenly, David was interested in the story. A part of him thought his parents were making this up, but he was too surprised to ask.
"Yes," Daphne said. "He proposed right in front of your father and your uncle. Your father was heartbroken, although I didn't know it at the time."
Niles squeezed Daphne's hand, silently letting her know the past was forgiven.
"Dad, what did you do?" David asked.
"At first, not that much. I tried to forget about your mother. I had missed my chance. But, the next thing I knew, she was about to get married. I knew I was still in love with her. I couldn't deny my feelings, no matter how I tried."
David could almost picture the scene. He felt bad for his dad. He could hardly imagine loving a woman so much, and then losing her to someone else.
Niles continued with the story. "I made a last, desperate plea the night before the wedding. I wasn't sure it worked, until the next day. Your mother ran away from her wedding. She chose me. I'm grateful every day."
Daphne got up from her chair, walking over to where Niles sat. She pulled him up, too. "I can't believe I ever thought of marrying anyone but you," she whispered.
The sight of his parents holding each other close wasn't pleasant, but now David understood. They had both almost missed out.
Niles kissed her passionately. He was always grateful for Daphne and David, but reminiscing about all they'd been through made him feel it even more deeply. "When you came into the Winnebago and asked me for a date, it was a miracle, just when I'd given up on miracles."
Suddenly, something clicked in David's brain. "Wait, you guys were in a Winnebago? You mean like this one?" He pointed behind him.
Niles and Daphne nodded, both nearly laughing. "Dad had bought one. I was hiding out there because I couldn't bear to watch your mother marry another man. And then, there she was, telling me she changed her mind. I didn't know what to do, except to drive. We left immediately. I didn't know how we were going to do it, but I was sure of one thing: I was never going to let her go again."
David was quiet for a moment, thinking about the story he'd just heard. It was like something out of a movie, but now he felt certain it was true. If it hadn't been for his mother's decision that day, he might not be here. That was why his father wanted to take that trip, to remember that day. It all made sense. Before he'd even thought of what he was doing, he was on his feet, walking toward his parents. "Thanks for telling me all that. I get it now. I love you guys." He awkwardly hugged them.
"Our story worked out in the end. Maybe not how we'd have planned it, but we ended up where we were supposed to be," Niles said. "And now we've got you. I couldn't be more thankful."
Daphne wanted to say something, to echo Niles' words, but she found she was far too emotional. It didn't matter anyway. As she hugged them, she could tell, her husband and son knew exactly how she felt.
The End