The Holiday Revue at Elliott Bay Towers
TEN DAYS TO GO
The things I will do to spend some time with her.
Apparently agreeing to be the musical director of a mélange Christmas pageant with an amateur theatre troupe for the next ten nights was one of those things Niles would do. But Daphne seemed to need the help. She had ended up being volunteered to help organize it, and before she knew it, was in charge of the whole thing. So how could he not help?
Ringing the doorbell, Niles waited. He had happily agreed to meet Daphne upstairs before the rehearsal, instead of in the common room of the Elliott Bay Towers. Any opportunity he could take to steal a moment alone with Daphne, he would take.
The door opened and there she was. The person he counted the minutes until he saw her again.
"Hello, Daphne." Sometimes Niles wondered whether his love for her could be heard in his voice. Identifiable through just a simple greeting. Clearly not, as she never showed a sign that they were anything but friends.
"Hello, Dr Crane." She smiled warmly at him. "I'm just about ready. Could you give me a hand with carrying some things downstairs?"
"Of course."
Daphne led him to her bedroom. Oh, the times he wanted to go in that room with her, the things he wanted to do with her. But this wasn't that fantasy. This was business.
There were several costumes laying around the room, in various stages of completion. Daphne started to gather them up, and collect together a sewing kit.
"They've roped you into sewing the costumes too?" Niles looked around, aghast at the amount of work left to do.
"Not exactly. But I try to do a bit when I can in the evenings. We've got a few volunteers helping out tonight."
Daphne handed Niles a pile of costumes - an errant pin pricking him despite his caution, before taking the rest herself. On the elevator ride downstairs Daphne rattled off some of the things already decided and organized for the show. Niles listened, but found he was more focused with their close proximity, the way his shoulder was just touching hers, how her face lit up as she spoke, passionate about the task at hand.
The common room was a cacophony of sound, several people were already there. Everyone looked towards them as they entered, and within seconds Daphne was inundated with questions.
"One at a time! Please!" Her voice travelled, taking command of the room, perfected only in the way that only years of managing a household full of her brothers could achieve.
All Niles could do was watch her, awestruck, as she answered questions patiently and with care as each person spoke. The moment was interrupted by someone speaking to him.
"Hey, I'm John. Wise Man #3." He stuck out his hand in greeting.
Niles took it, juggling the costumes to one side awkwardly, sticking himself with the pins again. "Ow. Uh, Niles Crane. Musical Director."
A look of recognition crossed John's face. "Oh, Dr Crane's brother?"
"Er, yes." Niles was wiping his hand clean in a discreet manner so well practiced it was almost involuntary.
He tried to turn back to Daphne, but she had been pulled across the room away from him. John was still speaking, asking some question that he should have been asking Daphne.
"So, I'm not sure what you-"
"Uh, sorry. Excuse me a moment." Niles raised the costumes in his arms as the reason for his exit, smiling apologetically.
John waved him away with an understanding smile, before turning to someone else. Niles made his way across the room. More people had since filed in and it was getting crowded.
"Daphne? Uh, Daphne?" He called out, trying to get her attention.
She was in the middle of showing one of the ladies what was needed with a costume when he finally pushed his way through. Daphne glanced at him.
"Oh, Dr Crane. Thank you." She took the remaining costumes from him.
Niles stood for a moment, feeling slightly lost. "Uh, did you want me to- um, to get started with the music?"
She nodded, and pointed to an old brown upright on one side of the room. "There's a piano over in that corner."
Niles made his way over. He had the program and the songs. His job was to try and assemble them into something that was a bit more coherent. Unlike his brother, Niles wasn't trying to take over and reshape the whole thing anew, but instead mold what was already there. He glanced over the sheet music, and coughed to clear his throat.
I can't believe I'm saying this. "Could the three wise men and Santa's elves meet me at the piano, so we can go over your Frosty the Snowman routine?"
SEVEN DAYS TO GO
Over the past three nights, they had established a routine of sorts. Niles would meet Daphne at the apartment, and help her carry whatever costume or set piece she was working on downstairs. They would split, Daphne pulled in several different directions by people wanting her help or assistance. Niles, off to the piano to pull his hair out over the increasingly chaotic revue.
"No, we can't move Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer before O Holy Night. That will throw off the entire first act." He scribbled out a line on the sheet music as he waved the disgruntled reindeer away. Niles sighed. "Okay, people. We are going to run through the Jesus Christ Superstar medley once more. I still want to tweak a couple of things. Where is Mr Blanchard?"
A man in his mid 60s came forward. Like everyone else, he had a complaint. "Look Dr Crane, I don't know if we really need me for this section."
Niles looked at him, bemused. "You're playing Jesus Christ. This whole section of the show is about you."
"Right, right. But, can we maybe have a bit less spinning? It makes me dizzy."
"It's supposed to be a pirouette." Niles was met with a blank look. "Fine. We'll scrap that part. So we'll halve the opening of Superstar and transition into Herod's Song early. Then a brief rendition of I Don't Know How To Love Him, then back to Superstar to close."
Mr Blanchard seemed satisfied with that. Niles took a moment to glance around the room, unsuccessfully trying to catch sight of Daphne. Volunteering to help actually meant that he saw a lot less of her than he thought.
Oh well.
Niles ran through the music once more, tweaking as per the request from Mr Blanchard. He gave the changes an experimental play on the piano. Pressing down on the keys, the tone rang loudly across the room, garnering a few looks in their direction at the sudden sound. Satisfied, Niles called out for the performers to come forward so they could run through the whole thing.
About three quarters of the way through the song, Niles noticed Daphne was standing right beside him, fully engrossed in the performance. He stumbled over a chord change, but managed to power through. No one seemed to notice the small slip. The lyrics pounded through his head as Daphne leaned forward to read the lyrics on the sheet music, singing along with the rest of the performers, her hand resting on his shoulder. Niles started to sing along, his voice joining the others in the chorus.
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love?
Let my feelings out?
I never thought I'd come to this.
What's it all about?
Daphne was beaming at him as they sang, and Niles couldn't help the feeling of complete joy within. He beamed back.
THREE DAYS TO GO
The last seven days with Daphne were fleeting moments, spent mostly on the elevator ride down and then back up to the apartment as they carted arms full of props or costumes back and forth. Tonight on elevator as they headed downstairs, she had a request.
"Dr Crane, I know I've already asked you to do so much already, but I was hoping if I could ask another favor?"
"Yes." Niles didn't know what it was, but he would do it. Which is how he got roped into helping in the first place.
Daphne continued, thinking his agreement was just a willingness to hear her request. "Well, there's a few adjustments I need to make on a couple of the costumes. The show is only three days away, I was hoping you could stay back a bit tonight to help out?"
So far the other participants were happy to let Daphne be in charge and relinquish control to her. Daphne was doing a wonderful job, but it was stressful. Niles wanted to help relieve that stress if he could. And the fact he would get a bit more time alone with her was a bonus.
"Of course, I'll be happy to."
The rehearsal was uneventful. The elves - played by young children from the building and neighborhood - had finally perfected their section. Niles felt a strange sort of pride and accomplishment as they ran through an almost flawless can-can type line dance to Frosty the Snowman. It almost brought a tear to his eye. The set decorations were ready to be placed, the stage was mostly built, and the rest of the room had started coming together.
We might actually manage to pull off something half decent.
Towards the end of rehearsal, Niles made his way over to where Daphne was having a conversation with an agitated Virgin Mary.
"- Jacob Marley."
"I don't know-"
"He wants to be Jacob Marley, Daphne. A Christmas Carol is his favorite." The Mother of Christ seemed quite insistent.
Daphne sighed, defeated. "All right. We'll work that in somewhere."
Satisfied, the woman left.
"What was that about?" Niles was confused.
"Oh, Mrs Winthorpe's husband is supposed to be part of the performance, but insisted on being Jacob Marley."
"But we're not doing anything from A Christmas Carol."
"That's what I said. I suppose I'll just work him into one of the other scenes."
Daphne frowned as she scanned her planner, making some notes. People had started to file out of the room now rehearsal was over. Niles started to sort and gather the costumes up. Daphne looked over at Niles.
"We can take them upstairs. Both your brother and father are out tonight, so we should be able to work in the living room uninterrupted."
"Perfect." And it was. A real, honest-to-goodness evening alone with Daphne was more than he could ever hope for.
Making their way into the apartment, Daphne dumped her armload of clothes onto the couch. She started picking through and pulling out the costumes she wanted to adjust. Niles put his pile down on Martin's chair, and headed to the kitchen. He called over his shoulder as he went. "I'll just make us some snacks and something to drink before we get started."
Coming back out with a tray, he placed it on the table. Daphne picked up a glass of wine, sipping it before putting it back down.
"Thank you, Dr Crane. Lord knows the closer we get to opening night, the more I need that," she laughed.
"Oh, I know what you mean." Niles chuckled along with her as he sipped his own wine.
Daphne held up a red coat belonging to the Santa costume. "Do you mind putting this on while I adjust the buttons?"
"Not at all." Niles took off his coat and replaced it with the vibrant red one. It was much too large for him, and billowed around him like a deflating balloon. He held his arms out at the sides as instructed. "It's a bit big."
"I know. I just find it's easier to work out where things need to go if it's being worn. I won't be too long."
Niles stood patiently while Daphne sat on one of the dining chairs and worked out the seams and buttons. He stared at her, watching almost reverently, as she concentrated on her work.
The front door opened and Frasier came in. He paused, taking in the scene in front of him - of Niles in a gigantic red coat, standing in front of Daphne, who was leaning in close as she fastened buttons near his waist. Niles felt embarrassed, as if he was caught doing something illicit. But he hadn't. Everything was perfectly chaste and normal. Daphne had sat up straight as well and turned at the sound of the door, and they both stared back at Frasier, as if waiting to hear what he was going to say.
"Hello, Niles. Or should I say, 'ho ho ho'?" Frasier seemed unamused.
Niles shifted slightly, trying to appear innocent, despite the close proximity he had to Daphne. "Daphne's adjusting one of the costumes for her revue. I've been helping her with the show."
"Yes, Dr Crane has been a lifesaver. I don't know what I would have done without him." Daphne returned to the task of sewing buttons, oblivious to the way Niles' face lit up at her praise.
Frasier eyed them both suspiciously, before deciding he didn't care.
"Well, I'm not home long - Faye and I have dinner reservations. I just came to..." He paused, looking at Niles' ensemble again. "...change my jacket."
THE DAY BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE
Niles sighed as he stood in the elevator, tapping his foot impatiently. A little late due to traffic, he supposed that he should just head straight down to the common room, but Niles had gotten used to their routine.
Go upstairs. Head to Daphne's room (her room!). Help Daphne carry things downstairs.
The time spent in close proximity in the elevator as they rode together was the most he was able to steal with her with her most evenings. The elevator doors opened as he arrived at floor 19, and he practically leapt out, knocking away at the door to apartment 1901 urgently.
Martin opened it, a little surprised to see Niles. "Daphne's already headed downstairs."
Damn. "Thanks, Dad. I was running late, but thought I might catch here here. Uh, did she need anything else taken downstairs?"
Martin shrugged as he made his way back to his chair. "You'll have to ask Daph. Anything that might be left would still be in her room, if you want to check."
Niles stood frozen for a moment, wondering if he dared going into Daphne's room alone. Whether he dared to just peek through the door without her there. But caution won over, and he left empty handed. He reached the common room, and moved swiftly towards Daphne to let her know he was here. She saw him and smiled before turning away back to whatever small disaster or issue that had arisen; as usual having no time to actually speak to him.
Dismayed at missing the small window where he had her to himself, Niles moved across the room to where Mrs Stroud sat waiting at the piano. She was the pianist for the theatre company and had been the one playing the last few nights, while Niles hovered and tweaked the music. He was a little disappointed relinquishing control of the piano, but he was never supposed to actually perform. And besides, by this point everyone seemed to see him as an extension of Daphne. When something needed to be sorted and she was busy, Niles was the second person they hassled for help.
Like now.
"Dr Crane!" John, who was Wise Man #3, came over holding his costume. "The outfit was a little small, and it ripped under the arm when I was trying it on. Do you think Daphne can fix it before the show tomorrow?"
Niles took the costume, sighing as he inspected the damage. "Yes, we can get this sorted. Uh, no need to worry Daphne about it, John. Just, uh, grab that sewing box over there, I'll see what I can do."
John did so, handing the box over. Niles sat down, and fished out a needle and thread, squinting as he threaded it through the eye. "Didn't know you could sew." John was an impressed wise man.
"Oh, it's a skill I picked up at camp as a boy. Haberdashery was useful for the troubadour costumes that Frasier and I-" Niles paused, taking in John's confused stare. "It's just something I picked up. Useful for situations like this."
John nodded, before disappearing to another part of the room, leaving Niles alone. He picked apart the seams under both arms and let the fabric out a little more. He wasn't sure exactly how much as Wise Man #3 had abandoned him, but an extra inch should do it. Niles hummed idly to Jingle Bell Rock being belted out on the piano as he finished up the first side of the tunic.
He'd commenced sewing the second side when Daphne spoke very near his left ear. "You're very good at that, Dr Crane."
Niles started in surprise, not realizing how close Daphne was to him. He jabbed the needle into his finger as he jumped, and let out a yelp.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!" Daphne moved in front of Niles and knelt down to look at his hand.
"Don't worry, I'm fine..." Niles looked down at his finger as he spoke, and saw blood beading on his fingertip. His head started to swirl slightly, and he looked away quickly. "Nope. Spoke too soon."
"Here." He felt Daphne take his hand, and wrap something around the finger. "You can look now."
Niles glanced back. A bit of fabric covered the finger, no sight of any blood. Daphne was keeping an even pressure on it. Niles took a couple of breaths, and felt slightly better. "Thank you, Daphne. I'm sorry about that."
"No, I should apologize. I didn't meant to make you jump like that. And I know how you are with blood."
Niles nodded, too hyper aware of the fact Daphne was holding his hand tightly to feel embarrassed. They sat like that for a couple of minutes, until Daphne loosened the fabric and eased the pressure, checking that the bleeding had stopped completely before removing her hand completely.
"There we are. All better."
"Thank you." Niles still felt light headed, but possibly not from the sight of blood anymore. He stared at Daphne, captivated.
"Did you want me to finish sewing that sleeve?" She glanced down towards the tunic, and Niles shook himself out of the trance.
"Oh! No, I'm all right. Should only take a moment."
Daphne sat beside him and watched as he finished the repair. He held it up once done, inspecting his handiwork.
"Looks great, Dr Crane. You could be a professional seamstress. Or... whatever the male version of that is." Daphne was impressed.
"Seamster. And while I know my way around a needle and a running stitch, I'm far from a professional." Niles grinned, sheepish but pleased at the praise nonetheless.
"Listen, I know it's short notice, but do you mind awfully staying back again tonight to help with a couple last minute things?"
"Not at all, Daphne."
They sat there together for a few moments, doing nothing, enjoying the closeness and relative calm of the moment. Then chaos demanded their attention once again.
"Daphne, can you-" someone called for her across the room.
"Dr Crane, this section of the music-" Mrs Stroud turned, trying to get his attention.
Niles and Daphne looked at each other, and shrugged, before heading in opposite directions towards their separate summons.
THE PERFORMANCE
(THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS)
Standing in the wings - or the approximation of them next to the stage in the common room - Niles waited in full costume. He used his nasal spray again after stifling another sneeze, cursing the hay bales used as stage props. Mr Blanchard dropped out last minute due to an injury, which saw Niles replacing him in the show. Why he agreed to do this - any of this - he would never know. Well, he knew exactly why. But at this point, all Niles wanted was for that night to go smoothly. The first act of the show was almost over. Niles felt a strange sort of pride with how well the music sounded, the transitions he had written between the songs sounded natural and seamless.
Daphne came and stood next to him, watching the last of the first act performance with him. "How are you doing, Dr Crane?"
"Oh, well enough. I'm a touch nervous, it's been a while since I've tread the boards."
"And your allergies?"
Niles used his index finger to tap the side of his nose confidently. "Should be held at bay until I'm through with my number."
Daphne went to respond, but had to step aside as the elves ran past, just finished with their closing number to act one. She bumped into Niles as she did so, and he found himself momentarily flustered at the unexpected contact. The audience applause was loud and encouraging, even if Niles had noted several missed cues and line fumbles. The elves now gone, Daphne stepped away again, laughing.
"It seems to be going well at least. I must say, it's been a stressful couple of weeks."
Niles chuckled nervously, his body still tingling where Daphne's had briefly contacted his. "Er, yes. You've done a superb job putting everything together." He stifled another sneeze, and fished a handkerchief from one of the sleeves of his costume.
"Only because you were here. I asked you just to help with putting together the music, and you stepped up and did so much more. I don't know how to thank you, Dr Crane."
Niles smiled affectionately at Daphne. He went to suggest a reward, but suddenly sneezed again. "Oh, dear. Sorry." He sniffed. Glancing around, Niles tried using his nasal spray again. "I really need to find something else. I can't keep irrigating my sinuses."
Daphne frowned slightly. "You're on in a couple of minutes, intermission is almost over. Will you be okay?"
Niles didn't get a chance to respond as a bottle of hay fever medication was held out by one of the wise men. "Here. Try taking one of these."
"Oh, thank you." Niles took the pill, washing it down with a mouthful of water. He sniffed a couple of times, testing the effect. "I think I'm good to go."
Daphne wished him luck as she was called away to help someone else with their costume. Niles sighed, and took his place with the other performers for the second act as they gathered and started walking onto the stage.
The things I will do to spend some time with Daphne. And it's worth every second.
THE DAY AFTER
(CHRISTMAS DAY)
Niles turned up to Frasier's apartment a little early, glad for an excuse to be out of the Shangri La. Daphne greeted him at the door, looking cheerful and festive, wearing a flattering dress - a striking red with small mistletoe leaves adorning the tea length skirt.
"Merry Christmas, Dr Crane!"
"Merry Christmas, Daphne. You're looking particularly lovely today."
"Oh, thank you so much, Dr Crane." She blushed slightly at the praise.
Niles entered, smiling as he noticed his father's decorating touch. Absent just 24 hours earlier, it was now out in full force. As much as Frasier rebelled against it, Niles found it nostalgic to see the decorations out. As long as it's not at my place that's decorated.
"I've got gifts for everyone." He indicated to the bag he was holding. "I'll just place them under the tree?"
"Oh, I've got a gift for you, too. Wait here." Daphne disappeared off towards her room.
Niles watched her go. The dress she's wearing is gift enough.
"Hey Niles, Merry Christmas!" Martin exited the kitchen with a mug full of what looked like cocoa. He noticed Niles by the tree with gifts in hand. "We opening our presents now?"
Niles shrugged. "I'm not sure. Daphne went to get a gift she got me." He glanced around. "Where's Frasier?"
Martin rolled his eyes. "Something about bringing the Christmas spirit to the condo board. Bunch of baloney if you ask me. He just wants to butter them up about that parking space."
Niles returned his father's gesture, having heard enough about that saga over the last few months as he headed towards the kitchen to fetch a cup of cocoa for himself. Frasier had returned by the time he came back to the living room with cocoa - and a plate of Christmas cookies he had found - in hand.
"Hello, Frasier. Merry Christmas. I trust you successfully wooed the condo board?"
Frasier chuckled, pleased. "I have confidence I'll have the matter resolved by the next condo board meeting. Why, as I was just telling Dad yesterday..."
Martin muttered something under his breath as his son rambled on, having heard it all before.
Daphne returned, pulling Niles' attention away from an oblivious Frasier. "Dr Crane. This is for you, as thanks for all your help with the holiday revue."
She handed him a gift-wrapped present. Niles took it from her hands and unwrapped it to find the music he'd written for the Christmas revue bound together like a book. "Oh! Thank you, Daphne."
"I thought you might want to keep it as a memento. You did put a lot of effort into putting it all together."
Niles thumbed through it, looking at his annotations and handwritten notes. He had wondered briefly what happened to them when he had written and printed out the final version that Mrs Stroud had used. Beyond that, he wasn't quite sentimental enough to have worried about them much. But reaching the end of the book, he saw something else tucked in the back. He pulled out a photo. It was taken on the first night of rehearsals, just after he had agreed to help. A group photo of the entire ensemble, Niles scanned the photo before he found himself in the picture, standing next to Daphne. She had thrown her arms around his shoulders. Niles had a look of delighted surprise at her hug, and they were both beaming, completely happy.
Niles smiled. "I'll treasure this. Thank you, Daphne."
Daphne leaned forward and lightly kissed his cheek, smiling. "I should thank you, Dr Crane. The show only went so well because of you."
"I heard he started sneezing uncontrollably halfway through his musical number." Martin interjected.
"He was most of the way through his song before that happened." Daphne defended. "No one noticed."
"No one noticed? He had to be carried off stage by King Herod and Jacob Marley!" Frasier retorted.
Niles barely heard what they were saying as he basked in the moment. It didn't matter how it went. Everything over the past ten or so days was completely worth it just for that one kiss.
Later, after they'd all opened their gifts and eaten dinner, Niles and Daphne were alone, relaxing on the couch. Frasier had disappeared to his room to speak to Freddie on the phone before he travelled to Boston for a week in the morning. Martin had left to take Eddie on a walk. There was a Christmas movie playing on the television which Niles was paying zero attention to as he sat next to Daphne, who had leaned her head against his shoulder, half tipsy and half asleep. Much like himself.
"Dr Crane?"
"Yes, Daphne?"
"I've decided I'm never agreeing to run another pageant again."