AN: This story is based on "Big Crane on Campus". The next chapter will have a followup story.

(Daphne)

Daphne dropped the kitchen timer like a bomb as she raced to her room, head swirling with the events of the last few moments. Once again, feelings for Niles were breaking to the surface, and it was getting harder to ignore them. Harder to convince herself that it was just platonic affection.

It had started off as an innocent enough gesture; she hated to see her friend in such pain, and wasted no time in fetching the aloe vera cream. Ever so gently, she applied the ointment to the stinging red slash across the palm of Niles' hand.

His hands are so soft, Daphne found herself thinking. And so beautiful. I wonder what his touch is like...

Daphne felt herself blushing at the unbidden thought.

"Just give it a minute to absorb," she said, trying to bring herself back to reality.

Not that the distraction worked. Despite her resolution, she did not let go, holding Niles' hand for a beat longer than necessary. And then another...

"Thank you, Daphne," Niles spoke up, breaking into her thoughts. "It feels better already."

The firm edge in Niles' otherwise friendly tone set off alarm bells in her head.

He's getting suspicious. Daphne Moon, you have to stop this!

But I don't want to...

Thank Heavens that Martin interrupted the moment. Embarrassed and self-conscious, she made her exit, praying she hadn't made a fool of herself.

It's just wedding jitters, Daphne tried to tell herself. Just like when I tried to come up with excuses for not accepting Donny's proposal. Niles-Dr. Crane-is just a friend to me. Nothing more.

If only her heart was so sure.

(Niles)

Long after Frasier had left Cafe Nervosa, Niles brooded over the dregs of his coffee, going over the events of the afternoon. First, the fun he'd had in the kitchen with Daphne. It had felt so natural...and, truth be told, the recipient of the dinner she was helping him make was far from his mind.

Then there was what had transpired after he'd foolishly grabbed the hot pan with his bare hand.

In that moment, he was sure there was something more to the way Daphne was massaging the ointment into his hand, and certainly something off (but in a good way) about how she was holding on. Trying to feel her out, he'd hinted several that the ointment had done its work; still she held on, almost as if she was couldn't hear him. Lost in the moment, perhaps?

He was willing to wait and get a further read on her, but as luck (or lack thereof) would have it, Martin interrupted.

Daphne released Niles' hand with a start at the sound of her patient's voice, her beautiful eyes registering what seemed to almost be alarm. And was she blushing? His eyes followed her as she fled, and he barely noticed as Martin put can of beer into his injured hand, long enough to root out a bag of pork rinds.

Martin retrieved the beer and left the kitchen, leaving Niles thinking deeply. Could Daphne Moon have feelings for me? he wondered, feeling something like hope. Maybe Frasier could offer some insight.

Frasier's insight wasn't what Niles had been hoping for, but what other option did he have than to ask Daphne if she loved him-and possibly end up making an idiot of himself in the process? Maybe it really was nerves over how fast things were moving with Mel. He was happy enough (or at least content) with Melinda Karnofsky; it wouldn't be unheard of if he was misconstruing that moment in the kitchen with Daphne because he was afraid of screwing up what he was developing with her.

Daphne's always seen me as her friend. Nothing more, he told himself, trying to squelch what he felt was a false hope. He drained his cup. I've known her for almost seven years, and now she's weeks away from her wedding. If it was to happen, it would've happened before now.

Niles stood up with resolve.

It's time to move on and stop loving her as anything but a friend.