AN 1: This is my first story after a long hiatus. I reconnected with Frasier and my love for Niles and Daphne came back. I needed to write again and this story is the result. Having said this, I can't promise you quick updates. I only have the next two chapters planned and the story's main idea. But I'll try to write and update the story ASAP.

AN 2: English is not my native language, so it's likely that you will find mistakes in the story. I only hope they don't stop you from enjoying it.

The wind chilled her to the bone as she sat on the park bench beside the lake.

Fall had always been her favourite season. Since she was a little girl, she had delighted in the crispness of the air after the dry summer weather, the myriad of colours in the falling leaves and the overall feeling of coziness. In recent years it had also brought her happiest moments in life.

All of them had taken place there.

Green Lake Park had witnessed their first encounter three years ago when she had gone there for a run around the lake and he was walking his giant dog. And it was there where he proposed a year later in the fading light of a cold November evening.

"Bloody hell" she gritted between clenched teeth and huddled in her thin jacket as she shield herself from the icy grip of the wind in the late afternoon.

Of all places in Seattle, her feet had to drag her there…

"Bloody hell" she repeated. This time louder. Blinking back all the emotions welling in her eyes, she felt the biting cold weather like a punishment, numbing her thoughts and body.

She should leave that park and yet, a big part of her hesitated. In spite of everything, that place had given her so much joy and she felt herself clinging to the fragments of her former life.

Her breath formed little puffs of white as she stared into the stillness of the water consumed by thoughts of the man who once meant the world to her.

Joe.

An overwhelming wave of self hatred washed over her. After all this time, after all the pain she had endured, he was still there in her heart and mind and she despised herself for allowing him to maintain a hold of her emotions even months after he had left her.

A sob rose in her throat as she remembered the happiness of the precious moments they had shared together. The memories flooded her mind and she couldn't help but be swept away by their powerful current. She could still see his smile, the way his eyes twinkled with joy whenever they were together, his infectious laughter, his warmth… Their love shone like a radiant sun illuminating everything in their life.

A life that seemed distant and elusive now.

To this day, she had been unable to pinpoint the exact moment cracks began to appear.

His demeanor towards her shifted abruptly overnight. Gone was the loving and kind man and instead, he met her with harshness and dismissal and his happiness for their impending marriage vanished like smoke in the wind, casting dark clouds over their relationship.

No matter how hard she tried to talk to him into opening up, her efforts were futile. He remained cold and distant and eventually shut her out of his life after a heated fight.

It had been brewing for days and when it started, it was innocent enough. A disagreement over something so trivial she had already forgotten about it. Arguments had increased in their frequency over the last few weeks. However, that night, emotions escalated, words were sharper and accusations were thrown.

He left after that and she never saw him again. A common friend told her he had moved to Canada leaving her alone in the mess that was canceling the wedding preparations.

"Bastard!" she snapped so loud that a man standing by the lake, thirty feet away, startled by the sudden outburst and quickly turned his head, his eyes wide and concerned. She remained unfazed by the commotion she had caused and looked back at him defiantly, her eyes blazing with anger, as if daring him to say a word. The man recoiled and took an involuntary step back, his foot plunging into the cool water and causing him to lose his balance momentarily.

She almost felt sorry for him.

She should leave the park and celebrate as her friend Roz had said.

Cheer up girl! You've just lost 180 pounds overnight!

And for the first weeks she did. Before the dust of reality settled in, she went out, partied and drunk as much as she could bear. And when that wasn't enough she focused on her job.

The opening of her cafe - Moon over Seattle - was due for next week. A dream job that was supposed to be their dream job, hers and Joe's. After he left, she took the reins and launched herself into the challenge of making that dream come true.

As the final preparations were done and work lessened, idle hours brought him back and she ended up coming to the place where their story began.

The tears that had been threatening since she had sat down in the bench finally spilled over tracing a path down her cheeks. In that moment she didn't care about being in a public place surrounded by strangers. Joe had left without saying a word and she hated him for denying her closure.

She wanted to understand.

To forgive.

To forget.

To move on.

With trembling hands, she reached within her purse for a tissue to no avail. The small bag seemed bottomless as she rummaged through it, her frustration growing by the second. She took a deep breath and , attempting to steady herself and hold back the last of her falling tears.

"Here"

She looked up and saw him, the man by the lake. He had approached carefully as if not wanting to disturb her and when she met his eyes all she saw was… compassion. Genuine and respectful. He was handing her a whole packet of tissues and silently stood by her side as she accepted it and extracted a tissue from it.

"Thank you" she whispered and handed him the packet back. He shook his head gently pushing her hand back.

"Please keep it"

"But you may nee…"

"I always carry at least three packets… Allergies." He explained "They are… they are merciless. Even in this time of the year"

Her deadpan, questioning look seemed to fluster him to the point of breaking eye contact.

"Well" he added, taking small awkward steps backwards "I hope… I hope they are not too bad. Those allergies of yours"

"They are not" she blurted out unexpectedly, making him stop in his tracks "I mean… It's not an allergy"

"Oh" he managed to say after a few seconds, revelation sinking in, and just stood there, midway between her and the lake. He didn't prod, didn't attempt to know more. He just stood there and looked at her with a serious, sad, yet comforting expression.

"It will pass you know… Sooner or later. It has to pass. There has to be a day when it stops hurting" he finally said.

There was a discernible depth to those words that she didn't miss. The slight tremor in his voice, the hollow, vulnerable expression in his eyes. It was like he somehow knew.

"I wish…" she began in a whisper. After all, he was still a stranger "I wish it was easier"

He nodded and his sad smile made her heart clench.

"Yeah" he managed before looking away, his crystal blue eyes focused on the lake.

Then, as if out of the blue, his demeanor changed. A genuine laugh relaxed his shoulders and she could not help but mirror his grin of genuine happiness. Before she had the chance to ask him what had happened, he beat her to it.

"That's why I always tell myself 'When life beats you, hold on to the simpler things that bring you joy'"

Her questioning look came back again but this time, there was no awkwardness. He just smiled at her and pointed at the water.

"Do you want to meet my friends?"

The afternoon sun and its last golden rays of the day found the two strangers in a peaceful spot by the lake, both silently entranced by the small flock gliding across the crystal clear surface, oblivious to their presence.

Without saying a word he pulled a small bag out of his jacket pocket and scooped a handful of breadcrumbs in his hand. Then he offered it to her with a soft smile as if saying "Trust me on this"

As the first crumbs were scattered onto the water, the ducks stopped their hypnotic dance and, ever so watchful, began to swim closer to them, accepting their gifts with enthusiastic quacks and when two ducklings dipped their heads clumsily beneath the surface to try to catch a sinking piece she couldn't help but laugh.

In that moment, her heart filled with sheer joy and she felt herself wondering about the last time she had felt like this; free, weightless, content… And strong enough to start again.

All because of that stranger. Their encounter had set the whole thing in motion. Thanks to his kindness, his silent support and his generous invitation to join him in a simple activity, she had found her feet. There was no way she would leave without thanking him.

But when she looked back at him she found him lost in thought. His posture had shifted again and she could feel the profound sadness he was carrying within him.

"You alright?" she asked warily "I thought… I thought doing this made you happy"

The man's eyes shone with unshed tears and when struggled to find his words and his breathing faltered, her already broken heart, shattered even more.

"It does" he managed "It's just… sometimes when I'm here I… I think about her"

"Who?"

"My mother. We used to come here a lot, before she pass… when she felt I was lost and needed to find my way back. I haven't come here in a long time and… I can't help but think that by… doing this; by being here again" his shook the hand that held the bag and pointed at the ducks with the other "I… I failed her"

She struggled to understand "Why would she think you fail… No. I'm sure she would be proud of you. Many people run away when they encounter an obstacle. Many… dissapear" her voice wavered at the memories of her own past but she fought to remain calm. Now this man needed her. "She helped you to find what helps you and I'm sure she's glad you're here. Fighting back"

A sob rose in his throat and she knew he was on the verge of crumbling so, hastily, she laced her free hand with his for support.

"Thank you" he whispered.

They stood there for a few minutes, observing the ducks finishing the last crumbs and relishing in each other's company and the warmth of their joined hands until a buzz in his breast pocket broke the silence.

He casted an apologetic look at her before grabbing the device and in the span of a few seconds he managed to read whatever was on his phone's screen and formulate a quick answer.

"Sorry" he apologized "It seems that if I don't show myself at my brother's in the next hour, he's going to fill a missing persons report at the nearest police station"

"You should go then" she prompted and added with a light smile "That sounded like a real threat"

He let out a dry chuckle "Coming from him, it wouldn't surprise me if he ended up doing it"

She looked in his eyes and there it was again, the same twinkle he had when he spotted the ducks. Her smile grew bigger at the realization that he would be alright.

And so would she.

"Well I should go. It was nice to meet you…" he stood pensive for a moment "I just realized I never got your name. How rude of me"

She shook her head and offered a small laugh and her hand "It's Daphne. Daphne Moon"

He looked at her extended hand and then at her. Then, very softly, very gently, he enveloped it in his.

"Niles Crane"