Niles is driving to Frasier's home. He's going to pick Daphne up and take her to a French restaurant he favors, Le soleil de Provence. He hasn't visited it in ages, since before his divorce (it was one of the very rare places Maris liked), but it's time to start building new memories in it. It offers delicacies that few restaurants can rival, and the wine list is among the best ones in Seattle, with excelente vintages. And he's sure that even Daphne, who is not a great fan of wine, will appreciate the quality on offer. He's thought beforehand which types he might suggest, according to her choices for food.
And after dinner, he's planning to take her to the Starlight Room because it's a classy place for dancing, and he loves dancing with Daphne, what they haven't done since the wonderful and heartbreaking (for him) night of the Snow Ball.
He's filled with adolescent-like nerves and anticipation and while he gets closer to the Elliot Bay Towers, he recalls the previous evening at his brother's.
Last evening, after he fainted in Frasier's kitchen and the four of them had dinner together, Frasier waited until Daphne went to the bathroom and, as soon as she was out of sight, he couldn't wait to broach the odd matter of her calling him Niles. Frasier had heard her crying out his name in fear. She hadn't said Dr. Crane like she always had done in the past.
"Is there something you aren't telling me, Niles? I didn't know you and Daphne were on first-name terms," Frasier had prodded, lifting an eyebrow and sporting his trademark warning glare.
From the corner of his eye, Niles glanced at his father, who had sat down again on his beloved old armchair and was watching sports on TV. He seemed oblivious to his sons' conversation.
"I'm not entitled to tell you everything I do, Frasier. You don't share with me everything you do either," Niles retorted, piqued.
"You're right, we're entitled to our privacy. But if what you do lately involves Daphne, then I have a right to know. She's my employee, she lives under my roof and is like a sister to me," Frasier defended himself.
Niles had to admit that his brother had a fair point, so he nodded in acquiescence. "The other day, when Daphne found out that Donny had bought an engagement ring, she panicked and went to my office to talk with me. She came to the conclusion that she didn't love Donny enough to marry him, and she realized it all by herself." Niles raised a hand as soon as Frasier opened his mouth, seemingly to chastise him, and cut him off. "Don't you start lecturing me. I didn't coax her into anything. She simply realized that her relationship with Donny had no future and decided to break up with him. I had nothing to do with her decision. And thanks for your vote of confidence, big brother." Niles needled with sarcasm. He felt a vindictive satisfaction for the many times that he'd allowed his brother to meddle in his business.
Frasier, to his credit, was the one looking properly chastised. "All right, all right. She gave Dad and I the news when she arrived home, but she was sad and tired and in no mood for talking, so she went straight to her bedroom. The next day she gave us more details, but she didn't mention any visit to your office. I suppose that she wanted to spare you a lecture, she knows me too well," Frasier deduced with a half smile.
Niles felt a surge of pride for Daphne. She had protected their secret and he felt flattered and more hopeful than ever. "Clever girl," he complimented with a grin.
"She is," Frasier agreed. "So, was it in your office when she started calling you by your first name?," Frasier surmised.
"Yes," Niles confirmed, because there was no use in denying it.
Right that moment the door of the bathroom opened and Daphne walked back to her chair. Niles and Frasier dropped the subject.
Later in the kitchen, while he and Daphne were washing and drying the dishes and utensils, he told her about his conversation with his brother.
"Sorry for my slip," she apologized.
"It's okay. It was only the natural reaction. And I'm flattered that in that moment of stress the first thing that came to your mind was my name," he teased while he was drying a dish meticulously.
"Oh, shut up," she protested in fake indignation, and swatted his arm. "You insufferable Cranes have heads even bigger than your mouths, if that's possible."
Niles had always loved Daphne's wit and sense of humor. He smiled from ear to ear but then sobered up and hesitated. "You... You think we should tell him and Dad about our date?" He ignored if she would prefer to keep it all a secret, for a while at least.
She reflected on his question. "Why not?," she replied, to his delighted surprise. "We are free adults who have nothing to hide and no one has the right to teach us lessons on how to live our lives," she ranted, but then calmed again and softened. "I suppose that Frasier is just overprotective. It's annoying, but I can't be really mad at him." Then she smiled fondly.
"He's always been that way. It can be exhausting. But you're right, we can't be mad at him for worrying for us," Niles agreed, slightly rolling his eyes, and Daphne chuckled. "Well... Where would you like going for our date? I want you to feel comfortable, so if there is any place in particular you don't fancy, I'd like to know. I want our night together to be fully enjoyable to the both of us." He glanced at her.
She'd just washed the last item and was passing it to him. "Surprise me. I'm sure any place you choose will be fine to me. The important thing is that we'll be together and that's enough," Daphne said softly and his heart jumped. No woman had ever said anything so beautiful to him and certainly not Maris.
"To me too," he echoed, deeply touched and full of love for her. He caughed to clear the lump in his throat. "So, what about tomorrow? It's Saturday and the weekend is still young."
"Perfect. Pick me up around seven thirty?," she suggested.
Niles nodded, happy as a child on Christmas Day. "At seven thirty then. Now, have you made your will already? We're just going to tell Frasier and Dad that we have a date," he teased with a fake solemn voice.
Daphne swatted his arm once more, giggling. "Shut up, you silly."
And then they headed for the living room, where Frasier was reading a book and their father was watching his sports channels.
Now, at Frasier's door on Saturday evening, he is brimming with energy and excitement. He's been specially careful with his appearance, and he hopes that she likes it. He on his part can't wait to see what she's going to wear.
He's been able to make a reservation at Le soleil de Provence even at such short notice, because the maître d' has been a good friend for many years and he's been glad to squeeze him and Daphne in.
She opens the door and Niles almost faints again in amazement.
Because she's wearing the dress.
The same dress she wore at the Snow Ball years ago.