In May, coinciding with the first anniversary of when they started dating, Niles and Daphne have decided to throw the baby shower at their home. Daphne is seven and a half months pregnant, her belly is huge and David moves like an eggbeater, seemingly only stopping to sleep. Niles has been witness to his son's liveliness many times, both just visually and by touch. The baby's kicks are often visible when they create lumps on his mother's skin, and touching her belly is enough to perceive David's motions. Daphne has trouble finding rest both because it's difficult for her to get comfortable in most positions and because David is quite restless. Also, she has to visit the toilet often due to the pressure on her bladder. And now, the parents have become a bit more creative to make love, favoring only the postures with which Daphne feels more comfortable and her belly doesn't get in the way.
But apart from those inevitable discomforts, life for the Crane couple is as happy as it can be.
They've turned one of the guest bedrooms into a nursery and it's almost finished now. Niles hasn't spared an expense and Daphne has let him free rein, except for two or three items she has dissuaded him from acquiring (even he has to admit that they crossed the line too far to absurdity). But she seems to understand that he, as a first-time father, needs to be completely involved in all this exciting stage and that he wants the best for David. One of the advantages of being rich is that one can afford the best for oneself but especially for one's family, and he intends to make the most of it now that he has a wife and a soon-to-be-born baby whom he loves with all his heart.
The party is ready for the guests to arrive. The food, like the other times they've thrown parties, is displayed in a buffet style, for everyone to choose whatever they fancy and move freely while they're eating.
Apart from the family and friends, Niles and Daphne have invited also their neighbors, as an act of courtesy, as the Cranes want to win them over for David's sake, as a future resident of the building. Since Daphne moved into the apartment, she's struck up a certain friendship with a few of the neighbors (very kind middle-aged and old women eager for company and lively gossip), and those will be the ones who will attend most probably. All in all, the better Niles and Daphne get along with the other inhabitants of the Montana, the better for David to be accepted as the newest and youngest addition.
The doorbell rings for the first time and Niles opens the door to let in some of the mentioned neighbors, who kiss him on the cheeks effusively to his slight horror and his arms are quickly crowded with the gifts they've brought for David. For the looks of them, one is a baby blanket and the others are toys. The women soon fill the living room with their tireless chatter and immediately surround Daphne, promising to tend to her every whim, as they apparently feel fiercely protective of her in her state of advanced pregnancy.
Niles smiles at the amusing and endearing scene and leaves the ladies to their own devices to go put the gifts on a side table placed there for that purpose.
The next ones are Mr. And Mrs. Woodson with another gift (baby clothes, most probably, judging by the logo on the wrapping paper). They quickly start talking with Daphne and the other ladies and help themselves to the food and drinks.
Then it's the turn of Martin, Frasier, Holly and Frederick with their respective presents for David. Frasier's son is on a visit coincidentally, and fortunately, without Lilith. The Cranes in Seattle haven't seen Freddy since last Christmas, when he and his mother spent a few days at Frasier's before returning to Boston for New Year's Eve. Lilith's presence had been quite uncomfortable for almost everyone, but especially for Niles. He hasn't ever told Daphne about the night he spent with his former sister-in-law, and never will if he can prevent it. He doubts that Daphne would digest it and that might create a big issue unnecessarily, given that Daphne doesn't have the slightest reasons to be jealous because that episode doesn't stir anything in him (after that night, any residual desire for Lilith simply faded without leaving behind any embers, because it was Lilith and Niles quickly resumed his overall dislike concerning her) or affects in the least what Niles feels for Daphne. He let go of that part of his past years ago. Besides, Niles is of the opinion that the less a couple like Daphne and himself knows about each other's previous sexual life with other people, the better. When Lilith and Freddy had taken the flight back to Boston, Niles had felt immensely relieved. Not that he feared that Lilith would spill the beans blithely. She is one of the most calculating women he's ever met, along with Maris. She understands perfectly the need to let the past rest in peace because stirring it up would only create avoidable trouble.
And fortunately, for once in his life Frasier hadn't put his foot in his mouth either, catching on the importance of letting bygones be bygones.
The big absent in the Crane group at the party is Eddie. He's been left at home with his bowls of food and water and his toys, though he'll surely ignore those, as he has a special fondness for messing around with Frasier's furniture. Martin for once has agreed to leave him at the condo because some of the attendants to the baby shower might not agree with the presence of a dog.
After Holly's panic attack at the discovery of her pregnancy and a crucial talk with Frasier, things went back to being fine between them, and their relationship seems to have strengthened. They're quite different in their personalities and tastes, but they seem to have found a middle ground and reached some kind of compromise, like Daphne and himself have done. Niles hopes that Holly is finally the one for his brother. She's a good woman, kind, beautiful, funny and smart. She and Frasier have been together for almost five months. Since Frasier came back from Boston seven years ago, he hasn't had a single long-term relationship until currently. One way or another, he's managed to sabotage most of them, or has been unfortunate in his choices. It's understandable that, given his disastrous past with women (two failed marriages and a fiancée jilting him at the altar) he might have developed some issues concerning a fear of commitment. But this time he looks determined to overcome his fears and Holly looks the same.
Now the only obstacle remaining is the fact that Frasier hasn't told Freddy yet that he's going to have a brother or sister. Frasier didn't feel right about telling Freddy the news concerning such an important topic on the phone, and has been waiting to tell his son face to face.
"Freddy, darling!," Daphne exclaims, opening her arms for the ten-year-old boy to step eagerly into them.
"Auntie Daphne!," he also exclaims against her chest, hugging her carefully, mindful of her condition. "Wow, your belly is really big, but you're still very beautiful, Auntie," he says cheekily, and Daphne swats him playfully, making him giggle. "By the way, last Christmas I didn't tell you, Auntie, because by then I wasn't sure that Uncle Niles wouldn't kill me for snitching, but I always knew that he and you would end up together," he adds cunningly.
"Oh, you did? Clever boy," she compliments with a smile.
"It wasn't so difficult to guess. Uncle Niles has always had a huge crush on you, and was always jealous of me because he was forced to see how you showered me with your attentions whereas he had to remain aside, sulking." His bigmouthed nephew is starting to become quite annoying, the little rat.
Daphne laughs, genuinely amused. "He has, hasn't he?," she asks rhetorically, staring straight at Niles with a glint in her eyes and a subtly suggestive smile that doesn't fail to make his skin stir.
"I'm so happy to see you too, dear nephew," Niles interrupts with blatant sarcasm. "And thanks for the gift for your cousin," he adds, intentionally mentioning David to make Freddy remember that he isn't the only one to enjoy Daphne's displays of affection anymore, and that he, Niles, has won in the end. He knows that his competition with a boy is absurd, but then, the Crane men are always competitive against each other and his nephew is not an exception.
But Freddy suddenly isn't interested in going on with his rivalry with his uncle, spotting the food and making a beeline for it.
"Freddy," his father admonishes. "Please go greet the other guests, will you?"
"Okay," the boy agrees grudgingly, and goes to fulfill his social duties and show his good manners.
Holly in the meanwhile has sat down with Daphne a bit apart and they're chatting animatedly. Martin on his part has also helped himself to the buffet table and is talking to the Woodson couple.
"When are you going to tell Freddy about his new sibling?," Niles asks, keeping his gaze on the boy, who is politely talking to the group of the Montana's neighbors. The ladies are pinching his cheeks and giggling loudly and Niles grins widely at Freddy's patent grimace.
"Today," Frasier assures, also smiling at his son's predicament. "I still can't believe all this, Niles. After so many years, I'm going to have another child. I've been thinking of proposing to Holly, but I'm afraid that she might reject me. Perhaps it's better to let things be, she hasn't let on that she'd prefer for us to get married and we're fine just like this anyway." Niles can understand his brother's quandary. It's quite a big step. He was also a bit scared of screwing up, even if Daphne was already pregnant too, like Holly. Another peculiarity of the Cranes is that things rarely happen in the traditional way for them or following the steps one by one where relationships with women are involved. They usually skip at least several steps in one go or don't take them in the normal order.
"Yeah, it's a difficult decision. But Daphne and I might lend you a hand, if you wish. Daphne can sound Holly out discreetly. I'll talk to Daphne about this and she'll find the way to wheedle out how Holly feels about the prospect of marrying you," Niles offers. He senses that in this case it's better to let the women work their magic.
Frasier smiles in relief. "That's a great idea. Please, try to do it as quickly and discreetly as possible. I can't screw up with this, Niles."
"You won't. You'll have your answer very soon, you'll see," Niles promises confidently.
The doorbell rings again and it's Roz with Alice and her new boyfriend, Frank, whom she's been dating for the last weeks and miraculously hasn't chickened out at the prospect of a gathering where Roz's best friends are or, like Roz likes saying, her family from Seattle. The truth is that at some point Roz stopped being simply an outsider and became a permanent fixture in the Cranes' lives, what is as close as considering her family as it can be, and the sentiment is enthusiastically reciprocated by her.
Niles takes the new gifts, offering his thanks (the gift table looks quite crowded now) and invites the newcomers to make themselves at home. Alice looks disappointed when her mother tells her that Eddie isn't there, but the little girl soon finds other things to entertain herself with. Needless to say, the club of the Montana ladies, like Niles is starting to call them mentally in fondness, doesn't lose a chance to pinch the toddler's chubby cheeks and almost virtually drool at the presence of another youngster in the room.
When Niles is going to talk to Daphne with some excuse, Beth arrives with her son Jasper. The boy quickly gets along with Freddy, as their ages are quite similar, and their respective parents look satisfied that things are going fine between two of the younger attendants to the party.
Niles walks idly, getting close to Daphne in which he hopes is a casual manner, and bends down to kiss the crown on her head to draw her attention.
"Hey, love," Daphne says, smiling at him. "Everything fine?," she asks.
"Yeah, everyone looks like having a good time. Do you want me to help you to the bathroom?," he inquires with a subtle raise of his eyebrow.
She catches his true intentions and nods. "That would be very kind of you, honey." She turns to Holly. "Will you excuse me for some moments? This little one is making the toilet one of my best friends as of late," she jokes.
Holly laughs. "Of course, go, I'll be fine."
Niles helps Daphne stand up and keeps his arm around her waist to relieve her of some weight. "I need to talk to you about something," he whispers next to her ear. "Frasier is thinking about proposing to Holly, but he's afraid that she'll reject the idea of marrying him, but on the other hand he's afraid that he might ruin things if he doesn't propose. I've thought that you might find out what her feelings are about that before Frasier makes a move."
"I already have," Daphne reveals calmly, to his astonishment.
"You have?," he asks stupidly.
"Come on, I know your brother like the back of my hand, Niles. He's been nervous for a while, and I've discarded other fears because he and Holly have already overcome those milestones. I've also wondered if it's the prospect of telling Freddy about the new sibling what is worrying him, but I've sensed that it's something that runs deeper. So, the only possible conclusion is that he wants to propose but isn't sure if that's what Holly wants," Daphne expounds, spot on, as usual.
They've reached the bathroom. "That's exactly it," he confirms, smiling at her in admiration.
"Well, I've brought up the topic casually and she's told me that if Frasier proposes sometime, she'll say yes. But as they haven't talked about getting married yet, she wasn't sure if that's what Frasier wants, and that's why she's been afraid of asking. It seems they've been playing cat and mouse, but it's time to put them out of their misery, don't you think?," Daphne says teasingly.
He chuckles at her wit. "Yeah, I do, love. I'll tell Frasier right away."
"Perfect. That way today he'll kill two birds with one stone, or rather, three: telling Freddy about his new brother or sister, proposing to Holly and talking to Freddy about that too." And with that and a mischievous wink, she enters the bathroom and shuts the door. Niles waits for her to accompany her back to the couch.
When they rejoin the others, the party is in its peak and Niles is glad. A couple more neighbors have dropped by and the living room is quite packed. Everyone looks like having fun.
Frasier is talking to Freddy, and Niles can guess what the conversation is revolving around. Freddy doesn't look upset and at some point, father and son share a hug and Niles's heart warms.
When Freddy goes back to playing with Jasper, Niles goes back to where Frasier is. "He's taken the news quite well, hasn't he?"
Frasier smiles proudly. "He has. He's told me that he's noticed that Holly is pregnant. God knows how he's been able to, as the pregnancy is just barely showing this early and Frederick hadn't met Holly in person before."
"Kids can be very perceptive," Niles supplies.
Frasier nods. "Yes, indeed. He's said that he isn't hurt or jealous and that he's happy for me, and he's added that he's glad to have a brother or sister. Apparently he likes Holly a lot, he's said that she's cool. The boy has inherited our same taste for women, as he obviously has excellent taste, we can grant him that."
The brothers laugh in their lifelong comfortable camaraderie. "Definitely. He used to compete with me for Daphne's attention. That's enough proof."
They chuckle once more and then Frasier inhales deeply. "And well? What about the other matter at hand?," he inquires nervously.
"Daphne and Holly have been discussing that. Daphne had already guessed why you were worried. You have the all clear to propose," Niles informs concisely.
Frasier inhales again and squeezes Niles's arm for support. "Wish me good luck, brother. I'll go seal my destiny," he sentences in his most solemn voice.
Niles rolls his eyes at his brother's trademark pomposity. "Good luck, Frasier."
Just minutes later, the whole gathering is applauding at the newly engaged couple, who are blushing red and smiling happily at each other.
By the corner of his eye, Niles sees his father cornered by the club of the Montana ladies, who has been increased with the addition of two other neighbors, and laughs loudly at Martin's tight spot, to Daphne's puzzled side glance addressed at him.