The second week of May announced itself with a heat wave. Three days of temperatures in the high nineties made Niles all the more thankful that Daphne had been pushing various iced teas at him for the last week and a half. Taking the short walk to Daphne's that Friday was horribly humid, and by the time he got to her store, Niles regretted his outfit choice.

As a psychiatrist Niles typically found himself wearing layers - long sleeved dress shirts, with an undershirt and jacket, sometimes even a vest. Though since he started running Persephone, Niles had started dressing what he would consider more casual - with loose knit sweaters and trousers, he had as yet been unable to pull himself away from layers. Summer may prove to be a conundrum, as far as casual dress goes.

He entered Daphne's store, grateful to be out of the sun. The linen shirt Niles was wearing clung to his skin, and the kitchen, while it hadn't been used for several hours, was still warm. He placed the flowers down, fussing momentarily over them. A slight adjustment to one of the arrangements, which included a flower the other arrangements didn't.

On Tuesday, Niles had continued to muse over the book on floriography. He always was a bit passive when it came to taking initiative. Fear of rejection at the moment held him back from reaching for something more than friendship with Daphne, but having an outlet to express himself through flowers seemed like a nice compromise. Maybe even sort out exactly what it was he felt for her. As two o'clock approached, he had dithered more and more over the idea, before finally relenting. Niles went and selected a yellow freesia, and slipped it into one of the bouquets, before closing up and heading to the tea room. The color wouldn't stand out, and it was placed in just one bouquet out of six, but a flower indicating friendship seemed like a safe start.

Niles had been so anxious that day that Daphne had asked if he was all right. But by four o'clock she hadn't noticed the flower, and Niles relaxed. He realized if she did notice, he could just write it off as a mistake - added by accident.

Today he felt a little bolder when he chose the purple iris, and slipped it discreetly into one of the arrangements.

Daphne entered the kitchen, looking hot, flustered, and and a tad annoyed. She spotted Niles, and gave a strained smile. "Hi, Niles."

"Hello, Daphne. Everything all right?"

She nodded. "Just a busy day. Take a seat, I'll bring you something to drink."

He nodded and stepped out into the tea room. There were people seated all round, clearly enjoying the air conditioning, and Niles had to squeeze himself into a small table near the front. Daphne crossed over and put a tall glass of iced tea in front of him, with a couple of cucumber sandwiches. She disappeared before Niles even had a chance to thank her. He watched quietly as she went about her work greeting customers and serving them. The terseness she had in the kitchen was invisible out here, and if Niles didn't know better, he'd never know anything was wrong.

Niles suddenly was hit with a sinking feeling that she was upset with him. He found himself worrying about that stupid flower that he'd added. He glanced around, and located the one he had placed on Tuesday, on one of the tables. He spent the better part of the next couple of hours trying to focus on his book, but Niles kept worrying he'd done something wrong.

It was nearly 4:30 when Daphne finally got the last customer out the door. She locked it and stood there for a moment. Niles rose.

"Daphne?" Her back was to him, and he couldn't see her face. "Are... are you all right, Daphne?"

She nodded, once, before her shoulders started to shake. Niles rushed over and took her arm, intending to lead her back to his table, when she turned and started crying into his shoulder. He held her, patting her shoulder awkwardly. His face was close to her head, and he could smell the fragrance of her hair. It was a light scent, of vanilla and peaches. Niles felt his breath hitch as Daphne wrapped her arms around him, and unconsciously he pulled her closer.

Niles couldn't say how long they stood like that, but eventually Daphne pulled back. She sniffled, and went to grab a napkin off one of the tables when Niles produced a crisp white handkerchief from his pocket. "Here. Use this."

"Oh. Thank you." Daphne dabbed at her eyes, and blew her nose. She went to give it back, then thought better of it. "Sorry. I'll wash it before I return it."

Niles shook his head. "Keep it. I have dozens." As if to prove this point, he pulled an unopened packet of handkerchiefs from his pocket before tucking it away again.

Daphne nodded, and sat down. "Why do you have so many?"

It was a simple question, but it threw Niles for a minute. He didn't often show people that side of him. "Uh, just- just in case." Instead of sitting down, Niles straightened, and turned towards the kitchen. "Let me get you something to drink."

"Its okay, I can get-"

"No, no. I insist." He looked at Daphne. Her bright brown eyes were damp and red from crying. She stared back at him, then Daphne nodded and broke his gaze, sniffing slightly as she dabbed at her eyes again.

Niles disappeared into the kitchen. He had been in this room often enough to have a rough idea of where things were located, and he quickly had put together some tea. He leaned against the counter for a moment while he waited for the water to boil, and his eyes fell on the flowers he brought today.

Gratitude.

He was grateful for his friendship with Daphne. More than anyone, she had brightened his days considerably.

Niles felt his pocket vibrate, and he pulled out his phone, frowning at the appointment reminder. Sabrina was heading to New York for five days, and Niles was going to give her a lift to the airport this evening. He sent her a quick message.

Something came up at work. I won't be able to drop you off at the airport this evening.

After a second, he added.

I've arranged for a car to pick you up at 6 instead. Have a safe trip.

Niles felt guilty about leaving Sabrina in the lurch like that, but organizing alternate transportation should help,

Water boiled, Niles took the tea out and sat down with Daphne. She'd pulled herself together a bit, and looked a bit brighter. "I'm so sorry, Niles. I didn't mean to cry like that."

He shook his head as he poured them both a cup of Darjeeling. "No need to apologize, Daphne." He waited until she took a sip of her tea, before folding his hands on the table in front of him. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

A small part of him hoped she had broken up with Joe, although another part of him immediately scolded Niles for even hoping that. He didn't want Daphne to be miserable, even if it meant she was happy with someone else.

But if it had already happened...

"I'm just overwhelmed." Daphne was looking at her cup as she spoke. "I have all these bookings for Sunday. I asked Joe if he could help out, but he's away this weekend - back home visiting his mother. For Mother's Day, of course. And I thought I could handle things by myself, so I didn't get any extra help." She sniffled again, and Niles handed her a fresh handkerchief. Daphne took it, smiling gratefully. "But today was so busy, and I could barely keep up with everything with just me, and I suddenly realized I can't handle it by myself. Sunday is going to be a disaster."

Daphne started to cry again. Niles tentatively reached over and placed his hand on top of Daphne's.

"I'll help."

It was the only logical solution, really. Niles told himself that later that evening, when he was home by himself. He'd offered without a second thought. Niles tried to tell himself he wasn't thinking clearly, but even now, several hours later, Niles knew he would have said the same thing, no matter how much time he had to think about it.

It wasn't without a pang of guilt, though. Sabrina had called him later, before boarding her flight. She enquired about the work emergency, and Niles simply told her that he had needed to help someone who was in distress. Sabrina hadn't pried more than that, but Niles felt like he was skirting on the edges of lying. "Lies of omission," he would have told his patients in couples' counselling.

But Niles wasn't his own patient.

Do as I say, not as I do.

He was mulling this all over as he undressed for a shower. He had removed his shirt, and was standing by his bed topless, when he caught her scent. Niles lifted his shirt to his face and inhaled. The sweet, intoxicating fragrance of peaches and vanilla from earlier filled his head, mingling with the slightly sour and musky scent of his own sweat and cologne. Niles fell back onto his bed as he inhaled again, closed his eyes and let his imagination take over.

After, in the shower, he mused over their conversation some more as the cool water played over his body.

Daphne had looked surprised at the offer, as if she didn't think for a moment that Niles would have suggested it.

"Oh, I can't expect you to do that, Niles." She shook her head, her crying now stopped.

"I know, but I want to help." His hand was still resting on hers.

"What about your store? Mother's Day would be a big day for you too." She didn't remove her hand, either.

"I'll keep it closed. It's only potential in store business I'd be missing out on. I can have the online orders ready and gone before you open."

"Don't you have plans with your family?"

Niles shook his head. "Nothing major."

"What about your mother?"

Here, Niles hesitated a second, before responding. "I'll visit her later."

That all seemed to appease Daphne. They spent another hour working out what they needed to do. Niles would return Saturday afternoon, and they would prep what they could. He would then come by Sunday morning, after he was done with everything in his store and help wherever he was needed. Daphne had hugged him again, before Niles left.

Niles laid awake, thinking about the amount of time they would be spending together the next few days. He was determined to make the most of it.