He held the bouquet of roses so tightly in his hand that his wrist began to hurt. His heart thudded in his chest and twice he nearly fainted. What was wrong with him? Why was he so nervous? He had been where he was at that moment, standing in front of Roz's doorstep a thousand times before and he'd never felt the anxiety that he was feeling at that moment.

She was his friend. No, she was more than that. She was his best friend, his coworker and his confidante and, dare he hope that she could be anything more?

It only took a few seconds before he heard her footsteps and then the sound of the door unlocking. Her expression changed the moment she saw him, but it was he who was taken by surprise. Dressed in a faded University of Wisconsin sweatshirt and ratty grey sweatpants, her hair pulled back into a disheveled ponytail, she was a complete mess. And she'd never looked more beautiful.

"Frasier, what are you doing here?" She snapped.

He smiled. "Well, that's a fine way to greet a friend, Roz! Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Oh yeah, right. Sorry." She shrugged and opened the door wider, allowing him to come inside.

"Thank you." He said as he stepped into the apartment.

"You're welcome."

He walked over to the sofa and paused. "Thank you, Roz. I-May I?" He gestured to the sofa and she hurried to pick up a stack of magazines that she'd piled on top of the seat so that he could sit down.

She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry my apartment isn't as neat as a pin as yours."

"It's all right. I appreciate your hospitality."

"Do you want something to drink? I'd offer you some sherry but all I have is beer… Oh, I might have some wine, but…"

"Actually do you have any ice water?"

Roz's eyebrows rose. "Are you serious?"

"Well, unless you'd rather give me a beer. I'm kind of surprised that you even have beer, given the fact that-."

"All right, all right, I get it. Yeah, well, Nick was here a couple of nights ago and-."

Frasier nodded. "Ah…"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, I-Um…"

She disappeared into the kitchen. "Hey, you never answered my question!"

"Which was?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh yes, well… I thought we could talk."

She paused in the doorway and stared at him. "Oh God, Frasier. I'm sorry about that. I don't know what came over me, kissing you the way I did. Kissing you like you were-."

"Like I was what?"

"Nothing."

"Roz-."

"Just forget it ever happened, okay? Here's your ice water." She thrust the glass at him but he dismissed it and sat it down on the coffee table, using the back of a magazine for a coaster.

"Frasier, why are you looking at me like that?"

He rose to his feet and went to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I've been thinking about those kisses…"

"Oh God, please… I'm begging you. Please just forget that it ever happened, all right? I was an idiot!"

"I don't think I can forget it."

"But Frasier-."

He smiled and brushed a fallen lock of hair from her forehead. "I quite enjoyed our spontaneous kisses." He moved to kiss her again but she drew back.

"Wait a minute… what?"

"I said-."

"Yeah, I heard what you said, but-."

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. "I love you, Roz."

"I love you too, Frasier, but-."

He kissed her again and he could tell that she was trying hard to resist him.

"Perhaps I didn't explain myself thoroughly. I'm in love with you."

"What?"

"I'm in love with you, Roz. If it weren't for Niles-."

"Niles? What does he have to do with this? I never-."

"Well, let's just say that my little brother was a great encouragement. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here right now, confessing my love to you."

"Oh, I see… So… I suppose I should thank him?"

"I'm sure he would like-."

She pulled him into her arms and kissed him, much in the same way that she'd kissed him in the studio. But now there were no witnesses; just the two of them, trying unsuccessfully to deny how they felt about each other.

"I have to remember to thank Niles one of these days."

"Yes, you already said that." Frasier noted.

"Hey, you know, there's something I've been meaning to show you… in the bedroom."

He grinned and loosened his tie. She grabbed his hand and led him into the bedroom.

"I can hardly wait to see what you have in store for me, Roz…"

"Believe me Frasier, you won't soon forget it."

She pushed him into the room and they tumbled onto the bed, unable to keep their hands off of one another.

THE END