Minutes later, Niles and Daphne arrived back at Elliot Bay towers. Before getting out of Daphne's car, the two turned to one another, both unable to stop smiling.

Niles reached over and touched Daphne's cheek, unable to believe what he was doing. "Do you know how long I've dreamed of kissing you?"

In response, Daphne leaned over and kissed him again, quickly on the lips. "I'll admit that when I came to your apartment today, I had no idea I'd end up kissing you and finding out that you've been in love with me all this time. It's quite a lot to take in so suddenly."

Niles withdrew his hand from its place on her cheek. "If-if this is too much for you, I totally understand. I would never want you to be uncomfortable, Daphne."

Daphne smiled once more. How lucky was she? Here was this wonderful, sweet man who loved her enough to respect her feelings. "I'm not uncomfortable. I just can't believe this is actually happening."

"Then that makes two of us," Niles replied. "These few moments with you have been wonderful, more than a dream come true."

For a moment, the two were silent. They could do nothing more than gaze at one another in amazement. Gradually, they rememebered what they had come here for. Neither of them wanted to face Martin and Sherry. But they knew they had no other choice. They got out of the car and walked into Frasier's building hand in hand. Whatever they were about to face in apartment 1901, they would face it together. Both would have been afraid to do this alone, but their newfound love gave them a strength they never knew they had.

When they reached the 19th floor, they stepped off the elevator and walked across to Frasier's door. They looked into one another's eyes, then kissed quickly once. "I love you," Niles whispered.

"I love you, too," Daphne said, feeling herself getting lost in Niles' eyes. She was barely able to turn her attention away to open the door.

When she did, she saw that Martin and Sherry were both still there. Martin immediately rose from his seat and walked over to her as quickly as his hip would allow. "Thank God you came back! When you ran out of here, I was so worried!"

"You were?" Daphne asked in disbelief.

"Of course we were!" Martin said. "Right, Sherry?"

Sherry scoffed. "I still don't know why you left anyway. Honey, if you can't take a little honest criticism -"

Suddenly, Niles spoke up. "You have no right to criticize Daphne. She was only trying to do her job, which is to look after Dad's health."

"But does her job have to interfere with Marty having fun?" Sherry asked.

"Sherry, I think Niles is right," Martin said. "Daphne's a member of this family, and I care about her an awful lot. I don't know what posessed me to let you say those things to her earlier. I guess I was just in shock." He turned to Daphne and took her hand. "Can you forgive me?"

Daphne knew how hard this was for him, admitting that he was wrong. With tears in her eyes, she threw her arms around him. "Of course I will, old man."

Sherry watched the two hug. "I care about your health, too, Marty. I just think maybe you've earned the right to have a little fun once in a while."

Martin pulled out of Daphne's embrace and turned around to Sherry. "I like you a lot. It's nice to have somebody to go out with for a beer, or maybe watch a football game down at McGinty's. But I've also got a family, and if you can't understand that, then maybe we shouldn't see each other anymore."

Sherry stood there for a moment, speechless. She quickly realized no one in the room really wanted her here. Realizing there was nothing she could say to change the situation, she simply let out a defeated sigh and walked across the room. "I guess I'll see you around, Marty." With that, she walked out of Frasier's apartment.

"Thank you for standing up for me, Mr. Crane," Daphne said. She hugged him quickly one more time.

"Anytime, Daph. I guess...I just didn't know what to think when she started in on you like that. I wanted to go after you, but Sherry told me to let you go. I was so worried, thinking something might've happened to you. Where'd you go, anyway?"

Niles and Daphne exchanged a glance. Martin watched them in confusion.

"Dad?" Niles spoke up. "When Daphne came to my apartment earlier, she was terribly upset. And of course I wanted to do anything I could to help her." Niles looked over at Daphne, sighing at the sight of her.

Martin continued to stare in surprise at the two of them. "Son, what are you trying to tell me?" he finally asked. His cop's instincts told him something had changed between the two of them, but he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.

Seeing Martin's confusion, Daphne spoke up. "Your son told me that he loves me," she explained simply. "It's the most wonderful surprise I've ever had."

Immediately, Martin reached over and shook his younger son's hand. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Dad," Niles replied. He couldn't remember the last time his father had said those words to him. Their relationship might never be perfect, but Niles had a feeling something had just changed for the better. The thought made him suddenly feel hopeful about the future. After so many years of dark, endless loneliness with Maris, Niles was beginning to see some light coming back into his world again. He didn't have to think hard to find the reason for his newfound happiness. It was the same reason he'd always known it would be: Because Daphne was in his life. For good.

The End