The door opened suddenly startling them apart and they looked up to find Martin standing in the foyer.

"Niles? What are you doing here?"

"Oh... Dad..."

"Hello, Mr. Crane."

"Daphne, I figured you'd be in bed. How was your dinner with Donny?"

Daphne and Niles exchanged a look, causing Martin to become even more confused.

"What's going on?"

"I think you two have a few things to talk about." Daphne said. "I'll just be in me room."

She squeezed Niles hand and smiled, holding on until only their fingertips touched and then let her hand fall to her side.

"I love you." She mouthed as she walked into the hallway and blew him a kiss.

"What in the hell was that about?" Martin asked.

"It's a long story." Niles said; a dreamy smile on his face. "But I think we need to talk."

Martin sighed. "You're right, Son. Look. I realize that I overreacted when you told me that you were worried about me. And I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to think that I couldn't take care of myself."

"I would never think that, Dad."

"Well, I started thinking about it, and I realized that it must have been scary as hell for you kids, knowing that I was going out there where people had been killed and not having a clue what I was really doing."

"Well, just because I'm an adult now doesn't mean I don't still worry about you." Niles said. "And I'm going to keep worrying about you for a long time to come. So get used to it."

Hearing the quivering in his son's voice, Martin smiled. "Come here, Niles."

They hugged for a long time, Niles resting his cheek against Martin's plaid shirt.

"I love you, Dad."

"I love you, too Niles. Now, if I'm not mistaken, Daphne's waiting for you to watch some sappy movie with her, so I'm going to bed. I'm beat."

Niles drew back and looked at Martin in astonishment. "B-but how..."

"I was a detective, remember? And a damn good one!"

"Good night, Dad."

"Goodnight, Son."

When Martin was gone, Daphne walked back into the living room brushing the tears from her cheeks. Always the gentleman, Niles reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Oh my angel. I'm so sorry. You're upset over Donny aren't you? I know it'll be hard to tell him that you can't marry him but I'll be right-."

She walked toward Niles and kissed him, smiling when he brushed away a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

"I'm not crying about Donny. I just..."

"What?"

"I've never been quite so happy in me life."

He kissed her again. "That makes two of us. Now why don't we go and watch that movie?"

They joined hands and curled up on the sofa, watching the movie flicker to life on the DVD. But the first scene had barely started when they both drifted off to sleep in each other's arms, knowing that what they had was better than any romantic movie could ever be.

THE END