A/N: For Dustinw522 with thanks for suggesting this and other forthcoming stories

When the elevator doors opened revealing his brother's front door, Niles felt a relief unlike any that he had ever known. In mere minutes, the wonderful, blissful and ultimately depressing evening would finally come to an end.

His heart was pounding in his chest and it was all because of the woman standing beside him; the welcome scent of her intoxicating perfume lingering in the air. She was stunningly beautiful, but it was nothing new. Everything she wore; even faded t-shirts and sweatpants-made her look like an angel. But now, in the red dress with the slit in the side that revealed her incredibly sexy leg and enhanced her perfect body, she was absolutely breathtaking.

It was then that he noticed that his hand was in hers and he wondered how he hadn't taken note of the moment that their fingers had touched. For such a moment would have been one that he would have cherished for the rest of his life. He'd wanted so much just to reach for her hand at any given moment, and yet she was the one who made that dream come true.

But in one fleeting moment at the Snow Ball, everything changed.

He couldn't believe that she'd actually offered to be his date when Margarie Nash, Marjorie Nash (the "Fruit On The Bottom" yogurt heiress whom he'd met at the Frye Art Museum) had unexpectedly canceled on him at the last minute. And it was even more amazing that before he'd found himself without a date, Daphne had gone out of her way to prepare him for the evening, taking time out of her busy schedule to teach him to dance. Those weeks of being in her arms day after day were something he'd never forget. He could hardly wait until the event that he was certain woudl change his life.

And change his life it did.

The evening had begun magnificently. They'd tangoed, waltzed, fox-trotted and sambaed their way across the dance floor. And all in front of Maris' so-called friends. He and Daphne were the envy of everyone in attendance and suddenly he was able to muster his courage and what better occasion to muster his courage and reveal what he'd kept locked in his heart for so long? His lonely heart was racing as he looked into her beautiful chocolate brown eyes and confessed that it was the most glorious night of his life. He'd barely heard her response but he'd definitely felt it. Slowly their faces moved toward each other and their lips began to touch. He was absolutely stunned. She had kissed him.

Daphne Moon had kissed him.

The feeling of her lips against his (those lips that were softer than anything he could have imagined; oh, how he longed to taste their sweetness one more) was the most incredible sensation imaginable. Finally after all of this time, he'd made his feelings known.

"You're an angel, you're a goddess, I adore you!" He could hardly believe that the words had come from his mouth, but even more unbelievable was the fact that she had said the words in return. It could only mean one thing; that she loved him too; how was it possible?

It was like a dream come true; a dream that quickly turned into a nightmare.