Martin answered the door in a suit.

"Dad… Wow, you look great. I'm afraid… I'm afraid I'm a little underdressed this evening."

"Nah, Fras is taking out to some damn opera."

"Opera? Der Freischutz! I came on the wrong night."

"Not at all Niles," Frasier said as he came in from the balcony. He was wearing a tux. "I've been helping Daphne with dinner. Come in. It will be ready in just a moment."

Niles had to pick his jaw up off the floor. He stepped inside and leaned toward his brother. "Frasier, what is going on here?" His eyes scanned the room and Daphne was nowhere in sight.

Daphne then walked out from her bedroom. She was in a beautiful off while blouse and slacks. "Hello Dr. Crane."

"Hello Daphne. I feel a little underdressed."

"You look just fine."

Frasier hugged his brother, which gave him the chance to whisper, "Friendship dinner for two."

Thank God for his brother. It had almost appeared to be a dinner date.

"Well," Frasier announced. "We're heading out. You two have a wonderful evening." With that he and Martin left them… alone.

"Thank you for inviting me over for dinner. It was a very welcomed sur…"

"I missed you," she blurted out.

Niles just stood there in disbelieve for several moments. An uncontrollable smile crossed is face and all of the fears and tensions left his body at that moment. He felt this completely comfortable warmth growing inside him as if he had just had a double-cappuccino on a cold winter's morning. "I've missed you too, Daphne."

"Your brotha said he was taking your fatha out this evening and I was wondering how lovely it would be to have dinner with you… alone."

"Alone?" Niles asked light-heartedly.

"We've been friends for years." A tear made its way down her cheek. "You've always been kind to me and have always treated me with respect. I just wanted you to know how much I trust you." She began a full-out cry. She was blubbering. "I miss me friend."

Niles went over to comfort her and she hugged back.

"It's okay Daphne. We'll always have our friendship. No matter what."

"Thank you Doctor Crane."

He handed his handkerchief for her to dry her tears.

She added, "You've always been so kind."

"My pleasure Daphne."

She dried her tears and regained her composure. "Dinna will be out on the balcony tonight. It's such a beautiful night."

Niles nodded. "Sounds wonderful."

"Let me fetch the wine. Doctor Crane picked it out. He said that you'd like it."

"I'm sure I will. Here, let me help you."

They went into the kitchen where the wine bottle rested on the kitchen island along with two glasses. He took up the bottle while she took the glasses. He politely gestured and she led the way out to the balcony where dinner was set out on plates with catering covers. The wine bottle opener was even carefully placed in the center of the table at a diagonal between the plates.

He placed the wine down and then pulled out her chair for her before he opened the wine and poured for them. They sat and ate.

"This is a gorgeous view, isn't it?" she asked.

"It most certainly is."

"And a beautiful night."

"I'll say. And Daphne, this dinner is wonderful."

"It's mostly your brotha's doing. He did all of the cooking. I just did some prep work."

"Well, you both did an outstanding job."

"Well, thank you."

"You're more than welcome."

"Doctor Crane. Have you ever had a dream…"

"Tell me Daphne. I am great at dream analyzation. I enjoy it so."

"Have you ever dreamt that no matter what happens to you in the dream, that nothing can hurt you?"

"Oh, why yes. That type of dream is not so uncommon. Although this type of dream is more popular with boys than girls…"

"Well, that's the way I always feel when I'm around you." Her voice was quivering.

He looked up from his plate and saw that a tear had made its way down her face. Her lower lip was trembling.

"Oh Daphne." He stood to hold her.

She stood to embrace it.

They hugged as friends, but Daphne held onto him for the longest time. They stood there in the incandescent moon light on the balcony of the nineteenth floor, holding each other. Just as plain as the moon in the sky, there was an unbreakable bond between two souls that night.

~ fin ~