The whole Crane family was visibly upset, not just for Daphne's loss, but for her absence as well. Frasier had said it once, and perhaps best, that her pretense could be felt in a million little ways in their family. From the way she continued to look after Martin long after transferring from his physical therapist to his daughter in law, to how she put her heart into taking care of her marriage, her son, her family and friends- yes, it was going to be long two weeks indeed.

Sadly, tragedy had struck, and Daphne had to go to Manchester for her father had passed away unexpectedly. Of course, Nile knew that four year old David was too young to handle such a heavy occasion, not to mention the long flight out of the country. Frasier concurred with Niles that it was in David's best interest to maintain a sense of routine back at the home he shared with his son and wife.

That didn't make Niles miss Daphne any less.

One day Niles went into David's bedroom, and found his son had borrowed his mother's TV, how David got the little box into his room, he had no idea. But David, to Niles' chagrin, had discovered a little show called Peppa the Pig. Niles could not stand the idea of his son watching TV.

"David, son, why don't we go to the kitchen and fix us a little.."

"No!" David screamed. "I want Peppa!"

Niles was clearly taken aback, as David had never, ever talked back to him before, let alone scream. So he tried a different approach. "David, we don't really like television, do we? We could read, or Daddy can teach you to play the piano..."

"No!" David screamed again. "I want Peppa!"

"David, I love you, but you cannot talk to your father this way. I am sure you will understand one day, but I have to take this TV back into my room. You're too young to be glued to this anyways. You should be reading, learning, anything but.."

and with all the animosity a four year old could muster, David screamed at Niles. "I hate you! You're not my daddy anymore!"

And David ran off, slamming his door behind him, leaving a very vulnerable and lonely Niles even more heartbroken than he thought would be possible.

A few hours later, Frasier and Niles were sitting at their usual table at Cafe Nervosa (Frasier had long since parted ways with both Charlotte and Chicago) and Niles filled his oldest brother in on what had happened, after he had dropped David off at Martin and Ronee's for the evening.

"Well," Frasier chuckled. "There were times when we both got mad at our father, and we let him have a piece of our minds when we were youngsters..."

"Yes," Niles protested. "But we did it in French! He had no idea what we were saying.."

Frasier smiled patiently. "I'm sure he got the gist of our messages. My point is, David is, as you, a very professional psychiatrist knows, is a child, and children go through stages. He's simply asserting his newfound voice, so to speak. He's learning how to assert himself. It's your role, as I don't need to remind you, to guide him into helping him find his voice- in the proper fashion, of course."

"You're right," Niles sighed. "I just never...we both know what we went through as children. How cruel the taunts of our schoolmates could be. Until I met Daphne, I had no idea a truly compassionate person without a trace of cruelty existed. It was hard enough, being taunted, mocked, shamed and bullied by our peers. Never would I imagine the cruelest words in the English language could come from my own four year old son."

Frasier patted Niles' hand. "I'm sorry to watch you go through this. I missed out on much of Freddie's formative years, but he still..." and then he chuckled. "Remember when he came to visit, and he was styled in what they called...goth fashion? Makeup, and such? "

"How could I forget?" Niles sighed. "It was the same week I got our father high on marijuana."

And the brothers shared a brief laugh over the memory.

And Frasier continued. "But you see, Niles. Yes, Freddie was a bit older, considerably so, than David is now. But he went through a phase, and he had to figure out his lot in life, even learning some hard lessons on his way to becoming a young man. I know its hard for you to discipline David...you did give him consequences, didn't you?"

Niles nodded. "Of course. I told Dad to not give him any treats, and absolutely no television."

"Good. I know it's hard, but he needs boundaries. If David finds a way to manipulate you now, you're in for the longest next 14 years of your life. Go get your son, read him a story, remind him that you love him and always will. But he cannot talk to you that way. He must be respectful of his parents, in order to ensure he will grow up into a mature, healthy functioning member of society."

"Frasier...I can't possibly thank you enough..." Niles tried to find the right words, but none were forthcoming.

"You don't have to thank me. After all, what are brothers for?" Frasier smiled, and Niles lifted his glass of coffee and smiled and nodded at his brother.

00000

"Dad! I thought I asked you not to allow David to watch television.." Niles winced as he arrived to pick up his son.

"Ronee, can you take David to the spare room and help him gather his stuff?" Martin yelled out. "Oh, and bring me a beer, will ya?"

When Ronee and David left the room, Martin turned to Niles. "What's the big deal..its only TV!:

"You would see it that way," Niles huffed. "But Dad.."

"Don't 'dad' me. You ever tried watching that Peppa the pig show?"

"Hardly, Dad, and I would think...why, what do you know about it?"

"One of Duke's grandkids likes the show. I called him, and then I learned something. And there was no way in hell I was going to tell my grandson that he could not watch the show. Want to know why? Grab me the DVD remote, will ya?" Martin continued.

It took Niles a minute or two, but Martin's point became very clear. Peppa, the female character on the cartoon, was most decidedly British. Her accent clearly gave that tidbit of information away.

Niles sank to the couch, his hand covering his mouth. "Daphne.." he choked up.

"You see..he wants this show...it reminds him of his mother. She speaks like Daphne. Daphne's away and this is the next best thing to this little boy...if he can't hear his mother's voice can't you at least let him have the comfort of hearing a character who sounds like his mother?"

Niles was ashen. "How could I not...why didn't I see this...how could I?"

Martin stood up and put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Niles...you miss Daphne. We all do. Lord knows you have loved that woman since the day you set eyes on her. Hell, you visited Fraser's condo more than I did, and I lived there!"

They shared a bittersweet smile, thinking of all the memories from the old condo.

"Niles...once you have kids, its no longer about you. Of course you're lost, missing your wife. But there is a little kid in the other room who misses his mommy. I know its hard on you, but you got to find a way to help David...he can't articulate with big fancy words his feelings...its your job to set aside your own feelings to help him figure out how to deal with his."

Niles looked at his dad. "I'm ...you're right. You are absolutely right."

"Damn straight I am!" Martin chuckled. "And you and Frasier thought you were the only geniuses in the family!"

Niles laughed. "Dad!"

"Okay, go home, and be with your son. That's your most important job now."

"Thank you, Dad."

Martin waved him on, and before too long Niles was home with David.

David not only got to go to sleep in the bed that his daddy shared with his mommy, but they both fell asleep watching Peppa the Pig. Niles wasn't sure what to say..he had a lot to process.

But that night, David fell asleep soundly in his father's arms.

Where he slept for the next few weeks until Daphne returned.

And they watched Peppa the Pig every night before bed, and both dreamed of the minute they would see Daphne's face, hear her sweet voice again.

It wasn't too bad for Niles...he had the most precious gift of all from Daphne, even when she wasn't there physically.

She had borne him their son, and what a son he was.

Daphne's love was just the gift that kept on giving.

The end