A/N: I've always loved the scene in "Dark Side of the Moon" where Daphne comes to Niles' apartment and is so clearly hoping that he'll (finally!) tell her how he feels about her. The tension before the engagement party was so believable and I think the whole episode, especially this scene, was one of Jane Leeves' best performances. I decided to write out my vision of how things might have gone if the episode had ended differently.


It took all of Daphne's concentration to focus on the road and not on Niles Crane's unusual request. He wanted her over specifically to make...sticky toffee pudding? Only when she had pulled into guest parking at the Montana did she take a moment to collect her thoughts. Why did Niles want to spend a Saturday night making a dessert with someone who was just a friend, instead of taking his long-term girlfriend on a date?

Maybe he wants to make it as a surprise for Mel, Daphne mused briefly, but then pushed the thought aside. Mel would be furious if Niles made her such a decadent dessert, if her atrocious behavior at the brunch where Daphne (and Martin, Frasier, and Roz) had first met her. Daphne bristled at the memory of Mel taking over the cooking, acting as if the food Frasier had so carefully prepared was poison. And it had only gotten worse from there, descending into the "brunch from Hell" as Martin had so wisely put it. What did Niles see in that woman, anyway?

"Maybe Mel's out of town and just wanted a distraction," Daphne reasoned to herself as she exited the car and made her way to the door of the fancy apartment complex.

The doorman recognized her and waved her toward the elevator.

"Go right on up. Dr. Crane's been expecting you."

Daphne's nerves increased as she stepped into the elevator. By the time she reached Niles' apartment, her hands were shaking and she fumbled to keep a grip on the bag of ingredients she had brought with her.

Breathe, Daphne, she coached herself. There's nothing to be nervous about. All you're doing is teaching Dr. Crane that silly recipe. You're just doing a friend a favor. It's not like he's going to admit that he loves you or-

Daphne stopped dead in her tracks just outside of Niles' door, the unexpected thought freezing her in place. The bag dropped, unheeded, from her hands. It was happening again. Ever since Frasier's accidental revelation, she couldn't stop thinking about Niles-or the signs she'd dismissed over the years. Maybe she had always known, deep inside, about Niles' feelings, but not dared to let herself believe. Now that Frasier had all but confirmed it, however, Daphne couldn't get Niles Crane out of her mind-or dreams. Unfortunately, this also came with a feeling of guilt. She was engaged and Niles was with Mel. Surely it was too late. She shook herself out of her thoughts. It was seven o'clock, the time that Niles was expecting her.

Daphne smoothed her hair back and then inspected the flattering maroon dress she'd selected for the occasion. A bit much for an evening of baking, but Daphne had felt compelled to wear it. Something about the eagerness in Niles' voice had made her want to wear something that would catch his eye.

Stop stalling, Daphne.

Retrieving the bag of ingredients, she rang the doorbell.

"Hello, Daphne," Niles said warmly in greeting as he opened the door. His eyes lingered on her, and he smiled broadly

"You look incredible!"

Daphne ducked her head so he wouldn't see her blushing.

"Thank you, Dr. Crane. That's very sweet."

"Where are my manners?" Niles said. "Here I am, making you stand in the hall. Come in and I'll get you something to drink."

As he closed the door behind him, his gaze fell on the bag in Daphne's hands.

"Been shopping, have you?" he asked idly.

Daphne looked at him, surprised.

"These are the ingredients for the sticky toffee pudding. That is why you asked me to come over, right?" she asked, baffled.

"Oh. Right..."

"That really isn't why you asked me over here, was it?" Daphne said slyly.

"Was it that obvious?"

"Well, a man doesn't just ask a woman to teach him how to make dessert on a Saturday night…"

"Okay, I'll admit that wasn't the best plan," Niles said. "No, I asked you here because I have something to tell you that needs to be said in person."

He poured them two glasses of champagne from a decanter on a nearby table and indicated toward the fainting couch.

"It's probably best that we're both sitting down for this…"

There was a slight tremor in Niles' voice, and he settled onto the fainting couch a little unsteadily. Daphne suddenly felt apprehensive. He was being oddly distant and reserved; he wasn't even looking at her. Maybe it was bad news and he was trying to break it to her gently. Oh, why wouldn't he speak?

Suddenly, like a ray of light breaking through a cloud, she felt Niles' hand skim lightly over her arm, so tenderly that warmth flowed through her body and the tension melted away. Her skin tingled where Niles had touched her, and when he took her hand in his and squeezed gently, she dared to look at him again. Now he met her gaze, and the look in his crystal blue eyes made her heart race. He was looking at her lovingly, adoringly, like no man ever had-not even Donny.

But Daphne wasn't thinking of her fiance or anything else outside of this moment with Niles. A secret hope she'd been repressing out of fear and guilt started to blossom again, but this time, she did not chide herself.

"Daphne?" Niles ventured.

"Yes?" Daphne returned, hoping she didn't sound as nervous as she felt.

"You have beautiful eyes. They're so warm, so deep…"

Then Niles took a deep breath.

"Daphne, the reason I had you come over tonight was because I have something to tell you-something I should've said a long time ago. And if I don't say it now, I may never have another chance. Daphne Moon, I love you. I'm in love with you."

Daphne wasn't sure how to respond to this. She had hoped for this, even if it had taken until just now to admit it to herself, but she hadn't quite dared to dream that it would actually happen.

"You're what?" was all she could manage to say.


(Niles' POV)

Niles couldn't believe it. He'd finally told Daphne what he'd been holding in for too long. He knew it was terrible timing; Daphne was weeks away from her wedding and he was with Mel. But too often lately he thought of Daphne, even when he and Mel were together. Just the other night, as Mel had kissed him goodbye after they'd celebrated her latest article in the New England Journal of Medicine, he'd found himself thinking of how very different Mel's and Daphne's eyes were. Mel's were a keen, dark brown, always shrewd and calculating, even in their affectionate moments, but Daphne's eyes were such a warm, deep brown, the kind of eyes he would readily get lost in. And now she was looking at him with curiosity and-dared he hoped-interest?

"I know this is really bad timing, but hear me out. Just once. Please?"

"Niles, you can say anything you want," Daphne said, an eager note in her voice startling him.

And so he told her of the love he'd carried for her all those years, and when he finished, Daphne was looking at him incredulously.

"You really do mean it, don't you?" she asked.

"Every word, Daphne. I love you so much."

Now that the confession was over, Niles felt he could breathe again. The first thing he did was to gently brush a stray lock of hair away from Daphne's face. And then, daringly, he delicately touched the soft skin of her cheek, stunned when she leaned in a little closer, receptive to his touch.

"What do you think of me now, Daphne?"

"I think…" Daphne said, "I'm willing to take a chance on you."

"Are-are you sure? You have Donny, and-"

"I know, Niles. But I think I've always wanted a chance with you, but never allowed myself to think that way-not when we're so different. But hearing you tell me you love me? I want to take a risk."

"It won't be easy," Niles warned. "We have Donny and Mel to contend with, and it could get very messy."

"I don't care, Niles," Daphne said; hearing her use his first name thrilled him. "It'll be a lot of work, but I want to take that risk."

She smiled tenderly, making Niles feel unbelievably happy.

"I-I don't believe it. I feel like I'm dreaming," he said in disbelief.

Daphne closed the gap between them and gave him a sweet, lingering kiss full of emotion.

"Believe me, Niles Crane, this isn't a dream."

THE END