The Moon Dances and the Tide Changes

Chapter Nine

…

Author's Note:

This is the final chapter of the story. If you've made it this far, I hope that you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This experience has been so wonderful for me. It has truly opened my eyes to how much I enjoy writing. Please feel free to leave a comment and any constructive criticism because I would love to be able to grow and develop my writing as much as possible!

Also, I just realized that I never put a disclaimer in the A/N of the first chapter so I'm going to put one here.

***Disclaimer*** I do not own any of the characters or dialog from the series 'Frasier'. All rights belong to the creators and producers of the show.

…

As she pulled up in front of the Montana, her heart was beating so wildly that she could hear it in her ears and feel it in her fingertips. Her certainty in her decision did not make it any less terrifying. She got out of her car and walked onto the sidewalk and through the doors. Much like it had been earlier that evening at the apartment, she suddenly realized that she was standing in front of his door with no real recollection of how she got there. She took a moment to steady herself and she decided that she would try her very best not to cry. She knew that no matter how much she had hurt him, the second he saw her upset in anyway, he would try to comfort her and she wanted to be the one to comfort him this time.

She took a deep breath and rang the bell. After a few seconds she heard some movement inside and as it got louder she realized that he was coming to the door. When the door opened and she saw him standing on the other side, the first thing that she registered was the look of shock on his face. The second thing she registered were his red rimmed eyes and just like that, her plan to not cry flew out the window.

"Oh, Dr. Crane! I'm so sorry," she cried.

"Daphne! What's the matter? Please come inside," he said as he reached out to her and guided her into his apartment and onto his fainting couch.

As she continued to cry, his panic increased and when he could no longer take it he implored her to talk to him.

"Daphne, please tell me what the problem is and I will try my best to help you."

She cried harder.

"Have I done something to upset you? Please tell me what it is that is bothering you? Is someone hurt? Is it dad? Or Frasier?"

Sensing that he was about to go into a full blown panic attack, she swallowed her tears and replied, "I'm so sorry, Dr. Crane. Everyone is fine. I didn't mean to scare you like that. I can't imagine what you must think of me; showing up on your doorstep in the middle of the night crying like a lunatic and not saying a word to you."

"It's quite alright, Daphne. Just as long as I know you're okay. But something is clearly the matter. Please tell me what it is."

His voice was so soothing and gentle. It was the voice he almost always used when addressing her. It sent shivers down her spine and gave her goosebumps. He reached out and placed his hand on top of hers. The contact took her breath away and she lost the ability to think. He must have seen or felt the goosebumps because the next thing she knew he was asking if she was chilly and wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. He was so kind that it brought tears to her eyes again. She watched him as he sat back down next to her and when he was fully seated, their eyes met. They stayed that way for what seemed like an eternity.

Finally she realized that he must be curious as to why she had shown up at his home in the middle of the night and she resolved get on with what she had come here to do. She took a deep breath and began.

"Dr. Crane. I have to tell you something. It's something very important and I need you to let me get through it without any interruptions because I'm afraid I might lose me nerve at any moment. Okay?"

He nodded and said, "Okay, Daphne. Whatever you need."

"I'm not sure where to start really. I guess there's no real way to ease into this so here it is: I know about your feelings for me. I have known for quite some time. I've seen the way you look at me and I've taken note of all of the compliments and kind words you've paid me over the years. I just pretended not to notice because it made things less complicated for everyone. There's no way it could end in anything other than heartbreak…"

"Daphne," he interjected, "I know I said I wouldn't interrupt but I see what you're getting at and I don't want to make it anymore awkward for you than I already have. I apologize from the bottom of my heart if I've ever made you feel uncomfortable in anyway. I had no idea that you were aware of my feelings but I completely understand that you don't share them. I promise you that I would never act on them or intentionally make you feel uncomfortable and I truly hope that we can still be friends because your friendship means more to me than anything…"

Her mind was playing catch up but as soon as she was able to comprehend what he had said, she interrupted him mid-sentence. "Dr. Crane. You don't understand. I'm so sorry I'm not explaining this well," she paused and then looked him straight in the eye before she continued. "You have never for one second made me feel uncomfortable. I've cherished every word that you've ever spoken to me. You are so kind and thoughtful and you make me feel like the most special person in the world. You are truly the most wonderful man that I've ever known. You see, it's not that I don't share your feelings. It's that I wouldn't allow myself to even entertain the thought. You and I are two very different people with two very different lives. You and your friends are so sophisticated, and cultured, and educated and I'm just a physical therapist from a poor family in England. It would never work."

"Daphne! You stop that this instant," he said. He almost sounded as if he were scolding her and it took her back a bit. "Do not ever put yourself down like that. You are so much more than that. You are kind, and compassionate, and loving, and strong, and smart, and none of those sophisticated, cultured, educated ninnies – myself included – could match even an nth of the beauty that you possess in your heart. You're an incredible person, Daphne. The most incredible person that I have ever known."

The sincerity with which he spoke to her – about her – touched her deeply. "Dr. Crane," she began with an unsteady voice, full of emotion.

"Wait," he said, "I need to know, Daphne. Are you telling me that you share my feelings?"

She couldn't lie to him. She didn't want to lie to him. She had come here to tell him the truth and so she did. "Yes," she replied, "I do."

He took a deep breath and she felt an urgency to tell him the rest of what she needed to before he got his hopes up any higher.

"Niles."

The use of his first name got his attention and he looked right at her.

"Niles," she repeated, "I do have feelings for you but it doesn't change the fact that I know this will never work. We are too different."

A look of desperation overtook his face for just a moment before it was replaced with one of determination. "Daphne, did you mean what you said to me tonight at the ball? That you adored me and that you didn't want the night to end? That it was the best night of your life?"

"Yes," she replied a bit hesitantly and on the verge of crying, "I meant it."

"And did you feel it?"

"Feel what," she looked down at the ground as she answered, the tears dangerously close to spilling out now.

He placed two fingers under her chin and brought her face back up so that they could look into one another's eyes. "You felt it when we kissed, too. Didn't you?"

The memory of that kiss invaded her mind and sent tingles through her whole body. Despite her best efforts, the tears fell. As she looked into his eyes all she could do was nod her head.

"Okay, then all the differences in the world don't matter. I believe this will work despite those differences because I love you, Daphne. I have loved you from the minute I laid eyes on you. Doesn't that tell you something? Before I knew your name or what you did or where you were from or any differences that we could have possibly had, I fell head over heels, deeply and madly in love with you. And when I learned your name, I thought it was the most beautiful name in the world and I fell a little more in love with you. And when I learned what you did, I thought it was wonderful how you helped people and I fell a little more in love with you. And when I learned where you were from, I thought it was incredible how brave you were to have moved to a new country all by yourself to start a new life and I fell a little more in love with you. Everything I learn about you, Daphne, I fall a little more in love with you. That will never change. If you are willing to give us a chance then so am I because I believe that this will work."

He looked at her with hopeful eyes and as she looked through her tears, she saw the face of the man that she loved. The face of the man that she couldn't live without and in that instant she knew with the same certainty he did that it would work.

"I love you so much, Niles Crane."

Before he even knew what was happening, she was kissing him. As soon as their lips touched they felt the same feeling that they had earlier that night at the Snow Ball, but this time it grew and intensified until it was almost unbearable. When they both felt they couldn't take it anymore they broke apart for oxygen but they soon realized that as intense as the feeling was, the need to feel it again was even more so. They reached out for one another and wrapped their arms around each other so tightly that they were practically one. Their lips met again and it was just as intense as it had been before. As they broke apart to catch their breath the second time, they looked at one another. Niles reached up and tucked Daphne's hair behind her ear. Daphne reached up and placed her hand over his. They stared into each other's eyes and they both understood in that moment that there was no going back.

Niles spoke first, "I love you so much, Daphne."

"I love you, too, Niles."

Daphne's hand was still placed overtop of Niles'. She brought both their hands down to her lap and then laced her finger though his. She stood up and pulled him up alongside her. She led him up the stairs and down the hallway to his bedroom. He followed silently, almost in amazement, and certainly in fear that if he spoke or made a wrong move, he would awaken from this blissful dream that he was having. The hand that was not intertwined with his reached for the doorknob and he laid his free hand on top of hers. When she turned back to look at him, he asked,

"Are you sure, my love?"

She pulled both hands out of his and placed one on either side of his face.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," she replied, "I love you."

And she meant it. She was sure of everything now. She was meant to be with Niles and it was going to work.