"I know you are wondering why I asked the lot of you to come up here," Frasier said as he ushered Martin, Ronee, Niles, and Daphne (who was holding baby David) into his old apartment at Elliot Bay towers.

He felt oddly nervous about how his family would react, despite Roz's attempts to reassure him. On further reflection, he knew that] Daphne and Ronee weren't as much of a worry, but experience had taught Frasier that Martin and Niles could be overly frank with their opinions on his relationships.

"Your apartment doesn't look the same without my chair," Martin observed humorously, temporarily distracting Frasier from his pensive mood.

"Indeed. It looks better," Frasier kidded.

"Oh, you two," Ronee said, laughing. "Martin, I really missed the banter between you and Frasier. But enough of that, for now. What is the reason behind this mysterious summons?"

"Last night…Roz and I went to the opera and out to dinner," Frasier babbled nervously.

"Roz? At the opera?" Niles said with a grin. "That's unbelievable! But I have a feeling that's not why you called us here. Would you care to explain before sundown?"

"Erm…" Frasier said slowly. "Well…"

"Oh, for God's sake, you ninny. If you won't get to the point, I will," Roz said, shaking her head in good-natured frustration. "We went to dinner after, and Frasier asked me to marry him. I accepted."

With a smile that was almost shy, she turned her hand so the light pouring through the windows caught the sheen of the silver and pearls of her ring.

There was a stunned pause, and Daphne was the first to react. After putting David into Niles's arms, she rushed forward and gave her best friend a crushing hug.

"You and Frasier? I can't believe it! I've never been so surprised in me life! I'm so happy for you!"

"Even Daphne didn't see that coming," Frasier joked in a nod to her psychic visions.

Martin went to his son and his future daughter-in-law as quickly as he could. He was smiling broadly—and were those tears in the eyes of the gruff but loving Martin Crane?

"I always wanted you crazy kids to get together," Martin said with a catch in his voice. He was smiling like a child on Christmas morning. "I gave up all hope when Frasier went chasing that Charlotte woman halfway across the country. Both of you made some boneheaded decisions in your love lives but you've made the right choice. Finally."

Ronee stepped forward and gave Frasier's and Roz's hands a tight squeeze. Both hugged her in return. Ronee had not been in the family for long, but everyone felt as if they'd known her forever. Her approval meant so much to Frasier and Roz.

One person, however, was not moving or speaking; instead, he was frozen in place, wearing a shell-shocked expression that seemed better suited for the end of the world. He wasn't even paying attention to David, who was crying at the top of his lungs.

Rolling her eyes in mock exasperation, Roz strode over to Niles and gently took the baby from him.

"Come with your Aunt Roz," she said soothingly. She flashed a mischievous smile at Niles. "Your daddy appears to be in shock."

David stopped crying immediately when Roz comforted him, for she was using the same methods she had used to soothe Alice back in Alice's infancy. Niles, still very new to parenthood, looked slightly put out that Roz was better at placating his son than he was.

"Oh, don't look so cross," Roz said, laughing. "You're a good dad. I've just had more experience."

Niles laughed, and the tension dissolved.

"Roz," he began hesitantly, "it's no secret we didn't get along at first, but…congratulations. I've never seen Frasier so happy, and you're going to be a great sister-in-law."

Roz shifted David on her hip, allowing her to use her free arm to give Niles an unexpected hug.

"You big doily," she teased. "I guess I should apologize for thinking you and Daphne took too long to get together. Seven years versus nearly a dozen?"

The room erupted in laughter as Niles and Roz rejoined the happy group.

Upon a very sentimental Daphne's demand, Roz related the story of the night before. Daphne, of course, was very emotional by the end of Roz's account, but their attention turned to Martin, who was sniffling very suspiciously.

"Oh, I think the love of my life is actually showing emotion!" Ronee exclaimed proudly. "He's so happy that he's almost crying!"

"I—sniff—am not—sniff—crying!" Martin protested feebly.

"There's no need to be ashamed of your feelings, Dad," Frasier said in the professional but empathetic voice he used with his callers. "You've been afraid of showing emotion all your life. Times have changed—for the better. It is no longer considered shameful for men to express how they feel."

Martin ignored that remark and changed the subject.

"Why don't we all go out to dinner tonight? My treat, to celebrate these morons who should have gotten together years ago."

"Sounds great!" Roz said. "We'll call you later to make arrangements. Right now, we must pick Alice up from school. We have a very important announcement for her."

Roz and Frasier gave each other a warm smile.

…

Alice was standing on the sidewalk in front of her school when Frasier steered his BMW up to the curb. Her eyes widened when she saw Frasier and Roz step out, and she gave Frasier a big hug.

"Wow, Uncle Frasier, you brought your fancy car!" the little girl said excitedly. "You've never come to get me from school. Did Mommy forget how to drive?"

Roz choked back a laugh as Frasier grinned.

"No, your mother still knows how to drive," Frasier said. "I just wanted to see you. Your mother and I have some very important news for you. We'll tell you when we get in the car."

Alice clambered eagerly into the backseat, bubbling over with excitement as she wondered what 'Uncle Frasier' was going to tell her. Seeing her daughter's innocent enthusiasm, Roz suddenly felt a pang of apprehension. Alice meant the world to her, and she prayed that Alice would be happy at the news. If she wasn't…Roz would have to reassess her decision, and that was something she didn't want to think about.

"So, what's happening?" Alice demanded. "Am I getting a pony?"

"No, sweetie, you aren't getting a pony," her mother said. "Alice, do you know why I was out so late last night?"

"Because you were pretending to be Uncle Frasier's girlfriend," Alice said with the innocent bluntness of a six-year-old. "My babysitter told me all about it."

"Well…yes," Roz said. "But when Uncle Frasier took me out to dinner, he asked me a question. Do you want to know what he asked?"

"Yes," Alice said eagerly.

"Well…he asked me if I would marry him."

There was a pause and Roz fought to keep her nervousness from rising to the surface. Her two most important relationships were in the balance, and if Alice wasn't happy with the new situation…well, as difficult as it was, Roz would have to choose her daughter's happiness over hers—and even Frasier's.

A joyful shriek broke the tension.

"Did you say yes, Mommy? Please tell me you said yes!"

Frasier turned his attention from the road just long enough to give his fiancée a joyful look. Alice was squirming excitedly in the back seat.

"I said yes," Roz told her happily.

"I won't be able to call you 'Uncle Frasier' anymore," Alice said seriously. "And I already have a Daddy. But I could call you 'papa', if that's okay."

Frasier was so touched that he had to blink back tears. Alice's sweet, simple love reminded him of when Freddie had been a little child. He had missed out on so much of Freddie's life because of what had happened with Lilith, but they were still close. The realization that Alice would soon be a part of every day of his life filled him with overwhelming joy. Frasier had sometimes wondered what it would be like to have a daughter, and now he knew.

"Of course, you can call me 'papa'," Frasier said warmly, as Roz beamed with pride.

"Alice, your Unc—I mean your papa is going to take us out for ice cream to celebrate," she said slyly.

"Anything for my darlings," Frasier said lovingly, though he shot Roz a mock glare for her invention.

Roz leaned toward Frasier and caressed his arm lightly, but the simple gesture spoke so much more than words Their love for each other was wonderful enough, but to have Alice share in that love so eagerly made it more special than they could ever have imagined.

They had taken a leap of faith—and they were never going back.

And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything is different
Now that I see you.