This is for Kristen3, whose encouragement has given me a lot of inspiration lately. Hope you like it and don't worry there will be lots of N/D swoonworthy moments

Daphne couldn't stand it. Maris kept calling and Niles kept answering and visiting and writing and was at her beck and call. In fact he even missed one doctor's appointment for the baby because he was visiting his ex-wife in jail. How could he have gotten them all involved in this whole fiasco? More importantly, how could he become so involved in the fiasco that was the life of Maris Crane? That's right, Maris Crane. She didn't bother to change her name back in the divorce, a sore point for Daphne. But Niles didn't seem bothered by it, so she said nothing. Nothing Maris did seemed to bother him, so she kept her mouth shut, but there was a limit to what she could take.

"Good news everyone!" Niles declared as he walked into Frasier's apartment.

Daphne got up to kiss him hello. "Finally. Tell me you've fixed this whole Maris disaster."

Niles clapped his hands. "I have. I won't be visiting Maris in jail anymore!"

"Well that's a relief, what happened, did she lose her visitor's privileges?" Frasier asked, delighted. He knew how hard things were on Daphne and was glad there was a resolution everyone could live with.

"Not exactly…"

"Did you tell her that you couldn't speak to her anymore?" Martin asked hopefully. He always hoped that his son would show a backbone to that woman.

"No. Okay I guess I'll have to tell you. Maris is free on bail!"

"What?" Daphne exclaimed. "They denied her as a bail risk."

Niles laughed nervously. "Well he's the deal, it's really kind of funny if you think about it…I posted bail for her."

"How could this be? Normally for bail they ask for cash which you haven't spent or the house as collateral…oh Niles, tell me you didn't use the house," Daphne pleaded.

Niles said nothing.

"Niles Crane tell me you didn't risk the house two months away from our delivering our baby on a woman who was carrying ten thousand dollars, a wig and a passport when she was collared? "

"I had to. It was the only way. I had to get Maris out of there, she was never going to make it. Darling, I promise you this is all going to work out. Let's just go home and talk about this."

"You'll be going home. I'm staying here for a while until I can wrap me head around why you would do something like this. I can't believe you Niles Crane. You would do anything for that woman including jeopardize the wellbeing of your family. I'm sorry but I just can't look at you right now."

Niles looked at Frasier and then at Martin for help only to receive none. He blew it this time, and he didn't know if he would ever come back from this.