Chapter 2

"Finally!" Roz yelled when Frasier burst into the studio and quickly sat down in his seat. "We've been playing the 'Best of Crane' for the last thirty minutes!"

"Well, I'm sorry!" Frasier shouted. "My apartment building is overrun with disgusting termites, so we had to move into Niles's place for a few days."

"Just put on the headset," she sighed.

"Something bothering you, Roz?"

"I can't talk right now! Come on, come on! We've got people on the line!"

Frasier put the headset on, wondering what was going on with his producer, but he supposed he could talk to her about it later.

He pressed the button on his control board, and "The Best of Crane" stopped playing.

"Hello, Seattle! This is Dr. Frasier Crane. I apologize for my tardiness. My apartment was overrun with termites, and I had to relocate to my brother's apartment. But, I am here, so who's our first caller, Roz?" He glanced over at her through the glass separating their booths.

"We have Gina on line three who is feeling a bit unloved," Roz replied.

Frasier clicked on his control board and said, "Hello, Gina. I'm listening." There was silence. "Gina, are you there?"

"Sorry!" the woman cried out. "Dr. Crane… my problem is my husband. He was a total sweetheart when we were dating. He used to buy me flowers, kiss me, and tell me loved me every day!" She sighed. "But, since we got married, something changed. We barely talk anymore, and frankly, I think he's seeing another woman."

"I see…" Frasier nodded.

"The thing is… there's another man who works in my office. And he's really sweet, and I'm really attracted to him. I don't know what I can do. Can you help me?"

"Well, I am not one to condone cheating, Gina. I have been a victim of such an act, and let me tell you, it's not fun. You think your husband is seeing another woman, but you are not sure. My advice to you is to talk to your husband. You don't want to make any rash decisions only to find that you jumped to conclusions. That could potentially damage your relationship. If you find yourself unable to work things out, then it would be best to go your separate ways."

There was silence on the other line as Gina pondered Frasier's advice. "You're right, Dr. Crane. I would be a fool to mess things up so easily. Thank you."

"No, no, thank you."

Unfortunately for Frasier, he did not get that normal day he was hoping for. Gina was a very normal caller with a very normal problem, and Frasier thought today was the day. Today he wouldn't get the strange callers who would ask the strangest questions. As the hour ticked by, however, his hopes were dwindling.

"Just because she made a remark about how you got your good looks from your father, it doesn't mean she's secretly in love with him and wants to leave you!"

"But, Dr. Crane," the man on the other line said, "she said nothing about my mother."

"Do you look like your mother?"

"Well, no, but…"

"Listen, Todd, comparing good looks from parents to son or daughter is something a boyfriend or girlfriend often does. It gets on the parent's good side. She loves you. Otherwise, she would have broken up with you after you fought with her about it." He glanced over at Roz who was tapping her watch to indicate the hour was almost up. "Well, that's all the time we have for today, Seattle. Good day and good mental health." Frasier turned the switchboard off and placed his headphones on the desk. "I swear some people…"

"I'm going to laugh if that guys calls back and says his girlfriend is engaged to his dad," she laughed.

"Keep that up, Roz, and you'll be out of a job." Frasier laughed.

"Union, remember?" she grinned. "So, tell me again," she said, leaning against Frasier's desk. "You've got termites in the Elliot Bay Towers?"

Frasier sighed, the thought of those nasty bugs making him shudder. "Well, I woke up this morning to find that my beloved apartment infested with termites."

"Oh, no. You and Niles must have been screaming like schoolchildren, trying to push each other out of the way so you can get out." She said this with an extremely straight face.

Frasier ignored her. "Anyway, it turns out the entire Elliot Bay Towers is infested. Dad, Daphne, and I are staying with Niles. Oh, and that mongrel Eddie is there, too," he added with a grimace. "You want to join me for dinner there?"

"Is that a bad thing? I mean the Montana is pretty awesome. If I had the money, it's the sort of place I'd buy. I'll have to call a sitter. Mrs. Wilson next door has a spare key to my apartment in case I can't make it home. Alice loves her. She's an old lady, but she's so much fun. She tells me all these stories of her younger days when she was a bit of a party girl." She laughed and pulled out her cellphone. Frasier couldn't help but wonder if Roz would be like Mrs. Wilson when she was older, telling young mothers about her party days. "Great. I can go! I'll follow you in my car."

Frasier started putting his belongings in his briefcase. "Great. Yes, it is a lovely home," he agreed. "The only reason Niles offered to take us in is because of Daphne. She hasn't been on the dating scene, and you know how Niles feels about her."

Roz bit her lip. "No."

Frasier's eyes widened at her. Then, his features softened. She was being sarcastic. Even a blind person could see that Niles was head over heels for Daphne. "Nice one, Roz."

She looked utterly confused. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You're kidding."

"Nope."

Frasier couldn't believe his ears. He could think that because Roz was the romantic type, she would have seen it before anyone else did. "Niles is in love with Daphne," he told her.

Roz nearly fell off the desk; she managed to plant her hand firmly on the mahogany surface so she didn't. "I had no idea."

Frasier was getting annoyed now. Was she doing this on purpose, or did she really not know? From the look of shock on her face, it was safe to say she didn't. Well, that was a surprise.

As Frasier was closing up his briefcase, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Just kidding," Roz chuckled. "It's so obvious. The way he looks at her… and she doesn't know yet?"

Frasier cursed underneath his breath; Roz could get on his nerves so easily sometimes. "No. He wants to tell this week if possible, but I have my doubts. He's never been very confident. He says he'll do something, but his nerves always get the best of him."

"Well, may the force be with him," Roz said in jest, but she immediately regretted her words when the door opened, and Noel Shempsky was standing there with the biggest grin on his face. "Oh, no," she muttered.

"I hear some Star Wars language over here," he giggled.

"Noel, I thought you liked… what was it? Star Trek?" Frasier asked.

"I do, but it's not against the law of Trekkies to like both. Well, I'm sure it is frowned upon sometimes, but both franchises are amazing in their own ways. And I love hearing Roz referencing either of them."

Noel watched as Roz got her purse. "It was a mistake on my part, Noel. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go."

As she was leaving, Noel did the Vulcan salute and said, "Live Long and Prosper, my sweet Roz."

Frasier could distinctly hear Roz's groan of disgust even through the closed doors. He wondered how she put up with it. "Well, then, I should be going as well."

"Wait, Dr. Crane," Noel said. "Might I ask in what situation was Roz using Star Wars references?"

"Words of luck about my brother. He's trying to gain a relationship."

"Oh. Just as I am. I see your brother and I are not so different."

"I'd beg to differ," Frasier muttered as he left the radio station. Niles may have had an obsession with Daphne, but it could never as creepy and bloodcurdling as Noel's with Roz. No, Niles truly loved Daphne; he just didn't know how to express it.

Niles stood in the living room and glared at Eddie who was rolling on his fainting couch. Not a few hours into his home, and Eddie was already causing trouble.

"Dad, he's on the couch," Niles called.

"Oh, leave him alone," came Martin's reply.

"I don't want dog hair on my furniture."

"Eh."

Niles huffed and retreated to the kitchen where Daphne was with her tea. She was going through a notebook and making marks with a black pen.

"Hello, Daphne."

"Oh, hello, Dr. Crane."

He sat down next to her. "What are you doing?"

"Just writing and doodling," she responded. "In me spare time, I like to be a bit creative. Writing stories, drawing things and whatnot."

"Oh." He took a deep breath. He had been alone with her countless times before, but this time felt different. In the Elliot Bay Towers, he would leave at night and come home to his own place. Now, she was going to be sleeping under the same roof, and it was enough to drive him mad with longing. "What are you writing, if I may ask?"

"Of course you can. It's just a little story about a young girl that finds magical powers in an old schoolbook. It's a silly, little thing. Nothing too big."

"Nonsense. It's sound lovely."

She smiled. "Thank you. When I was younger, I wrote quite a bit. In fact, I even considered being an author, but when I found out what I can do with physical therapy, it seemed the better path. Still, it would be fun to be an author."

"Yes, I know what you mean." He recalled when he and Frasier tried to write a book. That ended in disaster. And they still didn't learn from that. They opened a restaurant together that nearly got burnt down their first night. They tried to work together in group therapies. Yeah, that went well. He knew they would do something similar again… Martin would have some choice words for that. "I think that's very admirable, Daphne. Even though you didn't take that path, you still dedicate some time to the trade."

"Thank you," she said again.

He watched her as she wrote. She looked so concentrated, and a small smile played on his lips. Oh, what wouldn't he do for this woman? The answer was simple. He would do everything for Daphne. She didn't have to do anything to him. All he wanted—all he needed—was her love. That was all.

"Do you want to go into the living room when you're finished?" he asked. "I can make you and Dad something to eat…" He was getting so flustered, and he was asking such a simple question! He wasn't asking her on a date, and he even included Martin in the offer!

Daphne looked up from her writing and nodded. She closed her notebook. "I've hit a snag anyway."

"Wonderful. I mean about joining me in the living room. Not the snag part. Writer's block is a horrible thing, and I hope you don't think I think it's wonderful…" He trailed off, his face flushing.

Daphne laughed. "I knew that's not what you meant, Dr. Crane." She patted his hand as she got up and joined Martin.

Niles let out a sigh that he hadn't realized he was holding. He busied himself with getting everything ready. He put fruit on a platter and arranged them in a way that he was sure would make Daphne realize how serious he was as a host.

"Dr. Crane, you're so gracious," she said when he put the platter down on the table with two glasses of wine and a beer for Martin. "Makes me never want to go back to the Elliott Bay Towers." She laughed and popped a grape into her mouth.

Niles took her words to heart. Surely she was jesting, but it got him wondering: Was it wrong to wish the termites would take over the Elliott Bay Towers completely that they could never be exterminated? It seemed like a logical wish until Niles realized if the termites could take over the Elliott Bay Towers, they would go mad with power and would come to the Montana! Not to mention, Martin and Frasier would have to move in as well.

In any case, all he wanted was for Daphne to stay here while Frasier and Martin went home. If all went well, maybe she wouldn't have to go back.

"Dad, why is Eddie on my table?" Niles asked. First the couch, now this?

"Beats me. He's probably bored.

"Well, tell him to get off."

"Eddie, off the table." Eddie bounded off the table and into

Martin's lap. He began Nuzzling Martin's neck. "I know, boy. But Frasier and Niles just don't understand you the way I do."

Niles rolled his eyes.

"Daphne, I trust you're enjoying your stay?" He had to ask. Sometimes Daphne was no nice, he wondered if she was doing it for his sake because she knew how much he had been going through.

"You don't need to worry. I'm heaving a wonderful time here. The Montana is beautiful."

It'd be even more beautiful with you here with me, he thought. Instead he said, "Yes, it is. I always wanted an apartment here, but that was before Maris, of course. Even with her, she wouldn't have wanted to leave the mansion. After all, it's been in her family for generations."

"You miss her, don't you?"

Her? As in, Maris? Well, of course he didn't miss Maris. He missed the lifestyle. He missed his staff. But, not Maris. How could he miss everything she had put him through? Sure, there were times he thought things could work, but they never did. He didn't miss that.

"More or less," he ended up saying. "I'm quite happy here."

"That's good to know."

Niles picked up a grape from the platter. He remembered one time before he had tried to get Daphne to stay here, but one little mcsession with Frasier, and she was making up with Sherry.

"The only thing missing here is my chair," Martin said. "This chair's okay, but it's not mine."

Niles cringed. "Well, Dad, we didn't have time to get the delivery man over there to bring your chair. The exterminators only allowed a few minutes to grab things for a few nights."

"I forgot Eddie's pillow," Martin groaned. "How's he going to sleep?"

"Like a baby because he's probably going to be sleeping on the goose feather pillows in your bedroom. Just… make sure he doesn't slobber on them."

Martin rolled his eyes. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him, and make sure he doesn't slobber on your precious pillows." He rubbed Eddie's ears.

"Hello, all!" Frasier said, opening the door. "Thanks for the spare set, Niles."

"Hey!" Roz exclaimed.

"Roz!" Daphne said. "How've you been?"

"Okay, I guess. I've been dateless for a while. My babysitter probably gets more action that I do."

"Lord knows she talks about it," Frasier said coolly.

Roz ignored him. "Anyway, I'm just a bit stressed about it."

"Aw, I know what you mean," Daphne said. "I haven't had a date in weeks. It's a bit maddening." She went back to the fainting couch and sat next to Niles. "I mean, sometimes you just wanna grab someone random," she put her hand on Niles's shoulder, "and kiss the life out of them."

If this were one of those moments, Niles wouldn't complain. If she grabbed him right now, he would kiss back in a heartbeat. But, a few moments later, Daphne laughed as though she thought it was silly, lowered her hand, and drank her wine. So, maybe it wasn't one of those moments.

Frasier raised his eyebrows at Niles as he went to grab a strawberry from the platter. He knew exactly what his brother was thinking.

"So, enjoying your time here?" Roz asked.

"Oh, yes," Daphne replied. "Dr. Crane has made us feel very welcome in the short time we've been here. Even Eddie!"

Niles glanced at Eddie who was cuddling into Martin's lap. He couldn't help but think of what that dog would do when everyone was asleep.

"Well, perhaps I should get started on some dinner," Niles said.

"Do you need some help in the kitchen?" Roz said before Daphne could.

"Oh, that'd be nice, Roz. Thanks."

He and Roz retreated to the kitchen where Baby was on her perch. Roz smiled at the bird and whistled, and Baby whistled back.

"Thanks for the offer, Roz," Niles said as he opened the fridge and took out the chicken he had been defrosting. He turned on the oven and let it preheat while he added spices and lemons to the chicken.

"No problem," she replied, taking out plates and glasses. "So…"

"So…?"

"Frasier tells me you have something big planned this week."

"Damn him."

"Oh, come on; you really expect Frasier not to tell me anything? We're like best friends."

Niles was going to retort that from the way they went on, they were way more than friends, but instead he said, "It's fine, I suppose."

"So, you going to tell her?"

"That's the plan. Though, I still have no idea how…"

"It'll come to you."

Niles sighed. "Part of me doesn't want to say anything."

"What do you mean?"

"What…" he lowered his voice, even though there was no chance of Daphne or anyone else besides Roz hearing. "What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

Roz rolled her eyes. "You get on with your life. Sure, it'll hurt, but you have to move on if she doesn't feel the way. And besides, how do you know unless you take a chance?"

She had a point there… "I'm just not sure I can take that kind of rejection."

"Oh, come on, Niles, I'm sure you've been rejected loads of times."

"Thanks, Roz. That makes me feel so much better."

"What I mean is you probably know how to get over it better than some people."

She wasn't lying. He had his share fair of rejections, particularly in high school. "It's not the same," he told her. "In high school, those rejections hurt, yes. However, it only took me about two hours to fully realize that what I felt for those girls was nothing more than a crush. A crush that faded away almost instantly." He looked at the closed door, imagining Daphne on the other side, with a smile on her face. "With Daphne, it's so much different. I spend nights awake thinking about her. I fantasize about her. I just want her to be with me, and it's painful knowing that every second I hesitate, I'm getting that much closer to losing her. I love her, Roz."

Roz smiled softly and patted his shoulder. "I know. That's why you have to do something. If she finds a boyfriend and you groan, you have no right to mope. Unless you say something."

Niles bit down on his lip and put the chicken into the oven. He wanted to tell Daphne everything so badly. He was just scared. Scared was an understatement. He was so terrified it often felt like he was going to vomit. Yet, he was excited too. The prospect of Daphne returning his feelings and allowing him to be with her is what kept him up most nights.

"Maybe I need a bit of planning," he said. "I want this to go perfect."

"She deserves it," Roz agreed. "You know, I don't always like you, but I can tell you really care about Daphne, and you'll do whatever it takes to make her happy." She smiled at Niles and left into the living room with the plates and glasses.

Niles leaned against the counter and watched the door shut behind Roz. As the door shut, he caught sight of Daphne, and a heavy sigh escaped from his lips.

Author's Note:

Thanks to Kristen3 for PMing me about this story. Even though I had not given up on it (and had actually starting writing this chapter before she messaged me), it was nice to get that encouragement and motivation! I'm not sure how long this story will go on, but it probably won't exceed ten chapters. And as you can probably tell, there's gonna be a bit of Frasier/Roz in here as well :)