Niles could be so sweet. For him to remember almost every article of clothing she'd ever worn, well, that revealed only the depths of his love for her. She didn't even remember what she wore yesterday, let alone nine years ago! But he had noticed, and apparently she had made quite the impression on him.

Memories. She knew how sentimental he could be at times, but she was not prepared to discover how much she had truly come to mean to him over the years. While her memory may betray her at times, there was only one thing she was certain of- she loved Niles Crane more than she had ever loved another man in her life.

How could she be expected to repay him for all of the kindness, all of the support and most importantly, all of the love he'd shown her over the years? She was well off now, but it was his money, not hers, and she knew when it came to matters of the heart, one couldn't very well put a price tag on them.

What could she do to show him how much she adored him? To thank him for giving her the best years of her life and the knowledge that even better ones were sure to follow? Most of all, he'd given her David, her only son, and with them came the extended Crane family. True, Frasier and Martin had driven her batty over the years, but she'd come to love each and every one of the family as if she'd been born into it.

Her eyes drew to the material still fresh in her hands. The dress! Yes, she thought of the perfect way to repay Niles back for his love and undivided adoration.

When she walked into the room, Niles gasped. She wore the dress, just for him!

Daphne loved the way his eyes always lit up whenever she entered the room. But tonight, he looked at her almost through fresh eyes. In her own small way, she was making a declaration of her own. On the night of the Snow Ball, many exclamations had been made, but tonight no words were needed. Only the look of pure love in his eyes made this a night sure to be remembered.

"Oh, Daphne," he gasped, holding on to the side of the fainting couch for support.

"If I could take back that night, and put meself in your shoes, I wouldn't blame you for never wanting to see this dress again," she sighed.

"I had always hoped, always dreamed, but never could I have been prepared to see just how lovely you look in that beautiful, beautiful gown."

"Oh, Niles. I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything. For not knowing or realizing sooner. For being so blind as to not notice how crazy about you all those years," she cried out, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

He carefully unfolded his handkerchief and wiped away the tear. "It was well worth it, my love. For in you I have found something I never dreamed possible- you love me, and that is the greatest gift anyone has ever given me in my life."

Wrapping her arms around her husband, Daphne kissed Niles as if it were their first kiss. But it wasn't their first, and if that night was any indication, it most certainly wouldn't be their last one.

The end