"Just think," Daphne said to Roz. "My first Christmas engaged to the true love of my life."

"I'm pleased for you Daph," said Roz as they walked around the department store. "Hey, do you think Alice will look good in this party dress?"

The Cranes were holding a party - partly to celebrate Christmas, but also to celebrate the engagement. All their friends would be coming - even Bulldog would be flying in from Los Angeles. Frederick would be there too.

"She'd look charming," said Daphne. "She'll be talking about it all the time. She's such a show-off, isn't she?"

Alice had recently learnt to talk and was such a chatterbox these days.

"Daphne!!!"

Daphne looked around. It was her friend Charlotte.

"Charlotte, hi!!! How are you?"

"Fine thanks."

"Oh, this is my friend Roz Doyle. Roz, Charlotte."

"Pleased to meet you."

"Same here. Listen Daphne, I'll just go and pay for these whilst you two have a gossip. And besides, there's my favourite shop assistant over there."

"Leigh? I don't see him."

"Oh, you just missed him. I'll be back in a few minutes."

I thought I'd never lose her, Roz thought to herself. She'd come to buy Daphne's Christmas present, but Daphne had sort of invited herself along. Roz didn't mind, but she didn't want Daphne to see her present - otherwise it wouldn't be much of a surprise, would it?

Ah-ha, here it is!!! Roz arrived at the black dress Daphne had admired earlier. She had talked with Niles earlier as he had been trying to find out what she wanted for Christmas, and eventually Niles had found out she admired this dress. So that would be Roz's present to her.

She picked up the dress and walked over to the counter. Leigh was there serving one of the Café Nervosa waitresses. Roz waited patiently until she was ready to be served.

"Roz!!!"

Daphne arrived at the counter. "Forgot to give you my store card.....my, who's that dress for?"

"Um....." began Roz, ".....it's for me!!! For the KACL party!!!"

"That's funny, Dr Crane said the party was called off due to....."

"Oh, they solved that little problem!!!" said Roz. "Frasier.....doesn't know yet, I forgot to tell him!!!"

"You know, I might get one of those myself....."

"No Daphne, no!!! I mean, you never know what you're going to get for Christmas, do you?"

"Suppose you're right. Who are you going with?"

"Uh, Leigh!!! Don't you think this dress looks good on me Pooky?"

"Roz," began Leigh, "I though we'd broken....."

".....the old dress? Yes I know, that's why we're getting another one!!!"

"OK," smiled Daphne. "You pay. I'll meet you outside."

"OK!!!" said Roz. As Daphne left, she slipped $20 in Leigh's pocket, muttered something and paid for the dress. Leigh then told a colleague he had to attend to something - could he take over for a few minutes? Then he and Roz left. Now she'd seen that dress, Roz had to get something else for Daphne - something extra special. She knew what to get, just not where to find it.

"You know Dad, this party's going to be great!!!" said Frasier to Martin. "Everyone we know is going to be there."

"I know," said Martin. "That reminds me, wasn't Niles going to pop over here and help you move the furniture to create more space? This apartment won't hold 100 people otherwise."

"Yes he is, but first I'm going shopping." Frasier put on his coat. "The presents I ordered have arrived, plus I need to pick up Frederick from the airport."

"That reminds me, this card arrived for you."

Frasier opened it. It was a picture of Cheers back in Boston. Inside, everyone had signed it.

"That's nice, they still remember me," smiled Frasier. "Sam had told me about these cards he'd made - with Rebecca's money."

Saying his goodbyes, Frasier left and shut the door behind him.

In the mall, Frasier headed for Hyde's, the mail order company. When he finally got to the front of the queue, the cashier turned to him.

"Name?"

"Dr Frasier Crane."

"Right, you ordered all these?" The cashier gave Frasier a list.

"Yes, that's right."

"Dr Crane? The Frasier Crane?"

Frasier turned around. A couple of teenage girls were behind him.

"Dr Crane, we adore you!!! I even have your picture on my bedroom wall!!!"

"Really? But I don't have any merchandise - how did you get the picture?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" smiled the girl, as her friend got her camera out.

"Please, no pictures," said Frasier. "I need to keep my picture side fresh for my lovely ladyfriends."

"Then we're on time," said the girls and took his picture.

Frasier picked up his goods, paid and left. They were all inside a box with Hyde's marked on them.

Gracious, I'm late picking up Freddie, he thought.

Frasier was only a few minutes late at the airport and found Freddie in the newstand. A few minutes later they were driving back to the apartment.

"What's in here Dad?" asked Frederick.

"Oh, presents for your grandad, uncle Niles and other people," said Frasier.

"You know, I don't think Uncle Niles would like this pink cardigan," said Frederick. "Or Grandad liking this 3 piece bit set."

Frasier realised he'd been given the wrong box.

"That's the last time I use that company again," he muttered as he drove back to Hyde's. Ooh, this return means I can pick up that watch I admired.

Martin had sprung into action once Frasier had left. He wouldn't have to go far to get his present for Daphne. The rest of Martin's presents were coming with Frasier's order - Frasier was $23 short of getting some vouchers for his favourite restaurant and had persuaded Martin to order there too so Frasier could get the vouchers.

The day of the party arrived. The Christmas tree was sparkling, and lights were everywhere. Even Rudolph was up, though Martin had agreed to take him down for the party provided he could stay up the rest of the time. Martin looked at the tree. On it was a bauble marking every year from his engagement to Hester right through to the present. Frasier's and Niles' "First Christmas" ones were there too.

Niles and Bulldog had arrived early to help set things up, though Bulldog wasn't any use as he was too busy chatting up Daphne's friend Charlotte.

There was a knock at the door. It was Roz and Alice.

"Hello Uncle Martin," said Alice as Martin answered the door.

"Hi there, come in." Alice ran over to Frederick - she had a crush on him, much to everyone else's amusement.

Eventually everything was set up. Martin's chair had been moved into his room to create extra space, as had a few other things. All the guests had arrived - Duke, Gil, Noel, Roz's mother, Regan and lots of other people.

After all the food was eaten, Frasier called everyone to attention.

"OK, everyone. As you are all aware, this party was not just to celebrate Christmas but to celebrate the engagement of my brother Niles and the love of his life Daphne."

Everyone cheered.

"And as a token of our congratulations, we have bought you some presents."

Frasier handed over a parcel to Niles and another to Daphne. They opened them up - Niles had a new antique vase, as featured in a film the couple had gone to see, and Daphne received a lovely black dress.

"Oh my Dr Crane, it's lovely!!!" she said excitedly. "Matches Roz's."

Everyone looked at Roz.

"Daphne, I must confess, that dress I bought wasn't for me, it was for you. For Christmas," confessed Roz. "Niles told me you wanted it."

"Why, he told me the same," said Frasier.

"Oops," said Niles meekly.

"Doesn't matter, they're both lovely," said Daphne. "And I'm the only person I know with 2!!!"

More presents were exchanged. Frasier had bought one for everyone at the party, even people he didn't know that well, such as Duke. Gil got a new recipe book, Noel a guide to Klingon lovemaking (much to Roz's disgust), Bulldog a new horn and Frederick some DVDs. But there was one present that hadn't been exchanged - Martin's gift to Daphne.

"Dad, you did get her something, did you?" whispered Frasier.

"Course I did," replied Martin. "You'll see what it is in a minute."

Martin called everyone to attention.

"There is something very special I would like to give to Daphne." He produced a ring out of his pocket. "Daphne, I would like you to have this." And he placed it on her finger.

"Mr Crane, it's wonderful!!!"

Niles looked closely.

"Dad, that's Mom's engagement ring!!!"

"I know. Daphne, you're going to be my 5^th daughter-in-law, and quite frankly you'll be the one I hope will be around for ever. You've brightened up our lives, especially Niles' - I've never seen him so happy. It would be an honour for you to have Hester's ring, and I'm sure she would want you to have it too. Welcome to the family Daphne."

Everyone cheered.

"Thank you Mr Crane."

"Please, call me Martin."

"Thank you, Martin," said Daphne happily.

It really was the most wonderful time of the year.