Frasier Crane turned to Roz. "Sorry Roz, I was thinking."

"About what?"

"Nothing really."

Roz turned to her diary. "Well, my flight for Milwaukee leaves in a few hours, I have to get ready. Mom and I are going to have a great time on Mother's Day."

Frasier continued thinking as Roz rattled on about what she and her mum would be doing. Mother's Day was a hard time for him, as together with Christmas and her birthday, it was the day when Hester Crane was missed the most.

Roz stopped talking, noticing Frasier wasn't listening.

"Gee Frasier, what's wrong?"

"Well...it's Mother's Day this Sunday."

"Duh, that's what I've been talking about."

"Well, you have your mother with you....." Frasier's voice tailed off and Roz realised what was wrong. Frasier missed his mother.

"Oh, I forgot....."

Frasier managed a small smile. Daphne walked into the living room.

"Evening Dr Crane, my you're feeling down."

"It's his mom," Roz said. "He misses her."

"Dr Crane, there's nothing to feel sad about," Daphne said. "She's looking down at you right this minute. She wouldn't want you to be sad."

"I know," Frasier said. "It's just what with you, and Roz, and Bulldog too, all having their mothers with them, well, I kinda miss her."

"Frasier," said Roz, "what was your mom like?"

"She was a very classy but loveable person," Frasier answered. "Right until her last minutes....."

"Hey Hester, how'd the check-up go?" Martin Crane asked his wife as she returned to the Crane house.

"It's bad news I'm afraid," Hester said. "I'll tell you all around dinner."

Niles had come home for his mother's Christmas dinner and Frasier was visiting from Boston for Christmas. When all four Cranes were sitting down to dinner, Hester cleared her throat.

"Marty, boys, I'm afraid I have some bad news." The table was silenced.

"Well, I went to the doctor this afternoon and it turns out that lump I found is positive. I'm afraid I have breast cancer."

Martin and Frasier gasped, Niles almost fainted.

"Now I know it's a shock," Hester continued, "but I don't want it to spoil our Christmas. The doctor says I have every chance of recovering. I'm going back for another check-up in the New Year."

"Hester....." Martin began.

"Marty, don't worry." Hester told her husband soothingly. "We'll manage. After all we've come through, we can get through this."

The Crane Christmas was as usual a fun-packed event with lots of presents, smiles and food. However all the Cranes felt it was overshadowed by Hester's bad news. Not that it spilt their fun, but Frasier and Niles had a feeling that this would be their last family Christmas together.

The New Year arrived and Frasier went home to Boston. Niles and Martin made sure Hester took life easy. The feeling that she wouldn't be here much longer was still overshadowing everything however. Both were brave in front of Hester, and she was brave in front of them, but Niles more than once saw his parents crying together as they looked through the family album.

"Hey Hester, how'd it go?" Martin Crane once again asked his wife as she returned to the Crane house. Turning to look at his wife, he saw she was crying.

"Hester....."

"Marty, I'm fine!!! It's the all-clear!!!"

"Hester, that's wonderful!!!" Martin said, crying as well by this stage.

The months passed. Hester, knowing how close to death she had got, decided to life her life to the full. Martin taught her how to ride a horse and they would ride through the woods together. Martin also sat through many operas that Hester loved. And the two would walk along the seafront, hand in hand, most evenings. That was something about Hester, she always lived life to the full. Whenever she was around, you sensed a presence of happiness and joy.

One day in June, Hester woke up with a migraine. Martin offered to stay home with her and keep her company but Hester said she was fine and that she'd be alright after some sleep.

Martin arrived at the police station after lunch after a raid on a warehouse. The action had made him hungry and he fancied a sandwich. Hanging up his coat, he said hello to the receptionist. The receptionist walked into the Lieutenant's office.

Nothing unusual about that, Martin thought.

Until Lt Bailey came out.

"Martin Crane?"

Martin turned around. "Yes sir?"

"Martin....."

".....it's about your wife."

All other thoughts vanished from Martin Crane's head.

"My wife? Hester? What's wrong with her?"

"She's at the hospital. It appears the cancer has returned. I'm sorry Martin."

Martin rushed to the hospital, calling Niles on the way to find out he was already at the hospital. Niles had called Frasier in Boston to tell him the news.

At the door, a nurse was waiting for him.

"Mr Crane?"

"Yes."

"Come this way. Your wife is waiting for you."

Martin followed the nurse to Hester's room where she and Niles were waiting.

"Hester?..."

"Bad news I'm afraid Marty. The cancer is back with a vengeance. It's reappeared too quickly for them to treat it."

Martin gulped.

"They're going to do all they can."

"Hester, you take a rest. You'll need all the energy you can get."

"Thanks Marty."

Niles turned to his father.

"Turns out that's what the headache was. When it got worse, she tried to phone you but you were too busy. So she phoned me. I came round and saw she was very pale. I phoned 911 at once."

"And it's just as well he did Mr Crane," the nurse said. "We think we have enough time to save her. We need to do....." and she explained to the Cranes about the procedures.

Martin and Niles left Hester alone to get some rest. Frasier rang to say he would be on the first flight home, and Martin and Niles waited in the waiting room. They saw Hester being wheeled into the ER for the medical procedure.

The procedure took a couple of hours but to the Cranes it seemed like a few days. Niles continued work on his cases and Martin read a sport magazine. Yet neither was that interested in what they were doing.

The nurse came out.

"Mr Crane, Dr Crane, if you would like to come with me please."

Niles and Martin followed her into Hester's room. She was unconscious in her bed.

"I'm afraid we were too late," the nurse said softly.

Niles went up to his mother. "Mom?"

"Hester?"

Hester lay still in her bed. She was still alive but was unable to hear them.

Niles put his hand on his mother's chest.

"Goodbye Mom," he said softly, wiping a tear away with his finger. "Goodbye." Niles then went out, the nurse comforting him.

Martin went up to his beloved wife.

"Hester? It's me, Marty." After a pause, "You were very brave honey. Very brave. You'll have a better life up there than down here. And one day we'll be reunited.

It's going to be strange without you, but life goes on. I'm thinking of buying a dog to keep me company - you always did like dogs, didn't you? You'd always be begging to get one and if it wasn't for Niles' asthma when he was younger I would have got you one.

Hester, you take care now. Continue to be brave and look upon us as a guardian angel - I know that's what you'll always be to me.

I love you lots. Goodbye Hester, I'll always love you."

Martin held his wife's hand. He wasn't sure if it was just him or not, but he was sure he saw Hester manage a small smile. He smiled back to her, and then said his final goodbyes.

Hester Crane passed away soon afterwards. When Frasier arrived, the nurse took him, Niles and Martin into her room with her.

"Mrs Crane asked me to give you these should she pass on," the nurse explained.

To Frasier, Hester had left a framed photo of herself as well as Frasier's baby tags that he'd worn as a new-born in the hospital.

To Niles, she'd left a photo as well as his baby tags, and a note. She'd written, "My darling Niles, if you're ever feeling down, read this.

You are Niles Crane, and you are extra special. Love Mom."

And to Martin, she'd left a list of where she wanted to be buried, and also her jewellery and lots of happy memories.

To all of them, Hester had left letters saying how much she loved them and how special they were too.

"Frasier, where's that letter?" Roz asked.

"It's with the photo in my room," Frasier said.

Frasier then got up and walked into his room, shutting the door behind him. He walked over to his mother's letter and opened it up, careful not to tear it. He read as follows;

Frasier looked out of his window.

"Happy Mother's Day Mom," he said with a smile.