Same Time, Next year


Niles pushed the door shut behind Daphne. She entered the apartment with a smile and a hug for him. And all of that was a facade, and Niles knew it. He saw pain in her eyes. She and Donny had been married only 5 short years when he'd died in a car accident. He had a heart attack and slammed into a pole. Niles was in the back seat with Donny's and Daphne's three year old son, Charlie. Daphne wasn't hurt badly, and thankfully, neither was Charlie. That was only 2 years ago.
The floor squeaked as Niles wheeled his chair to the kitchen to get Daphne some tea, as he did every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Daphne went upstairs and got Charlie settled at the Playstation2 while she helped Niles with his exercise.

"Daphne," he said as they sipped their drinks. "How have you been?"

"Not bad," she lied. "Do you really like my hair? I always kept it long, but I needed a change." Her hair was barley shoulder length, and was colored red.

"Its nice, really."

"Everyone keeps telling me that. But I have a feeling there is more to it than that." She looked hard at him. He never could lie to her.

"Daphne, its beautiful, but its not you. I suggest something a little more to the brunette. Not totally brown, but a little more brown will bring out you eyes," he said playfully. She punched him in the arm, knowing he was right. "How is Frasier? Can we go visit tonight?"

"Oh, you! You're not getting out of exercise that easily."

"I was referring to after." He pulled her onto his lap and wheeled them into the living room. "Here we are, M'lady. You set up the bars and I'll get my braces."

"Mum? Uncle Niley? Can I have a bit of ice cream?" He had his mother's accent. He spent his whole life with her. When Donny was alive, he always worked. Daphne raised Charlie on her own mostly

"Charlie, you haven't had dinner yet. You know your Mom's rules. You can, however, have an orange. Its got the same amount of sugar, if that's what you were after." Niles ruffed the boy's hair and hugged him. Charlie was a good kid. Very smart for 5. He and Frederick often got into arguments about some theory or other.

"Niles? You all set?" Daphne helped him up to the parallel bars. After going across and making the turns four or five times, Niles started to try to use his legs a bit more, as he did every time. He balanced as best he could, and let go with one hand to adjust his glasses. He felt secure enough to move a foot, but fell. "Niles, we go through this every time. You can't walk yet. You know better than to try. You could get hurt!" Daphne scolded.

"Uncle Niley! Are you being bad again? Even I know not to do the same thing over and over when Mum tells me not to. Get with it!"

"Charlie, go play." Niles joked. Daphne threw him a dirty look for trying to walk.

"Niles, I know its not easy for you, but you have to stop this. You could really get hurt."

"Daphne, I am perfectly aware of my capabilities. I am not going to allow myself to remain an invalid. Do you know how hard it is for me to know that the only thing you see me as is a reminder of what happened? Look, you can go on denying that seeing me like this does make you think of the accident, or you can talk to me. I have known you nearly fifteen years. Only last year, you actually started using my first name. Please, Daphne, stop shutting me out."

"Niles Crane, you have some nerve! All you think about it "Poor Niles Crane in a wheel chair" and it is making me sick! I LOST MY DONNY!!!!!! Because of YOU! If we hadn't picked you up, we'd have been home and Donny wouldn't have been driving. And all you think about is you." Daphne screamed. She reached over and actually pushed Niles down. Tackling him, she hit him in the chest several times. "How could you!"

"Let it out." Niles said to her. It was painful for him, in more ways than one, but she needed to let out all the emotion and anger bottled up inside. After she'd stopped, Niles pulled himself up against the couch. Daphne was still sitting on his lap, sodding uncontrollably. "Shhhh. Daphne, its all right. I'm sorry." She knew he did this on purpose. She did physical therapy for him, and he was her psychiatrist. "Feeling better, Daph?" She nodded. "Lets work on 'Happy' on Friday. Let me heal a little." She laughed lightly.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" she asked.

"I'm fine," He said, rubbing her shoulders, " This was a good session. How about you go clean up, I'll change my shirt and we go over to Frasier's for dinner, eh?"

"I'd like that."

"Done Mum?" Charlie asked, in a small voice. He never liked when they worked on 'Anger' because of the yelling. At least Daphne was feeling again.



"Niles, Daphne! Come in! Charlie, Freddie is in his room. I don't suggest you go in there. He is "Pissed off" at Dad again."

"Dr. Crane! Watch the language, or I'll hall you off to the loo and soap your mouth a bit!"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I forgot. Five years old." Martin hobbled in. "Dad, look who's here!"

"Daphne! Charlie! Come gimme a hug!" Martin hugged the two. Then, very stiffly and coldly, he addressed Niles. "Niles. How are you?"

"Fair. You?"

"Fair."

"What the heck! Can't a son hug his Dear old Dad?" The two laughed and hugged. It had become a game with them. "Frasier, how is Roz?" Niles asked in a serious tone.

"Better."

"Really?"

"Yes, Bulldog is a great husband to her, and a wonderful father. Poor Roz. I still think she's sick."

"I still don't see why she would have to be sick to marry Bulldog. He's quite charming." Daphne said. Then they all cracked up.

"Oh guess what. They are making a show about the bar I used to hang out at in Bosten. I have a character in it. They used me as one of the bar flies!"

"Wow! That is so great Frasier!" Niles congradulated his brother.

"Dad, I'm outa here. Got a date. Tommy from the video store." Freddie said, coming out of Daphne's old room dressed in army pants and a green alien t shirt. His blond hair was long and hung down his back in a clean straight pony tail. "I'll be back at 2."

"Midnight, or you don't go out until you're 30." Martin called.

"Stop me." Frederick slammed the door and left. Everyone attempted small talk to break the tension.

"Tommy?"

"Yeah. Frederick's had a crush on him for months."

"Oh, Tommy Brenkle, black hair, olive skin?"

"Yeah. Tommy is a lot more mild mannered the Freddie." Daphne put in. Martin left the room in disgust, mumbling how times have changed, and rock and roll hadn't helped it. "Mr. Crane," Daphne called.

"Daphne, let him be." Frasier calmed her. "He just doesn't like Freddie being gay is all. He'll get over it. If he doesn't, ITS OFF TO THE HOME!" Frasier said in a voice loud enough for Marty to hear in the kitchen.





1 year later


Daphne helped Niles up the steps to his bedroom. Usually he could pull himself up, but not today. Today had been particularly stressful for all of the Cranes.

"Daphne," Niles said, tears forming. "Thank you for helping me tonight. I really needed you here."

"Niles, he'll be all right. It was just a mild heart attack. Dr. Crane should be out of the hospital in a week and back to himself soon."

"I just watched him, lying there, while everyone helped him but me. His own brother. I couldn't help him."

"I'll get that strap fixed in a jiffy. This is the third time its locked up on you."

"No, its all right. I have a replacement in the drawer. I can make it up the stairs from here. I don't want to burden you. Why don't you go get a shower and get some sleep? You're exhausted."

"OK. Tommy, can Charlie stay with you and Fred tonight?"

"Sure Ms. Douglas. C'mon Charlie boy. Lets go see your cousin and your Grandpa Marty." Tommy and Charlie left.

"Niles, are you sure you don't need my help?"

"Darling, I'm fine. I can make it. Go relax for a bit. I'll be up and in bed by the time you get done showering," he pulled himself up the last 4 steps. "And Daph, I like the new hair style. You are lovely with long dark brown hair." He blew her a kiss and went to work on the steps.




"Freddie? We're home! Hi Mr. Crane."

"Hey Tom. Hiya Charlie. Fred's in your room....cleaning I think. How is Niles?"

"He said he'll go with you to see Frasier tomorrow. Dr. Crane and Ms. Douglas were real tired, so Charlie Boy gets to stay here." Charlie had already climbed up onto Martin's lap and was petting Eddie. "Are you ready for dinner?"

"Nah. I'm not hungry."

"Mr. Crane, please don't worry. He's going to be just fine." Tommy patted Martin's shoulder in passing on the way to Daphne's old room, which was where he and Fred lived. "Call me when the game starts!"

"Will do!"

Tommy opened the door to see Fred sitting on the floor in a corned with his knees drawn up to his chest. The room was dark, but Tommy could see he was crying.

"Freddie? You ok?" He nodded. Tommy pulled him into a tight hug.

"When Mom split 3 years ago, he was all I had. I don't want to loose him. I can't," he sobbed.

"Lets just get some sleep. You'll feel better tomorrow. Your Dad is going to be okay. I promise."




1 Year later


Martin shuffled around the apartment, waiting for Frasier, Fred and Tom to get their coats to go. Niles and Daphne were going finally get married. Even though he was 45 and she was nearly 42, they were finally going to be happy. It only took then 17 years.

"Lets go!" Martin shouted. "Niles'll kill us if we are 10 seconds late." Frasier came from his room, all dressed and coat in hand. Tommy and Fred showed up at the end of the hall, fixing each others' ties.

"Fred, you got off work!"

"I told the jackass that I'd leave and take all my clients with me if I didn't get off. What a bitch."

"That's no way to talk about your mother. Lets go." Martin carefully made his way down the steps, but Eddie got in the way, tripping him.

"Dad, look out for Eddie!" Frasier called, barely too late. Marty screamed and landed with a loud thump. "Dad! Dad?" Marty was trying to get up, but his leg was twisted. "Fred, call 911. Tom, call Niles."



Niles and Daphne entered the apartment sleepily, Charlie was already asleep in Niles's lap. Daphne took him up to bed, then came down to be with Niles. Marty had sprained his knee, but it was nothing too serious. The wedding would be delayed a few months when Marty could give Daphne away.
Daphne sat on the couch next to Niles, who had climbed up there to sit.

"Daph, are you all right?"

"Yes, I suppose so. I'm just worried about Marty. He's getting on in age and with Frasier and Tom working, Freddie is the only one there for him during the day, and thats only when Lilith lets him off work! Poor man could barely walk as it is."

"What do you think we should do about it?"

"We should all live together. Me, you, Charlie, Fred, Tom, Marty and Frasier. Then you and he can keep eachother company when you aren't working. Frasier can have more time alone, Fred can relax a little more, and Tom can go back to work. And I really miss living with your father and your brother. We had a lot of fun there. I really miss it."

"You know, the apartment next to Frasier is for sale. We could buy it, and connect them by taking out Frasier's extra bathroom and make our living room into the dining room, and the kitchen is nearly twice the size. There will be room to put ramps in Frasier's half once we're done!"

"I'll call him tomorrow and ask him about it!"



1 Year Later


They didn't buy the apartment and build it onto Frasier's place. They, instead, got the apartment on the top floor of Frasier's building. It was now decorated somewhat like his old place, but it seemed more homey. With seven people and a dog, it was hard to see it as anything other than a home. Charlie, now 8, was more and more like Donny every day. Now that Niles and Daphne had been married for the last 8 months, things seemed to get better every day.

"Darling, please sit down." Niles waved Daphne off and hobbled away on his crutches.

"Daphne, I have been sitting for five years. Now I can walk, in a manor of speaking. I may be on these funny crutches, but I can get up and go to the bathroom for the first time in five years. Its the second best day of my life. Enjoy it with me."

"Niles, please come and sit down, I want to talk to you." Niles looked at Daphne. Something was really bothering her. He took the arm brace from the crutches off and eased onto the bed. "We need to talk."

"What's wrong? Darling?" Daphne was crying again. He held her tightly as she cried on his shoulder. "You don't have to talk. Just relax. I'm here," he soothingly stroked her hair.

"Niles, I know you love me. I love you so much, but I miss him. I just miss him so much," she sobbed. "Being back into me old routine with your father and your brother just reminds me of him. I'm sorry, Niles. Lately I've been so emotional. My doctor thought it could be the stress of the move. I only saw him because I'm late."

"Late?"

"That time of the month." He nodded. "I'm late, and I've been so emotional, I thought it was something medical, but he told me it could be stress."

"Ah, Daphne, could it be something else?" Niles said, with a nervous smile that almost reached his ears. "As in making Charlie a big brother?"

"I don't know. I don't think so. I mean it would be great, but we always use protection." Daphne thought back a few weeks. After they got the knews that Niles would be able to use crutches to walk, they celebrated. After dinner, they went back to their side of the apartment and celebrated a little more. "Do you think...?"

"Call him up!"

"I have a pregnancy test in the loo. I was saving it for just this occasion......"

"DAPH!? NILES!!! DINNER IS READY!!!!" Marty called to them


At dinner, Niles and Daphne were nervous. It would be another 2 minutes before they knew, and each second felt like a year. After the food was passed around, Daphne ran off to the bathroom to check the test. Niles went with her.

"Darling? What does it say?" Niles said poking his head into the bathroom.

"Well, Daddy, it says we're going to have a baby!" Niles took Daphne in his arms and kissed her. "We're going to have a baby!" She was already excited. Niles rushed out on his crutches and announced the test and the results to the table of people.

"Cool!" Tom and Freddie said in one voice. Marty and Frasier hugged them both, and Charlie thought it would be really great to be a big brother.



1 year later


"Niles? Lisa finished her bottle, and she's down for her nap. I'm going with Tom to the store." Charlie said into the kitchen where Niles was cooking.

"Ok. Be careful, and wear your seat belt."



Niles was finnished cooking and set all the food onto the table. Everyone was ther except Tom and Charlie. They were still gone. It had been almost an hour and Daphne was worried out of her mind. Marty had made a phone call to a friend at the station asking about any wrecks or roberies in the neiborhood. There had been only one. Two people were hurt. One was early twenties and the other was a ten year old boy.

"What hospital?" At the sound of that, Daphne started to loose her mind. She was hysterical. Freddie was starting to loose it too. Frasier calmed Fred while Niles comforted Daphne. "Daph, its ok. Their ok. They're in the hospital for a check up, but Charlie is ok. A few scratches maybe, but he's fine.



"Mum, I'm ok. Can I please go to sleep now?" Charlie begged. Daphne was watching him like a hawk.

"I just want to sit here." she said. Daphne ran her finger's through Charlie's hair.

"Mum, I know you worry about me riding in a car. It wasn't your fault. I hear you saying it was your fault that Dad died. It wasn't. Please stop worrying about me, Mum. Please."

"I can't. I'm a mother. Its me job to worry." She kissed him and let him sleep.



1 year later.


Lisa walked from the blanket to Fred, who was sitting under a tree with Eddie. His head was cold, so Daphne put his hat on Lisa's head and sent her to him.

"Thanks, Munchkin." He put the hat on his bald head and went back to his book.

"Freddie? I brought you a hot dog," Tom said, offering the food to him.

"No thanks. The kemo kind of killed my apitite lately."

"I know, but you really need to eat." Fred smiled weakly and ate. "Lisa, where is Daddy?" Lisa giggled and ran to Daphne and Niles.

"Tom, where is Charlie?"

"I thought he was with you."

"He told us he was going with you." Daphne said, worry had immediatly set in.

"Daph, relax. I'll check over at the play ground."



Fifteen minutes passed. Then thirty. Marty called his friends at the station. Everyone was looking for Charlie Douglas, but he was no where to be found. He was not in the park. Ten year old Charlie was missing.



A week went by, and no one had seen him. A month went by, and a year and very soon, another 5 years had passed.Charlie was 18 now and still gone



"Mrs. Crane?" the door man said, refering to Daphne. Behind him stood a boy. Daphne couldn't see his face, but she knew it was Charlie.

"Yes?"

"This boy said he lived here"

"NILES!!! Its Charlie!" She took Charlie in her arms. He was shaking horrbly.

"Mommy?" he asked, almost in disbeleif. "I'm sorry."

"Its ok, Don't be sorry. What happened Charlie?" Niles asked.

"This guy said I was his son and he took me."

"Did he hurt you?"

"No. I ran away last week. He was laying there. He had a gun in his hand and he shot himself. Mum, I'm sorry I couldn't call." Daphne was hugging him so tightly, he could barely breath. Niles called Frasier and Tom. "Where is Grandpa and Fred?"

"Freddie's sleeping. Charlie, your Grandpa....died about six months ago." Niles choked back tears. Marty had died peacfully in his sleep, but it was such a painful memory for all of the Cranes.

"Is Fred still sick?"

"No. He's better."

"You can walk now!"

"Yeah, I have to wear braces on my legs, but I don't have to use crutches anymore." Niles was holding Daphne and Charlie on his lap.

"Oh, Charlie, we missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Mum."




Charlie lay back on his bed for the first time in years. He saw images in his head of the man shooting himself in the mouth. Frasier sat and listened to Charlie tell him every detail about the year he was in Takomah, Washington. Charlie told him everything.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No. He was really good to me. I was never hungry, or cold. Just scared. He shot himself in the head about a week ago.I left before the cops got there." Charlie had no expression on his face. "I can't beleive Grandpa died. I told myself that I would be here for him and tell him I love him."

"I miss him too Charlie. Lisa is coming back today. She and Tom were in California for a week."

"What for?"

"Well, your sister is going to be on TV next month. She is in a TV show. Only one appearance, but she is still on TV. And guess what else?"

"What?"

"I told you I used to live in Bosten. Remember? They made a little TV show about the bar I used to go to."

"Yeah. That was a good show."

"I got a call today. They are followin my character here. They are going to do a show about me, Niles, Grandpa, and your mom. They don't know yet. I was going to tell them at dinner." Daphne called them to dinner less than five minutes later.



"I have an announcement to make." Frasier said, standing up. "First of all, welcome home Charlie. Its good to have you back."

"Thanks Uncle Frasier."

"Ok. You all remember the show about the Bar. It just went off the air last season. Well, there will be a spin off followin one of the minor characters to his new home and his new life and the lives of his family. The name of the show is "Frasier." Everyone was thrilled.

"Oh my god! They're making our lives in to a television show?"

"Yes. The characters will be me, of coarse, Daphne, Niles, Roz, BullDog, and.....Dad. With Dad, as usual, Eddie will be in the show."

"Who is going to play us?"

"Kelsy Grammer is playing me. David Hyde Peirce is playing you, Niles. A beautiful British woman named Jane Leeves will be Daphne. John Mahony is playing Dad. Peri Gilpan is Roz."

"I've seen Jane Leeves. She can act." Daphne piped up.

"There is more good news. We get to wite the first episode. I started it lat week. Tell me what you think." Everyone read the first episode script for their characters.

"Hand in the Biscut tin? You remembered that?"

"Hell yeah I remember that. It was the hardest I laughed in a long time."

"You aren't laughing in the script."

"I have accented on a lot of my stuffiness and Niles's tendency of being spinless."

"HEY! I resemble that remark."

"I know." Everyone laughed.

"So we're a t.v show now?"

"Yeah," Frasier laughed with delight. "And this is Frasier Crane wishing you all good meantal health. Good night!"



The end