Secrets Part 6

With Beth sleeping in the crib beside them Niles and Daphne lay in each others arms both silently contemplating the message from Donny. Daphne gently stroked Niles chest and sighed.

“I’m sorry” She said

“Sorry? What ever for ?” Niles replied kissing her on the head

“Well this is all my fault if I’d had the courage to stand up to the situation at the time he’d know everything and we wouldn’t have to deal with it nor would we have wasn’t so much time. I feel so guilty you’ve missed so much.”

“Daphne she’s six months not 18 we have lots and lots of time . As for Donny well we’ll see him together I’ll call him in the morning and get him to come round. Now lets get some sleep.”

“Well we could if you really want to” Daphne said smiling and kissing him lightly on the lips “but personally I’m not really tired.”

“How can you not be........ Oh I see” Niles kissed her back holding her tight as all thoughts of Donny were forgotten.

********************

The next morning Niles called Donny , he listened nervously as the phone rang and was answered

“Donny” he said “It’s Niles , yes I just got your message I was wondering if you’d come over?..... Yes today , would 2 o’clock suit ?...... Great see you then”

He hung up and looked at Daphne sitting on the chair beside him.

“He’s coming ?” She asked

“Yep , 2 o’clock are you sure you want to do this ? I could tell him I don’t know where you are , or just say you don’t want to see him if you like”

“No I have to face him , I have to tell him and he has to know about Beth.”

The time flew by and before they knew it there was a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it” Daphne said taking a deep breath. She moved to the door and stood for a moment with her hand resting on the handle then opened it.

Donny standing on the other side looking at the floor looked and his jaw dropped “Daphne!” he said trying hard to compose himself.

“Hi” Daphne replied suddenly being overwhelmed with guilt for what she’d done to him , and how the news that she’s been unfaithful to him especially with Niles was going to effect him.

Niles standing behind them took control of the situation “Donny come in” he said putting his arm round Daphne’s waist and moving her away from the door. once he was inside Niles offered Donny a drink

“I think I’m going to need one” He answered sitting and looking at Daphne who was still were Niles had left her staring into space. “When did you get back?” he asked snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Yesterday, we got in and the message was there from you”

Donny was trying hard to remain calm she’d left him without a word and now she was back and she wasn’t offering any explanation. “Please tell me why you went ?” he asked unable to wait any longer. “I know you’d ended things between us but you didn’t say so much as goodbye . I called Frasier’s apartment to speak to you , to tell you I still loved you to beg you to reconsider and he tells me you’re gone , he doesn’t know where you just left. How could you ?”

“I’m sorry” Daphne said as Niles came back into the room. “I just had to get away , there’s so much you don’t know”

“Well tell me then” he replied taking the drink from Niles

“I didn’t love you I’m sorry , I wanted to so much you were so wonderful to me but I......” before she could finish the sentence the sound of Beth crying filled the room and Niles looked at the baby monitor.”

“I’ll see to her” He said

Donny’s eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and confusion as he watch Niles disappeared up the stairs. “You have a baby ?” he asked

“Yes” Daphne replied nervously “A girl , Beth”

“How old is she ?”

Daphne took a deep breath looking at the floor “Six months” she said finally

Donny’s mind spun as he did the math “You were pregnant when you left” he said accusingly “Did you hate me that much that you could bare for me to know you were having my baby ?”

Daphne stood up pacing around , how could she be so stupid of course Donny was going to think Beth was his , he didn’t know about Niles and she was early and this whole thing was so messy.

“Answer me !” Donny shouted frustrated by her silence

“I don’t hate you” she said quietly “Oh god I’m so sorry I never meant to hurt you , if only I’d loved you everything would have been so different”

“So you just decided to take my baby and leave didn’t you think I had a right to know.”

She looked back at the floor “She not your baby” she said

“What ? How I mean she was born in June which means she was conceived in September . How could she not be mine. Unless ......” he couldn’t believe what he was hearing “Oh my god I must have been so blind you ..... you ...... how could you do that and how do you know she’s not mine ? Do you even know who’s she is I mean how many of them were there ?”

Daphne could feel tears well in her eyes “She wasn’t due until July , she was conceived in October , the 21st to be exact. You hadn’t touched me in 6 weeks you were so wrapped up in the case you were working on and I barely seen you let alone made love with you. I know who her father is because there was only one , I didn’t plan to cheat on you I wouldn’t have hurt you for the world , as soon as it happened I ended things and when I found out I was pregnant I thought it was easier to leave both of you.”

“Did he know?”

“No”

“So where did you go , and why did you come back ?”

“I went to London I had Beth and I was getting on with my life trying to forget about all of you.”

“You haven’t answered my question why did you come back”

“Because I love her father more than I could ever have loved you and he came and found me .”

“So where is he now?”

Daphne looked at the baby monitor Niles voice could be heard talking soothingly to Beth Donny followed her gaze thing finally becoming clear.

“Oh my god “ he repeated again “Niles ?” Anger and hurt were taking over him “How could you !” he shouted so loud that it brought Niles rushing to the top of the stairs “You and him ?” he shot Niles a look that could cut glass “You .... You ... I don’t even know what to call you. I can’t believe I wasted these last months missing you , wanting you.” he lifted his coat and looked at them both “You deserve each other “ he said as he left slamming the door.

Daphne fell into the chair sobbing so hard Niles ran down the stairs to comfort her. He took her in his arms and waited until her sobs turned to sniffles.

“There it’s ok , he’s gone now” he said

“He’s right” Daphne sobbed “I’m a terrible person. I betrayed him I abandoned you and because of me you and Beth missed so much time together. How could you love me ?”

Niles held her at arms length and looked into her eyes. “Look at me” he said “And don’t have me have to tell you this again. You are not a terrible person , what we did wasn’t how I would have planned it either. I wish I’d told you how I felt about you before you ever met Donny or before you got engaged but I didn’t and I have to love with that. We made love that night because it was inevitable we were inevitable and if we hadn’t we wouldn’t have Beth now. You believe in fate well this was fate.”

“But I should have told you I should have stayed.”

“I have the rest of Beth’s life to be her daddy and she’s thriving thanks to you she is lucky to have you as a mother , and I am lucky to have you too. Don’t ever forget it”

“I love you”

“I love you too , both of you and now we’re a family and we always will be”

The kissed tenderly as they held each other tightly and Beth could be heard cooing in the background.