"Yes, Frasier, everything's just about ready," he replied, gently touching Frasier's shoulder.
"Do you recall our musician friends from Britain?" Frasier asked.
"David Gahan, Alan Wilder, Neil Tennant and Bernard Sumner?"
"Yes, Niles. I have invited them to our Valentines Day soiree, and they have flown from Britain to see us!"
Niles smiled at Frasier. "That's wonderful!" he exclaimed.
"In fact, they are staying at the Regency Hotel here in Seattle, and their cabs should be here any minute," Frasier
informed Niles. The doorbell rang. Frasier rushed up to the door.
"Come on in, everybody." Niles walked up to the door to greet them as well.
"Hi, Niles," Alan Wilder greeted him. After David and Alan, Neil Tennant and Bernard Sumner, holding hands,
walked through the door.
"Frasier, Niles, it's so wonderful to be here," Neil told the two brothers.
"I've got some sherry, so please, do sit down and make yourselves comfortable," Frasier said, leading them to the
sofa. Niles soon came out from the kitchen, carrying some h'or derves in his hand.
"I've made this spendid cream cheese dish, so help yourselves. Oh, Bernard, are you sure you're old enough to
consume alcohol?" he smiled jokingly at the extremely boyish Bernard. Bernard sheepishly chuckled in a shy
manner. "He is old enough, but he looks so young to be drinking," Neil answered for him. Alan suddenly stood
up.
"I would like to make a toast to Frasier and Niles for inviting us to Seattle for this Valentines Day event," he said
as he raised his glass.
"Cheers to love and lovers," David continued. Everybody raised their glasses and made a toast.
"You know, I almost thought that Alan couldn't come to our Christmas party with the rest of the members of
Depeche Mode," David reminisced.
Alan put his hand on David's shoulder, and replied, "But I would never desert you, David."
"But sometimes, I get worried, though," David added. Frasier thought over that remark.
"Obviously, love comes with worries and psychological anxieties. Fortunately, Niles and I have a bond that can
overcome some of those anxieties, but being brothers can also make us feel more convoluted. It's considered to
be a sin, and we become very protective of each other. I can't even recall what my initial point was," Frasier
chuckled.
"Basically, Frasier and I protect each other because we've only got each other." It was Niles who summed it up
for Frasier. Bernard nibbled on another biscuit and remarked, "Even though Neil isn't related to me, he's like an
older brother to me, and come to think of it, I think everybody here in this room are protective of their lovers."
Alan smiled at him. "I absolutely agree," David nodded, setting his sherry glass down. Neil gently started to pet
Bernard's hair. David rose from the sofa, and enthusiastically exclaimed, "Let's exchange the presents, shall we?"
The six men agreed. They were going to give presents as a token of friendship, then each individual couple was
going to exchange presents to each other. The present exchange was splendid and joyous.
Niles then told them about the history of Valentines Day, which proved to be fascinating. Since this was the
last part of their trip, each couple had already checked out of their hotel and made arrangements with the two
brothers/lovers that they would stay at Frasier's flat. All six men were delighted at the success of the party, and
they all fell into a sweet slumber later that night.