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Niles

"Dad, she is on her way over. The resemblace is amazing. We've even got the same birthday." I was pacing around Fraser's aparment nervously. This woman could be my sister! I don't know what made Dad so nervous about her though. They hadn't even met.

"Niles, you don't have a sister.....not any~ Nevermind."

"Ah-ha! You were about to say Not Anymore! What happened?"

"We were on vacation in Conneticut when your mom had you. You were a twin. There was a lot of confussion and your sister died that night. The baby that died looked nothing like you or your mother, but was in your sister's bassinet. The hospital said it was because after they cleaned her, we hadn't seen her and the two of you were fraternal twins, not identical." Oh my god. I'm a twin. She is my twin. "I didn't buy it then and I still don't by it now."

"My birth certificate says Seattle," I pointed out.

"We had it changed. You know I have friends who can do that...." And to punctuate his last statment, my beloved wife came in with Jamie, Paul and Mabel. She looked very nervous. Paul let the little girl down.

"Hi, Marty Crane."

"Paul Buchman. This is my little daughter, Mabel."

"I'm ~"

"Jamie." Dad saw her. He knew as well as I did who she was. I think Jamie knew also.

"Yeah....listen, we have a film festival to go to." Jamie was trying to get away from us. She was terrified. I could feel it.

"Honey, you stay, I'll take Mabel to the festival." Paul was an idiot. Jamie loved him, but my GOD, can he NOT take a hint? Jamie glared at him. "Jamie, honey, maybe you should stay." Okay, he couldn't take a hint, but he knew she needed to find out who we were to her. "James, stay." Paul got a bag from Jamie, took Mabel, Kissed his wife and left.

"So....." she said.

"Would you like some tea?" Daphne offered.

"No thanks."

"Coffee? There is a nice little shop right down the road." Suddenly a look of releif came over her face. She couldn't be here. It was too hard for her.

~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~

Jamie


"Mom, they had proof. Finger prints and a blood test. My name isn't Jamie. Its Lydia." I couldn't help but snarl at the name. It was horrible. "I am not Lydia......I'm Jamie..............No, don't call Daddy............It'll break his heart. Mom, I'm staying in Seattle a while to get to know them. I have a TWIN!" I took a deep breath and listened to my mother rant. God I am glad there is no physical relation. I'd HATE to become her. "Mom, Niles is here. I have to go........because I'm going to go with my twin brother and his wife, and my older brother for lunch....... goodbye Mom..........goodbye mom..........MOM!......Okay...bye." Oy. I REALLY hate my mother. At least its not Paul's mother calling me and asking 'Who are you!?'

"Hello, Lydia." I cringed.

"Jamie. My name is Jamie. I hate the name Lydia. It isn't who I am." Niles looked hurt. "I'm sorry, I don't hate the name....this is just a bit much to take in."

"I know."

"What the hell do you mean? You can't know. You were raised with your parents and brother. I was raised with someone else's family. I love my Dad and my sister. My mother and I fight, but she is my mom. You expected me to just drop all that?"

"Jamie, its going to be ok." Niles was really a nice guy, but I felt like tearing his lungs out. When did I get so violent? "Take it from me, I know what I'm tralking about.....I'm a psychiatrist."

"Really?" I wiped tears from my face.

"Yeah." Niles hugged me. It felt....so....comfotable. He is my brother, and its strange to be hugged by my BROTHER.....my twin brother. I never had a brother hug me before.

"Mommy? We're back!" Mabel bounced into my arms.

"Hey Lydia!" Remind me to smack Paul a little later.

"Oy," Niles and I said, in unison. We did that a lot. For some reason, it didn't surprise me.

~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~

Frasier


I finally met my little brother's twin. Thank God I had Roz with me.....otherwise I'd have killed the two of them. Constant picking and joking. Jamie and Roz liked eachother......and they made a point to insult me a few times. Jamie wouldn't have, she seems to....sweet, but ROZ had to help her out. Even Alice was picking on me. I looked like a complete ass!

"Hello, Frasier," Niles said, grinning, with Daphne on one arm, and Mabel holding his other hand. She was adorible.

"Hello Niles. And you must be Jamie." The blond woman looked up from her husband and smiled. "I'm your brother, Frasier. This is my fiancee, Roz."

"Hi Frasier. Roz. "She seemed polite enough, at first. We sat and ordered. I suspect that she and Niles ordered the same thing on purpose. "You're joking. I love shrimp scampi. It is my favorite."

"Mine too." They laughed. I never had that bond with Niles, and now a total stranger is closer to him then I could ever be. Nevermind that she is his twin. Jamie ordered in French, as did Niles, and myself.

"Oh god, don't tell me you are as stuffy as those two," Roz said to jamie, joking.

"Oh, God I hope not." Roz and Jamie laughed lightly. Paul seemed to be lost in space.

"So, Paul, what brought you two to Seattle?"

"I have a film in the festival."

"Really? Which film?" Roz, Daphne, Niles, Paul and Jamie all glared at me. "What did I say?"

"Frasier, Honey, their last name is Buchman. You announced the movie an hour ago. The movie is Buchman. YOU SAW the movie......genius." I know I turned red. Roz laughed at me.....which was oh so new.

"Frasier, you have been working too hard. You need a vacation."

"I have one coming up in less than a month," I said, smiling at Roz. We were going to elope and go to Jamaca with Alice for a month.

"Where do you work?" Jamie asked.

"I have a radio show. Roz is my producer." I, for the first time notice, Jamie and I have the same forehead.....and chin too. "What about you?"

"I don't work. When I do work, I do public relations for people. I worked for Lance Brockwell, and James Cromwell and Mary Matlin." Oh thank god. She does public relatrions. Maybe she could be my new agent!

"James, I think Mabel needs to...um... James?" This man is quite the jackass...but my sister loves him. My sister. I have a little sister. I can see how much she is like Niles, but so different.

"Okay, Come on, Sweetie."

"Mommy, I gotta go, too,"Alice said. Alice and Mabel held hands and walked between Jamie and Roz. I thought it was so precious. Why do I never have a camera when it would just be perfact? And Paul snapped 3 pictures. God I hate him.


~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~


Paul


"Paul, I'm staying."

"Well, I'm going. I may not love New York a whole lot, but I miss our home and my dog." I zipped my suitcase closed. I love my wife and my daughter, but this is rediculous. "James, we will come back in a few weeks. You need to see your parents."

"Oh god no."

"James, I need you. You know how much I love you. Please don't make me walk out that door alone." She threw me the look. I couldn't walk out the door now if I wanted to.

"Then stay."

"You know what? I'm not going to stay. I'll go to New York, get Murray, Ira, and Fran and Lisa. I'll get some stuff from the apartment and we'll stay out here."

"Really?"

"This is what I'm thinking." Like she needs me to be difficult now. "Now, if I don't want to muss my flight, I have to go." I kissed Jamie and Mabel. "Find a nice place. Niles'll help, right?"

"Of coarse." It is soo strange. Jamie isn't taking care of her sister, her BROTHERS are taking care of HER. Just so strange.

~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~

Niles

Jamie and Mabel had never seen my apartment before. We'd always met at Frasier's place. Now here she is, in the guest room in the Montana. Daphne and I decorated it more casually than the rest of the place. Jamie and Mabel placed their bags at the door to the guest room. When I showed them in, Jamie smiled at the room.

"This is lovely. Not your taste though."

"Not really. Daphne and I decorated it for you last week, in case you wanted to stay. Mabel's room is conected through here," I said, showing her the rooms. She seemed empressed. I could hear her smiling.

"This place is amazing. This room and Mabel's room together are bigger than our entire apartment!"

"Its bigger than the house Frasier and I were raised in. Dad thinks I went a little overboard in redecorating an entire room for you. He thought you'd be more comforable in the hotel." Jamie grinned. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How long have you and Paul been married?"

"Oh, that is a funny story. We met at a Christmas party, 1989. Dated from 1989 until about 1991. Got engaged, and in 1999, we were legally married....on our seventh wedding anniversery."

"How the hell did you get married on your own anniversery?!" I asked, laughing.

"When we got married in May of 1992, we didn't know it then, but we never got legally married. An ordaned minister married us on the street. Our real wedding, we didn't get the licence or anything like that, and seven years later, he finally told us. He wasn't a minister. We weren't married. Mabel is the bastard child of idiot parents. By midnight, we got married, twice. The first time, I backed out, and ran off. But my midnight, we got married."

"Wait....seven years?"

"Yeah...why?"

"I in-love with Daphne for seven years when I married the wench, Mel, just a couple of days before Daphne's wedding to someone else. 1993 -2000. The night before, Frasier broke in and meddled again, as usual. Only this time, he actually helped. Daphne was in-love with me. We went out on the balcony to talk, and she kissed me, but decided to stay with Donny. The next day, I was going to wait in Dad's Winnibago until the service was over, then I'm not sure what I was going to do. Daphne came in, wearing her wedding gown and asked me to run away with her."

"How Romantic!" Mabel fell asleep on the bed while we were chatting. What a lovely girl. I want a daughter like her. "She's had quite a day."

"She looks so much like her cousin, Freddy. Freddy has blone hair though," I said, thoughtfully.

"Niles, do you know what its like to grow up in a family so different from you, and then find out you have a different family, still very different from you?"

"You aren't that much different from us. I wish our mother could have met you. The two of you are so alike. Same taste, eyes, and....you just remind me of her so much." I wiped a tear from my cheek. Jamie shouldn't see me cry over someone she's never met.

"I wish I could have known her," she said, sniffling. Her cell phone rang. I excused myself. "Hello? Hi Paul. Get on the plane, Paul. Its only two weeks. Get on the plane. She is asleep. I love you, too. Give your mother a hug for me......yes I'm serious. Paul, I have to go. I love you too. Bye." She hung up her phone and stared sadly at it. "I miss him already."

"Would you like to go shopping with me today? I have to get a new suit or two," I offered.

"I don't know." She had only a half a suitcase of close for herself and my neice.

"My treat. We're having a party at Frasier's in your honor, and besides, why can't I buy for my sister?" She smiled. I had a feeling she would. "After she gets a nap and lunch, we'll go." I smiled and lept down the stairs to call Daphne and let her know where we were going.


~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~

Mel

Oh, my god. What is Niles Crane doing here? What's this? A new woman? And a child? Oh, Niles, you've been busy. I wonder what your little Daisy would think about this.

"Jamie, you look exquisite. That'll be wonderful for the party."

"Mommy, you look pretty!" the little girl said. Niles was holding her. That little tramp stole Niles from me, and now he found someone new.

"Hello, Niles. Another little whore to add to your collection." He stepped between the woman and myself. She tried to push past him, but he held her back.

"Ah, Mel. Id' love to entertain your theory, but I have more pressing matters to attend to. My sister and I have some shopping to do. Jamie, Mabel, shall we?" Oh, I wanted to hurt them.

"You don't have a sister."

"Wanna bet, tiny?" The woman towered over me, but she was still only as tall as Niles. "I'm his twin sister, Jamie."

"Impossible. He hasn't got a twin."

"Obviously I do, because here she is. Good day, Melinda." I slapped him, hard. My hand hurt. He rubbed his face gently, not even blinking. "Jamie, Mabel, we've got some shopping to do. Shall we?"

"Ah, Thank you." I wanted to kill her. Oh, this is far from over, Niles Crane. What was Daisy's phone number again....?


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Jamie

"Niles, who is that?" Oh he had better have an explanation for that little display of love. I wanted to kill the little rat. "And why didn't you let me take care of it?

"My ex- wife, Mel. We were married for two weeks. I told you about her."

"I could have handled her."

"You could have killed her. Mel's lawyers would have had a feild day with you. I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to take THIS to court."

"Oh Yippy." I said sarcastically. He held up a dress for me. "Ew."

"Oh, come now. With your feature, it would be wonderful on you." He sounds like Mark. God help him. "Just try it on." I tossed him a playful dirty look and took the dress. He held Mabel while I changed. When I looked in the mirror, it surprised me. It looked so good! I went out to model it for him. I didn't expect to see what I saw. Niles was rocking Mabel. She was cryin softly. I saw a bump on her knee. Must have fallen down.

"Niles," I said, calling him.

"She tripped."

"Constantly," I said, watching him calm her. He's gonna be a great father one day. Daphne is lucky. I wish my brother and I had more time to know eachother.

"You look wonderful. Do you want it?"

"Yeah."

"Its yours."He smiled up and told me to go change so we could go meet Daphne for lunch."


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Daphne

I'll kill him. We've been married only one year and he's seeing someone else. Mel called me and said that she saw him with a blond. She introduced herself as Jo Ann and had a little boy with her. I'll kill him.

"Hello Daphne," I slapped him with me purse. "I'm sorry. What have I done?"

"Who is she?"

"What?"

"Mel called."

"Darling, I've been with Jamie and Mabel the whole day. Didn't Dad give you the message?" Oh, now I feel like a bloody idiot. This is what I get for believing Mel. REally nice, Daphne.

"Mel came up and asked if Mommy was a whore and didn't believe Uncle Niles. She called you Daisy, and slapped him." Oh, terrific. Poor Niles getting beaten by his own wife, and his ex-wife. "What's a whore?"

"I'll tell you when you're older."


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Marty

I hate Frasier's parties, but this one was different. He had it casual, and some really good food this time. Daphne, Roz and Jamie stood in one area talking and laughing. Frasier, Niles and Paul attempted to make small talk. There was a woman there, Lisa, who I would have hit on, but she was so.....strange. Fran and Roz seemed to hit it off.....but Ira seemed a little bit sad.

"I am just glad that my mother didn't come," Lisa said to me at one point. "She would be complaining about everything. Hey, where is the cheese log!? I want a cheese log!" God, I could slap her.

"Lisa, relax. I'll get one." Ira grabbed his coat and left. Something was buggin him. I'll talk to Paul about it later.

"Splinky, wait, I'll come with you." Paul grabbed a coat and left. There goes that thought.

"Frasier? C'mere for a minute?"

"Dad, what's wrong?" Frasier asked me in the kitchen.

"Ira. Something's buggin him. He looks pretty down. And he was in quite a hurry to leave."

"He did seem somewhat depressed. Maybe Paul could ask him. Perhaps that's why Paul went with him."

"Frasier, just ask Jamie. Or have Niles ask her. Either way, find out. He looks relly pissed."


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Paul

"Talk to me Splinky."

"She isn't Jamie anymore. Well, she is, but she isn't. She is Lydia..." I punched in the arm. "Look at her! She is just like him! She turned into a snobby high class "Everybody love me"....CRANE!"

"Hey! Thats my wife your talkin about. She is still Jamie. Once we get back to New York, she'll go back to her old routine of being...Jamie. ASnd she hates the name Lydia."

"She is NOT Jamie. And you aren't...you. When did you ever wear Armani? And when did you prefer crab puffs to corndogs? Mabel is the only one who hasn't turned into a high class brat!" I smacked him in the forehead. "I'm serious Paulie. You've changed. I'm going back to the hotel and then to New York as soon as I get Lisa a cheese log. If I don't, we'll never hear the end of it."

"Thats not what is really bothering you, is it." He shifted from one foot to the other nervously. "Splinkie, c'mon....Ira!"

"Roz won't go out with me."

"She is engaged to Jamie's BROTHER, Ira."

"Neither will Daphne."

"She is married to Jamie's twin brother, Ira." Oh, boy. Why did I bring him?

"So! That didn't stop Joan, and she's a lesbian!" I rolled my eyes. My cousin here is hitting on every woman he can't have.

"Don't mess this up for her. Ask Lisa out."

"That is your wife's sister."

"No she's not. Jamie has a twin brother and an older brother. No sisters. Remember?"

"Ohhh yeah! Oh....heh heh."

"Is your mind never out of the gutter?" Remind me later why I brought him.



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Roz

I watched Alice and Mabel play on the swings from the bench where Jamie and I talked. She was really unhappy about something and by god, I'm gonna drag it out of her.

"Do you really like it here?" Jamie asked.

"Not much, but its better than Wisconsin."

"Why?"

"Because I'm here, and my mother is in Wisconsin." We shared a laugh. "Miss New York?"

"I miss my favorite resturaunt. You guys have Cafe Nervosa. I had Riffs. You guys have this park, I had Central Park.You have Daphne, I had the British Neibors....only I like Daph, I hate the Bristish couple across the hall. You've got the Space needle, I had Times Square.I miss Nat, our dog walker. I miss having all of that. The little replacements aren't enough, y'know?"

"Then hop the next flight home. You can always visit, call, e mail. Hell, Niles can probably fly out every week end on his salary."

"I know! I hate that. Being in that family makes me feel like a failure. I was the successful one in my family. Lisa can barely keep a job, and will NEVER get married. I'm married, have a wonderful daughter, great job when I have a job, and Paul is a wonderful, yet clueless man. Even our dog is a blessing. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but we love him."

"Look, Frasier has known me for 10 years, and its just in the last year he has even thought about dating me, and we're finally engaged. You know Niles' story. Frasier has had the same amount of failed marriages. You took one shot and got it right. You aren't the failure. They say you are a lot like Hester. From what I hear them say about her, she was one of the kindest, gentlest and most caring people on the planet. There aren't many men out there that respect and love their mothers the way those two boys do. Marty and that dumb dog are so close because Hester died, and the boys got him a puppy so he wouldn't be as lonely.You belong more than I do....and probably more than Daphne."

"Then why do I feel like a stranger in that house?"

"Because as kind as the Cranes are, and as smart as they are, they can say and do the stupidest things." We laughed again.

"Mommy? Can we go get lunch?" Alice asked me, with Mabel coming not too far behind. I don't think we could separate these two if we WANTED to.


~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~

Niles

Instead of Jamie moving out here, she was just going to visit us a lot. If she didn't, I would. There she stood, my twin sister, waiting to hug me goodbye. It has been a very wild past 2 months. I got a sister, a brother in law, a neice, and the three best friends I will ever have, other than My Daphne of coarse.

"Well, Jamie, its been......."

"Yeah....it has." My sister hugged me tightly. "I'll call you when we get home."

"Okay." I could feel her thinking something out of the ordinary.

"Bye, Daphne, Frasier, Dad." She called him Dad! Our father smiled sadly and hugged her. He didn't want her to see him cry, but he cried anyway.

"I'm sorry," he said. "You must think I'm a weak old man."

"Of coarse not. I think that a grown man who can cry shows strength of soul," I heared her whisper to him."Bye Dad." She then turned to me. "Good bye, Niles."

"Goodbye, Lydia."



The End......for now.