From: Julie Raines Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 02:20:12 -0400 Subject: NEW!!!!! The Belle of the Ball...Part One... The Belle of the Ball.....Part One... Category: Who knows? Spoilers: None Summary: Scully, FBI Annual Ball, Adventure... Disclaimer: The X peoples are not mine...they are Chris Carter's....... The other characters are from my mind.... Archive: Anywhere as long as my name is on it... It was a beautiful night for dancing. Scully looked longingly out her window. The stars were out and she just knew that the lights from the sky would twinkle of her new cream-colored satin dress the her mother gave her only a few months before on her birthday.... "Now Dana...This would look beautiful on you..", Maggie Scully told her daughter. "But Mom.....when would i ever possibly wear it??" Dana asked her mother. "You know I never wear evening dresses...I have no use for them...and besides....even if I do wear it..where would I go??" Maggie just looked at her daughter and grinned. "Some day... some day you will understand...". Now as Scully looked into the night sky she said a silent thank you to her mother. Was she psychic or something?? How could she possibly know that Skinner was making all of his employees go to the FBI Ball tonight. Maybe Mulder accidently said something a few weeks ago. He said he just wanted to see how she was doing and bring her the report she asked him about. Then when she went to the kitchen to get Mulder a cup of coffee she heard them talking. He MUST have said something then. Scully looked at her clock. It read 6:30pm. She knew if she didn't finish getting ready she would be late. Not that she cared but since Mulder made such a big deal to come over to pick her up at exactly 7:00 so they could make their GRAND ENTRANCE at the ball, she knew he would be disappointed if she made them late. But for some insane reason he has been ranting and raving about going to this Ball. Scully went to her bedroom to check her make-up one more time and then she would slip into her new dress. A giddy feeling started to rise inside of her stomach, bringing a bright smile to her face. She hoped that Mulder will appreciate her a little more for going to this Ball. It was all she could do not to burst out laughing when she saw herself in the mirror. She had swept her hair up in a french twist and clipped it with a silver hair clasp. Now it was nearly 7:00 and she sat down to wait for the ringing of the doorbell that would announce Mulder's arrival. Ding Dong. Scully stood up, careful not to rip her dress, and went to the door. A big smile reached her face as she unlocked the door and opened it. Mulder tried to make sure he didn't drop the flowers when Scully opened the door. The sight of her almost made him faint. God! She looked good..even in an evening gown!!! He started to wobble a bit.. but caught himself on the door frame trying his best to look cool....like he just happened to stop by and wanted to say hey or something. Hell...he would stop over here for just about any excuse these days. "Scully!....You look....Wow..."..he became at a loss for words....not knowing exactly what to say because he didn't know if he could trust his mouth. He kept staring until Scully gave him the "Look". "Mulder...if you're just gonna stand there and stare at me all night...." "Sorry Scully. I ....just.." Finally he gave up. He just didn't know what to say without screwing himself up. He walked into her living room and sat down on the couch. "You want coffee or something?" grateful that his back was to her....she couldn't keep the heat from rising into her cheeks, turning them scarlet as she studied him in his new designer tux. Lord knows where he got the money for it....but hell if it mattered to her now. All she knew was that this night was going to be a long long night.. "Yeah sure Sculls...hahah" Mulder said as he gave a little laugh. "What's so funny??" Scully asked as she handed Mulder a fresh cup of coffee.... "Nothing.....just sitting here thinking of what Frohike would say if he saw you right now...", Mulder snickered as he took a sip. Scully rolled her eyes in response. "Yeah there's no telling what he would say....heheh" Scully laughed at his mention of his unexplained amigo of the extremely paranoid group of the Lone Gunmen. Not knowing what else to say, "Well if it's ok with you..I'm ready to go now and get this over with." "Scully...what do you mean????? I thought you wanted this? I thought you really wanted to go.....ummm..with me...? Mulder asked..not knowing how to explain himself. "Oh Mulder. I guess I want to go but I just don't fit in at social functions". "Cheer up Scully! You know you will be the most beautiful one there...you'll be the Belle of the Ball..." Scully smiled warmly and chuckled at Mulder. "You're right. But they will only notice me because I'm with you!" "Whatever......" Mulder started to get a hot flash as he thought of Scully on his arm the entire night to come... "Well?" "Well what?" still daydreaming of Scully. "Are you ready or not?" Scully stood up again and crosses her arms. "OHH!! Yeah....Let's go!" Mulder held out his arm for Scully to take as they walked to the door........ Mulder thought to himself...Man this will be one evening I do not want to forget!! End Part One......... The Belle of the Ball...Part Two... Scully shivered as Mulder took her hand and lead her to the door of the Ballroom. It had been a wonderful carefree night so far. She wondered what other surprises lay in store for her. She smiled as she remembered Mulder coming to her apartment to pick her up for the Ball that night . She remembered as he led her to the limo that he rented just for them. Sleek and shiny.....and long too! Scully remembered that cute little look on Mulder's face as he gave her the single red rose and placed it in her hands. Ohhh...what a night... Now as Scully and Mulder arm in arm casually drifted into the gigantic Ballroom, Scully took in the crisp atmosphere. She saw how the dance floor was crowded with couples dancing slowly to the jazz band onstage. They were performing one of her favorites... Beyond the Sea. She bit her lip as she quietly remembered the song that her father requested to be played at his funeral. The song always brought tears to her eyes. Next she glanced at the tables that Mulder was leading her to sit down at. They were small and round, draped with a white lace table cloth and a glass lantern holding a tiny white glowing candle inside it. "Scully?" Mulder asked her. "Yeah?" she answered still gazing in awe at the romantic scene around her. "Are you ok?......I mean...You seem sort of..." "Sure!" Scully cut Mulder off..finally giving him a goofy grin indicating that she was fine. "Oh!" Mulder relaxed at her smile and chuckled a bit. "Just wondering........" "Oh Mulder...it's sooo beautiful here! I'm glad you asked me to come now!" Scully studied the dance floor...her eyes catching a familiar face. "Look Mulder! Over there!" she pointed out the person. "Well look who the cat dragged in!" Mulder grinned at the sight of his boss dancing a jig with his wife. Skinner's eyes caught sight of Mulder and Scully and he turned to whisper in his wife's ear. She smiled and went to the ladies room as he walked over to his favorite X-agents. "Hi! Glad you two could make it! I'm glad you came. I was hoping you two could settle down and relax for a bit and enjoy yourselves" Skinner smiled and sat down in a chair next to Mulder. "Well you know us...always looking for some excitement in our lives! All we need now is a keg or two of beer, a spin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game and we're all set!!" Mulder gave his little playful smile. "Mulder!" Scully said playfully swatting at Mulder's arm. "That's enough you two!" Skinner laughed. He looked up as his wife came to the table. "Hi guys! Nice to see you both again!" then turning to Skinner she said, "Hey..I feel like dancing some more! Let's go...." "Ok...sure! Be right there." Then he said to the agents, "Well you kiddies have fun..ok??" "Yes sir" said Scully. "You betcha!" yelled Mulder...a little too loud for normalcy. "Well how about it Mulder???" "Yeah..but let me get some drinks first..OK??" "Sure...I'll wait right here..."Scully sighed as she watched him get up and go over to the appetizers table where the fruit punch was. She hoped he would grab a muffin or two. She was starting to get a little hungry. They were supposed to be served dinner at nine but that was still over an hour away now. Shoot, she thought, maybe he should just grab the whole tray. She was about to get up and go over to him when HE showed up. Dressed in a stylish yet conservative tux, Jonathon von Gustings appeared by her side. "Hello there, " he said in a deep sexy voice. "I have been watching you....remember me?" Remember him???? It took forever for her to get over him, she thought to herself. Scully stood up straight and looked Jonathon in the eye. "Why hello," she breathed hoping he wouldn't hear the jitters in her voice. "Hahahha..been a while hmmmm...." he reached over and touched her arm..slowly caressing it. Scully jumped back suddenly uncomfortable. She quickly glanced over her shoulder at Mulder. Good, he was still getting the drinks. "So how has life been for you?" Scully asked nervously. "Oh well you know.....being a doctor and all...busy busy busy." "Yeah....well I'm one too!" Scully stamered....why did he have this effect on her??? She thought she had gotten over her crush on him after they graduated from Quantico. She had always admired him from afar. But back then he never seemed to know anyone existed except for himself. "Oh I see. Well Dr. Scully....dance with me" and without furthur notice he swept her into his arms and glided her onto the dance floor. The band had just started playing "Little Brown Jug" and Scully found herself immersed in a flying whirlwind of twists, dips, and spins. While she tried to untangle herself, Jonathon just laughed at her and spun her even faster. Now how the hell would she ever get out of this? she asked herself...feverishly praying that Mulder would NOT see this happening........ "No! Really????When?? " Mulder asked the bartender when he had told him to be careful. "Yes...I have heard the rumors....they say he is probably here right now! He always tries to stay hidden until midnight though...then it all goes downhill from there..." the bartender whistled...then went back to his work afraid he had said too much. Mulder stood still for a minute digesting what the bartender had just told him. He had said that he heard a rumor of an arsonist who loved to interrupt parties. And of course the FBI Ball was a really really big party. Why wouldn't a psychomaniac firestarter want to burn up a party like this?? Mulder's wheels started turning in his head as he took the drinks and turned back towards his table. Scully will just love this, he thought sarcastically. He had wanted everything to be perfect for her. She deserves a nice night out, he thought. She needs this. Mulder's thoughts suddenly stopped as he returned to the table and saw that she was gone. Where did she go?? he thought. Mulder looked up and out towards the dance floor. His heart almost stopped when he caught sight of Scully dancing in the arms of..... well who the hell is that?? Mulder face took on a dark shade as watched Scully flying around with HIM. How dare she! he thought to himself angrily. Here I go and take her out and get her a drink and then...wammo! She dumps him to go dance with....whoever! Mulder slumped in his chair as he glared at Scully the flying double-crossing.....hmmm..he could'nt even think of what to think!!! Why? he thought as he stared at the seemingly happy couple. Maybe I should just go over there and give her a piece.... Mulder was just about to get up when he saw a shadow go up the wall.. "What was that?" he asked to himself. End Part two....to be cont..... The Belle of the Ball ... part three 8:16 pm... Site of FBI Ball "What is that?" Mulder asked himself. He thought he had just seen a strange shadow appear on the wall. Now he had no idea what that was. Mulder's eyes went briefly to Scully (who at the moment was in some guys arms dancing) and then back again to the weird shadow. Mulder took a deep sigh. He thought to himself...why did this have to happen now? Of all times.... Mulder shook himself and walked slowly over to the far wall. He glanced up to figure out what it was. It had looked to him like some sort of black cloud. Yet, that couldn't be because the wall was white with glittering silver stars and balloons. Mulder looked back once again at Scully. But she was gone. There was no sight of her. Mulder sighed again. "Now what?" he thought. Suddenly someone screamed. It was so loud Mulder had to cover his ears. "Someone please help me!!!! Fire! Someone's on fire!" Scully had had it! First she had tried to disengage herself from Jon's arms. Then when he laughed at her she had tried to step on his toes. But that wasn't enough. Jon had only laughed harder...then he started to pull her cream colored straps down from off her shoulders. That was when she kneed him.....real hard. Somewhere that he would never forget. She was a doctor...after all! After she got away she found the ladies room. There she sat down on an elegant love seat and closed her eyes. "Ok girl. Time to evaluate. When did everything suddenly go so wrong???" She tried to forget that awful look that Mulder had on his face as he looked away from her. She never meant to hurt him. But she had no idea that Jon would come on so strong. And being the lady that she was, she hated to make a scene , especially in front of everyone. But when he tried to undress her....that was the breaking point. Lady or no lad...... Scully's thoughts were on hold when she heard a terrifying scream. "What was that???" Scully jumped up, grabbed her purse and went to the door. She tried to turn the knob, but it was stuck. "What the..." Scully began beating on the door. "Help! Someone help me...the door is locked!" She started to feel odd.....like trapped....or smothered. Scully began to check the stalls. She didn't think anyone was in here but she wanted to make sure. Nope...ending her short search. No one........Scully tried to make sense of what was going on. The screaming was getting louder and louder. Partly because now the fire sirens were cut on and partly because her mind felt juggled. She slowly shook her head. Why is this happening? She had never felt so out of place before, nor had she ever felt so vulnerable. When Scully heard mumbling she began to scream again. But then the voices dissappeared. "What am I going to do now?" she asked herself halfway expecting an answer. She sighed and fell back on the couch. "MULDER!!!!!! Of course! What is wrong with me??" Scully opened her purse and got out her cell phone. She quickly dialed Mulder's number. "Mulder." "Hey it's me! Look, I'm stuck in the ladies restroom. Mulder tell me what's going on out there! I heard screaming and the fire alarms are on....Mulder?" "Yeah" sounding aloof. "Mulder!! Help me!" Scully tried to put as much urgency into her voice as best she could. Silence. "Mulder?" "Yeah. So. Like where are you?" "I said I'm in the ladies room...first floor..." "Humph" "Mulder.....get me out of here!!" "Well I don't know. Maybe you should have called your knight in shining armor to get you out." Mulder said....a little too harsh she thought. "Mulder....." "Yeah?" "Mulder I'm...." "Yeah?" sounding a little more perky now. "I'm sorry. If you will let me explain?" now she was getting desparate. "Mulder?" More silence. "Oh god!" Scully gasped. She was almost out of breath as her mind started filling with pictures of Mulder lying down on the ground..or Mulder .....or.... "Boo!" Mulder popped up behind Scully and tapped her on the shoulder. "GEEZEZ!!! Mulder! How....." "Shhhhh....." Mulder whispered as he lightly put his finger to her lips. "I'll explain later," he whispered again. He then took her firmly by the arm and led her away from the door to the last stall. He closed the stall door and turned to Scully who was watching him with interest. He then pointed up while reminding her to keep her voice low. Scully's eyes widened in disbelief. Up on the ceiling was an air vent with a gaping hole.....through which she supposed Mulder had climbed down through. She then turned back to Mulder. "If you think... that I'm.....gonna go up there," now gesturing towards her cream dress, "then i KNOW you are nuts!" Scully crossed her arms. "Shhh..Scully I know what you are thinking. But I know something you don't. Now if you will just trust me..." looking up again to the vent. "Mulder......two words" Scully remarked. "And those would be?" Mulder asked tensely, afraid of what it will be. "HELL NO" and with that she tried to dodge around Mulder and grabbed the door lock. But Mulder was too fast for her. He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her a little. "Scully....don't you trust me?" Mulder's expression was stern with a mixture of sadness and ....something else? "Mulder! You can't do this! You can't come in here and now expect me to crawl through the air vents for whatever reason and you keep telling me to be quiet and and now you want me to ruin my dress ..my dress.....my dress that I wore...my dress that mom bought....now..." Scully gave up her ramblings when she noticed that Mulder wasn't paying any attention. His ears were to the stall door and he suddenly smacked a hand on Scully's mouth. At first she wanted to bite his hand. How dare he! But then she heard a popping noise. Faint at first. Then louder and louder. It sounded as if someone was pounding on the outside door to the restroom. "Muummmumm" . Mulder looked back to Scully. He took his hand away from her mouth and gave her a small apologetic smile. "Sorry". "Mulder....would you please tell me what is going on??" Scully whispered. "Yeah but first...." Before he could finish saying his words....the outer door burst wide open. Whoever or whatever had finally gotten through. Mulder shoved into Scully and hoisted her up against him. She got the idea, stepped on the toilet, allowing Mulder to postion her to crawl through the opening. Her high heels almost caused her to slip right in the toilet but Mulder kept his firm grip on her. She grabbed the ceiling, pulling herself through...all the while glad that she had been taking those aerobic classes at night. She turned and looked down expectantly at Mulder...wondering how he would climb up. All of a sudden her eye glimpsed a dark cloud-like mist floating and swirling towards Mulder as he jumped up on the toilet. "Mulder! Look out! Behind you!" Mulder quickly glanced up at Scully and saw how terrified she was. Her eyes were wide as she seemed to see something below him. He felt a tug at his foot and Scully reached down to help him. The last thing he saw was his reflection in her eyes as he slipped and fell. To be continued........... The Belle of the Ball Part Four.... Scully screamed as she watched the black cloud thingy surround Mulder's legs and pull him down to the ground. At first while helping Mulder gain his balance to pull himself upwards to safety, she thought they would make it. But now...she had her doubts.. "Mulder! Look out!" Scully screamed again as the thing advanced. Scully started to climb down from the air vent when she spotted Mulder easing himself on the toilet seat trying to pull away. "Scully! Help!" Mulder screamed at her. "How??" "Just get down here now!" Scully got her legs in position to jump down feet first when she heard a ripping sound."No...Not now!" She looked at her dress. It had tore from the bottom and now a large tear went up to her thighs. "NOO!" "Scull..." "I'm coming Mulder!" Scully forgot about the dress when she heard Mulder's desparate cry. She then jumped down....and landed right on top of Mulder..who was halfway on the toilet seat and feet dangling in the blackness.. "Mulder! You ok?? Let me help you!" "Scully? Why do you always land on me??" Mulder asked dryly. Scully didn't answer. She stood up the best she could on the toilet seat and grabbed Mulder under the arms and started pulling up. Slowly the grip on the black smoky thing let up and she managed to get Mulder to stand beside her. Without talking Mulder helped Scully up towards the air vent again and then himself after her. When they finally got settled they looked down to find no sign of the "monster". "Well...now what?" Scully asked in an exasperated voice. "How should I know?" Mulder quipped back at her. "Hey! You got us into this mess! Now get us out!" Scully barked as she turned and started crawling through the dark vent tunnel. "Whatever!" Mulder mumbled as he followed her. "What happened to your dress?" Mulder eyed her tan legs escaping from under the dress..just enough not to see anything he shouldn't see. He grinned. "Just shut up Mulder! Shut up!" Mulder smiled to himself as he took in her angry words. He never thought in a million years he would be there right now crawling through a tunnel,,,,dark tunnel,, watching Scully's legs moving while he smiled about it! Gee..he thought..wonder what will happen at next year's ball.....but first he knew he had to tell Scully about the..the...well whatever it was... Scully was about to scream just for the sake of screaming when she finally felt a draft on her fingers. she looked down into what appeared to be a deserted lounge room. "Ok Mulder..I found somewhere that we drop into..." "Sure...Fine...Whatever.." Scully sighed as she watched Mulder slide his fingers into the grate and lift it up. In no time Scully and Mulder were standing together surveying the little room. "Ok..what gives?" Scully asked him as she firmly planted her arms across her chest. "Scully? Look..you have to trust me on this ok? Earlier tonight someone warned me that someone may ..." "Someone.....Someone....Who Mulder??" "Someone ok? Alright the bartender said.." "The Bartender???You are willing to trust a bartender??"Scully raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Yeah well anyway...he said that someone may try to burn the building down....but I don't think it is a someone...I think it is a something..." Scully just stood there and looked at Mulder silently. "And I think that something is that black smokey thing that attacked me!" More silence. "And I have tried to do the research in my head...a couple of weeks ago I remember an article in the Daily that said something about mysterious fires that just came out of nowhere. Many firefighters would arrive at the scene and see a black smoky looking thing that seemed to move about all on it's own......" "Mulder..." "I know what you're going to say. But you have to believe me! Someone is capable of directing a force so strong that it can create fires and cause havoc....." "Mulder!! that's so insane! I have never in my years heard sucha thing!!" Scully yelled as she flung her arms about trying to make her point. "Sure....fine.....don't believe me....but I'll tell you something...it is out there...and it wants to kill us!" Scully couldn't take it anymore. She gave Mulder one final irritating look that she knew he hated and turned around stomping off to the door. She never even looked back as she opened the door and went out into the hallway. At the end she saw the damage that was done. She stood shocked as her eyes took in the ballroom. There were ashes everywhere....covering the tables...the floors..and yet nothing seemed to be burnt through....just coating everything. She felt Mulder's prescene at her side without looking. He seemed as silent as she was. "Scully? See? See what it did?" "Mulder....where did everyone go??" she noted to herself that the alarm was quiet. "I don't know, but I want to find out." Mulder gave a tiny smile at Scully. He then took her arm and led her through the tangle of tables towards the outside doors. Scully suddenly slipped and fell hard on something. "Ouch!" Mulder looked down at Scully. He was helping her up when he spotted what she fell over. Scully gasped as she recognized her old crush. Jonathan was lying dead on the floor covered in dark ashes with his mouth frozen in half smirk. Mulder couldn't help but feel a little smug about the discovery....especially since only hours before this man had HIS Scully in his arms. If only he could figure out how he died... Mulder stopped when he heard a whimpering behind him. He slowly turned and saw Scully crying with little tears running down her cheeks. Mulder immediately felt guilty at his horrible thoughts of the dead man and took Scully into his arms. "There there" Mulder whispered in her ear. "It will be ok" he said and started rubbing her back in small circles. This only brought more tears and louder whimpering. He looked down at Scully and brought her chin towards him. His eyes sank into hers and he about died when he saw the depth of her sadness. Sadness for what? he thought. He knew he had to do something.....and fast. "Scully...I'm sorry....for everything." He leaned lower..closer to her. "I know I've been a jerk tonight. For getting jealous and making you feel bad...." "No Mulder...it's not you. You have been.." Scully searched for the right words to express herself. "You have been......oh...perfect. That's it. Perfect." Scully searched his eyes for some sort of response...something to let her know that he understood. His only reaction though was to lean down furthur....their lips so close... She could almost taste his lips on hers.....she breathed and closed her eyes and waited... CRASH!!!!! The Belle of the Ball Part Five Mulder started to lean towards Scully. His lips were getting closer and closer.... and closer... Crash!! "What was that!?" Scully exclaimed. "I have no idea" Mulder murmured as he untangled himself from Scully and turned around searching for the source of the noise. "Agents....it's just me." "Skinner! Where did you come from?" Mulder asked excitedly. "I saw the fire....then I hustled to get everyone out the back door....that's where they are now....and we are waiting for the special fire squad to show up." Skinner added a last comment taking a quick glance around, "So why don't you take Agent Scully home now, Mulder?" "What? And leave now? With no idea of what's happened?" "Agent Mulder..Im ordering you to go home now...both of you" Skinner answered eyeing Scully's tore-up looking dress and black smudges covering her knees and elbows. "NO" Mulder stated forcibly. "Agent Mulde..." "No....not until I get some answers" Mulder turned to grab Scully's arm and lead her to the back hallway. Skinner quickly caught up with them and plowed into Mulder's back. Mulder lost his grip on Scully and fell to the floor. He tried to get up when Skinner jumped on him, straddling him against the dirty floor. "Scully! Run! Get help!" "Agent Mulder...listen to me..both of you. You do NOT know what is going on here. You don't understand. Now both of you are going to leave. You" pointing at Mulder while glaring fiercly at him "are going to take Agent Scully directly home. You both are going to forget this night ever happened. You will not ever mention this incident again. Understand??" "The only thing I understand is that my butt's asleep!" Skinner realizing what he said stands up, releasing Mulder's body. "Sir...with all due respect...there is a dead....umm..dead man over there," Scully points behind her as she speaks, "and I want to know why I was locked inside a restroom...had to crawl through an air vent to get out...." Scully's voice gradually getting louder, "Tore my dress...this dress that my mother bought...and now you want us to walk away????" "Why yes Scully..I do believe I did just say that" Skinner retorted. "If you value your jobs at all, I suggest that you both do as I say." "Sir may I?" Mulder asks to Skinner, indicating that he wanted to try again. Skinner nods. "We are your agents. And I understand that. You said once that we had free terrain over cases that we thought were neccessary to investigate. But now you are confusing us by telling us to forget it? How sir are we to forget it?" "Just walk away. Just stop thinking and walk away" Skinner whispered as he turned his back and started to walk back the way he came. "But sir!" "Mulder? It's no use," Scully sighed. "Would you please just take me home? Now?" "Scully," Mulder began but then stopped as he took a long look at an exhausted ....and dirty Scully. Mulder breathed as he pulled Scully to his side and they slowly walked away. "Thank you" Scully said politely as Mulder opened her apartment door for her. "Sure." Scully walked to her kitchen and put a pot of hot water on the stove. Gee, she thought, I never expected a ball to be so exhausting. Not to mention having to hear Mulder rant and rave all the way to her place. After a while he just got quiet and settled into his thinking mode. She had been thankful at last. Now she had to get cleaned up and try to help Mulder figure out what had happened that night. As soon as Scully had changed and freshened up, she found Mulder sitting on the couch staring at the wall. "Mulder?" "Yeah?" "Tell me what your'e thinking." Mulder watched Scully as she sat down beside him. He was quiet as he sorted out what exactly he wanted to say to her. His brow furrowed as he wondered. "I think I let you down." "What? Why do you say that?" "Because. I wanted you to feel special tonight. I wanted you to feel like a princess. Cinderella at the ball. You deserved it Scully." "Mulder. That's sweet of you...but I don't want you to feel so guilty. It's not you're fault, you know." Scully replied with a floppy grin. Mulder returned the grin. Feeling inspired he stood up and offered his arm to Scully. "May I have this dance?" Scully giggled as she took Mulder's outstretched hand and spun around. "What about music?" "Scully...where we're going..we don't need music!" Scully gaffawed at this. She couldn't believe her eyes when Mulder spun her and dipped her and smile too. Suddenly he slowed down and bent his head near her ear. "Scully......" he breathed. "You're just too good to be true......can't take my eyes off of you.....you feel like heaven to touch.....I want to hold you so much...." Scully thought she would just die right there in his arms when he started singing softly to her. She had never seen Mulder so passionate before. He smiled and they both broke into silly grins and giggles. "Mulder?" "Yeah?" "Thank you for tonight." "Scully?" "Yeah?" "After everything that's happened....you are still the Belle of the Ball" Scully looked into Mulder's eyes and then she gave him a little kiss on the cheek. "Mulder?" "Yeah?" "Spin me baby!" Mulder and Scully both erupted into laughs as he started to spin her again continuing long into the night............ A long curly wisp of dark smoke floated around an older man as he stared at two people dancing and laughing. He had followed them earlier from the Ball, and now he was looking through the curtains at the scene before him. The man slowly turned his head and eventually walked back to his parked car. He pulled his coat a little more snug around himself as gave one final glance at the lighted window. "Maybe next time, my friend" the man whispered seeming to himself. He watched as the curly black smoke settled into the vase, it's home, at least for now. The old man bent his head a little as he lit up a Morley. He puffed it, inhaling a little, and letting the feeling push away his anxiety. Finally satisfied, he put the cigerette out, turned the ignition, and slowly drove away down the street. "Next time." THE END Well??? Did u like it??? let me know ok??? jewlz@vnet.net Look forward to my next story. It's a Halloween special!!!! It has an All-star cast.....including the Black Smoke!!!! So look for it coming to an X-files creative newsgroup near you!!!!!!!!!