From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 03:09:04 -0600 Subject: The First Night of the New Millennium by semperfi1013 Source: direct Reply To: semperfi1013@hotmail.com Title: The First Night of the New Millennium Author: semperfi1013 Rating: PG-13 Classification: MSR Duh Spoilers: Millennium, Amor Fati, small ones for Dreamland II, Monday Summary: Mulder and Scully deal with their New Year's Kiss Disclaimer: Chris Carter, 1013 and FOX own them, I don't. I don't think I would want to, that would be too stressful. Author's notes at the end 'Oh, shit,' I think as I led Scully out of the emergency room and to her car. 'I just kissed Scully.' Not that I regretted it. No, not that in the least. I am just worried that she did. She hadn't said anything since her rather unenthusiastic "no it didn't," after I mentioned that the world hadn't ended. I was worried that she wasn't ready for it, or worse, that she never wanted it in the first place. But after what had happened outside my apartment when Scully came over to tell me about Diana's death, I was almost certain she wanted it, almost as much as I did. The memory of her lips on my forehead and her fingers gently running over my lips was still with me. It was her way of telling me she wasn't quite ready yet for a change in our relationship, but if I was patient, it would happen. And I had just ruined it by not being able to contain myself. Damnit, I am such an idiot sometimes. Finally, we reach Scully's car. With the use of only on arm and all the drugs in my system, she rightfully isn't about to let me drive myself home. I drop my arm from around Scully's shoulders and walked to the passenger side of the car. Before buckling herself in, Scully glances at me to make sure I could handle mine on my own. "This isn't the first time I've been without the use of my arm, Scully. I got it," I say, gently, not wanting her to think I didn't appreciate her help. She smiles at that remark, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, and says, "no, I suppose it isn't." I don't want to drop off in the off chance that Scully wants to talk about what had happened. Not just the kiss but any part of it. I just wanted her to talk to me. Unfortunately, my body doesn't have the same idea and I am soon asleep. "Mulder, wake up." "Huh?" I open my eyes and notice the passenger door is open and Scully is holding my bags and looking at me. "We're home, Mulder. You have to get up. I could probably manage to carry you upstairs, but you and your luggage would probably be too much for me," she said, smiling for real this time. "I don't doubt you could," I say seriously. When we reached my apartment, Scully tentatively follows me inside. "Where do you want your bags?" she asks. "Don't worry about it, Scully," I say, pulling on her arm with my good hand. "Sit down for a minute so we can talk." "Mulder, you're tired, you should be sleeping," she says, and starts to turn towards the door. "No, I'm awake now, Scully. Besides, I want to talk to you. Please," I said and pouted at her. I knew this face, especially when I was injured (from something that wasn't my fault, anyway) could convince Scully to listen to me. "Okay, Mulder," she says, sitting on the couch. "Talk." She looks surprised when I took a seat on the coffee table in front of her instead of the chair or the other end of the couch. But I need to see her when we talked about this. I need to know how she really feels and the best way to know what Scully is feeling is to look her in the eye. "First off, Scully, I just wanted to say thank you." "For what, Mulder?" she asks, genuinely surprised. Not that I blamed her. I could count on one hand the number of times I had ever thanked Scully for anything. Even though there have been thousands of times when I should have. "For saving me and Frank Black. You got there in the nick of time Scully, just like you always do. You saved my life for about the millionth time. So thank you." "You're welcome, Mulder," she says, looking touched. "But it's my job and you've saved me as many times as I've saved you, maybe more. I..." "Shhh, Scully," I said, cutting her off. "Let me finish." I leaned forward and placed my left hand on her knee and began rubbing it gently. Her eyebrows raise, but she allows me to continue. "I also wanted to apologize." "For what, Mulder?" "For kissing you," I reply. Her eyes widen and a faint blush creeps over her face. "Mulder, if you're worried because you got carried away during a once in a lifetime experience and are worried I am going to think you meant more by it than you did, don't be. I know it was just a New Year's kiss and it doesn't mean anything," she says, and suddenly becomes fascinated with the window behind me. "Scully," I say, getting down on the floor and taking both of her hands in mine, wincing as I did so. "That isn't what I meant. I wanted to kiss you. I have wanted to kiss you since...Hell, Scully, I have wanted to kiss you for so long I can't remember a time when I didn't." She looks surprised at this, and, if possible, both relieved and terrified at the same time. "Then what are you apologizing for?" "For kissing you without asking you if you were ready," I reply. "This wasn't just a New Year's kiss for us, Scully. You know that. It's one more step for us, towards the relationship we are meant to have, whatever that happens to be. And I know now that you aren't ready for a change yet. But you will be soon," I say, confidently. "How do you know?" she asks me seriously Realizing I can show her how much more effectively than I could ever in a million years hope to tell her with words, I take her face in my hands. I pull her head towards me and place a kiss on her brow that I hope is half as wonderful as the one she recently bestowed upon me. I pull back and wait until her eyes open. When they do, I look into them and run my hands down her face, caressing her lips with my thumb before I pull away completely. She looks awestruck. "Wow," she says. "Did it feel this amazing when I did that?" she asks in a whisper. "It was pretty incredible, Scully," I say with a slight chuckle. She is silent for awhile and I am starting to get worried. "Hey, you okay?" I ask. "Yeah, I am just thinking about how much it meant to me when you told me I make you a whole person, that I am your constant, your touchstone. But I can't put how I feel about you into anything that eloquent. I just know that you are the most brilliant, generous, thoughtful, gorgeous, infuriating, stubborn man I have ever met." She pauses as though considering whether she should continue. "And I love you." My eyes are welling up and I can't help myself. I bury my face in her neck and cry. I know it's not the most macho thing to do, cry when the woman you are hopelessly in love with tells you she loves you, but I couldn't help it. Scully, bless her soul, leaves her place on the floor and joins me on the floor, holding me to her and stroking my back When I finally recover, I sit up and plant another kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry, Scully. I love you too, so much. Whenever you are ready to move forward, just let me know. Just make it before I turn 40, okay?" She grins. "You got it, G-man." I look at the clock and am amazed to see that it is nearly 2:30. I cross the room to the window. Outside it is snowing hard and several more cars than normal for this hour are on the roads. "I don't want you to go home tonight, Scully. It's late, you're tired, the roads are getting bad and there are probably a lot of drunk drivers out. We can share the bed, I'll behave," I grin at her. "Or, I can take the couch if you want." "That's okay, Mulder, we can share. I trust you. Besides, if you try anything, I'll withhold your pain medication," she says, returning my grin. "Why don't you wash up and I'll get your bag. I even have a never-been-used toothbrush that can be all yours," I say, heading for the door. "Mulder, do you even know what bag to bring up?" she asks me. "Blue suitcase," I say and continue out the door without even waiting for her reply. "Mulder, wait," she says, suddenly. I stop and turn to face her. She is already walking towards me. "In case I take awhile to decide I am ready," she says and then presses her lips to mine. This kiss is similar to our first; soft, chaste, wonderful. But just before breaking away, Scully gently traces my bottom lip with her tongue. 'Wo...' My eyes slowly open to see Scully heading towards the bathroom. When I return with the suitcase, Scully is standing in the bedroom doorway. "When did you get a bed?" she asks. "When we came back from Nevada, it was just here." "You don't know where it came from?" "No. And it used to be a waterbed." This gets an eyebrow raise from Scully. "And it used to have a mirrored ceiling," I continue. This raises the other eyebrow. "Are you sure I've never told you this before?" I ask. "Yes." I shrug and hand her the suitcase. "You can change in here. I have to wash up first," I say and head for the bathroom. I walk back in to see Scully sitting on the edge of the bed. "What side do you normally sleep on?" she asks me. "The right." She pulls back the covers on the left side and crawls in. I walk over to the other side and do the same. Soon, we are lying on our sides, facing each other. Sensing that Scully isn't totally comfortable with this new arrangement, I reach out and take her hand in mine. "Relax, Scully. Think of this as a sleepover." "I don't think my mother would approve of me having sleepovers with boys," she says, smiling. I laugh at that. "Then we won't tell her." Scully closes her eyes as if she's thinking and then opens them like she has come to a conclusion. Not taking anymore time to think, she scootches over until she is lying against me and tucks her head under my chin. I wrap my arms around her and rub her back, listening to her breathe and feeling incredibly lucky to be experiencing this. Perhaps this year is going to be better than the last, after all. "Mulder?" Scully's voice drags me from my thoughts. "Yeah?" "I think I am going to be ready tomorrow morning," she says, softly. I pull her tighter to me and kiss her head. "I'll set the alarm," I say. It's quiet for a few minutes until I can't resist any longer. "So, you think I'm gorgeous, Scully?" I tease. She laughs into my chest. "Shut up, Mulder and go t sleep. Tomorrow will get here faster if you're asleep." I shut up. Author's Notes: This is the third fanfic I've posted and the first one I haven't thought was at least a little stupid. Feedback is appreciated at semperfi1013@hotmail.com. Should I continue or stick to just reading it?