From: LassMulder@aol.com Date sent: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 15:28:37 EST Subject: Fondue Title: Fondue Author: Lass Mulder Classification: SRH Rating: G Spoilers: none Summary: Mulder makes a bet with the Lone-Gunmen and looses. ======== I just had - guess what? - fondue for dinner. This is a very quickly written story, done on inspiration. Whatever. Just read it. But tell me what you think!! Feedback wanted!! LassMulder@aol.com ======== "Mulder..." Scully whined. "Why this? Anything but this... I'm going to kill you someday..." "Well, how was I supposed to know you dye your hair with Clairol? I didn't even know you dyed it in the first place. You should have left it it's natural color rather than pouring chemicals on it. So it's really *your* fault." "It is *not* my fault, Mulder. How could you bet about something like hair color when you're red-green color-blind anyway? That was a stupid thing to do." Scully thought again about Mulder's bet. The Lone-Gunmen had bet him that Scully dyed her hair with Clairol. If Mulder had won, he would have gotten Frohike's video collection, which was substancially larger than his. But, as the Lone-Gunmen had won, Scully had to cook them all dinner. Mulder had been so sure he would win that he even threw in the dinner at *Scully's* house. Frohike had even gotten the color number right, for God's sake. Needless to say, she had not been happy. But she was not one to back down on a bet, even it *had* been made without her knowledge. So the pair were standing, stirring and slicing, getting ready for Byers, Langly and Frohike to arrive. A knock came at the door, and Mulder dropped the spoon he was holding and dashed over to answer it before Scully could complain anymore. The 3 Lone-Gunmen walked into the apartment, and Scully sighed. Frohike smiled at her, and she managed a small, half-hearted one in return that looked more like a grimace than a smile. "What're we having?" Frohike asked, sniffing the air. Scully thought. "Fondue. It's where you get little sticks and stab a piece of bread onto the end, and then dip it in hot, melted cheese. I've also got some fruit over here, which Mulder is *supposed* to be cutting up..." She grabbed him by the back of the shirt and pulled him back over to his post by the cutting board. "Oh, come on, Scully. I don't want to cut up any more little apples." "Well, you have to, Mulder, so keep slicing." "How long have you two been married?" Byers asked. "You guys sure act the part-" Byers was cut off as small chunks of apple were thrown at him, and Scully gave him The Look, acompanied by a wave of the large, serated bread knife she was holding. He stopped talking. "OK. Grab your Fondue stick and dip in, guys." Scully had started to enjoy herself. It wasn't often that she had *anyone* to dinner these days. Her only friend was Mulder. "Agent Scully-" Byers started. "Come on, Nark, just call her *Dana*..." Frohike grinned. "Just plain "Scully" is fine," she told them. "You were saying?" "Do you know the custom associated with Fondue?" "No... What is it?" she asked, dipping her piece of bread in, and twirling the stringy cheese up onto it before lowering it to her mouth. "If you loose your piece of bread in the cheese dip, you kiss the nearest member of the opposite sex." Scully stopped chewing, looked at Mulder, then at Frohike, and quickly jumped up from the table. "I'm not hungry anymore. You guys finish with out me." "We can't do this with out you, Scully. Otherwise we'll all have to kiss Mulder whenever we loose our bread," Langly said, recieving a hard thwap by Mulder on the arm. "Well, I'll come back to the table, but only if you agree not to play the game." "Um... Sure..." Frohike said, grinning. Scully didn't trust him as far as she could throw him, but she was armed, and still hungry, so she sat back down and started to eat. 3 minutes later, Frohike's stick came up empty. "Dana..." he said, lifting an eyebrow. "No way. Sorry. It's not going to happen." Scully scooted back from the table and started to walk away. Frohike jumped up and started to follow her. She quickly changed course and headed around the table, keeping it between her and Frohike. "It's the rules..." Langly said, enjoying the show. "Not in my house, it isn't. Which, may I remind you, is where you all are right now." Scully said, scooting away from Frohike as he changed directions. Mulder stood up, pushing Frohike back a few steps. "Sit down, Frohike. Eat your cheese." Everyone tentatively sat back down, eyeing each other suspiciously. Eating resumed, but within 10 minutes, Scully was wishing she had left earlier. "Scully, um... Your stick..." Mulder gestured toward her empty spear. He was, at the moment, sitting closest to her. She glanced at the men around her table, and Frohike leaped up again, trying to get close to Scully so he could recieve the kiss. Frantically, Scully decided Mulder was 200% better than old Fro, so she leaned over and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "You get all the luck..." Frohike mumbled as he sat back down. By the end of the evening, Scully had loosened up a little, and had given in to the game. Mulder had gotten another 5 kisses, Byers 3, and Langly 1. Both Mulder and Langly had gotten to kiss her twice, and Byers only once (at which time he blushed a deeper shade of red than Scully's hair). Poor Frohike still had yet to get a kiss. He speared his bread too viciously, and no matter how hard he tried to scrape it off the end, the bread stayed stuck. All kisses were still just pecks on the cheek, but Hey! It was a kiss. "Alright, guys, that's the last of the cheese. Are you going to clear out now, or stay and help me clean up the pots?" Scully asked. "We've got a big day tomorrow-" "I'm really sleepy-" "I'm allergic to soap-" "OK, OK, I'll see you later. Not you," she said, snagging Mulder's arm as he tried to leave with the other three. "You get to stay and help." "Thank-you, Scully. Can I have the recipe?" Byers asked as he was dragged toward the door. "Sure. And, Frohike?" Scully stepped over to him before she could think better of it, and as Byers and Langly walked out of the apartment, and Frohike stood in the doorway, she gave him a quick his on the lips. "Goodnight, Melvin..." she said, dropping her voice and easing the door closed on the astonished man. "You know you just created a monster," Mulder smiled as Scully walked to her kitchen. Scully just laughed. When all the dishes had been done, and they were either in the dish- washer or drip-drying on the drainboard, Mulder walked to the door. "I'm sorry. Again. But was tonight so horrible?" he asked, putting on his jacket. "No, it wasn't. I had fun. Good-night, Mulder." Mulder stepped out the door, and Scully shut it behind him. Leaning up against it, she said sarcastically, "Yes, actually, I had a wonderful time tonight, *Fox*. I especially loved kissing you on *six* different occasions. And aren't I so brave to be telling you this to your face, when you can actually *hear* me?" Mulder waked out to his car, quietly laughing as he replayed the little speech his partner had given through the door when she thought he couldn't hear... ======== Feedback, PLEASE!!! It's the only way I'll live!!!! LassMulder@aol.com ========