From: "Randolph de Leon" Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 00:47:15 -0800 Subject: Sub mission For The Gossamer Project Okay wrote a Fan-fic. But after I was finished with it I couldn't decide which ending to put in so I made 2 endings, Number one, Friends Forever Mulder felt a twinge of excitement as the plane passengers started to arrive. His best friend stepped out of the hallway. He raised and tapped his hand a little to show him where he was. He instinctively walked over carrying his quite large duffel bag. "Josef!" He exclaimed as the met each other. "Hey Fox." He greeted as they came closer. They started to walk together. "So how is you and Clarise?" Mulder asked. "Well besides the fact that we broke up two summers ago." He mused, "It's been so long since we've talked." He let his duffel bag run through the scanner. Mulder flashed his badge and handed the guard his gun as he past through, taking it from him on the way back. "How's Diana doing?" "Oh, Diana, she's running the X-files now. I'm just a field agent." He scratched his head "So who's your partner now?" "Oh, her name is Dana Scully, a real gem. I've been with her for about six years now." Mulder informed him. "With, with her?" Josef asked. as the neared the parking entrance. "No, no Scully wouldn't do something like that." Mulder sighed. "She's here, actually she was supposed to park the car." He shrugged. "And now she's g..." "Right here," Scully intercepted. She caught up along side Mulder. * * * * * * Josef rubbed his eyes. It couldn't. It can't. But could it? Dana Scully. A name that would never leave his mind. She was beautiful. But could she be the one? He stared at her as the walked. She approached him softly. "Hi, my name is Dana Scully." She held out her hand. Josef fought the urge to kiss it and took it in his own and made a brief but unforgettable shake. She was the one in his dreams. He had never met her before never even spoken to her before. But she was in his dreams. "Hello." He said without trying to squeak "My name is Josef, Josef Pacatrey." He felt his heart do a flip flop as she smiled at him. God she was beautiful. "So Josef, How long have you known Mulder?" Scully asked as the walked through the series of parked cars. "Well, we met in Oxford, freshman year," He cleared his throat "As a matter of fact I introduced him to Phoebe." He stopped as he saw Dana's face slightly redden "Do you know Phoebe?" He asked innocently. "Yes." She said sourly. "Oh okay." He answered as they reached Mulder's car. Scully unlocked Mulder's trunk with the key. Mulder helped Josef tuck his duffel bag securely in place in his trunk. Mulder sat in the front seat. Before anyone else could get in Josef opened the back door for Scully. "May I call you Dana?" Josef asked as she entered. "Of course." Scully answered blushing from such polite manners. She liked Josef, he was kinda sweet. Josef resumed his place in the seat in front of her. * * * * * * Mulder and Josef entered the Nice hotel room. Mulder dropped Scully off before going here. "So," Josef started. "Dana's pretty hot huh?" Mulder looked at Josef like he had just said the most absurd thing ever known to mankind. "Hot?" "No Fox, I haven't told this to anyone, till now." He sat down on the bed. "I have had dreams. Strange dreams. Dreams with her." "With Scully? You just met her." Mulder sat down across from him. "No I met her along time ago." He shifted "Long before I even knew she existed. About four years ago." "Your mental," Mulder teased. "You like her don't you?" "No," Josef lied, not really lying, he loved her not just like but love. Josef quickly made up an excuse, "No, just trying to set you two up." "Nice try, but it's against the company policy," He smiled and shrugged the idea off. * * * * * * "So, how's Josef doing?" Scully asked as Mulder entered plopped down in the seat next to her in the middle of the busy floor. "Well I don't know, it's Friday night, we have the entire weekend off, I mean you do. And we all remain dateless for Friday night." "No." Scully stated. "Come on Scully, I mean Just the three of us going out for a movie can't be too bad?" Mulder backed off innocently. "Don't you guys have a lot of catching up to do? I mean why do you need me?" "That's exactly a reason. See there has always been this problem with me and Josef. See we have never had anything to ever talk about. If you're there we can burrow into your life and talk about that." Mulder explained. "Have you ever considered the reason why that it's like so is you two are exactly alike, as in you are both listeners not talkers, replyers, afraid that if you talk that you'll reveal too much about yourself?" "You actually use your physiological degree for every day life?" Mulder smiled. "Just for you Mulder, just for you." "The psychology thing? or the movie thing?" "Both, but, no movie, just dinner. I'm afraid people find it disturbing to have people talking in a theater." She raised one eyebrow. "And also considering the fact that we are a party of two guys and one girl. Hardly my standards." "Since when were you Miss. Image?" Scully rolled her eyes and ignored the comment, but what did that mean? Did that mean she had no sense of style? Ha! She'd show him, tonight will be a little bit more fashionable. * * * * * * Mulder drove his car with Josef by him. They were all going to eat at a remotely formal restaurant. Formal enough at least to be wearing suits, all suits that is. Scully only wore suits, as usual. * * * * * * Scully clipped on a pair on small sapphire earrings, the ones that matched her eyes. Her Black dress, just up to little lower than her ankles and the short, short long-sleeved sparkly small jacket that ended just bellow her breast. She heard the knock on the door. Okay, so she wore just a tad bit more make up than usual, okay a lot more. Just because she wanted full effect with her eye shadow. She answered the door. * * * * * * Josef felt as if he was going to have a heart attack. God, Dana was so beautiful tonight. He felt like literally sweeping her off her feet like a prince and his princess. Her eye shadow went with her earrings, and her eyes, you could just get lost in the deep sea of blue. "Umm..." Josef said quite speechless. "Mulder's waiting downstairs." "As in in the car downstairs?" Scully felt like killing Mulder. "No as in waiting in the lobby downstairs." Good, Scully thought now the shocking can come somewhat in view. "So, let's get going." he took his arm casually and walked down the stairs. Josef couldn't stop looking at Dana, like looking away from her was a sin. They reached the ground floor. Josef saw Mulder, Mulder saw Josef, Josef saw Mulder shocked. A quick swarm of jealousy wiped on his face as Scully left his arm to join Mulder. She really was just beautiful. * * * * * * The three of them sat in a booth in a nice Italian restaurant. On one side Scully and Josef sat, and on the other Mulder did. For the past hour the had been talking chatting away about everyone's life, stories. Scully had taken an instant liking to Josef, and for some reason found him strikingly familiar. And cute too. For some reason though, every time she looked at him, memories would comeback, indescribable memories. Like she knew him, and every time he would tell a story, she would have one exactly like it. It's the makings of a soulmate. "So we'd better get going." Mulder interrupted her trail of thought. They all stood up. Scully once again took Josef's arm and exited the restaurant. "You know what?" Josef said as they got into the car. "What?" Mulder asked. "I know this great place." * * * * * * The three of them walked down the streets. Mulder and Scully were dumbfounded that Josef knew a "Place" here. They reached some glass doors. Event through the thick walls they could here the jazzy music from the inside. Oh no, Mulder thought. Music means dancing. Dancing equals embarrassment, embarrassment plus Scully. He tried to hide the fear welling up inside of him. They all entered feeling very displaced. Scully smiled as she saw a bunch of couples swinging on the dance floor. He brought us to a swing place.... deviant... very deviant. Scully loved it. She had never swung before. "Swing?" Mulder asked skeptically. "Yup." Josef closed the door behind him. I've been doing it for 7 and a half years." He knocked on the doors that said employees on it. A tall thin man with a gotique answered "Yo! Vercase!" "Serechenio!" The man said and took each other in for a short embrace. "So! Who is this lovely lady?" He took Scully's hand and kissed the back of it. "This is Dana." He put his hand on her back "And you remember Fox right?" "Yo Greyhound!" He took Mulder's hand. Mulder shook it, trying to figure out who the hell it was. then he knew "David?" Mulder said as he cave him a quick hug. "It's the hair huh?" He said rubbing the buzz on his head. "So? How's it going?" Mulder asked, happy that he had remembered Josef's old roomy. "Yo, fine. Yo, lets dance." He said taking Scully in hand. "I've never swung before." Scully giggled trying to talk above the jazzy band on stage. "It's easy just follow me." He took both her hands. He swung back and fourth keeping a cute beat with his feet. Scully caught on quickly. Keeping his pace. "Your getting the hang of it." David complimented. Scully sighed in relief realizing that this wouldn't be such a bad night after all. "This is cool." Scully commented. "Ready to be airborne?" He asked in quite a rush. "Airborne?" "Just grab on to my shoulders and hold tight," She hesitantly held his shoulders firmly. David, on autopilot grabbed her waist bringing her up on end, She quickly stayed in a momentum of air, doing a handstand o him shoulders. "Oh shit!" She said as he released her. David put out his arms letting her land safely in his arms. "Have fun up there?" He asked as he let her feet touch the ground. They automatically went back dancing. "Oh my god!" Scully said letting her dimples show. " That was so cool." She let him spin her. " How did you learn to do that?" "I've been doing this for 14 years now Dana." He smiled. "Don't you know your job as well?" "I think so.." "Wanna try something else?" He asked as he spun her out than spun her back in she was backed into him. "Now kick!" He raised from under and made a perfect sisscor kick over his head. She landed lightly on her feet. And winced in pain. "You okay?" David asked with concern. "Yeah just pinched a nerve." She heard someone calling David and turned around. "Versace!" A healthy young lady came into the dance floor. "Yo! Dana this is my dance partner and wife." He let them shake hands. "Hello." Scully said pleasantly. "What do you do for a living?" The woman asked. "Well.." Scully cleared her throat "I'm an FBI agent." "Ahh! The FBI! Hello my name is Larissa." She took Scully's hand in hers and shook it eagerly. "Dana," Josef interrupted, "Ah Larrisa!" He gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek " Dana shall we?" Josef took Scully's hand while Larissa and David became partners. "I hope your as good as David." Scully warned. "Well, what's better than the teacher is the student." He took her hand and the did a different dace step. Stepping backward and keeping one foot planted. Scully and Josef did several moves, simple ones, like a few spinning. "Want to do something more advanced?" "Want my true opinion?" Josef nodded "The hell ya!" He took her arms and boosted her for a sisscor kick. She soared over his head and back on the ground. "Thank god!" Scully said as she landed, "Thank god I didn't wear my heels." She made a few clicks with her low plats. And they danced. For over five minutes they danced until Scully finally realized, something, something she just had to know. "What do you do for a living?" She asked as they swan back and forth. The made a double twist, still holding hands. "I'm a cardiologist." He said as he spun her with one hand. "And why are you here?" She conjoined hand with him once again doing a side ways dance. "I'm here... I'm here on business. One of my patients has a serious heart problem. A real serious one. And I'm here to temporarily be a personal physician." He took her arms and let her to a handstand-flip Landing his back to her. He grabbed her hands and pulled her around so they were dancing again. Then he did something his mind told him to. He puled on her arm spinning her out of range of his body. waited for a sec then pulled her back in, in such a perfect motion that they ended up their lips parted only by the width of a hair. Scully only stood there not moving, and for some reason she didn't want to move. Josef's lips found hers and they kissed. Just a light soft, long kiss, that seemed to last forever. Scully and Josef didn't pay attention to the world around them, nor did they pay attention to the fact that Mulder was watching them intensely. They just kissed. The kiss ended. * * * * * * Mulder felt.... he felt hopless. Like he couldn't stop the thing that was hurting him so much, his two best friends...... * * * * * * Scully and Josef recovered from their kiss. They started to dance again, their eyes locked. They didn't see Mulder leave, or the painful look in his eyes, they just kept on looking at each other. "Get ready..." Josef said as he reeled her in and Sung her by his sides. They felt, like, for some reason they were walking on air, dancing at least. At a change of pace the song turned into a slow love song. Josef glanced over at the band and saw Versace talking to the cellist, Well I wonder! Scully and Josef moved closer. Josef wrapped his arm around her waist, he could feel her breath on his neck. * * * * * * Mulder felt anger rise in him.... He walked out of the bathroom and back into the club. But the Jazzy mood was all gone now, and people were slow dancing. Mulder saw Josef and Scully, so close.... He ran out of the club and started to walk back home. * * * * * * Josef knew that the woman he was holding he loved. He felt like the luckiest man alive. Scully laid her head on his chest. She was so immaculate, so flawless. Scully was like a complete and total angel. He felt himself smile so broad that it was wider then the circumference of the earth. He had finally caught the right one. * * * * * * Scully loved the feel of Josef's arm around her. Her feet hurt, they hurt from the dancing. But somehow Josef made her forget about the pain, and the FBI and the X-files was long gone. Trapped somewhere inside her head in a drawer, locked, locked.... And her conscience taunted her with the dreaded key. Man that sucks. She laughed in her head. Her attention converted to the seat in which Mulder was seated. He was gone. Maybe he was in the bathroom. Or maybe he just had to go. Or maybe he had seen her and Josef kissing. She quickly pulled away from Josef. "What's wrong Dana?" Josef said as a pinch of fear stung his heart. "Where did Mulder go?" She still moved her feet in a slow dancing movement. David quickly went to Josef's rescue. "Oh, greyhound go an important cal he said he had to go." "Oh... okay." She resumed the slow dancing position and finished the rest of the song. * * * * * * "So how long will you be here?" Scully asked as her and Josef walked down the streets of Washington. "Oh as long as it takes for my patient to get better." He smiled and wrapped one arm around her waist, bringing her closer. "This patient must mean a lot to you huh?" "Oh, let's just say he's my most loyal one." He smiled. "So what are you doing tomorrow night?" "You're asking me on a date aren't you?" "You took 4 years in medical school and you had to ask to know." He chuckled. "Well, I'm free most of the day.... but I have an autopsy to do. Do you want to help me?" "Well I'm not to good with dead people.... but okay, for you." Josef and Scully arrived at her apartment. "Bon soir." Scully said as they reached they doors. "Je t'aime." Josef replied. Scully smiled, he's probably fluent like me. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the lips. Feeling sure this relationship would go further than one might imagine. * * * * * * Scully, for once smiled as she greeted the morning. She finally had something to truly be happy about. She grabbed up the phone checking the time at the same time.... ahh, it was nine 'o'clock about two hours until the autopsy maybe she could have a late night with Josef. She looked at her hand in which she had written Josef's number right before she slept. She sped dialed Josef's number . "Hello?" Josef said. "This is Dana." Scull said cheerfully. "Do you want me to pick you up?" "Sure, Can we go out to breakfast first?" "You just keep on reading my mind." Scully said lusciously. "Au revoir," Josef said with a chuckle "Je vous prenai dans vingt minutes." "D'accord." They hung up. Scully felt kinda sad she used to speak French with Mulder. Scully put on something a little more causal than usual, which meant a cardigan and jeans. She just didn't fee like wearing a suit with Josef. It was about a fifteen minute drive to the hotel. Author's Note: If you do not know French, look it up. That's what I had to do. Scully knocked on the hotel room door. Josef came out. She smiled to herself. He was wearing a sweater and jeans too. They are so alike. They stopped by a nice little French cafe. They sat down in a nice white table, peering out into the park. "Dana..." Josef started to say. "Non... prenez mon main." She took her hand in his and looked into his eyes. She didn't want to worry... She just wanted to sit. "Je ne veux pas m'inquieter." And they sat there. The waiter brought them coffee. They drank it, but somehow their hands never released. They left still holding hands. Scully felt... different, different somehow that she was joined in hands with person. Yes her and Mulder had somewhat held hands during personal dilemma's, but not like this... not like a love. She had known Josef for 3 days. But she hadn't. It's like, when you forget a dream.... some parts you can remember, and somehow Josef seemed to be in all of them. The ones that she had blocked out. The ones she chose to ignore, but why? Why when it felt so good to be around him, to felt his hand in the palm of her's to know that there was someone there for her besides Mulder. And then there was Mulder.... What about Mulder? He doesn't even know. He probably left before.... before? Before or after? Had he left after Josef and her kissed? Had he seen her? Just as her heart begun to hurt, just as her head begun to swirly with emotions, Josef brought her closer, slightly hugging her, making her forget, like he could read her mind, or at least some type of mental distress signal. But just because the thought was forgotten for the moment, didn't mean it would just go away. * * * * * * Scully snuggled up beside Josef as much as she could in the uncomfortable movie seats. They were going to watch PHSYCO. A simple remake of the original, but that was okay, she never saw the original one anyway. They had already finished the autopsy, Josef was such a good doctor. Scully saw the beginning credits flash on and she let herself fall into the movie. * * * * * * Mulder sat at his desk in the office. He had no reason belong there, he even had the day off. What the hell? He had nowhere else to go. All he could do besides this was, sleep. And Scully.... He could be out with her, or Josef. Which was what he was supposed to be doing before the unfortunate events last night which enabled him to face them. And the problem.... Why the hell was he so angry? Scully never mad a vow to Mulder that she would never see another man in her life? It's not like Josef didn't warn him. It was the injustice. Why whenever Mulder became remotely interested in a girl Scully pounces on him and gets in this jealous rage. Became interested? He he.... Now that she's seeing someone gives me an openline. I can see someone now, because I'm just being so mature with her and Josef. Mulder didn't stop to think if he was lying to himself. * * * * * * Josef and Scully were back. They were back to swing the night away. They had even went shopping to find the best swing clothes they could get. Scully had even put on a pair of boxers. They were just off. Twisting and turning and Scully was flying. This was a spotlight of everything just being with Dana was good enough for Josef. She was just so perefect. And her laugh. He just could live forever knowing he could hear helr laugh whenever he wanted to. And they danced, without a care. David and Larissa came out o greet them. "Josef, Dana!" Scully stood, only now noticing how well there names went. "So you're back eh?"Daid smiled "Where's Greyhound?" "Don't know." Josef grinned. "I haven't seen him all day." David took Scully's hand. "May I?" He asked Scully. As they walked to the dance floor. "Let's go." Josef took Larissa's hand. They danced, and laughed and copied eachother. They danced the night away, they switched partners till midnight. When it was time to go, Josef walked Dana home to her apartment "So, you want to stop by the office with me?" "It's twelve 'oclock Dana." He smiled and kissed he on the lips. "I'm serious, I need cardiologist help... Then again I could just call Dr. Seirk and spend the night with him." "Okay, okay. Let's go," Josef said with a cute giggle. "Merci mon e mourir."She gave him a quick kiss followed by a giggle. * * * * * * Yet Mulder still sat at his desk thinking, letting the hours pass by. He checked his watch, 12:28. He yawned, and heard a rambbling, a muffled talking in the distance. He saw Scully and Josef come through the hallway. They were giggling, giggling and Josef's arm was wrapped around Scully he felt betrayed, betrayed and sad. He quickly tuend around in his chair and pretended to not notice him. "Mulder!" Scully caled out across the dim empty room. She caught up to him so she was along side him "Where have you been all day?" She sat on top of his desk and crossed her legs. Mulder was standing up looking at her. Josef intruded between the pair and commented. "Fox, why didn't you call me? I left a message on your machine." Josef asked tenderly. Mulder felt like killing him. He actually was playing innocent? Damn, he probably didn't know he knew. "Well I don't know, yesterday my mom called in, my cousin had a heart attack." Yes! Mulder took the news he had gotten from his mom earlier, atleast he wasn't totally lying. "Really?" Scully asked gloomily. "I'm sorry Mulder." She hugged him, a short hug. One that meant she knew what felt like. It wasn't the same for Mulder. He would cherish that moment forever. "Fox, you have to go home. It's late." Josef stirr Mulder to the elevators. "Yeah, so you can screw Scully." He whispered as the doors closed. Josef didn't hear what Mulder said. And turned back to accompany Scully. * * * * * * Okay, so Mulder was drunk. What else could he do? Thank god he drove a cabby home. Now he was in his apartment doing drunk things. He kept on mumbling about how cruel life was. He smiled. First Sammy now Scully. "He, he." He chuckled, I should just retire and get my own talk show. Quit while I'm less damaged. He lied down on the couch, and his mind only capable of doing so, he went to sleep. * * * * * * Oh my god Mulder thought as he entered the floor. Scully was Smiling. Wonder where she was last night? Mulder sacrcasticlly thought. "Hi Mulder!" Scully said brightly. "Stop!" Mulder scolded her. "Stop what?" Sculy took a posture of defense. "Stop...." Mulder stopped not knowing what he just said. "Stop..." He looked around. "Stop stepping on my papers." He picked up the dirty folder on the ground. "Oh sorry." Scully said putting on another smile. But he had to know. "Where were you and Josef last night?" He asked trying to sound as unaccusing as possible. "Well we broke off after a while, as a mateer afact right after you left." Mulder sighed in releif. They didn't and Scully wouldn't lie. He felt his normal posture take on. "Agent Mulder!" Agent Davison called. "Kirsh wants you now." Scully waited patiently outsied assistant director Kirsh's office. Her mind couldn't get off Josef. "Scully," Mulder came out of the doors. "What did he say?" "We have to make a speech. A speech not including little green men." "You're serious?" Scully raised one eyebrow "Tommarow bright and early. I'll call you," "Where are you going?" Sculyy tugge on her jacket. "I'm going to make the arrangments." He smiled and grabbed his coat. "It's lunckbreak Scully, go eat lunch." * * * * * * Sculy felt her face drop into her hands. She was supposed to do a speech? Did Mulder know? Did he see them? Damn life is so fucking complicated. She kicked her trash can, in her office, in her apartment. She also had the doubt, not a doubt, but the doubt. The one about being pretty, or intellgent. No matter how well those two don't go together, they were catagorized in the same boat. The doubt came in every course of relationship. You have to give up to his standards, but with Josef... They were so much alike. So she had no idea who she was having the doubt for, and that led her suspicions to the only other man in her life. She loved Josef, so what? She loved Josef. She loved Josef. She loved Mulder?But... The real reason why she loved Josef might be because he's like Mulder but without the fascantation. The Samantha fascination, the reason why she and Mulder could, could never be joined. That's why she loved Josef so much, because of his Mulder side. Or beacause he loved her, she felt she owed him a love back. Then that's everything she's ever wanted, Mulder without the fascination. She had him now. There was the other choice. The one that she had lost, the Pendrell choice. But now it's the Mulder choice. No longer a Pendrell side off of the Mulder choice, now she was putting Mulder where Pendrell once was, and in place of Mulder, The Josef choice. Now Mulder was to be the man that she was sure liked her, and could always run to. And Josef, allowing Josef to put her on a petlestool while the second choice cries in the background. Another pang of the doubt hit her. Was she worthy of having a first and second choice? A knock came at her door. "Come in." Scully called. Se heard the footsteps and felt the strong hands of Josef touch the bare skin of her shoulders, admiring her sleeveless shirt. "Josef where do you want to go today?" "So now my name is Josef huh?" Sculy bounced out of her chair and practicaly squeaked. "Hi Dana." "Dear god! Bill!" Her older brother smiled. "Who's this Josef?" He smiled playing with her trow pillow. "Bille? What are you doing here?" "Oh I flew in a while ago," He smiled, and snatched up the picture of Josef on her table. "Who's this? Is this Josef?" He put the picture to his face and imitated the comical smile Josef had made in the picture. "Give that to me!" Scully snatched the picture out of Bill's loose hand. "How many boyfriends have you had since I've been gone?" Bill joked. "Leave me alone Bille." "So are you and Josef serious?" Bill asked. "Well, I guess so, we love eachother. An why am I telling this to you?" She kicked Bill in the soles of his feet "Bille where's Terra?" "Oh, she's at Mother's." He gave her head a pat. "Let's go over there. An come on, give me a hug." Scully breifly embraced Bille. "Uh um." Josef cleared his throat in the open door way. "Josef!" Scully exclaimed. She automatically noticed the breif look of jealousy on his face. "Oh, this is Bill, he's my brother." Scully was releived to see Josef relieved. "Hello Josef." Bill gave him a firm handshake. "We were just about to go to a big family picnic, want to come?" "A picnic?" Scully asked. "Oh my god! It's the second?" Bill nodded his head. "I forgot! Let me change." Scully politely excused herself to change into a casual dress. When she came back Josef and Bille were laughing. Truly laughing. Josef was doing so well. He passed the first test, Bille, now just mom, and everybody else in the picnic. I mean, She can take the rest of the day off, she was at lunch break. She grabbed up the phone and called the office, telling them she had a family emergency. She was so happy, she hadn't seen her cousins and aunties in more than half a year. "Josef!" She called into the living room, they were still laughing. "I'll ride with you honey." Scully was practically shocked that she had said the words honey. That's hard. She hadn't even slept with the man. Tough Josef took the words in sweetly. Like it was a praise, like Josef wasn't afraid to commit. She opened the door, and let Josef out first. Holding on to Bill's shoulder to keep him back. "So? How do you think of him?" She asked as they walked down the hallway. "He's better than that Mulder guy." "Humph." Scully stepped on the back of his shoe. * * * * * * "Uhh, here we are, Josef park here." She pointed to the partly crowded parkinglot. Bille parked his car alongside Josef's rental. Scully quickly jumped out of the car to the sunny day. She could already smell the barbecue. Josef caught up with her searching for directions. "Josef, just be calm, my mother's name is Ann, or you can call her Mrs. Scully. My cousins.... Okay I have lots of cousins, but that's okay you aren't supposed too no their names." They came to a series of small hills Scully was practically skipping her way to the pic nic tables, when they reached it,instantly Ann greeted them. "Dana!"She called. " Dana, I'm so glad you're here!" She dropped her voice down to a whisper, "Your aunt Jane is killing me." Mrs. Scully suddenley realized Josef was there. "Oh! You must be Josef." "Mom? How did you?" Bill walked by flashing his cell phone to Scully. Sculy made an exaperated sigh. "Mom this is Josef, Josef Pacatrey." "Ohh, what a healthy young boy." She gave Josef a handshake. "So, how long have you been in town?" Ann put her arm and pushed his back. "See you Josef!" Scully called out. Maybe this will turn out alright. * * * * * * Scully smiled and squirmed in her seat on the pic nic table. She never thought thingd could possibly go better than this. Her entire family was in love wiht Josef. It was like Josef had a charm reaction to her gene. She felt her heart skip a beat as Josef reached for Scully's hand. They had been eating and talking for the past thirty minutes. Scully was already done, and was just minggling with her cousin, Jody. There were about twenty adults at the picnic, and almost twice as many kids. Neighbors, friends, relatives, relatives of friends, they were all there. Including Father Martin was there. "Josef, let's go see the lake." She whispered. Both of them excused thereselves and walked had in hand to the side shore of the lake. It was only 2 o'clock and the sun was still high in the sky. A cool breeze teased Scully's face as he and Josef reached to the comforting shade of the a large tree. "Dana, your family is great." He said as he kised her softly on the lips. "When can I meet your mom?" She wrapped one arm around him and sat down, having Josef follow her. "Speaking of which, where is your dad?" He inched closer to her. "Umm..."Scully inhaled deepley and swallowed hard. "My father died, he died several years ago." "Oh, I'm sorry." Looked into her eyes, her beautiful eyes, and remembered the dreams, the dreams with her, the ones he had been having even before he knew her. He pushed them aside and kissed her on the her forhead, letting the soft smell of shmpoo float in his nose. "Yeah," She whispered, and her heart began to ache, not because of her father, or her loss, but because Mulder had done the same thing to her, in the hospital, when she was sick. When she was sick, when was she going to tell Josef she had cancer? Does Josef already know? And her worries evaporated, she sort of melted in Josef's arms and melded with the background, a perfect couple, all curled up together by a lake. She felt certain that this was how she wanted to spend the rest of her life. In love, with Josef, and not chasin little green men, oh no wait, not little green men, but men in black. She was in love. She was in love with Mulder's best friend. Just the name Mulder sent shivers up her spine now. Just his face, she wish he would just disappear, same with everything else. Just go away and never come back. * * * * * * "Ter, look at them." Bill pointed to Josef and Dana ont the lake shore. "They look just like us." "Like how we used to be." Terra embraced bills head, resting her arms on his shoulders and kissed the crown of his head. "They look so cute. And Josef is a good guy. A guy like him is exactly what Dana needs," He smiled approvingly. "I know isn't it great?" Ann intruded in "Dana has finally caught her man. And he is such a great boy. Fit for my son in law." "Mom, they've only been seeing eachother for 5 days." Pamela said sekptically. "Time dosen't measure love." Ann smiled wisely. * * * * * * "I love you." Scully kissed him on the chin. "You know I do too." He borught her closer and they kissed, for even longer. Scully felt a shiver, the man had already met her family. Life is great. "Josef?" "Yeah?" "What about your father?" "You'll meet him, don't worry, just wait." They kissed again and looked out into the water. The beautiful lake that matched Dana's beautiful eyes. "Now I love you even more." Scully said. "I always love you more." Josef said in a soft whisper. "Dana, you've always been in my dreams, and you always will." Scully didn't stop to analyze what he just said, she just knew it was a form of grattitude and love, she didn't know that everything he said was true. "Don't ever stop loving me, cause I won't."Scully said, just above a slow whisper. "Your heart means more than anything to me." He kissed her on the cheek. "Shh." Scully put her finger to her lips and cuddled closer to him. She let her head lay on his shoulder, and just sat there. Staring into the blue lake. "R=EAve." He whispered and kissed her scalp through her hair. * * * * * * Mulder felt his smile twist as Kirsh passed. Where the hell was Scully? What the hell was she doing? Of course, as usual work was just so boring wtihout her. e checked the clock, yawned, it was three o'clock, might as well take the rest of the day off. * * * * * * "Pull!" Scully screamed. "Pull!" "I'm trying!" Ann screamed from the back of the long line of grownups. She tugged and pulled on the rope, you could just say this is family rivalary, a game , past time favorite the Thompsons against the Scullys it was always great. This time they had Josef though and Terra. They pulled, and pulled but the Thompsons pulled too, this damn tug-o-war was the hardest. "Let go when I raise my hand." Scully whispered, her being in the front. "Pass it on." She watched as relative after relative received the message. She took a deep breath and raised on of her hands, releasng the rope, so did everyone else. He He He, Scully thought, Success, She broke down into to laughter as she sent the Thompsons flying. That was the oldest trick in the book, and the Thompsons didn't see that a mile away. "Hey!" Jerry Thompson screamed. "Dana!" Scully was still laughing at them and looseley holding the rope, Jerry had fell in the mud. Jerry Pulled the rope hard, and made Scully glide into the mud. "Yuck!!" Scully screamed as the putrid slime hit her body. "Oh my god! You're' gonna die Jerry!" Scully was intterupted by the loud laughin, specifically coming from Josef. He he he he, Scully thought, he still holding the rope. Scully jerked on the rope hard, and guess who landed in the mud? Scully laughed as Josef crashed into the mud beside her. "Dana!" Josef scolded, regaining his strength, he smiled and flung a slimy mud ball at her face. "Uh! Josef!" She scremed as the mud splattered her face. "Ha! Nice shot!" She sent a mud bal flying at him. Jerry imidatley was sen into action flinging mud at both of them. And thus the mud war began. Scully couldn't keep her eyes straight with all the mud. "Ahh!!" Scully shreaked in a highpitched voice as Josef landed on top of her. "Hi dana." He said kissing her on the cheek, finding the place with no mud. "Josef! How many people are in the fight?!" Scully asked, flinging mud at a Thompson. "Ahh! About 10 Dana!" He screamed as he was smothered with mud. "They're coming!" a Scully screamed. "HEYAH!" A thompson sreamed, the were coming with what? "What are they talking about?" Scully screamed. "Dana watch out!" A giant pail of water streamed over her, riding the mud of her dress. "AHH!" Scully screamed. "My god that stuff is cold!" A shrewd laughter came from behind her. Scully turned around and saw Jerry thriumpthlanty holding up the bucket. "Ahh!" Jerry scremed as a jet ofcold streaming water hit him. "He, he." Josef smiled raising up the hose to theother Thompsons. After a good hosing, the Thompsons finally waved the flag of defeat. Now was soccer game. * * * * * * "You better be here next year." Scully's aunt Jane said to Josef, "If you know what I mean." She nidged him in the stomch & winked towards Scully. "Good going champ," A thompson congratulated Josef, "just wait till next year, I'll beat youy in basketball next time!" "Don't we have a popular one." Scully said and wrapped one of her arms around Josef. "God, your family is so great." Josef kissed her on the crown of her head. "What's your favorite movie, Dana?" "Let's see, I like An Affair To Remember, and Casablanca." "Oh my god, those are my mothers favorite movies!" Josef chuckled. "You have a tiny britsh accent." Scully kisssed him on the chin. "I know, I get it from my mom." He smiled, "I did live there for four years." "And now you live in Chicago." Scully said looking at the ground. "About a thousand miles away." "Dana, don't worry, I'll stay here as long as I can, and I have something to show you." He stopped her, kissed her on the cheek. And took out a small velvet box. Scully gasped and opened it. A beautiful solitair shone in the darknes at night. It wasn't an engaement ring, Scully thought, it was anniversery. She look at the side. She opened her mouth and gasped again, it was two carrots. "Josef! It's beauitful!!" She fell into his arms and pressed his lips against hers. "That was just a compliment to the suprise." Josef whispered in her ear. He tok out a formal letter and gave it to her. Scully quickly skimmed through it, Scully felt her mouth drop open , it was letter reccomondation, for Josef from Pathesda. "Josef!" She kissed him on the lips. "You really want to?" "I don't care if we've only known eachother for four days. I love you." "I love you too." She mbraced him, long and warm, "Four years is long enough," Scully whispered, in her heart, thats how long she had known him. * * * * * * Mulder was half a breath from having a heartattack. Scully was wearing an engagement ring! And she still thought he didn't know! But how? She had only known her for four days. But no, he's known her for four years, Josef said he knew her for four years. What if Scully... What if Scully felt the same way, he was doomed. God! God.... god.... god...... god...... god..... no. His time had run out, all the dreams he had, had, the idea of marrying her, calling her Dana, was just gone. Mulder felt the tears coming, he scratched at his eyes, but they just fell, he saw them fall flat on one of his reports, he was sitting alone, alone in a cofee house, their coffee house, the one they ate lunch in, their coffee house. Unless that wasn't an engagment ring she was wearing, possibly just a ring. A new ring she had gotten from god knows where. And, I love her... I truly love her. Maybe it was true that I worked with any intellegent, pretty woman for six years I would love her too, but the love went deeper, into the truth, into his soul, into his past. Now all he had to do was ask. Ask about it. That damn ring. He felt his heart skip a beat, Scully walked in the coffee house, furiously he wiped the tears from his eyes and his the stained report. "Mulder," Scully called, taking a seat right across form him. "I got the DNA blots for you." "Scully, can I ask you a question?" Mulder asked, passing up the manilla folder. "Of course Mulder." "Scully, is that an engagement ring?"Mulder asked taking his hand in hers, rubbing the soft texture of her hand with his thumb. "No, Mulder." She looked down at his hand and gave it a slight squeeze. "Mulder, me and Josef... We love eachother." She bit her bottom lip, "And these past few days, we've really hit it off." "I've noticed." He broke hands with her. Scully reacted quickly "He just gave it to me as a gift. And, he might move here, adn yes we might get married." Mulder breathed in and tried to stand up, but Scully held his arm down, "Mulder, I know you think were rushing it, but four years. I've known him for four years, so for once." She looked at him painfully. Spitefuly he shooed her hand away. How in the hell could Scully do this? "Mulder!" She shouted after him, he walked into the sidewalk Scully close on his tail. Scully followed him across the street and into the parking lot. " Mulder!" She yelled finally getting him to stop and turn around. "I will marry this man with or without your apporval," He looked at her with so much hate. "Scully, are you crazy?!" He looked away avoiding her eyes. "You're goin off to marry some guy? Quit your job to be a housewife! Doing everything you've been fighting? You are independent, if you had had a motto it would be the declaration of independence! Now, you're just going to throw it all away for some pshyco?! I pity you Scully! You know what?" "Yes I do Mulder! This is one of your stupid sherades that I can just follow you with! You throw away your life, and I don't see why I have to follow you! This isn't what I want Mulder I don't want to be chasing after little green aliens for the rest of my fucking life!" Scully started to cry. "Well when you figure out what the hell you want let me know!"Walked away, letting his words carry an echo. "Shut the fuck up Mulder!" Scully kicked and empty can and ran to her car. * * * * * * All of a sudden, it wasn't about Josef anymore, it was all about the memories. Mulder... Scully reached into her desk and took out a journal, one in which she had written in when she had severe cancer problems. All she had thought about then was Mulder. Now Josef.... How must Mulder feel about it, all of memories, all of the memories all will be cast aside for Josef. "Mulder."She whispered. She took out a pen and Continued from where she had last wirtten, almost three years ago. Now as my journey ends, it may not be about my cancer, or my will to live, but for a man. My search.... My journey towards the truth, the truth that I no longer know exists has ended, the turth that he said would bring us all to a right and wrong, the truth that would explain the tearneny and harshness of the world, the that would save me,The truth He promised would. An now I step down not knowing if this man was just an escape pod for a ship that was already crumbling. That all makes me wonder if the truth is found what will happen after... The Aftermath is all that would matter. Scully saw a tear splotch the page. If the truth meant so much to her.... why? Mulder said she was independent, was doing this apart of it? She looked down at her glimmering ring, and knew Josef was connected to her cancer somehow. Like some kind of shared understanding. But why Mulder? * * * * * * Scully sat with Josef.... letting him embrace her warmly. She loved Josef, with all her heart, but he thing, she knew he was somehow somewhere besides her heart, like she knew him from somewhere else. And yet they sat there, in her apartment, they were watching TV and it was, a movie an action movie, but Scully refused to listen to it. "Dana?" Josef asked questioning her stillness. "Josef. Umm, Josef I know this may sound," She hesitated with her next words, "Spooky. But I feel like I've known for much longer than I really have. Like I've seen you in a far idstant dream." "Dana." Josef, smiled, a smile that seemed wider than than the grand canyon. He filcked off the tv and kissed her. He kissed her passionately. "What's the occation?" Scully whispered, taking breath. "I feel the same way." He whispered back and ressumed kissing her sitting down beside her. "Josef." Scully said drwing back from him, but breaking their eyes. "Today..." "What?" Josef asked softly. "Today Mulder found out that we were seeing eachother." She hesitated and took her hand in his. "We got in a big fight. An I don't know what to do any more." "Then runaway." He whispered admiring the warmth of heer hand. "Runaway with me. Marry me." He took out a velvet box, wuite simmliar to the first one. "Marry me Dana." He slid the ring on her finger so it matched perfectly with the first one. "Yes." She whispered and kissed him once again. * * * * * * "Hello Agent Scully." Mulder sat down in the seat next to her. "Hello." She kept herself busy trying to avoid any visual contact with him, scared she might confess something. "Mulder sign," She handed the papers, her papers of reassignment. She waited and braced herself for the next harsh words, the harsh words she knew would affect her. "Okay." He read it letting his mouth drop open. "To Chicago." he said nonchalantly. "Where Josef lives." He made the connection feeling his heart wallow in pain. "The least you could do is invite me." He said faking a smile. "And... your job will be carried out from there. Of course you're just going to give up the X-files for this." "Mulder, I asked myself that question along time ago and I'm sick of it." She said coldly. "I'm sick of all the damned rules I have to follow," She bit her lip to keep her temper down. "So, I'm just going to leave. To leave you, to leave this damned building, to leave the X-files all together." "Damn you Scully," He said throwing the papers on the ground. "Have a nice life," He stormed out, leaving Scully yo pick the mess up. End Number two, The Unknown Sacrafice (The first ending) Scully felt her head drop on Josef's shoulder. She was so tired she had packed all of her belongings, and now she was sitting on her couch in her empty apartment. She was moving, Hosef wasn't moving, she was. Her life hope and dreams, was all going into this marriage. She wouldn't quit her job, of course she wouldn't. She was just going to move it. She already had a desk in Chicago with her name on it. Mulder.... just hearing the name made her heart ache. She couldn't leave him yet, she couldn't leave him without saying goodbye. "Josef," Scully said taking her head off of his shoulder. "Do you mind if I go and say goodbye to some old friends?" "Sure," Josef replied smilling, nodding his head in the satisfaction of having his lover run away with him. Of course Scully had no friends to say goodbye to, she just had Mulder, her one friend which she was going to say bye to. * * * * * * Mulder heard a breif knock on his door and ran from his kitchen to the door. He opened the door to a beaitiful petite redhead. She had on a pair of black slacks, a small black jean jacket with a white sleveless underneath. "Mulder." Scully said hitting her hand against her thigh. She licked her lips and inhaled deeply, she needed it. "Mulder, can I come in?" "Sure," He took of the arm that leaned on the doorway and gestured her inside. "I just wanted to say bye before I left." Sculy half mouthed. "Yeah, well..." Mulder closed the door. "I got you a going away present." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet red box. "Mulder." Scully said taking the box slowly from him. Hoping Mulder wouldn't ask her to stay, hoping that Mulder wouldn't make this hard for her. She lightly tapped it, stalling, for somereason not wanting to open it. She pressed her thumb on the opening and watched the box quickly snap open. "Mulder." She repeated not wanting to look down. Her eyes drooped down. She felt the world around her collapse as she saw a sparkly clear diamond, somewhere aorund seven carrots, as big as both of Josef's combined. "Mulder." She said again smiling down at it. "I...I can't except this Mulder." "See Scully that's the problem, I lied. It's not a going away present. It's an engagement ring." He moved closer to her. "Scully just say yes, and tell me everything I said before dosen't matter." He said lowering his voice just above a whisper. "Mulder..." Scully closed her eyes for a second, but to Mulder it seemed more like five minutes. "Mulder, I'm already engaged." "Scully, when you're in love you can't let anything get your way. Someone who thought I was important to them told me that. And know I'm telling someone who is important to me. Scully, I know you feel the same way to, because when I look into your eyes." He took her free hand in his and looked into her deep blue eyes. "I feel you more than I've ever felt anybody. I can feel you, even when were apart. I just remeber your eyes." "Mulder..." She said her heart aching pain. "I wish I could say yes." SHe said her eyes twinkling with tears, "But...." "Then say yes. Forget about Josef and let me love you." Hesaid wnating to hear the words. "Y....."Scully said letting her voice trail off. "No." She said putting the box back in his hand. "Why?" She heard Mulder say, but she just closed the door behind her, because she knew he knew the answer. "Scully," He called to her opening the door. "What?" Scully said wanting to avoid all close contact. "If you don't love me then how do you feel about me?" Mulder asked stepping out into the hallway with her. "I never said I didn't love you Mulder." She repiled turning around, her eyes met his. "Do you?" Mulder asked inching closer to her. Scully hesitated then stepped foward reaching out to him She wraped her arms around him and kissed him, passionatley. She wanted the moment to somehow last forever. She felt the warmth of his lips and thelight prick of his short beard. Mulder moved one hand to her waist and pulled one up to her hair. The smellof her shampoo filled his nose. Knowing that this would be the one happy moment in his life. Reclulently Scully released Mulder. "I do love you Mulder." "Then marry me." Mulder whsipered again. "I can't." Sculy said sniffling letting the tears fall. "Why not? Scully if you marry him you'll be miserable. Let me make you happy." He reached for her, but she dodged it. "Mulder, I'm sorry." She siad breaking away from his touch, trying not to look back. * * * * * * "Well I guess that's all." Scully picked up the last bag and loaded it to the car. Her and Josef were leaving. Of course they were taking his rental car. She had told her mom about their marriage and she promised they would be there for the wedding. Scully would have her car in storage, she was starting over. The drive to the airport was a silent one. Ever since Scully met up with Josef she had held the tears in. Now as they arrived at they air port Scully went down first, leaving Josef to check her bags in. She entered the large airport. She was used to airports by now, considering the fact that she had been in one more than once. She held her duffle bag in hand and was wearing a pair of light sunglasses. She was wearing the same clothes that she had saw Mulder in, finding no real point in changing. "Mulder," she whispered, not because she was thinking of him, but because he was standing right there. "Hi Scully." Mulder said as she came face to face with him. "I just wanted to say goodbye and ask you to keep this." He handed her the velvet box once again. "Mulder." She said with caring eyes. "No, Scully this time it is a going away present." He smiled taking opening the box and sliding it on her finger. "I just can't leave knowing my bestfriend has nothing to remember me by." "Bestfriend." Scully whispered taking his hand and squeezing it. "Just for, sport." Mulder chuckled "One last time, Will you marry me?" Mulder's face grew serious. "Mulder...." Scully looked down at the shiny ring again, "Yes." Mulder looked up not beleiving the words that had rung in his ears. "What?" Mulder asked pinching himself to assure he wasn't dreaming. "I don't care what it takes, when you're in love you will do anything it takes." She smiled and ran to him, dropping her dufflebag, letting him take her in his arms. "Besides," She whispered right before kissing him, "You're a better kisser." End Author's Note: (Please don't think about everything Scully set up and now it all crumbles down. It is supposed to be a happy ending. You know, smile!:) Forever In Love, number three (The other ending) Mulder ran one hand through his hair. Unable the shake the feeling of this new case. It was in Chicago. Five people murdered in one night. Of course Chicago was over there panicking. Of course they had sent for reinforcements. The field agents over their just couldn't handle it. Oh and the search, the search ended along time ago, after Scully left Mulder just quit, no longer finding reasons. So far it had been two years since he had stopped thinking about X-files and nothings happened and it made Mulder think if he really was crazy all those years. Samantha, of course their was Samantha who is living her life happily somewhere else living thinking Cigarette-man is her father. Though what the hell did it matter? He read over the file and made a brief decision, he was going to Chicago to solve this case. Just like any other soul would. The truth was long since out of his head and he had gotten his reputation of one of the best agents again. Yet nobody knew what gotten him straightened out, because only he knew the fault of Scully. * * * * * * Agent Pacatrey was a beautiful petite red head. She had a husband and was thinking of adoption. Her and her husband lived in a two story house in Chicago and were happily married. Her husband was a cardiologist, they were quite a lot more than well off. Agent Pacatrey wore two sparkly diamond rings, one two carrots, the other one five. She was facing a deep case, a multiple homicide. Like any one else Agent Pacatrey requested help from the bural. This was more than just a case, this was a phsycho. If any the agent was supposed to come in about five seconds. She was in the field office, It was actually a police station, but her office was there. And that must be the agent she thought as a man in a suit walked in. She felt her heart rate double as she saw the face of a man she knew, the one man she left. * * * * * * Mulder approached the lady in a suit. He lightly tapped on her shoulder. She spun around. Mulder felt his heart drop. It was her. "Scully?" Mulder asked quite puzzled. "No," The woman who looked like Scully said "It's Pacatrey now." "Oh my god!" Mulder said, she was married to Josef? He tried to hid his surprised and took her in for a hug. He didn't hug her because she was his old friend, he hugged her because he missed the feel of her. She was twice as beautiful as she was when she left, a lot thinner too. Her hair hadn't change too much. It all didn't matter. He still missed her, even though they left each other with a whack to the head he still loved her more than word could ever say. "Mulder...." She said pulling away from him. "It's been along time." "Scully," He whispered "it's been too long." She had no idea how many times after he had quit the X-files how much he wished he could be with her. He could hold her and love her. So he could live his life with the right one. Now she was married and far out of his grip. "I asked for one of their best agents." Scully giggled. "In the flesh, homicide specialist." Mulder flashed his badge. "The X-files has been long out of my head, but you haven't." Scully strongly avoided his eyes, "The victims are Raymond Owens, Jerry Furn, Cynthia Perkins, Lieanna Goldenburg and Sarah Vronda. All best friends. All different time of the day, all spaced in times of death about two hours." She slipped out of his hands that rested on her shoulders. She couldn't face him, she had married Josef, and left him. She had fought away six years of her life devoted to him, and now the pain was coming back. The pain that entered her heart so she could barley breathe. The feeling of love that blossomed in her heart that she fought to control. She loved Josef, and it wasn't like she could turn back time to when she left him. Why was Mulder acted as though nothing had happened, like we were just old friends that haven't seen each other in years. "Mulder step in my office." Scully directed, quite leading the way. "Scully?" Mulder asked as he entered the nice small office. "Mulder you quit the search?" Scully felt her heart burn. "Yeah Scully, isn't it great?" He smiled and took hi hand in hers. "I quit over two years ago. I've finally made a name for myself." "Mulder?!" Scully harshend her voice and broke their hands, "Mulder, no it's not great. I left thinking that you could do it, thinking that you could make it without my help." "Scully, what are you talking about?" "Mulder, what about them? I thought you were so close you could feel it burn you fingers, I knew, that you would make it on your own, that you didn't need my help anymore." "Scully who's them?" "Them Mulder, them. The ones who gave me my cancer, the ones that took your sister, The ones we fought six years against!" "I was crazy then Scully, I knew it you knew it." "Mulder You weren't crazy! I saw those things with you! It wasn't like that." "Well they must have done something right, I'm still alive aren't I?" How could you have done that?" Scully shook her head, "After all you saw, after all you've seen, you just walked away!" What the hell did you think you did Scully!" He yelled. "I left because you broke the rules. I left because I no longer found a reason to fight!" He Looked straight at her trying to catch her eyes. "I did it knowing!" Scully yelled back. "Knowing what!" Mulder glared at her intensely. "Knowing that you could just leave it all, move across the country and forget!" "I didn't want to but I needed to!" Scully looked away avoided his eyes. "You left with your nose in the air without looking back." He sneered, "You left me with my heart all banged up!" "You think it didn't hurt me too? When I lost you..." She "You didn't lose me, you didn't drop me, you threw me away!" Mulder bit his lip in hatred. "I cried, I cried and cried knowing you were there looking at the plane leave I cried. What did you think I felt!" "I don't know who you feel! I thought I knew when I fell in love with you." He felt a lone tear streak down his cheek. "You..." Scully felt her heart break. "You loved me?" "I loved you, I love you now." He felt his chest hurt. "And I felt deceived, I couldn't imagine you with him." "I..." She let herself cry. She fell into his arms, letting her sobs soak his shirt. She loved him too. She loved his arms securely around her. The shock, the shock that she was a married woman in the arms of another man, but the right man. "I....m I'm married." She whispered and pulled away from him. "Scully. No, I won't lose you again." Mulder said trying to get her back in his arms wishing to feel a comfort a knowing, a reassurance that she loved him. "I'm not going to let go this time. I can't." "Mulder, I am married." She whispered as she unsuccessfully tried to pull away from him. "Mulder, don't." She whispered. Mulder brought her body loser to his and hugged her. He smelled her strawberry blond her. He didn't want to let go of her body. He didn't want the feeling back that he had let her go again. He kissed her on the crown of her head. Scully shivered at the feel of another man kissing her. She couldn't do this. She couldn't. "No Mulder." She whispered again. Mulder still held her close. He pulled her away to look into her eyes. Her eyes met his, and Scully fell deep into his hazel brown eyes. She pulled away from him again. "No Mulder!" This time she yelled looking away to avoid eye contact, turning her head so he couldn't kiss her pushing her hands against his arms so he couldn't hug her. "Scully." He whispered, and looked at her face turned sideways for along time than released her. "I really lost you." He whispered opening the door and leaving the office. * * * * * * Scully entered her house, she memorized it already. Josef wouldn't be back until seven 'o'clock, and it was only five. She kicked off her shoes and set down her briefcase. Even though as soon as she lied down on the couch the door bell rung. She stood back up. These past few years she had lost a lot of weight and moving was somehow easier for her. She answered the door. She saw him again. "Don't close the door Scully." He said, stepping in her house. "Mulder." She said looking into his eyes. "I'm married," Mulder closed the door behid him. Mulder encircled his arms arund Scully. Scully didn't want to fight anymore. She didn't want to push him away. So she melted, she melted into his arms. Somehow her lips found his, and for the first time they kissed each other. Scully felt his hands move up and soon they were in her hair. Scully was so close he could smell his light colone and aftershave. She pulled away from his lips gasping slightly for air. "Mulder." She said lightly. "Mulder, I'm married." She stated again. "I love you Scully. I love you more than Josef ever will," He wanted to pull her closer, to feel her breath matching his. "Mulder, I know. I've always known somehow, but he was first," Scully said trying to wiggle out of his arms. Mulder felt his temperture rise at the unjustice, "He was first?!" Mulder asked releasing Scully. "He was first? What do you mean?" "I mean..." "I met you first Scully, I fell in love with you before he ever spoke his name." "Mulder...." Scully tried to explain, but for some reason couldn't find an explanation. "Scully, just admit the facts! You love him more than me!" "I..." Scully leaned against he wall in great confusion. She didn't understand what had happened. "Mulder... Just understand. I mad a vow, a vow to love Josef and only Josef. Even then, though I loved you. So I decided, I would do this! Live a normal bystandard life. Forget you! Yet, already you took a peice of me." She looked away. Refusing to meet his eyes. "And that puts me where?"He fumed. "In the no longer wanted? No longer needed list?" "I need you. I needed you. I missed you. I loved you. And I still do." She took his hand, "I could barely breath with out you." She took is other hand and put both of his palms together, "I missed you, your laugh, your smile. Your sunflower seeds." Mulder chuckled pointing his head towards the ground. Scully stood on tiptoe and kissed his forehead. "You've kept me honest, you made me whole," Scully quoting his already memorized lines. "I love you." "Please," He whispered putting his hands on her waist, "Just once." Scully nodded in agreement, they needed this, just once. Mulder brought her in and pressed his lips against hers. This time Mulder realized how perfect they were, like they were soley created on this earth for eachother. "Once." She whispered as he released her. "Good bye." Scully let her tears fall for the man she knew she had really left behind.