*************************************************************** This author's e-mail has changed to: patfiler@hotmail.com *************************************************************** From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 25 Nov 2003 20:20:36 -0000 Subject: Growing Up Together by Pattie Source: direct Reply To: pattie@parentpatch.com Title: Growing Up Together Author: Pattie Rated: PG Category: Mulder/Scully UST, some poetry. Summary: Mulder sets out to teach Scully to live a little on a Saturday night. Archive: Gossamer, any other nice home. Tell me where I'm going. Feedback: pattie@parentpatch.com. Don't be shy. I don't bite! Disclaimers: Mulder, Scully and The X-Files belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions and Fox Studios. No pay; no stepping on toes. "As I think back to all the old case files- The demons, the monsters, the thousands of guaged miles, I ponder the wisdom of trying to answer The questions, the mysteries, the unresolved histories." Aw, there goes the phone. That's what I get for finally taking Tara up on the poetry contest bet. She said she'd get published before I ever did, even though Bill could rattle off every drinking song I rewrote as a kid. Being a sailor's kid isn't the easiest life. Next verse. "Scully." "Hey, Scully. What are you doing this afternoon?" "Well, I was just in the middle of..." "Yeah. chores. In other words nothing. Come on out and meet me in the park around the corner. It's time you got a little fresh air on a nice Saturday evening. So, put down the homework and come out and play!" "But..." "No but's about it, Scully. We've both logged too many hours lately, and staying in on our off-time isn't the answer. Say you'll come out and play, Scully?" Well. I am a bit stuck. Maybe it'll clear my head. "Okay. I'll be there in five minutes. And Mulder?" "Yes, Scully?" "No leads, messages from informants or secret sources." He is notorious for leading me on some off-beat hunt for the unexplained, and I am not in the mood to be shot at tonight. "I promise. No chases or aliens. Just the company of your highly intelligent, handsome partner." Just the company of my highly egotistical partner. "All right. I could use some intelligent company. See you there in five." At least I got the last word. Save to folder and out I go. SEVEN MINUTES LATER "Hey, Scully. See the full moon and the stars? Ordered them just for your viewing pleasure." He's smiling. There must be a catch. Don't do this, Spooky. "And?" "And it's a beautiful evening to play in the park, Scully. Look how we live: We work, we rest, we work. Since I couldn't arrange a sea cruise or a week off, I thought we'd just unwind here." "In the park." "Well, there's a swing set, a hop scotch area, even monkey bars." I laugh. "And what do you want to be when you grow up? Mulder, I haven't been on any of those things in years! Let's either sit on that bench over there or walk around a bit." "Growing old already, are we. C'mon. I'll push." I guess I can handle the swing. "Gently push, Mulder. Gently." "Always. There. Now, doesn't that bring back memories of those carefree days when you just went out and played? Life's too short to let time pass you by without just one more swing, isn't it?" "Yeah. I am kind of enjoying this. Mulder, do you ever wonder what it will be like when you grow older?" "Like when we were in the Norwegian Sea?" He's pushing a little harder, but it's so much fun! "See? You're smiling. You like this." "Yes. But I mean, when you really grow old. When your work is done and you hopefully have a family and memories of the good old days?" "These are the good old days. I left my cell phone at home, there are no reports of sightings, and it's a really nice evening. Enjoy. Don't be so serious. Remember The Falls of Arcadia?" "Yes. The owner was so serious about enforcing all his rules he forgot the part about living real lives, having different people with different tastes and habits." "Precisely what I mean. And sometimes, you have to make your own fun. Which is what I'm doing with you now." I jump down from the swing. "Well, have you ever played hop scotch?" "Teach me!" Okay, so he's a little awkward at it. But he's getting the hang of it. It's my turn, and I find out I'M the one who needs more balance. Maybe there's a lesson here somewhere. "Gee, I guess we have to do things while we're still able to. Life's kind of a balancing act, right?" "Right again, Dr. Scully. Now, how about a walk down the street to the ice cream stand. We can pretend we're growing up together. No bizarre freaks of nature in our path, no pizza guy an hour late." We walk around the corner to the ice cream parlour, and suddenly it hits me: I have many more hopes and dreams to fulfill. "I guess it's just Fate, then." "About what, Scully?" "I haven't seen one oddball creature, haven't heard any talk about conspiracies, syndicates or crackpots. I guess I was just ready to break out and live for the moment. There are so many things I just haven't done, Mulder. And I need to do them. And don't leer at me like that. You know what I mean." "Yeah, I do. But please, let me leer at you behind your back like I always do." "I'll catch you at it, you know that," I say with a smile. "Race you to the ice cream!" He let me beat him to the parlour and just laughed. "After this, I'm going home. A kid like you tires me out." And when I get home. that poem will be written from a much better perspective. And it will have nothing to do with our careers! Pattie *** Author's note: Thought I'd challenge myself by picking some random words and integrating them into a story. growing old together careers bizarre Arcadia pizza guy cell phone seas thoughts dreams Fate Looks like I used them all.