From: sgormle2@chat.carleton.ca (Siobhan Gormley) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: Happy Birthday? (1/1) Date: 3 Mar 1996 20:17:39 GMT This story came to me recently and has been rattling around my brain until I decided to write it down. I consider this a sort of prologue to another story I'm planning on writing, whenever I get the latest one I've been working on done. There is no sexual or violent content, but there is friendly bonding and a touch of swearing. There are no spoilers. All copyrights to Mulder and Scully belong to Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen, and FBC. I have no permission to use them, but I intend no disrespect or infringement. Please don't sue me, I'm only a lowly university student with a loan and an overactive imagination. _HAPPY BIRTHDAY?_ February 23, 1996 Scully's apartment 3:11 pm Special Agent Dana Scully threw open her apartment door with a forceful shove. Today had *not* been a good day. It was bad enough that Mulder had gotten into a yelling match with Skinner at their meeting, but no one had remembered that today was her birthday. She had expected Mulder to at least remember, him having that damned photographic memory and all, but *NO*, he was too concerned with arguing the niggly points of their last report with Skinner to remember. She had attempted to hint all day to him about it, but to no avail. She had then given up and told Mulder that she was going home early today, she could do her paperwork just as well in her apartment. Mulder had looked at her a bit quizzically, but he had just nodded his head and wished her to have a good weekend when he saw how perturbed she looked. Scully tossed her briefcase on the couch and kicked off her pumps, heading into the kitchen. She looked in the fridge, hoping to find something worthwhile to celebrate her 32nd birthday, but was disappointed to find only a glassful of her brother's homemade wine. She took it out anyway and poured the remnants into a wine glass, then taking a generous sip from the glass. She wandered back into the living, hitting the play button on her answering machine. Messages from her family wishing her a happy birthday. At least someone remembered, she thought. Scully sighed. Why was she pitying herself? Why was she contemplating sitting in her darkened apartment and watching some sappy movie while she drank, alone? She was still a vital and desirable woman, she told herself. I'm going to go out and enjoy myself, not become some sort of hermit. That decided, she directed herself to her bedroom in search of something to wear. **** Wally's Bar 5:23 pm Dana Scully walked into the bar, an air of anticipation about her. She supposed it was that glass of wine kicking in. She wandered over to the bar, pulling herself up onto the decidedly uncomfortable stool. "What can I get you?" a voice said from her side. She looked to see none other than her partner, Fox Mulder. "Moonlighting, Mulder?" she asked with a teasing tone. "Well, the pay is not great, but the company can be quite interesting," he replied, a grin appearing on his face. Scully rolled her eyes at his light-hearted response. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going home to do paper work, or was that just a ruse to let you play hooky?" Scully sighed, half in frustration and half in exasperation. "Jesus Mulder, you'd think with your infamous eidetic memory you'd remember it was my birthday today." Mulder teasing look changed to one of surprised embarrassment. "Gawd Scully, I can't believe I forgot! Why didn't you tell me?" "I tried to hint at it, but you were too preoccupied with your argument with Skinner." Mulder put a hand over hers. "I'm sorry. Is there any way I can make it up to you?" A million and one thoughts raced through Scully's brain, but she pushed certain ones aside before she decided on one. "You can take me to dinner, but you'll have to change before I let you take me anywhere." He looked down at his suit and then back up at Scully. "What's wrong with my suit?" Scully shook her head, a small smile on her face. "It's not so much the suit as the tie Mulder. C'mon, let's get you changed." She hopped down off the stool and walked toward the door, Mulder not far behind. "You know, this could prove to be quite fun." Scully looked at him with an arched eyebrow. "In what way, or dare I ask?" Mulder just smiled mysteriously and led her out of the bar. **** Constitution Gardens 8:34 pm "I don't know how you got us in here Mulder, but I know better than to ask. I do like it though." "I'm glad you like it. I've spent quite a bit of time around here, not always for pleasure, mind you." A slightly troubled look crossed his face, but then disappeared once he looked at Scully. She looked at him worriedly. He was covering up, like always, but she knew better than to push. Scully shivered slightly at the sudden chilly night breeze that pushed her hair up and caressed her neck. Mulder instinctively put an arm around her, eliciting a thankful smile from her. "This is nice," she commented as they walked. "I believe you said that already," he replied, chiding her. "I'm talking about us, here, not having to worry about any of that *sexual tension* crap. So many people seem to think that just because we're a man and a woman and work together that there has to be that." Mulder simply made a harrumphing sound in response, causing Scully to look at him questioningly. "Mulder, you don't really..." "Well, no, not *really*," he replied hurriedly. Scully couldn't keep a teasing smile from creeping across her face. "Well, when we first met, I have to admit, I was, um, quite pleased with the package." He was now turning red, not believing what he was saying. Scully broke out in hysterical laughter, making Mulder feel even more foolish. "So I guess you didn't think something similar?" "Actually, I was scared shitless of you, to tell you the truth." Mulder looked surprised. "*You*, afraid of *me*?" "Hell yes! I'd heard so much about you, about "Spooky" Mulder, that I had no idea what to expect. And then I go down to the basement to find this rather good looking man who has no desire to have me around, let alone be his partner. Then you were *so* sarcastic and snippy to me I was sure I wouldn't last." "'Rather good looking'? Hmmm..." Scully swatted him playfully in the arm, getting a teasing smile from him. "Well, you certainly held your ground for being freaked out." "That's my fear response, or at least it used to be." "We've both changed a lot over the past four years." "Gawd, has it *really* been four years? It seems like no time ago I came running to your motel room, half-dressed and petrified that I had been abducted." Mulder smiled at the memory. "Ah yes, I remember that well." Scully smacked him in the arm. "What was that for?" he asked, rubbing his arm. "For you to get your mind out of the gutter, Fox Mulder." "Hey, is it *my* fault I have a photographic memory?" "No, but it seems to be rather selective at times as to what it remembers clearly." The two of them suddenly found themselves grinning at this comment. "Truce?" Mulder asked, sticking his hand out. Scully took it and shook it in response. They walked some more before deciding to sit on a bench. Scully let out a deep, almost wistful, sigh. "Penny for your thoughts?" "I was just thinking, what if I had never joined the FBI, what if I had stayed in medical school longer, what would I be doing right now? Would I be married with a houseful of kids, or would I be single still, concentrated solely on my career?" "A lot of 'what if's and 'would's there Scully." He paused. "Are you unhappy with your life?" Scully looked at him with surprise. "I don't think so. It's just, I suppose my 'biological clock' is ticking even louder lately, and now that I can't really ignore it, I've started thinking about such things. Don't you ever wonder what you might have done if things had been different for you?" Mulder contemplated her question. "I guess I've thought about it. Sometimes I do wonder what would be different in my life if I hadn't made some of the decisions I had, if..." he trailed off. "If Samantha hadn't disappeared?" she finished. He nodded. Scully put a hand on top of his. He looked at it, then looked up at her, a sad smile on his face. They stayed like that for a few minutes before deciding to leave. **** Scully's apartment 11:21 pm After they had left the gardens, they had swung around to pick up little Yappi from Scully's mother, who then insisted that they stay for a little bit. After an hour, Scully insisted that they had to go and that she would see her mother the next day for the party she had planned for her. Now they stood in Scully's doorway, the little furball squirming in her arms. "Thanks a lot for everything, Mulder." "It was no trouble." "All the same, thanks." They stood there for a minute just looking at each other, comfortable in the silence. Scully smiled wearily, looking down at Yappi who continued to squirm. "And here I was thinking about kids. This one is more than I can handle at times." "People say that having a dog is one of the best things you can do if you're thinking about having kids," he blurted out, reddening at the realization of what he had just said. Scully smiled tenderly, then got on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. She opened the door to her apartment, putting Yappi down so he could run in. She turned back to face Mulder. He was attempting to look all business, but he was still blushing from not only his comment, but her impromptu peck on the cheek. "Goodnight, Mulder." "Goodnight, Scully." With their goodnights said, Scully went into her apartment, a smile of contentment on her face. Mulder stood outside for a moment more, then wandered out to his car, saying to himself, "Good night indeed." THE END *********************************************************************** Siobhan Gormley, Carleton University * X-Phile, Trek Fan, B-5er, Ottawa, Canada * Disnophile, Dragon Posse, Email address: sgormle2@wabakimi.carleton.ca* Whovian ***************** *********************************************************************** HEALTH WARNING: Care Should Be Taken When Lifting This Product, Since Its Mass, and Thus Its Weight, Is Dependent on Its Velocity Relative to the User. **********************HUMOROUS PRODUCT WARNINGS************************