From: a. maus Date: 28 May 2003 00:14:46 -0700 Subject: xfc: He Never Promised Forever by A.maus Source: atxc He Never Promised Forever By A. Maus A_nonny_maus_2000@yahoo.com A_nonny@hotmail.com DISTRIBUTION: Ephemeral, Gossamer, and Mulder in Jeopardy. All others welcome, but please let me know first. SPOILERS: None RATING: PG CLASSIFICATION: V, MSR, RST fluff KEYWORDS: None SUMMARY: DISCLAIMER: Characters owned by 1013/Fox, not me. WRITER'S NOTES: Thanks to Obi, Obi! Also known as Obfusc8er, the fastest beta in the west. To Mulderpause, and the rest of the gang at the eXit Thanks your for putting up with my midnight ranting. __________________________ He Never Promised Forever By A. Maus We were working quietly in our office, my attention solely focused on a medical report from one of our cases. The soft whirring of the fan stirred the slightly musty air. Every once in a while, the crack of a sunflower seed being opened would ring out. It was right after we had crossed that barrier, that invisible line between friends and lovers. I heard him swivel his chair, the old spring creaking softly as he shifted his weight. "Scully?" "Hmm?" The anomaly I was seeing in the victim was most enthralling at that point. "Do you believe in forever?" Oh great. It's one of *those* questions. Looking up, I saw him picking at the pressed pleat on his dark blue slacks. I took off my reading glasses and sighed. "Forever is a long time," I said softly. "It is almost too much for the human mind to comprehend. Scientifically, it is nearly impossible for anyone or anything to last 'forever'." He looked up, "Well, then, I guess we'll have to settle for the rest of my life." Startled, I only could gape at him. "What I mean is that you will have my whole heart for my whole life." He said softly. It was the hope for this moment that I had relied on during his absence while he was gone. In my mind's eye, all the tiny details were magnified...dust motes dancing lazily in the sunbeam, the soft whirring of our oscillating fan... His eyes penetrated through all my barriers. I almost felt him gaze upon my soul, and in his eyes, I saw myself reflected back. My heart stopped for what seemed like an eternity. Then the phone rang, breaking the spell. "Mulder." He rolled his eyes up to the ceiling; I glanced at my watch, noting that we were late for a budget meeting. "Yes, Sir. We're on our way up." Mulder stood; he started gathering the files necessary for the meeting. "Mulder." I watched as he warily turned toward me. "You'll have mine forever." I watched as his eyebrow quirked up. "...Or rather, as long as I have yours." Smiling, I stepped toward the door. I felt his hand slide to its customary spot on the small of my back. "I smiled, knowing that he'll never be "champagne and roses", nor is he "dinner and dancing". He never promised me forever, but what he did promise me meant so much more.