From cronaa@millsaps.edu Sun Jan 26 14:23:02 1997 Hi Everyone! I was just sitting around reading all the new fanfic I've gotten today, and I finally got the guts to submit a story. It's my first, and I probably need a lot of help, so write me back with all comments! Disclamer:These characters don't belong to me. They are the wonderful creation of Chris Carter's mind. No infringement meant. Rating:Definately G, A lot of UST on Mulder and Scully's part, a little MSR, and a little angst just for flavor. Spoilers: Just for the beginning of the third season. Ice Skates and Hand Holds Scully silently gazed out over the ice, leaning against the rail. She and Mulder had just finished a case in Maine, and their plane left for Washington first thing the next morning. Scully had remembered passing the ice-skating rink the day before and wanted to visit before she left. She felt bad not doing the report yet, but felt that she had plenty of time later that night. She slipped out early in the morning, knowing few would be there. She was right. The only people on the ice were a young couple and their two girls. Scully watced the parents first while she put on her skates. They were so beautiful, Scully wondered if they were professional figure skaters. They moved in silent communication. Their turns were executed perfectly, the dips performed wit ease, just as if they had done it so many times before that it was habit. "Just like Mulder and I," she mused, recalling all the times they had moved in tandem, tracking a killer. Even their thoughts ad seemed to merge lately. She felt she could almost predict what he would say sometimes. Not that he was getting redundant, just that she knew him that well. And yet she let him say it anyway, knowing he had to cleanse his mind fo whatever idea he had brewing in order to think of anything else. She would never tire of the excitement in his gorgeous azel eyes as he thought of some new conspiracy. Nor would she ever get weary of seeing the pain fad in his eyes as she spoke her words of comfort, or the few times he allowed, took him in her arms. She wished desperately that she could be there with him at night to take away the nightmares she knew he had. "Stop it Dana. Don't even go there," she mentally warned herself. If she could avoid thinking of him in bed, she could keep her distance. If she didn't, the longingto love him would overcome her, something which could never happen. "He wouldn't want it anyway, so don't even think about it." <> "Never," she told herself quickly. "I could never do that to him." <> "Of course it would," she responded without hesitation. <> She hurriedly banished the little voice from her head, not wishing to face that question, and turned her attention to the two small girls in the corner. * * * * Mulder watched her from a distance. He had heard her rise early that morning, knowing full well that she was trying not to wake him. He knew he would never tell her that he still feared she would be taken again and that when they we away together, he was happy becuase he knew he would be close in case anything did happen. He had even considered moving by her after her abduction, but of course independent Scully would never have taken that laying down. There was so much he would never do or tell er because he was certain she would never feel the same. How could she love hiim? She had so much to offer a man, and he had too little to give her. His best way of loving her had to be to let her find someone else who could make her happy. <> "Of course," he insisted. <> He shoved the thought away before he could even consider the words and began to watch Scully again. * * * * The voices of the past ran through Scully's head as she watched the sisters skate in the corner. She ad fallen, and Melissa had been right there behind her as promised. They had skated the rest of the time hand in hand so she wouldn't fall again. She had loved her sister so much at that moment. Scully continued to relive the memory, not noticing her eyes filling with tears. But Mulder did. He stood trying to decide what to do as he watched her staring at the two little girls. When the bigger of the two sisters caught the younger as she fell, he was sure Scully would begin to sob, and he moved forward to help. "Will you skate with me?" Scully quickly wiped the tears away as she heard the all too familiar voice behind her. "How did you know where I was?" she accused, trying to hider her face. "I just knew." She smiled at the reference and held out her hand for him to help her off the bench. "But if I go out there, I'll fall." "Well if you do, I'll laugh, don't worry. But I'll also be right behind you and catch you," he replied. Her eyes filled at the recitation of the familiar words, and she joined him hoping to control herself as she concentrated on staying upright. Just as she got to the word fall, her foot flew out from underneath her. "Oops!" Mulder cried out as he caught her in his arms. He helped her up and slowly began to guide her around the rink, holding her hand. End. That's it! Hope you had a little fun. ;)