From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 28 Oct 2001 14:44:28 -0000 Subject: A Lesson by GiGi Hall Source: direct Reply To: GiGiX7X@aol.com Title: A Lesson Author: GiGi Hall (GiGiX7X@aol.com) Classification: V, MSR, Other Character POV Rating: PG Archive: Anywhere, but tell me first, and please keep all headers attached. Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, and Disney movies do not belong to me. Summary: I don't believe in love. Spoilers: The Unnatural Feedback: Please even if you only have one word to say, it will make my day I don't know if I can pin point the exact moment I stopped believing in love, but I know I did. It was during the past year and a half when my parents were going through a divorce. It was last April that I got a call from my father explaining how things were going to be "different" for them. It was truly an unexpected slap in the face. Growing up, I never had any doubt that my parents loved each other. And now, as a secretary at the FBI they were always there when I needed someone to cry to after hearing details of horrific cases. Butnow they are broken apart. I begin to wonder if they stayed together only thislong because they believe I no longer needed them, while in actuality, I need them more than ever now. Then I started to question love itself, is it all a lie? I'm starting to see holes in all relationships now. Two high school kidswalking down the street hand in hand. This one is too easy. I laugh at the thought of them staying together the rest of the month. Young parents trying to keep their little brat quiet at a restaurant. Their only staying together for the kid. When he's my age, they'll break the news that they were never truly in love. An older couple sitting on a park bench. Its only a matter of days beforehe believes he belongs with an employee of his. She, of course, is half is age. The worst are the rumors at work. Every week it's a new team ofpartners that have been known to share a motel room while in the field. I'veeven heard that Old Spooky's getting some, if you can believe that. Even if any of these stories are true, soon it will be realized that any type of relationship was only created because of a particularly stressful case, and both partners will quickly file for reassignment out of embarrassment. My friends are beginning to notice my negative attitude towards love. I suppose it's obvious after I burst into hysterical laughter while my best friend is reciting her wedding vows. They buy me romance novels, but they all seem so superficial. I've even tried Disney movies. But the love stories in them make every mermaid, magical rose, and evil witch's spell seem realistic. I don'tbelieve in love. But all that's about to change. I'm driving home from work one night, taking my usual route, when I hear a woman giggling. Just from her simple laughter, I can tell that she is incredibly happy. These are giggles of true joy. I am drawn closer to the sound,and I find its source at the local park's baseball diamond. In the shadows of the lights behind home plate, I can see an extremely close couple taking a few swings. He is gripping the bat with both arms around her. Their position looks so natural. So, loving? Over her giggling, I can hear him giving gentle instructions in his deep soft voice. It seems too perfect, so as I slowly drive closer, hoping to see their faces, I try to imagine a tragic end to this relationship. But I can't. I'm almost close enough to see them now and- Oh My God. No, it can't be them. This has to be some kind of a sick joke. It's gotta be.I cannot possibly be watching this much affection between Fox "Spooky" Mulder and Dana "The Ice Queen" Scully. No, this is not possible. I sit in awe, unable to think or breathe, when I start to realize what it is I'm watching. Love. Real, tangible love, in the form of two highly unlikely lovers having a simple hitting lesson. And now I believe.