From: "Chicken Girl" Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2000 00:34:06 -0000 Subject: Moonlight Moonlight By SnoopyX thehomelessturtle@hotmail.com Summary: Mulder takes Scully for a ride Category: M/S romance Spoilers: Season 6 I guess Feedback: would adore it, but be gentle its my first time. Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, but I can assure you that if I did, things would be different....the people would have a voice! You know the drill, they belong to Chris Carter, yadda yadda yadda. Have Fun! Okay, first off this goes out to Santa and all his little elves (slave labour) I'm from Canada so forgive me Canadian way of spelling, deal with it! And this is to my ego for thinkin that I could write a fanfic. Peace be with you! Moonlight (1/4) It had been a long day for both agents. Case files had been turned in after weeks of endless work on each file. Ridden by mental exhaustion, Mulder and Scully collapsed into their office chairs. "God!" Mulder heaved, "There is no God! If there was I'm sure he would've made paperwork easier on His fellow man!" Scully rested her head against the back of her chair, closing her eyes in an attempt to alleviate the throbbing in her temples. "Mulder?" she croaked out. "Yeah, Scully?" he answered from across the room. "I want you to promise me something." Mulder took a moment to sigh out a breath as he braced himself for what might come from a promise made to Scully. "What?" he asked out of exhaustion, too tired for any witty banter that may have ensued. "If this weekend, you should happen to come across anything paranormal or having to do with the work that we just painstakingly completed, hell even if aliens land in front of the White House or in your living room for that matter," "What, Scully?" Mulder asked more out of annoyance than out of excitement from her drolling on. "Please don't feel the need to phone me to join you in any chase of evidence of the 'Grand Plan'. I plan to be in my bathtub all weekend." Mulder thought for a moment, but couldn't resist. "But Scully, what if the aliens should happen to land in your bathroom at the exact moment you're in the bath?" Before he could dodge it, Mulder's tiny plush Knicks basketball came flying at his head, knocking him off balance from his reclined position at his chair. From the floor he continued his repartee. "I see you have the energy to play though!" 11:21 p.m. Same day Fox Mulder's Apartment He had been home for only 2 hours and already Mulder found himself to be bored. He had thought about getting some sleep, but his ever constant battle with insomnia was getting the better of him. That and his back was in such large knots, that he almost considered making them an x-file. Restless he paced his living room, wondering what he could do to ease his boredom. He had considered phoning Scully, but her warning to him at the office was enough for him to forget that idea as quickly as it had popped into his head. Frohike and the other Gunmen were out of town at a computer game convention in Toronto. 'First time they must've traveled abroad in years!' Mulder thought to himself. He had been doing that a lot lately. Thinking to himself. Well, he did a lot of the thinking at home when there was no one to talk to. His fish weren't exactly the greatest conversationalists in the free world, and chat rooms kept kicking him out for trying to spread the word about "Global Conspiracy", so he was left to himself. Alone. Thinking. 'Way to depress yourself Mulder!' he thought viciously. He silently wished that someone could give him a backrub to quell his pain. Those damn electronic, vibrating massagers only led to trouble, and he was in no mood for trouble that night. He paced back and forth around his coffee table. 'Ring around the rosie, pockets full of posies' Mulder sang to himself as he circled his coffee table 12:30 AM same night Fox Mulder's Apartment He sat backwards on the chair, hair damp from his late night bath. An attempt to ease his backache unsuccessful. Now more tired than what he had been before but still restless, Mulder sat facing his kitchen garbage can 4 feet away. He had been doing this for the past 20 minutes. Mulder pursed his lips and blew as hard and as accurately he could. A single sunflower husk bounced off its intended target. Mulder dropped his head to his crossed arms. 'God kill me now!' he pleaded to his ceiling. Standing up from his chair, Mulder made his way back into his living room, and plopped down on his leather couch. 'I guess I could always jack off' Mulder thought as he lay there watching the Outdoor Life Network. Joe Fisherman demonstrated the perfect cast for all his viewers as Mulder's hand began to wander south. Before his hand could snake into his pants and idea popped into his head. It was so perfect he could hardly contain his excited grin. 'Best thing is' Mulder thought evilly 'Scully will actually enjoy this!' 1:12 AM Same night Scully's Apartment She lay uncomfortably in the confines of her bed. Her bed covers long since kicked off in an attempt to relieve herself of the July heat. 'Should've had Marvin fix the air conditioner' Scully thought to herself. "Some how, some way, this is Mulder's fault" she spoke to no one. Restless she got out of bed hoping that maybe a cup of ice tea may cause her some relief from the heat. In panties and a t-shirt she has had since high school, Scully walked with tired legs to her kitchen. Opening her kitchen cupboards she realized one important factor, "No ice tea mix!" Again she blamed Mulder for this, remembering that the previous week he had been at her house doing late night reports on the giant rat from Guadalajara that reportedly ate 3 tourists before disappearing into the jungle. "Mulder if you were here now..." she let her mind wander to how she would beat him with her cast iron skillet. Almost as if her wish had been granted, a quiet knock was emitted from the door. Like a trained dog, Scully's eyebrow arched in curiosity at who might be her late night visitor. Tired, hot and angry, Scully opened her door, not giving a thought about her attire. "Hey Scully! Late night pajama party and you didn't invite me?!" Mulder let loose his most cordial smile. For a moment Scully said nothing, but debated whether or not she should A) Run and grab a housecoat B) Ask Mulder to wait just one second while she went and retrieved her skillet or C) Do both of the above. She neglected against all of her choices and just stood in the door way. "Mulder?" "Yeah Scully?" "Why are you here, knocking at my door at 1 in the morning?" Mulder ducked under her arm blocking entry into her apartment. Scully stood facing the hall, mouth hanging in the wind at the utter shock of his ignorance. "Get dressed Scully!" "Mulder, no! What did I tell you before I left for the day?" "I know Scully, but this has nothing to do with all that you stated today at the office. Just get dressed, pack a bag and come with me." "Mulder?!" "Trust me, Scully. I guarantee you the most fabulous weekend you'll ever experience in your life." The trained eyebrow performed its one and only trick for the zillionth time since their partnership began. But this time a smile accompanied it. "Mulder, exactly what is it you're implying?" "Just go pack Scully and you'll see as we head out there" "Where?" "That's a mystery for Scooby Doo not you. Just go pack. Jeans and stuff, that's all Scully" Mulder stood there as eager as any 10 year old on Christmas Eve. Scully gave in reluctantly and headed to her bedroom to pack. As she walked away from Mulder, he couldn't help but let his eyes drift towards her panty clad ass. As if she had eyes in the back of her head she called to him: "Mulder, stop looking at my ass." 1:55 AM Highway 10 Destination: Unknown The 1967 metallic blue mustang convertible floated over the road, as it made its way out of the war-zone of the city. With the top down, Mulder relaxed coolly in his seat as he drove Scully away from the stress of the city. Scully glanced at him. He had the grin of a four-year old plastered across his face. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out where it was that he intended on taking her. Hell, she couldn't even figure out where he had gotten the car for that matter. Finally, curiosity prevailed and she had to ask: "Mulder?" "Yeah, Scully?" "Where did you get the car?" Mulder allowed himself a small chuckle. 'She probably thinks I stole it from the impound.' "I've had this car since I was 16 Scully. It's one of my three babies." "3???" Scully echoed. "Yeah 3! I can't help it Scully. I have a soft spot for these cars....they're my babies!" he said with his best daddy-talks-to-baby voice that he could muster. Scully sat in astonishment. Her whole life she only had 3 cars. Not including the one she bought 2 years previous. "Where do you keep them?" "Keep what?" Mulder had gone off into his own little world. "Your 'babies'" she simply stated. "Well, other than Lucille here, I keep Shirley in storage in D.C., the other.....my pride and joy, Ethel is her name, I used to keep up on blocks at my dad's house on the Vineyard and now she's at my cousin's in Pennsylvania." Scully sat for a moment. 'Lucille?' "Lucille?" she echoed her mind. Mulder blushed a little as Scully's eyebrow did its trick-for-treat routine. "Mulder, why did you name your cars Lucille and Ethel? Don't tell me it was coincidental." He stifled a response to her question, but still she pressed. "Mulder?" "Lucille was my first girlfriend in highschool. She really went for me you know? And well come on....Lucy and Ethel...nuff said." Her hunger for knowledge satisfied, Scully turned her attention skyward to the stars. The stars had become more visible now that they were out of the city a considerable distance. She watched them as the car made its turns along the highway. They all danced in the summer sky, winking at one another. Inviting the other stars to dance, out of the reach of any mortal man that wished to join them. Making a left now, Scully saw the moon come into play. It's pale, argentine light played with the shadows of the night. The stars danced around the moon, all asking permission for the next waltz. She let her eyes wander back to Mulder. He was bathed in the moonlight. The milky light creating the softest of shadows on his face. He looked exquisite. Like a Roman soldier. Now she liked that thought, of Mulder in ancient armour, dressed for war. 'Perhaps he was in another life' Soon though, the soft rocking of the car, and the cool night breeze began to relax Scully. And she felt her eyelids begin to close. 3:40 AM Dirt Road Scully came awake with a start as the car hit a bump in the road. Which was an exaggeration since that's exactly what the road was: a giant continuos bump. "Sorry, Scully. I didn't want to wake you" Mulder apologized as he tried to look at her and the road at the same time. "Mulder, where are we?" Scully asked, her voice laden with sleep. "If I gave you any details, Scully, then it wouldn't be a surprise in the end now would it?" he finished with a small grin. Scully felt like a child, being refused her birthday gift until it was time to open it. Scully twisted her neck from side to side until it cracked and relieved the pain of being stiff. Scully looked around until she found her old companion the moon staring back at her. It had already started to set but still its light played with the shadows of Mulder's face, and Scully once again found herself entranced by his features. He almost looked blue from the moon's light. Mulder looked over at her and caught her stare. "See something you like, Scully?" he joked "Mulder, why are you doing this?" she asked turning in her seat to face him as he drove. "Well, Scully" he started, "I just thought it would be good for both of us to get out of our heads for awhile. I mean we just finished 2 months worth of cases in about 2 weeks, so I thought that we should just get away from everything for a few days, that's all." "So you drag me out here to this ditch of a road ?" "Well, Scully, you didn't seem too hesitant, now did you?" Mulder asked with his famous boyish grin. Defeated, Scully turned back in her seat and watched as the trees flew by. The sky began to lighten more profoundly as the two agents made their way along the dusty road. All the while, Mulder hummed a little tune in his head. From what Scully could decipher it was either the tune from "Winnie the Pooh's: I'm a Little Black Rain Cloud" or "Stayin Alive" by the BeeGees. The majority of the trip was spent in silence, although neither found it to be uncomfortable. Mulder slowly moved his right hand. It inched closer to Scully's knee, since she had her left leg tucked under her ass. Scully smiled as his hand finally gripped her knee and remained there for quite some time. She wondered exactly what Mulder meant by 'Get out of our heads'. The smile on Mulder's face was becoming more broad as the trees began to thin, and the road smoothed out. Scully took this as a sign that they had almost reached their destination. "So Mulder, you want me to close my eyes or do you have a blindfold you want me to wear?" "No Scully, the blindfold is for later. I want you to see this." After hours of driving, they had finally reached their weekend destination. Scully's mouth dropped open at what lay before her eyes. Beautiful lake waters surrounded the private lakefront beach. The smell of pine blended with the hint of lily made Scully inhale deeply, as to taste the smells more clearly. As if that wasn't enough, a beautiful rustic cabin made out of what appeared to be oak, sat harmoniously with the rest of the setting. "Oh, God Mulder?!" "No, no. Mulder is just fine." "Mulder this is beautiful. You rented this place for us?" Mulder sat with pride emitting from his face. Something that Scully rarely saw from her partner. "Who said anything about renting, Scully? This belongs to me." Scully could have sworn that her jaw hit the forest floor as she stepped out of the car. Mulder got out and stretched his legs. He began to walk towards the water, stretching his arms out to their sides. Scully followed after him, wanting to know more. "Mulder? You own all this?" He gave a slight nod in confirmation "I wasn't aware that a Special Agent at the F.B.I. could afford a place like this." Scully uttered. "I didn't buy this land Scully. It belonged to my grandfather. I helped him build this lodge when I was 18," Scully moved next to Mulder admiring the lake waters in the predawn mist, "I came home from Oxford one summer and helped him build this thing. When he died he left it to me in his will. My father was pissed. He wanted me to sell it and use the money for school. Penny-pinching bastard. But I told him no. That I wanted to keep this place so one day I could bring my family out here to enjoy. He never did like the idea of my mother's family giving me anything for free." Scully smiled at his confession. She never thought Mulder to be anything much of a family man a few years ago but now, the idea never really strayed from her mind. She knew that he could never change a diaper though. "Blue Mountain Lake" "What?" Scully said coming out of her daze. "We're at Blue Mountain Lake. You wanted to know where we were, didn't you?" Mulder looked at her. For the first time, Scully saw how tired he looked now that they had reached their destination. She stepped closer to him, and took his face in between her hands. "Mulder, lets go unpack the car, and then I want you to go to bed and get some rest, okay?" "That's why I came out here, Scully. This seems to be the only place where I can actually get some sleep, without any problems." The two made their way to the car to start loading Mulder's survival supplies into the cabin. Once they had everything loaded onto the front deck, Mulder took the key from beneath the doormat and let himself and Scully into the lodge. (end 1/4) Moonlight (2/4) As if the surrounding landscape wasn't enough, Scully was once again floored when she saw the beauty of the cabin. The door led into a sunken living room, with small steps that led to the kitchen, and another small set, which led to the dining room. The dining room was connected to the kitchen by an open air door, which led to the back deck, by French doors in both the kitchen and the dining room. Scully walked into the sunken livingroom and looked around. The dcor appeared to be a mix of Navajo blankets draped across the backs of 2 soft white couches and a love seat. The hardwood floor was covered by a large Algonquin rug, which stopped short of a beautiful redbrick fireplace with a redwood mantle. Scully did a 180 to her left to face the staircase that led to the master bedroom. From where she stood she could see the beautiful 4 posted king-size bed. Above the head of the bed she could see a landscape oil painting, that appeared to be fairly old. "Mulder, this place is magnificent!" "You like, Scully?" "Your grandfather and you? You two built this cabin?" Mulder gave a sheepish nod. "My grandfather was a carpenter before he immigrated. He taught me a lot of the tricks of the trade. He said that I had the hands that could make or fix anything. He ate his words when I made his car engine blow up. But then again I was 14 so...." Mulder began to bring all the supplies he had brought with them into the cabin, despite his fatigue and sore back. Scully didn't bother to move to help him, but instead moved about the cabin, inspecting old photos, running a finger along the mantle to check the level of dust that should have accumulated over the years, yet found none, and then looking down a small hallway that held 3 doors. Mulder heaved in the last of the groceries into the kitchen and began to stock the cupboards full of seeds,ice-tea,and Lucky Charms. He left all of the other groceries on the back porch to pack away later so that he could surprise Scully with dinner. Mulder moved to the liquor cabinet next and checked a bottle of whisky that had been ageing for about as long as he had been born. Mulder smiled at the bottle. His grandfather had given it to him in thanks for helping him with the cabin. Scully came up behind him, wondering again exactly what it was her partner had planned for the weekend. Did he plan to get her liquored up? Which is something she wouldn't have minded anyway. "What's that you got there Mulder?" "Oh, it's a bottle of whisky that my grandfather got from this Indian guide in Canada. He had it since before I was born. I don't know why he didn't drink it before now, I mean the Canadians make the best damn whisky in the world." "It seems that your grandfather had a lot of native influence when he decorated this place" "Well, he had a lot of friends that were native. He always said that he enjoyed their company more than any other man's company. He loved the stories they told him, and he did everything that he could to make their lives easier. He respected them, and in turn he taught me to respect them, unlike my father." Scully sat on the floor with him. Totally intent on listening about his grandfather, who, just by hearing Mulder talk about him, Scully greatly admired. "You and your grandfather must have been close. How long ago did he pass?" "About 20 years ago. He had a stroke when I was at Oxford, never really got to say goodbye. He left me all of his land that he had acquired. So i gave it back to those who needed it." "His friends?" "Yeah. You know he always loved the Canadians." "Why was that? The whisky?" she nodded to the cabinet. Mulder laughed as he went on. "That was one factor yeah, but he always thought that the Canadians were a little more respectable to the natives. My Pop loved em." Mulder stood from his seat on the floor and moved towards the refrigerator. He placed the bottle of homemade whisky in the fridge to chill. Memories of the times he spent with his grandfather became too painful to remember so, very tired he turned to Scully. "Scully, you can take the master bedroom upstairs. I'll be down the hall here in the first door on the right. The one on the left leads to the basement and the one at the end is the main bathroom. There's also one upstairs. I'm gonna go get some rest, okay?" Mulder appeared to be almost in tears as he made his way down the hall to his room. Scully sat on the floor awhile after, pondering exactly what had just happened. She noticed that he had left in a hurry and no sexual innuendo had followed. She rose from the floor and made her way across the living room to the front door where her bag lay. She climbed up the steps that led to the master bedroom, feeling just as tired, as she knew she looked. For now, she would feign an inspection of the room and just flopped onto the bed to rest. She slid off her jeans, and decided that was enough energy spent on undressing. Scully lifted the down comforter and slid into the coolness of the bed. She closed her eyes and drank in the sweet aroma of the oak bed as she drifted off to sleep. 2:47 PM Mulder's cabin Mulder opened his tired eyes to face a beautiful scene of sunshine and forest. He rolled into a sitting position facing the open window. He realized where he was as he moved to open the shades further to let the sunlight in. Mulder looked to his watch: 2:48. He couldn't believe that he had let himself sleep all day like he had, but still felt better rested than he had ever felt in the last few months. As he became more awake to his world, Mulder recognized the dull pain that had been his entire back and shoulder blades for the past week and a half. 'Just tension' he thought as he crossed his room to his bag and drew out fresh clothes for his shower. Mulder decided that he could unpack later and for now he would just go and shower and check on Scully. Again, the shower was a fruitless way to relieve the pain in Fox Mulder's back. He walked into the kitchen contemplating if he should ask Scully to take a look at his back, in case it were anything serious. He moved about the kitchen, a devilish grin taking residence on Mulder's face as he opened a few key cupboards and started to take what he needed. 'Scully's gonna love me for this!' he thought, 'Maybe she'll even forgive me for almost blowing up her microwave!' 3:27 PM Scully's room Slowly, Scully began to arise from her dreams. She rolled onto her back and stretched the stretch of someone who had a restful sleep. A smile crept across her face as she had never felt more rested in her entire life. One thing puzzled her though. 'Where am I?' she asked herself as she suddenly became more aware of her surroundings. Scully swung her feet over the side of the bed (which barely touched the ground) and looked out to the beautiful scenery around her. There were windows everywhere in the room. On either side of the bed were two bay windows, and on the east and west walls were another 2 sets of bay windows. Scully looked high above her head and for the first time noticed the skylight above the bed. 'Interesting' she thought. Scully imagined how beautiful it would be at night to lay in bed and watch the stars as they danced across the sky. Scully deeply inhaled the pine as she opened up her windows to the mid-afternoon sun. She sniffed again. Something smelt good. She smelled again. It was food, and it smelt damn good! She dressed in her sweats and went down to investigate the smell that had infiltrated her senses. She crept down the stairs, as to not disturb whomever it was that was creating such beautiful aromas with food. She stopped dead in her tracks at a singular thought: Mulder. Cooking. 'It can't be Mulder.' she thought quietly, 'I don't even think he knows what a stove is used for.' Quietly she pressed on to see if her suspicions were true, and that Fox Mulder may actually be cooking. Scully crossed the living room to where the dining room connected with the kitchen. She peered around the corner of the door and true to her suspicions Mulder was cooking. And from what she saw, he wasn't doing too bad at all, in fact it looked as if Emeril Lagasse had entered Mulder's body. 'Now that's an X-File' Scully chuckled to herself. Mulder was even dressed up in a frilly apron that was probably his grandmother's. Mulder expertly flipped the raspberry filled pancake over in the pan with a swift flick of his wrist. He grinned to himself, admiring his accomplishment. 'Hadn't done that trick in years.' he thought, unaware that he was being watched from the dining room. Satisfied that he had made enough pancakes for a small army, Mulder turned his attention to the pot of boiling eggs. 'Another 2 minutes and they'll be done.' Scully watched Mulder go about the kitchen, as if he had been destined to be a chef rather than an F.B.I. agent. She observed his lean, yet muscular frame, reach above the stove with some difficulty to retrieve a waffle iron. He plugged in the iron, jumping back a little. 'Must've shocked him!' Scully thought to herself as she continued her observation, unbeknownst to Mulder. 'Goddamn thing shocked me!' Mulder glared at the iron. Surely these two would be enemies from now on. Mulder never took his eyes off of the iron, as if it were going to attack him at any given moment. He threw in some strawberries and bananas to go with his batter. 'Scully'll love these!' he thought pleasantly, 'Haven't had them since Mim died.' Mulder smiled at the thought of his grandmother. He missed her terribly. She was one of the few who treated him as though he was worth something. Mulder poured the batter expertly into the iron, closing it ever so carefully. 'He probably doesn't want to get shocked again!' Scully giggled to herself. She admired his domesticity. Amazed that a bachelor like Mulder knew how to cook so well. She felt it was time to make her presence known to him. She crept silently across the floor, thanking God that she had put on her slippers. She was only 4 feet away from him and she could smell the beautiful aroma of the breakfast he was making. She extended her arms, prepping herself for his scare. Only a foot away from him now, she revelled at how perfect an opportunity like this was for her to partake in such childish play. Scully reached up and grabbed his shoulders violently, screaming a little to add to the effect. Mulder was completely taken by surprise, dropping the bowl of batter onto the counter. "Jesus, Scully!" he yelled at her, but more out of surprise than anger. "Morning, Mulder!" she yelled back equally loud. "So Mulder, were you going to eat all this yourself or were you planning on sharing?" Scully asked nodding to the oven. "Well I was gonna come and wake you, so that you could come down and revel in the glory that is this food, but I don't know now. Scaring me like that, you might just have to starve." "Aw, Mulder. Come on." She gave him a pleading look. "Well, I guess it would be a crime to allow this food to go to just me," "Yes it would!" Scully interrupted him, moving closer to his body. "So yeah, I guess I'll just have to share." He smiled down at her, neither noticing the close quarters that they were both in. She smiled back and moved to the fridge, breaking the moment before it went any further. "Juice?" she asked him. "Yeah, sure." He answered and moved back to his waffle iron. Mulder flipped the waffle out onto a plate, a smile stretched from ear to ear at his triumph. Scully looked at him and noticed that she had never seen him smile so much in the past day or so, not that she didn't enjoy it. Mulder laid the breakfast out onto the table in the dining room, while Scully went and fetched the utensils. She returned to find Mulder standing back from his 'work'. "I am Jackie Chan!" he said lowly, turning to find that Scully was behind him, holding the silverware. He took her free left hand and led her around behind him to her seat. He unceremoniously bowed to her and took his own seat. Scully divvied up the silverware amongst them, and then stopped to look at the glorious breakfast/lunch that Mulder had created. "Mulder?" "Yeah, Scully?" "You know that I'm a doctor right?" "Yes" "Do I have anything to fear?" "Nothing but fear itself, Scully!" he shot back to her, motioning for her to start on her food. Scully ventured and tasted one of the raspberry pancakes. It melted in her mouth, as did her fear of Mulder's cooking. She turned to him surprised. "You like, Scully?" "Mulder, where on God's green Earth did you ever learn to cook like this?" Mulder waggled his eyebrows at her as he dove into his own meal, ravenous. After they had eaten, the two agents made their way onto the back deck to sit and relax in the mid-day sun. Still curious, Scully ventured her question again. "Mulder, you know, you never did tell me where you learned to cook like that. So what gives? Did you take Home Ec. instead of shop like the rest of the boys?" Mulder chuckled at that, since he had on one occasion done just that. But it was all for the attention of girl then. "Well, my Mima, she taught me how to cook when I would come visit her, during the summers. I liked it so much that I even took a course at a college in New York, when I graduated high school." "Aw that's sweet Mulder"she played, almost teasing him for participating in feminine activities. "Yeah, but she wasn't. God, when they coined the term 'Your mother wears army boots!' they must've had her in mind." "Was she tough?" "Scully, she was the kind of granny who would bungee-jump off of a bridge just for something to do and then come home and whip ya for not doing your homework. In fact she did just that her last birthday before she died." Scully smiled at the admiration that shone from Mulder's eyes when he talked of his grandmother. She looked over the scenery that lay before them. Trout jumped out of the lake water to dine on the insects that rested on the water. She stood and turned to head back into the house. Mulder, worried that somehow he had upset her, followed her. "Scully, I'm sorry if I.." "Mulder," she interrupted him, "It's a beautiful day out there and I think that we shouldn't waste it." Mulder leered at her. "Just exactly what did you have in mind Scully?" "A hike." "A hike?" "A hike." "A hike." Mulder nodded and went to wait outdoors for his partner. 4:39 PM Trail along Blue Mountain Lake "I'm serious Scully," Mulder pleaded as Scully made her way along the trail ahead of him. "Mulder I refuse to believe that a trout was able to decapitate a fisherman, in broad daylight, and have 130 people witness it, including you and your drunk friends" Scully stopped and turned to face Mulder as he came up behind her. "For your information, Agent Scully, we were not that drunk, we were only on our first keg.." Scully stopped him short as she raised her eyebrow for the millionth time in the past 48 hours. He couldn't help it, he was powerless against "the look". He gave up and gave her his best goofy smile that he could muster. Somehow, Scully felt herself being pulled into Mulder's gaze. She watched as the light that filtered through the canopy of branches, played with the colour of his eyes. They shone like the gold of sunrise, and Scully found herself to be lost in the forest of his stare. "You know, Scully, that other people would find what you're doing to be rude." Normally she would have blushed and stopped right then and there her study of his eyes, but today, she didn't feel embarrassed or felt the need to look away once he had confronted her, it felt right. Finally, though, she found her voice and said to him: "Mulder, why did you bring me out here?" For a moment he was confused. Did she think that he had some ulterior motive for bringing her out to his lakeside cabin? He had meant for it to be a gesture of good will and love to his partner, but she began to suspect that he had something else up his sleeve. He gave a small laugh and looked towards the lake as if he was saying to it "Can you believe she asked that?" "Scully," he said taking a step towards her, "you're just dying to figure out if there is some dark sinister plan going on here, aren't you?" Her eyebrows raised as if in confirmation of his question. "Scully, like I said before, I thought that since we had just worked our asses off closing all those case files that you could use a little R&R. And what better place to get it than out here, by a beautiful lake, by a beautiful mountain," he stopped for a moment. 'God you're beautiful' he thought to himself hoping that he hadn't voiced that out loud, but he continued instead "in a cabin that doesn't cost you anything to stay in and to have your partner and best friend cook for you." Mulder then began to study her the way that she had done so to him. A few moments passed, along with a few squirrels in the tree tops, still he waited for any witty retort, any argument that may have ensued, instead Scully took a step towards him, put both hands on the side of his face and pulled him down to her eye level. They stayed like that for a few moments while Mulder begged with the Almighty 'God please let her kiss me, or should I kiss her? Send me a sign please!'. Up until that moment, Mulder never considered himself a religious man, but then again, even the most desperate men prayed to God for help. She moved closer to his face and placed her lips atop his forehead. 'This is good' Mulder thought as she remained like that for what seemed to be an eternity. After many a moment had passed, Scully pulled away and looked at Mulder with a smile on her face. "So what's for dinner G-man?" She turned and motioned for Mulder to follow her up the trail. He stood there and looked again to the lake with a triumphant smile on his face. He laughed to the lake 'Did you see that one?'. In a few quick strides he had caught up to her and joined her slow pace next to her. They walked in silence, quite content with each others company. "Barbecue." "Hmm?" "You asked what we were going to have for dinner." "Barbecue?" Scully asked, hoping that it wasn't going to be burned hamburgers and hotdogs. (end of 2/4) Moonlight (3/4) She was interested now. Slowly, they made their way down an alternate path and soon were once again back at Mulder's cabin. As they reached the front steps, Scully declared that she was going to have a short bath, and then she would come help with dinner, much to Mulder's protest that she should rest. As she made her way towards the steps, Mulder felt her hand slip out of his. This was the first realization to Mulder that they were even holding hands. A smile came across his face as he watched her move up the 15 odd steps or so with such ease and elegance. He even began to wonder himself, his true intentions for bringing her out to this secluded spot in the woods. Was he just trying to get his partner to enjoy a quiet weekend? Or was it something more. Scully entered the cabin alone, and breathed a sigh of repose. Never before had anyone done so much for her, without expecting anything in return, not that she would never repay Mulder for the kindness that he had shown her. She pushed herself off of the door and moved her stiff legs up the oak wood stairs to the main bedroom and into the bathroom. Scully once again was in shock of the beauty of the cabin when she pushed the door open. The bathroom was a tiny solarium within the woods, waiting for her to christen it with a nice, hot bath to soothe her aching muscles. Maybe later she could get Mulder to give her a well deserved back rub. She began to run the water to a decent temperature and waited as the tub filled. Scully looked around in hopes of finding Mr. Bubble to complete the pleasures of her picturesque bath in the woods, and sure enough she found exactly what she was looking for under the sink. She opened the tiny windows that were located at the top of the bay windows that surrounded the bathtub, to let in the wonderful pine fragrance of the woods. She didn't realize it as she relaxed back into the tub, that she had just given someone a free show. Someone who was even embarrassed for looking at her. Mulder felt the bulge in his pants as he turned away to face the lake to gather himself. Once he assured himself that "Little Spock" was going to behave, he once again began his task of collecting wood for the barbecue. 6:47 PM Barbecue time! Scully emerged from the bathroom, more relaxed than she had ever felt in the last 6 years, and was more than a little bit pruny from her two hour soak. She pulled out an old shirt that a friend once gave to her, it had red and black letters across it reading 'Alcatraz Hotel', and a pair of blue jogging pants. Mulder had told her to pack comfortable clothing, so that is just what she did. Scully inhaled deeply a familiar aroma of fine cooking and slipped on her sandals to go and investigate what it was that Mulder was doing. As she made her way through the living room, Scully spied Mulder through the French doors, chopping wood to throw into the barbecue. He looked young and strong as he brought down the axe upon a log that split like twig. He could've been mistakened for a 20 year old, although, Scully observed, that when he bent to pick up the wood, he winced and grimaced at a pain in his back that revealed his true age. She remembered that he had complained the previous day of back pain from a possible pulled muscle from playing basketball. Maybe she could give him a backrub later with Bengay to soothe his pain. Scully stepped through the sliding glass doors and made her way down the back steps to where Mulder was tending to dinner. "Hey!" she called, grabbing his attention so abruptly that as he was going through his down swing of the axe, he dropped it and turned to face her. "Hey, yourself!" That smile that she now saw more often parted his lips and revealed his pearly-whites. "Hope you're hungry." "Always. So, Mulder, what is the main course for tonight?" "Baked Salmon a la Mulder. You'll love it Scully. I learned it from my great uncle Callum, he said that it was guaranteed to woo the heart of any young woman who ate." Scully gave him a questioning look. "Scottish lore, Scully." She nodded her head in understanding, and went to remove a pot of boiling corn from the fire. Mulder watched her, he was so amazed by her simple elegance, the way that just by entering a room or even the same air space as him, she could elicit such a change in the atmosphere that it left him breathless in her beauty. "So, Mulder, when do we eat?" Mulder barked a laugh and went to the house to retrieve the plates for dinner. Scully watched as he made his way up the steps to the kitchen, allowing herself a good eye-full of his ass as it flexed each time he took a step. She grinned and chided herself for doing such a thing. Mulder reappeared with all the dinnerware that he thought was necessary and went about setting up the table on the small dock. "Mulder, you really didn't have to go through so much trouble. Eating on land will do just as well." "Trust me Scully, this is far better." "Okay, but as soon as the mosquitoes start biting I'm outta here and running for my bug repellent." Mulder looked up from his task and smiled at her. The sun which had begun to set played against the water, and created an illuminous effect on Scully. He offered her a chair and she refused to sit. "No, Mulder, really, let me help you with dinner. I saw you wincing earlier when you were chopping wood. Your back really can't handle all the food that you're going to bring over too." "Scully, I'm a man. I can handle it." Scully reached out and pushed with the point if her index finger, into a highly tender area of his back, making Mulder wince and drop the pitcher of water, spilling its contents on the dock. "Okay, point taken." Despite the wound to his pride, Mulder accepted Scully's help, and allowed her to help set the table. Mulder again held out Scully's chair for her, and this time she allowed him to seat her. "Oops, I forgot one thing Scully, I'll be right back." And with that he was off running to the cabin (although with some degree of pain). Scully waited with a contented smile on her face, for his return. She watched him walk towards her, holding something behind his back. "Mulder?" With a smile on his face he produced two citronella candles. "For milady's pleasure." He placed one on either side of the table and then removed the lid to the salmon, allowing the aroma to flow all around them. "Mulder this won't attract bears will it?" "Not at all, and if it does, just jump into the water, and I'll take care of you." He smiled at her and waited until she had started to eat, before he even dared to take a bite. He told himself that he was just being polite, but the truth was, he just loved to see her simplest movements be perfomed with such ease and grace that you would forget that this little 5' 2" redhead had just taken down a 200 lbs, armed man. He waited for the pleasure of the taste to wash over her face before he even picked up his fork, and seeing that she was indeed pleased, only then did he begin to eat. The silence between them was deafening, but amazingly comfortable. Words were hardly ever needed to communicate with each other. Body movements and gestures were enough to make themselves comfortable. The sun had started to set and the fancy cuisine had all but disappeared, and the two agents were again sitting in silence. Mulder sighed as he looked out across the lake, noting that the stars were starting to come out and perhaps he should take the dishes back inside for the night. He rose and began to collect the dishes. Scully reached out with her hand to stop him from doing the task all by himself. "Mulder, really I'm not incompotent, let me help." Mulder shook his head quickly stating again that he had brought her out there to relax, and that she was not to lift another finger. "Scully, come on, just sit and relax. Watch the stars while I do this okay? I'll be right back." He turned with an armful of dishes and made his way back to the cabin, whistling as he went. Scully leaned back in her chair, and listened to the growing presence of crickets while she waited for Mulder to return. She allowed her mind to drift once more to the beauty of the landscape, always having been one to admire God's handiwork of his world. The stars stared back at her as she did equally to them. She would never admit it to Mulder, but she sometimes wondered if something really was staring back at her while her eyes caressed the sky. The soft footfalls awakened her senses as she could hear Mulder approach her from behind. Without a word, he pulled his chair up next to her and poured them each a glass of wine. As with dinner, their silence was one of familiar comfort and enjoyed, as Mulder tilted his head with hers so that he too could watch the stars. A smile crept across his face at the simple elegance of the universe before him. This had always been his favourite place to come and watch the stares, and now he could share it with his best friend and love of his life, although she might not ever know it. "Mulder, did you ever see anything more beautiful in your life?" 'Only you' he thought to himself as he turned to the direction of her voice. Silence once again ensued and Scully took his silence to affirm his answer. They sat again until Mulder felt the need to break the quiet. "You know Scully, I didn't always think that there was life beyond the stars of our own galaxy." "You're kidding?" she answered with mock surprise. "Oh yeah. I used to think that they were little star people, who lit the lamposts for heaven." "Why did you think that?" Mulder placed down his wine glass, satisfied with his consumption for the evening. He picked out a constellation and leaned back to count how many stars would be in it as he told his tale. "When I was little, my great-grandfather passed away in his sleep. My mother told me over and over again that he had gone to heaven that night, and I just didn't understand how he had found his way out to heaven when it was so dark out," he glanced over to meet Scully's eyes looking right back at him, "I went around and asked everyone I knew how my Great Poppy had made it to heaven at night. No one would answer me until my Grandfather Mulder took me outside the night after the wake and pointed to the stars." He stopped and remembered the furry face of his father's father wondering how they had ever been related. "So what did he tell you Mulder?" Scully whispered as she too began to count the stars in Orion. "He told me that all the stars out there are little lamposts from all over the world. The lamposts are there so that if anyone all over the world should pass on in the night, they would be able to find their way to heaven via the lampost." Scully smiled at the simple logic of it. When she was young, she used to think that the millions of stars were tiny fireflies that had become stuck on the blue-flypaper. One thing still puzzled her though. "So where did the star-people come in Mulder?" He chuckled a little as he went on. "Well I asked my grandfather what would happen if one of the bulbs burned out, and he told me that the lamposts were the old-fashioned oil posts and that each night a special little star person would go out and light their own post." "That was beautiful Mulder." "You should've heard his explanation of the birds and the bees. It was hard to understand him with his accent though. But what can you expect from a Scottish immigrant who had only been in the country for 4 years." Mulder smiled as he rose out of his chair and collected the wine glasses. He met Scully's eyes and he held out his had for hers. Looking up she accepted his hand, and he gently tugged her to her feet. Together they walked slowly back to the cabin, hand in hand, knowing that it was right. A slow hum caught Scully's ear as they walked. She soon realized that it was Mulder humming a barely audible tune. Recognizing the tune as "Mona Lisa", she lowly joined in with Mulder's tune straining to remember the right words to the song. He met her gaze and smiled in delight that she took in his choice of song for the evening. She stopped suddenly, too suddenly for Mulder's liking and he became somewhat concerned in record time. He was immediately reassured by Scully's smile and released a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding in. "Mulder this is nice, why don't we go for a walk around the lake." Mulder looked up and down the beach and smiled in agreement. "Lead the way Agent Scully." (end of 3/4 ) Moonlight (4/4) They walked up the beach immersed in small chat and hands intertwined the way God had fated them to be. They swapped stories from their childhood experiences, everything from the perfection of rock skipping to how Dana and her sister were the queens of double-dutch at the San Diego Naval Base. Mulder couldn't remember a time when he could be anymore content with the way his life was going, when Scully asked him a question that stopped him dead in his tracks. "Mulder, do you believe in true love?" He was shocked and at a loss for words, worried that his silence would doom him from any further realtionship that may develop out of that one question. Finding her eyes he found his breath and the strength he needed to continue. "Well Scully," he began, taking her other hand in his, "I believe that by the powers that be, have created a match for each soul that lives and breathes on this planet." "But, Mulder, do you think you've found your true love?" Scully squeezed his hands as to better emphasize the meaning to her words. She had admitted to herself long ago that she loved Fox Mulder, but could never bring herself to tell him. Mulder smiled at her subtle suggestion and returned the gentle squeeze. He turned to her and met eyes illuminated by moonlight, he couldn't be more enamoured by her at that moment. Leaning in close to her, he touched her nose with his, awaiting protest from his petite partner, finding none, he gently pressed his lips to hers and breathed in her soul. Time stopped for Dana Scully as his soft, velvet lips claimed hers in one gentle swoop. The kiss lasted for years, and with the need of life-giving air being needed, he gently parted from her. Resting his forehead against hers, Mulder whispered to her. "Does that answer your question?" Her smile was all the answer he needed, as she countered his question with another kiss. She slowly broke the kiss and answered his question. "Yes. I believe it does." The lovestruck pair smiled at one another as they again joined hands and walked slowly back to the lodge. Every few steps Mulder picked Scully up into his arms and swung her around, ending with a small kiss. Scully felt as if she was on air, finally knowing that the man she loved more than life itself felt the same way about her, yet she still hadn't heard the words. As Mulder again picked her up and repeated his tiny ritual of swinging and kissing, Scully looked into his eyes. "I love you, you know that right?" Mulder was in shock, wondering where this doubt in his unfaltering love for her had come from, but looking into her eyes, he knew, that all she needed was for him to say the words. "Scully,..Dana, there is no one on this planet that I love more than you. And that will never change. I swear it." Taking her right hand, he placed it upon his beating heart. "You feel that?" She nodded as her gaze held his. "That's my heart. And I want you to know that it only, and will only beat for you. Forever." "Forever? That's a long time Mulder. Are you sure you won't get tired of me?" she played. "Yes, forever I promise. And no I could never get tired of my one true love." "Really now?" "Dana, if the ocean were of ink, and the sky parchment, I could not begin to write my love for you." Mulder could see what seemed to be the start of tears shine in her eyes, and for a moment he feared that maybe she didn't want forever, or him. But the tiny smile across her lips dashed all his fears, and he realized that she needed to hear him say it before she could believe forever. "Dana, I love you. And I always will." Scully smiled and a wave of relief washed over her, and reassured her of all her fears. She had always known Fox Mulder to break a promise to her, especially one as heartfelt as the one he had just made. They would be together forever and that was all that mattered anymore. On her tiptoes, Scully met her lips with his, sealing his promise and his commitment to her. After breaking the kiss, slowly, hand in hand, they made their way back to the lodge. At the foot of the steps, Mulder made a vain attempt to carry Scully up the stairs, but the pain in his back made him double over in his task. He was a bit afraid that Scully would be angry or disappointed with him,so he gave her his most charming smile he could muster. Right then and there he heard something that he hadn't really ever heard in a long while, Scully's laughter, true and heartfelt laughter. "Do you think I'm funny? Do I amuse you?" Hell it was the best Joe Pesci impression he could ever feign but what the hell. "Oh Mulder. When are you gonna realize that you can't do stuff like that when you're hurt? Come on. I'll give you a Tiger-Balm massage." With a look of defeat, Mulder took her outstretched hand and followed her up the stairs. Inside, Scully told him that she would go get the Tiger-Balm out of her bag and for Mulder to start a fire while she was gone. Upon her return, Scully found a beautiful fire roaring in the hearth. "I must say Mulder, I'm impressed." She moved around to face him laying on the couch. "Boy Scout make fire. Fire make G-woman happy?" He stuck his bottom lip out awaiting approval. Scully laughed and kneeled down to his face. "Yes, fire make happy. Now roll over so I can massage your back." She tugged on his arm until he fell limply to the floor. "If I must Scully." She gently rolled his shirt up to his shoulders and allowed him to take it off the rest of the way. He looked at her on his side while she gently pushed on him to get him to put his head down. "Just relax Mulder. Have I ever hurt you before?" she asked sweetly. Resting his head on his forearms he mumbled back a reply. "Well there was that time you shot me.." Scully slowly worked the lotion around his shoulders, kneading at the balls of tensesd muscles that had been causing him discomfort for the past week and a half. Mulder let out a few "ooo's" and "ahhh's" throughout her ministrations along his back. She even began to feel playful and snapped his underwear on him a few times. "Agent Scully are you trying to hint at something?" Her only response was a kiss on his ear. Mulder reached around and grabbed Scully about the waist. Bringing her to the soft woven mat in front of the fire, he tucked her into his body and simply held her about the waist, facing the fire. For awhile, they both lay there and watched the flames dance and bicker with one another. Protesting the life-giving oxygen with angry snaps and cracks. "You know Mulder, I thought it might be too warm for a fire, but its not that bad." Mulder breathed in her hair. 'God you smell lovely, oh wait she asked you something I think.' "That's because there is no furnace in this place, and it tends to get cool at night anyways." Tenderly, Mulder lined her neckline with light butterfly and brushed his thumb along her navel. Scully thought that she could just go to sleep right then and there, under Mulder's protective arm, if she hadn't felt the strong overwhelming urge to pee. She tried to put it off a few moments longer, but it was a losing battle against her bladder. Slowly she freed herself from Mulder's grip and rose to her feet. Mulder let out a disappointed sigh and begrudingly rose to his feet as well. "Coming to bed Mulder?" Scully cooed as soft as a dove. Mulder's tiny flash of his pearly-whites was all the answer she needed. He moved across the room to her, and taking her hand made their way up the stairs to his grandfather's room. 2:23 AM As hard as he might've tried, there was no way that Fox Mulder was going to be able to sleep that night. He held the love of his life in his arms next him and yet he couldn't join her in the peaceful slumber that she was in. The smell of their night's lovemaking was mixed in the air with the wooded smell of the bedroom furniture. And he could smell her too, the smell of floral and a hint of green apple. Scully lay asleep, protected from all harm in his arms. Her soft, even breathing assured Mulder that there was no fault in their actions, and that neither held any regrets. He could tell all this from the depth and tone of her breathing, a talent that he was long proud of himself for honing. And yet still, there was one thing that was keeping him from joining his love in slumber. Mulder looked to her and noticed her milky white body bathed in the pale moonlight of the summer morning. A proud smile enveloped his face, as he noticed the sheer joy and peace that his love had on her face. And then it hit him. It was just simply, Bliss. He had never felt anything in his entire existence that ever rivaled to this bliss that he was now feeling, and he enjoyed it. Again, Fox Mulder marveled at the beauty beside him, knowing that this is where he is supposed to be, and with a light kiss on her temple and the identification of his new happiness, he too joined his love in blissful sleep. !The End! 'The white cat ran fast The city bus drove faster Splat!! No more Fluffy' Author's note: So...was that corny or what? Like I care. It took me almost two months on and off to write this so you better have freakin enjoyed it. Okay, there may or may not be a Blue Mountain Lake around the Washington D.C. area, I made it up so forgive me. Its my first time so like I said before be gentle.