From: Lisa Stiles <bugmouthga@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:52:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Story submission
Source: direct


Scene Fourteen: "Coming Clean" 
[Rated NC-17]
January 2000
Alexandria, Fox Mulder residence
9:17 p.m.

	The door to his apartment opened up and Mulder 
flipped on the light switch, then moved aside for Scully to 
enter. He considered resting his hand at his usual spot on 
the small of her back, to lead her into the room, as was 
long since customary by now, but ultimately, he decided 
against it. 

	He had heard the medics talking to each other, the 
ones who were wheeling out Pfaster's body on a gurney 
in a body bag. They had checked over Scully before 
messing with the dead piece of shit. They had done so 
automatically, but if they hadn't, Mulder would have 
insisted that Scully be looked after ahead of the body of a 
murderous fucking son-of-a-bitch. But he recalled the 
medics' amazed chatter over how many bruises, scrapes 
and cuts adorned his beautiful partner's small form. If he 
touched her, without knowing where any of her sore 
spots were, he risked hurting her, and he never wanted to 
do that.

	Besides, seeing as how she was attacked and nearly 
killed in her home by a mad man less than a few hours 
ago, she may not want to be touched by anyone at all- 

including her partner. The thought made Mulder want to 
cry, but he didn't. As a trained psychologist, he knew 
how vulnerable women could feel after being raped, or 
attacked, especially in the presence of another man, no 
matter how well intentioned he may be. As the man 
closest to his partner, Mulder also knew that Scully hated 
to feel vulnerable, holding vulnerability akin to weakness, 
which was another Scully no-no. If he somehow upset 
her, or triggered something inside of her, causing her to 
lose control, she would most likely be angry with him, 
even enough to the point of leaving, in favor of staying at 
her mother's or a hotel. So, Mulder kept his distance, even 
though that was the last thing he wanted to do.

	Mulder set her overnight bag down on the floor 
next to his couch. "Have a seat, Scully," he told her 

gently, but she made no move to do so. He watched her, 
scratching his head, trying to gauge her true feelings, 
trying to figure out what she needed and what he could 
do to help her, make her feel more comfortable. "Um, 
have you had anything to eat?" he tried, reasoning that 
food was not only a necessity, but also a comfort. "I could 
order us something, if you want."

	"Thanks, Mulder, but I'm not really hungry right 
now," she murmured, not looking at him, but staring 
straight ahead. Her mind was truly elsewhere.

	"Did you want to watch some TV?" he tried again, 
desperate to make her feel at home and give her a sense of 
normalcy. He was desperate to alleviate her fears.

	"No, thanks," came the quiet reply.

	"Well, did you want to just go to bed, then?" he 
inquired. "I'm sure you must be exhausted, Scully."

	"I want to take a shower," she blurted, still not 
looking at him.

	"All right, Scully. Whatever you want." He 
thought of the state of his bathroom and his expression 
became slightly embarrassed. "Uh, gotta warn you, 
though, my tub isn't the... cleanest thing in the world right 
now... or ever..."

	"That's all right," she said numbly. Normally, such 
an admission from Mulder would have made her groan in 
mock-disgust, or chuckle, or at least smile knowingly at 
him. Maybe come up with some smart-ass retort. But she 
couldn't offer him anything other than a slight nod and a 
blank expression, which was not lost on Mulder.

	"Come on, I'll get you a clean towel and a wash 
cloth," he told her, urging her to follow him down the 
hallway. He moved to touch her, an instinctual gesture 
for him by now, but stopped himself before the 
movement became too obvious. He wanted nothing more 
than to take her into his loving, protective arms, hold her 
against his larger form, kissing her about the face. He 
longed to comfort her and tell her everything was going 
to be all right, even though he knew he couldn't truly 
promise her such a thing. But Scully was so hard to read 
sometimes, never more so than when she was hurt, either 
physically or emotionally. Since this occurrence had her 
smarting both ways, she was twice as hard to reach out to. 
Mulder loved her like no other, but he knew from past 

experience, it was better to just give her some space. If she 
needed comfort and reassurance, it had to be on her own 
terms, in her own time.

	They walked down the hallway together, even 
though she, of course, knew exactly where his bathroom 
was, and exactly where he kept his linens. He briefly 
stopped at the small cupboard in the hall, where he 
grabbed a faded wash cloth- they were all like that- and 
the fluffiest towel that he owned, which, admittedly, 
wasn't very fluffy at all.

	"Sorry, Scully," he apologized, as he handed her 
the items. "I know this is kind of thread-bare..."

	"No, it's fine, Mulder, thank you." She clutched the 
items closely against her chest, then ventured passed him, 
through his bedroom and into the bathroom, closing the 
door behind her.

	Mulder followed after her, saw the door close 

without another glimpse of her, which reminded him 
entirely too much of their relationship in general. Shutting 
me out again, he thought sadly, sitting down upon his bed. 
They had been growing closer lately, in a decidedly 
romantic way. Ever since that New Year's Eve kiss, he had 
been ever so gently and carefully pushing forward into 
her life, taking up even more of her time- in a purely 

nonprofessional way- invading her personal space, 
offering more touches, hugs, caresses, kisses... Oh, God, 
those succulent kisses! God, her succulent lips that give those 
succulent kisses!

	He heard the shower come on, and then the door 
opened a crack, causing him to sit up in alert.

	"Mulder?" Scully called to him, sounding 
somewhat shy.

	The man was off the bed and at the other side of 
that door before she could even finish saying his name. 
"What is it, Scully? Do you need anything?" he asked 
anxiously.

	"Um, I didn't bring any clothes in here to change 
into," she explained sheepishly.

	"No problem, I'll go get your overnight bag and-"

	"I..." and she paused for a moment. He waited her 
reply on baited breath. "Could I just borrow something of 
yours?" she asked quietly.

	"Uh..." His first thought was that her request 
turned him on. The idea of the woman he loved parading 
around his apartment in his own clothing... The second 
thought was that her request warmed his heart. Perhaps 
wearing something of his would make her feel protected, 
safe. The third thought regarding her request was that it 
was a little unusual to say the least, especially for Scully. 
But he would have done or given her anything to make 
her feel better. "Of course, Scully," he readily agreed. 
"How about a tee shirt and some jogging pants?"

	"That's good, thanks."

	"Great, okay, I'll go get them," he began, but she 
had shut the door on him again. He could tell though that 
she hadn't locked it this time. He assumed she would be 
waiting for him to bring her what she had requested 
before doing so. With a sigh, he retrieved the sought after 
items from his dresser then returned to the door, using his 
knuckles to lightly rap upon the wood. "Scully?"

	She opened the door just a crack again, and one of 
her small, pale hands darted out and grabbed his offering. 
He couldn't help but notice all of the cuts criss-crossing 
over that beautiful hand. It made him wince. Thankfully, 
she hadn't seen him.

	"Thank you," she called softly, and he could barely 
hear her.

	"You're welcome," he called back, much louder so 
that she would hear him as she shut the door in his face 
for the third time in as many minutes. Still, he noticed that 
she hadn't bothered locking it this time either. That was a 
little curious.

	With a weary groan, Mulder sat down right there 
on the nondescript carpeting in his bedroom, his back 
leaning against the bathroom door. Jesus, I really almost 

lost her this time, his harried mind sobbed in dismay. He 
had come so close to losing her too many times, really, 
but if she had died at the hands of that fucking bastard, 
waste-of-space, Donnie Pfaster... He shuddered, unable 
to even finish the thought.

	Up until this point, their lives had been balancing 
precariously on the edge of change. Back in October, 
Scully had asked him to father her child through invitro 
fertilization. By November, they had learned it hadn't 
worked. They had spent Thanksgiving together at her 
mother's house, where he finally got to meet the elusive 
Charlie Scully. He remembered how Scully had so 
proudly brought him right up into Mulder's face, proving 
to him, once and for all, that Charlie did, indeed, exist. 
The thought made him smile. Christmas was supposed to 
have been spent together, but he had fallen ill and rather 
than make Scully miss her plans with her family, he lied 
and told her that his own mother had invited him to stay 
with her at the last minute. He knew it had disappointed 
her, but he didn't want her spending Christmas with him 

in a hospital, worrying about him, when she could be 
having fun with her family, whom she rarely got to see. 
She had not fought him over this, considering she herself 
knew how strained relations were between Mulder and 
his mother, and she hoped that their time spent together 
would give them a chance to really talk, maybe work 
things out between them. She never knew, of course, that 
he'd spent the better part of a week in the hospital, having 
tests run.

	Just before New Year's, they had a case involving 
zombies, the millennium curse and meeting the strange 

fellow, Frank Black. By the time the case was through, on 
the eve of the year 2000, the zombies had been stopped, 
Frank Black had been reunited with his daughter, Scully's 
neck had been gnawed on and Mulder's arm broken, and 
he finally braved up enough to kiss her- on the lips!- and 
the world didn't end. He had kissed her just after they 
had watched the ball drop in Time Square, on Dick Clark's 
Rocking New Year's in a hospital waiting room. Not exactly 
a romantic atmosphere and the kiss itself had been rather 
chaste, although still sweet. But that one, simple kiss had 
opened the floodgates, as it were, and Mulder and Scully 
found themselves on a whole new level into their 
beautiful partnership.

	That had been a scant two weeks ago, but he had 
been kissing her ever since. Finally, their relationship was 
progressing, and not at a snail's pace. Maybe a turtle's 
pace, but certainly not as slow as a snail! He had kissed 
her every night since that night, always coming over to 
her place after work, and making sure they kissed before 
he left. Just a few days ago, they had both grown rather 
bold and made out on her couch in front of her fire place 
for an hour... until Skinner had called, reminding them 
about the mandatory meeting they were required to attend, 
first thing in the morning. That kind of soured the mood, 
but he still made sure to collect his kiss from her at the 
end of the evening. Things were moving right along... 
until two occurrences happened.

	The first came just yesterday, when the hospital 
had called with the results of all their tests from his 
Christmas stay with them. He learned that he had some 
sort of neurological disorder. He'd been referred to a 
specialist, whom he'd already made an appointment 
with- which was difficult, seeing as he and Scully spent 
nearly every waking moment together now- but the 
doctor from the hospital had said that the type of disorder 
he believed that Mulder had did not have a very 

encouraging prognosis. Typically, people who got this 
disorder died within five to ten years after being 
diagnosed. 

	The second grave occurrence had been the escape 
of Donnie Pfaster, from prison, subsequently followed by 
his attack on Scully and her killing of him. That, of course, 
just happened tonight.

	Mulder did not tell Scully about his own possible 
bad news. She had enough to deal with right now. He 
could imagine how horrible that would be... him saying, 
"Scully, I know you're feeling scared and upset and 
wondering if you did the right thing, blowing Pfaster 
away, but I'm sure it was meant to be, and oh, by the way, 
I have some weird neurological disorder that will 
probably kill me within the next decade or so." He didn't 
want to talk about it until he got the facts from this 
specialist anyway. Who knows? Maybe there was some 
sort of treatment or medication or- and he hoped it 
wouldn't come to this- some miracle surgery that could 
help him. He was almost certain the reason for this 
disease had something to do with the fucking Cigarette 
Smoking Man and the surgeries he had subjected him to, 
but he couldn't say for sure until he discussed things with 
this doctor.

	He blew out a breath of defeat. Would this world 
ever treat he and Scully right? Now, he had no idea if they 
would ever have the chance to live the kind of life 
together that he so desperately needed them to. He 
thought that Scully was leaning towards wanting that 
same life with him together. She'd been hinting at it now 
for over a year. She wanted a normal life. Mulder could 
only pray that she wanted that life with him. But now, 
who knows...?

	There was a good chance that that rat-fuck, son-of-
a-bitch, Donald Addie Pfaster had taken the last shred of 
Scully's sense of normalcy and need for love into death 
right along with him. He hoped not. Not only for her own 
sake, but for their sake, if they were ever going to have a 
chance to thrive together as a couple, for however long 
fate might give them.

	Drawing his knees up to his chest, Mulder rested 
his chin upon one of them, looking as forlorn as a man 
could look. Things were always so bleak for him, and he 
feared that he had forever doomed Scully, the one person 
he loved above all else, to the same fate.

	"Mulder!"

	Jumping up in alarm and banging his head on the 
back of the door, Mulder ignored the pain, heeding the 
call of his beloved, bursting through the bathroom door 
and racing over to the tub. "Scully? Is everything... are 
you okay?" he asked breathlessly.

	She did not answer, but he heard a small whimper, 
coming from inside the tub behind the shower curtain, 
barely discernible over the spray of the water. He felt the 
fear bubbling in his stomach, threatening to spew bile up 
to his throat. Why wouldn't she answer? "Scully?" he 
asked again, daring to slowly pull back the curtain.

	He found her standing out of the line of the water 
spray, naked as the day she was born, her thin arms 
folded protectively over her chest. She was shivering and 
her small, beautiful body was absolutely riddled with 
cuts, bruises and abrasions. The sight of her injuries 
caused Mulder to feel renewed rage and hatred for the 
monster that had just died in her apartment hours before. 
It made him want to cry, to know how much she was 
hurting. But he did not blanch or recoil from her visage. 
There was nothing that could diminish her lovely form in 
his eyes. No way, not ever!

	Mulder had seen her naked before, of course, on a 
couple other occasions. And just like now, they were 
usually under... less than desirable circumstances, 
without much chance to make it an erotic experience. As 
always, when gazing at her nude body, he had to steel 
himself to separate his very male appreciation of her 
loveliness from his very real concern for her. Giving her 
as much dignity as possible, Mulder gazed up at her 
sweet face, which was currently looking pained and full 
of fear and uncertainty.


	"The spray of the water stings, Mulder," she 
murmured, looking at him, seemingly not embarrassed in 
the slightest to be standing naked before him.

	"I'm sorry, Scully," he apologized sympathetically. 
"Would you rather take a ba-" he began, sharply cutting 

short his own sentence. How could he be so stupid to 
almost suggest she take a bath after what she'd just been 
through? After what they both knew Pfaster had almost 
done to her?

	Scully knew what he'd been about to say. She took 
no offense and offered him a small smile. "It's all right, 
Mulder. I know I have to get over this." She sighed 
wearily, wiping at the water dripping down in her eyes 
from her wet hair. "Jesus, after being attacked in 
bathrooms so many times, you'd think I'd be terrified to 
step foot in one."

	"Yeah," he murmured softly. Tooms, Pfaster, 
Incanto... Scully and crazed killers and bathrooms. He 
could easily understand why Psycho wasn't her favorite 
Hitchcock film.

	"But," she went on with that strength and 
determination she was so famous for- that same strength 
that had gotten him through so many tragedies when his 
own was depleted- "unless I want to buy myself a litter 
box and try to bathe in the kitchen sink every morning, I 
need to face this."

	He couldn't help but chuckle over her joke. He was 
actually surprised and impressed that she could even joke 
about it, especially so soon. Still, maybe it was bad 
manners of him to laugh, considering he would never 
know the true horrors she had faced. "Sorry."

	"Don't be," she whispered, gazing at him. "I like to 
see you smile."

	Mulder's breath hitched in his throat. Scully's 
admission was ever so sweet. And there she stood, naked 
and shivering in the shower in front of him, unabashed, 
guileless, so beautiful and vulnerable, yet strong and 
courageous. "I love your smile."

	His statement about her smile actually elicited one 
from her. "Thanks," she murmured, blushing for the first 
time since he'd entered the bathroom.

	Mulder always marveled at how his compliments 
had that effect on her. "Scully, did you... I mean, I 
could... uh..."

	"Will you help me?" she asked shyly and Mulder 
knew that asking for help was never easy for his partner. 
Especially asking for help in such an intimate situation. 
He wondered if she was more hurt or frightened than she 
was letting on... or perhaps, just perhaps, she was finally 
going to open up to him, let him in.

	"You mean, help... wash... um..." he stuttered, 
trying to clarify her motives so he didn't do anything 
stupid and freak her out. As it was, he could still feel his 
groin tighten at the mere hint of the suggestion. He did 
his best to control it. This was not about sex, or romance. 

It was about trust and love- but the love between best 
friends who would do anything for the other.

	She nodded, averting her eyes, but then forcing 
herself to look back into his own. He saw hesitance and 
fear flicker in her blue depths. He also saw a burning, raw 
emotion that was most certainly love, but bordered on 
what he could only fathom as desire. Maybe this was 
about sex... No, he was sure he was reading her wrong.

	"Y-yeah," he murmured.

	"But first... I'd like... would you... hold me?" she 
asked softly, pleadingly.

	"In the shower?" he gulped. Truthfully, he'd been 
itching to take her small form into his arms since he had 
watched her shoot Donnie Pfaster dead in her apartment 
hours before. But so much had needed to be attended to, 
plus he feared of aggravating her injuries, which, until 
now, he'd had no idea of the extent of them. And of 
course, he was never sure if she wanted to be held. She 
could be so evasive during times like these.

	She was the strong one in their partnership. He 
could easily admit that. So many times he had leaned on 
her, craved her love, her affection, her support. But 
admitting such a thing did not diminish his own need to 
help her through a crisis, to be her crutch, her rock, her 
shoulder to cry on. All she had to do was let him...

	Scully nodded.


	He took a reluctant step over the side of the tub.

	"Um, you might want to remove your clothing 
first, Mulder," she instructed, trying to keep her 
expression serious. "Not to mention, your shoes."

	If she would have told him that she was a relation 
of Big Foot and then bared sharp canines at him before 
howling like a monkey, he could not have been more 
stunned than by her words. "Um... okay..." he agreed 
shakily.

	They had been forced to shower together once, he 
recalled, as he removed his shoes and socks. It had been 
in a cold facility, with people close by and most likely 
watching them. They'd been put in a large shower room, 
so they had taken different stalls in different rows, trying 
to remain respectful of each other and afford one another 
some privacy. He remembered that he had still stolen a 
glance or two at his partner's wet, glistening body as the 
rivulets of water splashed down over her curves. He was 
also almost certain that she had checked him out as well. 
He'd caught her looking once or twice. But it had been an 
innocent moment between the two, making the best of the 
situation while being forced into it. They had also had 
safety in the knowledge that they kept a physical distance 

between them and that they were being watched, most 
likely by Diana Fowley herself. There was no way in hell 
either of them would have made an advance on the other.

	Mulder slowly began removing his clothing, 
suddenly feeling a little shy, which was unusual for him. 
Scully had been privy to his naked body on numerous 
occasions. And yes, most were due to illness or injury on 
his part, but she had seen him nonetheless. That didn't 

change the fact that he was nervous, realizing that this 
time was a very different circumstance. Neither of them 
was ill- unless you counted his impending neurological 
disorder, which wasn't a factor at this particular moment 
in time; he still had all his faculties about him. And while 
Scully was injured, she was not so to the point of being 
unconscious, or unable to make a decision about this 
happening. They were not being forced to do this. It was a 
completely voluntary action on both their parts, Mulder 
having secretly been longing for such an opportunity, 
Scully only voicing it out loud. They would also be 
completely alone- no one watching through a door, or a 
camera. No one observing their every move, keeping 
them on their best behavior. And lastly, they would not 
have the safety of physical distance to separate them, 
giving them a feeling of detachment. They would be 
standing naked together in a very small space. And he 
would be touching her. 

	Mulder briefly squeezed his eyes shut. He thought 
about baseball, slimy mutants, insane alien bounty 
hunters, Skinner getting pissed off at them and chewing 
them out, Kersch's ugly mug... Frohike's ugly mug... 
anything to keep his erection from igniting and taking 
over, therefore embarrassing Scully and humiliating 
himself. He started tugging on his boxers, as he happened 
to glance over at Scully, who had lowered her arms, and 
he was met with the sight of her breasts. A familiar 
stirring down south made him grit his teeth, trying, in 
vain, to regain some semblance of control over his body. 
Fuck! he thought in a panic, then groaned inwardly at his 
choice of word. I mean, shit! This is going to be so hard! No! I 
mean, difficult! This is going to be so difficult!

	He finally managed to get his shorts down and 
climbed over the side of the tub, standing before her, only 
semi-erect (the best he could do to restrain himself at this 
point) and allowing her to see all of him, without the 
distraction of illness or injury, without the threat of being 
interrupted. It was just him and her together... alone... 
and naked in a shower...

	"Uh..." he began eloquently.

	"Mulder," she whimpered his name and reached 
out her arms, wrapping them tightly about his waist, 
resting her weary head upon his familiar and comforting 
chest. He gingerly put his arms around her shoulders, not 
daring anything more than a light touch. She looked up at 
him in confusion. "What's wrong?"

	"I don't want to hurt you," he said, indicating her 
many cuts and bruises.

	"You won't," she promised. "Just hold me, please."

	Having her undeniable approval- and she had 
even said please- Mulder wrapped his arms around her in 
earnest. Her skin, while full of abrasions, was still baby-
soft to the touch. Her hair smelled so good, even though 
she hadn't washed it yet. (It didn't smell like his 
shampoo.) It smelled like her. He loved her natural scent, 
could pick it blindly against a hundred other scents. She 

always smelled so damn good... well, except for that time 
they both had gotten covered in shit while unofficially 
investigating a case involving killer cock roaches. But if he 

had to be honest, he hadn't exactly smelled very good 
himself.

	The feel of her naked body pressed to his, hearing 
her humming contentedly against his chest, smelling 
her... was it any wonder that he got lost in all things 
Scully, and he let his guard down? Before he could 
understand what was happening, he closed his eyes and 
was tangling his fingers in her hair with one hand, 
stroking her bare back with the other. He went from half-
mast to standing-at-full-attention in a matter of seconds, 
and it pressed insistently against her belly. "Scully, you 
feel so damn good, honey..." he growled into her ear, 

before realizing how much control he had lost, before 
remembering that he was supposed to be comforting her, 
be her support, her friend. He wasn't supposed to get so 
turned on he couldn't think straight. 

	I'm such a worthless fuck-up, he thought 
despondently, pulling away from her. Unable to look her 
in the eye, he said, "Scully, I... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean 
to- I don't want to hurt you." He bowed his head low, 
mortified by his actions.

	She stepped closer, crowding him, and he backed 
up in nervous uncertainty, until he was directly under the 
showerhead, the water wetting his hair and drenching his 
face. She pulled him out of the direct spray, then reached 
up to wipe gently at his eyes, wondering if some of the 
little streams were actually tears of regret and shame. 

	"Mulder, don't... don't be sorry." Scully paused, 
waiting for him to look at her. He wouldn't. "I'm not," 
she added sweetly, and this time he did stare into her 
face.

	"Huh?" he asked, not knowing how else to 
respond. To his surprise, she grasped his hands and 
pulled him back into her arms. When he wouldn't touch 
her, she lifted his arms and draped them over her small 
shoulders.


	"Please don't be embarrassed, Mulder," she 
whispered against his chest, pausing long enough to press 
an open-mouthed kiss upon it, his chest hair tickling her 
nose.

	The action made Mulder gasp loudly, and his 
erection, which had waned in the wake of his shame, 
stood at attention, bouncing up against her belly again. 
"Scu..." he stammered in confusion and obvious arousal.

	"I need this," she explained, her head still resting 
against his chest. "I need to feel good again... I need to... 
I- I need... you."

	"I need you, too," he promised, whispering into 
her hair. "Always."

	"I know," she smiled against his skin. She briefly 
nuzzled her nose through his chest hair again, making 
them both chuckle. "Mulder," she went on, this time 
looking up at him, her blue eyes boring into his hazel 
ones, "when Pfaster attacked me, he..." and she struggled 
with the words, tears flooding her eyes.

	"It's okay, Scully," Mulder replied gently, leaning 
down to kiss her cheek.

	"No, I have to say this. I need to tell you, it's too 
important not to," she told him with determination. Both 
of them knew how easily Scully could go into a lecture 
about the laws of physics, or explain, at length, the proper 
procedures to be taken during an autopsy. But when it 
came to matters of the heart, she always got tongue-tied, 
became withdrawn, uneasy. He knew she was treading 
on unsafe ground. He could also see that she would 
continue on anyway, because she felt she had to. "Pfaster 
didn't just hurt me physically, he... terrorized me. I..." 
She stopped again, either overcome with emotion or 
unable to find the right words. 

	"Oh, Scully," he said softly, stroking her hair with 
a tender hand.

	She pulled him closer and their bodies pressed 
tightly together, their connecting parts aching and 
tingling and nearly touching. Both of them groaned in 
arousal. "I need this," she repeated contentedly, loving 
the hardness of him pushing against her. "I need to feel 
you like this. This is how it's supposed to be between men 
and women. It's supposed to be about warmth and trust 
and love and... and... pleasure. Not what Pfaster wanted. 
He... he was so sick, Mulder, so twisted and evil. Yet, 
even now, I still don't know if I should have shot him like 
that... I'm still not sure why I did."

	Mulder had still been reeling from their intimate 
physical contact, when he was unexpectedly hit by the 
enormity of her words. While she hadn't exactly made a 

declaration of love, she had made an... acknowledgment 
of sorts. It was an acknowledgment of the love they both 
knew was there and ebbing between them. He didn't 
mention anything of it, didn't want to embarrass her or 
put her on the spot. He knew how difficult it had been for 
her to say out loud. It was so hard for her to articulate her 
feelings verbally. It wasn't the easiest thing for him either, 
if he had to be honest, but they were both well aware that 
she was the worse of the two. Instead, he focused on her 
guilt over killing Pfaster, another thing he was an expert 
at.

	"Scully, you didn't do anything wrong, I promise 
you. Pfaster was... evil incarnate! I mean that. He would 
have killed you- and then countless others- if you had not 
gotten to him first. I'm sure of that."

	She didn't look convinced, but she nodded, not 
really wanting to discuss Pfaster anymore, wishing to put 
her focus elsewhere. "Kiss me?" she asked hopefully.

	His lips were on hers so quickly, she barely had 
time to take a breath. His mouth devoured hers, not in 
any evil, sinister way- not like Pfaster, but like Mulder, the 
man she had loved for seven years, the man who owned 
her, heart and soul. Scully's lips were bruised and cracked 
from Pfaster's attack. Mulder's kiss should have stung, 
should have burned, but it didn't. His kiss soothed, 
healed, pleasured her. She felt safe, loved and desired. He 
made her feel... whole! Just as Mulder had once avowed 
that she had made him a whole person, she knew he did 
the same for her. She felt complete when he was near. She 
had felt that way about him for longer than she could 
remember.

	"Love you," he whispered against her lips, then 
engulfed them again before she could respond. His hands 
were carefully, reverently roaming over the expanse of 
her wet, slick skin, ever mindful of all of her many painful 
scratches. He stopped his assault on her mouth to ask her, 
"Is this what you need, Scully? Is this what you need from 
me?"

	"It's what I need with you," she said, reaching up 
to caress his beautiful face in her hands. She became 
aware, again, with no uncertain clarity of the excitement 
and appreciation his body had for hers. She could feel it 
pressing into her hip, now harder and more insistent than 
ever. Shocking even herself, Scully gingerly touched it 
lightly with her fingertips.

	"God, Scully!" he gasped at the contact.

	She smiled, feeling happy, desired and aroused all 
at once over the effect her simple touch could bring him. 
"I want this for us," she assured him, even as she knew 
she was about to disappoint him. "I really do. But I... 

tonight just wouldn't be possible. I need time to heal, not 
just my body, but... my mind..."She wore an apologetic 
expression, hoping he would understand.

	And of course, he did. He smiled at her, reached 
up to trace the shape of a heart over her left breast. "And 
your heart," he reminded her. "That needs time to heal, 
too." He kissed her forehead.

	"No," she corrected him, closing her eyes and 
shivering delightedly at his caress, "Pfaster never could 
touch that. It's yours, you see."

	More tears cascaded down Mulder's cheeks; these 
were of the happy persuasion. "I... oh, Scully, I hope you 
know that you own my heart, too."

	"I do," she replied, wiping away his tears with 
kisses. "And I cherish it, Mulder. I'll keep it safe for you, I 
promise."

	"I'll do the same for yours," he promised right 
back.

	"I'm really sorry that we can't... tonight, I mean," 

she apologized, looking as disappointed as she was sure 
he felt.

	"Don't be sorry, Scully," he said. "I'm not. In fact, 
I'm just happy at what I know now, what I have."

	"What's that?"

	"A relationship with you. A- a... future with you," 
he dared to add, even though, with his current health 
status, he didn't know how long that future would 
actually be. "And it starts right now... even if our sex life 
doesn't." He winked playfully at her.

	She chuckled sheepishly. "Please realize that I'm 
not saying 'no', Mulder. I'm just saying 'not right now'. 
But soon, I promise."

	"I understand. And I'll be looking forward to it." 
He shifted his position and his manhood sprung up and 
bounced against her abdomen, causing them both to 
glance down at it. While Scully eyed it with her mouth 
watering, Mulder found it to look somewhat ridiculous, 
even comical. He still had difficulty figuring out what 
women could possibly find sexy about men. "Eh, Mulder, 
Jr. is, too, apparently."

	Scully began to laugh; a surprising and beautiful 
sound. "Mulder, Jr.? You named your-"

	"All guys do," he sniffed, although he couldn't be 
certain of that fact. And he wasn't planning on asking 
around to find out for sure, either.

	The trademark Scully eyebrow was in place as she 
looked at him. She wore a look that told him of her 
amusement, happiness and unbidden desire. "I see..."

	Eager to change the subject, Mulder ran his hands 
up her arms to rest them upon her shoulders. "So, uh, did 
you want me to... wash you now?" he asked hopefully.

	She picked up on that instantly and smiled 
wickedly at him. "Why do I get the feeling you're going to 
get more out of this than I am?" she smirked, handing 

him the wash cloth.

	"Nah, it'll be good for both of us, Scully," he 
promised her, grabbing his bar of soap and lathering up 
the cloth. "I'll make you feel as clean and fresh as a 
summer rain."

	"You already do, Mulder," she told him quietly, 
her smile turning sweet and sentimental.

	"Keep that up, Scully, and we'll never get out of 
here, because I'll be too busy holding you."

	Her smile widened, as if that was supposed to 
worry her. "Will you wash my hair for me, too?" she 
asked innocently. "My arms are sore and it hurts to reach 
up."

	"Of course," he replied, his eyes heady with love 
and lust.

	He washed her hair first, turning it into a 
pleasurable and erotic experience for them both. Though 
neither mentioned it, the each silently vowed that 
showering together and he washing her hair would have 
to become a regular routine with them. 

	When it came time to wash her beautiful, but 
battered body, Mulder was extra gentle, and he bent 
down to reverently kiss the first scratch he came to, three 
inches long and running down her back, almost marring 
her tattoo, which Mulder took a moment to admire up 

close. After he'd kissed her, she shyly asked if he would 
kiss every scratch, bump and bruise he came across. Both 
of them were fully aware that her body was covered in 
them. The pain of knowing that fact was tempered nicely 
by the pleasure her request brought them. It was not lost 
on Mulder that Scully had basically given him permission 
to explore her body in a very intimate way.

	And yes, he did run his tongue along the outline of 
her tattoo, just as he had fantasized about doing years 
before when she'd first gotten it. He delighted in the way 
it made her shiver. She delighted in the way it felt.


	After he had done a thorough cleaning, as well as 
explored every curve, nook and cranny with the cloth, his 
fingers and his tongue, after the water finally turned cold, 
making them both shriek from the shock of it, Mulder and 
Scully got out of the tub and dried off. Mulder insisted on 
patting her dry with her towel himself, careful not to rub 
too hard against one of her many owies. She dressed in 
his clothing- he opted not to wear hers though- and they 
ventured back into the living room. He ordered them an 
extra-large, extra-gooey, extra-greasy pizza and they 
pigged out, eating all of it in one sitting. Then they slept 
peacefully together in his bed, staving off the 
unpleasantness of having to give a statement regarding 
Pfaster's shooting. They didn't think about the report they 
would soon need to turn in to Skinner. They tried not to 
worry over the mess in her apartment that would have to 
be dealt with soon.

	Instead, they held each other close, Scully 
slumbering against his shoulder, drooling contentedly on 
him. Mulder smiled, giving her a squeeze and kissing her 
before drifting off after her...





Scene Fifteen: "I Got Chills! 
They're Multiplying!" [Rated NC-
17]
April 2000
Georgetown, Dana Scully residence
8:46 p.m.

	T-Birds greaser Danny Zuko asked his date, the 
lovely Sandy Olsson from Australia, if she would wear 
his ring. She looked so happy and she admitted to him 
that she didn't know what to say. He told her to say, 
"yes", so she did. She then slid the ring onto her finger 

and kissed him.

	"Aw, that's so sweet," Mulder cooed at the 
television, sitting on Scully's sofa, eating popcorn from a 
big bowl setting on an end table beside him. His lovely 
partner sat in his lap.

	Scully smirked at him. "You're such a dork, 
Mulder."

	"Don't be a cynic, Scully. That's sweet!"


	"He only wants to get into her pants."


	"Shows what you know," he scoffed. "She's 

wearing a skirt!"

	She rolled her eyes at him, then leaned over him to 
snag some popcorn from the bowl. "Either way, he's just 
trying to get some." She gave him a pointed look.

	"Well, yeah, but he still loves her..." Mulder 
explained, as if he were an expert on teenage love from 
the 1950s. They watched as the greaser wrapped his arm 
around Sandy and slowly let his hand move towards the 
unsuspecting young woman's breast.

	"Wow, how loving," Scully remarked dully, as 
Sandy caught Danny in the act, before he pushed her 
down in the front seat and got on top of her.

	"Oh, um, well, see, that's... horny teenage-boy 
love," Mulder tried to elaborate, "which thankfully is a 
whole world of difference from... horny man love." He 
waggled his eyebrows at her.

	"Oh, I'm sure," she chuckled. "Smooth, Mulder, 
smooth."

	Sandy slammed the car door shut, effectively 
catching Danny's member in it.

	"Ha!" Scully blurted.

	"Scullleeee," he whined at her. "That would have 
hurt!"

	She shrugged. "It's not like it really happened, 
Mulder. He wasn't even near enough to the car door to 
get it caught. Besides, he had his pants on for Chrissakes."

	"I get it, Scully," he grimaced. He still held a 
pained expression. "It's just the thought of it..."

	Another roll of the pretty blue eyes. "Whatever, 

Mulder."

	Sandy threw Danny's ring at him, then left him in 
the car with a sore member and ran off into the night.

	"You'd never leave me stranded like that at a 
drive-in, would you, Scully."

	"Of course not," she said and he smiled, until she 
added. "I'd take the car home and do it properly."

	"Are you pissed at me, Scully?" Mulder dared to 
ask, glancing at her. She had an expression on her face 
that he couldn't quite read... as long as they had known 
each other and been partners and friends, becoming her 
lover had brought out a lot more emotions in Scully, a lot 
more expressions to learn, moods to figure out. It was 
true what he'd told her once. She always kept him 
guessing.

	"Why would you ask that?" she murmured, as 

Danny cried after his girl.

	"Well," Mulder supplied, managing to say it all in 
one breath, "because, while I went to the suburbs and 
stayed in a nice home and ate good food and had 
somebody washing and ironing my clothes and picking 
up after me, you were stuck in the bowels of D.C., in a 
cheap, flea-bitten motel, being exposed to the dredges of 
society, eating stale, three-day old pizza, wearing the 
same clothing for days on end, not even getting a 
shower..."

	Scully wrinkled her nose in distaste over the way 
too recent memory. She'd just gotten home the day before 
yesterday. "Well, if I wasn't pissed off about it before, I 
certainly am now. Thanks for bringing it up again, 
Mulder."

	"Oh, come on, Scully," he pleaded, as she blew out 
a breath. He knew she was only kidding. At least, he 
hoped she was only kidding. Ever since they had done the 
naked pretzel, as he liked to call it, the enigmatic Dr. Scully 
liked to tease him a lot, and in such a way that sometimes 
kept him off balance. He supposed she was making up for 
all the times he had embarrassed her over the years with 
naughty innuendoes.

	An idea formed quickly in Mulder's strange and 
brilliant mind, and he smiled, then gently deposited 
Scully onto the sofa next to him before sliding off onto the 
floor, where he knelt at her feet. He took a hold of her 
hand.


	"Mulder?" she asked in confusion as the music 
started.

	T-Birds leader Danny Zuko started to sing the 
song, Sandy, to his fleeing girlfriend, in a lovelorn tone. 
Mulder began to sing along with him as well, with a few 
major exceptions...

	"Scully, can't you see? I'm in misery!"

	In response to his woeful, horridly off-key, but 
completely sincere crooning, Scully burst out laughing. 

"Mulder!"

	He went on to the next verse, coming up with his 
own lyrics on the fly. 


	"Oh, Scully, maybe someday, when our next case is 
done... 
	Somehow, someway, our conclusions will be one
	The basement forever and ever we will be. 
	Oh, please, say you'll stay, oh, Scully..."

	"Oh, my God, stop!" Scully laughed, her cheeks 
turning pink, her breath hitching, her sides splitting from 
all the exertion.

	Mulder wouldn't let up. He then spoke in a deep 
voice, trying to imitate Danny's inflection as the greaser 
began speaking to his lost love. "Scully, my darling, I 
want you so bad, you know it's true. And baby, you gotta 
believe me when I say, I'm helpless without you."

	Then he ended the song with a flourish...

	"Please don't flee- stay with me! 
	Don't sit and wonder why-y-y-y
	Please, don't leave me, oh, Scully!
	Scul-lee!
	Scul-lee!
	Why-y-y-y... oh, Scully..."

	He looked expectantly at the beautiful, flush-faced 
woman sitting on the couch in front of him. "Well...?"

	"Jesus, Mulder," she finally spoke when she 
recovered her voice, "that was terrible!"

	He looked crestfallen. "It was? Even worse than 
your moth men rendition of Joy to the World?"

	"Oh, definitely, way worse!"

	His lower lip jutted out. "Oh..." he mumbled.

	"And I loved it!" she added.

	The smile returned to his handsome face. "Yeah?" 
he asked hopefully.

	"Oh, yeah," she purred, patting the sofa beside her. 
"Come back up here with me, please?"

	He eagerly did so, and they wrapped themselves 
around each other. She laid her head against his shoulder, 
and he started running his healing fingers over her back. 
"I'm sorry you got stuck on that crummy stakeout detail 
by yourself," he said, leaning forward to pepper her jaw 
line with kisses.

	"It's okay; it wasn't your fault," she assured him, 
leaning her head to the side to allow him better access.

	Seeing her so open to him, he seized the 
opportunity and began sucking on her exposed neck.

	"Mulder!" she squealed. "I'll get a hickey!"


	"A hickey from Mul-dicky is like a Hallmark 
card..." he teased her, pseudo-quoting the movie and 
giving the spot he just sucked a big lick with his tongue.
	
	"Oh, brother!"


	"Scully? Would you be mad if I copped a feel?" he 
asked, recalling her distaste for Danny Zuko trying such a 
move on Sandy Olsson in the drive-in scene. Mulder 
mimicked Danny's movements, his hand inching for her 
breast, although he did so in a very obvious manner, so as 
not to surprise her.

	"No," she assured him, "because I know you love 

and respect me and I actually want you to get into my 
pants." She grabbed his hand and enthusiastically placed 
it firmly upon her silk covered mound, groaning happily 
at the contact.

	"God, Scully," he groaned right back, his eyes 
flashing green, and he growled hungrily at her. Gently, he 
pushed her down into the couch, then carefully lowered 

himself on top of her. Sure, they weren't in a car at the 
drive-in, but they couldn't have everything. Besides, he 
was planning on getting a lot more action with Scully 
than poor Danny Zuko got with Sandy.

	Furious necking ensued...

	"You know, Scully," Mulder murmured against 
her lips, as Danny Zuko started to race Greased Lightnin' 
down at Thunder road, "I've been told I look like John 
Travolta..."

	She chuckled into his open mouth, their breaths 
mingling. "Really? Well, you don't."

	His lips wandered to the shell of her ear. He blew 
in it before mentioning, "Someone once said that I 
resemble Richard Gere. He played Danny Zuko on 
Broadway..."

	With a smile, she grazed her teeth over his chin, 
enjoying the sensation she felt with his stubble. "Sorry, I 
don't see it."

	"What about Harrison Ford?" he inquired, running 
his tongue along the smooth line of her neck. "He starred 
in American Grafiti, which is sort of like Grease..."

	Scully stopped what she had been doing- sucking 
on her partner's ear- and looked up at him. "I'm sensing a 
pattern here, Mulder. Are we going to go through every 
male actor who's ever played a punk in a movie before I 
see any real action?" She raised her eyebrow at him.

	He laughed at her retort, stinging though it was. "I 
just... wondered if you thought I was as good looking as 
some of those guys I mentioned..." he mumbled, 
embarrassed by his admission, but unable to tell her 
anything but the truth.

	Sandy Olsson sat watching Danny Zuko celebrate 
his victory with his friends at Thunder road, while her 
inner self sang, Sandra Dee...

	"Oh, Mulder," Scully promised, gazing into his 
eyes with pure love in her own, "none of them could even 
hope to compare to you. You're the most handsome man 
I've ever known, darling." He smiled, loving it immensely 
when she complimented him and loving it even more 
when she called him sentimental endearments. He then 
closed his eyes when she pulled his face down to hers and 
kissed him tenderly.

	"You know, Ellen Adderly, the suspect from my 
case in the suburbs," he said, reaching his hand out to 
tuck an errant strand of soft, red hair behind her ear, "she 
asked me an interesting question while I was there, before 
the arrest, I mean..."

	"Oh, yeah?" Scully responded playfully. "What 
was it? Do you like your boxers starched, Agent Mulder?"

	Mulder chuckled again, loving her silly side. But 
then his expression grew more thoughtful. "No, she asked 
me if I had a significant other..."

	"Ah," she murmured. Though the two of them had 
been in love for years, hopelessly devoted, as it were, they 
had only just recently spoken aloud those feelings of 
undying love a scant two months ago. They had been 
sexually intimate with each other for even less time than 
that, for only about the last month.

	That month had been a little turbulent, to say the 
least. First, they had found themselves being unwittingly 
filmed for a reality TV show- called Cops- while on a case 
in California. It gave Scully the willies, and made her feel 
as though she had to watch over her shoulder, always 
looking for a damn camera. Mulder was quite worried 
how she was going to handle it all once the show aired, 
which the producer had called to say would be within the 
next three months. He was sure Scully would never live it 
down with her family. He was particularly dreading 
about how Bill, Jr. might take to it. And he just knew this 
would make them a laughing stock at work- well, they 
usually were, anyway, but it would just make it worse 
down at the Bureau, once again.

	Then, they'd been at odds after the Lone Gunmen 
called them back to Los Angeles a week and a half later, 
as a favor, in regards to a video game company that they 
had invested in, and that was coming into some trouble. 
People were dying when they played the First Person 
Shooter game. Not only could Scully not comprehend the 
appeal of playing such silly games, she had not taken 
kindly to Mulder's blatant ogling of a certain Ms. Jade 
Blue Afterglow. Mulder would admit that he'd been 
behaving like a schmuck, especially considering old Jade 
had absolutely nothing over Scully. He had really gotten 
his ass kicked during that case. Not only had he nearly 
gotten killed in the video game, his beautiful partner 
having to come in and save him- she really did look 
adorably hot though, in that battle gear, with her little 
goggles and big gun, shooting and killing, all to save her 
man; it was all very primal, and he was surprised he 
could get up and walk out of there once the game was 
over, considering the wood he was sprouting- but later, 
when the partners joined the Gunmen at a bar to 
celebrate, even though it was pretty obvious that Scully 
was pissed off at him and not much in a mood for 
celebration, he ran into the real life Ms. Afterglow yet 
again. Thankfully, Scully had gone to the ladies room, just 
as Jade began her approach. He didn't want to pay much 
attention to the sexy vixen, because he didn't want to 
cause Scully any more hurt, nor was he truly interested. 
But the woman marched right up to him, invaded his 
personal space and whispered in his ear, "Is your partner 
single? God, she's so fucking hot, I wanted to take her 
right there in the precinct this afternoon!" He knew he 

should have felt more insulted that such a sexy woman 
preferred his female partner to him, but the idea of Scully 
and Jade Blue Afterglow together... well, the only thing 
that kept him from reintroducing them was the fact that 
Scully was all his and he had no intention of sharing her 
with anyone! So, he may have lost out on one fantasy, but 
lived to enjoy the reality, which was having his partner 
remain as his love, and not killing him for doing anything 
she might have considered stupid, degrading or 
disgusting.

	She was still brooding over what she deemed his 
unfortunate lack of judgment when they were called in to 
investigate the mysterious death of a doctor's family, and 
the apparent source of these deaths- a Mr. Orel Peattie 
and his magical voodoo dolls... Scully had momentarily 
lost her eyesight on that case, scaring them both nearly to 
death.

	Less than a week later, Mulder felt she had lost 

sight of something even more important- namely, her 
common sense- when she had decided to take an 
impromptu road trip with the devil himself. The Cigarette 
Smoking man had somehow managed to talk Scully into 
leaving with him, tricking her, using her for his own 
dastardly schemes. Mulder nearly had a heart attack from 
worry over her absence, and felt great sadness and 
disappointment once he found out whom she had 
disappeared with. Once she came back to him, seemingly 
unharmed, but perhaps sadder and wiser, the pain he felt 
over what he considered were her foolish actions tainted 
his relief over her safe return. This was a germ in their 
fledgling relationship that grew and festered, like an 
unchecked infection. After several days, the illness 
growing between them had come to a head, and they'd 
fought about it, finally getting it all out into the open. 
Their argument had been horrific. There had been a lot of 
screaming and accusations and tears and explanations 
being flung back and forth at each other. It eventually led 
to the most mind-blowing make-up sex either of them 

had ever experienced, but it had been a rough road to get 
there.

	Between the time they had made love for the first 
time in a hotel room the night they had discovered the 

truth about his sister Samantha, and what was about to 
happen this evening, they could count their moments of 
mutual sexual gratification on one hand. Mulder was 
really gunning for starting on the fingers of the other 
hand, but he realized that he and Scully were still so new 
at this romance thing and there were a lot of kinks left to be 
worked through. Since their biggest fault through out 
their partnership, then friendship and now their 
relationship had to be the lack of communication and 
holding back their true feelings, he was determined to 
start a new tradition of honesty and truth right now!

	Though he could feel Scully's insistent tug on his 
pants, though he could see the want in her beautiful, blue 
eyes and though he could feel his own want, throbbing 
insistently in his trousers and pressing temptingly into 
the heavenly apex of her thighs, Mulder knew they 
needed to have this conversation first.

	On the screen, Danny became acquainted with the 
newly made over Sandy. The psychologist in Mulder- and 
the feminist in Scully- would surely have a field day 
analyzing this turn of events, but now was not the time 
for inane reflection. 

	Danny sang to his love in amazement, trying to 
woo her back into his life, which everyone knows, would 
be pathetic without her.

	"I got chills- they're multiplying! And I'm losing 
control
	For the power you're supplying. It's electrifying!"

	Looking down at the incredibly gorgeous woman 
staring up at him from under the confines of his 
thrumming body, Mulder could only agree with that 
statement and commiserate. But he still pressed onward. 
It was important to him. She was important to him.

	"So, what was your answer?" Scully asked finally, 
after waiting too long without him giving one. She 
seemed cautiously curious. She wanted to know what 
he'd said, but at the same time, his expression gave her 
some cause to worry over what he'd said.


	"I said... 'Not in the widely understood definition 
of that term'," he replied.

	On screen, Danny and Sandy were dancing 
through the fun house at the carnival and vowing to each 
other that, You're the one that I want...

	Scully frowned. "What did you mean by that?" she 
inquired, looking confused, perhaps somewhat hurt.

	"I..." he struggled to find the right words. "I guess 
I was kind of afraid to admit about our relationship, as if 
telling her- basically a stranger and someone so far away 
from our own crazy lives- might mean that I'd slip up 
later on and admit it to someone else... as in someone that 

we feel shouldn't know about us."

	Now she understood. "Mulder, we did talk about 
this. You were the one who insisted upon total secrecy, 
remember? I mean, my own mother doesn't even know, 
and she's actually been wanting us to get together! And I 
know you haven't said anything to the Gunmen either, 
otherwise, I doubt Frohike would still leer at me all the 
time. Are you telling me now that you want to go public 
with our relationship?"

	"I... well, yeah," he admitted, "although, trust me, 
Frohike would continue to leer at you, regardless. And... I 
know that we can't go bragging about it- at least, not to 
just anyone."

	She sighed sadly. "It's true," she had to agree, "if 
someone from work found out, it could definitely 
jeopardize our partnership- even our jobs."

	"Scully," he whispered, staring down into her 
beautiful face, "no matter what happens, you will always 
be my partner." He kissed her softly.

	"I know," she said with half-lidded eyes and a 
warm smile. "You'll always be mine, too. I only meant 
our working partnership. And of course, there's the X-Files 
to worry about."

	"I don't worry so much about the X-Files 
anymore," he admitted, and she stared at him in surprise. 
"Well," he said, "I would miss it, but I honestly think that 
we've gone about as far as we can there."

	"What do you mean?"

	"I wanted to find my sister and I did, sort of. It 
only took nearly a decade on the job, but I did. Because of 
the X-Files, I discovered a government conspiracy, and 
learned that there is an imminent concern for 
colonization. We have solved crimes and murders that 
had previously been deemed unsolvable, due to their 
paranormal connections. We've captured or rid the world 
of so many monsters, even some of the human 
persuasion... and, most importantly, because of the X-
Files, I met my soul mate..."

	Scully averted her eyes. "You mean Melissa 
Ephesian?" she asked, suddenly looking forlorn.

	He smiled, having the feeling that she would 
automatically recall that time when he had been 
misguided enough to entertain such a possibility. "No," 
he told her, "I mean Dana Scully."

	Tears flooded her eyes. "Aw, Mulder, I... you 
know I feel the same..."

	"Yes, I do," he said, bending his head down again 
to kiss her. Even more than having sex, kissing this 
woman was his favorite thing in the world to do. "But... 
the X-Files has also brought us its share of pain and death 
and sadness. So if you asked me to choose between you 
and a musty basement office full of old files, well, there's 
no question..."

	She waited for him to clarify, still not completely 
sure what his answer would be. "Um, Mulder...?"

	He laughed. "Jesus, Scully, of course I'd choose 
you! Besides, the work we do, it would be possible to 
continue our quest in the private sector. We'd be some 
sort of... paranormal investigators."

	"That's what the Ghostbusters called themselves, 
Mulder," she smirked. "I guess Josh was right, huh?"

	"Hmm, maybe," he snickered, remember her 
nephew's impressions of their job. "I guess we could 
change our motto from I want to believe to We're ready to 
believe you. Yeah, that could definitely work. And hey, I 
can be Bill Murray and you can be my Sigourney Weaver. 
Ha! You wouldn't even have to change your first name, 
Dana, although you might have to grow a foot taller..." 
She could hear the wicked amusement in his tone.

	"Very funny, Venkman!" she muttered good-
naturedly. "But let me get this straight. Are you telling me 
that you want to throw caution to the wind and go public 
with our relationship, doing so with the knowledge that if 
we get canned from the FBI, we can just become ghost 
busters?"

	"Well, maybe semi public would be a better 
description, at least for now," he said, searching her face 
for approval, "although the whole ghost busting thing 
does have its appeal."

	"Semi public?" she asked with a devilish grin. 
"What do you mean by that, Mulder? Having sex at the 
office?"

	"Uh, that wasn't what I was thinking, actually," he 
admitted, "but I'm certainly open to that suggestion." He 
ground his erection against her.

	"Y-yeah," she gasped, "I'm sure you are."

	"Did you know that I've got approximately ninety-
three fantasies involving you, me and our desk down in 
the basement, Scully?"

	"Mulder? Are you going to explain this semi public 
business, or just torture me all night?"

	"Oh, right! Well, how about we start kind of 
slowly..." he paused as she laughed. It was true. No one 
could ever accuse the two of them of rushing into 
anything when it came to their relationship! "You know, 
we can tell your mom and your family... and the guys. I 
mean, do I want the aliens or the conspirators privy to the 
fact that I'm doing the naked pretzel with my hot, little 
sex-goddess of a partner?"

	She rolled her eyes. "You're so romantic, Mulder, 
and God, your answer better be no to that question."

	"Okay, no, even though I'd love to shout it from 
the roof tops that you're mine... and I'm yours." He 
leaned down to rub his nose against hers before kissing it. 
"But, I think it would be okay- and nice- to share the fact 
that we're in love, at least with our family and close 
friends. Let the people most important to us in on our 
little secret, so they don't have to wonder why we have 
these shit-eating grins on our faces all the time now."

	Scully, blushing over the idea that her family 
would know she was having sex with her partner- 
although she was pretty sure most of them assumed this 
already, anyway- chuckled nervously, then said, "I don't 
eat shit, Mulder, grinning or otherwise. But I do see your 
point about this and I... I certainly agree."

	Now he grinned, leering at her. "So, did you want 
to tell the Skinman, or should I?"

	This only made her laugh- and blush- harder. "Oh, 
Mulder, I have the sinking suspicion that he already 
knows. Or at least, he suspects. I'm sure he's 
contemplated over the idea."

	He thrust his tight, painful erection against her, 
and she groaned his name in excitement. "I'm 
contemplating something myself right about now, Agent 
Scully."

	Danny and Sandy and the gang began their last big 
number, singing, We Go Together and dancing around like 

maniacs.

	"Tell me about it, stud?" Scully joked, but her voice 
was all seduction.

	Mulder chuckled, then answered her, "How's 
about I ram-a-lama-lama your dingedy-ding-a-dong?" he 
crooned in time with the song.


	"Oh, God, yes!" she exclaimed, tugging once again, 
at his clothing, desperate to get him naked and grab a 
hold of his own dingedy-ding-a-dong. "I've been waiting 
for that ever since you got here, dammit!"

	"Shit, you mean, I didn't need to watch the movie, 
sing the songs, or have a heartfelt talk? I could have 
screwed your brains out the minute I walked through the 
door?" he stammered, pretending to be shocked.

	"Yes!" she informed him, getting his shirt over his 
head and reaching for the fly on his pants. "But I truly did 
enjoy the rest of it, too."


	"Even the singing?" he asked, yanking her sweater 
over her head, and reaching around her to unclasp her 
silky bra, whereupon her exquisite breasts were revealed 
to him. He buried his face between them.

	"Especially the singing," she vowed, sighing in 
contentment at the contact. 

	Once he got her pants off, and they were 
completely exposed to each other, he kissed her lovingly, 
then stared into her eyes as he slowly sank into her. This 
was one of his favorite moments while making love to the 
woman of his dreams. Their connection was so much 
more than physical.

	"So good, Scully," he whimpered. "Love you so 
much..."

	Danny and Sandy were driving away- okay, make 
that flying away- in a souped-up, outrageously painted 
pink car. The hood was clear and the engine visible. It still 
couldn't have been revving as much as Mulder's and 
Scully's were.

	"Love you, Mulder, always..." Scully replied with a 
groan. "We'll always be together..." she sang in her 
charming, off-key monotone as the song came to a close. 
The two leads waved goodbye and floated off into the 
clouds.

	Mulder had never ceased to be amazed- or 
amused- by Scully's somewhat quiet, subtle, but very 
funny sense of humor. He truly appreciated it. He always 
had. But what he appreciated even more was the fact that 
she had been funnier, sillier... happier ever since they had 
finally admitted their true feelings for one another. 
Mulder was flabbergasted by the conclusion that he 
actually made her happy. Scully was the woman he'd 
loved since... well, forever, and her mere presence could 
delight him to no end. It was nearly unbelievable to him 
that he could elicit the same feelings in her, but there it 
was, plain as day and staring him in the face, just as she 
was now.

	"Mulder? Are you all right, love?" 

	There it was, another mushy term of endearment 
that he couldn't get enough of from her. He smiled. 
"I'm... perfect, love," he assured her, caressing her face 
with one hand and one of her soft, supple thighs with the 
other, "now that I have you."

	"Then, have me," she urged him, thrusting up 

against his beautiful body. "And I'll have you."

	"Deal," he agreed, and they kissed, then began 
their primal dance.

	In the background, the end credits of the movie left 
them with one final bit of advice...

	"Grease is the word... is the word... is the word... is the 
word..."





Scene Sixteen: "Tears On My 
Pillowcase..." [Rated PG-13]
April 2001
Alexandria, Fox Mulder residence
Laundry Room
9:02 p.m.

	Mulder was downstairs in his apartment building's 
laundry room. He had six loads going at once, using up 
every washing machine there, which was against the rules 
here. He was not supposed to be monopolizing all of the 
machines himself, as it was considered bad form to do so 
to one's neighbors, but Mulder could give a rat's ass 
about the rules or his neighbors. Besides, there was no 
one else down here, glaring at him to hurry up, and he 
still had a load of sheets and towels to do even after all of 
this, so he was going to do what he needed to do.

	He had just gotten back from a close call this 
evening where he and this Agent Doggett guy had barely 
escaped with their lives from yet another government 
facility harboring horrible secrets regarding the fate of the 
world. Even though he had recently just risen from the 
dead, Mulder was still searching for answers, still looking 
for the truth, no matter how daunting it may be.

	When he and Doggett and the Lone Gunmen had 
beat it out of that place, the guys had raced for their ugly, 
hippie van, Doggett had headed to his own car, and 
Mulder was met with the sight of his very pregnant Scully 

waiting for him at her car, gesturing frantically for him to 
hurry his ass up. She had slid in behind the steering 
wheel, her girth barely allowing her room to breathe, 
while he made a beeline for the passenger seat, and off 
they raced, into the night, inhaling the dust made by the 
hasty retreat of the other two parties leaving just before 
them. They had barely made it out of there alive. If it 
hadn't been for Doggett's warning...


	"Fuck!" Mulder groaned out loud, in spite of the 
lack of an audience to either be shocked or amused over 
his curse.

	Life, after having come back from the dead, was 
certainly no bowl of cherries. Not that life ever had been a 
bowl of cherries in the first place, but before, he'd known 
where he fit in with the world... and with her... At least, 
he always thought he did. Things were still a bit on the 
hazy side sometimes, when he tried to recall his past.

	But now, there was this Agent Dog-get in his 
world, in Scully's world, as well as in his X-Files office. He 
didn't like the asshole, not one little bit, whether the man 
had just saved his ass or not. Doggett has an attitude, 
Mulder decided, a bad attitude! The guy was cocky, 
arrogant, and he constantly hovered around Scully. If 
Mulder would have thought about it, he might have been 
shocked to realize that all of those things could have 
easily been used to describe him as well, but the point 

was, he wasn't thinking about it.

	The fucker's acting like he's got a stake on my Scully! 
Scully... Tears flooded Mulder's eyes over just the 
thought of her name. She had been his first sight when 
he'd awoken from the coma after being brought back 
from the dead just a couple of weeks ago. She had looked 
so beautiful and kind and loving. He remembered her 
expression once he'd opened his eyes and looked at her 
for the first time, although, even while he was 
unconscious, he had known she was there with him. He 
had felt her presence somehow. But upon opening his 
eyes and actually seeing her there, a solid, breathing 
person, not just a pretty but unattainable vision, that 
made it all real. It made her truly real. She had looked 
ecstatic to see him awake. She had hugged him, even 
though he was too weak at the time to return the gesture. 
So, he had hugged her with his heart, his mind, his soul. 
Every ounce of mental and emotional energy he had to 

give went to the effort of loving her in that moment, as 
he'd had no physical energy to speak of.

	A smile appeared on his trembling lips over the 
memory. How many other bozos could say their return from 
the dead was so meaningful and heartfelt? How many of them 
could say that they were greeted by their very own earthbound 
angel? Then again, he reasoned, how many bozos lay buried in 
the ground for months and actually return from the dead at all?

	Not long after their teary-eyed reunion, Mulder 
thought it was a day or two later, but he couldn't 
remember for sure now, he had finally noticed the 
fullness to her face, and her breasts... as well as the swell 
of her very obviously pregnant belly. He recalled the last 
time he had seen Scully before being abducted. He had 
left her in his bed, after making love to her in the most 
tender way, kissing her tear-stained, worried face 
goodbye and leaving to meet up with Skinner at the 
airport to fly to Oregon. She had looked so lovely, 
gorgeous, sexy, a little sad, of course, but decidedly as 
thin as a reed and definitely not pregnant.

	His heart ached with regret, recalling their failed 
attempts at creating life together through invitro 
fertilization the year before. It hadn't worked, much to 
both their utmost regret. It had hit Scully hard to be faced 
with such defeat. He had remained strong and supportive 
for her during that heartbreaking time, but what he 
hadn't let on was just how much it had hurt him, too. The 
idea of having a child had never truly crossed his mind, 
but when Scully had asked him, he suddenly felt 
compelled to become a father, but only if Scully was to be 
the mother of his offspring. There was no one else in the 
world he would have wanted to share that experience 
with. When it all failed, he realized it wasn't meant to be, 
but it still hurt him terribly. Because he was a guilt-ridden 
man for so long, he blamed the whole fiasco on himself. 
He felt he had failed the woman he loved.

	Not long after, so many things happened to change 
their lives, and not having a child together, while tragic, 
suddenly did not seem like the end of the world. 
Contracting a neurological disorder felt like the end of the 
world sometimes, especially considering he knew it was 
an ultimately fatal condition, but at the same time, he felt 
life renew when he had braved up enough to kiss his 
lovely partner on the lips, for the very first time. That 
event seemed to have set off a chain reaction of so many 
topsy-turvy happenings. His mother died, he'd 
discovered that his sister was long dead, too. The X-Files 
was in danger of being closed down. But through it all, 
his relationship with his beloved Scully had grown and 
blossomed and soon they were absolutely everything to 
each other. They always had been nearly so, since that 
first day they'd met in March of 1992, really. But even as 
their partnership and friendship expanded and more trust 
was formed and intimacy developed, something had 
always been missing; just one, tiny little piece of a puzzle 
that would forever remain unfinished until the last part 
was added to the final picture. He'd found that missing 
piece in a hotel room the night he discovered the truth 
about what had happened to his sister. That was the first 
time he and his beautiful Scully had made love, at least in 
the physical sense. After that, things just started looking 
up. Of course, they still had their fair share of 
misunderstandings, close calls, illnesses, injuries, fights 
that plagued both their personal and professional lives, 
but they survived it all, and even if their moments of 
sexual intimacy had been too brief, too infrequent, neither 
could question the other on their loyalty or love. They 
were both much happier and Scully became so playful 
and even silly at times. It had been wonderful learning 

this before to hidden side of her. He'd so enjoyed 
watching her blossom in the protective haven of his 
devotion. Her growth had set off something inside of him 
and soon he was blossoming as well. If it weren't for his 
impending death from the nasty disease in his brain, he 
would have felt invincible.


	Being with Scully, loving her, being loved by her, 
had been the best thing that had ever happened to him. 
Mulder had been lonely and deprived of love for so long, 
but finally, he had retained the prize- the golden ticket! 
Sonnets have been spouted about love since before the 
time of Shakespeare, books about romance were 
considered classic works of art. People slow danced to 
love songs, went out on dates, hired match makers, went 

to singles bars, even got online in the hopes of snagging 
that one, special person. His one, special person was Dana 
Katherine Scully. She was his one in five billion, she made 
him whole, she was his constant, his touchstone. She was 
everything, and she intoxicated him even as she kept him 
sane and grounded. He couldn't live without her, and he 
never even wanted to try. When he had taken her into his 
arms, into his bed- or hers, depending on the night- he 
wasn't just worshipping her body with his own, he was 
opening his heart to hers, their souls joining just as 
tangibly as their physical selves were. He knew how 
flowery and mushy that all sounded, but it was the truth, 
his truth, and hers. 

	But now...

	It was eating at him, making him miserable, 
making him ache all over. He wanted to know how Scully 
had become pregnant. Part of him had hoped their 
fertility doctor had kept some of his earlier... donation, 
and she had tried again, after his disappearance, only for 
it to mysteriously take. Somehow though, that just didn't 
seem likely to him, didn't feel right. With some 
resentment, he wondered why she hadn't been more 
forthcoming about it all, offering him what he felt were 
well deserved answers upon his awakening, especially 
the first time he noticed her more... well-rounded 
appearance. But she had never spoken much of it, except 
to offer him a cryptic smile and a due date. To be fair, she 
had stopped being so talkative and stopped making 
overtures to their involvement and their love because of 

him and his nasty attitude. He knew he had behaved so 
coldly to her, particularly after finding out about her 
pregnancy. There was nothing more he wanted than to 
fall into her welcoming arms, bury his head against her 
breast, while she held him and stroked back his hair with 
cool, deft fingers, soothing away all his hurt and doubt as 
she peppered his face with soft, tender kisses, just as she 
had done for him so many times before. And yet, for 
some reason not even completely clear to him, he had 
refused her touches and kisses and sighs, denying them 
both that healing connection, leaving each of them bereft 
and drifting through an emotional sea of turmoil, without 
any hope of rescue.

	"Dammit," he cursed again. He glanced down at 
all of the stupid laundry he was forced to do- he had 
found piles of it in the corner of his bedroom upon his 
return, for some odd reason- and a fresh surge of anger 
towards Scully emerged.

	She kept my apartment, paying for it out of her own 
pocket all these months, leaving it as I had left it. She cleaned it, 
paid my bills, fed my fish, even retained my damn newspaper 
subscription, but she couldn't wash my fucking laundry?! Not 
to mention, most of my tee shirts are missing. Shit, maybe she 
used them as cleaning rags to dust this hole. God knows, it's 
spotless, even though I never dusted... Such nasty, bitter 
thoughts bubbled to the surface of his mind, growing 
thick and toxic in his soul. How could he think such evil 
things about the woman he loved? He admitted to himself 
that it wasn't fair, not in the slightest. It was downright 
cruel, he knew, when he really thought about it, which 
surprised him. He'd had no idea that he could harbor 
such hostility towards the one person he knew had never 
stopped searching for him... not until they'd found him 
lying dead in that field...

	He wondered if that could be the source of his 
anger. Scully had buried him in the ground. Buried him! 
He was in the dark, cold and alone, and yet... he had no 
bad memories of it at all, no feelings of isolation or 
suffocation. He couldn't remember a thing about being 
dead. He then contemplated over the fact that she had 
refused letting anyone perform an autopsy on him. She, 
as his next of kin, had also refused any embalming done 
to him, which was the norm for most people in this day 
and age. He knew that a body that didn't get embalmed 
would decay rather quickly, eventually turning to dust... 
almost as if it never was. But by avoiding embalming had 
also kept his body pure for his return... 

	He pondered over that thought, just as he realized 
how she had kept his apartment for him, had continued to 
make it clean and homey. It made sense for her to do so 
while he was missing. He himself had done little things in 
Scully's apartment when she'd gone missing so many 
years ago. And thankfully, she had been returned to him 
alive. She'd been comatose, sure, but still living and 
breathing, even if only in the most basic sense.

	But he had not... He had been returned to her with 
months old scars upon his face and body, naked and 
vulnerable. He reappeared into her world- and he just 
realized now that she had been pregnant at that time as 
well, much to his horror and regret- dead, without 
movement, without breath, without life. His body was 
there, but he was gone. She'd have had no choice but to 
bury him, doing the unthinkable to her perfect other... 
And yet... and yet, she had still kept his things in place, 
surrounding herself with them, even though it would 
seem foolish, perhaps even morbid to do so.

	Is it possible that Scully somehow knew I'd find a way 
back to her? he dared to wonder. Could it be that she expected 
me, even as they lowered my casket into the cold, hard earth? 
Did she love me so much that she felt even death itself could not 
keep us apart for long... The ideas swimming in his head 
were just too fantastic to believe, as much as he would 
have liked to. It sounded like something he would have 
thought, a lifetime ago. But Scully, even though he knew 
she loved him dearly, she would be too sensible to believe 
in such nonsense, to rely on instinct and emotion over 
science and logic... wouldn't she?

	"She still could have washed my damn clothes," he 
muttered out loud.

	"No, I'm sorry, but I couldn't," a voice said from 
the laundry room doorway, and he jumped nearly a mile 
at the surprise. "Oh, Mulder," she whispered contritely, "I 
didn't mean to-"

	As happy as he was to see her, something kept him 
from expressing it. Instead, he responded with irritation. 
"Scully, what are you doing here?"

	She shrugged, walking into the laundry room, 
waddling over to him in a most adorable manner, 
although he refused to mention it. "I... felt restless, I 
guess."

	"You should be home, taking it easy," he ordered 
in a stern tone, looking away from her. "I thought 
pregnant women needed a lot more sleep."

	"I get enough sleep," she lied easily, coming closer 
to stand beside him. She looked upon him adoringly.

	Her gaze only unnerved him, worsened his mood. 
"Well, you shouldn't be driving," he grunted in 
annoyance, angry not with her presence but with his 
inability to deal with it. "When we made our get away 
earlier tonight, you could barely fit behind the wheel of 
your car! You're a danger to yourself and the..." he 
gestured to her stomach, unable to even say the word, 
baby, "and to everyone else out on the road!" His eyes 
gleamed. He didn't know why, but he wanted to scold 
her, wanted to punish her. After all she had done for him, 
all she meant to him, he couldn't escape this need to hurt 
her. He didn't want to do it, but he couldn't stop himself.

	Unexpectedly to him, Scully smiled and rested a 
delicate hand on his bicep, ignoring his bitterness and 
instead focusing on the concern underlying it. "I took a 
cab over, Mulder."

	"Oh." He then lapsed into silence, feeling chastised 
by her answer and her kindness.

	"But you're definitely right," she added, "I 
shouldn't be driving anymore. I wouldn't want to 
endanger anyone, especially the baby..." She caressed her 
huge belly with a light touch and smiled again.

	"Or yourself," Mulder heard himself say. He 
blinked. He hadn't meant to say it out loud. He realized 
her motions must have distracted him. He had found the 
gesture beyond touching and even a little alluring. But he 
tamped his reactions to her beauty down deep inside. He 
thought there was no need to get all hot and bothered or 
touched to tears over someone who had bigger and better 
things to worry about than he.

	"Or myself," she amended, turning her Mona Lisa 
smile back to him.

	Mulder swallowed the lump in his throat and 
averted his gaze. Too much emotion was swirling and 
churning within. Some of it was loving, and hopeful, but 
most of it was fear and anguish and anger and 
uncertainty. He didn't want to take those negative 
feelings out on her, on a pregnant woman, who looked at 
him with eyes as blue as the ocean on a clear day. He had 
the feeling he was going to hurt her anyway, tonight, but 
honestly, he did not want to.

	"So, why couldn't you?" he asked quietly, anxious 
to change the subject. "Do my laundry, I mean? Not that 
you should have to, but, considering the rest of the 
upkeep you did for my apartment... is the detergent 
harmful to the baby or something?"

	"No," she assured him, chuckling softly. She 
touched his arm again and those beautiful eyes of hers 
suddenly flooded with tears.


	Shit, he thought, what did I say? He knew- or at 
least, he'd heard- that pregnant women were extremely 
hormonal and could get pretty moody and emotional. 
That was understandable, considering what was going on 
inside their bodies. But he wasn't quite used to Scully 
being this way, so... open and softhearted, at least not this 
blatantly. Of course, she had never been pregnant before, 
so he honestly had no basis of comparison.

	He was becoming uncomfortable being around her 
again, which was truly breaking his heart. He knew it 
wasn't anything she had done, not directly. It was all him, 
and his tormented soul and his wanting to know the 
answers to questions he was simply too much of a coward 
to ask. Making a show of checking his watch, he opened 
up one of the washing machine lids. "You should go," he 
told her coldly, no longer able to handle their close 
proximity. "I've got to finish up this shit load of laundry 
that you couldn't do." He paused, wincing inwardly. How 
could he have said such a thing to the woman he loved? 
He was being such a bastard.

	Scully's eyes blinked back tears of confusion, shock 
and pain. "I- I'm sorry," she stammered, clearly stunned 
by his unexpected dismissal of her. 

	He also noticed the color rising in her cheeks, and 
he knew that she was getting angry as well. Mulder was 
perversely glad for that fact. He had always hated being 
in the path of her temper in the past, but right now, he 
was hurting her and he knew it but he couldn't stop 
himself. And if he was incapable of stopping his 
nastiness, then he wanted her to be able to defend herself 
against him. What a warped, twisted world I live in, he 
marveled at the absurdity where that sort of reasoning 
would actually make sense.

	"Don't be sorry," he snapped, "just be gone!" Jesus, 
I've done it again! Shut up, you fucking asshole! Shut up before 
she kills you... or you kill yourself!

	"Why don't you go upstairs, Mulder?" she 
suggested, her tone clipped, barely controlled. He saw her 
clench her hands a few times. "I'll finish up your damn 
laundry for you." Using her bulk to her advantage, Scully 
pushed him out of the way, knowing that he avoided her 
large stomach like he'd avoid the plague. She started to 
transfer a load of his clothes from the washer to a nearby 
dryer.

	Careful, as if afraid that his mere touch could hurt 
her or the baby, Mulder gently, but deftly maneuvered 
her back and out of his way. "Go home, Scully," he 
snarled. "I'm a big boy, back from the dead and 
everything! I think I can handle doing some stupid-ass 
laundry!"


	"Fine," she hissed after a prolonged amount of 
stunned silence. "I'll go, Mulder. It's obvious that my 
presence is upsetting you this evening." She started for 
the doorway.

	"Don't you need to call a cab? Do you need some 
money?" he asked, his concern shining through in spite of 
him not wanting it to.

	"I've got my cell phone and my wallet, Mulder," 
she hissed. "I'm a big girl, pregnant and everything!"

	Throwing his words and tone back at him did 
nothing to improve his nasty mood. "Yeah, whatever, 
Scully! And while you're out, maybe you could go buy 
me some new tee shirts! Most of mine are missing, so I'm 
assuming you probably donated them to charity... or 
maybe you gave them all away to your new partner, 
Agent Dog-shit!" He had loved screaming at her, loved 
insulting Doggett, but he came to regret it the moment the 
words had escaped his stupid mouth.

	Scully turned back and he recoiled in actual fear 
over the amount of anger flashing in her blue eyes. "You 
asshole!" she swore, surprising him. "Your fucking tee 
shirts are at my place! I've been wearing them to bed 
every night since you... since your disappearance! And I 
haven't washed your stupid laundry because I'd come 
over here during the day while you were gone to take a 
nap in your bed- the bed where we would... and I would 
surround myself with your clothes just to get a hint of 
your goddamned, fucking scent!" Her chest was heaving, 
tears threatening to spill at any moment. Her color was 
high and she looked like she was about to murder 
something... or someone...

	Mulder was utterly shocked and appalled. Shocked 
over the anguish she had obviously felt through out his 
absence, and appalled by the way he had been treating 
her since his return. "Scully, I..."

	"I'll wash all of your tee shirts tonight at home and 
have them returned to you tomorrow, all right?" she 
muttered. Then she began to cry despite her valiant 
attempts to hold them at bay.

	Guilt, compassion and love surged through 
Mulder and instinctively, he took a step towards her, his 
hand outstretched. "Scully..."

	"Don't touch me, Mulder," she warned him, and 
he refrained from trying, knowing from experience that 
her tone meant business. "Not... not right now. I'll... see 
you tomorrow." Then she waddled out of the laundry 
room, wiping at her teary eyes. She rounded the corner, 
disappearing from sight, and possibly from his life 
forever. A moment later, he heard the main door to his 
apartment building shut soundly.


	Mulder slammed his fists down onto the washing 
machine in a primal fit of rage. "FUCK!!!" he screamed at 
the top of his lungs. He then heard a baby cry, a cat 
screech from right outside the window and a fellow 
tenant scream, "Shut the hell up!" at him.

	The hot tears flowing out of his own tortured eyes, 
Mulder was scared shitless that he had just ruined the 
best relationship he had ever had in his entire life- or 
death, apparently. He didn't know if it had the ability to 
pick up where they had left off so many months ago at the 
time of his abduction, but he was sure the way he'd just 
treated his beloved certainly hadn't helped that cause 
along. He honestly couldn't fathom why he had been so 
cruel to the one person he knew had always loved him 
unconditionally; the one person he loved unconditionally 
in return, but he could only speculate in his agony that 
since he was in so much pain, he wanted someone else to 
feel as badly. Why he had chosen Scully, he supposed, 
was because she was the one always around him. That 
plus the fact, as the old saying goes, you always hurt the one 
you love.

	Wiping futilely at his eyes, Mulder dumped 
another load of laundry- towels and sheets this time- into 
the washing machine. Some of the stuff on the top of the 
heap didn't want to fit into the small washer. Frustrated 
and already depressed and pissed off at himself, he 
started shoving it angrily into the machine, even kicking 
the side of it for good measure, for all the good it would 
do. Grabbing up a corner of a pillowcase, he was about to 
just start throwing some of the shit into the trash can in 
the corner of the room, when he paused, suddenly 
detecting a certain, familiar scent, as it lightly wafted up 
to his nostrils. He inhaled deeply for a moment, instantly 

recognizing it as Scully's natural scent. His eyes growing 
wide, he grabbed that pillowcase back up, gripping it 
tightly and holding it up to his face. He inhaled again, 
and the scent was unmistakable now. Scully really had 
been sleeping in his bed, her sweet head resting on his 
pillows. He could easily imagine her taking a midday 
nap, clutching desperately at one of his work shirts, trying 
to breathe in his scent with each intake of air, just as he 
was doing now with her own on this pillowcase. She had 
probably cried herself to sleep, remembering with perfect 
clarity, every time they had made love in that bed, every 
night they had fallen asleep in post-coital bliss, their 
heads swimming in the afterglow, whispering words of 
love. She probably remembered every morning they had 
awoken in that bed, their limbs entangled together, her 
titian head resting comfortably on his shoulder or chest, 
his nose nuzzling her hair...

	Mulder deposited some quarters into the washing 
machine, but kept the pillowcase out, clutching it as 
desperately as he knew Scully had done with his clothing 
in the months during his absence and then burial. He 
didn't hold much hope for actually getting any sleep 
tonight, but he thought perhaps smelling Scully's sweet 
scent, even if she wasn't there personally, might give him 
some comfort.

	After starting up that last load, Mulder took his 
consolation prize- the Scully scented pillowcase- and sat 
down heavily on a chair beside the dryers and began to 
sob. "Oh, Scully... God, I'm so sorry..."





Scene Seventeen: "Mulder in 
Scullyland" [Rated NC-17]
May 2001
Georgetown
Dana Scully resi- and Fox Mulder... and William Scully-
Mulder residence
7:22 p.m.

	Mulder couldn't believe this was real! It was as if 
he really had died and the months of resurrection had 
been merely a dream, a preparation for this heavenly 
reward. But this wasn't a dream; rather, a dream come 
true! The baby in his arms gurgled and squirmed in a 
most realistic manner, and the beatific creature currently 
locking lips with him, well, he had no doubt she was an 
angel, but she was of the entirely earth-bound persuasion. 
Good thing, too, he thought wickedly, because her wings 
would only get in the way when I tackle her on the bed and have 
my way with her in six weeks...

	That sobering thought would have made him sigh, 
if his mouth wasn't currently busy sucking on his 
partner's tongue. Six weeks. Six. Damn. Long. Weeks! It 
was torturous enough to realize how long it had been for 
them since the last time they had made love. Then, he was 

missing for months, dead for a few more. But suddenly, 
he was miraculously back from the dead, able to fall into 
his beloved's welcoming arms. He had chosen to act like 
an asshole instead, pushing her away, while she was 
heavily pregnant with their child, refusing them both the 
love and assurance they each needed and craved from the 
other. He had nearly blown it, giving into depression and 
anguish, instead of talking to her, asking the questions he 
needed to ask... he behaved this way with her until... 
until... she'd had a pregnancy scare- a partial abruption, 
she had called it. It was then that he realized what he 
could have lost, all that he nearly had...

	He shuddered at the thought, unable to refrain. He 
could feel Scully's lips tense against his, her hand on his 
elbow tightening in concern. She could read him so well, 
even while they were kissing, she could sense the subtle 
tinge of worry and regret seeping into his soul. He didn't 
want her scared, or fretting over him. He reassured her 
that he was fine, not by breaking the kiss- which he did 
not want to do- but by deepening it, if that were possible. 
He stopped sucking on her tongue, only to delve his own 

into the far depths of her throat. Knowing some of her... 
ahem... talents when it came to their sexual repertoire, he 
knew he was in no danger of causing her to gag. God 
knows, she's had something much bigger down her throat, he 
mused inwardly, his ribald thoughts bringing forth a 
memory or two that he had to force out of his mind. It 
was going to make things very uncomfortable for him in 
the crotch of his pants if he didn't. 

	Recalling where he'd left off in his trip down 
recent-memory lane, it was after the partial abruption 
scare that he finally realized that Scully and their baby 
needed him, almost as much as he needed them. And of 
course, by that time, Scully's doctor in the hospital had 
informed her that she should refrain from sexual 
intercourse for the duration of the pregnancy, to ensure 
the baby would continue to a full-term delivery. Damn kill 
joy! After some cajoling, once Scully fully recovered her 
ordeal, Mulder did get her to indulge in a little... sexual 
non-intercourse, fooling around here and there, touching 
this, rubbing that, with fingers and lips and... it was 
immensely enjoyable, the few times they actually did, but 
it just wasn't the same thing as the real thing.

	Six more weeks...

	Mulder tried to forget about his anxiousness for 
those six weeks to pass, yet again! If he focused on it too 
much- as he'd been doing since they started kissing- he 
knew it would only make the time pass much more 
slowly. Besides, what he had now, what he was doing 
now, was so incredible in its own right, he really couldn't 
complain. 

	He was cradling his beautiful, newborn son in his 
arms- and his son had Scully's lovely eyes- and making 
out with the woman he loved more than life itself! He 
began to lick the insides of her mouth, tickling her tongue 
with his own, and she groaned in pleasure into his breath. 
And again, that old, familiar tingling down south began to 
develop. Uh-oh! This is going to be a long, six weeks, no way 
around it.

	Something did finally affect his ardor after awhile 
though. It was a smell... a very smelly smell. His nostrils 
inhaling as the only means of breathing- his mouth was 
still occupied- he realized it was a horrendous smell. And it 
was getting stronger. He knew it wasn't his lovely Scully. 
She always smelled so wonderful... well, except for that 
time shit had exploded all over them... Shit! That's what 
the smell smelled like! His satisfaction at realizing such a 
thing did little to quell his disgust over it.

	They pulled apart at the same time, both slightly 
breathless from their twenty-minute kiss. Scully's nose 
wrinkled in distaste.

	"Scully?" he asked, gazing at her face, smiling at 
the cute way her nose wrinkled.

	"Yes?" she asked, gazing right back.


	"Did you fart?"

	Her eyes went wide. "What? No! Mulder, that's the 
baby!"

	"Oh, sorry," he said sheepishly, before looking 
down at the baby in question, who was currently smiling 
and looking back up at his father. "William?" Mulder 
cooed at his son. "Did you fart?"

	Scully rolled her eyes. "Like he's gonna tell you, 
Mulder. He probably just pooped his pants."

	"Oh..." Mulder said, as if pondering. Then he 
seemed to understand. "Oh!" he cried, trying to give the 
baby back to Scully with a disgusted, "Ew!"

	She smiled sweetly at him and backed away, 
refusing to take William. "Welcome to fatherhood, my 
love."

	He scrunched up his face, realizing what she was 
expecting him to do. Didn't she know whom he was 
dealing with? He never did anything the right way, but 
rather the Mulder way! This was going to be a challenge... 
"Scully, you know me. I... I'll probably get shit all over 
the place, and put his diaper on backwards..."

	The woman sighed wearily. "Mulder, remind me 
again, where did you graduate college? Oh, yeah. Oxford, 
wasn't it?"

	"Yeah, well, I didn't take Diaper Changing 101," he 
sniffed. "They didn't even offer that class until I after I 
graduated." He offered her a winning smile, hoping that 
his charm would get him out of it.

	"Changing table is in the nursery," she reminded 
him, "right where you set it up. Everything you need will 
be in there."

	"Including you?" he asked desperately.

	"Mulder," she chuckled in surprise. "You'll be fine. 
My God, it's a diaper change, not rocket science."

	"Rocket science doesn't stink this bad," he 
informed her, then gave her one last look of need, which 
included his famous puppy dog eyes. "Please, love, just 
for moral support?" 

	She wavered, and he knew he had her. Thank God 
for his puppy dog eyes! Many a woman had been 
susceptible to them in the past, but Scully had always 

been the most affected by them. It was her undoing... and 
his big reprieve out of a great many things. He didn't 
escape the arched eyebrow Scully gaze- something that he 
was especially susceptible to- but he didn't mind, since he 
found it so sexy. He smiled as she followed behind him 
into the nursery down the hall.

	Once in William's new room, Mulder gently set the 
squirming boy down on the cheerful changing table- that 
he and the Gunmen had set up; Scully hadn't known, but 
he'd needed a little help- and awkwardly but carefully 
took off the baby's sleeper. Then he reached for a clean 
diaper and opened it, setting it next to William's butt. He 
lined it up evenly to ensure a quick and tidy exchange, 
much to Scully's amusement, and he took a deep breath, 
as if preparing for the Boston Marathon. Then, ignoring 
Scully's chortle, he ever so slowly opened up the diaper...

	He was truly surprised that such a small amount of 
poop could make that much of a stink! He tried, 
unsuccessfully, not to gag, as he grabbed for the baby 
wipes and cleaned off the baby's bum. "Jesus! This is 

disgusting! We're gonna need gas masks for this kid, 
Scully!" He coughed, looked like he was about to toss his 
cookies, but managed to hold it in.

	"Oh, please," Scully groused, "it's not as bad as 
touching Tooms' bile, or visiting the Peacock's house."

	"I wouldn't be so sure of that," he mumbled, trying 
to breathe through his mouth. He felt that gagging reflex 
starting up again, so he held his breath and folded up the 
dirty diaper, thrusting it at Scully, who snagged it deftly 
and popped it into the diaper genie her mother had just 
gotten for them.

	"All gone, you big baby," Scully cooed.

	"He's not that big, Scully," Mulder pointed out, 
placing the clean diaper under William's rump. "Even if 
his stink is."

	"I was talking to you," she retorted playfully, and 
he had to laugh.

	"Very funny," he began, his mouth open in mid-
sentence, when all of a sudden, his son decided to let 
loose with a stream of urine, which covered Mulder's 

face- yes, including his opened mouth- and the front of 
his shirt. "What the hell?" he stammered, thinking 
quickly and fastening the diaper shut on his son's little 
body, which seemed to be pretty evil when it came to 
bodily functions. He picked the child up and gave him to 
his significant other. "Here," he said, again, trying not to 
throw up, tasting urine on his tongue, "you can get him 
dressed!"

	Scully watched as Mulder flew out of the room and 
made a beeline for the bathroom. She looked down at her 
son and clucked her tongue at him. "William," she said, 
laying him down to dress him, "that wasn't a very nice 
thing to do to your daddy... funny... but not nice at all." 
She smiled lovingly at the baby the entire time she spoke.


	Mulder had wasted no time in yanking off his tee 
shirt, washing his face, and his tongue, then brushing his 
teeth and his tongue and the entire inside of his mouth for 
a good five minutes. When he emerged, he was freshly 
washed and wearing a clean shirt- well, sort of. It was 
from the hamper, but it was cleaner than the one he'd just 
removed- he bumped into Scully and William in the 
hallway, headed for the living room. He followed them 
down, noticing Scully's valiant attempt to keep her smile 
hidden, although she was not quite pulling it off.

	"Yeah, go ahead and laugh it up, Scully," he 
grumbled. "Maybe next time, you'll get the hose down."


	"I'm sorry, Mulder," she began to laugh, unable to 
hold it in any longer. "Guess I should have warned you. 
You have to get that next diaper on fast- especially with 
little boys."

	"Gee, ya think?" he sighed. He wasn't angry. He 
was thoroughly grossed out, but not angry. He gave his 
son a silly-stern gaze. "And you, little man, it's a good 
thing you're cute!"

	"I don't think he cares either way," Scully 
chuckled, looking at the baby's completely bored 
expression. She sat down on the couch with him in her 
arms, and Mulder sat down beside her.

	"Ah, William..." he sighed, then smirked at his 
partner.

	"What?" she asked him.

	"Nothing..."

	"Mulder?"

	"Ah, I'm just surprised you didn't keep up with 
your Moby Dick theme, and name the poor kid Ishmael."

	"What do you think his middle name is?" she 
replied, deadpan.

	His jaw dropped. "Uh, Scully...? You're um, 
kidding... right?"

	She laughed at his panic face. "Well, yeah. Come 
on, who names their kid Ishmael, anyway? Even as a 
middle name?"

	"True."

	"I named him Moby."

	He snorted. "Bite me, Scully. Come on, what is it?"

	"Um..." and she glanced away for a moment.

	"Scully..."

	"Yeah?"

	"What's his middle name?"

	"Promise you won't get mad?"

	"No."

	"Then you'll just have to wait for the birth 
certificate to arrive."

	"Dammit, what did you do?"

	"I didn't do anything. I just named him after 
someone..."

	"Skinner?" he asked. "As in Walter?" He was a 
little surprised. He always thought that was sort of a 
wiener name, but hey, it beat Ishmael. Besides, Skinner 
had been a good friend to them both over the years.

	"I thought about that, but no."

	"God, not after Doggett-"

	"He's been very kind, but no, Mulder, I didn't 
name him after Agent Doggett."

	"Uh, Monica Reyes?" he asked.

	She laughed. "Sure, if he'd been a girl, maybe!"

	"One of the guys?"

	"Now, how could I do that? I'd only end up 
causing hurt feelings between them, if I chose just one of 
them."

	"True." He pondered. "Hmm, William Melvin-
Ringo-John?"

	"You got Frohike and half the Beatles in that 
middle name, Mulder, and no, I didn't."

	He thought of something else and laughed again. 
"Let me guess. His middle name is William, too, after your 
father."

	"Mulder, I love you."

	"Shit, what did you do?"

	"Fox..."

	"Aw, come on, Scully, I don't mind if you call me 
that when we're in bed, but you know I hate my name 
and..." He stopped, looked into her suddenly guilty face. 

"Scully?"

	"I wanted him named after his father, too," she said 
in a quiet voice.


	"Man..."

	"It's only his middle name," she replied brightly.

	"His name is basically mine in reverse," he sighed, 
shaking his head.

	"Are you mad?" she whispered.

	"I'm not sure yet."

	"Mulder!"

	"No," he groaned, "it's fine. But I think you should 

have made his middle name Scully, after your side. 
William Scully Mulder is cool."

	"I like William Fox Mulder," she replied, "but if 
you really hate it, I'll go down and get it changed."

	"How about just add to it?" he asked hopefully. 
"William Fox Scully Mulder."

	"An awfully long name for a little boy."

	"He won't always be little... unless, of course, he 
takes after you."

	"Shut up, Mulder."

	"I just think, since his first name is my middle 
name, and his middle name is my first name, and he's 
getting my surname, well, you need to be mentioned in 
there somewhere, too. I mean, jeez, honey, you had him, 
went through all the labor... let's throw you a bone, shall 
we?"

	"Thanks, poopy-head," she muttered. "Okay, we 
can do that. But not right now. Got stuff to do!"

	"What comes next?" Mulder asked, staring down 
at his son in wonder and amazement... and a little bit of 
fear.

	"Dinner," she replied simply.

	"You're hungry, aren't you, Scully?" he said, 
feeling like an insensitive ass for not second guessing her 
every need before she spoke of it. He wanted everything 
to be perfect for her. He wanted to be perfect for her, 
although he knew what a moot point that was. "I could 
order us a pizza," he offered, trying to make amends.

	"Sure, Mulder, that would be nice," she agreed, 
somewhat distractedly and not even aware of his feelings 
of failure, "but I was actually referring to William here."

	"Ah, yes," Mulder said, as if enlightened. "That's 
right, my son, you need to eat up if you're going to grow 
up big and strong like your mom and dad here." He 
reached out to caress the boy's downy head. "Well, except 
for your mom and the big part," he teased her again. 
"You need to grow much bigger than her, on account that 
she's so ti-"

	"Don't say it," she commanded. "I am not tiny!"

	"Scully," he teased her, feeling comfortable enough 
around her to joke so openly, without fear of reproach or 
bodily harm, "you are small, my love. S-M-all!"

	"And you are a turd, Mulder! T-U-rd!"

	He laughed, and kissed her, then watched in awe, 
and a fair amount of arousal, as she whipped out one of 
her voluptuous breasts- ah, the joys of motherhood!- and 
skillfully got William to latch on in the first try. The baby 
started suckling, his small hand gently patting the side of 
her breast.

	"Can I be next?" Mulder asked suggestively, 
waggling his eyebrows at her.

	She blushed, then decided to turn the tables on 
him. "Oh, sure, Mulder, sure, you can get the next 
feeding. Has your milk come in yet?"

	Another laugh burst forth from his chest, this one 
lasting much longer, nearly becoming uncontrollable, 
until he noticed he was shaking the couch. Not wanting to 
jostle his son, or disrupt the baby's meal, Mulder forced 
himself to quiet. "Damn, Scully, spoken like a true smart-
ass! I think you've been hanging out with me too long."

	Her face grew more thoughtful, sentimental over 
his remark. She reached with the hand not holding onto 
William to caress her partner's cheek. "Or not long 
enough. It'll never be enough."

	Tears pricked behind his eyelids, threatened to 
spill. He gazed at the woman he loved with unabashed 
gratitude. "Have I told you lately that I love you?" he 
asked, taking her small hand in his, kissing it reverently.

	"Recently, yeah, but I like hearing it, so you can tell 
me again."

	"I love you, Scully," he chuckled, running his hand 
up and down her back. He couldn't believe how 
emotional he felt, how... sentimental. Scully was the only 
person who could bring out that side of him on a regular 
basis... although, he had the feeling that his son just 
might have the magical touch as well.

	"I love you, too, Mulder." She smiled at him, then 
glanced down when her stomach started to growl loudly. 
They looked to each other and began to laugh.

	"You hungry, Scully, or do you have a grizzly bear 
in your pocket?"

	"Very funny," she retorted playfully. "I guess we 
should order that pizza now, huh?"

	"I will," he promised, "but... could I just sit here 
for awhile... with you guys?" He felt suddenly shy.

	Her heart swelled at his request. She loved that his 
need for intimacy with her and their son was as great as 
her own. "Of course, Mulder," she replied in a 
welcoming, loving tone. She wanted him to know that 
this was his right to be included, as much as it was hers. 
She never wanted him to feel as though he didn't belong, 
didn't fit in. She and William were his family and they 
loved and needed him, always. "Why don't you sit 
behind us, hold us?"

	Mulder smiled at her suggestion and nodded 
eagerly, before scooting back, and pulling her carefully in 
front of him. His legs straddled either side of hers and he 
wrapped his arms around them both, while he rested his 
chin upon Scully's shoulder, peering down to stare at the 
child, who continued to wear a look of concentration, as 
he suckled away on one of the two most beautiful breasts 
in the world... according to Mulder.

	"He's so cute," he found himself murmuring, even 
though he had never been the type to fawn over babies 
before. "Damn, he sure can eat!"

	"Takes after his father on both counts," Scully 
laughed sweetly.

	"You think I'm cute, Scully?" he asked, and for 
some reason, this revelation actually made him blush.

	"Cute, handsome, gorgeous... sexy," Scully said, 
going down the list, and staring back at him suggestively. 
"And that just scratches the surface of the kind of 
adjectives I'd use to describe you." She winked at him.

	Mulder was momentarily speechless. Scully had 
always been more demonstrative of her feelings and 
desires, rather than verbal. Even after they became lovers, 
while she complimented him on his physical appearance 
quite often, she usually reserved it for foreplay, 
lovemaking or afterglow. If she said anything to him 
outside of those moments, it was usually done so sweetly, 
but somewhat shyly. She did not look the least bit shy 
right now. 

	"Um... I think he looks like you," he stuttered, still 
shocked over Scully's latest string of compliments. "He's 
got your beautiful eyes, that's for sure. Think he'll have 
red hair, too?"

	"It's possible," she pondered, leaning back to kiss 
his cheek as a thank you to his own compliment. She ran 
her fingers gently over the soft peach fuzz covering their 
child's head. Right now, it looked like a reddish blond. 
She secretly hoped he'd turn out to be dark-haired, like 
his father. He also had his father's nose, she could tell 
already, and it made her smile giddily. "But most babies 

are born with blue eyes, Mulder. It just depends on 
genetics as to whether they'll stay that color. Any time 
during their first year, they could turn."

	"Either way, he's got your big, beautiful eyes," he 
told her. "Their shape and everything. And maybe they'll 
stay blue." He got a whiff of Scully's hair, as she turned 
and that nose she loved- and that he'd passed onto his 
son- got caught in it. He inhaled deeply and for the 
countless time that evening, felt stirrings returning down 
south.

	"I think hazel eyes would be lovely, too," Scully 
pointed out, nuzzling back against him. Just as she felt his 
burgeoning erection press into her lower back, Mulder 
began to kiss the side of her neck.

	"Oh, God, Mulder," she purred. She had always 
been blatantly affected by his touch. "Is watching me 
breast feed actually turning you on?"

	"Everything you do turns me on, Scully," he 
admitted, as he licked the sensitive skin just below her 
ear.

	Scully gasped at the contact, but decided to tease 
him. "Really? I hope you'll remember that the next time 
I'm up to my elbows in our son's snot, pee, poop or 
puke."

	He chuckled. "You'll still be hot," he promised, 
"although I'll wait till you change your clothes and wash 
your hands before I pounce on you."

	Her own chuckle quickly turned into another gasp 
as he slipped her earlobe into his mouth and sucked it 
hard.

	"Mulder..." she moaned. "Don't torture me, 
please. We've got six more weeks until-"

	"Sexual intercourse," he growled into her ear, 
making her shiver. "But there are other alternatives until 
then, if you recall."

	"Like what?" she asked, closing her eyes and 
leaning more heavily back against him.

	"I could go down on you," he suggested, this time 

nibbling on her neck.

	"Mmm..." she sighed again, until her eyes flew 
open and she sat up, looking back at him and causing 
William to lose his hold on her. He rooted and she gently 
guided him back to her breast, where he continued to 
suckle. "No! I mean, Mulder, we can't. I'm still bleeding 
and-"

	"I don't mind, honest," he interrupted her.


	"Well, I do," she responded in all seriousness. She 
appreciated him offering, but she didn't think it would be 
sanitary. "I mean," she went on more gently, already 
anticipating the hurt expression that, of course, appeared 
on his face, "honey, that could be... unhealthy, for one 
thing. I wouldn't want us to risk it..." Her voice trailed 
off, hoping he would understand and not take offense.


	"Fine," he grumbled, and at first she thought she 
had hurt his feeling, until he added with a sly grin, "I'll 
just finger you instead."

	Scully coughed and sputtered in surprise, 
dislodging William from her breast again. He'd stopped 
sucking just a moment before and appeared to be done 
eating, and he ended his meal with a flourish, releasing 

his lips from his mother's breast and spitting up all down 
the front of her pajamas. Both of his parents stared down 
at him in awe at his ability to spew bodily fluids forth so 
gracefully.

	"Damn, it's like watching The Exorcist," Mulder 
exclaimed. "He's got good aim, too, I'll tell you that. If he 
doesn't get stuck with your shortness, he's sure to follow 
in his old man's footsteps and be a basketball star!"

	"Mulder," Scully grumped, "don't compare our 
son to Linda Blair, I'm not short and you are not a 
basketball star!"

	He smirked. "I just meant the puking in general, 
not Linda Blair specifically. Oh, and you are short and I 
was a basketball star in high school... briefly," he said 
proudly. He took William from his sticky mother and 
held the child against his chest. "That's right, my boy, 
NBA here you come!"

	Scully stood up, glancing down at the mess all over 
her shirt and she cringed from the feel of it. She looked at 
her significant other, her eyebrow arched most fetchingly. 
"Still think I'm hot?" she muttered.

	"More than ever," he promised, standing up next 
to her, and leaning over as far as he could to kiss her 
pretty mouth without pressing against her anywhere else. 
"Why don't I call in for that pizza now, while you go 
change into something more... comfortable." He gave her a 
wink and licked his lips.

	"Right." She started for the hallway, anxious to 
clean herself up.

	"Oh, and Scully?" he called.

	"Yeah?" She turned back to look at him.

	"Welcome to motherhood, my love," he cracked, 
grinning wickedly at her.

	Scully made a face and spun around on her heel. 
As she ventured to the bedroom, she chuckled softly and 
whispered, "Smart ass..."

*	*	*

	Mulder sat at the kitchen table, chowing down on 
pizza in one hand, and cradling his sleeping son against 
his chest with the other. He seemed completely at home 
with this arrangement and Scully watched them both, her 
eyes misting over with unabashed love.

	"I can take him for you, if you'd like, Mulder," she 
offered, taking a sip from her iced tea.

	"It's okay, Scully, I got him," he assured her. "I 
mean, I know you're tired. Besides, unlike most men, I'm 
pretty decent at the whole multi-tasking thing, don't you 
think?"

	"Definitely, Mulder," she agreed, smiling. "No 
other man has got anything over you, love."

	He grinned back, feeling all squishy inside from 
her compliment, as well as her term of endearment. He 

could certainly get used to all of this on a daily basis. 
"Thanks, Scully. I'm in training though. Got to get used to 
all of this in the next six weeks."

	"You mean holding William while you eat?" she 
asked in confusion. She took a small bite of her 
mushroom pizza. She wasn't sure about the six weeks 

reference. All she could think about happening in six 
weeks involved her mom taking the baby for the night, 
and she and Mulder spending that entire night in bed, 
humping like bunnies. Her cheeks grew rosy at the very 

thought.

	Mulder seemed to know what she was thinking 
about and he grinned wolfishly at her. "I meant besides 
that, beautiful," he replied with a wink. "I'm talking about 

when your maternity leave is up, and I'll be the full-timer 
here in the parental duties during the week. I assume 
you'll be heading back to work by then, right? You know, 
taking that teaching job at Quantico. You'll be the best 
damn teacher they'll ever have, Scully... not to mention, 
the hottest."

	Scully blushed harder. She had to admit that 
Mulder certainly did wonders for her self esteem, 
especially in light of the fact that she'd just had a baby 
and still felt bloated and uncomfortable and not at her 
most attractive. But he had mentioned something that she 
felt needed to be addressed between them. She wasn't 
exactly looking forward to it, but they both had agreed to 
be completely honest with each other from now on, with 
no more secrets.

	"Um, Mulder, about the teaching job at Quantico, 
I... haven't said yes yet," she told him, somewhat 
sheepishly. She knew that a teaching job would definitely 

be more ideal for her now, especially in light of the fact 
that she had a loving family to come home to every night, 
and working at Quantico, with a specific schedule and set 
hours would enable her to do so without ever having to 
run off unexpectedly into the field, or get stuck in endless 
meetings, or too much paperwork, strange hours... But, if 
she left the X-Files... well, she just wasn't sure she could 
do that yet. She knew that deep down, Mulder still 
harbored resentment over being kicked out of- and later 
fired from- the department he himself had created all 
those years ago. If she left, too, then he would have no 
real ties there. But if she stayed, then he knew she would 
always accept and welcome his input or help on any 
given case, in a... clandestine, unofficial capacity, at least.

	"I thought we talked about this, Scully." he said, 
sounding a trifle bit perturbed, but more concerned than 
anything else.

	She averted her eyes, recalling that conversation 
with perfect clarity, not long before William was born, 
just a day or two before she'd had to flee with Monica 
Reyes to Georgia, to give birth. "I just... I don't know if I 
can leave, Mulder. I mean, all of our time, all those years. 
And Agent Doggett, I mean, he's a good guy, but I-"

	"Scully," he interrupted her gently, "Agent 
Doggett will be okay. He's... trustworthy, I realize that 
now. And, as you said, he's a good guy. He's also capable 
of pulling through, even without your wonderful self 
backing him up. He's proven that, as well. He'll get a new 
partner... and not just a kid from accounting this time." 
He chuckled, remembering Leyla Harrison. The young 
lady was a star-struck follower of the X-Files division and 
of he and Scully, too. He remembered the thrill she had 
gotten when the two partners had visited with her in the 
hospital not long ago. She had barely survived her own 
ill-fated foray into the X-Files, and she promised that she 
was now content to admire it all from afar once again.

	"Yeah, not Leyla Harrison, poor girl," she 
chuckled. "I think she had a crush on you, Mulder."

	"No, actually, I think she had a crush on us, 
Scully," he amended. "She followed our exploits 
religiously, like we were some kind of... some kind of 
superheroes on TV or something." He laughed again. "I 
swear, I wouldn't be surprised if her diary was filled with 
love stories about us!"

	This made her laugh harder. "Well, we're such a 
romantic couple, you see."

	"I certainly think so," he replied tenderly, then 
rested a hand over hers, the grease from his pizza getting 
all over her knuckles.

	"Me, too," she agreed, "but I didn't think we 
would be to anyone else."

	"You're kidding me, right?" he asked 
incredulously. "Scully, we've been the talk of the water 
cooler for years! They even had some sort of pool on us, 
betting on if- ahem- when we'd finally get together."

	"Ah, yes, Holly from records clued me in on that 
some years back. I wonder who eventually won?"

	"We did, Scully," he told her. "We got the ultimate 
prize." His eyes blazed passionately from across the table 
at her.


	She smiled lovingly in return. "We sure did, 
honey."

	"Yep, $50,000 sure was a prize! I'm sure glad I bet," 
he joked and she rolled her eyes at him.

	"Right..."

	"Funny, huh?"

	"That's one way of putting it, I guess."

	"Ooh, you burn me, baby! But yeah, just about 
anyone but Agent Harrison could be good to work with 
Doggett."

	"Well, Holly wouldn't," she said. "She's so little 
and-" she paused, glaring at him while he tried to stifle a 
laugh. "She is at least several inches shorter than I am, 
Mulder, and not nearly as tough!"

	"Before or after you take your heels off, Scully?" 
She narrowed her eyes at him. "All right, I do have to 
agree with you, the last part at least," he said, keeping a 
straight face, but his eyes danced merrily. "Okay, so, not 
anybody will do, but old Dog can find someone willing to 
believe... like Agent Reyes, maybe. She's a little on the... 
weird side, but she'd probably work."

	At this Scully did laugh. "A little on the weird side, 
Mulder? Well, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black!"

	"Hardy-har-har," she harrumphed at her teasing. 
"You know what I mean."

	"I do," she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. 
"And I completely agree with you, actually, well that 
Monica would be an excellent choice, I mean. She's very... 
open to the kinds of cases the X-Files typically deals in. I 
know Agent Doggett trusts her. And I do, too."


	"You trust her?" Mulder asked, mildly surprised, 
especially knowing that Scully wasn't one to give out her 
trust easily. "Haven't known her for very long." He took a 
sip from his tea, then bent down to kiss his son's head. 
Scully had to force herself from bursting into sentimental 
tears and uttering, "Awww!"

	"Monica was there with us, when we... found 
you," she replied quietly, and he nodded. "She was kind, 
tried to assist us as well as she could. Besides, she helped 
me give birth, Mulder. That's a very... intimate 
experience. She saw my..."

	"Private parts?" he finished, his eyes smoldering. 
The thought of Scully's private parts always had that 
effect on him.

	"I was going to say 'my most vulnerable side'," she 
sighed in embarrassment. "But yeah, now that you 
mention it, I guess she saw those, too."

	"That's not fair," he pouted, not even hiding his 
jealousy. "She's been to visit Scullyland more recently than 
I have!"

	"Jesus, Mulder!" she exclaimed as loudly as she 
dared, without waking the baby. "It's not as if we were 
exactly enjoying ourselves or anything! She was helping 
me give birth to our son..." She paused, recalling what 
he'd said, and her eyebrow went up. "And Scullyland? 
You make me sound like a damn amusement park!"

	"Well, you can be amusing," he chided, and she let 
loose with an exasperated groan. "No, seriously though, 
you're just like a roller coaster," he informed her, his 
hazel eyes shining seductively at her.

	She ignored the come on and instead demanded an 
explanation. "How's that, Mulder? Because people want 
to puke on me?" She gestured to their sleeping son, who 
had upchucked on her just an hour before.

	"No," he explained, his voice turning thick as 
honey, and she knew she was in for it now. "It's for the 
good things, like..."

	"Like...?"

	"Like how a roller coaster usually starts out, going 
slowly up that first hill, up to the top, just like with us, 
Scully, like our relationship; starting out slow, and 
climbing ever upward, just about killing us with 
anticipation. And you've got these... beautiful, sleek lines, 

honey, so... curvy and sexy and irresistible to where you 
know I can't help but want to take you on. And when I 
finally get the nerve, and I'm there, riding it out with you, 
once you get going, it's... it's an adrenaline rush! We're 
going so fast, and so hot and I'm panting and holding on 
for dear life, and we're twisting and turning and writhing 
and moaning, and then BAM! I'm hit with the loop-de-
loop, and I'm disoriented, lost in the thrill of it, sailing 
higher and higher and we reach closer and closer and 
then I experience the biggest climax only such a 
wondrous ride can bring! And when it ends, I'm left 
screaming, and breathless, bathed in sweat and the sweet 
afterglow of euphoria, and even though I'm spent for the 
moment, all I can think about is when I'm gonna get to go 
again..."

	Mulder looked at his beloved, recognized her 
aroused expression. Her eyes were glazed over, staring 
off into that metaphor of their lovemaking, her lips were 
parted, her chest was heaving, and her skin was flushed 
and sweaty. She nearly looked like she'd just been 
properly fucked... and metaphorically speaking, she had. 
It was the best he could do right now, what with her 
being tired and bleeding and unable to do the deed, and 
what with he holding their sleeping baby, and with that 
big table covered in pizza separating them.

	"God, Mulder," she murmured breathlessly.

	"Jesus, Scully," he sighed, thoroughly turned on 
himself. She looked so. Damn. Hot! "Did you just hit your 
own climax, too?"

	"Um, no..."

	"Would you like to?" he asked hopefully. He 
didn't mean to push, but he was so fucking horny by 
now, he felt like he was going to explode in his pants!

	She narrowed her eyes at him, and not seductively 
either. "I'm going to kill you, Mulder!" she seethed. She 
had experienced too many years of sexual frustration 
because of this man, and now... "I think I'm going to 
explode thanks to that- that... roller coaster analogy... and 
if I do, I'm taking you with me!"

	"Ah, but if it's the Scullycoaster, then what a way to 
go! I'll die a happy man!" He gave her his best come-
hither stare.

	And that this, she laughed. What else could she do? 
"Anyway," she said, trying her damndest to change the 
subject, "Agent Reyes would be a good addition to the X-
Files team. I hope they consider her, and I hope she'll 
accept the job. I really do like her, Mulder. She kind of 
reminds me of... Missy."

	He smiled at her, hoping that maybe Monica Reyes 
actually might end up joining their small band of misfits. 
If she was anything like Scully's late sister, Melissa, then 
she should fit right in. The eldest Scully sister had always 
struck Mulder as kind of strange. Of course, he didn't 
mention that out loud. Instead, he told her, "That's sweet, 
Scully," loving his woman and her sweetness so very 
much.

	"She reminds me a little of you, too," she added, 
still thinking of it as a compliment, although now Mulder 
was beginning to wonder about this Monica Reyes. She 
must be one strange bird, indeed.

	"Oh, how so?" he asked jokingly. "Is she incredibly 
well hung, too?"

	Scully let loose with an honest-to-God belly laugh 
at his latest crack. But rather than reply haughtily, she 
decided to give him a taste of his own medicine, 
something she'd been becoming rather adept at doing 
lately. "Oh, you know, we were just riding that coaster so 
fast and so hard that I... absolutely forgot to check!" She 
gave him a wink.

	"Wow, Scully, you're so provocative! Me likey. Me 
likey very much!"

	"What? To see me and Monica Reyes...?" She 
couldn't even finish the sentence, her cheeks were 
burning.

	"Hey, did I ever tell you about that time, when we 
went to help the guys in L.A. and I ran into Jade Blue 
Afterglow?" he said, recalling something that she'd made 
him think of with her last little tease.

	She glowered at him, without a hint of playfulness. 
"Yeah, I remember running into Ms. Afterglow, Mulder," 
she muttered. "I guess you were so hot and bothered by 
her you forgot I was there, in the damn room with you?"

	"Oh, no, no," he amended, "Scully, you know I 
didn't mean anything by that. I was just being a stupid 
idiot and I did apologize to you, profusely, if you recall. 
And honestly, the woman could not hold a candle to you- 
and yes, I totally and completely mean that- but I'm 
talking about after you saved my ass in the video game 
and we went with the guys to that bar to celebrate?"

	"Ah, yes, the testosterone lovefest," she grunted 
unenthusiastically, and she folded her arms across her 

chest. "Whoop-ti-doo!"

	He knew he had to think fast or he was in danger 
of pissing her off for quite some time. She may not have 
been pregnant anymore, but those hormones were still 
just a churning away inside of her. "Um, yeah, sorry 
about that. But anyway, when you excused yourself to the 
bathroom, or something, and I was alone at the bar, 

waiting for you to come back, who should show up, but 
Ms. Afterglow herself and she came right up to me and-"

	"I'm not sure how this ends, Mulder," she warned 
him, "but I'm not liking this story so far."

	"No, it's not what you think, Scully, honest," he 
assured her. "When she came up to talk to me, you know 
what she asked me?"

	"Not really, and I'm not sure that I want to."

	"Aw, come on, just guess!"

	She rolled her eyes. "What, Mulder? Did she ask 
for your number? Invite you for a one-night stand?"

	"No, but she sure wanted to get it on with my 

fucking hot partner," he told her, his eyes gleaming.

	"What? Come on, Mulder, I'm your partner and... 
that's... just... what?"

	"Yep," he said, nodding at her. "You are so damn 
hot, Scully, that if you ever did want to play for the home 
team, you'd have no trouble finding a date." His mouth 
began to water, thinking of Scully doing sexy, lesbonic 
things with sexy lesbonic people. He couldn't help it. He 
was a guy.

	"Yeah, well, it's a good thing for you that I'm not 
interested, then, huh," she smirked, flattered, although 
kind of embarrassed by what he'd revealed to her. "There 
are so many lovely ladies to choose from..."

	"None so lovely as you, though," he said, reaching 
out to kiss her hand.

	She let him kiss it, then yanked it playfully away 
from his grasp. "You know, you have an annoying habit 
of getting out of bad situations by the seat of your pants 
with that... charm of yours."

	"Don't I know it, Scully," he had to agree. "But um, 
I never told you about that before because, well, first of 
all, I figured if I even mentioned that bimbo's name, 
you'd be pissed, and I was right!" She stuck her tongue 
out at him. "And, I told her no, you wouldn't be 

interested."

	"Because I don't swing that way."

	"Because you were- are- mine, and I don't share," 
he replied, staring into her bright, blue eyes. "And I 
wouldn't, you know. Lend myself out to anyone, I mean. 
I'm yours."

	"Damn straight," she agreed. "I don't share either."

	"Scully?"

	"Yes?"

	"Would it surprise you to learn that I'm sporting 
wood that's bigger and harder than a redwood right 
about now, what with all this talk about you and Monica 
Reyes and lesbians and hopefully me thrown in there 
somewhere?"

	She smiled wickedly. "Six weeks, darling. Six. 
Long. Weeks."

	"You are such a tease, Scully," he snickered. "But 
never you mind. You are going to get it soon enough!"

	"That's an empty threat, Mulder. You'll forget all 
about any payback. You always forget."

	"Not this time, hot stuff," he promised seductively. 
"This one is worth remembering."

	Scully shivered with expectation. "I can't wait, 
Mulder."

	"Argh! Six weeks!" he groaned suddenly, 
completely exasperated by the wait, and it was only the 
first day. "Why couldn't it have been for six hours?"

	"Mulder," she said, amused and empathetic to his 
frustration. She was equally anxious, and equally horny, 
if she had to be completely honest with herself, although 
she winced at the idea of having sex six hours after giving 
birth. "I understand what you're feeling right now, I 
honestly do. But I still think we should continue our 
discussion about what I should do after my six week 
maternity leave is up and-"

	"Stay in bed with me and boink all night?" he 
asked hopefully.

	"Lovely, Mulder," she sighed. "And yes, but I 
meant after the boinking..."

	"Oh, you mean staying on the X-Files? Scully, I 
think you should take the teaching job, like we talked 
about."

	"But do you really think it'll be all right down in 
the basement? I mean, if neither one of us is there to 
continue and protect the work? I don't know if I could 
just walk away... It's not just your life's work, Mulder, it's 
mine, too. I just wouldn't want it to all crumble and fall 
because one of us isn't there to do the maintenance."

	"I get what you're saying, Scully, believe me, I do. I 
had the same doubts myself... initially. But I think we've 
got something even more important to concentrate on 
now." He glanced down pointedly at their slumbering 
son, who burped in his sleep, making Mulder smile 
proudly and murmur, "That's my boy," which, in turn, 
made Scully smile, equally proud. 

	"I know, Mulder, but..."

	"It's not like we have to completely walk away 
from the X-Files," he persisted, doing his best to bring his 
point home, make it stick. "You can still act as a consult to 
the division, assist them whenever they might need you. 
And, when I'm not busy being a stay-at-home super-
dad..." She smiled at that, too. "... the Gunmen and I can 
work on things in the private sector. We discussed this a 
long time ago, remember? When I said I'd choose you 
over the FBI any day. Well, now I'd choose you and little 
Will here over them, too. You guys are my life, Scully, and 
I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you both 
safe. It'll be okay, trust me." He looked pleadingly into 
her eyes.

	"I do, Mulder. I've always trusted you, and I 
always will. And... I think maybe you're right. Maybe it's 
time to focus on the big picture, change our priorities 
around. Doesn't mean we have to give up fighting the 
good fight."

	"I trust you, too, Scully. You're my touchstone, and 
don't you forget it." They gazed upon one another for a 

moment, with complete and utter love shining on their 
tired faces. Mulder glanced down at his watch. He 
grimaced. "Jeez, it's nearly ten o'clock. Hey, why don't 
we save all the major clean up for tomorrow? Let's get 
some shut eye before the rug rat wakes up for his next 
feeding, how's that sound?"

	"Sounds like a plan," she agreed, then yawned, 
only reiterating the need to hit the sheets in a timely 
manner. She took the baby from him and headed back to 
the bedroom, while Mulder hastily shoved all the pizza 
leftovers into the fridge. He put some dishes in the sink, 
then left the rest for morning.

	When he entered their darkened bedroom a few 
minutes later, he found William sleeping placidly in his 
bassinet and Scully lying in their bed, looking up at him 
with a smile. "Room for one more," she invited, patting 
the space beside her.

	Stripping down to his boxers, Mulder was in that 
space, which was invading her own- she didn't mind- in 
the blink of an eye. He wrapped his arms protectively 
around his partner, holding her close against him. He 
sighed in contentment. This was truly the life!

	"I love you, Scully," he whispered into her hair. 
"You're the best thing that's every happened to me, I 

mean it. I hope you know that I cherish you and every 
moment we've ever spent together... and even the 
moments apart, because I still spent that time loving you." 
He kissed the top of her head.

	He could hear her sniffling, could feel her wiping 
her nose against his bare shoulder. "God, Mulder, I... you 
just... you know I'm not nearly so eloquent, darling, but I 
do feel the same way about you. I hope you know that."

	"I do, Scully, I do." He pressed his lips to hers. 
"You really find me eloquent?" he asked in surprise.


	"You have a beautiful way with words, Mulder. 
I've always loved that about you."

	"Scully...?"

	"Mmm?" she murmured sleepily.

	"I bet I could get you off with just one of my 
fingers. I'll even let you pick which one!"

	"So eloquent," she chuckled softly, tiredly, with 
just a hint of sarcasm. "And with the finesse of a jack 
hammer. Jesus, Mulder, really!"

	They laughed together for a moment, until Scully 
was unable to stifle a yawn that lasted nearly a minute.

	"You're exhausted," he realized, rubbing her arm 
in sympathy. "I'm sorry to keep you up. I guess I'm just... 
excited! You know, for a lot of things. I can't believe I get 
to sleep beside you, but we can't... God, I want to," he 
sighed.

	"I know, Mulder, I'm excited, too, and equally 
frustrated. But at least give me a day or two to recuperate 
before we start testing the ways we can ride the 

Scullycoaster without the interlocking of our... connecting 
parts. I'm just a little worn out. Giving birth will do that 
to a girl."

	He giggled- yes, giggled- over her response, which 
was as clever as she was going to get in her current state 
of exhaustion. "Yeah, you're right. I know. Scullyland 
needs a six-week overhaul, but I'm going to be the first- 
and only- one in line when she re-opens next season."

	"My God," she snickered, getting closer to 
surrendering to sleep by the second, "you can turn just 
about anything into an innuendo, can't you?"

	"What can I say? I'm a talented guy."

	"Well, bring those talented lips my way," she 
ordered him, and he eagerly complied. They kissed 
tenderly for a few minutes, until he finally felt her mouth 
go slack beneath his and she began breathing 
rhythmically against his face. Watching her sleep for 
awhile, holding her closely to him, it didn't take Mulder 
long to follow her into a blissful slumber. 

	That night, they dreamed the same dream. They 
both watched as William grew up before their eyes. They 
watched each other grow old together, remaining forever 
in love. Their bodies lay entwined as their entwined 

minds continued to dream, both of them feeling 
comforted and safe by the other's mere presence.

	Neither of them had any clue that ten hours later, 
they would receive a phone call that would change 
everything. Their plans, their happiness, their lives, 
forever changed...





Scene Eighteen: "Tea for... Three?" 
[Rated PG-13]
January 2002
Georgetown, Dana Scully residence
9:58 p.m.


	Dana Scully picked up her son and held him 
against her shoulder. She had just sent an email to her 
former FBI partner and forever life partner, Fox Mulder. 
The email she didn't even know would ever be read by 
him, spoke of her fears for him and their son. It spoke of 
the dangers they faced today and the hopes she dreamed 
of for tomorrow. Most of all, it spoke of her love for him.

	Kissing William upon his downy head, Scully 
walked over the sofa, sat down with her child in her arms 
and rocked him back and forth. He was up way passed 
his bedtime, but she'd been through so much tonight, and 
it was as if he'd sensed it, because he'd awoke the minute 
she'd gotten home from a terrifying and heartbreaking 
evening. 

	Her mother had left, after giving her daughter a 
tight hug. She hadn't had to ask what had happened. The 
fact that Scully had returned alone, without Mulder, told 
her enough. The woman had briefly thought about 
offering to stay, asking her baby girl if she wanted to "talk 
about it", but she knew Dana well enough to know that 
she didn't know her well enough at all. It broke her heart 
to realize that her youngest- and only living- daughter 
didn't share much of her life with her. Dana had always 
been extremely private, even as a child, but she had never 
been as secretive as she was now. Ever since she'd had 
her little William... no, ever since Mulder had left... yes, 
that was it. Scully had tried, vaguely, explaining to her 
mother that Mulder had gone into hiding for the safety of 
their son, for his own safety. None of it had made sense to 
Maggie, but then, as with most things concerning her 
daughter's mysterious life, it rarely did.

	William had smiled at his mother for awhile as if 
knowing she was upset and trying to cheer her, and she 
smiled back, marveling at his baby features, which looked 
more and more like his father's every day. It was both a 
consolation and a curse. No, she would amend, it truly 
was a blessing. Scully was reminded of Mulder every day 

by looking at their son. And it wasn't only his features, 
but even some of the mannerisms the child had already 
started picking up reminded her of her missing lover. The 
way he moved his mouth, when he yawned, or gnawed 
on his pureed baby food. His intense gaze, when he was 
concentrating on something, it reminded her of Mulder 
when they used to puzzle over baffling X-File cases. Even 
the look on the boy's face as he slept... she knew that look 
to be his father's as well. And before she knew it, the baby 
was asleep, exhausted over the task of reassuring his 
worried mother.

	Scully smiled through a few tears, looking down at 
her precious child, as he assumed a certain position for 
sleeping, so much like his father, and then started to 
drool, which Mulder would have claimed was so much 
like her. She would have denied such an accusation of 
course, although deep down, she knew it to be true. Ever 
since she'd been a teenager and got stuck wearing braces 
for three years, she tended to drool in her sleep. How 
many mornings had she awoken to a wet pillow over the 
years? And once she and Mulder started sleeping 
together, she'd often wake up, her head upon his 
shoulder, his shoulder covered in her drool and her hair 
wet and matted and stuck to her face, while he gazed 
down at her with pure amusement and affection in his 
eyes...

	Thinking of Mulder in bed with her reminded her 

of what the super soldier shadow man had told her. How 
he had watched her, watched them, over the years, even 
during their most private, intimate moments. This man- 
no, not a man, a... a...- this being had basically let on that 
he knew her clothing size, knew her heart rate, her 
childhood fear of clowns... how could he know that? 

	She gasped as she recalled a late night conversation 
with Mulder once. They had been finishing up paper 
work on their latest assignment, and had ordered some 
take-out and chatted while they wrote up their report 
together. After the report had been finished, Mulder 
didn't seem ready to leave, and Scully didn't seem ready 

to let him leave, so he stayed and they flipped through the 
cable channels until they came upon a repeat viewing of 
an old TV-movie, based on Stephen King's book, It. She 
remembered cringing over Tim Curry's Pennywise 
character and Mulder taking a keen interest in her 
reaction. 

	Two hours later, he'd finally gotten her to admit 
that she'd had a fear of clowns as a child, after a trip to 
the circus when she was three and a clown had squirt her 
in the face with one of those fake flowers, then ran around 
like a maniac, and of course, he was wearing strange 
clothing and garish make-up and to a three-year-old, it 
was all rather frightening... After she'd admitted her tale, 
realizing how silly it all sounded now, as an adult, she 
had turned to her partner, expecting to find him laughing 
his ass off at her, or, at the very least, offering up some 
lame joke or smart alec remark. Instead, he had gazed at 
her with sympathy and tenderness, wrapped his arms 
around her, and snuggled with her on the couch for the 
duration of the movie, giving her little kisses upon her 
cheek or brow whenever Tim Curry's character showed 
up, until they both fell asleep. Then she remembered 
them waking up in the morning with kinks in their necks 
and running around frantically, trying to get ready for 
work, already a half-hour late. That had been about a year 
before they'd become lovers...

	Scully gasped again, realizing with perfect clarity, 
as if she had not fully comprehended before, that every 
time she and Mulder had made love at her apartment- 
and possibly while they were at his, as well- they were 
being watched, observed. Had the shadow man been 
clinical about it all? Detached, just taking it in without any 
real interest, as a security guard might watch over on a 
security camera? Or had he been rude and hateful, 
making nasty remarks about their bodies, how they 

looked naked or the kinds of sexual activity they had 
indulged in? Or perhaps, he had been something of a 
voyeur about it, getting turned on as he watched them 
pleasure each other, enjoying the "peep show" as he 
touched himself... NO! No, she wouldn't think about 
that. She couldn't. No matter what this horrible creature 
had seen, she would not let the idea of him observing she 
and Mulder's most private, tender moments taint those 
sacred memories. Regardless of whether they'd been 
completely alone, or watched by this shadow man, or 
even the nosy neighbors across the street, what she and 
Mulder had was beautiful. She wouldn't have changed it, 
wouldn't ever want to forget all the times she had lain in 
her partner's arms, spent, sleepy and satisfied... holding 
each other close, touching each other, loving each other...

	Scully started to cry. Rather than wake her son by 
the sound or the feel of her tears, she quickly and quietly 
got him into his crib, so she wouldn't disturb him, then 
hurried back into the living room. She even thought about 
sleeping on the sofa tonight. Usually, she thought of her 
bed as a refuge from the day, recalling the memories of 
the times she and Mulder had spent in it as a nice way to 
fall asleep. But tonight, the fact that she had come so close 
to getting him back... She had even put clean sheets on 
the bed in anticipation of his return, with the wicked 
knowledge that they would have dirtied them up tonight, 
upon their arrival home. She didn't think she could sleep 
in that bed alone now, not after expecting a night of 
romance and renewal with her beloved.

	God-dammit! So close, she screamed in her head, 
venting her frustration silently, so as not to wake her son 
sleeping in the next room. I almost had him back! Almost... 
he was on that train, he was there, and I was standing on the 
platform. I wish I could have seen him. I wonder... did he see 
me waiting for him? Did he see my face? Did he know how 
much I needed to see his? So close...

	Her tears were coming down harder now, louder, 
knowing she would be unable to stop. She was so sad, but 
also angry as hell! She wanted to throw and break 
something, take her frustration out on something, but she 
knew she couldn't, lest she disturb William. Even though 
he was just an infant, she could tell how perceptive he 
was. He knew when she was scared, or angry, or sad. 
How he knew, she couldn't say, but she could tell he 
knew by the way he looked at her. His eyes were still 
blue, but in the depths of them, she saw an old soul, like 
Mulder... her soul mate. And now, thanks to this shitty 
situation in this fucked-up world, her soul mate was 
nowhere to be seen!

^	^	^

	Somewhere outside, across the street, hiding in the 
shadows, a silent form watched the sad, angry woman crying in 

her apartment. She could be seen through the sheer curtains she 
had never bothered to change. She had mini blinds, but hadn't 
closed them. She had been warned by so many of her friends, by 
her lover, to keep them closed, but she loved the sunlight, she'd 
said. Still, now, so late in the evening, so consumed by her 
turmoil, she had forgotten to close them. The shadowy figure 
clucked his tongue at her, but was grateful, nonetheless. 

	It meant, he could observe her freely, as he peered at her 
from his hiding place, a pair of high-powered binoculars held 
deftly in his hands and perched over the bridge of his nose. He 
had been watching almost since she had returned home, just 
after her mother had left, in fact. 

	He'd been observing her writing an email to her missing 
partner. Because of the way the computer had been facing, he 
was unable to see what she had written, but it didn't matter. He 
would find out soon enough. He had watched her as she 
interacted with her son, watched as the two of them had sat on 
the sofa, regarding each other with love and wonder and awe. 
Quite a touching scene, if one had to be honest.

	Watching as she unwittingly lulled her son to sleep, the 
shadowy figure observed as she left the living room for a 
moment, returning without the baby, and wisely surmising that 
she had put the infant in his crib for bed. He had seen her 
staring off into space, and had wondered what she'd been 
thinking about. He could tell she was reminiscing, could tell she 
was upset. He watched her cry, his hand unconsciously 
reaching out into space in front of him, as if he were close 
enough to wipe away her tears. Looking through the binoculars, 
he almost felt as if he were.

	Next thing he knew, the beautiful, but teary-eyed red-
head had leapt up from the couch, standing straight as a reed, 
with an alert look of acknowledgment and he panicked briefly, 
contemplating over whether she could detect his presence. But a 
second later, he watched as she ventured over to her front door, 
and he realized that someone had knocked. He wondered who 
would be so bold to come over at this hour, wondered what this 
person would have to say...

^	^	^

	Scully wiped at her eyes, trying to compose herself, 
and slowly traipsed over to her front door. She was 
dreading this, never knowing what to expect anymore, 
always afraid that it would only be more bad news, 
another crisis, another tragedy, more heartbreak...

	She peered through the peephole and then opened 
the door. "Monica?" she said in surprise. She stepped 
aside, allowing her late night visitor access into her home. 
"What- what brings you here?" She bit her bottom lip, 
trying to be strong, trying to keep her tears at bay, and 
hoping that nothing else was wrong tonight. She knew 
she would not be able to handle anything else at this 
point.

	"Hey, Dana," Reyes replied with a friendly and 
apologetic smile. She shrugged as she brushed past her 
reluctant hostess. "I was just in the neighborhood and..." 
She paused, watching as the smaller woman gave her this 
look she was beginning to know very well, as a perfectly 
manicured eyebrow arched high over a lovely blue eye. 
She tried not to smile, realizing that it reminded her a 
little too much of Mr. Spock from Star Trek. Somehow, she 
didn't think Scully would appreciate the comparison. 
"Uh, you're really not buying that, are you?" she said 
sheepishly.

	"Well, considering you live across town, and the 
late hour, no, Monica, I'm really not. So, what's up?"

	"Um, I guess I just wanted to come over and see 
how you're doing, make sure you're all right," the tall 
brunette admitted.

	Scully warmed at her thoughtfulness. "I'm fine," 
she had started to say, but stopped herself just in time. 
She had used those words to mask her true feelings for so 
long now, she was beginning to hate hearing herself say 
them almost as much as Mulder always had. Besides, 
Monica was her friend, someone she trusted. She 
deserved honesty. "I... I guess I'm doing as well as can be 
expected," she reiterated. "It's been a long, draining 
evening..."

	Monica nodded in sympathy and the two women 
stood in front of the closed door for a moment, in 
awkward silence. This upset Scully. She was so unused to 
having friends over- with the exception of Mulder- that 
she didn't even seem to know how to act around people 
anymore, outside of a professional environment. Thinking 
back to her mother's own etiquette, her eyes lit up with 
inspiration. "Please have a seat. I was thinking of making 
myself some herbal tea before bed. Care for some?"

	"Herbal tea would be great, thanks," Monica 
replied brightly, sitting down on the sofa, as she'd been 
offered, then watched as Scully tiredly sauntered over to 
the kitchen area. 

	While Scully was busy making their tea, Monica 
sat back on the couch and heard a noise, like crinkling 
paper. She sat up, and reached back to find a piece of 
paper half stuck between the couch cushions under her 
bottom. She opened it up, tried smoothing it flat, 
wondering if it had fallen out of Scully's pocket. She'd 
seen what she believed to be this same worn piece of 
paper in Scully's possession quite a lot the last couple of 
days. It had obviously been important, but until now, 
she'd had no idea what was on it, or what it meant to the 
pretty redhead who kept it with her like her life depended 
on it.

	Feeling guilty, not really wanting to, but unable to 
stop herself, Monica checked it out. She knew it would be 
an invasion of her friend's privacy, but dammit, her 
curiosity got the best of her. Setting it upon the coffee 
table in front of her while Scully's back was turned in the 
kitchen, she leaned over to look at it without touching it 
further. Monica saw that it was a print out from Dana's 
email account... an email from Mulder. She saw that it 
was short and to the point, but it was poignant, and sad, 
and she could see enough of the tear stained marks to 
know that it meant the world to the woman currently 
making a racket in the kitchen. After reading it quickly, 
Monica had to wipe a few of her own tears away. Just in 
this short note, she could tell these two people loved each 
other, meant the world to each other... and, they were 
suffering so much without each other. She hated seeing 
Dana- or Mulder, for that matter- hurting this way, 
forcing this self-imposed separation on themselves. She 
didn't know Mulder well at all, or his ability to handle 
being away from Scully, but if his email was any 
indication, it looked like his resolve to stay away was 
wearing thin. And of course, she knew that not having 
Mulder around was certainly breaking Scully's heart.

	Taking a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, 
Reyes sat back against the couch, her head hanging low in 
sadness. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply for a 
moment, willing herself to release this negative vibe, but 
she couldn't shake the feeling. She felt terrible about it. 
Here, she had come over to cheer Scully up, and now she 
was ready to wallow beside her in misery instead. 

^	^	^

	From his secret perch, the shadowy figure kept his 
binoculars trained on the living room window. He observed the 
tall, pretty brunette- Agent Monica Reyes- read Scully's 
private email. He shook his head at the woman's audacity and 
insatiable curiosity, although he knew if he'd been in a similar 
position, he would have done the same. He also got the feeling 
the woman was only there to help. And as for the email, he 
knew every word of it by heart.


	He watched the petite redhead return to the living room, 
carrying a small tray with two, delicate tea cups upon it...

	^	^	^

	Scully handed one of the cups to her friend, then 
picked up the other, setting the tray on the coffee table. 
She noticed her printed out email displayed there. She 
instinctively reached for her pocket, noticed that her 

cherished note was not in there. She retrieved the email, 
and folded it carefully up before returning it to her 
pocket, pushing it down further this time.

	Monica tried to pretend she wasn't paying 
attention to anything Dana was doing. Instead, she 
concentrated on blowing on her still too hot tea, letting it 
warm her fingers. She finally took a sip. "Mmm, thanks, 
Dana, this is good."


	"You're welcome," Scully said, looking at her 
friend and knowing that the woman was doing her 
damndest to not draw any attention to the email in her 
pocket. It was something she knew Mulder would have 
done and it made her smile.

	"So, uh, is William asleep?"

	"Yes, of course. Thankfully so far, he hasn't picked 
up his father's insomnia," Scully joked.

	Monica chuckled nervously. "And he's doing well? 
No colds? No teething? No... diarrhea...?" She rolled her 
eyes at her own choice of query. Why did that pop into 
her head? She was such a dork!

	This time Scully laughed a little. "Uh, no. Not even 
a bit of a runny nose, he's still toothless and... thanks for 
asking, but his butt isn't runny either."

	"Well, that's good to know... I guess... I mean, I'm 
glad!" Monica stammered, making Scully's little eyebrow 
rise up again.

	I swear, there's got to be some sort of relation between 
Mulder and Monica... Scully pondered. I can't think of 
another soul in the world that would randomly ask me if my son 
has diarrhea...

	The two women sat in companionable silence for a 
moment, sipping their hot tea, one of them trying to hide 
her amusement, the other trying to hide her guilt. Still, 
they both were enjoying the quiet in the apartment, as 
well as the presence of the other.

^	^	^

	The shadow also watched the two women sitting 
together, with great interest. They were from such different 
backgrounds with different outlooks; they may as well have been 
from different worlds. He was frankly curious to see how these 
two interacted with one another, and the nature of their 
friendship. It was an interesting study for him...

^	^	^

	After a few minutes, the silence began to get a little 
unnerving to Scully, so she decided to break it, as well as 
the ice. She reached for the piece of paper folded up in her 
pocket, taking it out, unfolding it and showing it to her 
companion, figuring this was as good of way as any to 
start. "Did you happen to see this, Monica?" she asked.

	"Uh... well, when I sat down on the couch, I felt 
something under me, and it was there, tucked between 
the cushions. I didn't know what it was, so I just sort of... 
looked at it... but I didn't mean to invade your privacy or 
anything, Dana. I'm really sorry." She bowed her head, 
looking truly ashamed of her actions.

	Scully chuckled softly. "It's all right, Monica. No 
harm done. It must have fallen from my pocket and if you 
hadn't found it, then it probably would have got eaten up 
by the couch."

	"Sorry," Monica said again. She scooted a little 
closer to her friend on the sofa and looked down at the 
paper in question. "Sounds like he really misses you."

	"Yeah," Scully sighed, her chin beginning to 
quiver. "I miss him, too."

	Intuitive that she was to others, even someone as 
enigmatic as Agent Scully, Monica counted to three in her 
head, just somehow knowing that the small redhead was 
going to cry. One... two... three...

	Reyes looked for a box of tissues, as Scully started 
to tear up, and spied one on an end table. She snagged a 
few tissues out of the box, before scooting closer to her 
friend again, handing her one of them and wrapping a 
sisterly arm around the woman's shoulder. "Oh, Dana, 
I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

	"No, you didn't upset me," Scully assured her 
through tears, "just this stupid situation. Honest, I was 

even crying before you got here. I'm just... well, I was so 
close to seeing him again tonight. I miss him so much, it's 
killing me inside. I hate not knowing where he is, or if 
he's okay. This is just too damn hard for me. I didn't 
realize it would be this hard..."

	"I really wish you would have gotten him back 
tonight," Monica sympathized. "I hate how this all turned 
out." She looked near tears herself.

	"Oh, no, don't you start, too, or I'll never be able to 
stop," Scully warned her friend gently. They both stared 

at each other, sniffling shamelessly, before enveloping 
into an embrace, Scully resting her head on the taller 
woman's shoulder. Reyes rubbed Scully soothingly on the 
back, just as Dana remembered her older sister doing for 
her on numerous occasions when she had been going 
through a crisis. The memory of her sister warmed her 
heart, as did this friend who reminded her so much of 
Melissa... as well as Mulder. 

	"I don't even know if I'll ever see him again, 
Monica," Scully murmured into Reyes' shoulder. She 
hiccoughed back another fit of sobs, fighting valiantly 
against turning into a blubbering mess.


	"You will, Dana," Monica promised without 
hesitation, making Scully feel as though the woman 
meant it and wasn't just trying to give her meaningless 
words of comfort. "I can feel it, you know."

	Scully sat up straight, looked searchingly into 
Monica's brown eyes. "Do you really feel sure about 
that?" she asked, needing the confirmation, as she tightly 
gripped the woman by the arms.  Not so long ago, she 
would have dismissed Monica Reyes' intuitive abilities, 
just as she had easily dismissed her sister's new age 
attitude, or Mulder's paranormal theories. But not 
anymore, she was more open-minded now.

	"Yes, I do," Reyes vowed, taking a hold of Scully's 
small hands, removing them from their viselike grip on 
her forearms and setting them gently to rest in the 
woman's lap. She rubbed at each of her arms 
unconsciously, just knowing that she would probably be 
bruised by tomorrow. Damn, she's little, but she's got a grip 
like a steel claw!

	Dana smiled apologetically, realizing that she'd 
squeezed too hard on her friend's arms. Monica returned 
the smile, as if to say she understood, then handed her 
another tissue, so that Scully could wipe her eyes and 
nose. Dana did just that, then blew her nose into the tissue 
and absently tried to hand it back to Monica.

	"Eww! I don't want it back!" Reyes blurted, 
sounding very girly and looking thoroughly grossed out.

	Scully realized what she'd just nearly done. She 
stared at Monica in apologetic shocked silence for a 
moment. Then, they both suddenly erupted into laughter.

^	^	^

	The shadow man smiled. Though he could not hear what 

was being said, he'd gotten the basic gist of the conversation, 
especially when Scully had tried to give Reyes the used tissue... 
and the look on Reyes' face, just after the fact. It was priceless! 
Scully could be so funny, especially when she wasn't intending 
to. He began to laugh right along with his unknowing 
subjects...

^	^	^

	"Monica?" Scully asked, finally recovering from 
their outburst and forcing herself to calm down.

	"Yeah?" Reyes laughed, having a harder time 
controlling her own.

	Ever since her best friend, Ellen, had moved across 
the country, and then her sister, Melissa, had died, Scully 
had been bereft of any steady, female companionship. In 
fact, she knew she was seriously lacking in any 
meaningful friendships with other women. Well, she had 
her mother, of course, but that was different because 
Maggie was, after all, still her mom. Her whole life- her 
whole world, really- had been all about Mulder and the 
X-Files, ever since that fateful day they met. It had been a 
subtle transformation, but it had happened rather quickly 
and taken her by surprise, and before she knew it, the 
same man who filled the partner role at the FBI had also 
assumed her best friend slot. Not that she regretted it. She 
had gotten so much out of her friendship- and later, her 
romantic relationship- with Mulder, she had always been 
satisfied with that, even if, once in awhile, she'd get a 
telephone call from Ellen and realize that she did rather 
miss the whole 'female bonding experience'. 

	There were the rituals of afternoon lunches, 
evening movies, going out for the occasional drink, or just 
sitting together on a couch, talking about anything and 
everything. Then, of course, there was the obligatory- but 
always fun- joking or bitching, depending on one's mood, 
about the opposite sex, something she had never really 
done with Mulder, because, as the most important man in 
her life, he'd have been the one she would have wanted to 
joke or bitch about. But she did miss that, just that 
opportunity to enjoy being a woman enjoying the 
company of another woman.

	She knew that nothing could ever compare or 

replace what she had with Mulder- what she hoped to 
have with him again sometime in the near future- but, just 
as Mulder sometimes needed to get away from her and 
hang out with the Gunmen, or one of his gym buddies, to 
grunt over video games, technology, sports, or whatever 
the hell else he and his friends liked to jaw about, Scully 
wanted the chance to do the female equivalent of 
grunting over things she enjoyed! Watching Monica, who 
was demurely sipping her tea and subtly studying the 
pictures of she, Mulder and William hanging on the far 
wall, Scully decided to recall her mother's advice about 
making friends: "Dana, sometimes, you have to make the 
first effort in order to connect. Even if you feel awkward, 
honey, just reach out to someone. Chances are, they will 
reach right back."

	With a surge of determination, Scully blew out a 
breath, again catching Monica's attention. "Would you 
like to watch a movie or maybe play some cards or 
something, I mean, since you're here?" she asked 
awkwardly and hopefully, praying she didn't sound as 
junior high to Monica as she did to herself.

	Reyes grinned from ear to ear. She herself had been 
wanting to broach this same subject with Dana, because 
she knew they had a lot in common, regarding their 

demanding jobs, they had shared some very memorable 
experiences together, and frankly, she really liked the 
woman. She thought Dana to be a very kind and caring 
person, and Reyes had the feeling she could possibly be a 
lot of fun, if she ever got the opportunity to cut loose and 
let her hair down, so to speak. But Monica had remained 
hesitant about approaching Scully to do something 
socially with her. The woman had been through so much 
tragedy and heartache over the years that she was 
guarded with her feelings and did not trust others easily. 
Monica knew- and felt honored- that she was one of a 
handful of people that Scully extended that hard-earned 
trust to... but she had never been sure if the woman had 
truly liked her enough to consider her a friend... until 
now.

	"I'd love to, Dana," Monica told her and both 
women grinned at each other, resembling two teenage 
girls who'd forced themselves to reach out to someone, 
and been pleased at finding a friend. "I had been wanting 
to see you socially since I met you," Reyes confessed, 
making Scully's grin turn shy. "I don't have any other 
girlfriends right now, really, especially since I'm still new 
to the area. And of course, the FBI is such a 'boys' 
club'..."

	"Don't I know it," Scully agreed empathetically, 
glad to see they had found something to agree on and talk 
about so quickly. "But I have been seeing a greater influx 
of female cadets in my classes this semester."

	Monica nodded approvingly, setting her tea on the 
tray still on the coffee table and turning towards Scully. 
"That's a hopeful sign. Women make great FBI agents."

	After Scully rattled on about some statistics 
regarding the virtues of women special agents, the two of 
them agreed to play some card games, in lieu of watching 
a movie, so they could visit while they played. They 
opted for games like Crazy Eights, War and Double 
Solitaire.

	They began their visit in earnest with a "safe" 
subject, talking about work, not the X-Files specifically, 
but about the FBI as a whole, how challenging it could be 
for a woman to work in a field dominated by the opposite 
gender. Monica confessed that back at the New Orleans 
field office, she had unwittingly garnered the nicknames 
Agent Evil and Sister Satan on account of all the cases she 
had investigated regarding cults and devil worshipping. 
Scully then confided how she had been known as the Ice 
Queen and later, Mrs. Spooky. Monica had then kindly told 
her that there wasn't anything icy about her, then joked 
that she had probably enjoyed being called Mrs. Spooky, to 
which Scully finally relented and admitted that she... 
hadn't minded it.

	From the springboard of their professional lives, 
they dove into family matters. Scully told of her parents, 
how her dad had been in the Navy, and her mom was 
often left alone for months at a time, raising four, unruly 
Navy brats. She talked about her nasty big brother, Bill, Jr. 
and her caring younger brother, Charlie. And she talked 
about Melissa more candidly, sharing a few stories of her 
big sister's crazy antics, and telling Monica, again, how 
she reminded her of Missy, to which Monica had smiled 
sweetly at her and told her how honored she felt by the 
compliment.

	Scully was surprised to learn of Monica's past, 
which was a lot more richly detailed in strange 
happenings than she would have guessed. She had 
known that Reyes was adopted- it was in her personnel 
file- but Monica went into details that she didn't tell too 
many people. She had been adopted by Luis and Maria 
Reyes, a wealthy, Mexican couple, who already had six 
sons and one daughter of their own, but wanted to adopt 
a child, another little girl, for their other daughter to play 
with. Monica said she'd grown up partially in Mexico 
City, partly in California, due to her family's fortunate 
financial status. This had surprised Scully a little since she 
couldn't even detect the slightest trace of a Mexican 
accent in Monica's voice. She was also surprised to learn 
that Monica had, indeed, searched for her birth parents. 
She'd found out that her mother had been a seventeen-
year-old Mexican teenager and her father had been a 
twenty-year-old U.S. Army soldier, who died in Vietnam. 
He had not even been contacted in time to learn of his 

girlfriend's pregnancy and his daughter's subsequent 
birth. Monica had never contacted her birth mother. 
Scully didn't ask, but she looked at her friend with 
concern and curiosity, and Reyes admitted that she was a 
little... afraid to. She'd built up an image of her mother in 
her mind, and she was so afraid that the real woman 
might not be anything like that. For now, she'd said, she 
was content to just know who she was and where she 
lived.

	Their talk included William for a long time, too, 
and babies in general. Though Reyes had no children of 
her own, she had a lot of nieces and nephews-, which was 
natural, since she had seven older siblings- and had done 
her fair share of babysitting. She could relate easily to 
early morning feedings, being puked or peed on, 
changing smelly diapers, all the crazy stuff that taking 
care of kids entailed. She also loved talking about the 
good stuff, like sporting events, school plays, first words, 
a first tooth, baby steps, and just sitting in a rocking chair 
and gently soothing a fussy child to sleep.

	As the night went on, and being that these were 
two women chatting and enjoying each other's company, 
of course, the conversation eventually veered towards... 
men. Scully felt terrible for wondering, but she hoped 
Monica would share some details of her relationship with 
Agent Doggett. They seemed to have gotten close rather 
quickly since Reyes had been assigned to the X-Files 

department. Scully realized that she and Mulder had 
formed a similar bond, and in a short amount of time, 
when she had been assigned as his partner all those years 
ago, but it seemed different somehow. Dana certainly 

didn't begrudge either of her X-Files colleagues any 
happiness with each other, especially in light of the fact 
that she had found the love of her life, her perfect other, in 
the very same basement. In the crazy world they lived in, 
happiness and security could be so fleeting. Sometimes 
finding love and support came from the most unlikely 
sources, but that didn't mean you ignored or denied it. 
Otherwise, it might never come again.


	She had to admit though, even to herself, that 
Monica and John seemed an unlikely pair, not just as 
partners, but as potential lovers. When she'd first 
observed the two new X-Files representatives together as 
partners, Scully pondered over how their age difference 
would factor in. Would it help or hinder their dynamic? 
She would later come to find out their age difference was 
less expansive than she initially surmised. 

	Doggett was actually about five years younger than 
Scully would have guessed. She realized though, that he 
was a straight-laced, somewhat uptight fellow- yeah, 
Dana, like you should talk, she chided herself- who had 
lived through an unspeakable tragedy, the loss of his son. 
He'd also worked in three adrenaline-rushing, high-risk 
careers, as a marine, then a police officer in New York, 
and finally an FBI agent. That alone could age a person. 

	Monica, on the other hand... she was actually a 
few years older than Scully had first thought, being only 
two years younger than she. Reyes had been with the 
Bureau since 1990, tackling cases involving satanic cults 
and ritualistic crimes, without much success. But she was 
such a free spirit, a very well balanced and happy person. 
The woman had helped deliver Scully's baby in the midst 
of danger and uncertainty, remaining calm and in control, 
protecting both she and William. She had even belted out 
some whale songs at her, for crying out loud, which had to 
be a pretty gutsy move to even mention the word whale, 
while talking to a pregnant woman in her ninth month, 
who was hormonal, ready to pop, and packing heat! But 
nothing seemed to unnerve Monica...

	Doggett and Reyes seemed so different, which was 
true of she and Mulder, when Scully thought about it. 
Somehow though, her differences to Mulder seemed less 
defined, less important. Of course, she realized she might 
have been just the tiniest bit biased on the subject...

	Still, if she were to picture either of her X-Files 
colleagues in a relationship with anyone, she pictured 
Doggett with a more... traditional woman, maybe a 
schoolteacher or a librarian, even a homemaker, someone 
tidy and efficient. Monica, on the other hand, looked like 
someone who would be attracted to a man that was hell 
on wheels, rebellious, a big, hunky guy who wore leather 
and rode a Harley. Or perhaps, she was more suited to 

someone a bit more sensitive, like a misunderstood poet 
who quoted Frost and Browning and who stayed up late 
doing wacky performance art, like standing on ladders for 
hours on end and setting things on fire...

	"Dana, you in there?" Monica laughed, dealing 
them each a hand for another round of Crazy Eights. 

	"Uh, just lost in thought," Scully said with a 
sheepish grin. "What were we talking about again?"

	"Old boyfriends," Reyes reminded her, waggling 
her eyebrows. "You were telling me about Daniel 
Waterston, your old med school professor. So, he really 
followed you to D.C. and you didn't find out for years? 
That's kind of..."

	"It's creepy," Scully admitted, "creepy as hell." She 
saw a light flicker in her friend's eyes, a question forming 
and longing to be voiced. Scully beat her to the punch. 
"And no, the magic was gone, before you even ask. I 
mean, I found him in a hospital, remember, on death's 
door. He looked... well, old and tired. I didn't remember 
him ever being that much older than I before."

	"Age catches up to us all," Monica sighed. "I think 
I'm getting crow's feet, myself."

	"You look lovely," Dana dismissed her fears, "but 
of course, Daniel was sick. Not just in body, but in spirit."

	"Did he make it?" Reyes whispered quietly.

	"No," Scully said, "he passed away not long after I 
saw him. I feel that I was meant to find him, and help him 
come to terms with what he'd done, how his behavior had 
torn his family apart much more than our brief fling... but 
I... wasn't meant to save him."

	Monica nodded in understanding. "Can't save 
them all, hon." She patted Scully's back.

	"Yeah, I know. It was still such a strange 
experience though. Not counting high school and college 
boyfriends, I've only had three relationships in my adult 
life. Both Jack Willis and Daniel... died." She paused, 
furrowing her brow and letting a tiny gasp escape her 
mouth. "Jesus, so did..."

	"Hey," Monica interrupted her morbid thought, 
"the true love, the one that matters, you got him back. 
Remember that, Dana. It was a miracle. That means 
something, you know."

	Scully nodded solemnly. Yes, Mulder had come 
back from the dead to be with her. It had truly been a 
miracle. Just as it had been a miracle that they had 
conceived William- and naturally, at that. But the thought 
that she had once put her beloved into the cold, hard 
earth... She forced herself out of that memory. She was 
having fun with her friend. Girl talk was something that 
she used to enjoy and had really missed. "Can we talk 
about something else?" she asked hopefully.

	"Of course," Monica agreed, and Scully caught the 
woman glancing over at the tissue box, on the lookout for 
any more tears. While it angered Scully to know that she 
must appear so fragile to everyone, it also reassured her 
to see someone besides Mulder or her mother that cared 
so much and who seemed to know her. "What would you 
like to talk about now?" Monica asked, winning her tenth 
consecutive hand of Crazy Eights.

	"Dammit," Scully muttered, becoming as big a 
baby as she had often accused Mulder of being at losing 
so much. "That's it, we're switching back to War!"

	"The only game you seem to be able to beat me at," 
Monica teased her good-naturedly, and Scully made a 
face at her. "So, what shall we talk about while you try to 
kick my ass at War, Dana?"

	"Um, how about... current boyfriends?" Scully 
blurted in an embarrassed squeak. She started blushing, a 
little bit ashamed at wanting to pry, but unable to stop the 
urge. She was genuinely curious about Monica and 
Doggett.

	At first, Scully didn't understand the concerned 
look on Reyes' face, until the woman asked her, "You're 
sure about this, Dana? I mean, I'd love to hear more about 
Mulder, whatever you'd like to share, but are you okay 
talking about him right now? I know it's been a tough 
day..."

	To be perfectly honest, Scully hadn't even been 
thinking of discussing Mulder in regards to her 
suggestion. She had just been nosily hoping to get some 

juicy details about Monica and John's partnership. Leave it 
to Reyes to turn the tables on her. That was definitely 
something Missy would have done... But she took a 
moment to consider the proposition. Could she handle 

talking about her absent lover without turning morose or 
depressed or sobbing like a baby? She thought she could. 
She was such a strong person, Mulder had told her on 
numerous occasions. The strongest person he ever knew. 
After all, it had to be a strong woman to take on the role of 
Fox Mulder's touchstone and his one in five billion. 
Mulder had not been an easy man to know, or to 
understand, in spite of how endearing he could be. He 
was an easy man to love... but from afar; the reality of his 
pain and anguish, years of neglect and abuse or 
abandonment from nearly every other person he'd ever 
loved or cared about had taken its toll on him- on his 
mind, his heart, his soul. Only someone as intelligent as 
he, less sensitive and twice as strong could handle his 
sadness, his outbursts, his insanity, his intensity, and his 
love, strange but passionate though it was. That one 
person, Scully had come to realize over the years, was she 
and she alone. So, could she indulge in a friendly 
conversation talking about the man she loved, the man 
she'd shared a life with, had a child with and was 
faithfully waiting for, not knowing when or if he might 
return? Yeah, she could.

	"Yes," she replied, smiling with love shining 
plainly in her blue eyes, "I'm good. I want to talk about 
him. I... I'd love to, actually."

	Monica seemed confident that her friend would 
not fall apart and start crying a river, and she honestly did 
seem to have a real need to speak about the man in her 
life, so she nodded encouragingly at her. "Great, Dana. 
So, tell me..."

	"Um..." Scully stammered, then chuckled in 
embarrassment. "I, uh, I'm not sure where to start." 

Discussing her relationship with Mulder was not 
something she had ever really done. Even the 
conversations regarding their relationship just between 
the two of them had not been a regular occurrence. Their 
relationship, their love, had a life of its own, had always 
been there in one form or another. Besides discussing the 
"rules" about not having sex at the office, or wondering 
who- if anyone- they should tell about their romance, or 
the occasional declaration of love or revelation of a new 
term of endearment, neither of them had felt all that 
compelled to try and discuss or dissect that which was as 

real and as natural as breathing to them. 

	Monica could see her friend struggling with this, 
even as much as she obviously wanted to talk. She sat 
back on the couch, and Scully mimicked her stance, and 
like that, their card game was forgotten. Reyes gave her 
an opening. "So, you two met when you were assigned to 
work on the X-Files, in... 1992, right?" she asked.

	Scully nodded, truly appreciating Monica's easing 
her into the conversation. "Yeah," she replied, smiling at 
the recollection of their first meeting down in the 
cluttered basement office. "We were both so young 
then... and kind of... innocent in a way, I guess. I mean, 
neither of us were na?ve to the dangers of our world 
exactly, but back then we were young enough- maybe 
arrogant enough, too- that we thought we could take on 
those dangers, and remain unscathed. We were green, but 
we learned pretty quickly how to take the blows, how to 
pick ourselves- or sometimes, each other- up and move on 
to the next case."

	"An innocent Dana Scully," Monica replied, 
smiling. "How old were you?"

	"Twenty-eight, not exactly a child, or anything, but 
still young and fairly new to the Bureau," Scully 
admitted. "I mean, of course, we both had our own 

histories, our own baggage that we brought with us into 
that partnership, but... even early on, what we had... I... 
it was difficult sometimes, but I still cherish every 
moment."


	Monica gazed upon Dana, watched as her eyes 
misted over with the dew of remembrance of a life since 
past. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once to 
witness. Scully and Mulder were a life long couple, of that 
Monica had no doubt. Somehow, some way, they would 
find each other again, be allowed to remain together, love 
each other. But their lives would never quite be the same. 
The simplicity of the old days would most likely haunt 
them often, giving them sometimes a sudden rush of joy, 
or perhaps a tear of pain, but it was all gone now. 
Nothing, besides their love for each other, would be the 

same for them. Their history together lived on only in 
their memories.

	"Good memories," Reyes murmured, more so over 
her own reflection than anything Dana had said, but 
Scully responded in kind, anyway.

	"Definitely," Scully replied dreamily.

	"Tell me about the first time you met," Monica 
urged her, thinking that perhaps this was cathartic for 
her.

	"He was acting like an ass," Scully admitted, 
grinning and surprising a giggle out of the unsuspecting 
Reyes. With the expression still clinging to Dana's 
features, she half expected to hear a meeting that rivaled 
the greatest romance novel. 


	"Really?" the brunette asked in surprise.

	Scully chuckled affectionately. "Yep, an ass! He 
knew I'd been assigned to him, I hadn't asked for it. He 
knew the men that had given me the job had expected 
written reports from me for every move he made. They 
wanted me to spy on him, debunk his theories, his work, 
to make a fool of him. I just went in there to do a job, to 
lend my scientific knowledge to his outlandish claims and 
inexplicable cases. I was there, ironically, for the same 
reason Mulder was; for the truth. He didn't see it that way 
though, not at first. He did his best to turn me off, scare 

me away. When he wasn't acting like a smart ass, he was 
doing his spooky routine, or challenging me, trying to get 
me to quit, trying to make me feel like the fool and run off 
with my tail between my legs..."

	"Guess that didn't work, huh?" Reyes snickered.

	"Not even a little," Scully replied, her eyes 
sparkling. "I don't think he realized at first that I liked to 
be challenged, whether it was by his theories, his wit, the 
cases we covered, or just trying to get him to trust me, I 
just... really..."

	"Got off on it," Monica surmised wisely.

	"Yes. Uh, I mean, I... liked it... found it... 
stimulating... I," Scully paused, glancing over to see Reyes 
eyeing her with a knowing look. "Okay, I got off on it, 
happy?"

	"As a clam!" the taller woman beamed. "So, he 
kind of made you work for his respect, eh? But you know, 
I bet he really respected you anyway, even if he kept it 
hidden."

	Scully nodded. "Yes, he later admitted as such. Of 
course, he also later told me it was love at first sight, too, 
so how much of his flowery bull shit do I really believe?" 
She laughed.

	"I'd believe it all, Dana. Just going by how I've 

seen Mulder react to you, or just by the way I'd see him 
look at you, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt."

	"That's very sweet, thank you," the redhead 
responded, her expression turning sentimental.

	"So..." Reyes began gently, "... was he fucking hot 
back then, too?"

	"Monica!" Dana gasped, actually putting a hand 
over her heart and looking like a Victorian woman who'd 
just been scandalized. "He was my new partner, you 
know, and fraternizing with co-workers was frowned 
upon, even cause for reassignment or dismissal. Besides, 
like I said, he didn't trust me, treated me like a jerk, and 
acted like a putz!"

	"Was. He. Hot?" Monica asked again.

	"Yes!" Scully finally admitted, folding her arms, 
but still blushing furiously. "He was hot! Okay?"

	"What was he wearing?" Monica inquired, her 
dark eyes dancing wickedly.

	"Jesus, Monica, this is my significant other we're 
talking about," Scully tried to rise above it all.

	"You started this, Dana," Reyes reminded her. 
"Come on. Guys brag about their women all the time. 
What's wrong with us getting a little bragging in 
ourselves once in awhile, huh?"

	"Fine," Scully sighed, although she truly was 
enjoying this conversation, as well as the chance to 
verbalize to someone just how much of a... fox Mulder 
was- pun intended! "Well, I remember walking down to 
that basement office for the first time, right after being 
assigned to the X-Files. I wasn't required to report for 
work that day, but I just wanted to stop in and meet my 
new partner. I knocked on the door, and I heard him call 
out something about no one being down here but the 
FBI's most unwanted, or whatever. I went in and his back 
was turned. He was... sitting at his desk, going over some 
slides- God, him and his damn slides! 

	"He was wearing one of his suits. He was thinner 
then, and his suits never seemed to fit him properly. 

Always hung off his lanky frame, but right away, I found 
that endearing about him. He had his jacket off, and the 
sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up on his arms, 
which were showing... he has... nice arms," Scully said 
tactfully, and Reyes winked at her. "I remember my gaze 
following down his arms, onto his elegant hands, long 
fingers..." She paused, momentarily recalling what those 
long fingers were capable of doing to her. Just the thought 
made her shiver.

	"Go on," Monica urged, sounding as if she were a 
little hot under the collar as well.

	"He wore his hair longer then," Scully continued, 
and she could see that young, lanky thirty-one year old 
Mulder so plainly in her mind. "There was always this 
obstinate lock of hair that fell down over his eye, or onto 
his forehead. He's got such silky hair... And then, I 
noticed that he was wearing his reading glasses, and... 
they just brought out his eyes so nicely, and made him 
look so... so... I... God, those glasses..." she sighed.

	Scully suddenly became aware that she had 
stopped talking and was just remembering. She felt that 

familiar sensation of warmth generating in her womb, 
and traveling... downward. Oops! Shit! I know what that 
means... She dared to glance over at Monica and realized 
by the knowing smirk on her friend's face that her 
aroused state was no secret. "Um..." she stammered 
nervously.

	"Damn, Dana," Monica joked, raising her 
eyebrows, "should I leave you alone for a few minutes?"

	"Very funny," Scully retorted, now completely red 
in the face.

	"So, was his ass as hot as it is now?" Monica asked 
in all innocence.

	"Hey! That's Mulder you're coveting," Scully 
sniffed, unable to stop herself from going into cave 
woman mode, and for all of the teasing and scoffing she 
had done to Mulder for the times his own hackles would 
rise when someone would dare to look her way.

	"Oh, come on, Dana," Reyes stated the obvious, 
looking slightly amused. "I'm not coveting him. Just 
admiring his backside. Besides, everyone looks at 
people's asses. They're cute! No harm in it."

	"Yeah, guess not," Scully begrudgingly allowed.

	"I mean, your ass is hot, too," Monica graciously 
complimented her.

	Dana chuckled, blushing almost constantly now. 
"Uh, well, thank you, Monica. Yours is great, as well."

	"Thanks!" Monica took the praise at face value.

^	^	^

	The man in the shadows was watching the two ladies 
converse with great interest. He couldn't hear what they were 
saying, of course, but it was pretty obvious, even to him, that 
they were conversing about the opposite sex. He had noticed the 
arousal that briefly adorned Dana Scully's face, which in turn 
aroused him. He would have given up his right arm- or his left 
testicle- to be able to actually hear what they were saying...

^	^	^


	"All right," Scully announced, trying to regain her 
composure and some modicum of control, and maybe 
take back the conversation to its original intent. "It's your 
turn to embarrass the hell out of yourself, Monica. What 
gives with you and John Doggett?"

	Monica's expression turned to utter shock and 

horror. "Dana, what are you talking about? John and I are 
friends, partners, but we aren't..."

	Scully's eyes grew wide and her face went beet red. 
Would there be an end to her humiliation this evening? 
"Oh... I- I just thought... I mean... I- I'm so sorry..."

	Reyes then surprised the hell out of her by cracking 
up laughing. "Jesus, Dana, you're just too good to be true! 
You should see your face right now. God, it's hilarious!"

	"You... you're such a... a..." Scully stammered, 
realizing she'd been duped and feeling a little perturbed 
by it. "Dammit, Monica, are you sleeping with John or 
not?"

	This demand for knowledge only made Monica 
laugh harder. "God, you're so nosy!" she cackled, barely 
able to breathe.

	She waited a few minutes, for Reyes' laughter to 
subside. And she waited a few minutes more before it 
finally did. "Sorry," Scully apologized for her latest 
outburst. "But, seriously, are you?"

	Wiping some mirthful tears from her eyes, Monica 
finally sobered enough to answer. "Sadly, no. I mean, I'd 
like to, but so far he hasn't shown any inkling, which is a 
pity, because I love him so much."

	"You do?" Scully asked. "Really?"

	"I always have," Reyes replied, and Scully 
suddenly remembered that the two of them had known 
each other in the past; they had a history together. "Of 

course," Monica went on, looking a little wistful, "the 
way we met though... it was under the worst possible 
circumstances."

	Scully recalled that Reyes had met Doggett when 
she'd been assigned to the case of his son's murder. That 
was a horrible way to meet someone, and a terrible way 
to meet someone that you fell in love with. "I'm sorry," 
she murmured, touching Monica's shoulder in empathy.

	Reyes absently, but affectionately patted the 
woman's hand and continued. "John, he... God, it was 
such a horrible time. During the investigation, which of 
course, went nowhere, I got to know him very well. We'd 
talk every day, discuss the case. Once in awhile, he'd let 
his guard down and we'd even talk about the boring, 
mundane stuff, nothing special, just having a normal 
conversation, like regular people did every day. But even 
then, he was the most earnest man I'd ever met. He was 
so devastated, but he had such determination, such 
drive... he was so hopeful that we would at least bring 
Luke's killer to justice... but well, we never did find out 
anything concrete."

	"I'm sure he was in torment," Scully murmured 
sadly, unable to even imagine such a predicament. Being 
a parent now, this story made her feel absolutely sick 
inside. That strong, parental need to protect... what if it 
failed? No, she just couldn't imagine...

	"Yeah."

	"Well, what about you?" Dana asked. "I mean, 
knowing that you loved him already, I'm sure it was hard 
on you, too, Monica."

	"It was," the woman had to agree. "Plus, I had 
recently gotten out of a long term relationship with... 
well, with Brad Follmer."

	Scully's eyebrow rose in astonishment. She knew 
Brad Follmer, had seen him up close, looking through his 
pretty-boy, white bread image, and into someone who 
seemed like a selfish, little weasel. She never would have 
guessed someone like Monica Reyes could have fallen for 
someone like him. What could she possibly have seen in 
him? "A.D. Follmer? I..."

	"Yeah, I know," Monica nodded in agreement with 
the unspoken protest. "Looking back on it, I have to 
wonder... what the hell was I thinking? I don't know, 
honestly. Maybe someone was slipping LSD into my 
coffee or something every morning for six months..." 
Dana stared at her. Monica shrugged. "Hey, weirder 

things have happened."

	Scully rolled her eyes. "So, moving along... you 
had just broken up with... Brad, and then you meet 
Doggett, and it was love at first sight?"

	"Not exactly," Monica explained. "I mean, I hadn't 
just broken up with Brad. We'd been apart for at least a 
few months. And I was, actually, dating someone casually 
at the time I met John. It was... Jennifer Adams, an FBI 
accountant, if you can believe that! Who'd of thunk, right? 
Me, of all people, dating a damn bean counter!"

	"Jennifer?" Scully repeated, certain she had heard 
wrong.

	"Oh, do you know her?" Reyes asked. "She's at the 
New Orleans field office. I mean, I know, I didn't paint 
her in a flattering color, but she was actually very nice, 
pretty fun, too. She was a little on the weird side, but who 
am I to talk, right? Jen could really party, too, not that she 
was a heavy drinker... or... any...thing..."Monica noticed 
Scully's confused expression. "And I take it you didn't 

know that I'm bisexual, did you?"

	"Um, no... no I didn't actually," Scully admitted, 
looking a little more stunned than she'd wanted to.

	Monica bit her lip, unsure of what was about to 
transpire. Dana Scully was an intelligent woman, and she 
had to be at least somewhat open-minded to have lasted in 
the X-Files division for so long. But she was also raised a 
staunch Catholic, that religious background alone... plus, 
even some non-religious people had an irrational hatred 
for anyone different. Reyes knew this could go either 
way.

	"Dana," she began softly, suddenly sounding 
timid, unsure of herself, "are you... I mean, is this... did 
you want me to leave?" she asked, averting her eyes.

	"What? Oh, no!" Scully exclaimed, finally over the 
surprise of Monica's impromptu revelation. She took hold 
of her friend's hand and smiled. "No, I don't want you to 
go, and I'm sorry for my uncouth reaction. I beg you to 
forgive me for that. I guess I just wasn't expecting... You 
kind of surprised me, that's all. I, um, take it that this isn't 
common knowledge down at the Bureau?"

	Monica shrugged, feeling relieved. "No, not that 
I'm aware of. But I mean, if someone asked me, I'd be 
truthful. It's not really a big deal at all."

	"No, it isn't," Scully agreed, squeezing her friend's 
hand.

	Reyes smiled and squeezed back. "So, anyway, 
back to John, he and I got fairly close during our time 
spent together, looking for the answers about his son's 
murder. I think I fell in love with him over the course of 
that time, just seeing his beautiful soul, tortured though it 
was, so open with me. I can't tell you the number of times 
he'd broken down, and I held him in my arms while he 
wept. I'd never... experienced that kind of trust and 
vulnerability with a man before. It... touched me. I felt 
needed and appreciated, even loved, although, I'm sure I 
could have misread some of those feelings, considering 
the tragic circumstances we'd found ourselves in. 

	"And then, when we could never find anything, 
well, the case finally went cold, and we had less and less 
reason to see each other, or call. We kind of... drifted 
apart. I tried to keep in touch, but he was going through 
so much at home. He and his wife eventually divorced, 
which I've heard is a fairly common occurrence with 
couples who lose a child. 

	"Later, he moved away, and I completely lost 
touch with him. I heard some time back that he'd joined 
the FBI, but I never contacted him. I was always afraid 
that I'd just remind him of a very bad time in his life, so I 
didn't want to upset him... And then, several months ago, 
he called me, seemingly out of the blue."

	"What for?"

	Monica smiled. "He wanted me to help you," she 
reminded Scully. "He called me to see if I could get some 
kind feel for Mulder's missing person's case. And, well, 
we all know how that went... thank God, it all turned out 
okay. But yeah, it was... years since I'd heard from him. I 
was frankly surprised to get the call."

	"And then he invites you to join him on the X-
Files," Scully pointed out.

	"Yes, he did," Monica nodded. "I guess maybe he 
remembered the rapport we had years ago, thought it 
might work again."

	"Have you... ever told him how you feel?" Scully 
dared to ask, although she realized she was the last 
person who should be doling out relationship advice.

	"No, not yet," Reyes told her. "I really don't think 
he's ready to hear something like that. Maybe he never 

will be, or... maybe he'll always see me as some caring, 
yet painful reminder of his past, of Luke's tragedy. Maybe 
he'd never be able to love someone that makes him think 
of such bad times. I just don't know. I mean, I try to 
remain hopeful, but I don't want to rush him, or worse, 
scare him away. So, basically, I just... wait..."

	Scully hadn't realized till now, that she and Monica 
really did have more in common than one would have 
thought. They were both waiting for the man they loved, 
in different circumstances, of course, but still, the waiting 
was hell. Scully knew this to be true. "Monica," she 
sighed sympathetically, "I'm really sorry. I wish there 
was something I could do to help." She blew out a 
frustrated breath, then sucked down the last gulp of her 
lukewarm tea.


	Reyes shrugged, looking a little forlorn. "Thanks, 
Dana, I appreciate it, but... there's really nothing to be 
done. I don't think there's anything you could do... unless 
you're looking to hook up now and then, Agent Scully." 
She gave the unsuspecting redhead a flirtatious wink, 
then reached out to squeeze her on the knee.

	That unsuspecting redhead choked and sputtered 
on her tea. It took a minute or two of Monica smacking 
her on the back to get her to breathe again. "Um, I... not 
that I'm not flattered, but..." she stammered.

	Again, Monica Reyes guffawed like nobody's 
business, enjoying another moment of pure, humorous 
bliss at Scully's expense. "You are so gullible!" Reyes 
proclaimed delightedly, and Scully scowled at her, which 
only made the woman laugh harder. Scully narrowed her 
eyes. As new-agey as she might have been, Monica's 
sense of humor was definitely veering more towards 
Mulder's than Melissa's.

	"Very funny, Monica," she grumbled at her.

	"Yeah, it was," Reyes had to agree, yawning 
openly. She stretched out her long, lean form, before 
glancing at her watch. "Whoa! It's two already? Jesus, I'd 

better get going. I don't mean to tease and run, but John 
hates it if I'm late in the mornings, and if I don't at least 
get a few hours sleep, I'm an absolute shit to be around."

	"Imagine that," Scully smirked, her eyes twinkling. 
Her own teasing let Monica know there were no hard 
feelings.

	Both women stood up together from the sofa. 
Scully covered her yawn, grateful for the fact that her first 
class didn't start tomorrow until noon. At least she would 
have the chance to sleep in a little. She walked Reyes to 
the door.

	"Thanks for the tea, Dana, and the card games."

	"Thanks for the company... and the concern," 
Scully replied.

	"You're welcome." The taller woman reached for 
the doorknob.

	"Monica?" she asked, somewhat timidly, recalling 
a silly conversation she and Mulder had had not so long 
ago.

	"Mmm?"

	"Did you... I mean, what you said before, you 
know, the hook up joke and the butt thing, have you ever 
thought of me as...?" she mumbled incoherently, not 
knowing how to finish her thought.

	"Are you asking me if I find you attractive?" 
Monica asked perceptively.

	"Uh... well... yeah..."

	The tall woman smiled warmly, reached out a 
hand to caress her friend's face. "I think you're the most 
beautiful woman I've ever met, Dana, honest."

	Scully blushed. "Oh... thanks."

	"But I never would have made a play for you."

	"Well, why not?" Dana asked, sounding almost 
insulted and frankly surprised over that fact. "I mean, is it 
because I'm a heterosexual... or...?"

	"Trust me," Reyes was all too happy to explain, 
"everyone has at least some inherent bisexual tendencies. 

But no, that's not the reason why, anyway. I just know 
that nobody could ever compete for your love and 
affections... not with Mulder in the picture. You two are 
foreversville, Dana, I swear." 

	The redhead laughed, rubbing tiredly at her eyes 
for a moment. "Yeah, that's certainly true. I love Mulder 
like no other."

	"That goes both ways, trust me," Monica assured 
her. "You guys have something like I've never seen 
before. You'll always be together, I can just feel it."


	Tears pricked at Scully's eyes, but this time, they 
were happy tears. "Thanks, Monica."

	The two women embraced tightly for a long 
moment, then Monica surprised her friend, by leaning 
down to kiss her on the mouth. Scully didn't freak out 
over it. It felt like a kiss that her sister would have given 

her. Their fledgling friendship had survived a little 
awkwardness and a lot of sharing tonight, and remained 
intact and was in fact, stronger than ever now. She smiled 
as Monica said good night once more, and left, then she 
shut and locked the door, heading off to prepare for bed. 
Now that she didn't feel so lonely, she felt she could 
actually sleep in that bed by herself tonight.

^	^	^

	Unbeknownst to her, the man in the shadows had 
witnessed the entire touching scene between the two friends. He 
had to admit, even through the discomfort of his rapidly 
tightening trousers, it had warmed him. Of course, that 
couldn't stop the pang of jealousy or the heartache from 
invading him as well.

	Twenty minutes later, once the beautiful Agent Scully 
was sleeping soundly in her bed, after having changed into her 
pajamas, brushed her teeth, washed her face and checked on 
William, only then did the man leave his secret perch and 
venture closer to the old, brick building. Thankful that her 
apartment was on the ground floor, the shadow closed in, glad 
for the darkness and the late hour, as he crouched at her 
bedroom window and peered in through the sheer curtains. He 
watched the woman slumber peacefully for several minutes, 
noticing how she clutched tightly a gray tee shirt in her hands, 
even while sleeping.

	"Good night, Scully," the shadowy figure 
whispered, barely audible, as he buttoned up his coat 
against the cold, night air. "I love you..."

	Impossibly difficult though it was, Mulder wiped 
at his tears and walked away into the night, undetected 
by the people who were after him, but also by the woman 
who loved him...





Scene Nineteen: "Best. Porch. 
Ever!" [Rated 
NC-17]
July 23, 2002
Old Rundown W. Virginia Farmhouse
Middle of Nowhere
Mulder & Scully residence...?
2:17 p.m.

	Mulder led his blindfolded partner out of the car, 
through the yard and up the rickety steps. He held her by 
her arms, careful not to let her stumble and fall. In a fit of 
daring, he did reach down to caress her bottom once. 
She'd said nothing of it, but she offered him a smile.

	"Mulder, can I take this damn thing off now?" she 
asked, not liking the uncertainty of not being able to see. 
She knew her beloved wouldn't let her get hurt, but this 
loss of her eyes brought back unpleasant memories of 
losing her sight briefly, during a case a couple years back. 
It made her feel vulnerable.

	"Almost, Scully," he promised as they reached the 
front door. He turned her around so that she was facing 
into the yard from their vantage on the front porch. 
"Okay... now!" And he removed her blindfold with 
dramatic flair.

	Scully blinked in the afternoon sunlight, her eyes 
unaccustomed to it, having been blindfolded for the long 
drive from their hotel room. Once her eyes adequately 
adjusted and she could see more than just sunspots, she 
surveyed the large, unkempt yard she was presented 
with. She noticed a small, dilapidated looking structure 
nearby, possibly a shed, or perhaps it had once been a 
workshop of some kind, its walls littered with tools. She 
studied the quaint porch she and Mulder stood upon. It 
looked like it was ready to fall apart. She noticed the few 
boards that were already rotted through. Then she turned 
and looked at the front door of the house and made a face.

	"I don't understand. Are we meeting an informant 
here, or... something?" she asked in confusion.

	He grinned from ear to ear at her, wrapping one of 
his long arms around her shoulder. "Nope! This is ours, 
Scully, all ours!"

	Her eyes grew wide. He wouldn't have... would 
he? "You're not seriously telling me you bought this... 
this..." She gestured to the undesirable area, unable to 
even adequately give it a name.

	He not only would have... he did. 

	"Honey, we're home!" he announced jubilantly. He 
released his hold on her and reached into his pocket for 
the keys to the house. He unlocked the door and let it 
swing open with a dramatic flourish. "Let me carry you 
over the threshold, my love," he said, reaching for her.

	She held up a hand, effectively halting him from 
any further action.  Mulder didn't understand why she 
looked so confused, perhaps even slightly angry, but he 
had the sinking feeling he was about to find out.

	"Mulder, do you mean to tell me that you spent all 
of our savings on this... this... dilapidated, should-be-
condemned, old farmhouse?"

	Was that what she was so worried about, money? 
Well, she'd always been of the practical sort, so he 
supposed it was just in her nature. "Of course not, 
Scully," he assured her, smiling, and she sighed in frank 
relief, until he added, "I didn't spend all of our savings on 
it- not even close! This place was a real bargain, believe it 
or not."

	"Oh, I believe it," she muttered, rubbing wearily at 
her temples. After over a month on the run, hiding out in 
different cities, different motels, Mulder had finally 
promised her that they could stop running, settle down 
somewhere. She had been so excited at the prospect of 
putting down roots again. She'd just had no idea that 
Mulder's definition of settling down somewhere actually 
meant shacking up in a run-down hovel in the middle of 
nowhere! She groaned, still rubbing at her head, which 
was developing quite an ache right about now.

	Mulder's face lost that exuberant smile in the wake 
of Scully's less than enthusiastic response to the love nest 
he had acquired for them. "You don't like it," he 
murmured.

	"Eh... I... well, Mulder... it's just that... it looks 
like it's... falling apart..."

	"That's why it was so cheap!" he exclaimed, his 
excitement returning. "It was a fixer-upper special! And 
I'm going to do just that. I'm going to have this place 
looking like a palace within six months, just wait and see, 
Scully!"

	"Um, Mulder?" Scully proceeded, trying to ask this 
in the most delicate manner possible. "Do you even know 
how to fix up a house?"

	He shrugged nonchalantly. "How hard can it be?"

	"Oh, shit," Scully lamented, resting her weary head 
in her hands.

	"Scully?" he asked in concern. "Are you all right?"

	"Mmph," she mumbled through her fingers.
	
	"Did you want me to try and get our money back?" 
he sighed in defeat. He really did like this place, and he 
wanted to stay, but he wouldn't if it was going to make 
his partner miserable. He'd already done enough of that 
to her in the last few years alone.

	"I... no... this..." she was really having a hard time 
getting this out, "... it's... fine, Mulder. I just... where the 
hell are we?"

	"West Virginia."
	
	"Oh. But this place... I can't even see another house 
anywhere! We're in the middle of nowhere!"

	"Precisely," he agreed, smiling. "It's a good place 
for me to lie low, know what I mean?"

	She gazed at him in confusion. They had discussed 
this at length during the past month, about living life on 
the run versus finding a permanent home. They had 
finally decided to find a place and stay there. She had 
been planning on putting in some applications at a few 
hospitals in the area where they settled in the hopes of 
getting a job. She thought they were truly going to settle 
down, live a normal life- well, as normal a life as the two 
of them could manage, anyway. She hadn't been aware 
that he'd still been planning on remaining hidden. This 

would definitely change their plans, their lives!

	"So... you still want to hide out? For how long?" 
she asked, looking despondent. 

	He regarded her sympathetically, even though it 
was more his own life at stake should he be found out. "I 
don't know," he admitted, rubbing up and down on her 
back with a gentle hand. "I guess, until it's safe not to. 
Scully, don't forget, I'm still a wanted man. The FBI and 
the military were going to execute me and-"

	"I know," she interrupted, not wanting to dredge 
up that horrendous and all too recent scare. "But I'm still 
going to be able to get out... go to work, right?" She loved 
Mulder, wanted to keep him safe, but she also knew that 
if he expected her to isolate herself along with him, she 
would go crazy within a week. She wasn't trying to be 
cruel, but it was true. She knew it would drive her insane, 
even if her beloved partner would be there with her.

	"Well, you don't have to if you don't want to, 

Scully," he told her. "Between my whopping parental 
inheritance, your own nest egg and the fortune the guys 
left us, we're... to put it plainly, filthy rich!" He grinned 
at her.

	She grinned back. Having always lived a frugal 
life, first with her family, surviving on a Navy man's pay 
and feeding four, growing children, and then into her 
adult life, making sure every penny was spent wisely, 
saving for a rainy day... she supposed this was one of 
those rainy days now. But her strong work ethic, instilled 
into her from birth, pushed through the thrill of being 
well off. "That's great, Mulder. I'm glad to hear that we 
won't be wanting for anything. But I... I still think I 
should try and find a job somewhere, as long as you think 
it's not too big a risk. I mean, if you want me to change 
my name and appearance, or something-"

	"You're not changing your name," he said. "You're 
Scully, my beautiful Scully." He caressed her face and she 
smiled lovingly. "And please don't ever change your hair 
color. Red is just... so... you."

	She reached up, kissed his cheek. "Okay, I won't, 
but I really do think I should work. I mean, it's nice to 
know we have so much money to fall back on, Mulder, 
but we should be holding onto as much of it as we can. 
You never know when we'll really need it, in case of a true 
emergency, God forbid. If I'm bringing home a steady 
income, we can keep our savings and live off of what I 
make."

	"Ah, that famous Scully work ethic," he teased her 
good-naturedly. "Sometimes I forget that we came from 
such different backgrounds."

	"High-class Mulder and middle-class Scully," she 
joked.

	"No, if anyone is high class around here, it's you, 
sweetheart," he promised. "But you're right, of course. 
And I know you'd go stir crazy being stuck out here with 
me, twenty-four/seven."

	"Mulder, that's not it-" she began.

	"Okay, yeah, you don't like remaining idle, either," 
he agreed, chuckling. "Jesus, I can't imagine how many 
ugly sweaters you'd be knitting me if you didn't get a job. 
So, please, love, go... work! I'll keep the home fires 
burning." He winked at her.

	"I bet you will," she replied, feeling heady with 
lust. The idea of working a full, productive day and 
coming home to the sexy man standing before her every 
night... well, to her that was more than enough of an 
incentive to get her work done and get her ass home 
promptly! "And thanks, for understanding," she said, her 
blue eyes misty with sentiment.

	"You're welcome, Scully, and thanks for 
understanding my need to lay low. I hope you won't mind 
me being your house-husband."

	"Of course not," she told him, blushing slightly at 
the mention of the word husband. That was one thing she 
hoped to make official very soon.

	"So... you're really okay with it, then?" he asked 

hopefully. "I mean, working every day and supporting a 
bum like me? I know this isn't what you've been hoping 
for, when you were waiting for me..." He bowed his head 
sadly, a classic case of Mulder-guilt sweeping into the 
forefront.

	"Hey," she said, stepping closer and enveloping 
him in her embrace. "It'll be great, Mulder. Sure, you 
hiding out indefinitely isn't exactly what we were hoping 
for when we finally reunited, but the most important 
thing is keeping you safe. And you will be here. With me. 
The point is, we'll be together, because, honestly, that last 
year apart... God, it was hell!"

	"Scully, I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair.

	"No," she insisted. "Don't apologize, love. Really, 
at the time it was probably for the best that you'd gone 
into hiding. Logically, I agreed with our decision to 
separate. But... emotionally, it was... hell." She sniffled a 
little, rested her head upon his shoulder.

	"It was for me, too, Scully," he admitted sadly. "I 
mean, it was nice having Gibson there to keep me 
company, but... God, I missed you so damn much! It 
killed me inside a little bit every day. And then not 
getting to see William-" he stopped suddenly. He wasn't 
sure if their son was considered a taboo subject at this 
time. Except for that morning in the military jail, when 
Scully had confessed to him that she'd given the boy up 
for adoption, they had not really talked about him since.

	"It's... okay, Mulder," Scully murmured softly, 
realizing the same the thing herself, which actually 
stunned her and made the pain even worse. She tried not 
to cry any harder. "William... will always be our son... I 
still regret to this day what I did, but..."

	"You did what you had to do," he said, rubbing 
her back. "I... I might have had to do the same thing if I 
was the only parent there and you'd been in hiding..." He 
looked out into the yard wearing a wistful expression. He 
would have done anything to protect their beloved child, 
just as she had. He wished he could convince her that he 

wasn't angry, he didn't resent her decision, or her for 
doing what she felt was the right thing to do.

	Scully shook her head. "No, you wouldn't have. 
I... you would have been able to..." Her voice trailed off, 
the tears flowing freely now.

	"Honey, we can't know that," he soothed, kissing 
her on the brow. "I... I'm sorry I brought this up right 
now. I didn't mean to hurt you."

	"It's okay," she whimpered, forcing herself to calm 
down. "I know... it does hurt to talk about him, but I 
think... it would hurt worse if we never did. But... maybe 
it's too soon..." She buried her face against his shoulder.

	"Yeah," he agreed, tenderly running his fingers 
through her beautiful, red tresses. He had missed that, 
missed being able to physically touch her, to hear her 
voice, see her face. He had just really missed her. 
"Scully..." he sighed, his voice sounding gruff, trying to 
hold in his own tears.

	"Mulder?" she asked in confusion, looking up into 
his lovely hazel eyes.

	"I love you, so much," he sobbed.

	"Love you, too, darling," she vowed, reaching up 
with a gentle hand to wipe his tears away. "God, I'm so 
glad to have you back. I'm so glad that we're together."

	She stood on tiptoe, at the same time, pulling his 
face down towards her. When their lips touched, it was 
like the Fourth of July! Sparks flew, heat rose and 
fireworks appeared, the kind that generated oohs and 
ahhs! They had been apart for so long, and even though 
they'd reunited over a month ago, it was still so new, and 
they were still so excited and desperate for each other, 
that nearly every embrace and all their kisses could ignite 
a passion that burned brighter and hotter than the sun 
shining over them.

	Mulder's hands roamed freely over his partner's 
small, supple form. They had been making love nearly 
every night since his escape from the military jail, but he 
still couldn't keep his hands off of her. A public setting, in 
the middle of the day, even while driving, he was 
obsessed with touching her, embracing her, kissing her, 
loving her, every chance he got. She wasn't complaining. 
She had been deprived of him for the better of two years, 
while he'd been first missing, then dead, then in hiding. 
And before that, they had deprived themselves- and each 
other- of love and closeness and intimacy for so long. 
They held to some practical reasons, and some that were 
silly, to avoid giving into their need and adoration. They 
had waited until it had been nearly too late those few 

years ago. They had known each other and been in love 
for ten years, and in this last month since being reunited, 
they had made love more then than they ever had for that 
long, lonely decade. Neither would say so, but both of 
them felt that was pretty pathetic.

	Mulder groaned as Scully sucked his earlobe into 
her mouth. It didn't matter that she had to strain her neck 
to reach him, or that he had to bend over and strain his 
back, although he had to admit, there were times- such as 
these- that he wished either he was shorter or she was 
taller. But he had a brilliant idea that would not only 
lessen the strain on his back, but that would get them 
horizontal... "Hey," he whispered, smiling as she 
growled possessively and gripped his shoulders sucking 
even harder on that lobe, "let's say we christen the porch 
right now?"

	"With what?" she asked breathlessly, before 
moving to his neck, licking all the way up to his chin. "I 
think I left a water bottle in the car."

	"No," he chuckled, cupping her face in his large, 
warm hands. "I was thinking more along the lines of the 
juices of our love..."

	Scully stopped licking and started laughing. "Oh, 
that sounds just lovely, Mulder."

	"Really?" he asked mockingly. "And here I was 
going for down and dirty."

	"Oh, don't worry. You achieved that as well," she 
snorted.

	He gazed at her with bedroom eyes. Before she 
knew what he was up to, he had literally swept her off of 
her feet and started lowering her to the splintered, rotted 
floor of the porch.

	"M-Mulder... we can't! Not here on the porch!"

	"Why not, beautiful?" he asked in his most 
seductive tone. "You think the only reason I picked this 
location was to hide out? As you pointed out, we're in the 
middle of nowhere. Or are you afraid I'll make you 
scream so loud in ecstasy that the people twelve acres 
away will hear you?"

	"No, I'm afraid once we get... going, we'll fall 
through the rotted floor boards and end up stuck in the 
crawl space. Then we'll be forced to call 911 to extract us 
and then your new hideout would be null and void and 
we'd have to move yet again!"

	"Damn," he laughed at her long-winded 
explanation. "Dana Scully, ever the voice of reason..."

	She shrugged. "Well..."

	He was quiet for a long moment, as if weighing her 
words carefully. But soon the thoughtful expression was 
replaced with a mischievous one. "I'll take my chances," 
he said, and had her on the hard wood porch before she 
had time to protest.

	If nothing else, she had to admire his quickness 
and his determination. He had both of their pants pulled 
down just enough to permit their joining, as well as her 
shirt and bra pulled up with an amazing amount of 
speed. He lay carefully on top of her and began furiously 
sucking her neck, while his hand sought out a soft, pliant 
breast.

	With the force of his suction, Scully just knew she 
was going to have one helluva hickey on her fair skin 
within minutes. "Mulder," she weakly protested, "I might 
get job interviews in the next couple of days..."

	He released her neck with a loud popping sound 
that made her moan. "So? This Mulder love mark will 
only let your interviewer know what a loving, healthy sex 
life you have, which will counter balance the long shifts 
they'll be expecting you to work. You'll seem very happy 
and well rounded, which is a good thing to have in an 
employee. You'll be a shoe-in!"

	"Interesting hypothesis," she claimed, watching as 
he kissed his way from her neck down to her breasts, 
lavishing them with the same intensity that he used to 
display when working on a particularly fascinating case 
back in their days at the Bureau. "Who am I to argue with 
that logic? Oh. My. God!" she growled, the heat radiating 
through her entire body with a primal need to connect 
with him physically in the most basic way.

	After spending some quality time on his beloved's 
upper torso, his talented lips, tongue and fingers moved 
downward yet again, traveling down past her stomach 
and hips until they reached the heavenly juncture 
between her thighs. "Mmm, Scully, my favorite flavor!" he 
said, looking up at her, enjoying the anticipation on her 
aroused face.  He knew she loved this, knew she loved 
watching him as he did this to her. He kept his eyes on her 

as he slowly lowered his mouth to her core, worshiping 
her with the greatest of reverence.

	Moaning almost continuously now, Scully urged 
him to stop his ministrations after only a few minutes, by 
gently squeezing her knees against the sides of his head.  
He knew what she needed instinctively without even 
having to ask, although he was slightly disappointed that 
his tongue did not get to finish the job it had started. But 
he had an even more willing body part that was ready to 
resume the task. He was soon hovering over her and 
slowly pushing himself into her tight, wet warmth. They 
stared into each other's eyes before briefly closing for a 
kiss.

	When Mulder started to move, Scully whispered, 
"Go easy on me, love, okay?"

	"Are you still sore from last night?" he asked in 
concern. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." He kissed her 
brow.

	She smiled euphorically at him. "I know you 
wouldn't. I'm more worried about the splintered floor 
boards skewering my ass."

	He laughed, then tucked her hair back behind her 
ear, as he gently thrusted into her, testing the strength of 
the wood beneath them. It creaked a little. He slid his 
hands beneath her butt to keep her soft, bare skin from 
getting bruised or embedded with splinters. "Love you, 
Scully," he moaned, resuming his gentle thrusting. "So 
grateful we can do this anytime we want now..."

	"Me, too, darling," she sighed, reaching up to rake 
her teeth playfully over his chin. "Love you... oh, God! 
Love you so much..."

	Soon both of them were flying high and singing the 
praises of God above, as well as each other. Instead of 
collapsing on her, as he usually did when in the 
missionary position, Mulder pulled out of her quickly- 
disappointing them both a little- and stood up, then 
helped her to stand shakily beside him. He made a special 
effort to check her backside for any splinters.

	"Everything okay back there?" she sniggered as he 
ran his hands over the smooth skin of her rump.

	"Oh, yeah, looking real good," he assured her, 
growling a little and then giving her bottom a quick 
smack. He pulled her pants up for her but let her button 
them, while he attended to his own. "Hmm, a little sticky 
down there, but in the best possible way." He winked at 
her and she blushed.


	Scully readjusted her bra and shirt. She sighed 
dreamily, then, to his surprise, started to laugh, long and 
heartily. Mulder looked over at her in concern. "Scully? 
You all right?"

	She smoothed down her tousled hair. "Oh, I'm 
good, Mulder, really good. I was just... well... I'm just 
amazed at the things I find myself doing with you..."

	"You mean like discovering mutants and fighting 
against colonization and being on the run for a month, 
only to settle down and hide out in a secluded 
farmhouse?" he asked in confusion.

	"Actually, I was referring to making love outside 
on a rickety old porch in broad daylight, but now that you 
mention it, yeah, those other things, too."

	He chuckled, now in on the joke, and leaned down 
to kiss her.

	"Come on, Scully, I want to show you the inside of 
the house. It's fantastic!"

	"Not as great as the porch, though," she 
whispered, following him into the front door. "I mean, 
this area holds a special place in my heart now."

	They smiled radiantly at each other, still basking in 
the afterglow, as he led through into the living room. "It's 
definitely the best. Porch. Ever!" he agreed. "But I'm sure 
you'll make new favorites as we continue to christen each 
room in the house."

	"Sounds like a plan," she winked. Now that they 
were finally going to be experiencing some domesticity 
together, she planned on tackling her partner and fucking 
him senseless every chance she got. Thankfully, this last 
month had given her plenty of practice.

	They began their tour of the quiet house, and 
Scully was relieved to find the inside of it was much less 
rundown than the outside, so that was a plus. Seeing that 
she wasn't disgusted with the place and running away 
screaming, Mulder took it to mean that she had accepted 
the little farmhouse as their new home. He showed her 
around the place, taking her hand and leading her 
through each room, animatedly envisioning a fresh coat 
of paint here, a nice sofa there. Scully agreed with nearly 
every idea he had, more enthralled with his apparent 
excitement over living together, creating a home together, 
than with the house itself. She kept a hold of his hand 
through out the entire inspection. And when she thought 
about it, the house definitely held potential. It had a 
decent sized kitchen, homey living room, a nice master 
bedroom, with a full sized bathroom connected to it. This 
master bathroom also boasted a big, claw foot tub that 
Mulder had been determined to find because he knew 
that it would please Scully. The house even boasted of 
extra rooms that could serve as guest bedrooms or an 
office for each of them, which would be nice, considering 
Scully liked her office space tidy and Mulder... did not.

	Once their tour had ended and it had started to get 
dark outside, they left for the evening, both anxious to 
return the following day, to get started on renovations 
and taking measurements to find furniture that would fit 
each room. They were going to stop and get something to 
eat on the way back to the hotel. On the way, Mulder 
mentioned to his beloved that there was a small, but well-
established hospital nearby. It was called Our Lady of 
Sorrows, a Catholic run facility that sounded like a perfect 
fit for Scully. He urged her to apply for a job there and 
she agreed that it sounded like a great idea.

	They stopped and ate dinner at an out-of-the-way 
diner that looked a little run-down and ancient, but 
proudly boasted on their sign out front, The best burger in 
100 miles! It wasn't all that far from the hospital Scully 
was suddenly so interested in learning about and she 
suggested that after dinner, they ought to stop by, check it 
out and get a feel for the place and the faculty they had 
there. She had a hopefulness shining in her eyes that 
melted Mulder's heart. After so much sadness and pain, 
Scully was finally starting to feel happy and eager to get 
her new life started. That included both possibly getting a 
job at the hospital, and moving in with her beloved.


	"So, what do you say, Mulder?" she asked 
excitedly. "We'll stop in and take a look around, I can ask 
for an application, then we can be home in time to watch 
some TV and maybe have a little nookie before bed." She 
smiled at him and it was so dazzling, he nearly fell 
backwards in his chair.

	He giggled, sounding like a naughty kid. "Damn, 
Scully, you said nookie!"

	"Yes, I did," she agreed, her smile turning a little 
bit naughty herself.

	"Wow, Dana Scully said nookie... and she was 
referring to me when she said it..." He seemed truly 
amazed, and quite giddy.

	"No one else I'd indulge in a little nookie with," 
she informed him. "So, what do you say, love?"

	"About the nookie? Hell, yes!" he exclaimed, and 
an older couple stared at him for awhile. Surprisingly, 
they didn't look disgusted, but rather amused. The old 
gentleman even gave him a knowing smile, while Scully 
blushed furiously.

	"Mulder," she groaned, hiding her head in her 

hands.

	"Love hearing you groan my name, Scully," he 
cracked, "although we did just christen our porch and I'm 
not exactly a young man anymore..."

	"Bull shit," she laughed. "You're not an old man 
either, and just a few days ago, I was treated to three 
lovely adventures by you in one night, if I recall."

	"Actually, it was four," he bragged. "I think you 
passed out that last time."


	"I did?"

	His chest puffed out in manly pride. "That's right. I 
not only fucked you senseless, but unconscious, too. 
Damn, I'm good."

	The lusty smile that appeared on her face nearly 
made him gasp out loud. "Yes, you are. So... is it a date?"

	He took her hand. "Always, Scully, always..." 
They stared dreamily into each other's eyes for a moment, 
until Mulder remembered. "Oh, wait! Except for the 
going to the hospital part. We can't really..."

	"Why not? Hospitals are always open, Mulder. It's 
so close and I'd like to get a head start on the job 
possibilities, now that we know where we're settling."

	"Well, of course," he agreed, "we can stop by, 
Scully. But, uh, I'll have to wait outside in the car."

	"But why?"

	"I don't want to be seen."

	"With me?"

	"No, that's not what I mean, love. I don't want to 
be seen in public at all."

	"Well, we're in a public place right now," she 
reminded him. "And people can see you, and they're 

probably looking."

	"Why, because I'm sitting with the hottest woman 
who ever walked the face of the earth?" he asked, 
bringing her small hand to his lips for a kiss.

	"No," she blushed, "because you've done nothing 
but blurt out words of a sexual nature since we got here. 
I'm surprised we haven't been thrown out." She smirked 
at him.

	"Nah, the patrons here are mostly of the over sixty 
persuasion. And you know how dirty-minded they are."

	"Oh, right, of course," she chuckled. "But they still 
can see you, if that's what you're afraid of, being seen, 
noticed, spotted."

	"Well, we'll be paying cash for the meal, so even if 
the FBI waltzed in right after we left, they'd only have a 
bunch of near-sighted oldsters trying to describe what we 
look like. We wouldn't be leaving a concrete trail. But, if I 
go into the hospital with you, and you talk with some of 
the staff there, unless you want to look rude, and I know 
you wouldn't, you'd have to introduce me around. And 
since you'll be using your real name, if the FBI finds you 
there some time, and they ask any of the other employees 
if they've ever seen you with some tall, handsome, dark-
haired man, well..."

	"Handsome doesn't even cover it," she promised, 
but she looked disappointed. "I still don't think it would 
get go so far as to-"

	"Scully," he explained in a whisper, and his grip 
on her hand tightened, "If anyone discovers you there, 
and finds out about me, then I could easily be re-
captured... executed..." He stared imploringly into her 
big, blue eyes.

	She nodded sadly, longing for him to cease in this 
depressing turn of the conversation. "I understand, 
Mulder. I- I'll just check out the hospital tomorrow 
morning instead. That will give us more time for some... 
nookie when we get back." She waggled her eyebrows at 
him, a perfect imitation of an expression he had bestowed 
upon her millions of times over the years.

	He laughed appreciatively at her, and also got very 
turned on in the bargain. But he quickly sobered, 
mentally kicking himself for disappointing her yet again. 
"I'm so sorry, Scully," he murmured. He knew that this 
new life would be tough. Their only real consolation... 
their only true comfort would be each other. And that 
comfort could only be experienced and displayed in 
secret. While this new situation would certainly not be as 
hellish as physical separation, Mulder knew that 
ultimately, it was still something of a prison, a sad 
circumstance to bear, especially for her. He only hoped 
that his continued presence in her life, clandestine though 
it had to be, would never cease to be a comfort instead of 
becoming another burden. "I feel so bad to do this to you, 
but this is why I chose that farmhouse. It's not close to 
any other homesteads, or businesses and I'll be able to lay 
low. That's the only way I can live without still running 
from the law and hiding in the shadows. It's the only way 
we can be together, live together... only if my residence 
can remain a secret."

	"And here I thought you liked the isolated location 
so that we could make love on the front porch in broad 
daylight whenever we wanted," she murmured, running 
her fingers over his knuckles, an act he found oddly 
sensual.


	He grinned wolfishly at her. "Well, that's my first 
reason for choosing the place. But the other reason is so 
that I have a decent hideout. So, when you get hired at the 
hospital- and I know you will, because you're so damn 
smart and just plain wonderful- you will have to list 
yourself as single and living alone. No one can know that 
I exist in your life, let alone share a bed with you."

	Another wave of sadness passed over Scully's 
lovely features, before she could tamp it down. Mulder, of 
course, knowing her better than anyone, noticed it, 
anyway, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. His eyes 
clouded over, feeling miserable over the misery he felt he 
was continually causing her. "Scully?"

	"I... I thought we still might have... I mean... 
never mind," she stammered, feeling foolish, her face 
burning red in shame and embarrassment. She bowed her 
head over her half-eaten meal, letting her hair obscure her 
face from him.

	Her getting so embarrassed and trying to hide it 
made Mulder wonder with great concern. They had been 

through so much together in the past decade. They had 
loved each other fiercely through out that span of time, 
although he knew that it had only been in the last three 
years that their relationship had grown to include every 
possible aspect of intimacy. Since that time, Mulder had 
not seen much of that avoidance or embarrassment from 
his beautiful partner. Sure, he could still make her blush, 
but usually only by doing or saying something of a sexual 
nature or showering her with compliments. But what she 
was doing right now was something right out of his pre-
love affair Dana Scully. Maybe even before they'd become 
good friends. After their partnership had blossomed to 
include such closeness, she had still opened up to him at 
times.

	He felt like there was a rock currently residing in 
the pit of his stomach that had very little to do with the 
meatloaf he had ordered. He reached across the table, 
taking her chin in his hand. "Scully, please talk to me. We 
can't keep secrets from each other."

	"It's... nothing, Mulder," she whispered, tears 
threatening to fall from her true blue eyes.

	"It's not nothing, and I need to know what it is," he 
demanded, trying to keep his voice calm and even. He 
wasn't succeeding very well. He was sure Scully would 
mistake his edginess for anger. But it wasn't anger. It was 
fear, plain and simple.

	Scully, who knew Mulder better than he knew 
himself, understood that his fear often came across as 
anger. She did not wish to start crying at a diner in 
Nowheresville, USA, but she did not want him to be 
afraid, either, especially not because of her.

	"I just... I had been hoping that we might... get 

married... or something..." She watched as his eyes grew 
wide, and she couldn't help but avert her gaze again.

	"Oh, God!" he exclaimed, and he looked like he 
was about ready to smack himself in the forehead. He 
refrained from doing so, but he felt like the biggest jerk in 
the world right about now. "Oh, Scully, I... you have to 
believe how much I want to marry you, too. But if we did, 
the FBI could get wind of it, making it easier to find me 
and..."

	"I understand, Mulder," she said, sounding like the 
strong, little trooper he knew so well. She took a hold of 
his hand again, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, 
really."

	He sighed, clearly upset, for wanting the same 
thing as she and being denied, and also for denying her. 
"No, it's not okay, Scully. There is nothing I'd love more 
than to make it official with you, but-"

	"I know," she said, looking deeply into his hazel 
eyes. "That was selfish of me. I'm sorry."

	"No, you're not selfish," he told her. "You're the 
least selfish person I know. But if you really feel that way, 
then count me in as equally guilty of being selfish, 
because I'd be so honored to have you as my wife, and to 
be your husband. I'd always imagined we would tie the 
knot someday, you know..."

	"Really?" she asked hopefully, another smile 
creeping up on her lovely face.

	"Damn straight, really! Scully, in spite of all the 
crap I'm facing, all the crap I'm trying to run away from, I 
can never forget just how fortunate I am to be with you. 
The fact that you actually want to be with me, even with 
all the dangers and uncertainty that I bring into your 
life... I... it just astounds me. I am the luckiest man alive, 
because I have you, and I know it. I love you, Scully, and 
even if we can't do it officially, I couldn't love you more 
than if you actually were my wife."

	Fresh tears glistened in her eyes. Today seemed to 
be a day for heartfelt revelations. Still, she had to admit, 
she was more of a sentimental fool than she had ever been 
in her entire life. Ever since Mulder's abduction, which 
coincided with her pregnancy, followed by Mulder's 
"death" and burial, his strange but wonderful 
resurrection, then becoming a mother and being 
separated from Mulder yet again, this time just after 
giving birth to his son... well, it was a lot for one woman 
to handle, and whether it be hormones or her heart 
finding a way to live through all the tumultuous moments 
fate had thrust upon her, Scully had noticed a change in 
her demeanor. She was... more emotional, at least in the 
demonstrative sense. 

	It wasn't as if she hadn't felt sadness or pain or 
experienced happiness or joy before that long string of 
events had taken place in her life, but she had been much 
more effective in concealing her emotions, tucking them 
away into her secret stash of feelings she dared not let out 
into the light. She liked being in control- emotions made 
her feel out of control. So, her simple solution was to 
bottle them up, lest she appear weak, silly, and unable to 
contain herself. It was a Dana Scully defense mechanism 
that had served her well for so many years. 

	But ever since those topsy turvey events had come 
into her life in rapid succession, Scully found herself 
incapable of hiding it all away, not as easily as she used 
to. She wasn't sure if she had faltered in her steely resolve 
to keep her feelings hidden, or if she just simply didn't see 
the point in doing so anymore. Even she couldn't exactly 
deduce the true reason behind her shift into the more 
tenderhearted woman she had become. She knew Mulder 
had noticed the change. She only hoped that he liked it, or 
at least, was okay with it. 

	"I feel so blessed to be with you, Mulder," she 
vowed. "And even though we'll still have to... hide our 
relationship for now, I am so happy that I'll have you to 
come home to every night."

	His grin went from ear to ear, and it was then for 
sure, that she knew... He liked the more emotional Scully, 
liked her a lot! He was also thrilled beyond compare over 
her acceptance with what he could give her, and knowing 
him well enough to know all that he wished he could give 
her. He only hoped that this would be a temporary 

situation. "I love you, Dana Scully. You're so beautiful."

	She laughed appreciatively at his goofy grin, as 
well as his compliment. "I love you, Mulder, and I think 
you're beautiful, too."

	"I promise I'll be the best house-husband ever!" he 
declared, making her laugh even harder. "I'll cook and 
clean and fix up that house."

	"Promises, promises," she teased. "Mulder, as 
much as I love you, I haven't forgotten your slovenly 

ways. In fact, I got a reminder of them when we were 
reunited last month and have been sharing hotel rooms 
ever since."

	He stuck his tongue out at her. "Regardless, our 
place is gonna be great! That house will be wonderful!"

	"Sure, Mulder, sure," she chuckled doubtfully. 
"But, um, you really should fix up the porch. It's kind of a 
favorite spot of mine on the premises, and I plan on 
spending a lot of... quality time on it with you." She gave 
him a sultry look.

	"What a coincidence, it's my favorite spot, too! Of 
course, once we move in, I'm sure we'll find many, many 
more favorite spots suitable for our special brand of 
quality time, Scully. There's the house... and the 
workshop, and the yard..." He waggled his eyebrows at 
her.

	Scully felt as though she might burst, she felt so 
happy and so full of promise at this moment. The future 
was uncertain at best, foreboding at worst, but she 
couldn't help but to have an optimistic outlook, especially 
when her partner of ten years sat across from her and 
stared so lovingly into her eyes. She didn't know whether 
to laugh or cry. Ultimately, she did both. "I cannot believe 
we're actually going to be living together, Mulder! Just to 
get to see you everyday, to fall asleep with you, wake up 
with you... this is what I've prayed for, for so long, you'll 
just never know how much."

	"Sure, I do," he assured her. "I've prayed for this 
moment in our lives, too. I'm just sorry that we'll be 
technically, eh, what do you Catholics call it? Living in 
sin?"

	"Rest assured, Mulder, that there is absolutely 
nothing sinful about us." She paused. "Well, except 
maybe for how sinfully handsome you are. Or for the 
sinful thoughts I'm having about you right now." She 
licked her lips and his mouth fell open in shock.

	"Day-um, Scully, talk about sinful- sinfully hot! 
Although, I'm sure your sinful thoughts can't even begin 
to compare with the ones I entertain about you."

	"Oh, really? Is that a challenge?"

	"Definitely!" he growled.


	"Care to compare sinful thoughts, Mulder, so we 
can declare a winner?"

	"Oh, I plan on just showing you just how sinful my 
thoughts are once we get back to the hotel... or maybe 
just the car. Don't even know if my sinful thoughts will 
allow me to wait that long."

	"Mulder," she laughed, "you don't think that the 
risk of getting arrested in a parked car in a public parking 
lot for performing lewd acts won't get you found by the 
FBI?"

	He sighed happily in defeat. "Ah, my sensible 
Scully, always looking out for me. All right, I'll do my 
best to contain my libido, until we drive to the hotel... but 
I'm not making any promises!"

	"Fair enough," she agreed. "Come on, let's get out 
of here."

	They got up from their table and Mulder left a 
rather generous tip for the waitress. Scully stared at him 
in surprise. Usually, he was a complete cheapskate when 

it came to tipping gratuities. He caught her staring at him 
and shrugged. "Guess you're not the only one who's 
changed a little bit." 

	They smiled warmly at each other and then paid 
the cashier for their dinners. As they started for the exit, 
Mulder put his hand at his familiar spot on her lower 
back. Somehow, this didn't seem adequate enough 
anymore. He then wrapped his arm around her shoulder. 
She, in turn, wrapped her arm around his waist. This felt 
perfect! This was to be the new norm for their 
relationship. Gazing upon each other, Mulder and Scully 
headed for their car.





Scene Twenty: "You Just Never 
Know What Great Things You'll 
Find At The Grocery Store..." 
[Rated R]
Spring 2008
W. Virginia
Lil' Ginny's Country Market
8:52 a.m., Saturday

	Scully grabbed a shopping cart in the parking lot 
and pushed it towards the entrance to the grocery store, a 
very reluctant Mulder trailing behind with a look of 
trepidation. She glanced back, noticed that he was 
lagging, and she stopped, then leaned back and grabbed 
his hand.

	"Come on, Mulder," she chuckled, watching as he 
stared at the market with his panic face. "No need to freak 
out. You've been leaving the house quite a bit in the past 
few months. You solved the FBI's case, you started 
running again, and you took me on a wonderful vacation 
a month ago. Surely, you're not still fearful that the FBI 
will go back on its word and abscond with you right here 
in the grocery store?"

	"No, I'm just afraid of the grocery store," he 
admitted, not looking very happy to be there.

	She rolled her eyes. "Mulder! Why are you afraid 
of the grocery store now?"

	"Because I hate grocery shopping," he informed 
her, struggling a little as she pulled him along towards 
the entrance.

	"I guess you would be a little out of practice," she 
sympathized as they entered the store and removed their 
jackets, setting them in the front of the cart. "Six years in 
isolation will do that..." She stared at him pointedly and 
he laughed.

	"Scully, do you remember what my fridge looked 
like before we started cohabitating?"

	"Dirty, empty and smelly," she replied without 
thinking much about it.

	"Exactly. Now, why do you think it was always 
that way, Doc?"

	She smirked at him. "Because you were lazy, 
piggish and slovenly?"

	"Hardy har har," he retorted. "I was merely 
referring to the empty part, which was meant to imply that 
I've always hated going to the grocery store... it goes way 
back to when I was a kid."

	"Well, you're not a kid anymore, love," she 
informed his still boyishly handsome nearly fifty-year-old 

self. "And now that you're out of exile and can venture 
into public again, I'm taking advantage of it and showing 
you around the grocery store, so you'll have no excuse to 
say that you don't know where anything is. I don't always 
enjoy having to stop here on the way home after a long 
shift because we're out of something."

	"Why not?" he asked, looking the slightest bit put 
out.

	"Because I'm nearly always exhausted after a long 
shift."

	He made a face. "Oh, don't be so dramatic, Scully. 
Most of the time you just go on your day off, anyway."

	"That's not even the point, Mulder, and don't be an 

ass," she told him, poking him in the gut and receiving a 
startled, "oof," in response. She pushed the cart down one 
of the aisles. "You've got the list," she reminded him.


	"Huh? Oh, yeah, right," he began, searching 
through his pockets, patting himself down. "... Um, do I?"

	She groaned. "Great! First rule of grocery 
shopping: Don't lose the list!"

	"What's the second rule?" he asked obnoxiously, 
finding her rule to be very amusing.

	"Don't piss off your partner!" she hissed, and he 
grimaced. "Well, it's not a total loss. You're Mr. 
Photographic Memory, right? You can just recall the items 
on the list." She smiled at her own clever rationale. 

	"Yes, that would be the perfect solution, Scully," he 
told her with a wry smile, "if I had actually read the list."

	Scully closed her eyes, counted to ten, a little 
something she had learned to do early on when dealing 
with unruly siblings. Now, the practice worked great on 
unruly lovers, as well... most of the time. She grumbled 
quietly to herself, before her voice gained enough volume 
to draw the attention of several other customers who had 
innocently come near to grab a box of macaroni and 
cheese or a bag of rice. "Well, great! That's just great, 
Mulder! We're here less than five minutes and you've 
already managed to break the first two rules of grocery 
shopping!"

	Mulder swallowed. He knew Scully loved him 
more than anything. He also knew that, especially after 
living together for so long, they both knew better than 
ever how to push each other's buttons. He excelled at it, 
although, if he had to be fair, his beautiful partner was 
quite capable in her own right to make him want to rip 
out his own hair sometimes. But this time, he was the 
champ.

	"What's the third rule?" he asked her brightly.

	"Why do you want to know, Mulder? So you can 
break that, too?"

	"I aim to please, Scully," he said, giving her his 
best puppy dog eyes. He couldn't hide his smirk, but it 
didn't matter. The puppy dog eyes would be all she 
would see.

	She sighed. How was she supposed to keep up her 
stern and disapproving demeanor over his childish antics 
and irresponsibility when he looked at her like that? 
Damn, he's always got to hit me with the big guns! He knows 
the puppy dog eyes just slay me every time!

	"Come on," she said, pushing the cart onward. "I 
think I can remember most of the items."

	"Atta girl, Scully!"

	"Shut up, Mulder."

	"Okay."

*	*	*

	Thirty minutes later...

	"Where the hell is he?" Scully demanded to know, 
becoming more impatient with each passing second.

	She searched each aisle, passing by at a rapid rate. 
She found her guy over by the toys and magazines. 
Muttering under her breath the entire length of the aisle, 
she approached him as he skimmed through one of those 
tabloid newspapers she detested. She could see he held a 
long, thin object in his hand.

	"Mulder?" she announced in an authoritative voice 
that made him jump. "What are you doing down here?"

	He turned around, wearing a sheepish expression. 
"Hey, Scully," he said, smiling at her. "What's up, 
beautiful?"

	"What's up?" she repeated, looking none too 
happy. "Mulder, I sent you to get a loaf of bread fifteen 
minutes ago!"

	"Got it right here," he said, un-tucking it from 
under his arm and displaying it in front of her perturbed 
face. He then noticed that it was squished from being held 
so tightly in his armpit. "Huh. That's the damndest thing. 
I don't remember this bread being so flat when I picked it 
up..."


	"Mulder!"

	"Yeah?"

	"You were supposed to bring the bread back to the 
cart immediately," she sighed.

	He sighed right back. "Oh, jeez, Scully! What rule 
number did I break this time?"

	"Number seventeen, but that's beside the point."

	Mulder laughed, eyeing her with affection. "God, 
you're so anal!"

	"I am not!" she told him, wondering how many 
times in their life they were going to have this argument.

	"You know, on most people, I would find it 
terribly annoying, but with you, it's cute."

	"It is not!" she insisted, getting a little flustered. "I 
mean, I am not!"

	"What? Cute?" he teased her, his eyes twinkling 
over the fact that after all these years together, he could 
still get her goat. "Oh, you are so cute, Doc, it should be a 
crime... and you're hot, too." He leered at her.

	Scully stood there for a moment, staring at a grown 
man who was carrying a smashed loaf of bread in one 
hand and what appeared to be some kind of whistle in the 
other, all the while, he was trying to flirt with her, finding 
her annoyance over his antics to be quite amusing. Did he 
not realize the consequences of such dangerous actions? 
They had been together in one form or another for fifteen 
years. He knew she had a temper, and yet, he still 
continued to enjoy trying to get a rise out of her. 
Obviously, his years spent in isolation from everyone but 
her had taken their toll on his mind.

	"What is that in your hand?" she asked, trying to 
keep the peace for the sake of the other patrons in the 
store if for nothing else.

	"Bread," he told her with a wicked grin.

	She smirked at him. "I meant your other hand, 
Mulder."

	"Oh, this? It's a slide whistle." He gave her another 
leer. He had absolutely no shame.


	"Are you planning on buying it?"

	"Yes, that I am, my lovely," he said.

	His smile was infectious and Scully found her 
mood turning from irritation to playful. She couldn't help 
it. Mulder had that effect on her. "Why?" she asked him.

	He used the slide to make the whistle toot, 
producing a comical sound like one might hear in a silly 
movie. It startled a few passersby and seemed to amuse 
him to no end. "It's funny," he explained.

	"It's annoying," she replied, although she couldn't 
hide her grin.

	"Ah, well, you know me, Scully. I must always use 
my powers to annoy. Besides, check it out..." He slowly 
pushed the slide mechanism in and out of the whistle 
casing, making the noise again. She watched it in 
confusion, until she glanced up at his face and saw the 
mischievous look in his eye. "What does that remind you 
of, Doc?" he whispered into her ear, using a decidedly 
seductive tone.

	"Jesus, Mulder!" she blurted, taken by surprise at 
his innuendo. This just wasn't something she was 
accustomed to experiencing at a grocery store.

	"Yes, my love?" he asked, blowing into her ear.

	"Just put... it... just put it into the cart," she 
muttered, completely red in the face.

	With a look of triumph, Mulder brushed his arm 
purposely against her breast as he crossed in front of her 
to drop the item into their cart. She gasped. Afterwards, 
he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her. 
"Boy, this grocery shopping is great," he purred into her 
ear, and then continued, making her feel more and more 
hot and bothered with each word. "I hope you're not 
buying anything perishable, Scully, because the minute 
we get home, there's only one thing I want to put away... 
and that's me into you." He pressed his crotch up against 
her back and she could feel his stirrings of arousal. Ever 
since he had helped the FBI, and got back out into the 

world, he had become much friskier with her on an 
almost constant basis. Not that she was complaining...

	"Oh, God," she groaned, her own arousal 
awakening within in response to his, and in the middle of 
the toy and magazine aisle at the grocery store, no less. 
"Mulder... let's... let's just finish shopping," she 
stammered, trying to regain her composure.

	"Whatever you say, Doc," he agreed, smiling 
smugly. He then presented her with a tabloid magazine, 
its headline reading: THEY HAVE ARRIVED! ALIENS 
HAVE BEEN LIVING AMONG US FOR DECADES! 
"Let's get this, too," he suggested.

	Scully sighed at the newspaper shoved under her 
nose, and she felt her amorous itch diminishing, just as 
her annoyance grew. Buying a sexy slide whistle was one 
thing- and did she just call a slide whistle sexy?- but this 
tabloid trash was entirely different. "Mulder, come on! 
You know all that stuff is made up."

	"Is it?" he asked, looking at her incredulously. 

"Look at that headline, Scully. You know that to be true."

	"Well," she began, but waited patiently as an 
elderly couple walked by to grab a crossword puzzle 
magazine, staring at Mulder as if he was a two-headed 
rattlesnake over his proclamation of the truth, "Mulder, 
this newspaper- if you could even call it that- certainly 
doesn't know it to be true." He rolled his eyes at her, but 
she continued, still trying to be diplomatic, so as not to 
hurt his feelings. "They're just making it all up to sell 
papers to poor schmucks like-"

	"Like me?" he asked knowingly. He kissed her 
cheek, letting her know he understood she wasn't 
referring to him personally, and that he didn't take 
offense either way. "Scully, we knew the Lone Gunmen's 
paper was legit, but it had some pretty crazy stories, too. 
How do we know that... The Sun here isn't the same 
way?"

	"It's just not," she informed him, snatching the 
paper from him, opening it up and perusing some of the 
articles she found inside. She spotted one right away that 
would prove her point. "There, you see? Look at this 
article. JACK NICHOLSON'S MISSING FATHER WAS 
AN APE! I mean, the guys never had crap like that in their 
magazine."

	Mulder scratched his chin, as if mulling over her 
example. He said, "Hmm, Nicholson is part ape. Well, 
that would explain a lot."

	She swatted him on the arm with the paper. 
"Mulder, you ass," she laughed in spite of herself.

	He smiled and shrugged, taking it back from her. 

"I know it's just a shit mag, Scully, but that's why I want 
it."

	"A shit mag?" she repeated in confusion.

	"Yeah," he explained, grinning like a fox, "you 
read the shit while you're taking one."

	"Ah, I see, a shit magazine," she chuckled, just as a 
woman walked by with two young children, who giggled 
shamelessly at what they'd overheard Scully say. The 
mother gave the good doctor a dirty look and Scully 
looked embarrassed and called, "Oh, sorry," after the 
family. She returned her attention to her amused partner. 
"Dammit, Mulder," she hissed at him.

	"Shh, stop with that potty mouth, Scully, or you're 
going to get us banned from this nice establishment." He 
shook his head at her. "Just can't take you anywhere, can 
I?"


	"What just happened was your fault," she told him 
in no uncertain terms. "You're going to get it, I swear," 
she muttered, irritation peering out through her stormy, 
blue eyes.

	Mulder gazed at her with his hazel eyes, which 
were more of the bedroom persuasion. She always looked 
so damn sexy when she was angry, and he couldn't help 
his response. "Stop looking so hot, Doc, or I'll take you 
right here on the floor in front of the shit mags."

	She didn't take the bait. Instead she rolled her eyes 
and countered, "And you're worried that my potty mouth 
will get us banned?"

	"But check out this article, Scully," he said, his 
two-track mind switching from sex back to alien invasion 
in a snap. He opened the magazine to the article he'd been 
interested in. "Look at all the info. It's accurate! It has the 
proper dates, the colonization theory and..." he gasped 
out loud, solely for her benefit, she was sure, "look! It 
even mentions black oil!"

	Another couple stared at Mulder as if he were 
insane as they walked by. They would have stared longer, 
but Scully's stern gaze sent them off in a hurry.

	Mulder's eyes remained wide as he stared into her 
own. He wasn't sure what he'd discover in the blue 
depths, but he imagined he'd find annoyance, maybe 
amusement; possibly fear. What he found instead was a 
look of pure love and acceptance for who he was. His 
heart warmed at the realization.

	"Just put it in the cart, Mulder," she indulged him.

	He grinned as he did so. "I love you."

	"I know." She smiled back at him.

	"May I kiss you here in the grocery store now, 
please?"

	"Most assuredly."

	The two of them kissed tenderly. After a moment, 
they could hear the distinct sound of someone clearing his 
throat. They reluctantly pulled away from each other and 
Scully was immediately faced with Father Ybarra, one of 
the priests from Our Lady of Sorrows hospital where she 
worked. He was carrying one of those small, hand-held 
baskets, which was filled with boxes of cookies, bags of 
candy and a bottle of scotch.

	"Dr. Scully," he said curtly, eyeing her and 
Mulder- who was smiling goofily while running his 
fingers through Scully's hair- with a look of pure 
disapproval.

	Trying to inconspicuously swat Mulder's hand out 
of her hair, Scully gave the man a sheepish grin. "Hello, 
Father Ybarra," she said, politely but awkwardly. This 
priest- this holy man- had always given her an uneasy 
feeling, even though she had known him since she'd 
begun working at the hospital six years ago. In fact, 
unbeknownst to her, he had been the one to give the final 
go ahead to the hospital employment staff to hire her. "So, 
what brings you here?" she asked nervously, then 
immediately regretted her statement. She just knew he 
was going to say something snotty to her. Truly, Father 
Ybarra was the jerkiest priest she'd ever known.

	"Why, grocery shopping, of course," he replied 
haughtily, just as she had predicted he would. He 

gestured to his small basket of items.

	"Hmm, nutritious," Mulder commented, glancing 
into the priest's basket with an innocent expression. 
Apparently, his innocent demeanor fooled neither of his 
companions. Scully had to hide her smirk, while Father 
Ybarra gave him a stern look before returning his 
attention to Scully.

	"Dr. Scully, what brings you here?" he asked 
pointedly, referring to the way he had found her, lip-
locking shamelessly in a public setting with this insolent 
man.

	He was loath to admit it, but Ybarra, while trying 
to remain a good, Christian and a representative of the 
Catholic faith, was not overly fond of the good doctor 
standing before him. He realized that he himself had 
approved of her hiring- and how could he not have? Her 
credentials were impeccable. Plus, she never complained 
about wanting a raise, getting overtime, working on 
holidays or extra hours when needed. He would have 
been a fool not to hire this tireless, dedicated professional. 
But after she had gone against his orders and done the 
stem cell therapy on her young patient, Christian Fearon, 
a few months back, he had grown somewhat angry at her 
for disobeying not only him, but the will of the church 
and all it represented. The fact that she had saved the child 
and become something of a folk hero and role model to 
the rest of the doctors and staff at the hospital had not 
endeared her to the priest at all. It only made her seem 
more confident, more untouchable, as if anyone could 
truly be untouchable in the eyes of God! 

	The truth was he found her to be a little too sure of 
herself, somewhat arrogant and rather rebellious. (Had 
Scully known of his description of her, surely she would 
have balked. Had Mulder known of Father Ybarra's 
description of his beloved, surely he would have laughed 
his ass off.)


	"Why, we're grocery shopping, of course," Mulder 
answered his question, noticing how tense Scully seemed 
to be in this man's presence. That immediately set 
Mulder's hackles to rise. He didn't like how the priest was 
affecting her. He took an instant dislike to this snooty 
man of the cloth. He was a world of difference from 
Scully's old family priest, Father McCue. Even the 
psychic, pedophile, Father Joe Crissman, had been more 

pleasant to talk to than this guy.

	"Oh, is that what you call it now a days?" Father 
Ybarra asked, giving each of them a disapproving glare, 
as if they were merely naughty teenagers looking to score, 
rather than an adult, mature couple in love.

	"No, we call it making out," Mulder was happy to 
correct him, "which we've been doing in just about every 
aisle." He smiled as the priest blanched, looking 
embarrassed and somewhat disgusted.

	Scully turned to her life partner, offering him a 
warning glance, before returning apologetic eyes back to 
Ybarra. "Eh, he's kidding..." she chuckled 
unconvincingly.

	"And he would be...?" the father asked.

	"Uh, this is my..." Scully struggled for the right 
words. What the hell should she call him? She felt 
ridiculous introducing him as her boyfriend. Life-partner 
sounded too politically correct, better half was too old 
fashioned. Soul mate was entirely too flowery to say to a 
work colleague. "This is... my... Mulder..." she finished 
incoherently.

	The priest looked understandably confused.

	Mulder took the initiative and thrust his hand out 
to Ybarra. "Hi, I'm Fox Mulder, Dana's fianc? and the 
luckiest man in the world!"

	Her eyes growing wide, Scully stared at Mulder for 
a moment, before offering Father Ybarra a nervous smile.

	The priest grasped Mulder's outstretched hand. He 
shook it, seemingly quite surprised and delighted in spite 
of himself. He was always happy to hear good tidings. 
Both Mulder and Scully noticed his change in demeanor 
right away. "Well, it is a pleasure to make your 
acquaintance, Mr. Mulder!" He looked at Scully, his eyes 
twinkling in merriment. He reached for her hand and 
gave it a friendly squeeze. "And Dr. Scully, I am so very 
happy for you! Why haven't you told anyone?"

	"Well... it's sort of a recent development," she told 
him, smiling, giving Mulder a sidelong glance. "Very 
recent, in fact. I just found out myself."

	"Ah, this is simply wonderful news, Dr. Scully," 
Father Ybarra continued to gush, much to her surprise. 
She had always gotten the impression that he didn't like 
her very much. "And I will gladly offer my services to 
marry the two of you."


	"Oh... um..." Scully stammered.

	Mulder helped her out yet again. "Why, thank you, 
Father. We just might take you up on that offer."

	Scully gave him a look that said, "Not on your 
life!" He gave her one that told her he was just humoring 
the humorless priest.

	"Well, I should be on my way," Ybarra said, still 
smiling. Scully couldn't help but stare. She had never seen 
this man offer so much as a smirk, let alone a full-blown 
smile before. "I will see you on Monday at the hospital, 
Dr. Scully. Congratulations."

	"Thank you," Scully replied, smiling back at him, 
something else she wasn't accustomed to doing. She 
watched as the priest left the aisle, then turned to Mulder, 
who was already gazing at her and wearing a big grin. 
"Um, Mulder?" she asked.

	"So, does that mean you're saying, yes?" he asked.

	"You do realize that Father Ybarra has one of the 
biggest mouths at the hospital. This news is going to be all 
over before I even step foot into work on Monday."

	"All the more reason for you to say yes, then," he 
told her, wrapping his arm around her.

	"Are you... I mean, do you really want to?" she 
asked, somewhat shyly, barely daring to hope.

	"I have for a long time, Scully," he admitted. "I 
told you about six years ago, remember? I'm sorry it's 
taken so long for me to ask you officially, but I suppose 
the big question is now, do you still want to?"

	"Yes, I do," she replied matter of factly, her 
beautiful blue eyes taking on a happy glow that he was 
getting used to seeing lately, ever since after he had 
finished up his free-lance job with the Bureau and had 
taken her on vacation. "Hell of a way to propose though," 
she exclaimed, grinning.

	"Oh, you know me, Scully," he chuckled. "I don't 
do anything in the traditional sense."

	"No, you have your own way, that's for sure," she 
had to agree, taking his hand in hers.

	"I could get down on one knee right now, if you 
prefer and-"

	"No, that's quite all right," she laughed jubilantly. 
"Your way is wonderful. I wouldn't change a thing." She 
was smiling and looked radiant, her skin glowing in 
happiness, her eyes alight with love.

	Unable to resist her, he pulled her close and kissed 
her again, this time very passionately and with an open 
mouth. Scully responded eagerly, wrapping her arms 
around his neck to keep him close, to drive her tongue 
down his throat.

	When they finally came up for air, they found they 
had amassed an audience. Two teenage girls were staring 
and giggling, as they perused through the Teen Beat 
magazines, a middle-aged man, grabbing a box of crayons 
for his little one at home, kept glancing over at the heated 
exchange, and a stock boy- who was currently too 
distracted to know that he was stocking some silly putty 
where the matchbox cars should have gone- watched 
blatantly, occupied by the beautiful couple making out in 
the middle of the grocery store on a Saturday morning. 
He gave Mulder a thumbs up for snagging such a babe. 
Mulder whole-heartedly returned the gesture, looking 
very proud of himself indeed.

	"Mulder, let's get out of here," Scully whispered, 
grabbing the cart and hurrying out of the aisle.

	With a satisfied grin, Mulder nodded at their 
audience, barely restraining himself from high-fiving 
them all, and he dutifully followed after his beloved. "We 
done here now?" he asked hopefully.

	"Oh, still have to get the bread..."

	"Why don't you get in line and I'll run and go get a 
fresh loaf?" he offered.

	"Can I trust you'll come right back?" she asked 
with a smirk. "Or are you going to get distracted again?"

	"No way. I wouldn't dare keep my beautiful 
fianc?e waiting," he told her, enjoying the sweet smile 
and pretty blush that crept up on her lovely face.

	While being checked out, Scully said to him 
quietly, "We'll have to get rings..." She glanced shyly into 
his face and seemed pleased to find him smiling.

	"Got yours covered, Scully," he promised. "I have 
my grandmother's ring. It's packed away safe, but I know 
where it is and I'll find it later. It'll probably have to be 
sized for you, but I'd like you to wear it... I mean, if that's 
all right."

	"I'd be honored, Mulder, really," she whispered, 
trying not to let the sentimental tears fall in front of the 
bored cashier or the youthful bag boy.

	He leaned down to kiss her again, as she retrieved 
her debit card from her wallet and paid for their items. 
Then they loaded up the cart with their bagged groceries, 
and headed for the parking lot.

	Before leaving the store, they both grabbed their 
jackets and slipped them on. Though it was now 
springtime and all of the snow was melted away, and the 
flowers were beginning to bloom, there was still a biting 
chill in the air, especially in the mornings and evenings.

	"I'll need to call Mom and my brothers... and 
Monica and John and Skinner... and Ellen, too! Hmm, will 
Skinner be your best man?" she asked.

	"Yeah, he'd be perfect for the job," Mulder agreed. 
"What about you, honey? Who's going to be your best 
woman- er, maid of honor? One of your sisters, or Ellen, 
or Monica?" 

	"Tara and Jenny wouldn't mind being bride's 
maids. That's all I was in their weddings, but jeez, Monica 
or Ellen? Ellen was my best friend all growing up, but 
Monica became my good friend while you were gone, 
and... both of them mean a lot to me. I'm not sure who to 
choose."

	"Why not ask them both to be co-maids of honor, 
or whatever?" he suggested. "That way, you don't have to 
choose between them."

	"What an excellent idea," she complimented him, 
and he beamed. "You seem to be just teeming with them 
this morning." She gazed lovingly at him, which caused 
him to nearly glow.

	He just had to make a joke, he couldn't help it. It 
was his way, and she understood that, understood him 
perfectly. "Yeah, I saw that you really wanted that slide 
whistle, too. It should definitely come in handy."

	"Oh, yeah, sure, Mulder," she sniggered.

	"You know what you could do? You can sneak up 
behind Father Ybarra on Monday morning at work and 
scare the shit out of him."

	"Mulder! He's a priest!"

	"So? Priests still shi-"

	"Mulder!"

	"All right, all right..." He paused as they made 
their way to the row where their car awaited them. "You 
do realize that I'm still going to jump your bones right 
there on the floor in the living room the second we get 
home, don't you?"

	"I was counting on it," she said with a sly grin that 
made his mouth water. "Ooh, it'll be my first time with my 
fianc?." She winked at him.

	"You may be my new fianc?e, Scully," he told her, 
his eyes flooded with tenderness, "but you've always been 
Mrs. Spooky to me."

	"Mulder," she purred and they stopped for 
another quick kiss until an impatient motorist honked his 
horn at them to get out of his way, and they rushed across 
the parking lot, where they finally made it to their own 
car.

	"Scully, open the trunk and I'll load the groceries 
for you," he said sweetly.

	She fished through her pockets then said, "Mulder, 
you drove, remember? You should have the keys."

	With a nod, he felt through his jacket pockets first. 
"Hey!" he said brightly.

	"Find them?"

	"No, but look, I found the grocery list!" He looked 
it over. "Oh, you forgot a few things, Scully."

	"Give me that!" she snapped, yanking the list from 
his fingers. "Damn..." she murmured. He hadn't been 
kidding. She had forgotten several important items.

	"And here are the keys," he announced, finding 
them in his pants pocket. He opened the trunk and started 
loading the groceries in. "I tell you, this was a productive 
trip."

	"But Mulder, what about our lunch? I bought the 
bread for the sandwiches, but none of the stuff that's 
supposed to go into them."

	He shrugged. "So? We'll have soup. No harm, no 
foul. Besides, I got something even better than 
sandwiches."

	Scully shook her head at him, chuckling good-
naturedly. "What, Mulder? The slide whistle or the shit 
magazine?"

	"No, a fianc?e," he told her, laughing, his face 
looking as boyish and happy as she'd ever seen it. 
"Tucked away between the slide whistles and the shit 
magazines. See? You just never know what good things 
you'll find at the grocery store, I guess."

	Her eyebrow raised, Scully favored him with the 
look that always set his heart beating faster. "Just finish 
loading the groceries, Mulder, and take me home."

	"Hungry, are you?" he asked, carefully setting a 
bag holding glass jars into the trunk.

	"Hungry for you," she advised him, getting into the 
passenger seat.

	"Day-um!" he exclaimed and shoved the rest of the 
bags into the trunk. He jumped in behind the wheel, 
revved the engine, while Scully primly buckled herself in, 
and then peeled out of the parking lot.

	"Oh, and by the way, Mulder," Scully added, as 
they headed down the two lane highway in the direction 
of their house, "as cute as you were back there, it's still 
not going to excuse you from having to go to the grocery 
store again. You know that, right?"

	"Scully," he said, reaching for her hand, "darling, 
you wound me! I love that store. It's where I proposed to 
my wife."

	She smiled at him. "Aw, Mulder. I love you and 
I'm sorry for doubting you."

	"I love you and you're quite forgiven." He gave her 
hand a squeeze.

	"Uh, Mulder? You're still going to have to go once 
in awhile..."

	"Damn," he grumbled, then turned to see her 

radiant, smiling face and they laughed together as they 
headed home.

The End
08/02/10

Did you guess the episodes that each scene follows? If not, here is 
the list!
-Scene One: "The Mall Has it All" takes place after Pilot (season 1).
-Scene Two: "Poker and the Pox" takes place after Darkness Falls 
(season 1).
-Scene Three: "The Ugliest Sweater in the History of Ugly Sweaters" 
takes place after One Breath (season 2).
-Scene Four: "Dana's Delectables" takes place after Our Town (season 
2).
-Scene Five: "Monsters, Denny's and Gas-X" takes place after 2Shy 
(season 3).
-Scene Six: "Love Sick" takes place after Pusher (season 3).
-Scene Seven: "The Nose Knows" takes place after Sanguinarium 
(season 4).
-Scene Eight: "50/50: Snickers, Sniping and Sex" takes place after 
Never Again (season 4).
-Scene Nine: "Honey, You're Home!" takes place after Redux II 
(season 5).
-Scene Ten: "Rusty, Ripley and Jack" takes place after Chinga (season 
5).
-Scene Eleven: "My Scully-sense is Tingling" takes place after The X-
Files: Fight the Future (first movie).
-Scene Twelve: "Christmas Traditions: Mistletoe and Mayhem" takes 
place after The Ghosts Who Stole Christmas (season 6).
-Scene Thirteen: "When Mulder Met Scully... And Pissed Her Off" takes 
place after Field Trip 
(season 6).
-Scene Fourteen: "Coming Clean" takes place after Orison (season 7).
-Scene Fifteen: "I Got Chills! They're Multiplying..." takes place after 
Chimera (season 7).
-Scene Sixteen: "Tears on my Pillow...case" takes place after Three 
Words (season 8).
-Scene Seventeen: "Mulder in Scullyland" takes place after Existence 
(season 8).
-Scene Eighteen: "Tea for... Three?" takes place after Trust No1 
(season 9).
-Scene Nineteen: "Best. Porch. Ever!" takes place after The Truth 
(season 9).
Scene Twenty: "You Never Know What You'll Find at the Grocery Store!" 
takes place after The X-Files: I Want to Believe (second movie).