Okay everybody!  This is my very first X-Files story (that I've posted
anyway).  I'd love to know what you think of it, but please be gentle.
Thanks!

The movie mentioned in the story, "Harrison Bergeron" really is worth
seeing. I haven't given anything important away.

On to the legal garbage.

DISCLAIMER!  Mulder, Scully, Skinner, Melissa and Clyde all belong to
Chris Carter (I'm not worthy, oh noble one), Ten Thirteen and Fox
Broadcasting.  No infringement is intended. I am merely borrowing these
characters to do things with them that CC & Co refuse to do.  Please don't
sue me.  All I have is debt and a small, green, ceramic Buddha.  I doubt
that you'd really want it.  You can see it for yourselves if you want but
only if you come to my house and bring the stars of the show with you. ;)

Season Warning: This story is pretty much "without seasons" except for
mention of Scully's dog.

Now, on with the show.



                        Red Blouses, Red Wine
				by Astarte


    "Mulder, why are you looking at me like that?" asked Dana Scully in
exasperation.  Her partner in the FBI, Special Agent Fox (call me Mulder)
Mulder had been staring at her for over an hour with a completely
unfamiliar expression on his face.  Scully had considered the look and
decided that it was either complete distaste or wanton lust.  She
preferred the second choice.
    Shocked out of his reverie Mulder was caught off guard.  He knew he'd
been staring lustfully at his partner for quite a while and was convinced
that if he told her what was going on in his mind she'd kill him.  That
red silk blouse just looked so damed good on her!  It was low cut
enough to reveal the tiniest hint of cleavage but to leave the rest to
his overactive imagination.  He imagined that he could see a hint of red
lace just peaking up above the line of the blouse.
    Scully noticed his apparent shock at her question.  "Come on Mulder!
Out with it!  What is so dammed interesting about my blouse that you
can't stop...." Scully looked down and discovered just *exactly* what was
so dammed interesting.  Blushing she arranged her blouse to cover her
better.  Mulder blushed as well.
    "I'm sorry Scully. I.... I... I couldn't help it."  The last was
almost a whisper.  Scully had to strain to hear it.  A light dawned in
her brain.  Checking her watch she discovered that it was 4:45.
    "Mulder, lets cut out a few minutes early.  It's Friday and most
everyone is gone already.  Would you like to pick up a pizza and come to
my house?"
    Suddenly terrified Mulder stammered, "Scully I'm not sure if that's a
good idea."
    "Mulder, please," she begged, giving him the puppy dog look he
usually gave her.  "I think we should talk.  I really *want* to talk Mulder."
    "Okay Scully," Mulder said uncertainly.  "What would you like on
the pizza?"
    "Lots of vegetables and only a little meat.  You pick what kinds,"
Scully said, brightening.
    "Scully," Mulder whined good naturedly, "salad and pizza are
different meals!  Can't we have one or the other?"  Scully shot him a
patented *do it or die* look and he knew he had no choice.  "Okay, okay.
Lots of rabbit food it is!"  The agents quickly gathered their things,
shut up the office and went off in their separate directions.
    Scully arrived home with butterflies in her stomach. She could NOT
understand why she felt so nervous.  She hadn't felt like this since she
was 16 and Paul Ivanova had asked her to the Christmas dance.  Still, she
liked the feeling.
    Rushing into the house she nearly stepped on Clyde, who greeted her
with his usual enthusiasm.  "Good boy Clyde.  Try not to get underfoot
tonight, please!"  Rushing into her bedroom she checked herself in the
mirror, ticking off various aspects of her appearance in her head, //Hair,
good.  Makeup, good.  Suit, bad.  Gotta change the suit.//  Digging
through her drawers she decided on jeans.  Throwing off her suit jacked
and slacks she changed quickly.  She was about to change into a soft
cotton peasant blouse when she caught sight of herself in the mirror.
//No, Mulder likes this blouse. It looks good with jeans.//  Tucking it
in she heard the doorbell ring.  Suddenly the butterflies jumped out of
her stomach and into her throat.  "Come in Mulder!" she called loudly.
"I'll be right there."
    "Dana, honey?" she heard her mother's voice ask.  "Did you call me
Mulder?"
    Dana stepped out of her room to discover her mother standing just
inside the door of her apartment holding a bag, obviously a gift bag.
"Sorry, mom. Mulder is supposed to be here in a few minutes. I thought
you were him," Dana said, blushing.
    Catching sight of her daughters appearance Margaret Scully needed no
further explanation.  "That's fine dear. I just stopped by to give you
this.  I'll leave it here on the table.  I'm in quite a rush anyway!  Have
a wonderful evening dear!"  With that Margaret Scully whisked out the door
like the north wind.  Dana couldn't help but smile to herself.  Before she
could even wonder what was in the bag she was hit by a thought.  //Wine!
I need to open some wine!//
    Dana Scully was a very sophisticated women in many ways.  However,
while she stared at her little portable wine rack wondering which wine to
serve with pizza she didn't feel particularly sophisticated.  She finally
settled on a nice Merlot.  She wasn't positive that it was appropriate,
but she liked it.
    Just as Scully finished uncorking the wine and pouring herself a glass
there was a soft knock at the door.  Glass in hand she took a deep breath
and opened the door.  There she found Mulder holding a box of pizza, on
top of which was a bouquet of flowers.  He was wearing jeans and a long
sleeve cotton shirt with buttons at the top, which were undone.  Scully
could not imagine having ever seen a more arousing sight in her life.
   "Uh, Scully?  Can I come in?"  Scully realized that she had been
standing there staring at Mulder, practically drooling, for much longer
than necessary.
    "Oh, sorry!  Come in!  Just set the pizza on the table."  In a way it
was good that Scully had stared for so long. When she had opened the door
with that wonderful blouse on, now with jeans, and a glass of wine that
went very nicely with both the blouse and her full, red lips, Mulder
wasn't sure he could move if it meant taking his eyes off of this
wonderful sight before him.  He hadn't really noticed how long they had
been standing there until his legs began to hurt from the awkward
position he was in.  "Would you like some wine Mulder?"
    "Uh, yeah, sure.  These are for you," Mulder choked out, handing
Scully the flowers.
    Feeling a mist form in her eyes Scully took the flowers.  Mulder
followed her into the kitchen, where she got a vase and placed the
flowers inside.  They really were lovely.  He had chosen 5 pink roses a
dozen lilies to match.  Scully arranged the flowers with the roses in
the center, surrounded by the lilies.  Mulder found the wine bottle and
a glass and poured himself more than he thought it prudent to drink.  //I
might need it, though,// he told himself.
    Scully then placed the flowers on a small table next to her couch.
She and Mulder sat down, placing about a body's width between them, both
feeling rather uncomfortable.  "I rented a movie last night but I haven't
watched it yet. It isn't due until tomorrow. Would you like to watch?"
    "What is it?"
    "Harrison Bergeron."
    "Scully! I didn't know you were a Vonnegut fan!"
    "There are a few things about me you don't know Mulder."
    //I'd like a chance to find out though.//  "I know Scully," he said
with a grin.  "Sometimes you just surprise me."
    //Let's hope tonight is one of those times,// Scully thought with a
grin.  Settling down comfortably on the sofa the two watched the movie and
ate their pizza.  Both were a little astounded when the movie deviated
from the book enough to created a rather erotic romance.  Neither noticed
the soft flush that crept over their skins.  They were afraid to look at
each other.  Terrified, really.  //What am I so afraid of?// wondered Dana
Scully.  //Well, silly, let me tell you.// answered a voice in her mind
that sounded remarkablylike Melissa, her sister. //You are sitting next to
the most attractive man on the planet.  He's wearing your favorite outfit.
He brought you flowers and a pizza. You're watching a romantic film with
him.  You know he's attracted to you.  Seems to me you've got plenty to be
afraid of,// teased the voice. //Oh shut up!// Dana yelled at the voice.
Gathering her courage she turned to look at Mulder.
    At first glance most people would not notice the many things Scully
was able to ascertain about Mulder's feelings.  Most people would see a
somewhat tight, tense person sitting, watching a movie.  Scully saw that
he was flushed, tense and trying very hard to pretend to watch the
movie.  Scully went back to watching the movie and nearly cried when it
ended.  Turning to Mulder again she found that he was suddenly very
interested in the half piece of pizza he hadn't touched in the last hour.
    "Bug on your pizza Mulder?"
    "Huh?" he said, looking rather flustered.
    "I asked if there was a bug on your pizza."
    "No. Uh.... No."
    "Mulder, what's up with you these days?  You seem so distracted.
Half the time we're supposed to be doing paperwork I look up and see you
staring at me.  It's somewhat unnerving Mulder. I'd begun to wonder if
there were an X-file in my hair... or on my face... or on my blouse."
    Mulder knew she was alluding to that afternoon when she had caught him
staring at her cleavage.  //Oh no! I've really blown it this time.//  His
mind produced a picture of what it would look like to come in on Monday
morning and find her transfer request sitting on his desk.  He couldn't
think of a more horrible thing.  He couldn't tell her.  He could NOT tell
her how he felt.  He couldn't risk losing her.  "I'm really sorry
Scully.  The stress has just been getting to me lately."  //Good save!//
    "Mulder, you know you can talk to me about these things.  I
understand.  I'm your friend."  The way she said friend put all of
Mulder's senses on alert.  Had her tone just suggested what he thought?
"Mulder?  Why do you look like a frightened four year old?  You look just
like my nephew does when I catch him with his hand in the cookie jar."
    "Oh Scully. It's just.... It's just..."
    "It's just what Mulder?  It's just that you're attracted to me?  It's
just that there is so much sexual tension in the office that you can
smell it, and you're sure that anyone down the hall can too?  Is that it
Mulder?"  The gentleness in Dana Scully's voice was something Mulder
wasn't familiar with.  He knew the strong side of Dana Scully, the side
that could stare down a murderer with a gun and make him believe that he'd
better drop it when she told him to, the side that could face all of the
shit that Skinner could dish out without flinching once.  The Dana Scully
he knew was not the Dana Scully sitting before him.  Mulder had always
suspected that Scully would have a sensitive, sensual side, but he hadn't
ever seen it, until now.
    "Yeah, Scully. I guess you could say that.  I'm sorry. I know it's
inappropriate and I'll sign your transfer if you want.  I just can't help
it, especially when you wear that blouse.  I can't help it.  I'm so
sorry."  Mulder's words had started at barely a whisper and then grew
louder and came so fast that Scully almost couldn't understand.
    "Mulder!  Why would I want a transfer?  So staring at your partners
cleavage isn't something the FBI approves of! So what?  If *I* don't mind
then nobody else should either!  Oh Mulder..."
     "You don't mind?" Mulder interrupted.  "I don't understand Scully?
You're so perfectly professional.  I thought that since you weren't
attracted to me that you'd take it as harassment."
     A grin of sudden understanding spread across Scully's face.  "What
gave you the idea that I wasn't attracted to you?"
     "Uh... well..." sputtered Mulder, "I just didn't think... I mean....
I'm not...."
     "Oh shut up Mulder," demanded Scully, moving dangerously closer.
Then suddenly her lips were on his, soft, passionate and demanding.  It
was everything Mulder had ever imagined and more.  After a few seconds of
recovery he allowed her gentle probing to pass his lips and into his
mouth.  There his tongue tangoed with hers.  After a few breathless
moments the two came up for air.
     "Dana..."
     "Fox.  Shhh. You don't need to say anything.  Just don't leave me
tonight, okay?"  //Did I just ask him to stay over?  Ohmygod!  Did I mean
to do that?// The Melissa voice answered for her, //Yes, you did, and
you're going to have a wonderful time.//
    //Did she just ask me to stay over?  Oh... I hope so.//  "I'm not
leaving Dana, not if you want me to stay."
    Seeing the uncertainty in his eyes, the love, the passion and the
desire to do exactly what was right Dana knew that her long lonely times
were over for good.  She had found Mr. Right, and he'd been there sitting
across from her for so long before she'd ever realized it.  Taking him by
the hand she placed the pizza he was still holding on the table and led
him to her bedroom.  It was there that Fox Mulder lost himself and found
himself again, in Dana Scully's eyes.
    After blissful hours of love making and cuddling the two got up to
snack on cold pizza and warm wine.  Sitting on the table Scully noticed
the package sitting on her hall table.  "Mom's present!  I forgot all
about it!"  Quickly she gathered up the bag and opened it.  Drawing in a
quick breath she drew out a sheer green nightgown that would just barely
cover her and a beautiful satin robe of the same color and size.  Looking
up she saw Mulder staring open mouthed.  "My mother has NEVER gotten me
anything like this before."  Looking back in the bag she discovered a
card.  Aloud she read, "Dana, I'm sorry if this gift seems inappropriate
coming from your mother.  I saw it in the store and it was such a perfect
color for you and I just had this feeling that you wouldn't mind if I
bought it for you.  Happy Valentines Day.  Love, Mom."
    Looking up, Scully saw a light go on in Mulder's eyes.
    "It's Valentines Day!"
    "Yes Mulder.  February 14th usually is!"
    "I know Scully. I just haven't ever paid attention before.  I'm
sorry that I didn't get you a gift.  If I had known what today would
bring, I certainly would have."
    "Oh don't you worry Mulder. You've given me the best gift you could
possibly give."  Seeing his confusion she said, "You, Mulder.  All I
really wanted was you."
    With that Mulder grabbed Scully and hugged her so hard she almost
couldn't breathe.  "The same is true for me Dana. I couldn't have asked
for a better day."  Gently picking her up and cradling her in his arms
Mulder asked, "So, how would you like to model your new present for me?"
    "I'd love to Mulder!"

The End