From: KaenanRae Date: 11 Apr 2000 04:37:38 GMT Subject: NEW: The Sky Is Broken (1/1) post-all things The Sky Is Broken (1/1) "all things" post-ep Category: VRA Email: kaenanrae@aol.com Rating: PG Summary: "Speak to me baby In the middle of the night" Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive. Maybe. Authors notes following story. The Sky is Broken By: Kaenan He stepped cautiously over her outstretched feet, taking care not to create so much as a light breeze to knock her out of her slumber. Yet even as he moved away from her, he felt a velvet iron grip capture his fingers. "Where you goin'?" He voice was rough, though it had only been seconds since she had fallen asleep. "Bed." He wasn't sure why he was whispering, so he cleared his throat and spoke more assuredly. "Bed." Her smile was small but heartfelt. Then, before he could extend the invitation to join him, she dropped her eyes and studied her hands. He knew the maneuver well - she was grouping together for a request. It bothered him that, even after all this time, she still felt the need to ask. They were both so exhausted... He waylaid her question before it could be voiced by tugging on her hand. When her eyes returned to his, her smile curved upwards a little more. "C'mon..." He tugged again, pulling her behind him towards the bedroom. She stood obediently and let him lead her into his darkened room. He felt the tether of her fingers loosen and he turned back in time to see her jacket pool to the floor in the doorway. He shivered lightly at the whispering sound of skin against material as she slid her shirt over her head. An almost imperceptible 'plop' marked the loss of her skirt. He moved to the side of the bed and removed his own clothes with his back to her. Pulling back the comforter without looking at her, he settled into what had become known as "his side". Hearing her finally settle in behind him, he turned. They stared at each other for a while before he spoke. "Who do you see yourself spending the rest of your life with?" It was a self-indulgent, selfish question and he didn't even know why he'd voiced it. The sadness in her eyes gave him his answer even before she'd known it herself. Her features softened as she spoke. "Honestly, Mulder? I don't know." Her face paled as he began to turn away from her. She stilled him with a hand on his chest. "Not because - not..." He whuffed out his breath, but waited. "Mulder, 10 years ago, I could look to the future and plan. I dreamt of children, a husband, a dog. I don't have that luxury anymore. I think only of today. Maybe tomorrow. If I'm lucky, I plan next weekend. I - we - have lost so much. It's enough for me to know that, for now, I'm here with you. If I thought of all the things that could go wrong or change that...Mulder, if I contemplated every decision I could make that might ruin this...I don't think I could handle that." Her words were slow and slightly slurred, but there was a conviction there that filled him with contentment. It was usually during this part of the night, right before slumber, that they could even talk. If ever they voiced their feelings and fears, it was when their self-imposed barriers were too weak from lack of sleep to remain upright, when the warmth of their arms lulled them into a serene kind of security. They were usually sweaty and exhausted, satiated from a heady bout of sex. Tonight, though, was one of those beautiful nights where, too broken from recent events, they could only hold each other. "Mulder?" She placed her lips against his forhead. He nodded and she drew his head against her chest once more. She watched her fingers dance in and out of locks of hair, playing hide and seek with one another. Fatigue made everything look as though it were slightly out of focus, a haze that gave the room a slightly surreal feel. She shifted to look past the brunette mop beneath her and let her eyes drift shut. "You were right. This is a little too much for us to be getting into right now. Later?" His hair tickled her breast as he moved his head up and down again. "...later." It was his turn to nod off in her arms, so she rested her chin in his hair and sighed sleepily. She remembered something she should tell him, just as the room began to darken with her oncoming sleep. "In the morning, early, I'm going to get up and go for a walk. I, I need to be by myself. Are you OK with that?" "Hmmm..." She was losing him to the sandman, she could tell. "Breakfast?" Even single words were becoming difficult. She scooted downwards into the shelter of his body and burrowed against his chest. Rubbing a free hand to his arm she made lazy circles with her palm. She meant it to soothe him to a deeper rest but the rhythm was also lulling her. "Donuts?" She heard him as if from a distance. He sounded like a sleepy yet hopeful child, and he turned into her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I love donuts." "Maybe." She felt him place a chaste kiss against her collar bone and she smiled. "Good night, Mulder." (Exeunt) Authors Notes: A fic to add to the thousands of other post-ep fics for this particular episode. Color me "They did" and let's move on. I don't write often, so I must go when and where the muse tells me. The title is shamelessly stolen from Moby. To David - You know I love you more than my donuts.