From: Cricket1184@aol.com
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 22:10:34 EDT
Subject: Stars
Source: direct

Title:  Stars
Author: Nicole Vetter
Rating: PG, a few bad words and implied situations.
Classification:  VR
Spoilers: None
Keywords:  Mulder/Scully romance
Summary:  A nice little chat.
Feedback:  Cricket1184@aol.com...all feedback welcome!


    Dana Scully looked over at her partner, friend, and for some time now, 
lover, for the 3rd time as they drove.  They had just finished up a case in 
Bar Harbor, Maine.  They had been on the highway for about 45 minutes and 
neither of them had spoken a word to each other.  Fox Mulder stole a side 
glance at her, wondering what was keeping her so quiet.  What he didn't know
 
was that she was thinking the same thing about him.  Finally he had enough o
f 
it.
    "So Scully, seen any good movies lately?" He asked.  She turned to look 
at him, eyebrow raised.
    "Not any movies that would be in your library Mulder." She said with a 
smile.
    "Ha ha, touche, one for Scully." He said, amused.
    "I try." She said as she turned back towards the road.
    "I thought the point of having a partner was to have someone entertain 
you." He said.  She laughed.
    "Well you're not entertaining very well right now." She said.
    "Ah, I know, but just wait till later." He said as he looked at her, 
wagging his eyebrows.
    "Promises, promises." She said, her eyes shining at him.
    "So anyways Scully, how's your mom?" He asked.  
    "She's good, working with the church a lot lately." She said.  He nodded
.
    "What about your brothers?" He asked, being polite.  She glanced at him.=
  
She knew that Bill and him just did not get along.
    "They're good, both out at sea," she said, "how's your. . ."  She covere
d 
her mouth and looked at him.  He looked pained.  She opened her both before 
she realized that there was no family for him to speak of.  She reached over
 
and took the hand that wasn't on the wheel.
    "Mulder," she whispered, "I'm sorry, I didn't even think, it was just 
natural."  He shook his head and squeezed her hand.
    "It's ok Scully, don't worry about it." He said, his voice coming out a 
little choked.
    "No, it's not ok, I did something stupid, and I feel like an ass." She 
said.  He looked over at her.
    "Don't, it was a mistake." He said.  She took a deep breath, and knew if
 
she tried to apologize again, he would just shake it off.  She nodded and 
looked out at the road again.  Light had fallen to darkness as the open 
highway rolled on.
    "So where are we headed now?" She asked.
    "Back to the hotel, calling it a night if that's ok." He said.  
    "Of course." She said as she looked down at their hands, which were stil
l 
entwined.  She couldn't get over how small her hand was in his larger one bu
t 
they looked right together.  Just then they heard a loud pop, and the car 
lurched.
    "What was that?" She asked as Mulder stopped the car.
    "I think I hit something." He said with a sigh.  He opened his door and 
got out.  Walking around to the back of the car he pulled out his flashlight
. 
 As he looked down at the tire he heard Scully get out and close her door.
    "Damn it, it's blown out." He said.  She walked around to the trunk.
    "Well, we have a spare, right?" She asked.  He nodded as he opened the 
trunk.  They both sighed and looked at each other as they looked at the othe
r 
deflated tire.
    "Mulder?" She asked.
    "I, damn, I guess last time we blew a tire, I forgot to get a new spare.=
" 
He said as he smiled sheepishly.  She raised her hand to her forehead and 
closed her eyes a minute.
    "Mulder, we're out in the middle of no where, last station we passed was
 
miles back." She said.  He closed the trunk and kicked at the blown tire.
    "I don't believe that's going to help." She said as she looked at him.
    "Thanks Scully." He said.
    "No problem." She said as she pulled out her phone.
    "Who are you calling?" He asked.
    "AA, see when they can have someone out here to help." She said as she 
dialed the number.  A few minutes later she hung up the phone.  He watched a
s 
she slipped it back into her pocket.
    "Well?" He asked.
    "Can have someone out here tomorrow morning." She said.  He looked at hi
s 
watch.
    "It's only 10:00pm." He whined.  
    "Hush up you." She said with a slight smile.  She put her hands on her 
hips and leaned back to crack her neck.  
    "Ouch Scully, doesn't that hurt?" He asked, watching her.  She shook her
 
head.
    "Feels good," she said, "wow, look at that."  He followed her gaze 
upwards.  The sky was perfectly clear tonight, not a cloud in sight.
    "The stars always look the most beautiful up here." He said, referring t
o 
Maine.  She looked at him.
    "You've been up here before?" She asked.  He nodded as he walked up to 
the front of the car, claiming a seat on the hood.  She walked up and stood 
in front of him.  She sighed softly as she felt his strong arms encircle her
 
waist, and a chin come to rest on her shoulder.
    "Since I lived up on the Vineyard, the New England states weren't too fa
r 
away." He said.  
    "Did you come up often?" She asked.
    "When I started to drive, I would come up here by myself to look at the 
stars," he said, "I would come up and park the car on the highway and do 
exactly this."  She glanced sideways at him and tightened her arms over his.=
  
    "What girl were you snuggling up to then?" She said with a smile.  He 
grinned, eyes still cast upwards.  
    "Oh, let me see, there was Bobby Sue, Mary Ellen, and the chick from the
 
snowball stand." He said.  
    "Chick?" She asked, laughing.
    "Yes, a chick." He said, looking over at her.
    "You're full of politically correct words Mulder." She said.  
    "I try," he said, "actually Scully, you're the first 'chick' I've watche
d 
the stars with." He said.
    "Call me 'chick' again and you'll be alone watching the stars buddy." Sh
e 
said.
    "Ok, ok, you're the first. . ." He started.
    "Woman. . ." She continued.
    "Yes, the first woman, that I've watched them with." He finished.  
    "Why?" She asked, looking up again.  
    "Well, when I came up here, I always thought that the stars looked at me
 
in a special way."  She was silent, waiting for him to continue.
    "Sometimes I thought they twinkled just for me, looking out for me, 
keeping me safe.  Like a guardian angel I guess, since there wasn't anyone 
else looking out for me.  Looking at the stars, is special to me, and I want
 
the person that looks at them with me, to make me feel the same way that the
 
stars do.  I've finally found that person, who keeps me safe, and makes me 
feel wanted."  He finished in a whisper.  He looked over at her, with her 
eyes closed.  He watched as a tear slid down her face.  He leaned over and 
caught it with his mouth.
    "I didn't mean to make you cry baby." He whispered.  She shook her head,=
 
opening her eyes, and looking at him.
    "It's ok, it's just that no one has ever said something that sweet to me
 
before." She said softly.  He nuzzled her neck.
    "You mean, besides I love you." He said.
    "Yes, besides I love you," she laughed, "and I love you too."
    "Besides, marry me?" He asked, looking at her.
    "But you've never said. . ." She trailed off, mouth dropping open.  He 
let her go and got down on one knee in front of her.  He took her hand and 
looked up at her.
    "Dana Katherine Scully, will you do me the honor of being my wife, my 
star, my everything?" He asked.  He watched as tears sparkled in her eyes.
    "Yes, I will." She said.  He stood up and caught her as she launched int
o 
his arms.  Their lips met in a loving kiss.  As they pulled away he held her
 
face in his hands.
    "I love you." He said.
    "I love you more." She said, rubbing her nose against his.  They laughed
 
as he spun her around in his arms.  They looked up at the sky to see the 
stars twinkling again, this time for both of them.

The End