From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 6 Feb 2002 19:37:05 -0000 Subject: Toast by Becka F. Source: direct Reply To: xfgurl@hotmail.com Title: Toast Author: Becka F. Classification: VR Rating: PG Spoilers: Season 9 Keywords: Summary: He raised his glass slowly, not daring to take his eyes off of her. Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. And soon they will belong to the ages:) ~*~*~ Toast ~*~*~ He raised his glass slowly, not daring to take his eyes off of her. She raised her glass as well, her cheeks flushed, fully aware that he was peering inside of her with a want so profound it made her want to scream. "To us," he murmured, his voice so low it was barely recognizable. "To us," she echoed fiercely, resisting the urge to tug at the slightly askew tie around his neck and show him what she really wanted to toast to. "It's been a long time," he remarked quietly, after a few moments had passed. She sighed, looking into her lap ruefully. "I know, Mulder. I know." Mulder cleared his throat. He wanted to make her promise right then and there that she would try to get away to see him more often. He wanted to promise her the very same thing. But they both knew they couldn't. "To us," he repeated firmly. He tipped his glass towards hers, and they met with a soft 'clink'. The gleaming pale liquid in each of their glasses reacted to the connection, and it swirled around vehemently before spiralling swiftly down each of their throats. They sat there in silence for a few moments, allowing the sharp liquor to trickle down their throats and waiting to feel its warmth flowing through them. Keeping his eyes locked with hers, Mulder slowly stood up and pushed back his chair. He padded over to her, feeling the heat of her body consume him even before he touched her. Before either of them knew it, they were lost in each other, not knowing where one ended and the other began. It was all so precarious, all so dangerous, and all so recklessly needy. They made love on the hotel room floor that night, their eyes and minds dancing with a dozen glowing candles Mulder had set up strategically around the room. Afterwards, they lay there in silence, neither wanting to speak, neither feeling words were necessary. He brushed a strand of stay hair away from her eyes, and noticed that they had begun to lose their sparkle. That could only mean one thing. Time was up. She had to go. Hell, he'd be gone by dawn. Fear welled up inside each of them once more. It washed over them like a gigantic wave, peeling away every ounce of courage they had worked so hard to attain just to get here tonight. Neither knew when they would see the other again. They treasured moments like these; moments where they were briefly reunited before they were once again cruelly torn apart. It was often hurried, often rushed, but it was always passionate. Wanting. Needy. She'd gathered up quickly, trying desperately not to linger, fearing that if she did, she'd be compelled to stay. God, how she wanted to stay. But she knew she couldn't. She had a child to get back to. A career to return to. A seemingly new life to contend with. On the other hand, all that was waiting for him was anonymity. A vast, gaping hole of nothingness. A life that ended at sunset and began again at sunrise. A seemingly never-ending game of cat and mouse, endlessly dodging an invisible enemy. He held her long and hard this time, wondering if this was the last time he would. She clung to him equally hard, hoping and praying they'd meet again like this, and she'd once again be able to temporarily fill that tremendous void tearing at her from deep inside. Both shook, but neither would show it. Both were petrified, but neither would admit it. Before she could analyze it any further, she turned to leave for good. Fear and determination took over him at once, and on an impulse, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Wait." She froze, wanting to escape but finding she possibly couldn't. He decided that they needed something more. Something to keep that tiny flicker of hope alive at a time when they both needed it the most. Her eyes bore into him as he strode over to the tiny fridge and yanked open the door. With one swift motion, he pulled out the nearly empty bottle of wine that had been partially consumed just hours earlier. He poured a little into each glass and presented one to her. "What are you doing, Mulder?" "Just one more, Scully. I've thought of something else to toast to." She took the glass from him, her fingers accidentally grazing his. She immediately caught on fire once more. So did he. Her heart pounding, she stepped closer to him, intoxicated by his scent of musk and sweat. "What is it?" she whispered huskily, raising up her glass to meet his. He clashed his glass into hers a little harder than he meant to, and gazed down at her intently. "To my return. Very, very soon." And as quickly as the tiny drops of alcohol disappeared out of her glass, so did she, not before handing over her wine glass and kissing him softly. Left with only her scent and two empty glasses, he stepped back into the hotel room, and with every ounce of strength he possessed, hurled the glasses at the wall, shattering them both into hundreds of tiny pieces. And as they lay broken on the floor, he summed up just enough energy to gather his bags. And as quickly as he had arrived, he too was gone. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Feedback? It's a big secret, but I'm actually addicted:) Drop me a line any time at ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~