From: Helen McLaughlin Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 00:20:17 -0500 Subject: Story to submit Source: direct Margaret Scully's Home Baltimore, Maryland Dana Scully had decided to leave her Mom's house after the second fight of the day with her brother, Bill. Dana's mother tried to convince her to stay but she felt it would be better for all present if she left. She would try to come back the next day to say good bye to Tara her sister in law and her newphew Matthew. Mrs. Scully talk to Dana at the door, saying she should ignore Bill that he was just doing his big brother routine. But since she was leaving she asked Dana a favour. "Dana, would you mind do something for me?" "Sure Mom, what did you want me to do?" "Could you give this present to Fox for his birthday? I was going to give it to him on his birthday but I think he would enjoy it now." She handed Dana a nicely wrapped gift that felt slightly heavy. "Ok Mom if you want or I could just give it to him in a couple of weeks." "No, I think I would like him to have it now. Maybe you could drop it off tonight." "Oh his probably busy Mom." "Well it's up to you dear." Mrs. Scully gave her daughter a hug and kiss. "You take care baby girl and say hi to Fox for me." "You take care to Mom and I love you." Dana Scully's car Dana thought about the argument with Bill. As usual he was at her about her choice in career. She told him to mind his own business that she was y doing what she did and he would just have to accept that. But the second argument which was the worst was the one regarding Mulder. She understood Bill didn't like him but that was his problem. Because she liked Mulder not only as a partner but as a friend and sometimes she wished for more with him. Scully looked at the gift her Mom had given to her to deliver to her partner. She wondered what her Mom was up to. Oh, well why don't I call him and see if he is home. That way if I go back to Mom's tomorrow I can say I have delivered the gift. And maybe Mulder could take her mind off the argument with Bill. Scully picked up her cell phone and hit the speed dial for Mulder. "Mulder" "Hi, Mulder, it's me." "Hi, Scully, how's the family get together going?" "After two fights with Bill I decided to leave." "I'm sorry Scully, I know you were looking forward to seeing Tara and Matthew. Let me guess he was buggig you about your career choices and your partner right." Mulder knew he was high on Bill Scully's hit list more like Bill would like to hit him. "It doesn't matter Mulder, I was wondering if you would like some company." "Sure, I would love your company, I'm just watching 'Invasion of the Body-Snathchers'" "Which version?" "The orginal of course," "I think the remake is better." Scully said with a laugh. "Nah the original is much better, more believable." Mulder said jokingly. "Come on over Scully I'll help you forget about your argument with Bill." "Okay, thanks Mulder. I'll be there in about 30 minutes." And Dana hung up with a smile maybe Mulder could take her mind off her fight with Bill. Mulder's apartment 8:30, Saturday night Mulder opened the door to a frustrated Dana Scully. "Hi, Scully, looks like Bill was in rare form." Mulder could tell by Scully's fatigued eyes that she had been doing battle with Bill and not on the winning side. "For tonight Mulder can we pretend that I don't have an older brother." "Sure no problem, I like Charlie anyway." Mulder referred to Scully's younger brother that Mulder got along with. Scully just chuckled at Mulder's comment. "Hey, Scully how about a cup of tea?" "That would be great Mulder, Mom sent some dessert home with me. I brought it up with me, I'll share with you if you want." Scully new Mulder's answer as he loved Magaret Scully's double layer choclate cake. "If that is your Mom's cake, I'm there Scully. I just love anything your mom bakes or cooks for that matter." "You know Mulder, Mom did invite you over for dinner." "Right, then Bill would have been attacking me all day." "Well he would have left me alone, I thought you were suppose to do anything for your partner." Scully smiled sweetly. "No, sorry Scully that's beyond the call of duty." Mulder and Scully went into the kitchen, while Mulder put on the kettle Scully got plates and forks out. She unpacked the cake and cut it up and placed it on the plates. She took the plates out to the living room and placed them on the coffee table. Mulder came out a few minutes later with tea for Scully and an ice tea for himself. Muldeer took a bite of the cake. "Scully do you think your Mom would marry me?" "Mulder, I think you might be a little to young for my mom." "Hey, wants wrong with a younger man older woman relationship." "When the man's twelve years old..." Scully laughed at Mulder's attempt at looking hurt. "Very funny Scully." "Thanks Mulder I needed a good laugh." "Anytime Scully." "Oh, by the way Mom sent a package for you. She said it's an early birthday present but she still has something planned for your birthday" Sully went to the chair where she had deposited her coat and purse and picked up the box. Bringing it over she handed it to Mulder. "Happy early birthday Mulder." "Thanks," Mulder pulled the wrapping off the box and lifted the lid on the box. Scully heard Mulder's chuckle as she reached for her tea. "What's so funny..." Scully started to say as she looked over to the box in Mulder's lap. Inside the box was a framed photo of a little girl of about 3 years old. She was covered in mud and had a huge grin on her face. Bright blue eyes looked at the camera and underneath the mud red hair could be seen that the child possessed. Mulder looked at Scully with a grin plastered on his face. "She was right, you weren't always neat as a button." "Mulder what are you talking about and why did my mom give you a picture of me." Scully spattered out. "Well you remember that last case we were on and we had to share a room?" "Yes." "I was talking to your mom a few days after we came back. I told her how mad you got at me because I'm not as neat as you and I asked if you were always so neat. She laughed and said no but I told her I didn't believe her and she said she would prove it to me. So here's the proof. I think you look pretty cute in mud. Hey Scully do you want to mud wrestle." Mulder said with a leer. "First of all when did you start calling my mom and second of all you've had your laugh now give me the picture." She grabbed for the picture her face a bright red. "No way Scully your mom gave it to me." Mulder jumped up and went into his bedroom. He walked over to his nighttable on the far side of his bed and placed the picture on angle so he could see it when he woke up. "Come on Mulder the joke is over give me the picture." She stepped around Mulder quickly and grabbed the picture and started heading for the door. Mulder grabbed her around the waist and reached for the picture. Scully struggled with Mulder trying to escape from his grasp. Scully realized that Mulder had height and weight to his advantage so she stopped struggling. When Mulder relaxed his hold Scully tried to make a break for it but Mulder grabbed for the picture throwing them off balance. The pair ended up on Mulder's bed with Scully laying on top of Mulder, Mulder flipped them over pinning Scully beneath him. "Scully, you're mom gave me the picture and your not having it back. Ask her for your own copy if you want one." "Mulder why do you want to keep it?" "Because it's a picture of you and it shows me once upon a time Dana Scully could be wild and messy with the best of us. It's not the only picture I have of you." Mulder reached over to the night stand and pulled open the drawer extracting a picture frame. He turned it so she could see it. It was a picture of her taken at a family barbeque and she is smiling at the camera. "Your mom gave this one to me when you went missing. Maggie found me one night when I was at my wits end as to how to find you. We talked for awhile and I mentioned how I didn't see you smile very much and that I would do anything to see you smile again. The next day your mom showed up with that picture and said whenever I missed that smile that I should look at this picture. Everynight and every morning I looked at your smile and new you would be back soon." His voice broke on the last words. Scully put her hand on his chin and tilted his head so she could see his face. There were tears in his eyes as he remembered that dark time. She gently brushed the tears away and stroked his neck with her other hand. "Mulder I'm sorry I didn't me to upset you." "It's okay Scully. It must seem silly to you." "No, it does not seem silly just very sweet." She pulled his face down and placed a kiss on his lips. Mulder pulled back and looked into Scully's eyes what he saw there took his breath away. There was love but also desire. Mulder bent down and captured Scully's lips. Mulder's apartment Sunday morning, 9:00 Mulder woke to a ringing noise. He tried to move but realized he was trapped beneath something. Or more to the point someone, he open his eyes to see the top of Dana Scully's head. He grabbed the phone from his nightstand. "Mulder" "Hi, Fox hi are you?" "Hi, Mrs. Scully, I'm fine how are you?" Mulder sat bolt upright. "Fox, I thought we agreed you would call me Margaret." "Sorry, yes Margaret how are you?" "I'm fine but I'm a little concerned because I've called Dana's and she's not answering. Did she stop by your place last night?" Just then the subject of the conversation woke up. Stretching amd yawning very seductively. "Yes, Margaret she did stop by and she gave me the birthday gift. Thank you very much, I truly loved it." Scully looked up mouthing the words *Is that my mom?* Mulder nodded the affirmative. "I'm so glad Fox but the reason I'm calling is Tara was wondering if Dana was coming back over today. Could you ask her for me dear." "Um, Margaret..." "Fox, just give the phone to Dana dear." Mulder gave the phone to Dana. "Hi, Mom." Dana sounded like a five year old with her hand stuck in the cookie jar. She listened to her mom for a few minutes interjecting an occassional yes or okay. "Okay, Mom, I'll be there for lunch. Sure Mom here he is," And with that Dana handed the phone back to Mulder. "Hi Margaret," Mulder listened then answered, "Yes that would be nice I would love to come for lunch. Okay we'll see you soon. What..." Mulder turned bright red. "Thank you Margaret, I promise to take good care of her." And with that Mulder hung the phone up. "Mulder are you okay, what did my mom say that made you turn so red?" "She asked how I liked the second part of my birthday gift." "But I only brought the one box, what are you talking about Mulder." "It seems my dear Dana that her second gift was her daughter. She felt we were taking to long to get together so she thought she would hurry us up. That's why she had you deliver the picture to me." "What.." was Dana Scully's startled response. "I think I would like to check my present out again before we have to leave." Mulder said as he moved toward his partner. And they sank back down unto the bed exploring each other one more time.