From: "B R Cary" Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001 17:35:48 -0400 Subject: story submission Source: direct Title: Veritas - et nunc et semper Author: Cary Classification: SR (Mulder/Scully Romance) Spoilers: brief mentions of 'Closure' Rating: PG Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully were created by Chris Carter and belong to 1013 Productions. I have no legal claims on them and think that although CC needs to have more romance (hence MSR fan fiction such as this story), he is doing a marvelous job with them. Summary: Mulder and Scully take their partnership to a new level. Note: "et nunc et semper" is Latin for "now and forever". This story is the third in the Veritas series. It can be read completely on its own or as part of the whole series. Feedback: I would love to know what you thought of my story, but if you hated it, please be kind when telling me. As with most writers, I am quite sensitive when it comes to my stories. Sharing them with other people is like skydiving - exciting, but scary as hell. Send feedback to cary1013@hotmail.com Archive: Anywhere as long as all the necessary forward information stays intact. Veritas - et nunc et semper Although the weatherman had predicted rain, the day dawned completely cloud-free. It was as though the world had finally decided to give Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully a break, and what better time than on their wedding day. Scully looked out the window of the church one more time to make sure the sun was still shining. "It's still beautiful out," came a voice from behind her. Turning, she saw Malen Phillips walk through the door of the room they were using to get dressed in. Malen was already wearing the bridesmaid's dress Scully had chosen for her, and Scully had to admit that Malen looked beautiful. The simple tank-style top, full ballroom skirt, and silver coloring of the dress set off Malen's tall, slender frame and blond hair. Scully had a quick, jealous thought that all eyes would be on Malen and not her as they stood at the front of the church, and then she dismissed the feeling. This was her wedding day and nothing was going to spoil it. Today she was marrying her best friend and the person she loved more than anyone and she was the happiest she had ever been. Turning back to the window, she wondered if she might be able to spot Mulder arriving to the church. "He's already here, Dana," Malen said. "I saw his car outside when I went to check the flowers on the church doors." Scully shook her head. Though she had serious doubts that such things were possible, she swore sometimes that Malen was physic. Malen had the uncanny ability to know what people were thinking. "Am I that transparent?" Malen laughed. "No. I just remember doing the same thing at my wedding." Walking over, Scully squeezed Malen's arm. Malen's husband had been killed several years before. Scully had met both Malen and her husband, Shane, while at the University of Maryland. When she had renewed her acquaintance with Malen about seven months before, she had been saddened at Shane's death. Shane had always shown such a devotion to Malen, even before they had started dating, and although Malen was always happy to talk about him, there was an obvious sense of sadness in her voice. "I'm sorry, Malen. I should have realized how hard this would be on you." "Yes, it does remind me of what I had, but I would not have missed this for the world. Ever since I first saw you with Mulder, I knew I had never seen two people who were more destined for each other. I'm so happy that you both finally realized it yourselves," Malen answered. "You're not the only one," a soft voice replied. Malen and Scully both turned toward the voice and saw Margaret Scully shutting the door behind her. At the look Scully gave her, she continued, "Dana, I just meant that I, too, saw how you and Fox felt about each other. It was obvious that you were both in love, but too stubborn to act on your feelings for fear of being hurt. I'm glad that you did and that my baby girl is happy. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I love the man you're marrying like one of my own sons and always have. He's a good man, Dana, and I could have chosen no one better for you, precious one." Scully reached out and hugged Mrs. Scully. "Thank you, Mom, but if you don't stop it, I'm going to cry and I want to look my absolute best today." "What would a wedding be without a few tears of happiness? Besides, you will be a radiant bride," Malen said as she handed Scully a tissue. "Mulder won't know what hit him." Smiling, Scully said, "Since we are speaking of him, I wonder how he is doing?" After the rehearsal dinner the night before, Mulder had driven her to her mother's house where she had chosen to spend the night. As they had sat in the car in front of the house, he had given her a long, slender jewelry box. Inside had been a beautiful string of pearls. Mulder had explained that they had been his great-grandmother's. They had been a present on her wedding day from her father. She had given them to her daughter who had given them to hers and who happened to be Mulder's mother. The pearls were supposed to have gone to Mulder's sister, Samantha, but since she was no longer alive, Mulder said that he knew his mother would have wanted the woman he married to have them. Scully had been extremely touched. Although he did not seem the type that would be, she had began to realize that Mulder could be a bit of a romantic - at least towards her. She had also been slightly amused to notice how nervous Mulder had been throughout the rehearsal. At first she had thought it was because he was having second thoughts about giving up his bachelor status, but every time he looked at her, he broke into a smile. She soon realized that it was not the marriage that scared him, but the actual ceremony. Mulder was not much on pomp and circumstance nor was he used to it, despite his wealthy upbringing. She had assured him that she loved him and he had seemed semi-calm when he had driven away, but who knew what he was like today. "Would you like me to go check on him?" Malen asked. "Would you? He was quite nervous about the ceremony last night," Scully responded. Malen broke into a grin. "Ooh, this is something I have to see." Seeing the look on Scully's face, she added, "Don't worry. I won't torture him . . . too much." "Malen!" Scully exclaimed, and then shook her head as Malen walked out the door. ************************ Malen walked down the long hallway toward where the men were getting ready for the ceremony. She was glad for this chance to talk to Mulder because she had something she wanted to give him. Mulder and Samantha had been her next-door neighbors when they had all been children. She and Samantha had been best friends and Samantha had given her a Spanish coin the summer they were eight as a good luck charm. Malen had always wished Samantha had kept it because several months later Samantha had suddenly disappeared and had never been seen again. Malen had kept the coin as a remembrance of her lost friend. Mulder had recently found out that Samantha had died when she was fourteen, so Malen was sure today of all days he would miss her presence. Stopping in front of a large, wooden door, she knocked lightly. Mulder's distinct, but slightly muffled, baritone answered, "Come in, it's open." Malen opened the door and walked inside. "Is everyone decent?" Mulder turned from where he stood in front of the mirror, trying to tie his bow tie. "I will be as soon as I get this stupid thing tied." Malen smiled and crossed to Mulder, who was the only one in the small room. "Here, let me." She quickly and skillfully did up Mulder's tie. "Why is it that men never learn to tie these things?" "Because unless they are James Bond, they rarely have to wear them," Mulder shot back. Malen's smile grew as she straightened the bow tie and stepped away from Mulder. She had to admit that he looked incredibly handsome. The black tuxedo set off his dark hair and suited his tall, athletic frame. "You could always switch to the CIA and become Fox Mulder, International Man of Mystery. Dana could be your Bond girl." "Very tempting, especially the part about Scully as a Bond girl, but let me let me just get through today before you make any future career plans for me." "Still nervous, huh?" Malen inquired. A sheepish look crossed Mulder's face. "Scully told you about that?" Malen nodded. "She was the one who wanted me to check on you." "Surely she didn't think I would skip out on her?" Mulder asked, a touch of hurt evident in his voice. "Not skip out, pass out. Don't worry, the feeling is normal. Shane told me after we were married that he had to breathe into a paper bag until the moment he stepped out to the alter." "I'm sorry that he isn't here, Malen. I know how I was when Scully was missing, so I can't imagine how I would cope if she were to die," Mulder admitted softly. Malen was a bit taken aback at Mulder's confession. Normally Mulder was polite to her for Scully's sake, but he had never told her anything remotely personal. She had always assumed it was because she reminded him of his past and of Samantha. "I'll never stop missing Shane, but everyday gets a little easier. I'm sorry that your parents and Samantha aren't here." A dark cloud crossed Mulder's face. "So am I," he sighed. Stepping closer to Mulder, she put her hand on his arm. "I didn't mean to bring up sad memories on your wedding day, but Samantha is another reason I came to see you. I have something I would like you to have." She took Mulder's hand and placed the coin she was carrying in his palm. At his curious glance, she said, "Sam gave it to me the summer before she disappeared." Looking at the coin, Mulder said quietly, "I remember these. Dad brought several of them home from one of his trips to Europe. He gave Samantha and I both one of sort of a good luck charm. It was so unlike him that I kept mine on top of my dresser. I think I still have it somewhere." He smiled at the memory, and then held out the coin to Malen. "I appreciate the gesture, but you were Samantha's best friend. You are entitled to keep your memories of her." Malen closed Mulder's hand around the coin. "I do have my memories, nothing will ever change that. If I didn't want you to have the coin, I wouldn't have offered it to you. When you look as it, I want you to remember only the good memories, none of the bad. After all, it is a good luck charm." Mulder was silent for a moment, and then said, "You know, I just realized something that Scully and my sister had in common. They both knew how to choose their friends wisely." Tears sprang to Malen's eyes. "Thank you. Well, now that I have checked up on you, I'd better get back to your wife-to-be." "Any hints on how she looks?" Mulder inquired, raising his eyebrows hopefully. "She's about 5'3", red hair, blue eyes, and she will be the one wearing the white dress," Malen replied. Mulder sighed in exasperation. "Thanks a lot, Malen." "You honestly didn't think I'd ruin the surprise, did you?" "No, I guess not." Malen smiled again. "I'll see you at the front of the church." She started to move away, then turned and kissed Mulder on the cheek. "That's from me and Samantha." ************************ Scully looked up as Malen walked back into the room. While Malen had been gone, she had gotten into her wedding dress and was standing in front of the mirror putting the last adjustments on her veil. The dress was simple, yet elegant, and suited her slender frame perfectly. It was floor-length white silk with a rounded neckline and bell cap sleeves. A wide strip of pearl-encrusted lace emphasized the empire waistline and the full skirt was slightly flared. There was no train on the dress because the dresses she had tried on that had them had only drawn attention to her petite stature. The veil, however, was quite long and hung down her back from a halo of pearls and silk roses. Her only jewelry was a pair of pearl earrings, Mulder's great-grandmother's pearls, and the engagement ring he had given her, which, for the time being, she had switched to her right hand. "Dana, you look absolutely beautiful," Malen said softly. "Thank you," Scully replied, blushing slightly. "How's Mulder?" "He was having a little trouble with his tie, but I helped him out and averted a major crisis situation," Malen joked. "How are you doing?" Scully smiled. "Let's just say I'm glad I talked my mother out of the huge wedding she wanted me to have. I think she understood my reasoning when I reminded her that Mulder has no living relatives and for her to invite every family member we have would be a little awkward, to say the least." "I see your point. And speaking of your mother, where is she? I thought she would still be in here fussing over you." "She tried to, but I sent her to check if everything was ready for the ceremony and to make sure the guests were being seated in the correct section." Malen nodded. "I liked her idea of using only the middle section of the pews so there is no bride's side or groom's side." "United in all things," Scully said quietly. "You soon will be." ************************ About ten minutes later all stood in readiness for the ceremony. The guests were seated, the candles were lit, and the chamber orchestra was softly playing. Mulder stood in the front of the sanctuary with his friend, Chuck Burks. He had originally intended to ask one of Scully's brothers to stand beside him, but Charles was walking Scully down the aisle and Bill hated him. Bill had barely been able to contain himself when he had found out about the wedding. Mulder knew that asking Bill to be his best man would have been suicide. Looking over at Mrs. Scully, he saw Bill and his family sitting beside her. At least they had shown up. That was a start. Out in the hallway, behind the closed doors that led into the sanctuary, Scully stood with her eyes closed, listening to the soft music. Part of her was having trouble believing that this was really happening, while the other half wanted the moment to hurry up and arrive. She heard the music change and knew that it had. Malen walked over and hugged Scully. "The next time I hug you, you will be Dana Mulder." Scully smiled at the thought, and then looked over at her younger brother, who stood on the other side of Malen. He offered her his left arm. "Well, big sis, it's time to go get you hitched." Rolling her eyes, Scully slipped her arm through Charles' and stepped to one side so she would be hidden from view when Malen walked into the sanctuary. Malen knocked on the huge wooden doors to indicate to Frohike that she was ready. The doors opened and she stepped through them. After the doors were closed, Charles and Scully moved to stand before them. Scully crossed herself and issued a quick prayer that she would be able to continue to make Mulder happy. Charles saw her movement and whispered, "Mulder is lucky to be getting you as a wife, Dana." At Charles' words of assurance, Scully's fears were eased and she smiled. Charles squeezed her hand just as the doors opened again. The chamber orchestra was now playing "Flute Concerto No. 3 in D" by Vivaldi, which was the piece of music she had chosen to walk down the aisle to. But the moment the doors opened, Scully was only conscious of one thing - Mulder. She had seen him in a tuxedo only once or twice before in the whole time she had known him and she had forgotten how amazing he looked in one, although he was extremely handsome in normal, everyday clothes as well. Scully had always loved when Mulder wore black. She thought it set off his coloring and features perfectly. However, what held her attention the most was the look in Mulder's eyes. The look of absolute love showing there made her want to run down the aisle to be with him. Instead, she locked gazes with him and hoped he could see all the love she had for him there. Mulder felt his breath catch at his first sight of Scully in her wedding dress. He had always thought she was beautiful, but today, she was breathtaking. What amazed him most was that she looked like this just for him. Again he thanked God, fate, destiny, whoever it was that was responsible for bringing Scully into his life. He knew he did not deserve the love he saw on her face, but he vowed to do whatever it took to make her happy. As he and Scully arrived at the alter, Charles relinquished her to Mulder. The moment Mulder took Scully's hand everyone else disappeared. All that mattered was the two of them. Somehow they managed to do and say all the appropriate things at the correct times. Then it came time to recite their vows and they turned toward each other. "Dana, I once thought that my life would be defined only by loneliness and darkness. My work was the only thing that mattered to me, and my quest to find the truth was what drove me. Then, when I least expected it and thought I did not want it, you came along and my world was changed forever. You filled my loneliness and brought light to my darkness. You became the truth I have sought for so long and what mattered most. You are my soul mate, my life, and my love. No matter what happens from this moment on, I know I want to share it with you. I know I have caused you hurt in the past, but I will try to be the man you deserve. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you and I never will." "I feel like I should be calling you Fox today of all days, but you will always be Mulder to me for that is who I fell in love with. From the first moment I met you, you challenged me to see things from a new perspective, to open my eyes to new possibilities. You treated me as an equal and although we have often disagreed, you respected my beliefs. You have never tried to change me, but accepted me for who I am. For those things alone, I could love you, but, more than anything else, I love you because you became my best friend, the one I can share anything with. You are the only person I want, or could ever want, as my partner in both my professional and personal life. I love you, Mulder, now and forever." After the vows were exchanged, the rings were. Mulder had chosen for Scully a simple, slender, gold ring with channel-set diamonds. The moment he had seen the ring in an antique store, he had immediately bought it for Scully. Amazingly, it had been exactly the correct size. Inside, he had a jeweler inscribe 'With eternal love, Mulder'. For Mulder, Scully had picked out a gold band that had a faint design that had reminded her slightly of crop circles. Inside she had engraved 'With all my love and trust, Dana'. As they slipped these symbols of union on each other's hands, their eyes met and silently communicated the union they had already forged long ago. As the ceremony came to a close and after the priest gave the final prayer, he instructed Mulder to kiss his bride. Mulder lifted Scully's veil and gladly did so, deeply and passionately. After they broke apart, the newly married partners turned toward the congregation. The priest stepped up behind them and said, "It is my pleasure to be the first to introduce Fox and Dana Mulder." ************************ Hi, it's me, Cary. I hope you like the above story. Anyway, there is a song that every time I hear reminds me so much of Mulder and Scully's relationship. I have wanted to include it for quite some time and finally decided what better story to attach it to than a wedding one. The song is written by Andrew Lloyd Weber and S. Steinman and the group Boyzone sings the version I have heard. I'm more of an Eve 6, Vertical Horizon, Goo Goo Dolls kind of girl, but this is an awesome song. I hope you decide to take a listen sometime. No Matter What No matter what they tell us No matter what they do No matter what they teach us What we believe is true No matter what they call us However they attack No matter where they take us We'll find our own way back I can't deny what I believe I can't be what I'm not I know I'll love forever I know no matter what If only tears were laughter If only night was day If only prayers were answered Then we would hear God say No matter what they tell you No matter what they do No matter what they teach you What you believe is true And I will keep you safe and strong And sheltered from the storm No matter where it's barren Our dream is being born No matter who they follow No matter where they lead No matter how they judge us I'll be everyone you need No matter if the sun don't shine Or if the skies are blue No matter what the end is My life began with you I can't deny what I believe I can't be what I'm not I know this love's forever That's all that matters now no matter what