*****************************************************************************

     This author's email address has changed to: RaVeN1013@apexmail.com

*****************************************************************************

Title: Word Associations
Author: Raven
Cat: MSR
Rating: G or PG
Spoilers: reference to Small Potatoes
Feedback: PLEASE, OH PLEASE!!! blueraven1@juno.com
Summary: Mulder and Scully make some new discoveries
while playing one of my favorite games.

Disclaimer: Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, FBC,
yadda, yadda, yadda

Dedicated: This is written for Rusty. Always have,
always will.

Word Associations
By: Raven

It was another Saturday. Another boring Saturday.
Another boring Saturday... at Scully's apartment.
Mulder was reclined on her couch, in the same position
he'd been in for almost an hour. He heard Scully
filling her glass from the faucet in the kitchen.
"Mulder, when are you going to get off your ass and do
something?" her voice wafted in from the kitchen.

"What do you mean, Scully? I've done a lot of things."

"Passing out on my couch and watching the entire Star
Wars trilogy, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The
Fly, 2001, and whatever non science fiction you may
have watched while I was at work does not constitute
doing something, Mulder."

"Aw, Scully, gimme a break. I've been sick," whined
Mulder, sounding like a child.

"You're fine now Mulder. It was a twenty-four hour
flu."

"And?"

"And you caught it on Tuesday! I don't mind that
you've stayed at my place this week, but you need to
tear your eyes away from that screen."

'I've been watching you more than the TV, Dana.'
Mulder responded, "I'm to tired to get up Scully.
Wanna play a game?" He channeled all of his energy
into being as cute as possible. He had a plan.

Scully groaned, anticipating what games her not so
tasteful partner might have come up with. 'And that
would be that bad? He wouldn't want to do that with
you, anyway.' "What game Mulder?" she asked, her voice
iced with suspicion.

Mulder feigned innocence. She was playing right into
his plans. "Word associations?"

Scully turned and raised an eyebrow at him. "What's
that?"

Mulder looked back at her with a shocked expression.
"You've never played the word association game?"

"Mulder, I've never even heard of the game."

"Okay. Well, I say a word and you say the first word
that comes to mind. Then you say a word and I tell you
the first word that comes to my mind. Got it?"

"I don't know Mulder. Those are pretty tough rules,"
was Scully's sarcastic reply. Mulder shot her a glare.


"Let's play." His smile looked innocent to most, but
Scully detected the devious glint in his eyes.

Her reply was hesitant, "Okay, Mulder. I'll play, if
you'll turn off the TV."

Mulder grabbed the remote and shut the machine off.
"Deal. I'll give you the first word. Tea."

Scully shrugged and rolled her eyes at the stupidity
of the game. "Iced." She sat for a moment, thinking of
the next word. She looked at the glass is front of
her. "Water."

"Ocean," Mulder replied. "Monkey."

Scully looked at him curiously. Monkey? What the hell
was this game? "Tails. Jealous."

Mulder hesitated for a minute, about to back out of
his plan. "Van Blundht." 

Scully caught his eyes for a minute, and she thought
she detected sincerity. She blushed and waited for
Mulder to give the next word. "Mulder," uttered his
deep voice.

A million words passed through Scully's mind. She was
afraid to say most of them. She was afraid to be
serious about this. "Arrogant," she said with a hint
of a joking smile on her lips. She wanted to say
something as ordinary as "lamp" or "harmonica" next,
but she needed to know. She tried to speak in a voice
louder than a whisper, but her words were still quiet.
"Scully."

A million words passed through Mulder's mind;
"strawberries" was among the favorites. He was afraid
to say most of them. He was afraid to be serious about
this, but Mulder knew it was past time to overcome
that fear. He looked at his hands and mumbled his
response, almost to softly for her to hear.
"Beautiful."

Scully heard his words, but couldn't believe them. He
looked up, and she caught his eyes. They sat, staring
into each other's eyes, reading the souls that hid
behind them.  Mulder finally broke the tension,
putting his ego and heart on the line one last time. 
He whispered, "Mulder."

Her reply was breathless, soft, and terrified. "I love
you."

Mulder smiled and let out a soft, relieved, sigh.
"That's more than one word, Scully." He began to lean.
Scully laughed nervously with him. He focused solidly
on the ground, afraid that if she looked up the moment
would disappear. Unfortunately (or fortunately,
depending on your point of view), Mulder's plans
didn't allow her to be staring at the ground. His hand
came to rest under her chin as he nudged her face up
toward his. He leaned in until his lips hovered barely
above hers. "I love you too, Dana. Always have. Always
will." And after hovering for what seemed like an
eternity, his lips met hers.

End

Feedback? Please? blueraven1@juno.com

Krycek: What happened, Mulder? I can beat you with one
hand. Mulder: Really? I thought that was what you used
to beat yourself.