Chicken Soup series by Xenith and TBishop

Continued from Abattoir Series

Contents:

Just a Cold By Xenith

Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions, not me. I’m only borrowing the characters for now. I’ll put them back when I’m done.

Rating:G

Category: V, MSR-lite

Spoilers: none

Archive: Sure! Just tell me!

Feedback: Love it! Love it!

E-Mail address: [email protected]

Website: Go here to read more of my stuff! http://members.xoom.com/merlin717/index.html

Discussion List: Yes!!! Yes!!!

Summary: Scully gets the flu. Mulder learns what it’s like on the other side of the hospital bed.

Author’s note: No angst here, minimal torture. Just had to write something in between papers.

Just a Cold

When they made Mulder my partner, I never anticipated the relationship becoming the enduring friendship that it has. I spend my days with him, my weekends working on cases ranging from the bizarre to the unbelievable. But I think our relationship has hit a new mark today, and I’m not certain whether it is a height or a nadir.

I have the flu. I have had the flu all week and it isn’t getting any better. Neither is my temper.

When I started sneezing in the office, I would find boxes of tissues miraculously sitting at my elbow, when nothing was there before. Then later, through the stuffiness of my red nose, I would catch a whiff of chicken soup. Mulder was constantly popping through the door of our basement office with cartons of the wonderful soup created by the corner deli.

“Mulder, you didn’t have to do that…” I’d comment crossly, as he removes the lid and hands me a spoon. “I’m fine. I just have a cold. You don’t have to baby me.” Nevertheless, I take the spoon. I’ve had their soup before.

Mulder just sits on the desk in front of me grinning while I finish off the carton.

Today, I can feel my sinuses clearing a bit, but my lungs have been congested and are starting to hurt. Suddenly, I am coughing. I grab two tissues just in time and cough until I am out of breath. This is not sexy. My nose is red. My eyes are red. I can’t breathe. And the most gorgeous man in the Bureau is staring at me intently, as though I were a breakable thing of china. I stare right back at him, daring him to mother me any more. He just grins, and returns to his desk, picking up a file.

I stare at him for a bit, then return to my own work. My headache is increasing, and I am starting to feel cold. I reach for my jacket and put it back on. Damn that thermostat, it’s always either too hot or too cold in here. I reach for my pen and knock over the coffee cup on the corner of the desk. It falls and shatters, spilling cold coffee on the floor.

“Damn!” I scrabble for the pieces, feeling suddenly dizzy and lightheaded. I can feel myself starting to fall as I grab for the desk, when two strong arms catch me and hold me steady while I wheeze for air.

“Hey, Scully,” he says with a worried look. “You look tired. Why don’t I drive you home?”

“No, Mulder, I am fine. Just fine.” I sit down in my chair with a thump and give him a glare. He does the smart thing. He sits down and goes back to work.

Periodically through the day I look up and catch Mulder’s eyes following me with a worried look. I just glare steadily back at him, daring him to say anything, anything at all. I am fine, God damn it! And it’s getting colder in this room.

By now I am shivering and the jacket isn’t enough. I have borrowed Mulder’s trenchcoat to use as a blanket, but I am still cold. It’s almost 5:00 p.m. , and time to go home. I stand up and move to go. Instantly, Mulder is there, taking back his coat and draping it over his arm.

“Scully, why don’t you let me drive you home. You look terrible.” He can be very irritating sometimes.

“I am perfectly able to drive myself home, thank you. I’m fine. I just have a cold,” I say through my stuffy sinuses. I’ve given up trying to breathe through my nose. No point. I grab my car keys and head for the elevator. Mulder follows me as I stagger toward it. When did my sense of balance get so bad? I stumble and fall against the back of the elevator. This time Mulder is too late to catch me. I look up and can see him bending down, reaching for me with a frightened look on his face.

“Mulder? S’all right…s’just a cold…” I am able to say before breaking into a coughing spell. I feel myself lifted into strong arms as the elevator moves upward. I fight against it, this is humiliating. What will the other agents think when they see Fox Mulder carrying Dana Scully around in his arms?

“Mulder…let me DOWN…this minute..” I wheeze,then begin coughing again. Mulder punches the button for the parking garage.

“Scully, you’re burning up. You’ve got one hell of a fever. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“No..no hospital. Don’t need hospital…just home and chicken soup…and vapo-rub, ” I mumble but he isn’t listening. I’m still freezing, but Mulder should be patented as an electric blanket. I snuggle close to him, smelling aftershave, sunflower seeds and eau de Mulder. Nice. I fade off into an echoing darkness and am dimly aware of being in a car and moving somewhere. Hard to breathe. Really hard to breathe. Wish I could stop coughing. God I hate this. And in front of Mulder, too.

I can hear him talking to me while we travel. He’s telling me to keep breathing, just keep breathing and everything will be all right. Of course it will. It’s just a cold. Is there any doubt that I’ll keep breathing? It’s cold in this car, too. I’m shivering harder and I can dimly see Mulder turning the heater on, still talking. He reaches his hand and puts it on my forehead. His hand is cool, but soft and feels good. I’m sad when he takes it away.

I’m hazy while the doctor examines me, and soon find myself moving again, into a nice soft bed. Nice bed. Not nice IV. Sleep, breathing a little easier. More air? Mist tent, I think.

I wake up and a bright sun is coming through the windows of my hospital room, gleaming hazily through my mist tent. Mulder is folded into an armchair with a five o’clock shadow, wearing yesterday’s suit. Where the hell am I? I look around and realize that I am in the hospital. That realization, sets off my cough and when I can gather enough breath to look around again, Mulder is awake.

“Well, good morning, sunshine,” he says cheerfully. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit. What happened?” I wheeze and hope dimly that the cough doesn’t start up again.

“Pneumonia, is what happened. You, Dr. Scully, neglected your cold and were generally run down in health. And so, here you are, until you are recovered enough to go home. Where you will rest some more.” Mulder looks solemn. “I’m so sorry, Scully. I overwork you, make you work late, miss weekends. You’ve lived on burgers and potato chips since you became my partner. You’re working so hard you ignore illness to work some more.”

“Mulder, you aren’t exactly holding a gun on me, are you? I mean, I like what I do. I just…”

“You just behaved like me, ignored how bad you felt and kept on working until you collapsed. Well, now you’re the one in the hospital bed. And I…” Mulder gives me a rueful smile. “I have developed an appreciation for your point of view.” He leans forward. God, he’s good looking, rumpled from sleep…oh, he’s saying something.

“I’ll make you a deal. You slow down and take care of yourself and I’ll do the same. Okay?”

Mulder, slow down? That’ll be the day, but I’ll take him up on it. Anything that keeps him out of the hospital is a good thing. And after all, it’s just a cold.

Chicken Soup By Xenith

Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions, not me. I’m only borrowing the characters for now. I’ll put them back when I’m done.

Rating: G

Category: V MSR

Spoilers: None

Archive: Sure! Just tell me!

Feedback: Love it! Love it!

E-Mail address: [email protected]

Website: Go here to read more of my stuff! http://members.xoom.com/merlin717/index. html

Discussion List: Yes!!! Yes!!!

Summary: Follow up to “Just a Cold”; Mulder gets his turn on the sick list. Bring your calamine.

Chicken Soup

When they assigned Scully to the X Files, I naturally assumed that she was there to spy on me. The communication between me and my superiors had been strained for some time by the time she appeared. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, although she was a skeptic, she was an honest one. I think that surprised the men who assigned her to me. And it amazed both them and me that she also turned out to be loyal.

Now I can’t imagine my life without her. It’s been a long two weeks that Scully has been out recovering from pneumonia. I wanted her to rest longer, but she just glared at me and told me that she’d be back the instant the Bureau doctor released her for duty.

I’ve stopped by her apartment every day to check on her; officially I’m there to keep her up to date on the work she’s missing. Yeah, right…. I’ve spent most of this time flipping pencils at the ceiling. It’s no fun doing it without Scully’s quiet raised eyebrow at my boyish antics. And I’ve been saving the best cases for her to look at when she gets here: the crop circles in North Dakota and the walking mummies in San Jose.

I’ll be glad to see her back in the office where she belongs. Skinner had me do some public relations stuff because I wasn’t “otherwise occupied”. I had to lead the Hoover Building tour a couple times. I had a few nice conversations with some pimply-faced pre-teens. They’re interested in UFO’s too.

I wonder if acne is catching? For the first time in fifteen years I woke up with two zits. On my chin. Really annoying. And Scully’s coming back today. I dressed with special care, wore her favorite Armani suit (the only one that hasn’t been trashed by mutants or other baddies, actually). I’m wearing the tie she got me for Christmas, her favorite after shave.

She breezes in, 8:45 a.m., right on time.

“Hello Mulder, “ she says calmly and drops her car keys onto her desk. She looks well, her color is back. I, on the other hand, can feel my heart running a mile a minute. Scully is back!

“Hi Scully. I’ve got some great cases to show you.” I reach for the pile on my desk and notice that her eye is trained on the zits on my chin. Damn.

“Mulder, have you had that rash looked at?”

“Rash? What rash? I’ve got acne, that’s all….” I start to protest feebly, but the next thing I know I’m sitting on my desk and she has the lamp trained on me, giving me the third degree.”

“Have you been near any young children lately?” She loosens my tie and begins to unbutton my shirt. Oh, I like this…

“Scully, are you coming on to me?”

“No. You have a rash and it’s spreading to your chest.” She pauses thoughtfully. “Mulder, when you were a child, did you ever have the chicken pox?”

“Chicken pox? No. Samantha did, but it missed me. Why….” A terrible realization was beginning to dawn. Oh shit.

“Skinner had me leading the tour while you were gone. There were kids in it…a couple had a really bad case of acne….” I begin and trail away. No. Can’t be. That’s a kid disease.

“Well, you need to be home, resting. You’re contagious now, and you’ll pass it on to anybody you’re in contact with.”

“Great, I get to go home for a few days, itching…” I begin, but she frowns even more.

“Mulder, chicken pox in an adult is much more serious than in a child. You may be out longer than that if you have a severe case….”

My chin is starting to itch a little. I stop myself from scratching.

“Sculleeee” I can hear the whine in my voice, and I hate it.

Scully just grins and grabs her car keys. “I’m taking you home. I’ll tell Skinner what’s happened and that you’ll need some time off. To rest.”

Rest, hell. I’ve got files at home I can work on, I think to myself. Or at least I thought.

Now it’s 24 hours later and I’m in bed wishing I could die. She didn’t tell me that this would feel like the worst damned stomach flu I ever had coupled with an itchy rash. EVERYWHERE. I’m flopped on the couch without even the energy to grab the cell phone and call for help. Not that it matters. I can’t keep water down, so there’s no point in anybody preparing meals. And I look…well, I look gross. Better that nobody see me in this condition.

Whoops–knock at the door. I know that knock. It’s her. Oh God….

”Scully! Come on in, Scully!” I call as loudly as I can and she lets herself in with her key. She’s carrying a paper sack.

She blanches when she sees me, shivering on the couch covered with an afghan. The only parts of me she can see are covered in an angry rash. I won’t describe it, lets just call it body acne and leave it at that. Gross. Totally gross.

“I see that your rash has come out,” she says calmly. “How are you feeling?” She feels my forehead and pulls out a thermometer and pops it into my mouth. I control my gag and grimly keep it in my mouth and my stomach under control.

“One hundred one,” she says, then puts it aside. “I brought chicken soup, you want….”

She never gets to finish the sentence because I am sprinting toward the bathroom, relieving myself of the few tablespoons of water I got down an hour ago. She follows me to the bathroom to make sure I made it okay, then leaves for the kitchen.

I stagger back to the couch and huddle in my blanket. Damn. All I’m wearing are shorts. She can see most of me. Most of the rash. Damn.

She returns with a tall glass of water, a bottle of something and a washrag.

“Mulder, I want you to drink all this water. You’re dehydrated, and you need it.” I shake my head.

“It’ll all just come back up again…nothing stays down,” I say miserably.

“Either you drink this or I call the paramedics and you go to the hospital. I’m not kidding.” Damn, I think she’s enjoying this. I reluctantly prop myself up and take a cautious sip. She then opens the bottle and pours some onto the washrag.

“What’s that?” I ask suspiciously.

“Lotion. It’ll take down the itch.” She begins to gently swab it on my arms and shoulders. It feels cool and comforting…and the itch goes down. Ahhhhh.

“Scully, aren’t you afraid that you’re going to catch this? You said it’s contagious.”

She continues swabbing, working her way down my chest. I’d enjoy this a lot more if I didn’t feel so damned nauseated.

“No, I’m not afraid. Bill, Charlie, Missy and I all had it one summer. Drove my mom crazy with all of us sick, but we all had it. Here, let me do your back.”

I obediently turn around and the comfort travels down my back.

“Mulder?”

“Hmmm?”

“I never thanked you for taking care of me when I was sick. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Don’t mention it. You’re returning the favor now…” I sigh with relief. God, that itching was intolerable.

“Mulder…drink your water.” She says this in her no-nonsense voice. I am confident that she will carry out her threat and haul me off to a hospital if I don’t obey. Somehow that’s comforting. Somebody cares enough to make me take care of myself. I sip the water. My stomach is starting to settle a bit.

I wouldn’t let her get the areas under the shorts. I have some dignity and I can stand the itching, for now. So when she finishes the lotion on the rest of me, she puts a clean sheet on the couch and tucks me in, then sits and watches sitcom reruns with me for the afternoon. Then she feeds me chicken soup and watches more television with me until it’s dark outside.

Then she promises she’ll be back tomorrow. And leaves the lotion behind, a full pitcher of water and an empty bucket in case I get nauseated. Now that’s a considerate woman.

It’s amazing how much better the chicken soup tastes when somebody who loves you feeds it to you.

Misery Loves Company By Xenith

Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions, not me. I’m only borrowing the characters for now. I’ll put them back when I’m done.

Rating: G

Category: V MSR

Spoilers: None

Archive: Sure! Just tell me!

Feedback: Love it! Love it!

E-Mail address: [email protected]

Website: Go here to read more of my stuff! http://members.xoom.com/merlin717/index.html

Discussion List: Yes!!! Yes!!!

Summary: Follow up to “Just a Cold” and “Chicken Soup”. Okay, this seems to be a series of quickie vignettes inspired by my need to get some entertainment in the middle of school. I don’t know how long this’ll go, probably until the medical insurance runs out.

Author’s note: Thanks to Shannara for suggesting the hospital, and to BSirious for letting me know the gory details about her bout with ‘the pox’.

Misery Loves Company

There are times in my life when I wonder why I went to medical school. Given thte fact that I spend much of my time nursing my partner, a nursing degree seems to make more sense.

Skinner was generous in giving me additional leave time to watch over Mulder. We both know how liable he is to neglect himself into further ill-health. Mulder is sleeping, shivering on the couch with a high fever. I have already covered him with an extra blanket and am considering telephoning the pharmacy for some anti-nausea drugs.

He’s been sick for two days now, barely keeping water down. I’ve threatened and cajoled, offered water, koolaid, ginger-ale. I tried to get him to drink some Gatorade, but it came back up again. He won’t let me call the paramedics, and I can’t carry him downstairs by myself. Frustrating man. I’m worried about him and angry at myself that I haven’t carted him off to a hospital by now.

Yesterday I managed to talk him into taking a baking soda bath to help the itch and the fever. I know he’s feeling sick, because he barely noticed that I was in there helping him into and out of the tub. Just looking at his rash makes me itchy. I’m finding myself quietly scratching, probably in sympathy. But he seemed more comfortable after the bath, so I think it helped.

He looks so vulnerable when he’s sleeping, especially when he’s sick. He must have looked like that when he was twelve and Samantha was gone: lost and alone. I get up and feel his forehead again. He murmurs in his sleep and changes position, pulling the blankets tighter. Still very hot. Would he kill me if I called the paramedics anyway?

I go into the kitchen and heat water for tea. Maybe he’ll drink iced tea. As I prepare the iced tea I hear a thumping sound from the living room. Mulder has fallen to the floor on his way to the bathroom, and he isn’t getting up. Damn. Damn.

I rush over to find him barely conscious, breathing heavily.

“Damn it, Mulder. I’m calling an ambulance and you can’t stop me.” I grab the phone and dial 911, then grab the afghan from the couch and wrap it around him, then cradle him close. He looks frightened, even though he’s semi-conscious.

“It’s okay, Mulder. It’ll be okay,” I whisper and tuck the blanket more tightly around him. Soon the paramedics are here and I ride with them to the hospital.

As I suspected, Mulder is severely dehydrated and is soon in a hospital bed on an IV. I sit with him, in my accustomed chair, still clutching the afghan. I’m getting cold; hospitals are always cold and wrap it around me, then fall asleep.

I wake to Mulder’s voice.

“Hey…Scully.”

“Mulder? Hey, how are you feeling?” I sit up and push the afghan aside. He looks better already.

“What am I doing here? Why’d you call the paramedics?” Mulder folds his arms and glares at me, as though I’ve broken a promise.

I feel guilty, although I don’t know why.

“I called the ambulance, Mulder, because you weren’t taking in enough fluids and you collapsed. I wasn’t prepared to have you die on me, of chicken pox of all things!”

I feel an itch on my neck and reach up to scratch it. Must change soaps, they’re very drying.

Mulder watches my hand, then a bemused expression crosses his face.

“Hey, Scully, are you sure you’ve had chicken pox?”

“Yes. I’m certain. I had a severe case when I was ten years old. Why?”

Mulder grins, a little evilly. “Well, DR. Scully, either you are developing a very bad case of acne, or you’re going to be joining me in the chicken pox ward very soon.”

Aghast, I run into the bathroom and look at myself. Two, no three blisters are forming on my neck and chest and I can see the red shadows of more to come. This is ridiculous. I’ve HAD this before. And Mulder…Mulder is laughing at me. I give him my best ‘go to hell’ glare, then I can’t help it. I start to smile, then snort and I’m giggling with him.

But I’ll get mine back. I’m calling my mom. When Mulder’s out of the hospital, I’m sure she can handle two chicken pox patients. And I know that Mulder won’t get away with anything if she’s around. So let him laugh. He hasn’t seen my mom when she’s nursing the sick.

After Dark By Xenith

Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions, not me. I’m only borrowing the characters for now. I’ll put them back when I’m done.

Rating: R

Category: V MSR

Spoilers: None

Archive: Sure, especially Spookys!

Feedback: Love it! Love it!

E-Mail address: [email protected]

Website: Go here to read more of my stuff! http://members.xoom.com/merlin717/index.html

Discussion List: Yes!!! Yes!!!

Summary: Part of the “Chicken Soup” series, of which “Just a Cold”, “Chicken Soup”,“Misery Loves Company” and “All in a Mother’s Job Description” are part. After some meditation (and begging e-mails from readers) I’ve decided that this series takes place in the Abattoir universe, post Mustang. If you haven’t read the series, you should! But it isn’t necessary to understand these little vignettes.

After Dark

The Scully Residence,
     Late

“Ow! Mulder, that hurts!”

“What’s wrong, Scully?”

“Your elbow is in my ear. Please put it somewhere else.”

“Sorry. Is that better?”

“No. Now it’s digging into my ribs. Whose idea was this, to sleep in my bed and not yours?”

“Well, yeah, it was mine. But you’ve got to admit it’s cozy in here. “

“That’s one word for it. Mulder, this little twin bed was meant for a ten year old child, not two grown adults. Ow!”

“Elbow?”

“No, knee. Just under my right breast. Yeah…that’s better.”

“Uh, Scully, could you put your foot…UH NO..not there. God you’ve got cold toes….Like I said, this is..um..romantic.”

“Romantic. Right. Here in the remains of my childhood, surrounded by my doll collection, some old teenaged posters and three swimming medals.”

“They’re very nice swimming medals. Besides, haven’t you ever dreamed of making love in your childhood bedroom, in your formerly virginal bed?”

“No. Been there. Done that.”

(silence)

“It was a long time ago, Mulder.”

“Do tell….So when did this happen and with whom?”

“I was 25 years old and Mom & Dad were taking a European vacation that summer. Billy and Charlie were both in the service and Missy was somewhere in California, so I got elected house sitter while they were gone. I, uh, invited my boyfriend to come over one evening and, well, things…”

“Got out of hand? So you did it here? In this bed?”

“We tried to…um…the bedframe broke and we knocked a hole in the wall.”

(more silence)

“Mulder? Mulder, I can hear you giggling. Stop that!”

“Why, Dana Katherine Scully, I never knew you liked it that rough!”

“It was an old bed, Mulder. I’d had it since I was a toddler. Anyway, the wood split and we had to quietly replace the bedframe with another one that looked pretty close to the original. Fortunately it wasn’t hard to find another colonial bed. And then we patched the wall and I told my parents that I’d decided to repaint the room, make it look nicer.”

“Your mom didn’t believe that did she?”

“Of course she did. Anyway, Ted and I broke up soon after that.”

“So, Scully, how about we test this bed to see how sturdy it is?”

“Mulder, Mom’s room is directly downstairs from this one. No!”

“Are you afraid she’ll know what we’re doing?”

“No!…Yes! Haven’t you seen the predatory glances she’s been giving you? She’s sizing you up as a prospective son-in-law. I don’t want to encourage her!”

“And why not? Don’t you think I’d score well on her son-in-law-o-meter? I wonder if the springs squeak?”

(squeek—squawk, squeek-squawk…)

“Mulder—stop that! She’ll hear!”

(low groaning in a male voice)

“Mulder—quit it! You stop that!” (laughing) “You jerk!”

“Don’t you think she expects this? And you never answered my question.”

“If you’ll stop bouncing I’ll answer….Yes, I think she scores you pretty highly. She made chicken and dumplings for dinner tonight. She only does that for people she likes. Besides, what’s not to approve? You’re smart, you’re cute…”

“Even my nose?”

“Especially your nose. At least you have a nose. Mine is just a little bump on my face.”

“I like your nose. And some other bumps you have on your body, too.”

(silence with heavy breathing)

“Mulder? Can we move to the big bed now? These springs squeak too much. And I want to be able to make some noise.”

“First tell me the truth. Am I as good as Ted was?”

“Let’s find out. But we’ll try it in your bed. You can’t break that. It’s made of brass.”

Downstairs

Maggie Scully looks up from the magazine she’s reading, hearing footsteps overhead and barely muffled giggling. She smiles quietly and turns the page.

All In a Mother’s Job Description By Xenith

Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions, not me. I’m only borrowing the characters for now. I’ll put them back when I’m done.

Rating: G

Category: V MSR

Spoilers: None

Archive: Sure! Just tell me!

Feedback: Love it! Love it!

E-Mail address: [email protected]

Website: Go here to read more of my stuff! http://members.xoom.com/merlin717/index.html

Discussion List: Yes!!! Yes!!!

Summary: Follow up to “Just a Cold”, “Chicken Soup” and “Misery Loves Company”. After some meditation (and begging e-mails from readers) I’ve decided that this series takes place in the Abattoir universe, post Mustang. If you haven’t read the series, you should! But it isn’t necessary to understand these little vignettes.

ALL IN A MOTHER’S JOB DESCRIPTION

My husband and I both worried when Dana decided to give up medicine for a dangerous and lower-paying position as an FBI agent. Bill kept saying “She can do better than this! She’s too smart to waste her talents there!” But I knew that he worried about his little girl, that she was out there somewhere maybe being menaced by evil people. I have to thank God that Bill passed away before he knew the whole story of Dana’s adventures. Even I don’t know about all of them. I just show up at the hospital when Dana ends up there; sign the necessary medical forms and pray that she’ll survive this time. I know that she won’t change her life style, and my nagging at her to find a safer line of work will only make her hang on more tightly to the FBI.

Fox Mulder. An unusual young man; I’m sad that Bill never got to meet him. Of course I know that Bill Jr. and he don’t get along. That was predictable; Billy has hated every boyfriend Dana has brought home, and Fox is by far the most serious. Okay, Dana doesn’t call him a boyfriend, at least she hasn’t to me. I love my daughter dearly, but she’s always been obtuse where her own feelings are involved.

And, over all, I consider Fox to be a good choice. He’s bright, educated, has a steady job, and would willingly take a bullet for my daughter. I could see that he cared for her deeply when she was abducted, and later when she was so ill. I wanted her to quit the FBI then, you know. She wouldn’t. She said that the work was the only thing keeping her alive. And then she went right back again after her recovery. And the two of them have saved each others’ lives since then. I don’t know many of the details, but I do know how many times I’ve visited Dana in the hospital, and Fox as well.

Of course, I know why she stays. Her reason for being in the FBI is sitting here in front of me, all six feet of him, trying to argue me out of my taking him home with me.

“Mrs. Scully, I appreciate you wanting to help me out, but Dana needs your attention much more than I do. I’m getting better, the doctor says I can go home today. I’m over the nausea, mostly, and I can take care of myself….”

Fox lets his voice trail off in the face of my pleasant but determined smile. Bill always stepped carefully around me when my face took on this expression. Fox hasn’t learned that yet. If he’s going to be my son-in-law (and I privately think it’s just a matter of time), he’ll learn.

“No. Dana sent me here particularly to pick you up. She says, and I quote ‘Tell Mulder that he is incapable of caring for himself and that if he doesn’t take you up on your nice offer I’ll personally kick his ass.’”

He grins thoughtfully and absently scratches at a scab. Then he stops when he sees my frown. “She said that? Well, I guess I have no choice if she’s threatening violence.”

“Oh, it’s worse than that Fox.” I lower my voice confidentially. “She’s terribly bored and she’s driving me crazy. I’d take it as a personal favor if you’d come along and keep her entertained. You can’t return to work for a while yet, anyway, so if you could see your way clear to joining us I would appreciate it.” ‘Come on, little fishie…Take the nice bait mama has left you…’ I mentally chant to myself. Dana needs this man like lifeblood, and I can’t stand seeing her worrying about him at a distance.

He decides. “Thank you, Mrs. Scully, if you’re sure it won’t be an imposition…”

“Of course not,” I say firmly. “I’ve already got the car waiting and Mr. Skinner was kind enough to pack some of your things. The suitcase is in the car.”

I could see him jerk. “Skinner packed a bag?”

“I explained the problem and he was quite amused that you both were down with chicken pox. He agreed that you might not feel comfortable if I packed a suitcase for you, so he did it. I think he also put some files in as well; he said you might be interested in some of them.”

Fox looked a bit bemused, but just shook his head and wandered into the bathroom to change into street clothes. Fifteen minutes later we had signed him out and were on our way.

I wasn’t exaggerating when I said that Dana had cabin fever. She’s always hated being cooped up, but at least when she had the chicken pox at age ten, her sister and both her brothers were there with her. They kept each other occupied. Now, she’s gotten tired of television and reading and has spent the past several days pacing and looking out the window. And worrying about Fox.

She was overjoyed to see him, although she hid it behind her usual cool expression.

“Hey, Mulder. Welcome to the Scully Convalescent Home for Wayward FBI agents.” Dana looked up from the old embroidery project that I’d unearthed for her to work some of her frustrations out on. Mulder craned his neck to look more closely at the cross-stitch border of daisies she was creating.

“Pillow case. I started it before Med School and never finished…How are you feelin’?” As she stood up, the light caught her full in the face. I could see Fox flinch a bit when he saw her. I hadn’t warned him that the rash had struck my poor Dana very hard. He recovered fast, though.

“Oh, much better. I was even eating the hospital food by the time they let me out. I’m looking forward to your mom’s cooking, though.” I took that as my cue to escape to the kitchen. I left it to Dana to show him to the guest room.

I saw them next when I brought a pitcher of iced tea (Fox’s favorite, Dana had explained earnestly) into the family room. They had set up the Scrabble board and were in the middle of a game. Fox had just won a triple letter score with the word ‘sexy’ and must have made some comment, because I could see Dana blush before she looked my way and shushed him. A very good sign, I must say.

Fortunately, this time Dana doesn’t have as bad a case of chicken pox as she did at age 10. She was very upset at getting it a second time, until I told her that her great-aunt Olive had it three times. I think she just got unlucky and inherited the gene.

Dana looks worse than she feels. While I was getting dinner, I noticed that they had finished the Scrabble game. Fox was clearing up and Dana had wandered over to a mirror and was studying herself closely.

Fox came up behind her quietly.

“What’s the matter, G-Woman?”

“Oh…nothing Mulder. Just checking the damage.” She sighed and ran a hand down her cheek. “They say it can leave scars….”

“Just adds character…” Mulder made a face into the mirror and Dana smiled a little.

“Scully, your complexion will always be peaches and cream to me,” I could hear Fox tell her very softly. “Even when you’re 85 and in your rocking chair at the old FBI agents’ home.”

Dana giggled then. “And you’ll be the old codger in the neighboring rocker?”

“Of course. And I’ll have my binoculars to watch for UFOs.” She turned around, but he hadn’t moved. When I went to the stove to check on the gravy I think he was moving to kiss her. But I wouldn’t want to be a nosy mom. She deserves her privacy.

Dinner was quiet. It was good to see Fox eating a full meal. He’s much thinner than he was the last time I saw him. I know that some terrible things happened to him as well as to Dana before these latest set of illnesses hit them both. They’ve both had such a difficult time of it, these last months. But they’ve both been looking happier lately. Something must have happened since August, something to do with a new car of Fox’s.

Even Dana is eating well tonight; she spends so much of her attention watching Fox that she absently shovels food into her mouth. Good. She’s lost weight, too.

After dinner, they both sit outside on the front porch on the swing. Even though it’s September, the nights can get cool, so I make them take sweaters with them. I can hear them talking as the swing creaks.

“Did you see the care package of files Skinner packed for us?” Fox’s voice drifts back through the open windows.

“No. What did he put in there? More mummies from San Jose?”

“Nope. A pickle-maker drowned in his own brine. The workers say a ghost did him in.”

A snort of laughter. “Mulder, they don’t say…it can’t be..that he was pickled to death?”

“Well, let’s just say they’ve saved the cost of embalming. It’s in Fresno and they’re holding the body for us. But no rush, the body is wrinkled and smells strongly of dill, but it’s well preserved..ow! Why’d you do that? I’m telling the truth! Mrphmmmph…”

Maybe it’s time for me to say good night to the kids. Billy and Tara bought me a color television set for my bedroom last Christmas. I’ll watch a little t.v., then go to bed. I’m an early riser these days.

After Charlie moved out, I bought a new queen size bed with a nice firm mattress, and turned his old room into the guest room . When I found out that Fox was staying, of course I put some clean sheets on the guest room bed, along with a down comforter. And two pillows. It’s next door to Dana’s old room, where she’s been sleeping in her old twin bed. I think they’ll be more comfortable on the new mattress. Of course I’m supposing. Dana respects my moral sensibilities, just as I taught her to long ago.

I sleep downstairs, of course. I wouldn’t know what goes on upstairs after I’ve gone to bed. It’s better that way. I think both Fox and Dana’s bout with chicken pox is safely on the mend.

I wonder if he’d agree to a Catholic wedding?

Brass Bed By TBishop27

Rated: NC-17

Category: V,MSR,Lurid Fiction(Formerly known as smut)

Disclaimer: THIS Mulder and Scully belong to Xenith. She’s letting me borrow them while mine take a much needed rest. Chris would never let his Moose and Squirrel have this much fun. At least not with each other.

Feedback: Please, I love to know what you think. Be warned, flames will be forwarded to that dark part of my writer’s imagination that roams the night in search of victims.

Summary: Two special agents on sick leave together…

Author’s Note: This is part of Xenith’s Chicken Soup series, which is part of the Abattoir universe. It does not necessarily need to be read in conjunction with the others, but if you’re into continuity in a big way, you can find all related fics at the websites listed below. At Xenith’s request, I am again attempting to write a sequel worthy to be included in her Abattoir universe.

Xenith’s Stories: http://members.xoom.com/merlin717/index.html

My Stories: http://members.xoom.com/arcticfox42/Tbishop.htm or try the mirror site http://tbishop.freeservers.com/

Thanks to David, Shoshana and Shell for beta. To Xenith for all her help and inspiration. And to Webmistress Grasshopper for keeping up the archive.

BRASS BED

My competitive nature will not allow me to forget Scully’s story about break-the-bed-Ted and how his sexual prowess led not only to the destruction of furniture, but a sizable hole in the wall as well. The most damage I’ve caused in the throes of passion with Scully is a ripped pair of pantyhose… I was a little eager that night. But good old Teddy boy, his performance nearly brought down the house, quite literally!

Don’t think I didn’t notice how she carefully avoided answering my question about how I measured up to the demolition man. So he was better, huh? Hmpfh…

She’s thrown down the gauntlet. Chicken pox or no, I’m not one to back away from a challenge. This is going to be one night she won’t soon forget!

………

Mulder’s hands run over my body reclaiming once more the flesh he knows he already owns. Each time we make love, he insists on this ceremony, this liturgy of possessiveness, tracing those beautiful long fingers of his across bare skin that seems to only come alive in response to his gentle caress.

What this man can do to me with only a touch.

And yet, I must have more. I bring an end to his ritual worship, eager to consecrate our bodies in an act of pure physical abandonment. Taking his hands in mine, I lace our fingers, marveling not for the first time at the difference in our sizes. My petite form is almost childlike in stature compared to his taller frame.

I straddle his body, positioning myself over the rigid length of his erection, teasing the head of his cock with the slick heat of my own arousal. His hips buck, but I move with him, refusing him entry, delighting in the power of this game. He thrusts again and I continue to torment him, denying him what his body craves most.

“Scully, don’t tease,” he warns through clenched teeth.

The threat in his tone sends a thrill of excitement through me. I offer him a mischievous smile as I rub against his hardness, still not allowing him penetration.

“Oh, you’re going to get it, G-woman,” he growls.

I giggle and raise a brow. “Promise?”

He takes about five more seconds of my wicked foreplay, and then I abruptly find myself lying flat on my back with him on top of me. Now in the position of power, Mulder flashes me an evil grin.

God, help me.

He leans close and whispers in my ear, “Oh, Scully, it’s been too fucking long… I want you soooo bad… My cock is just aching and throbbing to get inside of you. Do you have any idea how hard I am? I don’t think I’ve ever been so aroused. I mean, baby, I feel like I could fuck you all night, non stop, just banging away at you until you beg me for mercy. But I won’t let up, Scully… no matter how much you beg, I’ll just keep right on pounding away. You’ll come and come until you’re too weak to move, and then I’ll pull out of you just long enough to lap up every mouthwatering drop of your delicious honey… and when I’ve licked you clean we’ll start again, and again, and again…”

“Mulder, God! I want you… now!” I’m writhing from his words, but he pulls his body back, hovering on his knees above me. His hands are still entwined with mine, keeping me pinned firmly to the mattress.

“Oh, Scullyscullyscully… I don’t know where to begin.” He looks me over with such a leer that I can feel his gaze running over my naked flesh. “You’re breasts are very tempting, those hard little pink nipples calling out to me, just pleading to be licked and sucked and nibbled on… but then, a little preview sample of that heaven between your legs would really be tasty…”

He brings his tongue down and barely touches it to the tip of my nipples. When I groan and arch my back up off the bed, he pulls away and heads south. Oh, yes, Mulder, please… taste me, work that magic you do with that incredibly hot and talented tongue of yours. I spread my legs further apart in anticipation, as he dips his head down toward my now dripping center.

His tongue traces the insides of my thighs, causing me to quiver. “Oh, Mulder… do it, please… do it now.” My hips rise up, encouraging his ministrations.

I hear an evil chuckle, and then Mulder blows his cooling breath over the damp curls of my sex. It’s torture, pure stimulation without hope of release. Making me hotter, making me want him more.

“Damn it, Mulder! Don’t do this to me. God… please… I need to feel you.”

“Can’t take it, Scully?” He quirks a brow at me, mockingly.

“You’re mean!”

“Learned it from the best.” He smiles.

“Are we just going to fool around all night, G-man, or are we going to fuck?”

“You know I love it when you talk dirty, Scully.”

“Then let’s get it on, Spooky.”

Now that he’s evened the score, Mulder wastes no time taking what he wants. As he enters me, I can’t help but cry out from the pleasure of it.

It’s been weeks since we’ve been together like this, and I’ve missed having him inside of me more than I would have ever thought possible. I am once again complete, there’s just no other way to describe it. God, he’s incredible. He fills me, and pushes for more. I groan and rock my hips with his.

“That’s it, Scully,” he encourages me, his voice raspy and low. “Take it all, baby, take it all.”

Shifting positions, I wrap my legs around his waist, opening myself up to accommodate every last inch of him. Mulder moans his approval, and we begin our erotic dance of lovers.

Before long Mulder is pumping into me so hard that the headboard of the bed starts banging against the wall. There’s no way in hell I’m going to ask him to stop, but I have to do something about the noise. I mean, my mother is only downstairs, and the repetitive pounding is a bit too obvious. I struggle to stuff a pillow between the wall and the headboard, while the lower half of my body keeps pace with Mulder.

“What’s the matter, Scully? I thought you liked it rough? You know, Ted’s not the only one who can knock a hole in the wall.”

“Jesus, Mulder! My mother’s downstairs!” I pant to get out the words.

He laughs, pulls the pillow out of my hands and tosses it across the room, never once stopping his aggressive assault.

The bed continues to bang against the wall. I know my mother is hearing it. There is something strangely erotic about the daring of all this. I should be embarrassed, but it kind of turns me on. God, I’m twisted. This is one sin I won’t be confessing to Father McCue.

Mulder is really going at it. I think he actually wants to outdo Ted. He’s so Goddamn competitive! Not that I’m complaining.

My fingers clench around the brass rails of the headboard, giving me better purchase to counter his thrusts. Sweat drips from his forehead as he perseveres, not for a moment letting up on his pursuit, driving his hardness into my heat over and over. Pushing both of us closer and closer to the edge of ecstasy.

For me it happens when Mulder reaches one hand down between us and begins to massage my clit ever so slowly. I feel the familiar burning, the tingling spasms, and the overwhelming rush of sexual electricity. “Oh, Yes! God, Mul..derrr…yesssss!” My body arches off the bed, stiffening in exhilaration, as the waves of sensual bliss take over.

I cling to him, panting, still shuddering and weak from my climax. He is relentless in seeking his own release. My head thrashes from side to side as the passion within intensifies. I feel as though he has taken me over, as though he controls me with that fire I see burning in his eyes.

He starts moaning, his lids close, shutting out everything except the ecstasy of the orgasm that takes him.

“Ahhh…Scully! So…good. Marry me… Sculleee!”

What!!!

Did he just say what I think he said? Oh, God! He didn’t…

……….

I can’t help it. I’m laughing out loud and crying at the same time. He just proposed to her! Lord knows they’ll never be able to tell anyone when and how, but thank God, he finally proposed!

As much noise as they were making, I was really trying not to listen. They are grown adults and have a right to privacy after all, but when Fox yelled out… in what I’m certain could only be a climactic moment of passion, I couldn’t help but overhear. The walls in this old house aren’t that well insulated. I only wish I could have heard Dana’s reply.

This is just amazing. I was beginning to worry that he’d never get around to asking her. They’ve been through so much together. As close as those two are, sometimes I can’t help but feel as if they are already husband and wife. But other times, it’s as if they’re too afraid to really give in and accept that they need each other as desperately as they do.

I breathe a mother’s sigh of relief, and wipe the tears from my cheeks.

I hope they’ll both agree to a big wedding. Bill and I always wanted to give the girls big traditional church weddings with all the trimmings, something we never had. We got married one weekend before Bill shipped out. It was a rushed affair, barely time for a honeymoon. We managed though. Bill, Jr. was conceived on our wedding night… at least that’s what we told everyone.

…….

“Mulder, don’t be ridiculous. That was not a serious proposal of marriage, and I refuse to even consider it.”

“The question has been asked, Scully. The least you could do is give a reply.”

“Good night, Mulder.”

She turns her back to me and pulls the down comforter up over her bare shoulders. I spoon in behind her, not sure how to convince her of my sincerity, but determined to try.

“Scully?”

“Yeah?” She yawns and snuggles her backside closer against me.

“I love you.”

There is a long pause, and I can feel the panic rising up in my chest as I wait for her reply. I thought we were on the same wavelength with this relationship stuff. As I lie here, I’m starting to fear that maybe I was wrong. Maybe she’s not ready for promises and commitments. Maybe she’s having second thoughts about us.

“Scully?”

Silence.

I lift my head off the pillow and peer around into her face to check her expression…

She’s asleep! That’s my Scully. The woman could fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I don’t know how many times she’s drifted out on me while we were working surveillance. I never minded it though, it gave me the chance to do a little Scully watching, which happens to be a hobby of mine. She has exactly thirty-four freckles on her lovely face… and a beauty mark, which she tries to hide with makeup, and a tiny scar on her forehead leftover from one of our many misadventures. Just some of the many details I’ve catalogued over the years.

Me, I wrestle all night with insomnia. That also provides an excellent opportunity to indulge my hobby of course. Right now though, I’m feeling a bit worn out myself. I think I’ll just curl up here and play baby cats with Scully for a while. Tomorrow, if I haven’t come to my senses yet, I’ll ask her to marry me again.

……..

It’s not easy to sneak out of bed without waking Mulder, so I’m especially proud of myself this morning, as I managed to pull off the great escape and take a relaxing soak in the tub alone. Oatmeal bath, great for itchy skin.

I don’t know what got into Mulder last night. First he fucks me like there’s no tomorrow, and then mid-climax he screams out for me to marry him. I can’t help but chuckle to myself now as I think about it. He’s lucky I don’t hold him to it. Wouldn’t that be something? Me and Mulder married! That’s taking the Mr. and Mrs. Spooky thing a bit far, I think.

Mom would be in her height and glory. She’s had her eyes on Mulder for quite some time. She’d like nothing better than to plan a big wedding and invite all her friends and every relative, no matter how distant, to see her new son-in-law. I’ve seen Mulder in a tux, he’d be the star attraction.

Of course Bill would probably file a petition to have me declared mentally incompetent before the wedding. He’d find some way to mess up what would otherwise be the happiest day of my life… What am I saying! Jesus, Dana, down girl! It wasn’t a real proposal. The guy just got a little carried away in the heat of the moment.

Can’t blame him really, it was pretty damn amazing sex. We even managed to put a sizable ding in the wall, I’m sure Mulder will be quite proud of that fact when he wakes up… With a very big grin, I slip out of the tub and grab a towel to dry off with. I can smell breakfast cooking downstairs and I suddenly realize how hungry I am.

………

I got up early to make the kids a special breakfast. I was too excited to sleep anyway. My little girl is finally going to get married! I only wish Bill were alive to walk her down the aisle. I’m still catching tears before they can fall. I’ve wanted this for Dana for so long. She deserves some happiness in her life. And Fox is a wonderful young man. I couldn’t have hoped for a better choice for her.

As I pull the hot blueberry muffins out of the oven… my grandmother’s recipe, Dana’s favorite… my daughter enters the kitchen with the biggest grin on her face. She’s wearing a bathrobe, but not the ratty old terry one she’s been moping around in for days. She’s traded that for something a little more elegant, navy satin. I can only guess that’s for Fox’s benefit. The color really sets off her pretty eyes.

“Mmm… Mom, I could smell those muffins all the way upstairs!”

I set a bowl of frozen blueberries on the table, knowing how much Dana enjoys them. As a child she used to snitch so many while I was baking, I was always afraid there wouldn’t be enough left for the recipe. I finally got smart and started buying extra.

“Sit down and I’ll get you some coffee,” I tell her. She opens her mouth to object, but one look from me and she obediently complies. We’ve been over this one too many times this week. She is the patient, and she will do as her mother tells her.

Pouring the coffee, I don’t see him enter the room, but I hear a rough, sleepy voice murmur “Good Morning, sunshine.” I glance over my shoulder in time to see him plant a silent kiss on top of her head. His eyes look up to find that he’s been caught in the act, and he looks a little apprehensive until I offer him a smile. Dana’s nose is in the morning paper so she misses our exchange. “Good Morning, Mrs. Scully.” He takes a seat next to my daughter. “Something sure smells good.” The way he says it I’m not sure if he means the muffins or Dana.

“Coffee, Fox?” I’ve already poured it. He nods and starts to get up. “Sit down and relax.” I set the mugs in front of him and Dana. “The muffins will be cool enough to eat in just a few minutes.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Scully.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

I begin the task of cleaning up the mixing bowl and measuring utensils, every now and then sneaking a look at the very quiet couple sitting at the table. Dana is completely absorbed in the newspaper, absently sipping at her coffee. Fox is… Fox is… I have no idea what Fox is doing. He appears to be arranging the frozen berries into some kind of pattern on his place mat. O-kay.

As I put the butter on the table, I nonchalantly get a better look at what he’s up to and realize that it’s not a pattern, but rather letters he’s attempting to form. M A R R Y M E S C U . Oh, how sweet.

He finishes his work and tugs on her sleeve. I quickly look away. I hear a whispered reply but it’s not what I expect. “Damn it, Mulder. Stop it. That’s not funny.”

“But you still haven’t answered me.” His voice is equally hushed.

Oh God, Dana, are you crazy? Answer him! Say yes!

“Shut up, Mulder!” That time she didn’t bother to say it under her breath.

I just cringe. Sometimes I don’t understand that girl. Apparently Fox does though, because as I turn to set the plate of muffins on the table, he smiles at the very cross look my daughter is giving him. The berry message has been dumped back into the bowl. And all I can do at this point is pray he knows what the hell he’s doing.

………

Okay, she didn’t like my blueberry-gram proposal this morning, but I do know something she just can’t resist. When the door bell rings I rush to be the first one to answer it, wallet in hand.

Scully’s nose is already sniffing the air approvingly when I enter the living room with the pizza box.

“Mulder, you ordered pizza? I hope it’s got mushrooms and olives.” She beams when I set the box on her lap.

I don’t have to wait long for her to open it.

“I suppose you think this is funny?” She frowns.

Damn! I really thought she’d go for this one.

“I’m just hoping to entice you to answer. You love pepperoni, Scully.”

“I want you to stop this. Do you understand?” She hands me the pizza box on her way out of the room.

Oh, well, at least I can eat my failure. I lift up the lid to get a slice. Damn! They spelled Scully with a K!

……….

It’s now 5:15 PM and it’s been three whole hours since the last time Mulder proposed to me. I think maybe I finally got through to him. He was asking me to marry him every hour or so for most of the day. First it was the blueberries, then the pizza. He gave up on the food theme then and instead ruined my brand new lipstick by using it to write his marriage proposition on the bathroom mirror!

He dedicated a song to me on the radio, Elvis, of course, Love Me Tender… at the end of which the DJ crooned “Squirrel, marry me, love, Moose.” At least he had the decency not to use our real names.

Okay, the roses were nice. You can never go wrong with flowers, but by that point I was so pissed off at him for carrying this joke of his to the extreme, that I couldn’t enjoy the gesture.

I blew up at him. Told him I wanted him out of my sight, and stormed off to my room, slamming the door rather loudly behind me. That was three hours ago, and I haven’t seen or heard from Mulder since.

Now, I’m thinking maybe I was too harsh. Yes, he was being a pest, but it was kind of sweet that he would go through so much effort just for me. I decide that I should apologize, but when I go looking, I find only my mother fussing over dinner preparations in the kitchen. “Mom, have you seen Mulder?”

She throws me a disparaging look. “He left, Dana, hours ago.”

“And you let him?” I don’t believe this? He’s still recovering, for Godsake!

“No, Dana. He called a cab and took off before I could stop him. I’m assuming it had something to do with the horrible way you treated him earlier today.”

I look at the floor ashamed. “You heard that, huh?”

“It was hard not too.”

I try to explain. “It’s just that sometimes Mulder doesn’t know when enough is enough.”

Mom wipes her hands on a dish towel and sighs. “And sometimes, Dana, you can be very selfish and stubborn.”

“Mom!” I can’t believe she’d say that.

“It’s true, my darling. And you better wake up and realize it before it’s too late. Don’t throw away this opportunity. You might not get another one.”

She knows. Figures. The woman could teach the Lone Gunmen a thing or two about covert intelligence gathering. But she only has half the picture here. I shake my head sadly. “He doesn’t really mean it, Mom. He’s just joking around.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

She frowns. “Well, I don’t understand either of you then.” She shakes he head and turns back to her cooking. “You two have the strangest relationship,” she mutters.

……….

I feel so bad for my daughter. She’s been worrying about him all evening. I don’t know how many phone calls she’s made trying to find out where he might be, but that cell phone of hers hasn’t left her hand for hours. It’s almost ten o’clock, and I’m starting to worry about him too. He really isn’t well enough to be out running around the city, especially at night. It’s cold out there.

I’m startled by the sudden knock that sends Dana flying from the couch to the door. It’s him. Thank God!

“Hey, Scully, miss me?”

She pulls him into the foyer, and even from across the room I can see the conflicting emotions she struggles with. “Damn you, Mulder! Where the hell have you been?”

“I had a few errands to run. Besides, I thought you wanted me out of your sight?”

She looks guilty. “I didn’t mean that, Mulder. I lost my temper. I’m sorry.”

He takes her into an embrace, and they stay that way for a long time. I think it would be best if I went to bed now.

As I try to slip past them unnoticed, I hear… “Mrs. Scully?”

Damn! Almost made it too.

I turn back around. “Yes, Fox?” Dana quickly moves a respectable distance away from him. Who is she trying to fool?

“Would you mind staying here for just a moment?” he asks me nervously.

I nod, and Fox gives me a greatful smile. Then he returns his full attention to Dana. “Scully, where’s your weapon?”

Her panic is unmistakable. “It’s up in my room. Why? Is something wrong, Mulder?”

“No. No, nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to be sure it wasn’t within your reach before I do this…” He takes her hand and lowers himself on one knee in front of her. My heart starts racing and tears are already forming in my eyes in anticipation. He bows his head, takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Then he looks up at Dana and there eyes lock.

“Scully, I love you, I need you, I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you. You are at the center of everything that’s important to me. We belong together. We’ve both known that for a very long time. But now I want everyone to know.”

He reaches into the pocket of his leather jacket and takes something out… a ring… he holds it up for her to see.

Oh, how lovely. A beautiful blue sapphire with three small diamonds on either side, and the sculpted yellow gold band is embedded with dazzling green fire opals. It’s absolutely striking!

“This was my grandmother’s engagement ring. If you don’t like it and you want a different one, we can go pick one out together.”

Both their hands are shaking so badly, I’m surprised he manages to slide the ring onto her finger.

“Dana Katherine Scully, will you be my wife?”

END

End notes: Okay, Xenith, you take it from here. I did my bit. You wanted Mulder to propose. It’s all yours now Mistress. God help them!!!

The Wedding from Hell by Xenith

Author: Xenith

Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions, not me. I’m only borrowing the characters for now. I’ll put them back when I’m done.

Rating: Variable–R for now, but probably NC-17 later :)

Category: SA

Keywords: MSR, Muldertorture, Scullytorture, Bad wedding planners

Spoilers: Thru 6th season, without Biogenesis

Archive: Sure! Spooky’s yes!

Feedback: Love it! Love it!

E-Mail address: [email protected]

Discussion List: Yes!!! Yes!!!

Summary: Mulder and Scully get married and discover just how dangerous a wedding can be.

Author’s Note: This takes place in the Abattoir universe, but follows the Chicken Soup series (Just A Cold, Chicken Soup, Misery Loves Company, etc through TBishop’s “Brass Bed”. Read Brass Bed before this one so you catch the full flavor of the story!)

The Wedding From Hell Webpage is at: http://xenith.freeservers.com//weddingfromhell.html

The Wedding From Hell

Scully looked down at the top of Mulder’s head. He just knelt there, staring right back up. Mournfully. She had been avoiding this decision all day, unwilling to believe that he could be serious. No, it was more than that. She wanted him to be absolutely sure that he really wanted this, and she wanted that confidence for herself.

When he had proposed last night, at the height of his orgasm, her first impulse had been to laugh and not take him seriously. Of course, she’d had other things on her mind at the time. Her lips quirked just a bit. Last night was…something. For a wonder, that brass bed was still standing.

And Mulder’s admittedly funny attempts to propose all day had been entertaining but hardly serious. Maggie had been amazingly patient with them both, convalescing from chicken pox under her motherly eye. She had seemed amused by Mulder’s attempts to force an answer from her daughter.

But as the day progressed, and Mulder obsessively continued to press her for an answer, the reality had slowly dawned on Scully. He really was serious. He really meant it. He wanted to marry her, Dana Scully.

All this jelled as she looked down at the ring he had just placed on her trembling hand, held between his equally trembling palms. She met his pleading eyes and began a slow smile. She could see his knees beginning to quiver with fatigue and nervousness. She gently removed her hand from his and folded her arms across her chest.

“Oh, I don’t know Mulder. There would have to be some negotiation about custody of the television remote.”

“Scully, you’re killing me here! I’m on my knees, and boy do they hurt….” Mulder met her eyes and sighed. “Okay, you get the remote, but I get custody during basketball season. Fair enough?”

“Well……and then there’s the matter of the toilet seat. I really get tired of lowering it after you’ve been….” Scully found herself the victim of a sudden and unplanned bear hug.

“So, how about it, Agent Scully?” Mulder whispered into her hair.

Scully nodded. “Yes, Mulder, I will marry you. Are you really sure you want to do this?” She looked up at him doubtfully, but Mulder had already grabbed her left hand and was kissing it, where the ring was. It was loose, but she closed her fingers around it, then held him close. “God, Mulder I love you,” she whispered into his ear.

“Well, it’s about time,” Maggie said as she came forward to admire the ring. “I think you put Fox through more than enough torture, Dana. It’s about time you accepted!” Maggie turned to Mulder and hugged him. “Welcome to the family, son.”

Mulder returned the hug, grinning from ear to ear. Maggie stepped away, smiling. “So, when are you going to set the date? You need to call Father McCue, you know, for the pre-Cana classes.”

“Pre-what?” Mulder looked bewildered.

“Pre-Cana. You have to go through classes before you can be married in the Church,” Scully said absently, admiring her ring. Then she looked up and saw that Mulder had blanched.

“I do want to be married in the Church, you know,” Scully said, suddenly worried. “You don’t have to convert or anything….Mulder, are you okay with this?”

Mulder jerked out of his reverie. “Yeah, I’m okay. Scully, I’d marry you in a hangar filled with flying Elvises. You set it up. I’ll go.” He gave her his best `panic face’, then grinned. “Don’t worry. After mutants, alien colonists, clones and vampires, how hard can it be?”

“I’m getting married. I can’t believe it, I’m marrying Mulder….” Scully could hear herself muttering under her breath, and she couldn’t seem to shake the broad grin on her face. And the ring was so beautiful. She loved sapphires. She moved back into Mulder’s embrace and decided to relieve him of any lingering doubts about whether she really wanted to marry him.

When they broke up the clinch, Maggie had gone to the phone and was telling Tara the news. As she planted tiny kisses along Mulder’s hairline, Scully wondered idly whether Bill would break furniture when he found out, then realized that she just didn’t give a damn what he thought. Mulder had such fascinating lips. And they’re all mine! she thought gleefully, moving back toward them.

Mulder pulled her into his lap and she began admiring the ring.

“So, Scully, do you want to run off to Las Vegas and do this in style?”

“Oh no, Mulder, not the Elvis impersonator!” Her look of horror must have transmitted itself to Mulder because he started laughing.

“Okay, no Elvis impersonator. St. Patrick’s on some fine Saturday with Father McCue officiating….”

“Mrs. Fox Mulder….feels funny.”

“Sounds funny. Does that mean that I can’t call you Scully any more?” Mulder began nuzzling her neck and Scully could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.

“Mulder, you can call me anything you want to, as long as you keep doing that…mmmmm. So, am I allowed to call you Fox now, since we’ve been lovers for months and I’m marrying you?”

“Nope. I’m Mulder. Nobody says my name quite like you do…Mmmmmuldddder. I like it. Better than Fox. You wouldn’t believe the fun people made of my name when I was a kid….and the obscenities you can make out of it.” Mulder worked his way over to her earlobe and began gently sucking at it.

“Ohhhh, I can imagine. Okay….mmmmmMulddder it is……And you can call me Scully. Mulder, would it bother you if I didn’t change my name?” Mulder abruptly stopped nibbling and turned her to face him.

She gave him a worried look, hoping he wouldn’t take it wrong. To her relief he was smiling. “Well, I can’t really call you Mulder, can I?” Mulder grinned. “Although I’ve never really had a chance to call you Dana much. I know how much your professional identity means to you. I’m not so much of a chauvinist that you have to do that.” He leaned back in the chair, pulling her with him.

Scully could feel herself relaxing against him. His body was nice and warm in this rather chilly house. She held her hand out and wiggled her finger to make the stones catch the light.

Mulder held her hand and admired the ring with her, then enclosed it in his larger one, planting a kiss on each knuckle, until, by unspoken consent they disentangled themselves from each other (and the chair) and went upstairs to celebrate.

TWO WEEKS LATER

“Scully, you look fine, now come on.” Mulder held open Scully’s car door while she anxiously gave her makeup one last look. He impatiently glanced around the Hoover Building parking lot. “Skinner wants us in his office in five minutes.”

“You’re sure I don’t look pocky any more?”

“Positive. In fact, you’re beautiful, Agent Scully.” Scully moved ahead and Mulder gently guided her along the hallway, his hand in its familiar place in the small of her back.

The remainder of their stay with Maggie Scully had been uneventful, although Maggie had made a comment about wanting to paint the guest bedroom after they left.

“I hadn’t realized how much that room needed painting. Why there’s a scrape mark as big as my hand behind that brass bed, and I swear the drywall is dented….” Maggie hid her smile behind her coffee cup as both Dana and Mulder flushed guiltily.

And that reminded him. “Scully, you never answered my question.” Mulder followed Scully into the empty elevator at the Hoover building and punched the button for the executive level.

“What question? I already said I’d marry you.”

“Not that one, the other one. Was I as good as Break-the-bed Ted?”

Scully stifled a giggle. “Mulder, you were and are a hundred times better than Ted could ever hope to be. There, does that satisfy your male ego?”

Mulder’s response was to grab Scully and give her a passionate kiss, deepening it until they were both breathless. They roused, startled from the embrace by the sound of applause.

Scully peered out through the open elevator door at the crowd of agents from the bullpen, grinning and clapping, and she blushed furiously.

“How long has that door been open?” she muttered under her breath.

“Long enough,” Mulder answered. “Well, they have to know some time, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Just smile and flash them the ring.”

Fighting her embarrassment, Scully gave the group a defiant smile and held up her left hand, wiggling the ring finger. To her surprise, the applause started up again, accompanied by whoops and shouts of congratulation.

She and Mulder were both grinning as they approached the doorway to Skinner’s office. Kim stood there smiling.

“I wondered what all the noise was about. I’m so happy for you both, congratulations!”

Mulder grinned and moved ahead into Skinner’s office while Scully showed Kim the ring. The inner office door was open and Skinner stood next to his desk, trying unsuccessfully to look stern.

“Well, Agent, I understand that some congratulations are in order.” Skinner motioned Mulder to take a seat. “I’ll leave the door open so that Agent Scully can join us when she’s ready.”

“Thank you sir.” Mulder sat and felt suddenly apprehensive. He and Scully knew that the Bureau didn’t have any formal rules against agents dating or marrying. But there were good, honest reasons not to allow husbands and wives to team together as field agents.

“Agent Mulder, I know that you’re concerned about the effect your news might have on your partnership with Agent Scully. Since you two called me the other day, I’ve been considering whether I believe it will have any effect on your ability to function as a team.”

“Sir, shouldn’t Scully be here to hear this too?” Damn, if he’s going to break us up Scully should be here. I couldn’t stand to tell her that we’ll be separated, not now.

“No, actually I’m glad that Agent Scully is otherwise occupied. This allows me to talk with you privately. I have no plans to break up a successful team. You two have worked together for 7 years now and have a phenomenal solve rate.” Mulder began to relax and leaned back in his chair. “However..” Skinner raised his hand. “I want to be sure that you understand, Agent Mulder, that being married has its responsibilities.”

“What do you mean? Like taking out the garbage?” Mulder grinned. “You aren’t going to explain the birds and the bees are you?”

“No, what I mean to say is that if you’re making a commitment to that woman out there, you have a responsibility not to put yourself into stupid, life-threatening situations for the sake of your own curiosity or need to know.”

Skinner glared at Mulder and leaned forward. “Do you know how lucky you are? You and Scully have a relationship most of us only dream of, but she’s been through hell, chasing after you. I can’t tell you how many hospital rooms I’ve met her in, waiting for some doctor to pronounce on whether you’d live or die. By marrying this woman you owe her a responsibility to avoid bringing extra pain into her life. And by God, if you go around taking stupid chances you’ll answer to me. The prospect of comforting your bereaved partner was hard enough, but I am not going to comfort a grieving widow! Do I make myself clear?”

Mulder now found himself guiltily slumping back into his chair, just as Scully arrived. She took one look at his posture and sighed.

“Is it that last expense report, sir? Honestly, we couldn’t find those receipts.”

Mulder just shook his head mutely. Skinner smoothly gestured her into a chair. “No, nothing like that Agent. I was just congratulating Agent Mulder on your engagement. And I’d also like to express my best wishes to you too. I’m looking forward to supervising the first husband-wife team in this division.”

Scully lost her look of worry and began to feel more confident. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Mulder slowly looking less tense, but he occasionally shot Skinner uncomfortable glances.

After the meeting Scully stopped Mulder in the corridor outside the basement office.

“Okay, give. What was it he said to you?”

Mulder hemmed and hawed. “He…uh…congratulated us and…uh…wanted to talk about our partnership.”

“But he just said that he wouldn’t reassign us, we’re staying together aren’t we?” Scully flashed him such a worried look that Mulder gathered her into his arms and held her close.

“Of course. We’re still working together like always. He was just warning me that as a married man I need to stop taking dumb chances.” Mulder moved back and met her eyes; she was smiling.

“I’ve been saying that for years. It looks like you finally listened.”

“Yeah, well, it isn’t every day your boss threatens you with grave bodily harm if you disobey.”

“Then see to it that you listen to him!” She opened the office door and he followed her in.

“It is good to be home again,” Mulder looked around the room with satisfaction. “So, shall we get it on?” He grinned and pulled a file off the stack, handing it to Scully. She smiled back and took it over to her desk.

TWO MONTHS LATER

“Mom, I look like a pregnant chandelier!” Scully eyed her reflection from the mirrored podium. The dress, which had looked so beautiful on the hangar, had expanded into a crinolined horror. She vainly tried to subdue the lacy puffs that projected out from her waist.

“I look like Scarlett O’Hara on steroids!” she wailed.

Maggie tried to hide a smile, without success. “I think you look sweet, honey. It’s a lovely dress, but maybe a bit flouncy for you. How about this other one?”

The stark satin sheath soon joined the crinolined wonder on the chair, rapidly followed by the white-lace-over-satin-with-bows, the organza and dotted swiss, the white satin suit (I don’t want to look like I’m at work, mom!), the ivory gown with bustle (Just put a `wide-load’ sign on my butt!) and the bias-cut silk that left nothing to the imagination. “Mom, you can see my nipples through this thing!” Scully whispered in horror.

By the end of the day they had hit five stores and lost count of the number of white dresses tried on and rejected. Maggie had begun to worry: Dana was beginning to mutter about eloping to Vegas and Elvis impersonators. “At least then I can where whatever I damn well want, ” Maggie had heard Dana say under her breath.

“Honey, why don’t we rest a while and think about this. You don’t have to buy off the rack, you know. Your father and I put aside money so that you girls could have the nice weddings we never had. You could have a dress made, just for you.”

“Mom, I don’t want you spending your savings on something like this….” Scully started but her mother interrupted.

“Dana, you and Fox have loved each other for so long and been through so much that I want this wedding to be perfect. You deserve that. The money’s there, and that’s why we saved it. I’d like you to have the dress you want. There were times when I honestly didn’t think I’d see this day…” Maggie couldn’t go on, but Scully knew what she was thinking, about the cancer and Melissa.

“Okay, Mom. Let’s get some more bridal magazines and have something made. Something perfect.”

Part 2

“All right, Mulder. I’ve talked with Father McCue and we’re set for the weekend after next.” Scully placed two pamphlets on Mulder’s desk.

He set aside the casefile he was reviewing and picked them up. “Set for what?” He opened the first pamphlet and began to scan it.

“Catholic Engagement Encounter. This is how Father McCue recommends we satisfy the Pre-Cana requirement.” At Mulder’s blank look she added, “So we can get married.”

“Oh. Do we have to go away for a weekend? Can’t we just buy a book or something?” Mulder leered and stretched out an arm, snagging her by the waist. “How `bout the Joy of Sex?” He reeled her in and began nuzzling behind her ear.

“No, Mulder, we can’t buy a book. We have to go to class and prove that we have what it takes to be married. Father McCue will be there..ahhhhmmmm…he says we’ll have a new couple facilitating; they’re supposed to be very good. They’re from California. This is our chance to learn about our relationship…mmmm…communication…a little lower…ahhhh..improve our intimacy skills…yeah, that’s right…” Scully leaned back . His lips had moved steadily down from her chin into her cleavage, finally releasing a breast from her bra. Mmmmm…yeah. Gotta wear more of these v-necked sweaters.

“Any more intimacy skills and we’ll be doin’ it on the desk….” Mulder murmured into her skin. “Not that I wouldn’t like to try it…”

“No…we have to keep our minds on business, or Skinner won’t believe we can work together as a couple.” Scully regretfully kissed the crown of Mulder’s head, then gently pulled away from his caress.

Mulder sighed and picked up the pamphlet again. “So, where is this held? Wait a minute, it’s at a monastery? Scully, we can’t do this.”

“What’s wrong?” Scully rearranged her clothing and craned her neck to read the pamphlet he held.

“They house the men and women separately! We can’t even share a room!”

Trying to control her giggle Scully eyed Mulder’s panicky expression. “Mulder, this is the Catholic Church. We aren’t married, so they’re assuming we’re…uh..virgins. Or at least they’re pretending we aren’t doing what they damn well know we are.”

“And at every opportunity….” Mulder grinned at Scully’s flush. “Okay, I guess I can do this. But if they try to make us construct a tower of office furniture, I’m leaving.”

Engagement Encounter Weekend
St. Joseph’s Monastery

Mulder eyed the huge banner over the doorway with distaste. “Welcome Engaged Couples” it read.

“Scully, are you sure we shouldn’t follow up on the Sullivan case? I mean, leprechauns in America, you don’t see that every day….” His voice trailed off as he caught a glimpse of her set expression. Oh. Okay. Well, he considered, I’ve faced hordes of man-eating aliens for her, carried her for a mile across Antarctic tundra, even attended a Scully family dinner with Bill present. All for her. I can do this.

“I’m sorry, Scully. You know how these things get me. I’m here. I’m committed.”

Scully’s face softened. “I wouldn’t ask this of you, Mulder, but we have to do this so that we can get married. I’m glad that you agreed.”

“I can do this. But I still can’t believe they won’t let us share a room. We might as well be in summer camp!”

Scully grinned and, in a lightening lunge, grabbed him by the ears and pulled him forward for a deep, long, satisfying kiss. When he could breathe again Mulder laughed.

“Not that I’m complaining, you understand, but what was that for?”

“Just reminding you of why we’re doing this. And don’t forget, it’s two nights without sex for me too. This will be something to carry you forward until Sunday. And I have something special planned for Sunday…”

“Oh?” Mulder’s eyes gleamed. Scully, his ice-queen had turned out to be wonderfully imaginative and inventive in bed. Sunday, huh? Well, the faster they started, the faster it would all be over….

“Besides, ” Scully went on. “My priest says that adversity is good for the soul. A little enforced celibacy will be good for you.” She grinned and slipped out of the car.

Mulder followed her to the trunk and hauled out their bags. They walked through the entrance..‘Abandon hope, all ye who enter here..’ Mulder silently intoned to himself, and led the way to the sign-up desk.

A couple who must have been the leaders stood behind the table, chatting with the people signing in. Mulder couldn’t control his grin.

“Hey, Scully! Do you suppose there’s any truth to the old adage that long-married couples start to look alike?”

“Mulder that’s just a super…” Scully stopped and choked off a laugh. The couple both wore that indefinable California look: blonde, tanned, wearing matching pink polo shirts and khaki pants. They looked like they’d walked out of the pages of the same L.L. Bean catalog.

“I bet they even have the same underwear, although he probably has less lace on his bra…” Mulder hissed and Scully punched his arm.

“Mulder, shut u…Hello..” She found herself shaking hands with the male part of the ensemble as they reached the head of the line.

“Hello, welcome to Catholic Engaged Encounter. I’m Gordon Simmons and this is my lovely wife Leila. We’ll be the group leaders. And you are..?”

“I’m Dana Scully and this is my par…uh..my fiancee Fox Mulder.”

Mulder reached out his and gave Simmons a firm handshake whose grip left Simmons surreptitiously rubbing his hand.

“Glad to meet you, Gordon, Leila..” Mulder’s smirk was a little bit worrying to Scully. He only wore that look when he’d already classified and dumped the person he was talking to. Oh, Mulder..

“Play nice…” She elbowed him again and turned a bright smile on Gordon.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Gordon asked.

“Uh, I said, it’s nice to be here…” She could feel Mulder snickering quietly and silently resolved to give him a stern talking-to as soon as she could get him alone.

“I’m glad you’re looking forward to the experience. Fox, Dana, I think you’ll find that it deepens the appreciation you have for each other. Here are your name-tags.” Gordon handed them adhesive labels and Scully noted that Mulder’s said “Fox”.

“Oh, he doesn’t like to be called `Fox’, just `Mulder’.” Scully explained. Gordon raised an eyebrow and quickly penned another label, handing it to Mulder.

“So, is it really true that Scully and I can’t share a room?” Mulder asked plaintively as he picked up his overnight duffel again.

“Scu…? Oh, you mean Dana? Yes, we house the men and women separately. The Church insists. Since there aren’t any other couples in just yet, why don’t I walk you to the men’s quarters. Leila can show Dana her room.”

Gordon led the way down a long hallway to a series of small rooms, each with two beds. “Here, you’ll be staying here. So, I know you like to be called by your last name. Does Dana go by her last name as well? Do you normally call her by her last name?” Gordon looked at Mulder a bit strangely.

“Oh yeah, we call each other by our last names all the time. We work together, and it’s easier that way.” Now for some fun. “Besides, she insists on..uh..punishing me if I call her by her first name. At least I can’t if I’ve been bad.”

“Uh, right….We’ll be meeting as a group for dinner at 6:00 p.m. The bathroom is down the hall, and the lounge is up the hallway, turn left. Um..I’ll see you later…uh..Mulder.”

Nobody said he couldn’t have a little fun with the Californians….

Dinner was a strange meal. The other 27 couples had arrived and Scully found that she and Mulder had been assigned to the same table with the Simmons couple. But Gordon Simmons kept flashing her the strangest looks. She gave Mulder a suspicious glance, but he just returned it with an innocent look and went back to his meal.

After the meal was over, Gordon led them into the lounge and handed around notebooks.

“These are your notebooks. You will be doing some relationship-based writing assignments and will trade responses with your partner so that you can discuss your feelings and attitudes about such things as spirituality, children, sex and love.”

Then Gordon passed out some photocopied sheets. “Here is your first writing assignment. We’ll discuss that after the group introductions.”

Sitting them all in a circle on the floor, Gordon began. “I’m going to introduce myself, telling you how my wife and I met and the thing I love most about her. She’ll introduce herself, telling how I proposed to her and what she loves most about me.”

Oh no, Scully brought her hand to her mouth. I can’t tell about that…Mulder and I in a brass bed, the feel of him on top of me, pumping away inside me, his cry at the moment of climax…the dent in the wall…she snuck a sideways glance at him to see an evil grin on his face. If I don’t, he will, I know it. Shit. And in the Church you’re not supposed to be having sex before marriage. Hell, I’m not a teenager, I’m in my thirties! Of course I’m having pre-marital sex. Shit. Shit.

She sat apprehensively as the other couples introduced themselves. Most of the first meetings were at work, on a blind date. The proposals were over dinner, on a date, just understood over time.

Then it was Mulder’s turn.

“We met in the basement of the J. Edgar Hoover Building when she was assigned to be my partner. And the thing I love most about her….” Mulder paused, his eyes going soft. “Of the many things I love about her, the best is her intrinsic honesty and her commitment to the truth.”

Oh shit, shit, shit. My turn.

“Ummmm, Mulder proposed to me while we were making love (I’m blushing, I can feel my face heating..damn!)” She could hear a low appreciative murmur and laugh filter around the room. “And the thing I love most about him is his basic integrity, his belief in truth and his willingness to sacrifice himself to find it.”

She felt Mulder’s left hand reach for hers and she held it close while his right arm reached around her shoulders and squeezed.

She could see a few raised eyebrows at their comments. The other couples had had more mundane loves: she makes me laugh, he supports my career goals. Are we so very different? she wondered. I feel like we live in a different world. Maybe we do. We’ve done too much, faced things that would make these other people run out of the room screaming in terror.

After the introductions, Gordon discussed the first homework assignment with them.

“I want you to think about these questions, and write about it, but do it alone. Away from your partner. Frame your answer as fully as you can and put it into your notebook. You have the rest of the evening to work on it and we’ll discuss it tomorrow.”

Scully looked down at the paper in her hand. Oh no. Mulder the atheist will have fun with the first one…and the second one…Oh no. The questions read:

1) When I look at my spouse to be, do I see him/her as a real gift from God?

2) Is there anyone who would have any objection to our getting married? Why?

Part 3

After the group broke up, Scully fell into step with Mulder. It was getting late, after 9:00 p.m., and she had to do her `homework’ but somehow she didn’t want to let him go. She could tell that he felt the same.

“I guess I should go,” she said nervously.

“I wish you didn’t have to,” Mulder said seriously. “It’s funny, but since we’ve been sleeping together, I haven’t had any nightmares. Not about Samantha….or other things.”

Scully could guess what those `other things’ were. Mulder was recovering well from his abuse at the hands of Kurt Willard, but there were still deep emotional scars. She reached out and clasped his hand, then pulled him close.

“I don’t want to leave you. Not for a second,” she whispered into his chest. “Do you think they’d throw us out if we went and slept together in the car?”

Mulder laughed, she could feel the sound deep in his chest. “They’d probably excommunicate you and forbid me from ever seeing you again. Nope, we have to follow the rules or we don’t get the little piece of paper that says we can get married. I’ll be okay.” He pulled back and she looked deep into his still anxious eyes. “No, really, I’ll be all right,” he insisted, then kissed her and waved as he walked towards the men’s side of the building.

Scully debated blowing off the entire weekend and getting him the hell out of here. No. Mulder still had his pride and if he said he’d be okay, she had to accept that. But that wasn’t going to stop her from worrying about him.

Mulder’s Room

His room mate had already arrived and was seated at one of the two desks, busily writing in his notebook. He looked up at Mulder’s entrance. He was about six feet tall, with Slavic features and built like a Sumo wrestler. Mulder blinked. Why did he always get the strange ones?

“Oh, hi! I guess you’re my room mate for the weekend. I’m Xochi, but my friends call me Joe. I’m workin’ on my assignment…”

“Hi, I’m Mulder. I don’t remember seeing you at the group meeting.” Mulder pulled up the other chair and sat down.

“That’s because I wasn’t there. Erin, my fiancée, got here early but I had to work late tonight. She gave me the notebook and stuff. Man, isn’t this just the biggest pile of crap you’ve ever seen?” Joe held up the notebook. “First, I’m not Catholic, I’m an atheist. Second, who the hell cares whether somebody approves of our marriage? I mean, whose business is it, anyway?”

Mulder smiled. Maybe this room mate would work out after all. “Yeah, I know. But my fiancée is Catholic and she wants this really bad. So, I’ll do it for her. I guess that’s what counts. So…” Mulder grinned impishly. “Not that I’m trying to cheat or anything, but what did you put for question number 2?”

Scully’s Room

Scully had introduced herself to her new room mate, to her surprise another redhead.

“Yeah, I think they’ve got a matched set,” Tracy laughed. “So, I was really impressed with your honesty in the group meeting. I could never have told them that!”

“Well, I didn’t have much choice. After Mulder expounded on my honesty, I couldn’t very well lie about it. He was basically daring me to tell the truth, so I took him up on it.” She could feel herself blushing again, and bent over to take off her shoes hoping the act would hide her face.

“Oh, well..that’s men for you. You just got one with a sense of humor. Paul is like that, always playing practical jokes. I’ve almost got him out of the habit. Mind you, I’ve threatened to pull my gun on him a time or two when he really pissed me off…” Tracy stopped when she saw Dana go still. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m only joking. I’m a cop, so I carry in the line of duty but I’ve never shot anybody.”

Scully was interested. “Really? I’m an FBI agent, so’s my fiancée. Where do you work?”

The rest of the evening was spent in girl talk, although, Scully reflected later that she probably shouldn’t consider a discussion of the relative merits of service weapons and the difficulty of getting kevlar vests that fit really girl talk.

Finally they both decided that it was time to start writing. Scully knew that she’d been putting it off. Okay, first question. That was easy, mostly. Mulder was a gift from God, usually. But she knew that she’d be half a person without him. She remembered an e-mail she’d sent him not so long ago—“When you’re cut, I bleed.” That about summed it up.

And there’d been a lot of bleeding, internal and external. The wonder of it was that it had only strengthened their already strong friendship. Maybe it was because they’d had to fight so hard for each other. Losing him now would be like losing a limb…or an eye.

She sat in thought, meditating about the last year and all the horror it had contained. But they were past that. Time for the happy ending now. Okay, now for question number 2.

Oh my. Bill. How to explain Bill? Okay, Bill disapproves of the marriage. Say why? Tell the group about the X Files, the alien colonists, the consortium, black oil, her abduction and cancer…..If they think Mulder and I are strange now, they’ll think we’re psychotic after I explain all this.

Make it short. “My brother Bill disapproves of the marriage because he dislikes Mulder and considers our jobs at the FBI as being too dangerous. Marrying Mulder keeps me invested in a dangerous job.”

And it does. Wherever he goes, I go too. Whether he wants me along for the ride or not. I hope he’s okay tonight. He’s right, since we’ve been sleeping together so regularly, I can’t recall any nightmares. He used to wake up screaming….

It isn’t the sex that made him complain about the living situation. He’s scared. Damn. I didn’t take him seriously, and he couldn’t tell me what was really bothering him. I wonder how many times I’ve shut him down like that?

Scully began to put her shoes back on. “Tracy, I might be back pretty late and I have my key. So don’t be surprised if I come in…”

“Just before morning? Hey, I’m planning to sneak out to bunk with Paul, he’s got a single. So if you two want the room tonight, I’m fine with that.”

Scully smiled. “I feel like I’m in college, trying to evade the housemother. I’ll take you up on that….I’ll be back in about 20 minutes then.”

Mulder’s room

Mulder focused on the paper in front of him. Gift from God? Sure, Scully was a gift. She was a whole Tiffany showroom, but God? He shook his head. God didn’t enter into his worldview much. Too much pain over time, too much evil out there to believe in a loving deity. No, Scully was incredible but God hadn’t given her to him. He’d fought for her, suffered for her, damn near died for her sake. And she was worth every tear.

I’m not writing that. Not if I have to read this in front of those simpering refugees from a commune.

Okay, move on to number 2. Bill. Shit. What to write about good old brother Bill, who hates my guts and would shoot me where I stand except he knows that Scully would drop him first. Got to write something. Explanation…?

He finally scribbled onto the paper: “Scully’s brother Bill doesn’t like me. He thinks I endanger her by being her partner, that I don’t protect her enough. I don’t, and I should.”

He was finishing the last sentence when he heard a tap on the door. Joe opened it, and there was Scully, her eyes anxiously searching the room for Mulder.

“Hi,” she said breathlessly. “I came to see how you were doing.”

“I’m fine. This is Joe, my room mate.” Mulder waved toward Joe, who nodded then sat back down to his own notebook.

Scully wandered over to Mulder’s desk and scanned what he’d written about Bill, then snorted. “You can’t protect me any more than you are. But what you put is pretty much what I said as well. And it’s Bill’s tough luck that I’m staying just where I am.” She leaned against Mulder’s chair and began running the fingers of one hand through his hair. He’d been letting it grow (at her insistence) and it was just the right length to twine her fingers through.

“Mulder, I have a proposition.”

“Oh really, Agent Scully? And what would that be?” Mulder leaned back and gave her his best leer.

“My room mate informs me that she’ll be sneaking out to share quarters with her fiancée, leaving the room to me. Would you care to completely torpedo the house rules about consorting with the opposite sex with me?”

“Oh my, Agent Scully! You are talking about breaking the rules here!” Mulder’s eyes lit. “This is the best offer I’ve had all day.”

“You’ll have to get up early and come back here so that it looks like you slept here.” Scully moved forward and wrapped both arms around the still-seated Mulder’s chest, resting her chin on his shoulder. “How `bout it?”

“Can we go now?”

Giggling like teenagers they snuck back to Scully’s now-empty room. It was then that Scully realized…twin beds. The room had twin beds. Oh no.

“Mulder, I…” she shook her head and began laughing. “Okay, we’ll try it, but if you get your elbow in my eye again you sleep on the floor!”

“Fair enough. And this is a metal bed, Scully. Do you suppose it’s as sturdy as, say, brass?”

All conversation ceased after Mulder was `thwapped!’ in the face with a pillow. And at Scully’s insistence, they were careful to keep the noise down so that the neighbors wouldn’t hear.

Mulder woke in the gray dawn. A quick look at his watch showed that it was 5:00 a.m. Probably time to get moving. He didn’t want to move. He liked it right here, just fine. He always slept better when Scully was there. Somehow, she chased the nightmares away. Or when he had one, she was there, and she understood. Hell, she had nightmares of her own. He was glad she’d suggested this.

This twin bed seemed larger than the one in Scully’s old bedroom. Or maybe it was just because they were both over the chicken pox now, no more itchy skin. Anyway, he’d slept with her in his arms, pressed close enough to feel her heart beat, hear her breathing.

How many years had he craved that? Too many. But he was a patient man and had determined early on that he’d wait for her to decide she was ready for a relationship. Of course, he had Walter and Sharon Skinner to thank as well. The story of their failed marriage, and especially their wedding pictures, had finally jarred something loose in Scully. It had made her decide that she needed him now, and wasn’t going to waste any more time.

He sighed and felt her snuggle closer, then tightened his arms around her. She was his now, and it would take an army of aliens to keep him away. Oh well, time to go back to his room and the pretense of chastity.

Mulder carefully climbed out of bed, tucking the blankets back around Scully, then quickly put his clothes on. Yup, maybe the twin bed wasn’t a sleeping bag, but two naked bodies do keep you toasty warm of a night. He kissed her gently on the forehead, then padded out to his room.

To Mulder’s great amusement, he wasn’t the only night time traveler. He could see the shadows of men and women moving quietly from room to room, women filtering back to the women’s side and men going back to the men’s quarters. He nodded companionably to the guy in the room next door as he unlocked the door and went in.

He decided that he was too keyed up to sleep, so he did the next best thing and put on his running clothes and went for a run.

The air was crisp and cool, just right for a jog. Man, he didn’t know how he was going to survive this weekend thing. It was bad enough having to pretend that they were sleeping in separate room, but those questions!

I was right. Scully and I don’t talk much. We kind of communicate telepathically. There’s so much about her I don’t know. She’s quiet, reserved, hates showing her feelings unless she’s comforting somebody else. Her compassion is the one soft emotion she doesn’t hide.

And me? Mr.-takes-7-years-to-manage-a-marriage-proposal….Well, it’s a good thing I can stand rejection. It took multiple tries just to get an answer. She loves me, but does she really want to marry me? Is that what all her hesitation was about? Maybe I joked about it too much. Maybe I joke too much, period. She can’t tell when I’m being serious. Oh, she knows how I feel about the big things: aliens, the X Files, life and death. But the little stuff? We’ve never really discussed it.

We’ve never really talked because we’re scared, scared that we’ll secretly discover something that will ruin what we have. Some deep, dark secret. Well, she knows all of mine, or has met them.

Mulder checked his watch. Time to go back and face the Californians.

Part 4

Breakfast was nauseatingly healthy. Mulder picked at his whole-wheat toast (chosen over a serving of Wheatena) and longed for some real butter to spread on it, not that tofu-soy crap they were serving. No eggs (cholesterol, y’know) or meat (the weekend is vegetarian). He pushed the scrambled tofu around his plate and thought longingly of the sunflower seeds he’d packed in his duffel. Even the coffee was decaffeinated.

Scully, sitting brightly next to him, was clearly enjoying her yogurt (with bee pollen). That made him feel even more sour, although she’d graciously offered to share. After his first growl, she’d shut up, wisely realizing that it was the caffeine deprivation talking.

“Well, everybody, I hope you all slept well. We have a busy day planned.” Gordon was wearing an aquamarine polo shirt today. Leila (his lovely wife) had a matching Indian cotton dress

“We’re going to start with your notebooks. We’ll meet as a group and discuss the answers everybody came up with, then talk about issues of family and friends and how they will fit into your new relationship as a married couple. Then we’ll have some more exercises for you to do.”

Simmons led them all back to the lounge and Mulder took his place next to Scully on the rag rug. She was wearing his favorite white tee shirt with cashmere sweater and looked luscious. He had been less inspired, and had donned an old FBI academy sweatshirt, faded and comfortable. And a good thing, too. This room was cold!

Simmons was talking…oh, he was having people read the answers to question number 1. Question 1. Oh shit! Mulder had forgotten to write anything. Sure, he’d thought about it but hadn’t put anything down because of the “God” thing. Whoops. Fake it.

“And you, Mulder..what did you say?”

“Um, in my view Scully is a true gift in my life. But I don’t attribute her presence to God; I don’t believe in God. We’ve worked very hard to remain partners, and I consider myself lucky to be marrying her.”

“And you, Dana, what do you think about that?”

“About what?” Scully looked puzzled. “I’m glad he sees me as a special person in his life.”

“No, the fact that he’s an atheist. You are obviously not, since you plan to be married in the Church. Has it ever occurred to you that someday you may find his lack of faith a problem?”

Scully smiled. “Mulder doesn’t lack faith; he just doesn’t put the same labels on his faith that I do on mine. We believe in the same things, we just use different terms for them.”

Way to go Scully! I mentally chalked up one for the home team.

“How about you, Mulder? Does the fact that Dana is religious bother you?”

“It didn’t until I found out I had to do this weekend,” Mulder smiled, more than half serious. “Scully’s always had her own faith and it works for her. Why should I question her beliefs when she’s been willing to live with mine?”

Simmons was smiling. Must have answered right. Whoop, next question.

“And what about children? How do you plan to raise them? As Catholics or as atheists?”

Whoa, there….stop right there. He could see Scully cringe just a bit. Simmons couldn’t know about Scully’s past, or her infertility. But it still enraged him to have this prick asking things like this in a public place. He grabbed Scully’s hand and could feel her trembling, with rage or emotion he couldn’t tell.

“Any children we may ever have will be loved, cherished and taught values. Their religious belief is between my wife and myself,” Mulder forced the words out grimly. “If my wife wants to raise children with a Catholic belief, I’ll go along with it because I know it’s important to her.”

“Fair enough. Now, Dana, how did you answer the first question?”

Mulder was still feeling outraged but squelched it. This was all part of the program, make the participants think and question their values systems. Basic psych.

“I do consider Mulder a gift from God. Sometimes more than others.” There was an appreciative laugh at that. “But his presence has meant so much to me during the difficult times of my life, that I don’t think I could do without him now.” Scully’s eyes were shining as she met his glance. Mulder squeezed her hand and smiled back.

Simmons moved on, mercifully, to the next couple and Mulder had time to think. Children. Would they have any? Would it be safe to have them? Knowing what he did about the future, he wondered. And if old CGB Spender ever threatened a child of his..nothing and nobody would stop him from killing that bastard. They’d wanted Samantha, and they’d kept her. Could the same thing happen to a child of his? Save that problem for the future.

“Hey, Scully, what say we sneak out and see if there’s a good burger joint nearby?” Mulder whispered into her ear. Scully just frowned and shook her head. Damn. Stuck here in karmic hell. Oh, Simmons had finished with the group thing and everybody was standing up…for…a…ohmigod, no! Not a group hug…..

Mulder found himself in a circle with Scully to his right and a strange man to his left in a massive group hug, while Simmons spoke some inspirational words about unity and love which left Mulder cold. Oh god, please let there not be a wine and cheese reception after…

Scully caught his look of horror and stifled a snort. Mulder was clearly experiencing flashbacks to the last training session they hadn’t made it to. Well, this was his comeuppance, and no escape.

Simmons began handing around sheets of paper with more questions. Great.

Mulder looked at his and his eyes widened. It read “I feel angry when my partner _____________”.

“Okay everybody, please look over the question and answer it as fully as you can. You and your partner will be discussing your answers together, but I’ll be wandering around facilitating things. It’s important to learn how to air your grievances, to fight fair when you disagree. That’s what this little exercise is supposed to promote.”

Scully was already sitting down and had begun writing. Mulder craned his neck and tried to read it, but she just looked up and covered the writing with her hand. Damn. Okay, two can play at this…Mulder sat down and pondered the question.

Mulder had just finished his answer when Simmons got around to them.

“Well, Mulder, why don’t we start with you? I’d like you to read and explain your answer. Dana, please listen without interruption. You’ll have your opportunity to respond to Mulder’s statement. The important thing is to really listen to what is being said. So, Mulder, how did you answer the question?”

Mulder gulped and shuffled his paper. “I don’t think I really want…I mean, Scully never makes me mad…”

“Mulder, that isn’t the question. It isn’t whether she makes you mad, but what actions she takes make you feel angry. There’s a difference.”

“All right.” Deep breath. “Uh…Do I have to do this?”

“Just read it, Mulder,” Scully said flatly.

“Uhhh…well, I feel angry when Scully doesn’t believe me. I mean, when I get a case and give her my take on it, she often dismisses what I have to say without really listening to my reasoning…”

Scully opened her mouth to interrupt, but was stopped by Simmons’ raised hand. “Okay Mulder, can you give us an example?”

“Well…for example, we had to go to Chaney Texas, to investigate these mysterious murders. I knew it was vampires from the moment I got the case, but Scully kept ignoring the evidence, even after I was attacked and almost killed by one. She didn’t start believing me until she was locked in a car with one.” Mulder looked up defiantly. “And I still say he had buck teeth. And then, there was Antarctica….”

Simmons looked a little pale. “Uh..okay. Dana, do you have a response?”

“Yes. I do.” Scully was pale but focused. “Mulder, I saw no evidence of vampires until the pizza guy got up and walked out of that morgue. Up to that point, it just looked like a string of murders to me; and you had to admit he was wearing fake fangs when he attacked you.”

Mulder shook his head. “Well, what about Antarctica? You saw those aliens, they were attacking us while we were climbing out of that giant space craft. Heck, even when we were up onto the ice sheet, it flew over! You saw it; you had to! And you still don’t believe it was real.”

“Mulder, I’ve said before that I believe that you saw those things. Me, I was semi-conscious the whole time and my memories are very confused. I know that I would have died there if you hadn’t come after me. But I do know that you saved me, and that’s enough….Mulder, I may not always agree with your opinions but I do respect and trust your judgment. But I am a scientist and I have to be true to my training. I wouldn’t be a useful partner to you if I didn’t.” She shot him a look imploring his understanding. Mulder smiled and shook his head.

“I know, Scully. I just get frustrated sometimes. But I’m grateful for your insight. You keep me honest.”

Simmons pulled his handkerchief from his pants pocket and swabbed his forehead. “Dana…uh…why don’t you go ahead.”

Scully looked down at her paper, suddenly shy. “Well…Mulder, it was hard to decide what to write about, but the thing that makes me feel angry is when you ditch me and go off to investigate things without me there to back you up. A few years ago when you went chasing off to Dead Horse, Alaska after that shape-shifting bounty hunter, I almost didn’t find you in time. Skinner had to beat up your informant just to get your whereabouts. And by the time I got there you were almost dead from that retrovirus.”

She looked away from the paper and stared into Mulder’s eyes. “Mulder, I was the only one who knew how to treat you. They were killing you there, in the emergency room. If I hadn’t gotten there when I did, you would be dead now. “

“But Scully, that was years ago..I haven’t ditched you recently…”

“Yes. You have. Two words, Mulder: Bermuda Triangle. You damn near died looking for that ghost ship; you were half dead when we pulled you out of the water. If we hadn’t pulled strings with the Navy, we wouldn’t have located you. And you didn’t leave me so much as a note to let me know you were gone. Do you know how that made me feel? Do you?” Scully could feel herself clouding up. “Mulder, when you needed me the most, I wasn’t there. I’m supposed to guard your back, but I can’t defend you if you leave me behind. I can’t stand the thought that you might be hurt or killed while I’m miles away, searching for you. Mulder..” She took a deep trembling breath. “When Kurt Willard had you, I wasn’t there. I was miles away. I wasn’t there. And I should have been.”

“Scully…” Mulder leaned forward and took her in his arms. “Scully, I didn’t ditch you then….”

“No, I ditched you, ” Scully murmured into his chest. “I know, we talked about it and I know you wanted me to get away. I know it wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t. But I wasn’t there when you needed me, Mulder. And I can’t be unless you let me be there.”

“Well, I guess that goes for me, too, Scully. You need to let me be there for you, too. I know how hard it’s all been for you. I want to hold you when you’re scared, that’s what I’m there for. I want to guard your back just as much as you want to guard mine. Partners?”

Scully nodded, snuffling. “Yeah. Partners. Always.”

Simmons looked relieved. “Well, I see that you two are communicating well together. You…certainly seem to have an exciting life…um…I think I’ll go help that couple over there..” Simmons got up quickly and scurried across the room to another couple.

“So, what do you think got to him? The shape-shifting bounty hunter or the vampires?” Mulder murmured into her ear.

“I think it was the alien space craft in Antarctica. But at least you didn’t bring up colonization and genetic experimentation.” Scully snuggled closer.

“Naw…he would never have believed that!”

Part 5

They worked through more questions that afternoon, but neither Simmons or his wife made any attempt to `help’ them with their discussions.

Mulder had to grin. He could see Simmons casting anxious glances in their direction all day. He’d look at them, then turn away when Mulder caught his eye.

Dinner was uneventful. Okay, dinner was flavorless, a vegetarian chili without enough chili in it. Mulder stoically munched his way through it, reminding himself that this was fuel…And the wine from the local Dominican vineyards…well, he’d had better salad dressing. Okay, enough griping, he thought to himself…at least Scully seems content.

“Everyone, your attention please,” Simmons tapped on his water glass. “I’d like to introduce the weekend’s spiritual director, Father McCue. And emergency prevented his joining us sooner. He will be speaking to us after dinner and will celebrate a mass later tonight in honor of the weekend. Any and all are invited to attend.”

Mass. Wondered when they’d get around to that….Mulder pondered to himself. Scully doesn’t understand my affinity for aliens; well I don’t get her fondness for angels. Still thinking, Mulder followed Scully and the rest of the group into the lounge, and took their accustomed seats on the floor. Father McCue placed himself in front of the group and began to speak.

Mulder found his mind wandering. All the love and unity stuff was inspiring, he supposed. Oh yeah, the Biblical stuff…meaning of marriage…Of course he was planning on cleaving to his wife and forsaking all others…in fact he hoped to do some cleaving tonight if possible. Not a problem. He and Scully were a team, and they’d suffered too much to risk it for anything.

Mulder’s hand crept forward and gently clasped his Scully’s. She turned a radiant smile on him, then focused on Father McCue again. She was looking sad tonight….Oh.. McCue was talking about birth control and the Church’s opposition to it. Stupid Church.

“Scully, you okay?” Mulder whispered into her ear.

She nodded, but still looked sad. “I wish we had to worry about things like that…” She turned back to McCue, then looked down, trying to hide her emotions. Mulder wasn’t fooled.

He snuggled in closer and draped an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll have kids, just you wait. We’ll manage. Little Sculders running through the house….with green eyes and red hair.”

“And medium sized noses?” Scully whispered back. Mulder fingered his proboscis and nodded.

“Okay. I have faith in you. If you say we’ll do it, we will. Somehow.”

Mulder held her tighter, conscious that she’d just given him a gift. She believed him. Even though parenthood would be vastly difficult, expensive, maybe impossible, she believed him. He could feel himself smiling and he planted a kiss on top of her hair.

McCue finished his talk and came over to meet Dana and her new fiancée.

“Mulder, is it? I can’t tell you how glad I am to meet you at last. Dana has spoken about you so much.” Father McCue held his hand out and cordially shook Mulder’s. “I hope that I can persuade you go come to mass tonight. I plan to bless all the couples. And you two especially.”

“Father, Mulder isn’t Catholic. I don’t think…”

“No, Scully. I’d be happy to attend. I’ll be there,” Mulder said gravely.

Scully was speechless. By the time she could stop staring at Mulder, Father McCue had gone on to greeting another couple.

“I’ve never seen you in a church, barring weddings and funerals. What gives?”

Mulder paused to gather his words. “Scully, you’re going to mass tonight with me or without me. Am I right?” Scully nodded, and he continued. “So, you aren’t going alone. I’ll be there too. Beside you, just as you have always been beside me in my beliefs, whether you shared them or not. How can I do any less?”

Mass was more inspiring that Mulder had expected. Father McCue seemed to go out of his way to draw everyone in and, when he wandered through the crowd scattering holy water, he smiled especially broadly at Mulder and Dana. Mulder felt a vague sense that the blessing had taken, then shook himself. This was silly…wasn’t it?

Before dismissing the group for the evening, Simmons had another set of questions for them to meditate on quietly in their rooms. As the couples split up, Mulder grabbed Scully’s arm.

“Tonight?” he asked anxiously.

She nodded and grinned. “Tracy is meeting Paul at midnight. Stop by then. I’ll be waiting.” They exchanged a quick kiss and parted at the hallway entrance.

Scully followed Tracy into the room. Tracy flopped down onto her bunk and stretched out.

“I will be so glad when this weekend is over and I don’t have to sneak around to see my own fiancée. God, I’m horny.”

Scully giggled a little as she took her shoes off and sat in the desk chair. Tracy had amazed her with her earthy down-to-earth attitude and language. “Well, it’s only one more night. And you’re sharing his room tonight anyway.”

Tracy shook her head. “It’s not the same. You can’t make noise, you’re sneaking around.. I’m a grown woman, not a teenage girl with a virginity to protect. This is ridiculous.” Tracy scowled at the ceiling, then began a slow grin.

“I’ve decided what I’m going to give Paul for my wedding gift to him, though.”

Scully put down her pen. The questions could wait, and she rarely had a chance for real `girl-talk’ in her busy life. “So, what are you giving him?”

“Well, I thought about all the things I could buy for him, but y’know it wasn’t right. He can buy himself anything he really wants, and I wanted it to be a gift that only I could give him.”

She gave Dana an evil grin. “Then I realized what I could get him. He’s been after me to videotape us making love, and I’ve been refusing. He says I’m prudish, and I say I’ve got a big butt. But I thought about it and I think that’s what he’s going to get. I have a new video-camera and an imagination. Oh, and a Victoria’s Secret catalog. He won’t know what hit him.” She rolled over and cupped her chin in her hands. “So Dana, what do you think? Am I crazy?”

Scully found herself blushing. Damned pale skin… The idea was…interesting. Very interesting. “No, I don’t think you’re crazy, but what if somebody gets hold of the video?”

Tracy waved her hand dismissively. “Then they see a hot couple having really hot sex. And besides, we’ll be married! It’s not like it’s a sin or anything. And he does look good on camera. I don’t mind watching him in action.”

Scully could feel her skin temperature rising. Oh yes, Mulder did look good on camera, didn’t he…oh my yes. “Um, I think it’s a very original idea. He’s sure to appreciate it.” She went back to her homework assignment and tried to answer the next set of searching questions, but the image of she and Mulder making love under a video camera kept intruding. No, this was sick…too many weird memories…but it was the first time they’d had sex. Good sex, too. But how would Mulder take something like that?

Later–1:00 a.m.
Scully’s room

Aaaaahhhhh Scully, we ought to go on these weekends more often….Mulder tried to keep his voice down after the best sex of his life. Scully had been….passionate wasn’t the right word, Aroused? Yes but more than that. Incredible. Uninhibited. Imaginative. He vaguely wondered if he’d be able to walk in the morning after a blow job like that…..and he didn’t really care. Tonight she hadn’t allowed him to touch her, but devoted every moment to his pleasure and he was pretty sure he was going to pass out soon. And die with a smile.

“So, Mulder…what do you think? You aren’t saying much…” He could hear the mischief in Scully’s whisper.

“I’m trying to muster the…uhhmmm….energy to tell you that…ohhhh…anything you ever want is yours…”

She let his penis fall from her mouth and caressed his balls, her gentle squeeze making Mulder jump. “Oh, I already have that…” She began mouthing her way up his penis, making him shiver, then moved to his belly and up his chest. “I’ve been wanting to ask you…how are you about all this? I mean, the sex..is it okay? Any nightmares or flashbacks or anything?”

Mulder looked down at her lovingly. “No, no nightmares lately. I’m looking forward to a honeymoon with the sexiest woman alive.”

Scully laughed a bit. “My room mate Tracy, the cop, told me what she plans to get her fiancée for a wedding gift. She’s going to make a honeymoon video with him; she says he’s been wanting it for a long time and thinks it’ll shock him silly.”

“Nothing wrong with some home-made erotica,” Mulder grinned. “You’d be a natural. Now if you had just let me have that digital camera in Arcadia, we might have some home movies by now….”

Oh Mulder, she smiled to herself, I still have that video camera….

“So you still wish we’d made that film, huh?” Scully eyed him closely, looking for any remaining memory of that warehouse and another videotape.

“Oh yeah, Scully…you are so sexy when you snap on that latex…It was all I could do not to throw you onto that carpet and do the naked pretzel right there in suburbia.”

“I’ll tell you a secret, Mulder. I was ready to drop you to that carpet and consummate the `marriage’ then and there. But…I wasn’t sure of you yet. Wasn’t sure of myself…I’m glad we’ve passed that milestone.”

“Me too.” Mulder held her closer as she continued her exploration of his body. Wow, if church retreats did this to his Scully, they needed to go more often!

Breakfast

Mulder was tired. Very very tired. But content. He’d made it to his room just before the breakfast bell. Quickly rushing through a shower, shave and clothing, he took his place next to Scully and glumly eyed his bowl of Wheatena. Oh well, last time I have to eat it.

“Mulder…Mulder..” Scully was gesturing at him.

“Huh? What is it?” He whispered back.

“Your shirt, button the collar of your polo shirt….quick!” Scully sounded like she was fighting giggles. Mulder looked down and found a bright red hickey strategically placed in the middle of his chest, just below his throat.

He turned to Scully and grinned. “Now why would I want to hide that? Just marks me as yours, doesn’t it?” He left the collar open and grinned his way through the morning. Scully blushed but took it all in stride, even when Father McCue noticed it and smiled.

Sunday, 3 :30 p.m.

Mulder slammed the trunk and walked back to where Scully was deep in conversation with her room mate, Tracy.

“Thanks for your address! I’ll be sure to send you an invitation to the wedding. And thanks for the suggestions…Oh, Mulder, this is Tracy, she was my room mate.”

Mulder looked from one petite redhead to the other and grinned. “For a moment, I thought Scully had cloned herself. Glad to meet you. So you’re the lady who gave up her room for us.”

“Oh, it was no hardship. Paul was getting lonely. Dana, give me a call when you find your dress! I’m dying to see it. Oh…looks like Paul is ready to go. I’ll see you around.” She caught Scully’s eye and her grin broadened. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

Mulder couldn’t understand why Scully was blushing so hard as they walked back to the car. Too much sun, probably.

7 Days later

Mulder slid into the red leatherette booth. Tony’s was famous for its triple garlic pizza. Scully never wanted to eat here, said it made her stomach turn, so he usually went here with the guys. Oh, there they were.

“Hey! How ya doin?” Mulder called as they came over.

“So, it’s the soon-to-be-married guy!” Frohike grinned and sat down, followed by Langly, whose only comment was, “Pitiful, when another one goes down.”

Byers just looked at Mulder wistfully.

“So, I’m here. We gonna order some pizza?” Mulder looked around at the Gunmen. They returned expectant grins.

“What? Is my shirt stained or something?”

Frohike grinned even more broadly. “Mulder, we just wanted to take you to lunch, congratulate you on your marriage to the lovely Agent Scully and tell you what your wedding gift will be.”

“Why, guys…I’m touched. What is it? Lifetime subscriptions to TLG?”

“Thought of that, decided not to,” said Langly.

“No, we thought of something more useful, we hope,” said Byers. “We want to cater the wedding. I mean, we’ll hire the caterers, book the room and pay for it. No…we insist.”

“But guys, that’s expensive! Even cake and champagne runs pretty high,” Mulder shook his head. “I should know, I’ve been pricing them.”

“Well, we have some money set aside and we’d like to give you guys something special,” Byers insisted.

“Besides, we got a deal on the caterers. These guys aren’t too expensive and they have a hall we can rent. And their food is just great!” Frohike smacked his lips. “Their gazpacho is to die for.”

“Well, I think I need to check this out with Scully. She’ll want to know about the menu, the cake, stuff like that.”

“Bro, we’ve got you funded for a sit down dinner for 50 with band. You just tell Scully to see these guys and they’ll take care of everything.” Frohike grinned and dug into his pocket.

Mulder took the card Frohike offered, then his eyes narrowed. “You came by this money honestly, didn’t you?”

Three sets of innocent eyes stared right back. “Of course we did,” said Byers. “We’ve been investing in the stock market and our…um..research has paid off.”

Mulder just shook his head and put the card away. Better not to ask about some things. He decided to apply himself to his triple-garlic pizza.

That Evening

“Phew! Mulder, what have you been eating? Dead cats?” Scully wrinkled her nose as she pulled away from Mulder’s kiss. “Or have you been eating at Tony’s again?”

“Yes to the second. So the breath mints didn’t work, huh? Say Scully, the guys want to give us a great wedding gift: they want to throw the reception for us.” Mulder pulled out the business card and showed her. Scully looked doubtful at first, but she had to admit that she was grateful for the offer. She had some financial news for Mulder.

“Um..Mulder, I think I will take them up on the reception thing. I found the dress I want today. Or rather, I found the design I like. It’s a beautiful dress, heavy white crepe and I know it’ll look wonderful. I’m having it made and it’s even over Mom’s budget….”

Mulder smiled. “How much, Scully?”

“Three thousand, five hundred eighty-seven dollars and…um..forty-two cents.”

Mulder raised his eyebrows. “And forty-two cents, huh?” Scully nodded.

“Mulder, all the other dresses made me look like a giant pin-cushion. With beads. This one…well, it’s the dress I always dreamed of…” Scully smiled a little shyly.

“Well, then you have to get it. We just won’t take that trip to Oregon like we planned.”

“I think we can manage that. Between our savings and Mom’s contribution, we can handle the wedding costs, the rings, photographer, the dress and the trip, thanks to the guys’ wedding gift. Bless their hearts.”

Scully was silent and snuggled next to Mulder on the couch, nose still wrinkling at the garlic scent. Then a thought occurred to her. “Mulder, they didn’t get Tony’s to cater…”

Dana Katherine Scully and Fox William Mulder

Request the Pleasure of Your Company

At the Celebration of Their Love

As They are Joined in Holy Matrimony

Saturday, December 18, 1999 at four o’clock p.m.

at St. Patrick’s Church, District of Columbia.

**Reception to follow**

Please R.S.V.P. to [email protected]

Part 6

“God….mmmmmmm…Scully….,this is so incredible! I have never, in my entire life experienced anything like this! Scully, you never cease to amaze me!” Mulder gave a blissful sigh and looked lovingly into her eyes as he popped the last morsel of chocolate Bavarian cake with allspice and ginger into his mouth, then pushed his empty plate away and leaned back against his chair.

Scully, a slower eater, just giggled and applied herself to her tiny sliver of chocolate Bavarian cake. She and Mulder had already inhaled a dinner of boneless lamb in rosemary and garlic with shiitake mushrooms served with crispy potato cakes (with herbed fromage blanc), winter asparagus and pumpkin gratin served in tiny individual ramekins. She’d sampled the wedding cake (lemon cream with raspberry curd) on her earlier visit. Looking at Mulder’s orgasmic facial expression, she assumed that he agreed with her about the menu for the wedding reception. “Mulder, I’m glad you’re happy with my choices. But you should praise the cook, not me. I just went with his suggestions.”

Mulder shook his head and took a sip of wine. “I just can’t believe that Frohike and the guys found this place. I half expected rubber chicken and equally rubbery green beans on my plate, not decadent gourmet food.” Mulder gestured around the tiny restaurant in which they sat. “This restaurant may be small now, but in five years people will be fighting for reservations!”

“Yeah, Albert only just graduated from the Culinary Academy two years ago, so he’s still making a name for himself. I, for one, hope to be kept on his favored customer list. He just started the catering part of the business last year; fortunately he has some cousins who help him out pretty regularly and don’t need to be paid much. Lowers the overhead.” Dana picked up a morsel of cake, popped it into her mouth, then licked her fingers. Wow, this chocolate was good. She was glad she’d opted for both the lemon wedding cake and side desserts as well. But she’d better watch her portions or she’d never fit into her wedding dress–not to mention the special lingerie she was bringing for the honeymoon.

“Well, I picked up the rings,” Mulder said, a little nervously. “Um…they’re a little different than we discussed.”

“What do you mean, different? We agreed on plain gold bands.” Scully fixed him with a suspicious look.

Mulder fished into his pocket and pulled out two ring boxes and opened the first at random. A man’s ring lay nestled inside, made of white and yellow gold, scored with a pattern….of “X”s. The woman’s ring he produced next was more delicate, but repeated the pattern.

“Mulder. No. Absolutely not! I will NOT wear the X Files on my finger for the next forty years!” Scully didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She’d sent him out to pick out some wedding rings, and he’d returned with the equivalent of a handful of magic beans.

Mulder gave her an imploring look. “C’mon, Scully. I like these rings. They sort of symbolize our partnership, our life together. You have to admit that the X Files have been at the middle of every significant happening…”

“You mean every significant injury we’ve ever dealt with..” Scully interrupted. Mulder pleadingly held out the ring and Scully took it, inspecting it more closely. Mulder’s ring had been engraved per her instructions: “I believe in you”, while the woman’s ring had Mulder’s inscription “My one in five billion.” She sighed. Well, they weren’t as bad as she’d thought. They were heavy gold, nice rings really. And since they’d been engraved, she thought they were stuck with them.

“Okay, Mulder. But if you ever tell me you’ve bought some magic beans, I’m leaving you!”

Mulder just grinned and silently took the rings back, returning them to their boxes. “So, how did the wedding shower go?”

Scully blushed. She was still embarrassed about the shower that Holly at work had managed to pull off. She and Kim, Skinner’s secretary, had secretly gathered all the female agents in the building, as well as most of the secretaries and administrative assistants and thrown a blow-out surprise shower for her the day before. Mulder had quietly grinned and left the room, commenting “There’s too much estrogen in the room for me! I’m outta here.”

“It was great. Say…you didn’t know about this, did you?” She gave Mulder an accusing glance.

“Well, they did ask a few questions about your clothing size, color preferences, things like that….And I had happened to chance a look at the Victoria’s Secret catalog hidden in your desk…” Mulder gave her an evil grin. “As far as I’m concerned, I benefit from the gifts as much as you do!”

Scully had no choice but to grin back. “Okay, but five lace teddies has to be a record. And I won’t even discuss the scented massage oils and the uh gift certificate for Susie’s Sensual Shoppe. There wasn’t a single piece of Tupperware in the bunch.” She sipped her wine. “And your bachelor party, does it have to be the night before the wedding? I swear, if you lurch down that aisle or have any bruises or marks on you, I’ll kill you myself!”

“We have to do it the Friday before. Skinner’s out of town for two weeks before the wedding and I want him there to keep the guys’ enthusiasm within bounds. They were talking about hiring a stripper and I don’t think they believed me when I said I wasn’t interested in watching some silicon bimbo dance for me.”

“Oh? Should we be investigating hormonal problems in you, Mulder?” Scully’s eyes narrowed. Mulder’s interest in, uh, adult entertainment was of long duration.

“Oh, nothing wrong with my hormones, but why settle for a fake when I’ve got the real thing waiting at home?” Mulder gave her his bedroom smile and Scully shivered. Maybe it was time to go home, spend a not-so-quiet evening together.

Mulder met her gaze and nodded. She smiled back, understanding, and they gathered their things to leave. Before exiting, they found Albert at the doorway.

“Albert, that was the best meal I’ve ever had in my life!” Mulder said fervently. “I think we’ve chosen the right menu for the reception.”

Albert grinned. “I’m glad you liked it. I always appreciate it when people enjoy my cooking. Okay, we’ll decorate the hall and have everything ready for you on the 18th. May you two be as happy as couple as Elise and I!”

“Thanks, I think we will,” Mulder gave Scully a tender look before grabbing her hand and leading her out to the parking lot.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

Blackie’s House of Beef

Dana picked at her salad. The rehearsal had gone well enough, she supposed. Her dress wasn’t ready yet, so she’d worn an old evening gown. Mulder had looked great (no surprise there), and Bill looked wonderful even if he had spent the evening glowering.

She was glad that they’d chosen conservative bridesmaid dresses. Ellen, her maid of honor with Tara as a bridesmaid had both agreed that forest green gowns were reasonably attractive. Whoever designs bridesmaid gowns must hate women, she mused. Certainly, most of the dresses they’d seen looked like they belonged on failed prom dates.

Now the guys were looking good. Frohike was Mulder’s best man with Byers as an usher. Langly had flatly refused to be part of the wedding party if it meant he had to “wear a monkey suit, man!” So he would just be a guest. And of course, Bill was giving her away.

The flowers had been ordered, red and white roses to go with the general holiday theme of the wedding. Music was Mulder’s job. Scully fervently hoped he’d told the truth when he swore that there’d be absolutely no Elvis compositions in the ceremony. She knew he’d been tempted.

Her reverie was interrupted by the sound of raised voices. Oh no, not Bill again. He’d in a temper throughout the meal, and the wine with dinner hadn’t mellowed him. His belligerent voice could be heard over Tara’s attempts to shush him.

“He’s a prick! He’s a jinx and he’s gonna get her killed! You mark my words, unless she gets far, far away from that sorry-ass bastard we’ll be attending her funeral. Give her away, that’s just what I’m doing–leading her to her doom!”

Bill affixed contemptuous eyes on Mulder, who sat rigid in his chair, clearly wishing with his whole heart that Bill would just go away. Suddenly, Dana was mad, and frustrated and fed up. Bill had been making these noises for years and nothing would ever satisfy him. Why should Mulder, her future husband be subjected to this? She got up.

“Bill, I think we need to talk. Outside.” She led him past the doorway and into the lobby of the hotel next door. “Okay, say your piece. This is your last chance, because then I am going to marry Mulder and you are going to shut up. For good!”

“Damn, it Dana!” Bill swore under his breath. “If you marry that asshole, he’ll get you killed. I’ve tried to make this work, tried to grit my teeth and just get through this, but I can’t. I just can’t hand my little sister over to the man who’s going to endanger her at every opportunity!”

Dana could feel her own teeth clench. “Bill, nothing that has happened to me was Mulder’s fault. Everything that I have experienced was the result of my own choices in life. Mulder loves me and would willingly die for me. And, as it happens, I feel exactly the same about him. There is no other man on this planet for me except him. I am going to marry him next week and nothing you or anybody else can say will change my mind.” Her eyes narrowed. “You tried to talk Mulder out of it, didn’t you? He looked depressed this morning but wouldn’t say why…. You tried to persuade him to drop this.”

Bill looked shamefacedly at the floor. “Yeah, I called him this morning at the office. I knew you were going for a dress fitting because Tara went too. I gave him all my reasons, and he agreed that you are in danger fairly often. But he wouldn’t give you up, or the idea of marrying you, even though he admitted that in all likelihood you or he will die in the line of duty, the way things are going.” Bill grimaced. “He said you were a grown woman and made your own decisions.”

“You’re damned right, I do! And I am going to marry Mulder if I have to draw my weapon and force him to that altar!”

At the expression on Bill’s face, she gave a sad laugh. “No, it isn’t that. I’m not pregnant. God, I wish I were, then maybe I’d get less friction about this. This is my decision, Bill. He’s my man, and I want him.”

Bill gave her an entreating look, then shook his head at her frown. “Well, then I can’t be a party to it. I can’t give you away and hand you over to the man who’s going to see you killed or maimed. I’ll be at the wedding, but I can’t give you away. I’m going to wait in the car. Tell Tara, would you?” Dana watched Bill walk swiftly out to the parking lot. She sat down on one of the couches in the lobby and pondered.

Well, at least he hadn’t written her out of the family. She supposed that this was the best compromise under the circumstances. Mulder would only have to see Bill at a distance, at family gatherings. Everybody else liked him, Mom, Charlie, Tara and especially her little nephew Matthew. What a father Mulder would make.

Charlie wasn’t coming to the wedding, was stationed in Germany and couldn’t get leave and his family lived there with him. She supposed that Mom could give her away, but she knew Maggie was shy in big crowds. She’d hate it. Of course, there was somebody else she could ask.

She returned to the restaurant and quietly pulled Mulder aside, explaining the problem.

Mulder’s face took on his stubborn look, lower lip firmly pushed out. “So he just ditched you, huh? So much for the overprotective big brother.”

Dana shook her head. “No, I guess it’s more accurate to say that I fired him. I couldn’t see him treating you disrespectfully, and won’t tolerate it any more, brother or not. I think I have another candidate for the honor, if he’ll do it.” She smiled. “We’re meeting with him tomorrow.”

Monday, December 6, 1999
Office of Walter S. Skinner

“Good morning, agents. I hope you brought your expense reports with you.” Skinner noted how relaxed and happy both agents seemed lately. Good. The last year had been hellish on them both and he was grateful that they’d finally connected. “How are the wedding plans going?”

“Oh, they’re going just fine, sir,” Scully said shyly. “Actually, we wanted to discuss some of those plans with you if you don’t mind.”

Skinner smiled. “I’ve got the leave approvals on my desk. Don’t worry, you’ll have a real vacation this time, not just another sick leave.”

“Oh, it isn’t that.” Scully found herself hemming and hawing a bit. Mulder remained silent, damn it. He was letting her handle this. Okay, well it was her brother and her problem after all.

“You know that my brother Bill was originally going to give me away at the wedding? Well, as it turns out, he can’t do it. And we…I…was wondering whether I could ask you to give the bride away.” Scully looked at a Skinner suddenly gone still.

Then Skinner broke into a big grin. “Of course I’ll give the bride away. I’d be honored. But what about your other brother?”

Scully shook her head. “Out of the country and can’t get leave. And my mom would hate walking me up the aisle. She’d do it, but she gets stage fright. We appreciate your agreeing to do this.”

“No, Dana, the pleasure is all mine,” Skinner said cordially. “I’ve been waiting for you two to get together for seven years and now I’m glad to be the one to walk you up the aisle.” He gave them a concerned look. “I’m leaving town tonight for that conference and I won’t be back until the Thursday before the wedding. Will that cause problems?”

“We’ll coordinate everything through Kim. And we can make last minute changes on Thursday and Friday,” Scully said reassuringly. Skinner nodded.

“All right, then, back to your expenses. Mulder, didn’t you ever study arithmetic in school? I can’t believe the figures you’ve arrived at here…..”

December 18, 1999
3:00 a.m.

Scully heard the rattling of the key in her door and threw off the afghan, running over to open it.

She opened the door to a sorry sight. Fox Mulder stood there, reeking of booze, cigarettes and other things she didn’t want to name, supported by an equally blasted Walter Skinner.

“C’n we come in?” asked Mulder blearily.

Scully was speechless as she opened the door and the two men stumbled in. Mulder collapsed on the couch while Skinner found an armchair. Scully just stood there, arms folded across her chest, eyeing both men sternly.

“I take it the bachelor party went well?” She asked crisply.

“Oh yeah…was great, wasnnn’t sir?”

Skinner propped open an eyelid. “Yeah…real good pardd..par…party. Don’ worry…no strippers…nothin’ wild. Jus’ drinkin’. And bad jokes…”

Mulder nodded. “Good booze, baaad jokes.”

Scully tried unsuccessfully to bite back her smile. “And just how many bars did you hit?”

Skinner beamed at her jovially. “Five? or wazzit six? Mulder, you got the mem’ry. H’many wazzit? Mulder?”

He didn’t get an answer. Mulder was already fast asleep on the couch. Scully covered him gently with the afghan and then led Skinner to the guest bedroom, where she poured him into the bed, only stopping to help him off with his shoes.

“Agent Scully…?” Skinner said as Scully went to close the door.

“Yes sir?”

“Jus’ want you t’know, I was always on y’r side, you `n Mulder’s. Din’t always have choices, but always on y’r side. I’m glad y’r getting married.”

Scully smiled. “Thank you sir.” Then she closed the door.

Part 7

December 18, 1999
Noon

“C’mon Mulder, time to get up..” Scully tugged at the sodden lump that was her intended. She paused bemusedly. This time tomorrow, he’d be her husband. She’d be Mrs. Fox Mulder (what the heck, she wouldn’t use the name Scully all the time..). Husband. Wow. She fought down the silly grin and knew she had to be strong, disciplined. Had to get Mulder to the church on time.

“Mulder..wake up!” She tried to shake him, then heard Skinner’s unsteady footstep behind her. He looked about as bad as Mulder did, but with an evil gleam in his eye.

“Let me try, Agent Scully,” he suggested. “Agent Mulder, report to my office in five minutes with all your expense reports for the past five months! Your shoddy paperwork is ridiculous!” He barked, then stood back as Mulder erupted from the couch and stood shivering before them.

“Huh? Wha…I’ll get `em, where are they? Huh?” He stopped when he saw that both Skinner and his fiancée were laughing. “Hey, that’s not fair…” He grabbed his head and sighed. “Oh, my head…”

“But it worked,” Scully said placidly. “There is coffee in the kitche as well as aspirin, antacids and any other painkillers I could scrounge. The toast is just about done.”

Skinner was still grinning as he led the way to the table. Mulder stumbled after, giving his boss envious looks at his apparently unaffected state. Skinner sat quietly down and applied himself to his coffee and toast. Mulder sipped his coffee and helped himself to the aspirin. Hopefully he’d feel human soon. It was his wedding day…wow…suddenly he felt better. And even more so when a pair of cool hands felt his forehead, then kissed him.

“No fever, just hangover. And I thought I had trouble holding my liquor.” Scully smiled, including them both in her beam. “I’m heading over to the church now. Tara took the dress over, and the hairdresser will be working on me and the bridesmaids. Mulder, your tux is in the closet fresh from the cleaners and so are your black shoes. I laid out black silk socks on your bed…”

Mulder reached back and grabbed her around the waist. “Woman, I’ve been dressing myself for over 30 years, I think I can manage this…”

“Well, from here on in you’ve become my responsibility, so just make sure your socks match!” She disengaged herself, then planted a deep, passionate kiss on Mulder’s lips. “Until we meet at the altar…” she breathed.

“Oh yeah…” Mulder breathed back and watched her go.

“You’re a lucky man. I hope you know that,” Skinner said quietly.

Mulder nodded. “I know.”

3:00 p.m.

Mulder found himself standing at the entrance to St. Patrick’s church, tugging at his cufflinks. Skinner stood placidly beside him, watching Mulder out of the corner of his eye.

“They’ll be here. Don’t worry.”

Mulder smiled nervously. “It wouldn’t matter, except Frohike has the rings. If he loses those, Scully will kill me.” He looked around. “Think I’ll go check on her.”

Skinner grinned. “It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding.”

“Shit, if it weren’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all!” Mulder called over his shoulder as he headed for the room where the women were dressing. He could hear the sounds of feminine laughter as he tapped at the door.

He was met by Tara Scully, dressed in a flowing gown of deep green.

“Tara, can I see Scully?” Mulder affixed his best puppy-dog pleading expression on his face.

“Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride before…” Mulder pushed open the door and found Scully seated before a mirror, her hair done and finishing her makeup.

“Hi, gorgeous,” he said as she got up and turned to face him. He almost passed out. She stood in a floor length gown of some sparkly, semi-translucent fabric in a champagne color that flowed with her every movement. And the neckline….oh my…it plunged and plunged…

“Hi Mulder,” Scully said softly. “Do you like the dress?”

Mulder closed his gaping jaw and tried to pry his eyes away from her breasts, which the dress covered—almost. “Um….oh yeah, I love the dress…Oh yeah…” He had never expected his prim, businesslike Scully to ever look like this. Even naked she’d never looked this beautiful. Then he realized. “Hey, it’s not white.”

“No, Mulder it isn’t. I tried on about twenty dresses before I realized that the reason I hated them was because they looked like `wedding’ dresses: stiff, ruffly ugly confections. I hated looking like a human pincushion. I decided against the white dress with veil. So Mom and I found a seamstress to make what I wanted. And why should I wear white? I’m hardly a virgin, and I’m not a sixteen year old bride. I’m a grown woman.”

Mulder grinned appreciatively as she spun in a circle, making the beads sparkle. “Oh, you’re a grown woman all right. I’m just glad you’re spoken for, otherwise I’d have to ask you to save me a dance at the reception.”

She slinked over to him and snuggled up very close. “Oh Mulder, I’m saving much more than a dance for you tonight…” she whispered in his ear. He could feel himself beginning to sweat in his tux.

“I think I know why they don’t let the groom see the bride before the wedding. They’re afraid they’ll ravish her before she gets to the altar!” Mulder tugged at his collar while Scully giggled. He allowed himself to be shoo’d from the room and returned to the front of the church.

Maggie Scully had just arrived, driving Teena Mulder from her hotel.

“Mom! How are you feeling?” Mulder beamed as he helped her from the car.

“Oh, I’m just fine Fox. My, you look wonderful today,” Teena smiled wistfully. “It just doesn’t seem that long ago you were just a child. Now you’re getting married. Did Dana like your grandmother’s ring?”

“She loved it. It hasn’t left her finger since I put it on her, except for the occasional autopsy.” Mulder stopped at Teena’s grimace. Oh yeah, Mom was sensitive. Noting Mulder’s expression, Maggie tactfully took Teena’s arm.

“Why don’t we check on the girls? They can probably use some help dressing.”

Teena nodded and allowed herself to be led away.

A battered VW van pulled up and disgorged Frohike and Byers, both resplendent in tuxes matching Mulder. Langly parked the van and returned to the group

“Hey man, you’re lookin’ good!” Mulder called as Langly approached. Langly, too had made an effort, wearing neatly pressed black cords with matching tuxedo t-shirt. Langly just grinned and adjusted his glasses.

Mulder and the groomsmen wandered into the church and got a good look at the decorations for the first time. Mulder stopped, stunned. There were flowers, of course: the red and white roses he and Scully had chosen, and the church was wreathed in evergreen for Christmas. But the Scullys and the Gunmen, he supposed, had also decorated the church with light. Tiny votive candles, hundreds of them, were perched all over the tall, ornately carved altar, lighting up the niches and bringing the front of the church into a golden glow. The altar itself was ablaze with more of the points of light.

“Did you guys do this?” Mulder breathed in awe.

“Yup. We got together with Tara and Maggie earlier today. Had to send you two off right,” Frohike grinned. “I’ve got fire extinguishers in the corners, just in case.”

Mulder just grinned back and admired the church, greeting the guests as they filtered in. Finally, Langly went in and took his seat while Byers and Frohike helped to seat the guests. Mulder backed into a far corner of the church and stood, fidgeting nervously.

“Sorry you didn’t bring your weapon?” Skinner asked dryly.

“I’ve faced down liver-eating mutants, vampires and things I can’t even describe but I’ve never been this scared…..” Mulder looked around palely. “I wish they’d let me hang out with her until the wedding starts. At least then I’d know she isn’t going to cut and run at the last minute like any sane person.”

Skinner grinned. “Agent Mulder, Dana Scully gave up any pretense at sanity years ago when she elected to remain your partner. Don’t worry, I’ll get her to the altar safely.”

The musicians had arrived, a classical quartet, and began playing soft music. More guests filtered in. Mulder got more nervous.

“I wish Scully hadn’t picked Pachelbel’s Canon in D for this wedding…it was originally written for a funeral, you know, ” Mulder muttered distractedly. Then he saw Father McCue and two altarboys, ready to process in.

“Hello, son. I’ll see you two at the altar,” said Father McCue and winked. The first altar boy took a better grip on the large cross he carried, and at McCue’s nod, started the procession in.

Both mothers appeared at the doorway.

“It’s time, Fox,” Maggie smiled. Teena approached Mulder and kissed him.

“Congratulations, my darling boy. I hope you’ll be very happy.”

Mulder gave them both a quavering smile and made his way to the front of the church. In the distance he could see the bustle at the rear as Frohike paired with Maggie and Byers escorted Teena in.

When both mothers were seated, Frohike joined Mulder up at the front of the church, while Byers took a seat.

“Courage, man. You can do this,” Frohike whispered. Mulder nodded, his eyes focused on the entrance.

The soft classical music faded away to be replaced by a passage from Beethoven, Pathetique, 2nd movement he thought. First Ellen, in a green velvet dress carrying red and white roses with more roses in her hair, then Tara dressed the same, walked slowly into the church.

He found himself craning his neck, seeing only a glimpse of golden light in the entryway. The music changed to a trumpet solo, it’s triumphant call ringing through the church as his Scully came up the aisle. She glowed with golden light, the tiny votives catching the sparkles on her dress. She wore no jewelry, not even her cross. She didn’t need any. And she had no veil. Her only ornament was another bouquet of red and white roses, tied with gold and green ribbons. She was simply herself, completely and honestly his Scully, coming to him in a cloud of light. He couldn’t think of anything more fitting.

The trumpet solo ended and Skinner grinned at Scully as he placed her hand in Mulder’s. Scully stood on tiptoe and gave a surprised Skinner a quick kiss.

“Thank you, Sir. For everything.”

“My pleasure, Agent.” A beaming Skinner backed away and sat down next to Maggie.

Mulder gave Scully a long appreciative look, which she returned with interest. Then they followed the priest to the altar.

A few rows back, Langly elbowed Byers. “Hey man, what’s wrong? You’re supposed to be happy for them.”

Byers sniffled a little. “I am happy…and a little jealous.”

The service passed Mulder in a golden blur. He was intensely conscious of Scully next to him; he could swear she was glowing. He certainly felt like he was. Oh, what? Oh yeah, the vows. He cleared his throat and addressed himself to Scully using the words that they had chosen:

“I, Fox William Mulder, promise to be your lover, companion and friend,

Your partner throughout our lives,

Your ally in conflict,

Your greatest fan and your toughest adversary,

Your comrade in adventure,

Your student and your teacher,

Your consolation in disappointment,

Your accomplice in mischief,

Your strength in your need and

Vulnerable to you in my own.

And most of all, your friend in our shared search for truth.

I take you to be my wife and promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”

He could see tears trembling on her lashes as he slipped the ring on her finger. He could hear the quaver in her voice as she repeated back the words he’d just said to her, promising to be his partner, his support and all the things she already was and now would be for the rest of their lives. Her fingers trembled as she pushed the ring with the X’s onto his finger.

He could never remember the rest of the mass, just the feel of her fingers in his and the smooth gold of the ring. He thought that they sang the Ave Maria, when Scully went to lay her bouquet at the statue of the Virgin Mary and said a prayer. He breathed a quick prayer then, too, hoping that the God Scully believed in would protect her and take care of them both.

Then, they were in a receiving line, laughing and being congratulated. Scully was teased more than once about her dress, but she just said proudly, “My husband likes it, and if it’s okay with him, it’s okay with me!”

The photographer grabbed them and forced them through the formal portrait ordeal. But Mulder didn’t mind, he couldn’t wipe the shit-eating grin off his face and figured it couldn’t hurt.

By the time they got to the reception, the party was going full blast. Frohike had helped him find a band with a guy who sang Elvis songs. When Scully got a look at the singer’s sideburns, she frowned a little then shrugged. Mulder decided he liked the shrug. It made her shimmer all over.

The dinner was as delicious as the one they’d sampled and the guests were raving over the lamb, the table decorations (tiny boxes of truffles in red and gold boxes sitting on

They cut the cake, a two tier lemon creme with raspberry filling, and delicately fed it to each other (avoiding a food fight by prearrangement). Scully successfully disposed of her wedding bouquet (Tracy caught it), and Mulder gingerly relieved her of her garter while she giggled. Frohike grabbed it in mid-air.

“Oh no, does that mean I’m going to see that thing on his rearview mirror for the next ten years?” Scully asked doubtfully as Frohike did a victory dance, twirling the garter around his finger.

“Probably. I think you made his day,” Mulder smiled, then felt Scully tug his arm. She held her finger to her lips and pulled him into a neighboring banquet room, currently unused.

She pulled him over by the windows. “Mulder, I just wanted to tell you that I love you, now, away from all the chaos.” She planted her hands on either side of his face and leaned in for a kiss.

They both raised their heads when they heard whistles and cheers from behind them. The wedding party had followed them.

“Come on, the honeymoon can’t start yet! You haven’t danced!” yelled Frohike, still carrying the garter. Mulder and Scully laughed and ran back into the main room, holding hands.

“You’re right, we have to dance. Wife, may I have this dance?” Mulder held out his arms and Scully walked into them, holding him close. The singer, who looked suspiciously like Elvis, began to sing:

“Wise men say, only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you….”

Scully gave Mulder a long, suspicious glance. “I knew Elvis would be in there somewhere. But I love the thought.”

“Of course,” Mulder just grinned back and they continued their dance.

Other couples filtered onto the dance floor and soon the room was full of dancers. Frohike approached Skinner, standing wistfully on the sidelines.

“Hey, Skinner, would you like to join us in a private toast? I brought some of the good stuff.” Frohike held out a small silver flask. Skinner grinned.

“I’d be honored,” he replied and followed Frohike back to a small storeroom.

Byers and Langly were already waiting, gleefully sipping at a confiscated bottle of champagne. Skinner picked it up and read the label. “Vouve Cliquotte! Where did you find this?”

“Mulder gave it to us. Said his mom had bought them a case as a wedding gift and he wanted to share the wealth.” Langly grabbed an empty champagne flute and poured Skinner a glassful.

Reaching back to put the bottle down, Langly lost his balance and fell back hard against some wooden packing crates stacked against the wall. Fumbling for his balance, he hung onto the top crate, putting his full weight against it. The pile of crates wobbled and fell over, breaking with a crash.

Skinner and the gunmen stood back, silently watching a deadly pile of handguns, ammunition, sub-machine guns and assault rifles pour from the cases.

Part 8

Skinner and the Gunmen just stared at the gleaming pile of weaponry for a moment, then Skinner knelt down and began to examine the guns.

He lifted a gun. “This is a Colt M16A2. High powered sub-machine gun, it can easily pierce level 11 kevlar. This is a military weapon. And this is a Benelli M1, 12-gauge shotgun.”

Byers had knelt beside him and was looking over a handgun. “This is a Beretta, isn’t it?”

Skinner nodded. “All these are weapons of choice for terrorists, high-powered and high quality. I assume that the rest of these cases have the same contents. There must be ten cases here…hundreds of weapons.” Skinner frowned bleakly. “I thought one of the waiters looked familiar and I just figured out where I’ve seen him before.” He got up, dusting the knees of his trousers. “I’m going to get Mulder.”

“Are you sure you want to tell him? I mean, it’s his wedding day.” Frohike cast a worried glance at the guns and then at Skinner.

“He wouldn’t thank me for keeping him in the dark. I’ll get him.”

Skinner returned in a few minutes with a laughing Mulder. “Sir, I don’t understand what all the secrecy is abou….” He saw the burst crates and the pile of weapons on the floor and fell silent in mid-stream.

“Do you know anything about this, Agent Mulder?” Skinner asked quietly.

Mulder shook his head, stunned. “No sir. We just rented the hall. What’s going on?”

“The waiter at my table looked familiar and I just remembered where I saw him. I opened a file three days ago in the Domestic Terrorism unit. Derek Brown is a known member of a terrorist militia group called the Sons of America. It’s been suspected for some time that they’ve been stockpiling weapons and shipping them to their various group centers. After Waco we’ve kept a low profile on the investigation, but I think this will blow the case wide open.” Skinner sighed. “I’m sorry to interrupt your reception, Agent Mulder…”

Mulder tore his eyes away from the guns. “That’s okay, sir. Should we cancel our plane tickets?”

“Oh no. This doesn’t involve your division at all; you two go ahead. But I need to alert Agents Simonds and Richardson.” He stopped. “Did you hear that?”

The music and noise from the main room had died down and a single man’s voice could be heard shouting. “Don’t anybody move or I’ll mow you down!”

“Damn,” said Mulder. “He must have seen you come out to get me and figured out we found the guns.” His face grew pale. “Scully’s in there!”

“Hold it. Sudden movement might compel him to fire.” Skinner eased open the store room door slightly. “He’s on the far side of the room. Looks like all ten of the waiters are involved. They’re armed and scattered around the room. Damn! The hall is stuffed with law-enforcement out there, unarmed, and we can’t do a thing!”

Mulder bent down and retrieved a Beretta, loading it. “We can arm ourselves and hope to have a chance of using it.” He loaded a second one and stuffed it into his cummerbund, then joined Skinner at the door. He could hear the Gunmen nervously arming themselves as well.

“Oh no…” A furious Albert, still in chef’s hat and apron was stomping out of the kitchen toward Brown. “Derek, I hired you because you’re my cousin and Aunt Nita said you needed the work! How could you do this? We’re family!”

Brown stared coldly at Albert. “The Sons are my family. You’d better get out of the way or, cousin or not, I’ll shoot you where you stand.”

“You wouldn’t! We grew up together. Please Derek..” Albert walked slowly toward Brown, who raised his gun. Albert gave a yell and ran for Brown, wrestling him to the floor.

“Now!” hissed Skinner and the men slipped out of the store room, scattering into the far corners of the hall. Mulder found Scully huddled behind an upended table, watching three FBI agents trying to take down one of the waiters.

“Are you okay?” she asked tensely.

“I’m fine.” Mulder pulled the second Beretta out and held it out to her. “So, how do you like your reception?”

Scully calmly eyed her husband. “Mulder, today I’m a bride, the happiest day of my life, the day I’ve looked forward to since I was a little girl. I spent two hours having my hair done, got a pedicure, a manicure and spent over $3000 for this dress. This is my goddamned day, so shut the fuck up Mulder and hand me the stupid gun!” She grabbed the Beretta and pointed it over the table just as a bullet came whizzing over their heads. The two agents had subdued the one terrorist, but there were nine still free and armed.

“My mom. Is she still here? How about your mom and Tara?” Mulder asked anxiously between shots.

“They left about twenty minutes ago. Mom drove Tara and Teena back to the hotel, thank God. Bill’s still here, somewhere.”

“Bill? What the Hell is he doing here?” Mulder squeezed off another shot and noted that one waiter was taking out the Christmas tree. He could see all the little white porcelain doves exploding into puffs of dust, like skeet.

“He came to apologize. Said he was unreasonable and that I was competent to make my own choices. He came to the wedding, ” Aim and fire. Aim again. “He stood at the back. He also said he met a man who claimed to be an old family friend, extended his best wishes to us.”

“Oh? Who?” Mulder squeezed off a shot and scanned the room. Two more waiters down, four more actively firing. Where were the other three?

“Bill said he was older, wrinkled, wearing a gray trenchcoat. And smelled strongly of cigarettes. Bill said he was watching the ceremony really closely, looking kind of sad.” Aim, fire, duck. Oh, Tracy got one of the Berettas. Damn, she’s good—winged one of the waiters.

“I can’t blame him for being sad. He was never invited. Talk about evil fairies and their gifts….”

“What was that, Mulder?” click-click-click “Damn. I’m out of ammo. Do you have any more?”

“No. It’s all back in the storage room. Here, take my gun and cover me. I’ll go back and get more. Hey, there’s Bill. I think he has the same idea. Cover us.”

Mulder gave the gun to Scully and scuttled over to the storage room door, meeting Bill Scully there and running in after him.

“More ammo?” Mulder asked breathlessly.

“Yeah. I was over in the corner with some agents that got pinned down. We’re about out.” Bill ran to the corner and began scooping up ammunition. Mulder joined him, stuffing pockets.

“Well, I’m glad you came to the wedding after all. It made Scully happy.”

“I did it for her. Not for you. I still think you’re a prick, and this reception is just one more thing she’s had to face because of you, so don’t think I’m doing you any favors.” Bill ran back to the door, followed by Mulder.

“You’re never going to understand this, Bill, but I really don’t care what you think. I only care about my wife’s well-being, and she cares about you. God knows why.”

Bill turned to reply to Mulder, then found himself pushed back against the door, falling over backwards and landing on Mulder. Derek Brown ran into the room, gun drawn, then slammed the door behind him.

He trained his gun on the two men. “Okay, empty your pockets and nobody has to get hurt.”

Reception Hall

Scully wondered dimly what had become of Mulder. Her count was up to eight waiters either injured or subdued. If the agents were low on arms and ammo, the waiters hadn’t started with much either. Once the fighting got down to chair-legs and fragments of the Christmas tree, the battle was more even. She had remained crouched behind her table, forgotten by most of the room, Mulder’s gun now empty. Mulder. It was taking him an awfully long time…

She heard a banging sound and men wearing kevlar vests poured into the room. Waiter number nine was quickly subdued. She got up and cautiously surveyed the room. Where was number 10? And what the Hell had happened, anyway?

She saw the door to the storeroom open and was overjoyed to see Mulder framed in the doorway. Skinner hurriedly ran over to him and as they began speaking, she could see the black muzzle of a gun pointed at Mulder’s head. He’d found waiter number 10.

She hurried over and found herself in a crowd of D.C. SWAT team members. “No, I’m an FBI agent. Sorry, I don’t have my badge. Yes, I’m the bride…please let me through. They have my partner hostage…”

The door was closed and Skinner was huddled with the SWAT team leader. They both looked worried. “Agent Scully. I’m sorry to have to tell you that Derek Brown is holding Agent Mulder and your brother Bill hostage in there. He wants safe conduct out and money or he’s threatening to kill them.”

A team member handed her a kevlar vest and she struggled into it, slipping it absently over her dress. “Mulder knows that we don’t deal with terrorists…” she said, her voice low.

“We’re trying to figure out a way to get them free of there. The room is small, without even a ventilation duct, so teargas is iffy….”

Scully listened to them plan, but for the first time in a crisis she felt frozen. Mulder was in there… Her husband was in there….This was the reason she’d always been shy of commitment. She’d always been terrified of loving somebody, then abruptly losing them…..

Store Room

When the gunfire had died down, Brown had had Mulder look outside and report on the melee. “You’ve lost. All your guys are either shot or arrested and the local SWAT team is pouring in. The FBI won’t be far behind. You’ve lost. Why don’t you just give it up without any more bloodshed?”

“I can’t do that. I’m sworn to die before I betray the cause. And I’ll take you two with me if I need to.” Brown spat and held the gun steady. Bill and Mulder waited quietly, watching the gun in Derek Brown’s hands, as he held it without a quiver.

“You, Mister Newlywed—you go to the door. Tell `em I’ll exchange you for my freedom and $10,000 cash. Any tricks and your bride is a widow before the day is out.”

Mulder had delivered the message to an anxious Skinner. They both knew the size of the weapons stockpile in the crates. There was no doubt that Brown could make good his threat.

“Skinner—” Mulder looked over his shoulder, then back at his boss. “If I don’t get out of this, will you tell Scully…” he said softly, then fumbled for words. Skinner nodded. “I’ll tell her if I have to, but I don’t think it’ll be necessary, Agent.” The gun pressed more firmly against Mulder’s temple and he was forced back into the room.

Brown locked the door behind him and propped a chair against it, then forced the men to the far side of the storage room, away from the open cases.

“This doesn’t have to end badly, “Mulder said softly. “You decide what happens here, and nobody has to get hurt. You’re outnumbered. At least if you give up now, the Sons of America haven’t lost another soldier…”

“I said, I’m ready to die for the cause….”

“I know that. But wouldn’t it be better to live for it? You don’t do the cause much good shot down by cops….” Brown was starting to look doubtful. Good. “At least alive you can continue to work for the cause. I know how very much you believe in it…” Mulder kept up a soothing litany, hoping either to talk their captor down or to buy time for the teams outside to find a way to rescue them. He could feel Bill quivering with impatience, unhappy at the enforced stillness.

Mulder kept throwing cautionary looks Bill’s way. He could sense that Bill wanted to explode, just stop the talk and take control back. Can’t focus on Bill. Got to focus on Derek, he’s the one with the gun. Hope Bill has enough good sense not to…damn!

Derek’s attention was focused so entirely on Mulder that he didn’t see Bill edging away from Mulder, taking himself out of direct view. A sudden noise from outside the room startled Derek, and Bill chose that moment to dive for him.

Bill hit him at the waist, throwing him over. Mulder cursed Bill silently but was a split-second behind him, pinning him while Bill wrestled the gun away from Derek. Bill sat on his captive and began happily tying the man’s wrists in front of his body with the tie from the man’s tux.

Mulder opened the door. “It’s okay, our guy is down,” he called to the assembled firepower.

A kevlar clad Scully ran and gave him a flying hug. “Damn it, Mulder! Don’t do things like that! You frightened me.” She snuggled into his collarbone as Mulder held her close.

“Yeah, well it took a little help from his brother-in-law to get this guy, sis.” Bill got up, leaving Derek on the floor and sauntered toward Scully. Mulder turned, ready to give him a wise-ass response and saw Derek diving for his weapon. Bill must have put it down when he was tying Derek.

“Bill!” As Mulder lunged forward he could see Derek grab the gun in his tied hands and aim it point blank at Bill’s back. “No!!” Mulder pushed Bill out of the way and heard a tremendous noise.

Blood. There was blood everywhere. The world was covered with it. He was on the floor, he guessed dimly. Somebody was yelling, and he could feel hands on him, tugging at his collar and his tie. He blinked and saw Scully hovering overhead, bloody streaks on her face, her hands crimson red, her vest streaked with it.

“Scully….you’re hurt…” he whispered.

“No, I’m not. Lie still.” She grabbed the hem of her $3000 dress and yanked. A long strip of fabric came loose, scattering tiny beads to land and float in the blood. He could dimly see it flowing, pulsing away from his body. She bunched the rag into a ball and pressed it against his neck, hard.

“Ow! What…?”

“You got shot. It hit an artery..shit…” It wasn’t like Scully to swear, then he saw what she was swearing at. More blood, pulsing in time to his heartbeat. A terrified looking Skinner ran up and dug for a handkerchief.

“Here, Scully, use this.” Skinner handed her the white cotton handkerchief. Scully looked at the wad of fabric in her hand, red and sodden. She shuddered and grabbed the cloth offered, pushing it down onto the wound. She looked up at Skinner as she spoke urgently. “Go find a towel, or a tablecloth or something…And get the paramedics. NOW!”

“Scully….” Her eyes returned to Mulder’s face. “Scully, I want you to know that this has been the best day of my life. I love you…” Mulder could feel himself getting cold. He could vaguely see Skinner pulling off his jacket, Scully tucking it around him. Too bad he was going to ruin it; Skinner’d never get his deposit back.

Everything sounded so far away. Cold. It was so cold.

“No…Mulder…no, not like this. You can’t go like this.” Scully’s hands were trembling where she pressed against the wound. The cloth was red and soaking again. She looked around vainly for another cloth to use and tore another strip off her dress, adding it to the compress. “Mulder, you can’t go yet. You have to hold on. Don’t you dare give up like this! Mulder? Mulder can you hear me?” Anguish in her voice….“Damn it, where are the paramedics?!!”

Part 9

When Mulder had appeared at the storeroom door, announcing that the last terrorist had been subdued, Scully was waiting. At the first sight of Mulder, whole and uninjured, she had run full speed and thrown herself into his arms. Safe. He was safe. Then she heard Bill, bragging as usual, and pulled her head away from Mulder’s chest.

She saw the terrorist stretch his bound hands for the gun just in reach, grab it, aim it for Bill. She felt Mulder yell, then pull abruptly away from her to dive for Bill. “Mulder…no!” was on her lips, but it was too late.

Bill pushed out of the way, Mulder took the bullet in the neck. She saw blood fountain out of him as he collapsed to the floor. She sprinted towards him and heard a shot, Skinner’s gun, she thought. The terrorist went down and stayed down.

She threw herself to her knees next to her husband. Mulder’s eyes were opening as he struggled to sit up.

“Lie still. No I’m not hurt,” she told him sharply, watching the blood pump out of him in time to his heartbeat. Artery. If it was the carotid, Mulder was dead as he lay there. Please God, let it be the jugular; lower pressure, there’d be a chance of saving him.

Without regret she ripped a hunk of fabric from her gold dress and made a compress for Mulder’s wound. He’d stopped arguing, getting paler. She could see the sweat beading his face, skin felt clammy under the hot blood flooding her hands.

He was trying to say good bye. Damn it, Mulder, don’t you say goodbye to me yet! We’ve barely started. We never had a chance to really start. Not today. Not now. We’ve never had a chance! Mulder’s eyes flutter closed and he falls into silence. Wrap Skinner’s jacket around Mulder, try to keep the shock down. Grasp at straws.

He’s dying….Keep pressing the wound, try to stop the blood. He’s dying…he’s really going to leave me this time and I can’t stop it…..

Add another strip of fabric to Skinner’s handkerchief and her original dress fragment. Press, hold..pray. Breathe, Mulder, breathe.

Mulder’s eyes opened again and he just looked up at her, that deep look that meant he was studying her, learning her soul. He smiled a little and they closed again. She bent forward and put her lips to his ear. “Mulder, if you die on me I will never forgive you. Got that? Please, please just hold on for me…”

Skinner appeared with a stack of dish towels and silently handed them to her. She took two, folded them and jammed them on top of the wound.

“Where are the goddamned paramedics?” she gritted, here eyes never leaving Mulder’s face.

“On their way. There was a backup on the freeway, traffic accident, and they had to go around it. How is he?”

Dana tried to control her voice; keep it professional and cool. “He’s suffering from hypervolumic shock; he’s lost a lot of blood, and quickly. Unless we get him to a hospital soon, very soon….” her voice trailed off and she pressed harder. Skinner disappeared and she could hear him shouting in the background that any paramedics who showed up were to go to the back room, immediately!

The paramedics arrived, at last! and took over. Dana shucked off the kevlar vest and followed the gurney our of the hall. She saw that her hands were red with drying blood and absently wiped them on her dress. While they were loading Mulder, she sadly noticed the white Mustang, parked forlornly in front of the hall, still decorated with crepe paper roses and a `just married’ sign.

Skinner came up to her. “Dana, I’ll meet you at the hospital. Don’t worry about the car, I’ll see to it.” Scully nodded and got into the ambulance. She saw a second ambulance arrive, for the other wounded she supposed. The other wounded at her wedding reception.

Skinner watched the ambulance leave and went back into the room. He found Byers, Frohike and Langly standing together talking solemnly.

“How is he?” Byers asked.

“Still alive, and on his way to the hospital. Agent Scully’s with him. I was wondering if you could arrange to have the Mustang towed somewhere safe? I don’t think Scully will want to deal with it today.”

Frohike nodded. “I have the spare key and I can get into Mulder’s garage. Not a problem.”

“Good. Byers, would you go to the hotel and inform Mrs. Scully and Mrs. Mulder of the…er…occurrences here today? Maybe bring them to the hospital? I think that Agent Scully will need the support.”

“Of course. They’re at the Plaza? I’ll go get them.”

“How about me?” Langly asked.

“You might try praying.”

Skinner bleakly eyed the pool of blood drying on the storeroom floor and went to check on the other wounded.

In the ambulance the paramedics continued to work on Mulder. Dana silently watched and listened, knowing better than to interfere. First one, then a second large bore IV was hooked up, trying frantically to replace the fluids Mulder had lost. His blood pressure had fallen to 80 over 40 and was dropping, pulse was in the 140’s and thready. Even though he was on oxygen, she helplessly watched him start to choke and gasp for air. He had never regained consciousness.

Georgetown Hospital. Thank God. She followed the gurney into the ER, where she was gently but firmly pried away. They saw the blood all over her; was she hurt? No, I’m not hurt. I’m fine. It isn’t my blood. The nurse wanted to know about next of kin, was she a relative?

“Yes, I’m his par…I’m his wife,” Dana faltered and fell silent, lightly caressing the rings on her left hand, now encrusted with blood. The nurse gave her an understanding nod and sat her down with a cup of coffee and the admittance forms.

Then she went to wait in the waiting room. That was where Maggie and Byers found her, a small figure in a stained and crumpled dress, huddled in a chair. As they approached they could see her absently twisting the rings on her left hand while she stared expressionlessly into space.

“Honey? How are you?” Maggie sat down next to her and enfolded her in a hug.

“Mom? Oh Mom, he was dying…” After a long silence, Scully whispered into mother’s embrace. “I couldn’t do anything. I was there this time, and there was still nothing I could do…”

“Honey, there’s always something you can do. You can pray. You’re doing that, aren’t you?”

Dana nodded dumbly, while her mother stroked her hair.

Maggie looked up as Bill walked into the waiting room, his expression a mix of embarrassment and worry.

“Dana, I’m sorry about this. How is he?”

Scully looked up. “How do you think he is? He almost died from loss of blood on the way over. He’s been in surgery for the past 45 minutes. We haven’t heard anything yet.”

“I’m sorry, Dana…I…I thought that terrorist guy was tied up. I thought it was safe.” Bill sat down and looked at his hands. “He saved my life. He took the bullet meant for me.”

“Yes. He did,” said Scully coldly. “Just like the sorry-ass son of a bitch to do something heroic, huh?”

Bill gave her an angry look. “I never said he wasn’t brave, he just attracts trouble like a magnet. Today was a prime example; I’m just surprised that the mayhem wasn’t more widespread.”

“William, that’s ENOUGH,” said Maggie. “You can go wait outside. I don’t think that Dana needs to hear this sort of talk right now.”

Bill silently got up and stalked out of the room, brushing past Skinner who was standing in the doorway.

“Honey, why don’t we get you a shower and change of clothes? Fox won’t want to see you looking like this when he wakes up, will he? I talked to the nurses at the desk and they said you could shower and change into some surgical scrubs in their locker room. How about it?”

Scully looked up and wiped her cheek, smearing the blood. She glanced down at her hands, and her rings again. “I guess you’re right,” she said doubtfully. “But what if Mulder needs me? What if…? I can’t leave. Not until I know.”

“I’ll stay here and if there’s news I’ll come and get you, right out of the shower if need be. Don’t worry, honey, it’s covered.”

Scully nodded and gave her a watery smile, then wandered off to the desk and was soon being led to the locker room area.

Seeing Dana leave the waiting room, Bill returned and sat down.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her…” he began, but his mother interrupted. “You never do, but you always succeed. Can’t you understand, this is the man she’s chosen? She’s married to him now; what hurts him, hurts her.”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t my fault Mulder got shot,” Bill mumbled. Maggie gave him a long look. “I’m going to get some coffee. And some air.” She left, walking briskly.

“You’re right, it wasn’t your fault that Agent Mulder was shot,” a gravel voiced Skinner approached. “Actually, I blame it on Mulder.”

“You do?” asked Bill hopefully.

“Oh yes. He was the trained professional in the situation and should have been able to maintain control of events. According to your statement, Agent Mulder tried to negotiate with the terrorist for your release, and Brown was actually beginning to listen. Then you took it upon yourself to attempt to overpower Brown, even though he was armed. Agent Mulder, seeing that further negotiation would be useless, joined you and helped subdue the man.”

Skinner moved in front of Bill and stared down at him coldly. “Then Agent Mulder made a poor decision. As the trained professional, he should have properly restrained the man and ensured that all weapons were completely out of the suspect’s reach before opening that door. Instead, he trusted you, an untrained non-professional, to do the job: poorly, I might add.”

Skinner increased the intensity of his glare, making Bill shrink back against the cushions. “You tied the man with his hands in front of him, left the man’s weapon within reach and TURNED YOUR BACK on him so that you could try to one-up Agent Mulder.”

Skinner fell silent then continued, a look of disgust on his face. “Agent Mulder knew he was working with an idiot and failed to take that into account. Thus, you were able to endanger yourself, forcing Agent Mulder to take steps to save you from your own rank stupidity. And thus, Agent Mulder is lying in that operating room through his own fault. And if your sister becomes a widow today, it will be Mulder’s poor judgement that causes that, no blame to you. So, you can finally say that you proved that you’re a better man than Agent Mulder.”

Skinner gave Bill a withering look and strode out the door, followed closely by Byers. Bill sat alone and all was quiet.

In the shower, Dana washed the blood out of her hair, off her face, off her hands, then stood under the spray of water and cried. She knew how close his chances were. Only married a day…and the wedding was so lovely. Those vows. Mulder had written them, trying to describe their partnership. And he had.

She looked at her rings, now clean and shining. How long it had taken them to admit romantic feelings, and what terrible adventures had forced those admissions. “They should name a hospital wing for us,” Scully whispered with a wry smile. Those long months while she and Mulder both recovered from Kurt Willard’s sexual abuse. And then chicken pox. Mulder had looked so funny with his face all pocky. She hadn’t told him how cute she’d thought that one pock mark on the tip of his nose was; hadn’t wanted to make him self-conscious.

And she’d let him propose to her for a full day before she’d accepted. Well, she wanted that time back now, she thought fiercely. She wanted all of it. And she wanted all those 7 wasted years with him, wanted back that time so that she could be his lover and not just his partner. She wanted that time, and now there might not be any left. Just today, and the last year.

Time to get out of the shower. Her skin was wrinkling. The blood was gone, but she could still feel it on her skin: Mulder’s life, all over her. She sighed and toweled herself off, dressing in the oversized green scrubs.

Just outside the waiting area, Skinner spoke to Byers. “Why isn’t Mrs, Mulder here? “

Byers shrugged. “She said she had a migraine and that we should call if there was any news. From what Mulder has said, that’s fairly consistent. She hates hospitals; has for years, since Samantha was taken.”

Skinner nodded. From her non-appearance for Mulder’s earlier hospitalizations, he’d assumed something of the sort. Maggie approached with her coffee.

“Any word?”

Skinner shook his head. “Nothing. Bill is in the waiting area, but no word.” Maggie took a sip of her coffee and returned to the waiting area.

After a while she returned. “The doctor wants Dana. I’ll be right back.” She hurried toward the locker room and soon was seen trying to keep up with her daughter, who was sprinting for the waiting room.

“Yes, do you have news? How is he?” Scully asked breathlessly. A youngish man in stained scrubs approached her.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Parks, Mr. Mulder’s vascular surgeon. As you know, he’s lost a lot of blood; the bullet nicked his jugular vein, but we’ve repaired that and have given him blood transfusions to replace the lost fluids. He’s resting now, and we expect a full recovery.”

Scully’s sigh of relief was repeated by the little group in the room. “When can I see him?”

“He’s in recovery now, and will be moved to the ICU shortly. Once he’s there, someone will come and get you. Oh, and I’m sorry that this had to happen on your wedding day. I understand that this occurred at your reception?”

Scully nodded.

“He’ll be hospitalized for 3 to 4 days, barring complications, and will need to return to have stitches removed in about a week. But after that you should be able to return to any honeymoon plans you may have had.”

Scully returned to her chair a thousand pounds lighter. Bill sat down next to her.

“Dana? I, um…want you to know that I’m sorry for all the things I’ve said about Mulder. He’s your husband and I accept that. And I owe him; he saved my life. I just want you to know that I’ll keep my mouth shut from now on. Okay? I’ll…uh…try to get along with him.”

Scully looked up at Bill with a frown, then saw his contrite expression. This was the closest to an apology she’d seen from him in years. “All right. On Mulder’s behalf, I’ll accept the apology.” Bill nodded and gave her a tentative smile.

A nurse approached. “Are you Mr. Mulder’s family?”

“Yes, I’m his wife,” said Scully.

“And I’m his brother-in-law,” said Bill, firmly. Dana flashed him a quick smile which he returned.

“He can only see one person at a time,” the nurse said hesitantly.

“I’ll go,” Dana smiled and followed her.

Mulder had just arrived in ICU. He looked pale and battered, the usual IVs, a dressing at his neck. He was sleeping quietly. She pulled up a chair on the left side of the bed and took his hand in hers. Those silly rings he’d chosen, they were fitting though. She supposed that she should accept that nothing they ever did as a couple would ever be ordinary. She sighed, snuggling back into the chair and heard a noise from the bed.

“Mulder?” She leaned forward and caught his eyes slowly opening.

“Scu….lly..?”

“Yeah, it’s me. How ya feelin’?” She brushed the hair out of his eyes and bent in to kiss him. In all his prior hospital stays she’d wanted to do this, but couldn’t. Now, she remembered, I’m his wife. I have rights! Before he could answer her question, she kissed him again, harder.

“Mulder, you did an incredibly, profoundly stupid thing today,” she said firmly.

“Oh? Wha…wazzat? Not Bermuda Triangle again?”

“No, you just pushed my stupid, worthless brother out of the way of a bullet and got yourself shot.” Scully paused, then smiled down at him. “Thank you.”

“Don.. mention it. Say, I ruined your dress too, didn’t I? Sorry,” he yawned and his eyes drooped.

“That’s okay. It served its purpose, can’t wear it to work anyway.” She couldn’t keep her fingers away from his hair, caressing it gently. Mulder smiled sleepily, then winced.

“More pain meds?” she asked solicitously.

“No, they’ll make me foggier. This is your wedding night, Mrs. Mulder. I wrecked that, too. I’m so sorry…” Mulder blinked at her apologetically.

Scully snorted. “I’m just grateful we’ll have a wedding night, who cares where or how we spend it! We’ll make up for lost time on the honeymoon. The doctor says he’ll release you in a few days and the stitches come out in a week. Think you’ll be ready to fly out to Oregon then?”

Mulder’s eyes opened wide. “Oh yeah, I’ll be ready.”

“So, where is it we’re going, anyway?” Scully asked seductively. “You never did tell me?”

“Nope. My treat and my surprise. You don’t find out till we get there. But you’ll like it. Promise.” Mulder yawned and his eyelids drooped again. He struggled to focus on her and Scully smiled tenderly.

“Go to sleep, Mulder. I’m staying here, beside you. This is my wedding night, too.” She picked up his hand and kissed each knuckle, then pressed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Go to sleep, love. I’ll be here.”

Mulder drifted into sleep with a smile on his lips and Scully’s hand in his, dreaming of the honeymoon he’d planned. Scully watched him drift off, pulled her chair close to the bed and settled in to watch over him.

Maggie and Skinner, checking on them a half hour later found Mulder sound asleep with a smile. Scully was curled up in a chair beside the bed, his hand clasped in both of hers, resting her right cheek against it, asleep and smiling too.

They quietly shut the door and tiptoed out.

***For the next chapter in the story, I humbly pass the torch to the Maven of Smut, TBishop for “Honeymoon”.

And—any readers who want to read the other stories in the series, go to the Abattoir page at: www.xenith.freeservers.com/abattoir.html

The Pictures - The Wedding from Hell

On Saturday, December 18, 1999 Fox Mulder married Dana Scully in a small ceremony celebrated by Reverend McCue at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

We of the Consortium would like to commemorate this memorable event with these WebPages, a sort of Wedding Album. Good luck Mulder and Scully!

We have a sneaking feeling that you two are going to need it!

Planning the Wedding Mulder really got into it.

Image
Mulder working on the list of photographers
Image
And a kiss for luck
Image
The Ring
Image
St Patrick's Church

The Wedding

FOX MULDER AND DANA SCULLY

Image
And it's about time

DECEMBER 18, 1999---

We all arrived at the church anxious to see if this was really going to happen. It did. Mulder looked a little pale, but that could have been the hangover.

Scully surprised us with her champagne-colored dress, but Mulder's response was priceless.

Image
The Reception
Image
We caught the newlyweds celebrating in a quiet corner.

THE MENU

Roasted Boneless Lamb with Rosemary and Garlic served with

Leek Puree and Shiitake Mushrooms

Crisp Potato Cakes with Herbed Fromage Blanc

Winter Asparagus with Chee Butter

Pumpkin Gratin

Classic Caesar Salad

Fig and Prosciutto Pizza with Scallions and Gorgonzola

Crusty Italian Bread and Pesto

Wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Petit Shiraz, White Zinfandel

Champagne: Vouve Cliquotte

Wedding Cakes:

Lemon Crème Cake with Raspberry Curd

Chocolate Bavarian Cake with Allspice and Ginger

Assorted Confections for the Dessert Table

[Image missing: Chocolate Bavarian Cake]

Image
Lemon Crème Cake with Raspberry Curd

We're sorry that we don't have any other wedding pictures or anything from the reception. The police and FBI confiscated any film that survived (and it wasn't much). And the photographer's next of kin hasn't released the formal prints that survived.

If you'd like to see the wedding gifts, you can visit the gift page here. [It gave me a bit of a giggle.]

Author's Note: As is the case with all weddings, this one required much teamwork from the members of the Consortium. My most profound and heartfelt thanks to the following specialists who made this possible: Teresa Bishop: Honeymoon and Travel Planner; Sex Therapist; Tracy G. (Spygirl), our resident Expert in Arms, Astrology, Terrorists, Religious Music and Catering; Keleka for finding the ring; Jess our Photographer/gif re-designer; Dr. David, Resident Medical Specialist. Without all these terrific people, this wedding would have gone *flop* a long time ago. Xenith.

Mandatory Disclaimer: These characters are owned by Chris Carter and 1013 Productions. All photographs on this page (including the doctored ones) are used without permission but without profit either. The page is intended as a work of fiction, a parody of the X Files series and is not intended to be taken seriously or to imply any romantic relationship between the actors who portray Mulder and Scully. Any romantic relationship between Mulder and Scully themselves is eagerly anticipated.

Honeymoon by TBishop

Rated: NC-17

Category: MSR,Lurid Fiction(Formerly known as smut)

Disclaimer: This Mulder and Scully belong to Xenith. She’s letting me borrow them while mine take a much needed rest. Chris would never let his Moose and Squirrel have this much fun. At least not with each other.c-a

Feedback: Please, I love to know what you think. Be warned, flames will be forwarded to that dark part of my writer’s imagination that roams the night in search of victims.

Summary: Umm… What two people do on their honeymoon.

Author’s Note: This is part of Xenith’s Chicken Soup series, which is part of the Abattoir universe. It does not necessarily need to be read in conjunction with the others, but if you’re into continuity in a big way, you can find all related fics at the websites listed below. At Xenith’s request, I am again attempting to write a sequel worthy to be included in her Abattoir universe. This story directly follows The Wedding From Hell.

**If you want more information on the Hotel where Mulder and Scully spent their honeymoon, check out the Web site for The Westin Salishan. I’ve stayed there many times and it’s a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the Oregon coast.

http://www.salishan.com/

Xenith’s Stories: http://members.xoom.com/merlin717/index.html

Other Abattoir stories are at: www.xenith.freeservers.com/abattoir.html

My Stories: http://members.xoom.com/arcticfox42/Tbishop.htm or try the mirror site http://tbishop.freeservers.com/

*** Thanks to David, Shoshana and Shell for beta. To the Mistress of Angst herself,Xenith for all her help and inspiration. To Spygirl, Mistress of the Stars, for the astrological consult that persuaded Xenith to let me play with her Scully this way. And to Webmistress Grasshopper for keeping up the archive.

HONEYMOON

“It’s raining, Mulder.” Scully crosses her arms over her chest and gives me a look somewhere between a pout and a frown.

“It’s always raining, Scully, this is Oregon.” The steady drizzle has been with us since touchdown at PDX, and even the promise of a rental car upgrade hasn’t mollified my wife’s sour mood.

Wife.

God, I still can’t get used to that. Scully is my wife. As in ‘till death do us part,’ which incidentally is what almost happened just hours after we took those vows. Better to not relive the wedding from hell. I force myself to think about our destination instead.

The Westin Salishan, Gleneden Beach, Oregon. I’ve never been there, but the travel agent assured me it’s a very romantic hideaway for newlyweds. The ‘hideaway’ part was especially appealing after our most recent adventure. She also promised me this place would be free of champagne glass Jacuzzis, heart shaped bathtubs, and round beds with mirrors on the ceiling. I just couldn’t do that to Scully. I want this to be a vacation she’ll never forget, and not because it’s one more horrible chapter in the nightmare of our lives.

Not many people would venture to the Oregon coast at the end of December. It’s cold, it’s wet, and you really don’t want to be out in that icy wind. Of course, who want’s to go out? This is our honeymoon after all. Deluxe accommodations, a view of the ocean, and five star room service is all that’s required in my book. For sentimental reasons I chose Oregon to mark the beginning of our new life together. It being the place where our partnership really began. I’m not sure Scully is necessarily as sentimental as I am. She kept shoving cruise brochures in my face when I was planning this little escape. She had to be kidding. I’ve seen ‘Titanic’… I can only imagine what fate would befall the Spookys if they were to step foot on a luxury cruise ship. Besides, I haven’t gotten over that trip to the Bermuda Triangle yet.

And I don’t mind the rain. Actually, I’ve heard the Oregon coast is famous for its winter storms. We’ll be snuggling up in front of the fire and watching the waves break over the rocky shore as we sip Northwest Pinot Noir and make honeymoon memories that will have us both smiling for years to come.

“Mulder, how much further is it to the hotel?” She’s so impatient.

“What’s the matter, honey? Can’t wait?” I offer her a devilish grin. “I can pull the car over for a quickie if you’d like. It’s not the ‘Stang, but the back-seat looks roomy enough.”

She blushes. “No thank you. I can wait, HONEY. I’m just curious to see the destination you’ve chosen for our getaway. So far, Mulder, I have to tell you, I’m not terribly impressed.”

“You didn’t like Portland, Scully? The city of roses? We’ll have to come back in the spring when the sun comes out and the rose gardens are in full bloom.”

She sighs. “Couldn’t we have gone somewhere tropical? Hawaii is nice this time of year.”

“You know how you burn. I’m not spending my honeymoon smelling Noxema and hearing you hiss every time I touch you.” We haven’t had many cases in sunny locales, but I quickly learned that this fair skinned woman has no business soaking up rays.

She gives me her patient look. The one that tells me I’d better quit while I’m ahead.

“It’s not much further, Scully. Maybe another ten miles or so. Try to enjoy the scenery.”

My husband is the most brilliant man that ever lived! This place is fabulous! Nestled into the fir and pine covered Oregon hillside, row upon row of wonderful bungalow lodges. Ours is a honeymoon suite of course. We have a sleeping loft with a very comfortable king-sized bed complete with feather pillows, and a few steps below that is a living room with a fireplace, sofa and love seat, and a large coffee table. There’s a balcony with a spectacular view of the bay, Salishan spit and Pacific Ocean beyond. And the way these rooms are arranged, each one is completely private from the next. It gives the illusion that we are totally isolated. Just me and Mulder, alone in our private paradise. The paneled walls have a nice selection of local art, and the air is scented with sandalwood. They must pipe it in though the ventilation.

An inviting basket of fresh fruits and Northwest delicacies awaited us upon our arrival, along with a bottle of champagne and two lovely etched flutes. There is a note attached. Welcome to the Mulders’ from the staff of The Westin Salishan. They’ve thought of everything. The fireplace is even ready to light. Mulder immediately takes it to task, and soon we are enjoying the crackle of a roaring blaze.

I could get used to this. These accommodations are nothing like the dives we have to stay in when the Bureau is footing the bill. This place is first class all the way. It’s so cozy and relaxing, I don’t even mind the rain outside anymore.

Sighing, I settle in on the sofa, tucking my stocking feet up underneath me while I watch Mulder deftly divest the champagne bottle of its cork. It concedes with a loud pop, and Mulder grins at his conquest.

He fills the flutes and sits down beside me, handing me a glass. Before we sip he offers a toast.

“To my wife, whose incredible beauty is only matched by her courage and intellect.”

“Laying it on pretty thick there, aren’t you, Mulder?” I tell him, smiling over the rim of my glass, the jumping bubbles from the champagne tickling my nose.

“Well, I’m hoping to get lucky. I figure a little shameless flattery can’t hurt.” He takes a long drink, and I watch his Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallows. My eyes worry a minute over the new scar on the side of his neck. I promised myself I wouldn’t think about what nearly happened. The fact that I almost lost my husband on our wedding day. This is a time to celebrate. I force myself not to dwell over past miseries. He looks so handsome in his navy V-neck sweater and faded Calvin Kleins. We’ve been married for almost two weeks and I still can’t believe he’s really mine.

Our eyes meet and the connection is charged with a live current of sexual energy that has me wanting him and unable to think of anything else. By the way he suddenly shifts in his seat, I can tell those snug fitting jeans just got a little tighter. “You want to try out the bed, Mulder?” One of the advantages of being his wife, I can make these suggestions without the slightest bit of my Catholic guilt getting in the way.

I’m taken completely by surprise with his reply. “Not just yet, Scully.”

My eyebrows ask the question.

“I just want to unwind a little first. I promise we’ll get to the bed.”

He did marry a doctor. I have to ask. “Are you feeling all right?” It hasn’t been that long since he was discharged from the hospital. He was so stubborn about leaving all his pain meds at home.

“I’m fine, Scully.” A satisfied grin plays on his face at this mockery.

Bastard!

Okay, it was a long flight, and he did drive all the way from Portland to the coast, almost a two and a half hour trip… in the rain. I guess a little champagne and snuggling to ease his tension isn’t such a bad idea.

Scully is chomping at the bit. I want her too, but I think I’ll make her wait just a little longer… I like seeing how worked up she gets. And I know what champagne does to her. Nothing like a bit of bubbly to make Scully’s libido an inhibition free zone. She’ll be a wild seductress before we get to the bottom of the bottle.

Somewhere into her third glass, Scully starts grinning, and looking me over like I was covered in chocolate sauce. Hmm… Maybe we could try that later. I respond to her lustful stare with one of my own.

Well, I think I’ve made her wait just about long enough. But when I move to kiss her she pulls back.

“What?” I ask.

There is mischief dancing in her blue eyes and it’s erotic as hell.

“Mulderrr…” she purrs, and my cock twitches in response to her sultry timbre. “I want to give you your wedding present now.”

Hell, she can do anything she wants when she uses that voice. Maybe the fire wasn’t such a good idea after all… Jesus, it’s hot in here.

“So what’s my present?”

“It’s something very personal, Mulder. Something I wouldn’t share with anybody but you. It’s a secret about myself… a fantasy.”

Did I just whimper? The way she says ‘fantasy’ sends a shiver right through me.

“For years I’ve had this secret desire, Mulder. This reverie that used to occupy my lonely nights. I would lay in bed and dream… envision that I was the star of one of those videos you like to watch so much.”

I think my heart just stopped.

“I imagined myself one of those women you find so fascinating. I can do the things they can do you know.”

“Oh, God, Scully, I know you can.”

The tip of one perfect fingernail traces over my lips, then she brings it back to her own mouth and sucks it seductively. Her tongue teases me, making love to that delicate finger, while I draw upon crystal clear memories of the magic she’s worked in the past.

“Have you ever imagined me like that? One of the stars of those triple X videos you watch? When I was in college, my premed schedule wouldn’t allow for me to be in the theater classes, but I always attended the performances, and I always had dreams of being an actress.”

“You, Scully? An actress?” I consider this a minute. She does an English accent that isn’t half bad… And she does a damn fine job of pretending she’s fine when she’s anything but. Still, it’s difficult to see her as anything but the levelheaded scientist I’ve come to know and love.

“That surprises you, does it?”

“Well, yeah, it does, actually. I would have never guessed this about you. Thank you, Scully, thank you for sharing your secret with me.”

“There’s more.” Drinking down what’s left in her glass, she frowns at the empty champagne bottle.

“Dare I ask?”

Laughing a bad girl laugh, she hops up from the couch. I’m about to follow, when she says, “Wait here.”

I wouldn’t dream of not obeying her.

She disappears only briefly around the corner by the closet. I hear the zip of a suitcase. “Close your eyes,” she calls out to me a few minutes later.

Without the use of my sight, I am more acutely aware of the delicate spicy scent of her perfume as she approaches and stands before me. There is something more to her redolence that drives my need to a throbbing ache. The unique bouquet of her arousal makes my hunger for her almost unbearable.

“Okay, Mulder. You can open your eyes now.”

I do, and what’s waiting for me makes me suddenly believe there’s a God. Scully, my beautiful wife, adorned in what can only be described as lingerie designed by the devil himself. Sheer black lace clings to her curvaceous figure in the form of a teddy. Scully is a hot commodity regardless, but wrapped up in finery like this… damn! My eyes wander over her well toned body, stopping only when I see that she is holding something in her hand.

Jesus Christ!

A video camera. Scully hands it to me with a little uncertainty in her eyes. “I was thinking we could make that honeymoon video.”

Okay, I’ll admit it, my wife has just shocked the hell out of me. She can’t really be serious, can she? “Scully… really?” I choke out the words.

“You want to help me act out my fantasy, don’t you?”

Now I know it’s too hot in this room because I’m starting to sweat. When I made that joke to her while we were on undercover assignment out in California, I never imagined she would take me seriously. Hell, I never imagined we’d really be married someday. This is incredible. Scully wants to play porn star.

She then proceeds to climb up on the coffee table and sit in a very suggestive pose. “You be the director, Mulder. I’ll be the ingenue.”

Holy shit! Breathe. I have to remember to breathe. Who IS this woman? Champagne makes Scully less reserved, a little daring at times, but I’ve never seen her react like this before.

“Mulder, are you blushing?”

Am I? Oh, God! “A little, Scully… I guess, I mean… wow! Jeez, I would have never expected this.”

Her smile fades. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”

“No! No, not at all, Scully. Really, this is great. I was just a little surprised… God, you look sexy.” My brief moment of shyness is quickly forgotten when I notice the way Scully’s nipples are calling out to me through that frilly threadwork.

“So? You going to call action, Mr. Director, or is this just a rehearsal?”

After a bit of nervous laughter, I decide to play along. “Hang on, sweetheart, while I get this shot set up.” Okay, how does this damn camera work? My fumbling produces a giggle from my little screen star wanna be.

“It’s the big red button on the handle,” she smirks.

Already she’s got this wife role down pat. A halfhearted glare is my reply. “Okay, Action!” I tell her not quite sure what to expect.

The show she puts on is by far better than any triple X feature I’ve ever forgotten to return to the video store. She doesn’t seem the least bit shy about performing for the camera. The way she’s touching herself and moaning, I’m not sure how long it will be before I can’t stand it anymore and have to fuck her. Her hands wander over the delicate lacework of her alluring lingerie, finding those rosebud pink nipples and giving them a squeeze. One hand continues to caress her breasts, while the other makes a leisurely journey down her flat belly and still farther to the beckoning V between her legs. She slips two fingers beneath the fancy fabric, and her head falls back with the pleasure of her touch. Amazed, I watch through the lens of the camera as she begins to indulge herself. Her legs open wider as she loses herself in the enjoyment she expertly provides.

So enraptured in her exhibition, I have forgotten the purpose of camera as recording device. For me it has become a means for exploring her magnificent form. I let the camera pan up and down her body, capturing the image of my wife’s erotic spirit. Before long she is writhing before me, laying across the table in those fuck me high heels of hers and that diaphanous lace. I’m sure that at this point the sound of my own heavy breathing and pounding heart is drowning her quiet mews and soft moans. When she brings herself off, her back arches up from the table and with her cry of ecstasy fills the room; and I nearly drop the camera on the floor.

That’s it for me! I’m through playing voyeur. It’s time to become part of this action feature.

The force and intensity with which my husband jumps me, severs the table legs with a crack, and we both go crashing to the floor. Although 170 pounds of Mulder landing atop my 104 pound frame is not the most pleasant experience I’ve ever had, I’m shaking with silent laughter as he’s cursing his luck. He pushes his weight up on his hands and knees and looks down at me with concern.

“Scully, honey, I’m sorry! Jesus, are you all right?”

I wipe tears from my eyes and try to catch my breath. Maybe he did knock the wind out of me a little. All I can offer him at this time is a nod.

“Shit! You’re not all right.” He struggles to his feet amongst the debris of the table and effortlessly lifts me up in his arms. I’m still fighting to regain my lost air, as he reaches for the phone to call for help. It’s all I can do to grab his hand to stop him.

“I… I’m… okay. I’m fine,” I stammer.

He looks doubtful, but puts the phone back on the receiver at my insistence. “Are you sure?”

After a few deep breaths, I answer him. “Just got the wind knocked out of me… really, I’m fine.” My smile brings relief to his face. His head drops onto my shoulder, and he releases a bit of laughter himself.

“I’m sorry, Scully, I guess my enthusiasm got the better of me. It’s your fault though, G-woman. If you weren’t so damn arousing, I would have been able to control myself.”

“I like you out of control, Mulder. Don’t ever hold back your passion with me.”

He moves to kiss me, and when I stop him his frustrated expression is precious.

“The camera. I want to record us making love.” There’s no way I’m going to be a one woman show. I want my husband on this honeymoon video too.

There’s a look of uncertainty in his eyes, but he retrieves the camera from the sofa where he dropped it in his earlier excitement. He’s shaking his head when he returns to the bed. “The damn thing was still running.”

“Oh, Mulder, do you think you got us breaking the table?”

He shrugs. “We’ll look at it later.” He sets the camera on the ledge of the halfwall that separates the loft from the rest of the room. A moment later he joins me on the bed, carefully this time, taking me in his arms.

As he kisses me, I help him wrestle out of his clothes. His hands roam over my body and he quickly divests me of my provocative sleepwear, preferring the feel of bare flesh beneath his fingers. When I try to kick off the shoes, he stops me. “Leave them on. Those stilts you wear have always made me crazy, Scully. I want to fuck you while you’re wearing them.”

The demanding tone with which he says it, has me quivering in anticipation.

I indulge his fantasy. There is no time wasted on foreplay. I’m already so hot and wet and ready for him that any more preamble would only be torturous. His steely length enters me with a single thrust, and I cry out as Mulder groans his approval.

This is not a tender lovemaking session. We are both far too worked up to linger over gentle caresses and tender kissing. We devour each other, tongues dueling as our bodies couple with feverish zeal. Mulder brings my knees up over his shoulders, entering me so deeply I am clawing at the bedcovers in my helplessness and my rapture. Positioned like this, with him pounding into me, I feel the pulling burning tension as I build toward another climax. The feeling is so fierce and consuming, I pray to God Mulder doesn’t come before I do. I want this so bad.

“Scully…”

I know it’s a warning. I know that he’s close. Damn it, I want this so bad… I need this so much… I… I… “Ooooh… God! God! God! Yesssss.” I am soaring through heaven and upon hearing my impassioned cries, Mulder finds his own release.

His body stills over mine and he spills his seed in me. Though I will never tell him this, there is always an element of sadness to our lovemaking for me. That moment when he gives what could have been life, except that my barren body offers no hope of conception. Even if I were to carry his child in my womb, it could never be a child of our own union. There was some question in my mind as to the viability of the ova Mulder so gallantly stole back for me. I had them tested, and my fears were confirmed. All the eggs were unusable.

Mulder promised we’d find a way to have a family when we’re ready to. Sometimes I wish I didn’t know so much about medicine. The truth is, the odds are stacked against us. And even if we did manage a successful IVF with a donor egg, we’d never know what that green eyed-baby with the medium-size nose might have looked like. My heart aches for what will never be.

Mulder’s sex-darkened eyes search mine intently. He allows me to relax my position, to lie beneath his protective embrace. He’s studying me, no doubt trying to figure out what has caused this brief moment of melancholy after such a vigorous and enjoyable encounter. I feel guilty for not telling him, but I will not have him sharing my grief each time we make love. I force a smile that he returns tentatively.

“You don’t look happy. Was I that bad?”

Is he kidding? I shake my head. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“Your my wife now, Scully, are you ever going to stop playing that game with me and just tell me what’s bothering you when I ask?”

“We’ll talk about it another time.”

“Why not now?”

“I don’t want to, Mulder…”

The look in his eyes tells me I’ve hurt him with my refusal. Damn it! Why can’t this man ever accept that all feelings are not meant to be shared?

With a sigh, I relent and confess my suffering. Better to expose my heart than to have him think I don’t trust him. “I was just thinking about the fact that we will never be able to have those uberscully-mulders.”

He kisses me and slowly draws away, laying beside me only briefly on the bed.

I never should have said anything. This was not the right time. I knew I should have kept it to myself.

Mulder gets up from the bed and makes the brief journey to the video camera, shutting it off. Then he hobbles on unsteady legs into the dressing area and I hear him turn on the faucet. He returns and offers me a drink of water, which I gladly accept.

“Scully…” he begins as he sits down on the bed beside me. “There is something I haven’t told you about. With the wedding and all… and then the disaster at the reception… the time never seemed to be right to discuss it.”

“What?” I don’t like the concern that haunts his eyes.

“Just before the wedding, I received an unusual gift from the man who claims to be my father. It was a note regarding the whereabouts of what he promises are the remaining ova that were taken from you when you were abducted.”

My heart rate increases as he continues his story.

“I checked out the infertility center where the eggs were being stored. It was just as he said. I had them transferred to a safe location and tested for viability, and to confirm that they were indeed yours and weren’t genetically altered. Everything checked out, Scully.”

This news excites and terrifies me simultaneously.

“Why would he do this? Why would he want to offer us this hope? It doesn’t make sense to take something away and then give it back… I hope he doesn’t think we’re going to believe him capable of remorse. It’s got to be another deception to fit his own secret agenda.”

“That’s what I thought too. But everything tested out okay. He even offered the name of a top infertility specialist to help with the IVF when we’re ready.”

“I don’t think that would be such a good idea.” It’ll be a cold day in hell before I’ll let one of CGB’s doctors ever touch me again.

“I agree. I don’t trust him either. I just thought you should know, Scully. If we’re willing to take the risk… there’s a chance we might be able to have that green-eyed baby with the medium-sized nose.”

“Why would he do this? Did he offer you any explanation at all?”

“A lame one.”

“Give.”

“He wants grandchildren. Says he’s an old man and he wants to see the future before he dies.”

“If that’s all he’s waiting around for, maybe we shouldn’t put off having children.”

Mulder laughs at my wisecrack, but we shouldn’t be joking. This man who is somehow connected to all the bad things in our lives, may have given us the one thing we both want so desperately, a chance to have children of our own. God help me, I’m even willing to consider it.

The mood has lightened considerably after our earlier conversation. For the moment we’ve put off any further discussion of CGB’s wedding gift. Scully and I both agreed that with all that had happened in our lives over the past year, we should take some time to settle and get comfortable with our marriage and enjoy being a couple before we rush into trying to start a family. And I for one am all for enjoying being a couple.

If I didn’t know differently, I’d swear Scully had been a Girl Scout as a child. The woman is always equipped for the job. No detail of preparation escapes her organized mind. As I sit on the sofa staring with a certain amount of pride at the splintered remains of the coffee table, my wife produces the necessary cables to connect the camera up to the hotel’s in room VCR. In no time at all we are watching our homemade porn video.

Let me just say this, my wife is unfuckingbelievably hot! As we sit holding each other and watching her stellar performance, I feel my erection coming to full mast again. Scully seems mesmerized watching herself on the television. We’ve slipped on the thick terry robes provided by the hotel, and I stoked the fire with a fresh supply of wood. I am thoroughly enjoying the show, even teasing Scully that perhaps she should consider leaving the FBI and becoming an erotic film star.

“There’s big money in it, Scully,” I tell her. “You could be the next Celebrity Skin centerfold babe. Think how proud I’ll be to have my wife’s name up there in lights with the likes of superstars like Alicia Monet, Alicia Rio, Amber Lynn, Ginger Lynn…”

“Mulder, if anyone EVER sees this video except you and I, I will personally make myself a widow before you can offer an explanation as to what ever possessed you to betray my trust.”

“Do you want me to destroy it?” Please say no.

“Not just yet. But promise me it’s for our eyes only.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t share this with anyone.” As I finish speaking, the action on the TV shifts and the picture is suddenly sideways but still focused on the scene on the coffee table. A second later I come into view and land atop Scully, bring the table crashing down. We both laugh hysterically at the comedy of it. “Okay, maybe I should share this scene. I think we stand a chance on that ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ show.”

“Don’t you dare!” she warns with a grin.

“I think we should at least send Ted a copy,” I tease her. My comment wins me an elbow to the ribs. “Ouch!” I laugh. “Okay, okay… don’t hurt me, Scully.”

She laughs again. “Ted was only able to take out a rickety old maple bed frame, Mulder. I’ll be damned if you didn’t break through a solid oak coffee table. Guess that proves I married the right man.”

I can’t hide my grin of self-satisfaction. “Don’t you ever forget it either, G-woman.”

“Believe me, Mulder, this is one time I will NEVER forget.”

END

*** Author’s End Note: Okay, remember that this Mulder and Scully are Xenith’s not mine. She wanted CGB to give them this special wedding gift, so I asked for permission to be the one to deliver the news to Scully and exorcise my babyfic demons on her Moose and Squirrel instead of mine. I’m ashamed to admit it was kinda fun. (Shh! Don’t tell her I said that.) Anyway, she deserves full credit for this interesting plot device. You’ll have to pester her if you want to see those uberscully-mulders come to life.

HONEYMOON PICTURES

Mulder and Scully got married on December 18, 1999 and survived the experience, much to the surprise of their friends and wedding guests.

Teresa was able to get some of the honeymoon photographs, and stills from the...um...honeymoon video. She DIDN'T get them from Mulder. She swears. But she isn't talking about her recent lunches with Frohike.

They stayed at the Salishan Lodge in Oregon: And took some great photos:

Image
It was only about 50 degrees out, but Dana swears Mulder insisted on walking on the beach, anyway.
Image
Mulder swears that Dana never looked prettier.
Image
Um, Dana pretty much says the same about Mulder.
Image
Of course Mulder was able to relax, for once. No aliens, ghosts, vampires...

[Missing: Unfortunately, his taste in clothing is still pretty scary. Dana's working on it.]
[Missing: Dana says that they had a really good time.]

We know. We saw the video. Shhhhhhhhh..............

Image

[2 more missing photos - sorry]

Image
We really don't like to comment on their sex life, but we'd have to say they got it on.
Image

[The rest of the honeymoon images are missing :(]

So, we leave the happy couple to enjoy the rest of their well-earned honeymoon---okay, these were all the pics we were able to wheedle out of our source.. But we wish Mulder and Scully many long and happy alien-chasing years ahead.

Mandatory Disclaimer: This page is a parody of the X Files and none of the pictures or text is intended to imply that either the stars of the show (David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson) have any romantic relationship. The same could be said of the characters, Mulder and Scully...but we keep hoping. Any copyrighted materials (we assume all the photographs of the stars) are used without permission, but without profit either. They will be withdrawn upon request, but we hope you don't ask because they're a cute couple.

Christmas with the Mulders by Xenith

Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions, not me. I'm only borrowing the characters for now. I'll put them back when I'm done.
Rating: PG
Category: V
Keywords: Christmas vignette
Spoilers: Thru 7th season
Archive: Sure! Spooky's yes!
Feedback: Love it! Love it!
E-Mail address: [email protected]
Discussion List: Yes!!! Yes!!!
Summary: A married Mulder and Scully have a first Christmas with little William.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE MULDERS

December 24, 2000
Mulder residence
8 p.m.

“Mulder, will you get that?” The phone shrilled and Dana Scully shouted over the baby’s crying. The past four weeks since all three of them had been released from the hospital had been incredibly hectic. Living with a suddenly healthy newborn required all the energy his parents could spare.

All in all, little William was a happy baby but tonight he just wouldn’t settle down. Dana sighed, aching with tiredness. William liked to sleep by day and was most active at night. Consequently, neither parent had gotten much sleep in recent weeks.

“You’re just like your father, you little night owl...” she chuckled at the baby and rocked him in the rocker. She held him on her lap facing her and admired his features for the hundredth time. He had his daddy’s face, although it was too soon to tell if he’d gotten the nose. Bright green eyes and, if she did say so herself, an intelligent expression. And he had bright copper red hair. “But there’s no question who your mama is, is there William?

Huh?” she crooned, momentarily grateful that there really was no question who this baby belonged to. William’s DNA had been matched to both his parents in the hospital. Although born prematurely, and not expected to live the consortium’s treatments had given him the accellerated development he needed to survive. Scully grimaced. Treatments courtesy of his ‘grandfather’.

Mulder poked his head in the door. “That was Maggie. She wants us there at six p.m. tomorrow and says to bring a salad.”

Dana nodded. “Okay, a salad it is.” She smiled and both her men. “This is William’s first Christmas,” she said dreamily. “With our own Christmas morning.”

Mulder came over and gently picked William off his mother’s shoulder. “Yep. That means that Santa will be stopping by our house tonight. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been good this year.” Mulder leered a bit and Scully flushed.

“Oh, you’ve been very very good this year Mulder. And I’ll have a very special New Year’s gift for you,” Scully leered right back. The weeks of ‘pelvic rest’ prescribed by the doctor after William’s birth were almost over.

Mulder hadn’t pushed anything, both of them were exhausted caring for the baby. But Scully had to admit that she missed sex with her man.

A lot.

Mulder had started talking, what? Oh. “...said that Bill and his family will be there for Christmas dinner this year. I hope he doesn’t try to take a punch at me or anything.” Mulder began walking with the baby, while Scully remained curled in the rocker. What a good father he’d turned out to be. When it was his night to feed the baby, he was up and out of bed at the first cry. She felt guilty on the nights when her reactions were slower.

“Bill won’t try anything. He’s still cowed after almost getting you killed at our wedding reception. He has to admit that you have your uses.”

Mulder gently put William on his stomach in the bassinet and turned to his wife with a grin.

“Oh, I suppose I do have my uses. Don’t you think?” He gently began stroking his wife’s cheek, then placed a tender kiss on her mouth.

“Oh yeah...I’d say you’re pretty handy around the house. Although I won’t let you near plumbing after what you did to the toilet.” She stood and kissed him back, with interest.

“Mrmph...Scully, that was an accident and you know it.” He stopped at her raised eyebrow.

“Don’t worry,” he said hastily. “I’ll call the repairman before I try anything again.” He grinned. “So, little mother, d’you want your present now or Christmas morning?”

She smiled back. “Now, although I feel guilty not waiting till Christmas morning. I feel as though I’ve been given all the presents I want this year. I don’t think I could ask for anything more to complete it. I’m just grateful we’re spending the night here at home, not on stakeout or in a haunted house somewhere.”

Mulder shuddered. “Perish the thought. Here. I hope you like it.” He gave her tiny box.

She grinned and pulled a square package from under the tree. “Here, this is for you.”

“You first,” Mulder pointed to the box she held. Dana pulled the paper off and opened it up. A golden ring with three stones was nestled in the center of a velvet box. A topaz was flanked by an amethyst and a tourmaline. “They called it a ‘mother’s ring’ at the jewelry store. See, there’s my birthstone, tourmaline for October, and an amethyst for February...”

Dana slipped it on her finger and admired it.

“And a topaz for William. Oh Mulder, it’s beautiful. Thank you,” The kisses they exchanged were long and left both of them breathless.

Scully readjusted her shirt and bra. “Now you,” and handed the package to Mulder. He quickly disposed of the paper and laughed. He held a stack of books: The Ghosthunter’s Guide, Haunted Places in the United States and a subscription card for “Fate” Magazine.

“What, Scully? You getting tired of the stack of back issues of the Lone Gunman in the bathroom?”

“Well, I thought I’d add some variety to your magazine stash, especially since you let your Playpen subscription lapse, “ Scully said drily, still admiring her ring.

“By the way, a package arrived today addressed to William. I took the paper off, and it’s a wrapped box. From your Mom? It doesn’t look like my Mom’s handwriting. Mulder?

What’s wrong?”

Mulder had put the books down. “Where is the box? My mother already sent me a check for William. Is this it?” He held up a large box, about two feet square, wrapped in red and green paper.

“Yes, that’s it. Oh Mulder, he wouldn’t...” She exchanged an anxious look with Mulder, then he began to carefully unwrap it. Finally he pulled the last shred of paper from it and opened the lid.

Inside was a brown plush teddy bear wearing a red ribbon.

Mulder pulled the bear from the box and handed it to Scully, then searched the packing material. “Nothing else here...wait, there’s a note. ‘Son, this is a gift for my first  grandson. I assure you that it is nothing more than a bear, filled with the wishes of a grandfather for long life, health and prosperity for a grandson.’”

Mulder sniffed at the note and wrinkled his nose. “Smells of cigarettes. Well?” Scully finished her examination of the bear. “It looks ordinary. It has a tag, but I’d like to x-ray it before I give it to William.”

Mulder took the bear back. “If we give it to William.” Scully slowly nodded.

“Maybe it would be best if William never saw this bear. We don’t know what may be in it, or on it.” Mulder stuffed the bear back into its box and moved it away and into the kitchen.  He returned to find Scully looking dully at the Christmas tree. “Mulder, won’t they ever let us alone?”

He sat next to her and hugged her close. “I don’t know, Scully. I just don’t know. But I do know this.” He gently moved a tendril of hair from her eyes. “If it wasn’t for the consortium, I would never have met you. If it weren’t for their interest in debunking my work, you wouldn’t have become my partner and now my wife.  Things have a way of working out for the best. Sometimes all I can do is trust in that, and be grateful for the things I have.”

“Amen to that.”

(AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

The older man put the headset down and picked up his cigarette.

“It’s a pity that they feel the need to reject something as insignificant as a child’s toy.”

The man in the leather jacket grinned. “Yeah, well, that paranoia has saved their lives before. Can’t blame ‘em. Even though the transmitter wouldn’t have shown up on x-ray.”

The smoker shook his head. “Well, I have other ways to watch over my grandson.”

THE END