PG13

MSR

I do not own Fox Mulder, Missy Scully, Dana Scully, Bill Scully, Maggie Scully, Frohike, Inspector Green, MASH, or the FOX network. I do own Rose Williams, Monica Crys, Brian Save, Phoebe (the bird) and Artimus. I earned no money for using the listed names illegally and no copyright infringement was intended.

The song: "Angel" was used twice and without permission from Sarah McLaclen. The song: "Sussudio" was used without Phil Collins permission. Sorry too the two writers/singers. I didn’t ask and I earned no money.

Washington is snowed in. Dana get stuck at Mulders. Monica, Brain, and Rose stop by. Oh, the fun you can have….

This is pre-"Changes". As for "changes". My computer lost the document and I have to retype the whole story now. Yes my computer sucks. It any of you have a copy on your computer then please…please send it to me because I just don’t have the time to retype it.

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"Well, I predict that the weather here in Washington has nowhere to go but down. The SSC is saying that the least amount of snow we’ll get is about 5 ft. I think this is going to be worse then the blizzard of ’96. So bundle up with the person you love, cuddle around the fire, and have a happy white Christmas-" Scully flipped off the radio and grunted. She brushed her short red hair out of her blue eyes and fixed the gold cross around her neck.

"Yes, mom, I have enough food. No, I’m not going to try driving up there anyway. No, mom. No, Mulders at home. Mom! Mom, he’s an adult" She stood on her toes to reach the higher shelf because her short 5"1’ figure couldn’t reach it without stretching for it. "Yes I know…Ok! I’ll go over there; I was going to anyway. Moooom! If the roads are ok for travel Mulder and I will be up there for Christmas. I know. Did Bill make it? How are the kids?" Dana Scully smiled into the phone as she walked around her home. She was packing some extra food for Mulder. She would take it over before the roads got so bad she wouldn’t make it there. "Good. Tell the pastor I’m sorry I can’t make it to the services… I know…I miss them too mom…I gotta go. Love you too Mom. Bye."

She hung up her cordless and grabbed the bag off the counter. She grabbed her cellphone and her gun as she walked out the door. She quickly locked the door behind herself and walked out to her car. She loaded the bag and the present she had bought for Mulder, and drove across town. She couldn’t stay at Mulder’s too long. Not with the snow falling the way it was.

"You better be home. That’s all I’m going to say. Because if you’re not I’ll find your ass and beat it to mom’s." Scully said as she walked to his apartment door.

"Oh…is that a promise Scully?" The voice came from behind her. She glared at him over her shoulder. His short black hair was wild and messy from the wind blowing outside and his brown eyes were playful as he leaned down to look her in the eye.

"Here. Open you’re door." She handed him the bag. "Have a happy vacation. I’ll see you on Thursday." She turned and started down the hall. She had been rude but she really didn’t care. All she wanted to do was get in her car and go back to her nice, warm apartment.

Mulder watched her walk down the hall. He unlocked the door and walked into his apartment. Scully really had a bug up her ass. He couldn’t blame her, not really. He knew she wanted to see her mother. Hell, he wanted to see Mrs. Scully.

Mulder placed the bag on the counter in the kitchen. His answering machine was blinking, that was new. Probably from Mrs. Scully, telling him that Dana needed some cheering up. He pressed the button and walked into his bedroom. Well it wasn’t really his bedroom; it just held his cloths and extra paper work. The voices on the answering machine echoed through the apartment as he moved around.

"Fox? It’s Maggie. Dana’s been a little down lately. Don’t worry if you two can’t make it up here. Please just don’t let her spend the holiday alone. You know how she is. She’ll give you a fight but deep down she’s crumbling. Oh well, I’ll try Monica. Merry Christmas."

Mulder smiled as he pulled off his shirt. Maggie was unlike anyone he had ever met. She could instill fear and home cooking in one visit. The next message popped on and he almost fell down because he was laughing so hard.

"Oh Mulder! Oh, Mulder! I want your body! Oh please! Come on Mulder! Oh wait…Sorry. I just got a call from Maggie. No duh, she called you first. I know you would rather spend the time with her alone. Give me a call when you check you message’s. Let me know where you to are and I’ll stop by to see how you two are doing. Oh yeah, Brain says hello and Rose…well, Rose is out running around playing in the snow. If you see a dragon run past your place…BEEP."

Mulder heard the front door shut and he grabbed his gun of the dresser. He pecked around the corner and saw Scully. She was soaking wet and carrying a plastic bag. He walked pasted her and placed his gun on a shelf and hit the pause button on his answering machine.

"So, why are you not on your way home?" He asked walking pasted her into the kitchen.

"My car won’t start. And one of the plows buried it. Think I could stay here till tomorrow? I’ll call a cab or go over to Monica’s." He glanced over his shoulder and caught her admiring his back and stomach mussels. She quickly turned her head and coughed. He smiled to himself as he turned back to fixing something to eat.

"You know your welcome here Scully. Even if I’m not here. Horny?" He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a loaf of bread.

"What?" Scully looked at him and lifted an eyebrow.

"I asked if you were hungry. I haven’t had diner yet." Mulder said, wondering if he’d slipped and said what was on his mind.

"Yeah, sure. What are you making?" She walked into the kitchen and tried to peek around him as he fixed the food.

"Oh no you don’t. It’s a surprise." He moved his shoulder into her line of vision. "Look your soaking wet and I know you hungry. Why don’t you go and change and then I’ll give you something to eat."

"Can I borrow something?" The image of Scully wearing his cloths made him smile.

"Yeah, Why not my running shorts and a Tee. I’ll get your cloths dry later. Now go and let me finish." She left the kitchen and picked up a pair of jogging shorts and a large shirt. She changed and hung her wet cloths on the shower rod. She walked out and sat on the couch. She turned on the TV and started flipping through the TV stations. She found a WNBA game on and sat back to watch. Mulder exited the kitchen a few minutes’ later carrying sandwiches.

"PB&J on toasted bread. The specialty of the house." Mulder placed a plate on her lap. She wrinkled her nose and looked at him while he sat next to her.

"You can eat this?" He nodded and she picked up the sandwich. She tentatively took a bite and chewed. "Oh, this is good." He laughed at her.

"Ofcourse it’s good! I made it." He smiled and turned his attention to the basketball game.

****

(Knock. Knock.)

"I’ll answer it." Scully stood from the couch and walked to the door. She stood on her toes to look out the peephole. "Um…Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

"Your peephole…"

"Yeah it’s broken. I broke it. Don’t ask." She shook her head and grabbed her gun off the table by the door. She cocked it and pulled open the door. She pointed it through the door at Monica, Brian, and Rose. Scully sighed and opened the door fully. Two birds darted into the room and sat behind Mulder, staring at the basketball game.

"Hey Dana. I had a feeling you where here." Monica, black haired woman, handed Scully a cup with foil over it. "Soup, Rose made it, she knew you’d be hungry."

Monica winked and walked in. Monica was as tall as Mulder, she stood 6"1’ with long black hair that stopped just above her butt and she had that most beautiful crystal blue eyes. Mulder smiled at Monica as she sat next to him then turned his head to watch Scully. Brian, a tall man with blond hair, walked in and embraced Dana in a quick hug.

Brian had slightly long blond hair that stopped halfway down his eyes, Not too long and not too short. Brian and Monica where both the same height and shared and odd characteristic between them, they both had silver lashes and they had explained to Mulder and Scully once that the eye lashes help dragons tell each other apart from other humans.

"I hope your not to disappointed about not being able to make it to your mother’s." His crisp English accent made him a likable man. ‘Hell, If I didn’t like Mulder so much I could fall for Brain.’ Scully thought.

"Oh, I’m not worried. When the weather makes travel possible we’re going to head up." Brian nodded and walked past her into the apartment. She watched him go and caught Mulder watching her. She made eye contact with him and he quickly looked away. She cocked and eyebrow and began to think about it when Rose began to speak.

"Hello, child." Rose’s Irish soft accent caressed her ears and she smiled. "This city thing is different."

"Hey Rose come check this out. Its called Basketball." Monica called. Scully laughed. Sometimes Monica, Rose, and Brian could be normal city people. And then they could be like little two-year-olds experiencing everything for the first time. Dana took the soup into the kitchen and placed it in the refrigerator.

"Artimus. Have you ever seen such a stupid sport?" Phoebe, Brian’s Golden eagle, asked the bird that sat next to it. Mulder looked over his shoulder at the two birds, shaking his head he looked over at Scully.

She was moving around in the kitchen, then suddenly she grabbed the counter and he excused himself and walked over to the kitchen. One of her hands still held the counter tightly and the other was over her mouth and nose. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, you ok?" He watched as she swallowed her tears. He took her hands into his, stopping her from wiping away the wetness. She wouldn’t meet his eyes; she just starred down at her feet. He brushed his thumb under her eyes and wiped away her tears.

"Is it Missy?" His tone was soft, like a mother trying to calm her frightened child. She nodded, not trusting her voice. He pulled her into his strong arms and ran his hand down her back. In his arms she felt so safe that she let her tears go. "You have to remember Scully, I know how you feel. It’s hard for me with Samantha being gone." Her head shot up.

"Yeah, but Samantha’s coming back. Missy’s not. It’s not the same." The words we’re full of scorn and he flinched.

"Hey, its not easy not knowing. You know she’s dead, can you imagine how hard it would be if you never knew what happened to her? If you had come home to your apartment and seen the blood and found it was Missy’s and had no way of knowing if you could help her?" His voice hadn’t risen, it had stayed level and quiet the whole time, making her feel horrible for lashing out.

"Sorry." He waved off her apology and leaned against the counter. Scully smiled and touched his arm as she left the kitchen to sit next to Monica on the couch.

Mulder watched as his friends laughed at the game. Brain was watching Monica as always. Mulder smiled. Brian and himself were in the same boat. He loved Scully and Brian loved Monica, but they never expressed their feelings with words. Monica was joking around with Scully and they were both laughing at something. Rose was leaning against the wall watching them. Rose was always on the watch. He really didn’t blame her. Not only is it in her nature but with moving to a totally new place that didn’t have the secret places where she could change into a dragon had to be hard. The city worried her, it was different.

****

"Monica, Brian, we should go." Rose said two hours later.

"No, you can stay. We don’t mind." Mulder said turning to look at her.

"No, you don’t. Can’t fool me. Plus we have to practice in this weather."

"Oh Rose. We’re always practicing!" Monica whined and Scully suppressed a laugh.

"I have someone you should meet that lives in the woods near here anyway. Goodnight Fox, Dana." Rose ushered the two out the door and glared at the guardians. "That includes you two as well."

Scully shut the door behind Rose and the others. She turned and leaned against the closed door. She closed her eyes and sighed. She could feel him moving. She had always been able too. It’s how they worked together in situations where they had to cover each other’s back.

She had her head back. A few strands of her hair hung gently beside her face. Her eyes stayed closed and her lips where parted ever so slightly. Her nostrils flared as she sighed and her face was caressed so lightly by her fading tan.

He crossed the room slowly; his eyes remained on her face. Bracing a hand on the door, he watched her. Lifting a hand he almost touched her face.

‘He’s so close’ she thinks. What if I just lean forward and press my lips against his? Would he pull back, surprised? Would he reject me? Would he kick me out of his home and say he never wanted to see me again? But what if he kisses back? Then what? Wake up Scully, this is Mulder your talking about here.

The words Mulder wants to say dry up in his throat and he closes his eyes as he pushes himself back away from the door. He turns and walks towards the bathroom.

"I’m going to take a shower Scully. The bed folds out…if you want, I’ll sleep on the floor and you can have the bed." He closes the door behind himself and leans against it.

Out in the now empty room, Dana’s eyes open. She felt it she can’t deny that. The heat…the sparks. She walks away from the door and pauses by the bathroom door, looks at it, and then moves on. A few minutes later she hears the water turn on. She unfolds the couch and covers it with sheets.

The lights in the apartment begin to flicker. She hears the shower turn off. Mulder exits the bathroom. Glancing at the dimly lit apartment he walks to the desk that holds his computer. Opening a drawer he pulls out several candles. When he turns around, Scully is giving him a look.

"What? The power goes off here often." Shaking her head she takes the candles from him.

"Yeah Mulder, and pigs fly." Mulder retreats to the bedroom. Scully places the candles around the apartment. She begins rummaging for matches but finds a stove lighter. She is halfway done lighting the candles when Mulder reenters the room.

"If I didn’t know you better I would think your trying to seduce me, Agent Scully." Scully turns her attention back to the candles but not before she retorts.

"Yeah, Mulder, when I see proof of the existence aliens."

"Well, we have no power and it’s only 8 o’clock. You up for a friendly game of ‘Go Fish’?" Mulder says changing the subject as he pulls a deck of cards from another desk drawer. She turns from lighting the last candle and smiles. Mulder’s heart almost stops when he looks at the angel in his apartment.

"Alright, but if this turns into a game of strip ‘Go Fish’ you will be sleeping outside with the snowmen. Got it?" Smiling he sits on the bed. She climbs in with him and crawls out to the head of the bed. Leaning back she stares at her cards. "Have any two’s?"

****

"Mulder we are both responsible adults. We’ve been partners for five years. I think we can handle sleeping in the same bed, at the same time." Scully stared him down.

"I don’t know Scully. I wouldn’t mind sleeping on the floor. I’ve slept in more difficult places then my floor." ‘Like your bed.’ He added in his head, not forgetting the night he had woken up with his arms entangled in hers.

"Mulder, don’t be silly." She took his hand and forced him to lie in the bed. She laid the covers over him and then climbed in next to him. She shivered, even in the heavy jogging pants and sweater that Mulder had given to her, she was cold.

Mulder felt her shiver. In reality he was happy to be in the bed. The bed would be warmer then the floor, at least. He rolled over so that her back was right in front on him. He reached around her body and pulled her closer.

"Mulder…what are you doing?"

"Look we’re both cold, and it’s a proven fact that two bodies together can keep each other warm." He felt the protest begin in her throat, but die as he spooned her with his body. He listened as her breathing became slow and steady and felt her body relax in his arms.

"Please don’t let me dream tonight." His lips uttered the words as his eyelids grew to heavy for him to hold up. His world became dark and he slipped into the darkness.

****

The shot rang out clearly through the warehouse that they had been searching. Her cry replaying over and over in his head as he dashed along the rows of creates.

"Please, don’t let her be hurt. Please, If I ask only one thing in my life…" He spotted her lifeless body lying there and feel to his knee’s as he slid to a stop by her body. The blood soaked the cream silk blouse that he had been admiring earlier. The bullet hole was very obvious in her chest.

"Mulder." She gasped. He turned his attention to her face and the words she was forcing past her slowing lips. With a weak hand she reached up to brush a few of the longer hairs out of his eyes. "Oh, you’re so hansom."

"Dana, You’re going to be alright. The ambulance is on its way. Just hang in there."

"Fox, you and I both know that I won’t survive a wound like this."

"But you can’t die!"

"Why?"

"Because I love you! Its not supposed to work this way. I’m supposed to find the love of my life and we live out the rest of our lives together. You can’t die!" She smiled up at him. Her eyes we’re having trouble focusing on his face. Her breath was coming in short, quick breaths.

"I love you, too. I’ll never truly leave you Fox. I’ll haunt you till the day you die!" Her eyes grew wild and red. Her body began to float and it rose about his head. "You bastard! You we’re too late to save me! I will never forgive you!" She reached for the gun beside her body and pointed it at him, and right before she pulled the trigger, he became her. He was the one pointing the gun at her and he was about to pull the trigger.

"NO! Run Scully!" He woke with a start as he hit the floor. Scully peered over the edge of the bed at him. A slightly worried and slightly amused look on her face.

"Um, Mulder? Why do you want me to run?" He looked up at her sheepishly. He quickly ran through the possibilities he could use in this situation, only one came to him.

"The killer cat was back. Only he was smaller and he meowed instead of growling." That was all it took to get her laughing. She flopped back onto her side hugging her sides. "Actually it kind of looked like Monica’s cat."

"No wonder you wanted to run. That cat sure as hell doesn’t like you." She said over the edge of the bed. By this time he had untangled himself from the covers and grabbed a pillow without her noticing. He jumped out and hit her with it.

"Hey!" She grabbed her own pillow and they chased each other around the apartment. When they finally flopped back into the bed together they we’re both exhausted, and breathing heavy. Scully moved up in the covers and Mulder climbed under himself as well. Mulder glanced at his watch and a low whistle escaped his lips.

"5:13 am is a good time to sleep don’t you think Scully?" She didn’t answer. She had fallen asleep minutes earlier. She made a sound as he blew out the candle and her body moved, her arm was now draped across his body and she was snuggling into his chest. He smiled at her and then fell asleep and didn’t have one nightmare.

****

Scully woke to a sweet smell of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Shaking her head she left the couch to go spy on Mulder in the kitchen. He spotted her coming and wouldn’t let her even peak till he was done. So she took a shower and wonder how he was going to explain a pancake poisoned partner to Skinner. She left the shower smiling, the mental image of Skinner chewing Mulder out over her dead body.

"What so funny?" he asked as she walked in the kitchen smiling.

"The fact that you think you can cook." She replied sweetly, batting her eyes at him.

"Oh, yeah insult the cook. You may just not eat, or I could poison your food." She looked at him a burst out laughing.

"And I’m the one who was committed to a mental hospital?" He asked shaking his head. Scully noticed a few pictures on the refrigerator. She crossed the room and looked at them. One of herself and Mulder, dancing at a FBI office party. One of herself and Missy, one of Mulder and Missy, Maggie and herself and then one of Rose, Monica, and Brian. He noticed he looking at the pictures and quickly grabbed one off the fridge before she could see it.

"Hey!" She exclaimed and grabbed it from him. The little face stared up at her, Emily. It was a picture of Emily and herself, both smiling. Her fingers ran gently over her baby girl’s face. She looked up at Mulder the question evident in her eyes.

"It’s my favorite one." He said looking at her. She smiled. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You alright?"

She nodded and leaned back against the wall. He looked at her then leaned forward and again he stopped. Catching himself before he made a horrible mistake. She sighed and looked up from the picture she held so tightly in his hand. He kissed her forehead and want back to making breakfast. ‘That was close, Mulder. You have to be more careful man.’

"Hey Mulder. You know you never finished listening to your messages?" Scully called from outside the room. He figured that she was near the answering machine. A strong very familiar voice filled the apartment. Forhike had left him a message, and ofcourse it was about Frohike’s favorite subject, Dana K. Scully.

"Hey Mulder. I’ve got a video for your collection. A nice little red head in this one…" Mulder flew from the kitchen but didn’t make it there fast enough. "Speaking of red heads, tell that lovely woman, you admitted it yourself she was hot so stop thinking that, I’ve been working out."

He hit the button to make the machine stop but not before the damage was done. She turned to look at him. There was a playful and devil like smile on her face. She walked past him and into the kitchen. He just stood there, dumbfounded until she came back and led him to the table. They sat down and eat, she finished before he did.

"Now, to finish listening to those messages." Scully said and he almost gagged on a piece of toast.

And again the message machine was flipped on and another voice filled the air. A song, one he hadn’t heard in a long time but instantly his brain place a face with the song.

Spend all your time waiting,

For that second chance,

For the break that will make it ok.

There’s always some reason,

To feel not good enough,

And it’s hard at the end of the day.

I need some distraction,

Oh beautiful release,

Memories seep from my veins,

Let me be empty.

Oh, weightless and maybe,

I’ll find some peace tonight.

The music faded into the background and inspector Green’s voice floated though the air. Scully didn’t move, the only thing she could think was how dare that woman call Mulder.

"Fox, darling, I’m coming to the states in two weeks and I was wondering if you and I could get together." Scully had begun to move, her subconscious taking over while her mind just sat there, outraged and worried at the same time. She found him siting on the floor near the counter a cup that he’d been washing in his hand. He had pulled up his knees and assumed the fetal position. Somehow she expected his innersole did this whenever her heard that woman’s voice or heard her name. She knelt down and hugged him, they rocked silently until the message was over.

"Fox? I called before and left a message. Dana said she was coming over, please try and cheer her up" Scully mouth quirked up in a little smile. ‘Just like mom’ she thought. The answering machine stopped.

"Are you alright Mulder?" She felt his shoulders sag, the voice so small she almost didn’t here what it said. Almost.

"I thought I loved her, but why does it feel different to love you?" Dana froze. She had to have been mistaken. Mulder, who never let anyone close to his heart, had opened his heart to her and she hadn’t seen it. She gently smoothed the hair on his head and took his hand.

"Mulder do you remember what happens in two weeks?"

"I die, again?" He joked, halfheartedly.

"In two weeks you have to come with me to Emily’s grave. And you already promised months ago that you would join me, And I will never speak to you again if you go off and play with that woman." He nodded and she helped him to his feet. He left the kitchen and Scully finished cleaning up from breakfast.

When she left the kitchen she heard the water running and guessed that Mulder had begun his morning shower. A plan quickly formed in her head and she took a pillow of the couch. As he exited the bathroom she hit him in the face with the pillow. He reeled back as she stood there smiling.

"So you want to have a pillow fight huh?" he said taking a step towards her. She stepped back rapidly but was caught when Mulder snaked out a hand and caught her around the waist. The wetness of his arms quickly soaked through the thin shirt fabric. He pulled her into the bathroom and forced her into the tub. He turned the water on and closed the glass door that kept the water in.

She yelled as the cold water hit her and tried to open the glass door. But he was holding it closed so it was no use. Turning on the warm water she stripped down to nothing and hung the cloths over the door, getting a yell of surprise from Mulder since he wasn’t expecting her to do that. She closed the drain and let the tub fill. She heard a knock at the front door and he left to answer it. She quickly threw on the shorts and dress shirt that she’d found in the bathroom. She got a small bucket out from under the sink and climbed back into the tub, she filled it with water and stood in front of the door.

"3,2,1. MULDER!" She screamed and it was only a few seconds before the bathroom door was flung open. He dashed into to meet a bucket of water in his face. He froze, water dripping down from the corners of his face. Dropping the bucket, Scully doubled over with laughter. Monica appeared behind him. Monica laughed the minute she saw what had happened.

"Ohhh, your asking for it Dana Scully. I promise you that I’ll get you back for this. One night when you’re tired I’ll sneak into your hotel room and drop a bucket of ice water on you."

"Dana, I came by to ask if you want to spend the night at my apartment. It’s better then this place, and this way you won’t have to stay up all night expecting ice water." Monica said as she regained control of her body again. Scully stood for a moment. She had said that she would just spend the one night with Mulder and the rest at Monica’s but now she couldn’t even imagine leaving.

"No it’s ok. I’m having too much fun bothering Mulder. As long as you don’t mind putting up you partner for a night, Mulder." He shook his head.

"Okay, well then I’ll go. I have to try that with Brian." Monica winked at Scully and let herself out of the apartment.

Scully, who was caught off guard, yelped when Mulder picked her up and jumped in the tub with her. She was completely soaked again as well as him. He was holding her body down and her head was just above the water.

"Ok." She got up and climbed out of the tub. She crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"What?" He asked.

"You soaked all of my cloths. Think I could borrow some more?"

"Yeah. I’m going to turn on the radio, we need some music. Any station requests?" Scully cocked an eyebrow and smiled.

"Q104. I like them." He nodded and Scully went into the room where Mulder held his cloths. She found a pair of shorts and a dress shirt, as she slipped into them she heard the familiar sounds of Phil Collins pumping through the apartment.

There’s a girl that’s been on my mind

All the time

Suss-Suss-Sussudio

Oh ho

Now she don’t even know my name

But I think she likes me just the same

Suss-Suss-Sussudio

Oh ho

Scully smiled and walked back into the apartment. Mulder was dancing to the song. Thinking he was all alone because Scully was looking for something to wear in his closet. It was the funniest thing she’d ever seen and it wasn’t long before she was doubled over with laughter.

"What?"

"Nothing!" She laughed harder for a moment but then walked over to the computer and turned it on. She logged onto the FBI mainframe and before she could do anything an dialog box popped up.

Mulder. How’s you beautiful partner handling the snow? Is she snowed in at home? Think she could use a little company?

It didn’t take long for Scully to figure out that it was Frohike messaging Mulder about her. She gave a secretive smile replied back.

Actually she’s over my place.

Mulder came over and looked over her shoulder. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and she liked what she saw. Mulder realized she was staring at him and turned to look at her. He raised an eyebrow at her and she smiled.

"I want to see how far I can take this." She said and he smiled gently. Scully was taken back for a second. Mulder seemed so soft at that moment, she wanted to reach out and kiss him but she couldn’t break that rule. Partners can’t get involved, it was FBI policy.

Oh, really? Just the two of you? Going to try those things you’ve been telling me about what you would do if you got her stuck at your apartment?

Dana turned to a blushing Mulder. "I have no idea what he’s talking about."

She shook her head. "You know Mulder. I like a man that can surprise me."

"Really?" She nodded as she shut off the computer and walked over to the couch. She sat down and flipped it on.

"Oh yeah. Big turn on."

****

He watched her as she slept. She had fallen asleep while they had watched a MASH marathon on the FOX network. It was a little past 1 am and she looked so peaceful. He had stretched out on the couch at a point in the evening and she had sat on his legs, but when she’d fallen asleep she had stretched out on his body. So she now lay next to him with an arm over his body and she had snuggled in close, so he held her there with an arm around her.

He glanced up that the TV, the marathon was ending and the late night news was coming on. He sighed and looked back down at Scully. Her eyes were open now and she stared right into his eyes.

"Welcome back, Dana." She smiled and then brushed her hand across his cheek. He closed his eyes at the touch and she left her hand there. She ran her thumb over his lips and smiled.

"I love you." She whispered and his eyes flew to her faces, afraid she was lying or talking about someone else. But she was staring at him and his vision blurred for a second. Her blinked and she was still there.

She pulled herself up closer to his face and pressed her lips to his. She pulled back and looked deep into his eyes. Her soft voice invaded his turbulent brain and settled it.

"I know you feel the same and your going to have to say the words. You don’t have to say them right now but your going to have to say them. I see you say them all the time in your eyes, but I need to hear the words, at least once." She smiled softly and kisses his forehead. She lies back down on his body and takes the remote from his hand.

He looks at her. Scully was never the one to dance around a subject, especially when she knows he’s either already thought or is thinking the same thing. The radio that he’d left on but turned down now sang a soft slow song.

So tired of the straight line,

That everywhere you turn,

There’s vultures and thieves at your back,

The storm keeps on twistin’.

Keep on building the lies,

That make up for all that you lack.

Don’t make no difference,

Escapin’ one last time,

It’s easier to believe.

In this sweet madness,

Oh, this glorious sadness,

That brings me to my knees.

"I love you, Dana." She tilts her head to look at him clearly. His expression is so soft and it breaks her heart when she sees how venerable he is in his eyes. ‘I could break him.’ She thinks, but she wouldn’t do that. No matter how much he annoyed her some times and how much he got her made, she would never and could never break his heart.

"Oh Mulder." She pressed her lips against his again and this time she got a response from him. His lips moved against hers and his tongue caressed her lip before slipping past to explore her mouth. The kiss ended as quickly as it began. When he opened his eyes hers were still closed, she liked her lips and opened them slowly.

There was a new look to them. A light and hunger in them that grabbed at his soul, he smiled. What he saw in her eyes must be mirrored in his own eyes. He felt the hunger taking hold and the demons that survived in the darkness of his heart and his soul flinched, fizzled, and died as the light in Dana’s eyes light up the forsaken area.

He pulled her closer to him and smiled. His nights would be free of nightmares, for now anyway. But he knew he wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight. And that was the last thing the thought as he kissed Dana Scully again.