jodithann827

[jodithann827]

He Said What?!?

Rated: General / Posted on Ao3 / @today-in-fic

Summary: What would happen if he heard something he wasn’t supposed to?

Huntsville, Alabama

December 18th, 1998

Motel 6

The slow and steady hum of the radiator vibrates across the cramped confines of the not quite dingy, but not quite pristine motel room. The sun, having set hours before and taking what little warmth the day offered with it, left the room dark, save for the two beside lights and the standard desk lamp which emits a soft glow. The sound of water gargling flows through the closed bathroom door while Assistant Director Walter Skinner sits on one bed, waiting to wash the stink of the day off. Shaking his head slowly, he thinks back to the previous morning. His commute had been a breeze, his secretary was finally back after a detestable stomach flu had held her captive the week before, the Director of the Bureau was in a relatively good mood, and all of the agents under his watch were performing as needed. Yes, it had been the perfect start to the day. Perfect until Fox Mulder barreled into his office (he really needs to put a stop to that) spouting off about alien abductions and mysterious disappearances. The day went so well until 9:48. Why he entertained Mulder’s crazy ideas is beyond his comprehension. Well, that’s not entirely true. As strange as Muder is, Skinner genuinely likes him—not that he would ever divulge that tidbit of information—and, crazy or not, Mulder has proven himself to be an exceptional agent.

As Mulder spouted and Skinner listened, removing his glasses ever so slowly and rubbing his temples at the thought of the impending headache, he thought back to the previous weeks. Weeks in which Mulder killed a man and faked his death, only to reemerge and blow one giant metaphorical hole right in the center of a government conspiracy. That’s not to mention the almost-death and then amazing recovery of Agent Scully, which Skinner still isn’t sure he understands. He’s just thankful that Agent Scully is at home recovering, and will be ready to get back to work in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, he knew he wouldn’t have the same luck taming the beast that is Fox Mulder as Scully would.

When Mulder finally got to the point and asked Skinner to sign off on the 302, Skinner could hear Scully in the back of his head. Don’t let him go, Sir. He shouldn’t go alone, Skinner. You know what’s going to happen if I’m not there. He found himself nodding at her words, though Mulder mistook his nodding as permission granted. He profusely thanked him and, with the look of a kid on Christmas morning, mentioned something about booking the first flight out and going home to pack before Skinner realized what had transpired. So, out of respect for Agent Scully and a concern for Agent Mulder, that’s what brought him to Huntsville; a crazy X-file with an even crazier agent. Of course, Mulder’d booked the trip so quickly that the only vacant motel in the area had one room, which is how Skinner finds himself with a roommate.

The bathroom door opens, tugging Skinner from his thoughts. Mulder walks out, thankfully dressed in plaid pajama pants and an old shirt, as puffs of steam follow him.

“Bathroom’s free,” he announces, striding over to the black duffle bag placed haphazardly on the side table chair. He rummages around for a minute, then steps back and falls onto his motel bed.

“You know I could have handled this one on my own, Sir,” Mulder insists, as he had the whole plane ride to Alabama, the car ride to the local station, and again on the way to the motel. Skinner glances in his direction and makes a weak attempt to raise his eyebrow like Scully does, which Mulder of course doesn’t notice..

“Two days, Mulder. I’ll give you two days,” Skinner responds, once again shaking his head, as he gets up and departs for the bathroom.

***

Later, as they lay in their beds, not quite ready for sleep, Skinner looks up at the pale white ceiling of the motel room and sighs. “I know you could have handled this on your own, Mulder,” he admits. Even though it’s dark and he isn’t looking in his direction, he knows Mulder is smiling.

“You promised Scully you’d go with me,” Mulder half asks, half states. Skinner chuckles, or at least as much of a chuckle as he’s willing to emit in front of an agent. “I understand, sir,” Mulder assures him. “I know she worries when she can’t be there to have my back. I know I sometimes make rash decisions…” he pauses when Skinner huffs. “Okay, maybe a lot of the time. Thank you, sir, for being willing to come with me instead of denying the case. I appreciate it, and I know Scully does as well.”

“How’s she doing?” Skinner asks, carefully, as he doesn’t like to speak of agents who aren’t present.

He’s been concerned about her since her remission. She called him a week and a half after her discharge, indicating she was fine and ready to be back at work. Skinner had to bite his tongue from saying something he would regret, like Have you completely lost your mind, and then told her in no uncertain terms that she is not to grace the doors of the Hoover building for at least another four weeks, and only then with a doctor's note. She’s still so weak, physically. Even when she returns, he knows she won’t be ready to be in the field right away. He makes a mental note to check for any upcoming conferences he can send them to upon her return, maybe ease her back into work.

“She’s getting stronger every day. I’m pretty sure she kicked her sweet and well-meaning mother out of her house by the second week of her recovery,” Mulder laughs.

Skinner is amazed and wonders how the agents accomplish anything, being two of the most stubborn individuals he has ever had the pleasure of meeting.

“That’s good,” he tells him, then adds, “It’ll be good to have her back. Well, goodnight, Agent Mulder.”

“Goodnight, sir.”

***

Hours later, Skinner awakens to a sound. Unable to identify it at first, he lies motionless, straining his ears. He hears it again. After a few moments, he realizes it’s Mulder, whimpering in his sleep. Recognizing the agent is dreaming and they aren’t in imminent danger, he rolls to his side and tries to go back to sleep. As he’s about to doze off, Mulder’s whimpers become more frenzied.

“Please, no,” Skinner hears from the next bed. He raises his head a bit, checking to see if Mulder has woken up, but the man’s closed eyes and pained expression assures Skinner that he is very much asleep. Unsure of how much longer Mulder’s dream will go on, Skinner attempts to sleep, but is incapable.

“No… can’t. Please… understand,” whines Mulder. Skinner wonders what is going on in that brain of his. He’s using a voice Skinner has never heard. He sounds scared, young, unsure.

“Mm lost,” Mulder continues, and Skinner hears a hitch in his voice. He wonders if Mulder will start crying in his sleep. Maybe he’s dreaming about his sister.

“Without you,” Mulder states.

Nope, Skinner immediately knows who Mulder is thinking about, and he longs for sleep. Of course, he’s suspected it for years. But without evidence, he never wanted to make a big deal out of it. He knows there are tons of wagers and bets floating around the bureau regarding the status of Mulder and Scully’s relationship, but he usually doesn’t pay too much attention to those things.

“Need you,” Mulder's voice pulls Skinner from his thoughts. “Best friend… No die. No happen”.

Skinner realizes Mulder is thinking back to the cancer. He wants to wake him, tell him it’s all okay; Scully is fine and she’s not going anywhere. But he also doesn’t want to startle him or cause him any embarrassment, though there isn’t anything to be embarrassed about, at least not yet.

“Promise me,” he mumbles, followed by a string of gibberish from Mulder’s dream-induced mouth. “Scully… please…love you… me.” Skinner prays sleep takes him that very instant. He knows more than he needs to, more than he should. Apparently, something in Mulder’s dream has calmed him, which Skinner doesn’t care to know, nor does he want to speculate. He realizes Mulder’s breathing has evened out and he is slumbering once more.

Unfortunately, Skinner is now wide awake and can’t get his agents out of his mind. Now that he knows, even though he tells himself there really isn’t anything to know, he quickly decides not to do anything about it. Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, as much of a pain in the ass as they—well, he— can be, are his best agents and their dynamic is something not to be messed with. He rolls over again, imploring that he’ll forget every word by morning, but knowing the sounds are burned into his brain forever.

***

Skinner wakes the next morning, wishing and hoping it was a dream, but upon seeing Mulder exit the bathroom, dressed in his suit and ready for the day, he knows it was anything but.

“How did you sleep, sir?” asks Mulder, a look of complete innocence on his face.

“I never sleep as well on the road as I do at home,” Skinner replies, sitting up and stretching. The morning sun is attempting to peek through the drawn curtains. Well, now or never, Skinner thinks to himself. “Hey, Mulder,” he says, his voice strong, but slightly tentative, as if testing the waters. Mulder looks in his direction, eyebrows knit, waiting for him to speak. Oh to hell with it, he thinks. “Mulder, did you know you talk in your sleep?”

Mulder’s eyebrows reach so high they almost touch the top of his forehead as his eyes bulge from their sockets. I’ll take that as a no, Skinner muses. Mulder stares at his boss for a minute, and Skinner almost feels sorry for him seeing the terrified look of pure dread adorning his face.

“What did I, uh… did I say anything, uh…” he fumbles over his words, trying to find the right ones to ask.

Skinner smiles slightly and decides that as much fun as this could be, he’ll go easy on Mulder, just this once. “You said a few words and mumbled a bit. I’m surprised no one has mentioned it to you before. I just thought you should know.”

Lifting himself from the bed, he staggers toward the bathroom to get ready for whatever this ridiculous day has in store for him. He turns slightly to look at the younger man. They’re idiots, these agents of his, but they’re his idiots, and for now, Mulder's secret is safe with him. He’ll be ready whenever Mulder feels free enough to talk about it.

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

13/13

Rated: X/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Scully Residence

Saturday, April 24 1993

Nope, she thinks to herself, tossing a plaid shirt onto her bed. She pulls a red velvet shirt off a hanger, shaking her head. It joins the previously discarded shirt. Her phone rings, startling her momentarily. She pauses her search and reaches for her phone. The smile on her face grows wide as she answers while continuing her tedious task.

“I was beginning to wonder when I would hear from you,” her happiness evident.

“Forget about you. How is my scrumptious niece?” comes a cheery voice from a million miles away, yet sounds so close she could be in the next room.

“She’s marvelous, Missy. Thriving every day. She would like to know if her aunt will grace her with her presence sometime shortly.”

“Probably sometime in early summer,” Missy replies. Scully sighs, gently, prompting Missy to continue, “Come on Dana, don’t be like that. You know I get enough of it from Mom and Dad. I don’t need it from you too.”

Nodding into her phone, Scully closes her eyes. “I’m sorry, Missy. You know I support you. Emma misses you. She carries your picture around the house a lot throughout the week. I miss you too,” she hesitates slightly on her last words.

Missy, being the empath she is, immediately zones in on Scully.

“What’s going on, Dana?” Scully scrunches her nose, silently grumbling at how well her sister knows her. She could lie and say nothing is going on, but Missy would see right through her. As much as she tells her sister everything, she’s not quite ready to disclose the entire situation, mostly because she’s not one hundred percent sure she understands it herself.

“I’m getting ready to go out, that’s all,” she attempts to sound casual, though she suspects she fails miserably.

“You’re hiding something from me, Dana Katherine,” Melissa accuses, though in a good-natured tone.

It’s Saturday night and Scully’s getting ready for her dinner with Mulder. She’d spent most of the day with Emma, snuggling, playing, reading, and enjoying her. She’d dropped her sweet girl at Ellen’s house an hour ago, or so, and was now in the process of getting ready. Showered, hair done, and makeup applied, she was standing in her closet, clad only in her bra and panties, attempting to find something to wear, when her sister’s call interrupted her thoughts. While she was always glad to hear from Melissa, her timing was anything but great. Scully was nervous enough. She hadn’t told anyone in her family about the identity of her new FBI partner.

“I’m not hiding anything Missy, I promise. I’m just going out, that’s it,” she attempts again to shrug it off. She looks at herself in the mirror, analyzing every inch, curve, and shadow of makeup. While talking to her sister, she’d thrown on black slacks and a light, long-sleeve, top. “So where are you anyways?”

“Stop trying to change the subject,” Missy admonishes, though Scully can hear a gentle tone in her voice. “Bangkok. So, who are you going out with?”

Scully hesitates for a split second, then relents. “A friend,” giving nothing away.

“A date,” Melissa counters, goading her sister.

“It’s not a date,” Scully retorts, defensively.

“Take off the slacks and sweater and put a dress on,” Melissa tells her, sounding half sister, half parent. Scully grins, inwardly. As much of a pain as her sister can be, there is no doubt that she knows Scully very, very well. She eyes a dress in the back of her closet. Taking it off the hanger, she pulls the pants and shirt off, then slips into the dress, turning in front of her mirror, admiring the way the fabric falls over her figure.

“Fine, you won’t talk about your date, tell me, where is my niece?” Missy asks, changing the subject. Scully thanks her silently.

“I dropped her off at Ellen’s a little bit ago,” she tells her. She continues eyeing the dress she’s wearing. Purple and black and falling just above her knees in length.

“Is she spending the night?” Melissa inquired, which made Scully pause. The silence was just long enough for Melissa to take notice. “Who is this guy, Dane? Come on sis, don’t hold out on me!”

“Miss, it’s a long story that I don’t have time to tell right now. He’s going to be here any minute. I promise when I have a handle on what’s going on, I promise I’ll let you know.” She assures her sister.

“I’m going to hold you to it, Dana,” Melissa says, her voice beaming. She then adds, “Love you.”

“I love you too Missy. See you soon,” Scully says into the phone, then hangs up and tosses the chunky phone on her bed.

Ellen had offered to keep Emma for the night, simply because Scully didn’t know how long she would be out, and in Ellen’s words ‘it would be a shame to wake a two-year-old to have to take her home just to put her to bed’. Scully resisted initially, but Ellen made a strong case and eventually won.

Checking her hair and makeup in the mirror one last time, she heads to the living room and hears his soft knock as she reaches the coffee table. She and Mulder had agreed that Mulder should pick her up, no sense in taking two cars or cabs. Swiftly walking to the door, she opens it, and her breath catches in her throat as his eyes do a double take. Mulder stands before her in dark jeans, a black shirt, and his leather jacket; he looks amazing. Scully shakes her head attempting to focus, and realizes she has no idea how she is going to get through the evening. She opens the door and allows him entrance.

“You look nice,” he tells her, walking in. In his hands, he holds out a bottle of wine, which she graciously accepts. “I didn’t know a good ‘meeting my work partner/mother of my child to discuss the situation over dinner’ present, so I figured wine would always be welcomed.”

Scully lets out a barking laugh as she places it on the table. Turning to face him, she smirks. “What, you don’t do this often?” Now it’s Mulder’s turn to laugh.

“You can say that again,” he says, taking his bottom lip into his mouth, nervously. Scully stares at his mouth, a mouth that she couldn’t get out of her head for a very long time.

“Reservations are in 30 minutes, you ready?” he says, pulling Scully from her thoughts. Nodding, she grabs her keys and purse as Mulder escorts her out the door, his hand falling to the small of her back.

Aubree’s Italian Bistro

They made it to the restaurant without an issue, making their reservation with plenty of time to spare. They were taken to their table and, ever the gentleman, Mulder insisted on pulling Scully’s chair out for her. He then ordered a bottle of wine he knew she enjoyed.

They had gotten to the restaurant without an issue, made their reservation, and were being seated. Mulder pulled out the chair for Scully to sit and he ordered a bottle of wine he knew she liked. They made small talk about work while looking at the delectable entrees and ordered quickly.

“Mulder,” Scully starts, while Mulder opens his mouth and says, “Look, Scully.” They smile, chuckle slightly, and sit silently for another moment.

“Scully, before you say anything, I know this is awkward as hell. We can pretend to dance around the issue or we can just be upfront with each other,” he lets out a breath and Scully can’t help but smile at his boyish charm and attempt at maturity.

“What issue is that, Mulder?” For a split second, she wonders if he means the issue between the adults. Does he know how she feels? Is he feeling that way too? Her heart starts to quicken and her cheeks turn a slight shade of red.

“Emma,” he answers swiftly. Scully’s heart drops but she’s somehow able to maintain her composure.

Nodding slowly, she says, “Right, Emma.”

Mulder notices her falter and asks, “Is there something else?” Scully shakes her head quickly trying to recover. Continuing, his train of thought, Mulder says, “I uh, I’ve been thinking about her, and this situation, all week and I can’t even begin to describe the emotional rollercoaster–”

“Mulder, I am so sorry,” Scully interjects, guilt ultimately overtaking her for the umteenth time over the past week, and really the past few months. Suddenly, Mulder is grabbing her hand. “It’s my turn now, Scully.” He’s matter-of-fact and quiet, yet gentle all rolled into one. Scully nods, noticing that he doesn’t let go of her hand once he’s done speaking

“I want to be angry, frustrated, annoyed, and hurt, but I can’t be, and frankly, I have no right to be. If the situation were different, if you had known me, known where to find me, and purposefully not told me, or if you had ignored me, I could feel those feelings, but Scully, I can’t be mad. Perhaps maybe enraged at the situation, yes, but not with you. You made an unimaginable decision, alone. I wasn’t there to support you. That’s something I will always regret, even though neither of us is to blame; it’s the hand we were dealt. But, now that I know she exists, I’ve met her and spent time with her,” he chokes back a slight bit of emotion and continues, “I can’t imagine not having her in my life, or being a part of hers. I know it’s different than spending a day with her, but I would like the chance to parent her. I know I have no experience with kids or parenting; hell, I haven’t been around a small child since Samantha was little, and I know I have a lot to learn., but I would like to try. I know your concerns about work, with my search for the truth, but Scully, spending time with Emma, knowing she’s a part of me… I want to be with her; I want to watch her grow. I’ve missed so much already and I don’t want to miss another minute. Please hear me when I say I would quit the FBI tomorrow if it means being a father to your little girl; that is my new truth.”

Scully blinks, words forgotten, slight shock overtaking her thoughts. She can suddenly see her whole life in front of her; lazy weekends with Emma and Mulder, playing, shopping, doing the mundane things life throws at people. She sees holidays and happy times; school days and homework, sports, and clubs. She sees driver's ed, college, and maybe a wedding or two thrown in, with some alien conspiracies lurking around for good measure.

“I fell in love with you…” the words leave her mouth before she can fully process the implications. Her ocean blue eyes grow wide, and she throws her hand over her lips, partially in shock and partially to keep her from saying anything else, once she realizes what came out. It’s too late. Although it was spoken in a mere whisper, she knows Mulder heard every syllable. They sit there, at a stalemate, in thick silence milling about. Even the waiter, bringing food, is not enough to break the spell; tension is thick.

“I’m sorry,” she recovers, once she gains her composure. “That sort of just slipped out,” she attempts to brush away her slip of the tongue. As if switching beings for the moment, Mulder raises his eyebrows sky high, in true Scully fashion. Finding her voice, Scully clarifies, “I may have underplayed how I felt about you after our one-night stand.” May as well lay it all out there since the cat is out of the bag, she thinks. There wouldn’t be any way they could co-parent, let alone work together without an open and honest conversation at this point.

“I uh, I fell for you Mulder, I fell hard,” she tells him honestly. “The week or two after, I couldn’t eat or sleep; it was all so difficult. I was out of my mind because that wasn’t me. Those feelings were irrational. I felt crazy. Dana Scully does not meet people and instantly falls in love. It took me 10 months to tell my last relationship that I loved him, and then that ended abruptly soon after. It was like letting go of all control, which I don’t do, ever. There was something about you, Mulder. You took my breath away. There was an undeniable connection, Mulder. I felt it, and I want to say I know you did too,” she looks down, her tiny hands twisting and shaping the lightly colored napkin in her lap. “I had just finally started making progress on getting over you when I found out I was pregnant, and between life in general, the depression, and the hormones, I spiraled into a dark place. I was angry for a while. I was mad at the world, which is very unlike me. I was angry because I didn’t want to be pregnant. I didn’t understand. I thought maybe God was punishing me because of what I had done. But then I kept thinking about that night, knowing how much passion we had and the love I felt; I knew my baby was created from something wonderful. Anyway, I downplayed that night to a lot of people, especially my parents, when I had to eventually tell them about the baby. At that point only my friend Ellen knew. My sister saw right through me. To this day she and Ellen are the only two who know how bad that time was for me. I’m sorry for how all of this has come out. But, I figure if we are going to work together, and try to co-parent, well, you deserve the truth. You have a right to know. I don’t expect a response or reciprocation or anything–”

Suddenly Mulder’s lips are on hers, he’s leaning across the table, his hands reaching for the sides of her face. The kiss is chaste and short, with a hint of what could be. When he pushes back they look at each other, neither speaking but rather taking in the profound moment.

It’s Mulder who breaks the silence first. “I think we have a lot more to talk about than we initially thought.” His thumbs stroke her cheekbones. “How about we get the food to go and head back to your house.”

Scully Residence

Saturday, April 24 1993

Sounds of keys and knick-knacks clang together, mingling inside Scully’s bag. Her shaky hands fumble with her keys, dropping them not once, but twice, only for her to have to rummage through and find them again. Once free, she flubs the one job she has: unlocking her door. She tries again, this time successful. She’s been working with him for months, but now that Mulder is this close to her in proximity, almost completely up behind her, she’s transformed into a shaky mess. She leads the way inside as she feels the warmth of Mulder’s gentle touch on her shoulder, another hand on her waist. Suddenly his lips are there, on her neck, traveling down to where her shoulder starts. She hears a thud and realizes Mulder kicked the door shut with one foot, his hands, and lips never leaving her skin.

Putting the food in the kitchen, in the fridge, proves to be quite a task, walking into the kitchen with Mulder still attached. Her brain is fuzzy but once she finally reaches her goal, she turns to face her partner.

“Mulder–” she starts, though he interrupts her.

“What time do you need to get Emma?” His mouth descends on hers before she’s able to answer his question.

“Technically not until tomorrow,” she manages to get out. She puts a hand out to his chest, pausing the start of yet another heated kiss. Her rational side shines through. “Mulder, should we be doing this? There is so much we need to talk about,” she lets out a breath, as Mulder's lips advance from her silky neck to her chin. “Mulder,” she insists again, more forcefully this time.

He pauses and looks into her eyes. Taking a step back to give her some breathing room, he sighs. Taking her hand, he leads her to the couch. “Look, Scully, I know you’re scared. Believe it or not, I’m completely terrified. We have good reason to be. The bureau, the x-files, Emma. But believe it or not, I want to believe, no I have to believe that everything is going to fall into place for us. Shockingly, I’m more scared about what will happen if we don’t take this leap of faith.”

Scully takes a moment to study his face and she sees calm. She sees caring. She sees love. She knows above all else that he’s right. She stands, pulling him up by his shirt, and leads him to the bedroom, but before they make it, he scoops her up, carrying her the rest of the way. Once inside he places her in the middle of her bed and lowers himself to join her. She lets out a gasp, realizing that she’d been waiting for this since walking into his office. That’s a lie, she thinks. She’d been waiting for it ever since he walked out the door the first night she’d met him.

His lips envelop hers, soft to the touch, yet forceful. His tongue slips out, gliding along her lips, trying mercilessly to poke its way through. He gently pushes her back, her arms reach for his face, and she opens her mouth to meet his awaiting tongue. Mulder’s hands are instantaneously everywhere: her face, her back, her side, and slipping under her dress. She pulls her lips from his and rests her forehead on his. Whispering, because if she speaks any louder she’s convinced it will break the spell, she reaffirms, “We’re doing the right thing, right?”

He pulls back and he considers her, the aroma of perfume, anticipation, and arousal filling him. He softly kisses her closed eyelids, one at a time. “Do you want to stop?” he asks, metaphorically throwing the ball in her court.

Steadily, Scully shakes her head. “Make love to me, Mulder,” she murmurs. That is all he needs to hear before he pulls her to her wobbly feet and attacks the zipper of her dress achingly slow. He wants to do this right; he wants this to be perfect. Her dress ripples as it falls to the floor and she’s left standing in her black thong and bra. Her eyes are wild with want and Mulder inhales sharply, licking his lips involuntarily. Stepping out of the piles at her feet, she pulls at Mulder’s ridiculously expensive shirt. She makes a mental note to ask him what’s with the catalog clothing on a different day. She lifts it over his head, a slightly difficult task for her five-foot-three-inch frame, compared to his six-foot stature.

He takes her in his arms once more, then lowers her to the bed. They have all the time in the world as the night stands still. He smells her arousal, his mouth all but watering. He bends to meet her mouth, once again seeking entrance with his tongue. They kiss and nip, exploring each other as though it's the very first time, although after the time apart, it feels like the first time all over again. He kisses down her neck, then to her shoulder, and finally to her breast. Pulling the cup down, he takes a nipple into his mouth. She hisses as he applies the perfect amount of pressure and suction. She reaches into his hair, pulling lightly. Without missing a beat, he reaches his arms around her and unclasps the offending fabric, the barrier to what he seeks. Scully lets out a breathy moan as Mulder pulls her other breast into his hand, pinching her pebbled nipple. He kneads and licks, sucks and pinches. She arches into him. After a bit, he switches sides and starts the process over with her other breast. He feels her heat on his lower abdomen, where their bodies happen to align.

He begins inching lower, licking down her chest, to her navel. He bites gently which elicits a gasp from Scully. Continuing lower, he takes the tip of her thong in his teeth. He meets her eyes, pausing, giving her a minute to say no. The fire he sees in her ocean eyes tells him the word won’t fall from her lips. He pulls down with his teeth, using his hands on each side of the scrap of fabric, until the panties are around her ankles. They join her forgotten dress on the floor. He inhales deeply, taking in her scent. It’s imprinted in his brain, memories from so long ago. After another beat, another pause waiting for her to resist, he dives head first.

Scully gently raises to her elbows, wanting to catch a glimpse of his face between her legs, where she wants him most. This was one pleasure she didn’t have the opportunity to experience last time, though she’d fantasized about it many nights after. He teases her, kissing the inside of her thighs, biting just hard enough to leave an indent, but not so hard it’s painful. With one hand on her breast, he uses the other to part her folds. He licks gently, once, then a second time. Scully jumps at the contact and arches into him again, her grip on his hair tighter.

Mulder begins lapping her up. She tastes like he’s imagined and he can’t get enough. After a few minutes, he wraps his lips around her clit and she lets out a low moan, music to Mulder’s ears. “Mulder,” she purrs, which spurs Mulder on, finally hearing his name on her lips after all the years apart, vastly different from how it sounds day to day in the confines of their office. He sucks and licks, steadily, finding a rhythm that she likes, by the sounds she’s making. After a fit, he adds a finger, then two, sliding them in and out, on beat with his tongue. Scully pulls at the sheets, her hands clutching them in a vice grip. She’s panting and moaning, and though Mulder hasn’t been intimate with her since long ago, he can tell she’s close. He finds her G-spot and gives her clit with a final suck and then a lick of the tongue, and she’s soaring. She doesn’t scream but rather moans his name, drawled out, each syllable slowly leaving her lips. He feels her back away from his mouth, ever so slightly, when the feeling is too much for her. He kisses the inside of each thigh and then uses his tongue to follow the path up to her breasts, while Scully tries to settle her breathing. He sucks each nipple and then moves back up her neck and then finally, reachers her mouth. She pulls him in, sucking his tongue into her mouth, the taste of her sparking renewed arousal.

They kiss for some time, letting Scully’s breathing settle and her heart rate return to normal. She looks into his eyes and smiles. “Hi,” she whispers, kissing him for the umpteenth time. He kisses the tip of her nose.

“Hi,” he whispers back. He’s gently rubbing his hand up and down her side. In that moment he realizes this is where he’s meant to be and he never wants to leave. While lost in thought, Mulder suddenly finds himself on his back. Stunned for a second, he looks at Scully, who is grinning from ear to ear.

“Why Agent Scully,” he laughs, realizing she pulled a maneuver from Quantico. Before he has time to react, she has her hands pulling down his pants, which somehow were still on, taking his boxers with them. His throbbing erection springs to life and now it’s Scully’s turn to drool. She remembers that he is well endowed, but seeing it again was something entirely different. Before Mulder has a chance to object, Scully wraps her lips around the tip of his penis. It’s Mulder’s turn to hiss. In previous relationships, Scully wasn’t a huge fan of fellatio, but it feels different with Mulder; she can’t wait to have him in her mouth. She swipes her tongue over his tip again, forming an O with her lips. Using her tongue to lubricate him, she slides her mouth up and down, Mulder moaning her name. She places one hand at his base and cups his balls with her other hand, giving a firm but gentle squeeze. She hollows out her mouth and begins to suck like a hoover.

“Oh, God, Scully,” Mulder pants, beads of sweat forming on his brow. His words entice her to continue and Mulder is caught between never wanting her to stop and needing her to stop. She picks up her pace, using her tongue to lick around the width of his throbbing cock.

“Sc… Scul… Scully,” Mulder pants. He puts a hand in her hair, not to guide her, but to stop her. She pauses, looking up at him. “It’s been a relatively long time for me and if you keep doing that we won’t be able to finish the way I have been wanting to since you stepped foot in my office,” he admits. She lets his penis fall out of her mouth and she grins at him. Just as he did to her, she kisses his thighs and makes her way back up his body.

She straddles him, rocking back and forth, sliding her slit up and down his pulsing erection. She captures his lips and he loves that she is asserting control.

“Condom?” he questions.

“I’m on the pill,” is her response. She stares into his eyes, communicating her complete trust in him. His eyes furrow, silently asking if she’s sure. Before he can ask again, she impales herself on him. She lets out a sound between a moan and a cry. Mulder is stock still, his arms wrapping around her waist.

“Scully?” his voice thick with concern.

Scully moans, then breathily responds “I’m okay, Mulder. Really. You feel amazing. It’s been a very long time.”

He’s shocked to say the least, wrapping his head around the words she expresses, understanding their meaning but confused at the same time. Scully makes a sound, a cross between a laugh and a huff. “Yes, Mulder, I haven’t been with anyone since our one-night stand. I was pregnant, then had a baby, and I was working full time…” she let her words drift. She sets back to the task at hand, rocking into him, silently telling him to move. She grabs his hand and places it at her waist, the other hand interlacing with his. She leans over him and captures his lips. Mulder grins, loving the way she seizes control.

After a minute or two she starts to grind faster, Mulder meeting her thrusts. He’s panting, squeezing her waist, knowing there will be fingerprints tomorrow. Sensing he won’t last much longer, he pauses his movements. Scully looks down, catching his eyes. “I’m not going to–” he starts to get out but she silences him with yet another kiss.

“It’s okay, Mulder. Let go,” she assures him. He moves his mouth to suck on her soft nipple. To her, his hand on her hip feels like a furnace, as he slowly rakes his nails over her flesh. He bites, ever so slightly, on her nipple and she lets out a yelp, followed by a gasp. He knows his release is imminent and he so desperately wants her to come again. He releases her hand and moves his to where they are joined. Scully places her now free hand palm down in the center of his chest. He rubs her clit, the juices from their combined arousal coating his fingers. Within a minute of contact, he can feel her walls tightening, vice-like, around his cock, which was growing harder by the second. This time when she comes, she does scream, and it’s music to Mulder’s ears. Then, he’s a goner. He howls her name and lets go, spurting his cum deep within her depths.

Time stands still, the only noise is the sounds of heavy panting. Scully lowers herself onto Mulder, seeking out his lips for another kiss, which he happily delivers. With a devilish smile, he tells her, “Just as good as I remember.” Scully smiles but remains voiceless. Still connected most intimately, she burrows into him, trying to get as physically close as possible.

“I fell for you too, Scully,” Mulder reveals after a few minutes, his words a murmur. “I didn’t want to admit how much, but I struggled moving on from you.” Scully smiles a soft smile into the crook of his neck. She knows they need to move, as she feels the evidence of their love-making trickling out of her, ever so slowly.

“What do we do now, Mulder?” she asks.

“Figure it out as we go?” he suggests.

“What about Emma?” she asks, thinking about the bigger reason they went to dinner together, and ultimately ended up in each other's arms.

“I want to see her, be with her, as much as you’ll let me,” he replies, nuzzling her neck. Scully hesitates, which Mulder feels. He sits up, his flaccid penis slipping out of her. She turns to get up and clean up the mess, but Mulder stops her. “Don’t worry about it Scully, we’ll clean it later. Talk to me. What’s weighing on you?”

Scully pauses, deciding how to explain what’s on her mind and heart. “I’m fiercely independent, Mulder…” he makes a shocked face, to which she playful punches him in the shoulder. “I just mean I am used to doing things on my own, making decisions by myself, having Emma with me 100% of the time when I’m not working.”

“Oh Scully,” Mulder sighs, “The last thing I want to do is make this hard for you, or Emma for that matter. I don’t want to swoop in and disrupt your routine. I don’t want to take her away or expect to make all the decisions. I just want to get to know her, see her, be with her, and love her. And who knows, maybe she’ll let me love her mama as well. We’ll figure it out as we go. You call the shots,” he insists. He cups her face and kisses her jaw.

“What about work?” she asks.

“Well I think we both know who calls the shots there,” he attempts a joke, which elicits a smile from her. “I don’t know, Scully. I can’t see the future. What I do know is that now that you’re in my life, I can’t not have you in it. I’m not the best at talking, but can we try to work on keeping communication open? Even when it’s difficult? Can we be intentional on separating work and personal life?” Scully leans in, nods, and kisses him.

“I’m willing to give it a try,” she tells him.

“What time do we need to get Emma?” he asks, a hand running up and down the length of her back from her neck to the swell of her ass. Scully smiles at the use of ‘we’.

“Well, Ellen told me to enjoy my morning, so…” she trails off.

“Are you hungry? We didn’t exactly get to eat our food,” he realizes. She nods at him, but the look in her eyes tells him that food may not be what she has in mind.

They make love again, long into the night, amazed at what a one-night stand could lead to.

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

12/13

Rated: this one is teen/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Lone Gunman HQ

Thursday, April 22 1993

*Bang Bang*

His fist collides with the door. He waits a minute.

*Bang Bang*

“Come on, open up,” Mulder yells after another minute. Slowly, he hears the clicks and turns of locks unlocking, the ever-present security system of his three unconventional, yet very kind, best friends. Tapping his foot impatiently, he waits for the door to open.

“Yeah yeah, hold your horses,” he hears from the other side, as a chain clinks, signaling the undoing of the final lock. The door opens to a little man wearing glasses and a wide smile.

“Mulder. Compadre! Long time no see,” he greets Mulder, moving aside to allow him entry.

Mulder enters, shoulders slumped.

“Uh oh, this doesn’t look promising.”

Mulder shifts his eyes to his friend and nods in acknowledgment. “Hey Frohike.”

Turning back the way he entered, Frohike yells, “Hey, amigos, get out here. It’s Mulder and something’s up.”

Mulder meanders around the piles of papers, takeout containers, and general clutter that makes up the room, over to the couch. He sinks, letting out a stilted sigh. Stopping at the house of his three best friends, his only friends for that matter, seemed like the natural thing to do, though now that he was sitting on their couch he wasn’t so sure. Mulder didn’t trust many people, but he did so blindly with Frohike, Byers, and Langly, having proven themselves loyal time and time again.

“To what do we owe the pleasure?” a man, sharply dressed, with neatly trimmed facial hair, and kind eyes asks as he enters the room. He takes one look at Mulder and sides up next to him on the couch. The blonde man with his long, unkempt hair and a ratty Ramones t-shirt, takes a seat at a nearby desk, overflowing with computer software.

“Does Mulder need a reason to visit us?” The blonde, Langly, asks.

“Yes,” Both Frohike and Byers answer simultaneously, garnering a smirk from Mulder.

“So? What is it, Mulder? Aliens?” Questions Byers.

“Government conspiracies?” Frohike suggests.

“Bigfoot?” Langly pipes in, snapping his fingers.

Taking a deep breath, Mulder shakes his head before responding, “Women.” He glances at his friends and the looks do not disappoint.

“You do realize where you are, right Mulder?” Byers asks, as kindly as he can. “Frohike scares woman away, Langly can’t get a woman with that mop on his head, and I haven’t been on a date since–”

“Dude, speak for yourself. The ladies love the hair,” Langly informs them, flipping his locks with his hand.

“Yeah, and I’m the Queen of England,” Frohike snarks.

“What’s up Mulder,” Byers attempts again, ignoring the duo.

“Well, uh, I know this is going back a bit, but do you guys remember my one-night stand from a few years ago? The one I met in the club? I had just broken that huge case for the bureau.”

“You mean the one you got hot and heavy with,” Frohike remembers, taking a seat in an empty chair kitty-corner from the couch. “The one who took you home to her place and had her way with you. Not once, not twice–”

“The one you couldn’t get out of your head for weeks and we had to hear over and over and over again about how you thought you were in love, but it was a crazy idea, she was a stranger and couldn’t commit to anything–” Langly continues.

“The one you had right before you met Diana?” Byers interjects.

Mulder puts the tip of his left index finger on his nose while using his right to point in the direction of his friends. Frohike stands abruptly and walks out of the room, only to return a minute later with a beer. “I have a feeling you’re going to need this,” he says, handing it to Mulder.

“Remember I told you a few weeks ago that the bureau was assigning me a new partner? One I thought they were sending to spy on me?” He cracks open the bottle and takes s swig. He remains silent, allowing them to connect the dots.

“You’re kidding,” Byers says, making the connection.

Mulder shakes his head and gives a half laugh, half grunt. “Dr. Dana Scully; my new partner.”

“Holy shit,” Is all Frohike can come up with.

“You nail her again?” Langly asks, prompting all three men to stare at him. “What?” he asks, innocently.

“Oh it is so much more complicated than that, boys.” Mulder proceeds by telling them about their first meeting after two years and their first few cases together. “So I went over to her place to see her, thinking maybe we could talk about it. I sort of went over, unannounced, under the guise of needing her to sign some paperwork. But before I could even get her to let me in, there was a crashing noise behind her and she ran from the door, leaving me in the hallway.”

“Boyfriend?” Byers asks.

“Daughter,” Mulder says, flatly. All three mouths hit the floor. Mulder takes another swig of his beer. “And that’s not all. Hang onto your hats boys because you’re going to love this. Her daughter, Emma, was born in February of 1991. You can do the math but I’ll save you time. That’s about nine months after she had a one-night stand with yours truly.”

“No shit,” Langly stares at him.

“She got pregnant,” Byers says as more of a statement than a question.

“Are you sure it’s yours?” Frohike questions, protective over his friend.

“She has no reason to lie to me. She told me she was trying to figure out how to tell me, but it never seemed to be the right time. She said she doesn’t want anything from me, financially speaking. She said whatever part I wanted to play in Emma’s life, she’s leaving the decision to me,” Mulder explains.

Once he recovers enough from the shock, Frohike asks, “How do you feel about that?

Mulder shrugs, looking off. “I spent the day with them last Saturday. It was honestly one of the best days of my life,” he answers, truthfully. “If I look at her closely, aside from her blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair, I see a bit of Samantha in her. I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with that little girl.”

“And her mother,” Langly adds. Mulder sits, silent, as he can’t quite disagree with his friend.

“So what’s the problem?” Frohike asks.

“Well, she’s my partner for one,” Mulder tells them, as though it’s the most obvious answer in the world.

“It’s not like you haven’t fallen in love with a partner before,” Byers reminds him, gently.

“This is different, boys. I can’t explain it. You know what Diana and I went through. Spending that evening with Dana, back then, and working with Scully now; doesn’t even compare to Diana. Scully’s not just on a different level; she’s in a whole other universe. I just… I can’t mess this up. I want to be a part of their lives.”

“I think you have your answer,” Byers carefully points out.

“We decided to go out Saturday night to talk, decide what to do about our situation, about Emma.” He takes a final swig of his beer.

“Well,” Frohike says, “You’d better pull out all the stops.

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

11/13

Rated: this chapter general/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Scully Residence

Saturday, April 17 1993

“So, in the end, I decided I couldn’t give her up,” Scully concludes. She’d left out some of the more intimate details of the birth, including the part where she longed for William, or who she thought William was.

Mulder’s quiet for a long time, soaking in every detail that left her lips. Scrunching his eyebrows, lost in thought, he finally speaks. “I’m sorry you had to go through that alone.” His voice is steady but quiet. During the story, he had moved, ever so slowly, and unintentionally, closer to Scully.

“Thank you,” she genuinely replies, then adds, “I wasn’t alone. I couldn't have gotten through that day without my mother or Melissa. Heck, not only that day but all the months that followed. After we got home from the hospital my mom stepped up and taught me how to be a mom. Apparently, it doesn’t come naturally to everyone.” Scully neglects to tell him about her bout with postpartum depression and how Melissa would crawl into bed with her some nights, just so Dana knew she wasn’t alone.

“I loved her unconditionally, but I had no idea what I was doing. The first few weeks were difficult, to say the least. She wouldn’t sleep or eat. I was sleep-deprived. Missy was a godsend, and even my dad came around once he got home. He spent so many evenings driving her around in the car to put her to sleep. Now she has him completely wrapped around her finger.” Scully smiles at the memories.

“We stayed with my parents for about a year. I was able to finish my training at the academy and was then offered a position to start teaching at Quantico. I knew it was time for us to get a place of our own. We got into a pretty good routine, although it’s kind of been uprooted a bit now…” she trails off. She still hasn’t met his eyes, almost afraid of looking. She’s never been this vulnerable; she hates the feeling.

“We can focus on cases closer to home,” Mulder interjects.

“That's Sweet of you to offer, Mulder, but that’s okay. My parents have already told me they’ll keep her when I travel. I know they miss her. Even though they see her often, they watch her during the day, it’s still not the same as having her under their roof all the time. And Missy helps when she can. She’s back to traveling a bit more, but she makes it a point to come home more often since Emma’s gotten bigger. She doesn’t stay away as long.

“You’re amazing,” is all Mulder says. Scully gives him a genuine smile that immediately fills his heart with warmth.

“Thank you, Mulder,” she starts, though she’s interrupted by a yawn. Covering her mouth in embarrassment, she starts to apologize. Mulder waves his hand.

“It’s been a long day,” he rises. “I’ll let you get some rest.” He hesitates slightly, knowing he needs to leave, but not wanting to leave the discussion unfinished.

Sensing his unease, Scully offers, “We’ll talk Monday?”

Nodding, Mulder makes his way to the door, Scully trailing behind him.

He opens the door, then spins to face her again. “She’s amazing too, Scully. She’s a special little girl.” This makes Scully grin again. He leans in, ever so slowly, and places a gentle kiss on Scully’s cheek. “Thank you for today. I’ll see you Monday morning.

Before she can respond to his words or the kiss, he's out the door. She lifts a hand to her cheek, caressing the spot Mulder’s lips had just touched. Ginning again, she closes the door and makes her way to bed, knowing she will have wonderful dreams tonight.

Scully Residence

Sunday, April 18 1993

The steaming mug of coffee is almost too hot to touch, but Ellen wraps her always-cold fingers around it. She was supposed to hear from her friend that morning. Since Dana had changed units at work, she was always on the go, between her job and Emma; though she couldn’t and wouldn’t begrudge her friend. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t dying to know what happened after their first case, so when Dana called this morning asking her to come over, she jumped in the car without a look back.

Pouring herself a cup and checking the monitor one last time, as Emma is down for her nap, Scully sinks into the chair at her kitchen table. She blows into her mug, seemingly avoiding Ellen’s inquisitive eye. “I told him,” she says, more so into her mug than directly to her friend.

“And…” Ellen trails off, waiting patiently, albeit anxiously, for Scully to continue.

“Well, it didn’t quite happen the way I thought it would, that’s for sure.” At Ellen’s questioning glance, Scully continues. “It happened by accident. I told him he was her father. How do you think he reacted? I don’t think shock covers it. He got up and walked out of the apartment. He didn’t seem angry or sad, just zero affect.”

Ellen starts to interject, but Scully doesn’t let her. “Then he called me later that evening and asked if we could go to lunch; him, me, and Emma. So we met him yesterday and had lunch. We talked. He asked a few questions. Then he wanted to know if he could spend the day with us. So we did. We went to the park, got ice cream, came back here, and had dinner together. Then he helped put Em to bed after I bathed her. Once she was asleep he asked me about the day she was born. I was honest and told him most of it. Then he left.”

Ellen carefully nods her head, almost treating Scully as a nervous doe; afraid one wrong move would spook her and keep her from telling the rest of the story. She’d known her long enough to know she was holding something back. “And…” Ellen pushes gently.

“And he kissed me on my cheek when he left.”

“Well that’s a lot to digest,” Ellen says, sitting back in her chair.

“I don't know how to start,” Scully tells her friend, honestly. “Ellen, it felt so natural. The day itself was a day I dreamt about ever since I had Emma. It was like we spent the day as a family.

“Dana,” Ellen said, sternly, but softly, “Don’t get carried away. You spent one day together. That doesn’t make you a family or Mulder a father. He has no idea what it’s like to be a parent. Hell, Rob’s been a father for six years and he still doesn’t know what to do with Trent half the time,” she smirks, trying to lighten the mood.

“I know, I know. It was just…. Well for those few hours, it was nice.

Ellen pauses, taking a sip of her coffee, hoping to regroup. “So? What’s Mulder going to do?”

“That’s the sixty-four thousand dollar question. We’re going to talk at work tomorrow.” Ellen choked back a sip and arched an eyebrow at her.

“What?” a slightly defensive tone emerged from her.

“It’s just… the office?” Ellen hesitates.

Ever inquisitive mind, Scully questions, “What’s wrong with that?”

“Dana, you are so smart, but sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head of yours. You aren’t making a business deal or talking about your latest case. You’re talking about a decision that could impact you and your child for the rest of your lives. It isn’t something that you should talk about in passing by the water cooler.”

Sighing, Scully knows her friend is right as she considers her words carefully. At the end of the day, this is the second biggest decision she needs to make, next to having and keeping Emma. It’s not something that should be treated lightly.

“I’m scared,” her voice is barely above a whisper. She feels Ellen’s hands envelop hers and her eyes travel to meet her friend’s.

“Talk to me,” Ellen persuades, gently.

“I told him if he wanted to be a part of Emma’s life, I wouldn’t stop him. If he decides he wants to, he can choose in what way, and how much involvement he wants. But I made damn sure that he understood that he can’t go in and out. I refuse to expose my daughter to that. Once he’s in, he’s in,” she explains.

“I’m not hearing a problem, Dana. I mean, I haven’t met him, but from your descriptions of Mulder, he doesn’t seem like a horrible person.

“No matter what, I have to work with him daily, Ellen. We are just starting to develop our working relationship, developing our trust in each other–”

“Dana, come on. The trust is already there and you know it. You felt it the night you met him. I mean, you’re the mother of his child for Christ's sake. He’s going to do his damndest to protect you, and before you say it, I know you don’t need protecting, that you went through the same training he did. I’m just saying it’s nice knowing someone has your back; someone who is as much invested in your home life as you are,” Ellen rationalizes.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Scully sighs.

“You’re in love with him,” Ellen tells her, in a tone Scully is used to hearing come from Missy’s mouth. Very matter-of-fact. “I know how enamored you were with him three years ago. I know that you fell hard for him, that you tried to hide it most of the time, and that it took you a very long time to get over him. Those are the facts, the hand you were dealt. He’s back in your life now and if I had to bet money, just from the way you’ve described him, he’s going to want to be in Emma’s life. The real question isn’t what do you want from Mulder for Emma, but what do you want from Mulder for you?”

The silence was deafening as Scully absorbed her friend’s words and before she could respond, Ellen added, “Is there any bureau policy about partners becoming involved?”

“Well, nothing explicitly, though it’s probably frowned upon. But Ellen, we’ve only been working together a few months. We’ve been on a handful of cases,” she rationalized, “And don’t get me started on the good ole’ boys club…” she trails off.

“You have to tell him,” Ellen pushes.

“I can’t,” Scully pushes back.

Ellen sighs, pulling her best friend into an embrace. “I don’t know if you’re going to have a choice. However, if I were you, I would focus on taking it one step at a time and focus on his relationship with Emma first.”

Nodding, Scully knows her friend is right, but it doesn’t make her any less terrified, and there isn’t much Dana Scully’s afraid of.

Later that evening, once the dishes are cleaned and Emma’s in bed, Scully sprawls out on her bed, grabs her phone, and nervously dials the number that has become so familiar over the past weeks. He answers on the first ring, his voice sending chills into the very depth of Scully’s core.

“Mulder, it’s me,” she says, attempting to even out her breathing, not wanting to convey how nervous she is. She licks her lips as she waits.

“Hey Scully, what’s up?”

She pauses, formulating her thoughts. “I’ve been thinking. I know we had an emotion-filled day and we covered a lot of information. I also know that there’s still a lot to talk about. I’m not sure that talking in the office, or passing, is the best thing.”

“So what do you propose?” he sounds relaxed. Scully could picture him smiling into the phone.

It’s now or never, she thinks to herself. “I was wondering if you wanted to get dinner next weekend, just us. We can talk about everything then. I can ask my friend Ellen to watch Emma; she loves having her over. My mom watches her so much during the week so I don’t particularly want to ask her on a weekend too, and I haven’t ever left her with a traditional babysitter yet,” she’s rambling.

“It’s a date,” he replies. So simple, so sure. Then he adds, “Friday night?”

“Friday night is great,” she manages to squeak out, having lost her senses when the word date came out of his mouth.

“Okay then. I’ll see you in the morning, Scully.” And with that, he hangs up.

Scully slowly places the phone receiver back on its cradle. Surely he used the word date as an expression, didn’t he?

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

10/13

Rated: This Chapter Teen/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Friday, Feb. 14, 1991

Scully Residence

“Dana, you will never guess what I just heard–” Melissa exudes excitement while exploding into the room she used to share with her kid sister, the one that Dana recently planted roots in again. Upon entering, she sees her sister, hunched over the queen bed. Her face is puckered, paler than usual, which is saying something given her ivory skin. There’s a slight sheen of sweat currently adorning her upper brow, and her eyes are closed, pinched tight. Melissa rushes to her side, immediately dropping to the floor in front of her, taking her sister’s sweat-soaked hands in her own.

“Dane, what’s going on? What’s wrong,” concern plastered all over her face.

Dana takes a deep breath and exhales, ever so slowly. When she can manage, she promises her sister, “Nothing’s wrong Missy, don’t worry. I think it was just a cramp,” her voice is shaky and a poor attempt at reassuring the elder Scully sister. Missy gives her a skeptical look but stands, without a word, and sits next to her on the bed. Dana was ever so thankful Missy had been home over the past few months. After high school and a short stint at the local community college, Melissa had become somewhat of a drifter, a world traveler in her words. She was constantly popping in and out of town at a moment's notice. However, ever since Dana divulged her pregnancy, Missy seemed to be sticking closer to home, and Dana was extremely grateful. Growing up, Missy was Dana’s confidant, and when she learned about the pregnancy, it was like no time had passed between them. Melissa became the person Dana was able to depend on the most during this scary time. Missy was the one Dana called when she was feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. She’d gone to just about every doctor appointment with her, and Melissa was judgment-free when Dana started researching adoption. Above all else, Melissa was the only one in her family who knew the whole story of Dana’s one-night stand and just how hard she had fallen for William.

When she’d finally disclosed her pregnancy to her Catholic family, she’d chalked it up to a simple mistake that she was acknowledging; a stupid decision, and that was that. Her family had reacted as expected. Her naval captain father was disappointed, as she’d always been a daddy’s girl. Her homemaker mother was shocked, not that she’d been having sex, Maggie wasn’t clueless, but shocked that she’d been careless. Her older brother made no bones about the fact that he was disgusted by her actions, and her younger brother was indifferent to the situation. Melissa loved her and supported her. She saw right through Dana’s stoic stance and questioned her about the encounter the first chance she’d had. Dana came clean about that night. Meeting William with no last name, dancing, talking, and the sex. Melissa, true to form, had started yammering on about fate and soulmates, which is when Dana stopped listening. Her parents never knew the extent of it, but Missy was the one who, on lonely and difficult nights, would stay up, consoling her sister, wiping away her tears.

“Earth to Dana,” Melissa’s words bring her out of her daydream.

“I’m fine Missy, I promise,” Dana insists, hoisting herself off the bed. She wasn’t in a standing position for more than five seconds when a sudden gush of warm liquid began aggressively falling to the floor, soaking everything from Dana’s feet to the carpet.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say I don’t think you just peed your pants,” Missy sarcastically says, staring at the look of pure shock on Dana’s face. Recovering, Dana rolls her eyes at her sister.

“Your due date is still a week away,” Missy states the obvious as if Dana doesn’t know this, as she runs to the hall closet to retrieve towels.

“Well I guess the baby doesn’t have the right calendar in there,” Dana retorts back, half in jest.

“Shouldn’t we be freaking out? Or going to the hospital or something?” Missy questions while trying to salvage the floor of the bedroom.

“I’m fine, MIssy. I am a doctor you know–”

“Yeah yeah,” Missy replies, cutting her sister off quickly. “You’re a forensic pathologist, not an OB. I’m going to get mom.” As she’s saying this, Scully bends over, another contraction evident by the look on her face.

“Fine,” Dana concedes, “but we don’t have to rush. The statistics of first time labors–”

Again Missy cuts her off while guiding her rambling sister from the room. “Quote statistics to me on the way to the hospital.”

St. Joseph Hospital

Friday, Feb. 14, 1991

“See, I told you there was no rush,” Dana tells her sister, who sits in the chair by her bedside. Once they had gotten to the hospital, Dana was taken to triage and checked. Her contractions were far apart and she was only 3 centimeters dilated. However, because her water had broken, they decided to keep her. Once admitted, Maggie, Dana’s mom, had called Captain Scully who was out at sea, while Melissa helped Dana get settled. Now they sit, some patiently, some not, while they wait for the newest Scully to make their debut. Dana’s currently listening to her mother ramble on about babies and diapers and breastfeeding. Dana loves her mother fiercely, however, she didn’t necessarily want to hear it. It had taken Maggie some time to come around to the idea of Dana’s pregnancy, unlike Melissa, who embraced it immediately. Maggie wasn’t thrilled with the idea of her unmarried daughter having a baby. However, she was extremely thankful when Dana had not chosen abortion, but other than that, her behavior came off as very indifferent. Dana still has a hard time reading her, however Missy, being ever the empath, senses Dana’s discomfort.

“Mom, it could be a while. Do you want to go home and get some rest?” Missy gently suggests, smoothing out Dana’s blanket.

“Oh no, I couldn’t leave my baby,” Maggie responds, ruffling Dana’s hair, as though she’s been magically transported back to kindergarten.

“How about going to get something in the cafeteria? You have no idea how long Dana will be at this,” Missy gently continues pushing, giving her mother a look. After a minute Maggie relents, kissing Dana on her head. “I’ll be back soon.”

“What can I do for you?” Melissa turns to her sister, once it’s just the two of them in the small hospital room.

“That was plenty, thank you. I love her Miss but I don’t know how I can do this with her hovering,” Dana replies. Melissa scoots onto the bed to snuggle up next to her baby sister. Dana makes room for her, hooking her arm through Missy’s.

“I think she freaked out a bit when you started talking about adoption. She secretly wants you to keep the baby. I know Mom and Dad were shocked…” Dana interjects the mother of all eye rolls. “Okay, shocked is putting it mildly. I think she’s come around to the idea of a baby, but knowing you’re still considering giving the baby up, well, it’s hard on her too.” At this, Dana casts her eyes downward.

“What?” Missy asks though Dana remains silent.

“Dane? What’s going on? Something you’d like to share with the rest of the class?” Still no response from her sister.

“Dana!” Melissa repeats sternness overtaking her voice. Dana looks up at her sister, revealing the tears in her eyes.

“Missy, I don’t know what to do. I am so conflicted,” she finally confides.

Melissa pulls her sister into an embrace. “Talk to me, Dana.”

Dana takes a deep breath, attempting to calm her shaking hands. “I see him all the time, Missy. I see him in my sleep at night and when I’m awake and daydreaming. That night was always more than a one-night stand to me. We had a connection, from the minute we started dancing. I was so scared by what I was feeling. I pushed him away. I never thought I would be doing this at all, let alone on my own,” she leans her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I want to do what is best for this baby because I love it so much, which is crazy in itself because I haven’t met it yet. I just don’t know what the best is, Missy. I know I have the time off from the academy after the birth, but then what? How do I go back to Quantico and care for a baby? An adoptive family could give him or her the best possible life.”

“But?” Melissa probes.

After what seems like an eternity, she whispers, “But I don’t know if I can do it.”

“Dana, I can’t tell you what to do. You know I believe that everything happens for a reason. If you decide that the best home for this baby is with another family, then so be it. Mom and Dad will have to learn to live with that. However, if you think that you, being the mother, are the best thing, then I will support you; Mom and Dad too, I know it. No one can make this decision for you Dana. I know how much William meant to you and still does, but you have to decide for yourself, and you alone.” Dana nods, wiping a lone tear falling from her eye.

“I’ve never been this emotional,” she excuses it away. Missy smirks, knowingly. “I’m sure it’s the hormones.”

St. Joseph’s Hospital

Saturday, Feb. 15 1991

Exhaustion. That’s all she feels. She feels it in her bones. She feels it in her hair. She feels it in her soul. Going on eighteen hours she was still at it. Her contractions were close together and she was at nine centimeters, but she was losing seam quickly.

“It hurts, it hurts so much,” Dana sobs into Melissa’s side.

Maggie, standing on her daughter’s other side, feels utterly helpless. Wiping a damp cloth over Dana’s forehead, she suggests an epidural one more time.

“I told you, I don’t want it,” Dana pants, an edge to her exhausted voice.

“Dana, you're going to wear yourself out,” Maggie tells her, a matter of fact. “You haven't even started pushing yet,” Dana says nothing, lacking the capacity to argue. Maggie opens her mouth, but in a burst of adrenaline, Dana interrupts in a harsh tone one she would never use with her mother under any other circumstances. “Mom, if you tell me one more time that you know best because you had four kids…” A contraction hits suddenly, halting any more words from leaving Dana’s dry mouth. Maggie smiles, not taking Dana’s behavior personally.

A knock at the door interrupts the moment. Dr. Clemons pokes her head in. “How are we doing Dana?”

“I can’t do it anymore doctor. I’m done. I’m ready to stop. Tell the baby I changed my mind!” She whines, pushing her head back into the pillow.

Dr. Clemons gives her a warm and comforting smile. Making her way towards the bed, she pats one of Dana’s knees. “Let’s take a look and see how you’re progressing because I can tell the baby you’ve changed your mind, but unfortunately they can’t change their mind. Ready or not, it will be here soon.” She goes about her business as gently as possible. “You’re at 9.5 centimeters, Dana. I’d guess you’ll be ready to push within the next half hour. How are the contractions?” Unable to speak, Dana looks toward her mother.

“Am I allowed to speak now?” Maggie asks, jokingly. “About every two minutes.”

Satisfied, Dr. Clemons nods. She tells Dana she will check in within the next thirty minutes, then leave the Scully women to wait some more.

Another vicious contraction hits and Dana lets out a sound, something between a howl and a moan. Once it passes she lets out a sob. Usually one to be in control of her emotions and her body, she feels the most out of control she has ever felt in her life. “I want this to be over Mom. I can’t do it,” she cries from the exhaustion, pain, and emotions she hasn’t even begun to process.

“I know my baby girl, I know. You’re doing an amazing job and I promise you, it’s almost over,” Maggie comforts her daughter as best she can.

“I wish he was here,” Dana cries to no one in particular. Maggie’s taken aback, her hand going to her mouth and eyes traveling to her other daughter.

Missy leans into her sister, whispering words of comfort. “I know Dana, honey, I know. If he were here he would tell you you’re doing an amazing job. That you’re the strongest person he knows. That he is so incredibly proud of you. That you are about to bring a precious little soul into the world; this tiny bundle that you will love with all your heart, enough for the both of you, you and William.” Melissa soothes her, all the while looking into Maggie’s eyes.

Snapping out of her shock at her daughter’s revelation, Maggie adds, “Your sister is right, Dana. You are so strong. You can do this. We’re right here with you. We’ve got you. It will be over soon.”

Little did Maggie know that it was only the beginning and that it would take another three hours of pushing for Dana’s baby to make its way into the world.

St. Joseph’s Hospital

Saturday Evening, Feb. 15, 1991

Dana lays snuggly in the big hospital bed holding her new daughter in her arms. For as slow as the labor and delivery seemed to go, the time since has sped by. Maggie and Melissa had excused themselves fairly quickly after the birth to give Dana some alone time to process everything she’d been through. They claimed they were going on a search for caffeine and to all the Captain.

Dana lays the baby in front of her and slowly unwraps the blanket, as though she’s meticulously opening a present on Christmas morning. She had already counted fingers and toes, but she wants another look at her perfect girl, because that’s what she is, the epitome of perfection. She picks up the naked baby, clad only in a diaper, and places her inside her hospital gown, relishing the moment the delicate skin hits her own. She places her nose atop the infant’s head and breathes in the newborn baby's smell. Perfection is the only word Dana has to describe this moment.

“Well, what do you think?” The rhetorical question leaves her mouth as she drops a kiss on the crown of the baby’s head. The bald head was soft and smooth. “It’s been about forty minutes,” Dana continues. “We’re doing okay so far, don’t you think?” The baby lets out a faint grunt. “Tough crowd. I think we're doing okay so far. I mean, you could use a little help with the whole latching thing, but I think you’ll get there. What are your first impressions of me? I mean, I know it’s all new for you. It’s new for me too, but I don’t think I’m doing too badly yet.” She finds herself slowly caressing the baby’s back. “I can’t believe you’ve been growing inside me for the past nine months and now here you are. Boy, were you a surprise! I wasn’t exactly expecting you.” Dana closes her eyes, fighting back tears.

“I owe you an apology. I’m sorry it’s just me. Your dad, well, I don’t know him well, but I can tell you that he’s something special. We had this indefinable connection and so of course I got scared and messed it up. I would like to think that if he knew about you, he’d be here for you. I want to do what’s best for you, baby, that’s all I have ever wanted these past nine months. I considered giving you to another family because they would probably do a better job raising you; they’d be better equipped, that’s for sure. I also thought about keeping you, but thought that was being selfish on my part. My friend Ellen and your auntie Melissa both said I would know what to do when I met you and even though I’m second-guessing myself, I know they’re right. I’ll probably second-guess myself a lot throughout your life, especially in the beginning. Just know one thing, my tiny baby. Please never doubt how much I love you, little one.”

She’s interrupted by a soft knock at her door. Looking up, she sees Melissa and their mother, back from their coffee journey.

“How’s everyone doing in here” Missy asks. She and Maggie slowly make their way into the room.

Patting the infant’s bottom, Dana assures them that they’re doing alright. She scoots a bit, making room for Maggie to sit on the bed. “This little one and I had a serious discussion while you were gone. We talked about a lot of different things.”

Dana looks up at her mother, then shifts her gaze to her sister, before finally landing back on the squirming bundle still tucked against her skin.

“I know it’s not going to be easy, but at the end of the day, I’m her mother and she belongs with me; with our family.” she chances a glance at Maggie, only to see love and tears in the older woman’s eyes. “I’m terrified, mom. I’m scared and I’m going to need help. I know you and Dad are disappointed—“

“Shush about that,” Maggie cuts her off. She places a hand in Dana’s hair, stroking it gently. “She is here and she is yours, and that’s all that matters now. You are her mother, Dana. We love you and we love her. We will support you in whatever way we can.”

Tears cascade down Dana’s cheeks, some splashing directly onto her daughter’s head, causing the three women to smile.

Melissa, who is silent up until this point, makes her way around to the other side of the bed, sinking onto it, next to her sister. “What are you going to name her?” She whispers, noting the baby’s eyes drooping closed ever so slowly.

Dana looks down at her daughter, smiling the first genuine smile since she’d entered the world.

“Emma. Emma Melissa Scully.” Dana looks at Missy, the widest smile forming on her lips. Melissa smiles back, knowing their lives will forever be altered from this point forward.

“Welcome to the world, Emma.”

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

9/13

This chapter is rated teen/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Ray’s Deli

Saturday, April 17 1993

*Ding Ding*

The ringing of the bell on the door announces their presence. Walking into the small deli, Emma lodged on one hip, Scully pauses, searching. She spots him, sitting across the room at a small corner table, out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the lunchtime rush. She steadily makes her way towards him and notices a small high chair in place of where a chair should be. Her heart melts, just a bit, realizing he purposefully sought out one for Emma to sit in. He stands as she approaches.

“Hey Scully,” he greets her, a sheepish grin on his face. She thinks it’s adorable, him being cautious, not fully sure how he should act around her now. She gently places Emma into the high chair before gathering some small toys to occupy her. She then focuses on herself, removing her jacket, a lightweight spring one that she places over the back of her chair.

“Hi Mulder, thanks for grabbing the high chair for her,” she offers him a wide smile. Smiling back, he nods, but his eyes wander to Emma, they are magnetized to her face. All he can do is stare. He saw her last night, but it’s as though he’s really and truly seeing her for the first time today. She’s enchanting, the most beautiful child he’s ever seen.

“Emmy, do you remember my friend from last night? Mulder? Can you say hi” Scully prompts the child, gently combing two fingers through her hair. Emma briefly looks up, acknowledging her mother said something to her but then is right back to her toys.

“She’s pretty shy around new people,” Scully explains, grabbing a menu to decide her order. It’s a tactic and she knows it. She frequents this deli enough to know the menu by heart, but having it close gives her something to do with her trembling hands. Mulder nods in recognition and they are quickly interrupted by a well-intentioned waitress, wanting to take their orders. Once the minutiae of ordering is out of the way, they stare at each other, a bit awkwardly, not knowing who should break the silence first.

“When’s her birthday?” Mulder finally asks, unable to handle the silence. He figures it a fairly easy question.

Scully takes a sip of water before answering. “February 15th. She was born in the middle of a blizzard. Some 6 inches of snow on the ground when I went to the hospital.”

“When did you find out?” he asks without elaborating, knowing she knows.

“About six weeks after. There was a stomach bug going around, so I thought I was sick. I was training at Quantico, pushing myself to the brink so I thought it was exhaustion on top of possibly having a bug. My friend Ellen, the one who I was at the bar with that evening, she’s the one who suggested I take a test. I was floored when it came back positive.”

“We were careful, Scully,” he blurts, then lowers his head, embarrassed if anyone overheard him. He looks ashamed, but she gives him a forgiving smile.

“I know Mulder, I was there,” she tells him softly. She realizes she'd been living the life for over two years, while he was just given the information yesterday. Understandably, he needs time to comprehend, to adjust. “Condoms aren’t one hundred percent effective.” She looks at him, looking at Emma, who had abandoned her toys in favor of the crayons and paper that were within her reach.

“Look, Mulder, I know we’re in a strange situation. It is weird and difficult, and awkward as hell. It’s a life that you may or may not have imagined yourself in. I just want you to know that I am ok. Emma is okay. It took a while for us to get to this place, but we are. We are happy and healthy and living our lives. We don’t need anything,” she hopes she doesn’t sound harsh, as it’s certainly not her intention. She wants him to understand that she doesn’t need anything from him.

“Can I ask you a question?” he asks.

“You just did,” she smiles, her attempts at lightening the mood fall slightly flat with the arrival of the waiter and their food. Scully busies herself tending to Emma, cutting her food, and moving the toys. She turns to look at Mulder. “Of course, Mulder, you can ask me anything.”

“If you knew how to get ahold of me, would you have?” He waits for her answer, which comes immediately as the words leave his mouth.

“I never would have kept anything from you. You know, even before I found out I was pregnant, the day after we met, I went through my apartment with a fine tooth comb, looking for anything, any clue, that would give a glimpse as to your identity. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything, and it’s not like I could use the FBI database to find you, though nothing would have come up, William,” she emphasizes with a slight laugh. “I wanted to tell you so badly, Mulder. That night we had, it was amazing and I tried to deny the connection, if I’m being honest, because it terrified me. Never in a million years did I expect any of this to happen, even though she’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.” She pauses, ruffling Emma’s hair. In turn, Emma provides a fistful of pancakes into Scully’s mouth, which makes Mulder bark out a surprised laugh. Emma, understanding she did something funny, attempts to do it again, much to Scully’s amusement.

After wiping her syrupy face, Scully continues. “Look, Mulder, when you sat in that hotel room in Oregon and disclosed everything you’d been through with Samantha, well it made me realize that I couldn’t dump this situation on you, not that Em is a situation, but you know what I mean. You have so much going on with your work and your search for the truth. You said it yourself; nothing else matters–”

“But Scully,” he interrupts. She holds a hand up, indicating she’s not finished. Her voice is steady and even when she continues.

“I love my job, but Emma is my world, my everything. She comes first in my life, no matter what. I live and breathe for her and we have a pretty good life going for us. She’s not lacking anything. My intent is not for you to feel like you need to step in or step up. I’m going to leave it up to you, but I don’t want you to feel pressure. If you want to be in her life as my friend and co-worker, that’s fine. If you want to be cool Uncle Mulder, that’s okay too. If you decide that you want to be a father to her, I won’t stop you. But the one thing I absolutely will not tolerate is having her hurt by significant people going in and out of her life,” she pauses to let him digest the information and after a moment passes, she adds, “I don’t want an answer from you right now. It’s a big decision and I want you to take some time to think about it.”

He hears Scully’s words, but can’t help his continued gaze at Emma. Deep in his heart, he knows he’s already falling in love with her. He acknowledges Scully’s words with a slight nod, not trusting his voice.

“It might change our working relationship or this friendship we seem to be developing, but I’m willing to try and figure it out if it’s something you want,” she tells him.

“Scully,” he says, finally finding his forgotten voice. She looks at him, her skeptical gaze searing into Mulder’s memory. He pushes forward with his request. “I’d like to spend the day with you ladies if that’s okay. Scully looks at Emma, who’s polished off most of her pancakes, at least the ones she didn’t feed to Scully, smiles, and nods.

Scully Residence

Saturday, April 17 1993

Exhaustion. He feels it from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. Every body part aches and he feels as though he could sleep a million hours. But his heart is full, bursting at the seams. He nurses a beer as he sinks further into Scully’s couch and thinks about the day he had. Once they’d finished lunch it was decided that an adventure to the local park was needed. At first, Mulder was hesitant. Mr. ‘willing to jump into any dangerous situation that crossed his path’ was nervous about playing with a small child. He’d sat back and watched Scully interact with her daughter; his daughter; their daughter. She’d pushed her on the swing, crawled up the plaything, down the slide, and chased her around the woodchips. He wasn’t sure who his eye was drawn to more, Emma or her mother. He would have been content to sit there all day, just watching them in their blissful happiness.

Out of the blue, Emma toddled up to him, grasped his pinky finger, which dwarfed her microscopic hand, and attempted to pull him to the swings. “Push,” she demanded with a giggle. Mulder had looked at Scully, looking for permission. The mega-wat smile on her face was all he needed. He lifted Emma, placed her on the rough material, and started pushing. He was overcome with joy, as well as astonishment. He couldn’t believe how light and little she was. She clapped her hands and squealed with the delight of a child on a summer day each time Mulder’s hand connected with her back. Every so often, he would turn to face Scully, needing assurance that he was still doing okay, and each time he was rewarded with a smile.

After their romp at the park, Mulder suggested a quest for ice cream, which delighted Emma. He wasn’t sure if more of the melted cone ended up in the little one’s stomach or on her face and clothing. The icing on the proverbial cake was when Emma decided to reenact feeding Scully and Scully ended up with melted chocolate ice cream on her face and in her hair, and though she tried to be annoyed, she laughed right along with Mulder and Emma. Without thinking, Mulder took a napkin and dapped at the sticky substance on her cheek. He couldn’t get over how natural the day had felt.

Squeals of delight brought him back to the present. Scully was bathing Emma, possibly unsuccessfully if the sounds coming from the bathroom were any indication. It sounded more like an exuberant playtime. What am I going to do, he thinks to himself while he waits for them to finish. Knowing he has a monumental decision to make, he takes another sip of beer. It’s a two-fold problem. No, problem isn’t the right term because any fool would be lucky to be in his shoes. But it was an issue he had to address, sooner rather than later. He’s a father, and nothing would change that. Emma had already captured his heart with her soft eyes, warm smile, and joyful attitude. If it was just about Emma, his choice would be easy. But who’s he kidding? None of this is easy. There’s Emma, and then there’s Scully. He’d be lying to himself if he admitted he didn’t think about that night often. How easily they communicated that night, how much fun they had, and how mindblowing the sex was. He was also really enjoying working with her on the X-files. She challenged him in ways he’d never been challenged before. She made him think and work for his theories. How sustainable would the partnership be? Would he be able to be a father to his child and just be a friend to her mother? There were so many questions racing through his mind.

“I started to put her down,” her voice startles him. He turns to see Scully, holding a pajama-clad Emma. “She keeps saying ‘Mudder’ so I’m thinking she wants to say goodnight to you.” Emma reaches out her arms to Mulder as Scully comes closer and Mulder’s arms automatically lift to receive her.

“Goodnight sweet Emma,” he nuzzles into her cheek.

“Night Mudder,” her sweet voice carries through the room. She yawns and snuggles into his chest, her eyelids heavy and her thumb going straight into her mouth.

“Do you want to put her to bed?” Scully asks in a hushed tone. He nods and stands, ever so carefully, a man holding the most precious gift, and follows Scully to Emma’s room. He places her, softly, into her crib. Instinctively, he kisses his fingers and then places them onto Emma’s cheek, before smoothing her hair out of her face. They carefully back out of the room and retreat to the front of Scully’s apartment, Scully, in search of a glass of wine, and Mulder, in search of his half-finished beer.

Once enveloped in the couch, Scully lets out a monstrous yawn after giving Mulder a shy and apologetic smile. “I love her so much, but she can be exhausting at times.” Mulder gives her a skeptical glance and redacts her statement. “Okay, all of the time.” Mulder nods approvingly.

They sit in silence for a while before Mulder praises her. “I don’t know how you do it, Scully. I barely survived the day.”

“You get used to it and it helps that she is a good girl. My family helped out a lot in the beginning. They still help a lot since I am working more now,” she explains.

“Will you…” he starts but trails off. He hesitates, watching her sip her wine.

Sensing his trepidation, she gives an encouraging nod. “What, Mulder? Ask me, it’s okay. I told you I would tell you anything.” Her voice is soft and reassuring.

“Would you feel comfortable enough to tell me about her birth? I don’t mean the details, you don’t have to share those, but maybe just the experience?” Scully is taken by surprise. The request is the furthest thing she thought he would ask. Smiling, she nods and takes his hand. Then she begins.

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

8/13

Chapter rated teen/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Scully Residence

Friday, April 16, 1993

“You’re a mom,” Mulder says, the revelation rolling off his tongue. He’s sitting on Scully’s couch, taking it all in, while holding a beer as Scully sips her white wine. The child, Emma, plays on the floor nearby, surrounded by a tower of toys. Taking a sip, the cold soothing the fire in his throat, he observes the little girl with her strawberry-blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes. Looking so much like her mother, yet slightly different. Different facial features and different coloring immediately stand out.

“I’m a mom,” she confirms, all the while thinking, and you’re a dad. How the hell do I drop that bomb?

“Is she okay? You know, from the pot?” He asks gently, flashing back to the screaming when he first entered the apartment. The screaming still ringing in his ears. After Scully had calmed her daughter down she’d opened the fridge and gave her what looked like some food item in a tube. She then explained to Mulder that she was just about to make dinner, then surprised them both by asking if he’d like to stay. Nodding, she made the meal in silence while Mulder watched the little girl play in the other room. They ate, conversation lacking, though Emma’s babbling was enough to entertain the adults. Once cleaned up, Scully asked Mulder to join her in the living room.

“She’s fine, Mulder,” she assures him, bringing him back to the present. “I think the sound frightened her more than anything because she wasn’t expecting it.”

Nodding, Mulder comes out and bluntly questions her, as she sips her wine. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a kid?” He carefully sets his beer onto a coaster on the coffee table in front of him, then draws back, looking intently at Scully. She quickly averts her eyes, looking into her wine glass, then over to her daughter.

“It was never a good time?” she asks, rather than comments, though it’s said weakly and without conviction.

“She’s cute,” he tells her, sensing her unease, to which Scully offers a smile. Tilting his head, as though thinking intensely, he continues, “How old is she?”

Scully takes another sip of wine, whether for courage or to buy time, she doesn’t know. His question seems earnest, not accusatory or as though he’s prying. Now or never, she thinks. “She was two in February. I had her in February of ‘91, about nine months after she was conceived in May of 1990…” she trails off, waiting for Mulder to connect the dots. She sees the moment, Mulder’s face registering the reason for her honesty. So much emotion befalls him in thirty seconds.

‘Scully,” he states, hoarsly.

She doesn’t know what to say to him so she keeps her eyes on Emma. After a few minutes pass, knowing she needs to say something, she begins. “When I walked into your office, Mulder, I was so taken aback, I don’t think shock conveys what I was feeling. It took my breath away. In such a short period, I had to deal with the thoughts and emotions I had ignored for so long. And then neither of us knew what to say, the moment passed, and we rushed off to Oregon.

“Scully,” he repeats, his voice steadier.

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” she blurts, finally facing his scrutinizing stare.

“You got pregnant,” he says, again a statement, not a question.

“I got pregnant,” she echos, a single tear threatening to escape her otherwise neutral face. “Mulder, I had no idea how to find you, where you worked, or even what your last name was, or your first name, apparently, for that matter. We’d talked about so much that night, but nothing to give away your identity. I was completely lost and so incredibly scared. The only person who knew I was pregnant was my best friend. I kept it from everyone until about fourteen weeks when I started showing and couldn’t hide it any longer. I didn’t even tell my sister. I was nervous. I was ashamed in a way. I was about to start a new job and had no idea what to do.” For his part, Mulder only has eyes for Emma while listening to Scully’s explanation. “I weighed my options, all of them, but I knew from the moment the stick turned pink that I couldn’t go through with an abortion. My religion aside, I knew that she was made of something special, and I couldn’t do that. I’d considered adoption, but I knew the moment I saw her it would be agony giving her up. So in the end, even though I knew I was about to embark on the most difficult adventure of my life, well, there was only one choice. I fell in love with her instantaneously,” she concludes, leaving out the part where she cried and yearned for him every single day, how she’d wanted to find him so badly, how she had fallen in love with him.

“I know it’s a lot to digest,” she continues, unsure of what to say next, but anxious in the silence of the room.

“Once you met me when you walked into my office, were you ever going to tell me?” he asks, his voice steady, calm, and quiet. Scully knows she needs to choose her next words carefully.

Taking a deep breath, she continues, “Yes, but Mulder, I didn’t know how. I never meant for you to find out like this, truly. I guess I was scared and the more I put it off, the deeper I got. Our partnership is so new and a lot is riding on it working…” she trails off as Mulder stands, pacing the living room

“Muld–” she started, but he cut her off.

“I need to go,” he announces abruptly, then as an afterthought adds, “I’ll see you at work on Monday.” Before she knows what hit her, he has his coat in his arms and is out the door.

Emma toddles over to Scully, play food in her hands, and shoves a pretend ice cream cone into Scully’s face. “Heya ice ceam mama.” Scully scoops Emma up and snuggles her close, thinking about how she’ll be rocking her extra long before bed this evening.

Mulder Residence

Friday, April 16 1993

Mulder lays on his couch, tossing and turning for the last hour. His mind is racing, a bullet train speeding down the tracks. Nothing to watch on TV and hell, even his porn couldn’t cut through his feelings this evening. A baby. She’d gotten pregnant and had a baby. His baby. He has a daughter. Fuck, he thinks, I’m not a father. Millions of other thoughts rapidly fly through his mind. He wants to be angry. He wants to rage. He wants to break things from frustration and utter helplessness. But he can’t. He thinks about putting himself in her shoes for a minute, thinking about the situation she was in. No, it wasn’t planned. It was a complete accident. She hadn’t any way to get ahold of him, so what could she have done? Nothing. She did everything right, everything she could do. This situation isn’t her fault. He searches his memories of that night, trying to figure out how it had happened. They were so careful. Other thoughts invaded his brain, like how it had taken him a long time to get her out of his mind. How he had fallen hard for her. But that was then and this is now. They have to work together, in life-and-death situations. They couldn’t afford distractions. Did he want to be a father? Would she let him be a father now that he knows? There are so many questions, questions he doesn’t know the answers to. Does he even want to know the answers to them?

He rolls on his back, the smooth leather of his couch brushing against his skin. Suddenly he feels like a fool for walking out and the thought of waiting until Monday to see her was agonizingly painful. Emotions swell in his chest and he can’t contain himself. Before he registers what he’s doing, he reaches for the phone and dials the now-familiar number.

“Scully,” he hears a muffled voice on the other end. He waits a beat before responding, enamored by the mere sound of her voice.

“Hey Scully, it’s me.” He’s faced with silence from the other end so he continues. “I’m sorry for calling so late, and I’m also sorry for leaving like I did. I know it was abrupt.” He hears her breath hitch.

“It’s okay, Mulder, I understand and if I were in the same situation, I can’t say I wouldn’t have acted the same.”

“I was overcome with shock. Actually, shock isn’t even the right word. Hell, I don’t even know what the right word is. First to see that you have a child and then to find out”

“I,” she cuts him off, but everything she can say seems so inaccurate in what she’s thinking and feeling.

“Look, Scully, I know I said that I would see you Monday, but I was wondering if we could maybe get together this weekend, maybe tomorrow, and talk?” he waits with bated breath for her response, seeing their whole partnership flash before his eyes. It’s only in that minute he realizes that there’s a chance Scully doesn’t want him around her daughter, or even entertain the idea of him being in her life, or Scully’s life outside of work for that matter. Panic begins to bubble up.

“Meet us at the deli on the corner by my apartment tomorrow at, say, noon?” she offers.

“I’ll see you then,” he tells her before she can change her mind, then adds, “Good night, Mulder.”

“Night, Scully.”

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

7/13

Rated X (this one is general)/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Oregon

Tuesday, March 11 1993

As it turns out, she can’t. The plane ride out to Oregon was a joke. They couldn’t talk because, plot twist, they weren’t even sitting together. Not to mention the turbulence had Dana on edge most of the flight. Fox, or Mulder, as she ended up sticking with, seemed blissfully unaware of dredging up the past. Once they’d landed, they were on the go almost the entire time, leaving no downtime to talk. They’d met strange people, she’d performed an even stranger autopsy, and had spent the evening in a forest. As if that wasn’t enough, just as she was starting to work on her field report, the power in the motel went out. So here she sits, contemplating how to spend the rest of her evening.

Dana, or Scully, as she was getting used to from Mulder’s lips, grabs a candle, lights it, and makes her way to the hotel bathroom. Relaxing in a bath sounds like the best idea of the day. She turns on the faucet, adjusting it to her liking, then goes to remove her robe while the tub fills. She turns to remove her bathrobe. Just as she starts to pull her panties down, her hands run over her back and she feels small bumps on her mid back, just above her, where her panties lay. She gasps, turning to attempt to catch a glance in the mirror. No, she thinks, it can’t be. Tossing her robe back on, she grabs the candle and reluctantly makes her way to Mulder’s room. Knocking swiftly on the door, she waits on pins and needles for Mulder.

“Hi,” he says, opening the door to her.

“I want you to look at something,” she says, her voice shaky.

“Come on in,” he offers, opening the door wide enough for her to enter. Scully walks into the motel room, and without looking at him, worried she’d lose her nerve, she turns her back, takes a deep breath, and drops her robe to just below her ass. Looking over her shoulder, she indicates her lower back to him.

“What are they?” she asks, fearfully. Mulder lowers his candle to her back, bends down, and intensely gazes at her back. “Mulder, what are they?” Panic sets into her voice.

“Mosquito bites,” he replies, after a moment or two, smiling into her back.

“Are you sure?” she asks, not quite believing him.

“Yeah, I got eaten up a lot myself out there,” he informs her. In a swift motion, Scully throws her robe back on, turns, and flings herself into Mulder’s arms, relief rapidly spreading through her.

“You ok?” he asks, concern dripping from his voice, his nose breathing in the scent of her hair.

“Yes,” she says, unconvincingly.

“You’re shaking,” he remarks.

“I need to sit down,” she tells him, moving towards the small table in his room.

“Take your time,” he says, moving to sit on the bed.

***

Later, Scully looks at the clock on the bedside table. She can’t believe how long they’ve been talking, although, in hindsight, she’s not really that surprised. They’ve been talking with the same ease they did on the night they met. It was almost like no time had passed. He told her of his sister, and how her abduction shaped the second part of his life, the after, as he called it. Gathering her nerve, she looks at him, pauses, and says, “Are we just going to dance around it?”

To his credit, Mulder smiles, a genuine smile, and waits a minute before answering her. “Yeah, that,” he jokes, then sighs. “I didn’t know how to bring it up,” he confesses.

Playfully, she tells him, “Well, I guess it is a little awkward when your one-night stand shows up in your office, after being assigned to work with you. Oh, plus the bonus of thinking that person is a spy.”

He smiles, confessing, “I have to admit, I thought about that night for a long time.” He finally looks up at her.

“Me too,” she admits, though she’s not ready to divulge just how much.

“I uh, I actually went back to your apartment a few weeks after, to see you. I wanted to see you again, but the name on the buzzer was different. I figured you’d moved. I hope it wasn’t because of me,” he reveals.

“No, of course not,” she assures him. “At the time, I decided to move back home while I went through training. I figured it would be a good way to save some money.”

“Who would have through your training was at Quantico,” he hastily laughs.

“Small world,” she says, quietly.

“Look, Scully. I think we get along great. I can tell that you might be just what the X-files need right now. What do you say? Can we try to move past it, work together, maybe even one day be friends?” he asks, the sound of hope resinating through his voice. He holds his breath, waiting for her response.

Now or never, she thinks. Tell him.

Yes,” she manages to squeak out before they are rudely interrupted by the menacing ring of the hotel phone.

****

It’s after they are home, a few weeks and cases later, Scully lies in her bed, contemplating. She’s not quite sure what had fallen into her lap when it came to the x-files but after that first case, as well as several others, she knows this wouldn’t be just an ordinary job. There was never a good time to tell Mulder; they were always on the run. He doesn’t need to know, she thinks, surrounded by the darkness of her bedroom sanctuary. We are work colleagues. Nothing more. However, deep down, deep deep down, she knows it’s a lie. She feels a solid friendship forming, one based on camaraderie and trust, and she knows she needs to come clean sooner or later.

Scully Residence

Friday, April 16 1993

Finally, it’s Friday, a relieved Scully thinks as she changes out of her burgundy work suit and into her cozy yoga pants and a University of Maryland sweatshirt. It had been a long and exhausting week and she wanted nothing more than to stay in her pajamas all weekend. Leaving her room behind, she heads for the kitchen to start dinner, pausing to glance in the living room on her way. Pulling down some pots to make an easy dinner of spaghetti, she hears a sharp knock on the door. Walking swiftly to her visitor, she places the empty pot on the kitchen table and then makes her way to the door.

Looking through the peephole, she sees Mulder, still dressed in his work clothes. What is he doing here? She ponders. Knowing she can’t leave him out there, she unlocks the chain and opens the door a crack, just enough so he can see her.

“Hey Mulder,” she says, a nervous hitch in her voice, making no move to open the door further.

“Hey, Scully,” he says, almost shyly, as if slightly embarrassed at coming to her house on a Friday evening. “Sorry to bother you.” Scully doesn’t make a move to open the door, but rather stands between him and the apartment, waiting patiently for him to explain his intentions.

“I. well, I wondered if I could get your signature on something,” he responds, lamely. It’s weak and she knows it.

“Um,” Scully hesitates. Instantly they hear metal crash onto the floor. Scully jumps, the door falling wide open, allowing Mulder entrance. She runs through the house as though her life depends on it, Mulder following on her heels.

When he gets to the scene of the noise, time slows down, events unfolding in slow motion. There’s a high-pitched scream. Scully, springing into action, scoops up a small child, looking to be around two or three, into her arms. A girl, Mulder muses from the purple pajamas. Scully clutches the child to her chest.

“Shhhh,” Scully whispers, comforting the young one. “Did the noise of the pot falling scare you? I’m sorry. It’s okay, I’m here. Don’t be scared, love.” She continues to coo to the child. Mulder, for his part, stands stone-still. Once the tears dissipate and the cries slow, Scully reaches down to pick up the offending object. After placing it back on the table, she turns to face Mulder.

“Mulder, I’d like you to meet Emma, my daughter.”

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

6/13

Rated X (this chapter is general)/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Monday, March 10 1993

J. Edgar Hoover Building

Dana Katherine Scully takes a deep hesitant breath as she boards the empty elevator, pushing the button for the basement level, watching it light up like a light bulb. She closes her eyes and licks her lips, a noticeable habit when any type of nervousness overtakes her. She compares the descending elevator with the possible descent of her career in her head, at least from the rumors she hears swirling around Quantico. She’d just been given a new assignment. No more teaching. No more Quantico. Field work. Actual fieldwork. With a partner. Fox Mulder. What kind of a name is Fox anyway? Perhaps a family name? Nothing like starting with a male partner whom she would undoubtedly have to prove herself to as an agent simply because she’s a woman. Nothing like a change to her job description to turn her world upside down. It seemed like she had only just gotten into a routine when bam… new routine was needed. She leans back into the far wall of the elevator, her eyes closed. She can do this, make it work. She always welcomes a challenge; but when her work schedule changes, it means many people need to adjust. However, she knew the day was coming, and as she told her parents, she’d be expected to do fieldwork at some point in her career. Thankfully they supported her, as they saw how happy and fulfilled she feels with her work.

The elevator hits the bottom floor and along with it, her stomach. She gets off and hesitantly looks around, glancing around one corner, and then the next, attempting to see which direction she should head. It’s certainly not much to look at. Shelves that haven’t seen the better part of daylight in what looks like years are filled with boxes covered in dust, filled with files from who knows when. She heads down the hallway, looking for the office of Fox Mulder. She spots it at the end of the hallway, the door partially closed. She closes her eyes and takes a calming and reassuring deep breath, wanting to make the best first impression possible. She gives a firm, but quiet knock on the door. A muffled voice answers, “Nobody down here but the FBI’s most unwanted…”

It’s suddenly as though the sky decides to open and drop a ton of bricks, or rather several tons, onto her. That was a voice she would never forget as long as she lived, a voice ingrained in her mind; one that she could pick out of a lineup. It can’t be. This is not happening. Of all the people, of all the jobs, of all of the offices. No, it can’t be. She takes a long, deep breath, and slowly and hesitantly opens the door. She’s at a loss for words. He’s facing away from the door, looking at a set of slides. He looks the same; save for a pair of glasses that she can view from his profile. Time stands still. Walking away isn’t an option since she is already in the office, in his space. She quickly calculates in her head that she has roughly 1.3 seconds to figure out what to say. She opens her mouth but words escape her. She’s in complete shock. Nope, shock didn’t even begin to cover it, she muses. She takes a deep, grounding, breath.

As if it all happens in slow motion, the man, Fox Mulder, turns his chair and looks to see who graces his presence. His eyes grow wide. His hand raises to the side of his face, slowly taking off his glasses, staring at the figure in front of him. Dumbstruck, that’s the only word Mulder can think of. Time stands still for about 2 minutes, neither knowing what to say and neither thinking they could talk, as if talking might break the bizarre moment they find themselves in. Dana swallows her shock first.

“William…” is all she can get out.

“Dana…” is what he can stammer.

Swiftly, something snaps in her head and Dana defaults into her professional mode. Extending her hand to him she says, “Agent Mulder, I’m Dana Scully, I’ve been assigned to work with you.”

J. Edgar Hoover Building

“Pick up the phone” Dana states harshly into her cell phone, as if her sheer will would allow the person on the other end to pick up. She paces outside the front of the Hoover building. She’d left the office roughly ten minutes prior, stating that she needed to pack, and saying she would see Mulder the next day at the airport. “Come on, pick up!” she shouts again, frustration littered across her face. A few agents and other personnel walking by pause to look at her. She tucks some hair behind her ear, attempting to gain some composure.

“Hello?” a quiet voice answers.

“911. I need to meet you, now. Starbucks on 8th,” Dana says, hanging up the phone as soon as the words leave her mouth.

Starbucks

“Dana, what is going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Ellen says breathlessly, as she joins her friend at a small corner table. She takes in Dana’s appearance and immediately envelopes her in her arms. The minute she feels safe in the cocoon of her friend, Dana bursts into a waterfall of tears. Dana Scully never cries, as she’s an intensely private person, which tells Ellen that whatever her friend encountered, it’s more than serious. Almost to the point of hyperventilating, Ellen guides her to a chair, whispering, “Dana, honey, whatever it is, it will be okay. Have a seat. Did something happen to Ahab, your mom?” Ever the best friend, Ellen bends down in front of Dana, eye level, and rubs her hand in into Dana’s shaking ones.

Scully shakes her head at Ellen’s questioning. “No, my family’s fine. I saw him , Ellen.” She manages to gulp the last sentence out of her mouth, attempting to compose herself. Her body had gone on the defense earlier and only now was she finally reacting to her morning. Ellen’s eyes crinkle, as though she’s rapidly thinking. After a heartbeat, her eyes bulge, like tea saucers, suddenly registering Dana’s words. Opening her mouth, then shutting it again, attempting to form the words in her brain first.

“Wha… whe…ho…” she stammers, still unable to complete a thought. Though Dana doesn’t mention a name, Ellen knows without a doubt who her friend is talking about. It had taken Dana weeks to get over her one-night stand from years ago, and when she finally had, she found out she was pregnant and all of the thoughts and feelings surfaced again. She stands, knowing Dana’s okay, for the moment, and takes the seat across from her.

“William and I had more in common than we knew. Remember I told you he worked for the government, but he never told me what?” Dana pauses, waiting for her friend’s understanding to kick in. All Ellen does is nod, still in shock.

“Surprise! He’s an FBI agent,” Dana says, flatly. Ellen’s open palm flies to her mouth like metal to a magnet. Her eyes go wide again in disbelief. All Dana can do is nod.

“Wait a second,” Ellen ponders, “weren’t you supposed to get your new assignment today…” she drifts off, finally connecting the dots. “Oh Dana…” she adds.

“Apparently William is his middle name. Fox William Mulder and he is my new partner,” Dana manages to say before a fresh round of tears spring from her eyes.

“It’s ok Dana, it’s going to be ok,” Ellen reassures her, taking her hands in her own from across the table.

“Of all of the jobs…” Dana states, shaking her head, once again in disbelief.

Ellen looks at her friend with a small smile. “Maybe it was meant to–

“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence, El,” Dana quickly cuts her off. Her voice is level, but stern. “My life is finally together. I’m in a great place. I’m doing well. I’m finally on my own, without my parents. I have a set schedule. I knew that was going to change with fieldwork, but now, on top of changing everything, I have to work with him . What do I even say to him?” She quickly starts hyperventilating again.

“The truth,” Ellen suggests, knowing the look Dana will bestow upon her. As if on cue, Dana glares at her, like Ellen grew three heads. “Well, why not?” Ellen feigns innocence. “Dana, it’s not like he was some guy you were with who up and left you. You, two consenting adults, had a one-night stand. You decided that that is all it would be.

“Yeah, but Ellen, you know that it wasn’t that easy for me,” Dana admits, softly.

“It took you weeks, hell months, to get over him. He got into your head. I know, I was right there beside you, holding you up through it all” Ellen remembers.

“Oh my god, what do I tell my parents?” Dana asks, unexpectedly thinking about them.

“Why do you need to tell them anything for now? He’s your work partner. They don’t have to know,” she reminds her, then adds, with a sly smile, “So, how did he look?”

To this, Dana grins, momentarily flashing back to that one night. “Like not a day has passed,” she tells her friend. “Same hazel eyes, same beautiful smile. And of course, we didn’t talk about it. Side-stepped it completely. We got right now to business…” Ellen’s eyes gleam with excitement, but Dana add, “The case Ellen, we got right down to talking about our first case.” Ellen smiles, seemingly unconvinced.

“You’re not going to be able to ignore the elephant in the room for long,” she says.

Dana ponders this, knowing her friend is right. “What the hell do I say? Hi, WIlliam whose real name is Fox. I know we had an amazing time together and I struggled to get over you, even though I thought it was for the best, it wasn’t. I wanted to call you but then it was too late. Oh, and by the way, I got pregnant with your love child.”

Smirking, Ellen replies, “Well, I wouldn’t put it like that. Look, Dana, you don’t have to tell him anything you don’t want to. Maybe use the opportunity of this case to feel him out… figuratively, not literally,’ she says, eyes gleaming. “Where is your case taking you?”

“Oregon,” sighs Dana.

“Perfect,” Ellen assures her. “That is a nice long flight for the two of you to catch up. Remember, he has no idea what went on or what you went through these last few years. In his eyes, it was a one-night stand almost 3 years ago, one that, might I remind you, was your choice. I’m sure a lot has happened to him since too. I know probably not nearly as much as you’ve been through, but still,” she adds when Dana gives her the Dana Scully patented eye-roll.

“I wouldn’t change the outcome, El,” Dana insists.

“I know,” Ellen says, standing, needing to get back to the office. She hugs her friend tightly. “Go, get to know who he is now, and just go from there,” she heads for the entrance, then turns to her friend. “Remember, Dana, I am just a phone call away, no matter what time. If I need to jet out to Oregon to kick some ass, just let me know and I will kiss Rob and Trent goodbye and come save you.” She finally gets a genuine smile from her friend.

“Thanks, El,” Dana replies, her face conveying a bit more relief than when she first entered the coffee house.

Dana watches her friend leave. She takes a deep breath. She can do this… can’t she?

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

5/13

Rated X (this chapter is general)/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Hoover Building

Tuesday, June 15 1990

“You know Mulder, it’s like you’re a profile ninja,” Agent Baker announces, speaking to both Mulder and a room full of FBI agents. He slaps Mulder hard on the back. The VCU had just wrapped another case, thanks to Mulder’s profile, but his mind had been elsewhere. After the one night stand he’d had a month ago he could not get Dana out of his mind. He thinks of her at least 30 times a day. 30 million times. Her smile, the conversations they had, the amazing sex. It was like they were destined to be together. He knew he was making a mistake walking out of her apartment that morning in May. He even went back to her place three weeks after their evening together, only to find out she had moved the week prior. There was something about her, something special, but Mulder couldn’t place his finger on it. He just knew it was starting to interfere with his–

“Earth to Mulder,” Baker clears his throat and looks at the other agents around the room. “Yo Mulder!” another agent hollers, tossing a balled up piece of paper in his direction..

“Apparently Mulder’s mind is elsewhere, maybe on another planet like those old files he started looking through last week,” Agent John pipes in. The guys in the room laugh. When Mulder realizes they are talking about him he joins in the chuckle and attempts to focus back on what his fellow agents are saying.

After Dana, Mulder fell into a slump. He had been trying to distract himself from her when he stumbled upon a bunch of dusty old files in the basement of the Hoover building. Once he started reading them he couldn’t get enough, but even the so-called x-files weren’t enough to keep his mind off of Dana and the night they shared together.

“How do you do it, Mulder? How do you seem to nail the profile each and every time?” Agent Baker asks, bringing his focus back to the room. Mulder swiftly shrugs his shoulders and replies, “I just try to get into the killer’s head. It’s not a place you want to be. It’s scary as hell but what’s the alternative?” The fellow agents nod again.

“What are those files you have been snooping through, what’s in them? Old profiles?” Rodgers asks.

“Something like that,” Mulder replies, not really wanting to divulge his recent reading material. He doubts his fellow agents would be interested in the files he had recently found, in paranormal phenomena. They were wild, mind blowing, and some out of this world, literally. The more he read, the more interested he became. But then his thoughts would undoubtedly turn to Dana again.

“We lost him again guys,” Baker says, smiling.

“Sorry all, my mind seems to be gone today,” Mulder says, smirking.

“It’s all good,” Baker reasures him. “Why don’t we call it a night team. We can meet tomorrow in our smaller units to debrief the case and get our next assignments.” The other agents stand up and began clearing the room. Mulder starts gathering his folders and makes to leave when a fellow agent, tall with brown hair, walks slowly towards him, blocking his path to the exit.

.

“I would love to hear more about those files from the basement.” Mulder looks into a pair of brown eyes. Reaching for the outstretched arm, Mulder grasps it and says, “I’m Fox Mulder.”

“Nice to meet you Fox Mulder, my name is Diana.”

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

4/13

Rated X (this chapter is teen and up)/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Friday, June 12, 1990

Quantico

Dana Scully breathlessly jogs over to the water fountain, taking several large gulps of refreshingly cool water. Sweat pours down her face like that of a graceful waterfall. After running ten miles around the grounds, she decides to get in some quick practice at the shooting range before going home, though a shower was in definite need. It had been three weeks since starting her FBI training and she loved every minute of it. Although she had at first had her doubts, many doubts, she knew from the moment she set foot at Quantico, it was the right decision for her. The physical training challenged her body and the classes challenged her mind. It was just the change she was looking for.

“Some run, huh Dana?” She hears, then feels a presence come up behind her. Kelsey, another trainee, trots up for some water.

“No kidding. I’m used to running but man,” Dana responds while trying to regulate her breath. She bends over, placing her hands on her thighs. She and Kelsey met on their first day at the academy and became fast acquaintences, bonding over the the fact that they were both women entering a mans world. “Want to go shooting after we clean up?” Dana asked, adding, “A shower is definitely in order first.”

Kelsey quickly checks her watch and then looks up at Dana. Nodding, she replies, “I have a little bit of time.” They slowly make their way to the locker room to change from their gym clothes. “Any fun plans for the weekend Dana?” Kelsey asks, making idle chit chat while they change.

“Reading up on old cases, family dinners, nothing major,” she replies, pulling her clothes off. She enters the shower quickly to clean off. As steam fills the room, out of nowhere a wave of nausea hits her. Leaning forward, she puts her hand on the shower wall to steady herself. Breathe in, breath out, she recites to herself, attempting to focus on, and control, her breathing. Kelsey continues chatting away in the next stall, oblivious to her friend’s struggle. Once gaining her barings, she quickly washes off, gets out and dessed. Sitting down on one of the plastic locker room benches, she once again focuses on her breathing.

Finishing her shower, Kelesy meets her, takes once look at Dana, and asks, “Dana are you ok? You look a little pale.”

“I’m not feeling so well suddenly,” she replies, trying to stand, her attempts futile as she sways, reaching out for the nearby wall, steadying herself.

“Maybe the run got to you. You probably shouldn’t go shooting if you aren’t feeling great,” Kelsey tell her, as though Dana would never have drawn that conclusion. Dana simply nods, and asks, “Rain check?”

“Sure,” Kelsey replies, “feel better.”

Exiting the lockerroom, focused on every step, Dana walks to her car and makes her way towards her parents house. As she drives, feeling a slight reprieve for the moment, she lets her mind wander a bit. Since her start at Quantico coincided with the end of her lease, she had made the decision to move back with her parents, if only for a short time. She loved being at home with them, and they had come around her her joining the FBI, mostly. She loved it at Quantico. She loved reading cases, training to be an agent, and she had gotten wind that the higher ups wanted her to start teaching at the academy once her training was finished. As the miles passed, her mind wanders to that night last month. She hadn’t thought about it much lately, all of her energy focused on the FBI. However, late at night, usually, she would think of his steady and strong hands roaming her body, and the feel of his lush lips on hers. His tongue licking and sucking over her neck and collarbone and his sweet voice whispering into her ear. She only recently admitted to herself just what a hard time she had getting over William and she thinks about that night often. Shaking her head, as though to clear it, she continues deep breathing as another wave of nausea comes over her.

Scully Residence

“I’m home” Dana announces breezing through the front door. The house is quiet, save for a few sounds coming from the kitchen. She slowly make her way and finds her mom at the stove working on what Dana presumes is the evening meal.

“Hi honey, how was work?” her mother, Maggie, asks when she sees her daughter enter the kitchen. Dana hastily kisses her mom before plopping down at the kitchen table.

“It’s good,” she replies flatly, stifling a yawn.

“Are you okay honey?” Maggies asks, looking her daughter up and down. She places her stiring spoon on the spoon rest and approaches her daughter, all while Dana takes another deep breath, letting it out slowly.

“I’m fine,” she promises her mom, defaulting to her usual sidestepping of showing any weakness. “I think I may have just over done it today during training. I did a ten mile run on the course today,” she pauses to collect her thoughts. Dizziness unexpectedly takes over her faculties, and admitting defeat, she shares, “Actually mom, no, I’m not feeling so well. I think I need to go lay down before dinner.” She waits a beat for the dizziness to subside and makes her way to her room. Once alone in her safe haven, she strips from her work attire and engulfs herself in the coziest pajamas she owns, then crawls into bed and buries herself under the mountain of blankets. She quickly takes over, allowing her peace for the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening.

Tuesday, June 15 1990

Jake’s Bistro

“Dana over here,” Ellen calls to her friend as she sees her entering the bistro. They were meeting for dinner near Ellen’s office, having just finished work for the day. Ellen stands up when her friend nears and gives her a warm hug.

“Hey El,” Dana says, letting go of her friend after their embrace. She takes the chair directly across from where Ellen is standing. Sitting, she continues, “how was your day?”

“Oh, you know, a typical day in my life. Work was fine until Trent’s daycare called and said he threw up. Thankfully Rob was able to pick him up this time. It’s always something with little ones, though of course I wouldn’t change a day. I almost had to cancel on you but Rob told me to come out and have some girl time. Superman that husband of mine is.”

“Oh my sweet godson. I hope he gets over it quickly, the little man,” Dana sighs, then as an afterthought adds,, “There must be something going around. I haven’t felt well all weekend.”

Ellen’s eyes pull away from the menu and she looks up at her friend. “What’s wrong?” Dana shakes her head waves her hand, as if to say no big deal.

“I’ve just felt under the weather the last few days. My mom thinks I am training too hard. I was exhausted all weekend, nauseous, and irritable. Maybe she’s right. I am giving 150% in both exercises and coursework. Maybe I am working too hard,” Dana sighs.

Ellen lets out a laugh. “Dana, you wouldn’t know what it is like to not work hard, even if it jumped up and bit you. That’s the only way you know how to work and before you get defensive, you know it’s the truth. It always has been.” Her eyes start roaming the menu again and she half-heartedly adds, “You probably have a bug. That, or you sound like I did when I was pregnant with Tre…” she stops dead, eyeing her friend once again. Dana’s pale face registers a look of horror and goes a shade whiter, if possible.

“Dana?” Ellen asks, cautiously. Dana, for her part, doesn’t say a word, but rather looks off into the distance, as if calculating days in her mind. “Dana?” Ellen presses again, Dana not registering a word she is saying. Suddenly Dana’s eye grew wide and she darts from the table with her hand over her mouth. Ellen dropping her napkin, quickly follows her to her destination, the women’s restroom, where she heard her friend dry heaving from a bathroom stall.

“Dana?” Ellen says quietly, though she doesn’t know what her next words would be if her friend suddenly answered her. The toilet flushes and the stall door opens. Dana emerges with her hand over her mouth.

Jumping into action, knowing her friend needs a push, Ellen suggests, “I think we should maybe get out food to go, or at least my food and swing by a drug store before we head back to your house,” She puts an arm around her best friend’s shoulders and guides her from the bathroom.

Scully Residence

Two pink lines. Not one. Two. One for negative, two for positive. Dana stares down at the pregnancy test in her hand. She’d spent the last hour looking at the stick, but it hadn’t changed. Of course it wasn’t going to magically change. Ellen had stayed with her until 20 minutes ago, having to leave to go home to her sick child. Child. There was a child growing in her uterus. A baby. A baby conceived roughly 5-6 weeks ago. How? Well I know how, she thinks, blushing. But logistally, how? She and William had been so careful; even in the shower; so very careful. A baby. Dana was in deep shit.

I’m a twenty-three year old adult with a job and a roof over my head, though it’s not my roof, but a roof nonetheless. A baby. She’d always wanted a baby; when she was set in a career, and married, preferably in that order. This most definitely is not in the plan. She doesn’t even know William’s last name, or where he works, or where he lives. She lays back on her bed, holding the pregnancy test above her head.

“What am I going to do?” she asks no one in particular.

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

3/13

Rated X (but this part is teen or mature)/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Saturday, May 9th, 1990

Starbucks

Dana absentmindedly stirs her coffee while looking out the window at her local Starbucks. The trees suddenly seem greener, the sounds of life outside sound sharper. Ellen is yammering about one thing or another, possibly something about one of the guys she met last night, but Dana can’t be certain. Her mind wanders to William. The minute he left, begrudgingly, as neither he nor Dana seemed to want to part, she called Ellen and asked her to meet for coffee. They’d been there for the last twenty minutes, with Ellen talking her ear off and Dana not speaking up once.

“Hello? Earth to Dana,” Ellen says, bringing her out of her trance. “What’s going on with you?”

“Is it considered a one-night stand if you have sex multiple times?” she says, suddenly, as Ellen takes a drink of her latte, while simultaneously spitting it out. Her hand flies up to her mouth.

“Dana Katherine Scully!” she screeches. Several patrons look over, amused.

“Ellen,” Dana scolds in a hushed tone.

“Sorry!” Ellen replies, scrunching her shoulders, not looking sorry at all. “I was looking around for you at one point but then saw you leaving with that cute guy you met.”

“Oh El, I’m sorry,” she tells her, but Ellen waves the comment away.

“Don’t sweat it. You looked like you were having fun, which is exactly what I wanted you to do when I suggested going out.” She retakes a sip of her latte, waiting for her friend to continue.

“What?” Dana asks her, “Getting laid?”

“Apparently more than once,” Ellen retorts back, grinning.

Dana takes a deep breath, looking back out the window. She pauses to collect her thoughts. “Oh Ellen, last night was,” she pauses, searching for the correct words, but coming up short. “It was magical. Last night. And this morning. And again after that in the shower.” Her friend’s jaw dropped. Dana shrugged her shoulders and smirked. “What?” she asked, “I was making up for lost time.”

Ellen chuckles, then surmises, “Well it must have been good. So when are you seeing him again?” At this Dana pauses, staring intently into her empty coffee mug.

“You are going to see him again, right? She asks.

“Well, actually, we decided to just let last night be last night,” she tells her friend.

“And this morning,” Ellen comments, slyly. “Who made that decision? Wait, don’t tell me, you did of course.” Other than Dana’s sister, Ellen knew her better than anyone.

“Come on Ellen. I’ve told you what my training is going to entail. I’m going to be busy from sun up to sun down. I won’t have time for anything outside of it; including a man. This is not the time to start something.

“ Dana. it’s not like you’re getting married. What is wrong with befriending a good-looking, single guy, who happens to be good in bed… it was good, wasn’t it? I mean three times says it was good…” she smirks.

Dana blushes but gives in, “Toe-curling and out of this world.” She considers her friend's words. No, there is nothing wrong with making a friend. He seemed like a genuinely lovely guy. He was understanding that she couldn’t commit to anything serious. What if I made a mistake? She thinks to herself.

“Did you at least get his number?” Ellen asks, bringing Dana’s focus back to the present. Dana hangs her head in defeat.

“Well,” Ellen says, hopefulness attempting to penetrate the conversation, “Did you get his name?” Again, Dana shakes her head, “Only his first name.”

Ellen shrugs her shoulders. “Maybe he left something at your place that will clue you in to who he is.”

“Or,” Dana considers, “It is what it is. Just a really fun evening with a hot guy, amazing sex, and some great memories to hold on to.” She tries to sound upbeat but knows she sounds defeated. Ellen clicks her tongue and sighs. She knows her friend so well. She doesn’t date a lot and in the past, when she fell for someone, she fell hard. Her last relationship, Ryan, had lasted almost a year, and before that, she’d dated some professor in med school; Dana was pretty vague about it and Ellen never pressed her. Hopefully, for her friend’s sake, this scenario would truly be a one-night stand and she would get over it quickly. Unfortunately, Ellen doubted it.

***

Later on, after returning from her coffee date with Ellen, Dana ransacks her apartment, looking for any clues that would lead her to William, however, she finds nothing. It’s like he had never been there. Feeling the sting of defeat, she crawls over to her couch, hoists herself up, and sighs, trying to reassure herself of what she’d said to her friend. It was just a one-night stand

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)

2/13

Rated X (this chapter)/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Dana Scully Residence

Friday Evening

“That sounds like an amazing time,” Dana says, slightly breathless from the stairs they climbed up to her floor of the apartment building, while she unlocks her door. She and Mulder went for coffee after they left the bar and talked for over an hour until the coffee shop needed to close down. They talked about simple things; hobbies: his sports, hers science, childhoods: vastly different, and school. Neither appeared to want to focus on heavier topics and they were having such a nice time, they didn’t want to call it a night. They hit it off and talking seemed so simple, so natural, and effortless. They talked about Dana’s family, and Mulder’s time in England, and were genuinely enjoying each other’s company. They kept the conversation light and entertaining. After leaving the coffee shop, Dana suggested continuing the conversation at her apartment. Just conversation, she told herself as they walked to her place. The night was peaceful and the weather pleasant with only a cool breeze in the air.

“You know William, I know it sounds cliche, but I don’t usually do this,” she says, hanging her coat up on the entryway hook. She drops her keys, clattering, onto the side table by the door. That’s a lie; she NEVER does things like this. She can’t believe she’s even entertaining the idea. She never brought guys home to her apartment, at least not ones she isn’t dating seriously. What if he’s a serial killer? At least I would go out having a great conversation, she thinks, wryly.

“What? Invite strangers back to your apartment?” he chuckles, then adds, “I promise I’m not a serial killer.” She turns to look at him and smiles. He continues, “Look, Dana, I don’t do this sort of thing eith…” but before he gets the words out, Dana lunges herself forward into his arms, her mouth enveloping his. He’s caught off guard but opens his arms, and his mouth, to her and immediately moans. He didn’t expect this sort of thing. It wasn’t what he had anticipated. Dana runs her tongue along his lips and the roof of his mouth. She pulls him by his shirt collar and guides him to her bedroom.

“So, Dana, how many people live–” he starts, but she cuts him off.

“I live alone,” she says, breathlessly, which is all the confirmation Mulder needs to hear.

Mulder guides his hands up and down her back, rubbing gentle circles, while their tongues duel, each vying for a place on top. Mulder sets one hand just above the dip on Dana’s ass, the other hand sneaking gently under the hem of her shirt. Dana removes her tongue long enough to start working the buttons of her shirt, which she successfully gets open, despite her shaking hands. Why am I shaking, she wonders. Because I haven’t had sex in 10 months and there is an undeniable spark between William and me, she rationalizes with herself. Mulder moves his hands over hers to help her remove her shirt. He slides it down, past her shoulders, and lets it drop to the floor.

He nips at her lips again, then moves his slowly down to the juncture of her neck and shoulder. He pulls back briefly and sees her simple, but beautiful, black lace bra. “So stunning,” he mumbles as he reaches his hands around her back to loosen the contraption. Her breasts spring free. Dana sees his mouth actively watering, which sends shivers down her spine. His mouth begins to map a trail from her lips, down her neck, and to the valley of her flushed breasts. He takes the opportunity to lick, nip, kiss, and suck.

Still teetering on the line of being nervous as hell because she never does this, and wanting to seize the moment, Dana blushes but decides to live a little and enjoy herself. Something about him makes her completely comfortable. She twists her fingers through his hair as he pulls a rosy, pink-tipped nipple into his mouth. He licks over it with his tongue and begins sucking and swirling around its peak. His other hand meets the other breast and as he begins kneading it, Dana lets out a low moan, “Oh William.” She reaches for the button on his jeans, swiftly opening it and yanking them down.

“Do you have anything?” she asks, in a deep and husky voice, before she’s too far gone to think somewhat rationally. Mulder gently lets go of her nipple, slowly dragging his tongue across her skin to her other breast. She walks him backward and they fell onto her bed. She straddles his now bare legs, having lost his pants somewhere along the way, and feeling his erection hard between her legs.

“William,” she says again, a little more forcefully. He pulls her other breast from his mouth and looks up at her, clearly enjoying himself if his grin is any indication. “Do you have a condom?” she repeats. He sheepishly looks like a deer in headlights. How endearing, she thinks, knowing he went out without a plan to get laid. Dana rolls off him and reaches into the drawer beside her bed. There she has the leftover condoms from her last relationship, thankful for having them now and not tossing them at Ryan’s head when she kicked him out for the last time. She pulls out a condom, and tosses it to him, implicitly telling him that he needs to put it on. Mulder smiles a thank you, pulls his boxers off, opens the package, and rolls it over his throbbing member. He’d been so focused on Dana’s top, that he doesn’t realize she removed her bottoms. He reaches out and strokes her a few times. She’s slick and ready for him.

“How do you…” he starts but she quickly interrupts him.

“On top,” she states firmly. She climbs back onto him and slowly sinks on his waiting hardness. “Oh god,” she says, breathlessly.

“I’m sorry,” Mulder stammers, mistaking her comment for possible pain.

She smiles and kisses him square on his lips. “It’s ok,” she promises, sucking in her bottom lip, “it’s just been a while.”

Mulder draws her lip into his mouth and sucks. He doesn’t dare move until she indicates she’s ready. He feels her insides stretching as she adjusts to his width. “You feel so amazing,” he whispers into her ear, “so wet and so tight.” He nips on her earlobe, leaving her mouth.

“Mmmm,” was all she could acknowledge. She starts to rock against his body slowly. He begins to move in time with her. He pulls a breast back into his mouth and she places one hand on his chest. Her rocking becomes faster and more hurried.

“It’s been a while so I am sorry I don’t know how long…” he tried to say.

“Put your hand on my hip, like this” she shows him. His hands immediately engulf her sides, where he grips and circles his thumbs over her fiery skin. “It’s been a while for me too,” she promises. His lips found the crook of her neck again and he begins to nip and suck. She rides him faster and faster.

“Oh my god William, oh god that feels incredible” she pants.

“So close,” he tells her, though she can feel it in his erratic movements. He thrusts up into her, meeting her each way. He desperately wants to please her as well. He slips his hand between them and thumbs her clit. She jumps at the initial contact but continues her rhythm.

“Oh my… oh, oh…,” she pants, grinding into him. He speeds his fingers up and grunts into her neck.

“Oh, oh oh William, yes. Don’t stop. Oh my god, I’m coming” she shrieks, as her muscles clamp around him, overtaken by her release. Suddenly, Mulder explodes into her, biting down on her neck. It seems like their shared pleasure goes on and on. After a bit, breathing heavily, Dana slowly rolls off of him.

“Wow,” he sighed, trying to slow his beating heart.

Dana extricates herself from him and leaves the bed, heading for the bathroom. She closes the door part of the way, trying to get her breathing under control. That was mind-altering, she thinks to herself as she uses the toilet. She finishes, flushes, and quickly washes her hands. She opens the door and stares for a moment, a smile plastered on her face, at the man in her bed. “Bathroom’s free,” she says, almost shyly, walking over to the bed. To his credit, Mulder returns her smile and makes his way to the bathroom. Once the door shuts, Dana lets out a breath and quickly slips on her panties and a ribbed tank top. She gets back into bed and snuggles into the covers.

After a few minutes, the bathroom door opens and Mulder emerges, stark naked, hair sticking up in different directions, and he looks utterly delectable. He stops for a moment, gathering his boxers, clearly uncomfortable, not wanting to presume his next movements. Dana smiles and moves the covers, indicating that it’s ok if he wants to join her. He makes his way into the bed and looks at her.

“That was amazing,” he says, kissing her lips slowly. He works his tongue into her mouth gently and she smiles into the kiss.

“Yes, it was,” she replies, a little unsure of how to continue, knowing her next words are probably not what he wants to hear. SHe doesn’t have to, as he beats her to it.

“I sense a but coming,” Mulder states.

“But,” she says, hesitantly, “I’m just starting out in a new career that is going to be intense and time-consuming, and I think that’s what I need to focus on right now,” she explains, her eyes cast downward. He smiles and lifts his finger to her chin, pulling her face up so she’s looking at him.

“It’s ok. We’re both adults. I know I can speak for myself and say I had a really good time. I understand work and intensity, believe me,” he adds, attempting to make her feel better.

She sighs, choosing her next words carefully. “It’s just, the term ‘one-night stand’ sounds so, I don’t know, maybe cheap?” she tries to explain.

“Hey now, listen,” he encourages, taking her cheek in his hand, “it’s ok. Again we’re both adults. I think we both had a really good time,” she blushes again at his words, as he continues, “We had some fun, some amazingly hot sex, some great conversation. Not all in that order, of course. That’s all it has to be. It’s ok, I promise. An amazing night between two consenting adults” he assures her.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, still unconvinced.

“Why?” he asks, “For giving me a mind-blowing orgasm? Please do not apologize for that!” She giggles and smirks at him, softly kissing his lips. “Do you want me to go?” he asks, adding, “I won’t be offended if you say yes.”

How amazingly sweet of this man, Dana thinks to herself, before adding aloud, “It’s late. I think the best thing would be for you to stay if that’s okay with you. I mean the word night is in the phrase one-night stand” she attempts a little humor. She snuggles closer into his body, her actions indicating she doesn’t want him to leave. He wraps his arms around her and slowly they fall into a dreamless sleep.

Scully Residence

Saturday morning, May 9, 1990

Light streams through the closed blinds in Dana’s bedroom. Birds are chirping, the sounds of a brand new day. She opens her eyes, slowly, and immediately recalls the last 12 hours. Did she really…

“Good morning,” comes a rugged voice, belonging to the very naked and warm man spooning up to her. Not a dream, she assures herself.

“Hi,” she said, quietly.

“I’ve been up for a bit, but I didn’t want to take off while you were sleeping,” he tells her, honestly.

“I’m glad you didn’t,” she admits, moving her back closer to him if that’s even a possibility. She can’t get enough of the feeling of his body wrapped around hers.

“You know Dana,” he starts, nuzzling into the flesh below her shoulder, “Even though it’s called a one-night stand, technically we haven’t gotten out of bed yet so…” he’s grasping at straws and he knows she knows it.

“Shut up, William,” she says, rolling to face him. Her eyes fixate on his mouth. “Do you have anywhere pressing to be in the next few hours?”

“Just inside you again,” he replies, and then he makes use of his time over and over again.

[jodithann827]

One Night Stand (Revised)/chapter 1/13

Rating:Explicit (some chapters)/Posted on Ao3/@today-in-fic

Friday, May 8th, 1990

Bar Louie

“Dana, come on,” Ellen deafeningly squeals, pulling her quiet and hesitant friend through the lively, albeit smoke-filled, entrance. It’s a crowded Friday night and the music was blaring; not typically how Dana Katherine Scully was used to spending her evenings, however, her best friend insisted. She said they required celebrating. Dana pauses momentarily before allowing Ellen to lead her in. Grabbing her hand, Ellen guides her right up to the crowded bar.

“What’ll ya have?” a 20-something, green-eyed, dimpled-cheeked, bartender greets them.

“Two long islands,” Ellen yells over the house band.

“El…” Dana starts to argue. Not one to usually throw back the alcohol, she knows that amount could do a fair bit of damage.

“Oh come on Dana, live a little. We’re marking the moment. We’re commemorating the day. You can go back to being studious and boring tomorrow,” Ellen informs her—some friend, Dana thinks, though it comes to her mind in jest. Truthfully, Ellen was one of Dana’s oldest and closest friends. They’d been through a lot together and Dana knew Ellen was only trying to bring her out of her shell. She would have to thank her later.

“What are you ladies celebrating?” the bartender asks, making chit-chat while filling their order. It was tough to talk over the thumping of the music, but Dana could mostly hear the conversation.

“My best friend here has not only finished medical school but she just found out she’s been recruited by the FBI!” Ellen shrieks, sounding as though she may have already had a few drinks under her belt. “It took her weeks to finally make a decision but she decided to go for it.” The bartender hands over one of the Long Islands, of which Ellen accepts eagerly, and takes a long sip.

“Impressive red,” the bartender states while also making a sly comment regarding Dana’s auburn locks. Her hand flew self-consciously to her hair and she smooths it down, pretending to ignore the comment. People were always making comments about her hair; it’s like the color gave everyone a free pass to speak their minds. He hands Dana her drink, along with a flirtatious wink. Dana blushes, cursing her pale skin and Irish heritage. She looks down at the glass in her hand and lifts it cautiously to her lips for a sip.

“Thanks,” she tells him, then quickly adds, “I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet.”

“Your parents must be thrilled with you not continuing medicine,” he tells her, sarcastically.

Dana rolls her eyes and replies, “You have no idea!”

“Well, you ladies enjoy your night, and if you need anything else, anything at all, the name’s Mark” he winks again. Ellen waves and Dana blushes, bending her head forward and down slightly, avoiding Mark’s eyes.

Ellen pulled her from the bar. “He’s some nice eye candy,” Ellen yells in Dana’s ear, as the music becomes louder, the closer to the dance floor they get.

“Come on El, I am not interested. You know how long it took me to get over Ryan,” she sighs.

“Dana, you come on,” Ellen says, rolling her eyes at her friend. “You broke up with him, and, might I remind you, it was almost 10 months ago. You need to let your guard down and have some fun. Live a little. Heaven forbid you make a life-changing, life-altering, decision and not take a moment and enjoy it.” Ellen escorts Dana closer to the dance floor.

“What? You think I’m just going to lay eyes on some guy and hop into bed with him?” she innocently asks her friend. Ellen’s not wrong and Dana knows it. She has always been studious, a bookworm most would call her. She loves being at the library, reading, and solving puzzles. She loves medicine and science. A good time for Dana Scully consisted of curling up on the couch on a weekend evening and reading published journals. She was glad Ellen suggested going out, but that didn’t mean she would bed the first guy she laid eyes on.

“That’s the spirit,” replies Ellen, a sinister giggle leaving her lips. Dana exasperatedly glances away, not amused by her companion. “Dana, I’m just asking you to let loose, have some fun, and enjoy this night. You made a huge decision that has been weighing on you for weeks. No more anxiety when thinking about your path in life, or thinking about having to tell your parents. Speaking of, what did Mom and Ahab say anyway?” They move to a corner, finding a small table with two chairs close to the dance floor.

“Oh my dad was over the moon,” Dana says flatly, sipping her drink as she watches people dance, and chat, and even a few were making out like animals across the room. A young guy, probably around her age, catches her eye, though he isn’t looking in her direction.

“Really?” Ellen asks, surprise showing on her face.

Scully snorts into her drink and looks at her friend. “No! Come on Ellen, you know my parents. It was a hard pill for them to swallow, but at the end of the day I told them that this was my life and I felt like it was the path I needed to follow and that at least they could respect that”. She swirls the drink in her hand.

“Aw my little Dana all grown up,” Ellen cooes at her friend. Dana gives her a look that instantly says shut the hell up. “Come on,” Ellen says, suddenly, tossing back the last of the alcohol in her glass, and grabbing Dana’s free hand. “We are going to drink, dance, toast the moment. If we happen to meet some cute guys, while doing so, then so be it.”

Throwing caution into the wind, Dana takes a final swig of her drink and puts the glass on the table. This is going to be a long night, Dana thinks, her mind churning with consideration of the evening ahead.

*****

“Dude, if this is how you celebrate a big break I cannot imagine how you commemorate other events in your life,” Derek yells into the ear of his colleague, Fox William Mulder, whose head is currently bowed, sheepishly. “You kicked some ass, my friend. Your profile nailed that son of a bitch.”

Fox Mulder takes a swig of his beer but doesn’t answer. He looks around the dance floor; singles dancing shamelessly up against each other. He sighs. This isn’t his scene; bumping and grinding next to total strangers. However, he and his team had just broken a huge case they had been working on for weeks. They had lived and breathed it. They slept very little, and ate very little. They had lived at work for weeks on end. His friends were right. This was a momentous event and a celebration was called for. He reluctantly agreed to join the guys for a few beers at a local bar at the end of the workday. If he had anything to say about it he would enjoy one more round and sneak out before his colleagues noticed.

Suddenly, he feels a presence in his shadow and then hears a sultry voice, “Would you care to dance?” He looks to his left and sees a long-legged blonde. Mulder sits, frozen in his thoughts.

“Yo, earth to Mulder!” Derek exclaims as he attempts to gain his friend’s attention.

“Sorry,” Mulder snaps back to reality, shaking himself out of his fog. He looks up at the woman, then turns and glances at his friend, who simply eggs him on. “Sure thing,” he gives in, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.

As he dances, he takes in his surroundings. Singles, couples, and groups; a typical Friday night. As his eyes wander, and he focuses his attention on the front corner of the dance floor. His eyes catch a young woman with fiery red hair. He captures her gaze, holding it for a beat, and then she turns away. He smiles and continues dancing with the blonde. As the song comes to an end his dancing companion shifts closer to him.

“Want to get out of here?” she purrs into his ear, her voice sending goosebumps down his arm. He looks back over to the redhead, intrigued. Something about her captures his attention. At that moment he knows he needs to meet her.

“No thanks,” he replies, stepping out of her embrace, and leaving her on the dance floor, utterly stunned. His eyes scan the bar for the pretty redhead but apparently, she’d left her spot, as he can’t locate her.

“Mulder, what are you doing?” Derek, who had been dancing with his own blonde, follows him off the dance floor. “That chick was a hot piece of ass. She asked you to go home and have sex with her. What is wrong with you? What the hell are you still doing here?” Mulder waves him off and makes his way to the bar to get another beer. He squeezes his way in between waves of people.

While waiting to order his drink, he scans the room again but doesn’t see the mystery woman. And then, unexpectedly, she’s there, on his left, like she’d appeared out of thin air. They eye each other as they wait patiently for one of the bartenders. Mulder, still intrigued, decides to take a leap and make small talk.

“I saw you over by the dance floor earlier,” he leans over, practically shouting in her ear to combat the noise which is making communication difficult. She turns to look at him and smiles, shyly. “You weren’t dancing,” Mulder continues his poor attempt at making small talk. She smiles again and opens her mouth, but is unfortunately interrupted by the bartender.

“What can I get ya?” he asks, looking at Dana first.

“Rum and diet coke please,” she orders. Before the bartender can walk away, Mulder interjects, “And I’ll have a hopper. You can put the lady’s drink on my tab”. His futile attempt at being smooth. She turns and looks at him.

“You didn’t have to do that, I would have talked to you for free,” she tells him, giving him a wide, flirtatious, smile. Mulder, stunned speechless for a minute, is enraptured by her beauty. “But thank you,” she continues, “And no, I wasn’t on the dance floor. This is, well I’m not really a ‘go out on Friday night, especially to a bar’, kind of person.”

“So what brings you out to a bar on a Friday night if you aren’t a bar person?” Mulder asks, leaning his back against the counter.

Dana lifts her hand and points in the direction of the dance floor. “My best friend, Ellen. She had this crazy idea that we needed to celebrate and she thought staying at home on a Friday night wouldn’t accomplish that.”

The bartender clears his throat. Mulder turns, reaching for the drinks. He sets them close and then reaches for his wallet and pays the bill, leaving a generous tip. He hands Dana her drink.

Taking a sip, he feels the cool taste of beer wash over his mouth and down his throat. “What are you celebrating?” he asks nonchalantly.

“A new career,” Dana replies, keeping the details light. She takes a sip of her drink. Usually not one to drink liquor, she figures, when in Rome.

“Congratulations,” he tells her, sincerely. “When do you start?”

“Not for a few weeks. There’s some training I need to go through first, but I’m looking forward to it–”

“Dane, you need to come dance!” Ellen abruptly barges into their conversation, almost spilling her drink on Dana’s new friend. As much as she loves Ellen, she can be a sloppy drunk. Ellen looks towards Mulder, almost as an afterthought, and then realizes her friend is chatting with him. “Hey, who's your friend? He’s cuuuute” Her words stagger like her legs. Blushing at first, but overcoming it quickly, Scully turns to introduce him but then realizes she has no idea who he is.

“William,” Mulder says, extending his hand, allowing Ellen to shake it. Just then a tall and lanky guy in his mid-20s with jet-black hair comes and pulls Ellen back towards the dance floor.

“I’m Dana,” Dana says, looking at William, then takes another sip of her drink.

“Nice to meet you,” Mulder responds. He likes talking to this mystery woman, Dana. There’s something about her, a feeling that had come over him since he’d been standing with her. He doesn’t want to let her go, figuratively speaking. To hell with it, he thinks, and then says aloud, “Would you like to da–”

“Yes,” she replies before he can finish his question. They each chuckle bashfully.

They make their way to the crowded dance floor, overflowing with sweaty young coeds. They rock their bodies in time with the music, occasionally making small talk, though it’s tough to hear each other.

“Born and raised in the area?” Mulder asks as he bends his head close to her ear.

“Born, not raised,” she answers, biting softly on her lower lip. Mulder groans internally. “I’m part of a Navy family. My dad is a captain. I grew up traveling the world,” she continues. Mulder nods, intent on keeping his body in close.

“What about you?” Dana asks, swaying her hips. Mulder, whose hands are close to her hips moves them ever so slightly.

“I grew up in Martha’s Vineyard and went to school at Oxford. But now I call this place home.”

Dana nods, listening to him talk, mesmerized by his voice and lips. She can’t quite articulate what’s come over her. Very rarely has she ever been so enraptured by a guy, especially one she just met.

“Can I tell you something strange?” Mulder asks, slowing his movements. Dana gestures silently, lacking confidence in her voice. “I feel like you’re a person I have known forever, and I swear that is not a pickup line,” he says, smirking.

Dana smiles, understanding what he is saying. She leans closer to him and, after biting her bottom lip again, whispers, “Do you want to go somewhere and talk?” Mulder nods sheepishly, but enthusiastically, and allows this red-headed stranger to lead him off the dance floor.

[jodithann827]

Wine and Cheese 1/1

Rated Teen / Story on AO3 / @today-in-fic

Summary: For Characteristically_Exuberant.

This story is for Characteristically Exuberant as a part of the One In Five Billion Exchange. I was ecstatic to get this prompt because Detrour happens to be my favorite episode of the series. It's the first episode of the X-FIles I ever watched (back when it first aired) and I was hooked instantly. I hope I did your prompt justice!

As always, I couldn't have gotten this story done without the fabulous beta from SisterSpooky1013.

Prompt:

Detour-based ep. Either an AU where Mulder stays for Scully's impromptu wine and cheese par-tay (what could happen?) OR a post-ep scene where they address the fact that Scully brought alcohol to his bedroom and he ditched her! Perhaps they have another attempt at the wine and cheese and... whatever.

*****

“Since we won’t be making it to the conference,” she says, holding up a small tray with several different types of cheese and two mini bottles of alcohol.

“Partaaay,” he responds with a smile, turning and giving her his full attention.

“However, I must remind you this goes against the Bureau’s policy of male and female agents consorting in the same motel room while on assignment,” she continues, moving further into the room. She opens one of the bottles, unscrewing the cap quickly.

“Try any of that tailhook crap on me, Scully, I’ll kick your ass. Pop quiz…”

“Miss, would you like a drink?” Scully wakes with a jolt, looking up to see a friendly-faced flight attendant offering her several different beverage choices. Dazed, she shakes her head, allowing the hostess to move along.

Scully pauses to take in her surroundings. She wiggles a bit, feeling the rough plastic beneath her, as she’s seated in the middle seat of a Boeing 747. An older woman knitting away is to her left in the window seat, and to her right, where Mulder should be, he is nowhere to be found. She gently rubs the sleep from her eyes, exhaustion finally taking over after the harrowing events of the past few days in a secluded forest in Florida.

“He went to the bathroom about a minute before you woke up,” she hears. Looking across the row, she sees Agent Stonecypher. The agents boarded a plane a few hours ago, bound for DC.

“Thanks,” Scully acknowledges, sitting up straighter in her seat.

“You must be exhausted,” Stonecypher comments. Scully, not one for idle chit-chat, but also not having the energy to put a stop to the conversation, nods her head.“That was so brave of you,” Stonecypher continues while Scully fights the urge to roll her eyes. “Staying up all night, keeping watch over Agent Mulder. And to think, Mike and I were in the middle of creating the scavenger hunt for our team at the conference while you both were fighting for your lives.” Scully nods again, still in a fog, and unsure about using her voice. Thankfully, at the same moment, she sees her partner walking back toward their seats.

“Did I miss anything?” Mulder asks once he is settled back in his seat, blocking her view of the kind yet clueless agent.

Shaking her head she tells him, “Not really.”

“We should be landing soon,” he informs her. “I spoke with Skinner before we boarded. He gave us a directive to go straight home and not come in for a few days—especially you.” Scully rolls her eyes. Mulder continues, “What? I think all he meant was that you’re still getting back into the swing of work after your remission. I think he just wants you to take it easy.”

“Yet you’re the one with the injury,” she glances towards his shoulder. “I’m not arguing, trust me. I won’t turn down a few days off work,” she says. Mulder immediately places a hand on her forehead, which in turn makes Scully break into a grin. “Will you stop?” she playfully chastises.

“You were mumbling in your sleep,” he tells her.

“Hmm?”

“Before I left for the bathroom, you were mumbling in your sleep,” he repeats.

“Oh. I uh, I don’t remember,” she feigns disinterest, and gratefully he changes the subject.

“Do you want to go back to sleep for a bit before we land? My shoulder is yours to sleep on, even with the drool,” he teases while her hand automatically goes to the corner of her mouth.

She quickly shakes her head while turning slightly away from him, wanting to gather her thoughts.

I went to Mulder’s room with wine and cheese. I initiated an interaction with my platonic partner with the gesture of more, and he didn’t pick up on it. What was I thinking? What was my intention? What did I think would happen, or want to happen? Maybe his lack of response is the best outcome?

Since her cancer went into remission, Scully has begun looking at life through a different lens. Yes, she often challenges Mulder on their day-to-day work, sometimes complaining, rationally, about wanting to get a life, about being at a standstill. However, after her cancer, some other thoughts and feelings occupy her mind; many of those thoughts involving her partner and best friend. He has been amazing to her, more so than in the early days of their partnership. He seems to be more attentive, since the cancer. Offering to take her to doctor's appointments, making her leave the office when he knew she’d done too much, holding her hair back when she was sick from the medication, just thinking of a few. He’s always been supportive and kind, but his character during this time has been just different. As much as she hated depending on anyone, especially him, she came to rely on him in the same way she relies on air. Once she got over her own self-doubt and insecurities, once she finally let him in, she drew the only logical conclusion; he was her strength, her stay in the darkness. She knew no other man would ever take the place he inhabited in her heart. Somewhere along the way, she fell hopelessly in love with Fox Mulder.

Maybe I need to forget it happened, she thinks with a cloud of sadness washing over her. Is that even a possibility? Can I forget how much he means to me? Can I go back to thinking about pre-cancer Mulder?

Scully is so lost in her thoughts she neglects to hear the captain announce their descent. She feels Mulder’s hand brush hers. Damn him for knowing me so well , she thinks. Knowing her disdain for flying, Mulder always makes it a point to hold her hand, if possible, during take-off and landing. He’s been doing it from almost day one. Damn the feelings he evokes in her and damn her physical reaction. She never used to get goosebumps when he clasped her fingers. Her heart never used to thump in her chest, and she definitely never thought about more of him from just a simple gesture.

All this because of some stupid wine and cheese that we didn’t get to enjoy because of Mulder’s one-track mind. Teambuilding and communication seminars can suck it, she thinks to herself as the plane descends, all the while Mulder holds on tightly.

Crap .

***********

It was too much for her, he admonishes himself as he sits on his couch. It’s quiet in the apartment. No TV or radio for background noise. Mulder sits with the gentle sound of his fish tank and his inner thoughts. He thinks about the case they just wrapped. On one hand, it was amazing, albeit terrifying, but on the other, spending the day and night traipsing around the forest chasing an invisible and unknown assailant was not how he pictured spending his time the last few days. That was the last thing Scully needed after returning to work after her remission. What would have happened if they hadn’t been rescued? What if they had been attacked, worse than the fate he suffered? She’d only been back to work, field work at least, for two weeks before Skinner had suggested the conference. Something easy, Skinner told him, so she can ease back into work.

Mulder shakes his head as he leans back against his couch. He sighs deeply and closes his eyes. He’s picturing the woods, the darkness, and Scully. Sweet Scully. His Scully, who stayed awake all night in order to protect him. His Scully, who tried to start a fire to keep them warm. His Scully, who sang to him upon request and made an off-handed joke about sleeping bags. Mulder replays the scene over and over in his head.

“Mulder, you need to keep warm, your body’s still in shock,” she tells him.

“I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat is to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with someone else who’s already naked,” he retorts back.

“Well, maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you’ll get lucky,” she responds without missing a beat.

Scully doesn’t make jokes like that. That’s usually his territory, tossing innuendos out for Scully. She would typically respond by rolling her eyes, playfully punching him on the shoulder, or ignoring the innuendo altogether. She’s been different recently, since the diagnosis and the remission. She’s more playful, more open, for Scully anyway. She’s making sex jokes with him for crying out loud.

Mulder runs his hand over his face, unsure what to do with this newfound knowledge. She’s his best friend, his partner, and the only person in the world he knows without a doubt he can count on, Lone Gunmen aside. She is his equal, the yin to his yang, the person who keeps him in line, even when he wants to stray ever so slightly, or in giant leaps like he sometimes does. Just a few short weeks ago he thought he was going to lose her for good, he thought the bad guys had finally won, he thought he was saying goodbye. He hadn’t given much thought to his life as she lay in bed, dying from an illness that could have been prevented, he just knew he couldn’t go on, and without her, well…he couldn’t even go there.

It was somewhere between her words, Mulder, I have cancer , and, Mulder I’m in remission , that he realized he was completely, utterly, and wholly in love with his partner. Suddenly her voice became sweeter, her skin, at least the skin he was allowed to touch, became softer, and her lips fuller. When the hell did I start daydreaming about Scully’s lips? He shakes his head and realizes that it’s not about the fact that he started thinking about Scully’s lips, it’s about the fact that he can’t seem to stop.

“What can I do about it?” he asks aloud to the empty apartment. He turns to his fish tank to continue his one-sided conversation. “She’s in a different league than me. Hell, she’s on a different planet.” Noncommittally, his fish continue swimming. He closes his eyes and continues to think about their time in Florida.

Scully wouldn’t sing for just anybody , he thinks, then rationalizes, she was doing it to keep herself awake. He pictures Scully before he was attacked, following him on blind faith, all because he had a theory. He envisions her making that last phone call before Michelle told them to put away their phones. He sees Scully in the Asekoff house, ribbing him about the invisible man versus glowing red eyes. He recognizes Scully following him to the Asekoff house the evening before, based on yet another one of his hunches that something was amiss. He thinks about him leaving her in his hotel room. She’d been bantering with him about consorting in motel rooms, and something about wine and cheese. Cheese… wine… Scully came to his room with wine and cheese, saying something about because they were going to miss the conference. Wine. Cheese. Wine. Wine. Seduction. Cheese. Seduction.

Mulder bolts upright to a standing position in the middle of his living room, his mind suddenly clear.

“Oh, Crap,” he says to the fish.

*****

She’s slightly surprised to hear his knock, given the time of night, combined with the fact that he should be home resting his shoulder. There’s no doubt in her mind that it’s him. Three short raps on the door. She had been turning off the lights and was going to make her way to bed when she heard him. Pulling her robe tighter, she heads for the door, opens it, and without saying a word, moves back to allow him entrance.

“Everything okay, Mulder?” she asks, following him over to the couch. They sit side by side, staring straight ahead.

“What? Yeah, yeah it’s fine,” he brushes her question off. They sit in silence for a bit. It’s not strange or awkward. There’s a comfort there.

“I was contemplating the case,” he tells her, finally, turning slightly to face her.

“What about it?” she asks, curious.

Mulder hesitates, wondering how much to say, question, and reveal. “I was playing the different scenarios over in my head. The forest, the rescue. But also the events leading up to it.”

“The Asekoff’s house?” Scully offers up. Mulder nods. There’s more silence, this time with a slightly awkward haze.

“I was thinking about the other night when I was on the computer, researching different animal species,” he broaches.

“The night I brought wine and cheese to your room?” she says, matter-of-factly. Leave it to Scully to shoot straight and tell it like it is.

“Yeah, that,” is all Mulder can manage. They sit in more silence for a minute or two, each gathering thoughts.

“What was–” He starts while she simultaneously says, “I can’t belie–”. They both pause and chuckle, drifting into silence again.

“Tell me,” Mulder encourages. She blushes, looking down at her hands in her lap, taking a deep breath, and focusing on the exhale.

“I told you in the woods that when I was fighting my cancer, I was angry at the injustice and the meaninglessness of it. I guess I had to make peace with all of the things I knew I wouldn’t be able to do. Sometimes simple things like never getting to walk on the beach again, or seeing a sunrise or sunset. I had to come to terms with saying goodbye to my family; the knowledge that my mother was losing another daughter and that I’d never see my nieces and nephews grow up. I had to come to terms with leaving you.” With this statement she looks up from her hands, searching out Mulder’s eyes.

“The thought of leaving you, leaving our quest, and knowing what you would or wouldn’t do in my absence…it scared me, Mulder. But then you were there and whether it was my prayers or the chip, somehow I was given a second lease on life. I guess at that moment I vowed to seize the day.”

Mulder enthusiastically nods his head, giving Scully, and her words, his full attention. He cautiously leans into her space a bit wanting to convey so much but also terrified of interrupting her, of scaring her off. He senses that she’s about to reveal something monumental.

“I was excited to be back at work,” she continues, “even though it was only supposed to be a conference. I was ready to be on the road, ready to use my brain again. I decided to stop living in fear or what-ifs and start living my life. I guess when I brought the wine and cheese to your room I wanted to celebrate. I wanted to celebrate life, work, friendship, us…” she trails off.

“You wanted to celebrate us,” Mulder parrots, connecting the dots.

Without a split second of hesitation, and only a fraction of a thought that he might regret it later, he leans toward Scully, giving her a moment to pull away if she wants, then takes her face in his hands and kisses her fully on her lips. She stiffens, only for a moment, before relaxing into the kiss. He swipes his thumb gently over her cheek. She pulls back slightly, and though it’s the last thing Mulder wants to do, he releases her mouth.

“There’s a lot to celebrate,” he tells her, moving an errant strand of hair behind her ear. I wasn’t reading between the lines.” Red hues rise quickly up her neck and into her cheeks. He takes her hand in his and kisses her knuckles, holding her hand tight.

“Apparently I wasn’t so great at trying to tell you,” she huffs.

“No, Scully, I was just too stuck in my own head to pick up on it,” he tells her, giving her hand a squeeze. “Come on, Scully, you know me. I’m singularly focused.” He wags his eyebrows, which earns him a laugh. “I ditched you and I’m sorry. Believe me, you don’t know how sorry, now that I think about it. If we’re playing the honesty card, I have to say that I was so afraid of losing you. I’ve known for a long time how much I care about you, but as you said, it really came to a head when you were fighting your cancer.”

Scully scoots closer and Mulder lifts his arm, draping it across her shoulder as she leans into his side. “Mulder?” she asks, looking up at him. She doesn’t finish the question because, as usual, he knows her so well, words truly aren’t needed.

Mulder leans his head down and captures her lips again. This time there is no hesitation. She opens her mouth to him, as though she’s also opening her soul. Their tongues mingle, slowly at first, in the same way friends meet for the first time. He holds a firm hand to the back of her head, pulling her into the kiss. She sighs, content, leaning further into his welcoming warmth. Mulder pulls back slightly to assess the situation. He observes her breathing has quickened and when she opens her eyes to him, though still blue, they are now filled with arousal.

Scully nuzzles into Mulder’s neck and whispers, “Take me to bed, Mulder,” so softly, he isn’t sure he heard her correctly. Raising his eyebrows in question, she continues, “We’ve waited long enough. We don’t know how many more tomorrows we have, so let's make tonight count.”

He stands, pulling her with him, hand tightly gripped with hers, and leads her toward her bedroom. Once inside, fretted with nerves, he stands in the doorway, a sheepish smile adorning his face.

I could not love him any more , Scully thinks to herself. Gently pulling him from the door frame, she directs him to the foot of her bed. She reaches to pull his mouth to hers but instead hears, “Scully, I haven’t done this in a really long time. I want it to be special, but I don’t know–” She cuts him off with a kiss, murmuring, “Mulder, it’s you and me. It was always going to be special.”

After that, there’s no more talking. There’s kissing and touching. Sighs (Mulder) and purrs (Scully). There’s playful laughing, a bit of moaning, and one or two shrieks. Mulder uses his fingers to play Scully like a stringed instrument, and she uses her lips to pepper him with kisses, trying to convey the love she feels in her heart.

It’s magical and wonderful, of course, neither expected anything different when imagining the possibility of their first time. Mulder, for all of his disappearing act faults, is attentive and attuned to her body, though Scully never suspected he’d be any different in bed. And Scully, with her new lease on life, is carefree and able to let go of control.

After, they snuggle in close in a cocoon of Scully’s sheets and fall asleep peacefully, each thinking about the road that led them to this moment.

****

She hears cars honking and loud chatter coming from the direction of her window. Opening one of her closed eyes, she looks at the clock, which shows it’s after ten in the morning. She hadn’t had that great night’s sleep in who knows how long. She stretches, cat-like, for a moment, before realizing her companion is not where she left him last night. Sitting up, she strains her neck to look toward the bathroom. Knowing that he wouldn’t leave her, she lays back on the pillow, taking in all that had happened the previous evening.

She seduced her partner. Or her partner seduced her. Or they seduced each other. In any case, she’s giddy it finally happened. It had been magical and wonderful, and everything Scully ever thought of when picturing her and Mulder’s eventual physical relationship. Sweet and slow and powerful, two forces of nature coming together, daring to be reckoned with. And she can’t wait to do it again.

When she hears the front door open and then promptly shut, she knows Mulder went out this morning, though for what, she could only guess. She sinks further down into the bed, readying herself for his return.

“Scully,” he calls through the half-closed door. When he pushes it open, she takes in the sight. Mulder is standing on the threshold of her sanctuary, and in his hand sits a tray of wine and cheese. She grins ear to ear as he enters and shuts the door behind him.

[jodithann827]

Pretty Woman 11/11

Rating: Explicit / posted on AO3 / tagging @today-in-fic

Thank you for going on this journey with me ❤️

Limousine

California Highway

5:30 pm

Mulder sighs, leaning back into the cool leather of the limousine. He left the hotel over twenty minutes ago after waiting until the last possible second in the hopes that Scully would come back. It was when Langly called to tell him the car was ready that he finally admitted defeat and trudged to the lobby. While checking out, he said goodbye to Mr. Skinner and thanked him for his generosity. Skinner seemed surprised that Scully wasn’t with him but again commented that she’d be welcome back to the Waldorf any time she liked, and what a special lady she was. Mulder nodded, only hearing half of what he’d said. He was anxious to get into the car and see what Scully had slipped into his hand.

Once on the road, he quickly unfolds the piece of paper. In Scully’s beautifully written script, he reads:

My Dearest Mulder,

There are so many thoughts and feelings I’d like to convey, but I feel as though my words wouldn’t be adequate. To say thank you would be the understatement of the century, but there it is; thank you. Thank you for one of the most amazing weeks I’ve ever had. Thank you for listening to me, for opening up to me, for allowing me to be my authentic self, and for showing me what I believe to be your authentic self. You are a special person, Mulder, whether you know this to be true or not. I’m promising you, you are. I wish fairytales were real, that you could be the prince and sweep me off my feet, but I know that isn’t the real world, and simply a fantasy I’ve held onto. I wish you a lifetime of happiness, Mulder, whatever success means to you now: wealth or happiness.; hopefully both. I long for you to find what truly makes you happy. I’ve enclosed my address. I couldn’t bring myself to give you my number, because if I were to hear your voice, well, I don’t know what would happen. I fell for you, Fox Mulder, and I fell hard. I know the feelings are not reciprocated; how could they be? People from two very different worlds. Anyway, I’m rambling. If you are ever in the area again for business, look me up. Maybe when enough time passes, I’ll be in a place where I can see you, knowing I can’t be with you, and be okay with it. What do you say? Ten or so years? Just kidding… kind of. I hope you have a safe flight and know that I will never forget you.

All my love,

Scully

Mulder reads and re-reads her letter, sighing heavily.

“You’re a fool,” he hears from the front seat.

“Excuse me?” he responds, looking into the mirror to see Langly’s eyes.

“Mulder, dude, I’ve known you for a very long time, long before I started working for you. You’re a great businessman, but you’ve never been one to accept good things in your life outside of work,” he informs him. Mulder sighs, knowing the truth when it confronts him.

“Don’t you want to be happy?” Langly questions.

“She doesn’t want me,” he states. Langly rolls his eyes in the mirror. “She doesn’t. If she did, she would be in the car with me,” Mulder continues, ignoring the eye roll.

“Mulder, maybe she needs you to say it in black and white. Maybe she wants to see just how far you’ll go for her?” he suggests.

Mulder ponders this for a minute. He has health, he has wealth, and all that’s missing is someone to share it with. If he looks into his future, he doesn’t see much, but he clearly sees Dana Scully as a part of it.

“Langly, can you find this address?” he tosses up the letter with the enclosed address. Glancing at it, Langly smiles and makes a U-Turn. Mulder leans into his seat and waits.

Hollywood Boulevard

6:02 pm

So this is what unimaginable pain feels like, Scully thinks, sinking defeatedly into her oversize couch. She got home from the hotel and immediately broke down, the freeing tears finally flowing. She can’t get Mulder out of her thoughts. Even the scent of him is present on her clothes. At her sister’s distraught appearance, Missy offered to run out and get food, however, she’d be back any minute. As hard as it will be, Scully feels the best thing she can do is leave the city entirely. She hadn’t lied to Mulder about the GED; she very much wants to better her life and finish high school, then go to college. However, she needs to plan in digestible chunks, and the first step is leaving these memories behind.

She closes her eyes and thinks of the week, of the changes she’s made in such a short period of time. It’s amazing that she was able to meet someone, fall in love, and technically break up, all in the span of five days. She shakes her head, clearing her thoughts. It will be better once she is away from here, though she knows she will miss Missy fiercely. Who knows, maybe one day she’ll come back.

The sound of keys in the lock brings her back to the present.

“Hot and steamy chicken fried rice,” Missy calls, edging the door shut with her foot.

“I appreciate the gesture, Melissa, but I told you before, I’m not really that hungry.”

A car horn honks in the distance.

Melissa waves Scully’s words away. “You need to eat. Look, Dana, you’re not going anywhere tonight. I understand this sudden urge to up and leave, really, I do, but you need to take a minute, digest what happened this week, and then decide. You can stay here and get your GED. At least we would still have each other.”

The horn honks again and they each throw an irritated glance toward the window.

“Thanks, Missy. I know you mean well, but I think this is something I need to do,” she explains, heading towards the table, the smell of the food suddenly slightly appealing.

*Honk Honk*

“Seriously, what the heck is their problem,” Missy states, irritation written all over her face. She makes for the window to holler at the catalyst of the unfortunate sound. Silence follows her.

“What is it, Miss?” Scully asks, following Missy’s footsteps to the balcony.

“It, uh—well, I think it’s for you,” Missy responds, pointing a finger in the direction of the horn.

Several stories below, a black limousine sits parked, Mulder’s handsome and kind face emerging from the open roof. Scully’s jaw feels like it drops ten stories, though in reality it simply hangs open.

“Oh my god, Mulder? What are you doing here?” she yells down, now leaning far out her window. Missy elbows her, attempting to get a better view.

“You lied, Scully,” he yells up to them. Even from below, he knows she’s arching an eyebrow.

“About what, exactly?” she counters.

Mulder ducks into the limo and a moment later, the car door opens. He’s standing on the sidewalk, flowers in hand, continuing to look up at the apartment, and talk to her as though she’s standing right next to him.

“When you said maybe with enough time passing. Scully, no amount of time passing will make me forget about you and how I feel about you.” He begins striding toward the building.

Scully, who is in a bit of shock, mixed with a small amount of panic, feels a hand on her back, guiding her through the small window and onto the fire escape. She looks back at her sister, her warm smile and nod of encouragement are all she needs. She steps onto the hard metal and regains eye contact with Mulder.

“What if you could have it all, Scully? Everything you talked about? Everything you want? The fairytale. He pulls the ladder down and it loosens with a groan. Without a second thought, Mulder begins to climb, higher and higher, determined to reach the woman of his dreams.

“Mulder, what are you doing? You’re crazy! You hate heights,” she says, though her grin betrays her worry. She reaches her arms out and is finally able to pull Mulder to her.

“Overcoming the fear is worth it if it leads me to you, Scully,” he says before taking her lips with his. He pulls her into his embrace.

“So what happens now, Mulder?” she asks after they pull apart.

She beams up at him, suddenly seeing the future so clearly, and chastising herself for wanting to give up on it.

“They live happily ever after, of course,” he states before kissing her again.

[jodithann827]

Pretty Woman 10/11

Rating: Explicit / posted on AO3 / tagging @today-in-fic

Waldorf Astoria

3:28 pm

Pool Deck

“You’re glowing,” Missy states. Dana blushes uncomfortably, hating when any spotlight is focused on her; even a sweet comment from her sister.

“Seriously, Dana, you seem different.” They are sitting on the edge of the pool, their feet skimming the silky, cool water.

“I guess I feel different, Missy. I feel…” She searches for a word, coming up with the echo of Mulder’s earlier revelation, “Alive.”

“Oh my god, Dana,” Missy suddenly states while simultaneously pulling her sunglasses away from her eyes so that she can stare into her sister’s.

“What?” Scully asks, innocently.

“You kissed him,” Missy accuses.

Dana starts to shake her head, but never one for lying—especially to Missy—she turns her head shake into a nod of admittance.

“Dana Katherine Scully, have I taught you nothing? Do anything you want, just no kissing on the mouth,” she scolds.

“Too little too late for that sis,” she replies, crimson spreading across her neck, reaching higher and higher. Melissa gapes at her. Scully bends her head, as though she’s being chastised like a child, even though Melissa is silent. Her stare says it all.

After what feels like an eternity, though is probably less than a minute, Melissa says, “You’re in love with him.” Scully remains quiet, unable to deny her sister’s accusation. Melissa sighs at her sister’s silence.“This is why I told you, never, ever kiss on the lips.”

“It’s more than that, Melissa. I think I fell for him after that first night. There’s something about him, he’s changed me, and I think he has changed himself.”

“Dana, this isn’t the fairytale you used to dream about when we were kids. He’s not going to sweep you off your feet. The world doesn’t work like that,” Missy tells her, a cynical tone in her voice.

“You don’t know him, Missy–” she starts.

“They’re all the same, Dana,” Missy insists.

“Where is this coming from, Missy? Miss ‘everything happens for a reason’. Miss ‘souls can spot their mate’, yadda yadda yadda crap?” Scully knew Missy wouldn’t believe her, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t hurt by Melissa’s comments.

“You’re right,” Missy says, easing up a bit, “I’m sorry. I just question how much you know about him.”

Scully exhales. She knows her sister, while very open-minded, would never understand. She quickly changes the subject. “Let's go have a late lunch in the hotel restaurant. I’m meeting Mulder back in the room when he’s done at the office before he heads to the airport.”

SocialPro Headquarters

Beverly Hills

2:45 pm

The smell of stale smoke fills his nose before he even looks up to see the owner of the offending stench. Not bothering to knock, Mr. Spender strolls leisurely into Mulder’s office. Mulder knows it isn’t possible, but it seems the temperature drops suddenly by at least 10 degrees.

“I’m glad you called me, Mr. Mulder,” Spender says, taking a seat and wasting no time, “though I have to be honest, I wasn’t sure you were going to.”

“Truthfully, I wasn’t sure I was going to either,” Mulder genuinely responds, “but I’m leaving tonight and one thing I dislike is leaving loose ends.”

“So you’ve given my offer some thought?” Spender asks, nonchalantly.

“I have,” he responds, cautiously, eyeing the man in front of him. It’s as though they are doing a very carefully choreographed dance. Mulder’s lack of continuance spurs Spender to anger.

“I’m sure you’ll be very happy working for me,” he begins to say.

Mulder crosses his arms in a protective manner and states, “no deal.”

“Excuse me?” Spender questions. A flash of trepidation moves across his face, though it is gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the poker face Mulder knows well.

“I said, no deal. I think that’s pretty clear,” Mulder reiterates.

“You don’t know what you–”

“I know exactly what I’m doing, Mr. Spender. I watched my father spend years working for people just like you. I may be in this business for the money, but I won’t trade in lies and deceit. You haven’t given me a clear answer from the moment we met. Yes, I might be turning down buying your

Company, and the great deal of money I could

Make back from it, but I think keeping my dignity and self-respect is well worth it. And the bottom line is that I don’t trust you. Good day, Mr. Spender.”

Aghast, Spender stands and makes his way to the door. Turning back towards Mulder, he threatens, “You haven’t seen the last of me, Mr. Mulder.” The slam of the door on his way out shakes the walls.

Mulder unfolds his arms and gently pinches the bridge of his nose before lowering his head to rest on his desk. Yes, he lost out on a great deal of money, however, if there is anything he learned this week, it’s that it’s better to have a soul than a large wallet. His business will be fine. He can recover. He still has multiple social media platforms.

As Mulder runs through contingency plans in his head, he hears the creak of his door opening, and then Diana’s soft voice.

“Fox? Is everything okay? I just saw Mr. Spender on my way in. What did you say to him? His face—I saw a lot of anger.”

At first, Mulder doesn’t respond to her, somehow anticipating the lecture that will leave her lips.

“Fox, tell me you closed the deal,” Diana demands. He finally looks up and catches her eye. She knows him so well that he doesn’t have to confirm her suspicions. The look on his face tells her everything she needs to know. “How could you?” She challenges.

“It’s not the way I want to do business Diana,” he’s brief. Suddenly he has the overwhelming urge to see Scully. “Look, Diana, I’m not going to argue with you. I have some things to finish up here and then I need to get going. I’ve got a flight tonight and I need to meet with Scully before I leave.” He’s shuffling through papers on his desk, clearly having nothing left to say to her. A lightbulb suddenly goes off in Diana’s brain and she slinks out of Mulder’s office.

Waldorf Astoria

Penthouse

4:00 pm

After she leaves Missy in the lobby, Scully goes about her afternoon, straightening up the hotel, packing her things, and fidgeting. She can’t sit idly by waiting for Mulder. She replays the conversation with Missy in her head as she moves about the penthouse. Of course fairytales don’t exist. Scully is a practical person. She knows there is no such thing as a fairytale ending. It’s a slightly cynical thought, but true nonetheless. Mulder is due to leave in a few hours to go back to New York. She’ll never see him again. The thought of this makes her heart ache exponentially, a feeling she has only felt one other time in her life.

Pull it together Dana, she scolds herself. A knock at the door pulls her from her depressing thoughts. Heading towards the door, she yells, “Mulder, did you forget your key?” Whipping the door open, she is suddenly facing Diana, not Mulder. She hastily wipes the surprised look off her face and opens the door wider to allow Diana access.

“If you’re looking for Mulder, he’s not here,” she explains, closing the door and following Diana into the living room.

“You must think you’re so special,” Diana comments, gently tracing the top of the mantle on the marble fireplace. Her back is turned, but Scully hears every punctuated word.

“Excuse me?” she asks anyway. This time Diana turns towards the smaller woman.

“You must think you’re so special,” she repeats.

“Why is that?” Scully asks, leaning against the arm of the sofa.

“How did you get him to do it?” Diana asks, as though Scully is fully aware and part of the conversation.

“Do what? Diana, if you need Mulder I’m sure you can find him at the office–”

“He turned the deal down,” she states matter of factly, glaring at Scully, as though Scully is directly responsible for all of the world’s misfortunes.

Realization slowly dawns on Scully. She doesn’t say anything, sensing Diana isn’t done speaking.

“He was doing fine,” she begins to explain. “He was going to be here for a week, close the deal, and head back to New York. He was going to spend a lot of money to make an obscene amount of money in the long run and be in a perfect position for any other company his heart desired. Fox had everything going for him, and then he met you.”

“You seem to think I–” Scully begins, but apparently Diana isn’t finished.

“You changed him,” she accuses.

Scully closes her mouth. She can’t deny that Mulder seems different from the man she met on the strip that fateful evening. Maybe she did have something to do with the change. But surely he wouldn’t become a different person unless he himself was ready, she reckons.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, Diana,” Scully says.

“I mean, sex can cloud someone’s judgment. You’ve been with him all week, so I guess the amount of sex he’s had…” she trails off and Scully looks astounded. She protectively crosses her arms around herself. “Don’t get me wrong,” Diana continues, slowly advancing towards the couch where Scully is stuck in place. “There are definitely times I’ve played out different scenarios of him and me in my head. We are of the same world, a world you know nothing about.” She motions for Scully to sit, Diana, taking the spot across from her. Sitting, Scully tries to interrupt, though Diana doesn’t give her a chance. “He and I are educated. You aren’t. Fox and I travel in the same circles. Do you even have friends or merely acquaintances? Your precious Mulder and I make a reputable living. You,” she pauses for emphasis, looking her up and down reprehensibly, “you have sex for money.” She goes in for the kill. “I see the way you look at him. You’ve fallen in love with him. He will never love you. You’ve merely been a bright and shiny new toy for him to play with this week, but I see you for who you truly are; a whore.”

Tears threaten to spill from Scully’s eyes, but she won’t give Diana the satisfaction. Unsure how to respond, Scully stays ghostly silent.

“You know,” Diana continues, “I have a lot of wealthy clients. Say the word and I can hook you up with all of them, one after another–”

“Enough!” a voice bellows, catching both women off guard. Scully turns to look and suddenly sees Mulder.

“Fox–” Diana begins, but is abruptly cut off.

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought you could say such horrible and hurtful things, Diana. This amazing woman sitting here is a person, with a heart of gold. How dare you make her think otherwise. Because you’re what? Threatened? Territorial? Just a plain bitch?” he pauses, collecting his thoughts. “Get out. I can’t so much as look at you, let alone think about working with you,” he demands.

Without another word, or glance in Scully’s direction, Diana stands and makes her way to the door. She turns, quickly, “Fox–”

“Get out,” he yells again, holding firm in his decision.

The minute they hear the door close, each lets out a breath.

“Mulder—” Scully starts, but is quickly cut off.

“Baby,” he says, attempting to embrace her, “I’m so sorry. She said horrible and awful things.” Scully flinches when Mudler makes contact. He pulls his hands back, burned by her withdrawal.

“She’s right,” Scully points out, “I get paid to have sex with people. I didn’t go to college—hell, I didn’t make it through high school. And we are most definitely opposites, Mulder.”

As she’s talking, Mulder shakes his head. “You are so much more than that, Scully.” He’s silent for a minute, the two of them at an impasse.

Standing, breaking the silence and tension, Scully looks at him sadly. “You really should get going, Mulder. You don’t want to miss your flight.”

“It’s a private plane,” he tells her, reaching for her hand. She pulls it back, away from his reach.

“I’m all packed. Thank you for letting me keep the clothes,” she says. Mulder nods, sadly. Scully continues, “I uh, I was going to tell you, before Diana dropped by, but I decided to get my GED. I would like to eventually go to college. I was always interested in science; pretty good at it too, actually. After this week, I don’t know, but something feels different. I can’t go back to the life I was living.”

“I’m proud of you, Scully, really,” he says, his pure, sweet self shining through.

Scully grabs her string bag, swings it over her shoulder, and takes the suitcase in her other hand. Before going towards the door, she steps into Mulder’s space and gently kisses him on the cheek, simultaneously pushing a folded piece of paper into his hand.

“Don’t read that until you’re in the car,” she instructs. She makes her way to the door, but stops short, turns, and faces him.

“Thank you for seeing me, Mulder. The real me. That person hasn’t been seen in a long time.”

She turns to go before he can answer, not wanting him to see the tears beginning to fall.