Title: 32 Flowers Note: This was a challenge inspired response to MaryKate's suggestion of Scully's birthday. This is to all those who hope one day to have as nice of a birthday as Dana does. Thanks goes to MaryKate for the challenge and to all us folks at Extreme Possiblities!! Keep writing! Disclaimer: I don't own Mulder, nor Scully or even Skinner. They are the property of the dude with double initials, CC, and his birthday named company, 1013. Time: anywhere will do quite nicely. No spoilers and one or two minor offensive words. **************************************************** The now irritating noise, of a too jubilant alarm clock, reached one very sleepy red-head. Resisting the urge to shoot the obnoxious thing, so she could further bury herself beneath the warm thick comforter, Scully instead reached an arm over and non too gently, slapped the thing off. The dismal light offered by the early morning February sun, did little to brighten her spirits. Like the clouds already threaten to cover the sun, so too did her mood threaten to darken. Dana seriously thought about using a spare vacation day, but knowing Mulder, he wouldn't let her forget about it or even worse; inform her mom. Throwing back the covers, Dana set her feet upon the hard wood floor and headed towards her morning ritual. Passing her dresser she murmured groggily, "Nice flower", at the single white Trillium that stood in a tiny, crystal vase. Reaching her door, Dana stopped short. "Nice flower?", she said again aloud as the sleep quickly dissipated from her now churning mind. Turning around she looked again at the flower. "Now how the ....", she left off, racking her mind as to whom would of placed the floral delight in her room. "There can be only two people, M and M. Mom and Mulder", she said taking an appreciative sniff of it. "Nice", she said and allowed a gentle smile to reach her face. Something she didn't expect to do, especially today on her 32nd birthday. Something s he wished could be forgotten altogether, but obviously someone hadn't. Shaking her head at the mysteriousness of the flowers, this new one a gentle purple, and standing in her blue rinsing cup. Scully's curiosity was blooming as to whom placed the flowers, smiling at the thought of which one would sneak in at what must of been obviously a late hour. Especially since she had stayed up well past midnight, working on the case report due to Skinner at 3 p.m today. Not only where her mother and Mulder the only one's with keys, they were also the only ones who could get past Clyde without his little lungs releasing loud exuberant "Yips!" Finished showering, Dana returned to her bedroom to dress. All the time keeping her gaze on the lone, white flower. WIth hair slightly damp, but now prepared to greet the world, she headed towards the kitchen. The smell of hot brewed coffee tickled her sense of smell, as her favorite fur ball trotted with noisy clicks behind her. Scarlet red with yellow stamen, it stood in her favorite coffee mug. Opening a glass cabinet, Dana pulled out a delicate glass vase. Filling it with water, she placed the Red-pink in it and proceeded to gather the two mysteriously left Trilliums. That done, she donned her coat and headed into the frigid winter air to give Clyde a much needed business break. Clyde's business taken care of, Scully returned to finish her toiletry and the waiting mug of coffee. This too done, she gathered her briefcase, gloves and shrugging in her jacket, left for another day in the basement of the Hoover building. Tossing her briefcase on the passenger seat, Scully quickly climbed in her Cavalier. Placing the key in the ignition, she paused before starting the car, as her eyes settled on the rose. Not your normal hot house rose, but a well bloomed backyard kind. It was a deep, vibrant shade of pink. It's aroma filled her car with the gentle scent of summer. "This is going beyond sweet. No one, and I mean no one, has the keys to my car!", she said with emotion tinged voice. Placing the flower on her briefcase, Dana proceeded to work, puzzling over the floral gifts. Hoover Building 9:00 am Walking through the bullpen, Scully gave a few polite "Hellos" to an occasional fellow Agent. Reaching the elevator, she waited along with 3 others, for the metallic doors to admit her. "Agent Scully!", a authorative voice called out. "Please not today", she said to herself as the only voice that could single handedly ruin her day, filled her with dread. Turning, Scully saw Assistant Director Skinner approaching her. Her curiosity turned to amusement when her normally stern and sometimes cold boss, made his way through the throngs of agents, with two exotic Tiger Lilies in his hard hands. Looks of amusement and speculation filled the faces of their fellow agents when he thrust them at the small red head. In a booming voice, to tap down any unwanted notions from their co-workers, Skinner said "It appears someone place these in the wrong office". Taking the deep organdy colored flowers, Scully replied "Thank you sir. I'm sorry about the mistake" Looking at the twin flowers, she saw the small card upon which her name lied below a Happy Birthday greeting. Pausing before returning back the way in whence he came, Skinner said over his shoulder "Oh Agent Scully, Happy Birthday." And with this and a few stern looks at some amused agents, Skinner returned towards his office. Glad to be stepping off the whispered filled elevator, Scully strode purposely down the hall towards her office. Briefcase and flowers in hand, her mind now churned over the various suspects. She had already scratched her Mother off the list, knowing that Margaret Scully wouldn't make the mistake of sending them to her boss. Now Mulder, that was a different story. With a sense of humor such as his, *anything* was possible. Reaching the door to the office, she let out a rather loud "Not again!". Looking down at the floor in front of the office door, was a pair of Periwinkles. Their lovely clover like blooms, contained within of all things, a paper cup from the water cooler. "It has to be him", she said out loud seeing the light on within the office as she picked up the two vibrant pink blooms to add with the Tiger Lilies, already held within her left hand. Opening the door Scully entered, and went straight to her desk, a bit bemused to find her normally workaholic partner, was nowhere in sight. She looked at the lights, wondering to herself about which one left them on. Mulder liked the dark, and with him being the last one to leave the night before, it wasn't likely he would forget to shut them off. Flicking the switch to their automatic coffee maker, Scully proceeded to rid herself of the heavy briefcase and voluminous coat. She was two steps away from her coat when the pocket started to ring, or more accurately her cell phone within the pocket. "Scully", she answered "Hey its me", a male voice informed her. "Hello me", she said with humor tinged voice flipping on her computer. "Damn!", she said out loud. "Scully?", Mulder asked upon hearing her curse. "Oh sorry, Mulder. Just something in my way", she said not informing him that it was a purple tinged water Hyacinth that blocked her from the computer keyboard. "Ah, okay. Hey I'm going to be a bit late. Seems the air in one of my tires didn't inform me it was taking an extended weekend", he explained about his tardiness. "Sure no problem, how long to you get the thing changed?", she asked wondering how long she would have to cover for him. Scully could of swore she heard chimes in the background as Mulder replied "Oh about two hours, but I've already informed Skinner. Don't miss me too much," he joked to his partner. "I'll try to contain myself. Oh and Mulder?", she asked "Yeah?" "Don't forget the bagels," she said reminding Mulder. Two quick good-byes and Scully was left to ponder. To ponder why Mulder had informed Skinner, usually they covered each other especially from Skinner. Now for Mulder to have voluntarily inform their boss, was an interesting aspect. Add that to the flowers, and Scully's birthday was turning into it's own X-File. An hour and a half later, and still no Mulder. Scully had already finished the report, started on the preliminary for one of their simpler cases for next week, and found three more flowers. One in her desk, this a white gardenia, one in the file cabinet where they kept the copy for the file she was to turn in today and one came with their morning mail. Scully emptied out one of her spare mugs and placed the rather bizarre assortment of flowers within it, upon her desk. "Can't be him, could it? No, he wouldn't do this. But his sense of humor is odd.", Dana said to herself out loud. Although she attempted to work on a new file, her mind kept whirling over who would leave such an odd assortment of flowers. "Not odd, Dana. Unique. Lovely but definitely different", she chided herself. "He could of left them last night, he left after I did. But would he put them in Skinner's office too?", she said now fully intent on finding the mysterious giver. "Wait! They were the only ones with a card! Trying to throw me off the scent, so to speak. Oh great now your talking to yourself", she laughed at herself. "Morning Scully", Mulder called out entering the office, a white bag dangling from his right hand. "So whose the admirer?', he asked gesturing to her little floral arrangement. Scully's brow arched as she asked "Mulder, I thought you......" Stopping in hopes he would confess to the deed. "Thought what?", he asked face void of any emotion save curiosity. Shrugging, she answered "Nothing, never mind." Slightly crestfallen Dana quickly asked, " What's the bagel of the day?". Hoping Mulder wouldn't press any further about the flowers. Looking in the bag, Mulder pulled out two black speckled bagels "I'm taking a guess at Poppyseed. But we could get them analyzed to be sure", he teased. The rest of the morning was uneventful for the two agents. For Scully it was actually quiet with no new flowers mysteriously appearing. Since Mulder had arrived late, Scully figured on a one o'clock lunch. It was now five minutes till, and Mulder was still engrossed in their budget report. That Mulder was actually volunteering to do the report, was a miracle in itself. But Dana wasn't going to say a word, knowing all too well Mulder's little tricks for pushing it off on her. Reaching for her coat, she turned towards her now swearing partner. "Break time", she announced to him. "Huh? Wha....oh I'm sorry Scully. I totally forgot about today.", he said to her apologizing. "Forgot what?", she asked. One of her brows arched again when she caught a slight redding of Mulder's face. Mulder's blush only got worse when he became aware of the fact, that Scully noticed. "I forgot to tell.....oh shit!", he started to say when his pen fell onto the floor. Reaching under the desk, Scully heard a faint collection of words. "Frohike...... ...last.......promised.........lunch........information............file", was all she could make out of the incoherent jumble. *BOOM!* "Ahhh, Damn it all to......" yelled Mulder as his head connected with the underside of his desk. Scully looked on with a clearly amused smile, "Mulder, you okay?", she asked concern filling her voice. Standing up, and rubbing what he was sure would be a goose egg later, Mulder replied "Yeah, just a little bump." Scully dismissed his "little bump" response and rushed over to him, grabbing his head in her hands, to peer at the now swelling lump. "Oh sure just a little bump", she added sarcastically. "Put some ice on this, or your going to have another appendage soon", she instructed Mulder, who was again rubbing the sore spot. Sitting down again in his chair, Mulder looked at her "I will as soon as I leave. As I was trying to say before, I promised Frohike I'd meet him for lunch to discuss some information for our next case. Sorry, Scully. It must of slipped my mind" Biting back a retort on photographic memories, Scully accepted his explanation. Pausing at the door, she asked "Your still coming to Mom's tonight?" "Of course. Wouldn't miss a Scully styled birthday party for the world. Especially when its YOURS", Mulder said with a mischievous smile. Feeling her heart skip a different pattern at Mulder's smile, Scully nodded and left before HER face betrayed her. Waiting with baited breath as the door behind Scully seemed to close excruciatingly slow, Mulder jumped for the phone the minute it clicked shut. Hitting a few buttons quickly, he drummed his fingers waiting for it to be picked up. He heard a click as the other end was picked up. Silence. Another click. Silence. "Guys, it's Mulder. Can the wiretap!", he yelled into the phone. "Mulder!", exclaimed Langly. "Is it a go?", the long haired Gunmen asked. "It's a go! She's on her way to The Rabbit Hole", he told Langly of Scully's usual lunch spot. That is usual when she wasn't with Mulder, and was in the mood for a killer Caesar salad. The slight flurry that settled over D.C. seemed to match Scully's whirling emotions. She was sure that it was Mulder that had set up the flowers, but his denial and the look in his eye said he didn't. That had dashed her hopes. Hopes that also plummeted like the temperature outside, when he said he wouldn't join her for lunch. She didn't want to face her brothers, their wives and numerous kids tonight to celebrate her birthday. A birthday that reminder her not only was she getting older, but she also didn't have any meaningful in her life. Well except Mulder, and it didn't look like he was going to commit to anything except friendship. "Damn!", she cursed knowing it did little to alleviate her feelings of aloneness. It sure didn't do anything for that stupid biological clock, the one that was warning her that time was running out. "So much for long engagements", she sighed to herself. Dana had always felt she would have time for a long engagement, to make sure HE was the one, before making a lifelong commitment. Divorce? What was that? It just didn't figure into her equation. She also had planned on at least two years to just enjoy HIM and to just being married before it was time for the little ones. Little ones, now there was a topic she avoided with passion. Suddenly Scully let out a laugh as the image of a red topped two year old streaking from the bathroom with Mulder hot on her heels. "Stop it!", she yelled at herself. Knowing that crying on her birthday was never a good omen. Spying an open slot, Scully maneuvered her car into it and quickly headed into the Rabbit Hole. Mulder hung up quickly after a few last instructions to Langly. Hitting the disconnect button he quickly dialed again, this time across town. "Ms. Scully?", the waiter asked. "Yes?", she asked looking up from her latest issue of New Englands Medical Journal. "There seems to be a package for you at the front desk", he informed the red-headed agent. "Would you like me to bring it to you? Or shall you retrieve it after your meal?", he asked her. Curiosity filled her, but she put it on hold looking at her watch which announced she had only a few minutes left if she wanted to beat the early weekend drivers. "I'll get it on my way out, thank you", she informed the young waiter, who nodded and proceeded to another table. "Hurry up, just toss it in! She could come out any second!", the be-speckled guy complained to his friend as his nervousness started to creep into his voice. "Yeah hurry up, you want her to shoot you like she did Mulder?", this was from the impeccably dressed man, trying to hurry up the shorter man. Locking the car , the shorter and balding man, shut Scully's door and turned to his friends and fellow conspirators. "This my friends, requires the utmost care. A orchid such as this one, must not be just "Tossed in". What ever would the lovely Agent Scully think?", he replied in a regal tone. "I'd say she's thinking of leaving," replied the blonde who noticed the Agent's move towards the exit, through the large plate glass windows. Quickly, all three piled into the waiting car, and without further pause, left the lot of the Rabbit Hole. Mulder looked at his watch and cursed. He was late and it looked like it was going to be more than just fashionably late. Beside him, on his car seat, sat a small package. A package that was gaily wrapped and tied. Gathering up her magazine, Dana headed towards the front desk to settle her bill. Reaching there she informed the young, brunette hostess. "I'm Ms. Scully. I was informed a package was waiting for me?" The young girl, whose name tag said Jeannette, smiled and responded "Oh Ms. Scully, yes their right here" And with a wistful look on her face, Jeanette pulled out a florists box, in which contained a pair of orchids. "I'm sorry there's no card with them .", in a bright smile Jeanette added "Must be a secret admirer. Do you think he's cute?", she asked impulsively. The girls mood infectious, as Scully smiled and said "I'm sure any man, considerate enough to do this must have a beautiful soul" With another wistful sigh the young girl nodded. Taking the flowers, Scully headed to her car. Another red light. This didn't bode well for Mulder. At this rate Scully would beat him back to the office, something he didn't plan on. Looking at his watch, Mulder decided on a backup plan. One that Scully would probably threaten to do bodily harm for. Picking up his phone, he hit the speed dial and waited. Since Scully's phone started ringing, she failed to notice three rather familiar faces, race for a brown Dodge. Retrieving her phone while balancing the flowers, she answered "Scully". "Scully, could you do me a favor?", Mulder asked. "Depends. It just better not be illegal or have anything to do with Frohike", she informed him, heading towards her awaiting blue car. "No Frohike, I promise. What I would appreciate is if you could get me something for lunch?", he asked using his best sweet talk voice. "Lunch? Isn't this what you were suppose to do with Frohike?", she asked as another Mulder maneuver started to sound weirder and weirder. "Um well we sorta got involved on this discussion on the latest issue of Celebrity Skin and Pamala Lee's artificial..." "Mulder! I'll get lunch, just don't ruin mine. Not one peep out of you on what I get. Got it?", she informed her coworker. "Peep..peep. Thanks Scully", he said smiling knowing she could too sense his smile. Smiling like the cat with the cream, Mulder now knew he had time to make it before Scully. Especially since knowing Scully, she'd get him something healthy which meant she wouldn't just stop at a simple deli. Already Mulder's arteries cringed at the thought of reduced cholesterol intake. Seeing an opening, Mulder switched lanes and headed towards the awaiting Hoover building. Sighing at her rather eccentric partner, Scully just shook her head and placed her phone back into her coat pocket. Fishing out her keys, she opened her door and gasped! It was innocent enough, but the fact that someone had gotten into her car in those few short minutes it took her to eat lunch, scared the bejeebers out of Scully. The orchid laid on her seat, a small red ribbon holding the small spray of baby's breath t o it. It was exquisite, the white flower with its streaks of burnt orange. Just like the matching two from the restaurant. Beautiful but still unnerving. Putting the flowers together, Scully relocked the doors and headed back to the Rabbit Hole. Mulder attempted to keep his pace to a fast walk, but the urgency threatened to break out into a run. Avoiding elevators and the bullpen, Mulder reached the stairs and in groups of twos headed to his office. Reaching the office, Mulder rushed in without bothering with the lights. Three minutes later, Mulder exited the building and headed back towards his still warm car. Pulling into the garage, Dana noticed the absence of Mulder's car. Reaching beside her, Scully grabbed the florist box and made her way towards the bureau labs. "Dana! So what brings you in here? New case?", asked the tall brunette as she turned from the stereoscope she was working at. Walking towards her, Scully responded "I just wanted to see if you could be able to pull off a few prints from this". Holding up the lone orchid from her car, Scully looked at her coworker hopefully. Taking the flower, the brunette said "Sure I'll see what I can do. Hey these are expensive" she finished looking at the lovely plant. Turning towards Dana, she asked "You sure this is a case and not a secret admirer your trying to catch?" Pushing a lock of red hair behind her ear, Scully commented looking over Jen's shoulder. "That would be an abuse of government facilities". Laughing, Jen responded "Yeah, but it hasn't stopped anyone before." Picking up the flower in gloved hands, the other agent asked "If you have any others, bring them down so I can run a print check on them too." Nodding, Scully replied "Thanks Jen, I owe you one." Turning around on her stool, Jen yelled over to Scully's departing form "I don't suppose you'd be willing to part with Mulder's number?" Pausing at the door,, Scully just smiled her response with a shake of her head. "No, I guess not. Well it was worth a shot. I'll call you as soon as I have some information", the young woman responded. Reaching the office, Scully entered into its darken chamber. With a flick of the switch, light filled the room to mingle with the suddenly released gasp. A gasp elicited from Dana as her eyes befell upon the new flowers that covered her desk. On the left of her desk, its long white, delicate bloom propped against her phone, was a lone lily. Near the phone was a green tipped carnation, and atop her keyboard was a darker, forget-me-not. It was the two blooms that sat in the center of her desk that caught her complete attention. Their green stems sat in the cool water, of the glass blown vase. Like the images upon the vase, the flowers petals clung tightly to the stem yet they alluded to an inner image. The outer petals gently bent backwards, allowing the smaller inner ones to reach forward. Their deep rich color, gave it a look of pure satin. Careful not to touch the delicate blooms, Scully leaned forward and was rewarded with the fragile scent of summer. Taking a tissue, she wrapped it around the base of the vase. Picking up the purple blooms, Dana headed back down towards the lab. Entering the office, Mulder was surprised to find it empty. Noting Scully's briefcase and his awaiting lunch, Mulder surmised she hadn't gone too far. It was the absence of the violet roses that caused him to pause. Stepping over to his desk, he picked up the phone and dialed. Waiting for the clicks that signaled the connection. "Print Lab, Jen speaking", came the feminine voice. "Jen, its Mulder", he told the young woman. "Oh hi Joe, nice to hear from you", came the response. "She's there", it wasn't a question. "Okay, what's the damage" Mulder asked the lab worker. "No problem, Joe. Just send over a pizza when you get a chance", Jen replied noting Scully closely looking at the 'results' of the print lifts. Hanging up, Mulder laughed to himself at Jen's little comment about the pizza. Knowing the young lab's fondness for deep dish, he called upon an old friend to make sure Jen got the best the town had to offer. The least he could do, for the sometimes too friendly scientist. Placing the receiver in the cradle, Jen turned towards Scully. "As you see, we only got a partial print and it didn't match with anyone within the bureau. Most likely it's the florists or gift shop", she told the red headed agent. "Thanks. I guess I'll have to wait and see if the person reveals their selves.", Scully told Jen. "So this makes, what? About three?", asked the brunette. "No actually its about.......", she paused mentally calculating the number of flowers. "Its twenty, yeah twenty including the roses", Scully answered. Letting out a low whistle, Jen replied "Wow, that's quite a few. You've must of made quite an impression on someone" Tilting her head slightly, Scully responded "Yeah, I just wish I knew who". Reaching for her flowers, Scully once again thanked the young lab worker and then proceeded back to her office. Mulder poked among the many leaves of lettuce, for any overlooked pieces of ham within his chef salad. Pausing in his search, he greeted Scully as she entered the office. "Thanks for the lunch", he replied as Dana hung up her coat. "Your welcome", she said heading over to her desk. Spying the carnation, Scully looked at Mulder and asked "Mulder, you haven't seen anyone around our office today?" Chewing on some lettuce, a miracle in itself, Mulder replied "No, at least not anyone out of the ordinary. Why? Something wrong, Scully?" Pausing in her sorting of some files, Dana looked at him replying "Its these flowers. I've found them everywhere yet theres no card nor does anyone claim to have sent them" With Scully's voice shaken a bit with the last sentence, Mulder got up and went to her desk. Seating himself on the corner, he gazed at the floral gifts before looking at her. "I'm sure someone just wanted to show how special you are. Scully, it is your birthday", he said hoping she wouldn't let past experiences cloud her enjoyment of the day. Sighing, Scully said "I'm sure your right. Its just a little......unnerving" Placing a hand on her shoulder, Mulder added "Well your birthdays' still not over. Give it a few more hours. And then....", he left off. "And then?", Scully asked. "We'll figure out who this person is and I'll let you have the honor of shooting him", Mulder responded. "But what if I don't want to shoot him?", asked Scully a mischievous glint growing in her eye. "Then I'd say he's.....a lucky bastard", Mulder said with feeling. Scully didn't know what to say. She felt her cheeks grow warm from Mulder's genuine statement. It touched her to know that he felt she was something special, but it too hurt because she always harbored the idea that she was his someone special. The rest of the day was spent mostly in silence, as they each prepared the next case. Scully spent most of the time digging up information on the town and it's colorful history. While Mulder did his own into the colorful lights above the town. It was five minutes after, when Scully finally noticed it was quitting time. "Mulder", she said to her engrossed partner. Looking up, he noticed her raised eyebrows. The ones that could communicate almost anything without knowing a word of English. Looking at his watch, he realized they were telling him it was time to leave. "Oh", Mulder responded as he began to gather files to work on over the weekend. Locking his attache case, Mulder asked "Seven, right?" Fixing her coat, Scully answered "Yeah, although if you want drop in at five. Mom wouldn't mind an extra body to feed". Mulder smiled at the though of a homecooked meal. No cardboard tasting, microwaved dinner in little squares, tonight! Tonight a real, honest to goodness, lumpy gravy and all, homecooked meal. "Great! I'll be there at five", he told his partner. Laughing at her partners excitement over a real meal, Scully added "Just make sure you bring the wine". And with this the two partners headed out towards the two waiting cars. Dinner was a bit noisy. And the night promised to get even noisier. Already Bill Jr.'s three kids were fighting over who got to sit where at dinner. Bill's wife kept giving Mulder and her questioning looks. Something which Scully's mom did nothing to discourage. Dinner done, Scully headed into the kitchen to help her mother with the dishes. This was a wrong move, since Margaret Scully shooed her out saying to the effect "Birthday girls don't do dishes". So barred from the kitchen, Scully went into the living room where Bill Jr and Mulder were in a discussion on the New Hampshire primaries. Stepping over the small body of Tyler, Bill's kid, Scully went to answer the door. Opening it, Scully smiled to see her other brother and his wife Lynn, standing there. "Happy Birthday, Dana!", they said in unison. "Thanks", Dana replied before being pulled into a giant bear hug. Finally released from Charles exuberant hug, Dana stepped back and called out to the family. More hello's and greetings followed the arrival of the young couple. A loud congratulations was in order, when Charles and Lynn announced the expectation of th eir first child. Over the heads of Scully's family, Mulder saw the pained look cross Scully's face with Charles announcement. But being the unselfish woman that she is, Dana quickly masked the hurt. Not in time, thought, for Mulder saw the pain. "Okay you rowdy bunch. Dana, come on time to cut the cake", yelled Margaret Scully as she placed the white confection upon the dinning room table. Going over next to her mother, Dana waited as her mother prepared to light the numerous candles. Ignoring the many comments, Scully picked up the long cutting knife and with a meaningful smile, glared at her family. "Isn't that a fire hazard?", Mulder quipped. "Had to use a blow torch to light them last year", came from Bill Jr. "Candle stocks must of went up", Charles added to the chaos. "Guys, you forget. She's armed", came from Lynn. Thankfully a knock at the door, halted the good nature joking. Puzzled looks crossed several faces as each wondered who was at the door. Placing the lighter down, Margaret Scully went to the door. Opening it, a young man with a brown jacket and a large bouquet announced "These are for a Ms. Dana Scully. Are you her?". "No, but wait right there", Margaret told the young fella as she looked over her shoulder and called. "Dana, honey. There's someone at the door for you". Margaret enjoyed the bemused look on her daughter's face, as Dana tried to guess who would be here. Margaret also enjoyed the poorly hidden look of interest on Fox Mulder's face. "Yes?", asked Dana as she reached the door. "These are for you, Mam", the young man said holding a rather large but lovely arrangement of a dozen, vibrant red roses. Smiling, the young man waited while the hesitant agent took the flowers. Over her shoulder, the young man noticed his neighbor. "Hey Mr. Mulder! ", he yelled towards the tall brown haired man who was now suddenly cringing like a bug under a microscope. "My boss said, if you ever need more flowers try to give him a little bit more notice. He had a heck of a time trying to find t hose orchids!" "I'm a dead man!", Mulder mumbled to himself as Scully turned where she stood to pin him with one of her famous gazes. Smiling sheepishly, Mulder nodded to the boy. "Thank you, but I think the only flowers Mr. Mulder will be needing are for the funeral", Scully explained in a too sweet voice, to the no longer smiling young florist. "Funeral?", croacked the boy. "Yeah. His!", she said handing the lovely roses to her mother, before walking menacingly towards the slowly backpedalling Mulder. "Mom?", asked a befuddled Charles. Watching as his little sister slowly advanced on her much larger partner. Grabbing her husband's arm, Lynn Scully replied knowingly "Come along, dear. I'm sure this will be over in a few minutes", as she dragged her now understanding and beaming with approval, husband into the kitchen. "You!", Dana yelled at Mulder, with her hands on her hips. Making an impassible display, especially now that he had backed himself into a corner. "Scully...I....ah....", he tried to explain, but failed miserably. "You skunk!.....You weasal!.....You rat!!", she yelled at him. "Hey wait, I'm no rat. That's Krycek", he said hoping to defuse her anger. "Fine!", she retorted back. Then lowering her arms, Scully stepped closer. So close that Mulder barely heard. So close he fully understood the implication. So close he breathed the air she breathed, when Scully seductively said "You bastard". Gone was the heat of anger, another heat replaced it. One that had spent three years building, one that would still have to wait. Wait until they truly alone, but for now. For now, Mulder huskily said "Happy Birthday, Scully" as he lowered his lips to wards her waiting ones. *end* Critiques/flames...one and all accepted. Thanks so much especially if you made it this far :) -- X-Phile, Trekker, Nick & Nat Packer, and LGW #13 and proud member of the new EXTREME POSSIBLITIES!!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~junebug@raven.cybercom.com~