Title: Cosmopolitan Man Author: Chesa Baker Email: Baker_Chesa@hotmail.com Distribution: Anywhere with a note to me first to tell me where it's going. Spoilers: Squeeze, The Jersey Devil, The Beginning/The End, Triangle, Two Fathers/One Son Rating: PG-13 Category: S,R,H, but some angst Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance Summary: Weird things start to happen when Mulder is picked as DC's most eligible bachelor. XxX It came as quite the shock to me. It really, really, *really* did. I didn't know what the hell had hit me. I mean- I was sitting at my desk, pretending to work on the latest report- which, I was really writing a dirty limerick- about a redhead, so I could give it to Scully, and get a rise out of her- when these two women came through the office door dramatically, running up to my desk, telling me that I was the most eligible bachelor for Washington DC- and I was going to have a section in Cosmopolitan Magazine about me- along with my picture. You should have seen the look on Scully's face as those two women hounded me about personal information- my favorite color, what I enjoy doing in my spare time, what my work entails, what kind of car I drive- my latest *conquest*- or hope to be. conquest. Scully was utterly confused, and she kept on eyeing the woman with the long blond hair- and if I'm not mistaken, because the blondie kept on flirting with me. "You need a *real* woman in your life, Fox. You deserve to be loved, all of the time," blondie said in a low purr. God damnit, what the hell was wrong with this woman ? Then, the woman snapped around to Scully's desk, and asked Scully if we had ever been romantically involved. She answered with a simple "no" and the woman bluntly had the nerve to ask Scully if she was a lesbian. That's when Scully stood up, looked the woman straight in the eye, and nodded firmly. "Damn straight I am." And then she left. But I *knew* that was not even possible. When the door opened again, I crossed my fingers, and hoped that it wasn't the two devil chicks. A smile formed across my face as saw the red halo of heaven as she shut the door. "I was wondering where you disappeared off to, Scully. I hope that you're not angry about the comment that the blond woman made. I'm sure that she was jealous of you- because you're the most important woman in my life." She simply looked up, and flashed me an aloof smile. "So- how did a big dork like you get to be the most eligible bachelor in DC ?" Scully asked with sarcasm in her tone, as she moved across the room. She leaned against my desk while staring down at me Scully lifted herself onto it, and crossed her legs. I had to stop the gasp in my throat. Holy shit, Scully's sitting on my desk, with her legs crossed. God. God. God. Don't get yourself in trouble. Not now. Later. "Mulder ?" she asked. "Oh- yeah. Big dork like me. Hmmm- seems that I have an admirer, who suggested that I be considered. Those women have been following me around for a week now- observing my entire life, tracking down my friends, asking them questions." "Oh yeah ? Who was the admirer, Mulder ?" "I was hoping that you could answer that question." "Mulder, I'm not your admirer. I'm your girlfriend. Or have you forgotten that already ? I tried not to get angry when those women came in here- and *mistakenly* declared that you were available." Scully leaned forward, and I thought that she was going to kiss me, but instead, she grabbed my tie, and my lips were about two inches from her own. "Mulder, so help me God- I will kill you with my bare hands if you blantenly declared that you were indeed single, and looking for a change. I mean- that can be easily arranged if that is what you would like." I shook my head as my eyes kept attached to hers. She was really starting to scare me. But she was also starting to really turn me on. XxX His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. His breath was hitting my face softly in little puffs. Mulder looked scared- but there was something else behind it that I saw- which I could *never* miss when it comes to reading Mulder's facial expressions. I saw in his expression a hint of arousement. I let him go, and shook my head. "You know, I really hate this Mulder," I told him, standing up in the process. "Hate what, Day ?" Mulder asked me shakily. I turned to him, trying to be as sedate, and tranquil as humanly possible. But I am woman, I needed to express what I'm trying to communicate through my put-on anger, and my facial expressions- which doesn't appear to be working right now with him. "I hate- this !" I screamed at him, my hands were waving around in the air in a frantic rage. "The fact that I can only claim that you are honestly mine- on the weekends, holidays, and ever day after 11 PM. You know, Mulder- that woman was right. You do need a woman in your life that can give you romance all of the time, instead of on the special and few occasions that I can. It's not fair to you- and It's not fair to me ! I deserve better than this, Mulder !" I screamed at him, not particularly mad at him, but the entire sucky situation. He bowed his head to the ground, and I knew that his heart sank when I confessed all of my feelings to him. I had to get out of here, because I couldn't see him like this. I couldn't stand to be here, like this, angry at the entire world- and Cosmopolitan Magazine- and Mulder's fucking *secret* admirer. "Scully- are you breaking it off with me ?" he asked me, trying to remain calm. I could tell by the shakiness in his voice. My eyes found his gaze, and I didn't say anything. I didn't have to. "Maybe it is true. We can't work, and be romantically involved at the same time." His eyes began to flare up with anger. "You are breaking up with me," he said harshly. "Mulder, I think that we both need some time away from each other." "Well, I don't !" Mulder shouted. It took me by surprise. Mulder crossed the room to where I was standing, and stood directly in front of me. "Scully, don't do this ! Please don't. I love you. Don't you understand ? You have my heart- and nobody- *nobody* could ever take it away from you, no matter how much you try and convince yourself otherwise. You're apart of me." He shook his head mutely. "And I can't change that, whether you like it or not." His forehead came down to rest on top of mine. He took my hand, and curled his fingers around mine. "Don't let some tedious comment- made by some tedious reporters- in order of some tedious article make a decision that could change our lives for the worse here. I love you, and frankly, I don't give a flying fuck if the entire consortium knows. I'll do anything for you. If it means giving up on the X-Files, and the bureau- I don't care." I nodded shortly against his forehead, and he rewarded me with one of those reliefy smiles that made my insides turn into goo. "I'm very curious as to who submitted you into an eligible bachelor," I confessed, as I extended my fingers that were being held by Mulder's. Our fingers laced with a familiarity that I could never get used to, and to be candid, I don't ever want to get used to. "It doesn't matter, because I'm telling them that they have to pick somebody else." "Why ?" Mulder shook his head against my forehead. "Because, Day. I'm not an eligible bachelor. Well, I take that back. I am the *hottest* stud in DC, but the fact remains that I'm not available." "But everybody seems to think that you are, Mulder. But I don't care anymore about it. I really don't. Not after you told me all of those things- it doesn't matter." "Yeah, but it does to me. And I the fact still remains that I don't want everybody to know that I'm not an eligible bachelor. I want everybody to know about us." I moved my head back, and looked directly into his eyes. "Mulder- that's dangerous. I mean, I do want the same things that you do. Believe me, I do. But, I don't mean to sound redundant, but they can, and will use our relationship against us. If they know, then we're dead." He shook his head. "I told you that I'll quit. It doesn't matter." "Mulder- You can't just give up like that. What about the X-Files, and the truth, and Samantha ? This means a great deal to you." "You mean a lot more to me than the truth, and the X-Files, and....." his voice trailed off. His gaze traveled to mine once again, and he shook his head. "And I have the gunmen that can help me find Samantha. I don't need the bureau, and the X-Files. It would be just you and me, in a part-time search." I shook my head, and sighed. "Mulder, you know that you would miss the X-Files, and the bureau, and Skinner. You would." I smiled, and patted the soft, yet hard-roundess of his ass. "Don't deny it." He chuckled softly as he nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Day. I'd miss it all. Except the bureau. Having the entire staff referring to me as "Spooky" isn't exactly welcoming. But I would miss the X-Files, and the fact that I wouldn't be waking up to the excitement of a promising new day out in the field, investigating the paranormal." Mulder lowered his head down to my neck, and he nuzzled my ear into the susceptible, and sensitive shell of my ear. "And I admit that I would miss our-" he paused, and took the moment to find the exact word to describe Skinner. "Our, ambiguously trusty boss. His constant nagging, his undeterminable need for us to have our field reports due the day that we get back from our investigations." Mulder's hand untangled from mine, and both of his arms snaked around my waist, and he held me as close as humanly possible to him. I giggled in a hazy, girlish fashion as his teeth grazed my earlobe, and his nomadic fingers did a little trekking through the Scully Forrest. His feather light touch traced slow, premeditated circles around the skin of my middle back. "Mulder," I teetered out, as it came out as a cheap, drunken giggle. "Stop it," I said in a not-too-convincing manner. That just motivated him to slide one of his hands lower to cup my butt in his palm, and lift me off of the ground. I yelped. "Mulder !" I exclaimed, just before hitting him in the arm timidly. Mulder chuckled warmly. "Still want me to stop now, Day ?" "I'm in favor of that," the both of us heard a lower voice tell us openly. My eyes widened to the size of flying saucers, and I contiguously pulled away from his quixotic embrace on me, and redirected my gaze to the Assistant Director who was standing in the threshold, leaning against the frame, with his hand on his hip. God- this is hell. I'm in hell. That must be it. Hell. Yep. Hell. "So I guess that the bureau contoversy of whether or not Mr. and Mrs. Spooky are truthfully sleeping with each other, has been solved," Skinner declared openly. Oh yeah. I'm in Hell. Skinner advanced forward, and stopped about a couple of feet away from the two of us. "I came down here to talk to you, Agent Mulder. About these women who came to speak with me about fifteen minutes ago." "Oh God," Mulder moaned as he placed his hand on his forehead. He lifted his gaze. "What did they want ?" Mulder added. "To know about your job performance, your maintenance skills, your ability to adapt to new surroundings, your profile, and reputation. I'm guessing that they made up my description to be a lone, enigmatic, mysterious guy." Skinner shook his head and chuckled. His gaze settled back to us. "Why in the hell did you get picked for Cosmopolitan's most eligible bachelor for DC- when you're not, um- how should I put this, Agent Mulder. Available ?" he asked, as he cupped his chin in the process. "They don't exactly know about Agent Scully, sir." God this was so freaking bizarre, speaking with *Skinner* with Mulder and my sex life. Holy shit, this is worse than hell. It's the coals, that fuel the scorching fires in hell. That's what it is. He threw Mulder an unsure look, which quite frankly deemed a frightful feeling in my stomach. Well, let me rephrase that. It wasn't the classic, frightful feeling that I got when- Eugene Victor Tooms was hunched over me, ready and eager to rip my heart out, and use it for his god damn snack. The fear that I got, when Skinner looked at Mulder like that- was the kind of frightful feeling I got when Mulder and I stood in his hallway, and he was leaning forward to claim me into our first kiss. Not that I wanted to be kissed by Skinner...... Been there, done that. Don't need to be reminded of that. Lord no. "Well- why not ?" he asked, as he moved and crossed his arms over his chest. "Why is it that I didn't tell them about Scully ?" he asked in reassurance. He nodded quickly. This was really starting to be spooky. Skinner is speaking to Mulder about me, and our sex life, and he's actually asking *why* it is that he didn't tell those clowns about us ? This isn't making any sense at all. "They firing questions at me so fast that I couldn't get anything in," Mulder replied with innocence. "Ah, I see." Skinner uncrossed his arms, and moved deliberately laggishly across the office, and stopped at Mulder's sanctification of life, the creed that he lived by. Practically his entire religion. "I want to believe," Skinner whispered quietly, just before turning back to us. He shook his head honestly, and bit his upper lip. "So do I." "Sir, I'm not sure that I'm following you," Mulder told him firmly. "Agent Fowley, and Mr. Spender are currently in the custody of the DC Metro police. They were arrested for indecent exposure." Mulder curled his lip up in disgust. "Wait- but Spender died. We found him dead on the ground of this office- with a bullet to his head. That's impossib-" "I was referring to the *other* Mr. Spender, Agent Scully." My mouth flew open in the response with a harsh gasp. "Oh God," I breathed in utter horrification just before my hand flew to my mouth to prevent any other unnecessary comments to come out of my mouth. Mulder's expression wasn't any better. He was biting the inside of his cheek, to prevent saying anything- and his nose was crinkled up, as if he had just caught a whiff of sulfur by surprise. "Yeah. That's just the reaction that I had. I just- wanted to inform you on that. Just in case." Mulder nodded quickly. Skinner arched both of his eyebrows up, and shrugged. He spun around dashingly, and made an exit out of the office. The second that he left, I heard Mulder let out a squeal of disgust, and he shook his head. "I cannot believe that." My eyebrow cocked up in my meddlesome response. "Why is that, Mulder ?" "Because. She's- Diana. She was-" he closed his eyes, and gritted his teeth. "With that guy- I mean, look at the man. He's at least 200 years old, Scully. And him- he's my worst enemy-" "You don't believe it, because you don't want to, Mulder." "What are you talking about, Scully ?" he asked me as his hands flew to his waist. "I'm talking about *her* Mulder. You still believe her to be this- fucking sanctified angel. *Your* Diana. Your Diana wouldn't be involved with him. Well look at the fact, Mulder. They got arrested- most likely because of what she was doing to him. Or for him. Whatever. They're t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r. Obviously romantically, and I'm pretty fucking damn sure that it's professionally as well. But no. You dismissed my idea of that. You turned it down, because your Diana simply isn't like that. Isn't that right ?" XxX "Scu-lly," I whine. "What ?" she asked me, her face was flustered, and red, and warm, and she looked sexy like that. She is so damn cute when she's angry. I can't help the smile that's forming across my face. It shines brightly, and I grab my heart, and fall to my knees. "What the hell are you doing, Mulder ?" her tone is firm, and ire-filled. I smiled up at her, and shook my head. "I'm going to tell you this- and you're going to stop yelling at me. Okay ?" She simply gazes down at me, and crosses her arms over her chest. "Well ?" comes out of her mouth bluntly. "Back about- 10 years ago, Diana and I were out on a date, and at the time we were very involved. The reason that I said that I couldn't believe that she was arrested for this- was because the two of us- were, arrested for the same thing." Her expression softened, and she dropped down to the ground with me, lacing her fingers through my hair. "I'm sorry I snapped at you like that," she whispered. "I really didn't mean to. I just- overreacted, and to add to that, I'm moody- and, what I'm trying to say is, that I'm just really sorry about that." As and understanding, I leaned forward, gently applying my lips to hers. I felt her lips curve up into a mute smile, while her arms went around my neck, pulling me down to her. My hands settled immediately down on the curve of her waist, and I skimmed them up and down that lucious curve, like I was matting something down. She pulled away, and grinned. "We could get in trouble for this, Agent Mulder." I smiled, and nodded quickly. "Yeah, we could. But Skinner- didn't really seem to care." "Skinner was still in shock about Mr. Spender, and Ms. Fowley." A long, appreciated chuckle escaped from my mouth as I rose from the ground, taking Scully with me. "I'm taking you out tonight, Scully." "Really ? Like- a date ?" she asked with sarcasm in her voice. I nodded quickly, and took her hand into mine. "C'mon, Scully. You afraid that somebody will recognize us ?" She shook her head- and I couldn't keep my eye off of her hair. It was probably one of my favorite parts of her upper body. It invited my nose to nuzzle it when I hugged her. It bounced around wildly when- well, when we had our intimate moments. It was a marker of where she was- in case I lost her in a big crowd of people. It wrapped around my fingers like a fine sheet of gossamer when ever we'd be watching movies, or sitting closely together. Scully arched her eyebrows up, and nodded. "Aren't you ?" she asked me. "No. I told you before. I don't care anymore. I do want everybody to know about us. I don't want to have to hide it from anybody." "But Mulder-" I placed my index finger on her lips to prevent her from saying another word. This would carry on into a big argument if I didn't' stop her while I was ahead. "Scully. Once again. Just for you. I. Don't. Care. I don't. I want the entire world to know about us- and about how I feel about you. I'd love to have Mr. Spender, and Ms. Fowley to know as well." "You keep on saying this. But we do have the entire consortium breathing down our back." "Not true. We only have the intrepid duo of indecency breathing down our back." She sighed heavily, and placed her palm flatly on her forehead. "You're not going to quit until I agree with you." "You're catching on, Day." She shook her head, and groaned. "Fine. A date. In public. Together- the entire thing. Okay ?" A grin spread across my face. "Yeah. Damn straight." Upon straightening my polo shirt, I fished through my keying with my other hand, and retrieved Scully's key. Knowing her, she was most likely still applying her raspberry lip gloss- which she claims that she doesn't wear. Another smile spread across my face as I inserted the key into the hole. The door opened almost instantly, and I took my initial glance around the apartment- which, ironically looks a hell of a lot lively, and warm, and friendly than mine. From the living room, I can hear the shrill guitar solo, performed by Jimi Hendrix. I instantly recognize the halting of Voodoo Child. I can hear her shuffling in the bedroom, the place where I like to call our inner sanctuary- because majestical, and earth shattering things transpire in that room. "Damn it !" she declared loudly. I begin walking towards the room, and peek in. And my angel is standing there, with her hands up by the bun in her hair, while she's trying to perfect it. I couldn't help myself from smiling, and knocking at the door. She spins around rapidly, and groans. "You're early," she told me flatly, returning back to the mirror. "Need help ?" I asked her curiously. She shook her head, the loose tendrils from her head shaking along with her head. In the midst of the bun flopping over, she ripped out the band that held it together, and threw it on the dresser. Scully grabbed a black chip-clip off of the dresser- what ever the hell it's referred, and pushed her hair back, and clipped the bright, auburn transcendence of hair together. Scully spun around, and gazed at me. "Please say it looks okay." I smiled warmly, and nodded. "It looks fantastic." "You promise ?" "Yeah. It looks great." Scully threw me a distrustworthy look, and she shook her head. I took the opportunity to rake my eyes down her body, and I smiled at the attire that she had chosen to adorn. I told her that it was a casual event, so she picked out her tough clothes, that she knew that I liked. Her fitting khaki cargo pants- which we had bought together at "The Gap" a couple of weeks ago, were hanging slackly on her waist. She sported a navy blue shirt, that curved around her small figure, allowing her waist to be beautifully displayed, but only for me to worship. Her eyes snapped up to me, and she gave me a concerning look. "Why do you look so nice ?" Confused, I looked down at my attire, and shook my head. "I'm in a polo shirt, and a pair of jeans, Scully." "Yeah, but you manage to look yummy in that too." "Oh- if you keep on talking like that, Scully, we'll never make it out of your apartment." Her eyebrow arched up. "You're the one that wanted to experiment with the date." "Oh, I do, Dana Katherine. I do," My eyes leaving her, and planting on the mirror on her bureau. "Then c'mon, G-Man. Let's get it on," Scully tested, as she approached me with her left arm wrapping around my waist. "All right. Let's." Cosmopolitan Man 2 of 2 Disclaimers and other info in Part 1 XxX His arm was slung around my waist, as we walked down the strip of shops down Pennsylvania Avenue. I glanced around, thanking God that Mulder decided to take me down a fairly decent part of DC- compared to the rest of this city. As we passed the people walking in the other direction, most of them caught my gaze, and smiled warmly. It was so odd- letting people see me and Mulder like this, but on the other hand, it also felt so right. So natural. I smiled, as I took the brief moment to lay my head on his shoulder, and kiss his neck. "What was that for ?" he asked inquisitorialy. "For this," I replied instantly. He rewarded me with a fervent smile that made me want to wrap my arms around him tightly, and kiss the hell out of him right here on the same street that the white house is located on. "Where are we going ?" I managed to ask him, as I pushed the thoughts aside. "It's about a block away, babe." I rolled my eyes at the *babe* comment, and placed my hand on his, which was located on restfully on my hip. He looked down at me, and I threaded my fingers through his. "Scully- I have got to be the luckiest bastard alive," he told me quickly after I gave his palm an assuring clasp. "Oh- flattery will get you no where, Agent Mulder." "Are you sure about that ? I mean- it has worked in the past. It sure as hell worked when we first-" I squeezed his hand to the point that he squealed loudly. Mulder squealed ? "Ouch. You know what- I take that back. I'm the second luckiest bastard alive." "Who's the first ?" Mulder stopped dead in his tracks. I spun around, and saw the gaze on his face. "Mulder ?" "C'mon silly. We're here." My gaze traveled up to the sign, and I remember eating here with Mulder once. It was sometime after I had gotten released from the hospital when I went into remission for cancer. Mulder grabbed my hand while I was lost in my own thoughts, and lead me into the restaurant, which was actually a grill/club. My gaze skimmed around, noting that there were tables, and booths towards us, and then there was a dance floor, which were occupied with many couples, lost in their own worlds, tied up in their romantic embraces- and there was a stage, where a woman sat at a piano, singing her own remake of the John Lennon song "My Life." It ironically looked like the hazy setting of the bar that they go after work when they relax, in Ally McBeal. As Mulder spoke to the hostess, who bore an identical resemblance to Audrey Hepburn, by the way, I felt Mulder's hand that was resting on my hip, start to slide under my shirt, and caress the bare section of the dip in my waist. A hidden gasp escaped my mouth, as I suddenly searched the area, just in case anybody saw Mulder's actions. Luckily, everybody was too interested in other activities- or themselves. I was going to get him later for this. "Follow me, Mr. Mulder," the woman said curtly as she began to proceed through the restaurant area, stopping short at a small table that was located against the wall. Eventually the woman disappeared, and I picked up the red, leather bound menu, and smacked him playfully in the arm. His arm immediately went to his bicep to caress the spot that I had struck him at, and a sour, and hurt look formed across his face, with little causticity shown in that endowed expression. "Did you make that face up just for me ?" "What- it didn't work ?" I smiled warily, and shook my head. "That was for that- that- that- thing that you did." He placed his palm flatly on his heart, and gasped. "What did I do ?" There was innocence riddled in his tone. "What did you do ? You scared the hell out of me, with your tummy touching scheme. Isn't that illegal- or something ?" He chuckled heartily. "Yeah, Scully. Like in- India, or something. But you know what, babe ?" Mulder leaned in forward, and I did the same. "What ?" "We live in America." "Oh, you're going to get it when I get you alone." "Oh, baby- I really hate to break it to you, but that's not punishment. It's an exciting promise." I giggled carelessly, and he suddenly tilted his head to his side, and he bit his lip. Quickly, I stopped laughing. My eyes traveled to him, and I gave him a worried look. "Mulder ?" "Hmmm ?" "Why are you staring at me like that ?" "Hmmm- oh, I don't know. It's just that, I love your laugh, Scully. It melts my heart. It's amazing, Scully. You're amazing." I cupped his cheek in my left hand, and lightly brushed my thumb over his nose. He nuzzled his face into my palm. "I love you so much," I professed quietly. He leaned forward, and kissed the corner of my mouth gingerly, and leaned his head down against my forehead ephemerally. "I bet that I love you more." I pressed my lips gently against the gap of skin that was located between Mulder's lips, and his nose. "I bet you don't," I crooned. "Oh, Ms. Scully...." Mulder whispered. Mulder curved his lips upwards, and caught Scully's bottom lip in between her teeth, and he grazed it lightly. I couldn't help the low chuckle that escaped from my throat. This was too incredible. I didn't want this to ever stop. When we had our visceral moments with each other- we were always either at one of our apartments, or in hotel rooms in those desolate, barren country towns, in which we investigate Mulder's passion, which has ultimately become mine as well. But the fact remains, is that it's a hell of a lot different when it's out in the open. When we aren't confined by the walls of our own privacy. It's an exhilarating feeling- knowing that this was something that was once so unimaginable, that you had to fall asleep and dream about it, just so it could become reality, is actually a reality now. I suppose that it's difficult to explain. All I know that it's a completely distinct- yet special feeling that I don't believe that I could ever get sick of experiencing. Mulder was working his way up to my upper lip, and I had to stop this, because from the corner of my eye, I can see people sub-consciously giving unapproving stares in our direction. I planted one final kiss on the round lushness of his lips, and leaned back on my seat. With out hesitation, he grasped my hand, and held it firmly in his. "Hello, my name is Prudence. I'll be your waitress this evening." The both of us looked up, and she had a faint smile across her face. "Um, actually, we could use a little more time." "Sure. But in the meantime, can I get anything to drink for you two ?" "Hmmm- I'll have a Long Island Iced Tea," I told the waitress firmly. Mulder's face lit up like a freaking Christmas tree. "I think that I'll have one of those as well," Mulder told the waitress, or- Prudence, with little effort at all. She nodded quickly, and disappeared into the musings of the restaurant. XxX I heard a contentful sigh escape from her mouth as she set down her menu, and folded her hands on the table in front of her. "Have you decided what you're going to get, Muldy ?" She paused, and squinted her eyes. "Where the hell did that come from ?' she asked out loud. "I thought that was cute, Scully." "I think that I'm slipping back into a pre-mediated, teenage world." "So does this mean that you're not going to call me Muldy any more ?" She arched her eyebrow up at me, just as- Prudence came back. A lukewarm smile formed ambiguously across her face, as she collected our menus. Come to think about it, this woman was really, starting to tick me off. She was too- happy, and cheery, yet in a unearthly, eerie sort of way. I looked up at her again, and she just wrinkled her nose up, and grinned. Jesus. "So what can I get for the two of you this evening ?" Scully glared up at the woman, and simply gave her that exact smile back at her. "Yes. I'll take the Mediterranean steak with artichoke hearts." Prudence sloppily wrote it down, and drifted to me. "And for you sir ?" "Do you happen to have a big plate of sausage links with nacho cheese ?" "Mulder-" Scully warned. I flashed Scully her most apologetic smile that I could, and focused back to Prudence. "I'll have the grilled brautwurst, and corn." Prudence recorded our orders down in a sluggish fashion, and disappeared like she once did when she left from our drinks. "You know- I believe that I've seen that waitress before, Mulder." "Hmm- oh, maybe she's worked at another restaurant you've been to before. Dance with me ?" I think that surprised her, because her gaze was a little frightful- among other things. "Dance with you ? I can't really- dance, Mulder." "Sure you can." She arched her eyebrow up at me, and shook her head. "Okay. Fine. But you can't laugh at me. Kay ?" "Mmm- kay." She nodded quickly, and I rose to my feet, immediately grabbing her hand, and pulling her up in the process. Our fingers laced together familiarly, and I scooted by the crowds and huddles of peoples, and made it to an empty spot that stood waiting for us close to the piano. I spun her around, and snaked my arm around her waist, instantly crushing her chest to mine. I felt the sudden rush of her fragrance when I bent my head down to hers. The wonderful aroma of soft roses, cuddled with jasmine, and hinted in raspberries. I inhaled the scent absent-mindedly, and she nuzzled into my neck, her nose was rubbing amorously into my Adam's apple. I couldn't take the feel of this, so I grabbed the back of her head savagely, and compressed her lips to mine in a frenetic kiss. XxX That bastard. The minute that he stuck his tongue down my throat- it disappeared, and he began to kiss the top of my head in a *sweet* manner. I didn't want sweet right now. I wanted passionate. Hot. Romantically blissful. WHATEVER the fuck it was. But suddenly I'm remembered that I'm in a restaurant. Dancing. Not at my apartment, where I could simply drag Mulder down to the couch, and fuck his brains out. Fuck his brains out. That sounds so crude. So impersonal. He's stroking the side of my cheek now, and I can't help but squeeze his waist softly, and lean up again, to kiss his jaw. Mulder smiles brightly, and lets one arm away from my waist, and spins me around. A soft giggle comes out of my while I'm returning back into his arms. He kisses my shoulder briefly, and leans his lips into my ear. "We must never be apart. Lonely girl you're- the murder in my world. Thinking of you- to the mystery that you should always seek to find. In time. In you I feels so hungry. In you I crash course. We must never be apart," Mulder softly whispered into my ear. "Thinking of you- to the mystery of all you should seek to find. In time. We must never be apart. And you'll always be my- um, heart, cuz you're the one that I adore." I looked away from him, and shook my head. "You weren't going to say heart." He smiled. "The Smashing Pumpkins don't say heart." "No. They say whore. Don't they ?" Mulder nodded, and I smiled, and brought his head down to me. "I need a lazy friend. I do- think you fit the shoe, I do think you have a clue. I do. I'm standing in your light. I do keep a date with you. I'll take in every drop. You hang me out to dry. And I do." His head snapped back, and he arched his eyebrow up at me. "What the hell does that mean, Scully ?" I shrugged. "Hell if I know. I was at my best friend's house a couple of days ago, and my godson was listening to this song." "Do you even know who it is, Scully ?" "Yeah. Nirvana. He told me the entire history of Nirvana- how the lead singer died back sometime in the early nineties." "Kurt Cobain, dear." "Yeah. That's him. Trent is so into music. Rock mostly. Classic rock, progressive rock, punk rock, alternative rock, heavy metal- all of it. He tells me about it- and makes me listen to it." "Makes you ?" I shrugged. "I like some of it. Like- Cake. I like them. And I also like Green Day." "I've never heard of them." Mulder simply squeezes my waist tighter, and pulls me into him again. This is so nice. Just before I'm about to close my eyes, and lean my head against his shoulder, a flash of wild, blond hair catches my eye. No. It can't be her. She wouldn't go as far as to following- My eyes fix on the two women standing by the bathroom. The brunette that was interviewing Mulder has her arms crossed over her chest, and she's facing the bathroom. That- evil blond woman is gazing at Mulder, and I can sense that there's an angry flare in her expression. That woman has no right to even be jealous. I cannot believe her. "Mulder," I whisper. He lifts his head from mine, and looks me squarely in the eye. "Hmmm ?" "You're fan club has followed us here." "What are you talking about ?" he asks cluelessly. "Mulder- the reporters from Cosmopolitan. They're here. In the corner. The blond one is over by the fire exit- and the brunette is by the bathrooms." Mulder peeks over to take a glimpse, but I prevent him from doing so by slapping him in the arm gently. His gaze travels to me, and he looks like a little boy who got smacked on the butt for doing something wrong. "You have to be casual about doing so, Mulder. Casual." "Casual," Mulder repeats. I nodded, and he responded by laying his head on my shoulder, and spinning around, so he could *casually* glance at the two of those flagitious women. "Damnit," I heard him grumble into my neck, as he spun back around. "C'mon. We're going to leave, Day." "Why ?" "Because they're here." "Don't let them spoil our evening, Mulder." "I want this to be special. C'mon. We'll make a *casual* exit, and we'll go somewhere else, so they don't follow us." I took the opportunity to glance questionably into his eyes. I eventually nodded, having the most faith in him that I could possibly ever have in anybody, and squeezed his hand that was linked with mine. "Just being with you makes this evening special. But if you want to go somewhere else, and lose them, that's perfectly fine with me." He bends down and kisses my lips briefly. Just as he pulls away from my mouth, Mulder bends his head down to my ear, and begins to whisper his *game plan* to me. All that I can do is nod, along, and occasionally giggle- trying to make it look as if Mulder was whispering sweet little nothings into my ear. We broke off from our dance, both of us went to the bathroom. Mulder told me that there was a window in both of the bathrooms, so we should climb out of the windows, and make our escape then. But looking around the bathroom, I suddenly remember that I'm afraid of heights, and the window is- more or less, about three meters from the ground. And that's simply too far to jump. "Shit," I quietly mumble as I looked down at the ground below me. I turn my head in both directions, and I suddenly see Mulder- and he just landed on the pavement with an incredible thud. I can hear him from up here, silently cursing a couple of phrases- starting with a lot of S's and F's, and C's, and B's. A wide variety vocabulary that Mulder has, is one of the traits that I find most alluring about him. Mulder looks up at me, and he cocked his head to the side. "Scully !" he exclaims in a hushed whisper. "I can't do this !" I reply in the same tone. "Why not ?" I shook my head with unconfidence, and gripped the ledge with my palms. "I'm afraid of heights," I answered back at him. Mulder simply nodded, purposely skipping the jokes that he was promised to make about my fear- and he rose his arms up, signaling for me to jump. "I'll catch you !" he announced. "Mulder-" Mulder's hands waved frantically in the air, as a sign telling me to come down. Shakily, I rose both of my knees up, and rested them against the ledge of the window. I stole one more glance to Mulder, and he looked fairly confident that he was going to catch me. Still, I had some doubt that he would drop me, or miss me. I'll kill him if he does. With my eyes closed, I let go of the rail, and my heart skipped a couple of beats as I fell through the short distance of air, and into Mulder's arms. He chuckled softly, as I began to breath a little heavier, and I placed my palm flatly against my forehead. "I wasn't aware that you were afraid of heights, Scully," Mulder told me with a surprised tone, while setting me to my feet. I merely shrugged at the comment, not wanting to get into the full depth of my past experiences with heights- because I knew that he would either make fun of me, or cry- just because of the content of the story. See- back when I was 16, I was seeing this guy named Cody Jacobs. We were really- um, serious at the time. He came over to my house late one night, and he climbed up the side of my house, and knocked on my bedroom door. I rushed out of bed to help him, but when I attempted to pull him up, I lost my balance, and we both fell from my two story bedroom, down the roof, and on my parents lawn. Luckily, we didn't break our necks- but only came up with a broken leg, and seventeen bruises on several parts of my body. But the unfortunate part of that- was my parents grounded the hell out of me, forbidded me from seeing Cody for four months, and made me switch rooms with Charlie, who's room was directly next to my parents. The downside of all of that, was the fact that I never saw heights the same way again. Mulder and I snuck away from Pennsylvania Avenue, while grabbing a taxi cab. "Annapolis," Mulder uttered directly. The driver nodded quickly, and stepped on the accelerator, causing me to fly against Mulder. I saw his expression, and he chuckled languidly. I crinkled up my brow, and shot him a demeaning look, while placing my seat belt on. He was constantly making fun of my diminutive size. My feet- my legs, my arms, I swear to God, he won't leave me alone about my body. But I know that he loves my body. He's told me so on several- several, I don't think so. Several doesn't begin to describe it. Mulder has told me on more occasions that I can count, how much he loves, adores, worships, and needs my body. As do I. I felt his arm being slung over my shoulder, and it pulling me further into him. I placed my hand against his thigh, and patted it softly. "So where to now, G-Man ?" "It's a secret." "You don't know where we're going. Do you ?" He shook his head. "You have no idea where we're going." He shook his head. "That's not true. We're going to Annapolis." I suppose that I should have been satisfied with that answer. Two complexities, equals one big entanglement. XxX Stepping out of the cab, and pulling Scully with me, she smiled as she recognized where we were. "We're here now." "The place where we first kissed. How nostalgic of you, Mulder." "Was that sarcasm in your voice, Scully ?" She slung her arm over my waist, and squeezed onto me tightly. "Lord no. I'm very proud of you, Agent Mulder. Very proud." I spun around, and brought my head down to her. She tilted her head up, and our lips were millimeters apart. Her beautiful lips curved upwards into an upwards smile as I guided her down the sides of the pier gently, holding her waist, and having my legs curved upwards into a vee, so I could walk with her in my embrace. "Mulder, don't bump into anything, kay ?" "Mmmm, kay." I abruptly stopped when I saw a hot dog stand a couple of feet away. She arched her eyebrow up at me, and slipped her hands into the depths of my jacket pocket. "Ah- Dinner, Scully." "Hmmm ?" I spun her around, and laid my hands flatly on her stomach. "Mmmm, Dinner." I gently pressed my palm into her stomach, and leaned my head down to the back of her neck. "Do you know one of the things that I love about you the best, Scully ?" "What is that ?" she asked, removing her hands from my pockets, and placing them flatly against mine. I lifted my chin, and rested my head on top of hers. "Because you can make something that has probably got to be one of the least romantic things in the world- the most romantic thing. Because I tore you away from your Mediterranean Steak- with artichoke hearts- to have a hot dog with a bag of chips, and some how, you're okay with that." The softness of her hand enveloped mine as she picked it up, and placed my palm against her cheek. Her slender fingers wrapped around mine, and she cuddled her cheek into my palm. "Anything with you is romantic, Mulder. You don't understand. When I'm with you like this- it doesn't matter what we're doing. Whether we're eating steak- and brautwurst together at an upscale DC grill, or eating hot dogs, along the side the docks of the Annapolis River- it doesn't matter. I'm with you. That's all that counts." With out a thought in my head, except the thought of kissing the woman that stood before me, I leaned my head down almost instantly, and applied my lips to hers. It didn't fail- every time that I kissed Dana Scully- it was a thrilling adventure. The soft and hard textures that contrasted on each other, and the entire essence of her mouth, warped up in mine was the entirety that I lived for now. It's what I live for. She's what I live for. XxX With reluctance, I pulled away from his mouth, and sighed with contentment. A smile formed across my face as I noticed that his mouth was still partially hung open, with his eyes screwed shut. "Mulder, c'mon. I'm hungry," I told him. He nodded, and grabbed my hand as he lead me towards the hot dog stand. Mulder shopped short, as he snatched my waist, and pulled me into him. A fit full of giggles emitted from my mouth as we walked sluggishly towards the cart, wrapped up in each other. "Can I get two hot dogs, two bags of chips, and two cans of sodas ?" Two And a Half Months Later- The Super WalMart was a great place. It really was. There was a WalMart and a supermarket- in one. Mulder and I were walking down one of the isles in the supermarket section, trying to decide on what we wanted to have for dessert, when a woman in her late thirties came up to us, and started to scream. Mulder pulled me back, and we stared at her for a while, trying to understand what the hell she was saying. Her speech was a mile a minute, her hands were waving frantically in the air, like a mad woman, and she looked excited. Mulder stared at the woman, like she was mad, and I stared at her, catching a few of the words that she was telling us. The words just happened to be, "Magazine", "eligible", "together", and "hot." I spun around, and glanced at him. "What the hell is she saying ?" Mulder's gaze read. I simply smiled, and grabbed his hand, moving past the woman who was speaking so speedily, and eventually made it to a magazine rack, where a midst that, I found the latest edition to Cosmopolitan Magazine. "America's Most Eligible Bachelor's, Double Issue" I read to him, straight from the cover. "I told those women that I didn't want to be the most eligible bachelor for DC," he told me, his tone showed the tell-tale signs of anger. I immediately placed my thumbs on the pages, raking over the index, and turning to the pages, in which they were designated for the bachelors. Alabama, Alaska- I flipped a couple more of the pages over- Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware- and District of Columbia. Staring back at was Mulder, with the article to the right, and another photo beneath it. "What does it say- I don't have my glasses on, Scully." With a long sigh, I proceeded in reading the article to him. "The District of Columbia is full of culture, and is booming with excitement. In Washington, DC, eligible men around here are inconsiderable, and limited, but we did manage to find one, of the sorts. Special Agent Fox Mulder works in DC, and is incredibly eligible, but available is what he is lacking. His heart belongs to the one and only-" I stopped short, smiled, and bit my lip before continuing. "Special Agent Dana Scully, in which they've been partnered up since 1992. Reporters Tawni Stone, and Natasha Hicks did an intensive background check of the entire world of Fox Mulder, and found out that he leads a life- a little out of the ordinary. Fox Mulder is a man of mystery, searching for anything that would classify under the category of extraterrestrial, in that matter. Among vampires, werewolves, mythical creatures, abnormalities, and aliens, he continues to search for something a little more tangible, his long lost sister, Samantha, who disappeared when she was eight years old." He looked at me strangely, and glanced over at the two pictures that were plastered to the magazine paper. One was of Mulder, which they had obviously taken in DC- when he was walking, and the other below him, was one that they had taken when we were in Annapolis, after trying to get away from them. I closed the magazine, and gazed up at him, trying to find any sign of anger, melancholy, depression- whatever. Mulder looked at me, and simply rewarded me with one of those happy smiles. "At least they didn't falsify anything." Mulder shrugged curiously, and picked up a magazine from the stand. He took one more look at me, just before linking my left hand with his, and walking back to the bakery isle, to argue with me about whether we should have cheesecake, or German chocolate cake. And ironically, the only thing that I could think about while doing so, was how much I love this. And how much that I love *him*. Yep, I live a good life as Mrs. Cosmopolitan. ********************************* "All I'm saying is I want to look back and say that I did the best I could while I was stuck in this place. Had as much fun as I could while I was stuck in this place. Played as hard as I could when I was stuck in this place.." Don Dawson "Dazed and Confused"