TITLE:  Autumn Terrace
BY:  Karen Conrardy
DATE:  March 7, 1999
RATED:  G
CLASSIFICATION:  VR, (a little A)
DISCLAIMER:  I only wish they were mine.  I think about them so much,
sometimes I think they have taken up permanent residence in my head.  No
infringement of any kind is intended.
SUMMARY:  Mulder muses at 450 Autumn Terrace, Arcadia Falls, San Diego
County, California.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:  I wrote this the night the episode aired.  Due to troubles
with my news server I couldn't post it then like I wanted.  I just want to
say that I loved this episode and I hope you guys are still into it.  I
would love to have any feedback you see fit.  Be honest!  Send it to
xkarenc@gateway.net  I'll cherish it and I promise to reply.

I threw my brand new pillow down and flopped onto the overly soft beige
couch.  I laced my hands behind my head and stared up at the ceiling, up to
where she is.  Probably adjusting the toothpaste tube as I lay here.  That
mask she was wearing, yikes!  I actually feel privileged that she even let
me witness it.  I knew she wouldn't sleep in the same bed with me, but my
heart quickened to realize that she was getting ready for bed just a few
feet from me, and with the bathroom door open to boot!
I could waggle my eyebrows until the cows came home but I knew she wasn't
ready to forgive me.  I couldn't blame her.

How could I have been such a jerk?  Experience should teach me that you
never really know someone, especially when that someone is a woman.  It had
felt easy, comfortable to trust Diana, when I should have realized that
Scully has and hopefully always will be the person I remain with.
It was so selfish of me to hurt her like that and it surely has knocked me
down a few pegs on her trust meter.
I mean look at her, dragging me out on an X-File!  Can you believe it?  I
should be rejoicing this day, memorizing it for the record books, yet I can'
t stop goading her.  It feels so good to tease her, to make her squirm in
front of these perfect families.  I know it's for my pleasure too.  Laura.

I looked around the darkened room, glancing at the boxes full of books from
my apartment.  CD's from hers.  A floor lamp in the corner, shiny and new
from the rental place.  That leather chair looks like it rolled out of the
factory yesterday, certainly not Scully's style, but I like it.  Suddenly I
realized, I could do this.  I could work at home, mow the lawn, play
basketball after dinner, a little one on one with my partner.  So this is
what she was talking about when she said she wanted to live something
approaching a normal life.
I hold my left hand up to the light squinting through the shades and study
the gold band.  It looks right there.  Scully's ring is elegant and sparkly;
I noticed it several times today.

I could slide into bed next to her, herbal mask and all, kiss her goodnight.
Hey, it could happen!
Now I feel very lonely.  I know it's a huge house, the ceilings are high and
the walls are undoubtedly thick, but I'm sure I can hear her moving around
up there.  Probably applying lotion to her legs, brushing her hair, removing
her mask.  She doesn't sleep with it on does she?

God, suddenly I'm wondering if she removes it before she goes to sleep.  I
have to know.

I wait about fifteen minutes before I sneak up the stairs.  The bedroom door
is ajar and I peek through the crack.

Her back is to me, but I can see a little bit of her profile.  The mask is
gone and she's sitting on the edge of the bed filing her nails.  She looks
small to me, vulnerable and I'm overcome with the urge to protect her.  I
know she may be small in stature, but that's the extent of it.  I know she's
a strong, independent, fiery person, but that doesn't change the way I feel.

`Stop it.'  I tell myself.  `Just let her have some space.  Tomorrow you'll
make an excuse to get close to her.'  I don't get too many chances to behave
this way, particularly in front of others, so I'm bound to make the most of
it.

I back away from the door, mindful not to alert her.

`I'll make it up to you, Scully.'  I promise silently.

I tiptoe back down to my spot.  I don't know why I feel so desolate, this is
just like home, even more comfortable.  This couch is a dream.  Too bad we
didn't hook up the TV.  A distraction would be good right now.

I imagine I can see her, slipping beneath the covers, her angelic face
turned towards the door.  I kick my shoes off and try to banish the thought
from my mind.

Then I do hear her.  She's coming down the stairs.  Maybe she'll invite me
up?  Yeah, right.  I can't see her until she comes closer because of the
back of the couch.

"Mulder?"  She inquires softly.

"What, Hon?"  I just can't help myself.

"You forgot to take a blanket.  Here, I brought you a couple."  She offers,
draping them over my prone form.

"Thanks."  They're soft and smell slightly of her perfume.

She smiles that little smile that melts my heart when it's directed at me
and turns away.

"Hey, Scully?"  Oh, man, what I'm I going to say?  She's turning around to
face me again.

"Yes?"

"Thanks."  I repeat.  Lame.  She's looking at me funny now.

"For what?"

"For playing along."

"It's our assignment, Mulder."  She tells me and goes back towards the
staircase.

`Not for me.' I think.

I listen to her shut the bedroom door and I close my eyes.  This night's
gonna be a long one for an insomniac like me.  Act Three, starting in the
morning.

THE END

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