Beautiful Valentine
by Christine Leigh

Summary: Set during season nine - Mulder and Scully manage to
meet for Valentine's Day.  This would never have happened.  A
total flight of fancy.
Rating: PG
Category: MSR
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: All characters are the products of Chris Carter.  They
also belong to  Ten-Thirteen Productions and the Fox Network. 
No copyright infringement intended. 
Archiving: If you would like to archive anywhere, I'd appreciate a
quick note first.
Email: Feedback is always welcome, leighchristine@hotmail.com


Somewhere
February 14, 2002

He was even more beautiful in repose.  She touched her forefinger
to his cheek and held it there for a moment hoping it wouldn't
disturb his sleep.  Mulder lay on his back with his face turned
toward her and if she never saw anything else in this life again
besides his face so close to hers as they lay in bed together, she
would have known beauty at its purest.  Her body needed rest, but
her mind and heart wouldn't allow it.  As long as they were
together, her eyes would remain open.  

They hadn't said anything upon meeting, but had fallen into bed
without a backward glance.  It had been too damn long, and not
knowing how long it would be until the next time had brought them
to a tacit prioritization of their moments together.  Life was too
cruel and too wonderful.  Her body had been graced with the
pleasure that only this man could provide, and she'd been greedy. 
It was no wonder that he was now sleeping so soundly.  She
couldn't take her eyes off him.

She regretted that William could not be here, but she'd had to make
the choice to either come alone, or not at all.  Of course, it hadn't
really been a choice, but she so wanted Mulder to see his beautiful
baby boy, who was growing so much bigger  by the day.  She'd
had to put these thoughts out of her mind,  though, for now.  

She turned away from him, suddenly remembering something. 
She'd had the presence of mind to bring along a photograph of
 herself and William that had been taken two weeks ago, but had
almost forgotten about it in the throes of their reunion.  She located
Mulder's jeans in the pile of clothing on the floor and slipped the
picture into the pocket.  It was a good picture, marred  only by the
person who was missing from it.  Then she got back in bed, just in
time to see him stir.  His arm found its way around her waist.


"Hi."  If she could have felt his voice, it would be the texture
of chocolate velvet.  And he looked so good.  So amazingly good. 
 How was she going to leave?

"Hi."  

"Scully, you wore me out.  That was incredible."

"Too much?"  

"Never.  Ever.  I'm just out of practice."  He kissed her on
the cheek.  "What time is it?"

"Almost four.  Is that good or bad?"  She saw the look on his face
and knew the answer.

"I think your ride is due in half an hour."

"Oh."  She wasn't going to cry.  She absolutely was not going to do
that.

"I'm sorry, Scully."

"There's nothing to be sorry about Mulder.  This afternoon was
something I didn't expect, and it will make the days to come more
difficult than they would be if we hadn't been together today, but it
was worth it.  It was so worth it."

"Scully, do you know how much I hate being apart from you  and
William?  I hate every second that I know the two of you are living
a life without me."

No crying.  None.  After a couple of seconds she took a deep
breath.   

"Mulder, you may not be there, but we're not living without you." 
She blushed.

"What is it, Scully?"  

"Mulder, I talk to him about you.  Mostly at night before I put him
down.  It's become a ritual.  Sometimes I recount a story from a
case, but most of the time I just tell him about his father who loves
him and misses him, and who will come home as soon as possible."

Mulder kissed her again, this time on the lips.  "Scully," he was
whispering, "I think your ride will understand if you're  a few
minutes late."   

"You think so?"  She could barely get the words out.  

"Yeah."

"Mulder, I do love you so.  I hope you know that."

"It's what keeps me going, Scully.  Happy Valentine's Day."

He'd known how hard this was going to be for both of them,  but
he'd underestimated.  He felt very old and very young at  the same
time.  He tightened his embrace around her.  It felt so  good to have
her head nestled, once again, beneath his chin.  He  kissed her hair,
and noticed another blush on her cheek.  

"Now, what is it?"

"Us.  Valentine's Day.  The whole idea of us celebrating Valentine's
Day."

"Extreme possibilities, Scully."

"Oh, that's right.  I'd almost forgotten."  She managed a small smile.

"It's more than right.  It's us."
               
"Yeah?"

"Yeah.  Don't you forget it."  

"Parting reminder time, Mulder?"

"Oh, yeah."


- end  -