A Place Like This by bellefleur Email: bellefleur1013@yahoo.com Rated: PG-13 Warning: Here be vague hints of spoilers. (Read the notes if you're concerned about avoiding spoilers.) Disclaimer: Chris, you can keep your version of Mulder and Scully, but I'm gonna keep mine. This story is dedicated to Denise, who wanted something more uplifting. Notes: I don't know that this needs to be considered a spoiler fic, but it was inspired by spoilers, if that counts. Let's put it this way: this fic assumes certain spoilers to be true in order for this story to make sense. It doesn't mean that this represents what I think will actually be happening in episode 10x01. If you can handle that, on with the story. ****** ****** Scully pulled the old, beat-up Nissan into the parking lot of an equally antiquated motel, on the outskirts of--Nowhere, it appeared. Only the best from her lover. As she slowly drove through the parking lot, straining through the dark to look at the poorly lit motel room doors, she finally spotted the marker he always left for her. She parked in the space two doors down and checked around carefully before she got out of the car, but there was no indication of anyone following her. Making sure her hair was all tucked into her hat, she quickly got out of the car and headed for the room. One secret knock later, and the door opened. The only light in the room was from the TV. He stayed behind the door, out of sight from prying eyes, and shut the door behind her. Two strong arms wrapped around her from behind as she was taking off her hat. "Can we turn on some lights now?" she asked, leaning back into Mulder's warm, solid form. He kissed her on the cheek before he stepped away. "What, you don't like the mood lighting?" She turned to face him as he walked over to the window and peeked out between the curtains before turning on the lamp beside the single queen-size bed. "What I don't like is this cloak-and-dagger routine. Mulder, when are you going to get past this ridiculous obsession with surveillance? Why do you think anyone even cares about us anymore?" "Scully, do I have to remind you--again--about a certain encounter in a rock quarry, and the events that led you there?" She rolled her eyes. "Point taken, but I was still working for the FBI then, and you were on the run--" "They're watching *everyone,* Scully, not just you and me." He closed the distance between them and wrapped her in his arms again. "Even if they don't care about us right now, as soon as we do something to draw their attention, all they have to do is pull up a file, and they'll know our every move for the last six months--or the last six years." She loosened her grip on him and leaned back a little to look him in the eye. "Are you planning to do something to draw their attention?" He didn't answer. "Mulder..." "Nothing major, Scully. At least, nothing you need to worry about." "Nothing that's going to land you in prison, you mean?" "My days of sneaking into military installations are over." He leaned down and kissed her on the neck, while his hands started to unzip and tug at her clothes. "All I'm interested in is getting the truth to the American people." Scully sighed, stepping out of her skirt as it hit the floor. "Why do I get the feeling this is not going to turn out well?" He nuzzled her ear on the way to the hollow of her throat. "Because you know me too well?" "Exactly." She lifted her arms for him as he pulled off her shirt, and then she untucked his. "Do you really think that anyone cares whether we're still together? Enough to be following us?" He led her toward the bed, already turned down in invitation. "I don't want to risk your reputation. I know how hard you've worked to establish yourself as a doctor, and I don't want your association with me to come back to haunt you." She tossed aside her bra and crawled under the sheets, waiting for him to finish undressing and join her. "I thought we got married so you could 'make an honest woman of me.' What's the point of getting married if no one knows about it? You gave me a ring, and I can't even wear it." He slid in beside her and took her in his arms. "This won't last forever. I promise." He kissed her briefly on the lips. Too briefly. "But for now, I think it's the best thing. The further you stay away from me and my tarnished reputation, the better it will be for you. The work you're doing on the vaccine is important. I don't want to jeopardize that." She slid her leg up over his hip and drew him closer. "So, if they're busy chasing after you and think that I no longer have any contact with you..." "Then they have no reason to bother you or to question what you're doing." He gently nudged her over onto her back and started kissing his way down her body. "Mulder, I still don't like it. I feel ridiculous, sneaking around to secret locations--and rather seedy ones, I might add--just to spend time with my husband." He lifted his head from her belly button. "I told you. It won't last forever--" "I know, I know." She grabbed his head and tugged him up to her face. "Shut up and kiss me, Mulder. We're wasting precious time." He pecked her on the lips. "Yes, dear." She pulled him back down for a lingering kiss, leaving them both a bit breathless when they finally separated. "That's 'Honeybunch' to you, Poopyhead. Now, quit talking, and put that talented tongue to better use." She gave his shoulders a shove, guiding his head back down to where she wanted it. "Mmph." "That's more like it--oh!" ATTHS. ***** ***** More notes: Besides the spoilers, this fic also assumes certain other facts that I didn't feel like explaining in copious exposition or dialogue: 1. Mulder and Scully got married on their tropical vacation at the end of IWTB. 2. Scully no longer has her implant (she was miraculously healed by the ship in Biogenesis, or whatever other means you prefer). 3. Mulder and Scully love each other and like to express that in physical ways, on a semi-regular basis. 4. Mulder did not bring along his vacuum cleaner.