By HereKittyKitty
marzeatoatz@yahoo.com
Classification: MSR
Rating: Tame
Author: HereKittyKitty
"You're all I've ever wanted,
but I'm terrified of you."
Dracula's Wedding, Outkast
~~~
Dracula's Wedding
By HereKittyKitty
J.Edgar Hoover Bldg.
Basement
X Files Office
May 26th
Scully looked up at the clock, down to her watch
then back to the clock. It was tenth time she had done
this in the last hour. Mulder had been counting.
"If your worried about making your flight, we can
leave now, Scully, "
She looked up at him, startled. "Oh, sorry, I guess I
am a little anxious."
"Really looking forward to this, aren't you?" Mulder leaned
back in his chair, dangerously close to tipping over.
"I am. We haven't been together in such a long time." She
smiled, showing the tips of her perfect little teeth.
"But?" He loved that smile. "I sense a but."
"There's always a little danger, though, in getting
the whole family together," she laughed. "But then we
live for danger, right? How about you, Mulder.
Still no plans? What are you going to do without
me for a week?"
"Throw myself into my work. I'll drown myself in paperwork until
you return." He straightened some papers on his desk to
emphasize his mission.
"You could come with me."
He smiled without looking up at her.
"I think a week with your family might
be more frightening than a romantic
encounter with Flukeman. Its not
like I'm their favorite guy, Scully." He stood
and grabbed his coat off the back of
his chair. "Lets hit it. I don't want Bill pissed at me
because you missed your flight."
"Bill's not so bad." She stood and reached for
her bag.
"You just have to get to know him."
Mulder dropped his head and stared up at her.
"Well, okay, maybe he can sometimes be an asshole ,
but..."
He continued his steely gaze.
"Oh all right, maybe most of
the time, but still."
"I will count the days till
you come back, Scully."
She smiled as she let him take her bag and guide her out of the
office door toward the elevator.
Traffic was heavy as they drove to the airport. There was
the usual obligatory accident that always seems to happen when
you are in a hurry. The rain wasn't helping either. But they
made it with plenty of time. Mulder headed toward the
short term parking.
"You don't have to park, Mulder. Won't it be easier to just
drop me off?"
"You have at least an hour to kill. You can buy me coffee."
She smiled. Starbucks was calling her.
Mulder carried her bag to the Sky Cap. "You have your ticket,
right?"
He grabbed it out of her hand as she waved it at him.
There was a time when his anality got on her nerves.
I must be mellowing in my old age, she thought.
"Thanks," she said, taking the envelope back from him.
He tipped the Sky Cap and for some reason that didn't
annoy her either.
They walked to the Starbucks kiosk and ordered a couple of venti
skim lattes. "Extra hot, extra shot please." Mulder looked at
Scully and she nodded. "Make that two."
Scully chatted excitedly about seeing her family. Mulder
listened with feigned interest. He truly wished she was
staying in D.C. with him for a weeks vacation, or maybe
going to Hawaii...
"Well don't just sit there, asshole, do something about it."
Mulder jerked his head around towards the voice. A toddler was
standing next to him, with a disgusted look on his face.
"Wha?" he stammered.
"You heard me," the baby said. "What do you need, a brick to
hit you in the head? Say something to her."
"Mulder? Mulder? Are you listening?"
"Huh? I'm sorry Scully, but the baby," He stared at the tot.
"Oh aren't you sweet?" She smiled at the mother. "He's adorable."
The woman nodded politely before moving away from them.
The baby toddled away after his mother but looked back at Mulder
once more. "Jeez," he hissed.
Scully looked at her watch and stood. "I need to go, Mulder.
I'll be boarding in 15 minutes."
He shook his head to clear it as he watched the toddler
disappear into the crowd. "Uh, sure Scully.
I'll walk to the gate with you."
He carried her bag to the security check point.
After pulling out his badge, the guard waved him through.
The flight was starting to board just as they walked up
to gate. He turned to her and impulsively put his arms
around her.
"You okay, Mulder?" She looked up at him when he let her go.
"Sure, I'm fine. Have a great vacation. Give my best to your
Mom and the rest of the family." He squeezed her hand and then
kissed her on the forehead.
"I'll call," she smiled and then turned to make her way through
the line. He waited, watching her disappear down the gangway.
She stopped and turned back, waving once more before she was
gone.
Mulder sighed deeply and turned to leave, nearly falling over
an old women in a wheel chair.
"Alone again?" she said more than asked.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, or are you deaf and stupid?"
The attendee continued pushing her without seeming to notice the
exchange. Mulder stared after them. My hallucinations are
becoming way too judgmental, he thought as he ran his
fingers through his hair.
His apartment seemed darker and colder than usual.
He checked the thermostat and turned it up a few degrees.
The rain was letting up and it was really starting to
feel more like spring. Unfortunately,it wasn't helping
his mood. He got the last beer out of the refrigerator.
It looked depressed too. He considered his choice of food.
Some Chinese take out from God knows when and pizza from
three nights ago. He grabbed the pizza, leaving
the sesame chicken to brew a little longer.
He sat down on the couch and flipped on the TV. He was surprised
to see A Christmas Carol was on, not the newer one, the old one.
And it wasn't even Christmas. Still, it was one of his favorite
movies. It was comforting to see a tortured soul with a more
miserable life than his own. He chewed on the cold pizza as
The Spirit of Christmas Future showed Scrooge a headstone.
"Oh Spirit, is this what must be, or only what might be?"
Ebeneezer wailed.
The spirit cast a bony finger toward another headstone
and spoke in a raspy voice.
Mulder sat up straight. Wow, I don't remember him
talking before, he thought, and I've seen this
movie a million times. He inhaled a piece of pizza,
choking as he noticed the inscription on the
headstone. It was his.
"Look at this poor bastard, he never did get it."
Ebeneezer shook his head slowly, understanding.
"He died a lonely man, Spirit?"
The Spirit continued to point.
"What a loser," Ebeneezer clucked.
When Mulder finally dislodged the errant piece of
pizza the screen had gone to a commercial; erectile
disfunction medication. A man who couldn't
get it up was walking around with a smile on
his face and even got the girl by the end of the ad.
"Jesus Christ," Mulder choked. He stared at the leftover
pizza. "What kind of mushrooms did they use on this?"
He didn't sleep well. Not that he ever really slept well,
but last night was a real roller coaster. He woke to the
sound of his cell phone.
"Mulder," he grunted, not recognizing the number.
"Morning," Scully said back, a bit to perky for the ungodly
hour.
"How are you?"
"What time is it, Scully? " He looked at his bedside clock.
It was almost 9. Christ, he'd overslept!
"Anything wrong? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I guess I'm not quite awake yet. How was your
flight?"
"It was fine. Pretty smooth, actually. Mom & Bill met me
at the airport. The weather is great."
"But?" He noticed the pause.
"No everything is fine, Mulder. No but. I was just thinking
of you."
He smiled into his phone and leaned back into his pillow.
"Really? Why?"
She sighed back.
"Scully?"
"Yes?"
"I miss you, too."
He thought he felt her smile back at him.
"Talk to you later."
"You know where I am."
He waited till she hung up before setting the phone down on
his nightstand.
San Diego International Airport
May 26
The flight had been easy, thank God. She truly hated flying.
It wasn't the idea of crashing, she knew that the chances of
being killed by a mutant cat were much greater. She just hated
being locked up in the damn things, completely at the mercy of
strangers. Oh well, she thought, good old terra firma. 'And the
firma the betta,' she smiled, thinking of Groucho.
She dragged her carry on behind her as she made her way through
the crowded airport to the luggage carousel.
"Dana!"
She spotted her mother waving at her.
"How was your flight?" she asked, putting her arms around her
daughter.
"We landed." She hugged her mother back. "Its good to see you,
Mom. Did you park?"
"No, Bill is circling. I wanted to come in to meet you.
I was hoping you had talked Fox into joining us."
Dana smiled at her mother. "Too chicken."
Maggie shook her head. "I was really looking forward to
seeing him."
"I know." She watched the luggage carousel as it lurched
to a start. Her bag was one of the first to appear.
"What luck!" She snatched it as it came past.
Bill was on his best behavior and the ride back to his house
was actually pleasant. She listened to him and her mother catch
her up on all the family news. It felt good to be in the warm
California sun, watching the palm trees go by as they left the
freeway and wound their way to her brother's home.
Bill pulled the mini van into the driveway narrowly missing a
tiny tricycle.
"I hope you didn't fill up on airplane food Dana, Tara has
lunch for us."
He put the car in park and turned off the engine.
"C'mon," Bill urged as he carried her bags inside.
Tara came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel.
"Dana, its so good to see you! How was the flight?"
Dana hugged her sister in law. "Never short enough, but it was
pretty smooth." She looked around. "Where's Matthew?"
"Oh he and Charlie should be back any minute. I sent them to
the store."
She smiled, running her hands through her curly blonde hair.
"I needed a few things."
"Needed to get rid of the 'help' for awhile, " Bill cracked.
Tara laughed and started back toward the kitchen. "We're
eating outside, more room."
Charlie and Matthew returned just in time. They sat around the
large patio table next to the obligatory California pool.
Everyone talked at once as food was being passed back and
forth.
"Where's Fox?" Charlie asked, reaching for more lemonade.
"I'm surprised he's not here."
Dana shot Bill a glance over the fruit salad.
"You should have brought him," Bill said. He took a
bite of his sandwich as if to punctuate his statement.
Dana couldn't help her surprised look.
"What? Why are looking at me like that?" he asked,
his mouth still full.
"Bill, you've always made your feelings pretty clear.
He didn't think he'd be welcome." She looked down at her plate,
feeling her face getting red. She didn't want to talk about this.
"Well maybe he's not my pick but I'm not the one that has to
live with him. Its obvious that you two are meant for
each other."
Dana almost choked on a melon ball. "What?"
"For God's sake, Dana, the man walked across Antarctica
to find you. What more do you need?"
"What more would any of us need?" Tara added.
"Here, here." Charlie raised his glass. "Hell,
I'd marry him if he'd only ask."
They all laughed and raised their drinks,
toasting Fox Mulder, all the while Dana sat
stunned.
"Why the sudden change in heart? Because he's not here?"
"Oh maybe I have been a little hard on him, but jeez,
that's my job. You're my little sister. I gotta know
you're going to be taken care of, Dane.
You know, you've always been too sensitive."
"In case you haven't noticed, I can take care of myself."
She stabbed at a piece of avocado and pushed it around her plate.
"Yeah, yeah, we know. We can all take care of ourselves. That's
how we were raised. But its sure nice to have somebody else to
watch your back." Bill put his arm around his wife's shoulder
and pulled her toward him. She smiled in return.
"We just want to see you happy, Dana," Maggie said, patting her
daughter's hand. "Anyone want more lemonade?"
She got up to get more from the house and the conversation
changed to sports teams.
Dana watched her family with suspicion. Had they been taken over
by ghosts of a '50s sitcom? Or had she really misinterpreted
everything all this time? Shit, had she? She was getting a
headache.She hadn't really thought of Mulder as the settling
down type. Sure she'd had her fantasies about him.
Hell, who wouldn't, but they could only be fantasies, right?
Right? Holy Christ, have I seriously missed the boat?
Antarctica, how the hell did he do that?
Why would he have, if not for...
He had put his arms around her and kissed her
when she left D.C., hadn't he?
"Excuse me, I'll be back," she mumbled as she got up
from her chair but no one seemed to notice as she
walked into the house. Her mother
was stirring lemonade mix into a pitcher.
"Mom?"
"Hmm, yes honey?" She looked up for a second as she sliced some
lemons.
"Have I been wrong? About Bill, about Mulder?
About my feelings?" She felt dizzy and put
her hand on the counter for support.
"What dear?" She stopped slicing and looked at her daughter.
"All this time,?" she asked again. "What have I done?"
"Dana, you have always leaned a bit towards the melodramatic.
You can turn simplicity into complicity like no one else
I know. We all just want you to be happy.
A blind man can see how Fox feels about you,
and well, your brother is not blind, none of
us are, Dana."
She smiled and picked up the pitcher. "Coming, dear?"
She stood at the counter, eyebrows scrunched together.
Picking up a lemon slice she bit into it. Not noticing its
taste she chewed and swallowed the tart yellow fruit.
"I have to make a call," she said to no one.
Washington D.C.
J. Edgar Hoover Bldg
May 27
Mulder was trying to ignore the endless commentary from complete
strangers. Nina Totenburg of NPR had called him a moron,
a homeless women on the corner of D and 9th
had shaken her fist at him and rolled her eyes. Now the
security guard eyed him up and down, his arms crossed
over his chest.
"When you gonna wise up, dog?"
Mulder walked past him to the elevator bays. "God, my
life sucks." His phone rang.
"Mulder."
"Hi Mulder, its me."
He smiled into the phone and closed his eyes. Maybe things were
looking up. "Hi, how are you? How's the reunion?"
"Its good, Mulder. Everything is fine."
He listened to her breathing and waited for her to
say something. The pause lasted a long time.
"Scully?"
"Yes, Mulder, I'm here. Uh, I was wondering, what are you doing
this weekend? Did you make plans?"
"No, nothing really. I guess I'll just watch a game or two.
Its supposed to be nice, maybe try to spend some time outside.
Why?"
Long pause. Again.
"You ok, Scully? Bill's not torturing you, is he?"
"No, no everything is fine. Its just, well, I just wanted to
see how you were. I guess I better go, I'll talk to you later."
"Okay," he said, but she'd already hung up.
"She misses you."
He turned to the women in the elevator. "She does?"
She looked at him, annoyed. She couldn't get off the elevator
fast enough. He sighed. He was discovering that his advisors
had no problem talking to him. They just didn't like him
answering.
He checked his watch and walked to the meeting room. He hoped
he could stay awake through another budget meeting with Skinner
and a few department accountants. He opened the door to find
Skinner already seated.
"Good morning, Agent Mulder. Have a seat. You might want to
pour a cup of coffee. I have a feeling you'll need it."
Mulder smiled. "Thanks sir."
He unbuttoned his coat and sat down, reaching for the carafe.
Mulder did a remarkable job of staying awake and even pretending
to be interested in what everyone was talking about. One of the
accountants, Simpson, turned to Mulder.
"If I only had your looks I'd have married that woman a long
time ago."
Mulder almost did a Danny Thomas.
"She'd take him even without his looks. She's crazy in love
with him but he's too stupid to see it."
He spun in his seat as the second accountant, Wallis, added his
opinion.
"Its not that simple," Skinner interjected.
"Can't you see he's terrified?"
And it him like a brick. He was right, Mulder realized.
Goddammit, Skinner was right!
"You're right, sir."
Skinner looked pleased that Mulder had agreed to
curb his expenses.
"But what do I do? I don't know what to do."
Skinner exchanged glances with the accountants.
"Take a deep breath, go by a ring and ask her, you idiot.
You're a grown man, for God's sake, not a lovelorn teenager.
You want to grow old alone? She loves you."
"Jesus H. Christ," he added incredulously.
"Really, she does? I thought , I mean I was hoping.
Do you really think she'd say yes?"
Skinner was positive Agent Scully would try her hardest to
help keep expenses to a minimum. "I don't think she will
hesitate, Agent Mulder. I believe, she will be thrilled."
Mulder smiled broadly and slapped his palms on the table.
Skinner smiled. Simpson smiled. Wallis was almost giddy.
"I am going to do it right now!" Mulder got up and nearly
ran out of the room. He reappeared for a moment. "Thank you!"
he shouted at them before racing out again.
"I think that went really well, sir," Wallis commented.
"I have never seen Agent Mulder so enthusiastic about his
budgetary responsibilities," Simpson added.
Skinner had to agree.
Silver Strand Beach,
San Diego, Ca
May 27
"Did you call Fox?"
Dana looked at her mother. They were sitting on a blanket,
watching Charlie and Bill toss a Frisbee back and forth.
Tara was playing with Matthew in the surf.
"Yes, Mom, I did call him."
"How is he?"
"Alone," she said miserably. She sighed and dropped her chin.
"Mom, what if he doesn't ..."
"Dana, you take risks everyday in your job.
Why can't you take this one?" She adjusted her sunglasses.
"By the way dear, I don't think its a very big risk."
She held her hand over her brow to block the bright sun.
Why should I be afraid? She's right, she's always right.
Dana smiled and thought about seeing Mulder when she got
back to D.C. "You're right, Mom," she said aloud.
"When I get back, I'm going to talk to him."
"I know dear," she smiled.
Alexandria, VA
Apt 42
Mulder checked his watch as he jogged up the stairs to his
apartment building. It was just 8 a.m., perfect, he thought.
He used the steps to stretch his Achilles tendons after his
morning run. It was the start of a beautiful sunny day and he
was feeling great for a change. Everyone had smiled at him
this morning and been very encouraging. Not one person had
called him an idiot. Things were definitely looking up for him.
An hour later he was in his car heading for Chevy Chase, Md.
He had just parked when his phone rang. He recognized the
619 area code as San Diego. He smiled, Scully was up early
this morning.
"Hey," he said, trying to sound flirty.
"Mulder?"
"Uh, yes," he answered, lowering his pitch, trying to sound
serious. He didn't recognize the voice.
"Bill Scully, Dana's brother."
"Oh, Mr. Scully. Is everything ok?
Is Scul, er, Dana all right?" he stammered.
"She's fine. I wanted to talk to you. She doesn't know
I am calling. I'd prefer we keep it that way."
"Sure, Mr. Scully." Mulder was still a bit confused.
He didn't think he had done anything to piss the guy off
recently.
"What can I do for you?"
"You can tell me what your intentions are, Mulder."
"My intentions?"
"With my sister. I want to know what you intend to do
about you and her."
"With all due respect, Mr. Scully, I don't think its
really any of your," he started.
Bill Scully cut him off. "I think it is my business.
Look, you and I haven't exactly gotten off to the best start.
I think your an asshole and I'm sure you have a similar
opinion of me."
Mulder shrugged and nodded at the phone. Where was this going,
he wondered.
"But..."
"But, its obvious my sister loves you and I have to admit,
you certainly have proved you would go through fire for her."
Mulder's eyebrows shot up as he listened to what Bill Scully
had to say.
"Dana is leaving this morning. She's changed her flight to come
back early. Said she needs some time to think. Be there to meet
her at the airport. She won't be expecting you. If I don't hear
some good news from her or my mother I will know that you
really are a sorry son of a bitch. Understood?"
"Sure, uh thanks, Mr. Scully," he said, not knowing what else
to say.
"Just do the right thing, Mulder. And call me Bill."
"OK, uh, Bill." The line went dead.
Mulder slowly got out of his car. He walked across the street
and stood in front of the building. The smiling doorman waved
Mulder in as he swung open the glass door. He spoke in a
friendly but unidentifiable accent.
"Welcome to Tiffany's."
San Diego Airport
Bill Scully handed his sister's bags to the Sky Cap. "All set?
Have your ticket?"
She smiled and waved the computer printout at him.
"I have flown before, Bill."
"Yeah, I know." He put his arms around her and hugged
her close to him. "I hope everything works out for you, Dana."
She looked up at him. "In the same way I want them to work out?"
He laughed. "Hell, you could do worse. I just hope he can really
make you happy."
"He already does."
She hugged him once more and than walked into the airport.
This was going to be a long day, she sighed.
She couldn't get a direct flight to Dulles.
She would be stopping in Chicago for to change planes and
wouldn't get home till after midnight.
Oh well, I'll call Mulder in the morning, she decided,
I'll have lots of time to think of what I am going
to say to him. Dana Scully dragged her carry on
behind her as she made her way to the gate.
Dulles Airport
1045P.M.
Mulder used his ID to get past security.
He walked towards the gates after checking the monitors.
Scully's flight was on time. It would be landing in 5 minutes.
He smiled back as people nodded at him and said things
like "finally" and "way to go". He as carrying a dozen
long stemmed red roses. Maybe he wasn't just hearing
things anymore. The ground crew was opening the door
and the first passengers were starting to emerge.
Most of them changed their glassy stares
to smiles as they saw Mulder. He waited, anxiously.
The plane had been full, there was quite a parade till
the crew walked through the door. Mulder looked past them,
no Scully. He waited another five minutes,
but it was obvious she hadn't been on board.
Was this some kind of joke? he wondered.
He didn't think even Bill Scully could be this cruel.
He sat down on a plastic chair, suddenly exhausted.
Maybe he was just crazy, hell, he had been hearing
voices all week. There was no reason to sit there
but he was just too tired to move.
Ohare Airport, Chicago
"It left?"
"I'm sorry ma'am, it left twenty minutes ago,"
the gate attendant smiled apologetically.
"We can get you on another flight in 30 minutes."
Scully sighed. "I guess that will have to do.
What about my luggage?"
"We'll get it transferred, don't worry."
She resigned herself to the delay and sat down in
the waiting area. She thought of calling Mulder
but changed her mind.You're pathetic, she thought.
Do you have any doubts?
No, she answered herself, but I am still terrified.
"Isn't it want you want?"
Startled, she looked up at the young man.
"Isn't this what you asked for?"
She blushed at the Starbucks barista holding out her latte.
She barely remembered ordering it. "More than you know,"
she answered, taking the steaming cup.
She walked back to her gate, smiling. She would be boarding in
ten minutes. Maybe she would make that call when she go to D.C.
Dulles Airport, Washington, D.C.
Mulder was slumped forward, elbows on his knees, when passengers
started arriving at the gate for the next flight, a red eye to
Chicago.
"I hope they survive the flight."
He looked up at the woman sitting next to him. She was smiling.
"Excuse me?" he asked, confused. Then he remembered the roses.
"Oh, these?"
"They're beautiful. I hope she appreciates them."
He forced a smile. He didn't really know what to say,
he suddenly felt overwhelmingly foolish. He had a ring in his
pocket worth a year's salary and an armload of flowers.
What do I do now? he thought.
"Mulder?"
There she was, walking toward him.
Her hair was pulled back in a
pony tail, no makeup, jeans and a Sea World Tee shirt.
It hit him hard. God, he loved this woman.
"Mulder, what are you doing here?" She was smiling but her
eyebrows were knit in confusion. She looked down at the flowers.
"Are those for me?"
He nodded, and then realized he should say something.
"Scully, I uh," he stammered realizing he'd forgotten his
well rehearsed poetic lines.
"I'm so happy to see you, but how did you know?" She was right
in front of him now, blue eyes sparkling, lips parted.
He heard someone yell from across the terminal, "Kiss her,
you idiot!"
So he did. He pulled her into his arms and laid one on her.
He kissed her the way he'd only dreamed. He kissed her with
the power of seven years because he couldn't exactly remember
when he fell in love with her. He was kissing Scully. And the
best part was she was kissing him back.
"Mulder," she gasped, when he let her breathe.
He was exhilarated, he was thrilled, he was head over heels.
"Scully, please," he said, taking her hand and leading her to a
chair. He sat her down and laid the roses on her lap. She smiled
at him, still a bit confused.
"Mulder, what?" she choked. Oh my God, she thought, why is he
down on one knee?
"Scully, I love you. I think I have loved you forever, from that
very first moment you walked into my life." He reached into his
pocket and pulled out the light blue velvet box.
"Dana Scully, will you make my miserable existence worthwhile?
Will you allow me to spend the rest of my life making you happy?
Will you please be my wife?"
She stared wide eyed at the platinum set
2 carat solitaire diamond Mulder was holding at her fingertip.
She finally looked into his
hazel eyes and tried to catch her breath.
Mulder and the rest of the world waited. The entire terminal was
silent.
"Yes," she whispered as she reached her hand forward
and he slid the ring on to her finger.
He stood and pulled her to her feet. "Thank you,"
he whispered and kissed her. He smiled into her mouth
as her heard cheering and applause around them.
They kissed as complete strangers congratulated them.
"I love you so much," he whispered into her cheek as he
held her.
He kissed the tears running down her cheeks to the
corners of her mouth.
"Mulder I love you, I love you, I love you," she sniffed.
He put his arm around her and reached down for her bag.
They started down the hall when Scully looked up at him.
"Mulder, would you mind if I called my mother?"
He smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"No, I wouldn't mind at all."
As she fished her cell phone out of her pocket, he added,
"Do you think Bill is still up?"
The Beginning