By A. Maus
A_nonny_maus_2000@yahoo.com
A_nonny@hotmail.com

DISTRIBUTION:     Ephemeral, Gossamer, and Mulder in
Jeopardy. All others welcome, but please let me know
first.
SPOILERS:         None
RATING:           PG
CLASSIFICATION:   V, MSR, RST fluff
KEYWORDS:         None
SUMMARY:
DISCLAIMER:       Characters owned by 1013/Fox, not
me.
WRITER'S NOTES:  Thanks to Obi, Obi! Also known as
Obfusc8er, the fastest beta in the west.  To
Mulderpause, and the rest of the gang at the eXit
Thanks your for putting up with my midnight ranting.
__________________________

He Never Promised Forever
By A. Maus

We were working quietly in our office, my attention
solely focused on a medical report from one of our
cases. The soft whirring of the fan stirred the
slightly musty air. Every once in a while, the crack
of a sunflower seed being opened would ring out.

It was right after we had crossed that barrier, that
invisible line between friends and lovers. I heard him
swivel his chair, the old spring creaking softly as he
shifted his weight.
ìScully?î

ìHmm?î The anomaly I was seeing in the victim was most
enthralling at that point.

ìDo you believe in forever?î Oh great. It's one of
*those* questions. Looking up, I saw him picking at
the pressed pleat on his dark blue slacks.

I took off my reading glasses and sighed. ìForever is
a long time,î I said softly. ìIt is almost too much
for the human mind to comprehend. Scientifically, it
is nearly impossible for anyone or anything to last
ëforeverí.î
 
He looked up, ìWell, then, I guess weíll have to
settle for the rest of my life.î Startled, I only
could gape at him.

ìWhat I mean is that you will have my whole heart for
my whole life.ì He said softly.

It was the hope for this moment that I had relied on
during his absence while he was gone. In my mind's
eye, all the tiny details were magnified...dust motes
dancing lazily in the sunbeam, the soft whirring of
our oscillating fan...

His eyes penetrated through all my barriers. I almost
felt him gaze upon my soul, and in his eyes, I saw
myself reflected back.

My heart stopped for what seemed like an eternity.
Then the phone rang, breaking the spell.

ìMulder.î

He rolled his eyes up to the ceiling; I glanced at my
watch, noting that we were late for a budget meeting.

ìYes, Sir. Weíre on our way up.î

Mulder stood; he started gathering the files necessary
for the meeting.

ìMulder.î I watched as he warily turned toward me.
ìYouíll have mine forever.î I watched as his eyebrow
quirked up. ì...Or rather, as long as I have yours.î

Smiling, I stepped toward the door. I felt his hand
slide to its customary spot on the small of my back.
"I smiled, knowing that heíll never be "champagne and
roses", nor is he "dinner and dancing".

He never promised me forever, but what he did promise
me meant so much more.