by LittleJo
 

*******************************************************
WARNING:  This story involves explicit sex between consenting adults
described in loving detail and is rated NC-17.  If you are under the
age of 17, or find such content uncomfortable, please do not read.

DISCLAIMER:  The X-files' universe, and all characters therein, are
the property of CC and Co, 10-13 Productions and Fox TN.  I'm just
borrowing them, without permission.  No copyright infringement
intended.

*******************************************************
The Pond (1/2)
by LittleJo
4/5/96

Allegheny Mountains
Near Lewisburg, West Virginia
February 17, 1996

Walter Skinner glided on skis through the forest near his cabin, his
mind blissfully blank, as he basked in the late afternoon winter
sunshine.

He had come here from D.C. with the intention of relaxing and, for a
while at least, to escape his responsibilities as Assistant Director
of the FBI.  The cabin, which he'd purchased with his
soon-to-be-ex-wife, was equipped with the basic amenities--indoor
plumbing, a modern kitchen and a large fireplace.  But more important
than what it did have was what it didn't have--no phone, no
television, no distractions of any kind, except for the bookshelves
against the living room's far wall, stocked with nothing more
demanding than mysteries and westerns.

His nearest neighbors were over two miles away from him.  Whoever they
were, he had never met them, and he preferred to keep it that way.

Coasting down a slight incline, he headed towards the pond that
bordered his property.  Coming to a halt at its edge, he noted how
smooth and white the surface looked.  But he knew looks could be
deceiving.  It was during this time of the year that the ice was most
treacherous; it appeared to be solid, when in fact wildly fluctuating
temperatures had weakened it considerably.

His quiet reverie was disturbed by a crashing noise coming from the
woods on the other side of the pond as a large black dog came bounding
out of them in hot pursuit of a rabbit.

The dog looked as if it was about to overtake its prey, when the
rabbit veered sharply to the left, taking off across the ice.  The
dog, too focused on what was directly in front of it to be aware of
the danger, followed the rabbit without slackening its pace.  A sharp
cracking noise filled the air, followed by a yelp of surprise, as the
ice gave way beneath the dog's weight.

"Shit!" Walter exclaimed.  As quickly as he could, he began to make
his way along the edge of the pond, keeping an eye on the dog as it
floundered in the icy, black water.  Out of the corner of his eye he
saw someone stumble out of the woods.  Obviously, the dog's owner.

"Jesus, God!  Lulu what have you done?"

Before he could call a warning, the youth stripped off his coat and
boots and began to slowly make his way out onto the ice.

Meanwhile, the dog desperately kept trying to climb back out of the
water, but each attempt to find purchase on the ice was thwarted as it
gave way, widening the hole a little more every time the dog slipped
back in.

Cursing, Walter reached the point where the dog's owner had started
from.  He held his breath as the boy carefully edged forward, testing
the ice to make sure it was still solid before proceeding further.

Finally, the boy came to a halt, a few yards from the dog.  The slight
breeze carried the sounds of low, soothing noises as he got down on
his knees, then stretched forward to lie on his belly.  Inching
forward, he continued to talk softly to the dog.

Once he reached the terrified animal, the boy attempted to lift it.
And for the second time that day, Walter heard the sickening crack of
ice giving way.

Feeling a rush of adrenaline, he bent to release the straps on his ski
boots and pulled his feet free as he shrugged out of his anorak.
Walter figured that if the much smaller youth had gone in, then he
probably would too, so he didn't even attempt to be careful as he
walked out onto the pond.

Sure enough, the ice gave way.  But after the initial shock of the
freezing, cold water soaking him to the skin wore off, he realized he
was only in waist deep.

Glancing up, he saw that the dog's owner had somehow managed to heave
the dog far enough up onto the ice that the animal could pull itself
out.  The owner wasn't so lucky though.  Exhausted from the effort, he
had one arm draped across the edge of the ice, as his legs churned
below him in an effort to keep him afloat.

Using his fists, Walter began to break a path through the ice,
throwing words of encouragement to the boy struggling in front of him.

"You're going to be okay.  Just hang on.  I'm coming.  Just hang on,
okay?"

At the boy's barely perceptible nod, he focused on the task at hand.

As he broke a path through the ice, Walter wasn't sure what he was
going to do once the water became too deep for him to stand in.
Looking up, he saw that the boy was still hanging on, just barely.
His face was white, his blue-tinged lips pressed into a thin line with
the strain.

Finally, he was chest deep in the freezing water.  He guessed that
there was no more than ten feet of ice between him and the boy.  The
cold was beginning to affect him too, seeping into his bones, weighing
him down.  Through chattering teeth, he called out to him...

"You're going to have to swim to me."

Still gripping the edge of the ice, the boy shook his head.  "I
can't."

Walter frowned.  He knew the boy was afraid.  Hell, he was afraid.
But they didn't have time for this.  If they were in the water much
longer chances were hypothermia would set in and they wouldn't make it
out.

Trying to keep his voice calm and level, Walter said, "I don't think
you have a choice."

As wide, fear-filled green eyes met calm brown a decision was made.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, the boy let go of the ice, and sank
down into the water.

Walter felt a shock of fear go through him when he disappeared from
sight.  He held his breath, hoping that the boy didn't become
disoriented in the cold, dark water and end up straying away from
where he stood waiting.

Then, something brushed against his legs.

Giving a start, he reached down into the water, taking hold of what he
guessed was the boy's arm.  Pulling upwards, he dragged him,
sputtering and choking, out of the water.

"Ohgod, ohgod, ohgod," the boy chattered, clinging to him in a
combination of fear and the instinctual need to stay warm.

Hanging on to him, Walter stumbled back to shore, amazed his legs,
which were by now completely numb, could even carry his weight, let
alone the boy's.

Falling to the ground, he couldn't seem to release his grip on him.
Likewise, the boy had his arms tightly wrapped around Walter's neck.

Walter knew he had to get himself and the boy someplace warm, but he
couldn't seem to move, the bitterly cold water had sapped all his
strength.  As he lay there, a pleasant lassitude suffused his limbs
and sleep made his eyelids feel heavy.

Suddenly hands were shaking him.  "Hey.  Hey!  Wake up.  Don't fall
asleep.  You can't fall asleep!"

His eyes snapped open to find the boy bending over him, his hat jammed
low on his head, his pale, oval face worried.

"You have to get up.  We have to get warm.  Is your cabin the one just
over the hill?"

Walter managed to nod.

"Okay...Let's go then."  Using the dog, which had been anxiously
standing beside them for leverage, the boy shakily got to his feet.
Offering Walter his hand, he somehow managed to get him up as well.

Walter remembered little about the walk back to his cabin.  The dog
alternately trotted ahead or brought up the rear, occasionally
bounding off into the woods to chase something or other.

When his beloved cabin came into sight, Walter almost cheered.
Pushing open the door, he made directly for the fireplace. With
trembling hands, he threw more wood on the fire, which had burned down
in his absence, grateful as the flames leapt back to life.

His attention was captured by a thudding sound from behind him.
Turning around he found the boy had collapsed, unconscious in the
middle of his living room.  The dog, who had followed them inside, was
whimpering and licking anxiously at his face.

"Shit!"  Struggling to his feet, Walter quickly checked to make sure
the boy was still breathing before going into the bedroom to get a
change of clothes for himself and to see if he could find something
that would fit the kid.  Deciding that sweats were the best he could
do, he grabbed two sets of them and some towels from the bathroom,
then made his way back into the living room.

He stripped off his own wet things, pulling on a well-worn set of
"Navy" sweats.  Then he went to work on the boy.

As he reached to pull him into a sitting position, the dog, which up
until then seemed friendly enough, growled at him.  Walter, his temper
already a bit frayed, snarled back at it.

"Go lie down you mangy mutt!"

The dog, with a rumbling noise deep in its throat, lay down.  Walter
continued to stare at it until it looked away.  Satisfied that he
wouldn't have any more problems with the animal, he started to undress
the boy.

He'd never realized how hard it was to remove sopping wet clothing
from a supine form until then.  The boy's thick sweater and jeans took
a real effort to get off of him.  Once he had him down to his
skivvies, Walter made a surprising discovery.

"Well, I'll be damned."

The he was a she.

Taking the towel Walter gingerly began to dry her short, dark hair and
the rest of her body.  He hesitated to remove her under things.  After
all, they had just met.  But he finally decided it didn't make any
sense to put dry clothing over wet, so he did it, trying not to pay
too close attention to what he was doing.  However, he could see why
he'd mistaken her for a boy when he'd first seen her come out of the
woods.  She was a slender thing, no more than 5'5", with small, high
breasts, long legs and narrow hips.

Whistling tunelessly to distract himself, Walter pulled the sweatshirt
and pants onto her, then picked her up and carried her over to the
chair closest to the fireplace.  Even unconscious, she was still
shivering.  Pulling a blanket off of the bed, he draped it over her.
As he was tucking in the edges, he felt the hairs on the back of his
neck stand up.  Looking up, he found her staring at him with wide
green eyes, a slight frown creasing her brow.

"What's...going...on," she said groggily.

Walter leaned back on his haunches and thoughtfully contemplated his
unexpected guest.

"You fell through the ice.  Well, actually, your dog fell through the
ice.  And then you fell through the ice trying to rescue her."

"Lulu?"

The dog, who had been hovering on the periphery, came up to stand
beside the chair, nuzzling its owner's hand as if to say, "I'm here."

Without breaking eye contact with Walter, she absent-mindedly began to
stroke the big dog's head.

It was clear that she was still a bit disoriented and that the events
leading up to the present were a bit fuzzy.  Suddenly, she remembered.

"You rescued me," she stated matter-of-factly.  "And," she added
glancing down at herself, "You also undressed me."

Walter blushed, and began to stutter under her frank green-eyed stare.

"Uh, well, actually, yeah.  You were wet, and I, uh..."

Her smile stopped him.  "Thank you.  Lulu and I would probably both be
dead if you hadn't happened along when you did."

Relieved, Walter grinned back.  Then getting to his feet, he mumbled
something about putting the kettle on for some tea and left her and
the dog sitting by the fire.

Walter returned to the living room a few minutes later to discover
that his guest had fallen sound asleep, the "beast" lying beside her
on the floor, its head propped on her knee.  Picking up their wet
things, he carefully arranged them on a couple straight-backed chairs
in front of the fire to dry.  He then hurried back into the kitchen to
shut off the kettle before its shrill whistle could awaken her.

Once the tea was ready, he set the cups on the table next to her, then
sat down on the floor with his back to the fire.  Sipping at the hot
liquid, he took the opportunity to study his guest more closely.  If
asked about her looks, he would probably say she was more handsome
than pretty; her eyebrows were too heavy and her nose too long and
slightly crooked, but she had beautiful high cheekbones, and a full,
sensuous mouth.  And of course, there were her eyes; big, green eyes
that seemed to see right through you.

Walter's train of thought was broken by her voice, soft and low coming
from the chair.

"It's impolite to stare."

Flushing, he quickly got to his feet, managing to spill some of his
tea down his front in the process.

"Son-of-a-b..."  His voice trailed off as he glared down at her.  She
returned his stern look with a wide grin.

"Sorry."

His face softening, Walter inclined his head towards where the other
cup sat, still steaming.  "Tea's ready if you'd like some."

Nodding her head, she disentangled her arm from the blanket. He
noticed that her hand was still trembling as she reached for the cup
of hot liquid.  So, leaning across her, he picked it up and handed it
to her.

"Thanks."  Cradling the cup in both hands, she carefully raised the
tea to her lips, trying not to spill it.

Sighing contentedly, she leaned back in the chair and stared at
Walter, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"So, aren't you going to ask who I am?"

Walter suddenly felt a fit of temper coming on, partly because he was
tired, and partly because her presence made him feel off-balance, a
fact she seemed more than willing to use to her advantage.  So,
crossing his arms across his broad chest, he cocked an eyebrow at her,
pinning her with an intense stare.

Walter had perfected "the look," as it was known by both subordinates
*and* superiors alike, during his days in the field as Special Agent
in Charge.  Most men (and women) didn't last long when he turned it on
them.  However, this woman seemed to be an exception.  Rather than
squirming, and then dropping her eyes as he expected, she captured his
gaze with hers.  Then her mouth twisted into a wry smile.

"Well, since you ask, my name's Ellen.  Ellie for short.  I live in
the cabin about two miles over the next mountain from here.  And you
are?"

Try as he might, Walter couldn't suppress a smile.  He admired a woman
who wouldn't be intimidated.  Tamping his frustration back down, he
sat once more, wrapping long arms around his legs as he drew them up
to his chest.

"Walter.  Walter Skinner," he said a bit stiffly.

Ellie cocked her head to one side.  "Pleased to meet you Walter.  I
can call you Walter, can't I?"  At his slight nod, she continued.
"Well Walter, what do you suggest we do now?  I'm not sure Lulu and I
are up for the two mile hike back to my cabin tonight."

Rubbing at his chin, Walter considered her question.  Trying to get
her home might be a bit tricky, especially since the roads weren't in
great shape this time of year.  And driving at night was always a
risky proposition in these mountains.

"Well, if you can stand it, you and Lulu are welcome to stay here
tonight.  You can have the bed.  I'll take the chair."

Ellie shook her head.  "Don't be silly.  I'm more than happy to stay
right here.  As a matter-of-fact, this chair is very comfortable."

As if to prove it, she drew the blanket more tightly around herself,
hunkering down into it.  "See?"

Walter opened his mouth to protest, then snapped it shut again.  Hell,
to be honest, he was absolutely beat from their ordeal, and really
wouldn't mind sleeping in his nice, big, comfortable bed.

"Okay.  Have it your way."

Ellie smiled brightly.  She had a beautiful smile.

Shaking his head, Walter went to get another blanket and a pillow for
her and then got ready for bed.  His head had barely hit his own
pillow before he was sound asleep.

************************************************************

He was awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of whimpering
noises.  Instinctively, he reached for the gun he kept underneath his
pillow.  Then he remembered his guest in the next room.

Sighing he threw back the covers and padded into the living room,
shivering from the cold.  The fire was almost completely out, its
dully, glowing embers throwing an eerie light across Ellie's figure,
curled in the chair.

Walter had barely taken two steps into the room when he felt something
cold and wet nudge his hand.  He almost jerked away until he realized
it was Lulu.  The dog whined softly, then lead him over to where Ellie
lay, moaning.  Lulu sat down, looking up at him, her expression
worried.

Walter stood over Ellie for a few moments, unsure what to do.  She was
obviously dreaming and she was becoming increasingly more agitated.
Since he had come into the room, she had tossed the covers off of her
and was now writhing in the chair, almost as if she were trying to
fight off someone, or something.

Kneeling down in front of her, Walter called to her softly.
"Ellie, wake up.  It's just a dream Ellie.  Wake up."

Shuddering, Ellie whimpered, "Stop, please stop. Don't."

Walter, his concern growing, gently took her by the arm, shaking it
slightly.  "Ellie, it's okay.  You're having a bad dream.  Come on
Ellie..."

At his touch, Ellie's eyes flew open.  Letting out a sharp cry of
"No!" she began to flail at him.

Taken by surprise, Walter fell back, then moved in to restrain her,
afraid she might hurt herself.  Ignoring the blows raining down on his
face, shoulders and chest, Walter finally managed to get his arms
around hers, pinning them to her sides in a gentle, but firm grip.

"It's okay Ellie.  It's okay," he soothed, his mouth pressed against
her ear as she struggled against him, then finally went still, her
tears silently slipping down her face to wet the side of his neck and
his shoulder.

Picking her up, he sat down in the chair, cradling her in his lap like
a child while she cried.  Finally, after what seemed an eternity, her
tears slowed, then ceased altogether, her breathing becoming slow and
even as she once more fell into a deep sleep.

Walter sat there in front of the fireplace, afraid to move lest he
wake her.  Shifting slightly, he reached down and managed to grab the
blankets Ellie had tossed to the floor during her nightmare, pulling
them up over them.  It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning that
he himself finally fell back asleep.

**********************************************************

Walter awoke later on to a thick blanket of new snow on the ground and
a woman snuggled against his chest.  Careful not to wake her, he
slipped out from underneath, stretching as he stood in an attempt to
unkink tired, aching muscles.  He pulled a face when his back cracked
in protest over last night's sleeping arrangements.  Deciding that a
shower would undoubtedly provide him with some relief, he headed for
the bathroom, glancing nervously down at her sleeping form before he
did so.

Facing away from the water gushing from the shower head, Walter braced
his arms against the shower wall, letting the hot water beat down on
his back and shoulders.  He really was getting too old to be rescuing
damsels in distress, or their dogs, for that matter.  He'd probably be
paying for the next couple days for his little misadventure.

Once he felt a bit better, Walter began to soap himself up, using
slow, methodical strokes.  He was just about to rinse off when a
familiar tingling sensation at the base of his scalp told him he
wasn't alone.  After four years in Nam and two decades in law
enforcement he'd developed the uncanny ability to sense these kinds of
things, and instinct took over.

With lightening quickness he reached through the shower curtain,
seizing Ellie by the wrist and yanking her into the shower with him.
She let out a yelp of surprise, then sputtered as her face came into
contact with the spray of water.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he growled, both surprised
and angered by her intrusion.

Pushing her wet hair out of her eyes, Ellie glared at him.
"What the hell am I doing?  What are *you* doing?  I just came in to
use the toilet and next thing I know I'm standing in a shower, with a
naked man, soaking wet."Walter felt himself flush with
embarrassment.  Releasing her arm, he was about to apologize for his
seemingly bizarre behavior when Ellie was seized by a fit of giggles.
Walter scowled at her, finding nothing at all funny about the
situation.  Ellie tried to get her giggles under control, but started
laughing outright at the half-wounded, half-angry look on his face.

Walter, his mouth pressed into a straight line, made an ineffectual
move to cover his privates, then pulled the shower curtain aside.
"Out," he ordered.

Meanwhile, Ellie had collapsed at his feet in hysterics, her hair
plastered to her head, the sweats she'd worn to bed clinging wetly to
her. Looking up at him, she suddenly stopped laughing, hiccuping
slightly, her face gone completely serious.  Squirming slightly at his
intense stare, she got to her feet.

"Um, why don't I go make breakfast."

Walter just glowered at her.

"Right.  See you in a few minutes."  With that she beat a hasty
retreat, slamming the bathroom door behind her.

Once she was gone, Walter slumped against the shower wall, knocking
his head against the cool tile as he muttered, over and over again,
"Shit, shit, shit..."

**********************************************************

When Walter joined Ellie in the kitchen, he found her dressed in her
clothes from the day before, except for the sweater.  Instead she was
wearing one of his.  Pausing in the doorway, he was overcome with
sudden shyness.  The woman had just seen him naked, after all.

Ellie, sensing his presence, turned and smiled easily at him.
"Perfect timing.  The food's almost ready.  Pull up a chair and I'll
get you some coffee,'kay?"

Nodding, Walter complied, noting that Lulu was securely ensconced
underneath the table.

Walter watched Ellie as she bustled around the kitchen, tunelessly
humming to herself.  For the second time he found himself noticing her
body, the way it moved as she bent and reached for things, the gentle
curve of her ass where it met her waist...

As she leaned over him to set his plate and mug down, she said, "Hope
you don't mind about the sweater.  But mine's still damp from
yesterday."

With a slight bob of his head to indicate he understood, Walter bent
to the task of eating his food, grateful for the distraction.  As he
ate, he realized just how hungry he was--the last time he'd eaten was
before he'd gone out skiing yesterday afternoon.  Making short work of
the eggs, bacon  and toast, he sat back in his chair with a satisfied
sigh, picking up his coffee cup to sip at the hot liquid.  Glancing up
he caught Ellie staring at him, a thoughtful look on her face.

"What?" he said, trying to keep his tone neutral, but feeling his face
flush none-the-less.

Ellie dropped her eyes, pushing her food around on her plate.  Then
she bent over, setting it down on the floor for Lulu.  Straightening
back up she asked casually, "Um, I was just wondering.  You didn't
hear anything out of the ordinary last night, did you?"

Frowning, Walter was at first puzzled by her question, then his eyes
widened slightly when he realized what she was trying to get at.
Obviously she had never really awakened from the nightmare, even when
her eyes were open and she had been fighting him in his efforts to
calm her.  It was also obvious that the dreams took place often enough
that she was afraid she may have had one while here, in a stranger's
home.

He fiddled with the handle on his cup while he decided what, if
anything, he should tell her.  As it turned out, he didn't have to say
anything.  His silence was answer enough.

Abruptly getting to her feet, Ellie cleared the dishes from the table
and dumped them in the sink.  Turning on the hot water, she added dish
soap in preparation for washing up.

Walter, nonplused, stood as well and walked over to stand beside her.
"Let me do those.  It's only fair, since you cooked."

Deliberately averting her face from him, she said quickly, "No, no,
it's okay.  I don't mind."

Gently taking her by the shoulders, he turned her around to face him.
As their eyes met, Ellie's face slowly crumpled up, a sob escaping
from her lips before she collapsed against his chest.

Walter, feeling helpless, held her while she cried, waiting patiently
for her to regain some semblance of control.

Finally, she pulled away from him, wiping angrily at her tear-stained
face.  "Sorry."

Walter frowned.  "There's nothing to apologize for."

Ellie stared at him for a moment, then looked away, silent tears
running down her face again.

Distressed by her obvious pain, Walter shifted uncomfortably.  "Wanna
talk about it?" he asked softly.

Ellie turned back to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise.  "You
really want to know?"

Walter nodded.

"But why?  You don't even know me."

"Because," he said simply, "you look like you could use a friend right
now."

For a brief moment, it looked like she was going to cry again.  Then,
she pulled herself together, taking a deep, calming breath, before
speaking.

"Um, a little over a year ago, I was in a relationship with a man, who
had a violent temper."

Seeing Walter stiffen across from her, she quickly continued.

"But it wasn't his fault.  He was sick, mentally ill.  When he was
taking his medication, he was so sweet and gentle and kind.  And
really talented.  He used to write, short stories and poetry mostly.
But sometimes, he'd stop taking his medication.  I guess when things
were going well, he figured he didn't need it anymore.  I don't know.
I still really don't understand it.

"Anyway...He wouldn't sleep, couldn't eat and eventually he'd start
hearing voices.  We'd get into these horrible, violent fights.  I'd
threaten to leave him.  Stupid, really, because I had no intention of
leaving him.  But that would always set him off, and he'd threaten to
hurt me if I ever tried to leave."

Ellie paused, her eyes slightly glazed as she remembered a distant,
but still palpable pain.

"Everyone said I should leave him, but how could I?  He was sick.  You
wouldn't leave someone who had cancer or kidney disease.  So I wasn't
about to leave Jimmie.  That was his name, Jimmie.

"Finally, one day, it happened.  Jimmie hit me, blackening my eye.  He
cried like a baby afterwards, swore up and down he'd never do it
again, that he loved me and that he'd go back on his medication.

"But my brother, when he found out, was *so* angry.  He went out and
bought a gun and gave it to me, saying I should keep it with me just
in case Jimmie ever got completely out of control.  I told him I
didn't think that would ever happen, that Jimmie would never
deliberately try to hurt me and that he was back on his meds.  But he
insisted, so I took the gun and stuck it in the bottom of a bureau
drawer in the bedroom and promptly forgot about it.

"Things were okay for a few months after that.  Jimmie's erratic
behavior stopped and he started writing again.  But then it started
all over.  I came back from a vacation with my mom to find our place
trashed and Jimmie nowhere to be found.  I was frantic.  I knew he'd
gone off his meds again and I was so afraid he'd try to hurt himself.

"A couple days later he showed up.  He hadn't bathed, hadn't slept and
was drunk.  He was totally paranoid.  And before I knew it, he was
accusing me of trying to ruin him, of sleeping with other men, of
trying to control him and take away his work.  Things escalated really
quickly.  Looking back, I know I should have left, should have run
when he showed up looking like he did.  But I didn't.  I stayed.  God
help me, I stayed."

Covering her face with her hands, Ellie choked back a sob.  Her voice
muffled, she continued on with her story.

"He started hitting me, in the face, in the stomach, the back.  I was
on the ground begging him to stop.  But he wouldn't stop, he just kept
hitting me and hitting me.  I blacked out when he kicked me in the
head.  When I came to, he'd hauled me into the bedroom and onto the
bed.  He was sitting next to me, with the gun.  I was so scared, more
scared than I've ever been in my life, and I remember thinking how
ironic that the gun my brother gave me to protect myself with was
going to be used to kill me."

Ellie dropped her hands from her face, avoiding Walter's eyes by
staring intently out the kitchen window.

"I knew I didn't want to die, not like that, not at the hands of the
man I loved, but I was paralyzed with fear.

"And then he did something I'll never forget, that I can't ever
forget.  He turned to me, and his eyes were so clear, so sane, and he
said, "I love you, El.  I'm so sorry," and before I could say or do
anything, he took that gun, raised it to his head and pulled the
trigger."

Turning her face back to him, Ellie found herself being regarded by
soft, dark eyes, their sadness a reflection of her own pain.

"So, I came up here about six months ago, hoping to find some peace
and to finish writing a novel I started ages ago.  I've pretty much
avoided his family and my own because it just hurts too much.

"As for friends...Well, let's just say I don't make friends very
easily.  It's hard for me to open myself up to people, to trust them."

To Walter's surprise, Ellie reached out a tentative hand, gently
brushing her fingertips across his cheek before allowing it to fall
back down by her side.

"But for some reason I trust you, Walter Skinner.  I wonder why?"

Walter felt a slight shiver run through him at her touch.  He couldn't
explain it, but he felt a deep connection to this woman.  Maybe it was
because she was so vulnerable; or because she had exhibited a strength
and courage which defied all logic and reason; maybe because they had
almost died out there, on the ice, yesterday; or, maybe because her
own loneliness touched something deep inside him which he usually
preferred to keep hidden both from himself and others.  Whatever the
reason, or reasons, he didn't protest when she stood on tiptoe to
lightly brush her lips against his.  In fact, his arms encircled her,
drawing her more tightly against him so he could deepen the kiss.

They stood back from each other, their breathing a little heavier,
their eyes mirroring the other's need.

Smiling, Walter caressed her cheek, then swept her up into his arms.
Ellie, taken by surprise, grasped him by the shoulders and squeaked,
"What are you doing?"

"Taking you to bed.  It's freezing in here."

"Does this mean you're planning on ravishing me?"

Walter chuckled deep in his chest, then turned serious. "Only if you
want me too."

Ellie seemed to give his statement serious consideration, before
saying, shyly, "I think I'd like that."

Grinning, Walter carried her into the bedroom.  Depositing her on the
bed, he went to lay down beside her, when he became aware of eyes
boring a hole in the back of his head.  Turning around, he saw that
Lulu had followed them into the bedroom, and was watching them with
interest.  Although she didn't growl like last time, her hackles were
definitely up.

Ellie propped herself up on her elbows as he shoo'd the dog out of the
bedroom, a bemused expression on her face.  "Sorry 'bout that.  She
can be a bit over-protective sometimes."

Walter grimaced.  "I've been meaning to ask you about Lulu.  She
looks, um..."

"Like she's part wolf?  She is.  I got her when I first moved up here
from a farmer who said that a wolf had gotten in with one of his
border collie bitches.  He'd kept her around because of her gentle
temperament, but he was selling the farm and moving back into town.
He figured she'd never be happy in the city and wanted to find a good
home for her.  So, it's been me and Lulu ever since."

Pulling the heavy down comforter up over her, Ellie lifted the edge
slightly, patting the space next to her.  "Come and join me?"

Walter obliged, pushing her down onto her back so he could cover her
with his body. Kissing her soundly, he worked his hands under the
layers of clothing until he came into contact with her breast.  She
shuddered as he gently traced the nipple with his thumb, then kneaded
the soft flesh as he nibbled at her lower lip.

"Why don't we get you out of these," he murmured, moving to help her
shed the heavy clothing.  Once she was free of them, she tugged at his
own sweater, shirt and jeans, stripping them off of him.  Pressing her
breasts against him, she rubbed the sensitive tips against the crisp
hairs of his chest, moaning softly.

Walter wanted to take his time exploring her body.  Starting at the
tip of her slightly crooked nose, he trailed a line of wet kisses down
her front.  Pausing to flick her nipples with his tongue, he felt a
shock of arousal course through him as Ellie arched her back, pressing
her breast against his mouth, her moans becoming louder as he bit and
suckled at the rosy tip.

Wrapping her legs around him, Ellie rubbed her very hot, very wet
vagina against his abdomen as she kneaded the muscles in his shoulders
and back with her hands.  Walter removed his mouth from her breast,
then kissed her belly, dipping his tongue into the little indentation
there before moving to lay beside her.  Ellie bit back a sob as he
parted her thighs, gently stroking the sensitive skin at the entrance
to her vagina with his fingertips, before slipping one, then two
fingers inside her.

Setting up a slow, steady rhythm, he watched her as she came, throwing
her head back and crying out as her vagina spasmed around his fingers,
her thighs clamped tightly around his hand.

Thoroughly aroused now, Walter moved to kneel between her legs,
shuddering when Ellie nuzzled then tongued his ear.  Surging forward
he penetrated her, filling her completely.

"Ohgod, ohgod, ohgod," she choked, coming a second time as he began to
thrust inside her.  Running her tongue along his throat, Ellie nipped
at his chin, her hands sliding along his back to grasp his ass,
pulling him more firmly against her.

Walter could feel the tension building to an unbearable level in his
groin area as her hips rose to meet each downward stroke of his cock.
And then he was coming, his body suspended above hers as he poured his
seed, sticky and hot, inside her.

With a sigh, he sank down on top of her, his head resting in the crook
of her shoulder as he carefully withdrew.  Ellie rolled with him as he
moved to lie on his back, settling against his side as he tucked the
bedcovers around them both, surrounding them in a cocoon of warmth and
comfort.  Within minutes they were both sound asleep, their breathing
slow and even.

******************************************************************************
**

Walter was having the most wonderful dream.  Lips, warm and soft,
brushed his neck, chest and abdomen, leaving a trail of fire in their
wake.  As they moved lower, he felt a shiver of anticipation pass
through him.  And then he was enveloped by a hot, moist heat that
alternately suckled and stroked him, up and down, over and over...

A low moan escaped from between Walter's lips as, with a start, his
eyes popped open to find Ellie kneeling over him, alternately sucking
and licking at the sensitive tip and underside of his penis.  Nibbling
her way down the shaft, he gasped when she fondled his balls, then
took one, then the other into her mouth, massaging them with her
tongue as she stroked his penis firmly with her hand.  Walter was now
almost continuously moaning as she returned to the head of his penis
and took him into her mouth, gradually increasing the friction with
her lips, tongue and teeth until it became too much...Reaching down,
he tangled his fingers in the short, soft strands of her hair and
tried to pull her away.

"Ellie, I'm going to come," he rasped.

Ellie's response was to grasp him by the ass and pull him closer,
relaxing her throat so that even more of him came into contact with
her hot, wet mouth.  With a cry he came, his ejaculate hitting the
back of her throat as she held his spasming cock inside her mouth
until the shudders throughout his body subsided, and he lay still.

It took a couple minutes for his vision to clear enough for him to see
Ellie, still kneeling above him, a smug smile on her face.

Stretching herself lazily on top of his body, she said, "Good
afternoon."

Walter just grinned.  Ellie traced the dimple that formed as a result,
smiling slyly.  "So, is this why you almost never smile Walter
Skinner?  Afraid of the effect you might have on the ladies?"

Walter flushed with a combination of pleasure and embarrassment, and
then laughed outright. "Yeah, right."

Ellie, her face serious, leaned up and captured his mouth with hers,
slipping her tongue between his teeth to caress and then suck at his
tongue.  Walter felt a spark of arousal when he tasted his own semen
clinging to her lips.  Entwining his fingers in her hair, he pulled
her closer, driving his tongue into her mouth again and again, before
sucking at her lower lip.  She had a beautiful mouth.  Ellie moaned
against his lips, then sat back, straddling his thighs.  Her eyes
admiring, she caressed his chest, belly and thighs.  Walter could feel
himself flush under her frank stare, then he gasped as she rubbed her
hot, wet cunt over his partially erect penis.  His hips curled against
hers as she repeated the movement, until he was hard once again.
Reaching between them, Ellie guided him inside her, moaning as he
parted and filled her.  She sat for a moment, completely still,
reveling in the feel of him, then she began to move, her hips rotating
slightly each time she lifted them up, before sinking back down onto
him.

Walter lightly rested his hands on her waist, watching her  work
towards her orgasm, letting her set the pace.  Sliding one hand up her
back, he rested it against her neck, then forced her head down so he
could kiss and lick at her lips.  Ellie's response was to shudder and
then quicken the pace, bracing her hands against his chest.  She came
with a sob, her vagina clenching and unclenching his cock like a fist,
before she sank down into a boneless heap on his chest.

Walter, still hard, rolled her underneath him.  Draping one long leg
over each of his shoulders, he began to drive himself into her, each
thrust lifting her hips slightly from the bed, penetrating her so
deeply that she cried out in a combination of pain and pleasure.
Ellie raked her nails across his back and shoulders, finally sinking
her teeth into the side of his neck as she violently came, her hips
bucking uncontrollably against his own, her muffled cries resembling
those of a wounded animal.

Walter couldn't believe how turned on he was by this woman, as with a
sob, he came, collapsing on top of her, completely spent.

"Jesus," he gasped, sure his heart was going to explode in his chest.
"They're going to have to wheel me into the office tomorrow."

Ellie giggled, then quickly sobered.

"Um, speaking of which...Where *do* you work?"

Walter moved to lie beside her, propping his head up on his hand as he
absentmindedly caressed her belly.

"FBI Headquarters.  I'm an Assistant Director."

Ellie just grinned, resting her hand on top of his.  "Why did I guess
law enforcement."

Walter grinned back.  "That obvious, huh?"

Cupping his cheek with her hand, Ellie nodded.  "Yeah, it is.  You
need to laugh more, Walter Skinner."

With a sigh, he turned his face so that his lips could brush her palm.
Then taking her hand in his, he said, "You know, I have to leave soon
if I'm going to make it back to D.C. by tonight."

"Yeah, I know."

Walter, feeling suddenly shy, looked intently down at where their
hands were joined.  "Um, this doesn't have to end here...Not if you
don't want it to, Ellie."

Ellie slowly withdrew her hand from his, and then sat up and leaned
against the headboard so she could root around under the covers for
her clothes.  Climbing out of bed she started to get dressed, her back
to him.

Walter, puzzled, watched her with mounting concern.

As she went to pull on his sweater, she abruptly burst into tears.
"Of course it has to end, Walter."

"Oh, Ellie..."  Getting out of bed, Walter took her into his arms,
holding her against him.  Pushing him away, Ellie pulled the sweater
on over her head, wiping at her tears with the sleeve.  "Is it okay if
I borrow this, just until I get home?"

Walter felt white hot anger suddenly overwhelm him.  She was acting as
if he'd fucked her and then was throwing her out on her ass into the
snow.

"Keep the goddamn sweater, Ellie.  I don't care about the fucking
sweater."

Her eyes flashed green fire as her hands moved to her hips, her head
tipped back to glare up at him.

"And what *do* you care about, Walter Skinner?" she challenged.

"You, for god's sake!  What the hell do you think I've been trying to
say here?" he shouted.

"Then why didn't you say *that*, instead of leaving whether we see
each other or not up to me?" Ellie said softly, staring at him with
wide, hurt eyes.

Leaning his forehead against hers, Walter let out an exasperated sigh,
as his anger slowly drained away.

"I don't know.  Maybe because of your past.  Maybe because I'm in the
middle of a really ugly divorce.  Maybe because I don't know if I can
give you what you need.  I just don't know, Ellie.  I just don't
know."

Ellie, stood stiffly against him for a few moments, then relaxed as
she put her arms around him, hugging him tightly against her.  "It's
okay, Walter.  I understand.  Go get dressed.  I'd like for you to
drop me and Lulu home before you leave, okay?"

Feeling more than a little sad and frustrated, Walter did as she
asked.

**********************************************************

FBI Headquarters
Washington, DC
Eleven Months Later
7:00 a.m.

Walter Skinner sat at his desk early one Thursday morning, going over
the usual case files and budget reports, before signing off on them.
He had meetings scheduled all day long with some of the higher ups in
the Bureau, one of which dealt specifically with the X-files.  It
seemed like every few months he had to haul his ass upstairs and
provide the brass with yet another justification for keeping the
division open.  Not a task he looked forward to, but one which he
deemed to be necessary.

Although just thinking about it was giving him a headache.
Removing his glasses, he pinched the bridge of his nose, just as a
faint knock sounded on the outer door to his office.  Usually he'd let
his assistant, Kimberly, get it, but she didn't generally come in
before 8:00.

Getting up, Walter poked his head out his office door to see a
security guard standing on the other side of the outer office's glass
window.  Frowning slightly, he went to let him in.

"What can I do for you," he asked.

The guard, clearly nervous at having to deal with the A.D., thrust a
package wrapped in plain brown paper at him. Mumbling something about
it being left downstairs for him and how it had already been checked
out to make sure it wasn't a bomb or nothin', he scurried away down
the hall towards the elevators.

Walter, his frown deepening, took the package back into his office.
Setting it on his desk, he stared at it for a while.  There was no
return address of any kind, or postage for that matter.  The only
thing was his name scribbled in black ink on the front, in a familiar
script.

Finally, his curiosity got the better of him and he unwrapped it.  It
was a hardbound copy of a book.  His eyes widened when he saw who the
author was.  Ellen Pearson.

Ellie.  He hadn't thought about her very much in the last couple
months.  For the first five months after that fateful winter day when
he'd pulled her and her dog out of the pond, they had maintained a
sporadic, but lively correspondence by email and phone.  They hadn't
seen each other though.  She never came to D.C. and he had ended up
giving the cabin to Beth as part of the divorce settlement, a fact
that still griped him to no end, especially since she had immediately
turned around and sold it.

The fact that Ellie had never offered him an invitation to come up and
see her had hurt at first, but he had eventually gotten over it.  He
had never really quite figured out what he had meant to her, or she to
him.  And Ellie had seemed to prefer to keep it that way, to maintain
a certain distance from him.

God, had it really been that long?

Opening the cover of the book, a note slipped out onto his desk.
Putting on his glasses, he squinted at the small, even writing he
associated with Ellie.

Walter,

I hope this finds you well and happy.  I finally did it Walter, I'm a
published author.  I'm so proud.  And I owe so much of it to you and
to your gift to me during a very dark period in my life.

Take care.  I will always love you, Walter Skinner.

Ellie

P.S.  Be sure and look at the dedication. E

Flipping to the dedication page, Walter flushed when he saw what it
said:

To Walter, for rescuing me and keeping the ghosts at bay.

Walter leaned back in his chair, and sat thinking, cradling the book
in his lap.  His assistant, Kimberly found him still sitting like that
when she arrived some 30 minutes later.

At her arrival, Walter stood up, pulled his government issue trench
coat on and made a surprising request.

"Kimberly, I want you to cancel all my appointments for today and
tomorrow."

"Sir?" she said startled.

"You heard me.  Oh, and tell Agents Mulder and Scully that our
briefing on the Cummings' case will have to wait until Monday morning.
Is that understood."

Kimberly just nodded.  "Um, yes sir.  But what do I say your reason
is?  They're going to want to know."

Walter stood for a minute considering.  Then smiled slightly.  "Just
tell them I took the day off; that I had some personal business to
attend to."

With that he was out the door before Kimberly could detain him any
longer with her questions.

***********************************************************

Walter made good time up to the Ellie's cabin.  He had gone home first
to change, transferring his overnight bag from his blue sedan to his
Jeep before taking off again.  When he arrived a few hours later, he
was surprised by how similar the cabin looked to the last time he'd
last seen it.  Even though she hadn't invited him inside when he'd
dropped her and Lulu off on his way down the mountain, it had left a
strong impression; one of warmth, stolidity and coziness.  Putting the
Jeep in park, he got out and approached the door, his figure casting
long shadows in the late afternoon winter sun.

He had just raised his hand to knock, when the door opened inwards
revealing a grizzled old man and his dog.  Walter took a step back in
surprise.

"Can I help you with somethin', son?"

Walter, confused, turned to look back towards his car and at the
surrounding countryside.  Maybe he'd made a wrong turn somewhere?

The old man made a coughing sound deep in his throat, drawing Walter's
attention back to him.

"If you're lookin' for the young woman who used to live here, she
packed up that newborn and dog of hers and left a couple months ago."

"Excuse me, what did you say?"  Walter suddenly felt like he was in
the middle of his own personal nightmare.

Giving the stranger a curious look, the old man repeated himself, a
bit more slowly this time.  "I said, she packed up that newborn and
wolf-dog of hers and left..."

Walter held up a hand to stop him from going on.  "Any idea where they
went?"

The old man shook his head.  "Nope.  Just said it was time for her to
rejoin the livin' and that she'd best be movin' on.  You might want to
check in town.  Someone there's bound to know."

Walter thanked the man and quickly walked back to his Jeep.  He was
just about to throw the car into gear when he slumped back in his seat
and cut the engine.  A baby.  Ellie had had a baby.  Was it possible
that it was his?  Walter did the math in his head and came to the only
conclusion he could.  Slamming the car into first, he headed down the
mountain to the Town of Lewisburg, West Virginia.

His inquiries there lead him to the general store where Ellie, and all
the residents of the small town, bought their food and supplies.  The
owner added little to what he already knew.  Yeah, Ms. Pearson was in
here with a baby.  A baby girl named Emma.  No, he didn't know where
she'd gone, she pretty much kept to herself.  One of those reclusive
writer types, ya know.

Walter, feeling his frustration and anger growing, debated whether to
leave town and head back to D.C. or to stay the night and begin his
search anew the following morning.  Given the hour, he decided to
stay, booking a room in one of the two hotels in town.

Lying down on the double bed in his room with his hands behind his
head, he stared at the ceiling and considered for the first time that
maybe the reason Ellie hadn't told him about the baby was because she
didn't want him to know.  She'd made it clear, early on, that she
didn't want him in her life, at least not as a lover.  But then why go
to the trouble of getting a copy of her new book to him?  And what was
that "I'll always love you," business about?

Remembering that he'd packed her book and the note in his overnight
bag, Walter got it, rereading the note as if it might hold some clue
to her whereabouts.  As he did so, the book fell open to the page
listing the publisher's information.

The publisher...That's it, he'd contact the publisher.  Not
surprisingly they were New York based.  Glancing at his watch, he saw
it was only 6:00 p.m.  It was still possible someone was in the
office.

After a couple phone calls, he was able to get the number for one of
the publisher's fiction editors.  Impatiently tapping his pen while
the phone rang, Walter went over in his head what he was going to say
to get the information he wanted.  If he had to he was willing to
claim she was a witness in a federal case and that she had failed to
notify them of her whereabouts before moving, or some such nonsense.

On the sixth ring a cranky voice finally picked up.  "Lo, who's this?"

"Sorry to disturb you so late in your day, sir, but I was wondering if
you could help me."

Walter had just started his song and dance about Ellen Pearson and
needing to locate her when the man on the other end of the line
interrupted him.

"Ellen Pearson?  Is she a new author?  I don't handle new authors.
Morrie Winthrop does and he's left for the day.  You'll have to call
back tomorrow."

The lid Walter had been trying to keep on his emotions for the last
few hours just blew at that point.

"Look here, I don't know who you think you are and frankly I don't
care, but I will not have a federal case jeopardized because you don't
feel like doing your job.  So my suggestion to you is to get off your
ass and find Ellen Pearson's address and telephone number for me, is
that understood?"

For a heart stopping moment there was silence on the other end of the
line.  Then a hurried, "Okay, okay, no need to be rude about it.  Let
me see what I can find out."

Walter sighed with relief.  It had worked.

A few moments later, the man came back on line.  "Okay, this is what
we have for an address..."

Walter quickly scribbled down the information, then thanked the editor
for his time before hanging up.

It turned out that Ellie was less than an hour's drive away in
Roanoke, Virginia.  That would give him plenty of time to figure out
what he was going to say to her when he got there.

***********************************************************

About 45 minutes later Walter pulled up in front of the small,
two-story brick house on Washington Avenue where Ellen Pearson had
recently taken up residence.

Since lights shone through both the upstairs and downstairs windows,
Walter guessed she was home.

Walking up to the door, he grasped the door knocker and rapped twice
before shoving his hands in his pockets.  After a few moments, the
door opened inwards, revealing Ellie and Lulu.

Ellie didn't even blink when she saw Walter standing on her doorstep.
It was almost as if she were expecting him.
"Walter, it's nice to see you.  Come on in."

With a scowl, he pushed past her into the house's narrow entranceway.
Sensing his anger, Lulu made a low growling noise in her throat.

"Put Lulu outside Ellie.  We need to talk."

Ellie looked at him with wide eyes, then, taking Lulu by the collar
led her away to the kitchen and the door leading out back.

Returning to find Walter standing in the middle of her living room,
Ellie moved to sit on the sofa, patting the space next to her.

"Come sit down.  You're right, we do have a lot to talk about."

Walter just glared down at her, struggling to keep his usually tightly
controlled emotions in hand.  She had changed a great deal since he'd
last seen her.  Her hair was longer, just brushing the tops of her
shoulders.  She was also wearing makeup, and clothing that was more
suited to her slender figure.

"Where is she Ellie? I want to see my daughter."

Ellie stood up as well, closing the height difference between them
somewhat.  Crossing her arms across her chest, she said quietly, "Did
you come here to fight, Walter Skinner, or to talk?"

Walter, his dark eyes intense, stepped closer to her.  "Why Ellie?
Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

Ellie, her eyes suddenly sad, looked away.  "I don't know."

The anger that had started to abate somewhat during the drive to
Roanoke flared at her words.  "You don't know?  You shut me out of
your life, and out of our child's life, and you don't know why?"

Walter Skinner didn't consider himself to be a violent man, but at
that moment he wanted to shake her, shake her until her teeth hurt.

Shocked by his own thoughts, he deliberately stepped away from her,
putting a chair between the two of them.  Turning to fiddle with the
photos on the mantle piece, one of them of Ellie and an infant girl,
he said evenly.  "I want to see my daughter, Ellie."

Ellie sighed.  "Of course you do.  I'll go get her."

As Walter anxiously waited for Ellie to return with the baby he
considered his options.  Somehow he had to convince Ellie that having
him in her life was in the baby's best interests.  Clearly that was
going to be a tough sell since she'd already made the decision not to
include him.

Ellie came downstairs with their baby wrapped in a yellow blanket with
purple dinosaurs all over it.  Walking over to where Walter stood, she
held his daughter out to him.  She smiled at the sudden look of panic
that crossed his face.  "Go ahead, Walter, hold her.  She won't
break."

Walter gingerly took the baby into his arms, being careful to support
her head.  She was beautiful.  She had a thick head of brown curly
hair, her father's dark brown eyes and her mother's fair skin.  Walter
swallowed convulsively, completely overwhelmed.  Handing Emma back to
her mother, he went to sit down on the sofa, burying his face in his
hands.

"What are we going to do, Ellie?  After seeing her, I can't just walk
out of here and pretend I don't have a child."

Ellie sat down next to him, gently resting a hand on his arm.  "I
know.  I should have told you.  But I just couldn't.  I was so afraid
that you'd do something stupid, and noble, and want to marry me.  And
I knew that would be a mistake.  Not after Jimmie.  Not after your
divorce.  We both have so much healing to do still, ya know?"

Walter looked up at her, his eyes drawn to the little bundle which was
nuzzling at her mother's breast.

"Are you breast feeding her?"

Ellie smiled.  "Yeah, I am.  And I think she's hungry again.  She's
always hungry.  Although, now that I'm working up at the college I
can't always be here to feed her."

"You're working?  Doing what?"  Walter watched fascinated as Ellie
undid the buttons of her blouse, pulling her bra aside so that the
baby could nurse.

"I'm teaching English and Creative Writing.  It's a lot of fun.  And
it's only 3/4 time, so I have time for Emma and my writing."

Walter reached out a tentative hand to gently stroke the back of his
daughter's head as she suckled her mother's breast.  He was amazed by
the array of powerful emotions that washed over him as he watched this
simple act--pride, love, awe, a fierce protectiveness and even desire.
 

When it was clear Emma was satisfied, after being shifted to the other
side to make doubly sure, Ellie handed her over to her father, pulling
her bra back into place and rebuttoning her top.

"Come on, I'll show you the nursery."

Walter followed her upstairs with Emma in his arms, smiling when he
saw the nursery proper.  It was done in bright blues and reds, with
stuffed animals, books and learning toys spilling out of shelves and
boxes and onto the floor.  Taking Emma from him, Ellie put her in her
crib, making sure she was tucked in.  Turning on the music box/mobile
overhead, the two of them silently stood together watching as Emma
drifted off to sleep.

Brushing his hand with hers, Ellie indicated for him to quietly follow
her back out into the hallway.  Leaving the nursery room door slightly
ajar, she turned to find him staring at her intently.

"I missed you Ellie."

"I know.  I missed you too, Walter."

"But," he prompted.

Ellie shook her head.  "No buts.  I was just too scared to become
involved with anyone, especially so soon after what happened with me
and Jimmie.  And then when I found out I was pregnant, I really didn't
know what to do.  I'd spent so much time pushing you away that I
couldn't imagine you'd want anything to do with me and I didn't want
you to feel like you'd been trapped."

Leaning against the hallway wall, Walter sighed.  "I think understand,
Ellie.  But it doesn't make it hurt any less."

Ellie, the tears welling up in her eyes, whispered, "I know."

Moving to cradle her face between his hands, he brushed the tears away
as they began to fall with his lips, finally placing a kiss at the
corner of her mouth.  Ellie sighed at his touch.  Standing on tiptoe,
she deepened the kiss, caressing his tongue with her own, then
allowing him to return the favor.  With an effort she pulled away from
him and took him by the hand, leading him next door to her bedroom.

When she went to turn off the overhead light she'd left on earlier, he
stopped her.

"No, I want to see you."  Smiling, he stripped her of everything but
her panties, trailing his hands over her body as he did so.  Her
breasts were fuller than he remembered, the nipples larger and darker.
Bending his head, he teased them into hardened peaks, milky white
fluid gathering at their tips.  Ellie observed him through slitted
eyes, to see what he would do.  She shuddered as Walter swirled his
tongue around their edges, cleaning the milk away before stepping back
and removing his own clothing while Ellie watched, her eyes darkening
with unspoken need.

Their lovemaking was gentle, unhurried, Walter holding back because he
didn't want to hurt her, despite her protests to the contrary.  It
served both as an affirmation of their deep caring for one another and
their love for and connection to the child sleeping dreamlessly in the
room next door.

THE END.