From: XF-Piper@worldnet.att.net Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 02:51:55 GMT Subject: *NEW* "Precious" (1/1) "Precious" (1/1) by Piper **WARNING*--nothing but a Mulder&Scully romance ahead...no X-Files, no strange mutants, no Bambi's to screw things up. Just lots of Mulder-angst (some Scully-angst, but not as much) as they finally admit their true feelings =). So, anti-romantics, TURN BACK NOW! I have warned you... **There are no NC-17 parts in THIS one, so all you kiddies are free to read it. Not the sequel, though, which is still under construction. Stay away from that one, before the Smut Police come after me ;) **Disclaimer: Don't own them. Never have, never will. Thanks to CC, 1013, GA, DD, blah blah blah (I don't want to write this anymore than you want to read it, but I don't want to be sued...heh.) **This one's for Cheryl, who pestered me and pestered me until I finally broke down and wrote this. The 'strawberry-scented-hair' is for you, Pooky! (hehehehehe) =). Thanks for the title. And I'm WORKING on the sequel, so stop yelling at me!** E-mail me (XF-Piper@postoffice.worldnet.att.net) with your opinions, cuz this is my first fanfic, and I want to know if I should continue with it....Thanks... Okay, enough of that....onto the story.... ***************************************************************************** *PRECIOUS* The pale moonlight filtered through the drawn blinds, illuminating the darkened room, sending long beams of light criss-crossing onto the floor. A small figure, curled snugly up in a blanket on an overstuffed armchair, was oblivious to the hushed television which droned softly from the corner. The glimmering moonshine caught upon the woman's hair, turning the bright strands to fire, the only spot of color in the otherwise obscured room. That was how he found her. Fox Mulder stood in the doorway, mesmerized by the scene laid out before him. His hungry soul, lonely for so long, drank in the precious sight, and he felt a surge of emotion flood through him, one that he had dared not define as of yet, but which existed nonetheless. The day had been a trying one, with short tempers and thinly-veiled insults prevalent in the cramped basement office where they had spent most of the afternoon. There was paperwork to be done that could no longer be postponed, piles and piles of unorganized files and papers and other miscellaneous odds and ends filling the room, forcing Dana Scully and Fox Mulder to spend their time sifting and sorting through all of them. Mulder had been especially impatient, itching to get started on a new case which had crossed his desk from unknown channels, and he saw this mundane task as an annoying obstacle in his path. And he was determined to make Scully as miserable as he was. Scully had woken up that morning in an unusually sunny mood, the gray clouds looming outside her window having no effect upon her. She had breezed into the office, bringing with her the clean scent of soap, fresh air, and flowers. Flashing a beaming smile at Mulder, who was engrossed in an open file that lay on his desk, she immediately headed over to a large stack of papers that prevented her from reaching her chair, beginning the arduous task of arranging them into some semblance of order. Mulder, for his part, scowled at his unsuspecting partner, sighing loudly as he closed the folder and stomped over to an adjoining pile. The rest of the day had promptly gone downhill for the both of them... Standing now on the outskirts of the room, staring at his partner's slumbering form, Mulder felt a wave of shame sweep over him at his behavior. She didn't deserve a bad attitude, especially from him, who owed her so much, and he wondered for the millionth time why she stayed by his side. He knew how very much *he* needed her; how she was the very air he breathed, how she kept him alive and strong, and gave him the power to continue in a search that was not even hers. But his bewildered mind couldn't comprehend why she had remained...what *he* possibly gave to her. She had lost so much because of him--her illusions had been shattered, her sister ruthlessly murdered, and three months of her life remained shrouded in mystery. His mind, finely honed and brilliant, but used to being alone, couldn't begin to discern why she put up with him and all his crazy obsessions. Mulder's reverie was broken by a muffled sound, so faint that only his FBI-trained senses would have been able to catch it. His sharp eyes scanned the room, searching for hidden predators, sinking instinctively down into a tense crouch. The sound came again, and this time he was able to recognize it. But the realization was little comfort. The darkness of the night had hidden from his eyes the evidence of tear-tracks which glistened upon Scully's cheeks; his preoccupied mind had missed the tiny catches in her breathing and the way she was convulsively clutching the blanket to her chest. He found himself staring at her, his muddled psyche attempting to accept the notion that the indestructible Dana Scully was doing the unthinkable--she was slowly breaking down. Cautiously venturing farther into the room, his forehead crinkled slightly, he tentatively walked to the chair where she was huddled. He dropped hesitantly to his knees in front of her, his eyes searching her face, which was turned slightly towards him. Noting the dried tracks upon her flushed cheeks and the tears that continued to seep from underneath her dark lashes despite the fact that she was deep in sleep, he found himself anguished, wondering if he had caused this uncharacteristic response in his partner. He was afraid that he knew the answer already, but he was praying that he would be proved wrong. Scully's face was troubled, her sleep fitful and uneasy. Her fingers were clenching and unclenching uncontrollably; hiccuped sobs punctuated her ragged breathing. Mulder, kneeling at her side, felt his heart aching at her obviously fragile emotional state. Reaching out a trembling hand, he slid his fingers into her hair, and while cupping her face in his palms, he tenderly wiped her tears away with his thumbs. Scully surfaced from her slumber to the slightest of touches upon her skin, and her senses, ravaged by her raging emotions, only registered the gentleness of it, and she unthinkingly let her guard down. "Mulder..." she sighed, her eyelids fluttering. He smiled involuntarily in response, pleased by the implicit trust he heard in her voice. His gentle fingers lingered upon her face, an unexplained need within him kept them there, caressing the soft skin, tracing the delicate bone structure which lay just beneath the surface. Pressing her face slightly into the pressure of his palms, Scully slowly opened her tear-brightened eyes. Crystal blue locked onto warm hazel. They stared at each other for a long moment. Time was suspended. All the barriers that had existed between them for so long came tumbling down, revealing pent-up emotions and supressed desires. As Scully's sleep-clouded mind cleared, her protective defenses took control. To Mulder's eyes, it was as if an inner shutter had suddenly slammed closed, shutting him out again. He had so very rarely been allowed entrance to that inner sanctuary where she kept her emotions tightly locked down, and he treasured those stolen times. He knew that on the rare occasions when she had lost her control, he was the one she turned to for comfort, even though she considered vulnerability, no matter how brief her descent into it was, to be a great weakness. Mulder was aware that she believed that he thought less of her in those infrequent moments, but he knew the truth--they only made him admire her more. Scully, disturbed by the touch of his hands, jerked her head back, out of his grasp, and dropped her gaze. Mulder's hands fell slowly back to his sides. "What are you doing here, Mulder?" she asked tiredly, flustered by the aching of loss she felt with the removal of his warmth. Twisting around in the chair, she swung her legs to the floor. He was forced to stand, to get out of the way, or else she probably would have hit him. Standing up, towering over her, he gazed down curiously at her small figure, which was struggling untangle itself from the constricting blanket. "I couldn't sleep," he answered simply. "And for some reason I found myself here." Scully sighed, fully aware of his endless battle with insomnia, of the nightmares that plagued him, asleep or awake. She finally managed to extricate herself from the quilt, and standing upright, she pushed past him to head into the kitchen. "And you just let yourself in?" she threw the question over her shoulder as he followed her into the room, leaning against the door frame. "Well, you didn't answer your door. I was worried," Mulder studied her profile as she busied herself making coffee. "Did you ever consider that maybe I didn't answer the door," she paused, deliberately allowing the moment to stretch, "because I really didn't want to see *you* after today?" A flicker of pain crossed his features, and her resolve melted at the lost-little-boy look that settled upon his face. "Oh, Mulder," Scully murmured wearily. "I didn't mean that. I'm just so exhausted, and it's been such a long day, and...I don't know. I'm just really tired." Mulder studied her, noting the slight slump to her shoulders and they way her head was bowed, as if the weight of it had suddenly become too heavy for the slender slope of her neck to support. The temptation was too irresistible for him to avoid. He reached out his hand and brushed his fingers gently across her sensitive nape. Scully shivered at the contact, allowing his warmth to linger for a moment, savoring it, then, regaining her control, she shrugged his hand off of her. "Scully, what's wrong?" he whispered, the soft tone of concern doing funny things to her heartbeat. She stood silently for a moment, looking down at the coffee mugs in her hands, her hair acting as a curtain, shielding her expression from him. Then she shook her head slightly and sucked a deep, calming breath of air into her lungs. "Nothing," she answered decidedly, shoving a cup into his hands. "I'm fine, Mulder." With that, she pushed past him into the living room. He stood alone in the kitchen, a tense muscle in his jaw working angrily as he fought to hold onto his rapidly-dwindling patience. Placing his coffee cup down onto the table, he lost the battle. "Of course you're *fine*," he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear him. "You're always *fine*. Wonder why I never believe you, though." She was standing near the window now, her form bathed in the moonlight that reflected off her smooth skin, giving her an almost ethereal glow. Mulder felt his breath catch in his throat at her beauty, his heart constricting painfully in his chest. Gazing out over the street, she appeared angelic to his eyes, and in that surreal moment, he knew. All the feelings that he had denied for so long rushed to the surface, overwhelming his stunned senses, flooding him with their richness. He realized, without a doubt in his heart, how very much he loved this proud, independent, stubborn woman. How she filled the voids in his soul, empty for so long, and made his life worth all the pain he had endured. She was his reward. Scully tilted her tiny chin defiantly in his direction, turning the slightest fraction towards him. "If you don't believe me," she began, "then that is *your* problem, and *you're* gonna have to deal with it." "I have been dealing with it, Scully," he answered. "I've tried not to be too protective of you...but there's something in me that always tries to take care of you.' "Why?" Scully challenged, not moving from her position beside the window, not looking at him. "I never asked you to. I'm fully capable of taking care of myself." "I know that," Mulder replied. "It's just that..." his voice trailed off as he hesitated, not sure if he could tell her what he really wanted to say, if he would be able to take that irreversible leap, to bare his soul to her. "What?" Scully was quickly losing her patience as he dawdled. Staring at her profile, Mulder decided that he could no longer pretend that there was nothing between them, that they were simply partners, with nothing between them except friendship. He wanted more. He *needed* more. Scully, with her back turned to him, didn't notice as he crossed the room to stand close behind her. She didn't see the raw emotion that marked his face, or the way his eyes glittered down at her with supressed longing. Mulder remained motionless for a moment, his warmth blending with hers. She stiffened a tiny bit as she realized where he was, how near he was, how he was invading her personal space, as he had done so often in the past. But this time was so different, for both of them. Silence reigned in the room, broken only by the harsh ragged sounds of their breathing. He lowered his face down into the curve of her shoulder, his warm breath tickling her cheek, at the same time reaching out and placing his hands on either side of her slender waist, resting just above her hips. She gasped at his touch, closing her eyes as a shiver ran down her spine. "Maybe, I try to take care of you...," Mulder whispered, his senses filled with the heady scent of her hair. Strawberries. God, how he loved the smell of strawberries. Especially on her. "...because you mean so much to me. Because I care about you." Scully's breath began to come faster, and her heartbeat increased its already frantic pace. "Mulder, I don't...I don't understand," she stammered nervously, trying to maintain her focus and composure. He inhaled deeply, gathering the last bit of courage from the depths of his soul. He had gone too far to back down now, and besides that, he was tired of the facade, of the denial, and he just wanted it all to end. It was time to move forward. "Are you sure you don't understand, Scully?" Mulder whispered, his mouth close to her ear. She began to tremble in reaction. "Are you really so uncertain?" "Mulder...," she murmured breathlessly. "What are you talking about? Uncertain about..." His voice, lowered and husky, cut off her words. "Scully, look at me..." he paused, "Turn around and look at me." She remained motionless, fighting against the inexorable, sensual pull of his tone, but she was defenseless against its power. Her head bowed, her position one of instinctive defense, she slowly turned in his loose embrace, his palms forming a ring around her waist as she moved. Not lifting her eyes from the wild brightness of his tie, she stood stiffly, avoiding the moment when she would have to meet his gaze. Mulder allowed her this, aware that he couldn't press her too fast, for what they had was too delicate, too fragile, at risk of irreversible damaged that could be hastened by careless, impatient words. The emotions that existed at the core of their relationship were as strong as polished steel, but the feelings just below the surface were as brittle as the most valuable crystal, worn thin by the relentless scrutiny and the danger they faced if they admitted, even to themselves, the power and depth of their bond. So he knew he would have to tread lightly, fearful of scaring her away with his urgency. "Scully..." he began, looking down at the crown of her head, her face tilted towards the floor, away from his sight. "I'm sorry I was such a jerk today...I was just impatient, and preoccupied, and I took it out on you," he hesitated, then whispered softly, "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve it." "It's okay, Mulder," she answered slowly. "It's forgotten." "Well, obviously it's not, because you were crying," he pressed. Scully stiffened even more in his arms, though he had been convinced that she couldn't get any more rigid. "I wasn't crying," she challenged, lifting her head defiantly, daring him to contradict her. He smiled gently, choosing not to fight her. "All right," he agreed. She looked at him suspiciously, not trusting that he would let it go that easily, but he just looked back at her innocently. A tiny answering smile quirked at the corner of her mouth. "What do you want, Mulder?" Scully sighed, dropping her head again to stare at his tie. "What do I want?" he repeated, considering how exactly he wanted to answer her. Gazing down at her, he decided that it was time to throw all caution to the wind. "Well, Scully, I want..." he let the seconds stretch as she fidgeted in his hold, before whispering the last word, "...*you*." Time, which she had once archly told him was a 'universal invarient', stopped. Her blood was pounding in her ears as her eyes, drawn by some irresistible command, rose up to meet his gaze. He had leaned in slightly towards her, his breath warm on her face, a tender expression brightening his eyes, and as she stared at him, open-mouthed, she knew he had been telling the truth. All the ramifications came crashing down upon her, and she began to shake. Mulder slowly closed the last remaining space between them, slipping his arms all the way around her trembling body, sheltering her in his warm embrace. Scully, all her strength drained, collapsed, boneless, against him, burying her face in his chest as her hands clutched a death-grip onto the lapels of his jacket. He lowered his face into the curve of her neck, breathing in her unique scent. "I love you, Dana," he whispered against her throat. At his words, the hold she had been keeping for so long on her emotions snapped, and she lost control, her tears spilling out and soaking the front of his shirt. Mulder only held her tighter, his eyes glistening as he waited for the storm to subside. At last, her sobs quieted to small sniffles, and her hands loosened, sliding around him to return his comforting hug. Mulder raised his hands to her head, stroking her hair gently before entangling his fingers in the bright strands. With a soft tug, he pulled her head back slightly, so that he could look down into her tear-stained face. Her face told him everthing he needed to know. Her blue eyes were shining with yet unshed tears, but they were tears of happiness. She blinded him with the force of her smile, and he found himself drowning in the depths of her joy. "Oh, Mulder..." Scully murmured. "I was not expecting *that*." "Yeah, well.." he flashed his irrepressible boyish grin at her. "I always did know how to press your buttons." She gave him her special patented Scully-look that she reserved specifically for him, in response to his humor, then her face grew serious. "What are we gonna do, Mulder?" He sighed, resting his forehead on top of hers, his warm breath mingling with hers. "I don't know. What I do know is that I'm sick of hiding my feelings, of denying that you are everything that I have ever wanted, or needed, and how you've managed to drive all the darkness away...how you've become the most important thing in my whole twisted, demented, lonely life..." his voice trailed helplessly off. Scully, no longer uncertain, slipped her hands up and ran her fingers into his rumpled hair before pulling his mouth down to hers. A shock of pleasure ran through his body at the first gentle touch of her lips, then his starved senses took over, and he crushed her body to his, his mouth slanting forcefully over hers. To be continued....(aren't I cruel? ) The sequel, "Precious Moments", is coming soon... (as soon as I get enough time to finish it ;) ****************************************************************** ~Piper, A Very Proud Member of the Relationshippers' Movement~ ****************************************************************** "Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction." ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~~"The best proof of love is trust."~~ "Scully, you are the *only* one I trust." (WetWired) "I don't trust them. I *want* to trust *you*." (Ice) "Mulder, you're the only one *I* trust." (E.B.E.) "Before, I could only trust myself. Now I can trust only you, and they've taken you away from me." (Little Green Men) ************************************************************** From: XF-Piper@worldnet.att.net Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 17:35:14 GMT Subject: *NEW* "Precious Moments"(NC-17) "Precious Moments" by Piper **WARNING**-This is the sequel to "Precious", and while I would love to say that you don't need to read that one, it would probably make more sense to you if you did, because it picks up where the other left off. BE WARNED!!! It is rated either R or NC-17 (because it's not as bad as some I've read but it's not as innocent as others ;) ), so please, if you are underage or easily offended by descriptions of romantic, sexual love between Scully and Mulder, turn back now!! Anti-romantics, this means *you* =) **DISCLAIMER**-Still don't own them....if I did, they would be married by now, and all this ridiculous controversy between us and the anti-romantics would be a moot point ;) and we could all just move on with our lives... **This one is again for Cheryl, cuz she's my bestest friend in the whole world, even if she didn't think I would ever actually write something like this. She also came up with the titles, and I thank her for them, because I probably wouldn't have ever come up with one myself....Okay, Cheryl, what's the title of the next story gonna be? **PLEASE, PLEASE e-mail me (XF-Piper@postoffice.worldnet.att.net) with your opinions. Cheryl tells me that she likes it, but since she's kinda biased, I need outside opinions.... ************************************************************************* *Precious Moments* Scully raised herself up on tiptoe to better reach his searching mouth, sliding her arms around his neck to give her easier access. He tightened his hold on her waist in response and pulled her up higher, her toes just barely brushing the floor. "Scully," he groaned, lifting his head slightly to gaze deeply into her eyes, the rasp of his breathing loud in the hushed room. He almost lost the rigid hold he was keeping on his control when he saw her passion-clouded eyes and bemused expression, and the realization that he was doing that to her gave him a heady rush of power. With a muffled moan his mouth settled down on hers again. Her sweet response was his ultimate undoing. In a maneuver which elicited a suprised gasp from Scully, Mulder swept her up into his arms, his mouth never lifting from the sugary promise of hers. Her laugh smothered against his chest, he carried her ceremoniously into her bedroom, and, pausing by the side of the large bed, he allowed her to slide lingeringly down the front of his body. The touch of his hardened frame against hers sobered her quickly, sending a thrill of pleasure through her small shape. "Mulder..." she whispered longingly, her hand coming up to stroke the line of stubble darkening his jaw, which was giving him a slightly rascal-like look. He closed his eyes slowly, pressing his cheek firmly into the pressure of her palm. He hesitated, unsure of what to do, wanting her to make the next move so that he could be sure that she wanted this as much as he did. Then he felt her other hand, which had resting lightly on his arm, slide up to the knot of his tie, and she began to loosen it. His eyes flew open and he stared down at her, hardly believing her actions, and was amazed at the beguiling smile that painted her beautiful face. An answering smile crossed his face as she pulled his tie free with a flourish and moved on to the buttons of his shirt, never breaking eye contact. Pulling his shirt out of his trousers, she slipped it off his shoulders and let it drop to the floor by their feet. Scully felt her mouth go dry as she was confronted by the sight of his chest, presented to her in all its bare glory. She had seen him shirtless before, when she had had had to play doctor with him when he was hurt, but never in the way she really wanted to. So she wasn't quite prepared for the rush of hot desire that flooded through her as she saw him now, knowing that his nakedness was all for her. "Oh, God, Mulder," she breathed, the tiny pink tip of her tongue appearing as she tried to moisten her suddenly chapped lips. The flame in his hazel eyes grew brighter at her tone, and he was moved to action, his fingers fumbling with the buttons of her cream-colored blouse, sliding it off her helpless body as he succeeded in his attempt. He ran a gentle finger along the edge of her white satin bra, his lips curving in satisfaction as he noted the increased raggedness of her breathing. "This is pretty," Mulder murmured, fingering the lace that framed the soft slope of her breasts. "Hmmm..." she answered. "I thought so. I bought it with..." he voice trailed off shyly, uncertain if she wanted to finish her revealing sentence. He glanced up, suprised to see her blushing delicately. "What?" he questioned, amused. Scully's blush deepened, turning her face a delectable pink. "I...I bought it with *you* in mind, wondering what you'd do if you ever saw it...and what you'd look like when you did..." "Yeah?" he drawled, causing her to smile as he drew out the syllable. "And how do I look?" "Impressed..." she whispered back, eyes twinkling. "Hell, yeah, I'm impressed," Mulder groaned, dropping to sit on the edge of the bed and burying his face into the warmth of her skin. "I'm more than impressed. I'm..." he paused, searching for the right word, "...speechless." "Yeah, I'm sure," she mocked gently, affectionately running her fingers through his ruffled hair, a feeling of contentment sweeping over her as she cradled him in her arms. They remained locked together in their tender embrace for long moments, caught up in the cherished moment of closeness, comfortable enough to allow the quiet serenity to last until they were ready to take that next step. Turning his head slightly, Mulder pressed a gentle kiss to the curve of her breast as his fingers slipped behind her back to the button of her skirt, unfastening it. Pulling the zipper down, he slowly pushed the material down off her hips, letting it pool to the floor around her ankles. Scully stepped forward a little, coming to a stop between his knees, and kicked her skirt back and away. She stood motionless in front of him, clad only in her lacy bra and underwear, a bit uncomfortable under his close scrutiny. An unfamiliar feeling of self-conciousness swept over her, and she fidgeted, drawing him from his contemplation, lifting his gaze to hers. "Scully, you're..." Mulder smiled; a slow, reassuring smile that calmed her frazzled nerves, but at the same time held such promise that she felt an answering tingle shoot through her body, heat pooling in her core. "...beautiful." His arms slid around her waist as he fell back onto the bed, pulling her down on top of him, his smile changing to a devilish grin. Scully, startled by this precarious new position atop his prone body, gave a suprised yelp, struggling for a moment to restore her equilibrium, but Mulder's hold was too tight, effectively blocking her movements. She gave in with a muffled laugh, propping herself up on her hand, elbow firmly planted in the middle of his bare chest, and gazed down at him, the fingers of her other hand entangling themselves in his hair. "Mulder, you are so..." she sighed affectionately, trying to find a word which would fit him. He peered up at her scrawled across his chest, knowing that this moment was right, positive that he had never been happier, wanting this moment to last forever. "Spooky?" he supplied, his forehead wrinkling in a mock-serious expression. Her only reaction was to raise a finely arched eyebrow at him, but he saw his own amusement mirrored in her blue eyes, which soon darkened as her gaze moved down to his mouth, and she reached out a trembling finger to run it along his full lower lip. "I was thinking more along the lines of...*sexy*," Scully whispered, her voice roughening on the last word. Passion flared in his eyes at her husky tone, and he groaned, crushing her down into his arms, his mouth finding hers hungrily. He tangled his fingers in her red hair, keeping her pressed to him as the kiss became more and more wild, and they both lost all control. Mulder flipped her over, reversing their positions so that she was the one looking up into his face, which was harsh with ravenous desire. With trembling hands he pushed her fiery hair back off her face, his eyes searching her familiar, precious features. "I've been waiting for this, for so long," he told her, his voice gruff with emotion, hardly able to believe that it was all finally happening, afraid that if he made a wrong move, she would disappear in a puff of fairy-dust, and he would be alone. Again. But she was real, and she was there, driving all the darkness away, and he would never be left alone, as long as she was by his side. All the lies and the denials and the facades were behind them now. Scully merely smiled, her expression hinting at hidden promises which had gone unspoken for what seemed like forever. Mulder started as he felt her hands, which had been resting lightly on his sides as he remained braced above her, slide around to the front of him, to the button fastening his trousers. Never removing her gaze from his, she slowly, tantalizingly, undid his pants and pushed them down off of his hips. He lifted himself off of her slightly, kicking his pants off and shoving them to the foot of the bed where they fell, unheeded, to the floor. Clad only in his black silk boxers, he came back into her warm embrace, her arms sliding around his neck to give her the leverage to bring her mouth to his. Mulder brushed his hands over her silken skin, tracing the delicate bones which lay just beneath the surface, his lips curving as she shivered in reaction. Pressing tiny butterfly kisses along the length of her collarbone, his hair brushing her chin as she tilted her head back, he nuzzled the softness of her breasts, causing her breath to catch painfully in her throat. Tracing along the lace edging of her bra, his searching fingers found the small front-clasp which kept her hidden from his gaze. Hesitating, he glanced up at her, silently asking her permission to proceed. Scully felt her eyes fill up with tears as his consideration touched some hidden well-spring of emotion, and she slowly nodded her consent, gifting him with a beautiful smile of encouragement that flooded his darkened soul with sunshine. Drawing a ragged breath into his suddenly air-starved lungs, he slowly unfastened the clasp, pushing the bra off of her prone body, his eyes lowering to watch as she was revealed to him. He stared down at her for a long moment, and Scully felt a wave of self-conciousness sweep over her as the seconds stretched out. Was he disappointed that she wasn't more like those plastic Barbie-doll types that he so loved to watch in those 'movies' of his? She had never worried too much before about the fact that she wasn't overly endowed, but now, resting uncomfortably under his close scrutiny, she couldn't help but feel as if she was in some way lacking; that she wasn't what he had been looking for, that she wasn't pretty enough, or voluptuous enough, or.... Mulder raised his eyes from his contemplation of her soft breasts, and a slow smile spread over his face, quickly putting her fears to rest. "Oh, Scully," he groaned appreciatively, drawing a relieved smile from her. Dropping his head down, he slowly kissed his way across the smooth skin burning under his lips, sending shivers all throughout her body as he found his way to the aching tips, lingering there for long moments, making her cry out in pleasure as he drew them into his hot, wet mouth. Her fingers began to trace lazy circles across the sweat-dampened skin of his back, and as she stared down at the familiar dark head that was pillowed against her chest, she knew a longing so piercing, so consuming, that she was almost drowning under the sheer force of it. "Make love to me, Mulder," she whispered. "Now." He barely paused in his slow rhythmic suckling as her words penetrated his passion-clouded mind, his slim fingers sliding to the last tiny scrap of material that separated her flesh from his, pulling them down her legs before throwing them to the floor beside the bed, his own rapidly following as Scully pushed them off him with her toes. The illicit sound of naked skin rubbing against naked skin was wildy erotic to their primed senses, sending both of them into a wild frenzy. Mulder's caresses became less controlled, less gentle as he heard the rough rasp of her breathing, and his shaking hands slid to the juncture of her thighs. He began to tremble as he felt the heat that awaited him there, and, lifting his head to once again capture her sweet lips with his, he lost the last shred of control he had ever possessed. Scully's hands had hardly been idle; they had slid to his hips, pausing to caress the soft skin there before moving on to his back, teasingly scratching her nails down the length of his sides as he shuddered in reaction, then on to his chest, rubbing her fingertips across the muscled plane, smiling at his response when she found the flat nipples hidden there. Now, as Mulder moved to postion himself in between her spread legs, she slipped her fingers into his soft hair, sealing his mouth with hers, keeping her body pressed firmly against the length of his. "Unnnhhh..." she moaned as he found her entrance with unerring aim and slipped inside with one hard thrust. He buried his head in the curve of her neck, pushing her knees up so his efforts would be more effective. She gasped her appreciation for his thoughtfulness, her hands twisting in his hair, flinging her head back against the pillow in delirious abandon. He rocked slowly against her, his movements growing more and more out-of-control with each deep thrust. His rough groans blended with her soft whimpers, the bed creaking in rhythm with the passionate motion of their bodies. Scully felt the precipice racing to meet her as his hand slid between their straining bodies to force her to completion first, and she gave in with a muffled scream, her voice breaking on his name, her breath catching painfully in her lungs. Mulder had intended to hold back, to allow her to reach fulfillment before sending her there again, unselfishly denying his own needs in pursuit of her happiness. But the sound that she made as her climax crashed over her, the way she breathlessly moaned his name, the feel of her nails raking sensuously down his arched back, drove him straight over the edge, and he surrendered with a shout, his body jerking spasmodically against hers. Scully had recovered slightly by this point, and she began to urge him on with soft, naughty promises whispered in his ear, her fingers slipping off of the sweaty skin of his back. He collapsed, drained of all strength, against her tingling body, his face tucked into the spot where her shoulder met her neck, his breath slowing. She embraced him, running her hands over his cherished form, reveling in the feeling of contentedness that overwhelmed her, causing her to try to comprehend why they had fought this for so long. It felt so right, this new intimate relationship that now existed between them, and Scully wouldn't have traded it for the world. Mulder surfaced slowly from the dazed stupor that had consumed him to the vivid awareness of her soft body underneath him, of the rapid beating of her heart beneath his, of the gentle rise and fall of her chest that lifted him slightly as she breathed in and out. Removing his head from its cozy nest, he stiffened his arms alongside her, rising up and starting to pull away. With a murmur of protest she tightened her arms around his middle, preventing him from moving. "Stay..." she whispered. "I'm not crushing you, am I?" he questioned softly, smiling tenderly down into her flushed face. "You're so tiny..." "Yeah," she began, her eyes twinkling impishly. "And you're so *big*, huh, Mulder?" "Why, Agent Scully," he laughed, delighted at the easy banter that was flowing between them, letting him know that little had changed. It had only gotten better. "Exactly *what* do you mean by *that*?" "Use your imagination, Agent Mulder," she teased back. Mulder turned onto his side, pulling Scully securely into his embrace, allowing her to snuggle happily against his chest. He heaved a heavy sigh of contentment, rubbing his hand up and down her arm, before suprising himself and Scully by yawning loudly. "What is this, Mulder?" she grinned affectionately at him, her fond gaze caressing his features, a warm spark lighting her eyes. "Are you getting old on me? Or did I tire you out?" "HA!" he challenged, pushing her down onto her back, looming menacingly over her. She smiled, not intimidated by his rough tone in the least, sliding her fingers into his tousled, damp hair. "If I have anything to say about it, then it's gonna be a *long* night for you, Dr.Scully. Then we'll see which one of us is 'tired out'." "I can't wait, Mulder," Scully sighed, as his head began to descend, spreading warm kisses across her tingling skin. "I can't wait." His muffled laughter was the last thing her stunned senses processed before the pleasure swept her up into its clutches again, the warm glow of their love spreading over them. There were still difficulties that needed to be faced; realities that lurked outside the closed bedroom door, but in that precious moment, there was only the two of them, pleasantly lost in a new world that held so many promises for them and their future. THE END. (A third one is soon to be composed....maybe it'll turn into a whole series (though it will never top Paula Graves' "12 Degrees of Separation" or Karen Rasch's "Words" series, in my opinion =) From math.ohio- state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!news.ycc.yale.edu!yale !news- mail-gateway!daemon Mon Jul 1 10:38:50 1996 Article: 20772 of alt.tv.x-files.creative Path: math.ohio- state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!news.ycc.yale.edu!yale !news- mail-gateway!daemon From: Gil Trevizo Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: *NEW* "Precious Moments 3: Days of Passion" (NC-17) (fwd) Date: 1 Jul 1996 07:41:16 -0400 Organization: Yale CS Mail/News Gateway Lines: 419 Sender: daemon@cs.yale.edu Message-ID: <19960701074114.aaaa0021D@babyblue.cs.yale.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: babyblue.cs.yale.edu Status: RO I DID NOT WRITE THIS - I am the administrator for the x-files-fanfic mailing list and am posting this story for a subscriber. For information on subscribing to the x-files-fanfic mailing list, go to . Please send all comments to the author at . xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "Precious Moments 3: Days of Passion" by Piper **This is the third installment of my series, which began with "Precious" and continued on with "Precious Moments". You might want to read those first, though it's not *entirely* necessary (I don't think so, anyway :) **WARNING** This *is* a Mulder and Scully romance piece (obviously) since that is the only thing my muse is compelled to have me write. So, blame it on her if you don't like it ;). Anyway, if the thought of our two favorite FBI agents doing the horizontal mambo in any way disturbs you, *don't read it* (and I don't want to talk to you if it does, so any flames in that area will be ignored :) **ANOTHER WARNING** This is also NC-17, because it lovingly depicts Mulder and Scully engaged in passionate embraces that follow out to their natural conclusion. So, if you're under 17, try to control yourself :) and shield your eyes at the bad parts (FRIDAY? ARE YOU LISTENING? I *know* YOU won't be reading this, huh? :) (even though you *write* NC-17 stuff--it isn't fair, eh? hehehehe) Oh, yeah, I was also too lazy to put anything in about birth control, so assume that both of them are using it, okay?? We all know the importance of it (this is the 'nineties, after all) and hopefully I will be smart enough to add it into my stories in the future. I apologize in advance for leaving it out... **DISCLAIMER** Ummm, last I checked, they *still* don't belong to me. Bummer. I'm just borrowing 'em. **DEDICATION** This one is for all the members of the Romantics' Mailing List, without whom I would be wallowing, alone, in my quest to see Scully and Mulder together. Before I found them, I thought all discussion mailing lists were mean and nasty, and generally not very nice places to be, but they've proved that there *are* nice people out there. They are all kindred spirits. Thanks, guys! **Right now, my e-mail address is unchanged (XF-Piper@worldnet.att.net) but I will be changing in the future, so watch for it on my coming stories. Until then, you can still reach me at WorldNet, so *please* do so...I *love* feedback... *************************************************************************** **** *Precious Moments 3: Days of Passion* The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as Fox Mulder surfaced from the tenacious hold of his slumber, becoming vaguely aware of the sounds of the city waking up after a long night, the balmy summer air from the open window brushing over his naked body like a lover's caress. For a moment he lay still, disoriented, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling, lying in an unfamiliar bed, unsure of where he was and who was with him. Then, in a sudden flash of enlightenment, he remembered. Feeling a soft weight cuddled snugly against his side, he glanced down into Dana Scully's sleeping face, his lips curving into a smile as he allowed the memories of the past night to sweep over him. He marveled to himself that a day which had started out as being one of the worst in his life, which was saying a lot in his case, had turned into the very best, all because of the soft, warm, giving woman who was now cradled tenderly in his arms. Turning carefully onto his side, moving slowly so as not to startle her, Mulder watched her for a long moment, the emotion swelling within him threatening to wreck havoc with his reason. Her beautiful face was softened, made less angular as she slept, giving her an innocent, child-like appearance. He grinned to himself, thinking that if there was one thing that last night had taught him, it was that Dana Scully was *no* child, and he silently thanked the powers above for that. "Scully..." he whispered softly, leaning in and moving his mouth close to her ear, letting his breath blow hotly past her neck, stirring her hair. He couldn't resist the temptation, her sweet scent too much for his sensitized senses to ignore, and he pressed his lips to the tender patch of skin on the side of her throat, feathering his tongue lightly against the pulse beating there. She moaned almost inaudibly, instinctively turning her face towards him, nuzzling the soft hair brushing her cheek. He slipped his arm across her middle in response, pulling her more securely into the curve of his body, sliding his lips down the arched column of her neck. "Hmmmmmm..." Scully smiled, his nearness lulling her out of the deep slumber which had consumed her, savoring the warmth of his body as it lay halfway across her. "G'morning, Mulder," she slurred, stretching languidly in his hold. The hot flame in his eyes flared brighter at the feel of her sleep-warmed body pressing seductively against his, and he was no match against her siren's call, giving in to her innocent seduction with a groan. Pushing her firmly back into the bed, blithely ignoring her smothered sound of surprise, he slid atop her, rubbing sinuously against her as her eyes snapped open to full awareness, her gaze beginning to mirror his own passion back at him. He smiled wolfishly down at her before dipping his head to capture her mouth with his, smoothing his hands down the length of her sides, causing a shiver to pulse through her body. Mulder's lips shifted from hers, eliciting an involuntary sound of protest from her, which he disregarded as he kissed a path down her trembling body, slipping underneath the billowing sheet. Scully let out a gasp of genuine pleasure as his searching mouth found her breast, the motion of his hands along her thighs slowly, tantalizingly driving her insane. "Mulder..." she pleaded, frantically reaching for him, but becoming hopelessly tangled in the sheet, which effectively rendered her motionless, unable to pull away from the intense pleasure his hands and lips were giving her, leaving her defenseless against his wishes. Taking full advantage of the situation that presented itself to him, Mulder pressed tender kisses upon every inch of porcelin skin he could reach, delighting in the muffled sounds he was hearing from her and in the the way her body was thrashing helplessly beneath him. He tormented her for long moments, his hands moving to her core to tease and tickle as she sighed with satisfaction. Sliding her legs around his hips, Scully clasped him to her, trapping his fingers between their bodies, which were slick with sweat. "Mulder, *now*," she ordered, becoming frustrated as he ignored her command, freeing his hands, which soon began their slow movements once again. He lightly ran his tongue up her soft skin, surfacing from underneath the bedsheet to kiss his way to her throat, smiling as he felt the rapid flutter of her pulse beneath his lips, one hand stopping its rhythm to press her knees farther apart, settling himself squarely upon her. "Do you want me?" Mulder questioned, his tone rough with desire. "Ye..ss..ss.." Scully groaned, driven almost beyond the point of speech. "I want you.....Fox." At the sound of his name falling from her lips, said in *that* husky, sexy voice of hers that he found so irresistible, he snapped, driving his hard body into hers with one sure push. She let out a squeal of triumph at his surrender, her hands finally untangling from the blanket to slide up into his hair, clutching handfuls of it, drawing a grunt of pain from deep within his throat. He pushed himself up onto his hands, the muscles in his arms and back straining as he concentrated upon the relentless motion of his lower body slamming forcefully into hers, striving to give her the most pleasure that he possibly could. Scully whimpered with need, but he was unyielding, his rhythm easing off every time she neared completion, allowing her passion to abate slightly before resuming his movement again. She was desperate, hungering for the peak he was stubbornly keeping just beyond her reach, and so, driven past the limits of her strained control, she slid her arms up around his neck, firmly anchoring his body to hers before she rolled over, leaving him staring up at her in surprise. Sitting upright atop him, still joined together, she smiled victoriously down at him, rubbing her hands sensuously up and down his chest, enjoying the tiny betraying quiver her touch produced in him. Mulder grinned up at her, pleased by her aggression, before he closed his eyes and tilted his head back into the pillows, leaving himself vulnerable, allowing her to take the lead. Scully took full advantage of his acquiesence, undulating her body sinuously against him, driving him as crazy as he had driven her. Groaning, he caught his full lower lip between his teeth, his hands closing upon the slender bones of her hips, forcing her into a faster rhythm, rapidly driving them both into a frantic state of insanity, pushing them over the edge. When it was over, she collapsed forward onto his chest, gasping for breath. Mulder wrapped her securely in his arms, cradling her in a warm embrace. "Well," he murmured into her tangled hair, stroking a lazy hand down her back, unable to stop himself from touching her warm body. "*That* was the perfect way to wake up, huh?" Scully laughed, "Yeah, you can wake me up like that any time you want to, Mulder." "I'll keep that in mind," he teased back, "now that I know how to get you in a good mood in the morning." She slapped him lightly on the arm for that remark, then sighed. "We do have to go to work today, you know." "Let's play hooky," he suggested, propping himself up on one elbow, watching with interest as she climbed out of the bed and walked over to her closet. He frowned as he saw her slip into her robe, which had been neatly folded over a chair near the bed, cutting off his view of her lush form. "Skinner won't mind." "Ummmm, I think Skinner might have a problem with two of his agents, who just *happen* to be partners, both not showing up for work on the *same* day. And *we're* not exactly that high on his list as it is," Scully flung over her shoulder as she rooted through her clothes to find something suitable to wear into the office. She wanted to look nice that day, for herself and for Mulder, but she still wanted to remain professional enough so that no one would suspect that she and her partner had been, just hours before, participating in a passionate interlude that had kept them thrashing on the sheets for most of the night. "I think he might get suspicious, and the last thing we need is a suspicious Skinner, right?" "I guess so," Mulder grumbled, as he reluctantly rolled from the warm sanctity of their bed, padding into the bathroom as he ran a hand through his tousled hair. Scully smiled as she heard the pipes squeak and the water come rushing out as he turned on the shower, amused by the sound of his voice, low and off-key, singing a ribald tune that brought a blush to her cheeks. "Oh, Mulder," she whispered ruefully to herself. "I love you, but you are *absolutely* insane." Shaking her head, she began to gather her things, preparing to go into the shower when he finished. She was tempted to join him, to experience again the mind-blowing intensity of their passion as it spiraled out of control, but she knew they couldn't be late, not on that day. Their changed relationship was still too new, too intimate to risk putting it under the close scrutiny of their enemies, and so they needed to keep up appearances, at least until they decided that it was time to let the world know how strong their love was, how they would never let anything separate them, ever again. x x x x x x x x x x Federal Bureau of Investigations 6:27 PM "Ahhh...Scully?" Mulder broke the comfortable silence that had reigned in their small office all day as they worked to complete the paperwork that needed to be in order before they left for their new assignment, the one that Mulder had been poring over that fateful day. "Yes?" she answered, looking up from her computer screen to focus her blue eyes upon him. He was tilting precariously back in his swivel chair, feet up on his desk, absentmindedly twirling a pencil around his fingers. "Don't you think we've been here long enough?" he questioned. "I think we've done all that needs to be done before we leave tomorrow." Scully sighed, tucking a piece of red hair behind her ear as she switched off her computer. "I think you're right, Mulder." "Do you want to go and get something to eat?" he asked, swinging his feet to the floor before standing up and pulling on his jacket. She considered his words for a moment, then shook her head negatively. "No, I think I'd rather just eat at home. Is that all right with you?" He smiled at her affectionately. "Sure, just so long as I get to eat at home too. With you. And I don't have to cook. Can't have you learning all my flaws this early on." Scully snorted. "Mulder, I *already* know all your flaws." They shared a small smile of amusement, both of them enjoying the easy atmosphere between them. They had agreed, before they left the safety of Scully's house that morning, that they needed to be as professional as possible at the office. They had to separate "Dana" and "Fox" from Agents Mulder and Scully, so as not to let their intimate relationship interfere with their work, which would give thier enemies the ammunition they needed to shut down the X-Files for good. Neither wanted to allow that to happen, so they were determined to concentrate upon their cases, and not on the overwhelming passion that consumed them every time one of them caught the eye of the other. And they had done a fair job all day, allowing themselves only brief touches as they passed files and papers around, reveling in the secret smiles and glances that spoke more eloquently than words of their love for each other. Even Skinner had seemed oblivious to the passionate undertones that flowed between them as they sat in his office, listening to him rant and threaten before finally, reluctantly, granting them the permission to pursue their next case. Now, the day was over, and as soon as they walked through the heavy double doors which separated them from reality, they would be able to fully enjoy the company of each other, so neither Mulder nor Scully could wait one more minute to leave. Mulder helped Scully on with her coat, allowing his hands to smooth lovingly over the material covering her thin shoulders, remembering the feel of her warm skin underneath his sensitive fingertips. She closed her eyes, tilting back into the warmth of his body, savoring his heat, before pulling away. With a determined shake of her head, she walked firmly to the door, and as she opened it, she turned to him and gave him the *look*. That bold, sexy expression. The slight lift of one finely arched brow. And the look in her eyes. Oh, God. Those eyes...Mulder felt his throat go dry in the face of *that* look, and he hurriedly followed her out the door, raking one hand through his hair in an effort to calm himself down. It wasn't working. "Scully..." he called, racing to catch up with her. "Wait!" "What is it, Mulder?" she queried, and only a person who knew her inside and out would have recognized the amusement in her tone. Luckily, Mulder was the one person who did know her well enough, and he grinned slightly to himself tore after her. "Ummm," he quickly reached her side, his long strides no match for her shorter ones. She had reached the heavy doors leading to the outside, and he stretched out a hand to grab one of the handles. "I just wanted to open the door for you." The look she gave him was the same one she had used the last time he had said that to her, during that god-awful case with the twins-from-hell. He laughed in delight at his success, drawing an answering laugh from her, and, smiling at each other, they pushed through the doors into the bright sunlight that flooded the streets of Washington. x x x x x x x x x x Mulder's apartment 8:45 PM After all the dinner dishes had been washed and put away, Scully followed Mulder into the living room, where he settled with a groan onto the long couch. "Ah, Scully," he groaned, rubbing his stomach. "That was really good. I knew there was a reason I kept you around." She smiled in response, sitting beside him, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes in contentment. "Why? So I can cook for you? And buy you groceries?" "Mmmmm...that too," Mulder answered, his voice amused. She smacked him lightly. "What time is our flight tomorrow?" Scully asked, stretching her limbs out to ease the aches away. Noticing her smothered groan of pain, he turned and began to rub her shoulders, working on the tense muscles that were knotted at the base of her neck. She relaxed back against him, allowing her head to fall forward onto her chest, sighing with pleasure. "Eight a.m.," he replied, his breath hot against her ear. "Ugh," Scully whispered, pressing her body more firmly into his. "I guess I should go home soon, then. So that we can get enough sleep to be able to function tomorrow." Mulder snorted, unable to resist. "I can "function" just fine, thank you." Scully laughed, "Yeah, I know that *you* can, but I'm not quite as positive about *me*." "Well, we'll just have to test that theory out, Agent Scully," he pushed her down into the cushions of the couch, leaning over her, his breath brushing over the lushness of her lips. "Now, won't we?" "I'm *up* for it if you are, Agent Mulder," she teased back, eyes twinkling. He laughed aloud. "Um, definitely," he answered, his gaze going to her mouth, curved with amusement, his breath speeding up as he remembered the skill of those lips. Closing his eyes, he lowered his mouth lightly onto hers. Scully sighed, sliding her arms around his neck to pull him down to her, deepening the kiss. He gasped into her open mouth, thrilled by the first contact of her tongue on his lips, before he opened them to allow her entrance. Impatient, her hands went to the buttons of his white shirt, fumbling with them, managing to undo a couple before she lost control and ripped it open. He raised his head, startled by her rough movement, but, seeing the passion in her eyes, he allowed her to strip it down his arms and off his body, throwing it to the floor. They were both undressed in a matter of seconds, though it was awkward, for neither one wanted to let the other one go long enough to pull their clothes off, but finally they succeeded, reveling in the feeling of hot skin against hot skin. "I love you so much, Scully," he whispered, rubbing his fingertips down her soft flesh, causing her to twitch in reaction. "I love you, too," she whispered back, hugging him tighter, enjoying the feeling of his body, heavy on hers. "So much..." her voice trailed off as his lips glided down her torso. Compelled by some burning desire, he kissed her all over, leaving her writhing with pleasure under the heat of his mouth. Not content to remain submissive under his touch, she reached out trembling fingers, touching every part of him that her straining hands could reach; his head, his sides, his back, admiring the sinews rippling beneath her palms. She kissed her way down his muscled chest, laving his salty skin with her tongue, drawing a shiver from him. They were slowly driving each other insane, their skin rubbing erotically together, their breathing growing loud and rough, drowning out the stereo droning softly from the corner. Finally, unable to take his teasing anymore, she entwined her fingers in his soft hair, tugging him up into her embrace again, running her lips up his throat before catching his earlobe in her teeth, worrying it with her tongue. "Enough," she ordered, driven to the limits by his caresses. Mulder smiled down at her, pressing her deeper into the couch, before parting her legs and driving his hard body into hers. He let out a gasp at the feel of her, hot and tight, closing around him, and he buried his face in the curve of her neck. Scully clasped him to her, her hands moving frantically up and down his sweat-dampened back, as both of them whirled out of control. Mulder wanted to wait for her, wanted them to reach fulfillment together, but he wasn't sure if he could last, so he began to move faster, his body pounding a relentless tempo in and out of hers, pushing her deeper into the cushions. Scully began to move her hips in counterpoint to his rhythm, grinding them into his, her legs slipping up to grasp his waist. Mulder lifted himself onto his hands, arching his head back, breath rasping, eyes closed, concentrating on the sensations coursing through his body, intent on producing the same for her. She ran her fingers along his arms, testing the strength of the muscles supporting him, her head thrown back into the pillows in a fit of passion. "Hurry, Dana," he glanced down at her, eyes glittering fiercely with the force of his arousal, almost unable to speak, his voice low and gutteral. "Hurry." Opening her eyes wide, she gazed back up at him, her mouth open as she fought to hold onto her sanity, but the battle was futile. As the waves crashed over her, she struggled to keep her eyes locked on his, the pupils dilating as the passion clouded them, overwhelming her. With a soft cry, she surrendered. Mulder, aware only of the deep blue of her gaze and of the contractions that wracked her small frame, her flesh tightening around his, gritted his teeth and, with an answering moan, yielded to her magic. After the shudders had stopped shaking his body, he sank gratefully down into the warmth of her arms, gasping for oxygen. Scully smiled, weakly smoothing her hands over him, comforting him. Finally, pulling deep breaths into his lungs, he shifted his weight off of her, settling to the side of the couch and pulling her on top of his body. "It just keeps getting better and better, huh?" she sighed, rubbing her cheek into the sparse hair that covered his chest. "Hmmmm," he answered, a grin creasing his tired face. "If I'd known how good it would be, I wouldn't have waited three years to tell you how much I love you." "Oh, yeah?" Scully questioned, her tone light. "And how much do you love me, Mulder?" He opened his eyes and looked down at her sprawled across his body. He raised a hand and smoothed her tangled hair out of her eyes, his own gaze warm with affection and desire. "Oh, so much, Scully. I don't think you'll ever really know how much I love you. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you again." She stared up at him, her expression solemn. "You never will lose me, Fox Mulder. Now that I have you, I'm never gonna let you go." "Promise?" Mulder's voice was light, but look in his eyes was serious. "I swear, with all that is in me, that I will *never* leave your side again," Scully vowed fiercely, tightening her arms around his waist. "Good," he answered, returning the pressure of her hug. "Because I'm *never* letting you go." They were content to remain in the embrace for long moments, comforted by the peace and love that surrounded them, contented by the vows, spoken and unspoken, that they had made that night. Finally, Scully broke the silence. "Um, Mulder," she whispered. He raised his head and stopped his contemplation of the softness of her hair as it entwined around his fingers, sending a questioning look her way. "As much as I'd love to spend the whole night on this couch, in your arms, we *do* have to get up early tomorrow. So..." "I do have a bed, you know," his mouth quirked. "Almost like new. Barely used. I promise. Real comfortable." "I don't know, Mulder," she said, tilting her head to one side as she considered his offer. "We really need to sleep. Will you behave yourself?" "I'll be on my best behavior," he promised, holding up his fingers. "Scout's honor." "I don't believe you ever were a Boy Scout, Mulder," Scully laughed. "Okay, so I wasn't," he admitted sheepishly. "But I always wanted to be. I didn't look good in the uniform though, so my dream went unrealized," he heaved a long sigh of suffering. She shook her head at him, in affectionate chastisement. "C'mon, Scully," he cajoled, giving her his best little-boy-lost look. "Ple-e-e-ase? I just want to hold you, I swear. I just want you near me. I want to able to wake up in the morning and turn my head to see you there. In *my* bed. I've dreamed about it for so long...dreamed about *you* for so long." Scully smiled at him, sliding off the couch and standing up. She extended a hand down to him, curving her fingers around his, pulling him up to stand beside her. "Well, then," she whispered, tugging him in the direction of the bedroom. "Let's go make that dream a reality, shall we?" Following closely behind her, his hand firmly clasped in hers, Mulder sighed, contented. Closing the door behind them, she climbed up onto his bed, and slipped underneath the sheets before turning to him, holding her arms out in silent invitation. He went willingly, folding himself into her embrace, hugging her fiercely, pressing his face into the warmth of her soft breasts. Peace settled over the room, and, in the stillness, they slept, wrapped in the comfort of each other's arms. THE END of *Precious Moments 3: Days of Passion* Stay tuned! *Precious Moments 4* will soon be posted....hmmm...I wonder what's gonna happen when they have to go away for that case...hotel rooms, anybody? ;) Precious Moments 4: Wishes and Dreams by Piper **WARNING** -- This is part 4 of a continuing series, and I would suggest that you read the first parts, so that you're not totally confused. If you like being confused, which is the state I am in most of the time, then by all means, go ahead and read this one :). The first part of this is NC-17, and you all know the drill....so I'll leave it up to your own discretion. **CATEGORY** -- This is only an MSR, without even the hint of an X-File, so all non-romantics, turn back now :) **AUTHOR'S NOTE** -- I don't like this one as much as the others, but it's merely a transition piece...so it had to be written :). Enjoy it at face value. And it's shorter than the others...I ran out of words :) **DISCLAIMER** -- Not mine. Wish they were. Oh well. **DEDICATION** -- This is dedicated to Jackie and X-Lover, my two best cyber-pals, whose input on these little vignettes I value greatly. Thanks, ladies :)...I am so glad I met you .... **My address has changed, so from now on, please direct all comments to me at ... I encourage your opinions, because it helps me to improve my work....okay? x x x x x x x x Precious Moments 4: Wishes and Dreams by Piper The flight to Boston lasted a little over two hours, the heavy traffic in the skies above the city causing them to circle the airport in a seemingly endless pattern. Scully began to get anxious, her fingers tightening around the armrest of her seat as she fought to hold onto her breakfast, her ever-present fear of flying coming to the forefront despite her efforts to push it back down. Mulder glanced over from the next seat, noticing the paleness of her skin, seeing the tiny freckles standing out in stark relief across the bridge of her nose. In sympathetic understanding, he reached across and slipped his fingers around her tense hand, prying her fingertips free before clasping them in his and resting their entwined hands upon his knee. "We're almost there," he told her reassuringly, giving her a small, comforting squeeze. Scully silenced him with a single lethal glance, sending him the message that she was just fine without his support, causing him to lift an eyebrow in surrender. "Sorry," he murmured, biting back a smile. She threw her head back against the padding of her seat, sighing loudly, but leaving her fingers enclosed in the heat of his palm. "Okay, just tell me again what this case consists of," Scully said, taking a deep breath into her lungs in an effort to relax. "Why are we here, in Boston?" Mulder began to talk, not minding that he had already discussed the case with her. Anything to get her mind off of the plane. And off the blue ocean sparkling far below them. Scully listened intently, periodically interjecting with questions, and before long they had touched down upon the shimmering runway of Logan Airport. As they walked down through the terminal towards the rental car that was waiting for them, Scully moved closer to his side, offering silent thanks for his consideration. He smiled down at her, their emotions in perfect accord, thankful their new relationship enabled her to allow him to help, even in this little way, and he reached down to briefly touch her small hand. She gave him a gentle smile in return, and they walked out together into the bright sunshine, empowered by the strength of their bond. x x x x x x x x x 3 Days later Hotel Boston, Massachusetts 7:27 P.M. "Oh, thank God that's over," Scully sighed, kicking off her shoes and unbuttoning her jacket. Mulder threw himself, face down, across the bed in her hotel room, sprawling his lanky body across the comforter. They still had adjoining rooms, in an effort to remain as professional as possible. They had agreed that for as long as the case went on, they would be sleeping in their solitary rooms, so as not to let their intimate life to interfere with their job. But now the case was completed, wrapped up in record time, a feat which was accomplished by the easy communication that came with their new partnership. Mulder had thought rather ironically to himself that whereas their enemies would see this bond as a weakness, in reality it was their greatest strength, and he meant to use that to his advantage. He had plans for himself and this tiny woman who had come to mean the world to him, secret dreams that he had been harboring deep inside his soul for so long that it was inextricably a part of him, and now he was just waiting for the time to be right before set his plans into motion. "When is our flight tomorrow?" Scully asked, climbing up onto the bed beside him and curling her body around his, tiredly dropping her head into the pillow. Mulder turned over onto his side, facing her, and curved his arm around her small waist, rubbing the sore muscles at the small of her back. "I think it's at nine o'clock at night," he murmured, burying his lips in the softness of her hair by her ear, kissing the smooth skin there, his fingers working their magic on her tense frame. She relaxed with a soft sigh, her body melting bonelessly into the warmth of his. "No one expected us to wrap this up as fast as we did, so that was the earliest change I could get." "Ummmm," she sighed as Mulder began undressing her slowly, turning her limp body over, his nimble fingers making short work of the buttons that separated her smooth flesh from his. Scully lay pliant in his embrace, allowing him to completely strip her restrictive suit off her tired frame, until her bare skin rubbed sensuously against the soft silk of the fluffy comforter. She felt her apathy begin to flee in the face of the warm promise in his eyes, her own opening wider as she became aware of the roughness of his dark clothes pressing insistently into the warmth of her naked body. He smiled down at her knowingly. "Uh, Mulder," she murmured, sliding her palms up and under his suit jacket, sliding it down his arms and throwing it to the side of the bed. "I think you have far too many clothes on..." "Oh, you think so, huh?" he grinned, allowing her to unbutton his shirt. His grin abruptly changed to a grimace of desire as he felt her warm hands slide underneath the cloth, pausing to caress the sinewy muscles there. Scully made the mistake of glancing up into his face, and as their eyes locked, the flame growing hotter and brighter as they stared at each other, mesmerized by the raw emotion that glittered openly in their expressions, the passion spun out of control, and within seconds Mulder was as naked as his partner. Pushing her into the softness of the mattress, he rolled over on top of her, his voracious mouth taking possession of the sweetness of hers, their sweat-dampened flesh sticking together in the hot mugginess of the room. Scully curled her feet around Mulder's legs, rubbing her toes up and down across the hairs of his calves. He groaned as her actions sent shivers through his aroused body, and he slid his lips from her mouth, pausing to kiss her closed eyelids, her high cheekbones, the narrow slope of her nose, before making his way to the smoothness of her neck, stopping to nibble upon the pulse that beat at the base of her throat. Her hands were restless, moving across his skin, tracing the rippling muscles of his back, outlining the ridges of his ribs, rubbing the muscles knotted at the nape of his neck, before she entwined her slender fingers in his soft hair, tugging on the strands that twirled sinuously around her fingertips. He grunted, but her sharp pulls failed to deter him from his path, his tongue following a line down to her soft breasts. Scully gasped in pleasure as he reached his goal, hugging his head closer to her, her teeth sinking into the taut muscle of his shoulder, the saltiness of his sweaty skin on her tongue. Mulder started in surprise, lifting his head from the temptation of her breasts, his hot gaze burning right through her soul, and the love play was over. With one sure motion, his shaking body sank into the depths of hers, and her eyes rolled back in her head at the pleasure. Mulder, his jaw clenched as he fought to hold onto his sanity, began to move, slowly at first, then with growing urgency, spurred on by the soft whimpers of the woman beneath him. Scully met him, thrust for thrust, and they quickly spiraled out of control, their breathing growing ragged as they gasped for breath, their movements becoming less exact, less precise, as the passion rose hotter. Scully began to thrash involuntarily under his driving body, twisting helplessly across the bed, her fingers knotting the blankets as she convulsively clenched them. Mulder followed her, his motions pushing them closer and closer towards the edge of the bed, until one particularly fierce thrust forced them over the side, and they fell, in a flurried tangle of arms and legs, onto the floor, dragging the blankets with them. The sudden jarring as she hit the floor signaled the end for Scully, and she exploded with a scream, raking her nails across the tender flesh of Mulder's back. The feel of her contracting around his aching flesh and the scream which echoed through his head was enough to allow him to find his own release, and he surrendered with a smothered moan, his head buried in the crook of her neck. They lay entwined on the carpeted floor beside her bed, for both were too stunned and exhausted to even attempt to move. Mulder was sprawled above her, his large frame dwarfing her smaller one, as he tried to calm his breathing, and she was spread-eagle beneath him, her arms lacking the strength to even embrace him. Mulder wondered if he would ever regain his strength, or his sanity, again, but at that point he didn't care if he ever did. Scully began to smile, her laughter bubbling up from deep inside her as she thought of the ignominy of their position, then she lost it completely as Mulder raised up on his elbows to glance into her face, one eyebrow lifting in amusement. "Oops," he grinned, delighted in the languid pleasure he saw in her expression. "Guess we got a little out of control, huh?" "A little?" At that, Scully let out peals of helpless laughter, throwing her head back. "Okay, maybe more than a 'little'," he conceded, withdrawing from her before getting to his feet. Staring down at her, hands on his hips, he shook his head as she rolled onto her side, clutching her ribs as she tried to control herself. "But it was fun, wasn't it?" Scully giggled, putting her hand in his, allowing him to pull her to a standing position before he turned to sweep all the covers off the floor and put them back on the bed. "That it was, Mulder," she agreed, her warm gaze admiring the naked form before her as he bent to rearrange the blankets. "That it was." With a gallant gesture, he pulled back the sheets, motioning for her to slide in, following her as she complied, wrapping his body around hers as he cuddled her close. Scully sighed in genuine pleasure, resting her head atop his shoulder, her arms around his chest, settling herself comfortably against him. Mulder stroked the softness of her hair, his senses dulled by the passion they had just created, and, with the fading light of Boston highlighting their joined bodies, they slept. x x x x x x x x x Saturday morning Rowes Wharf Boston, Massachusetts The sun was shining brightly down upon Mulder and Scully as they walked, hand in hand, along the wharf that lined the harbor into the city. Anyone who saw them would have thought that they were merely a young couple out for a stroll on a beautiful summer morning, for gone was the two FBI agents who flirted with death on a day to day basis, and in their place were two carefree adults determined to enjoy their limited time in this beautiful city. They had had breakfast in the hotel overlooking the ocean, had wandered aimlessly through the endless shops that Quincy Market consisted of, had done a bit of sightseeing through the city, and were now ending their morning by walking the wharf. Mulder was pleased to see the worry lines smooth away from Scully's face, replaced instead by an almost dreamy, happy expression as she ambled along. He was determined to keep that smile on her face, and he began to set his plans into motion. "C'mon, Scully," he tugged on her hand, pulling her to a wooden bench that faced the water. Let's go sit, okay?" "Okay," she agreed, smiling at the little-boy eagerness he was displaying. Twirling the rose he had bought for her from a roadside vendor, inhaling its sweet scent, she allowed him to pull her down into the seat, sitting close to his side. They sat in silence for a few companionable moments, watching the sailboats float across the waves. Turning his head, Mulder studied her familiar profile, drinking in the delicateness of her features, committing every freckle, every minute line to memory. Lifting his hand from the back of the bench, he smoothed it down the fiery mop of her hair, causing her to turn and look at him, one brow arched slightly in question. "You know how much I love you, right, Scully?" he asked, watching the movement of his fingers in her hair, avoiding her faintly confused gaze. "Yes," she answered, unsure of where he was going with this. "And you know how long I've loved you, right?" Mulder continued, his fingers moving down to trace the line of her jaw. "Yes," she repeated, her eyes closing as she savored the touch of his skin against hers, turning her face to press it more firmly against his caressing hand. "I think we're really good for each other," he murmured, smiling. "You are the other half of me, you know...you make me whole. I don't know what I would ever do without you." "Well, Mulder, I hope we never have to find that out," Scully opened her eyes and faced him, her intense gaze pinning his. "But, Mulder, you're not usually this "open" with your emotions...you never tell me how you feel unless I absolutely force you. So what's the occasion now?" Mulder took a deep breath, trying to calm the racing of his heart, wishing that he wasn't so nervous, and that this whole production was over, so that together they could complete the plans that he had been dreaming about for so long. But first he had to get past this one important step. It was now or never. "Well?" Scully prompted him, confused by his hesitation. "What's the occasion?" Mulder turned to her and curled his long fingers around her smaller ones, squeezing tightly before he brought their clasped hands up to his mouth, brushing his lips gently across the knuckles. "Well...I want to ask you something." "Mulder, you can ask me anything. You know that. So...." Scully smiled fondly at him, shaking her head. "Okay," he said, drawing a great gulp of air into his lungs. "What I wanted to ask you was..." his voice trailed off as his courage momentarily faded. "Was...." she repeated, waiting for him to finish. Mulder turned so that he was facing her fully, and grasped her hand even tighter, for he wanted to see and feel her reaction to his question. "Dana Katherine Scully," he began, smiling tenderly into her beloved countenance. "Will you do me the honor.....of becoming my wife?" Scully's eyes widened in surprise, and she was silent for a few long moments as she fought to form words. "What?" "You heard me," Mulder said, his voice amused. "Will you marry me?" THE END of "Precious Moments 4: Wishes and Dreams"