| Title: Rumors Author: DM E-mail: [email protected] Feedback: Yes, please!! Feedback makes me smile! Rating: G Category: VR Key words: Mulder/Scully Romance Spoilers: Small ones throughout the series. Disclaimer: Not mine; XF characters belong to 1013 Productions, FOX, and most importantly, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. I also claim no rights to the book or film, �Pride and Prejudice�, Colin Firth (although I�d love to) or the song, �The Way You Look Tonight�. Summary: �If his feelings alone could convict them, they�d be long gone by now.� Notes: Just pretend S8 and 9 never happened. . . and that this little story happened anytime during or after S7. This is just me playing out a situation I haven�t seen done much before. Hopefully you all will enjoy it! Also, many thanks to Carol for her beta work! What would I do without you? All of my other stories may be found at my website: http://www.geocities.com/dmldr42 Rumors By DM She�s going to shoot me. �Are you paying attention, Agent Mulder?� And she�ll finish me off for laughing. �Agent.� Better not laugh. �Am I boring you?� Skinner was now sitting on the edge of his desk, directly in front of him. �I�m sorry, Sir. What did you say?� �Your jobs are on the line, Agent.� �What do you want me to say?� �For the last time. Are you or are you not,� he cleared his throat averting his eyes for the briefest of moments, �having relations with your partner?� At Skinner�s unease, Mulder almost broke his resolve. This had the potential to be very bad. Funny, but bad. �Mulder.� His patience was running thin. Very, very thin. �No, of course not. . .� He smiled watching his boss sigh with relief. �We just make out a lot. � Skinner, frustrated and tired of the conversation stood up and walked around to his chair. �Is that what you want on the record, Agent?� Mulder, resigned and slightly nervous as to where this was headed, decided to play it straight. �Scully and I are close, but our relationship remains strictly professional.� �Thank you. That�s all I needed to hear.� �But, Sir. . . � �Tell Agent Scully I�m ready for her on your way out.� Mulder was amused, but worried about his partner�s reaction. He�d heard the rumors himself, but they were nothing new. They�d been around since the first several weeks of their partnership. He closed Skinner�s door behind him and approached Scully. She was standing by the door, pacing the way she always does when she�s nervous. �He�s ready for you.� �What�s wrong? What happened?� Her face was concerned, more for his welfare he realized as he looked into her eyes. If his feelings alone could convict them, they�d be long gone by now. He decided to allow Skinner the opportunity to embarrass her. After seeing her, he couldn�t bear being the one to tell her. So, he shook his head and began walking towards the elevator. �Late Christmas present. I�ll be in the office.� She watched him walk down the hall and disappear around the corner. As she sat waiting to see Skinner, she pondered what he could possibly want to talk to them about. Normally she wouldn�t stress over a meeting with him, but the fact that he requested seeing them separately made her nervous. She looked up to see Kim motioning that Skinner was ready to see her. She approached his door and knocked before opening it. �Come in, Agent.� She complied and took her usual seat in front of his desk, waiting patiently as he finished what he was doing. �I apologize ahead of time, but Deputy Director Kersh requested I talk to you.� She nodded her head, now extremely nervous that this meeting was directed by Kersh. �I, uh. . . talked to Agent Mulder just now and am hoping our conversation will confirm his statement.� She swallowed, growing even more anxious. �You and Agent Mulder work well together?� Her eyes widened; this didn�t sound good. �You have a good *professional* relationship?� �Is that what this is about?� Resigned, Skinner bowed his head and his voice grew soft. �There have been rumors, Agent Scully. I�m not saying I believe them, or that I feel it�s my business to inquire, but I�ve been asked to speak with you about your relationship with Agent Mulder.� �My relationship with Agent Mulder,� she repeated. �Are you suggesting. . .� �I�m afraid I am.� Suddenly she understood the full impact of his words. �Sir, � she began calmly, �you may report back to the Deputy Director that there is no cause for his concern.� �Do I have your word?� �You do.� Skinner smiled, relieved to be finished with this embarrassing assignment. �Thank you, Agent. I appreciate your cooperation.� Scully offered a forced smile and left his office, quickening her steps all the way to the elevator. Two weeks ago. . . �Come on, Scully, live a little. They wouldn�t have put it up there if they didn�t want it to be used.� �Mulder. . . You want the entire office talking by morning?� �Like this�ll stop �em.� �Well, we don�t need to feed the fire.� �Fine. Dance with me then?� Her smile was his answer. Mulder wrapped his arms around her, pulling her out from underneath the mistletoe. He had plans on getting her back under it eventually, after a few dances. After he �wooed� her, as he liked to call it, she�d soften up, he was sure of it. She always did. They swayed gracefully on the dance floor, enjoying the music and decorations. She sighed and he smiled, knowing he was one step closer to getting his kiss. �You seem remarkably happy, Mulder. Thought you didn�t want to come to this thing.� He smiled, and pulled her a tad bit closer. �You smell good, Scully. Something new?� �No, I�ve had it for years.� �You have?� He was surprised, dismayed that he never noticed before. �I save it for special occasions.� �It�s nice.� They continued to dance through several songs, their last an upbeat version of �The Way You Look Tonight.� Mulder mouthed the words to her, much to Scully�s embarrassment. Her face grew flushed as he leaned down and breathed the last verse into her ear. The song ended and he left to get her something to drink. When he returned, he was greeted with a delightful surprise. He found her hidden behind a beautifully lit, decorated tree, holding her very own piece of mistletoe above her head. �How very un-Scully-like of you.� �Do you want me to change my mind?� His lips descending upon hers was the answer she�d been hoping for. Back in the basement. . . The elevator door slid open and she walked briskly into their office. When she rounded the corner, she was slightly more than agitated to find Mulder sitting in his chair, feet on the desk, holding the very same piece of mistletoe above his head that had gotten them into trouble. �I suppose you think this is funny?� She was not amused. �That�s not exactly the reaction I was hoping for. Don�t make me give you an order, Agent Scully. You know how you hate it when I have to give you orders.� �Mulder, please try to be serious.� �What did you tell him?� �The truth. I told him there wasn�t any cause for concern. I gave him my word.� �Scully!� He was pleased. �You fibbed,� he grinned from ear to ear. �I did not. Is there any reason for the Bureau to be concerned about us?� His grin remained steady, his eyes full of amusement. �What did you tell him?� She asked, not willing to play his game. �The truth.� �Why does this feel familiar? Pretty soon you�ll be pulling out the tape recorder.� �Who do you think saw us?� He stepped closer. �The one time I let my guard down.� She shook her head, frustrated and embarrassed. �Hopefully this little event won�t hinder any future spontaneous un-Scully-like surprises. . .� �This doesn�t seem to be bothering you, Mulder.� �Scully,� he stepped into her personal space, checking to make sure the office door was shut behind her. �After all we�ve been through, this is not something I�m choosing to worry about. You gave Skinner your word. And, I know he respects and trusts you. This is the last we�ll hear about it.� He lifted her chin until their eyes met. �I promise.� Just as his lips were touching hers, she pulled free of his embrace. �Not if you keep that up, Agent Mulder.� She walked to their desk and picked up a folder and made her way back to the door. �Keep that thought though, and we�ll finish it later.� She smiled and walked out, tossing �I�ll be in ballistics� over her shoulder as the door closed behind her. Later that night. . . �Root Beer?� �That�s fine,� he called from the living room. �Scully, you sure you don�t want to rent one? I can be back in 15 minutes.� �Diet?� �You�re not serious.� He grimaced at the thought of the taste. �Diet or water, Mulder.� �Water.� �You�re really dreading this, aren�t you?� She emerged from the kitchen and crossed the living room, sitting next to him on the couch. �It is my turn, you know.� �But, �Pride and Prejudice?� This is revenge, isn�t it?� She swallowed back her smile. �Why do you say that? I absolutely loved every single minute of �Captain Payne.� �Major Payne.� �And then there was �Young Frankenstein-� �It�s a classic! You can�t say anything bad about �Young Frankenstein!� �To each his own. . . Have you ever seen �Pride and Prejudice?�� His scowl confirmed her suspicion. �Surely you�ve read the book?� �And there�s the reason I never saw the movie.� �I promise we�ll only watch half.� His eyes lit up at her promise and she couldn�t keep from laughing. �It�s six hours, Mulder. I wouldn�t expect you to watch it all in one sitting. We can finish it tomorrow.� �You�re mean, you know that?� He folded his arms and sank deep into the couch, preparing himself for the rest of the evening. Mr. Darcy had just confessed his admiration for Lizzy to a very jealous Miss Bingley when Scully sighed and nuzzled her nose into Mulder�s chest. �Not you too, Scully. . .� �Hmm,� she drew her eyes from the screen and away from the incredibly charming Colin Firth. �What is it with women and that Darcy character?� �He�s sweet.� �He�s rude.� �He changes, though. . . because he loves her.� �Still.� He tightened his arms around her, rubbing hypnotic circles on her arm. �He reminds me of you, actually.� She turned in his arms, looking into his dark eyes, illuminated by the flickering television. �I never-� She didn�t let him finish. �You were a jerk in the beginning, Mulder.� Highly offended, he sat up, moving away from her. A smile graced her lips as she followed him. She wiggled her way into his lap and her fingers found their way to his hair. �But you changed. You learned to trust me, you stopped ditching me, you respected me. . .� �I always respected you, Scully.� Her smile grew wider as she leaned in, brushing her lips across his. �Mr. Darcy and Lizzy shared a forbidden love.� A light lit in Mulder�s eyes. �Kind of like us.� �Exactly. And they didn�t let it stop them either.� �Does that mean we get to make out at more company parties?� �Don�t press your luck.� She climbed off his lap and moved back to her corner. He followed, and snuggled back in behind her. �So, if I�m Mr. Darcy. . . and you�re Lizzy, who�s our Miss Bingley?� �I think we could cast her several different people in her role, Mulder.� �Who?� �Well,� she turned until she was looking directly up at him, �the truth, your quest.� His eyes dropped, saddened by this revelation. She quickly added, �but just as Mr. Darcy was defined by his social standing, so were you. . . defined by your passion, your dedication. I wouldn�t want you any other way.� A smile spread slowly across his lips. �Who else then?� She didn�t want to dredge up the past, but he asked her and she felt she needed to be honest. �Diana.� �Scully, I-� �I know, Mulder. . . and it doesn�t matter any more.� She smiled, reassuring him. Mulder nodded. They�d been down that road before, no need to go back. �So, all Miss Bingleys aside, Mr. Darcy and Lizzy make it?� �I thought you read the book.� Ignoring her, �They live happily ever after?� A brilliant smile played gracefully across her lips. �Yeah, happily ever after. . .� End. |