| Title: Too Much Perfection Author: DM E-Mail: [email protected] Distribution: I would be honored. (I would love to know where so I can come and visit!) Spoiler Warning: You should have a general knowledge of the show and characters. Rating: PG Classification: V R Key Words: Mulder/Scully Romance Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. They belong to CC, 1013 Productions and 20th Century FOX� I just borrowed 'em Summary: Mulder and Scully have a taste of too much perfection. (The title says it all:) Notes: I wrote "Too Much Perfection" as a closure piece to "My Constant" and "My Touchstone." It is not necessary to read either of them to understand this story, but I would love it if you would! Please e-mail me and I'll send you copies of the stories that inspired this project. Thank you for reading. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "Hello?" "Scully?" "Yeah, Mulder. What's up?" "Does something have to be up? Can't I just call my best friend to say hi?" Mulder said in a mock accusatory tone. "Seriously, Mulder." "What, you don't believe me?" "Well, no. In the six and a half years that we've known each other, you've never just called to say hello." "Oh, I have to." "When?" "Sculeee." "Don't whine, Mulder." Mulder laughed. "Okay, so maybe you're right. But I honestly just called to say hello and see if you wanted to," he paused. "Wanted to what? Speak up, Mulder." "Wanted to� I don't know, get together and grab some dinner or something." He said this cautiously. Somehow he had felt more confident about his plans before he was actually asking her. "Mulder, we've had a long week. This is the first weekend in a long while where we're not out in the middle of nowhere chasing little green men�" "Gray," he interrupted her. "What?" "Little Grey men, Scully, "he said with a smile that reflected in his voice. He knew Scully was playing her role in the game. A game they have been playing for almost seven years. She would eventually give in and go with him that night. Not out of a sense of duty, but because she wanted to. Scully's resolve was at a low and uncharacteristically she began to laugh a little earlier than usual. Mulder caught on and began to laugh as well. "So, what do you say, Scully?" Scully slowed her laughter enough to say, "Okay, Mulder. You going to pick me up?" "Sure will; how about in an hour?" "That�s fine, Mulder." "See you then." **** * knock, knock, knock * Hearing the knock, Scully took one last glance in the mirror before heading to the closet to get her coat and shoes. On her way she called to Mulder to let himself in. She heard his key in the lock and then the door opening and closing. "I'll be right out, Mulder." "Okay, fine. No problem." Still calling from behind her closed bedroom door, "So� what did you have in mind for tonight?" If she only knew, Mulder thought. "Stuff." "Stuff, Mulder?" She questioned as she emerged from her bedroom. She found him standing with his back to her staring at something. When she got a little closer she noticed what he was looking at. It was a picture of her when she was quite a bit younger; she was playing with her younger brother, Charlie, in the front yard of her childhood home. Scully smiled and came up beside Mulder just as he picked up the photo for a better look. "Mom took that picture when I was about eight." Mulder smiled and set the picture back in it's place as he pondered how young and innocent she looked. He remembered back when he first met her. When she was still Dana, not Scully. He wished he had gotten the chance to know Dana, know her before she had begun to harden herself against all the horrors she was forced to encounter working with him. He pulled his eyes away from the photo and brought them to rest on Scully's face, who was now just as engrossed in the framed piece of her past. He looked into her eyes and realized that Dana was still there but hiding. Hiding behind the protective mask that is Scully. He still had the chance to know Dana. He already was in love with Scully and he knew he would fall just as much in love with Dana. Scully gently turned her head to face Mulder when she felt his eyes on her. As eye contact was made, neither looked away. Mulder spoke first. "You look so happy and carefree," he said motioning to the picture. "I'm sorry you can't be that way anymore." "Mulder, I was a child. Most children that age are happy and carefree. It's not your fault I grew up and have responsibility." "No, Scully, that might not be my fault. But, when I first met you, when you first walked through the door, you had the same look in your eyes. I saw innocence, a look so similar to the face you wear in this picture. So," he paused suddenly feeling more guilty than usual. "In a way, it is my fault." Scully, who had not taken her eyes off of Mulder the entire time, took hold of his hand that rested next to the photo. Not missing the moisture that was forming in his eyes, she whispered, "Mulder, it's not your fault." Mulder bowed his head. "All that you had, *have* to go through because of me. Because of this selfish quest I'm on." Scully couldn't handle anymore of the guilt trip Mulder was sending himself on. "Mulder, look at me." When he did not respond she used her free hand to raise his chin until his eyes met hers. "We need to get something straight." She continued almost with out hesitation. "First of all, Mulder, did it ever occur to you that I could have left you, the X-Files, anytime I wanted. I could have, but didn't. I didn't stay because I was forced to, but because I wanted to." Mulder's eyes closed, he knew that she wouldn't be saying what she was unless it was true. He just couldn't bring himself to look at her. She continued, "Mulder, look at me." He opened his eyes. "Do you understand what I'm saying? I wanted to stay; I needed to stay. Mulder, your passion, your conviction to finding the truth has been my inspiration. I need you just as you need me." No matter how hard it became, Scully knew she needed to be truthful. She couldn't hold back, not now. She started again, but slowly. "I know, Mulder, that I'm not very good with expressing my feelings. I tend to hide from my emotions. But, I also know that you know how I feel about you. And, as hard as it is for me to say this, I'm going to because you need to hear it, not just know it." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Mulder, ever since I was little I always felt that a piece of myself was missing. I was not a complete person. I thought that the way to fill the void was to find my life's calling, to find my purpose. So, I went through medical school hoping that I could fill the emptiness by helping others. I was almost positive that practicing medicine would fill that open space. It did not. So, I took the opportunity to join the FBI. I thought I might find myself there. "Did you?" Mulder asked gently, hopefully. "No" "Are you still looking," he asked, defeat spreading in his eyes. "I don't have to. I've already found what was missing." Mulder looked at her, searching her eyes. "You, Mulder. I found what I was missing was you. *You* make me whole." Tears now ran freely down his face matching the tears on her own face. She smiled, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She could speak honestly now. He needed to know that she loved him. "Mulder, if there is one thing that I know for certain, above all else," she barely paused. It was important that she finish. "I love you." Mulder was not afraid that she did not love him. His fear rested in how deserving he was of this love. A love she so freely offered. He had felt guilty before, but never as guilty as he did looking at that picture. Her words comforted him. However, he was still unsure of something. Did she love him the way he loved her? The way she spoke led him to believe she did, but he needed to make sure. He took a deep breath. "I'm IN love with you, Scully. I came here to tell you that tonight." Trying to take the pressure off of her, he continued. "I don't expect you to feel the same." Scully was floored. She had been so wrong. His feelings matched her own. Only he had allowed himself to fall in love. Then she realized she too had been in love but was too foolish to admit it. She looked up into his eyes. He was searching her face. He was searching her for a response, for some clue that he hadn't stepped too far across the line. He had. But, it was a line that needed to be crossed; it needed to be removed completely. So, she did the only thing she could think of to erase the boundary for forever. She kissed him. The kiss was soft at first, neither of them deepening it, just getting used to the feeling of each other. The kiss was initiated by Scully, but Mulder soon responded. He was somewhat surprised to be kissing the woman he loved, but not too surprised to take the kiss to it's full potential. Scully responded to Mulder. She matched his efforts and gave him all she was worth. They broke the kiss together. There was no need for words; they communicated as they always had. Silently, with their eyes. And, after a long moment they embraced and simply held each other. Mulder spoke first. "So� I think we have some things we need to talk about." Scully pulled back just enough to look into Mulder's face. "You had this all planned, didn�t' you?" She smiled. "This?" Mulder gestured to the situation with his hands. "No, but I did plan on telling you that I love you." "Did you?" She was enjoying this newfound bliss immensely. "So, tell me," she said as she took his hand and led him to the couch. "What exactly was your plan for this evening before we were, umm� interrupted?" Mulder's eyes lit up. "Well, when I was out with the boys, I found this place�" "Oh, brother." Scully knew he was speaking of the Lone Gunmen. "What?" Mulder said in feigned innocence. "Did Frohike give you dating advice as well?" She tried to suppress a smile. "You know, Scully, Frohike isn't as bad as you think." At Scully's raised eyebrow he was encouraged even more. "He's got a crush on you, ya know." "Mulder�" "No, seriously. It's kind of cute if you think about it. After all these yea�" Scully cut him short by placing her lips on top of his. While smiling into his mouth she murmured, "I don't want to think about Frohike right now." "Completely under�" He was cut off once more as she began to kiss him. He pulled away and noticed Scully's surprised expression. In answer, he smiled and said, "It's my turn to kiss you, Scully. Why should you get to be the one having all the fun?" "You weren't having any fun, Mulder?" He smiled and she continued. "You weren't taking any initiative. I had to do something." "Well, I'm taking initiative now." He began to move closer at a horrifically slow pace. It was driving him crazy, but he knew it was driving her up the wall and onto the ceiling. It was worth it. She tried to close the distance, but he stopped her. "No, it's my turn. Be patient." She let out a small sigh. "It won't work, Scully. I've had years of practice. It's not been easy, but I've learned how to resist you." He continued moving inward. As their lips neared and only a breath was between them, Mulder whispered. "That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Scully nodded her head in affirmative. "I love you, Mulder." "I love you." He quickly closed the small space between them. Perfection is not something that is easily obtained. Instances have been few and far between where one may claim they have been privileged to too much perfection. Tonight, for Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, the phrase, "too much perfection" would have been an understatement. Their gift of perfection was justly deserved. It was as if they had been on a long and continuous journey, constantly searching. And, finding each other as they just had, allowed them to come home, to be completed and become whole once more. ~ The End Feedback is most definitely appreciated. Thanks for reading! |