Scully stared out the car window as they sped through the night. In the driver’s seat, Mulder concentrated on the road ahead. Unspoken words hung in the tense air between them. The car radio crackled as they traveled, occasionally picking up local stations.

Scully stirred as the words to her favorite song came in clearly. Bette Midler’s voice filled the space between them.

Mulder reached to turn off the radio.

"Leave it Mulder, please. I like that song."

Silently, he withdrew his hand.

Scully thought of the hunger and need she felt, especially after a day like today. What should have been an interesting case had turned out to be a huge rift between them. She knew she had hurt him, but sometimes his ideas were too much for even her to take.

Scully smiled a little at that, thinking of the Mulder being the seed to her flower. That thought made her blush, but also reminded her of the argument.

She glanced over at Mulder. He was staring straight ahead, but she thought she saw a hint of wetness in his eyes.

Scully sighed as she thought of the chance she didn’t take. Mulder had wanted to stay overnight, but she had insisted they drive home. She knew if they had stayed, he would have wanted to make up, and she wasn’t ready for that just yet.

Tears came to her eyes. Maybe she was too stiff-backed, too by-the-rules. Sometimes she wished she could suspend all the rigid guidelines she lived by, and just play for a while.

She turned in her seat to face Mulder. He still stared straight ahead, but she thought she saw his eyes flicker in her direction.

How many nights had she wanted Mulder to crawl into her bed, instead of being on the other side of a thin motel wall? How many times had she told herself she was being silly?

As the song ended, so did the reception to that particular station. In the silence that followed, she felt Mulder slowing the car down. He steered it carefully off the road into a roadside park. Turning off the engine, he turned to her. Wordlessly, he unbuckled his seat belt and held out his arms to her. With joy in her heart, and a song in her head, she melted into his arms and his love.

Words to "The Rose", by Manda McBroom from the soundtrack to "The Rose" Bette Midler

Some say love, it is a river

that drowns the tender reed.

Some say love, it is a razor

that leaves your soul to bleed.

Some say love, it is a hunger,

an endless aching need.

I say love, it is a flower,

and you it's only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking

that never learns to dance.

It's the dream afraid of waking

that never takes the chance.

It's the one who won't be taken,

who cannot seem to give,

and the soul afraid of dyin'

that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely

and the road has been too long,

and you think that love is only

for the lucky and the strong,

just remember in the winter

far beneath the winter snows

lies the seed that with the sun's love

in the spring becomes the rose.