A Familiar Heart
Chapter Eighteen


The day started out well enough, he supposed. 
After all, he got to sleep in Scully's bed the
night before, which was a plus.  Of course, she
wasn't there with him, but he dreamt of her, his
sleep-induced fantasies fueled by the subtle
scent of her that clung to the sheets.  He was
one lucky bastard, he had to admit.

Via Charlie, Mulder learned Mrs. Scully had
insisted he stay at the Scully house.  A hotel
room was no place for an injured man, especially
one who'd become like part of the family in the
last week.  Said with a roll of his eyes, Charlie
had departed the news as he'd helped Mulder
hobble to his car, Scully trailing behind with
specific, barked instructions.  Mulder was
helpless to intervene, or protest.  Not that he
wanted to, by any means.  But he knew Charlie
wouldn't pass a peaceful night at all, between
pre-wedding jitters and pacing the upstairs hall
at hourly intervals to make sure Dana wasn't
sneaking in for some late-night cuddling.

"Don't *even* think about it," he'd warned them
both as he pulled in the drive.  "My room is
right next to yours, sprite.  I hear one creak of
those bed springs and I won't be responsible for
keeping your secret this time."

"Charlie, you have my word we won't do anything,"
Mulder had assured him, catching Scully's wicked
glance as she sat beside him in the back seat. 
"Will we, Scully?"

"Nope.  We'll be perfect angels."  She'd reached
for his hand with a smile.  "Besides, I think
Charlie has more pressing things to worry about
than whether or not we're having sex in his
room."

Charlie's face colored at his sister's frank
statement.  "Shut *up*, will you?"

She'd calmly angled her head to meet Charlie's
embarrassed gaze in the rearview mirror, as it
happened, leaning her head on Mulder's shoulder. 
"You're the one who keeps bringing it up, you
know."

She had a point.  She also had her other hand
wrapped around Mulder's thigh.  He knew then he'd
awakened a sleeping beauty - one who wanted him
just as much as he wanted her.

And they *were* perfect angels, though it nearly
killed him to think of her sleeping downstairs on
the couch they'd christened not long ago.  The
wedding today would have to be endured before he
could even consider being alone with her.  He
groaned as he pulled on his pants, wondering how
he'd ever stand the wait.

The laborious journey downstairs took some
energy, despite the good night's rest he'd had
courtesy of the pain pills.  But he pasted a
smile on his face as he walked into the kitchen. 
Mrs. Scully was the only one who greeted him.

"Mulder!  Good morning!"

His disappointment must have shown on his face. 
Maggie pulled out a chair for him and said
softly, "Dana is at Ellen's, Mulder.  I thought
you knew?  Let me get you some coffee."

"Where does Ellen live, by the way?  In
Annapolis?"  He tried to make his question
nonchalant, and thought he'd succeeded, until
Maggie turned, coffee in hand, a sly look on her
face.

"I'll tell you what I told Charlie this morning,
Mulder.  Leave the girls alone."  She sat across
from him with a wink.  "Wedding preparations take
time, and men underfoot do not make it any
easier.  You'll find out when you get married
yourself."  From beneath lowered lashes, she gave
him a curious look as she sipped at her coffee.

Uh - oh, he thought.  Seemed he and Scully's
display on Mrs. O'Malley's front lawn yesterday
had only confirmed to everyone what, before now,
they'd only speculated about.  He could tell
Dana's mother what he'd told Charlie days ago -
that he'd marry Scully in a heartbeat, if she'd
have him.  But something told him Scully wasn't
the type to have her business broadcast citywide,
especially since he had yet to pop the question.

"Good coffee," he murmured, avoiding Maggie's
gaze as he brought his cup to his lips.

"Mulder!"

Mulder almost dropped the hot brew in his lap. 
Looking up, he gave Charlie a grin, despite his
friend's almost disastrous slap on the back. 
"Charlie!  Need some help this morning?"  Facing
away from Maggie, he shifted his eyes in her
direction as if to say, "Please rescue me!"

Charlie cleared his throat, putting his hands in
his pockets as he wiped the smile off his face. 
"Um... sure.  You can come with me to Melissa's,
if you want.  Melvin is there by himself with the
kids and I'm sure he could use some help."

Giving Maggie a smiling goodbye, he walked ahead
of Charlie to the front door.  One step closer to
Scully.


**********


"I know I'm not part of the family, per se,
Mulder.  But as Melissa's friend, I feel I should
tell you..."

More coffee, this time at Melissa's kitchen
table.  Charlie played outside with the boys in
the new snow, and Mulder sat with Frohike, who
suddenly looked more like a banker than a fellow
man enamored of a Scully woman.  "Tell me what?"

"That you'd better do right by Dana." Frohike
punctuated his statement with a raise of his
eyebrow.

"Charlie," Mulder muttered, angry at his friend's
blabbing.

"Charlie hasn't told me a damn thing, Mulder,"
Frohike corrected his assumption.  "I know you
and Dana were alone in the house a couple of
nights ago, and Charlie showed up at the dance
hall looking like he'd lost his lunch." He leaned
back in his chair, tucking his thumbs in his vest
pockets.  "Besides, I may be old, but I'm not
dead.  I take my chances when I get 'em, too."

Mulder rolled his eyes, the mental image of
Frohike doing with Melissa what he himself had
done with Scully almost making him ill.  He
struggled to his feet and wrenched open the back
door.

"Charlie!  Time to go!"

Jesus.  Didn't these people know he'd been
bugging Scully that very same subject for three
days?  Who else was going to corner him today
with advice to 'do the right thing by Scully'? 


**********


Bill.  Junior, not senior.

Mulder sipped at his beer, half sitting on the
stool at the bar, and trying like hell to avoid
the man's narrowed stare.  Instead of sneaking
past Ellen's - Mulder had tried his best to talk
Charlie into making a surprise visit - they found
themselves having a late lunch and afternoon beer
at Mike's.  Dana's father was feeling pretty good
by mid-afternoon, telling bawdy jokes one moment,
then frowning into his beer at the next with the
prospect of facing his wife after having had one
too many.

But Bill, Jr. - who'd arrived with family in tow
around noon - didn't say a damn thing.  He only
nodded when introduced to Mulder, not even
shaking his hand.  Bad news, Mulder thought. 
Somehow, he'd been informed of the goings-on
yesterday, and he wasn't too happy.  Instead of
pulling Mulder aside and letting him have it,
however, he just stood there at the end of the
bar, not saying a God damned word.  It was
unnerving, to say the least.  Mulder knew he was
in for it eventually, and he hoped Junior had the
sense to make it *after* the wedding.

Sighing, Mulder scratched the side of his face,
feeling that stare burn his skin.  He didn't feel
like making small talk, or sitting under Junior's
stare like a bug under a microscope.  All he
wanted was to see Scully.  But she was getting
ready for the wedding, and he was getting mighty
lonesome.  The reception promised to be no
better, with hordes of Scullys descending for a
New Year's Eve party like no other.  It would be
well into the next morning before they'd even
have a chance to breathe, much less talk, and
already Maggie had the pot of cabbage on the
stove for New Year's Day dinner.  More
celebrating.  Jesus, he thought.  He had to do
something to get her alone or he'd go mad.

"C'mon, Mulder." He was roused from his feverish
planning by Charlie's tap on his shoulder.  "It's
almost three.  We gotta get going if we're gonna
be ready and at the church by six-thirty.  Bill
and his bunch have to use the bathroom, too, you
know.  Hey - did you ever meet Uncle Mike's kids
the other night?  He has ten, you know.  They'll
all be at the wedding tonight."

That did it.  Looking up at Charlie, he said,
"You go on with your Dad and Bill.  My dress
whites are still in my room at the Belmont.  I'll
meet you at the church, okay?"

"But how will you get around?" Charlie eyed
Mulder's crutches.

"I'll take a cab.  Don't worry, Charlie.  Even if
I have to drag myself down the aisle, I'm gonna
do it."

Junior walked up and helped Charlie rouse his
dad, who'd succumbed to a nap at the bar.  He
still didn't say a word, though if looks could
kill, Mulder would be a dead man.  After they all
staggered through the door, Mulder looked at a
laughing Mike.  "Can I use the phone, Mike?"

With a big grin, Mike laid the telephone in front
of Mulder, his beefy hand covering it like a
clamp.  "Now, you wouldn't be thinkin' of callin'
Dana, would you, lad?" he asked with a wink.

The hand was a deterrence, an obvious one that
made Mulder growl, "You, too?  Jesus, Mike, give
me a break, will you?"

"Me, too?  What're you flappin' your jaws about,
boy?"

As if even the telephone company was against him
today, the phone rang abruptly, startling them
both.  Mike picked it up immediately, while
Mulder seethed in his stool, half-listening to
Mike's laughter.  Suddenly, he found the receiver
thrust under his nose.

"For you, lad."

Mulder had no idea who'd tracked him down at
Mike's.  If it was Skinner with news of Chang's
vengeful brother, or some such nonsense, he was
liable to scream.

"Hello?"

"Hi, sailor."

Just the sound of her voice made him relax, and
he smiled.  "Hey yourself.  I've been trying to
find you all day."  He flashed Mike a 'bug off'
glare, and Scully's uncle moved to the other end
of the bar with a belly laugh.

"I know."

"I don't see how the hell you could.  You're
avoiding me, Scully."

"I am.  And I know because I know *you*, Mulder."

"Scully, you've only known me a few days.  A week
at the most."

Her voice lowered to a sultry purr.  "I feel like
I've known you forever."

He blinked, wondering what he could possibly say
to top that, especially with his throat suddenly
clogged with annoying, leaping little frogs.  He
missed her, and the phone call, while welcome,
only seemed to be making his need worse.

"Mulder?"

Finally, he found his voice.  "Yeah?"

"You know why I'm avoiding you, don't you?"

"I have a pretty good idea, yeah."  If she felt
half of what he was feeling, then she was
climbing the walls with frustration.

"Good," she sighed.  "Then you know it'll be
another day or so before we can do anything about
it."

"Yeah."  He still had his room at the hotel, but
that was out of the question.  They could no more
sneak off for an hour than they could for a day. 
Her family would be on them like hounds on the
scent.

"I miss you.  I just wanted you to know that."

"I do."

I do, I do.  He whispered his longing for her in
a sweet goodbye, the vow echoing in his head.  He
had to think of something, or they'd both go
crazy.  "Bye, Scully.  I'll see you at the
church, okay?"

"Okay.  I'll be the one with the pinched,
impatient face."

He chuckled, imagining the sight.  "Then we'll be
a matched pair."  He hung up, and watched Mike
come back to his side of the bar.

"Lad, it's no use.  No way to get rid of the
clan.  Short of carrying her off to parts
unknown, that is.  And you'd better make sure
it's damned far away, or you'll find yourself
under the gun."

Mulder sighed, downing the rest of his beer. 
Looked like he wasn't going anywhere near Scully
today.  "I want to marry her, you know.  I'm not
going to leave her high and dry after this
wedding, and I'm tired of people thinking that
I'm some kind of heel."

"Simmer down, lad," Mike said, leaning closer. 
"This ain't the way to get her alone.  Take it
from me - you don't want an hour when you could
have a whole lifetime."  As if embarrassed by his
statement, he coughed, straightening to add,
"Besides, that nephew o'mine took a dislike to
you."

Mulder snorted, knowing Mike was speaking of
Junior.  "Yeah, I kinda noticed.  Is he always
that sociable?"

"You caught him on a good day, lad."

"Thought so."

"Yeah.  You fuck this up, lad, and he'll make
sure you never darken their door again.  Lotsa
Scullys in this town, boy, and Billy wouldn't
hesitate to put 'em on your ass.  Best cool your
heels for a couple of days."  Mike moved away to
tend to a customer at the other end of the bar,
his words echoing in Mulder's head.

An idea took root in Mulder's mind, and he
smiled, reaching for the telephone.  He dialed
the number quickly, his plan taking shape.

"Get me Skinner on the line," he barked at the
underling who answered.  Old Walt owed him one,
the way he saw it.

His heels needing cooling, all right.  So did
hers.


**********


So beautiful.  All in white, like the most
innocent virgin God ever created.  Except this
man was no virgin.  Far from it, Scully thought.

She was damned glad he wasn't, too.  No innocent
would make it through a church untouched by
lightning if he looked at her that way.  Even
hunched over crutches he made an impressive,
handsome figure.  Of course, his smile was so
bright it created an ache deep inside her, one
that would not be assuaged until she could kiss
that relaxed, happy mouth.

And his eyes.  They shone like the calm, sunlit
surface of a summertime pond, brilliant in their
reflection of her love; yet underneath, the
depths promised something more... a deep, cool
embrace designed to strip away her last defenses
against its drowning pull.  She couldn't look
away, hypnotized by the promise in those gray-
green pools.  Though he'd come as a show of
friendship for Charlie, he'd stayed because of
love for her.  Tonight, it was almost as if the
wedding had become, for them, an afterthought. 
He told her this with his steady gaze - assured
her that the change for Charlie signaled a change
for them, too.

The swell of music in the church made her break
from Ellen's side.  Gliding up to Mulder, she
asked, "Ready?"

Before she could say anything else, he put aside
the crutches and took her arm.  "Don't fuss," he
warned.  "I want to walk up that aisle with you
without those damn things.  Just don't walk too
fast, and I'll be okay."

It took some effort, but she managed to get
herself and Mulder to their proper places on the
altar without disaster happening.  The actual
ceremony was short, wedged in the middle of a
full Latin mass.  In the candlelight surrounding
the altar, she watched Mulder watch her.  Facing
each other, Ellen and Charlie between them, they
couldn't seem to take their eyes off one another. 
It was bound to be noticed by her parents in the
front row, she thought, but she didn't care.

The priest droning on about love and commitment,
she saw Mulder's sleepy, desirous gaze sweep over
her from head to toe, taking in the silver gown
that draped provocatively off her shoulders to
fall in a floor-length full skirt from a cinched
waist.  It was copied after the bride's, just a
shade or two darker, its satin bodice different
in that it was not embroidered with pearls.  She
felt beautiful in his eyes, and so very feminine,
for the first time in a long, long time.  And she
could have punched him when she saw him lean to
his left, trying to look at the fastenings on the
back of the gown.  With a suppressed grin, he
straightened, turning his attention back to the
priest.

The rings exchanged, communion over, Father
Corkery gave the final blessing and it was over. 
When Scully reached for Mulder, she noticed his
face was rather pasty.  "You all right?" she
murmured.

"Just let me hold on to you, okay?"  Instead of
taking her arm, his hand went around her waist.

She smiled at the parents with reassurance, and
began walking.  In a second, his hand had stolen
under the drape, and she gasped, whispering, 
"Mulder!"

"Hooks," he whispered with satisfaction, his face
showing no sign of their conversation as he
nodded at the crowd, guiding her out behind
Charlie and Ellen.  "Did I tell you how much I
like your dress, Scully?"

"You don't have to," she said, wondering how much
longer Mulder would wait to fulfill his promise
back at the hospital.  The phone call today had
only made her own need soar to lofty proportions,
and she knew he was chomping at the bit as well.

She almost cried when he let go of her.  The
family crowded around them outside the church as
rice showered down on Ellen and Charlie.  Lifting
sad eyes to Mulder, she watched the influx of
well-wishers separate them.  His look was just as
mournful, as if they'd come from a funeral, not a
wedding.  Reaching for his crutches, he limped
off to hail a cab.

How would she ever stand the wait?


**********


The Governor Calvert House was one of Annapolis'
oldest establishments, steeped in Colonial charm
and expensive as all hell, he noticed, feeling
very out of place among the ritzy place settings
and tuxedo-clad men.  He'd been born to parents,
who, while not wealthy by any means, were pretty
well-off financially.  But he'd always thumbed
his nose at the snobbery associated with wealth,
and he felt uncomfortable with the trappings of
riches.  He knew damn well it wasn't Scully's
family responsible for this extravagant display,
and his suspicions were confirmed when Ellen's
father made a big show of nodding at the mayor
and several other big names when toasting the
happy couple.

He could pick out the Scullys in attendance,
though, by their understated suits and dresses. 
Not frumpy, just modest.  He naturally gravitated
in their direction, his crutches preventing him
from traveling too far, too fast.  Besides, from
the moment they'd arrived at the reception,
Scully had been whisked away to attend to Ellen's
needs during the photographs, adjusting her
wedding dress at appropriate intervals.  Mulder
had taken the required photo with the happy
couple and Scully at the very beginning, using
his temporary handicap to beg off any others. 
Now, he sat at the bar, sipping at champagne and
counting the hours until his plan could be set in
motion.  He glanced at his watch yet again,
wondering if Scully would be finished shortly
with the required attendance to Ellen.

"No use watchin' the clock, lad.  Women live for
weddings.  You couldn't pry Dana from Ellen with
a crowbar."

"Mike," he greeted the older man with a smile,
reaching out to shake his hand.  He nodded
Scully, shifting on his stool.  "She's beautiful,
isn't she?"

"Brides are always lovely, Mulder."

"I was talking about Dana."

"I know you were.  And if you don't quit starin'
at her, you're gonna get a visit from Billy." 
Mike jerked his chin at someone Mulder hadn't
noticed sitting across the bar - Junior.

Great.  He'd managed to avoid the inevitable
confrontation so far with the eldest Scully
brother, and he certainly didn't want it to take
place at the reception.  Looked like his plan to
dance with Scully at least once would have to be
thrown by the wayside.  He had other, more
pressing plans to put into motion, and having old
Elmer there do the glue thing promised to put a
definite crimp in those plans.

"Mike?"

"Yeah?"

"Do me a favor, would you?"

"Anything, lad."

"Keep Junior busy a while." He shoved himself up
on his crutches, and picked up his hat.  "Then
ask Charlie and Ellen to meet me in the lobby. 
But don't tell Dana - at least not now.  In about
a half hour, have her meet us there, too, okay?"

"You're not leaving, are ya lad?"

"I'm afraid so," he said, looking at his watch
again.  Time was running short.  "Gotta collect
on a debt."

"A debt?"

"Yep.  Someone owes me for a flat tire."

"She wouldn't happen to be a little hellcat with
red hair, would she?"  Mike called after him,
laughing.


**********


A half hour later, Scully felt a hand on her arm,
turning her from the breather she was taking at
the punch bowl.  She'd not seen Mulder in at
least fifteen minutes, and she planned on downing
the sweet stuff, then searching for him before
Ellen grabbed her again.

"Dana, darlin'!"

"Uncle Mike!"  She gave him a hug, saying, "Have
you seen Mulder?"

"Now, is that any way to greet your favorite
uncle - by asking about another man?"

Pulling away, she said, "I'm sorry.  You're
right."  Too much Mulder on the brain, she
thought.  And they still had tomorrow's New
Year's celebration to get through before they
could even think about being alone together. 
"Did you get some food?  There's roast beef at
the -"

"Last I saw Mulder, he was heading for the
restroom," Mike interrupted, jerking his eyes in
the direction of her brother Bill, who was
stalking toward them.  He lowered his voice,
adding, "Then he said something about collecting
on a flat tire?"

A flat tire.  Back in Utah, she'd charged the
cost of her flat to Mulder's name.  Was he
leaving for Utah?  Did he expect her to go with
him?  Indecision made her bite her lip, as she
looked at Bill, who was fast approaching.

"Just go, girl," Mike murmured.  "Whatcha waitin'
for?  Go."

"But Mom and Dad -"

"I'll tell 'em you eloped," Mike beamed.

"*Eloped*?  Jesus, Uncle Mike -"

"Better than telling them you ran off without
benefit of marriage, am I right?  Just don't make
me into a liar by showing up in a few days
without a ring on that finger, Dana."

She laughed, though it was nervous with
uncertainty.  "That's entirely up to Mulder,
Uncle Mike."

He leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek. 
"Then I think you have nothing to worry about,
darlin'.  Now, get going."


**********


She ran into the lobby, breathless, her gaze
searching the crowd that had spilled out from the
reception.  No Mulder.  "Damn," she muttered,
heading for the front door.  He better not have
left her behind; she though he understood they
would no longer run from each other.

Her breath hitched at the two shadows that moved
in a dimly lit alcove near the front.  One,
dressed all in white, from the smooth, gold-
braided top of his hat to his toes, his arms
propped up on crutches.  The other, hidden by the
man's tall form, only a pair of slim, feminine
arms visible.  And *those* were wrapped around
his back.

A sudden rush of jealousy made her storm forward,
her anger already on her lips.  "Mulder?"

The man lifted his head, having heard her
bristling approach, his whisper vehement.  "Cool
it, sprite.  It's me."

Stopping cold, she saw Ellen's nose peek around
the man's shoulder as she said, "Charlie?"

Ellen gave her a grin, then tilted her face up to
receive another kiss.  Lips against his bride's,
Charlie murmured, "Look out the door, sprite."

"What?"

"Just look, Dana."

She moved to the front door.  A white-gloved
footman held it open with a smile, and another
held open the door of a limousine, gesturing for
her to take his hand.  Inside, a pair of long,
white-clad legs stretched out in the back seat,
one hand tapping impatiently against a knee.  His
face was hidden in shadow, but suddenly, as if
sensing her stare, it popped into view.  Hopeful,
yet unsure, he smiled at her, the hat on his head
cocked back at a rakish angle.

Still, she hesitated, shock at the switcheroo in
progress making her stammer,  "Charlie, t-that's
your limo."

Distracted from his exploration of his new wife's
mouth, Charlie said, "Hell, Dana.  It'll come
back for us.  Just *go*, already, before Bill
comes along."

"Come *back* for you?  Just where the hell -" Her
curious question was cut short as her brother
descended upon her, the crutches shoved into
Ellen's hands.

"That's it," Charlie growled.  "You don't know
when someone's trying to help you elope?"  He
practically shoved her into the footman's hands.
"Will you please shut her up?" he directed at
Mulder.

Last thing she saw before climbing in the cab was
Charlie, taking the crutches from Ellen - and
Bill, standing in the back of the lobby with a
scowl on his face.  Charlie swooped down on his
bride, pulling her back into the corner.  Bill's
gaze gravitated in that direction, and he took a
step forward, his call of her name furious.

"Dana!"

The door closed on her chuckles and the limousine
sped away.  Hook, line and sinker.  Bill was so
easy to fool.

But her laughter was short-lived, as she felt a
tug on her chin.  Looking up, she came face to
face with a pair of somber eyes.

"If you don't want to do this, Scully, just tell
me.  I promise you we'll go back there and I'll
sit through well-meaning Scully comments, and
Elmer's flypaper routine until the end of time. 
But I'd rather not.  I can't stand to waste
another minute apart from you."

She felt a tug on her heart at the sincere
statement.  He was promising her freedom in his
soft words, something she knew she'd never have
if she went with him.  But his imprisonment would
not be confining, she also knew.  It would be a
simple holding of her heart in his loving hand, a
commitment to keep her safe and loved.

One hand went up to caress his cheek.  "Mulder?"

"Yes?"

"You promised me time would stand still.  I'd
like to see you do it, if you wouldn't mind."

"Ten minutes to the station, Scully," he said,
his relief transforming his face into a happy
smile.  "Even *I* can't work that fast."

"Shut up, Mulder."

And she kissed him.


End Chapter Eighteen