From: Amy Schatz Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: ELYSIAN FIELDS - 1/7 Date: Mon, 25 Mar 96 11:00:38 PDT Disclaimer: Think one up yourselves. :D Personally, I'm sick of writing them, and no one reads them anyway. :D Thanks: I have so many people to thank this time. Thank you to Char (and her colorful words:), Melissa, Molly, and Anik for their help, advice, and suggestions. Credit: There are lines from a few songs in here. Now, here comes a surprise...none of them are mine. :D Story Note: This story contains no X-File (except maybe how M&S can keep their *true* feelings hidden:), no explosions, no gunfights or anything like that. It is simply pure M&S romance mush. Lots and lots of angst is included free of charge. There is a slight spoiler for SYZYGY, and something that occurred in PAPER CLIP is mentioned here. Mail: Please write to me! I'd love to hear what you think. You can reach me at: risamy@epix.net That's all! Here we go... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Have you ever heard of Elysian Fields, Scully? It's another name for heaven, and that's what's it's like being with you." --Fox Mulder, Elysian Fields ELYSIAN FIELDS by Amy Schatz Unionville, Virginia October 20, 2000 1:10 pm He stood before the door as his stomach mutinied, and tried to take a deep breath. He looked around the hallway in which he stood. It was much like her old apartment building, except this one was outside Washington in Virginia. Finally, he took another deep breath and knocked softly on the door. As he waited for her to open it, he wondered again why she had called him here after so long. On one hand, it scared him terribly to think of seeing her again after all the time that had passed. But on the other, his whole soul smiled at the chance. He still loved her and any possibility of seeing her was like a healing balm to his spirit. He remembered how happy he had been when he had found out that she actually loved him. Back then, it had almost been too much to comprehend, and even now, after all that had happened between them, it still awed him to think that she had once loved him. <<<<*>>>> Blue Earth, Iowa June 9, 1996 Yellow Arrow Motel "Scully, I want to look at that." Scully sighed. "Mulder, it's fine. I can take care of it." Mulder closed the door to his room and walked up to her. She was standing in the middle of his room, looking for the tissues. "Scully, please sit down." She whirled around to look at him, and was about to say something when her eyes closed and she swayed on her feet. Mulder was next to her in an instant, and had his arm wrapped around her shoulders, steadying her. "Take it easy, Scully," he said softly. She leaned into him. "Could you make the room stop spinning, please?" she asked, in a soft, sweet voice. Mulder smiled and guided her to the bed. Once she was sitting, he got up and went into the bathroom. Moments later, he came out with a wet washcloth and the first aid kit that they always seemed to use on every case. He sat down next to her again, took his suit jacket off, and then turned to study the nasty cut on her forehead. He dabbed it gently with the washcloth, attempting to clean it, and she winced. "Sorry," he mumbled, brushing a lock of hair away from the cut. As he did, his fingers touched her skin and he felt a bolt of electricity spark between them. "Mulder, are you going to look at it all day?" Her voice snapped him back to reality, and he realized he had been staring. "Ah, no. I was just making sure it was clean," he said as he put the washcloth down, and reached for a Band-Aid. After putting some antiseptic on the bandage, he gently placed it over the cut. After he did, their eyes met, and they locked for a little longer than was appropriate for people who kept saying they were `just partners'. "Thank you, Mulder," she said softly. He smiled. "You're welcome. I like to take care of you." Her eyes widened. "Excuse me?" He nodded. "You heard me. I care about you, Scully. And today, when I saw that guy hit you with that pipe..." He shuddered at the memory. "...It was like he had hit me, too. I felt it. And I was terrified that I might lose you." She smiled at him, and touched his cheek tenderly. "You're never going to lose me, Mulder." His eyes filled with tears. "I did once." Scully's heart filled with sorrow and affection for this man and she moved closer to him, putting her arms around his neck, and pulling him close. "But I came back. I came back..." He sighed, and wrapped his arms around her waist, wanting to bring her closer. As close as he could. "I know, but it still scares me. I love you, Scully, and I want to protect you." She was silent for a moment, but then she realized what he had said. "What did you say?" "I want to protect you." She shook her head, and pulled away from him slightly, so she could see his face. "No, before that." Mulder was silent, as he scrolled back through his perfect memory. Suddenly, he gasped as he realized what he had let slip. He sighed. He couldn't lie, because she had heard it. So now, he would have to tell her, and then she would laugh at him, probably slap him, and then request a transfer. "I guess I said I love you," he admitted, watching her face closely for her reaction. He never would have guessed what her reaction would be. She looked at him silently for a few seconds, and then suddenly, she was kissing him. Kissing him more passionately than he ever could have imagined or dreamed. Mulder was surprised for a few seconds, but he recovered quickly, and wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her close. The kiss deepened, and Mulder pushed her back onto the bed, already pushing her suit jacket off of her shoulders. She responded in kind by reaching up to unbutton his shirt, and then slipped her hands inside. When he felt her hands on his side, and stretching around to his back, he moaned. She smiled against his mouth, and encircled her arms around his waist. He was working on the buttons of her blouse, and she let him, enjoying the addled fuzz that his nearness was causing. He pushed her blouse away, and eventually, took it off. When that was done, she pushed his shirt down, and away, and they pulled each other close, wanting to feel skin against skin. Mulder kissed her again, as his hands roamed downwards, attempting to undo her pants button, but she stopped him. "Wait," she said, her hands taking hold of his. His eyes flew to meet hers, and she saw the insecurity there. "Scully, if you don't want to, it's okay. I'll understand." She shook her head. "No, that's not it. I wanted to tell you something." He looked at her questioningly. She reached up to touch his cheek. "Mulder-" He put his finger to her lips. "Don't call me that. Not now. Not like this." She nodded. "Fox, I think I've loved you from that first day that I walked into your office. I wanted you to know that I love you, and I always will. I'll never stop. I couldn't. You're a part of me, and you have been for a while now. I just wanted to tell you." He looked down at her...so beautiful, so intelligent, so brave...and she actually loved him. It made his heart ache with a wonderful surge of emotion. He pulled her close, burying his face in her hair. "Oh, Scully...I love you so much. You're the only thing that matters to me." She smiled and kissed him again. <<<<*>>>> Unionville, Virginia October 20, 2000 Scully's apartment 1:13 pm As the door opened, Mulder came out of his memories, and time seemed to shift into slow motion. Suddenly, she was revealed to him, and he breathed in sharply. She was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her hair was different than when he had last seen her three years ago. It looked like it did early in their partnership - with short bangs, and a red color that leapt out to burn him. In their later years together, she had grown her bangs longer, and swept them to the side, and the red had been streaked with blonde. Her skin was still perfect and he could still see that small dusting of freckles across her nose. Her eyes were the bright, sky blue that he remembered, and that haunted him in his dreams. She was wearing dark dress pants, a matching jacket that hung open, and a red shell underneath. She was the Dana Scully he remembered and still loved. Scully looked at Mulder and had to stop herself from crying. He stood there, tall and lanky, wearing a light grey suit, white dress shirt, and a dark winter coat. His hair was a bit longer than it used to be, and he had it brushed back, except for that stubborn lock that never obeyed. His hazel eyes looked sad and happy at the same time, and she could see the dark circles under his eyes. He was the Fox Mulder that she remembered. "Hello, Mulder," she said in a low, breathy voice, smiling slightly. He couldn't speak for a few moments because of all the thoughts running through his mind. "Hello, Scully," he finally said. She smiled and stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. "Thank you for coming," she said, pushing aside her desire to run to him and pull him close. Now was not the time for that. She had a more important issue to discuss. Mulder smiled faintly, his eyes wary. When she had left him, she had made it perfectly clear that they would never see each other again. So why would she call him now? "I'm sure you're wondering why I called you." Mulder nodded, his eyes sad. When he spoke, he looked away, fearing that her gaze would pull down the barriers that were holding his tears back. "Your call *was* a surprise. Before, you said...you said you hated me, and that you never wanted to see me again. What changed your mind?" he asked, his voice shaky. Scully looked at him, her arms aching to hold him. "A lot of things have changed, Mulder. And you need to know about them." As she watched him absorb that news, she thought back to the happy times they had had together. The days when she and he were closer than ever. Days when nothing could come between them. <<<<*>>>> Washington, D.C. September 11, 1996 Scully's apartment She smiled and closed her eyes, letting the hot steam curl around her. As she lay in the bathtub, she hummed softly with the music that was playing in her living room. She was so relaxed that she never heard the key turning, never heard her front door open or close, never heard the soft footfalls coming down her hallway. Mulder appeared in the doorway of her bathroom, watching her. He smiled as he saw her let out a long sigh. He hadn't seen her so peaceful in quite a while. As he watched her, he thought he had never seen her look so beautiful, with her hair pinned up, and most of her body covered in bubbles. He leaned against the door frame, a lazy smile on his lips. "You never draw my bath..." She didn't even flinch. The sound of his voice could never scare her. "I thought you had work to do," she said, smiling, her eyes still closed. "I did, and I did it." This caused her to open her eyes. "You actually finished the paperwork? I don't believe it." His face took on a shocked expression, and his right hand moved to cover his heart. "Ooh, Scully, you wound me!" he said as he crossed to the tub and knelt beside it. Reaching out, he gently touched her cheek as their eyes locked, and there was no longer any need for words. Scully sat up in the tub and wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling lazily. "Let's face it, Mulder. You are not exactly known for getting paperwork in on time." But Mulder was finding it hard to concentrate on paperwork at that moment. He could feel the suds dripping from her arms to his shoulders, soaking through his shirt. Her skin was hot, and he felt like it was burning him. She leaned even closer and he could feel her breath against his cheek. "You know, you have far too many clothes on, Mulder." He smiled. "Give me a minute, and I'll take care of that." He attempted to stand, but she tightened her hold on him. "No, I have a better idea..." she said seductively. With a swift, powerful motion, she pulled him into the tub with her. "Scully!" he sputtered, his arms flailing, sending water and bubbles onto the floor. She smiled and silenced him with a kiss. When it was over, she pulled back to find him grinning at her. "If you wanted me to kiss you, Scully, all you had to do was ask." She wrapped her arms around his middle in a highly possessive manner, liking the feel of his wet shirt against her skin. "But wasn't this more fun?" "Are you going to pay to get this shirt and these pants cleaned?" She shook her head, barely keeping her laughter hidden. Mulder looked at her in the sternest way he could, and shook his index finger at her. "You're just lucky I took off my jacket before I came in here." She looked at him, trying to keep her expression impassive. "Oh, really?" He nodded, his face the picture of discipline. Scully finally surrendered to a fit of giggles. "What's so funny" he asked, his jaw twitching. Scully happened to find it particularly alluring when he did that. Letting one arm slip away from his waist, to run through his hair, she kissed him again. It was long but not overly seductive. It was merely meant to show how she felt. "You look so cute when you try to be strict," she mumbled after the kiss, her face in the crook of his neck. Mulder chuckled. "I'm glad you think so," he said, not really sure of what he said, because all of his attention was focused on the fact that he was in the bathtub with a very naked Scully. She kissed his cheek tenderly. "Oh, I do. Always have and always will." He smiled and pushed some wet strands of hair away from her forehead. "Always have?" "Yes," she said, slowly undoing the buttons of his shirt. "Whenever you'd stand before me, asking how I *still* couldn't believe, all I could think was how much I wanted to grab you and kiss you till you couldn't breathe." A sly grin crossed his face. "Well, nothing's stopping you now." Scully smiled. "Nothing except for your excess of clothing." she said as she slid her hands inside his shirt, and around to his back, to run her hands up and down his spine. Mulder shivered at her touch. "You're not going to let a little obstacle like that bother you, are you, Agent Scully?" "Certainly not, Agent Mulder. Certainly not..." <<<<*>>>> Unionville, Virginia October 20, 2000 Scully's apartment 1:16 pm Scully led him into the living room and asked him to sit down. He did so, and she sat across from him in a straight-backed chair. As she looked at him, she wondered if he still loved her. He looked so lost and forlorn, and she knew why, of course. She only hoped that someday he would be able to understand her actions and forgive her. "Mulder, do you know why I left?" At this question, Mulder's already sorrowful face twisted into a mask of pain. He looked at her for a second, and she saw tears shining in his eyes. "Scully, do we have to talk about this? I really can't go over it again. It hurts too much." This remark made Scully heart ache. How could she have caused him such pain? "I need to tell you. I need you to understand," she said softly. "I left because I let my pride and jealousy take control of me." Mulder looked up, absently wiping a tear away. "What?" "Mulder, back in that motel in Blue Earth, when you told me you loved me, that was one of the best days of my life.' His face crinkled into that lost look that melted anyone's heart. "*One* of the best?" Scully smiled and looked down. "Yes. There has been one other since then." Mulder nodded, and assumed that she was referring to the day she met the man that she was with now. He never considered that she might be alone. A silence descended then, but only until Scully had gathered enough courage to ask what she needed to know. She couldn't tell Mulder what she had to, without knowing. "Mulder, there's something I need to know." "About what?" She took a deep breath. "Pamela Reese." Mulder's eyes widened in horror at the mention of that one name, and he was plunged into a sea of memories. <<<<*>>>> End part 1... =========================================================================== From: Amy Schatz Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: ELYSIAN FIELDS - 2/7 Date: Mon, 25 Mar 96 11:03:54 PDT See the non-existent disclaimer and the existent story notes in part one... By the way, Pamela Reese is my own creation - even though I don't like her. :D ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elysian Fields - 2/7 by Amy Schatz Mulder's eyes widened in horror at the mention of that one name, and he was plunged into a sea of memories. <<<<*>>>> February 3, 1997 In air above Boston, Massachusetts Logan International Airport The plane had been circling the large airport for two hours because of the fog, and it was beginning to wear on all of the passengers. The flight from Washington had been fine, with no turbulence at all, and Mulder and Scully had spent it talking quietly. Once or twice, Mulder had even chanced to hold her hand. Now they sat side by side, as usual, Mulder complaining about how he hated fog, and planes, and taking red-eyes. Scully smiled, and let her head rest on his shoulder. She took a deep breath, trying to quell the nausea that had been with her for the whole trip. So far, she hadn't needed to make a trip to the bathroom, but if they kept circling, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep it at bay. The plane made, what everyone else thought was a slight turn to the left, but to Scully it was fast, and she found the nausea rising again, and she gripped the arms of her chair. Mulder turned his head to her, and immediately his brow furrowed in concern. "What is it, Scully?" Her face had turned very pale, but she said nothing. Then, she suddenly jumped out of the seat and practically ran to the back of the plane, and the bathroom. Mulder only stared after her for a few seconds before he got up quickly and followed her. By the time he got to the bathroom, he heard water running inside, and knocked softly. "Scully, you okay?" There was no answer, but a few moments later, the door opened, revealing a rather pale and tired looking Scully. Without thinking, he put his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close. She allowed the closeness because no one could see them, and because she wanted it. "I'm okay," she said softly. "Just some air-sickness." He nodded, and kissed her cheek tenderly. "We should be landing soon." She smiled faintly, and he took her hand. "Come on," he said, motioning to their seats. She tried to pull her hand from his, but he wouldn't allow it. "Scully, we're in an airplane over Boston. Who's going to care if we hold hands?" she thought. "You're right, Mulder. Let's go sit down." He smiled and led her back to their seats, their hands intertwined. Mulder was actually looking forward to the isolation that this case had to offer. They would be staying at a hotel, and no one would be there to make sure that both rooms were used. He barely slept a night at his place anymore. Most nights were spent with Scully watching TV, working on reports, eating dinner together, or other things... They sat down, and Mulder looked at her. "See? Nobody cared. I could kiss you right now, and nobody would care." She gave him a warning look. "Mulder, don't you dare. We don't know who could be on this plane. Trust no one, remember?" He grinned. "Okay, Scully. I'll just save the kiss and...other things for later." * * * Fifteen minutes later, the plane landed, and Scully and Mulder walked into the Logan International Airport. They had been called in on a consult, and although they normally would have refused it, because it wasn't an X-File, they saw this as an opportunity to get away. So, they had agreed, and been told that they would be met by an agent who would take them to the Boston field office, and then on to their hotel. The agent's name was Pamela Reese. After they had gone through the metal detector, they scanned the area looking for Agent Reese, but didn't see her anywhere. So, Mulder suggested that they sit down. He was still worried about Scully. "I'm really okay, Mulder," she said, knowing what he was thinking. "Planes and I have never gotten along." He grinned, but still felt like something wasn't quite right. "Yeah, I remember that look on your face when the plane hit that turbulence when we were on our way to our first case. Wish I had a camera." "Thanks," she said, jokingly. "Now I know you love me," she added, in a soft tone. He leaned close to her, and his lips brushed her ear, causing her to shiver. "More than anything," he said, his right hand on her knee. He threw caution to the wind, and kissed her cheek softly. * * * Agent Pamela Reese walked quickly down the corridor of the airport, knowing that she was late. She ran a hand through her medium-length sandy colored hair, and smiled. She was looking forward to this assignment. When she had heard that Fox Mulder was coming in as a consult to this case, she had jumped at the chance to escort him from the airport to the field office. She had only seen Mulder once, two years ago, but that was all it took. She had been at an FBI dinner in Washington, and had spotted him almost immediately. He had been talking to a rather petite red-headed woman. Both of them had been standing off in the corner, and looked quite happy not to be amongst the others. Pamela had wanted to go up to him, but the woman never left him. They had simply stood in the corner together, only speaking intermittently. Once in a while, Mulder would lean in close to her, and say something, and the woman would smile - a secret smile that one normally reserved for someone special. Apparently she had been staring at them, because one of her friends came up behind her, chuckling. "I see you've spotted the `Spooky Patrol'," he had said, taking another sip of his beer. She had turned to him. "The `Spooky Patrol'?" He had nodded. "Yeah, those two," he said, gesturing towards Mulder. Pamela was sure that if she could just get Mulder alone, she could show him her best qualities. "Do you know who the woman is?" she had asked. If she wanted to get anywhere, she had to know who all the players were. "Sure, that's Agent Dana Scully," her friend had supplied. At Pamela's blank look, he continued. "She's Mulder's partner - has been for about three years now. But we're all pretty sure that they're a little more than just partners." "Oh really?" asked Pamela, a little dejected. "Well look at them," the agent had said. "It's pretty obvious to me. Besides, after three years, how could they *not* be?" Pamela had nodded, realizing that he was probably right. She looked back to Mulder and Scully, and saw it. There was something between them, that much was sure. They had a way about them - a connection. And even from her distance, she could see how much went unsaid between them - how much they could communicate with a glance or a touch. Pamela had sighed, and turned back to her friend. She had no intentions of entering into a losing battle. "Come on, Tim," she said to him. "Let's go get another drink." Pamela smiled faintly, remembering that long ago night. This time would be different if she had anything to say about it. She knew that Mulder was still single. She had asked her friends in Washington about that. But she also knew that Scully was still his partner, and that they appeared to be closer than ever. But, the agents had requested Mulder as a consult, not Mulder *and* Scully. So, Pamela was fairly sure that Scully would still be in Washington. She smiled at that thought. She was still smiling as she rounded a corner, but it quickly faded as her gaze fell on them. Mulder and Scully were sitting off by themselves, their luggage surrounding them. Mulder's hand was in hers, and her head was resting on his shoulder. They looked quite content together, and she could tell that they were in silent communication, almost oblivious to what went on around them. "Damn," said Pamela. "What's *she* doing here?" * * * Mulder had just closed his eyes, when he heard someone cough politely. His eyes were immediately open, and he found himself looking at a young woman, possibly in her late twenties, with sandy colored hair, and brown eyes. She was pretty, he noticed, but as he glanced at Scully, who was finally resting, next to him, her head on his shoulder, he saw that no one could ever compare with her. "Agent Mulder?" said the woman. He nodded, and gently shook Scully's shoulder. "Time to wake up, Scully," he said softly. She came awake immediately, her eyes wary as she glanced around. "What is it, Mulder?" "Our chariot awaits," he said, light in his eyes. She smiled at him and nodded, then finally noticed Pamela. She stood up, and offered Pamela her hand. "You must be Agent Reese. I'm Agent Scully, and this is my partner, Agent Mulder." Pamela nodded, and smiled at Mulder. "Yes, I know *all* about Agent Mulder," said Pamela, absently shaking Scully's hand. Something in Reese's tone bothered Scully, but she pushed it aside. Mulder bent down to pick up his luggage, as Scully did the same, and then he and Scully walked off, leaving Reese to follow. Pamela tried to control her anger as she trailed after them. She had now made a vow that she would get Mulder's attention one way or another. * * * Boston Field Office February 5, 1997 5:10 pm Mulder sat behind a long table, his glasses on, and his suit jacket off. Scully sat next to him as they read over yet another report, wondering when they could leave for the night. She still wasn't feeling well, and had now decided that she had a touch of the flu. So, long days in a small offices were not high on her list of fun things. "I think that this woman may have a connection, Scully," Mulder said as he took his glasses off. Scully nodded mutely, and sighed. She was so tired. Mulder collected all the papers together, looking at her from the corner of his eye. "Are you okay?" he asked as he put the reports in his briefcase. She nodded again. "I think so. It must be the flu." He sighed, knowing she wouldn't say more than that in fear of worrying him. "Come on, Scully. We're going back to the hotel now." She smiled and rose as well, gathering her things together. "But aren't you hungry, Mulder?" "We'll get something on the way." "Okay." They were about to walk out of the room when Agent Reese breezed in, her plastic smile in place. She had eyes only for Mulder. "Leaving?" she asked, looking Mulder up and down like he was a piece of meat. She was so obvious, it was almost funny. However, Scully didn't find it funny at all. She couldn't stand the way that Reese looked at Mulder, the way she stood just a little too close, how she laughed at every little thing he said, how she ignored Scully. Scully had tolerated it for the past three days because they had to work together, but now it looked as though they were done with this case, and Scully was going to call her on her behavior soon. Mulder nodded. Pamela would never have guessed that he had no interest in her whatsoever. Sure she was pretty, and had a curvy figure and long legs, but she was so fake and pretentious it was an immediate turn-off. And he had no idea how she had managed to graduate from the academy, because she didn't appear to be very intelligent. And he didn't like the way she treated Scully. At this thought, he looked at Scully and smiled. On her worst day, Scully was a hundred times more beautiful and smarter than this Barbie doll in front of him. "Yes, Reese, we are," he said as he started for the door, Scully at his side. Not to be shunned so quickly, Pamela darted in front of them, blocking the door. "But aren't you hungry? I know a great little place." Mulder looked at Scully, silently asking her what she wanted to do. When she looked back at him, he had his answer. "No thanks, Reese. Scully isn't feeling very well." Pamela's breath caught - she had finally found a way to get him alone. "Well, why don't we drop her off at the hotel, and then you and I can go get something to eat, Agent Mulder?" Scully's eyes narrowed at Reese's obvious attempt to corner Mulder. Scully knew that Reese had been trying to get Mulder alone since they had arrived, and it was really beginning to bother her. Mulder put his hand on the small of Scully's back, and said, "Sure, Pamela, that'll be fine." Scully's eyes widened at his acceptance, and she glared at him, but he just looked at her with a placid expression. "Mulder, can I talk to you before we leave?" Mulder nodded. "Sure, Scully. Agent Reese, would you excuse us, please?" Pamela smiled and flipped her hair behind her shoulder. "Of course, Agent Mulder. I'll just be outside." As she left, she gave Scully an "I told you so" look. Scully barely restrained herself from lunging at Reese, but instead, turned her anger on Mulder. "Why the hell did you say yes?" she asked, her hands on her hips. He looked at her, at the fire in his eyes, and a warm feeling spread through his chest. She was jealous because of the obvious attention that Reese lavished on him. "Relax, Scully. I have a good reason." She nodded curtly. "You damn well better have a good reason." He chuckled. "You're jealous, aren't you?" Scully's face flushed and she looked away. She considered lying to him, but then decided against it. He already knew the truth. Her admitting to it was simply a formality. "Yeah, I guess I am." "Well that's good to know." She shot him a look, but then sighed. "Look, Mulder, just drop me off at the hotel and then you can get to your hot date." Scully had said it as a flimsy attempt at a joke, but Mulder sensed the worry behind her words. In a sudden rush, he realized that she *still* thought that she wasn't good enough for him. That she wasn't pretty enough, or funny enough. He moved closer to her, and touched her cheek. "Scully, I just want to set her straight about things. That's all." Scully nodded. She trusted him, she really did. But she also knew about his past and about the fact that someone like her hadn't normally been his type - someone like Pamela Reese had been. So, despite the fact that she knew he loved her deeply, she worried that perhaps she wasn't enough for him, that he would eventually get bored with her. "Okay, Mulder. I trust you." * * * They had dropped her off at the hotel and now she walked into her room, dropping her coat and briefcase on the floor. Scully hadn't realized how tired she really was until she had sat down in the car. Then it had hit her, and she had sagged against Mulder in the back seat, as Reese drove. Scully noticed that all the while Reese drove, she would look in the rearview mirror and smile at Mulder, or simply just look at him. Scully was just about to make a comment when they had arrived at the hotel's front doors. Reese had jumped out and opened Scully's door, saying, "Ready to go, Agent Scully?" she asked cheerfully. Scully looked up at her, her eyes as cold as ice. "It's too bad you never get excited about anything, Reese," she said, under her breath. Mulder, however, heard her and chuckled as they got out. He walked with Scully to the door, and said, "I'll be back soon, Scully. I'll come and check on you." She nodded and watched as he turned and got into the passenger's seat. He barely got the door closed before the car squealed out of the parking lot. Scully rubbed her head, as she lay on the bed, and refused to think about the fact that Mulder was somewhere in the vast metropolis of Boston with a beautiful woman. She sighed, and closed her eyes, trying to will herself to sleep. A few minutes later, her eyes snapped open and she ran for the bathroom, barely making it in time. After she was done, she sat back on her heels and wiped the perspiration from her brow. She began to wonder if this was more than just a simple case of the flu. What if it was something worse? What if They had done something to her and these were the first symptoms? Scully shook her head in an attempt to clear it, and pulled herself up from the bathroom floor. After rinsing her mouth, she went back into the room and sat back down on the bed. She took a deep breath. she thought. But, she dismissed that idea because she had had these symptoms for too long. She couldn't complete that last item on the list. She wouldn't allow herself to think about it, because she wasn't sure if it made her happy or scared her to death. her rational self told her. She couldn't just not think about it, as if she were a child. She closed her eyes for a few minutes, and when she opened them again, she had made her decision. Gathering her purse and the key to her room, she walked out the door. * * * Pamela pulled into the parking lot of a small but interesting looking restaurant, and turned to Mulder. "The food's really good here, I promise." He nodded, and got out of the car, wishing that he were back with Scully. But, he couldn't let Pamela's unprofessional behavior go on. He knew that if he didn't curb it tonight Scully would do it, and that would probably involve bodily harm. So, here he was at a restaurant with a woman he didn't really like. They entered the restaurant and were soon seated. As they waited for their drinks to arrive, Pamela began her first attack. "So, Fox-" Mulder bristled. He held up a hand. "It's Mulder," he said sternly, his voice icy. "No one calls me Fox. *No one*." Pamela's eyes widened at the hard tone of his voice. "Okay...but I'm sure Scully calls you Fox." He glared at her. "That, Agent Reese, is none of your business." In truth, Scully only called him Fox when they were alone together, and even then, she rarely did it. Pamela leaned back, feeling the cold coming off of him. This was not starting out well. She decided on a different tack. She had to get him to warm up to her, or this night would not end as she had originally thought it would. "I'm sorry, Mulder. I didn't know you felt that way about your first name," said Pamela, as their drinks were set down before them. "Now you know," he said. She took the opportunity to take a sip of her white wine. She looked across at Mulder as he dumped a packet of sugar into his iced-tea. She had tried to get him to order something a little stronger, but he had flatly refused, saying he didn't drink. "What's your family like?" she asked sweetly, never knowing the thin ice she was treading. Mulder sighed, and wondered how fast he could eat a hamburger. * * * Scully opened the door to the hotel's small drugstore, and began meandering down the aisles. She knew it was silly. She was a grown woman and there was nothing to be embarrassed about, but she was. After grabbing a candy bar and some Tic-Tacs, she finally turned down the last aisle. After looking at three different brands, she decided on one, and hastily took it up to the counter. The clerk smiled at her, as she passed the items over the scanner. She was an older woman, with long grey hair. "Not sure yet, eh?" she asked casually. Scully had been looking anywhere but at that *box* when the woman spoke, and now she had to look at her. She nodded. "What are you hoping for?" the woman asked, as if it weren't a personal question at all. Scully considered not answering, but then decided not to bother. "I'm not sure..." The clerk nodded, and said, "That'll be eleven dollars even." Scully placed the bills in her hand, and left without waiting for her receipt. * * * End part 2... =========================================================================== From: Amy Schatz Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: ELYSIAN FIELDS - 3/7 Date: Mon, 25 Mar 96 11:06:59 PDT See the non-existent disclaimer and the existent story notes in part one... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elysian Fields - 3/7 by Amy Schatz Scully placed the bills in her hand, and left without waiting for her receipt. * * * Mulder sighed as Pamela laughed at one of her own jokes, but didn't stop to take a breath. She continued to babble on about meaningless things, thinking that she was being entertaining and coy. Mulder was wondering how long it took to cook a hamburger, and was seriously contemplating telling Reese to take him back to the hotel. He kept picturing Scully sitting alone in her room, and he wanted to be there with her. Finally, Reese stopped talking, noticing that his attention was elsewhere. "Mulder, is something wrong?" He looked back at her, his arms crossed over his chest. "No. I was just wondering if they had to kill the cow themselves." Reese laughed at his cynical remark. She had been doing that since he met her, and it was really grating on his nerves. He decided that now was as good a time as any to let her know that he wasn't interested in the slightest. "Pamela, look, there's something I want to tell you." "Sure, but first let me ask you something." He sighed again. "What now?" She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling, thinking that she was reeling him in. "Do you like Hawaii?" * * * Scully rushed into the hotel room, and headed straight for the bathroom, dropping her purse to the floor again. She stood before the sink, and took a deep breath. Surprising herself, she calmly opened the box, and took its contents out, setting them on the counter. Gathering everything together, she disappeared into the inner bathroom, closing the door. A few minutes later, she came out, and set the indicator down near the sink. Then, taking a deep breath, she lifted herself up onto the counter, crossed her arms, and settled in to wait. * * * Their orders had finally arrived, and Mulder found that the hamburger was quite good. He just wished the company was better. He looked across at Reese and noticed that she really was quite pretty. He also noticed that a few years ago, actually quite a few years ago, she would have been the type of woman that he might have taken back to his hotel. He wouldn't have found her any more interesting, but he might have done it - just to try and assuage some of his terrible loneliness. But those were days before the X-Files, and before Scully. Scully. That one name aroused so many emotions in him, that he had to take a deep breath. She was everything to him. Even before she had become his lover, she was so much more. She was his best friend. She accepted his search for his sister, his obsession with his work, and most amazing of all, she was just as invested in it as he was. She *wanted* to help him find the Truth. Now that they were together, all his feelings for her had amplified to astronomical heights. He couldn't see his life without her, and he was even afraid to contemplate it. If she left him, he knew he wouldn't last very long. He wouldn't want to. "Mulder?" Reese's voice brought him back to the present, and he looked at her questioningly. "Yeah?" "Are you finished?" she asked, a strange glint in her eyes. He nodded. "Good. Let's get you back to the hotel, then. The night is still young." Mulder smiled faintly, but he didn't like the tone of her voice when she had said that. * * * The voice inside her was screaming at her, and she knew it was right. Whatever the outcome was, she would deal with it. She had never asked for help and she wasn't about to start now. She had always taken care of her problems on her own, and she would continue to do so. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes, not sure what she wanted to see. A large, black plus stared back at her. * * * Reese had followed Mulder to the front door when he stopped and turned around. "Thanks, Reese, but I think I can take it from here." She laughed again, and Mulder barely stopped himself from strangling her. He really couldn't stand this woman. "Can I come up with you?" she asked, her voice low and sultry. Mulder was amazed at how quickly she could change. One minute she was a silly school girl, telling all these ridiculous stories, and the next she was a grown woman. He shook his head. "I don't think so, Agent Reese. I'm tired." She stepped closer to him, and reached forward to bring his tie in between her thumb and index finger. "But I have to ask you something about the case." "Can't it wait until tomorrow?" "No. I think I made a connection, and I want to talk about it while it's still fresh in my mind." Mulder suddenly realized that if he agreed to this, he could get rid of her quickly, and be with Scully before eleven. He pulled his tie out of her hands, and said, "All right, Reese. But this better be good." As he opened the door, she smiled and looked after him hungrily. "That's what I'm hoping for," she said to herself. * * * Scully was pacing around her room like a caged tiger. She still had her suit on, her hair looked a bit wild, and her face was flushed from the constant motion. She had been pacing for nearly fifteen minutes. Scully was having a hard time accepting the results of the test. They simply couldn't be true. She and Mulder had always been so careful to use protection. a voice inside her said. "Damn it!" she cursed, turning swiftly to start another lap. "Why did this have to happen now?" she asked aloud, not really sure who she expected to answer. "I'm a doctor, for God's sake!" she cried. "I should have been more careful!" Finally, out of sheer exhaustion, she sank onto the bed. Sighing, she lay down on her back, and closed her eyes. She didn't know how to feel about this news. It was certainly the wrong time for it. She and Mulder were still deep into the X-Files, and he couldn't go back to not having a partner. It was far too dangerous. Making matters worse, Scully had no idea how Mulder would react to this news. Would he be happy or furious? She didn't have a clue. She did know that she dreaded telling him. He might get so scared that he would leave her, and she simply couldn't go through that. Scully had always worried that she wasn't good enough for him, and maybe this would make him realize it a lot sooner. She envisioned a scenario where after she had told him, he would tell her to get out and never come back. It scared her to death. "No," she said out loud, "Mulder's not like that. He would never do that." But the fear was still there, lodged deep inside her. Pushing herself up, she opened her jacket, and looked down at her stomach. It was still flat, but she knew that in the ensuing months, it would swell to an unbelievable size. Placing her hands over her stomach, she took a deep breath. It was quite humbling to think that a small life was inside her now - that she was part of its creation. She smiled, liking the idea that a part of Mulder was inside her. Wrapping her arms around herself, her mind began to wander, painting images of Mulder holding their child, cooing to it, loving it. the voice scolded, chasing the dreams away as the sun does fog. Scully's smile faded, and her hands fell from her middle, as she realized that that was probably the truth. * * * "I think that this woman probably knew the victim. I think we should question her tomorrow," Pamela said, standing very close to Mulder. Mulder felt his anger color his cheeks. "This is what you wanted to tell me, Reese? This is what couldn't wait? I think you should be leaving now." Pamela's eyes fell and she nodded, walking back to the door. She opened it a few inches, then turned back to him. She could take one more shot, or leave. Not one used to being rejected, Pamela decided on the former. Leaving the door open, she walked back to Mulder. "Why don't you stop this act, Mulder." He looked at her, his eyes wide. "Act? What are you talking about?" he said, as he took his overcoat off, and threw it onto the bed. Pamela slipped her coat off as well, and opened her suit jacket. "I know you want me. Why don't you just admit it?" she said, opening the buttons on her blouse. "Is it because your partner's next door? Don't worry. She looked tired. She won't hear anything." Mulder was truly mad now. "You're right. She won't, because nothing's going to happen." Pamela looked as if she hadn't heard that comment. She moved closer to him, a predatory gleam in her eyes. "We'll see about that..." * * * Scully's head snapped in the direction of Mulder's room, which was right next to hers. She had heard a door open. She looked into the mirror that hung above the dresser, and took a deep breath. She couldn't put this off. It was too big to keep secret, especially from him. She had to know how he felt about this. So, she took a deep breath, and rose from the bed, heading for the door. Even if he threw her out of the room, she had to tell him. He had a right to know. And maybe, if she was lucky, he wouldn't be too upset. * * * Mulder backed away from Reese, his eyes wild with fury. "I'm going to say this one more time, Reese. Get the hell out!" She shook her head, and moved closer, pinning him against the wall. "You don't have to pretend anymore," she said before she leaned in close, and covered his mouth with hers. * * * Scully stepped out of her room, and walked the few feet to Mulder's door. Seeing that it was already open, she assumed he was waiting for her, and she pushed it open. The scene that was before her, shook her to her core. She pushed the door against the wall so hard, that she saw splinters fly. "Mulder!" she exclaimed, her voice thick with pain. She had pushed the door open, and found Mulder in what looked like a passionate embrace with Agent Reese. And in that instant, her heart broke into a million pieces, and blew away in a fierce wind. Mulder and Reese broke apart, and Mulder roughly pushed Pamela away from him. She lost her balance and fell back onto the bed. "Scully!" said Mulder, looking frantically from her to Reese. "This isn't what you think." Scully looked at him, and he had never seen her eyes so cold. They looked like blue ice. "Oh really, Mulder? It's not? Then what is it?" Mulder moved towards her, but she immediately backed away. He stood still, and shot an angry glare at Reese. "She came on to *me*! She practically attacked me!" Scully looked at Reese, who was standing again, her blouse half open, her hair disheveled, and all Scully saw was Detective White. She remembered walking in on Mulder and the detective, seeing the woman sprawled atop Mulder, and she remembered the anger. It filled her now. "Mulder, *that* excuse only works once, and you've used it already." She turned her gaze back to him, and the urge to strangle him almost overwhelmed her. "I can't believe you did this, Mulder. I trusted you." She took another step backwards, feeling the nausea rise again. "I trusted you," she said again, in a voice so low and soft, and full of pain that it made Mulder want to cry. He looked at her, at the horror in her eyes, and he knew that this was the end. She would never understand, and she would never forgive him. She was leaving. That realization made his heart twist inside his chest. "Scully, please, let me explain." She shook her head, and the tears fell. "You don't have to, Mulder. I know why you did this. I was never good enough for you. I should have realized it sooner." She lifted her eyes to him. "I should have known I could never compete with someone like her," she said, gesturing towards Reese. Mulder looked at her, his mouth open. "God, Scully, that's the furthest thing from the truth! You have to believe me!" Meanwhile, Pamela looked from Mulder to Scully, and finally, she realized that they were involved. How had she missed it? Perhaps because she hadn't wanted to see it. Scully took another step away from him, feeling like she was dying. "And to think I was coming in here to tell you....to ask you..." her voice died away, and she looked down at the floor, unable to continue. Moments of silence passed before she looked up at him again, her decision made. "This is over, Fox," she said with a voice that no longer held any emotion. It had all died when she had seen him with Reese. "I never want to see you again." She turned from him, and stepped into the doorway. She looked back one time, trying to memorize everything about him in an instant: the color of his hair, his hazel eyes, the way he spoke to her when they were alone. "I hate you for doing this to me. I hate you." Then she turned back, walked out the door, and was gone. * * * The instant she was, Mulder turned back to Reese. "Get out of here before I do something I'll regret!" he said in a voice so full of venom that Pamela was sure she felt it sting her. She said nothing, just stood there. "I said GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" he screamed, not caring who he woke up. She did not hesitate. Grabbing her coat, she ran from the room, and hoped to God that she never saw Fox Mulder again. When she was gone, Mulder slumped against the wall, and to the ground, cradling his head in his hands. He couldn't believe what Scully had said. He couldn't believe that she was going to leave him, that he would have to go on without her. He simply couldn't do it. He would die. As salty tears fell from his eyes onto his cheeks, he hoped he would. * * * Scully threw her clothes into her suitcase, grabbed her coat and laptop computer, and rushed from the room, leaving the test on the bathroom sink, long forgotten. She couldn't believe that he had betrayed her like this. If he didn't love her anymore, the least he could have done was told her. Then he could have chased after Pamela Reese all he wanted. But to do this - to tell her that he just wanted to explain to Reese that he wasn't interested - and then to bring her back to his room, it hurt Scully so much that she could barely breathe. All she had ever wanted from Fox Mulder was a few months of happiness. She never expected him to stay with her forever, but she had always thought him a gentleman. Tonight he had killed whatever they had together. But even so, nothing could ever truly destroy the love she held for him. That would go on forever. As she passed his room, she barely noticed that the door was still ajar. She didn't stop, didn't look back. She couldn't, it would kill her. And she wanted to have some part of herself left. * * * Mulder heard her walk by his room, and he scrambled to his feet, calling her name. He ran out into the hall, calling to her, begging her to stop. "Scully, wait! Please! Scully, don't go!" he cried, but she didn't stop, and she never looked back. He leaned against the wall, tears freely flowing down his cheeks, his heart breaking. And he knew, with certainty, that he would never see her again. A line from a song came, unbidden, into his mind. <...Turn around, but she's lost in the sun - There was so much to say, but she's already gone...> <<<<*>>>> End part 3... =========================================================================== From: Amy Schatz Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: ELYSIAN FIELDS - 4/7 Date: Mon, 25 Mar 96 11:08:45 PDT See the non-existent disclaimer and the existent story notes in part one... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elysian Fields - 4/7 by Amy Schatz <...Turn around, but she's lost in the sun - There was so much to say, but she's already gone...> <<<<*>>>> Unionville, Virginia October 20, 2000 Scully's apartment 1:20 pm Mulder looked out Scully's living room window, feeling again the unbearable pain he had felt as he had watched Scully walk down that hallway. He remembered how straight her posture had been, but he had known that she was only standing up out of sheer will. "Scully, I'd rather not talk about...her," he said softly. Scully knew that this was painful for him, but she had to know what had really happened that night. Over the years, she had thought about it thousands of times, but she still didn't know what had really happened. "Mulder, please. I need to know. Did you bring her back to your room?" Mulder swallowed dryly, and got up to stand next to her window. He let his overcoat on the couch, and Scully found herself admiring his long, lean form. "Yes, I did. But only because she said she had something to tell me about the case. When we got into the room, she..." He turned to face her, wanting Scully to know the truth, even though it wouldn't make a difference anymore. If she knew, it would make him feel a little better. "She came on to me, Scully. I swear it. I wasn't interested in her at all. I was trying to get her to leave so I could...so I could come to you. Since then, she's tried one more time, but I threw her out, and I think she finally got the idea." Scully nodded, taking it all in. During these past three years without him, she had decided that she had probably been wrong about what had happened that night, but that image still hurt her deeply. She knew she had overreacted that night, but so many things had been going on, that she hadn't been able to handle it. And now she hated herself for causing him so much pain, and for keeping them apart. He laughed hollowly, and it sounded like wind across a barren plain. It made Scully's ears hurt. "I know you don't believe me, but I had to try one last time." Scully's soul cried out at his usage of `one last time', but she pushed her feelings away. "I do believe you Mulder. I do." Mulder turned to look at her, and their eyes locked, and for a few moments, Scully felt that old connection - that bond between them. She felt it as if it were years earlier. The electricity was still there, and it still made her skin tingle. "You believe me?" he asked, incredulously. "You really do?" She nodded. "Yes. I've come to realize that I jumped to conclusions that night, but I was under a lot of stress." Mulder took his seat again, afraid to think too far ahead. But he was beginning to wonder why Scully had actually called him here. It had to be for more than to ask about Pamela Reese. It had to be something big for her to make such a production of it. "What kind of stress, Scully? What do you mean?" She sighed, and then got out of her chair, pacing slowly. Mulder watched her, not wanting to push her. Finally, she stopped in front of him, a serious expression on her face. "I have to tell you something, Mulder. It's something important - something that affects us both." Mulder's mind spun away from him, conjuring up hundreds of things that she might be talking about, and he barely heard her next words. "My life has changed a great deal in the last three years." Mulder closed his eyes. It was coming. She was going to tell him that she was either married or engaged, and that she just wanted him to know that she was finally happy. He waited for her to deliver the final blow. She looked at him, and immediately recognized his look of sorrow and confusion. "I'll explain everything, Mulder. I promise." He nodded, and she fell silent as she searched through her memories, trying to organize them into some order. <<<<*>>>> Falls Church, Virginia March 6, 1997 Home of Margaret Scully Scully sat in her car, outside of her mother's house, as tears fell down her cheeks. Every year until now, this day had been a happy one for her. It was the day that she had first met Mulder so many years ago. They had always done something special together, and they had laughed, and spent the day and part of the evening together. The year before, they had spent the evening together, as always, but the electricity between them had been exceptionally strong that night, and they had almost crossed the line. Almost. But in the end, Mulder had gone home, and Scully had gone to bed, neither knowing what would start between them that June. A sob broke from her, as her mind replayed nights when they would lay in bed together, holding each other close, and Mulder would whisper how much he loved her, and they would talk about their future. She didn't bother to wipe the tears away, they would only return a moment later. She cried all the time now, and it bothered her. She had always thought herself stronger than this, but Mulder had taken a piece of her soul over the years, and his absence felt like someone had ripped her heart from her. A few minutes later, Scully had calmed down enough to get out of the car and walk to her mother's door. She rang the bell, and waited. The door was opened moments later, and Margaret gasped when she saw her daughter standing there, her eyes red and puffy, the tracks of tears still visible on her cheeks. "Dana! My God, what's happened?" she cried, rushing forward to pull Scully inside, and into an embrace. The minute Scully felt her mother's arms around her, she broke down again, sobbing terribly. "Oh, Mom, it's over...it's all over..." * * * An hour later, Scully had calmed down enough so that her mother could understand what she was saying. Apparently, Dana was no longer working with Mulder - she had transferred almost a month ago, and hadn't seen him since. And, it was also apparent that she and Mulder had become more than just friends, but something had happened, and they were no longer together. Margaret could see that it was tearing her daughter apart. Scully sniffled, and said, "I miss him so much, Mom." Margaret handed her a mug of tea, and said, "Then go to him, Dana. Try and work this out." But Dana wasn't listening. She was staring at the mug, her brow knit in thought. "Is this decaffeinated, Mom?" Margaret shrugged. "I don't know, dear, why?" Scully put the mug down, and closed her eyes. "Because I shouldn't be drinking a lot of caffeine right now." Her mother nodded. "Of course not, dear. You're too upset as it is. Yes, you're right..." Margaret trailed off as she saw fresh tears slipping from her daughter's eyes. "Dana, what?" Dana took a deep, shuddering breath, and opened her eyes, looking straight at her mother. "That's not why. Mom, about a month ago, I found something out." Margaret's eyebrows raised, asking her daughter to continue, but somewhere, somehow, she already knew what Dana was going to say. "Mom, I'm...I'm pregnant..." Margaret's eyes widened. "Oh, Dana..." Scully nodded, and got up from the plush armchair she had been sitting in. "It's true, Mom, and I don't know what to do." "Does Fox know?" Dana spun to face her mother. "Of course not! And he's not going to know, ever." Margaret stood up as well, and walked closer to Scully. "Dana, you have to tell him. He has a right to know that you're carrying his child!" But Scully shook her head, her will an impenetrable wall. "No, Mom. I won't burden him with this. You don't know him like I do, Mom. He's not the family type. He wouldn't be happy about this." Margaret sighed. "Oh, Dana, you couldn't be more wrong! This news would make him so happy! Please tell him." Dana's eyes fell. "I can't. He's hurt me so much. When I walked in that hotel room, and I saw them...together, it was like my heart died in front of me. I knew he wouldn't stay with me for long, and I never expected or hoped for that. But I never thought he could be so cruel or uncaring." She looked up at her mother, and Margaret gasped at what she saw, or rather, didn't see, in her daughter's eyes. There was no emotion there. Nothing. It was all gone, and all that was left was a cold, blue expanse of pain. It was as if Dana had shut her feelings off, and locked them away, never intending on using them again. "Dana, are you sure it was what it looked like? What did Fox say?" Her face twisted in pain as she remembered that night. "He said that Agent Reese had come on to *him*. But that's not how it looked. I know it was what it looked like, Mom. Agent Reese is the type of woman that Mulder is attracted to. It was a miracle, really, that he was ever attracted to me. I knew he would get tired of me eventually, but I just kept hoping that he would stay for one more day. And the next day, I'd decide that if he just stayed for *one more day*, I could let him go. I just loved him so much, Mom. I knew I wasn't good enough for him, but that didn't stop me from loving him, from loving him still." Margaret's eyes hardened. "You stop right there, Dana. Not good enough? Where did you ever get that idea? Certainly not from Fox. He loved you more than his own life, and I'll bet he still does. I saw it in his eyes when you were gone, and even more so, when you were in the hospital. He sat with you night and day. He wouldn't eat or sleep. Even back then he was devoted to you totally." Scully was shocked. She had never really known how Mulder had behaved while she was in the coma. He wouldn't talk about it, and neither would her mother. She had never dreamed that he had done what her mother now said he did. "Really, Mom? I never knew." Margaret sighed in exasperation. "Don't you two ever talk to each other?" Scully grinned very faintly. "We usually didn't need to." But then the slight grin faded into a grim line. "Now we'll never talk again." "It doesn't have to be that way, Dana. All you have to do is go to him. Tell him how you feel, and tell him about the baby." Scully looked as though she were considering it, but then her eyes lost all feeling again, as she remembered the sight of Mulder in another woman's arms. "I can't do that. He gave up his rights when he brought that woman back to his room. And even if he did have rights, he wouldn't want this baby. He wouldn't want such a responsibility." "Dana, maybe the best thing would be *not* to have this baby," said Margaret, never thinking she could have suggested such a thing. Dana looked at her mother in complete and total shock. Angry words welled up in her throat, but she swallowed them. "No, Mom. I *want* this baby. It's all I have left of him. We were in love when this baby was created, and I want it to know that, and to be loved." Margaret nodded gave up trying to convince her to tell Fox for the time being, knowing that if she pushed any harder, she might drive her daughter away. "All right, Dana. It's your decision. How far along are you, honey?" "About five weeks, they tell me." "I'm glad you've been to a doctor. Have they explained everything to you - what you can eat, and things like that?" Scully rolled her eyes. "Mom, have you forgotten that *I'm* a doctor? I know what to do and what not to do." "Of course, dear, you know everything." Scully shot her mother a look, but there was no feeling behind it. "I'm going to have to do this on my own, Mom. I'll do it. I don't need his help." * * * Unionville, Virginia June 11, 1997 Scully's apartment The hot summer day was finally ending, and long shadows fell across the living room of Scully's new apartment, where she sat on her couch. They weren't black, but that blue-violet color of summer shadows. Off in the distance, she could hear the katydids singing to one another, and she could hear the soft summer breeze teasing the wind chimes outside her kitchen window. After transferring from the X-Files, she had gone back to Quantico, gone back to teaching, and today she had left her old apartment that she had lived in for years, and moved out of D.C. Not far, but this place was closer to Quantico. Surprisingly, teaching again had given her a sense of purpose that she hadn't felt since leaving Mulder. Every day she would walk into her classroom, and look into the faces of fresh, young FBI agents-in-training, and she would enjoy knowing the fact that she was helping to mold them. But even so, she missed the X-Files and Mulder more than she could have ever admitted. There was a constant ache where they had been - a constant throbbing that begged her to go back, even though she knew she couldn't. And so, some days were better than others. Sometimes a whole day would go by without her thinking of that horrible night when Mulder had ripped her heart from her. But other days, she would barely be able to function from the pain and the loss. And it was those days that that hole inside her begged to be filled, and she would have to remind herself that she was strong, and that she had to do this alone. He wouldn't want a child - he wanted to be on his own with no ties and no responsibilities. He wanted to be free, she knew that now. So, she had decided to give him his freedom. Now, as she sat alone, she looked down at her belly, which seemed to be growing right before her eyes. Placing her hands, palm down, on her stomach, she stroked it gently. "At least *you're* sleeping," she said to the un-born child. The day had been a long one. Her mother had helped her move into this new apartment, and had then insisted on cooking dinner for Scully. Now everything was unpacked, the phone, heat, and water turned on, and Scully was left alone again. And now she didn't even have work anymore. She had kept working at Quantico until she began to show, and then she had asked for a six month sabbatical. It had been granted without question - her superiors had been pressuring her to take some time off for years now. They had told her that her job would be waiting for her when she returned. No one knew the real reason for her leave of absence, and that was exactly how she wanted it. She wouldn't ruin her reputation, or Mulder's for that matter. She intended for no one at work to know about her baby. "I'll try to be a good mommy," she said softly, imagining the child sleeping inside her. "I'll always take care of you, and I'll tell you about your parents." She was silent for a few moments, as she gathered her courage, and then she said, "Would you like to hear more about your daddy?" At this question, she felt movement inside her, and a large smile spread across her features. Only during these quiet moments with her baby did the joy and love return to her eyes. At all other times, her eyes were lifeless, but when she talked to her child, she couldn't help but let the love come through. After all, this was Fox Mulder's child, and this baby was all she would ever have of him. How could she not love it? She loved its father. But more than that, she loved the baby simply because it was something that was a part of her and Mulder. "Okay," she said, grinning, "your daddy it is. Let's see... He's very tall, and he has dark brown hair, and the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen, but I've told you this before, haven't I?" she asked, looking down at her stomach. The baby kicked her in affirmation. She chuckled. "Well, he's very smart. Did you know that most everyone in the Bureau thinks he's a genius? Oh, they'd never admit it, but it's the truth. He's the most intelligent person I've ever met. I bet you'll be smart, too. He went to school in England, and he was in the top of his class. I don't remember the exact title of his thesis, but-" The baby kicked her hard. "Ouch! Okay, okay, I went off on a tangent, I know. You could probably care less about his senior thesis. I'm sure he'd love you...if he ever let himself," she said, feeling her throat close up. "But even if he doesn't, I want you to love him, because he's a good man, and you are lucky to have him as a father." The baby was quiet, as if thinking this over. "You have to love him. I do, even after all he's done, so it should be easy for you. When you're born, I'll show you pictures of him, and I know you'll fall in love with him at first sight. Just like..." she forced her voice to remain steady. "...Just like I did..." The baby brushed against her softly, as if saying that it would love its father, and that the subject was closed. Dana smiled as a single tear fell from her eyes. * * * Unionville, Virginia August 30, 1997 Scully's apartment Scully was now seven months pregnant, and her stomach really got in the way. She couldn't reach things in the back of her cupboards because she couldn't get close enough. Some days it really got on her nerves, and other days it made her so happy she cried, because she knew that each day that passed brought her that much closer to holding their child. Scully tried to keep busy during these long months without work, but it was hard. She had everything where it belonged, she had enough baby supplies to last for a lifetime, she had cultivated the garden as best she could, and she had read all the books she had wanted to. But now she was getting terribly restless, and the thought of three more months of not working was driving her crazy. So, she had decided to take up some of her time decorating the baby's room, and thinking of an appropriate name. She never even considered any boy's names, because she knew that she was going to have a girl. Scully didn't know how she knew, or why, she just knew that she did. On this day, she was sitting at her desk, trying out different names, when a knock came to her door. Putting her pen down, she wondered who it could possibly be. Her mother was away visiting one of Scully's brothers. She glanced quickly at her gun, which was lying on an end table, and then swung the door open. The minute she saw who the person was, her eyes widened in anger. "What the hell are YOU doing here?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous. Agent Pamela Reese flipped her hair behind her shoulder and stood there, looking directly at Scully. "I've come to talk to you." Scully smirked. "Really? Well, this should be interesting." She stepped aside and Reese walked inside. As she did, she noticed Scully's obvious condition, and her eyebrows raised. "Been busy, have we, Agent Scully?" she asked in a sugary voice. Scully smiled wickedly. "I wouldn't go there, Agent Reese." Pamela knew *that* tone of voice, and she knew what it meant. She also knew that she had come here to see how close Scully and Mulder still were. She had heard rumors that Scully had left the X-Files and Mulder and gone back to Quantico. So, Reese, having decided to take another shot with Mulder, had to know what her competition was. That was her motto: know your competition and you can always win the game. She hadn't won Mulder in Boston because she hadn't known the true nature of his relationship with Scully. So, she had miscalculated and had lost. But this time, this time, she didn't intend to lose so easily. "I heard you left the X-Files...and Mulder," said Pamela, her eyes shining. Scully's head jerked up, anger coloring her cheeks. "Just what do you mean by that, Reese?" But Reese kept talking. "You've obviously moved on," she said, gesturing to Scully's stomach, "so I guess that Mulder's clear and free." And then Scully knew what this visit was all about. Reese was checking out the playing field, making sure that Scully was really out of the picture. Scully thought about telling Reese that she and Mulder were still together, but then she thought better of it. Why bother? Reese was the kind of woman Mulder wanted. Why not let him be happy? She took a deep breath. "Yes, Reese, that's true, I have moved on," she said, patting her stomach. "And I don't really keep tabs on Mulder anymore, so..." At this remark, Pamela smiled, and Scully could almost hear her mind working. "Well, then, I'll be going. I'm sure you have to have dinner ready for your husband, and I wouldn't want to get you in trouble," she said, practically sneering. Scully had been holding her anger in check fairly well throughout this whole encounter, but that last remark ripped her control in half. She charged Reese, pushing her up against the door, and holding her there. Reese looked down at the smaller woman, a startled expression on her face. She had never thought Scully capable of such strength or aggressiveness. "Listen to me, you half-witted bitch!" Scully shouted. "I don't *have* a husband, and I can have dinner ready whenever I damn well feel like it! Now, get out of my house before I knock you out!" With that, she pulled Reese backwards, opened the door, and pushed her. Reese stumbled out, and before she disappeared around the corner, Scully said, "And one more thing. If you hurt Mulder in any way, I will hurt you much, *much* worse. Remember that." Pamela said nothing as she walked away. Scully closed the door, and sank onto the couch. Touching her stomach, she said, "I hope your daddy's careful." * * * Unionville, Virginia October 19, 1997 Scully's apartment 11:16 pm Scully was ripped from a peaceful sleep, something that was hard to come by for her, by a searing pain that cut across her whole abdomen. She sat up in bed, and gasped. Breathing deeply, she glanced at the clock, and then waited. It could have been a false contraction, but she didn't think so. She was already overdue. Her due date had been October 13, and when her doctor had told her that, she had smiled, tears shining in her eyes. That would have been the ultimate gift - for their child to have the same birthday as its father. But apparently, the little one had its own ideas, and had decided to wait. She could tell that her baby would be as independent as its parents were. She wiped a hand across her sweaty forehead, and was about to lie back down, when the pain returned, only worse. She cried out, and fell back onto the bed, already panting. Then she looked again at the clock. It read: 11:21 pm. Grimacing from the discomfort, she reached for the phone. It rang five times before a sleepy voice answered. "Mom?" Margaret Scully mumbled a yes. "Mom, I think it's time. Can you call ahead to the hospital? I'll call a cab." Mrs. Scully was immediately awake. "Are you sure, Dana?" Scully nodded and smiled. "Yes. Pretty soon you'll be looking at your grandchild." "And you'll be holding Fox's daughter." Margaret also knew that the baby would be a girl. There was silence as Scully fought to regain control over her emotions. She finally said, "Yes, I know, Mom. And we'll be happy. Now, can you call the hospital?" "Of course, dear. Just call that cab quickly. I wish I lived closer so that I could take you myself." "Mom, we discussed this. I can do this myself," said Scully, sitting up again. "I know, dear. But can I come to the hospital?" Scully chuckled. "Of course you can! Bye, Mom. See you soon." Both women hung up, and as Scully dialed the number of the cab company, she looked down at her stomach. "I can't wait to meet you..." <<<<*>>>> =========================================================================== From: Amy Schatz Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: ELYSIAN FIELDS - 5/7 Date: Mon, 25 Mar 96 11:18:32 PDT See the non-existent disclaimer and the existent story notes in part one... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elysian Fields - 5/7 by Amy Schatz Both women hung up, and as Scully dialed the number of the cab company, she looked down at her stomach. "I can't wait to meet you..." <<<<*>>>> Unionville, Virginia October 20, 2000 Scully's apartment 1:24 pm Scully took a deep breath, letting the memories fade into the background, so that she would have a clear mind when she told Mulder. She knew now that she should have told him a long time ago, but she had been hurting so much, and she had been sure that he wouldn't want to know. But now, she wasn't so sure, and she had decided that he had the right to know, and the right to decide for himself. "Mulder, there's something that you need to know." He looked up at her as she stood before him, and wondered how much pain this news of hers would cause him. It couldn't be good, because she was dragging this out far too long. It had to be news of her impending marriage or something equally horrible. But he wished she would just say it and get it over with - even executioners are quick with the ax. "What is it, Scully? Just tell me." She sighed. "Mulder, I... I'm the... I have a daughter." If Mulder hadn't already been sitting down, he would have fallen down. This had been the last thing he would ever have expected her to say. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open in total shock. He watched silently, as Scully sat down next to him on the couch. Scully had a daughter? It was unbelievable. Not because he thought she wouldn't be a good mother, but because he just couldn't see Scully as a mother at all. He thought of her as Scully, his partner, an FBI agent, a doctor, but never a mother. When he was finally able to get his voice to work again, he said, "You have a daughter?" Scully nodded, one hand on his shoulder. "Yes, I do. I know this must be quite a shock to you." He grinned very faintly. "That's one way to put it. How old is she?" Scully definitely didn't want to answer that question then. So, she got up, and walked over to her mantle, taking a picture from there. Walking back to him, she said, "That's her this past summer." Mulder took the picture and found himself looking down at a toddler sitting in some grass. She was wearing a shirt with a flying saucer on it, and was smiling happily at the camera. She had a swath of dark red hair and warm hazel eyes. "She's beautiful, Scully. She looks just like you." Scully smiled. "That's funny, I always thought she looked like someone else." His eyes fell, and he handed her the picture. "Her father, right?" Scully nodded. "Yes, her father." Mulder wondered what lucky man had found Scully and been graced with her love. Mulder hoped that he was a good man, because Scully deserved to be treated with respect and love. As these thoughts wandered through his mind, Mulder remembered that one winter night when he had a special visitor. A night when, if he had listened to that person, he might have been able to win Scully back. <<<<*>>>> Alexandria, Virginia November 3, 1997 Mulder's apartment 10:13 pm Mulder sat in his dark apartment alone, as an old horror movie played on the television. He raised a bottle of beer to his lips, and drank the last of it, then put it on the floor next to the other three. He wasn't drinking because this night marked anything special - it was just that it was one more cold night that he was without Scully. She had been gone nearly a year, and the pain of her absence was still as fresh as if she had left the day before. His eyes drifted to the fish tank, and he noticed that all the fish were dead. Nothing inside was alive - just like him. He wasn't alive inside, he just pretended to be for the sake of the outside world. When Scully had left him, he had shut down, and he never intended to recover. He was about to reach for another bottle when someone knocked on his door. Mulder sat back down in his chair, hoping that the person would just give up and leave. But, he was not so lucky. Not a half a minute later, the knock came again, and Mulder decided that the sooner he answered it, the sooner the person would leave him the hell alone. Walking to the door, he pulled it open, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Mrs. Scully?" he asked in disbelief. Margaret Scully nodded, and smiled, albeit half- heartedly. "May I come in, Fox?" she asked softly. Mulder nodded and stepped aside to allow her to enter. "Sure. I have to say I'm a little surprised to see you." "And I'm a little surprised to be here, Fox," she said, looking around his apartment, noting its disarray. Her gaze traveled to him, to his ratty looking T-shirt and sweat pants, his unkempt hair, and the bags under his eyes. "What happened, Fox?" she asked gently. She knew she didn't have to explain her question. They could only be talking about one thing. At this question, he seemed to visibly shrink from her and he took a seat on his couch. "I don't think it matters anymore, Mrs. Scully. It's over." Margaret sat next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Fox, I know you love her. Why don't you go to her and try to work this out?" Mulder shook his head and lowered it into his hands. "No, it's no good. That won't work. She hates me now, and it's all because of a misunderstanding." Margaret knew it could be so simple. All she had to do was take the picture of Fox and Dana's little girl out of her purse, and tell him that she was his daughter, and he would go running off to Dana. But if she did that Dana would never forgive her, and Margaret couldn't lose another daughter. Margaret thought of the little girl sleeping at Dana's apartment now. The sweet little face with the wisp of auburn hair and the blue eyes. At least, they were blue for now, but Margaret knew that they would probably change. Maybe she would have Fox's eyes. "Fox, won't you at least try?" she finally asked. He raised his head and turned to look at her, and in his eyes, she saw the complete and total love that he held for her daughter. "No I won't. I want Scully to be happy, and if being without me makes her happy, then so be it." Margaret wanted to tell him the truth so badly, but she couldn't. This was their problem - Dana and Fox's - and they had to work it out for themselves. Margaret just hoped that Dana came to her senses soon and didn't deprive Fox of too much of his daughter's childhood. All she could do was keep trying to make them see the truth, and hope for the best. "All right, Fox. I can't force you to do anything, but I want you to promise me that you'll think about what I said," she said as she rose from the couch and walked to the door. "I promise." "Good. And Fox, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me. Okay?" He smiled, ever so faintly, and nodded. "I won't." "Good bye, Fox." He was silent as she opened the door and walked out. Sitting back, he felt the loneliness creeping up on him again. And all he could think was that another Scully had just left him. <<<<*>>>> Unionville, Virginia October 20, 2000 Scully's apartment 1:26 pm Scully saw the expression on his face as he handed her the picture, and she wondered what he was thinking. She knew that she wasn't handling this as she had planned. She had thought that she would just call him, he would come, and she would just tell him. But it hadn't happened that way. Her insecurity had made her ask him about Reese, and now time was running out. Scully knew that the nanny would be back soon, and with her she would have her daughter. Their daughter. She wanted Mulder to know the truth before he came face to face with his only daughter. She put the picture on the coffee table and took his hand in both of hers. Mulder, startled at the physical contact, turned to her, giving her his full attention. Only in his dreams did she touch him like this, as she once had. It felt good and awful at the same time - good because it was all he wanted, but bad because he knew it couldn't last. "Mulder, there's something you need to know." "What? You keep saying that. Is it about you? Are you married...are you getting married?" Scully' serious face broke into a grin. "Well, I haven't had any offers..." Unable to stop himself, Mulder let out a sigh of relief, which made Scully smile. He still cared about her, that much was certain, but she wasn't sure if he still loved her. For now, however, that wasn't as important as what he had to know. "Mulder, this is about...my daughter," she said, wanting to call her 'our daughter.' Mulder looked at her, his brow knit in confusion. "Your daughter? What does she have to do with me?" he asked, totally lost. Scully smiled, and squeezed his hand. "Oh, Mulder, she has everything to do with you. I should have told you this a long time ago. Mulder-" She was cut off by the sound of the door opening. Moments later, a young woman stepped inside, one arm full of books, a blanket, and a juice box, and the other full of a three year old girl. The girl was smiling, her red hair tied up in a ponytail, wearing her favorite flying saucer shirt. The nanny set the little girl down as she turned around to close the door. Then she dropped all of the things she had been carrying, and picked the girl up again. "Come on, honey. Let's get you another juice box," she said, not noticing that someone was with Scully. No one ever was, so she never thought to look. "Cassie!" Scully called. "Can that wait a minute?" The woman stopped in mid-step, and turned around, smiling. Her smile faded to a look of curiosity as she spotted Mulder. "I'm sorry, Dana, I didn't even notice you had company," she said, eyeing the lanky Mulder, handsome in his dark suit. Scully chuckled. "It's okay, it's not often that I do." Cassie, carrying the little girl, walked slowly into the living room, and handed the girl over to Scully. The little girl smiled and hugged her mother happily. "Hiya, Mommy," she cooed. Scully smiled and kissed her daughter's cheek. "Hello, little one. How was school today?" As the toddler proceeded to inform her mother of the day's events, Mulder simply stared at the scene before him, and he rescinded his earlier thoughts on Scully as a mother. He saw now that she was very natural at it. Just then, the young child looked over her mother's shoulder, and directly at him. Hazel locked with hazel, and Mulder felt like he was looking into himself. It was the strangest feeling he had ever encountered. He felt his heart swell with love for the girl in Scully's arms, and he didn't even know why. She was someone else's daughter - not his. Scully turned to face him, and saw the expression on his face. It was the expression of a father looking at his child for the first time. It was the expression she had imagined he would have had, had he been at the birth. Scully's mind took her back to that long night. The night their daughter had come into her life. <<<<*>>>> Unionville, Virginia October 20, 1997 Rapahannock County Hospital 12:34 am Scully clenched her teeth as another contraction hit her. She had prepared for the pain, or so she had thought, but this was like nothing she had ever felt before. It felt like living fire was running free across her abdomen and back. When the pain finally subsided, she lay back on the pillow, wiping a hand across her forehead. She was already getting tired, and she had only been in labor for a little over an hour. At this rate, she didn't see how she could last. Scully closed her eyes, desperately wishing her mother would walk through that door. But she knew that it would be a while longer before her mother arrived. When Scully had arrived at the hospital, they had signed her in and taken her to a birthing room, made sure everything was in order, and then they had left her alone. It seemed that that was always the case. She was always alone in the end. But tonight, all that would change. After tonight she would always have someone with her, someone to take care of, and someone to love her. Another shot of pain cut into her, and she cried out, berating herself for succumbing to the pain so easily. "Come on, little one," she said, her mouth set in a grim line. "Let's make this easy." At that moment, the pain seemed almost to double in intensity. After it was over, Scully lay back once again, panting. "Of course you wouldn't want to be born the easy way. Look who your father is," she said with a wry smile. And at that moment, Scully wanted Mulder to be with her so much, it almost hurt worse than the labor pains. She wanted him to be there and hold her hand, kiss her softly, and whisper that he loved her and their baby. And the next thought that drifted into her mind was that he *could* be there, if only she had let him. If only she had told him about the baby, he might have wanted to come. And she hated herself for keeping him away. "Oh, Fox, I'm so sorry..." she mumbled, the discomfort causing her words to slur slightly. said a voice inside her. Scully blinked back fresh tears, and closed her eyes, thankful for a break. * * * Unionville, Virginia October 20, 1997 Rapahannock County Hospital 1:21 am Margaret Scully hurried in through the sliding doors of the hospital's emergency entrance, and headed straight for the first nurse's desk she saw. It had taken her longer to get to the hospital than she expected. She had called the hospital, as Dana had asked, and then she had called her neighbors to let them know where she was going. Then she had left. She hoped that Dana was doing all right. She knew what it was like to be alone in a situation like that. She had had Charles when Bill was away, and it had been a very scary night. But, if she knew her daughter at all, she knew that Dana would be putting up a strong front. "Can you tell me what room Dana Scully is in?" she asked quietly. The nurse looked down at a chart, and said, "She's in Birthing Room 3. You are?" "I'm her mother, and she asked me to be present." The nurse smiled. "Go right on in. It's the third room on the right." Margaret nodded, mumbled her thanks, and headed off for the room. She knocked softly, and then pushed the door open quickly. She saw her daughter lying on a bed and she had no covers. Her forehead was drenched in sweat, as was her exposed collarbone and neck. She was looking away from the door, at a distant point, and didn't hear her mother come in. "Hello, Dana," Margaret said, in an almost whisper. Scully did not turn towards her mother, in fact, she acted as though she had never heard her. Her attention was directly in front of her, at the side of her bed. Margaret walked forward, and sat down in the chair next to the bed. She reached out and touched Dana's arm, and Scully jumped. "I'm sorry, dear. I didn't mean to frighten you." Scully looked at her for a few moments, and then forced a weak smile. "It's all right, Mom. I was just thinking." "How are you, Dana?" Scully chuckled. "Okay, I guess. But I think..." her words faded away, as her eyes swam shut, and she braced herself for the next contraction. As the pain overcame her daughter, Margaret stroked her hair gently, wishing that Fox were there. * * * =========================================================================== From: Amy Schatz Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: ELYSIAN FIELDS - 6/7 Date: Mon, 25 Mar 96 11:24:52 PDT See the non-existent disclaimer and the existent story notes in part one... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elysian Fields - 6/7 by Amy Schatz As the pain overcame her daughter, Margaret stroked her hair gently, wishing that Fox were there. * * * Rapahannock County Hospital 3:00 am Scully wished that the baby would come soon. The contractions hadn't gotten any closer together in the past two and a half hours, but they were all very painful. She was sure that they should have begun coming faster, and started to wonder if everything was all right with the baby. Her mother had gone down to the cafeteria for some coffee and a snack, and Dana was alone again. But, in her pain-filled mind and heart, she wasn't alone - Fox was with her. She imagined him standing beside the bed, holding her hand, telling her that everything would be fine. She smiled at his image, which had begun to get hazier as the night progressed. "I'm so glad you're here," she breathed. "As long as you're here, I know this will turn out fine." And his image gave her one of his best quirky smiles. "Wait till you see our baby, Fox. She's going to be beautiful, and you're going to love her. I know you will." And with that, Dana closed her eyes, again, imagining she was holding his hand, as she waited for the next contraction. Dana never saw or heard her mother watching her from the doorway. * * * Rapahannock County Hospital 4:23 am Dana opened her eyes after the contraction had passed, and turned to her mother. "Mom, there has to be something wrong," she said, her eyes a bit wild with fear. "The contractions aren't coming any sooner. I want you to call the doctor, Mom." Margaret, too, thought that something might be wrong. The nurses had been in and out of the room many times, as had the doctor, and each time they saw that the contractions were still the same, they had shared a look and left quietly. Margaret nodded, and rose, but before she could take a step, the door opened and the doctor walked in. Scully sighed in relief. "I was just sending my mother to get you," she said, her voice thick with fatigue. "Dr. Samms, something has to be wrong here. I can't go on much longer." Dr. Kendall Samms nodded, and ran a hand through her brown hair. "Yes, I know, Dana. We've completed some tests, and it appears that the baby hasn't turned yet, which is why the contractions haven't begun to come faster. I'm afraid that we're going to have to perform a Cesarean." The thought of the procedure scared Scully, but she wouldn't let it show. Whatever had to be done to ensure the safety of the baby, she would do. "Okay, Dr. Samms, if that's what you think is best." "I do. You've been in labor too long. I don't think you would be able to handle the stress of a breech birth. Your blood pressure is already a little high, and I don't want to risk it. So, we'll prep you and the OR and get you in there in about 20 minutes, all right?" Scully sighed. "Great..." Margaret looked at her daughter, and squeezed her hand in support. "Don't worry, Dana. Things will turn out fine." * * * Rapahannock County Hospital OR # 2 4:47 am Scully had wanted her mother to wait outside and try to get some rest while she underwent the operation, but Margaret would have none of it. She wanted to be there for Dana, and she wanted to be there when her granddaughter was born. They gave Scully a local anesthetic, and soon the operation was under way, with Scully awake throughout. Margaret wasn't squeamish normally, but she just couldn't bear to watch them cut into her daughter. It was horrifying and reminded her too much of the time that Dana was in the hospital. Halfway through, the doctor glanced at Scully. "Everything's going just perfectly, Dana. You'll be holding your baby in a little while." Scully nodded and allowed a single tear to escape. Twenty minutes later, everyone in the room gasped as Dr. Samms lifted the wriggling baby up, and a nurse cut the umbilical cord. "Make a note," said Dr. Samms. "Baby girl born at 5:03 am." Margaret looked at the baby, as the doctor held it in her arms, and smiled widely, tears shining in her eyes. "Oh, Dana, she's beautiful," said Margaret. Dana couldn't see the baby from where she was, so Margaret made it a point to tell her. "Really, Mom? Is she okay? I don't hear her crying," said Dana, worry in her voice. Just as she said those words, the baby let out a long wail, but then was suddenly quiet. Scully smiled, realizing everything was fine, and a few more tears fell onto her cheeks. As the doctor began to close the incision, the nurses cleaned the baby off, and wrapped it in a pink blanket. Then, once Dr. Samms was finished with Scully, a nurse handed the little baby to its mother. Scully took the baby gratefully, and the minute she looked down into her clear blue eyes, her heart was forever lost. The baby was quiet, but smiled faintly and snuggled a little closer to her mother, blinking slowly. Scully smiled, wiped some stray tears away, and gently touched her baby's face. As she did, the lyrics of a song came to mind: <...Soft heavenly eyes gazed into me - Transcending space and time - And I was rendered still - There were no words for me to find at all - As I stood there beside myself - I could see you and no one else - When I saw you...> "Hello there, little one. I'm your mother..." Then Scully looked to her mother. "She is beautiful, isn't she?" she asked of her mother. Margaret nodded, stroking Scully's cheek. "Just like her mother. Look, I believe she even has your hair." Scully looked at the baby more closely, and sure enough, there were a few wisps of dark red hair on her head. "She does, but I know she'll have her father's eyes. And she has his mouth, as well." Margaret blinked back a few tears, and marveled at how strong her daughter was. She said all that without a waver. "What are you going to name her, Dana? A baby shouldn't go long without a name." Scully nodded, and turned to look at her mother, her blue eyes warm with love. "I picked her name out last night before I went to bed." "What?" "It's going to be...Melissa..." she said, seeing the recognition in her mother's eyes, and the gratitude. "And her middle name?" asked Dr. Samms, liking the joy she saw in Dana's eyes. She had hardly ever seen her patient smile in all the months that Dana had been coming to her. At this question, Scully looked away from her mother and the doctor, and off to the faraway point where she saw Mulder. "Her name is going to be Melissa Fox." The doctor looked at her quizzically, but Margaret merely nodded in understanding. "Why Fox, Dana? That's a different name, and not usually what you'd name a girl." Scully smiled, pulling her daughter closer. "I'm naming her after her father, and you're right, it is a different name. Her father's different, too - special." The doctor nodded and walked out of the OR. Margaret patted Dana's arm and smiled. "It's a wonderful name, Dana. Maybe one day you'll be able to tell Fox about it." Scully looked at her mother, and for the first time, she actually thought about doing what her mother said. Yes, perhaps one day she would have enough courage to tell Mulder that he had a daughter. But for now, just the feeling that he was with her in the room was enough. * * * Unionville, Virginia October 20, 1997 Rapahannock County Hospital Nursery 9:30 am The nurse walked into the nursery quietly, not wanting to awaken the babies. She made her way to a bassinet in the far corner, and down at the little baby wrapped in the pink blanket. She was lying on her back, with her head to one side. She was a beauty, that was for sure. But she was also very quiet, as if forever pondering things, working them out in her infant mind. This baby was certainly different than others - she even had a different name. Melissa Fox, said the label on the clear bassinet. The nurse reached down and gently picked the baby up. As she did, the little thing made no sound, just stared up at her with her big blue eyes, and smiled a little baby grin. The nurse chuckled and walked out of the nursery, and down to Scully's room. When she entered, Scully was watching TV, but the minute she saw the nurse come in, she switched it off, and smiled. "Here she is, Ms. Scully," said the nurse as she handed little Melissa Fox to her mother. Scully took the baby happily, and said, "Thank you. I was missing her already." The nurse nodded. "She is certainly a heart- breaker with that grin of hers." Scully nodded, and looked down at Melissa. "Yes, just like her father." The nurse crossed her arms and said, "Is her father's name really Fox?" "Yes, it is. He's never liked it very much, though. He always makes people call him by his last name." The nurse's eyebrows raised. "Really? Why did you give it to her, then?" she asked, gesturing to the baby. Scully shrugged. "I want her to know that her father means a lot to me, and I want her to respect and love him. And besides, I always liked the name Fox, and I think she will, too." After smiling at the baby one last time, the nurse turned and walked out of the room, leaving Scully alone with her daughter. Scully couldn't believe that she had done this all on her own. That she had been strong enough to go through this without Mulder. But that voice inside her told her that she hadn't really. His presence had been with her, always - that image she had of him in her mind. <...You were my strength when I was weak - You were my voice when I couldn't speak - You were my eyes when I couldn't see - You saw the best there was in me - Lifted me up when I couldn't reach - You gave me faith cause you believed - I'm everything I am - Because you loved me...> How true the words of that song were. His love for her had made her strong enough to go through this - strong enough to live without him if she had to, strong enough to never tell him about Melissa Fox because she thought that being a father would make him unhappy. Scully looked at the baby for a long while before she spoke. She studied its small hands and fingers, the way its mouth mirrored Fox's, at her soft cap of auburn hair, and her cute little nose. She was taken away by the fact that she and Mulder had created this. "Well, little one, we finally get to speak face to face. Much better, don't you think?" The baby cooed in answer, and blinked her lovely blue eyes. Scully loved her eyes, but she knew, without a doubt, that they would turn hazel in a few weeks. Yes, Melissa would have her father's breathtaking hazel eyes, as if proclaiming to all the world who her father was. And for that, Scully was happy. <<<<*>>>> Unionville, Virginia October 20, 2000 Scully's apartment 1:27 pm Scully walked over to Mulder, smiling. "Mulder, I'd like you to meet Melissa." Scully's voice brought Mulder out of his trance, and he smiled at the little girl, captured by her beauty, but most of all by her eyes. They were like a mirror to his own soul. He couldn't understand the feelings he was having for this little thing. "It's nice to meet you, Melissa," he said, not surprised that Scully had named her after her sister. "Does she have a middle name, Scully?" Cassie took this as her cue to disappear for a while. She knew all about the infamous Mulder, and Scully's feelings for him. And she knew the shock that Mulder would suffer when he found out the little girl's middle name, and who she really was. Mulder and Scully didn't even notice her leave. "Before I answer that, Mulder, why don't we all sit down?" Scully suggested, walking over to the couch. Mulder followed her curiously. Once they were all seated, Scully put Melissa down on the floor, and the little girl tottered off to play with some of her toys that were lying in a corner. "It's Melissa's birthday today," she told him in a casual voice. "She's three years old today." Mulder nodded, so intent on understanding this puzzle that he didn't think of doing the math. "What's with all the mystery, Scully? What's her middle name?" Scully took a deep breath. "Her name is Melissa...Fox." Mulder was silent for a few seconds, but then his eyes widened. "Her middle name is Fox? Why, Scully?" "I wanted to name her after two special people in her life." He smirked. "Two special people? Scully, how am I someone special in her life?" Scully grinned slightly, and called to the little girl. She immediately responded to her mother's call, and was soon standing before her. Scully smoothed some hair away from her forehead, as Mulder used to do for her. "Melissa, do you know who this is?" she asked, pointing to Mulder. At this question, Mulder looked at Scully in shock, but kept silent. Melissa nodded, grinning just like her father. "Uh-huh." "Would you tell me, please?" asked Scully, hoping that she was breaking the news in the best way. Melissa fell silent for a few moments, as she looked at her father. Pictures of him that Scully had shown her swam through her head. Scully had made it a point to show Melissa a picture of Mulder every day, and to tell her that he was her father. She never wanted to deceive her daughter. Melissa knew exactly who Mulder was - to her it was nothing new. Ever since she could remember, her mother had shown her pictures of him, and told her that this was her daddy. And from the first picture she had ever seen of him, Melissa had loved him, just as Scully said she would. "Melissa, who is he?" prodded Scully. Melissa smiled again, her hazel eyes filled with happiness. When she spoke, it was the only word that she associated with Mulder, besides love. She looked at Mulder, and said it softly, but certainly. "Daddy." * * * End part 6... =========================================================================== From: Amy Schatz Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: ELYSIAN FIELDS - 7/7 Date: Mon, 25 Mar 96 11:36:18 PDT See the non-existent disclaimer and the existent story notes in part one... If you've made it this far, thanks for reading... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elysian Fields - 7/7 by Amy Schatz Melissa smiled again, her hazel eyes filled with happiness. When she spoke, it was the only word that she associated with Mulder, besides love. She looked at Mulder, and said it softly, but certainly. "Daddy." * * * Mulder looked at the girl before him, and felt as though time had stopped all around him, as his vision narrowed to encompass only Melissa. And then a wave of dizziness swept over him, and he sagged back into the couch, his eyes closing. Scully moved closer to him, concerned, and put a hand to his forehead. "Mulder?" With his eyes closed, she had no way of gauging how he was taking this. She was about to move closer, when Melissa crawled up onto the couch, and kneeled next to her father. She smiled sweetly at him, and touched his cheek with her small fingers. "Daddy? Daddy, wake up," she said in her small voice, one of her hands pushing that stubborn lock of hair off his forehead. The moment Melissa spoke, his hazel eyes flew open, and Scully saw tears in them. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, and took Melissa's hand. He looked at her for a long time, just looked, and then he slowly pulled her into a fierce embrace. The little girl went into his arms happily and willingly - she had dreamed of being held by her father - and Mulder looked over her shoulder at Scully, as tears fell down his cheeks. After a while, Melissa pulled back and looked at her father. She grinned, and brought a hand up to wipe his tears away. "Don't cry, Daddy." Mulder smiled at her and said, "I'll try." "Why cry, Daddy?" Mulder couldn't believe what he felt when she called him that. As he looked at her, he saw so much of himself and Dana in her face. He couldn't believe that she was his. "I'm crying because I'm happy to meet you, Melissa." Scully looked at him, at the instant tenderness and love he felt for their daughter, and she wondered how she could have ever doubted him. Melissa considered this for a few moments, and then she nodded, seemingly happy with his answer. She was about to get down, when he said, "Happy birthday, Melissa. I'm glad I was here on such a special day." Melissa smiled at him. "Me, too, Daddy." Then, wiggling out of his arms, she gave him one last look, before going back to her toys. This was not an earth-shattering development for her. She had always known who her father was, and she had always known that he would come home one day. However, for Mulder it was the most amazing thing he had ever heard. Wiping the rest of his tears away, he turned to Scully and took her hand tenderly. She moved closer to him. "Scully, how can this be?" She looked at him, a slight smile on her lips. "Mulder, do you remember that last night in Boston?" "I thought we might want to forget about that," he said, his gaze downward. Scully put her fingers under his chin, and made him look at her. "Mulder, that was the night I found out about...Melissa. I was coming to tell you about it." He took in a sharp breath, frightened at the fact that Scully *would* have told him, had it not been for Reese. He closed his eyes. "Oh, God, Scully. I'm so sorry..." "No, Mulder. I'm the one who's sorry. If I hadn't been so jealous and insecure, I would have stayed and tried to sort it out. Because of me, you've missed three years of your daughter's life, and I hate myself for doing that to you," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. Mulder pulled her close, loving the feel of her in his arms again. "No, Scully, don't say that. You did what you did because you thought it was best. We're not perfect. We're just people. I can't blame you for protecting...our daughter," he said, his voice catching on the word 'our'. "I can imagine how it looked to you that night. I should never have let Reese manipulate me like that." She touched his jaw gently, and said, "Let's not talk about that anymore. It's over. I want to forget about it." He nodded, reveling in the feel of her touching him, and said, "What do we do now, Scully?" She pushed away from him, wiping some tears away. "Mulder, it *has* been three years, and I don't know how you feel about me, but if you'd like to, I'd like you to come back. I still love you." Mulder felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He hadn't allowed himself to hope for this, but now it was happening. He smiled. "If I'd like to? Scully, it's all I want." He was quiet for a moment, as they looked at each other, lost in the power of the bond between them - a bond that had survived so much. When he spoke again, his voice was soft. "Have you ever heard of Elysian Fields, Scully? It's another name for heaven, and that's what's it's like being with you. I've never loved anyone like I love you, and all I ever wanted was to spend my life with you. And now, with Melissa, too." Scully felt as though all her fears were plucked away by his admission, and she smiled as she hadn't in years, secure in their love. She reached out to him, and stroked his cheek with her fingers. "I've dreamed about you wanting that, and now that you say you do, it's hard to believe. But I *do* believe you, and I love you so much." Then she moved closer to him, and their lips came together as if for the first time, and all the same electricity was there. The spark that only came to life when they were together. The kiss turned more passionate, and Scully let it continue for a little while because she ached for him. As they kissed, the lines of a song passed through her mind... <...But when you touch me like this - And you hold me like that - I just have to admit - That it's all coming back to me - When I touch you like this - And I hold you like that - It's so hard to believe - But it's all coming back to me...> Scully felt all the same passion and fire that had been between them for so many years come back to the surface and ignite her soul. She wanted it to last forever and to never part from him again, but she suddenly realized that there was a third party in the room. She broke from him, glancing at Melissa, who was playing in the corner. "Not in front of you-know-who," she said, her eyes dancing. Mulder blushed and stole glance at his daughter. "I can't believe I have a daughter. It's so amazing... How does she know me?" Scully looked at him, this man that she loved more than life, and wondered how she had gotten along without him. the voice told her. Scully knew that was true. She could always feel his presence - that sense of security that he gave her. But she had also been strong enough to go through the whole pregnancy without him. She wished now that he had been with her, but she *had* done it alone, and maybe it had changed her for the better. "She knows you because every day since she was born I've shown her pictures of you and told her about you. Even before she was born, I told her all about you." Mulder was at a loss. The thought that Scully would do that, even though she had been hurting terribly, told him so much. "You did that?" She nodded. "I wanted her to know who her father was. I wanted her to know what a special person you are." Mulder touched the side of her face softly. "Scully, that means so much to me. Thank you." She smiled and was about to say something when Melissa called out to her. "Mommy?" Scully grinned at Mulder, as she saw his reaction to their child calling her that, and said, "Yes?" "Can I have some sunny seeds?" she asked, taking in the sight of her parents together for the first time. Mulder's eyebrows raised. "Don't tell me she..." Scully nodded, pushing that strand of hair away again. "Yes, she loves sunflower seeds." Mulder felt the enormity of this situation overcome him again, and he took a deep breath. "She likes sunflower seeds, like I do," he said in disbelief. "And she has your eyes," said Scully, looking at him. "I always knew she would." Mulder was silent as the meaning of those words sunk in. He watched as Scully got up and walked into the kitchen to get her daughter...*their* daughter her 'sunny seeds', and he smiled. This was all he had ever wanted in his life: to be with Scully. And now, he even had his extra secret little fantasy come true: a family with Scully. * * * Unionville, Virginia October 20, 2000 Scully's apartment 10:13 pm They had spent what was left of the day together and the evening simply talking, watching Melissa, and just being together. They had been apart so long, that a simple quiet day together was enough to make them happy. And now the three of them sat on the couch in Scully's living room, looking out the bay window at the starry night sky. Melissa was snuggled between them, and Mulder had pointed out constellations until she had fallen asleep. Now she snored lightly, a baby's snore, and Mulder turned to look at her, his love for her all encompassing. He looked up and found Scully watching him, a warm smile on her lips. "I love her so much, and I hardly even know her. Thank you for letting me know her," he said, taking a strand of Melissa's hair between his fingers. "She's so beautiful, Dana. Just like you." She said nothing, just touched his cheek. "And just like her daddy..." His eyes took on a sly gleam. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Miss Scully." And then a strange emotion flickered across his face that Scully couldn't name. "I'd like to be able to call you Mrs. Mulder..." Scully's breath left her in a great rush, and she felt slightly dizzy. "You...you what?" He smiled. "I think you heard me. Will you marry me, Scully?" Mulder held his breath, not really sure what her answer would be. Scully took his hand. "Say Dana and I'll think about it." "Okay...will you marry me, *Dana*?" She leaned in to kiss him softly, and then said, "There's nothing I'd rather do." "Good, because there's no one I'd rather ask," he said with a large smile. Scully nodded and motioned to their sleeping daughter. "It's time she was in bed. Would you mind carrying her?" Mulder couldn't believe that he was going to carry his daughter to her bedroom. He shook his head and gently scooped Melissa Fox up into his arms, holding her close to his chest. They both rose and began to walk to her bedroom. As they did, he looked across at Scully, never loving her more. "Scully, thank you for calling me, and...thank you for naming her Fox. Maybe it'll work out better for her." Scully smiled and put her arm around his waist. "I think it's going to work out for all of us." As she looked at him, she wondered what it was between them that kept them connected even when they were apart. She decided that whatever it was should just be accepted and not analyzed. For the first time in her life, Scully accepted that in *this* she should simply believe. They stopped before Melissa's bedroom door, and Scully leaned up to kiss him again, and it was full of the promise of good days to come. He looked down at his daughter, then at Scully. "I think you're right." With that, Scully opened the door and they disappeared inside, finally together, finally a family. THE END