From: AltarGirl2 Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 16:10:08 EDT Subject: Story: Déja-Vu All Over Again Title: Déja-Vu All Over Again Author: Chase Buckingham Category: VR Rating: G Spoilers: None Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance. Post-XF Summary: Scully muses over paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City when: "Fancy meeting you here..." Archive: Sure! Wherever, just let me know and keep my name on it! Feedback: Please! I am begging, and Chase Buckingham does NOT beg! AltarGirl2@aol.com Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully are not mine. Sucks for me. And them. They are the property of Chris Carter and his magnificent Ten-Thirteen Productions. I would never dream of copyright infringement, so please, oh, please don't sue me. Dedication: For Raven Déja-Vu All Over Again by Chase Buckingham She tapped her pen thoughtfully on her chin as she tried to bring herself back to the time of Cassat. The woman bathing her baby smiled out at her, and she wondered what that woman had been thinking as the artist had painted her. Her blue dress billowed out around her as she held her laughing child, and envisioning the scene made Scully smile. She loved children, and had always wanted a son or daughter of her own. At forty-three, however, that wasn't really logical. She shook her head and moved on to the next painting. Unbeknownst to her, from across the room a man regarded her through wide, yet very calm eyes. Her slight form, the shining red hair, pursed mouth, arched brow... it was impossible. He couldn't be seeing this. It couldn't be happening. And yet it had to be! He laughed to himself, shaking his head. His eyes followed her around the room, and as she would have left, he quickly caught up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Excuse me, miss... I couldn't help but notice you from across the room- I'm sure you're aware of your beauty. May I take you for a small walk?" She smiled, confused and a bit shocked. She checked the smile and shook her head rigidly. "I don't think so... do I know you from somewhere?" He removed his hand from her shoulder, slightly disappointed. "Perhaps not. But please, may I walk you just a block or so? I swear, I'm not going to try anything. Please?" Something about him made her trust him immediately. His nature seemed so familiar to her, and an intense wave of déja-vu suddenly came over her. She smiled at him and nodded amiably. "Yeah. Okay. Sure. Let's go for a walk." They exited the Metropolitan onto Fifth Avenue, side by side, making small talk. About halfway down the steps, he stopped her, laying a hand on the small of her back. That same familiarity shocked her as she spun round to face him. "May I take your hand, Miss Scully?" The way he said her name alarmed her. She *knew* this man. "How on earth do you know my name?" She backed up a few stairs, a bit frightened. He smiled, shaking his head. "That's of no importance. Take my hand?" She trusted him so completely, and yet she'd known him but moments, and the way he was acting certainly did not justify her trust in him. She took his hand, and again was amazed by the sensation that she'd been through a time warp. They walked for some time in silence, and when Scully glanced up at him in an attempt to read his emotions, she stopped dead in her tracks and ripped her hand away from his to clap it over her mouth. Tears of disbelief rolled down her cheeks as she grinned wildly, throwing her arms around him, unable to comprehend what was happening. He held her, pure joy coursing through his veins, trying to close the vast gap that for so long had divided them. "Scully, Scully, Scully... this is unbelievable." He rubbed her back, closing his eyes and praying that it wasn't a dream. She held him at arm's length, running her hand along his cheek in wonder. "Mulder, how is this possible? I thought you were lost to me, gone forever. Oh, my God!" She again eveloped him in her graceful arms in sheer giddiness. He laughed and spun her around, but when he set her down, their smiles had disappeared. He ran his fingers thoughtfully through her hair, cocking his head to one side, and admired the face he'd missed for so long. "Scully.... can I kiss you?" She nodded almost imperceptibly as he drew her to him, his lips meeting hers with tenderness and grace. "You know, Scully, I'd given up hope of finding you, too. But when you know that the woman you love is out there somewhere, and that maybe- just maybe!- she loves you, too, you'll do anything in the world- anything, Scully!- to see her just once more. I love you beyond the boundaries of mortality, and when I just chanced to see you there, gazing at the paintings, as brilliantly beautiful as ever, my heart nearly exploded. I thought I'd never find you again, and now that I have, I'm never going to lose you." Tears came uncalled to her clear, ice-blue eyes, leaving gleaming stains on her cheeks. She fell into his arms, and he held her close, swearing he'd never let go. Behind them, the bells of St. Patrick's Cathedral sounded triumphantly as life hustled chaotically all around them. In that embrace, though, it was peaceful, quiet. And the world was new. end