From: AltarGirl2 Date sent: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 09:38:01 EST Subject: Story: Only Rose Petals Title: Only Rose Petals Author: Chase Buckingham Category: VR Rating: PG Spoilers: None Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance Summary: After a romantic dinner, Mulder and Scully wind up at her place... Archive: Sure! Wherever, just tell me first and put my name on it ; ) Feedback: YESYESYESYESYESYES!!!! AltarGirl2@aol.com Disclaimer: Fox Mulder and Dana Scully do not (no matter how much I would like them to) belong to me. They are the property of Chris Carter and Ten-Thirteen Productions, and I would never dream of infringing on copyright. So don't like stalk me and kill me, k guys? Dedication: For Jane Author's note: As I was writing this story, I wasn't sure how it should end, so I wrote two endings. A slightly different version with a VERY different ending will be appearing in a later edition of Gossamer with the same title. And heeeeeere we go! Mulder glanced up from the report he was studying. She sat elegantly at her desk across the room from him, reviewing the contents of a file folder. The look on her face was one of serenity and peace, and she seemed more desirable than ever to the vulnerable heart of Agent Mulder. Somehow, he had to do it- break the barrier that divided them and kept him from loving her. Yes. Dinner. "Hey Scully?" She looked up and removed her glasses, shaking out her hair. "There's a new Italian restaurant- just opened a few blocks away- and I thought I'd like to try it out. Care to join me?" She smiled. "Of course! Shall we walk?" Mulder glanced at his watch- 6:30. "Sure." He handed her her coat and opened the door for her in a show of chivalry. As they walked through the chill night air, chatting amiably, Mulder suddenly felt the urge to take her hand. So he did. Though the action startled her, it pleased Scully, and gave her the opportunity to walk close to him. It was a strange sensation- she had to keep reminding herself of who she was, who he was. She asked herself. She'd never really pondered her relationship with him, but now that she did, she was surprised by the fact that she loved him. "What?" He looked at her, slightly concerned. She realized she had physically started, and shook her head. "Nothing. Just... oh, nothing." He squeezed her hand gently as a sign that he understood, and they walked the rest of the way in silence. They sat quietly at a candle-lit table by the window, and a red rose surrounded by baby's breath graced the center of the table. Mulder would always remember that rose- it was so simple, so lovely, so perfect- just like that night would be. It would wilt by the time they'd left, making the metaphor complete. He would take the image of that rose to his grave. The two inched their chairs closer to each other, bit by bit, and by the time their meals came they were seated side by side, inches apart. At some point, Mulder found Scully's slim, feminine hand tucked into both of his, and his eyes searching hers. It was the most intense moment either of them had experienced in a long time, and the emotion of the message written in her eyes nearly brought tears to Mulder's. "Your eyes... I never noticed them. So clear, so blue... so beautiful. As beautiful, nearly, as the face, as the soul of the woman before me. Dana, I've been meaning to- yearning to- tell you... I..." She smiled and brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. "Let the words remain unsaid. They are not necessary." She kissed him gently, lovingly. They stood to exit, his arm about her waist, each wondering what the hell was going on. Somehow, without either of them paying attention, they made their way to Scully's apartment and stood awkwardly in the kitchen. Not really knowing what else to do, Scully placed her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her to kiss him deeply. They stood there for a long while- neither knew how long- lips pressed together, not wanting to pull away. "I love you." He said, moving his hands to her hips. "Mmm..." She took his hands in hers and smiled up at him as a single tear rolled down her cheek. "You have no idea how long I've wanted this, Muld- ah, Fox." He grinned. "I think I do, Dana." They stood gazing wonderingly at each other, the same question on both their minds: She nodded assertion to his unspoken question, and he lifted her in his arms, pressing his lips to hers, and lay her gently on her bed, leaning into rather than laying on top of her... Sunlight streamed through the open window and onto the sleeping forms of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. He opened his eyes and gazed at her, gently stroking her arm. He could not believe what had happened the night before. It was amazing- not so much the sex, but the whole *night*. The fact that he now lay with the woman he'd loved for so long curved into his body was unbelievable to him. He just couldn't make it click in his brain that he had actually woken at her side. She stirred in his arms, and turned to look at him. Her eyes flew wide open as she realized for the first time what she'd done. She sat bold upright and pulled the sheet up around her to hide her bare figure. She sat there gasping for a moment, unable to process what she was seeing. She stood and ripped the sheet out from under Mulder, wrapping it around her and covering the most skin possible. Her eyes were wild and her expression crazed. "Out!" she screamed at a bewildered Mulder. "Yes, you heard me! Leave! Get the hell out of here!" Somewhat frightened, he dressed as he ran out the door. The sudden outburst from Scully-the-brick-wall had terrified him, but more than that had depressed him. He had to fight to hold back tears as he ran- he'd thought she was his at last. Upon reaching his apartment, he collapsed into a sobbing heap, beating the floor repeatedly. "Scully, Scully, Scully," he sobbed, over and over again as he sat pounding the wood. He had finally been happy the previous night as he'd held her in his ams, as he'd kissed her. She'd been *his* for one glorious night- a night of silence, of laughter, of passion, of love. The look on her face as she'd ordered him out of her apartment had crushed his heart and broken his soul. He'd never been able to get her out of his head, and things weren't changing. He loved her more than anything, and last night he'd been sure she loved him. She'd never actually said it, but he knew she'd been thinking it. he wondered. He'd never known her to be the player type- in fact, the very notion nearly made him laugh. What had been going through her ming? Why had she spent that night at his side? Why had she lead him on this way? She knew it would hurt him... There was a knock at the door and when he opened it, a frazzled Scully stood before him, hands pushing ratty hair out of her face. She looked like hell and had obviously been crying. "Mulder, I'm so sorry..." She trailed off, not knowing what to say. He gestured for her to come in, and upon seeing the pain on her face, took her in his arms. She pushed him away and walked back a bit. "No. No. I can't do this, Mulder. I don't know what I was thinking last night... God, I'm so embarassed. I... Mulder, I don't love you. I mean, I do... definitely, but not... in that way. I'm sorry. I never should have done what I did... never should have led you on. I'm sorry." He could do nothing but stand there staring at her. Had she just said these words? "Scully... I don't know what to say. Right now I would kill to kiss you, to hold you close to me... but if this is how you want it, this is how it must be. My deepest apologies." She nodded, seeming as though she would cry again. "I should go. I'm sorry. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." She touched his cheek and exited with the words, "Never again, Mulder. Never again." end