Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999

Summary: Many changes are coming for Mulder and Scully and
Mulder is afraid of what it will mean for them as partners.

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, 10-13 Productions does. I do love 'em
lots and that's why I can't stop playing with them. I promise to take
better care of them than I did my first Barbie (never did find her
head). No copyright infringement intended.

Rate a SOLID G. Not even any naughty words. I was very, very
good.

Category: V, MSR, (hang with it to the end, you'll see) songfic,
but different :)

WARNING: Definitely a relationship piece. Fluff, but fun.
It's an early Valentine's Day present, to all of you.

Comments always appreciated. vmoseley@fgi.net

Every Little Thing She Does
by Vickie Moseley
vmoseley@fgi.net

Some bright morning in July

The ringing in her ears woke her before the sun through her
window had a chance to do the job. Slowly, she rose from the
sleeping bag on the floor to search around the room, only to find
the phone in the closet.

"Scully," she answered.

"You're supposed to be up already. You still sound asleep."

"Mulder," she chided, "you _weren't_ supposed to call me
today! You promised."

"Hey, I said I'd try. I did try. It just didn't work. So, what are
you wearing, Scully?" he asked in a lecherous voice.

"Don't let my fiance hear you talking like that, mister, or your
pants will fit a whole lot looser," she warned.

"Ohhhhh, I'm scared," he returned good naturedly. "So, all
packed?"

"Yep. Did you get all the files out of the basement?" she asked,
settling down against the wall of the bedroom. As she talked, her
eyes lingered on the sunlight shining through the windows, now
void of curtains. A gentle smiled graced her lips at the memories
this room held for her.

"Last box left about 11," she heard him say.

That brought her attention back in a hurry. "Eleven! You must
be exhausted. Mulder, why didn't you . . . "

"Let the movers do it?" he interrupted. "Yeah, like I trusted the
movers," he snorted. "No, I didn't think it would take that long.
But it's all done and I was tucked in by midnight."

"Tucked in on the bed, or the couch?" she asked mischievously.

"Couch," he answered seriously. "I'm saving the bed."

She smiled at that. "Oh, so one day you're going to sell it as
'never used'?" she teased.

"Keep it up, Scully. You aren't the only one who knows how to
use a gun, you know," he shot back.

"But you aim low. I'll jump and you'll miss me."

She could hear him trying to come up with a comeback. Finally
he thought of one. "Or I could keep my arm level and miss you
completely," he said smugly.

"I'm hanging up on you now, Mulder," she said with a smile.

"Wait. Scully, ah, wait a minute. Don't hang up yet," he
pleaded.

Her face grew serious. "What's wrong, Mulder?" She hadn't
heard him sound so lost in months.

"Scully," he started and then held his breath. "Scully, I'm
scared," he whispered so low into the phone that she instinctively
held it tighter to her ear just to hear the words. She heard him sigh
and knew he was close to tears, but she'd never see them.

"Mulder," she said softly. "It's OK. We've talked about this.
What are you afraid of?"

She heard him sniff and swallow hard. "I'm afraid . . . I'm afraid
things will change between us. Change as partners. God, Scully,
you've been my partner for so long, I don't want anything to happen
to that. I couldn't live without you beside me every day at work."
He was still whispering and she was having a hard time getting
every word, but the sentiment was coming through loud and clear.

"Oh, Mulder," she sighed. "You know how much you mean to
me. You *know* that you are a part of me. That will never
change."

"But Scully, this is a whole different path. In the past . . . "

"In the past, in the future, no matter what happens, remember
this. I am your partner. Nothing changes that. Nothing," she said
emphatically. "Mulder, change is good. Sometimes we get stuck
and change is the only way to go forward. I have to go forward,
Mulder. But I refuse to lose what I've got, too. I won't let that
happen. And if some guy can't get that through his thick skull,
well, I'll just have to teach him a lesson," she added with a soft,
menacing laugh.

"What kind of a lesson?" Mulder asked, and she could tell his
mood had lightened considerably.

"Wouldn't you like to know, Mulder," she said, still laughing.
"Look, it's 8:20 already. I really need to get a move on."

"Why didn't you stay at your Mom's last night? You could have
slept in a real bed," he pointed out. He still didn't want to get off
the phone, so she took the cordless into the bathroom and kept
talking while she started the shower.

"Oh, yeah, right! Mom's is a madhouse this morning. I'd get the
bathroom sometime next Thursday," she grumbled. "You could
have stayed there, you know."

"Nah, it wouldn't feel right. I'm not so sure your brothers
wouldn't have tied me up and left me in the garage or something.
Besides, I was busy," he said cryptically.

That last sentence left her suspicious, but she didn't say
anything. He had his secrets, just like she had hers.

"Well, Mulder, I really hate to end this stimulating conversation,
but the shower's ready, I am stripped naked in my bathroom and it's
cold and I'm hanging up now," she said firmly.

"Ah, Scully, what's the number for 911?" he stammered back.

"You are not having a heart attack, Mulder. You had better get
used to it. Now, go, or you won't be ready for this thing, either!"
she ordered.

"OK, OK," he said, defeated. "But Scully . . . "

She knew exactly what he was thinking. Words that were
almost impossible for him to say. She let him off the hook, this
time. "I know, Mulder. I know."

He sounded relieved. "Thanks, Scully. See you soon."

"You bet." She disconnected the phone and stepped into the
shower.

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Potomac, Maryland
11:00 am

The starched white shirt front chafed his neck and rubbed raw
all the places he'd nicked himself shaving. Mulder hated tuxedos,
but he would do anything for Scully. Anything at all. Even this.

This is probably the biggest mistake of her life, he thought to
himself as he looked around the church. He smiled when he saw
Scully's younger brother, Charlie, escort Margaret down the aisle to
take her place in the front row. Margaret smiled back at him with
all the affection he had ever seen in one pair of eyes. Well, almost.

"Stop fidgetin', man! You're drawing attention to yourself,"
Frohike hissed beside him.

"Wouldn't want that," Mulder groused and tried very hard to not
move a muscle, but his body was conspiring against him. Then he
looked up and saw her. She was an angel in white, a flowing
headpiece surrounding her flame of red hair, pulled back, but soft
tendrils curling near her cheeks.

Every little thing she does is magic,
Everything she does just turns me on,
Even though my life before was tragic
I know my love for her is strong.

"What, man?" Frohike hissed again.

"Nothing, Fro. Just a song I can't get out of my head," Mulder
whispered in reply. He hadn't realized he was singing the song, he
had thought it was just in his head. I better watch myself, he chided
silently. I don't want to ruin this for her.

"Well, it sounded a whole lot like the Police and nothing like the
Wedding March," Frohike whispered pointedly. "Keep you're mind
on business, Mulder. You screw this up and *I'll* shoot you!"

"Not a chance, Fro. Not a chance," he whispered in return. No
matter how much he was frightened by these changes, one look at
her face, at the joy, the anticipation, the *happiness*--that was all
he needed to know. He could never give her any less. He
wondered if he could ever give her more.

Then, she was standing beside him, her expression turning to a
knowing smile. She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it
warmly. Her tiny hand in his much larger one, fingers forming an
eternal knot. And then, when he lest expected it, she winked at
him. He bit back a smile and turned his attention to the other man
standing near them.

A throat was cleared and he knew he was supposed to drop her
hand, but he couldn't. Fortunately, the other man could see his
hesitation and just nodded. It was all right. Not exactly planned,
but not that uncommon, either. Words poured over him, and he
could barely hear any of them. Except the ones that came from his
own mouth.

"I, Fox, take you, Dana, to be my lawful wife . . . "

The end but actually just the beginning.

Vickie

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Oh, God Almighty, just vote and
get it over with!"

Outburst from a spectator of the
Impeachment Trail who was
escorted from the Senate Gallery
in handcuffs.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^