Hi guys, so it's quite a long time since I posted a new story on here, and this has been sitting on my computer for eternity but I just can't quite get it right! It's a bit out of character, so I hope you don't mind using your imagination a little for parts of it. I'd like to dedicate this one to my friend AnnieGilly for reminding me to post it, and giving me the confidence to do it :)
Scully wiped her mouth politely on her napkin, smiling across at the man she loved. She had been surprised when Mulder had suddenly decided to take her on a candlelit dinner, and had decided to make the effort for the one night. It had been worth the extra hour it took her to get ready for the look on his face as he walked into the apartment, taking in everything from her hair tied elegantly back, the necklace sparkling around her neck, the sparkly black ball gown clinging to her curves enticingly at the heeled shoes giving her a few extra inches and making her hips sway seductively as she walked.
For her part, she was having trouble keeping her eyes off him as well, dressed in a black tuxedo and with the most adorable smile on his face for the whole evening. Although, she suspected that she had sported the same look for most of the time as well.
Scully looked up in surprise, only noticing that Mulder had already paid the check as he held his hand out to her to help her stand up, the waiter holding open her coat. She sighed peacefully, not having been able to remember a time when she had felt this comfortable and happy.
Mulder smiled down at her as they left the restaurant. "What would you say to a walk by the river, Scully?" he asked, seeing her smile lovingly up at him.
"I would love to," she replied, putting her arm through his and giving him a squeeze.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the pretty lights by the river finishing off the evening for her. Mulder stopped part way, leaning against the railings that looked out over the river. Searching his face for a moment, Scully did the same, letting the peacefulness of the moment wash over her as the lights bounced beautifully off the water.
"Scully, I..." Mulder began, before breaking off and clearing his throat nervously. His eyes looked lovingly at her, as he took one of her hands in his own, not missing the surprised and slightly worried frown.
Dropping to one knee, he tried again. "Scully...Dana, you've already made me happier than I ever thought I could be. Would you do me the honour of being my wife?"
Scully felt her jaw drop as her eyes searched his face desperately, panic filling her. She gulped.
"I'm not ready for that kind of commitment, Mulder. I'm not sure either of us are," she choked out, watching as his face fell. He looked crushed, tears springing to her eyes as she watched him stand instantly, her pride willing them not to fall. "Mulder," she started as he turned to walk away. "Mulder! Wait!"
He carried on walking, leaving Scully standing with tears running down her face, watching him walk away. She wanted to run after him, make him listen as she explained what she really meant as she realised how her words had sounded. But somehow, she knew that he needed some time on his own, and that he wouldn't listen to her at that moment. Sighing, she turned for her own apartment, the tears still running unchecked down her cheeks.
Scully was a little apprehensive heading into work. She hadn't heard anything from Mulder, not that she had really expected to either. Sighing, she walked down the corridor, telling herself that she was only walking slower towards their office because her feet hurt from the night before, not because she was putting off speaking to Mulder again.
She was surprised when she turned the corner and Mulder was not sitting in the office like he usually would be. Thankfully, she sank into her chair, pleased that she was the first one there, the precious moments giving her a chance to compose herself for when Mulder finally arrived. Pulling a pile of files towards her, she turned her chair around to start work, her back to the door.
Getting worried, she summoned up the courage to head over to Mulder's apartment on a break. Knocking briskly at the door, she waited, her anxiety increasing when there was no answer.
"Mulder, it's me. Can I come in?" she said through the door, knocking again. "Please, Mulder, open the door. I just want to talk!" she reassured him, still getting no answer.
Sighing, she dug into her pocket for her key, her hand shaking slightly as she held it up to the door, pushing it open. Everywhere looked the same as usual, with the one exception that Mulder was nowhere to be seen. Making her way methodically through the small apartment, she shook her head in confusion, not finding any sign of him. However, when she looked closer, she saw that there were signs of him having gone. All of the things that mattered the most to him had vanished, like his basketball, a picture of them together, his favourite pen with aliens on that she had bought him one Christmas. She felt tears welling up in her eyes again.
Wandering over to his desk, she found an envelope with her name scribbled on the front waiting for her. Sniffing slightly, she ripped it open, watching as if her heart had just stopped beating when her key fell out, bouncing slightly onto the worn wooden desk. Flipping the envelope over, she let go of the sob she had been holding when she saw that there was nothing else in the envelope. That was the moment when her heart shattered into a thousand pieces, when she knew that Mulder wasn't coming back.
Scully knocked at the familiar door, knowing from the looks on the three faces that they didn't really want to let her in. She smiled unconvincingly, and stepped inside, watching the bolting routine impassively.
"I need your help to find Mulder," she blurted out, seeing them all avoid her gaze. "Skinner said he quit and gave me the week off, so I have a week to find where he's gone before it's too late."
Byers stepped forwards. "I'm so sorry, Scully, but we can't help. Mulder made us promise that we wouldn't try to find him if you asked, and he checked his cell phone and everything else that was traceable before he left."
She felt tears welling again and looked at the ceiling. Why was it so like Mulder to vanish completely and leave everything behind when she most wanted to speak to him? She refused to accept defeat, there had to be a way to find him.
"What happened between you two love birds anyway?" Frohike asked, wincing as Langley hit him on the shoulder. "What? I'm just curious!"
She shook her head. "What did Mulder tell you?"
"Nothing, he just said he had to go and not to follow him," replied Langley, patting the seat next to him. "We're all really sorry he went. Do you want to stay for a coffee or something?"
She shook her head again, turning back briefly as she headed for the door. "Listen...if you do hear anything from him, will you let me know? Even if...it's just to tell you he's OK. Please?"
Byers nodded. "Of course we will, Scully. Drop by any time you want."
She nodded sadly, Frohike moving to unbolt the door for her and looking after her sympathetically. Closing the door again he sighed, seeing the others looking just as sad for the odd pair that never seemed to be able to recognise how strong the other partner's feelings were.
So that's the start, I really hope you like it and that it's OK, and once I've tried to sort out the problems with the next chapter I'll get that up too. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)