'Why do we never talk about it? That near-kiss in the hallway. Why has he never once mentioned it? Maybe he's regretting it, thinking things went too far that day. Or maybe he thinks I don't remember. Maybe it was just a mistake.
'No! I don't really believe that, not for a second. I love him, why can't I just admit it?'
* ***********
'Why do we never talk about it? That near-kiss in the hallway. Why has she never once mentioned it? Maybe she wasn't ready, or maybe she doesn't remember. Maybe I made a mistake. But there's no mistaking what I feel for her. I love her. Have since the minute I saw her. Why can't I just tell her?'
This has gone on long enough I tell myself. Go and see her, tell her how you feel. She has a right to know.
************
There is a knock at the door and I open it. It's him.
"Scully, I-"
"Mulder, come in! I was just thinking about you. That's very weird."
"'Spooky' even," he smiles, using the old nickname he has gained from his work on the X-Files.
"Coffee?" I ask.
"No, Scully, we have to talk." He takes me by the shoulders and guides me towards the couch. "There's something you should know." He's acting very strangely.
**********
I have decided to go for the direct approach and make her sit down on the couch. But maybe I'm scaring her as she's looking at me strangely. I take her hands in mine.
"Scully, I'm sorry," I begin.
"What is it Mulder? What should I know?" She's still giving me that look. I really do love her.
I take a breath. "Scully, that day in the hallway..."
**********
So now he wants to talk about it. At last. This was killing me. I wait for him to continue.
"Scully what do you remember?"
Oh that's great Mulder. Put the ball in my court why don't you? Leave me to make the move and make a fool of myself. Well I'm not going to. I'll just play you at your own game and lob the ball right back over to you. So there.
"Not much," I lie. "Just that we were there and then I was stung. Maybe you could help jog my memory."
He looks surprised. Got you Mulder! I stand up.
"So, we were in your hallway, outside your apartment. What happened?"
**********
Oh so that's what you're up to Dana Scully. I can see through your Miss Innocent act to that mischievous look in your eyes. Fine. I'll play along if that's what you want.
I stand up and move beside her.
"You said you were quitting the Bureau," I tell her.
"Well I'm not now, you know that," she says smiling.
"And how pleased I am you're not." I smile back at her. "You know that. But when you said you were, I don't know. I guess I couldn't imagine carrying on without you. So," I look deep into her eyes. "My arms were round you, and your hands were on my face-"
"Like this?" She cups my face in her hands and I shiver at her touch. My arms slip around her tiny waist.
"Yes. And we were both crying."
"I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you Mulder, but I thought had to get out of the Bureau."
"Then, Scully, you kissed my forehead."
She looks at me, then plants the softest kiss on my forehead.
"Like that?"
"Exactly like that. Then-"
I look into her eyes and pull her closer to me, exactly like that day. Our lips are millimetres apart. I don't move.
"Then the bee stung you," I murmur.
She holds my gaze. "There are no bees in here."
And suddenly I'm kissing her and better than that, she's kissing me back!
*********
My arms fall around his neck and I'm happier than I thought was possible.
We pull away and my legs are jello.
"I love you Scully, that's what you should know," he says.