DAY 1

"Mulder I can't believe you talked me into this... what's the point of this escapade anyway?" Scully asked as she picked up her suitcase again, following the long line of people.

"Come on Scully, how's a little vacation together going to hurt?... you said yourself we needed to bond more. What's better then bonding on a cruise to Alaska?" Mulder grinned as they again walked a few feet. Scully shook her head, as much as she wanted to argue and complain, she was looking forward to a trip with just the two of them.

After another half an hour they were lead to their rooms by a nice man carrying all they're luggage.

"Room 40B for you Miss, and 409 for you Sir," he smiled as he gave each of them their keys.

"If you need anything else, just ask for James, have a nice vacation," he smiled once again before turning back to lead others to their rooms. Scully raised one of her eye brows suspiciously at Mulder as she slid her key into the slot.

"You'll see Scully, you'll have a good time."

Scully had been unpacking, taking her time to sort out what she would wear each day. She surprised herself, not realizing what she had brought was so... un-Scully-like. She pulled on a pair of ragged old jeans, and began to button her top when Mulder knocked on her door. She opened it then continued buttoning.

"Mulder?" she asked when he realized she was well finished dressing.

"Oh! Um, we are going to go check out the area... c'mon!" he shined his wondrous smile at her as she followed him out of her room.

They began walking down the hall of the large cruise liner, Mulder couldn't wait to share all the stories of ships lost at sea. But for the meantime they walked in silence. Scully admired the interior while Mulder watched the many families and what looked like honeymooners settling in their rooms. Scully stopped at a picture she saw on the wall, it took a minute for Mulder to realize she had stopped, he then walked back a few steps.

"What is it?" he asked her as he too looked up at the painting. Scully frowned at it for a minute, unsure why it was so mesmerizing, "I know this painting, I've seen it somewhere before..."

"Where?" Mulder asked with a frown, now trying to think if he'd seen it as well.

"I- I don't know... there's something about it..." she squinted as she again frowned at its beauty. The painting was of a boat being awfully destroyed in a massive wave of water. There was a giant squid smashing against one side of the ship, as men and women ran on all parts of the boat. It reminded Scully of Moby Dick, she figured that was the resemblance. It had only been a year since her father had passed, she never talked about him, although she thought about him much of the day.

Mulder finally shrugged his shoulders, "c'mon, there's a lot more to look at." Scully nodded, and after one last glance at the painting she focused her attention back on Mulder.

"So, Scully, how do you like it so far?" he asked as they stepped out onto the deck. Scully took in a deep breath of the salty air, "couldn't be any better," she smiled at him before pressing her body against the railing surrounding the ship's edge.

"You know, there's been account after account of people disappearing off ships."

"Paranormal, Mulder, is not the answer. Many people fall off board, look how far up we are. If I fell off and you weren't here, no one could hear my calls," she told him matter-of-factly.

"Exactly my point," he said as he put one of his hands on hers, which rested on the railing.

"Be careful," he warned her. She frowned at him, "does this mean you don't want me out of your sight until we are safely on land?" Mulder nodded. Scully smiled again, flipping her hand around and letting her fingers intertwine with his.

"I don't think falling off the ship is what you're so afraid of," she smiled warmly as she unhooked her hand and walked back inside the ship. Mulder followed after a pause, he looked down at the now calmer waves that surrounded the ship. He wasn't afraid that she'd fall off board, that wasn't it at all, he knew she was smart and intelligible. But, what he didn't want to admit to Scully was he had an eerie feeling getting onto the ship. Paranormal he wasn't sure, but something was going to happen, whether good or bad he couldn't tell.

Later that night Scully dressed up in one of her sleek black dresses, Mulder in his suit, they were a rare sight together.

"Ready?" he asked as they both stepped out of their rooms. She nodded, and just like regular Mulder he nodded back and turned to walk without even waiting for her.

She was surprised to see such a nice dinner hall once they entered the large room. There were mounds of food and even fancier people then she imagined.

"Is the queen in town?" Scully mumbled as a woman with a cheep looking tiara walked by. Mulder grinned as they sat down at a small table. The table sat five so they figured others would be joining them.

"Well I'm going to go get something to eat," Mulder got up and left her at the table alone. Scully nodded at the waiter who offered her a glass of wine, but she was surprised when a man in a fancy tux sat down next to her.

"Hello..." the man whistled, obviously drunk. Scully felt a little uncomfortable, but she could very easily take care of herself.

"And you are?..." the man put on a dazed grin. Scully looked around to see Mulder piling food on his somewhat small plate. The man placed his hand on Scully's knee, startling her a bit. She looked at the man, and then forcefully lifted his hand off of her.

"Goodbye," she said nicely. The man frowned, "I said, goodbye."

Mulder walked over to the two, seeing the situation from afar, "Here honey, I brought you some food," he said as he placed a second plate in front of her. The man got up with a glare and walked away stumbling. Scully was embarrassed but thanked him for the food. This trip was going to be long, but even so, she was glad she was there with Mulder, no one else compared.

The rest of the night went quickly, after Mulder stuffed his fork in Scully's mouth, so enthralled by the seaweed dip. And after they shared a glass of wine, they watched as others danced. Mulder glanced at Scully for only a second, but turned back toward her to see her eyes watering.

"What's wrong?" he asked concerned.

"Nothing..." she wiped away the tears dripping down her cheek with a napkin.

"I'm tired Mulder, I'll see you tomorrow," she got up abruptly and walked out of the dinner hall. Mulder followed, having trouble keeping up with her fast pace.

"Scully!" he called but she didn't stop. She was closing her door on him when he stuck his hand out, "What's wrong?"

She sniffled a few times, "Nothing Mulder, please move."

He wouldn't, "Tell me what's going on, I want to know."

"Mulder... please." he could hear desperation now in her voice, and very hesitantly he let his hand go. She closed the door slowly, he could hear her lock it. She rested against the door trying to hold all her emotions back, Mulder rested his hand on the front of the door, hoping he could some how know what she was thinking.

After a few minutes, at the same time, Scully walked over to her bed and hid under the covers. She wasn't sure what she was so afraid of, but doing as she did when she was a kid seemed to help. Mulder, absent minded, went into his room, there was no point in going back to the dinner hall. He sat on the edge of his bed, trying desperately to figure out why she was so upset, then trying to figure out how to get her to tell him what the problems were. He wanted so much to be her confidant. At least he had a good full week of alone time with her, where he could hopefully make things better for her.

TBC