Title: Music and Passion (3/4)
Author: Dana E. Vassy
Rating: G
Category: Mulder angst, M/F marriage (references) MSR
Spoilers: Um, Je Souhaite? Not much really..
Disclaimer: Sometimes, I take musicals and songs and mix
them up with the X-Files. My therapist says it helps, so
Chris, Fox, 1013 don't deny me. You'll have them back
intact (unless you make a hash of season 8) The rights of
Rodgers & Hammerstein, and Barry Manilow are noted and
shamelessly monopolised. But don't make me set Hillary on
you...
Feedback: She sits there so refined, and drinks herself
half blind. Send thoughts to
scullys_no_slut@viceprez.fsnet.co.uk while I can still read
em..
Summary: Mulder needs a favour, which results in a theme
wedding, dancing and a realisation. Inpsired by the Barry
Manilow songs 'Copacbana' and 'Ready To Take A Chance Again'
Distribution: Yes to Gossamer/Legacy. Anyone else, please
ask first. I'll say yes, in all likelihood..

Little was said on the drive there. Inane chatter about
the type of people who would be there - the bride and
groom, and other such people from Mulder's past. Scully
made a casual comment about how everyone seemed to be
married now; they were the odd ones out. Mulder cringed
inwardly, and acknowledged her comment quietly. It would
be a long day.

Mulder waited anxiously in his room. Had Scully forgotten
to call for him, and headed downstairs alone? He fidgeted
with the soft material of his slippers, and cast another
glance at the adjoining door. Its closed nature seemed to
be mocking him.

But before he could consider barging in on Scully, the door
slid back to reveal a vision. In the doorway stood an
apprehensive yet beautiful woman, swathed in an exquisite
ball gown. Her pale shoulders looked softer than silk
above the ivory satin of her gown. For a moment, Mulder
forgot his pain and mistrust; he was captivated. She moved
towards him, as though in a dream. Instinctively, he
reached for her hand. In a second of madness, he nearly
swept her in for a kiss, but caught himself in time.
Instead, he gave her a patented Mulder smile.

"Mrs Anna."

"Your Majesty. Don't let your ego get overrun with
this royalty idea though.."

Smiling fondly, Mulder ushered them through the external
door, locking it behind him. They hurried downstairs for
the service.

Mulder survived the service, silently acknowledging waves
and smiles from his friends. There had been no time to
talk, but Mulder knew they could catch up at the reception.
Plenty of appreciative looks were thrown Scully's way,
though she seemed oblivious.

He was surprised to see her cry at the vows. He felt a
different emotion welling up inside him. Unconsciously,
he draped a supportive arm across her slim shoulders.
Scully made no move to dismiss him, rather she settled
against the support he gave, welcoming it.

Soon, the formalities were dispensed with. Claire and
Robert were legally married, and the guests filtered out
into the garden with the marquee.

Mulder had barely stepped inside the tent, when a quite
overbearing female accosted him.

"Fooox! How are you? It's been so long.."

"Good to see you, too Elizabeth. I'm doing just
great."

"It must be hard to see your ex-girlfriend married off.
At least you have a date, if only for appearance and all
that. Are you going to introduce us?"

Mulder was taken aback at her perception. He licked his
dry lips in preparation, ready to admit that this was in
fact a sympathy date. But the warm arm slipping
possessively around his waist interrupted him.

"My name is Dana. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not
a pity date. Fox and I have been together for about a year
now. We're very happy, as you can imagine. I tell you,
Claire must have been crazy to let him go. But obviously,
I'm glad she did."

Mulder was astounded. Had he heard correctly? Elizabeth
seemed firmly put in her place. And he wasn't sure who was
most surprised when Scully stood on tiptoe to plant a firm
kiss on his lips. She met his eyes fiercely as their lips
parted, giving him an intense stare before turning fully
back to his old friend.

"It was lovely to have met you. Sorry if I ruined any
preconceptions."

With that, she grabbed Mulder's arm and dragged him deeper
into the throng of people. He muttered a quick goodbye to
Elizabeth, and followed Scully in a semi-daze.

"Uh, Scully? What was that?" he ventured as they stopped
on the edge of the dance floor.

"Mulder, you're only single because of the work we do.
I get that patronising crap from my own friends. So why
don't we just stop them, if only for today? Give them
something to talk about, instead of letting them pity us?"

"I have to admit, it's appealing."

"Then we're agreed. But I'm not your colleague today.
I'm the rich and successful Dr Dana Scully MD. I'm a
cardiovascular surgeon, just transferred here from San
Diego to be with you. We met at a Knicks game last year,
and went on holiday to Europe over Christmas. We have lots
of fun, and interesting, though busy lives. Okay?"

Mulder accepted the barrage of information with a good-
natured grin. He saw the frustration in Scully's eyes, and
decided that they could break the mould for just one day.

"I should be worried about how easily you concocted
that, Dana"

"Don't be Fox. It's how I pictured my life when I was
at med school."

Before he could reply, he was merrily greeted by his friend
Robert, the happy bridegroom. Claire stood close by, then
echoed Robert's greeting. Thus, hours of introductions and
reunions ensued, with Mulder and Scully playing the love
struck couple. Some guests even asked when their own
wedding was likely to be. Mulder surprised himself by
commenting that it would be "hopefully soon".