A/N: Alright guys, after 3 months, I am finally writing another MSR fic! Although, I still am currently working on Gasoline, the Krycek/Scully fic (my longest story yet), as well. It's the first time I have attempted to write two different fics at once! So, double the love! Anyways, this plot has been entirely chosen by my friend Irina, so this is for you girl! I will try to update both stories once a week, maybe twice, considering that's double what I'm used to. I just graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in Business, and am currently searching for a career…so I will only have about 6 weeks of free time. I also have an almost 4-year-old daughter, so I will try my best to update as soon as I can! Enjoy. Xoxo
Spoilers/Timeline: Everything from the very beginning would be somewhat different, considering that Mulder already had a girlfriend when he met Scully, in this certain scenario.
Disclaimer: Blah, I don't own anything pertaining to the X-Files, blah.
Prologue
This is ridiculous, Scully thought to herself, as she filed through all the paperwork…on 'Mulders' desk, she silently noted. Why the heck did she always offer to finish the paperwork on her free time, while Mulder spent all of his with his girlfriend, Sofia. It just made Scully realize how extremely solitary she really was. Of course, she was content that her partner of 4 years had someone to get him out of her hair during the times when she had had enough of his outlandish theories. But during the times when Mulder was with Sofia, Scully would finish their paperwork, alone…which was much more often lately. It was starting to slightly affect her as of recently. And it sure as hell didn't make her feel any better that the X-Files had been shut down just a few days ago. Now, she would be separated from the only real friend and great partner she had ever had. Scully had been slightly surprised to see that Mulder hadn't even seemed all that upset over it. And she couldn't help but wonder if he had just given up completely on his quest for the truth, and had begun to grow comfortable with just never knowing for sure, and becoming another face in the crowd. She was beginning to get the feeling that Mulder was just ready to begin a new life now, and leave the old one behind him. And as much as she would have been thrilled to see that 3 years ago, it slightly disappointed her now. What had changed since then?
The only upside to all of the recent events, was that Scully wouldn't have to do all of this paperwork and filing by herself, on a Friday night. Why wasn't Mulder fighting for the X-Files, like he had done the first time they were shut down? And why was he acting so weird lately? He was just a little too considerate of her thoughts and feelings the past two weeks, and even began to bring her lunch every day. He even offered to let Scully and his girlfriend Sofia have a girl's night out without him, which Scully immediately declined, as usual. It was nothing against Sofia, because in all reality, she was a really nice, fun person. Not to mention smart, witty, and extremely beautiful…with her long legs, caramel skin, full pouty lips, high cheekbones, impeccable teeth, big brown eyes, and long wavy brown hair. She was the perfect woman. And as much as Scully wanted to hate her for being so perfect, and winning all of Mulder's attention, she just couldn't. Because in all reality, she really, really liked the girl. Goddammit.
Just as Scully continued sorting through all the paperwork on her bed, while inwardly struggling to figure out why she was feeling the sudden change in feelings about everything lately, the phone rang.
She heavily sighed and picked up the phone. "Scully."
"Hey, G-Woman!" Came Mulder's cheerful voice from the other end.
"Hi, Mulder. I'm almost done with last week's filing, if that's what you're calling about." Scully mumbled, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder.
"That's not why I'm calling. I was wondering if you wanted some company tonight." Mulder replied, as the sound of his TV played loudly in the background.
"Huh." Scully paused for a moment, separating a stack of papers into two different folders. "I thought you had plans with Sofia tonight?"
"We did, but she got that call about that job interview she has been wanting for months now, so she has to wake up early tomorrow." Mulder's voice was full of disappointment for a moment, before turning cheerful again. "So anyways, can I stop by? Or are you busy?"
Scully sighed, as she closed a blue folder, and opened up a red one. "Well, I still have to type up our last report and finish this filing."
"That can wait till Monday, right?"
"But Mulder-"Scully slightly whined. "I really want to get it done tonight, so that I can actually have a weekend off for a change."
"Then I'll help you."
"Mulder, since when have you ever wanted to help me with paperwork?" Scully raised an eyebrow, just as Mulder was imagining she was probably doing.
Mulder chuckled. "Well, It's the least I can do, since this might be our last time ever filing X-Files paperwork, ever again. And I can bring a pizza and a movie for afterwards." He offered.
Scully sighed, thinking about it for a moment. "Fine. I want pepperoni. And a chick flick." She smirked.
"Done, and done." Mulder smiled. "See you in 30, G-Woman." He added, before hanging up the phone.
Scully closed the red folder and tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear. Something was definitely going on with Mulder, and she was definitely going to get it out of him when he showed up.
XXX
Exactly 30 minutes later, Mulder was knocking on Scully's door, with a pepperoni pizza in his hands, and 'My Best Friend's Wedding" resting on the very top. How ironic, Scully thought to herself, letting Mulder into her apartment.
"I thought about picking up a bottle of wine and some ice cream as well, but I wasn't sure if you were allowing the extra calories into your diet this month." Mulder teased.
Scully playfully smacked Mulder's arm and clicked her tongue. "I actually have an unopened bottle of wine in the fridge, and a pint of double fudge brownie ice-cream in the freezer, thankyouverymuch." She crossed her arms.
Mulder arched a brow and chuckled. "Then you best be sharing tonight, since I brought you your pepperoni pizza and chick flick." Mulder pretended to gag, as Scully chuckled.
"You help me finish this paperwork and report like you promised, and I'll think about it." Scully leered, plopping down onto the couch.
"Then we better get started." Mulder winked, opening the pizza box, and handing Scully a greasy slice.
"I have plates, you know." Scully replied, taking a careful bite out of the pizza slice.
"Pshh, we don ned nuh shtinkin playz." Mulder mumbled with a mouth full of pizza.
Scully rolled her eyes. "Mulder, I can't understand you when you talk with food in your mouth."
Mulder grinned and flung a pepperoni at her.
"Muuuulder!" Scully squealed, throwing the pepperoni back at him.
XXX
Three hours later, the work was done, along with the movie, as Mulder and Scully both watched the ending credits in comfortable silence.
"That was-a slightly depressing ending." Mulder sighed, looking over at Scully.
Scully nodded in agreement. The movie had reminded her of her own life, somewhat. Except for the part about wanting your best friend after it's too late, and finally accepting that he was in love with another woman at the end. That part was so not something that would realistically happen to Dana Katherine Scully. She wasn't in love with Mulder. Although, she had had a slight crush on him at first. But that quickly dissolved, and was replaced with pure friendship, and respect for one another as partners. Right?
"So, what do you want to do now?" Mulder asked, perking up on the couch.
Scully looked at Mulder out of the corner of her eye. "I figured you were just going to go home after this. I'm getting kind of tired anyways." That was a lie. Scully wasn't the least bit tired, and was actually really enjoying Mulder's company tonight. It was a slightly unusual occurrence for them, but she wasn't complaining. And now that she thought about it, right now would be a perfect time to bring up his strange behavior lately. "Mulder…why did you come here tonight?" Scully softly asked, turning to face him completely.
Mulder looked away for a moment, pondering his answer, before making eye contact with Scully. "Well, now that you mentioned it, I have something to tell you."
Uh oh. Scully's stomach tightened up at the very tone of Mulder's voice, and the weird expression on his face. Something was definitely up; she had been right.
"Oh?" Scully managed to ask, fidgeting on the couch.
Mulder played with his fingers, as he tried to pick out the right words to say, without getting Scully upset. "Sofia got offered that job she had been hoping for…" He began, and paused.
Scully furrowed her brows. "That's…great?" What was so bad about that?
"Yeah, um, it's located about 6 hours away from here." Mulder added, pausing again.
"Oh…that's got to be tough. But I think you both could make the long-distance work." Scully obliviously replied. She still couldn't figure out why Mulder was eyeing her sympathetically. 'He' was the one who was going to have to do a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend of over 4 years. So why was he still looking at her like she had just lost a family pet?
"You see-"Mulder heavily sighed. "The thing is…I'm going to be moving with her…" He slightly grimaced.
Scully sat up straighter, opening and closing her mouth several times before speaking. "What?"
Mulder scooted closer, and lightly placed his hand on Scully's knee for a second, patting it. "Yeah. Skinner has agreed to let me transfer. I figured, since the X-Files have shut down for good, I might as well start fresh, and finally move on with my life." Mulder softly explained.
Scully blinked at Mulder in disbelief. "When did you decide this?" She whispered, swallowing.
"Uh, a few weeks ago." Mulder replied, chewing on his bottom lip.
Scully nodded slowly and straightened out an imaginary wrinkle in her lap. "Wow." She swallowed and blinked again. "That's uh-wow."
Scully didn't know what to say. And the sudden overwhelming feeling of disappoint that was washing over her, was beginning to really confuse her. And all of a sudden, she was beginning to realize that she WAS Julia Roberts in that movie. And that she was realizing her true feelings, when it was already too late, and her best friend was moving on with another woman…who was not her. She had never thought that this would ever happen. That Mulder was just completely give up, and leave her. Shit.
Mulder eyed Scully intensely for a long moment. "You're upset…" It was more of a statement, than a question.
Scully immediately shook her head. "No. No, Mulder. I'm happy for you, really." She forced a thin smile.
Mulder furrowed his brows. "Really…"
"Yes. I mean…it's your life…and if you don't feel like the truth matters anymore, then that's your decision." Scully coldly replied. She hadn't meant for that to come out, but it did. And there was no taking it back now. She might as well let Mulder know that she was somewhat disappointed, if he was going to be 6 hours away in a week.
"That's not fair…" Mulder hung his head and sighed.
"Is it not?" Scully pursed her lips, as her face began to pinken.
"Scully…" Mulder shook his head and looked back up at her. "I'm tired of searching for nothing but disappointment and lies. I've been searching for so long. And I don't think it's ever going to get me anywhere." He softly explained.
Scully's nostrils flared, as she breathed heavily through her nose. "You have changed. The Mulder I know would keep fighting, just like you did the time before. Why are you giving up so easily? What is this really about?" Scully raised her voice, cocking her head to the side.
Mulder clenched his jaw in frustration. "Three years ago, you would have been happy that I was finally letting go and accepting reality."
Scully shot up off the couch and crossed her arms. "Three years ago, Mulder, I met a man that helped me open my eyes to the truth." Scully frowned.
Mulder cleared his throat and sighed again. "I don't know what else you want me to say or do. Things change, and people change."
Scully turned away from Mulder and hung her head. "So, you came here with pizza and a movie, just to butter me up, so it would be easier for you to break this news to me?" She spat.
Mulder shot up off the couch also and lightly touched Scully's shoulder, but she pulled away. "No, Scully. That's not what I was trying to do, at all." He grunted.
Scully turned around, and looked up into Mulder's sad eyes. She was now slowly beginning to realize why she was really feeling so upset over this sudden news. She was in love with him. All those weird sensations the past year made sense now.
Goddammit.
"I think it's time to call it a night." Scully softly spoke, breaking eye contact with him.
Mulder nodded, but stood there in the same spot for a long moment, desperately trying to read Scully's facial expressions. But it was no use. Scully was disappointed with him, and the best thing he could do right now, was to let her cool down over night. He could only hope that she would calm down by next Friday…because that was when he was leaving. And he didn't want to leave on bad terms with his best friend, and the greatest FBI partner he ever had, and would ever have.
Scully watched, as Mulder slowly made his way to the door. She watched him open it, mumble something along the lines of "goodnight", and close the door behind him. After a long moment, Scully walked over to the door and locked it, leaning up against it.
"Dammit." Scully whispered to herself, closing her eyes.
This was not good.
XXX
A/N: Alright, it'll start picking up a bit in the next chapter, which should be longer.
Edited: P.S. To the reviewer who commented, "These kind of stories really p*** me off..Mulder would never abandon the X files let alone due to a girl...meh", it will all make sense as I keep going. This was not one of my normal personal scenarios, but the scenario of a friend. It's my first time writing something like this, and I promise to completely justify Mulder's true reason for leaving the X-Files, because you are only assuming that it's due to a girl, and that he won't eventually come back. But didn't Mulder not want to go back during the second movie? Did he not leave the X-Files at the end of season 9? YES, he did. FOR A GIRL. And for much much more. lol He's just going through a rough patch, a phase...so please don't be so quick to judge. :)