Disclaimer; Mulder and Scully are owned by Chris Carter, i just own this bad idea. : )

Chapter one: Congratulations

Is that seat taken?

Congratulations.

Would you like to take a walk with me?

My mind it kind of goes fast

I'll try to slow it down for you

I think I'd love to take a drive

I want to give you something I've been wanting to give to you for years… My heart

Five years later…

2003

Mulder hurried home. He loved being on the x-files, but god could Diana and Spender push his buttons.

He had been back in the division for a only a few months now. It had taken some time, but with a lot of faking, lying, and kissing ass, he was back, but it wasn't the same…well…without Scully.

He entered his home. He checked his messages, hoping for that familiar voice.

It was his lucky day.

/Hey, Fox, it's Dana, I'll be in town, visiting with my mother, and I was wondering if I could come and see you, give me a call, love you, bye/

Mulder stood there surprised. He hadn't seen her for five years now. She never really had a lot of time off that she could spend with him. Every time she did come to town she only had time to see her family. He didn't mind, they talked a lot over the phone or through e-mail. It was enough, considering he could have lost her completely.

He replayed her words again. He was excited that he would get to see her, but noticed how his heart had jumped when she said 'love you'.

It didn't mean anything more then friendly affection, it was just a show of how close they had become. He said it too to her, but now it was taking on more meaning, and he wished he could tell her.

He speed-dialed her number, number one of course.

It rang a couple of times, then he heard, "Hello,"

"Dana, hey," he said.

"Hi, Fox," she said, he could almost hear her smile.

"It's been so long, what have you been up to?" Mulder asked.

"I know, I'm sorry, I've just been busy, I've missed you," Dana said.

"Same here, so how's work," Mulder asked.

"Oh, the same, so how's being back on the x-files, last time you told me you guys were working on something to do with, ah, I don't remember, sorry," she said truthfully.

"Don't worry, it's not important, just know it blows, I can't work with those two, I need you," Mulder said offhandedly.

He could hear her become uncomfortable, "Yeah I know, I miss it…sometimes, but I'm doing well, but anyway, anything new going on," she said asking a question she didn't need to voice because she asked it all the time.

"You mean, girlfriend?" Mulder smiled.

"Well, maybe," she said coyly.

"No, well there was this one girl, but nothing came from it, what about you, are you still seeing Allan Marcus, I think his name was," Mulder said.

"No, we broke up a few months ago, wow we haven't talked since then huh," Dana said surprised.

"I guess so," Mulder said sadly.

God how he missed her.

"Well, I have been dating this guy Kevin Wolfe for about six months," Dana said.

"Wolfe, what is it with you and men that are named after animals?" Mulder teased.

Dana laughed, "I have no idea, but I really like the two I know, but he is nice,"

Mulder was glad, but he knew the next question he asked would hurt him.

"So you serious with him?" he asked.

Dana sighed, "Yeah, I love him a lot, I know it's soon, but I see a future with him,"

Mulder felt like his heart wanted to escape his body and jump out the window. He didn't want to know this. He wanted her to be his forever.

"I'm glad, it's great, now you can finally have that life," he said.

"I always had a life, but I was just missing a few things," Dana said.

"Anyway, so when are you coming up?" Mulder said wanting to get off the subject.

"Oh, yeah, um next Friday, I'm staying through the weekend, I really would like to see you," Dana said.

"Is Kevin coming with you?" Mulder asked trying to keep the hurt out of his voice.

"Yeah, but I thought I would see you on my own, unless you want me to bring him," Dana said.

"No, I just want to see you," Mulder said.

"Okay, I'll see then, I'll try to call, but if not, I'll see you when I get into town," Dana said.

"Great, I love you Dana," Mulder said a little more emotionally then he'd meant to.

Dana hesitated a moment and Mulder noticed it.

"I love you too Fox, bye," she said finally and hung up.

Mulder was confused. Was she all right. Usually nothing caused her to act weird. They were very comfortable now with each other.

He was surprised that she was coming to visit. He hoped that it wasn't something serious.

Mulder had cleaned up his apartment. He was excited to see Dana. She would be arriving at seven. They would eat in. He didn't want to share her with the world tonight. Bad enough he had to now share her with some other man.

There was a light knock on his door around seven. He rushed to open it.

It was Dana. The moment they laid eyes on each other, they embraced.

Mulder didn't realize how much he missed her.

He held her back from her and smiled a real genuine smile.

"Wow, you grew your hair out," he said.

She smiled, "Yeah, I thought I would; it's been a long time," she said and followed him to the living room.

They both sat on his couch.

"You look great," he said.

"You too, I see nothing much has really changed," she said looking around his apartment.

"Don't like change much, but anyway, what brings you to see your mother," Mulder asked a slight tone of concern in his voice.

"Oh, nothing bad," she said quickly.

"Well," he said.

She shyly pushed her hair behind her ear and he saw it. The object of his demise.

"You're engaged?" he nearly accused.

"Yeah, two weeks, I came to tell my family, and I wanted to tell you in person," Dana said happily.

He looked away from her. His mind was trying to tell him to tell her he was happy. To tell her congratulations, but all his heart wanted to do was to kill the man who was now claiming her.

"I thought you said it was nothing bad," he said slightly sad.

"Mulder…" she said.

"No, I'm kidding, I'm happy for you, congratulations," he forced a smile.

"You sound far from it, what's wrong?" she asked truly concerned.

"Nothing, Dana, really, I guess I just feel…I don't know, once you get married, I feel like that's it for us," Mulder said.

"Fox, it's not, you'll always be my friend, nothing will change that, I promise," she said taking hold of his hand.

He looked at their hands. It was over. She was no longer his, not that she ever was. But now their chance was slipping away.

He so badly wanted to tell her that he loved her, but how? It was obvious that she loved this Kevin Wolfe.

"I know, Dana, I guess I'm also feeling like I'm being left behind, I have no one, and I'm still doing what I was five years ago, I'm not moving forward, I'm still in the same place you left me," Mulder said.

"Well, maybe you could change your career, maybe come out to Nevada," Dana suggested.

He smiled, "I don't think your soon to be husband would like you hanging out with another man,"

"It's not his choice, besides he has women friends, and I don't say anything," Dana said.

"To his face," Mulder said.

She smiled, "Fine, but I would love to have you closer, I really do miss you,"

"I would love to be closer to you too, but I belong here," Mulder said.

She only nodded.

"So when do you tell your family?" Mulder asked still feeling his heart break.

"Um…tomorrow, dinner," Dana said.

"So, I'm the first," he said.

"Yeah, I wanted you to know first," Dana said.

"Before Bill came and did a victory dance in my living room," Mulder said.

She laughed, "Something like that,"

He sighed, "I hope Kevin makes you happy, you really deserve it Dana,"

"He does, but Mulder I've always been happy, I always had you," she said.

He looked at her. She blushed a bit.

"You did, and I always had you, but now, I have to share," he said, "I don't like to share," he pouted.

She smiled, "Neither did I when Diana came back, but I got over it,"

"Yeah, well, she doesn't bother with me," he said.

"Well, I still like you, so don't worry," she said.

"So when is the wedding?" Mulder asked.

"Three months from now," Dana said.

"Well, I will keep my schedule open, unless I'm abducted by aliens," he teased.

"No, you will be there no matter what, I won't let that excuse slid," Dana smiled.

"I promise," he said.

"Well, what should we eat then," Dana said.

"The usual take out Chinese place down the street," Mulder said.

"It's still open, I love that place, still the best," Dana said.

"Yeah, well I'll call, so what will you have?" Mulder said getting up to get the phone.

"You remember" Dana said.

"Of course I do," Mulder smiled.

They finished dinner and at eleven Dana got a call from Kevin.

"Oh, gosh I hadn't noticed, yeah, no I'll leave, sorry, love you, bye," Dana said.

Mulder looked at her sadly.

"I have to go, I forgot I was here with him, but I'll come back tomorrow," Dana said.

"Don't worry, I hold you to nothing," Mulder said.

"I will, I promise, I never get to see you, I'm going to make the most of my weekend here," she said.

Mulder smiled. He walked her to the door.

She stood and stared at him for a moment. She ran a hand through his hair affectionately.

"Don't worry, you'll still have me, besides I can't trust you by yourself for too long," she smiled reassuringly.

He laughed lightly, "You're right,"

She stared at him for a moment, "Fox, are you all right?"

"I am, really, it's just a lot of emotion at seeing you, but I am happy for you," he said.

She nodded, "I'll talk to you tomorrow,"

She left for home. Mulder watched her and was damning himself for being and still being an idiot.

My heart,

my pain won't cover up

You left me..

My heart can't take this cover up

You left me..