MARGARET SCULLY'S HOUSE
SATURDAY 11.40AM

My breath hitched slightly in my throat. Maggie Scully wanted to talk to Dana about me? I couldn't imagine what for and certainly not what she'd need to talk about with me stashed behind a pot plant in the same room. I could see Scully and her mom through a gap in the leaves; Scully had suddenly tensed and was clearly trying to shuffle herself into a more defensive position, it was obvious from my psychology background. Her mom however was doing an excellent job of keeping her close without actually being forceful about it.

"I don't want to talk about him again Mom" Dana replied to her mother.

"Again?" I thought quickly, my mind racing, "They've talked about me before?"

"Well I do and I'm your mother so tough" Maggie told her simply. I knew the Scully children had an incredible level of respect for their parents, it came from being Navy brats, and so Scully was doomed to this conversation. "Just be grateful your father isn't still with us, you'd have been stood in front of him in his office getting the third degree long before now." Maggie added. I saw a small smile break over both their faces and Dana sighed.

"Yeah I know. I couldn't stand being called into that room again, having to stand in front of him and explain myself while he just sat there studying me. I could never lie to him."

"That's why you were in trouble so much; you could never find a way to get out of it when you were caught, unlike your sister and brothers." Maggie was laughing and I was feeling pretty chipper myself, Scully had been in a lot of trouble when she was younger? I needed to find out what about someday. "Anyway Dana, back to Fox.

"Mom" Scully winged like a small child but quickly gave it, sensing her protests were useless "What do you want to talk about?"

"Have you told him?"

"Told him what?"

"What you told me that night you came over here sobbing your heart out because some old hag he used to know had reappeared in his life. Told him what you want from him?"

"Of course not!" Dana snapped "I can't tell him. I can't ever tell him mom!"

"You can Dana, and you need to because I'm sick of picking up the pieces. You get mad at him for hurting your feelings but how can he not if he doesn't understand there's anything there to hurt? You phone me up crying more and more and frankly I've had enough."

Maggie had that mad glint on her eye, the parental glint that said she was very angry but still loved her daughter. Scully had finally wriggled herself into a ball on the couch and was refusing to make eye contact with her mother. I was barely breathing in my hiding place, not quite able to understand what I was hearing.

"Have you finally admitted it to yourself?" Maggie asked, lowering her voice again.

"Admitted what?" Scully mumbled back, still not looking up. Maggie looked exasperated.

"Admitted how you feel about him."

"He's my best friend."

"There's more than that Dana, you know it and I know it. Stop making asses out of both of us." Dana looked up, I couldn't see her face anymore but I figured she was crying a bit now as her mom reached over and brushed something off her cheek. "Oh Dana just give in for once, I won't think any less of you for having emotions, you don't have to be a rock every day. Let it out before it bubbles over again." Scully shook her head.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because I'll make an idiot out of myself."

"You won't. Listen, Dana I'll make it easy for you. You know you can't lie to my face. Answer me a question, honestly."

"No Mom…" Scully began but her mother continued.

"Do you love Fox?"

"Yes of course I do but…"

"Are you IN love with Fox?" I gasped so loudly I thought they might hear me but they didn't.

"I…" Scully began, staring intently at the couch cushions.

"Dana, look at me and answer the question. Are you in love with Fox?" Her mother repeated seriously. Scully looked up at her mother, I could see her shoulders shaking now.

"Yes" I heard her mutter. My heart stopped beating for a moment.

"Thank you" her mother smiled and pulled Dana into a hug. "Will you tell him?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't, I can't embarrass myself in front of him like that."

"Why do you think you'll embarrass yourself?"

"Because he doesn't feel the same way about me, he doesn't want me that way."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do"

"Have you ever actually asked him?"

"No but…"

"So you don't actually know then do you, you've just assumed. You have to tell him how you feel; he deserves the truth doesn't he?" Scully didn't answer. "He deserves the truth, and you have to ask him how he feels too."

"I can't" Scully whimpered "I'm too scared."

"You'll never be able to ask him if he's in love with you?" Scully shook her head, she was clearly crying now. "Do you want to know?" Scully nodded. "Then I'll ask him." Before Scully could even begin to make some form of protest, Maggie cleared her throat and spoke loudly to the room. "Fox, are you in love with Dana?" I stood up instantly from my hiding place on shaky legs, feeling the tears running down my own cheeks but not caring.

"Yes! Of course I am!" I managed to croak out.