Chapter 3
Waking from the most peaceful slumber he'd had in awhile, Mulder finally felt like he could be excited about being on vacation. Hearing the roosters wasn't something he had expected. He laughed a little to himself. Deep down he knew Scully wouldn't be mad about whatever his plans were. They've been together so long that she shouldn't be at all surprised with what was on his agenda. Suddenly feeling Scully stirring next to him he quieted his breathing, hiding his excitement. Leaning onto his side and gently placing a kiss on her cheek to which she quickly turned her head and met him for a slow and languid kiss.
"Mornin'" he whispered quietly to her. "How are you feeling this morning?" he furthered.
"Hm, wonderful. That was probably the best sleep I've had in a very long time." Scully sighed lightly, breathing in the fresh air from the open window and the musky Mulder scent that she'd grown so accustomed to. Scully turned to look at him searching his face for more but there was nothing. She was slightly worried but at the same time relaxed with it. Maybe he wasn't going off the deep end. Simultaneously rolling out of opposite sides of the bed, they both made a mad dash for the bathroom, Mulder ultimately beating her to the punch.
"You know I'm quicker and I know you'll want the tub." Mulder yelled through the door, Scully standing right outside arms folded across her chest as she did when angry at him.
Door opening Scully barged her way through and slammed the door. Laughing to himself, Mulder rummaged through his belongings for his red trunks. Slipping them on along with a simple cut-off sleeve shirt, "Hey, Scully we are heading out early make sure you wear your suit." Smiling to himself, he made his way to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water and a banana to get his body started on something. Maybe breakfast in town wouldn't be a bad idea. Going out to the lanai to enjoy the morning sun, Mulder sat in a lounger and dozed while waiting for Scully to finish up her morning routine.
Scully found herself in the soaking tub, probably taking too much time but Mulder would just have to be patient. She needed this relaxing time to herself and in privacy. Breathing in the steam, Scully could feel her tensions giving way, all worries of Mulder's ulterior motives melting to nothingness. She knew he was still up to something, if he's brought me out here for a stupid X-File I will kick his ass. I swear we are beyond this point in our lives. Wild goose chases. I just want to relax. Pouting to herself, Scully slowly emerged from the tub a slight shiver running down her from the openness of the bathroom. Grabbing a towel she dried her hair slightly, just enough to keep it from dripping down the rest of her and then wrapped the towel around herself. Looking at herself in the mirror, staring at the woman she had become, thinking about life, her and Mulder's time together; grinning slightly at the unconventionalness of their relationship, drifting slowly to William, whom she only had only a small amount of time to give her love to. Scully quickly banished that thought as it was too painful to think about when she was in this beautiful place with the man she loved more than anything. Dropping the towel at her feet she looked at her body, not as perky as it once had been but still pretty damn good looking. She could see why Mulder still found her attractive after all these years, grateful she felt the same about him. Since she assumed they were to be going into town first Scully felt the need to doll herself up a bit, drying her hair and letting the long tresses drape down her shoulders, applying sunscreen to her face, chest, arms, and shoulders she opened the bathroom door and made her way to her luggage finding her bathing suit, a nice black bikini that she didn't have a chance to wear often enough. Knowing her body could still handle a bikini she knew she'd take full advantage of it. Scully slipped on the bottoms and tied the top around her chest, perking up her breasts while looking at herself in the full length mirror, not half bad, she thought to herself. Back to her luggage she was looked for her wrap, she knew she didn't want to wear much but she had to be publically acceptable. Finding her white, robe like wrap Scully pulled it around herself and slipped on her sandals and tying the wrap around her while heading out the bedroom door. She couldn't hear Mulder anywhere; Scully grabbed a banana for herself and downed a glass of water to hold herself over until breakfast. God, I hope he's got plans for breakfast.
Walking out onto the lanai she spies Mulder dozing on one of the loungers. Walking over to him she slowly leans down and plants a small kiss on his lips. Mulder's eyes pop open but reciprocate the small kiss. Backing away slowly, Scully smiles subtly as she lets Mulder rise to his feet and stretch.
"Geez Scully, how long do you take to get ready anymore? I remember the days when I could tell you to be ready in 20 minutes and you'd be ready in 15!" Jokingly strolling over to her and grabbing her hand. "So breakfast?"
"Please, I'm starving." Scully said pleadingly.
"Well come on then Scully, get those little legs movin'." Shooting him a stare, knowing he's used that phrase way too much in their relationship, Scully slowly made her way across the grass to the car and they were off!
Arriving in one of the towns along the coast they hit up a local café for breakfast. There is nothing like coffee in Hawaii, so fresh. Scully opted for a fresh fruit, whole grain muffin with her coffee while Mulder grabbed an egg sandwich with his own coffee. Sitting quite close to each other, enjoying the closeness of being a couple. They finally could be out in public displaying their affections together it was a wonderful thing! They were an attractive couple and wanted everyone to know it.
"So what's on the agenda today?" Scully inquired, raising her brow at him.
"Well I had planned for a relaxing time on the beach but decided to go a little further and rented a nice little rowboat for the afternoon?"
Scully further raised her brow.
"And who will be rowing this boat?" Putting her foot down. He better not expect me to lift a finger.
"Uhh, me I guess…" he said casually. Finishing the remaining of his coffee, Mulder stared Scully down in a way that implied 'we need to get going.' Taking his cue she finished her coffee and they handed their plates at cups back to the gal behind the counter. Giving their thanks for a wonderful breakfast Mulder led Scully back out to the car, opening and closing the car door behind her. Getting in on the other side they were off to the most northern part of the island, the end of the road literally as the road around the island only went three quarters of the way around.
Scully enjoyed the drive, in was a good 30 minute drive from where they were. The late morning sun beaming down into the convertible they had rented, Scully had removed her sandals and opened her robe, letting the sun hit her skin and warming her to the bone. Mulder kept glancing in Scully's direction, he couldn't stand that she was in that bikini, her skin radiant from the recent sun exposure. God, she's beautiful! His mind and other parts of him were alive just looking at her with little glances. He shifted in his seat and pulled his eyes forward to focus more on the road.
Pulling into a parking area that was attached to a park, Mulder glanced over at Scully who was still mostly dozing.
"Scully you ready for a little boat ride?"
"I suppose, you going to tell me where we are taking this boat to Mulder?"
"I'll tell you on our way out, let's roll."
Letting out a heavy sigh, Scully slipped her sandals on and grabbed the couple towels they had thrown in the back of the car. Mulder popped the trunk and was met by a questioning Scully who came around to see what was in the trunk. As sneaky as Mulder was she had no idea where he grabbed a picnic basket…that was full.
"We gotta eat Scully."
"Mulder—how-?" Was all she could muster before just letting it go and turning around ready to go. Mulder led the way to the rental shack. They were greeted by a young guy who introduced himself as Lani.
"Hey, I called about a rowboat rental, name is Mulder."
"Yeah I got you right here." Lani replied slowly looking up and catching the scantily clad redhead in the doorway. Scully caught his stare and winked at him, just to be a tease, she could never turn her affections away from Mulder but sometimes playing the tease was a hell of a lot of fun. Especially with the young guys. I'm glad I still got it, Scully thought to herself, moving out of the doorway and waiting for Mulder to finish up with Lani. Scully heard the guys talking as she patiently waited outside in the sun enjoying every minute of sun exposure she could get. Completely grateful she had put sunscreen on before they left.
"Alright, well we should be back before sunset, if not you might have to send a search party." Mulder laughed on his way out. He knew him and Scully had been in much more dangerous situations that they lived through, a little boat outing should be nothing. Making their way slowly down the beach to the waiting boat, Scully looking over at Mulder, waiting for him to start telling her where they were headed. Taking that as a cue he slowly started to tell a story.
"Climb aboard, Scully. You know how old the Hawaiian islands are Scully?" He started slowly pushing off the beach as he continued and jumped aboard himself. "Prior to European settlers Hawaii is said to have homed native settlers as far back as 800 CE more than likely from Polynesia. Who is to say that the native ancestors didn't have any interesting traditions?" Scully rolled her eyes. I knew it!
"Mulder, stop! I don't want to do this. I don't want to hunt down ancient monsters or ghosts or any other strange phenomena for that matter." Scully could do nothing besides look away from him, she folded her arms over her chest, exasperated.
"Scully, come on. It's all in fun."
"Mulder, where are we going?"
"The Forbidden Isle..."
"And I'm sure it's called the 'Forbidden isle' for a reason?" She was irritated to say the least. This is so like Mulder, why can't he just let me enjoy myself! Mulder stared at her for several minutes before saying anything.
"Scully, I'm sorry. I just have this need for a little adventure in my life."
Mulder removed his shirt as it was getting warmer late into the afternoon and continued to row the boat out a little farther; they were quite the distance from the shore now. Scully didn't have a problem abandoning ship if she really wanted to but there was something keeping her there. Maybe deep down a sense of adventure wasn't a bad thing it kept life exciting. We've done this for so long that I crave it, how sad. She hated to admit it but it did make her excited. Opening her robe again and lounging back a bit arms lying across the back of the boat, she relaxed. Mulder looked over at her and smiled, relieved that she decided to continue on this quest with him.
"So anything more about this story you want to tell me before we hit the ground running?" Scully asked lazily, eyes closed and not really caring but giving in to his fantasy.
"Well these ancient Hawaiians were said to have practiced human sacrifice, appeasing the God's and their ancestors." Mulder continued to row seeing the island in the distance and seeing Kauai on the other end. They were a long way from any sort of land. Scully looked up at Mulder and saw fear in his eyes.
"You ok?" She asked a little worried.
"Uhh, yeah. I just couldn't help but realize how far away from shore we are…in a rowboat." Mulder had fear in his voice.
Laughing a little bit at the predicament, "Why Fox Mulder are you afraid of the open ocean?" She rocked the boat a little. Giving him a slight shiver.
"Scully come on, it's not funny. We are really out here a ways." Taking a moment to gather himself, Mulder stared to the sky. He looked like he was listening for something, Scully too looked up and around. Continuing to row the boat Mulder started to turn the boat around and head back to the main island.
"Where are you going?" Scully inquired.
"Maybe we'll look for mysteriousness on the main island." He said slightly smiling. Thank God. Scully couldn't be happier and threw her arms back across the rear of the boat as Mulder rowed his way back to shore. Looking across the sky Mulder spotted something, he couldn't quite make it out at first and as soon as it got closer he could tell.
"Scully look, a helicopter…I think they are waving." Taking a break from the rowing they both looked up and waved back. The helicopter took off in the direction of the Forbidden Island. Mulder laughed and just let it go, next time I'll shoot for a helicopter.
(AN: Most of the details of Hawaii are accurate)
