How We Are
4. Telling the Family and Skinner
Dana Scully woke up and felt like the luckiest woman alive. She was content. Her head was on Mulder's chest and one hand rested near her head and the other was wrapped around his neck. He had on hand resting on her waist and the other one was running up and down the length of her spine. He was awake. Sensing she was up his hand moved faster and she responded with tracing designs on his chest. They stayed that way for a few minutes. Then he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"Good morning Dana Scully-Mulder." She shivered with pleasure both at the sound of his voice and what he said. She moved to where she was on top of his chest and put her forehead on his and let her lips tease him by gently brushing against his when she replied.
"Good morning, my love." Her teasing worked, the moment she started speaking she felt him move under her, and she had barely finished when he caught her lips and kissed her sweetly. When they broke for air, she rolled over to his other side kissed his cheek and stood up.
"Mulder, let's go for a run." She made her way over to her dresser and pulled out a sports bra and a tank top. She picked up her running shorts from the floor from the week before and moved into the bathroom. When he heard the door close he slowly got out of bed and grabbed his own running gear and changed. They went out for a run around a nearby park. After a few laps she speed up and looked back with a challenge in her eyes. They raced the last lap; he won. They slowly made their way back the apartment.
When they got back he hopped in the shower and she started coffee. As she waited for the brew to be done she called her mom.
"Hello" Maggie Scully's voice came from over the phone.
"Mom, it's me Dana."
"Well good morning Dana. How is fox?"
"He is very good mom. I have something to tell you. Something important."
"Well, what is it Dana?"
"Mulder asked me to marry him last night and I said yes!" She held her breath while she waited for her mother's reply. It felt like hours had passed when in reality; only a few seconds had passed.
"Dana dear that's wonderful! I'm happy for you. So when do I get to see the happy couple?"
"How about next weekend? Hey, have you heard from Charlie at all lately?"
"Next weekend would be wonderful. And yes Charlie called and said something about visiting here sometime in the near future; which for Charlie could mean in 7 months, but we'll see."
At that moment someone crept up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. His presence was distracting so after a few minutes she told her mom goodbye and hung up the phone. She turned around in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down and kissed him, just because she could. The kiss was a slow kiss of two people who had the rest of their lives.
"Hey, you." She told him as they stopped kissing.
"Same to you." He replied. She stepped out of his arms and got two coffee cups down and set them next to the machine. She then retrieved a frying pan and eggs to make eggs sunny-side up. While she was cooking the eggs he put some bread in the toaster and got the jelly and butter out of the fridge. The coffee machine started going off and he poured them both a glass of the stuff and put a dash of cream and sugar in each. When the toast and eggs were done they both sat down to enjoy their breakfast. After they finished he put the dishes in the sink and she went to take a shower.
That Sunday passed by; Mulder did some (emphasis on the some) cleaning and Scully went shopping for food and picked up their work clothes from the dry cleaners. When she came back home she found him sitting on the couch reading the newspaper. She put the food on the counter and moved to put the clothes in the closet; then moved to put all the food away. Once that was done she joined him on the couch; she laid her head on his shoulder and relaxed when she felt one of his arms wrap around her waist.
"So how are we going to tell Skinner tomorrow?" He asked her after a few minutes.
"By being honest and asking him not reassign one of us until after the wedding, or at least letting us work with someone else, like another agent. But you know Mulder I think that after the wedding I should leave the FBI anyway. It's time for me to start practicing medicine, and I think that after the wedding spending the workday and after work together might just be too much. Don't get me wrong I love working with you almost as much as I love living with you, however I think that it might just get to be too much time to spend with someone; we all need some space."
"You know as much as I hate to admit it, I think you're right. Maybe it is time for us to leave the X-Files. You know what you would do, but it seems like I need to find another calling. We both have lost too much to the pursuit of truth, and while we may have found each other along the same quest I fear that the same quest might claim one of our lives. I don't think that I can even think about losing you, let alone actually face it. On another note though I think that it is time for you to stop calling me by my last name; I think I might learn to like my first name if you start calling Fox."
"Fox. . ." She tried it out; it felt slightly odd and yet completely right.
"That might take me awhile to get used to. So if I am to call you Fox, you must then call me Dana."
"Dana. . ." He also tried the name on his tongue. They went back to their comfortable silence. It seemed like only a few minutes later when in reality it was a few hours later that Fox picked a sleeping Dana up and went to bed.
The next morning came. Getting up with the rising sun; Dana went into the bathroom and started to take a shower. When she got out she dried herself off wrapped the towel around her head and slipped her robe on. Leaving the bathroom she found that Mulder... no Fox was still sleeping. Walking on cat-quiet feet she crossed the room to her dresser and pulled out a pair of underwear and a bra she slipped both on quietly before going to the closet and pulling out a knee-length black skirt and a matching suit jacket. Now what top to wear under the jacket; she decided on a light grey shirt. After she was dressed she went into the kitchen and started the coffee machine. She then went back to the bathroom to blow-dry her hair and put on her makeup. Fox was still sleeping when she left the bathroom a second time.
Moving to sit next to him on the bed; she leaned to whisper in his ear. "Fox. . . You're going to be late to work if you don't get up now. Fox William Mulder wake up now, or no fun time for you this week." She whispered the last part so quiet, but he heard it. His eyes opened slowly and focused as he smiled sheepishly.
"Alright, alright I'm up, I'm up. No need to resort to blackmail. I'll be ready in ten." He got out of bed and stretched then made his way into the bathroom for his own shower. Seven minutes later he came out to the kitchen, fully dressed. He was wearing simple charcoal grey slacks with a matching jacket with a white dress shirt and a burgundy tie. He didn't have his shoes on so she could see that he had on black dress socks. She poured them both a cup of coffee and put some bread in the toaster. They ate a quick breakfast; both too nervous to eat much. After they had rinsed out their mugs then they went to put on their shoes. Then they left the apartment and headed to the office.
They arrived in record time and made their way to AD Skinner's office and asked his secretary if he was available. About three minutes later they were led into Skinner's office. "Agents, what can I do for you today?" His tone was polite with a hint of suspicion.
"We need to tell you something sir." Fox paused and took a deep breath. "Agent Scully and I have been in a romantic relationship for about six months and I have asked her to marry me; she said yes."
"Well congratulations agents. I am happy for you. However you know one of you needs to be reassigned, right?
"Yes sir we do. We were wondering if perhaps that could wait until after the wedding, because I am planning on returning to medicine."
"Of course agents, I think that can be arranged. I think I have just the person in mind. She works in the New Orleans office dealing with cases of Occult; you know Satanism and Voodoo? She has expressed interest in working on the X-files. How about I just assign you three to the X-files and gently work Agent Scully off of the files?"
"That'll work, sir." Both Dana and Fox replied at the same time.
"Very well then agents, dismissed." Scully moved towards the door and looked back expecting him to follow. She gave him her raised eyebrow look as he didn't follow and he replied with a look that said one minute. She shrugged and left. Skinner turned to look at Mulder.
"Anything else Mulder?"
"Yes sir, actually there is I was wondering if I could ask you a personal favor?"
"You can ask agent, but that doesn't mean I'll say yes."
"I don't know what size wedding Scully wants to have, but I know that a few positions will need to be filled. As you know Agent Scully's father has passed away and that her eldest brother, bill does not like me correct?" Skinner just nodded. "Well I have yet to meet her younger brother and I was hoping that if and only if he did not approve of our relationship that you would walk her down the aisle? I know she considers you something like an uncle." Skinner thought for a moment before a touched expression came over his features.
"If Agent Scully wants that I would be happy to. But what if her younger brother wants to walk her down the aisle?" He responded.
"Then would you be my best man?"
"Of course. Now you had better catch up to her before she gets worried. I'll put a call to Agent Reyes this afternoon; hopefully she can be out here by the end of the week and working by next week."
"Yes sir." Mulder left the office and made his way to the elevator and down to the basement office. Once he reached the office he found her sitting at the computer typing reports. He quickly went behind his desk and sat down. She looked up at him and smiled before turning her eyes back to the screen.
"Well Dana we just need to tell your family about the wedding now."
"Well I called my mom and told her yesterday morning, but I think that she wants to see us. So how about we go down the her house this weekend and then call Bill and Charlie?"
"Will I have to see Bill?"
"No, he won't be in town until the summer, and before you ask; I have no idea about Charlie, he told mom that he would be visiting soon but he was vague on a specific time."
"That sounds like a plan. And Skinner will have the new agent here by the end of the week, hopefully."
The rest of the week passed smoothly and on Friday they were introduced to Special Agent Monica Reyes. They both liked the new agent and thought that she would be a good fit for the X-files. Fox offered to let her use his apartment until she could find her own, seeing as how all the bills were paid for the next month. Dana Scully found herself with a new friend that day and was happy for it.
Saturday dawned cool and crisp and Dana woke up and got ready to go visit her mother. The drive there seemed both to last forever and not long enough. When they arrived they sat in the car in the driveway as they both mentally prepared for their day. Slowly he got out of the car and opened the door for her; then holding hand they made their way to the front door. As soon as they got up the porch the door opened and Maggie Scully stood there with a smile on her face as she hugged both her daughter and Fox as she ushered them inside.
Scully was shocked to see her younger brother smiling at her from the living room couch.
"Charlie! What the hell are you doing here?"
"Visiting, sis. Mom picked me up from the airport about four hours ago. I thought that I would surprise you. Now tell me, who is the man holding your hand? No, wait let me guess. You must be her FBI partner, Mulder."
"Guilty and I'm not just her partner, I'm her fiancé."
"Really wow! Well Congrats Danes! Now get over here and give me a hug." Dana went over to hug her younger brother with a feeling of relief. The day passed with Charlie asking Mulder questions about random things and Dana would lay her head on her mother's shoulder and relaxed as she watched. Maggie looked at her daughter's left hand to see the ring she bore; it really was beautiful and she sensed that she was happy that her brother and soon-to-be husband were getting along.
As the evening wore down Dana turned to her mom and asked her: "Mom, what will be do when we tell him?" There was something in her voice that caused Charlie to look up at her with and odd expression. "Does Bill hate Mulder or something?" He asked. All three of them nodded a yes as their answer. Maggie turned her attention back to her daughter as Fox went to wrap his arms around her to give her some support.
"I do not know. He'll probably fume about it for a while but hopefully come to some sort of peace with it just in time for the wedding. But I don't think that he'll want to be a part of the wedding, unfortunately."
"Danes did you want Bill to walk you down the aisle?" Charlie asked her with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Yes, I wanted someone who's related to me to walk me down the aisle. And since I haven't seen you for a while now and didn't know how you felt about Fox I wasn't sure whether to ask you or not." Her reply was hesitant like she was opening herself for a wound.
"There is no need to worry about what I think about him. I mean I know that I have only just met him, but I can see that he loves you and that you love him; so I am content. If you want me to, I will be happy to walk you down the aisle on your wedding day." Charlie's voice was sincere and Fox could see why he was Dana's favorite brother.
"Thank you Charlie that would be wonderful, thank you very much." She hopped up and ran to hug her brother.
They left soon after that saying that they had some planning to do and that they had to call Bill tomorrow. Dana fell asleep on the way and stayed that way for the rest of the drive; she barely stirred as Fox pulled her out of the car and carried her to the apartment. He tucked her in and called Skinner to tell him that he would be best man.
The next few months were filled with wedding plans and yet another addition to the team. AD Kersh, upon hearing of Agent Reyes' transfer to the X-files; he sent Agent John Dogget into the mix. Agent Dogget was a no-nonsense kind of personality and a very firm skeptic and fit well into the mix; becoming friends with both Reyes and Dana and earing Mulder's respect.