Chapter 10 – The Big Family Dinner

As soon as we entered the house we were bombarded with hugs and kisses. Of course Charlie kept his distance, being a cool 14-year-old and all, but mom, dad, Melissa, and Mrs. Mulder sure didn't hold back. Mr. Mulder helped us bring our stuff into the house, and after I had carried my stuff to my room, my mom already had dinner ready. We all sat down and ate the meal she had prepared. Neither Mulder nor I had much of an appetite though; I could feel my stomach churn in anticipation. I was so nervous, and I knew Mulder felt the same. Everyone kept asking us questions and we kept answering in one syllable words.

"Dana and Fox, are the two of you okay?" my mom finally asked worried.

"We're fine", I told her not very convincing.

"Are you sure?" Mrs. Mulder asked us, but before I could answer her, Mr. Mulder had an answer ready.

"We had an incident last night so neither of us got much sleep. I am sure they're just tired", he told everybody.

"An incident?" dad asked him suddenly worried. "What kind of incident?"

"It was just a misunderstanding", he said shrugging.

"I ran away", Mulder finally said, knowing my dad wouldn't stop until he knew what had happened. "Dana and I had an argument before we went to sleep, and as I was getting ready for bed in my own room I heard the front door open. I ran to check, and Dana wasn't in her room, so I thought she had left. I ran to find her but it rained. When I finally returned home I was pretty cold, so dad made me some soup, and it got very late."

"Why did you run off like that, Dana?" my mom asked me shocked.

"I didn't", I defended myself. "You were on the phone, remember, and I couldn't get a signal, so I just went out in the hallway. Mulder just assumed I had left and went looking for me."

"Are you okay, Fox?" his mom asked him suddenly concerned, as she felt his forehead.

"I am fine mom", he said and shrugged her hand off. "I got warm", he said and couldn't help smiling slightly mischievously, surely thinking of our late night sex, which made me choke on the sip of water I had just taken.

"Dana, are you alright?" dad asked me.

I coughed a few times more, and managed a; "Yes dad, I am okay."

There were a few moments of silence, before my dad spoke again.

"Alright, what is it?" he asked me and Mulder. "Dana and Fox, please tell me right now what's going on!"

This was it. I looked to Mulder and he knew it as well. We both took a deep breath, and stood up from our seats. Everyone around the table was holding their breath as well.

"Actually we have something to tell you all", I started. "Ever since my 16'th birthday Mulder and I have been… ehm… a bit more than friends."

Nobody said anything for a good half minute.

"Over a year", my dad mumbled blinking furiously with his eyes.

"Why haven't you said anything, Dana?" my mom asked me.

"I am sorry, mom, I… I wasn't sure you would allow us to keep seeing each other. We were just afraid you wouldn't understand."

"Well we need to set up some new rules", dad started. "We'll all need to…"

"Stop dad, there's more", I warned him, and felt my legs weaken, as I was still standing up.

Mulder took my hand and we looked each other in the eyes before telling them what needed to be said.

"We have…" my voice failed me, and I couldn't get another word out, not even if I had known what to say.

"We're sleeping together", Mulder managed.

"Fox!" his mom was the first to react, as she stood up next to him. "Don't joke about something like that!"

"I am not, mom", he told her.

"Dana?" my dad asked me in the most vulnerable voice I had ever heard from him.

"It's true", I told him, looking him straight in the eyes.

He broke our eye contact and looked down. Then he got up from the table, and walked out of the room.

Mulder and I were told to wait in the living room while his and mine parents discussed 'our activities'. Charlie and Melissa were sent upstairs. I was so nervous; my dad had seemed a lot more disappointed than what I had hoped for.

"We shouldn't have told them!" I said angrily.

"We had to tell them at some point, Scully. Besides, my dad didn't give us much of a choice."

"I know, Mulder. I am sorry. I want people to know about us as well, I just wish they would be more… happy for us."

"I know, Scully", he said and enveloped me in his arms. "I wish they understood as well."

I let the tears I had been withholding, ever since my dad had broken our eye contact and left the room, fall. Mulder held me even closer and let me cry into his chest. He understood how hard I tried to impress my dad and how bad I wanted his approval. I had always had a special relationship with my dad, but having disappointed him was something I had never done until now, and it felt unbelievable heartbreaking.

"I love you, Mulder", I told him, to let him know I appreciated his understanding and comforting.

"Oh I know, that's what got us in trouble in the first place", he joked, making me chuckle instead of crying.

"How do you always know how to cheer me up, Mulder", I asked him and looked him in the eyes.

"Because I love you too", he told me and kissed my forehead.

I put my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest again.

"Fox!" Mrs. Mulder said making us break apart.

"We have talked about it, and we need to ask you some questions", mom said. "Sit down, kids", she pointed to the couch.

We sat down close next to each other, Mulder grabbed my hand as soon as we were sitting, and our parents stood in front of us.

"What do you wanna ask us?" Mulder asked them.

"Since when have you been… sleeping together?" dad asked us, not looking me in the eyes.

"Ever since that evening you went to Uncle George's birthday and we were home alone together", I told them, looking down at our linked hands.

"Did you use protection?" mom asked.

"Yes."

"Have you ever forgotten to use protection?"

"No."

"Well that's a small comfort", dad said taking a deep breath. "You should know that you are too young to be this involved."

"Too young?" I asked him frowning. "Melissa and Bill weren't older than me."

"They were too young as well then…"

"You and mom were only 18 when you married", I reminded him as well.

"But we were more mature", he tried to defend himself.

"I am sure grandpa didn't see it like that."

"Bill she has a point", mom cut in.

"Maggie?" he said in shock.

"Well, we weren't older than Dana, and my father thought we were too young as well. They have been careful, Bill, a lot more than we were", she said referring to the fact that Bill Jr. was born about seven months after their wedding.

"We still need to set up some ground rules, Maggie. We can't just… encourage them."

"I think Mr. Scully is right, Maggie", Mrs. Mulder said. "As long as they live home we need to set up some rules for them. Otherwise they'll want to spend every night together, and then they won't be able to do all of their homework, and they'll get behind in school."

"We're gonna sleep together, mom", Mulder said. "Even if we will have to sneak around to do so."

My dad took another deep breath. "Alright, you can sleep at each other's during weekends, but never if you have school the next day. And you'll have to keep it in your rooms; I don't want you to fool around in the living room or any other place, even if we're not home."

"Of course not", I said. "I promise."

"Good. And please keep being careful, okay?"

"Of course, sir", Mulder said.

"Well I guess that's it", Mrs. Mulder said. "If you respect these rules, we'll respect your relationship. And remember, if anything happens, you can tell us – we only want what's best for you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Mulder", I told her appreciating.

"It's late, I better get going", Mr. Mulder stated. "I am proud of you kids", he told us and hugged us both goodbye before moving towards the front door.

"We better get going as well. Thanks for a lovely dinner, Maggie", Mrs. Mulder said.

"Oh you're welcome, Teena, you should come again soon."

"I would love that", she told her warmly, before looking towards the couch where Mulder and I were still sitting. "Are you coming, Fox?"

He looked to me, and I could see he wanted to be with me – he didn't want to go home.

"Can't he stay here?" I asked her.

"Well…" she looked to dad, and I could see he knew it was up to him. He looked at me, and made eye contact with me for the first time since dinner. A small smile tugged on his lips.

"It's fine with me", he told Mrs. Mulder.

"Well in that case, it's fine with me as well", she said and gave Mulder a hug. "Are you coming home tomorrow, Fox?"

"Yes, mom. I'll be home for lunch", he told her like the sweet little boy he was to her.

We said out goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Mulder before we helped mom and dad with the dishes. After a few minutes of Mulder and me drying what mom washed, and dad placing it in its rightful place, Melissa and Charlie returned downstairs.

"Where's the rest?" Charlie asked.

"They went home", mom answered him.

"What about Mulder?" he asked confused.

"He's spending the night here", dad informed him.

"What? Here? In Bill's room?" Charlie said in surprise frowning.

"No, in Dana's room."

"Then where's Dana gonna sleep?" Charlie kept on being stupid.

"Oh my God, Charlie!" Melissa said and smacked him over the head. "Mom and dad trust them to be responsible, get it?"

"But they're gonna do it again", he said, making me blush slightly.

"Charlie!" mom said. "Please be quiet, okay?"

"But…"

"Shut up, Charlie!" mom, dad, and Melissa said in unison.

Twenty minutes later Mulder and I were finally alone again.

"That actually went surprisingly good", Mulder said, sitting down on my bed removing his shoes.

"It really did", I agreed, letting out a breath. "And I actually think they understand."

"Yeah, I think they do. I guess it's true that parents have been young as well – I always thought it was just a myth", Mulder joked chuckling.

"It's been some day", I stated as I began undressing, by opening the buttons of my shirt.

"Yeah", Mulder agreed, getting rid of his own sweatshirt.

"You must be very tired", I said teasingly, as I let the shirt drop to the floor, standing in my bra and jean shorts.

"Not really", he assured me as I walked towards him.

"Why not? You haven't slept much."

"Well I guess I like being with you more than I like sleeping", he said standing up and wrapping his arms around me.

I brought his head down to mine and our lips met in a passionate kiss. His hands soon travelled down my back and grabbed my bottom. I moaned and pressed myself even further against him, as I felt his erection pressing against my stomach. I unbuttoned my shorts and stepped out of them. He lifted me up and led is to my bed. As he carefully placed me on the bed he stepped out of his own pants before lying down on top of me. Forty minutes later we came together in a mind blowing orgasm, and then we spooned up together and fell asleep.

It felt great to be in each other's arms and not worry about being caught. For the first time, I could fully enjoy the feel of Mulder's arms keeping me safe, as I drifted off to sleep.

(-)

Please review. I know the parents probably weren't as harsh as you had expected but in Denmark, which is where I live, it's pretty much expected that teenagers that date and are over 15 are having sex. Here you're actually considered a freak if you're not having sex – even by your parents.