AN: There's always time for love…

Chapter Thirteen

Scully enjoyed the seafood meal at Norrie's a great deal. It had been a long time since she had permitted herself the indulgence of lobster. Maine lobster was rumored to be among the best in the world and she found that she had to agree with that analysis. She savored the flavor of the piece that she had just dipped in butter and put in her mouth, it was amazing. She looked up from her plate to see Mulder had stopped eating and was staring at her.

"What? Do I have some butter on my chin?" she wiped at her chin.

"No. I just like watching you eat," he said with a smile.

"Okay, Mulder, whatever." She finished the last few bites of her meal, all the while noting that he continued to watch her. Finished, she wiped her mouth and pushed the plate away from her. "Yes?" she questioned him.

"You're finally done. I didn't realize you are such a slow eater," he complained.

"Mulder, what is it? What's wrong with you tonight?" She laughed and her eyes danced with happiness. "And by the way, thanks for the great dinner. I haven't had lobster in a long time."

"My pleasure." He got up and went around to pull the chair out for her. "Ready?"

"Are we in a hurry or something?" she asked, amused with his behavior.

"Maybe a little bit. Come on, there's some place that I want to take you," he said and gently pushed her towards the door.

"Mulder, would you please relax?" she complained as he escorted her out the door of the restaurant.

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He stopped the car outside of a house on the outskirts of Schooner Bay, the place looked dark and there was a for sale sign near the gate of the property. He opened his car door, got out, and went around to open Scully's door for her.

"Mulder?" she asked as he caught her and pulled her to him. He bent in and stole a quick kiss.

"Come on," he said and extended his hand to her until she took it. When they got to the lockbox, he pulled a key out of his pocket and opened the door. He ushered her in and shut the door behind him.

"What are we doing here?" she asked, her eyes full of questions.

"So many questions from such a small person, come over here," he said and led her to a wing chair and seated her there. He paced across the room and back before stopping in front of here.

"Mulder, what's wrong?" she asked, seeing the worried expression on his face.

"Nothing, I'm just a bit nervous," he grinned at her.

"Nervous? With me? Why?" she gave him a suspicious look.

He gave her a shaky smile and dropped on one knee before pulling a ring box out of his pocket. He opened it and placed it into her hand, and as she stared into his hazel eyes she saw the depth of the love he had for her. "Dana Scully, you are everything to me and I can be nothing without you in my life. Will you marry me?"

To say she was shocked was an understatement. She thought they had gotten past this and that both of them thought this unnecessary, yet here he was on one knee, proposing to her. The only man she could ever truly love was asking her to legally seal their commitment to one another.

"Yes, Fox. Yes, I will marry you," she said, tears streaming down her face. She almost laughed at the look of relief that crossed his face as he gingerly placed the ring on her finger. It didn't quite fit and he looked worried.

'Do you like it? It's not too old fashioned is it? It belonged to my grandmother."

"I love it, it's perfect," she said, and gave him a look filled with heat. "Now come here."

"No," he said, standing up and brushing off his knee.

"No?" She looked like she was about to cry and Fox laughed.

"No, because there is a better place upstairs."

"Upstairs?" She paused. "Why are we in this house?"

"Because I rented it for a month, I thought we deserved some privacy. I was hoping that I could resume relations with my bushing bride," he said.

"You most certainly can," she said walking over to him and pulling his head down for a long, passionate kiss.

"Scully, it's been too long," he moaned as he pressed his body against her.

"Umm, Mulder, upstairs?" she purred into his ear and he felt himself get even harder.

"Upstairs, "he agreed and grabbed her hand, leading her up the stairs.

When they got to the top he led her down a nicely carpeted hallway to a bedroom that was bare except for an air mattress and two sleeping bags zipped together.

"Mulder?" she asked, and he heard the laughter in her voice.

"It was raining sleeping bags, and I was hoping to get lucky," he said, his tongue playfully touched her ear, causing her to shiver.

"I think you're about to," she said and began to unbutton his shirt, practically ripping it from his body.

"Scully, that was an expensive…"

"I don't care," she said and silenced him with a kiss.

He surrendered to her as they disposed of their unwanted clothing and sank into the sleeping bags, becoming a tangle of wants, desires, and limbs that needed to be sated in the only way they could, with one another. When the moans and cries of ecstasy faded at last, curled into each other, they fell into the waiting arms of sleep.

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Mulder woke up first, content to feel Scully wrapped within his arms. He sighed, knowing that he had no chance at happiness without this woman in his life, and bless her, she had accepted his proposal of marriage. They had been unmarried for so long, due mostly to extenuating circumstances, but still it had chafed at him because he wanted to make an honest woman of her. He would love her forever no matter what, but he felt better making them legal.

He studied his most amazing and beautiful partner of many years, her face peaceful while she was at rest, as if the cares of the world didn't weigh on her. He pushed a strand of red hair away from her face, his fingertips grazing her smooth skin, and she blinked and opened her eyes. He found himself gazing into the sapphire blue eyes that he so loved.

'Morning,' she mumbled, voice laced with sleepiness.

"Morning to you," he murmured and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

'what'cha doing?" she asked, looking extremely cute as she said it.

"Watching you sleep," he said content with that.

"Oh," she yawned and closed her eyes. "That must be boring."

"Never boring, I am always grateful for the opportunity," he whispered and placed a light kiss on her lips.

"Mmm, Mulder," she stretched, her voice husky and not yet what it should be. She rolled into him so that their bodies were pressed tightly against each other, and felt his morning erection. She moaned again and gave him a kiss filled with want desire. "I like morning wood," she whispered in his ear.

"Ohh, Scully, so do I," he groaned as her hand wrapped around him and she stroked him.

He threw off the covers and fingered her, feeling the moisture already there. Satisfied that she was ready for him, he nudged her legs apart and entered her, waiting a moment for her to accommodate him. They began to rock in unison, they were partners in every aspect of life and the connection they now shared grew deeper with every touch, every moment, and every thrust of their joining. Their climax came all too soon, and spent, they settled into one another's arms and drifted back to sleep.

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The sun was filtering through the balcony windows, and Carolyn stretched in her bed, pleased to find Daniel was there with her. Content, she rested her head on his chest. It had taken some getting used to, but she was now accustomed to not hearing a heartbeat from him, as long as he was there for her, in their bed, she was happy.

"At last you're waking up,' he murmured into her ear. "I never thought you were going to wake up."

"Stop complaining. We've had many late mornings and most of them have been your fault," she pointed out, arching an eyebrow at him.

A slow smile spread across his face, and he leaned into her for a long, slow kiss.

"I do so love waking up with you next to me," she sighed.

"You have proven that time and time again," he agreed.

"You make me sound like a wanton woman."

"Well, you are, aren't you? At least with me?"

"Daniel Gregg, how dare you say such a thing?" Her green eyes sparkled with her annoyance, but he only laughed at her.

"Really, my dear, I know you far too well to believe you are mad at me for that."

She only laughed and snuggled against his chest once again.

'Carolyn, we have to get up."

"Why? I'm very happy here with you."

"As am I, but there are things to do today."

"What things?" She peered at him through sleepy eyes.

"Things," he said in a serious tone.

"You're going to do it, aren't you? You're going to look for William."

"Aye, I am. I still think this could be a mistake, but I think knowing how he is faring is of paramount importance."

"You don't want anything to happen to the boy, do you?" A beautiful smile spread across her face. "You old softy."

He gave her a scolding look but said nothing for a moment. "I will not grace that accusation with a response. However, the lad must be what, about six, seven?"

"Softy, you love children and shouldn't try to hide it," she said.

"I just want to help, I am hoping to set things right for all of them, and I just can't shake the feeling that somewhere along the way something went very wrong and that there may be an opportunity to correct it. So one of my errands today will be to contact the powers that be and request a favor from them."

"I'm not too excited about you doing that," Carolyn said.

"There is no other way, and it has been a very long time since I have asked them for anything. They should be willing to help out."

"But what will you have to do for them?" She frowned.

"That I do not know," he shrugged. "I will find out when I talk to them."

"Promise me that you'll be as careful as you can be."

"Of course, my love. Do you really think I would do anything to endanger my life with you?" he gave her a soft kiss.

"You'd better not" she scolded him and kissed him back with more enthusiasm.

"Our lovebirds didn't return last night," he said.

"Oh, good!" Carolyn's eyes danced happily. "Hopefully Dana said yes."

"Yes? What do you know that I don't?" The Captain regarded him with suspicion.

"Fox was going to ask Dana to marry him."

"By the stars, the young pup listened to me."

"Daniel, he's not that young, and truthfully he's wanted to ask her for a long time."

"Compared to my true age, you are all too young. In fact, did you ever stop to consider that I could be accused of cradle robbing?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Scandalous," she laughed, and kissed him, pressing her body against his. He was so pleasantly masculine it sometimes took her breath away. "Oh, Daniel. Don't leave, not yet," she said, rubbing against him.

"Ahh, Carolyn, it seems we have some business to attend to before I depart?" his lips captured her and her mouth opened to him. Her hands were freely roaming over him, she knew what she wanted and was not timid about her needs.

"My love," he murmured and slowly began a trail of kisses from her neck, lingering on her breasts, paying them rapt attention as she began to squirm underneath him. Then he met her gaze with smoldering blue eyes, and bent to his task again. The kisses continue until he worked his way down to her center and dropped his mouth to her, tasting and teasing her until he heard her cry out with her release. Satisfied that he had pleased her, his gaze met hers once again, asking if she wanted to continue. Her response was to draw him close, and invite him into her. They began to move in synch with her as they sought to become one with another, and shortly thereafter, they did, joined together in mutual bliss.

Content, she lie on his chest again as he wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her close, holding her until she fell asleep.

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When Scully next woke, she found herself alone, Mulder was nowhere to be found.

"Mulder? Where are you?" she called sleepily but received no response. With a large sigh she put on her clothes and started to roam about the house. She was pleased to discover it was a nice house. Spacious, a three bedroom upstairs with two bathrooms, one attached to the master suite which was where they stayed, lovely dark stained oak woodwork throughout the house, and nice closet space upstairs, but no sign of Mulder.

She headed downstairs and saw how lovely the living room was by the light of day, it connected to a fair sized dining room and a kitchen was through the dining room door. That was where she found Mulder, drinking a cup of coffee and reading the local paper.

"Morning," he said with a wide grin for her. She saw that he had her coffee ready and prepared just the way she liked it.

"Morning, Mulder." She yawned and looked around. "This is a nice house."

"Do you think so? I mean do you really like it?" his expression seemed a little too earnest for there not to be something going on.

"Yeah, from my first impression I do, why? What do you have in mind?"

"It's ours if we want it."

"Here? This house?"

"Yeah, well that's the other thing I wanted to talk to you about, we've brought it up before, you know? A new start for both of us?"

"And you want to start here? In Schooner Bay?" she asked.

"Well, yeah, why not? Or at least in the area? It's a great place, it has everything we could want, and I'm sure you can find a job here, maybe one that you want this time, not one that you have to have..."

"You picked up on that?" She grimaced.

"Scully, we've been together for several years, yeah, I picked up on it. So why waste your talents someplace that doesn't want you anyway?"

"Well, it is an intriguing possibility," she said. "But what about you?"

"Ahh, that's another part of the puzzle. And I hope you will listen to me before making any decisions."

"Go on," she said, watching him over the rim of her coffee mug.

"I think there are many reasons that I should cease to be Fox Mulder."

"What does that mean?"

"For starters it means that I have a felony charge on my record. Do you know how hard it will be to get a job, any job as a psychologist or profiler with that in my background?'

"You could be right," she muttered.

"Also, although the FBI has forgiven me, there may still be other groups after Fox Mulder. If he ceased to exist it would make life safer for you."

"But they may be after me too," Scully said.

"Possible, but I think mostly because you are associated with me. So it follows that if I'm gone your life would become much safer."

"You aren't talking about leaving again, are you? I won't let you do that," she said in a voice laced with steel.

"No, nothing like that. I will just…die…and then be recreated."

"A fake death?"

"And a permanent false identity after that," he said. "It could work."

"And then settle here in relative peace?" she asked, and Mulder caught the hopeful note in her voice.

"Yes, that's what I was planning." He laughed. "But I think you'll have to marry me twice.'

"Mulder, I know you want to make up for lost time, but isn't that a bit of overkill?" she said in reproof, but he saw the glint of humor in her eyes.

"There's a reason for it, and a very good reason." He grinned at her and she saw the devilish lights in his eyes.

"And what would that be?" she asked, amusement evident in her voice.

He got out of the chair, and walking behind her, leaned over to whisper in her ear. "It's because, oh fiancé of mine, that unbeknownst to you, I'm loaded." He drew away from her and waited until she looked him in the face. "My parents left me quite well off and now that I'm a free man I can claim it. If to all appearances I die, my estate will go to my loving wife. Who will mourn my loss as a wife should, and after a suitable time she, you, will meet and marry a new man in your life that would again be me with a new name."

"Mulder, you have money?"

"So it would seem. Scully, we might be able to have the life you want, free and clear of the darkness."

"You won't go back to the FBI?"

"No. Though I must confess I would still like to investigate the paranormal. Can we compromise on that?"

"Can I think about it?" she asked, pleased so far with the way things seemed to be going.

"Of course." He pulled her out of her chair and to him, planting a sloppy kiss on her lips. "Do you want the house or do you want to think about that too?"

'We need to inspect it first," she said.

"Ahh, my Scully, always the practical one."

"But, I think so, yes. If it passes inspection." She smiled at him. "And I'll send the hospital my resignation tomorrow morning."

"I'll make you happy, Dana, I promise," Mulder said, his heart in his eyes as he watched her.

"You already do," she said, her fingertips brushing his cheek

Content, she stepped into his embrace, they hugged for quite some time before stepping away from one another to deal with the day.