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Chapter rating: T

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

All mistakes are my own. I hope you enjoy!

20th of December 1945 – New York City, New York

"That was amazing" Scully said as Mulder helped her into her coat, before they exited the little Italian restaurant they'd just eaten dinner at, "I'm so full".

"I told you that we should have shared a bread pudding, instead of ordering one each" Mulder replied teasing her lightly, he'd called her yesterday morning and told her to be ready for a surprise date the following evening, so far he thought the evening had been a hit.

"I didn't know the portion was going to be so big" Scully said chuckling as Mulder slipped on his own jacket, "it was worth it though, and you have to admit that plate was clean when they took it away".

"Oh yeah, I think even the waitress was impressed" Mulder replied laughing with her and grasping her hand in his, before leading her towards his parked car, "have I told you tonight how beautiful you are?"

"Only a few times" Scully said blushing lightly before kissing him softly and hopping into the car.

A few minutes into the drive Scully realised they weren't heading the right direction to arrive back at Mulder's apartment and asked "where are we going?"

"I have another surprise for you" Mulder replied looking over at her with a grin

Twenty minutes later the couple arrived at Lake Success, and Mulder pulled into the carpark of the country club there.

"Walk with me" Mulder said smiling, holding a hand out to a confused Scully once they exited the car.

"We're only around seven miles away from my parent's house, and when we were children, Mom and Dad would come to the country club and let us roam free around the grounds. One day Sam and I found a row boat next to the lake, it didn't seem to belong to anybody so we decided we'd take it out on the water. Sam thought it would be a good idea to try and stand up in the boat, but she was always a little bit clumsy and ended up falling overboard. She was soaking wet, and got me partially wet when I helped back in. Luckily it was a sunny July day, so I rowed around until we were both dry, as far as we know our parents were never the wiser, they surely didn't tell us not to do it again" Mulder said chuckling as they walked towards the shoreline of the lake, "we spent so much time together out on the lake, it's some of my fondest memories of Sam".

"That's lovely, I'm glad you shared that with me, but it's near freezing, and how/why is there a row boat waiting here?" Scully asked confused.

"I may have spoken to the manager of the club earlier today, and arranged for a boat to be available" Mulder replied grabbing an oar from inside the boat, "let's go for a little ride, the stars are amazing in the middle of the lake, away from the lights of the buildings".

"Okay, but I swear to god Mulder if you rock the boat, or we end up in the water you'll wish you never came up with this idea" Scully said wrapping her coat tight around her and hesitantly stepping into the vessel.

"I promise" Mulder replied pushing the boat into the water slightly, before stepping in himself and begging to row.

Scully was looking up at the stars a small serene smile gracing her face, when about halfway across the lake she felt the boat stop moving, "why did you stop?" she asked confused, looking towards him to find him staring at her.

She became even more confused when started slowly to get up, nearly tipping the boat in the process, before he kneeled down on one knee before her and pulled out a ring box, which contained a three round stone ring, with a 0.9 carat diamond in the middle and two slightly smaller rubies on either side, all set on a 14k gold band.

"A year and a half ago I met you on a boat, albeit a much bigger one than this, and a year ago today we told each other that we loved each other for the first time. I never imagined when I enlisted in the army I'd meet the love of my life, but I did, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Dana Katherine Scully will you marry me?" Mulder asked hopefully.

"Oh my" Scully gasped taken by surprise, a hand going to her mouth as she looked down at Mulder and the ring in his hands, "yes".

Letting out a breath he didn't even realise he was holding, Mulder grinned and slipped the ring onto her finger, before moving forward to kiss her, causing the boat to rock in the process, and Scully to squeal before laughing as it stabilised.

"Let's go back to the shore" Scully said as she laughed "then I can kiss you properly".

"Aye aye caption" Mulder replied saluting her and quickly taking them back to the shoreline, before helping Scully out of the boat. As soon as they were both safely on land, Mulder wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a fierce kiss, her arms draping around his neck, one hand running her fingers through the short hairs at the back of his head.

After a few minutes the need for air finally overwhelmed them and they broke apart panting, resting their foreheads together.

"I love you" Mulder said placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"I love you too" Scully replied her eyes shining, before looking down at the ring now sitting on her finger and adding "I don't need anything elaborate, this must have cost you a pretty penny".

"Actually my mother gave me the ring, she got it from her mother on her 18th Birthday. After the Halloween ball a few months ago, Mom called me up and asked me to come over to the house to look at some legal documents, and while I was there she gave me the ring. She was impressed with how you handled yourself the night of the ball, and told me she knew you were the one, so I should get a jeweller to and have them set it in an arrangement I thought you'd like, then propose already" Mulder said chuckling as he remembered the exchange.

"Wait really? I know she's always polite and civil when we're together, but I thought she still wasn't overly enamoured with me" Scully replied genuinely surprised and suddenly loving the ring even more.

"Yep, she likes you. My Mom is very subdued, even more so since Sam passed, and she doesn't show her feelings very much, but you've definitely won over Teena Mulder" Mulder said smiling.

"Wow, let's go back to your apartment and celebrate then, it's freezing out here" Scully replied snuggling into his side for warmth.

"That sounds like an excellent idea, I may even have a bottle of champagne chilling in the hopes you'd say yes" Mulder said kissing her once more, before leading her back to the car.

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