A chance meeting, a party neither wanted to attend, were they in fact in the exact place they were supposed to be?

Palmer's Hotel Convention Hall

December 23rd, 2010

8:00 p.m.

"Dana, please just hear me out," Melissa said to her sister, sighing and shaking her head.

"Why should I do that?" Dana asked. "I told you I didn't want to do this and yet… here I am."

"It's just a party."

"Missy, it's a singles party. A Christmas singles party. A party I explicitly told you I did not want to go to, one you said we weren't going to, and yet, as I previously stated… here I am." She stared at her sister and she had the decency to look embarrassed.

"Okay. I apologize. I shouldn't have tricked you and brought you here against your wishes."

"Thank you for acknowledging that," Dana said, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.

"But…"

"Nope," Dana said, stepping away and walking toward the small alcove by the restrooms.

"Yes, you need to hear me."

"Melissa-"

"Since you broke up with Steve, you've been-"

"Happier," Dana supplied and Melissa shook her head.

"Alone," she said, raising her eyebrows at her. "You've been alone and…"

"Missy, I've been happier on my own. No, I have been," she stated, letting out a sigh, when she saw her sister was set to interrupt her. "Steve was a nice guy, I liked him, but there wasn't that… that spark that I was looking for. It was better that we split up and we both knew it. It was amicable and we've stayed friends and I've enjoyed being on my own since the breakup."

"It's been three months."

"Yes. I am aware how long it has been."

"And you've not had one date since you broke up."

"No, I haven't wanted one. What are you getting at, Melissa?"

"Three months, Dana," her sister said again. "Without sex."

"Melissa, seriously?" Dana asked with a scoff. "Is that why you brought me to this party? As if I'm going to find someone here and what, bring them back to my apartment and sleep with them?"

"Well, maybe not sleep," Melissa said, waggling her eyebrows. "And we're in a hotel, there's no reason to go to your apartment."

"Melissa," Dana breathed, shaking her head.

"Three months, Dana. Don't you miss the sex?"

"No."

"How can you not?" Melissa asked incredulously. "Was it not good?"

"Oh my God, Melissa. I don't want to talk about this right now."

"So… not good then."

"It was good!" Dana shouted and a couple of people walking by looked over at them. Melissa laughed as Dana felt her cheeks burning. "Jesus Christ…"

"Oh, fuck them. They don't know what we're talking about."

"As if they couldn't guess," Dana muttered and Melissa laughed softly. "So embarrassing."

"Like I said, fuck 'em," Melissa said with a shrug. "So, if it was good, don't you want to find that again? Find someone?"

"I… it's not that I don't want to never be in another relationship. I do. Just not exactly at the moment. Even if I did, I certainly don't think I would find what I am looking for at a party like this one," Dana answered, staring at her sister and letting out a deep sigh. "And to answer your other question, good sex is not all one should hope to find."

"Of course it's not," Melissa said, smiling and touching Dana's arm. "But it is an important aspect."

"Having been in a few relationships, I do know this," Dana responded in a monotone voice.

"Well, for me, it's been more than three months since I was in a relationship and I miss it. You may be happy on your own right now, but I'm not. I want to find someone," Melissa said softly, with a small smile and a sigh. "The party is only until eleven. Can we please stay? See if there's someone here with whom I might find a connection?"

Staring at her, Dana drew in a deep breath and let it out, feeling her resolve weakening.

"Fine," she whispered, shaking her head.

"Thank you!" Melissa squealed, hugging her tightly. "I am sorry that I forced you to come here when I knew you didn't want to, Dana, but I really didn't want to do it on my own."

"Okay," Dana replied. "I already agreed to stay, you don't need to lay it on so thick." She pulled back from her sister, giving her an exaggerated eye roll and Melissa laughed.

"There's an open bar," Melissa said enticingly as she hooked her arm through Dana's and began to lead her to the large room where the party was being held.

"Oh, that should make the night much easier. Or worse. Lots of drunk and desperate singles. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Desperate… sheesh, that's a bit harsh. And besides I prefer the term… focused." Dana snorted as she looked at her sister.

"Focused?"

"Yeah. Focused on finding someone wonderful… or for the night, whichever shakes out. I've got an itch that needs scratching." Melissa wiggled her hips and bumped Dana's gently.

"Jesus Christ, Melissa," Dana said under her breath. Standing with a group by the doors, she shook her head at her sister.

"It's true. It's been longer than three months for me for a lot of things and my vibrator just isn't cutting it anymore. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but I want the real thing. The feel of a man on top of me, inside of me, my legs—"

"Melissa!" Dana said through gritted teeth. "Fucks sake…"

"Little sister, just because you don't think or necessarily speak that way, doesn't mean that we all don't."

"Amen," a black woman in front of them said, turning around with a smile. "Isn't that the point of these things? Get a few phone numbers? Take some people out for a test ride?" The women standing with her laughed and Melissa high fived her, grinning happily.

"Exactly," Melissa said and they all laughed again.

"So what was that that you said a few minutes ago about wanting a relationship? Was it just bullshit to get me to come in here with you?" Dana asked, feeling more than slightly irritated.

"No, it wasn't. I do want a relationship. Buuuut…" Melissa said as they walked through the doors. "I wouldn't turn away a chance, or perhaps a few chances, to get the ball rolling. Or balls..."

The other women howled with laughter and Dana shook her head. She was no prude, but nor was she as vulgar as her sister could be at times, embarrassing her with the things she chose to say in public.

Looking around the large room, she sighed as she heard Melissa and her new friends talking and laughing.

It was nicely decorated, festive and happy with a couple of Christmas trees decorated with white twinkling lights. High tables were set up to encourage small talk, couches arranged around large coffee tables for a more intimate feel, and a large dance floor was in the middle of the room in front of a stage where a DJ was prepping music.

Despite the feel and look of it, Dana wanted to leave immediately.

"Welcome! Welcome!" a happy smiling blonde woman said, coming onto the stage. "We're so happy you're all here with us tonight!"

"Melissa," Dana said in a low voice, stepping closer to her sister and pulling at her arm. "If this turns into "couples games" or any kind of "experience," please know I will not be joining. If you want to do this, that's fine. I'll find a place and wait, but I will not participate. Do you understand?"

"But-"

"No, Melissa. I agreed to come in here. Agreed to stay the allotted amount of time, but that's the extent of what I want to do. I did not agree to games. I am happy on my own as I have said many times and my vibrator is working just fine for what I need at the moment."

"Dana Scully," Melissa said in awe. "I'm astonished you would admit that to me, let alone as we stand here in a crowded public place."

"Well, maybe it will help you to finally hear me." She shrugged as the woman continued speaking, telling them of the events of the evening, which Dana tuned out, thinking of her escape.

"I truly hope you all take part in what we have planned, it's going to be such a hoot." Cheers went up and Dana shook her head with a groan. "Sign up sheets are on the table there. Everyone sign up and we'll get started in about a half an hour. Let's get ready to have some fun!"

"So this will be where I leave you," Dana said, pulling away as Melissa began walking toward the table. "Look, there's your buddies from outside. Hook up with them and you won't be doing this alone."

"Dana…"

"Go. I'm good." She waved as she walked backwards and away from the crowd surging around her.

Grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, she drank it down in three large gulps. Setting the glass on a table, she grabbed another from a different waiter. Taking a deep breath, she looked for a place to sit, away from everyone else and especially from the perky organizers of the party.

Finding nothing that would keep her unseen while she was inside, she went out onto the large patio. It was similarly decorated to the inside with tables and couches scattered around it. Portable heaters were placed strategically, to ward off the chill of the winter night. White fairy lights and candles lit the area dimly but also gave off a cozy atmosphere.

Sitting on the couch farthest away from the door, she took her cell phone from her pocket. There had been an article she was reading earlier and she wanted to finish it.

As she became lost in her reading and looking through her recent pictures, she did not hear anyone approaching until they sat down with a sigh.

Looking up, she saw a man sitting diagonally from her on the other couch. He had his phone in one hand and a glass of what looked like whiskey in the other. He was not looking at her which gave her a chance to study him.

He was a good looking man, dressed smartly in dark gray pants and a white dress shirt with a light gray tie worn under a black sweater. She could smell his cologne from where she sat. Not an overly strong scent, but a pleasant and clean one. Fresh, like he had just showered.

Unlike me, she thought, rolling her eyes inwardly. As she had not known they were coming to the party, she had not showered ahead of time, or dressed for the evening. All the other women were in nice dresses or smart suits and she was wearing dark jeans with knee high brown boots, her favorite dark blue cable knit sweater over a long sleeved thin white shirt, and had her hair up in what she knew was a sloppy ponytail. Comfortable yes, but hardly a party outfit.

Looking away from him, she picked up her glass of champagne, drained it and set the empty glass back onto the coffee table. Her attention back on her phone, she paid him no mind until he sighed deeply and she looked up, finding him staring at the people inside the building.

"Not your scene either?" she asked and he turned his head to look at her.

"Hardly," he said with a shake of his head.

"Hmm," she hummed with a nod.

"Not the dating bit, mind you, just the way it's done with these things. Like…"

"Cattle?" she supplied and he smiled.

"Something like that, yeah," he said softly.

"I completely agree with you. Who dragged you here tonight? Brother? Sister?"

"My friend. I wasn't aware this is what we were doing. The plan was to come here for dinner at the hotel and surprise… we ended up here instead."

"You didn't get dinner?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"No, I did, or I would be grumbling quite a bit right now." He shook his head, his eyes wide, and she smiled with a nod.

"Well, that's good. And thankfully you knew ahead of time you would be going somewhere, giving you a chance to dress appropriately, whereas my sister was not as kind," she said, gesturing to her clothes. He looked her up and down and he shrugged slightly.

"Perhaps not what you would have chosen to wear had you known, but you look good, if you don't mind me saying." He smiled and she smiled back, grateful that the lighting was dark enough that he did not see her blush.

"Well, thank you," she said, looking down at her lap, flicking her eyes up to glance at him and looking back down.

"So your sister brought you here?" he asked and she nodded as she raised her head.

"Yeah. She told me about it a couple of weeks ago and I said I didn't want to be here, but apparently she did and didn't want to come alone, so my feelings didn't seem to matter. She's made some friends…ish in there, so I saw that as my chance to make myself scarce."

"The singles games are not your scene?" he asked, echoing her question back at her. She scoffed and shook her head.

"Christ, no. We had to do something like that at a work seminar a couple of years ago and it was so awful, so uncomfortable. Why do people feel that those exercises will bring people closer together instead of making them feel like cringing and hiding in a closet?"

"Was it a big closet at least?" He laughed and she smiled.

"Sadly, no. It was a small supply closet and I knocked over a bottle of bleach, splashing it onto my clothes and immediately staining them. But, I got to leave the seminar to change so…" She made a weighing motion with her hands and he laughed again.

"Yeah, I hate stuff like that too. Like these things," he said, gesturing toward the party with his chin. "It takes all of the fun out of meeting someone. A three minute timer to talk? How can you do that? Putting a puzzle together? One person giving the pieces and directions while the other is blindfolded? Come on."

"No!" she said, staring at him with wide eyes. "They are not doing that in there are they?"

"Among other "games," yeah," he answered.

"I wasn't paying attention before I left the room. I'm scared to ask what else they are doing…"

"A bingo game! Divide up by astrological signs and then find your match! A scavenger hunt to show how well a couple works together!" he said with far too much enthusiasm.

"Oh my God," she groaned and he smiled.

"I know."

"You know, a scavenger hunt will not bode well if you and I are trying to stay hidden out here."

"Hmm, this is true. We can always pretend to be statues or asleep, if they did come out here," he suggested and she laughed.

"I like the way you think," she said and he smiled.

The door opened, music and laughter spilling out, and they both looked up. A waiter came toward them with a smile, a tray in his hand.

"Good evening. Could I interest either of you in something to eat?" He showed them the food on his tray, sandwiches and vegetables, and smiled again.

The man on the couch, whose name she did not know, glanced at her and she shrugged a shoulder.

"How about this, instead of us taking a few sandwiches, you leave the tray here with us? It will keep you from coming out here so often," he said and the waiter looked at him with a frown. The man smiled and the waiter glanced at Dana who also smiled.

"Okay. Sure." He set the tray down on the coffee table and the man clapped him on the back. "Could I get either of you anything to drink?"

"I'm good. You?" the man asked her and she nodded.

"A Bloody Mary, please."

"Coming up," the waiter said and walked away.

They smiled at each other and she moved to reach the food as he did the same, both of them landing in the middle of each couch, the tray between them. He nodded at her, silently telling her to go first. She picked up a little sandwich and a napkin, crossing her legs as she took a bite. He took his pick and leaned back, smiling at her.

"My name is Fox Mulder, by the way," he told her and she swallowed down her bite and nodded.

"Dana Scully," she said, wiping her mouth gently with her napkin.

"Nice to meet you, Dana," he said, taking a bite and she smiled.

"You too, Fox."

For the next hour, they sat and talked, pausing when groups of people came out, laughing loudly or smoking. A rush of people hurried over to them, asking for items they might have on them for the scavenger hunt. Melissa was among them, coming directly to Dana and searching through her purse, taking what she needed, laughing and showing her partner, a man with dark framed glasses and long blonde hair.

"Well," Fox said as they ran away as quickly as they had arrived. "I'm assuming that was your sister?"

"Yeah. Melissa," Dana said, putting her purse back in order as she shook her head.

"Interesting…" he noted and she looked at him.

"Because she seems to have absolutely no boundaries?"

"No. Well… a bit," he said with a laugh. "But it was more that she was partnered with my friend."

"What? The guy in glasses?"

"Yeah. That's my friend, Richard Langly, though he generally just goes by Langly."

"So of all the people she could have met tonight, she met your friend?" she asked.

"It looks like it," he said, shaking his head with a smile and she raised her eyebrows. "What?"

"Nothing. Just…" She shrugged and made a face.

"What?" he asked with a laugh.

"These things," she said, waving to the building. "Though we seem to see through them, some people come to them hoping they might find their forever soulmate, which… I mean come on, really?" She shook her head and he nodded in understanding. "Then there are others looking for the possibility of a relationship, while for others, they're only looking for a one night stand. I don't know where your friend lands on that scale, but my sister is more the last two, though tonight, I'd say it's closer to the one."

"Oh," he said, his eyebrows shooting up. "Well, then I'd say they're pretty evenly matched, as Langly was leaning toward the last one as well."

"Okay then, I won't give it another thought." She smiled and he nodded with a laugh.

The waiter came out to see if they needed anything else. Dana asked for another drink, but Fox declined one, asking instead for more food, preferably something different than the sandwiches. The waiter nodded and left, taking the tray with him.

"Have you noticed that the food is quite bland? It's good, but nothing too spicy or garlicky. Don't want to discourage any kissing from happening,"

"Not that it will make much of a difference with that lot," Fox chuckled as the door opened and the chanting they could hear from outside the building grew louder. "Christ, what are they doing in there?" Someone yelled BINGO! and they looked at each other.

"Yeah, I don't want to know," Dana said, shaking her head. He smiled and she suddenly felt she needed to say more, not wanting him to have the wrong idea about her. "It's not that I don't enjoy doing fun party things, I don't want you to think that, it's just these particular things."

"I wasn't thinking that at all. You said that you'd been in a relationship recently and weren't looking for another, so this is the last place you'd want to be. I understand that. So many guys chatting you up in a short period of time, you don't really know what's true. Especially if they fall in that bottom category you were talking about, which I can honestly say is probably eighty five to ninety percent of the men in there. They may talk about wanting that lazy Sunday in bed doing the crossword and cuddling, but they really just want to get laid."

"And there's nothing wrong with that," she stated and he shook his head.

"No. Nothing at all," he agreed. "But if we all know that's the case, these parties should be called, Come and Get Some, instead of Meeting Beneath the Winter Stars. At least it's honest advertising."

"Ha ha," she said, laughing and shaking her head. "Don't think they would get as many to attend with that name, as not everyone wants to admit they are just looking for a hookup."

"Possibly," he said as the waiter came back with another tray of crackers topped with meats and cheeses, strawberries and raspberries, and Dana's drink. Nodding, he left and they continued talking.

He told her of his most recent relationship, six months ago, and how she had been far too pushy, wanting more from him too quickly. The house, the car, engagement, wedding, kids… everything, but he was not ready or sure about her being the one for him.

"How long did you date?"

"Four months."

"Four months?! Four months and she wanted all that? Wow…"

"It was more like two months before she started hinting at it."

"Wow," she said again. "You barely even know someone in two months."

"Hmm… I think it depends on the person," he said with a shrug, picking up a cracker and putting it into his mouth. She took a strawberry as she watched him chewing, thinking about what he had said.

"Yeah. I suppose that's true. Still… two months. Oh… you're really rich aren't you?" she asked, smiling to let him know she was joking. He laughed and shook his head.

"Not terribly. But I'm comfortable."

"Smart, funny, handsome, easy to talk to, comfortable… no wonder she started hinting at the ring so early." She raised her eyebrows and took a sip of her drink.

"You think I'm handsome?" he asked, tilting his head to the side and staring at her.

"What?"

"You just said I was handsome," he said, smiling at her, blinking his eyes rapidly and making a kissy face.

It was absolutely adorable, but she would not tell him.

"As though you don't know you are," she stated and he smiled slowly at her.

"It's always nice to hear, even if you do know it."

"Forgot to add incredibly modest to that list," she muttered and he laughed. Smiling at him, she took another drink.

Suddenly the door slammed open and she jumped as they both looked over to see Melissa and Langly kissing passionately, stumbling toward a corner of the balcony, his hands on her ass.

"So… they've made a connection," Fox chortled and she let out a breath as she shook her head and took out her phone.

"She was my ride. Now, I'll need to call a cab."

"At this hour? With the holiday as well?"

"It's not too late. I'll be fine."

"I won't be. I would be uneasy wondering if you made it home safely."

"Give me your number then and I'll text you to let you know when I'm home," she said, glancing up at him with a raised eyebrow, and then looking back down at her phone to search for a cab company.

"If you wanted my number, Dana, you just had to say so," he teased and she raised her head, giving him a look when they heard Melissa squeal, laugh and then moan.

"Oh my God, I don't want to hear this," she said, shaking her head and gathering her things as she stood up.

"Hey, I can take you home. Don't call a cab," he said, standing to his feet.

"No. You don't need to do that. That's kind of you, but completely unnecessary."

"Please," he said and she stared at him. "She was your ride, I am his. I don't think he'll be leaving here tonight. He can take a cab tomorrow. Let me give you a ride and we can both finally leave this fabulous party." He smiled as Melissa moaned again and her decision was made.

"Let's go," she said and he nodded. "She won't hear it, but hang on, let me send her a message and tell her I'm leaving." She took out her phone and quickly sent the message, putting her phone back in her pocket with a nod.

They walked through the party, squeezing past couples and large groups, many of them tipsy and loud. A man leered at her and she pushed him squarely in the chest, ignoring his rude words when he stumbled backward.

"Then don't be such an asshole." She heard Fox say and she turned her head to see him talking to the man and holding him steady on his feet. Turning back around, she smiled.

Finally out of the room, he led her towards his car, the scent of his cologne making her want to lean closer and inhale it, permanently imprinting his scent into her brain. Instead, she put a bit of distance between them, placing her hands in her pockets, and breathing in the cold air.

"That's me there," he said, pointing to a silver car and she nodded. He unlocked the doors and they got in, buckling their seat belts, and waiting for the car to warm up a bit.

"So, where to?"

"As I was supposed to go to my mom's, but the bag I packed is in my sister's car, and God only knows when she will show up, my apartment I suppose."

"Okay."

"It's about twenty minutes from here."

"Okay. Right or left?"

"Left." He smiled and nodded, turning left out of the parking lot.

"Thank you for doing this," she said and he nodded.

"It's not a problem. I was ready to leave whenever you were, seeing as how you were the only one I was speaking to, or even wanted to speak to for that matter." He smiled again and she felt her cheeks flush.

"Do you have plans for the holiday? Does your family live nearby?" she asked, hoping to cover how his words had affected her, and he nodded.

"My sister and her kids will be over at my parents house tomorrow evening. We usually have dinner and stay the night to celebrate Christmas in the morning."

"Sounds nice."

"Yeah. What about you?"

"Supposed to be at my mom's tonight, but you saw how that went. So tomorrow it is."

"Yeah."

They were silent for a few minutes, the directions to her apartment the only words spoken.

"Despite not wanting to be there, I had a good time with you tonight," she said, looking at him as they drew closer to her place. "Thank you for hating those kinds of parties as much as I do."

"You're welcome," he said with a laugh, glancing at her and then turning his attention to the road. "Thank you for being there too."

"You're welcome. Right here and then two lefts."

"You got it."

Pulling up to her apartment, he put the car in park and smiled as he opened his door and got out. She opened her door and met him on the sidewalk.

"Thank you," she said again.

"Yeah," he said. "Could I… could I get your number? I had a good time too. Maybe we could do it again sometime?"

"I think I'd like that," she said softly with a smile.

"You think you would?" he teased.

"I do," she said with a nod, taking out her phone and opening her messages app. "What's your number?"

He told her and she wrote him a message, thanking him again for spending the evening hanging out with and adding her name at the end of the message. Smiling as she sent it, she put her phone back into her pocket.

"There. Now you have my phone number, Fox Mulder."

"And I'll be using it to call you, Dana Scully," he said with a grin.

"You better," she said, sticking her hand out to say goodbye. He smiled and took her hand in both of his, holding them gently.

As soon as he did, something happened, something she would never be able to properly explain to anyone without sounding completely crazy.

She saw him standing in front of her, holding her hand and smiling, but then also saw him sitting in a coffee shop, laughing at something she had said, wearing the same clothes he was wearing now.

Sitting at a picnic table, a red and white checked napkin tucked into his shirt, mustard on the corner of his mouth. She lifted a corner of the napkin and wiped it off, as he pretended to bite her hand.

On her couch, she lay on his chest, his fingers running through her hair. Smiling as he recited the movie they were watching, she closed her eyes and he changed to the next character, a high pitched woman's voice and she laughed heartily.

In her bed, he whispered how much he loved her, showing her with his body, his kiss, his touch, her heart racing as she gripped his arms, begging him for more.

Her apartment full of balloons on her birthday, both of them laughing as they fought to reach each other, his eyes shining as he grabbed her hand and pulled her close, asking if maybe he had gone too far this time, but she only laughed and kissed him.

Angry at him, she ignored his phone calls, shaking her head as she watched his picture appearing on her screen. Wiping her eyes, she put the phone on silent and left it on the table as she laid on the couch. A knock sounded at the door and then he was inside, using his key. A beautiful bouquet of flowers were set on the coffee table as he sat on tbe floor in front of her, apologizing for being such a stupid idiot. Moving off of the couch, she wrapped her arms and legs around him, crying as he whispered again how sorry he was to have hurt her.

Christmas morning shared together, gifts given in his bed as they ate breakfast. A platinum band with a single diamond sat in a rose gold box, his eyes searching hers, no words said. She nodded with a smile and he slid the ring on her finger, the fit perfect.

Dancing at their wedding, laughing as he dipped her and spun her around. A piece of hair fell from her chignon, and he pushed it behind her ear, whispering how much he loved her as he kissed her temple.

Standing in the bathroom as they watched a white stick on the counter, hoping for two pink lines to appear, his hand gripping hers tightly. The three minute timer sounded, but only one line appeared, and she cried in his arms, her heart breaking.

Running down the stairs, she nearly tripped as she hurried to get to him before he left for the day. A different test was held tightly in her hand, showing two pink lines, so dark they were nearly red. He dropped his briefcase, yelling excitedly as he picked her up off of her feet and spun around, both of them crying.

The first time the baby kicked, she grabbed his hand to feel it. Laughing when he shouted, he asked her if it hurt. Smiling, she shook her head and rubbed her stomach, happier than she ever thought possible.

Gasping, she pulled her hand from Fox's, breathing hard as she stared at him, not knowing what to say.

What was that? Had he seen what she had seen? Did he feel what she had?

"You… you felt that, right? Please say that you saw what I did." he whispered, shaking his head. "I…"

"I did. What was that?" she whispered back, squeezing her hands into fists. She could still feel the sensation of a baby kicking, how it felt to love him, the smell of hundreds of latex balloons.

"I don't know…"

She shook her head, the images so real, it was causing her to feel a strong desire to run and get away from him. Christ, she had a memory of having sex with him and they had done nothing more than shake hands.

What. Was. That?

Just as she was about to go and never look back, he took her hand again, staring into her eyes as he smiled. Though this time nothing happened, she marveled at how right and familiar it felt to hold his hand in hers.

"I don't know how I would ever explain that to anyone but you," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "But… I think we're supposed to go to a diner."

"What?" she asked with a frown, his fingers interlocking with hers.

"First thing I saw was us in a diner, wearing these same clothes," he said, squeezing her hand and smiling. "I think that's where we're supposed to start."

"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard," she breathed, shaking her head as she stared at him. "What was that? Why did that happen?"

"I don't know," he said again, and she let out a deep breath.

"No. It's… it's too crazy," she whispered and his smile faltered. Staring at his lips, knowing how they felt against hers, but also never having experienced it, she squeezed his hand and nodded, throwing caution to the wind. "Okay. Let's go."

He grinned and she shook her head again, letting out a crazed laugh. He joined in as he pulled her towards his car, walking backwards as he was unable to take his eyes off of her.

The diner near her apartment was busy and loud. People were shouting Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one another as they entered, and again as they left, laughing and waving goodbye.

Dana and Fox heard none of it however, as they sat together in a booth, smiling at each other as they drank hot chocolate. He walked his fingers across the table and laid his hand with the palm facing up. She smiled as she held it, their thumbs rubbing in unison as they took the first important step on what would be an unbelievable journey.