Title: Missing Moments: III
Author: Gillian Leigh
Disclaimer: Not mine.
POV: Mulder
"Mulder, if I have to go to this ball looking like I swallowed a beach ball, you're going to wear that damn tuxedo, whether you're uncomfortable or not," Scully said, waddling over to me. "Zip me up, would you?" I gave her a once over before turning her so I could have access to the zipper. She looked beautiful. She had on a long, black dress with a boat-neck, and empire waist, and she put a little extra curl in the ends of her hair. She wore the strand of freshwater pearls her mother given her, the ones that had belonged to her grandmother, and the diamond earrings her father had given her a Christmas or two before he passed. She had on her usual make-up, but somehow, she looked different to me. She looked downright gorgeous. I zipped her up, and added,
"Besides, if I don't go with you, who else will you dance with, G-woman?" She playfully slapped my arm.
"Shut up, Mulder. Here, let me get that for you," she said, referring to the bowtie, which even after years and years of FBI galas, I still could not tie. She tied and smoothed it, looking up at me. "Perfect." I smiled, and gave her a quick kiss. She walked over to the closet, which in the last month suffered the addition of my work clothes, and knelt down, sifting through her shoes. My shoes were stored under the bed, because as Scully had warned me, she could spare no shoe space. She was down on all fours, sifting through the countless pairs of black and navy blue shoes she owned, and after a solid two minutes of searching, she pulled out the pair she wanted.
"Help me up?" she called, extending her hand. I hoisted her to her feet, and she stepped into her shoes. The added height brought the top of her head to my chin.
"You look beautiful," I said, kissing her and then glancing at my watch.
"Please, Mulder. I'm nine months pregnant, and it looks like I'm wearing a black tent. My ankles are swollen..." I looked down at her.
"Scully, shut up." She laughed. "C'mon, we have to get going if we're going to be there on time," I said, heading toward the door. I stepped into the living room and pulled my black leather jacket and Scully's wool dress coat out of the hall closet, and I helped her put it on. With that I grabbed my keys, and ushered Scully out the door, closing it behind me. I watched Scully walk with all of her usual grace, despite the fact that the pregnancy had added over 35 pounds to her small frame. I was amazed at how she managed to walk in those damn shoes, pregnant or not.
"Scully, how in the hell do you still wear those?" She shrugged.
"I'm used to them." We reached the car, and I unlocked and then held open her door. She climbed in. "Thank you." I nodded and hurried to the driver's side, climbing in and starting the engine. We drove to the local restaurant, Three Wishes, where the ball was being held. The red carpet that had been placed out front, and the fact that there was security galore, made me laugh.
"You'd think we were celebrities attending the Oscars rather than FBI Agents attending this stupid ball that Boss Muir forces us to go to every year," I said, rolling my eyes. Scully turned to me and smiled before saying,
"Come on, Mulder, this'll be fun." I opened my door and stepped onto the curb, handing the car key to the valet. I helped Scully out of the car, and we began to walk down the red carpet. Flashbulbs were going off everywhere, and we tried to become inconspicuous among the crowd. I heard someone call our names.
"Mulder! Scully!" We both turned to see Agent Doggett pushing through the crowd of Agents, Monica Reyes' hand in his. Scully smiled at the sight of them together, being affectionate in public. I instantaneously reached for Scully's hand, lacing my fingers with hers.
"We're glad we found you," Monica said, giving Scully a hug.
"Jesus, Monica, could you look any more gorgeous?" Scully said, studying Monica in her red wine colored satin dress. Not exactly sensible, but it was stunning. She had her hair up, something I hadn't seen before. Monica turned slightly red, and laughed, before saying,
"I was going to ask you the same thing." Scully rolled her eyes. Monica's comment made me look at Scully again. Sure the make up, and dress helped, but the fact that she was glowing showed ,me just how beautiful she really looked. Especially since she was smiling.
"Mon, you're just saying that..." she began.
"No, really, Dana. I hope I look as good as you do now when I'm nine months pregnant with my first baby." Scully smiled. John Doggett interrupted them.
"C'mon, let's get inside, it's freezing out here," John put his arm around Monica's shoulders, and they walked slightly ahead of us inside the restaurant. Scully and I walked in behind them.
We sat down at Table 14, where we had been instructed to sit by the maitre d' on the way in. Scully read the names on the card that sat in the center of the table.
"Mr. Walter Skinner and Guest; Mr. Fox Mulder and Ms. Dana Scully; Mr. John Doggett and Ms. Monica Reyes..." she paused a moment at the sight of the last set of names. "Oh you've got to be kidding me," she muttered.
"What?" I asked, for a moment taking my eyes off the people pouring through the doors. Monica and John were mingling, and hadn't reached the table yet.
"More like who," she said, handing me the card. "Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Kersh. *This* is going to be a laugh riot." I sighed, placing the card back in the center of the table.
"I knew this was some sort of punishment," I said. Scully looked over at me.
"I think I'd like to go mingle," she said. "Want to come with me?"
"Sure," I said, standing. I offered my hand, but she refused.
"I can make it." We walked together, me with my hand on her back; Scully with one arm around my waist. We approached a group of familiar faces.
"Well, aren't you two a sight for sore eyes," Skinner said, turning to us. I smiled back and noticed his date, a young woman who was probably about half his age. She had long blonde hair that was set in loose spiral curls, green eyes, and she wore a not-so-modest emerald green dress. I raised my eyebrows at Scully, who laughed.
"It's good to see you, too, Sir," Scully said, smiling. She rested a hand on her stomach, her eyes wandering from his face to the attractive blonde talking animatedly to Monica. The girl turned away, seeing Monica's eyes turn in our general direction. She smiled when she saw us, and stepped through the crowd and stopped next to Skinner, extending her hand to me.
"Hi, you must be Agents Mulder and Scully. I'm Jennifer Andrews. My uncle Walter has told me so much about you." She shook my hand and then shook Scully's.
"Only good things, I hope," I said, feeling relieved that she was his niece and he hadn't become a cradle-robber. She gave me a knowing smile.
"Oh, so he stuck to the truth," Scully said, letting out a small laugh. Jennifer laughed as well.
"I...uh...couldn't help but notice," Jennifer began, looking like she felt slightly uncomfortable saying what she had to say, "When are you due, Agent Scully?" Couldn't help but notice? Oh well, I had to give her credit for not coming out with an 'Are you pregnant?' which was what most brilliant people asked Scully as late as her eighth month. It made me want to say, 'No, she just makes it a habit of eating fully inflated beach balls..' Scully smiled.
"A week ago, actually," she said. "Oh, and Jennifer, please, call me Dana." Skinner looked at Scully.
"You were due a week ago and you're still on your feet? In *those shoes*?" he said. Scully rolled her eyes, and turned slightly red. Boss Muir stepped up to the microphone.
"Everyone, if you'll please have a seat at your respective tables, we'll get started serving dinner," she said, and clapped her hands. "Enjoy, everyone." There was a general hum of conversation as the agents made their way to their tables. I pulled out Scully's chair for her before sinking into my own. I smiled watching John do the same thing at nearly the exact same time.