Credit for help with the plot of this story goes to my step-brother, Pierre, who, in a fervent brain-storming session, suggested numerous times that Mulder eat cookies and milk. Thank you, Pierre.

Disclaimer: If I owned it, the ending would have been better. However, I don't own it. So, we wind up with this.

Forbidden words and phrases in this story (a reminder to myself, really, but I thought you would want to know, at least to get yer yuks out):
-the word 'strong' in reference to *any* part of Mulder's body
-'hazel'
-'clear blue eyes'
-'delicate' in reference to *any* part of Scully's body
-'love' spoken by Mulder or Scully, at least not in reference to each other
-'sunflower seeds'
-'stars' in reference to gazing up at them in wonder
-'baseball' in reference to the events in _The Unnatural_
-'bubble bath' in reference to Scully taking one
-'porn' or anything to do with it
-'children' in reference to Scully having any
-'conversation hearts'
-'a dozen roses'

Forbidden situations:
-Mulder asleep in front of sci-fi B-movies
-Valentines. 'Nuff said.
-Endless car rides
-Mulder and Scully talking in bed (at least in the *same* bed)
-Mulder and Scully at an FBI social, if such a thing exists
-Scully wearing a formal gown
-Christmas
-Hospital rooms
-Conversations about religion
-appearances by one Cigarette Smoking Man
-appearances by one Alex Krycek
-appearances by any of the following: Mr. X, Deep Throat, Jeffrey Spender, A.D. Skinner (unless on the phone), A.D. Kirsch, Agents Doggett or Reyes in any earlier form, any of Scully or Mulder's former lovers (including Phoebe Green and Diana Fowley), and no appearances by Betsy Hagopian or similar abductees
And there is a strict limit of *only one flashback.*

Author's notes: I want to thank the people who have already given me feedback: thanks, guys! You've inspired me to write. This story is to be set before Emily, after Pusher. Somewhere in there. Anyone lost by my ridiculous notes can just go do a Google Search on X-Files--if you already know some stuff about X-Files and want to know more specifics, try www.insidethex.co.uk--awesome site. Thank you again, and enjoy.