Title: "A Rather Strange First Encounter"

Author: Jerome Mullins, sellgju@student.alvernia.edu

Rating: PG

Date: 6 March, 2003

DISCLAIMER: I don't own them, although I would like to. Anyone at the 1013 want to offer a trade? My wife makes great brownies, we'll start the negotiations there. How about it?

Archiving: I would be a very happy boy if you decided to do so, just let me know so I can tell all my Beta readers where to look.

Feedback: All are welcome no matter the nature (good, bad or ugly).

Author's Notes: This is an alternate universe where Fox Mulder and Dana Scully did not meet on March 6, 1992 (notice the date I wrote this, not an accident). They met in their youth. All for laughs and a little "fluff" as many have described my past postings. Hope you enjoy this for the fun of it. This is my first X-Files fan fiction where the characters do not jump into the sack right away. Even more astounding is that there may not be any lovin' at all. Not at this point anyway.

* * *

"Welcome, Dana. How was your trip?" a softly, feminine British voice asked her. She was a tall girl with a petite frame and long brown hair. Her brown eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun.

"Long." Dana Scully replied. She was tired and had fallen asleep in the terminal.

"Sorry about the wait, the traffic along the Whitehall was atrocious. Were you waiting long?"

"No," she said sitting up in her chair. "I couldn't sleep on the plane and now with the time difference."

"Yes, it must feel like a great deal later than normal."

"What time is it by the way?" Dana got out of her seat and picked up her carry-on baggage.

"It is three in the afternoon here."

Dana looked at her watch. "And it's nine in the morning there," she wiped the sleep from her eyes. "I left Chicago early this morning."

"Don't even attempt to figure the math, you'll run yourself ragged. We have another hour's drive, more or less, until we reach Oxford. Care for something to eat?"

Dana nodded and followed her friend in the food court. They ate a light lunch and were off on their way towards Oxford University.

Despite her exhaustion and want of sleep, Dana was thrilled to be in England. For her good grades and commitment to her studies, both her parents thought that they should reward their daughter with a trip to a place she had always wanted to visit. She had made friends with her hostess, Grace Harrington, back in her young school days. Her seventh grade geography teacher had assigned the students to compose a letter to children of the same age in England. By the luck of the draw, Grace and Dana had selected each other's letters and a friendship was instantly forged. Both were middle children in a family of four children. Both had an interest in Medicine and in Criminal Justice. And both were equally devoted to the symphony.

Dana had been hostess to Grace's visit to the United States the year before. They had visited Baltimore along with Dana's father who had thoughts of transferring to Maryland. Now it was Grace's turn to return the favor for her American friend.

Dana's eyes widened at the spectacle that is Piccadilly Circus, the post cards Grace had sent her did not do it justice.

"This is wonderful."

"Wait until you get to the university. You're father could not have picked a better time for your visit, the summer months here are as perfect as your spring time."

Almost an hour had passed by, the girls were lost in their talks of schoolwork and boys. Now a senior in high school, Dana had many questions as to the new challenges that awaited her in the university level.

"I can't imagine that the American universities would be any different than ours, in the work at least. Studying is hard work and you must be committed to it, otherwise it is easy to lose track of the time in frivolous ventures."

Another half hour and they turned right from Banbury on to Denterbery then left on to Woodstock and other right on to Observatory St. Left onto Walton and another left into Green College. Oxford at last. They pulled into Grace's parking space in front of the residence hall. Dana followed Grace with her luggage, as she was lead inside the residence building.

"Home sweet home." Grace said merrily. "We shall be sharing a room with my flat mate, she'll be in and out during your visit. More than likely she'll be spending most of her time at her job in London."

"Do many students live here?" she looked up and down the hallways.

"Yes, although the space is limited and many students live off the campus. But those who remain here are those who have a lot of classes and need access to the college library more often then they do their own room. You'll meet some of the nice chaps that live here, by the way."

"The last thing in the world I need is to meet another man." Dana laid her bag on the extra bed in the room.

"I wasn't implying that you were in need of establishing a lifelong commitment while you were here with me, Dana." Grace said suggestively.

Dana smiled and shook her head.

"Don't worry about being too tidy here, this is supposed to be your vacation."

"Educational vacation," Dana corrected. "Dad said I could be here as long as I was leaning something."

"Well bloody hell, where's the fun in all of that? You'll learn how to unwind, and you'll learn how to keep a bloody secret." Grace held up a finger. "You repeat any of the events that I shall be dragging you into and it will be your neck."

Dana sat down, suddenly she felt all the exhaustion of the last few hours build up and weigh her down. She yawned deeply.

"First, is it nap time?"

"For you it is, I'll be stepping out to get us some food. I shall also go and ask Maggie to drop in and check on you, you'd like her, she's an American."

Dana nodded and lied back on the bed and quickly fell asleep.

* * *

When she awoke, she noticed a young woman sitting at Grace's desk. She was writing in a notebook and turned to smile at her.

"Howdy there, you must be Dana."

"You must be Maggie," Dana was assuming but the American accent it could be none other.

"You've been out for a while now, Grace went shopping and had to get something else for your stay. How did you like the drive from London up here?"

"Beautiful scenery, you study here?"

"Yes, behavioral science. Working on my B. S. in Psychology. Grace tells me you're interested in science and medicine."

Dana sat up and wiped the sleep from her eyes. "Yes, very much so. I was gunning for Pre-Med at Berkley."

"Not going to give Oxford a shot?"

"I applied, they said they were filled with American applications and had reached their limit." Dana said bashfully.

"You have to apply early, Fox and I both applied in our junior year along with the promise of a high grade point average during our last year. Fox was no problem, I almost didn't make it in."

"Fox?"

"Fox Mulder, you'll be meeting him later tonight, hopefully if his classes don't run late. We both came from Massachusetts. Where are you from?"

"San Diego."

"California girl, you and Fox will hit it off very well."

"He likes California?"

"Absolutely, he was even thinking of going to the University of California before he got accepted into Oxford. I'm sure the two of you will hit it off. Is there anything I can get you? Water?"

"Please," Dana nodded.

Maggie headed into the kitchen to pour a glass of water. She was the same height as Dana, with long red hair that flowed down to her shoulders. She had a thin face but was very beautiful. Dana had finally passed her "awkward" stage and was becoming a beauty herself. Although if one had asked the guys at her high school, all would attest that Dana Scully never had an awkward day in her life, although she was a bit of an Ice Queen. Not on this trip though. She had resolved that this trip was all about fun, she wasn't going to freeze over on anyone.

"So you're from Massachusetts?"

"Yes, from West Tisbury. Do you know where that is?" she handed Dana a glass of water.

"No, I'm afraid I don't. I'm assuming near Boston."

"It's south of Boston, on the island of Martha's Vineyard. Where do you hail from in San Diego?"

"The harbor at the Naval base. My father's in the Navy."

"Mine was too, he was stationed in D. C. for a while and then moved to West Tisbury after his time was up."

"Did you live in D. C.?"

"For a while, only for a couple of years."

"I've always wanted to live there."

"Wanted to live where?" Grace entered the room with a bag full of groceries.

"Washington, D. C. What took you three hours?" Maggie took the groceries from her.

"Bloody traffic, and these are for you." Grace handed Dana a bag full of movies. "Rented these this afternoon, I remember that you mentioned them in a letter you sent me once."

"Thank you." She smiled as she looked through the selected titles.

"Your VCR is still on the blink, where are we going to watch them?" Maggie asked from the kitchen.

"I talked to Fox, he said he'll let us over to his room as long as we let him stay." She looked down to Dana. "Maggie told you about Fox, yes?"

"Yeah, she mentioned him. You're both friends of his?"

"Maggie has been his friend since high school. I shared a literature class with him a year ago. Very smart man, strange sense of humor though."

"Strange?"

"You'll find out." Maggie winked at her.

* * *

The girls headed out to the local pub and ordered a round of burgers and chips. An extra meal was ordered for the impending arrival of the much- anticipated Fox Mulder.

"He'll be starving," Maggie said as she ordered another burger for herself and for her missing comrade.

"What does he study, this mystery man of yours?"

"He's studying Psychology, behavioral science. He's quite good at it too, he reads people very well." Maggie nodded.

"What's he like?"

"Quiet mostly, very hard working, very studious. Hardly makes a peep at times and at other times he'll babble all night."

"Only when he's drunk or nervous." Maggie corrected.

"He's tall. Very handsome. Cute ass. Definitely someone I want to introduce you to," Grace nudged her.

"I'm not interested in anymore romance, not now and certainly not with this-" her words fell short as she suddenly beheld a tall, strong figure approaching them. He smiled and shyly waved to others who greeted him in the pub and ordered a round of beers from the publican before joining them at the table. "Hoo boy." She muttered.

"Howdy all, Professor Perkins was giving us a lecture and he fell asleep again." He sat down and smiled at the two burgers at his place. "Who do owe a thanks to?" He looked at them and then noticed Dana. "Hello there, I'm sorry we haven't been formally introduced."

"Fox, this is Dana Scully. Dana, meet Fox Mulder."

"So you're the American friend Grace goes on and on about. Pleasure to finally meet you." He shook her hand gently.

"Nice to meet you too," she smiled. "Grace tells me you're a Psychology major."

"Trying to be is the correct term." He laughed.

"Yes, all that trying must be so hard when all you have to show for it is a stupid bloody 'A.' Don't let him fool you, Dana, he's quite brilliant. But weird non the less."

Mulder smiled and wolfed down one of his burgers. The pitcher of ale arrived and he chugged his mug down without spilling a drop.

"Hungry?" Maggie offered him another burger.

"I haven't eaten since last night, I've been working on that paper for Williams." He took out his notes and showed her his paper thus far. "I've found much of the research required but I'm still waiting for a few other books."

"What is your thesis by the way?" Maggie looked through the notes as he ate.

"I'm working on several cases of American serial killers and looking for similarities in physical defects." He pointed to one case study. "Basic premise is that not all serial killers walk around with a big nasty scar or a homicidal look on their face. Also I'm looking to compare the psychological test results each of these killers took in prison to see if there is a correlation in regards to the colors they chose."

"That color test thing, you think there might be a connection between someone's homicidal demeanor and the colors they select?" Maggie was impressed.

"I don't know, just a theory I've been looking at for a while." He ran his muscular hand through his shortly cropped brown hair. "They have done research with abused children, especially when the occult is involved and the children have a tendency to select either black or red in association to the parent that is suspected of the abuse."

"No discussing work at the dinner table kids," Grace slapped another burger in front of Mulder.

"Sorry." He nodded to Dana and her host.

"Don't be, sounds rather interesting." Dana smiled.

"What are you studying Dana?"

"I'm hoping to study Medicine at Berkley in the following year."

"You're still in high school? Forgive me, I mistook you for being a little older. Where are you from in the U. S.?"

"California, San Diego."

"Great place," Mulder nodded. "I haven't been back there since." he looked quickly to Maggie.

"Freshmen year of high school, we all took that trip over with Quinn and his mother."

"Right," Mulder nodded. "Yes, I remember. I should really get back there."

"You should really get back home, your mother has been asking to see you for months now." Grace scolded him.

"You've been talking to my mother? Since when?"

"She called me thinking it was *your* room. I wonder where she got that idea."

Mulder fell silent and stuffed his mouth with food to prevent him for explaining himself. Maggie and Dana laughed as Grace flung some chips towards him.

"You have been studying for that physics test right?" Maggie asked.

Mulder nodded.

"Cracking the books have you?" Grace smiled, anticipating Mulder's next move.

Without disappointment, Mulder took one of his books from his bag and flung it towards the wall behind her. The book fell on the table, spine broken and open to one page. There were pen and highlight markings covering the page with his handwriting scribbled in the margins. He pointed to the page and nodded.

"One thing you should consider with him, Dana, is that sooner or later there will be a book abused and tortured by this man." Grace pointed guiltily to Mulder who pleaded innocence with his eyes.

Dana laughed and Maggie ordered them another round of burgers and chips.

* * *

Nope, this is not the end. It's snowing outside and I have nothing to do so I thought I would type this up and post it. There is more coming. eventually. Let me know what you think so far.