Chapter Nine - If All Else Fails, Go Shopping

Scully tried to open her eyes but the light in the room caused pain to shoot right through her head. She groaned and leaned back on the pillows wishing silently that someone would shoot her.

The sound of moment in the room caused her to open one eye a crack. She assumed it was Mulder coming in to check up on her.

She hoped so because there were large gaps in her memory of what happened the night before and she was counting on Mulder to fill her in.

The man standing by her bedside holding life-giving coffee wasn't Mulder, but Randy.

"What are you doing here?" she said grimacing as the sound of her own voice made her head hurt.

"My, my you must have had quite a night last night if you don't even remember me taking you home." Randy said laughingly.

"You took me home." Scully said totally confused. She sat bolted upright in bed making her head feel like it would split in two. "Why? Where's Mulder? Is he okay?"

Scully grasped her head with both hands sure it was about to split apart.

Randy clucked at her and eased her back down on the pillows after giving her several aspirin to take. "When we left last night, Fox was fine. You two just seemed to have had a bit of a fight."

"We did? Over what?" Scully said thinking back best she could to the events of the night before.

She remembered going to the party, drinking wine, dancing with Mulder, drinking martinis, listening to people chat, drinking more martinis and then. her cheeks reddened as she remembered how she had grabbed at Mulder.

Randy laughed at her despite himself. "Guess you remember most of it, don't you?" He perched himself on her bed.

"All you told me last night was that you had made a pass at Fox and even drunk he had turned you down flat."

Scully paled at the memory. "Then you said that you were positive that he had made a huge mistake bringing you up here. You were sure he was going to break off your relationship before it even started and wanted to beat him to the punch."

"Oh God" was all Scully could say. "What have I done?"

"Nothing that can't be fixed darling" Randy said smiling at her. "Do you remember what Fox said to you during all of this?"

"Not all of it. I do remember him babbling on about the rules of behavior when a woman is drunk."

"So he was playing by the rules. That explains a lot."

"Not to me" Scully said trying to bring herself up to a sitting position.

Randy explained to her briefly that there was an unwritten code of conduct observed by all gentlemen - straight; bi or gay - and that code would not allow the taking advantage of a date that was too drunk or too high to know exactly what they were doing.

"But I did know" she mumbled "I think"

"Dana, are you 100% sure that your actions were not driven by the fact that you had drunk several glasses of wine followed by two martinis."

"Actually it was three" Scully said "And no, I am not sure why I did what I did."

Randy looked approvingly at her. "Of course I have a plan."

"You do?" Scully said raising an eyebrow at him.

"I do. You will drink this coffee and eat the muffin and the orange juice I ordered for you. You will then shower and get dressed. After that we will go shopping."

"Shopping?" Scully said totally confused.

"When all else fails, go shopping I always say." Randy said laughing. "We will go out and find you something slinky to wear to bed tonight."

Scully snorted at this. "Like I have any need for something like that."

Randy just smiled at her and urged her to drink up. Scully finished the coffee and headed into the shower with her glass of juice.

She paused before closing the door and turned to Randy who was helping himself to a muffin. "Where did you sleep last night Randy?" "In Fox's room. He never came back."

Randy must have seen the look of panic in her eyes. "Not to worry dear. He didn't fall into the clutches of one of the women eyeing him last night."

Scully felt the panic deepen, she was so drunk the night before that she hadn't even noticed the women eyeing him. "I gave Charlie the job of babysitting him and nursing his sore ego. I imagine he will be back here by the time we are done with our little shopping spree."

Three hours later

Scully had to admit that the shopping had made her feel better. At least it had taken her mind off of the conversation she would have to have with Mulder.

She had been way out of line the night before and although she knew that Mulder was a very generous man, she didn't know for sure that he would forgive her or give her another chance.

Randy had been nothing but full of optimism telling her time and time again not to worry. He was sure that Mulder was nuts about her and would take her back in a second.

He also was adamant that she find the perfect thing to wear when Mulder brought her to his bed. Scully thought she was wasting their time but had tried on outfit after outfit until they had found the perfect one.

It was black and lacey and showed off her figure to perfection. The best part was, as Randy was quick to point out, that she could wear it under her regular clothes.

She had parted with Randy in front of Saks promising him to call him in the morning to let him know what happened. She climbed into the cab wondering exactly what she would say.

Mulder had returned to the hotel after having a late breakfast with Charlie. They had been up most of the night chatting about relationships and the Yankees.

Mulder was thankful to have a friend who had such a level head about relationships.

Charlie's advice had been simple. "If I have read Dana right" he had said over coffee and bagels that morning "then she will approach you to apologize. Listen to her and if she asks for another chance give it to her."

Mulder had chewed thoughtfully while Charlie continued "If she doesn't ask you for another chance, then tell her you want to give it another go. She'll agree because she may be even crazier about you than you are about her."

Mulder snorted at this but let him finish. "Then when all the technicalities are worked out, screw the living daylights out of her."

Mulder almost spat out his bit of bagel at this comment. "Excuse me?"

"I said to screw her silly. I think all this abstinence on both of your parts has made you a little weak in the head."

Mulder had burst out laughing but had ended up agreeing with his friend.

He had paced around his room for an hour or so after finding out that Scully had gone out - he assumed with Randy. When he couldn't take it any longer he had gone out for a good long run around Central Park.

Mulder returned to his room covered with sweat but with a least some of his frustrations gone. He passed by Scully's room and thought he heard the sounds of moment inside.

He made sure to close his door a little louder than necessary so Scully would know he had returned.

Still feeling hot, Mulder went out onto the balcony to let the breeze cool him.

He was standing there leaning against the railing when he heard her let herself into the room. The footsteps paused at the door and then headed towards the balcony.

Mulder was about to turn around when Scully spoke. "Please don't turn around Mulder."

He stopped and turned back towards the park fearing the worst. None of the scenarios he had worked out in his mind considered the possibility of Scully dumping him.

"I think this will be easier if I don't have to look at you Mulder" she said softly coming to within inches of him. She could feel the heat rising off his body and smell the sweat.

"It's just that your eyes have a tendency to distract me sometimes and I want to make sure I say everything I need to say to you."

"Okay Scully I will stay put if you want me to." Mulder said trying hard to keep the emotion out of his voice.

"Thanks" her voice was shaking and she wondered if Mulder could tell.

He could and his heart went out to her. He wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her but he stayed put.

"I have given last night a lot of thought Mulder and you were right, I did have a bit to drink last night."

"A bit?" Mulder said sarcastically. "I don't think I would call four glasses of wine followed up by five martinis a bit."

"Five, I thought it was only three" she said more to herself than him "Well, what I am trying to say - very badly - is that I appreciate you looking out for me last night and despite my best efforts keeping us from doing something stupid."

Mulder stomach felt like he had just swallowed lead. She was about to dump him.

Scully saw Mulder's shoulders slump and realized that she was giving him the wrong impression. She cleared her throat to try again.

"I think I am giving you the wrong impression here Mulder" she said trying to make her voice sound a bit brighter "What would have been stupid is to sleep with you the first time being too drunk to remember how wonderful the experience was."

Mulder seemed to relax a bit. "Go on Scully"

"I have thought all day about you and me Mulder." She put a tentative hand on his back. He jumped a bit but felt very warm to her touch. "I thought about some advice my mother gave me when I was trying to decide what to do about Jack."

Mulder tensed at the mention of Jack's name and Scully smiled. "She told me not to think too much about whether or not I could live with him because most people can figure out a way to do that no matter what the situation. She told me instead to think about whether or not I could live without him. For if I couldn't do that, I would have to stay with him."

"I thought being able to live with or without you for a long time today Mulder. We both know that we could probably live together although at times it would not be very pretty."

Mulder snorted at this comment but let her continue uninterrupted. "And then I thought about living without you. You drive me nuts sometimes Mulder, but I don't think I could go on without you in my life."

At these words Mulder turned around and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Are you saying that you want to be with me Scully?" his look bore right through her as if to look into her soul itself.

"Yes, Mulder that's what I am saying?" Scully said a bit hesitantly. "Is that okay?"

"Is that okay?" Mulder said taking her face in his hands and soundly kissing her. "I really don't believe you sometimes Scully."

Scully shrugged a little and looked up into his eyes now beaming with happiness.

"I guess this means we can finally have sex?" he said after kissing her again more deeply.

"I guess it does" Scully said smiling as she thought of her little black outfit and how right Randy had been about wearing it.

Mulder kissed her again before realizing he was still wearing his sweating clothes.

"I guess I had better shower first" he said reluctantly pulling himself away and heading towards the bathroom.

"Mulder can I ask you to do a little favor for me?" Scully said grabbing his arm before he could leave.

"Sure, Scully your wish is my command." He said bowing to her. "What is it?"

"I want you to take me shopping" Scully said a bit nervously.

"Shopping?" Mulder said a bit surprised. "I think you have been around Randy too much this weekend."

He saw the look of disappointment on her face and sighed "Where do you want to go shopping Scully" he said resigned to the fact that he had to keep his word.

"Tiffany's" she said looking even more nervous.

"Tiffany's" Mulder said sounding more annoyed than he should. "And may I ask you what is at Tiffany's that you need to get today?"

Scully looked down suddenly interested in the floor of the balcony. "A couple of rings."

"Rings?" Mulder said surprised before his mind connected the dots for him. He walked over to Scully and lifted her chin up to face him. "Rings Scully? Are you thinking what I think your thinking."

Scully nodded still looking incredibly nervous.

Mulder searched her eyes for a moment "Are you sure this is what you want Scully" he asked dead serious.

"I think so, yes." Scully said scared to meet his intense gaze "Is it what you want?"

Mulder paused before answering. He took so long that Scully looked up at him sure that he was going to turn her feeble proposal down.

Mulder was grinning from ear to ear. "I have two conditions I want met before agreeing to your proposal" he said as he lifted her into his arms.

"And they are?" she said beginning to break into a grin of her own.

"First that you don't complain my getting sweat on your clothes during my efforts to take them off."

"Agreed" Scully said as he paused before laying her on the bed. "And the second."

"That Charlie gets to be best man and Randy maid of honor."

++++++++++++++++++++++++ end of story - so what did you think???