Scully had had a hard time concentrating and teaching her class. She
was still thinking about the conversation earlier with Mulder. Why had he
insisted on taking her out tonight? And to one of the fanciest and most
expensive places in the city as well. After what seemed like an eternity,
her last class was finally over. Quickly placing her notes into her
satchel, she threw the strap over her shoulder, heading out of the
classroom.
After struggling with rush hour traffic, she finally reached her
apartment. She had only been gone for 8 hours and she already missed her
son and Mulder. She could see that being a mother was going to be a
lifestyle change for her. She knew all she had to do was say the word and
Mulder would insist that she stay home. As tempting as that offer was, she
knew that she had to continue with her career in the FBI. She kept holding
onto that hope that somehow Mulder might be reinstated or that he would at
least be able to pursue his work in the paranormal in some way. Ever since
the birth of William, things appeared to have calmed down. She kept trying
to think that maybe now they might be able to live a normal life. However,
there was that other thought nagging at her in that things were always calm
before the storm. She still didn't understand just why William wasn't taken
away from her after he was born. It all appeared too simple.
Finally reaching her apartment, she unlocked the door and made her way
inside. "Hello?" Closing the door behind her, she put her jacket in the
closet and placed her satchel on the table. "Mulder? Are you here?" Looking
down, she saw a note on the table.
Scully, Sorry I could not be here. I just had to take care of some things before dinner. William is with Rosie for the night so don't worry. If you go to the bedroom, you will find a surprise. I will see you when I get back.
~Mulder
After reading the note, she carefully folded it, placing it back on the table. Making her way down the hallway, she walked into the bedroom. As she looked at the bed, her eyes widened. There lying on the bed was a beautiful blue gown. Putting her hand to her mouth, she slowly walked over and picked up the gown. A smile crept across her face as she stared at it. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Walking over to the mirror she held it up to her. She felt just like Cinderella as she held onto the gown, twirling around with it. Before she realized it, she was laughing and giggling. "I guess I chose the right color huh?" Turning around, she could see Mulder standing in the bedroom doorway. Her emotions overcoming her, she ran over to him, hugging him tightly as she continued to hold onto the dress. "Oh, Mulder, it's..it's so beautiful." "So I guess I do have good taste in fashion?" Mulder asked pulling back and giving her a smile. Scully let out a slight chuckle. "I have to admit that I never would have pictured you out shopping for a female." She glanced at the gown again, giving a smile. "However, I think you have proven that you can. Just how were you able to afford something like this Mulder?" "You didn't think I was going to let you go out tonight in something less than perfect, did you?" Placing his hands on the side of her face, he looked deep into her eyes. "I want tonight to be special." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a tiny box and handed it to her. "Open it." Staring down at the tiny box in her hand, she fumbled with her fingers to open it. She let out a gasp as she looked at the contents. Inside was a pair of diamond earrings. Looking back at him, she felt a tear trickle down her cheek. "Oh, Mulder." She breathed. "Do you like them? I wasn't quite sure if you would like them or not. See the sales lady told me that.." Reaching up she gently placed her arms around his neck, pulling him to her. She gently placed her lips over his, kissing him gently. As Mulder returned her kiss, he could smell her sweet perfume emanating from her. He moved his hands up to gently caress her cheeks. He felt a lump in his throat forming. He couldn't tell her. Not yet. Not until after the planned evening. Slowly pulling away from her, he looked into her eyes. She looked back at him with concern. "Mulder? What..what is it?" "Nothing." He replied brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I.I just can't wait to see you in that gown and those earrings." "Well, if you wait a few minutes, you will get your wish." She replied slightly tilting her head. Reaching up she kissed him on the forehead. "I'll be right back." Draping the gown over her shoulder, she headed into the bathroom. Hearing the bathroom door close, Mulder headed back to the living room and picked up the tuxedo he had draped on the chair. Because he never used one, he had had to go out and rent a tuxedo. He kept telling himself that everything he had done tonight would be worth it. Taking off his clothes, he set about the task of changing into the tuxedo. Slipping on the jacket, he looked into the mirror at himself. The last time he had worn a tuxedo like this was when he had been on a case eight years ago. When he had been dancing with Phoebe Green, one of the women who had caused him to be leery. That made him put up a concrete wall around his heart. The concrete wall that had been slowly torn down by the one and only person he trusted. The person who had forever changed his life. The person who had made him want to be a better person than he was. The person who had made him feel whole. The person he would die for and couldn't see his life without anymore. And after tonight, he knew that their lives would be changed forever. After taking a shower, Scully went about getting ready. She could hardly contain her excitement as she dried herself off and slid the gown over her head. Looking in the mirror, she looked at how the gown draped over her body. It fit like a glove, almost as if it was meant to fit only her. Finishing some last minute make up touch ups, she walked into the bedroom and over to her jewelry box. She pulled out a pair of hair combs, which were encrusted with Austrian crystals. She had kept them in storage for years, never using them. Glancing at them, she remembered when they had been given to her. The night she had attended the Social, the last time she had worn anything fancy. Melissa had been so happy for her. That she had been asked out by a member of one of the most prestigious families in Maryland. She had bought the hair combs as a gift, in hopes for a bright future. That night, she had felt just like a princess. And that night she had learned that people were not at all what they seemed. That night had opened up her mind and would not be the last time that she would learn about the meaning of the term betrayal. Even after what had happened, her sister had told her not to give up hope. That some day she would find that special someone. She had kept the combs tucked away in a special compartment, saving them for a special occasion. Pulling her hair up, she used the combs to secure it. Taking the box that Mulder had given her earlier, she opened it and pulled out the earrings in it. Tilting her head to the side, she carefully placed them in her ears. Walking into the bedroom, Mulder saw her standing in front of the mirror. For a moment all he could do was stand and stare. His eyes followed the outline of the dress as it hugged her body. He had never seen her dressed quite like this. Now, he had wished that he had taken her to some of those functions that he had been invited to in the past. Before, things had gotten so complicated. When he had still had friends who were willing to help him. Now, he knew he was on his own. "You look beautiful." He said whispering as he walked up behind her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he began to gently caress her neck with his finger. He could feel Scully's body tremble as he brushed his fingertips over her skin. "You know something tells me that you are missing something here." He said whispering into her ear. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a necklace. "A princess is not a princess without all of her jewelry." Looking in the mirror, Scully saw the necklace that Mulder was holding in his hand. It had a heart dangling down from it with a single diamond in the center. "Oh, Mulder." she whispered in awe. "It.it belonged to my mother." Mulder answered, placing the necklace around her neck. "Just before she died, she gave it to me. Told me that I should save it and give it to someone special. And I can't think of anyone more special than you. I know it's kind of old but." Holding onto the necklace, she turned around to face him. "Mulder, this is the most wonderful gift that anyone could give me. And to know that it belonged to your mother and you feeling I was worthy of receiving it." Placing his hands on the side of her face, he gently tilted her neck towards him. "You are worthy of so many things, Scully. Putting up with me all these years as being one of them. I'm the one who should be bowing down to you." "Yeah, well I know putting up with me isn't exactly easy either." She gently placed her arms around his neck. "And besides what is a princess without her dashing and handsome prince." Mulder felt a pang of sadness envelop him as he looked into her eyes. Her eyes looked so innocent in their crystal blue sparkle. Innocent of the task that he was about to undertake. The mission that he would do to save their lives as well as their son's. He gently took one of Scully's hands and kissed it. "Well, shall we proceed to our royal evening, your highness?" "As you wish." She replied smiling back at him. He took Scully's arm in his and began walking towards the door. "Oh, so you are a Princess Bride fan too huh?" "Yeah, well I have seen a few movies in my lifetime. Wait a minute, I never would have pictured you as the kind of person who would watch a movie like that. I mean there were a couple kissing scenes but." Opening the door he guided her through it. "Actually I watched it mainly for that Spanish sword-fighting guy. What was his name? Montoya? Anyway, I kind of watched his sword-fighting techniques, hoping I might learn a little something." "Really?" "Yeah." He replied closing and locking the door behind them. "Never know when you might need to save a damsel in distress." Giving him a smile, she held onto his arm and followed him out of the apartment.
Scully, Sorry I could not be here. I just had to take care of some things before dinner. William is with Rosie for the night so don't worry. If you go to the bedroom, you will find a surprise. I will see you when I get back.
~Mulder
After reading the note, she carefully folded it, placing it back on the table. Making her way down the hallway, she walked into the bedroom. As she looked at the bed, her eyes widened. There lying on the bed was a beautiful blue gown. Putting her hand to her mouth, she slowly walked over and picked up the gown. A smile crept across her face as she stared at it. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Walking over to the mirror she held it up to her. She felt just like Cinderella as she held onto the gown, twirling around with it. Before she realized it, she was laughing and giggling. "I guess I chose the right color huh?" Turning around, she could see Mulder standing in the bedroom doorway. Her emotions overcoming her, she ran over to him, hugging him tightly as she continued to hold onto the dress. "Oh, Mulder, it's..it's so beautiful." "So I guess I do have good taste in fashion?" Mulder asked pulling back and giving her a smile. Scully let out a slight chuckle. "I have to admit that I never would have pictured you out shopping for a female." She glanced at the gown again, giving a smile. "However, I think you have proven that you can. Just how were you able to afford something like this Mulder?" "You didn't think I was going to let you go out tonight in something less than perfect, did you?" Placing his hands on the side of her face, he looked deep into her eyes. "I want tonight to be special." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a tiny box and handed it to her. "Open it." Staring down at the tiny box in her hand, she fumbled with her fingers to open it. She let out a gasp as she looked at the contents. Inside was a pair of diamond earrings. Looking back at him, she felt a tear trickle down her cheek. "Oh, Mulder." She breathed. "Do you like them? I wasn't quite sure if you would like them or not. See the sales lady told me that.." Reaching up she gently placed her arms around his neck, pulling him to her. She gently placed her lips over his, kissing him gently. As Mulder returned her kiss, he could smell her sweet perfume emanating from her. He moved his hands up to gently caress her cheeks. He felt a lump in his throat forming. He couldn't tell her. Not yet. Not until after the planned evening. Slowly pulling away from her, he looked into her eyes. She looked back at him with concern. "Mulder? What..what is it?" "Nothing." He replied brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I.I just can't wait to see you in that gown and those earrings." "Well, if you wait a few minutes, you will get your wish." She replied slightly tilting her head. Reaching up she kissed him on the forehead. "I'll be right back." Draping the gown over her shoulder, she headed into the bathroom. Hearing the bathroom door close, Mulder headed back to the living room and picked up the tuxedo he had draped on the chair. Because he never used one, he had had to go out and rent a tuxedo. He kept telling himself that everything he had done tonight would be worth it. Taking off his clothes, he set about the task of changing into the tuxedo. Slipping on the jacket, he looked into the mirror at himself. The last time he had worn a tuxedo like this was when he had been on a case eight years ago. When he had been dancing with Phoebe Green, one of the women who had caused him to be leery. That made him put up a concrete wall around his heart. The concrete wall that had been slowly torn down by the one and only person he trusted. The person who had forever changed his life. The person who had made him want to be a better person than he was. The person who had made him feel whole. The person he would die for and couldn't see his life without anymore. And after tonight, he knew that their lives would be changed forever. After taking a shower, Scully went about getting ready. She could hardly contain her excitement as she dried herself off and slid the gown over her head. Looking in the mirror, she looked at how the gown draped over her body. It fit like a glove, almost as if it was meant to fit only her. Finishing some last minute make up touch ups, she walked into the bedroom and over to her jewelry box. She pulled out a pair of hair combs, which were encrusted with Austrian crystals. She had kept them in storage for years, never using them. Glancing at them, she remembered when they had been given to her. The night she had attended the Social, the last time she had worn anything fancy. Melissa had been so happy for her. That she had been asked out by a member of one of the most prestigious families in Maryland. She had bought the hair combs as a gift, in hopes for a bright future. That night, she had felt just like a princess. And that night she had learned that people were not at all what they seemed. That night had opened up her mind and would not be the last time that she would learn about the meaning of the term betrayal. Even after what had happened, her sister had told her not to give up hope. That some day she would find that special someone. She had kept the combs tucked away in a special compartment, saving them for a special occasion. Pulling her hair up, she used the combs to secure it. Taking the box that Mulder had given her earlier, she opened it and pulled out the earrings in it. Tilting her head to the side, she carefully placed them in her ears. Walking into the bedroom, Mulder saw her standing in front of the mirror. For a moment all he could do was stand and stare. His eyes followed the outline of the dress as it hugged her body. He had never seen her dressed quite like this. Now, he had wished that he had taken her to some of those functions that he had been invited to in the past. Before, things had gotten so complicated. When he had still had friends who were willing to help him. Now, he knew he was on his own. "You look beautiful." He said whispering as he walked up behind her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he began to gently caress her neck with his finger. He could feel Scully's body tremble as he brushed his fingertips over her skin. "You know something tells me that you are missing something here." He said whispering into her ear. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a necklace. "A princess is not a princess without all of her jewelry." Looking in the mirror, Scully saw the necklace that Mulder was holding in his hand. It had a heart dangling down from it with a single diamond in the center. "Oh, Mulder." she whispered in awe. "It.it belonged to my mother." Mulder answered, placing the necklace around her neck. "Just before she died, she gave it to me. Told me that I should save it and give it to someone special. And I can't think of anyone more special than you. I know it's kind of old but." Holding onto the necklace, she turned around to face him. "Mulder, this is the most wonderful gift that anyone could give me. And to know that it belonged to your mother and you feeling I was worthy of receiving it." Placing his hands on the side of her face, he gently tilted her neck towards him. "You are worthy of so many things, Scully. Putting up with me all these years as being one of them. I'm the one who should be bowing down to you." "Yeah, well I know putting up with me isn't exactly easy either." She gently placed her arms around his neck. "And besides what is a princess without her dashing and handsome prince." Mulder felt a pang of sadness envelop him as he looked into her eyes. Her eyes looked so innocent in their crystal blue sparkle. Innocent of the task that he was about to undertake. The mission that he would do to save their lives as well as their son's. He gently took one of Scully's hands and kissed it. "Well, shall we proceed to our royal evening, your highness?" "As you wish." She replied smiling back at him. He took Scully's arm in his and began walking towards the door. "Oh, so you are a Princess Bride fan too huh?" "Yeah, well I have seen a few movies in my lifetime. Wait a minute, I never would have pictured you as the kind of person who would watch a movie like that. I mean there were a couple kissing scenes but." Opening the door he guided her through it. "Actually I watched it mainly for that Spanish sword-fighting guy. What was his name? Montoya? Anyway, I kind of watched his sword-fighting techniques, hoping I might learn a little something." "Really?" "Yeah." He replied closing and locking the door behind them. "Never know when you might need to save a damsel in distress." Giving him a smile, she held onto his arm and followed him out of the apartment.