Returning to their table, they found the waiter just bringing them their dinners. "Perfect timing." Mulder said helping Scully to her seat. Heading over to his seat, he whispered something to the waiter. Nodding to him, the waiter looked at Scully. "I hope that you both will enjoy your dinners." Taking another quick glance at Mulder, he then made his way back towards the kitchen. "What was that all about?" Scully asked placing her napkin on her lap. "Oh, nothing." Mulder replied repeating Scully's action with his own napkin. "The uh food looks good huh?" "Yes. Yes it does actually." Taking a bite of her chicken, she looked back up at Mulder. "Very good. Now let's see how your food turned out." Looking down at the food in front of him, he picked up a fork. "Well it doesn't look bad anyway." Picking up a piece of food with the fork, he took a bite. "Well?" "My complements to the chef." He replied while chewing the food. Looking over at Scully, he realized she was giving him a look. "Oh, sorry." He said after swallowing his food. "So, tell me Mulder, where exactly did you learn to waltz like that?" Asked Scully as she took a sip of her wine. "Huh?" "Where did you learn how to waltz like that? I mean I know it's not just something you can just do without lessons." She said taking another bite of food. "Oh come on, Scully. You don't think it was just in my blood?" He asked taking a sip of his wine. Scully looked back at him raising her eyebrows. "Hardly." Picking up her fork she took another bite. "So, really Mulder, where did you learn?" Stopping her chewing, she looked at him after quickly swallowing. "Please tell me it wasn't from that Phoebe Green?" "What?" He let out a slight chuckle. "Oh, no, no, it wasn't from her. I did have other women in my life besides the infamous Phoebe Green you know." Taking another bite of his food, he looked back at her. "For your information, it was a girl I used to date way back in the day. Her mother just happened to teach dance and one of the dances I learned was the waltz." "Well, she certainly taught you well." Scully answered smiling and then taking another sip of her wine. "Well, I have to say that this evening was more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for." From the corner of the restaurant refrains of the aria, "Nessun Dorma" from the opera "Turnadot" could be heard echoing from a tenor. Propping her elbows on the table, Scully listened to the beautiful music. Looking across, Mulder could see the candle flickering, lightly casting shadows on her face. She appeared to be totally mesmerized by the music, her eyes never blinking. Reaching across, he gently took her hand, looking deep into her eyes. "Scully." Turning her attention temporarily away from the music she glanced back at him. "Yes, Mulder?" "We've..we've known each other for so many years." "Yes. Yes, we have." "And we have been through more things in those years. Things that most people could not begin to comprehend." Scully nodded. "And the things that we have been through together would have caused most partnerships to fall apart. But they strengthened us, brought us closer. " "Mulder, I don't understand just where you are going with this.." "I'm sorry, just..just be patient with me here. I'm having a hard enough time getting this out as it is." He said letting out a nervous chuckle. Taking a deep breath he continued. "You're.you're my everything. You've..you've been the one who has inspired me to keep going, to keep searching and to never give up. You've always looked out for me, stuck up for me. Never believed others with what they said about me." "Mulder.." "You are the one and only person that I've trusted all these years. The.the one person that allowed me to open myself up again. I thought that I knew what I wanted out of life. That.that I would just be a loner on an endless crusade." Taking his other hand, he placed it on the side of her face. "That all changed after I met you. I found someone who I could relate with, who.who accepted me for who I was. And I knew after that, that I never wanted to be alone. That I had found my perfect opposite. Sometimes we search our whole lives looking for happiness, when we don't realize that it is right in front of us." "Mulder, I don't deserve." "You're wrong, Scully. You do deserve something. You deserve everything. You deserve to be happy in your life. And I.I hope I can be a part of that." A violinist walked up to the table playing "Bella Notte" with a tenor singing in the background. "This..this piece. I know it." Scully said looking towards the duo. "It's from Lady and the Tramp isn't it?" "That's right, Scully it is." "It's the scene where Lady and the Tramp are in that Italian restaurant eating the spaghetti.." "It's always been one of my favorite movies as a kid. I always envied how the Tramp was the total opposite of Lady. A rebel, from the wrong side of the tracks with an entirely different life style. Then he meets this beautiful Lady and even though he is the total opposite of her, manages to impress her. Showing her that there is more to life than just staying locked in a house away from the normal world. And in turn, she also teaches him about her world. And in the end, everyone is happy. Two opposites coming together." "Ok, Mulder, I'm confused now. First you are talking to me about what we have been like through the past 8 years and now you are talking about "Lady and the Tramp". I assume you are getting at something here, right?" Mulder nodded. "You are my Lady, Scully." He let out a flustering sigh. "Ok, look I realize that I am rambling here because I am so damn nervous so I will just get right to the point." Keeping a hold on Scully's hand, he moved from his seat and kneeled in front of her. "What I am trying to say is.." Pulling out a tiny box from his pocket, he opened it revealing an engagement ring. "Dana Katherine Scully, will you marry me?" Putting her hand to her mouth, Scully looked at him dumbfounded. "Please, Scully. We.we have so much time ahead of us. And I don't know about you but I.I don't want to spend the rest of my life alone. I want to spend it with someone that I love and care about very much. And I want my son to know his father and to know a good life. I am tired of running Scully. I want to settle down and start living my life. Time is a precious gift and I don't want us to waste it. So what do you say, Scully? Will you do it? Will you marry me and be Mrs. Spooky?" Scully let out a laugh and reached over to Mulder, hugging him. "Is.is that a yes?" Mulder asked hopefully. "Of course it is." Replied Scully still holding onto him with tears streaming down her cheeks. Letting out a relieved sigh, Mulder closed his eyes, resting his head on her shoulder. After a few moments, he then pulled away and turned facing her. Picking up the ring, he slid it gently onto her finger. Reaching forward, he placed a kiss on her lips. The restaurant was resounding with the sound of clapping as the couple shared their engagement kiss. Pulling back from her, he looked into her eyes. "Thank you, Scully." "Actually, Mulder, I think it might be more appropriate for you to call me Dana now." She replied smiling at him. "Since I am your future wife. I think we should be on a first name basis." "Whatever you say, Dana." Looking down at the ring, she let out a sigh. "I.I just can't believe this." "Believe what? That you are engaged to a crackpot partner that you are going to have to endure for the rest of your life?" "Well, it's just that I've..I've wanted this for so long but I was afraid." "Afraid of what?" "For one, I was afraid that you wouldn't feel the same way." She said lowering her head. Reaching his hand over, he placed it under her chin, lifting her head gently. "Now why would you think that? Especially after everything that we have experienced and shared over these past 8 years.After.after what we have created as a symbol of that bond we share. Do you really think I would have shared that night with you if I hadn't felt the same way?" He moved his hands, placing them on the side of her face. "I love you and nothing will change that. And I don't regret anything that I have done or that has happened between us. And just out of curiosity, what was the second thing you were afraid of?" "Well, it's just that every time I get close to someone that I tend to lose them. And I.I didn't want that to happen to us." "You will never lose me, Scully. Do you hear me? Never." Taking her hand in his, he looked deep into her eyes. "I promise that I will always take care of you and William. That your safety and well-being will be my first priority." "I'm..I'm so glad that we are going to be a family. That we will no longer be running from shadows and conspiracies. That we can finally settle down and have a normal life. I can't wait to tell my mother. She will be so happy and I know that she is going to want to start planning the wedding early so." Mulder slowly released her hand and closed his eyes. "Mulder? What...what is it? What's wrong?" "There..there can't be a wedding, Scully. At least..not now." Scully stared back at him with a confusing look. "No wedding? What.what are you talking about?" "I'm saying there can't be a wedding right now and furthermore you can't tell anyone about our engagement." "Can't tell anyone about our engagement?" Tears began forming in her eyes. "Mulder, I.I don't understand." "There's..there's something I have to tell you, Scully." Opening his eyes he looked around the restaurant cautiously. "But I would rather do it away from prying eyes and ears." "All.all right, then." "Excuse me." Mulder said motioning to their waiter. "We're ready for our bill now." "Very well." The waiter replied pulling out a piece of paper and handing it to Mulder. "If you like I can wrap up your leftovers to go?" Scully rose from her chair and began walking towards the exit. "No, that won't be necessary." Mulder said pulling out his wallet. After finding the right amount, he handed it to the waiter. "We're all set." "Thank you, Sir. And may I say congratulations to you both and I hope you have a wonderful life together." "Thank you." Rising from his seat, he headed off in the direction that Scully had gone. He knew that she was hurt and she had every reason to be. He had presented her with a wonderful evening and something she had wanted for so long. And now he had tainted it. Now, he would have to tell her about him having to leave and hope that she would understand.