The taxi pulled up outside the restaurant and, after paying and generously tipping the driver, Mulder opened the door and got out of the car. Hurrying round to the other side, he got there in time to open the door for Scully and he offered her his right hand to help her get out. She happily grasped his outstretched hand with her own right hand and elegantly exited the car, stopping to thank the driver before she was fully out. Mulder kept hold of her hand and wrapped his other arm around her back, guiding her towards the restaurant entrance. She relaxed contentedly into his casual embrace and they walked through the front doors to be greeted by the maitre d'.

Scully gasped almost inaudibly and tightened her grip on Mulder's hand as they were led through the restaurant to their table, marvelling at the beauty of it all. Individual candles on each table softly lighted the room and their chairs, instead of facing each other across the table, were turned at a slight angle so that they could easily hold hands when they were seated. They sat down on the chairs pulled out for them by the waiters and immediately a bottle of champagne was brought to the table and glasses poured for both of them. Mulder lifted his glass as Scully did the same and, reaching for her hand with his, he tilted his glass towards her.

"May I propose a toast?"

"To what?"

"To my wonderful, dazzling, beautiful angel. To your continued health and happiness for they are the most important things to me - if you didn't have them Scully, I would search the world over in order to give you them back or I would die trying."

"Mulder, that's so sweet...but I can't drink a toast that's just to me."

"Well then, here's to us - you and me Scully, together always. May we never be parted by anything that this oftentimes-cruel world can throw at us. We've conquered so many things in our partnership already - may we continue to do so now that our partnership has been extended in the most fantastic and brilliant way ever possible."

"Yes - here's to all of that. Forever."

"Forever."

They clinked glasses and took their first sips of champagne, neither looking away from the other, both unwilling to break the loving connection held between their eyes. Mulder set his glass back down on the table and reached across to catch the single tear that had fallen from her eyes as he had spoken. She leaned her cheek into his palm and he caught her chin between his fingers and thumb and pulled her gently back towards him. Her lips sought out his and they shared a chaste kiss until they were politely interrupted by the arrival of the waiter with their starters. Scully stretched out her leg so that it lay alongside his and, after a brief moment of surprise, Mulder linked their ankles together and they remained like that for the rest of the meal. They remained mostly silent as they consumed their starter and main course, content just to be in each other's company. They shared meals between the two of them, both lovingly feeding the other with and giggling when they accidentally allowed sauce to drip down their chin. Scully cleaned Mulder's chin with her napkin but Mulder decided to try a more direct approach and carefully licked up the dribble straight off her chin causing her to gasp and then giggle more. As they were waiting for their dessert to arrive Mulder caught Scully looking at the dance floor and he got up out of his seat and held out a hand to her.

"Would you care to dance?"

"I'd love to."

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight Scully?"

"I think you might have mentioned it a few times."

"Well then let me mention it some more. You look so stunning and radiant that you put the angels in heaven to shame and I can't believe I'm really standing here with you."

"Mulder..."

"I know I AM here...but it's still pretty unbelievable that the most beautiful woman in the room - no, the world - is here with me."

"There's no one I'd rather be here with - no one I'd even want to be here with."

"I don't know what I ever did to deserve you but I'm glad I did it."

"Mulder...it's me that's undeserving of you...you opened my eyes up to the world, stood by me when I was weak and held me when I was in pain. You gave me everything I wanted or needed and asked for nothing back...you..."

"Ssshh, don't cry Scully. I don't want you to cry."

"But they're happy tears Mulder; happy that I'm here with you - that we're together, really together."

"Yes we are...I'm so glad."

"Me too Mulder, me too."

They had been swaying gently to the music as they talked and now Mulder bent to press a light kiss on her lips as they finished their conversation. Pulling out of the kiss, they both gazed into the other's eyes as they danced, oblivious to the world around them - truly contented to be in each other's arms. They danced in silence, enjoying the soft beat of the music but, when the song changed, Mulder listened more carefully to the words of the song as he recognised the tune. He bent his head down so that his mouth was right next to her ear and, after placing a gentle kiss to her earlobe; he began to softly sing along to the music.

When there's darkness all around me,
You're the light I see.
When I need someone to ease my troubled mind.

You're the answer to my prayer,
And you're with me everywhere.
You're my angel, miracle, you're all I need tonight.

Give me shelter from the rain,
You breathe life in me again.
You're my angel, miracle,
You're all I need to know, tonight.

Scully shivered at the sound of his husky, love-laden voice singing the perfect words to her and was disappointed when the song ended. She was not disappointed for long though for, as a new song began, Mulder kissed down her jaw line from her ear to her mouth. Flushing as his lips touched hers, her moment of embarrassment from kissing him in public soon turned to excitement as she revelled in the roughness of his tongue stroking along her own. He pulled away and they danced closely for the remainder of the new song and then he led her back to the table where the waiters soon brought them their dessert.

They ate their dessert rather quickly and Scully was slightly disappointed that the end of the meal meant the end of their evening before remembering that they were both going back to the same place. Her smile brightened as she watched Mulder settle the bill and then turn to her with a single rose in his hand that he had bought from a lady selling them. The pair of them left the restaurant intending to get in a taxi and go straight home but, before Mulder could hail a taxi, Scully grabbed his arm. Turning around quickly to see what was wrong, Mulder was surprised when he found Scully's lips pressed immediately against his. He pulled away and looked at her with questioning eyes, wondering what had brought that on. She smiled up at him and snuggled into his chest so that she was tucked tightly under his arm.

"Can we walk home Mulder? It's not far and it's such a nice night."

"Of course, I'd love to escort you home milady."

"Mulder..."

"What? ...I would. I would do anything for my Angel - I hope you know that. ...Are you sure you won't get cold though - it is a bit nippy."

"I won't get cold as long as you're here."

"Well okay then. Off we go."

They walked all the way home in the clear, moonlit night, Mulder keeping Scully warm by opening his trench coat and tucking her inside it. It was so large and she so small that both of them fitted in it quite comfortably, especially when Scully snaked her arm around his back and held tightly to him around his waist. They strolled along the streets in comfortable silence stopping only a few times on the way so they could kiss once more. After about twenty minutes of walking they turned into Maggie's street and stopped at the foot of her driveway. Scully looked up at Mulder from her cosy nest in his coat and gave him a tight squeeze around his waist.

"Thank you for tonight Mulder."

"It's your mom we need to thank - she's the one who organised it."

"Yes, but you're the one who was with me, making it the most perfect night I've ever had."

"It was perfect for me too - just because you were there. That you were there with me - actually WITH me - that turned my night into heaven."

"Oh Mulder...I love you so much."

"Love you too Angel. I'll never stop loving you."

"Nor I, you."

After sharing a soft kiss, the two of them made there way up the path, careful not to slip on the frost that now covered the snow. When they reached the front porch Mulder paused and, as she turned to see if he was okay, he dipped his head to capture her lips beneath his. The kiss was heated and the passion escalated until, breathless, Scully pulled away and rested their foreheads together as they both tried to catch their breath.

"You know Mulder - my room's right at the end of the house and the bathroom blocks any sounds being transmitted through the other wall."

"Are you sure you want to...?"

"Mulder, it's the only thing that could make this night any better than it already is."

"Well then Angel..."

With that they hurried through the front door and, as Mulder locked it and removed his trench coat, Scully waited impatiently at the bottom of the stairs. Mulder finally turned to her and brought his hand up to caress the back of her neck while his mouth descended on hers. She surrendered to the kiss and brought her own hands up to run her fingers through his hair whilst their tongues danced. Soon her urgency overtook her and she grabbed at the lapels of his suit jacket, tugging him up the stairs after her without removing her mouth from his. They made their way awkwardly up the stairs and along the hall until they went through the door into Scully's bedroom where they finally parted so they could remove her dress together. Clothing was scattered around the room as they uncovered more and more of the other's bare skin until, both fully undressed, they collapsed in a tangled heap on the bed. After one last questioning look from Mulder and an answering assurance from Scully, they began the intimate dance that only lovers do. They made love until dawn and then, exhausted, they both fell fast asleep, arms and legs entwined.