Title: The Lost and Forgotten

Authors: Shadow's Echo (also known as Cindy from CindyandSandy)

Rating: PG-13 (some swearing!)

Disclaimer: I don't own Mulder, Scully, or any of that happy crap…but I do own Amelia and other such characters. Yadda yadda yadda. We've been over this, have we not?

Chapter 11 – Insomnia

Scully's laughter pealed through the room while Mulder laughed quietly, as they exchanged crazy high school and college stories. They both spoke of lost loves and weekend flings, most of which were Scully's. This surprised Mulder, considering he felt he had been quite the ladies man. But then he realized that many of those times he may have been more than a little drunk, so he probably outdid Scully by the thousands. He took another bite out of his pizza as Scully started another story.

"I knew this one guy in school who none of the other girls would even look at. Not because he was a nerd or anything, but because he was a bully. The wanted him, but they were afraid to want him. So, naturally, I decided to date him. I brought him home and never heard the end of it," she said, smiling.

"You like the bad boys, I've noticed," Mulder said, looking into her deep blue eyes. She held eye contact then quickly looked away.

"That side of me never really changed. I just decided I needed some standards. Too bad I'm not as attracted to those men." She laughed. Mulder Smiled.

Good to know I still have a chance, he thought to himself, Not that she'd ever choose me anyway.

She noticed his smile fade and knew he was thinking about something. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine. I'm just trying to think of an interesting story to share."

"Oh," she said, seeing through his obvious lie. She knew him well. Very well. She could always tell what he was feeling. At least she thought so.

"I don't know, Scully, I think you beat me. You certainly had the guys all over you."

"Mulder, you have no room to talk."

"Well, you certainly have me beat high school wise. You were quite the troublemaker. I never would've expected this out of you." Knowing her seven years had told him otherwise, but people change and obviously she had. Sometimes she wished she hadn't.

"Mulder, as well as you know me, you should've expected it. Don't I cause trouble with you everyday? Are we not the best trouble making team in the Bureau?" She smiled.

"That we are, Miss Scully. That we are." A team. Nothing more than a team.

We just work together, and she knows we'll never be anything more than that.

He became sad at the thought of it. Team or not, he needed her. Needed her next to him, holding him, just happy to be with him just as he was to be with her. And he needed it now. But it was out of reach. So he decided he'd reach out as far as he could and whatever he could get. He leaned in to kiss her, knowing very well how she would push him away and let him down. Knowing she would refuse him and question his sanity. But as he was mere millimeters from her, she closed the space between them for a quick, sweet kiss, then pulled away. It took all his power to stop himself from pulling her lips back to his and never letting go. He searched her face for a sign that she hadn't wanted it, but was only greeted by a slight smile.

"Go to bed, Mulder. It's late," she said, pulling the sheets to her neck. He got off her bed, resisting the urge to kiss her again, and shed his clothes. He climbed into his own bed and turned off the light. Surprisingly his insomnia was gone that night, and he slept better than he had in months. He dreamt of Scully, which was not at all unusual, but he was happy having gotten that out of his system. At least for a while.

Amelia lied there awake most of the night. She eventually fell asleep from sheer exhaustion and terror, but her dreams were restless and allowed her body no replenishment. The next day would be hell on her, she knew, but as fear grows, sleep subsides. She also worried. Libby was gone, perhaps forever, although she hoped for the best, and she had no friends, no support, except Lyla. She knew Lyla would understand and take Amelia under her wing. This allowed Amelia to sleep more soundly than before. But on the edge of her mind lingered a fear that couldn't be extinguished. She knew something bad was about to happen.

A/N: I am amazed that I got more reviews from other readers! I appreciate it more than they will ever know! My hopes are that they will continue reading, and that maybe some others will join them. REVIEW, MY DEAR FRIENDS!