The evening for Lysette and Mulder was truly magical. They had spent their night at the restaurant dancing in each other's arms followed by the most delicious meal that Lysette had ever tasted. She had completely forgotten about the warning that Melinda had given her about not getting close to Mulder. There was just something about him that she could not place. The bond that Mulder had spoken of she truly believed to be real. The feel of his lips on hers was indescribable and she never wanted them to leave her. It was truly wonderful for her to be able to forget about everything that had happened recently.

Mulder had decided to park the car somewhere so that they might walk and take in the night air. He placed his arm around her as they walked. "It's really a beautiful night, isn't it?"

"Mmmm…magical." Lysette replied as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"So, that means you enjoyed dinner?" Mulder asked as he caressed her hair gently.

"It was the most wonderful night of my life." Lysette answered back as she looked up at the sky. "Fox! Look, it's a full moon!"

Mulder's gaze went upward. "Well, so it is."

"I used to personally believe that when there was a full moon, it was meant for lovers."

"Really?"

Lysette nodded. "I used to always think that when there was a full moon it was so that it could shine down on all the lovers of the world."

"You mean like us?"

Lysette lifted her head and turned to him. "Us? Fox, do you mean…"

Mulder nodded and touched the side of her face. "I would like to start a relationship with you, Lyssa. I know you have the show. And I know…that you'll be leaving in a month but I don't care. I want to spend as much time as I can with you. I don't care if all we do is go out to dinner and have walks like this. Hell, I don't even care if we spend time just talking, as long as I am with you. I've already wasted too much time in my life to let this happiness slip away."

"Oh, Fox. I…I don't know what to say."

Mulder smiled. "Say yes?"

Lysette reached forward and hugged him. "Well of course, yes!"

Mulder hugged her back. "You just made me the happiest guy in the world, Lyssa."

Lysette pulled back from him and smiled. She then watched as a gust of wind came up and grabbed her silk shawl prying it from her fingers. "Oh no!" She shouted as it blew toward a pond.

Mulder watched as it continued its trek to the water. "It's ok, I'll get it!" He then went running toward the pond.

As she watched Mulder run toward the pond, she saw him transform into a little boy. The little boy dropped his hat as he ran into the water to rescue what appeared to be a red scarf. He grabbed it just before it hit the water and turned around, holding it triumphantly in the air. He then came back to shore and handed it to a little girl with ribbons in her hair.

Lysette blinked her eyes as she saw Mulder on the edge of the pond reaching for the silk shawl, which was just beyond his reach. She could see that he was teetering on the edge of the shore. "Ummm…Fox?"

"It's ok, Lyssa!" Mulder called back as he stretched. "I've almost got it!" He finally reached it and grabbed it with his hands. "I got it!" He then lost his footing and went tumbling into the water.

"Fox!" Lysette screamed before picking up her gown and running toward the pond. "I'm coming!" She reached the pond and found Mulder at the surface holding the shawl, which had remained dry. "Fox! Are you ok?"

Mulder coughed as some water came trickling from his lips. "Yeah, I just uhhh slipped." He came out of the water and handed Lysette her shawl.

Lysette took the shawl from him. She then looked at Mulder's drenched form and started to giggle.

"What?" Mulder asked as he tried to wring himself out. "Lyssa, are you laughing at me?"

Lysette tried to hide her face. "N..no."

"Yes you are! You're laughing at me cause I got wet!" Mulder looked at his soaked tux. "Ok, I admit it does look kind of funny. Wonder if they charge extra for water? Whoa! I think I just felt something swimming in my pants!"

Lysette started to laugh and fell to the ground.

Mulder wiggled in the water for a moment before climbing out. "You think that's funny?" He made his way over to her and hovered over her. "You think it's funny that I had a fish swimming around in my pants huh?"

Lysette's giggle's faded as she looked back into Mulder's eyes. She reached up her hand and touched the side of his face.

Mulder took her hand from his face and kissed it gently. He then leaned toward her and covered her lips with his as he closed his eyes.

Lysette moaned slightly as she returned Mulder's kiss and shifted slightly underneath him.

Mulder deepened the kiss and started to run his hands through her hair. Hearing Lysette's moans encouraged him even more and he moved his lips to her neck.

Lysette craned her neck back as she felt Mulder's kisses. "Mmmm…Fox."

Mulder moved his lips to her collarbone and began to tease it with his tongue.

"Fox!" Lysette cried out as she writhed.

It was then that Mulder's eyes shot open. He glanced down at Lysette who was pinned beneath him. He watched as her lips moved and her chest heaved from her heavy breathing. Oh god what was he doing? He quickly moved off her.

Lysette's eyes opened and she sat up. "Fox?What…what is it?What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Lyssa. I…I can't do this."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I can't take advantage of you like this." Mulder answered as he sat up.

"But, Fox I wasn't thinking that." Lysette answered as she touched his cheek.

Mulder took her hand gently and moved it from his cheek. "I know that, Lyssa. I just…I don't want to rush into anything right now. I…I want to take things slow so I don't screw this up. I've had terrible relationships in my past, Lyssa. And some of them were because I took advantage of situations like this." He looked deep into her eyes. "I care about you, Lyssa and I'm willing to wait for this. So, do you mind if we take things slow?"

Lysette smiled at him. "Not at all, Fox. To be honest…I'm not quite ready for this either."

Mulder breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank god." He took her hand. "I promise not to push you into anything you don't want to do ok?"

"Ok."

Mulder leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Good. Now, let's see about getting you home huh?" He carefully helped Lysette to her feet and started walking back toward the motel. He was truly glad he had stopped kissing her before things had gotten too far out of hand. He was truthful in what he said though. He did care about her too much to risk pushing things too far and losing her. Was it possible for him to care so deeply about someone he had just met?

They finally reached her motel and went inside to the elevator. They then took it to her floor and walked down the hallway until they were in front of her door.

"Well, here….here it is." Lysette replied as she looked back at Mulder. "Would…would you like to come inside?"

Mulder knew deep down what might happen if he did that. It would be a replay of what happened by the pond and might have risks of escalading further "No, that's ok, Lyssa. It's…it's kind of late."

"It is. Well, I had a wonderful time this evening."

"Me too."

"Will, we see each other again?"

"You can count on it." Mulder answered before he leaned in and kissed her lips. He was aware of Lysette wrapping her arms around him and returning the kiss. But as he returned the gesture, he suddenly heard a voice behind him.

"Agent Mulder?"

Mulder winced slightly as he instantly recognized the voice. Oh this was going to get ugly. He pulled back from Lysette and turned. "Good…good evening, Sir. Nice night?"

Lysette turned at the same time. "Uncle Skinner?"

"Can I ask why my niece's arms are around your neck?"

"Are they?" Mulder took Lysette's arms and gently pulled them away from his neck. He then realized how close he was to her and quickly backed away. "Sir.."

"Save it, Agent Mulder!" Skinner replied sharply.

Lysette looked at Skinner. "Uncle Skinner, why…why are you here?"

"I ORIGINALLY came to speak to my niece in her motel room." Skinner replied as he looked at Mulder. "Imagine my surprise when I found out that she was not only alone but with one of my agents!"

"Sir, I can assure you that…"

"I saw you KISSING her, Agent Mulder. That is all I need know."

Lysette did her best to ease the tension. "What…what did you come to see me about Uncle Skinner?"

Skinner moved his attention from Mulder to Lysette. "I came to tell you that Melinda Cuthbert is dead."

"What?" Mulder asked.

"Melinda is…is dead?" Lysette asked in a confused voice. "But…how?"

"Apparently she choked to death." Skinner answered. "A nurse was walking by and saw her choking. They tried to resuscitate her but…"

"Oh my god." Lysette breathed. She shook her head and then grabbed onto Mulder. "It can't be true."

Skinner noticed Lysette holding onto Mulder but decided to ignore it for the time being. "I assure you that it unfortunately is, Lyssa. I'm sorry."

Lysette raised her head. "Oh god I have to tell Mr. Constance. I…I have to tell Maggie."

"They're all waiting for you at the hospital." Skinner answered.

"They…they are?" Lysette asked.

"Yes. It's why I came to get you. My car is just outside."

"I'm coming too." Mulder replied.

Skinner looked at Lysette. "Lyssa, would you please wait down stairs while I talk to Agent Mulder?"

Mulder glanced at Lysette. "It's ok, Lyssa. I'll be right there."

Lysette gave Mulder a smile and then headed down the hallway to the elevator.

Mulder turned to Skinner. "Sir, I know what you're going to say."

"Do you?"

"Look, I went out with Lyssa because I thought she needed a chance to relax."

Skinner chuckled. "Oh, well it certainly looked to me like her lips were relaxed when you were kissing her!"

"Sir, I didn't honestly plan on that happening. I just wanted to take her out for a nice dinner. But then we were dancing and…"

Skinner put up his hand. "Stop! I don't want to hear anymore!" He sighed. "Agent Mulder, I'm going to make this as clear to you as I possibly can. I want you to stay away from Lyssa."

"What? Sir, you can't ask me to do that!"

Skinner leaned into him. "I just did."

"With all due respect, Sir, she's an adult and can make her own decisions!"

"She's a young girl who has never been in a serious relationship!" Skinner replied back. "I can see by your facial expression that you obviously didn't know that?"

Mulder shook his head. "No, I…I didn't know that."

"Well she hasn't. She's a very innocent young girl and I don't want you to take advantage of her."

Was he serious? After what he had just walked away from by the pond? "Sir, I can assure you that the last thing I would want to do is take advantage of Lyssa."

"She is dealing with a lot right now, Agent Mulder. The last thing she needs is to be involved in a serious relationship. Not to mention the fact that she will be leaving Washington in a month. I do NOT wish to see her heart broken!"

"Are…are you ordering me to stay away from her?" Mulder asked incredulously.

"I am." Skinner replied in a firm tone. "As of now you are relieved of this case and anything involving it. Any information you have you are to turn over to me immediately."

"Sir, you can't do that!"

"That is an order, Agent Mulder! Do you understand?"

Mulder sighed. "Yes, Sir."

"I want all that information submitted to me by tomorrow." Skinner started to walk down the hallway and stopped. "And if I catch you ANYWHERE near my niece, you will have to answer to me." He then turned and headed to the elevator.

Mulder ran his hands through his hair. How could Skinner do this to him? How could he take away the best thing to have happened to him in a long time? The thought of not seeing Lyssa again caused an aching within him. No, he wouldn't let this just go without a fight! After all, since when did he follow protocol anyway? He would see Lyssa again regardless of what Skinner had said. And he would find out what happened to Melinda Cuthbert regardless of whether the case was his or not! He let out a sigh before heading down the hallway to the elevator. He knew now that he couldn't go to the hospital with Lyssa. But he would wait until the morning and contact her then to find out what had caused Melinda's unexpected death.

He climbed off the elevator and looked out the lobby window where he saw Skinner getting into his car with Lysette. He could only wonder what Skinner would tell Lysette as to why he was not coming with them. He glanced down at his pants, which were sticking to his legs and smiled remembering he and Lysette's outing in the park. He then headed out the door and into the night toward his car.