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All notes disclosed in chapter one.

Additional author's notes: I apologize for the delay. I planned to have this chapter out sooner but lucky me, I'm one of those people that get distracted a lot.

Additional disclaimer/note: The story mentioned in the latter half of this chapter isn't mine. It's the plot of a story titled "Cost of a Glance" written by Buffelyn for The Mummy. I recommend it to everyone, even if you're not interested in The Mummy. It's one of the best stories out there. It's going to seem a little sad but if you read the actual story, it's extremely romantic.

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July 4, 1998

Pettegolezzi

The Fourth of July, America's Independence Day; a day of parades, cookouts, family gatherings, remembering fallen veterans and fireworks.

For Dana Scully, it meant a day of reuniting with relatives she hardly saw. Her brother's were in town and her sister didn't make herself scarce. She got to catch up on the family gossip she wouldn't admit she loved listening to. She got to listen to her mother ask her why she wasn't in a relationship. But this year was different. She'd spend her time avoiding such questions.

Her personal relationship with Mulder was still new, still growing. They were still in a delicate stage, despite how much they'd spoken to each other over the last four days. He called her at night when he knew she was off duty. They spent hours talking. He still visited her on her break, if he wasn't following up on a case at least.

She still had a hard time believing how perfect they seemed for each other. He was hardly the type she fell for. It seemed cliché to her as well that he fit the tall, dark, and handsome mold. Maybe that's why she hadn't had a date in years. Maybe Mulder was exactly what she needed. She was falling fast.

"Earth to Dana," she heard. Her younger brother's hand came into her vision and she quickly pushed it away. "What are you thinking about so hard?"

"Nothing," she lied. "Just… thinking."

Melissa eyed her sister. She had noticed something different about her sister ever since she saw her earlier in the day. It bothered her she couldn't figure out what. She was usually so good at that type of thing.

"Thinking about a boy?" Charlie teased, catching the attention of their mother a few chairs over.

"No, I'm not."

Charlie changed his words. "Thinking about a man?"

Dana hesitated. Her cheeks flushed but she still denied it. Melissa's eyes twinkled.

"You have a boyfriend. That's what's so different about you."

Dana opened her mouth to deny it but her mother cut her off.

"Is that true, Dana? Do you?"

Her brother Bill piped up. "I think we're gonna have to meet this guy."

Dana shot Melissa an evil look. "Thanks a lot, Missy." She turned to the rest of her family. "Nobody's going to meet him. He's not my boyfriend. New subject."

Amazingly enough, they moved on to family gossip. But Melissa didn't. She moved closer to her sister instead.

"Have you had sex yet?"

"Missy!"

But she had an innocent look. "What? It's not like we're 16 anymore. I doubt mom or dad think any of us are virgins anymore. Well, on second thought, they might think you are."

"Trust me, I'm not. But we've only been on one date."

"Well, how long have you known each other?"

Dana looked down at her lap sheepishly. "A month and a day. But we were only friends until he asked me out."

Missy gapped at her. "Now I want to know what this guy looks like. Describe."

A smile shadowed on Dana's lips. Mulder's smile immediately appeared in her mind.

"He has the most gorgeous smile and the most beautiful eyes. He's tan but not grossly so. He works out daily so he has this amazing body. Brown hair. Tall. He's…" she seared for the right word, too many words became him, "he's perfect." She shot a look at her sister. "And he's all mine."

Missy gave her another innocent look but said nothing. "Did he kiss you at the end of the night?" she wondered, feeling like she was a little girl again, gossiping with her sister late at night.

"Yes."

"And?"

"And… there aren't words to describe it."

"And is that good or bad?'

Dana let out a laugh. "Extremely good."

Missy smiled greatly at the look on her sister's face. She looked so happy, so complete, so… so in love.

"Sounds like you got one lucky catch."

Dana gazed up at the sky, the fireworks just beginning. She stretched her arms high above her head, a smile on her lips.

"Yeah, I do."

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Fiaba

Dana excused herself from the group when her cell phone rang. She quickly moved away toward the parking lot. She smiled at the thought of who it was.

"Hey, you," she greeted.

"Hey, how'd you know it was me?" He could hear her smile over the phone.

"I'm psychic," she said sarcastically. She glanced back at her family only to find them all looking at her. She moved further away from them to her car, leaning against the trunk. "What are you doing right now?"

At his apartment, he pulled back the blinds just a little more. "Looking at the moon, thinking about you," he told her in a soft voice that made her want to melt.

She smiled. "Then I'll look at the moon, too; then we'll be together."

"Is it crazy that I can't stand to be away from you?" he asked suddenly, his voice all serious.

"No because I feel the same way."

She could practically see his smile even if he had said nothing. All during the fireworks, she couldn't stop thinking about him or how much she wanted to be with him instead. They had managed to keep professional at work for the remainder of the week. He did insist on another date just the night before, though. They'd spent their time watching movies into the late hours of the night, cuddling up next to each other on his couch. She never wanted that evening to end.

Suddenly she had an idea.

"Tell me a story."

"What?"

"A story. Tell me one."

He stuttered for a moment before agreeing. "Okay, I have the perfect one. It might seem a bit sad but I like it and I bet you will, too."

He cleared his throat dramatically and got his voice ready for story mode. She rolled her eyes.

"Seven souls struck down by fate. One survivor, to tell the tale. This is the story of star crossed lovers, a warrior and a princess forbidden to love one another. They catch the eyes of each other from across the courtroom, a party moving around them. Both fall in love but don't realize until later.

"It starts out innocently, a friendship. Visions begin to plague the man at night. He must know no harm has come to her. He goes to her in the middle of the night where her own problems plague her from sleeping. Friends cross to lovers.

"It's exciting but dangerous because her father, the king, and the country would never allow their love. Only her guard stationed at her door and the warrior's brother know about their forbidden love.

"Tragedy strikes. Her father is murdered by his future wide and her forbidden lover. The mistress kills herself so her lover can resurrect her but he's stopped and cursed for all eternity. The princess soon realizes she's dying too and her unborn child with her. She begs her lover to kill her because she doesn't want to die alone but he refuses. She's too convincing, though.

"In sadness and rage, he demands battle from people who threatened to ruin her life but he doesn't win. Maybe that's what he wanted. His brother documents their tale. He makes sure the lovers were buried together for they did not deserve to be apart even in death.

"Three thousand years later, they find each other again. It take takes a while and a dangerous ordeal before they realize they're meant to be together. Far away, the Gods smile down at them and love prevails," he finished softly.

Dana discreetly wiped away a few tears that had sprung. Then she heard his gentle voice again.

"Do you believe in fate yet?"

She smiled and sniffled, hoping he didn't hear it. "I'm getting' there."

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Confessione

"Not to be nosy, Starbuck, but you sure were on the phone for a while," Dana's father said coming up behind her.

She smiled sheepishly. "I guess I was. I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry. I get the impression from your mother that young love is in the works."

"Not so young, Ahab." They laughed together. He opened his mouth to say something more but she beat him to it.

"You'll meet him soon enough, Ahab. Don't push it."

William laughed whole-heartedly and put an arm around his daughter's shoulder.

"That's my girl," he thought fondly to himself.

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