All notes disclosed in chapter one. A/N: I apologize for the delay. I've been so busy with classes and being sick. I'll make it up with a really long story that I'll start posting as soon as I'm done with this one.

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'If I want to wear lingerie outside of my clothes

If I want to be erotic in my own videos

If I want to be provocative, well that ain't a sin

Maybe you're not comfortable in your own skin'

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November 13, 1999

"My, my Dr. Scully," said Mulder's voice from behind her. "You are looking very beautiful this evening."

Dana didn't bother to turn around. She just continued to sip at her water.

"Then again, you look beautiful all the time," he murmured in her ear. A shiver involuntarily went through her body.

Remembering herself, she said, "I can still leave, Mulder. Remember, you invited me."

"I know and I sincerely hope you stay. My evening would be lost without you," he told her honestly. He moved the small distance to his chair, his eyes never leaving her. "Great dress by the way."

Dana blushed and looked down at the table. "Well, you said dress formal and everything else I have formal is at the cleaners." That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

"Well, I'm glad you saved this dress for me then." Dana gave him what he's affectionately dubbed 'the eye' before deciding to let the dress matter go. She took his silence as the intuitive to start the evening.

"What did you want, Mulder?" she asked bluntly.

He didn't miss a beat. "To spend more time with the most beautiful doctor in the world. And, remember. I'm still trying to win you over."

"Do you always try to be this charming?"

"Oh, I don't try. I am."

Dana pursed her lips, pretending to take offense but he knew she was trying not to smile.

"You know I'm right. I can see it in your eyes."

"Yeah? Well, what else can you see?"

Mulder looked clearly in her eyes and she stared straight back.

"You're willing to give me a chance. But you're a very stubborn person. That's okay; I am too. You have some things you don't want to share though. You keep things hidden," he summed up.

She shielded her eyes, her guard coming up. Mulder saw it. His hand immediately reached out for hers, his fingers tangling with hers.

"It's okay though. I'm really good at getting people to open up to me," he assured quickly to restore the good vibe they had going.

She smiled and looked up at him. "How are you so different from every other man I know?"

He opened his mouth to reply but quickly shut it. He was amazed at how quickly he'd been taken under her spell. And doubly amazed to see how quickly she could become a completely different person. She was undoubtedly different from any other woman he'd ever met but she was also a woman holding back.

"I don't know," he finally said. "But I'm hoping you'll keep me around so you can figure out I'm like no one else."

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Dinner went by smoothly. They kept up the conversation, never faltering once. He found out quickly it was near impossible to take his eyes off of her. He found himself glancing down to her ring finger on more than one occasion, noting the lack of her ring. Maybe she just forgot to put it on.

"When are you going to finish telling me your stories, Mulder?" Dana reminded him, sipping at her wine.

"Ah, yes, the stories," he spoke dramatically, winning a smile from her. "How 'bout I put a different spin on it this week?"

"Be my guest. Educate me, Mulder."

He seemed to think about what he wanted to say first, but she knew he already had something clearly in mind. He opened his mouth to start… but what came instead, she wasn't expecting.

"You're not gonna fall asleep on me again, are you?"

"I told you I was sorry about that," she reminded him, wondering how long she'd have to apologize for it.

Mulder smiled. "It's okay. It's comforting to know that you felt secure enough to sleep next to me."

Dana turned sheepish, her eyes falling down to the table. "Yeah, well… you gonna tell me another story or what?"

"They're not stories," he corrected.

"Are you gonna tell me one or not?" she huffed, becoming impatient.

He smiled slyly. "You like to toy around with me, don't you?"

"Mulder!"

"Why don't we walk and talk instead?"

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"… no, I know Helios. Tell me about somebody else."

"Okay, let's go back to Hinduism. I have some really good stories from there."

"But we were already there."

"We're going back.

Dana smiled. As much as she hated being told what to do or controlled, she loved the way he took control. They were walking along the river walk arm in arm. It was still amazing her how normal it felt when she slipped her arm through his on a whim. Their steps were slow, deliberate, evenly matched and in time with each other. She was glad there was a nice breeze. It was keeping the blush she felt threatening away.

"I think I'll begin with the river goddess, Sarasvati. She is also the goddess of speech and learning."

"Oh, well I can definitely learn to like her," she interrupted.

"She's the wife of Brahma, who I'll get to later. Her beauty is so great, Brahma grew five faces so that he could see her from every direction."

Dana turned her head to look at him, loving the smile she saw. "I think I can see where today's stories are going," she mused out loud to him.

His eyes twinkled with delight. "Moving on… Shiva is a god. Don't get him confused with others. He's part of the Trinity of Hinduism, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the protector, and Shiva is the destroyer. But… there's an exception," his voice spoke dramatically. "See, along with being the god of sexual power and the god of destruction- he's also the creator of the universe."

Her brow knitted. "But I thought you said Brahma is the creator."

"That's the exception. Shiva destructs to recreate. What he does is dance the world to destruction just so he can create it again."

"Well, that's kind of… stupid."

"Stupid? That's the best word you can come up with? You're a doctor."

She bumped him with her hip. "Shut up, I couldn't think of anything."

"Apparently. I thought doctors were supposed to have really good educations," he teased. She gave him a mean look but it didn't look so mean to him.

"Just continue."

His voice lowered to a soft tone. "Lakshmi is the goddess of good fortune and beauty, light, and wisdom. She and her husband Vishnu are the eternal couple. They follow each other through incarnation after incarnation.

"And the last one is Brahma. He is the creator and the created; invented the universe. He sprang from Purusha's mouth: his head became the sky, his eye became the sun, his navel the atmosphere, and his feet the earth. Brahma, as Prajapati, desired his daughter. She changed into a deer to escape him, so he changed into a stag. The pursuit continued, creating all the world's animals."

Dana was silent for some time after that. She'd caught what he was telling her. She couldn't explain the overwhelming emotions that came over her when she was around him or every time he looked at her, why her heart sped up. She couldn't explain how a persona she'd kept hidden for so long reappeared at the mere sound of him saying her name. She couldn't explain why she felt so comfortable around him when she knew nothing about him. But she could explain why she loved to be around him and hear him talk.

He brought out the better woman in her.

"Is that your way of telling me you won't give up until I say yes?" she finally spoke, stopping to look at him.

His answer was immediate. "Yes. That' doesn't bother you, does it?"

He took her scrutiny. Her eyes swept over him briefly before meeting his eyes again.

He, too, noticed the differences of her. One minute she was Dr. Don't-Mess-With-Me-Scully, and the next minute she was Dana-I'm-Still-Holding-Something-Back-Scully. He was in love with both of them but he wanted to meet the real Dana-This-Is-Me-Scully.

"Well?" he said, reminding her of the question when she didn't answer.

Her lips pursed. Her arm made its way back to him. "Walk me home, Mulder."

"I'm winning you over, aren't I?" Silence. "I'll take that as a yes."

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Continued in next chapter…….