Note: This story was written for the X-Files Other Perspectives Fanfic Exchanges (2021).

Chapter 1 - A Dawning Love

February 2016 - Adams Inn - Philadelphia

"Bill, Bill!" Cathy cried out loud to her husband while rushing into the living-room.

"What again?" Bill replied.

"They're here, in Philly! After all these years! Still alive, still together, still handsome, still the hottest of the hottest… Well, I'd even say, even more handsome and even hotter, if that's possible!"

"What are you talking about?"

"They were going to a crime scene, just passing by the inn, so they stopped for a minute to say hello. Well, also to see if their usual rooms were available, in case they would have to stay in Philly. They don't know yet, but I hope they indeed need to spend a few days here for their investigation. And that was so cute of them to ask in person, they could have so easily phoned instead."

"But who are you talking about?"

"The handsome/hottest/tall and small/FBI Agents couple!"

"Who?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten!"

"The FBI Agents we had two months ago?"

"No, these ones were two guys."

"And?"

"Well, they were no handsome couple."

"At least they were a couple, and FBI Agents."

"Handsome, I tell you! And hot!"

"Ah, I see. The FBI Agents we had about four years ago, coming from the L.A. office. Damn, they were movie stars, these two. The woman… I perfectly recall her damn sensual body… uh…. her beautiful face, I wanna say."

"No, no… I agree they were very handsome and quite sexy, especially the woman. The guy, though... he had a weird thing in his gestures and in his eyes, and he wasn't really my type… Anyway, they weren't a couple!"

"Ah? How could you say?"

"I just know."

"And these two are?"

"Oh yeah… Definitely."

"Their wedding rings are nice?"

"No… They don't have any."

"They're taking one double room?"

"No, never. You know, the FBI rules."

"Ah, I see... You've caught them red-handed."

"No! They know how to behave when they're on duty."

"How the hell do you know they're a couple, then?"

"It's just pouring out of them. The way they gaze at each other, the way they talk to each other, their gestures toward each other... Well, no need to be a medium. Though, this time, there's something odd between them that I've immediately noticed. I hope they'll soon figure that out. I cannot think of them being no more a couple. I'd be heartbroken. They're such a so long-lasting nice couple…"

"How long?"

"Oh my! That would make… Let me do the maths… It's just when we began to manage the inn… so…"

" 25 years?!"

"Time flies..."

"Hell, that's a long commitment. I'm really impressed. What's their secret, I wonder."

"Bill?! What about us?"

"Oh yeah, of course. You know, we ain't FBI Agents. And we ain't the hottest. We're just small potatoes."

"Don't say that, Bill, it's nonsense. You know you're my handsomest forever, honey. Anyway… I recall as if it were yesterday, first time I saw them. They were so young. He was so tall compared..."

"I get it! The tall and small FBI Agents!"

"Bill, don't you ever listen to me? I'm telling you, you wouldn't be a good witness for these FBI Agents…"

"I remember, now. The small pretty FBI Agent, redhead. Damn, she can question me anytime about anything, I'd be glad to oblige…"

"Her name is Dana Scully, and his, Fox Mulder. The man's so handsome. So gentle with her. And his height! He's so tall compared to her! He has to bend over her head, when he wants to privately talk to her. He'd done that, the first time I saw them…"

September 1993

When Mulder and Scully entered the lobby of the Adams Inn, their hands full of luggage and files, Cathy Gold was busy at the reception desk, focused on the many sheets and worksheets she had to fill and sort. Green in this job and still uneasy with all the paperworks, her mood was worsening as quickly as the sun was setting.

A sudden pure genuine burst of laughter made Cathy raise her head from her boring task. It's all it took to make her enter a new dimension.

The man and the woman who had just entered the lobby were standing at its center, facing each other, both displaying a wide smile on their juvenile faces. The small red-haired woman was still having slight flutters going through her upper body, remnants of her laugh, when she made a movement with her right hand -surely wanting to readjust a brand of hair that was dangling too freely- but, oblivious of the precarious handling of her packs, she let loose files full of papers as well as a high-pitched 'Oh!'. In reaction, the tall black-haired man gently grabbed her arm, bent over the left side of her head, and mumbled something into her ear. Her petite partner gave him a nod in response, traded her leather satchel for his jacket laying on his shoulder, then stepped away from the spread out sheets of paper surrounding them.

The time the small woman reached the check-in counter while the tall man was taking care of the mess of their files on the floor, Cathy had already completely forgotten her own cluttered desk.

"Welcome to the Adams Inn!" Cathy said cheerfully. "Do you need some help?"

"No, thanks. My partner had a lack of physical activities today, he's happy to do a few squats," the woman replied wittily. "We're Special Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder with the FBI. You might have received our reservation. Two single rooms. Adjacent rooms, if possible."

"Oh, the FBI! Of course… Let me see what I have prepared for you," Cathy said.

Never would Cathy have guessed these two were the FBI Agents she was waiting for. Was the Bureau recruiting directly at the gates of high-schools? Though, now that she was observing their features, she could say they seem to be all business and up to the standards of the FBI, with a subtle touch of relaxedness for the man -loosened tie, rolled-up sleeves, plus a nonchalant way to move his long limbs.

And, as if it wasn't enough to bear, both of them were handsome, if not simply gorgeous.

Cathy quickly made up her mind. There was something about this couple of FBI Agents that was obviously unique and indescribable, and she had to take action. She changed the choice of the rooms she had planned before their arrival, putting them in a quieter part of the inn, and closer to her own headquarters. She then would be able to have an eye on them more easily. Moreover, two connecting rooms were available there. Perfect for them, if they wanted to act more familiarly than what had been already displayed. And perfect to discreetly overpass a few FBI rules of decency, in case of emergency -in this job, surely, one might deal with gruesome stuff, leading to needs of immediate comfort.

"Rooms 12 and 13, over there," Cathy said to Scully, handing the two keys and pointing in the direction to follow. "I wish you a good evening."

"Thanks, madam," Mulder replied, while quickly grabbing the keys from Cathy's hand before Scully had any chance to do so.

"You're welcome," Cathy mumbled as best as she could -she hadn't seen Mulder coming from her side.

Thrilled and surprised, Cathy stood still, trying to slow down her heartbeat while watching the Agents walk toward their rooms, and witnessing how the G-man had softly put his right hand on the back of his partner's lower back -despite all the stuff he was handling.

Cathy moaned; finally, this job had its perks.

When she lost sight of the handsome/FBI Agents couple -as she was already labeling Mulder and Scully- Cathy intuited that something important had just happened to her. Indeed, retrospectively and years later, Cathy would know that these last minutes had been how and when she had fallen into the rabbit hole of a lifetime obsession.

Cathy was a woman trusting her instincts, and the following days didn't disappoint her. There wasn't really much to bite on -and not many factual things to report to Bill or her friends- but the small scenes between the two agents she stumbled upon, and her short interactions with them, were as precious and subtle as the petals of a poppy.

You had to know what to look at, and she did know.

Mulder and Scully's last night at the Adams Inn became instantly a fond memory in Cathy's heart. The two agents got back late to the hotel after their last day of work in Philadelphia, and Cathy could have easily missed them, the night porter being already on duty. It was a loud giggle -so characteristic of Scully's way of laughing she was now able to recognize- that made Cathy get out of her lodgings, under a false pretext.

As expected, she encountered Mulder and Scully in the corridor leading to their rooms.

"Good evening, Agents. I wish you a good night, hoping it takes away all your FBI concerns," Cathy said.

"Good evening and many thanks, Mrs Gold. Actually, we're leaving tomorrow morning. We're finished with Philly," Mulder replied to Cathy.

"Oh! So, you've solved the case you were on? If I may ask," Cathy said.

"Oh yes! And it's very, very, satisfactory," Scully answered.

"Well… I slightly disagree. Our report will have a crack as huge as the one of the Liberty Bell we've seen tonight, Scully," Mulder said.

"Oh? A ghostly crack, I presume? That only you would notice?"

"Scully, don't ring the bell of victory too soon. We're not sure Graves will rest in peace in his grave from now on. We might still have to chase his shadow in the future."

"Mulder, haven't you learned from the Bell? In our report to write, even if flawed or unfinished, I see the promise of Justice for a murdered man and of Liberty for a young woman. From my point of view, it's a huge victory. And you want to only see the crack? Hell, what's wrong with you, Mulder?" Scully said fiercely.

"Scully, I wonder if you haven't drunk too much wine tonight, and I don't think Mrs Gold wants to listen to our ramblings, neither the guests of this charming quiet inn. Let's finish the discussion about our private cracked business in one of our rooms," Mulder whispered to scully, bent over her head -but loud enough to be heard by Cathy.

"Good night, Mrs Gold," he added, while leading Scully toward their room, his right hand on her lower back.

"Good night, Agents," Cathy replied, sparkles in her eyes.

Cathy turned her back to Mulder and Scully and walked out of the corridor. She didn't need to spy the way they'll manage their unfinished cracked business, nor their choice of the room to do so; she had stored enough matter to weigh her fantasies with, if wanted.

Though, before coming back to her Bill, she indulged in satisfying a curiosity, stepping outdoors to feel the temperature of the air. She had indeed perfectly noticed that Scully was wearing her partner's jacket over her own, despite the actual Indian summer days.

That was one subtle red petal of a poppy, and, for Cathy, a subtle proof of a dawning love.