Attraction
Part 2
by Trycee
Time Line: Scully's first few months working on the X-Files.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN THE X-Files, this is written for fun not profit
Another knock on the door startled them. Melissa opened the door to her parents. Maggie hugged her daughter and then hugged Dana. Melissa and William Scully senior hugged briefly and then he moved over to hug his baby girl. "How are you feeling, Starbuck?"
"Good Ahab," she smiled. "And you?"
"You're getting old like me," he joked, handing her a neatly wrapped gift. "Your brothers both said Happy birthday."
Maggie looked around the small apartment. "You want us to move into the living room?"
"Ah, yeah, mom. It's tiny but it's enough for us all to sit," Melissa said, shooting a look at Dana.
"What about food? We could've brought some food."
"I was just gonna order carry out, mom. Dana's choice, " Melissa said, as she watched her parents sit down uncomfortably in her small space. "Would you like a beer, dad? Mom, anything for you?"
"I'd like a beer," William nodded.
"Anything would be good for me, " Maggie smiled, placing a gift down on the coffee table.
Scully followed her parents into the living room as Melissa passed out the beers. "I thought we'd have a small birthday affair for Dana.", she said, looking at her parents.
They nodded but Scully could tell they weren't impressed with Melissa's low-key birthday celebration. "Was the drive good? Was it crowded?", Scully asked, trying to ease the tension between their parents and Melissa.
"The drive was good," her father answered. "So how's work?"
"It's good," she said, looking him directly in the eyes. "I like it a lot."
Maggie glanced over to her husband to see his reaction but he had none. Melissa passed Scully a few menu from all natural and organic restaurants. "How about pizza?", Scully asked, glancing at each person.
"Sounds good," Maggie smiled.
Another knock on the door sounded and Melissa shot a look to Scully. "Who could that be?"
Scully looked up surprised. When Melissa opened the door, Scully was hoping it would be Mulder from first glance as a tall dark haired man in a crisp blue shirt and tie stood in the doorway. Ethan walked in nodding towards Melissa and walked up to Scully who was sitting in a chair next to her parents. "For you, Dana, " he said, handing her flowers. "Happy Birthday, " he said, kissing Scully on the cheek.
Scully turned away and then looked over to her parents who were watching the exchange closely. Ethan reached out his hand and introduced himself to her parents. "We met before. I'm Ethan, her boyfriend."
"You were my boyfriend. As in past tense," Scully said, jumping up and grabbing Ethan by the arm. She led him into Melissa's bedroom and closed the door. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"It's your birthday, " Ethan smiled. "It's been awhile since we've seen each other. But I miss you Dana."
Scully's shoulders slumped. "Ethan, you are the past."
"Are you seeing someone?"
"No, " she said, moving past him. "But I am busy. You know with the job you felt interfered with our relationship."
"I want you back."
"You can't have me back!"
"Why not?", he said, holding her arm so she wouldn't escape.
"I have feelings for someone else."
Ethan's face tensed."Who? Who Dana?"
Scully licked her lips and sighed, crossing her arms in front of her.
Ethan shook his head. "I think I know who it was. This is exactly why I didn't want you to keep this job."
"Ethan, like you said, we haven't seen each other in awhile. And what does it matter to you?"
"Who does she have feelings for?", Maggie asked, turning to Melissa. They could hear everything from the thin walls of her bedroom.
"Her partner," Melissa smiled. "She likes him but she doesn't want to mix professional with personal."
William looked very uncomfortable and Maggie took his hand to calm him down. "Bill, she's grown, "she whispered to him.
"Ethan, if you're gonna stay, understand that after tonight I don't ever want to see you again!"
Ethan shook his head. "Stubborn as ever, Dana. I'll go but I'm not giving up. You and I are meant to be together. I know we are!", he said, throwing open the bedroom door. "And I can give you stability, Dana. Spooky could never give you that."
Ethan reentered the living room and nodded to the family before opening the door and leaving it open. Melissa closed her door and then ducked into the bedroom where she found Scully staring out the window. Scully watched as Ethan got into his car and drove off. She turned to her sister and Melissa grabbed her hand. "Come on, forget about him. Let's order dinner and forget all about him."
Melissa and Scully stepped out of the bedroom and William Sr. stood up and walked over to his youngest daughter. "You okay, Dana?"
She smiled up at him. "I'm fine daddy. It's just old boyfriend drama."
He looked at her carefully to see if she were hiding anything. He could always tell Dana's true feelings by looking in her eyes. He could see she was rattled but otherwise fine. He walked with her back over to her seat. Scully picked up the menu again and made her choice. Melissa dialed the number and ordered. After small talk, the pizza arrived and Melissa doled it out to everyone on small plates. Scully thanked her sister for the natural mozzarella pizza with fresh tomatoes and herbs. Maggie smiled too but she wasn't too pleased with the casual party her eldest daughter had decided on. Maggie sat back and resigned to let Melissa host it her way anyway.
"You ready Dana for the best cake, you ever had?", she asked excitedly.
"Not better than your mothers!", William said, turning to look at his wife. She smiled shyly. "What kind is it Missy?"
"I had it specially made for Dana," she grinned. "Come on, everyone over to the table."
Melissa put a few candles in the cake and lit it. After they all sang Happy Birthday, Scully blew out her candle and her sister sliced the cake, giving her the largest piece. They all sank back down on the couch and Scully tasted the cake. "OMG, Missy, this is fabulous!"
Melissa looked pleased. Maggie tasted the cake too. "This is better than mine, I have to admit."
"Sorry mom," Melissa said, looking over to her dad. He smiled but continued to eat his cake.
"I can't believe how fresh it tastes," Scully continued. "You did good Missy."
Melissa sat down next to Scully. "Are you feeling better?"
Scully glanced over to her parents and then turned back to Melissa. "You talking about Ethan? Oh yeah, already forgotten."
"I don't mean that. I meant you're disappointment that it wasn't Mulder at the door."
Scully shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She could feel her parents eyes on her.
"Whose Mulder?", her father asked.
Scully looked at her parents and cast her eyes down. "He's my partner. You heard me mention him before," she said, giving Melissa the side eye.
William looked at his wife but she was staring at Dana. Scully stood up, "You wanna another beer?"
Melissa pushed her back down in her seat. "It's your birthday, I'll get it."
Scully watched as her sister escaped into the kitchen.
Scully turned to her father. "So Ahab, what did Bill and Charlie say when you talked to them on the phone?"
Before he could answer, Melissa returned with a few more beers. "Now, I think it's time to open presents. If only we could have Dana's hot partner wrapped in a bow."
Scully glared at Missy who was chuckling to herself. She let out a few chuckles as their mother handed Dana the present she'd brought. "For you honey. Happy Birthday Dana."
"Thanks mom," she smiled. "Thanks dad."
She opened the present to find a beautiful glass bowl inside. "It's Gorgeous. Thank You."
Scully smiled as their father handed her the gift he had brought. "Who's this from?"
"The boys sent money and told me to pick it up for them," Ahab smiled.
"I can imagine what Bill and Charles would pick out for me," she sighed. She opened it to find a gag gift as expected, a life-like mechanical snake. "I'll kill them," Scully grunted.
They erupted in laughter. "Leave it to them to send you that," Maggie said, shaking her head.
Melissa stood up and went into her bedroom, returning with a tiny gift box. "This is from me."
Scully opened the small package. It smelled of incense with a Buddhist Mala bracelet in it. Scully picked it up and held it. Melissa smiled. "They're Buddhist prayer beads like a rosary."
Scully smiled warmly at her sister but could feel a wave of tension between their parents and Melissa. "Thanks Missy," she said, placing it on her wrist. Scully glanced over to her father and his face had turned red and he was looking at his wife as if he needed an excuse to leave.
"Well, " Maggie began. "I think it's time for us to head back home before traffic gets too tough."
William stood up and hugged his youngest daughter. "Love you Starbuck."
"Love you Ahab. Get home safe, okay, daddy?"
"I will," he nodded.
Maggie kissed her daughter and hugged her. "Next time we'll meet at your house, okay?."
"Alright."
William held out his arms for his oldest daughter. "Love you Missy. Thanks for having us."
"You sure you have to leave so soon?", Melissa asked.
"Ah,yeah, traffic."
He smiled and then stepped out of the way for his wife Maggie to hug their eldest daughter. "Thanks Missy. I'll see you soon."
"Alright mom. Be safe!"
They turned and walked out the door and then Melissa sat back down on the floor next to Scully, a big smile on her face. "I knew that would do it!"
Scully looked surprised. "You did that on purpose to get them to leave?"
"Your real present is that now you and I can get drunk and they're not here to say anything about it," Missy laughed.
Scully shook her head. "You're such a bad influence."
"Hey, you're grown now. But come on, I still want to know about Mulder."
"What more is there to talk about?", she said, fingering the Mala beads. "This is nice, though I thought dad was gonna explode."
"Yes, Devote Irish Catholic explodes from wild wayward daughter influencing younger sister with Alternative Religion. News at 11, I got it.", Missy said, sipping on the beer. "Tell me about Mulder and stop changing the subject."
"What more can I say?"
"You told Ethan and all of us since we heard every single word that you said, that you had feelings for someone else."
"I had to say that," Scully blushed. "He wouldn't leave."
"No, you meant it. What's so bad about admitting it?"
"Like you said, my past history. I'm a compulsive work-dater," she said, frowning. "Does that even make sense?"
"You're getting tipsy," Melissa laughed. "But no, it's true, you have a history of dating men at work or school. Easy pickings, Dana."
Please Leave Feedback: Thanks!
