Disclaimer: I do not own the X Files or the Gunmen. If I did, they wouldn't have been killed off (shakes fist at sky). This chapter might read rushed, but I guess I wanted to get a move-on. This story has been sitting in my docs for awhile, and it seems better off read than dead for now. Thanks to any readers, and to the single Byers/Modeski solidarity review, thanks, I needed to know I was not the only one!

"John was the most intuitive lover I'd ever had." Suzanne continued slowly. "He looked into my eyes the whole time; as if he worried I'd...disappear right in front of him. I'd never been with a man who made my needs such a priority." She blushed.

Scully looked away, eyeing the ceiling in a silent plea. She never expected to have a conversation like this about any of the gunmen, especially about Byers. To her, Byers was a little boy in his father's suit. The beard helped, but it didn't help that much.

"We never took our time together for granted. I wanted more. We both did. I went to him whenever I could manage it. Which happened more frequently, until...this happened. I haven't seen him in two months."

'Poor Byers,' thought Scully. "He must be worrying himself to death." She mused aloud, immediately regretting it.

Suzanne choked back a sob, cupping her mouth with a hand. Tears sprung from her eyes. Scully's head fell to the back of the couch. The two clearly missed each other.

Wanting to get back on track, Scully asked, "How long had you been seeing each other?"

"I'd visit him as often as we could manage, for about six months. The last time, we decided to go away together for a few days."

"We have a reservation under the name 'Funston.'"

"Funston...ah, yes. Here are your room keys. Enjoy your weekend, Mr. and Mrs. Funston."

Byers nearly sighed with pleasure at the phrase. This weekend, he could briefly live out the fantasy of a much more normal life, and for the next few days, he was Susanne's husband. She grabbed his hand, and they walked up the stairs to their room.

It wasn't a large city, and they chose it because it was so ordinary. The type of town where no one locked their doors at night, and there were only a handful of restaurants. The small hotel was upscale enough for a couple's getaway from the humdrum of life and kids, but it wasn't very large. It wouldn't need to be. He held her hand as they walked through town.

This town prided itself in its charming antique shops and tea houses, declaring itself a popular tourist location, which might be true for tourists from other areas of the midwest. It was the perfect place for them to meet in secret. In another life, they might have settled down here.

"I thought it might be a good idea to get out of the New England area for awhile. I stayed a few towns over for a few weeks after Las Vegas. It's nice here."

"It's different," Byers agreed. "I don't get the sense that I'm being watched."

Both smiled.

"There's something about the midwest," Susanne continued. "People don't lock their doors at night." Her face darkened. "Of course, maybe the people here are just too trusting."

"We're being careful," he said quietly. "And we came separately. Here, they just see us as a busy married couple trying to get away for a few days." Byers smiled at that thought. The sky was a vibrant blue, with soft clouds moving slowly across his line of vision. Main street was bustling with small-town activity.

At dinner that night, he sat across her at the table, listening to stories about childhood chemistry sets and white picket fences, he realized again that Susanne was the woman he was meant to be with. It wasn't just a romantic, forbidden affair, or a boyish desire. Susanne shared his passion for justice, but at the same time, wished for a life she could call her own. She wanted marriage and children, just like he did. They shared that dream, along with their love.

It was raining by the time they left, and Byers regretted walking to the restaurant.

"I wish I'd known it would rain. I'm freezing," her teeth chattered as Byers held the door to their room. Closing it behind them, he shrugged off his suit jacket, draping it against a chair. Hs tie soon followed.

"We need to get you out of those wet clothes," he said, matter-of-factly. Not until a few seconds later did he realize what he'd said. Both smiled and blushed. "I'll draw you a warm bath." he said, excusing himself from the tension in the room. He stepped through the threshold to the bathroom, the door swinging behind him. Byers rolled up his sleeves to the elbows, then kneeled by the bathtub, turning the faucet on to a pleasant warm temperature. While it filled, he set up the space for her.

Susanne smiled towards the bathroom. When she heard the faucet running, she began to undress. Just as he was turning off the stream, she appeared in the doorway, unhooking her bra and dropping it on the floor. He turned to her, trying to kept his eyes from lingering on her nakedness.

"You're coming in with me, aren't you?" she asked as he stood up to leave. Steam rose from the surface of the water, adding to the already powerful temptation.

"It would be more comfortable without me. I can shower when you're done."

She stepped towards him, and his arms immediately encircled her waist. She cupped his face and kissed him gently, before bringing her hands down to the buttons of his shirt. Breaking away from the kiss, she said, "I disagree."

Byers sucked in a breath. They'd made love more than a dozen times by now, but she could still cause the butterflies to flutter in his stomach. When she finished the last button, he dropped the shirt on the floor. His tugged the undershirt over his head, and it followed into the pile. When all of his clothes joined the pile, they stood face-to-face.

"I'll...go in first," he said, nodding towards the tub. He stepped into the steaming water, and settled into it, his back plastered against the end. Settling his arms and legs onto the sides, he gestured for her. She followed, and he helped her into the position, her back against his chest, his legs on either side of hers. He wrapped his arms loosely around her, and she craned her neck around for a kiss. She moaned with contentment, and Byers closed his eyes. He provided the best cushioning, and she sighed with anticipation at the gentle pressure of his erection against her lower back. She felt warmed to the bone, and wondered if she could melt into him, right then. That would make the moment perfect. She settled for resting her cheek against his chest, and listening to his heartbeat; such a precious sound to a lover. Her own heart burst with a feeling she could no longer keep to herself.

"John?"

"Yes?"

"I love you," she whispered.

His heart rate increased exponentially. She craned her neck as far as she could reach, and he kissed her, dazed. Suddenly, his arms tightened around her waist, before roaming down to briefly caress her body. When his lips found er neck, she sucked in a breath. He continued his ministrations until the water began to cool, and Suzanne turned for a kiss before stepping out of the tub. She wrapped a fluffy white towel around herself. She turned one last time to see Byers following her out with a meaningful look in his eyes as he wrapped a towel around his waist. She shuddered with anticipation. It wasn't a look she was used to, and the towel rubbed against her sensitive skin.

With his eyes, he gestured towards the bed. She sat on the edge as he went back into the bathroom and drained the tub. When he came back in, he went straight for her, kneeling on the floor by the side of the bed, gently spreading her legs and pulling them over his shoulders. Her eyes widened at the realization of what he was about to do.

"John," she sighed.

His eyes flickered with warmth, before turning his attention back to the apex of her thighs. He gently caressed her calves with his thumb as his lips found her inner thigh.

"Ahhh..."

With every sound, he became ravenous. Her thighs squeezed either side of his head as his tongue began its onslaught. He'd dreamed this many times. He went on and as she cried out for him, and he didn't stop. He didn't think he could, even if he tried. Her taste was intoxicating. He growled quietly as she moaned his name again and again. And when it was over, Byers lifted his head, meeting her with hooded eyes. His chin glistened. He looked wild. She beckoned for him to join her on the bed and he crawled over her, kissing up her body, before kissing her deeply, letting her taste herself.

"Make love to me," she whispered, and within seconds, he entered her. She cried out gently; she still felt sensitive from his previous attentions. He stared into her eyes for a moment, and she shook her head. He didn't hurt her. With that, he began to move rapidly, thrusting harder than usual.

"Oh God, John." she whimpered.

Neither lasted long. She cried out, and he followed immediately after, collapsing onto her body, his quick, harsh breaths next to her ear.

When they were exhausted, Susanne rested against his chest, marveling again at his heartbeat. He kissed the top of her head.

"Goodnight, Susanne." he whispered. "I love you."

Soon, the couple drifted off to sleep.

Susanne woke up earlier, making her way to the bathroom to freshen up. She found John's shirt in the heap of clothes they left in the bathroom, and wrapped it around herself, buttoning a few buttons in the middle. Susanne smiled at herself in the mirror. She needed to keep one of them When she came back out, and snuggled back into John's embrace, she was surprised to hear that he was awake.

"Susanne?"

"Yes?"

"Would you marry me?"

She turned. "Are you-"

"If things were different." Byers added regretfully. "Would you marry me?"

She cupped his face, gently. "Of course I would."

They stayed in bed until late in the afternoon.

When Byers returned to headquarters, Langly and Frohike were sitting at computers, already at work. He hung up his coat by the door, then sat down to join them. Neither man met his eyes.

"Good weekend, buddy?" Frohike asked.

Byers just smiled and began typing, eyes on the monitor of his screen.

"And, then what?"

"And...that was it. I haven't seen her since then. Her phone calls stopped a few months ago."

"Which is where you come in." Langly chimed in.

"You want me to-"

"I want you to do what you can to find her," Byers finished. "I've done everything in my power, and nothing has turned up. If anyone can do it, you can."

Mulder paused. "Byers have you ever even considered that-"

"She wouldn't do that," Byers said, finishing the thought for him. "Not after..." He squeezed his eyes shut. "Not after what we've been through."

"Hey, women can be heartless. And we can't exactly predict this one," Frohike said, trying to be gentle.

"Maybe she ran off," Langley mused, "maybe she worried about getting found out, so she-"

"She got out of dodge," Frohike finished. "Or, maybe, and I know you don't want to hear this, but maybe she was using you. Like the first time-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Byers snapped. "I'm so tired of hearing about that! She never used us!"

"Oh, yeah, leaving us to rot in jail while she went off free, that shows plenty of integrity right there," Frohike snorted.

By this time, Mulder could see they were getting nowhere, and he didn't want to see them come to blows, so he stepped between the two.

"Look, I can attest to the first idea, at least. This isn't the safest place for her to be hiding."

"But she would have told me." Byers insisted, punctuating every word between gritted teeth. "She would have found a way!"

"Byers!" Mulder began, placing his hands on Byers's shoulders, as if to shake him. Unable to control his panic any longer, Byers's exploded.

"What if they found her!?" he shouted.

"Yeah, what if they did?! You want to know, you really want to know?!" Mulder shouted back, gripping his friend's shoulders. Their foreheads almost touched, and both were shaking.

"Yes!"

Mulder and Byers's eyes locked for several seconds, before Mulder took his hands off of Byers's shoulders. The other two men watched the exchange silently.

"Byers, you gotta understand the news might not be good. Are you prepared for that?"

Byers closed his eyes, and nodded.

"Okay then." Mulder backed off. "I'll do what I can."

"So will you help me?"

"I have to be honest, Susanne. I'm not comfortable with this." She sighed. "But, you do need medical attention."

"Thank you. But, not a word about this to John. Or anyone. Okay?"

Scully brought a hand to her forehead. "Look, Susanne. I know this is none of my business, but why are you keeping this from him? I don't know Byers very well, but I do know he's a good man. Doesn't he deserve to know?"

"John is a good man." Susanne whispered thoughtfully.

"...So? What. Are you worried he'll be upset? Or he won't want-"

"If I tell him, he'll drop everything, regardless of what he wants to do," Susanne interrupted. "Don't you see? One of us has to keep fighting. John can't leave the work he's doing. But he would. He'd do the honorable thing. It's who he is."

Scully couldn't argue there.

An hour later, Susanne got up to leave.

"Thank you. And, I appreciate your...discretion. When should I be back?"

"Let's aim for a month. It looks like you're only two months along. If you experience an emergency, contact me right away, that is...if you don't want to go to the hospital." Scully gave her a sideways glance under red bangs.

Susanne pressed her lips together. "I'd better avoid hospitals." Scully sighed. As she reached the door, Scully spoke again.

"And Susanne?"

"Yes?"

"Congratulations."

After Susanne left, Scully collapsed on the bed. She couldn't blame Susanne for her paranoia, and she was glad to help. But she couldn't help but feel some resentment. Whatever was done to Susanne, it hadn't affected her fertility. Not all were so lucky. Not that she desired a child at this point in her life. But this job had taken so much away from her. Her family, her health, her youth. Any possibility of offspring. Sometimes it seemed all she had was Mulder. And judging by their lives, and by Diana, she couldn't say how long that would last either.