"As you know, my sister was taken when I was 12." Mulder's voice broke her out of her thoughts and she started concentrating on him again. "With that my family fell apart. My parents blamed each other and me for her disappearance. For a while I was even a prime suspect for the murder of my sister, but the police couldn't find nor prove anything. Made them quite angry that they couldn't pin it all on me. They were incompetent, so they tried to pin it on the easiest victim. They still are like that sometimes. Only about 70 percent of criminals are convicted and incarcerated. Ten years back it was only about 40 percent . The percentage went up only because of new techniques and technology that law enforcement has at it's disposal now. You know how useless they are, they usually just try to find someone they can pin it on so they can close the case as soon as possible. Samantha's abduction and the murder investigation sure took care of my social life, completely. No-one at school wanted anything to do with Fox, who'd killed his own sister. A few years later my parents divorced and I lived with my mother for a short time before going to Oxford. I met a girl there that I will forever regret ever meeting. Her name was Phoebe Greene. She is one of those that just like to mess with a man's head, screw him over and then see how many times they can make him come back to them. I had absolutely no experience with girls at that time. What girl in high school would want anything to do with the guy who was accused of killing his own sister... Phoebe was different. Only later did I realize she didn't care about my history cause she wanted me just for sex, nothing else. I got out of that 'relationship' with barely a shred of self-respect and dignity left. Took me a few years before I could trust another woman, but I've made a mistake again. Her name was Special Agent Diana Fowley. You know her only by name."

Monica searched her mind for information, the name familiar to her. Finally she'd found it. "Wasn't she in charge of the X-Files for a short while? She was killed, I think."

Mulder nodded."Yeah, that's her. We were involved, but then she took a transfer to Europe. I met Scully a year later and she changed my life. Because of her I could trust a woman with my heart again. When Scully was taken I fell off the deep end. Slept with a woman suspected of vampirism. That was the only woman besides Scully I've been with in 10 years. Diana came back a few years later and it nearly destroyed Scully's and mine friendship and partnership. Diana was killed because she helped Scully rescue me when I was held by 'them'. About 1 year later Scully and I became lovers for that one night and shortly after that I was taken. You know the rest."

They went silent and Monica rested her hand on his forearm in a show of support, earning herself a look of gratitude. Finally she couldn't help herself, the silence too heavy. "Well, it's official now, your life sucks more."

Mulder looked up at her incredulously, eyes wide and suddenly started laughing. Large guffaws filled the office, shaking his body violently. Monica looked at him, but then she couldn't help it, Mulder's laughter was infectious and she started giggling herself.

"Thank you for that sage assessment, Agent Reyes." he said when they'd finally managed to calm down.

"Why thank you, Agent Mulder. Glad to be of help." his snort was interrupted by a loud growling noise.

Mulder looked amused at Monica who blushed deeply and looked away.

He couldn't help but take advantage of it. "Is there are lion in this room somewhere?"

He was just about to start laughing at the glare Monica had sent him when another growl was heard. This time it was Monica who laughed, while Mulder looked away embarrassed.

"What do you say we get some dinner, Mulder? I don't like the idea of having to explain things to the guards when they come down here, claiming to have heard lions."

Mulder smirked. "Yeah, good idea. With the reputation that we already have, it would be better to avoid any more incidents."

They quickly sorted everything out and got ready to leave. Mulder helped Monica into her jacket and coat, and off they were.

----------------------------