All notes disclosed in chapter one.
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Next Saturday
"It's so big, mommy!" Cassie exclaimed, looking out over Yankee Stadium. "There are so many people!"
"That's because they're all here to watch the game, Cassie," Mulder explained, jostling her in his arms. She always giggled when he did that. It was one of the sweetest sounds to his ears.
"All of them here to see you?" she wondered.
"Well, not all of them. They're here to see the team play, not just me."
"You play good?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty good. One day, I'll teach you how to play," he told her, watching happily as her face lit up with delight.
"Really?" Mulder nodded. "Mommy, did you hear that?"
Dana stepped up to them from her place beside them. "Yes, I did. Let's just hope he can keep these promises."
"I always keep my promises," he told them sincerely. "Especially when it comes to adorable, blue-eyed little girls. I have a soft spot for them. Do you know any?" he teased Cassie.
She raised her hand. "Me! I have blue eyes, just like mommy!"
"You're right. You do have blue eyes. Guess I have to keep my promise."
Cassie nodded enthusiastically. Mulder set her down and turned her in the direction of his agent, Mike.
"Go watch the people with Mike," he told her. "I'm going to talk to mommy for a little bit."
They both watched as she skipped off happily.
"Are you really going to teach her how to play baseball?" Dana wondered, her eyes staying on her daughter.
"Of course. Right after I teach you."
"Oh, that's right," she remembered. "And when is this taking place?"
"When the perfect special opportunity arises. That gives us enough time to get used to everything."
She stepped closer to him, her hands tentatively moving to his chest. "I'd say we're both already used to everything. Except the cameras. I'm not used to those."
He looked down at her apologetically. "I'm sorry about that, Dana. Did you have any problems with them this week?"
"Uh-huh. A photographer surprised me yesterday as I was coming out of the hospital. I managed to shield my face in time but he followed me to my car."
"He didn't take any pictures, did he?" He was starting to get mad now.
She shook her head. "A couple, but my back was turned."
"I'm sorry," he said again. "I've talked to Mike to work out an arrangement with them. No pictures ever of Cassie and no pictures of you alone. I have to meet them in the middle, or else they'll stoop to low levels, so I'm allowing pictures of us, to a certain degree."
She leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Thank you; that I can handle."
His hands on her hips pulled her closer. "Good, I was afraid you'd get mad at me."
Mike interrupted before she could say anything.
"Mulder, they're motioning for you. It's game time."
He nodded, returning his attention back to Dana. He kissed her sensuously, savoring her. She welcomed it, amazed at how badly she knew she needed him. Not in a financial or needy way; she was a doctor with a daughter, she did fine on her own. But in an emotional way. It had been a long time since she'd allowed herself to love someone. She was ready to love Mulder.
"Remember, Viviana and her husband will be here soon," Mulder reminded her, resting his forehead against hers. "Talk, bond—it's important to me that you females get along. You're both important to me, in completely different ways."
"We'll talk, I promise. Who's her husband again?"
"Peyton Manning. He plays for the Indianapolis Colts. He gets to come to my games in exchange for tickets to his games."
"Nice arrangement. How does a baseball player come to be friends with a football player?"
"His wife."
"Oh, of course, the obvious."
"Mulder, seriously, get your as… butt down there," Mike interrupted again.
Mulder kissed Dana again, his grip loosening. "I'll look for you when I go up to bat. I have a feeling you could be good luck for me."
"I'll be watching so you'd better knock one out of the park for me."
He placed a hand over his heart. "You're already using the lingo."
"Go, Mulder. The game's about to start."
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Viviana came in not long after Mulder left. Being a woman that didn't watch sports a lot, Dana was given thanks from Peyton when she didn't turn star struck.
Viviana was a delightful woman, the Italian accent of hers thick but understandable. She had long black hair and piercing blue eyes that made you want to look at her. She was tall, too. She had an immediate rapport with Cassie; that was always the final incentive for Dana. She was a beautiful woman. She had a feeling she was Mulder's original type.
"So Dana, how are things going for you and Fox?" Viviana asked, her attention long since drawn away from the game.
"For only being together for eight days, it's going pretty well. Kind of fast but… I feel so comfortable with him."
Viviana had a beautiful smile as well. "That is good, right?"
"Yes, it's great. Cassie adores him and he adores her. That plays a big part in me liking him."
"And do you? Like him?"
"Of course I do," Dana was quick to respond. "What woman wouldn't?"
She looked down to the diamond trying to find Mulder. His team was up to bat and ahead by one point. The game was in the third inning, the bases were loaded with no outs. That's when she saw him.
The cheering for him wasn't lost on her. The people loved him. He stepped up to bat after selecting his favorite wooden bat. He stopped before he got to the plate. He was looking around the stadium. He was looking for her.
She knew the moment his eyes found her. She could feel it throughout her body. She waved at him just slightly, just enough for him to see. She knew he was smiling when he turned around and got back to work.
Things weren't good between them. Things were great.
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Continued in next chapter…….
(Sarcastically) Guess which city I live in? I know who's actually married to Peyton Manning but my brother actually goes out with Peyton's wife's best friend so I thought I'd use him. Ironically though, I hate the Colts.