Skinner was standing in front of the door numbered 42, his fist in the air. He was about to knock on Mulder's door and it creeped him out. What if Mulder himself opened the door? What if he came back and he didn't approve of his cousin going out with his boss?

A part of him wanted to turn around and leave, but he couldn't do that to Vixen. She was expecting him. More than that, she called him, not the other way around.

Vixen. There was something about her that Skinner couldn't quite point out. They say when you meet your soul mate you feel like you've known her forever. Skinner didn't believe in soul mates, of course. There wasn't much space for cheesy romance in his life. But this Vixen… When he looked into her eyes for the first time, when he heard her speak… He was sure, damn sure that he knew her. He was just as certain that he had never met her before. He didn't even know that Mulder had living relatives, and he would definitely remember that unusual name.

Vixen. Intoxicating.

Maybe it was just a mid-life crisis, maybe he was just imagining it, being alone for so long. Either way, he had to find out.

His fist finally met the door.

"Just a second," he heard from the inside.

The second lasted forever. Skinner noticed his palms were sweating so he wiped them on his pants. God, how will he be able to offer a hand to this woman? What will she think of him?

The door finally opened and Vixen stared at him with a strange smile. It almost looked like she was making fun of him, but he didn't pay much attention to that, marveling in her beauty instead.

"You look great, Vixen," he admitted.

"Thank you, sir. So do you," Vixen responded. Maybe it was just Skinner's imagination, but she sounded just as nervous as he felt. Could that mean she liked him?

"Are you ready to go?" he asked her, offering his arm, but Vixen just rushed past him to the elevator, ignoring the gesture. Skinner didn't complain, it gave him a nice view of her butt, and what a lovely butt it was!

After an awkward, but quick ride in the elevator, Vixen rushed straight to his car and waited by the passenger's door. How did she know which car was his? It couldn't be a coincidence, could it? What then? Fate? But Skinner didn't believe in fate. Was it time for him to expand his beliefs?

He dropped his keys twice before he managed to unlock the car doors.

"Are you comfortable, Vixen?" he asked his date when she settled in her seat.

"Yes," she shifted, not looking comfortable at all. "Thank you, sir."

"Please," Skinner insisted. "Call me Walter."

"Okay," Vixen agreed. "But only if you call me Mulder."

"I'd rather not, if that's ok with you," Skinner admitted, starting the car.

"Why is that, Walter?" Vixen wondered.

"I… That's how I call your cousin and… I don't want to think about him while I'm with you."

"Why is that, sir?" Vixen sounded genuinely interested. "Sorry, Walter."

"I don't like to bring my agents on my dates, that's all," Skinner shrugged.

"Do I remind you of him?" Vixen wondered.

"No, not at all," Skinner assured her. "You are nothing like your cousin."

"Oh," she sounded disappointed. "You don't like him much, do you?"

For some reason, that question made Skinner chuckle. It was a warm chuckle, and it surprised him just as much as it surprised her.

"I like him more than I should," he admitted.

"You do?" Vixen sounded like she was on a brink of tears. Damn, did he say something wrong?

"He gives me lots of headaches, that cousin of yours," he couldn't help but smile. "But he's a good guy, loyal, brave… His heart is always in the right place."

"Thank you, sir," Vixen whispered through tears. She placed her hand on his leg and gently squeezed it, so gently in fact that he almost lost control of the car and crushed them in the nearby tree.

"Are you all right?" Skinner asked worriedly after he gained back control.

"Yes," she nodded, retrieving her hand. "It's just…"

"It's your father, isn't it?" Skinner said gently.

"My father?"

"Mulder's uncle who recently died," Skinner clarified. "He was your father, wasn't he?"

"Um," Vixen sounded confused. "Yes, I suppose he was."

"You suppose?"

"Well… My mother wasn't sure who impregnated her, but yes, he raised me as his own."

"That's weird," Skinner was a little suspicious now. "Scully said he didn't have any children."

"I suppose my cousin didn't tell her. Our fathers didn't speak to each other, so him and I fell out of touch as well."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. We, um, we are catching up."

"So why did you come here without him?"

"There is a lot of stuff to take care of after someone dies unexpectedly, so he stayed to take care of it. I… It was too hard for me to deal with it, so he suggested I take a vacation and kindly offered his place."

"He thought you'd be better all alone here?"

"I'm not alone, Walter," Vixen murmured. "I have Scully. My cousin called her and asked her to take care of me. And… She did."

"Well," Skinner was seriously embarrassed for letting his feelings show, but he had to say it. "Now you have me, as well."

Vixen was touched. She must have been, since she accepted his arm when they arrived to the restaurant.

After they were seated Skinner started to study her face, in order to keep his eyes away from her breasts. He was trying hard to remain a gentleman, especially with this remarkable woman. She wasn't wearing any make up, probably due to her grief. Her eyes were shining with tears and she looked so lost and confused, like she was left all alone in the world. She must have loved her father very much. Skinner wanted to make it better for her, but he didn't know how. He hoped a nice meal was a good start in that direction.

It was a pleasure to watch Vixen eat. She ordered real food, not some low fat salad, and even went for a huge dessert. Skinner was already full while she seemed to only have started. What a woman!

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Skinner boldly asked her after he paid the bill. "The night is pleasant and I could burn off some of these calories."

"Sure," Vixen agreed and Skinner's heart leapt. He offered his arm again and this time she took it without even a hint of hesitation. She seemed to be so comfortable with him already. It pleased him. He couldn't help but hope for many more nights like this one. And maybe, just maybe, one day instead of insisting on being called Mulder she would choose Skinner as her last name…

"It's been a long time since I went on a date," Skinner admitted. "I forgot how nice it can be."

"I know what you mean," Vixen nodded. "It's been a long time for me, too."

"I hope..." Skinner hesitated. "I was wondering if you'd like to do this again sometime…"

"I…" Vixen suddenly pulled away from him. "I need to think. This is going too fast and I…"

"You feel it, too, don't you?" Skinner whispered, taking her hand that she immediately pulled away. He leaned into her personal space so close that he could feel her breath.

"I would like to go home now," Vixen turned her head away, taking a step back.

"Vixen, what's wrong?" Skinner was confused. "Talk to me, please."

"Please take me home," was all that Vixen managed to say.

"Of course," Skinner sighed. He assumed he pushed her too far too soon and he scolded himself for it. She just lost her father, of course she wouldn't be ready for this!

They drove in silence and he walked her to the front door of the building in silence.

"I would invite you upstairs, but I don't know if my cousin would approve," Vixen told him, avoiding his gaze.

"I understand," Skinner said, trying hard not to show his disappointment. He felt he made a true connection with this woman earlier, but now it was all falling apart, and he didn't have an explanation for any of it. The last thing he wanted, and the only right thing to do was to walk away from her and let her figure it out for herself. He would call her tomorrow, maybe she'd change her mind by then and they could try again soon…

He turned sharply, determined to reach his car in a record time, but her gentle voice stopped him.

"Walter…" she called him.

He turned away and just looked at her, afraid of saying anything at all, in case it turned out to be a wrong thing.

"I did have a good time," she said, looking him in the eyes again. "Thank you."

"I'm glad," he responded earnestly, unable to move. Vixen approached him, standing so close to him that he could touch her, so he did, unable to resist. His hand went to her cheek, stroking it gently, and she didn't pull away. They gazed at each other for what seemed like forever and their faces seemed to be coming closer to each other, but he had no idea which one of them was making the move. It was so intense that Skinner finally had to close his eyes. At the same moment Vixen's hand went to the back of his neck and she pulled him closer, closing the tiny gap between them.

Their lips met, causing them both to shiver. They opened up for each other, their tongues meeting and tasting each other for the first time. For a brief moment Vixen pulled him even closer, before pushing him away.

"I have to go," she gasped, breathing fast. She turned around and disappeared into the building.

Skinner closed his eyes again for a moment, then he smiled and went back to his car. The huge grin stayed on his face for the whole ride back home.