Dear Reader,
I can't remember if I mentioned this already and I'm too lazy to look back, but Star Trek The Next Generation premiered in 1987. But for the purpose of this fic- it premiered in 1986. What's a year when you're writing an AU, right?
Happy reading!!
When Scully arrived at her apartment, she was greeted by a very eager awaiting Melissa. "Well!" Her sister exclaimed as she shot up from the couch, "Tell me everything, every detail!"
"Shouldn't you be at work, Sis?" Scully asked as she took her sweater off and tossed it on the back of the couch, trying to act nonchalant. But deep down inside she couldn't wait to share her coffee date details with her sister.
"I finished early," Melissa said. She continued, this time with unmistakable anticipation in her voice, "Don't make me beg, I've been sitting on pins and needles waiting for you to get home."
"Okay, okay, let me grab some water," Scully said, giggling at Melissa's inability to hide her excitement. She made her way to their small kitchen and grabbed a glass from the cabinet, filling it with faucet water before joining Melissa on the couch.
"I'm all ears," Melissa said enthusiastically.
Scully took a drink of water, rolled her eyes, and proceeded to tell her eager audience of one all about her time with Fox Mulder. Every now and then reminding her sister not to read into anything too much or he's just being nice. Of course, when she arrived at the part in her story about the arrangement they agreed upon, Melissa let out a squeal.
"Do you think he will go through with it?" She asked, wide-eyed and optimistic.
"I'm not sure, but I intend to hold up my end of the bargain," Scully said.
Her cheeks flushed at the thought of him sitting in the front row at her thesis defense. While she hoped he would come, she had to remind herself this was only their first meeting-and while they had an upcoming date-she certainly didn't know if the time between her defense and now would be filled with a relationship that would warrant such an appearance.
"Oh and the party this Saturday is a costume party," Scully blurted out, suddenly remembering her end of the deal with Mulder required a specific outfit.
"Costume party?" Melissa questioned with a puzzled look on her face.
"Yep, costume," Scully repeated matter-of-factly (as if a costume party in the month of February was a normal occurrence).
"Now you've lost me, Danes, but please, go on," Melissa said with a tinge of intrigue in her voice.
Scully hesitated, she knew as soon as she told her sister the party was a Star Trek-themed party, Melissa wouldn't be able to contain her excitement. As if she had done a good job of containing her excitement thus far, Scully thought to herself.
"The party is a costume party–we have to go dressed as a Star Trek character," Scully said, leaning back in an anticipatory gesture of how her sister might react.
"Oh, Dana! Stop! GET OUT!" Melissa shouted, playfully nudging Scully's shoulder.
Scully covered her ears in response and Melissa, clearly enjoying herself, stood up with her hands on her hips, "How fun and how completely outside your comfort zone," she said through bouts of laughter.
"Hey, I resent that comment," Scully exclaimed, half-joking of course, because she could never resent her sister.
"It's not completely outside my comfort zone. I enjoy watching Star Trek every now and then," Scully said with an air of delusional confidence.
"Watching the show, yes- but getting dressed in character, no."
Scully conceded, and brushed her sister's correct assessment aside, "Okay so who should I go as?"
"The obvious choice is Dr. Crusher, she's the ship's medical doctor on the new show."
"Yes, I know who she is," Scully said, smirking at her sister- as if she had just proven her unwavering allegiance to Starfleet.
"We need to find a costume shop," Melissa quickly asserted. Scully tilted her head and scrunched her face, "What for? I can just wear my lab coat."
Scully could tell her sister was going way beyond what she herself considered an acceptable costume for the event. She stood up and walked over to the kitchen, but not before giving her sister a What are you up to look?
"NO, we need to find you the full outfit," Missy said as she grabbed the phone book from the small hutch.
"Let's get started on our hunt. Shall we?" She said, thumbing through the phone book.
"Look Diana, I really appreciate the invite. But I've told you, I think you're a great woman, but I just think we are two different people going in two different directions," Mulder said sternly into the handset he held between his shoulder and ear while he finished cleaning his kitchen.
"Fox, I understand. I'm not asking you to be my boyfriend. I'm asking you over for a little fun, no strings."
As much as Mulder found her offer flattering, he found it equally- if not more-repulsive. He knew Diana enough to know that type of offer was all part of a greater plan. She wasn't one to do anything that didn't benefit her.
He hadn't mentioned his upcoming date with Scully to her because quite honestly it wasn't any of Diana's business. They hadn't been together in a year and months had passed since he slipped and slept with her out of pity for himself and for her.
"Fine, your loss," Diana said curtly. Click.
A strong dial tone rang in his ear before he placed the phone receiver back on the base. Mulder sighed, it was a relief really and he wondered if he would ever be able to rid himself completely of Diana. He wanted her out of his life, but he knew she was well connected within the FBI and something told him this wasn't the last time he would have to deal with Diana.
He knew the week would be busy, and he was grateful he had always been able to compartmentalize easily. As far as he was concerned, he was done dealing with and thinking about Diana.
No, he would rather think about a certain redhead he would be seeing later this week. He couldn't wait to see her. And wondered to himself if she felt the same way. Maybe it was unconventional that their first date was at a Star Trek costume party-but then again, she didn't seem to mind.
"Ah, that reminds me, I need to call Frohike," Mulder said, out loud to himself. He picked up the phone and dialed his buddy's office number.
"Anthropology department, this is Melvin Frohike."
"Frohike, it's me."
"Hey, what's up."
"Question, is it okay if I bring a plus one Saturday?"
Oh hell, Mulder. Not Diana.. c'mon. I'm not…"
"No!" Mulder exclaimed as he interrupted his friend, "Melvin, I told you-I'm done with her. Finite, finished. I would like to bring Scul...Dana, Dana Scully."
"Ohhhh the cute, coffee shop redhead?" He asked, his voice slightly higher and filled with intrigue.
Mulder chuckled into the receiver, "Yes, the cute coffee shop redhead. She has agreed to accompany me and dress up," Mulder said cheerfully.
"Great, can't wait to meet her. Look buddy, I'm really glad you are done with Diana. That woman, well you don't want me to tell you what I think of that woman."
"Yes, Melvin, I know. I know. Thanks for being patient with me. I think there's something special about this one."
"Well, she should be–accepting an offer to go to a party with you. Funny looking as you are," his friend said in jest.
Mulder laughed, "Alright, alright. I get it, she's out of my league."
"Yeah well, stranger things have happened. Gotta go, buddy, class in fifteen. See you Saturday," Melvin said then he hung up, not waiting for Mulder to respond.
Click. Dial tone.
Mulder chuckled, "Well bye to you too," he said sarcastically, suddenly realizing it was the second time in one day he had been hung up on.
Saturday couldn't have arrived any slower, but when it did–she was suddenly panicking.
"Missy, what if the outfit isn't right? Is it too short?" Scully said, checking herself out in front of the small full-length mirror propped in the corner of the living room.
"No sis, it's perfect."
"Are you sure? I feel like I look like a slutty space doctor."
"And? This is a problem, how?" Melissa said followed by a tiny laugh.
"Oh great, you're saying I look slutty?"
"Danes! No, of course not, you don't, I was teasing you. You look hot!" Melissa said as she finished cleaning the kitchen.
"I'm so nervous, he's going to be here any minute!" Scully said as she paced the living room.
She was silently and outwardly questioning her sanity. Two days ago, she and Melissa ventured to a theater costume shop thirty minutes away. The store had a vast array of costumes and props for every time period and genre imaginable-including a substantial collection of Star Trek costumes to choose from.
They weren't cheap to rent, but Melissa insisted. Scully wanted the pantsuit but Melissa was adamant she rent the miniskirt version, "Remember this is a date, not a lecture. No pants," she had said while Scully picked up the more modest version at the store.
Now, thinking back on her choice of costume, she was second-guessing herself. But before she could put any more thought or worry into her wardrobe choice, there was a knock at the door.
Melissa turned around and headed toward the front door, "Don't worry Danes, I got this," She said, then before opening the door she turned to Scully and motioned her to the bedroom with her head, "Go, shoo! Go in the bedroom," she directed Scully.
Scully obliged and hurried off to the bedroom.
She sat at the foot of the bed, nervously picking at her cuticles. Scully heard the door open and a very enthusiastic Melissa exclaimed, "Oh you must be Fox Mulder!" Scully rolled her eyes at her sister's apparent exaggeration, but the thought of the handsome Fox Mulder standing at her doorway made her cheeks flush and her stomach flip. She tried to make out the rest of what they were saying, but all she heard was Mulder's and Melissa's voices intertwined into muffled noises. She was growing impatient until she heard her sister's voice getting closer.
"Let me go see if she's ready," she heard Melissa say within earshot of the bedroom door. Scully giggled to herself, her sister's commitment to the ruse was commendable-Scully, of course, had been ready for almost an hour prior to Mulder's arrival.
Melissa's eyes were wide as flying saucers as she entered the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Scully stood up, she'd seen that look before. It was the look her sister would make when she was about to make some outlandish declaration. But before she could say anything, Melissa walked toward her and placed her hands on Scully's shoulders.
"Danes, don't ask me how I know. But Fox, I mean Mulder, is your penguin," She said as serious as Scully had ever seen her. Scully giggled at the analogy. Of course, she knew what Melissa was talking about–penguins, like most species of birds, choose a mate for life. Her sister, much like their mother, was a hopeless romantic.
"Missy, while I appreciate your enthusiasm and lovely sentiment, how about I get through the first date–then we can maybe schedule a second date before we start talking about lifetime soulmates?"
"Fine, but mark my words, Danes–this guy is for you," She said as she lowered her hands from Scully's shoulders. "Oh, and I will give you three guesses on who he's dressed up as."
Scully opened her mouth to answer, but was cut short by Melissa's lack of patience, "C'mon. Let's not keep your date waiting any longer."
Scully inhaled a deep breath, then took one more glance at herself in the bedroom mirror.
"Well, here goes nothing," she said to her sister, followed by a nervous giggle. In response, Melissa grabbed Scully's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, leading her out to the living room to meet her date.
Mulder stood from the couch as soon as the two sisters had walked into the living room.
"Spock, I like it," Scully said with a tiny smile, as he held his hand up in the traditional Vulcan greeting–with somewhat of a goofy, yet sexy, grin on his face. His lean body looking exceptionally fit in the Star Trek uniform wasn't lost on Scully either.
Only Mulder could pull off a nerdy Spock impression and make it look sexy.
Mulder cleared his throat, "You look great," he said, as he dropped his hand and fidgeted at the place where a pocket should be.
Scully instantly sympathized with him, how could the Star Trek uniforms not come with pockets? "Why thank you, Spock," Scully returned, gaining more confidence at every step she took toward him.
"You're very welcome Dr. Crusher. It is Crusher, I presume?"
"You presumed correct," She said, standing in front of him now. Her cheeks radiated what she felt on the inside and Mulder smiled.
"You ready to go?" He said as he surveyed Scully from head to toe, his smile shifting from sexy to discreet. Scully detected a tint of red across his face as well, and easily deduced he must have liked what he saw (reminding herself to thank Missy later for the adamant suggestion that she wear the miniskirt and not the pants).
"Absolutely," She said.
Scully turned to her sister and quietly mouthed don't wait up. Not sure if she even knew what the implications of that phrase meant for her evening.
