March 2000
Scully did not know why she was feeling nervous. It was not as though they had not had hundreds of meals together over the years, or not been to nice restaurants, but she had to stop and take a breath before opening the door and stepping inside.
There was a hum of discussions all around her as she walked up to the hostess stand and waited her turn. Laughter rang out and she turned her head to see men at a table near her laughing and smiling.
A hand gripped her left hip gently and as she turned to the right to tell off the person touching her, she came nearly nose to nose with Mulder.
"Hey," he said softly and she felt immediate butterflies in her stomach at the nearness of him. He smiled and squeezed her hip again before letting go of it.
"Hey," she repeated, smiling back at him, her eyes dropping to his lips for a second.
"I already have a table. Come on."
He curled his fingers around her upper arm and tugged her to the side and around the others waiting to speak to the hostess. Letting go of her arm once they were away from the throng of people, he watched her as they walked.
"You look beautiful," he said and she faltered in her steps, glancing at him with a frown. "What? You don't believe me?"
"I… it's just…"
"What?" he asked, taking her arm again and continuing toward the table.
"I'm just not used to it yet."
"Being beautiful? I know it's a cross to bear," he teased, giving her arm a squeeze.
"No," she laughed. "Hearing you say it. It's just… it's different and I…" She stopped again and sighed, closing her eyes briefly, before looking up at him and smiling softly. "Thank you."
"Hmm," he hummed, bringing his hand up to her jaw. His fingers trailed down, but his thumb stayed on her chin. Curling his fingers back, he held her chin between his thumb and index finger, bending his head toward her as he did. "You're welcome."
She closed her eyes, her stomach feeling the butterflies again, as his lips pressed against hers gently. Once. Twice. She pitched forward slightly as he kept a grip on her chin, his other hand at her waist.
"Jesus, Mulder," she whispered, her entire body feeling like it was on fire.
"The feeling is mutual, Scully," he whispered back, kissing her one more time. Pulling away, he grinned and ran his thumb across her jawline.
God he made her feel wild with need. All of a sudden she wanted to be anywhere but in public.
"Maybe we should skip dinner?" she suggested, and though she saw desire in his eyes, he shook his head.
"I promised you a night out."
"Break that promise. I don't mind."
He laughed, his hand dropping from her face. Linking her arm through his, he shook his head.
"Patience, Scully. Good things come to those who wait," he said and she drew in a deep breath, the scent of his cologne nearly intoxicating.
It was the same one he always wore. The one she had smelled for years on car and plane rides, in motels, their office, and both of their apartments. But now… now she knew the scent of it while lying in his arms, or caught a whiff of it in her hair or in her clothes after she had left him.
And it made her feel weak in the knees.
"Here's our table," he said, stopping at a table with a view of the water. "I made a special reservation, asking for this one."
He pulled her chair out and she sat down, smoothing the knee length black dress she wore while he sat across from her, grinning happily.
"What?"
"It's like a proper date. Something normal people do on a Saturday night."
"Imagine that," she said and he laughed quietly as he lay his hand on the table. She looked around quickly and then took his hand in hers.
"You're worried someone will see us holding hands, but we just kissed practically in the middle of the restaurant?" he teased, his thumb running across her knuckles.
"I know. It's silly. I just-"
"I understand. That's why I chose this restaurant. It's far from work and the usual spots. I think we're good. So long as you don't end up in my lap or anything crazy." He smiled again and she cleared her throat with a nod.
"I'll be there later," she said and he hummed, his grip on her hand tightening as he drew in a breath. "Patience, right?"
"Patience," he agreed, letting go of her hand as the waiter arrived at their table.
They shared everything they ordered, laughing and talking, just the same as always, but with a charged undercurrent that made her feel drunk although she had not had any alcohol.
It's love, you idiot, she thought, laughing at something he said.
Oh, I am very much aware, she answered herself, watching his mouth as he spoke to the waiter. The mouth that made her toes curl and whispered the softest words in her ear.
God she loved him.
"Scully?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.
"What?"
"Did you want to see the dessert menu?" he asked, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Oh. Only if you do."
"Why don't you bring it and we'll see?" he said to the waiter.
"You got it."
"Far away were you?" he teased and she nodded, but said nothing.
They ordered a crème brûlée to share and she had to fight back a moan as the sweet taste hit her tongue.
A woman approached the table carrying a basket of different colored roses she was selling. At the same moment that Scully declined, Mulder accepted, taking out his wallet and asking the price.
"You didn't have to do that," Scully said, looking at the three roses, two purple and one pink, now lying on the table.
"But I wanted to," he said, winking at her as he took the last bite of the crème brûlée.
"Thank you," she said softly, picking them up and smelling them. "Purple roses are my favorite."
"I know," he said with a smile as she stared at him.
As they walked out a few minutes later, his hand on the small of her back, he stopped near the crowded waiting area.
"I need to use the restroom real quick. You?"
"I'm good. I'll wait here."
"Be right back," he said and she nodded, letting out a breath as he walked away.
She held the flowers near her nose and breathed in the scent of them again, unable to stop smiling. It had been a fun night, despite her nerves at the beginning.
Someone bumped her from behind, knocking her into the person in front of her.
"Sorry," they both said and when Scully turned to look and see who had caused the problem, her stomach dropped.
"Agent Scully," Skinner said, his eyes darting back and forth between her face, the flowers in her hand, her dress and back to her face. "I…" He shook his head and she felt her face begin to redden.
"Sir. Good evening," she said, trying to maneuver around so that she could watch for Mulder and warn him to head in the opposite direction.
"Good evening," Skinner replied, his eyes once again glancing at the flowers she held.
Goddamn, she thought, wishing she could hide them out of sight.
"I didn't expect to see you here tonight, sir."
"I hadn't planned on being here. It was a last minute dinner with some old friends that I haven't seen in a very long time."
"That's nice," she said, forcing a smile and trying not to look as though she was looking for someone over Skinner's shoulder.
"You… had a nice evening?" he asked with another glance at the flowers and she nodded.
"Yes, thank you. I… I met up with an old friend too and they-"
"God, this place is so crowded," Mulder said, appearing out of seemingly nowhere and smiling at her, completely oblivious to Skinner only feet from him. "I had to nearly double back to our table to make it back here." He laughed and then realized that she was not doing the same. "You alright?"
"Agent Mulder," Skinner said and Mulder's eyes locked with Scully's as she once again saw his panic face, before he turned to look at Skinner.
"Assistant Director, hello." Mulder cleared his throat and stepped slightly closer to Scully.
"I just happened to bump into Agent Scully, quite literally. Did you join her for dinner with her old friend? Or did you cross paths accidentally?"
"Uh… the friend," he said, looking at Scully and nodding. "Yeah. They were in town and Scully asked if I'd like to join them."
"I see," Skinner said, smiling as he looked from one to the other. "It's always nice to see… old friends. Meet for some dinner, drinks, conversation… flowers…" He glanced down at the flowers again and then smiled with a nod. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I see my dinner mates there, I should go say goodbye." He nodded to each of them and then made his way through the crowd to join a large group of overly loud men.
"Do you know a way out of here that doesn't involve walking past him?" Scully asked, closing her eyes and letting out a long exhale. "Of all the people to run into…"
"I don't think he gives a shit," Mulder said as she felt him step closer to her. "You know, I'd say he almost seemed giddy."
"Mulder," she breathed, opening her eyes and looking up at him.
"I'm serious. I don't think I've ever seen him smile that much."
"I feel like I just got caught breaking curfew by my father. Like how he would flash the porch lights when I was home from a date, but still not inside the house yet," she whined, jostled again from behind as the hostess led a party toward their table. Mulder caught her arm and held her steady, smiling with a shrug.
"Come on," he said as someone then bumped into him. "Let's get outta here. It's getting too crowded."
She looked over in Skinner's direction and sighed. Nodding, she took the arm that Mulder offered and walked with him out of the restaurant, avoiding Skinner's gaze and saying nothing further to him.
On Monday, when they arrived for a meeting with Skinner, Scully thought for sure their secret would be out and they would be separated, but not one word was said about their chance meeting over the weekend.
"Besides," Mulder said as they walked to the elevator after the meeting. "He's not an idiot, Scully. We're more of a liability and a pain in his ass when we're separated and he knows it." He bumped her arm with his and she smiled with a nod.
When they got into the elevator, she saw Skinner walk into the hall. Just before the doors closed, he caught her eye and he smiled, nodding once.
"You see?" Mulder asked as the doors closed, obviously seeing Skinner as well. "He's not an idiot."
"No," she agreed, hooking her fingers briefly with Mulder's, and letting out a relieved breath. "He's not."
