Sanctuary
Athens – Greece
06:07 PM

Scully had expected to feel completely drained after the walk back from the cape beach, but the conversation with Milo and Aphrodite had been so enjoyable that the effort barely registered. The comfortable clothes helped, of course, and they'd paused to rest three times along the way before finally reaching the base of the Aries Temple – where Mu was already waiting.

"Agent Scully, are you feeling tired?" Mu asked gently. "I'm sorry I didn't come with you on the way back…" he added, a bit uneasy. He was still clearly unsettled by what had happened earlier.

"Milo, Aphrodite – would you mind if I stayed here for a moment? I… I'd like to talk to Mu, just the two of us," Scully said, a little hesitant.

"No problem at all, Agent Scully," Milo replied with a smile. "Aphrodite and I need to head down to the village before nightfall anyway…"

"That's right," Aphrodite added. "I have something to check with the Amazons about the festival. She's in your hands. Mu, when you take Agent Scully to the cabin, could you swing by my place and grab her clothes? She'll need them for the trip, and I forgot to drop them off at Capricorn."

"Of course." Mu smiled at his friend's care, then turned to Scully. "Shall we go in? I'll make us some tea."

Scully followed him into the temple and down to a small, quiet kitchen. She sat at the table with an ease that suggested familiarity, while Mu placed a kettle over the fire. Then, settling into the seat across from her, he began to braid his long hair.

"Mu…" Scully watched him for a moment, noting how the gesture of fussing with his hair seemed more like a nervous habit – an unspoken sign of unease. "I wanted to apologize for earlier… for what happened at the beach. I… I think I may have given you the wrong impression, and – "

"Agent Scully, there's really nothing to apologize for. Honestly, it's not the first time I've ended up caught between two people like that…" He offered a faint smile. "Seems like I'm always in the wrong place at the wrong time…"

"No, Mu, why would you say that?" Scully began, but Mu gently cut her off.

"Agent Mulder has feelings for you. You know, the day after I first met you two, I assumed you were a couple. Later, when you explained you were work partners, I understood… but what I see between you goes far beyond that."

"Mu, it's… more complicated than you think. It's not like – "

"Sorry. I'm overstepping, aren't I?"

"Mu." Scully reached out and took one of his hands, gently but firmly. "Mulder and I already have a complicated bond. I would give my life for him – and I believe he'd do the same for me. But we'd never let it go any further than that. There's too much between us. Our jobs, our lives… all the things that make it harder than it should be."

Mu rose slowly, as if trying to keep a rising frustration in check. He poured the hot tea into two cups and brought one back to the table, placing it in front of her.

"Do you think there's something beyond giving your life for someone?" he asked, his deep green eyes fixed on hers. Scully looked down, her gaze drawn to the steam curling from her cup.

"Anybody home?"

"Here!" Mu called out warmly, then turned back to her. "Just think about it – there's only one real obstacle that can truly keep two people apart, and it's the only certainty in life. Only death can stop love from happening. Everything else? That's up to us."

Scully was left speechless. Mu gave her a soft, knowing wink, then turned toward the sound of the others entering the kitchen.

"Finally!" Mu said as he walked over to the water filter. He filled a tall glass and handed it to Mulder. "Agent Mulder?"

Mulder took the glass and drank it down in one long gulp.

"Man, I don't think I've ever felt this out of shape – I'm breathing like a pack-a-day smoker." He handed the empty glass back to Mu. "Thanks, Mu. That might've been the best water I've ever had…" The exaggeration was sincere.

"The hike from the cape is tough," Mu said, "especially for you two who went all the way to the top…" He was referring to the prison, which sat much higher and farther than where the others had been.

"Oh, but Agent Mulder held up just fine…" Deathmask gave him a hearty slap on the back, and Mulder just barely kept from wincing. "How about a stretch session with us tomorrow? Agent Scully will be in Japan – it'll help kill time."

"Uh… can I get back to you on that tomorrow?" Mulder asked with a sheepish grin. "I need to see if I can still move first…"

Everyone laughed at the thought of Mulder waking up sore – including Mulder himself. Scully stood, ready to take advantage of the group's good mood and head up to the cabin. Mu caught on instantly.

"I'll take you both to Capricorn. Shura's probably waiting, and Agent Scully needs some proper rest," he said, then turned to Deathmask and Aiolia. "You two coming?"

"Nah, we're good," Deathmask said with a wave. "We'll wait here for Aphrodite and Milo, if that's okay."

Mu nodded – and in the blink of an eye, vanished with the two agents.

xXx

"¡Bueno!"Shura greeted them as soon as the three appeared in the middle of the cozy little cabin. "I just got back from Pisces – brought over a few things Aphrodite forgot to drop off earlier…"

Shopping bags were spread out across both sofas. The agents exchanged puzzled glances, and Shura was quick to clarify.

"Since you'll be here a few more days, Aphrodite took it upon himself to handle your wardrobe. He's got a real knack for it, I swear." He winked at Scully before adding, "Some of my best shirts? All his doing."

Scully smiled at the idea, and Mulder couldn't help but grin along with her.

"Then we definitely owe him one. He's the one who picked out what we're wearing now, isn't he? These sandals are easily the most comfortable thing I've ever worn. No contest."

"Mulder's feeling extra sincere today…" Scully teased, raising an eyebrow at him. He simply smiled back.

"Well, I think you two could use a little peace and quiet now, huh?" Mu looked to Shura, who nodded in agreement. "I'll leave you to it. Agent Scully, safe travels – I hope you find what you're looking for at the Foundation. Good night, Agent Mulder."

"If you get hungry, there's food in the fridge and in the pantry," Shura added. "Agent Scully, your ride to the airport will be by helicopter. How does six sound? Too early?"

"No, Shura, that's perfect," she replied.

"Great. I'll turn in, then – but if you need anything, I'm just over at the temple, okay?"

The agents thanked Shura, who stepped out a moment later. For a while, they simply stood there, staring at the bags scattered throughout the room, not quite sure what to make of it all. Then they looked at each other – and couldn't help it. They burst into laughter, because the expressions on their faces said it all: absolute disbelief.

"Scully…" Mulder sat down, still laughing. "I don't know about you, but I feel like we've stumbled into one of thosemakeovershows. Just look at this – there's enough clothing here to last us a year!"

"I have no idea where to even start…" Scully said as she stepped closer to the mountain of bags covering the sofas and spilling onto the floor. "Mulder, these are actual shopping bags. Do you realize we're in a place that barely feels real, and yet what we're looking at – all of this – came straight from the real world? Real shopping. Real stores. Can you believe that?"

"Scully… that was a whole philosophical bomb you just dropped." He grinned. "Come on, let's see what we've got here. Looks like you've got a suitcase to pack, don't you?"

He started opening the bags and spreading out the clothes and shoes wherever he could find space. Scully watched in growing amazement – the pieces were elegant, stylish, genuinely beautiful. And not at all what she would've imagined picking for herself.

"Wow… Aphrodite really thought of everything, didn't he…" Mulder said, pulling out a delicate, peach-colored lingerie set.

"Give me that!" Scully snatched it from his hands, her face turning bright red. "Why is it that men always turn into twelve-year-olds the second they touch lingerie?"

Mulder just laughed and kept going. He had to admit, Aphrodite had serious taste. He pulled out a crisp white shirt and slipped it on. It fit like it had been tailored just for him – shoulders, collar, cuffs, and hem all perfect.

"Well, what do you know? He nailed my size," Mulder said, visibly impressed. "How does he even manage that?"

"Aphrodite's incredibly observant. He got my size right too," Scully replied.

"Hmm… actually, the stuff he got you is a lot more… fitted than what you usually wear, huh?" Mulder teased. "I mean, you normally go for much looser–"

"Mulder?" Scully narrowed her eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

Mulder raised his hands in surrender, still grinning, and the two of them went back to sorting through their unexpected wardrobe haul.

TO BE CONTINUED...