Feedback: FBI_Woman fabiana@writeme.com & Tissa scully@cruiser.com.br
Rating: G
Category: SRA
Keywords: MSR, Valentine's Day story
Timeline: Valentine's Day after Dreamland I & II
Spoilers: All the way up to Dreamland II
Summary: Valentine's Day, Scully in Mulder's apartment, presents, surprises
Disclaimer: Mulder & Scully belong to each other, we are just trying to help them figure that out.

Fabi: What we gonna do tonight?
Tissa: A fanfic to take over CC's TV show!

Special thanks to: CW, for her pacience and excellent editing work; CC, for giving us such great characters; whoever created Valentine's Day and Morris Fletcher, for giving Mulder a bedroom and an excuse for the boxes in his kitchen.

Authors' notes at the end.

Anyway, Mulder wanted me to go to his place instead of him coming to mine. He said something about having to move boxes and boxes out of his kitchen and losing sight of the time, therefore he was running late and it would be better if I just went to his place, since it's nearer to "Mangiare Felice," a small Italian Restaurant that is one of my favorites.

Half an hour later I found myself knocking on his door. He answered it quickly, apologizing for the misfortune and telling me to make myself at home while he would be showering.

I took my coat off, hung it on a chair and since I was thirsty, I moved to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water. But as I got to the kitchen's door, I found out the real reason why Mulder had been running late: there were boxes everywhere, over the table, over the counter, even one over the stove. Some of them were stacked in floor to ceiling piles. I was wondering where the hell all those boxes had come from when something caught my eye.

On a chair right next to the table I saw a big brown box, half opened, with some fluffy stuff on the spot. Since when did Mulder keep stuffed animals in his apartment, I wondered. It looked too new to be Samantha's. I couldn't resist, so I grabbed the first chair I could reach, removed the videos that aren't Mulder's but were on his chair, in his kitchen, and placed myself next to that box.

I carefully opened the box and peered inside. A white teddy bear, whose expression more than resembled Mulder's puppy dog face, looked up at me. I picked up the toy and was surprised to see it was wearing a tiny t-shirt in which "You're Hot!" was written in block letters.

That was definitely not Samantha's, I assumed, feeling a slight grin forming on my face. The little bear had a red envelope tied to itself. I knew that what I was doing wasn't right at all but I couldn't stop myself from opening it. The envelope held a small Valentine's card and to my surprise, was addressed to me:

"Scully,

Hope one day you'll let me prove to you just how plausible it is that someone might think you're hot. Myself included.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Love,
Mulder."

Now what? Was that really for me? I read the card over and over, wondering why on earth the little bear had never ended up in my hands. The date on the bottom of the card read "Feb. 93." It was our very first Valentine's Day as partners and I guess he would be a bit embarrassed because of the gift. Just a way to apologize for another one of his jokes over me, he probably regretted the purchase the moment he got home with the toy. I bet that's when he decided that a candlelit dinner and Godiva chocolates would do it for us.

Anyway, that teddy bear got me curious. Why would Mulder keep it in the first place? It made me wonder what else I would find in that box. I was feeling a little guilty for snooping around Mulder's private stuff, but it didn't really stop me from doing it. Just in case, I went to the living room and cast a glance in the direction of the bathroom. The door was still closed and I could still hear the water running. I was about to do something wrong, but I couldn't help myself. I had to know. So I got back in the kitchen, opened the box really wide and started fumbling inside.

And I found a Victoria's Secret box. With another card attached to it. I opened the box and had to suppress a gasp. Inside it there was the most beautiful nightgown I've even seen. It was a long, light blue silk nightgown, with spaghetti straps and a beautiful low-neck that would leave the cleavage naked. I put the gown in front of me. It just matched my size. I ripped the card out of the box and read it:

"Scully,

Would you visit me in my dreams?

--Mulder."

I felt my heart pounding hard in my chest and my inner alarms told me to stop right then. That card was from 1995, right after the incident when a woman showed up claiming to be Samantha. Mulder gave up on her for me and I did appreciate his gesture, though I had never understood why he left her slip away so easily. Until now. Things were starting to make sense.

I reached for the box again and this time, I grabbed a little stuffed Pomeranian dog. Queequeg, I figured out immediately. Where had Mulder found such a thing? The toy was a little awkward. I mean, you don't see stuffed Pomeranians in whatever shop you go in. Anyway, weird or not, I found it sweet of Mulder. Sometimes he seemed even jealous of poor Queequeg. The card, from 1996, read:

"Queequeg,

May you have this pretty mate so that you can leave me and my Scully alone.

Have fun.
--Mulder"

I had to laugh at that. So Mulder was REALLY jealous of poor little Queequeg. But my laugh soon turned into a frown when I realized what this really meant. I was afraid to even think about it, but it did looked like Mulder was in love with me that far back. I was feeling like a little girl who got exactly what she wanted for Christmas. My heart was pounding harder in my chest and my hands trembled. But I had to know for sure. So I went back to the box.

This time I found a photo album. It was a kid's photo album, with Marvin the Martian on the cover. Typical Mulder, I thought. Then I opened it and started turning the pages. It made me cry. Inside there were pictures of Mulder and I, taken in different crime scenes throughout the years by FBI photographers. Usually the photographers prepare their cameras before going to the crime scenes, but sometimes they take pictures of the agents just to test the camera, or whatever. I never imagined Mulder, of all people, would take hold of these pictures. And that he would choose the ones with me and him together and make this album.

The card was on the last page. I couldn't control the tears that started falling as I read his words:

"Dear Scully,

You belong here. Please, don't leave me.

Love,
Mulder"

There was no date at the card, but the last picture was one of Mulder and I in front of Leonard Betts' house. That was 1997. I had cancer then. It surely explains the album AND the card. He was saying goodbye and begging me to stay at the same time. Oh, God, I knew Mulder could be sweet, but this, this was every single one of my wishes coming true at the same time.

There was still some stuff in the box, so I picked out another thing. This time, it was a plain white rectangular box that was kinda heavy for it's size. I opened it and took out the most incredible music box I've ever seen. It was made of some shiny ivory material and there was a beautiful sea & ship drawing on the top. I opened the lid to peer inside it, and the music box started to play the song, "Beyond The Sea." Oh, Mulder, how much more incredible can you be, I wondered. I reached for the carton box again and found the card:

"Scully,

Your dad is just beyond the sea waiting for you. Hope you let me walk along with you the whole way to the shore.

Always,
Mulder"

By then I was sure. Mulder loved me. Jesus. Just thinking of it made me almost faint. Again, I wondered what else could be inside the big box.

The remaining present was wrapped in a transparent cellophane sheet with a red string around it. As I undid the ribbon and set eyes over the gift my heart broke into a million pieces. The tears that immediately filled my eyes soon clouded the picture of a little blond girl and her mother, me, framed in a beautiful antique piece of metal.

Mulder had managed to get a collage photo where a younger Emily smiled so happily from a swing set as I stood behind her, smiling as well. So perfect.

I knew my face would be stained with mascara and my make up would be ruined but I couldn't stop the tears that were rolling down my cheeks. Mulder had given me, even if only in fantasy, a precious moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. And I couldn't hold a sob when I opened the card that came along with it. It was pre-printed with a quotation picked out from the Bible:

'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'
Matthew 6:21

Right below it there was Mulder's handwriting:

"Wish I could bring her back. I love you.
-- Mulder."

Silently I wiped up the last tears and tried to recompose myself. Mulder would be out anytime soon and it would just be too much, not only for me, if he found me crying. I rose and searched for a tissue in my purse. When I was on my way back to the kitchen - I hadn't had my water yet and needed it more than ever at the moment - I spotted it, right above the counter.

A small velvet box, that sat proudly over a salmon envelope. I felt my knees buckle under me, and I had to support myself on a chair or I would fall. With trembling steps I went to the counter, and took the box in my hands. Some small part of my brain - the rational one - was saying that maybe that wasn't for me, but I knew in my heart what was inside the box. I opened the lid, and there it was - a white golden ring, with the most shiny solitaire I've ever seen in my life. I took the ring out of the box to take a closer look. Mulder, my sweet darling Mulder, had put an inscription inside the gold band. "S. Love Me. M." So much for wiping my tears. I was crying again.

I picked the envelope that was still over the counter and opened it. In a way, I knew what I would find written in the card, but I had to read it to make it real:

"Scully,

I'm not drugged. And no, I'm not kidding.

I love you. Will you marry me?
--Mulder"

The click of the handle in Mulder's bathroom door startled me and without thinking twice I shoved the ring in my purse. I settled the velvet box over the envelope, just as I had found it, and ran to the living room hoping that I could get there before Mulder came out of the bathroom. Needless to say that he saw me coming out of the kitchen but accepted without questioning my poor excuse of being thirsty. Before he noticed my probably screwed up make up, I hurried to the front door, calling "Shall we go?"

*****

The drive to the restaurant was almost silent and I was barely aware of the few questions Mulder attempted to ask me. He seemed to notice my distance and even made a short comment about it when we arrived at the restaurant.

The maitre'd led the way to our table and we sat facing each other. Of course I couldn't meet Mulder's eyes, I was sure if I looked at him, he would know how disturbed I was because of what I had found back at his apartment. I took advantage of the waiter's arrival bringing the menus and the wine to excuse myself and go to the ladies room.

I was about to make the biggest decision of my life and although it might sound scary I wasn't a bit afraid or reluctant. In fact I was so certain about this that I didn't have to stop and consider what I was doing. I set my purse on the counter, took the ring out and put it where it belonged. On my left hand ring finger.

Then I walked back to the table where Mulder waited patiently. I sat on my chair and deliberately traced the rim of my wine glass with the index finger of my left hand. It had the desired effect. The restaurant's dim light made the solitaire shine bright. I finally brought my eyes to Mulder's face. He was staring at my hand, astonished. When he looked up at me I just smiled and said one little word: "Yes."

The End.

*****

Authors' notes: we're not native English speakers, so if you find some grammar errors, let us know immediately. It's not our intention to offend your idiom; for those who don't know, "mangiare felice" means something like "eating happily", as corny as it may sound (and nope, we're not Italians either).

More Fiction by Tissa and FBI_Woman at
http://members.xoom.com/Tissa/fics/