Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, the X-Files, and associated characters are property of David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting Corporation. They are used without permission and no copyright infringement is meant. Any elements not recognized as being taken from the show copyright Christina Shuy. Comments and other things sent to cshuy@netcom.com are much appreciated. Rating: PG Category: S, MSR Summary: It's Valentine's Day again... one year later Spoilers: erm... nothing obvious... 5th season hints. Nothing major. Note: I wanted to do a 'one year later' story... though this might become an annual thing with me. We'll see how much feedback I even get. No response means the series dies here... don't say I didn't warn you. Also, there has been talk about how their entering into a relationship would ruin the show and ruin their professional demeanors. I'm going to prove them wrong, though Valentine's Day may *not* quite be the way to go about it. I hope you like it anyway. Wishes, Roses, and Valentines IV: "The Year of the Rose" by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com Mulder walked into corridor outside the basement office with a grin on his face. It was the day before Valentine's Day. He had a dozen red roses in his hands and knew exactly what he was going to do with them. His best friend and partner had not arrived at the office yet, as was noted by the still closed and locked door. Unlocking the door, he went to set the roses on her desk when he noticed another bunch of roses already sitting in a crystal vase on one corner of her neat desk. "Secret admirer, Scully?" Mulder murmured, looking at the flowers. Nine roses: four red, four white, and a sunset, just like last year. Then, he realised who they were from, and heard laughter in his memory. "Oh... silly me. Victoria again." he grinned. He turned and walked over to his own desk and sat down, smiling. It was only then that he saw the two things on his desk that stuck out. First, the same arrangement Victoria had sent last year was once again there. Second, there was a small package and a note addressed to him in Scully's neat handwriting. He opened the package. Inside the box was a Knicks jersey, sunflower seeds, and a bottle of iced tea. The note just let him know that she was away at a meeting with Skinner and would be back as soon as possible. As Mulder pulled open a file that he'd been considering for a while, the door to the office opened and Scully walked in with a smile on her face and rushed over to Mulder. "Happy Valentine's Day." she smiled, giving him a light kiss on the lips. Though they were very happy together, they were also very much at work. "Happy Valentine's Day to you too. Liked your present." Mulder grinned. "Thanks. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect." "Aside from being a day early, everything is. Now that I have you. What was the meeting with Skinner about?" "Oh... nothing." Scully shrugged, indicating that, though it was not work related, it was something. "Dana...." "Apparently he's going to be a father soon, and he also wanted my advice on how to plan a surprise for his wife tonight." There was a sparkle in Dana's eyes. "And you're so *cute* when you're jealous, Mulder." she teased. "I'm *what*? You think I'm jealous?" "Aren't you?" Scully's eyebrow climbed into her hair. No way was he going to get out of this one. Her expression dared him to lie because she'd know it. "Uh.... I guess maybe I am." he grinned sheepishly. "Thought so. Silly. He's happily married, remember? And *I* have *you*.. which is close enough." "That you do, sweets, that you do. Sharon Skinner is pregnant?" Mulder raised an eyebrow, mimicking the look Scully usually gave right after one of his wild theories. "That's what he just told me. As for this not being Valentine's Day yet, come over tonight, and I'll give you a Valentine's Day present you won't soon forget." Dana's eyes sparkled. "Promises, promises." She hushed him with a kiss. "That it is." "Dana, how about dinner before hand? My treat?" She smiled. "I'd love that. No fast food or cheap restaurants, though. We're not eating like we're on a case. This *is* Valentine's Day, after all." "I'd never do that to you. I made reservations at Ariel's." Mulder grinned. "Mulder, we were there last year." "So much the better, Scully. Remember? In a way, that is where we first met and fell in love." "Mulder, we've been *in* love longer than that." "Okay, so we just acknowledged it there. Still..." "Anniversary, hmmm?" Dana smiled. "Indulge me a little?" "A lot, Mulder, a lot." Dana's teasing smile caused Mulder to laugh. "So, what do you have planned for today..." "The usual..." "Paperwork again this time too?" "No. Skinner also asked me to do the briefing on this particular case, though he said it could wait until Monday. That way we can save on airfare. Seventy two hour advance purchase and all that." Scully waved the file she was holding, the noticable red and white striped cover reminding them that they were at work and needed to act like it. "It's nice to see Skinner so happy with us and with his home life." Mulder smiled. "Yes, it is. Now, would you like to hear about this?" "I'm all ears." "Now that's an interesting image..." They got to work. She was getting dressed for her night out and had decided on a silver grey silk dress held up with spagetti straps. He was at her apartment door with another bouquet of roses in his hand. They were identical to the ones he'd given her last year for Valentine's Day. This time he wasn't as nervous as he remembered he was last year. Of course, knowing exactly what it was that she felt for him helped. And the fact that she knew what he felt for her helped as well. As did their knowing that the cancer which had come so close to taking her from him was now not as big a threat as it had been. She opened the door to him and grinned. Mulder was dressed as he had been last year, except for his tie. It was not as obnoxious as his usual neckwear, but far too appropriate for the occasion. This year, his tie was only somewhat sedate. It looked to be a red, white, and blue stripe-patterned tie, until one looked closer and noticed that the stripes were all little hearts. Still, it was far *too* Mulder. She loved him for it. "Here with bells on again, Mulder?" she asked as he handed her the flowers. "Always with you, Scully." His bright smile got even brighter. "You look beautiful tonight." "Come in, then, Fox, and leave Mulder at the door." Dana said. "I'm almost ready. Make yourself at home. Please put the flowers in the vase in the kitchen." "I'll do that. Thank you, Dana." Fox Mulder smiled, walking into her apartment. It was a running joke between them that the dividing line between work and play was at her door. Once both of them crossed her threshold after work, they were both off duty and could resort to first names. He walked into the kitchen and noticed the empty vase sitting on the counter. It was the same vase the flowers from Victoria had come in a few months back, immediately before they had decided to finally consumate the relationship. Mulder put the roses into the vase, filled the vase with water and set them on the kitchen counter. Then, he looked at them, and his mind drifted to one year ago... with the events that went with it. Admissions of love, delicate kisses, being in ea ch other's arms... He loved her so much, it occasionally hurt when she wasn't around, even when they'd agreed to take weekends apart. He knew what they shared was special and never wanted to give that up. "Fox, what's taking you so long? I'm ready." Dana's voice drifted into the kitchen. Mulder walked out into the living room again and smiled as he saw her, wrapped now in her silver grey silk dress and the warm wool wrap that matched it. "Dana, you take my breath away..." he said, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. "Thank you. I was hoping for that effect." Dana's eyes met Fox's and for a moment they were lost in each other. "Always... and ever..." the words floated from his lips and she smiled warmly and lovingly. "Shall we go? The reservations won't wait. I remember what Ariel's is like." Mulder smiled, offered her his arm, which she took, and they floated out the door together. Dinner was a blur. Wine, appitizer, main course, bread, and dessert were then followed by the slow swaying of a dance. Each were so content in each others arms, they didn't notice that they were the only ones on the dance floor with everyone else in the restaurant watching them. "Fox... before we make *too* much more of a spectacle of ourselves... let's go home." Dana murmured, once she realised they were being admired by the entire restaurant. "Okay. Wherever you are... is home for me, Dana." Mulder smiled. "Likewise. Now... take me home, please. I want to be alone with you." Once they returned to her apartment, love, desire and passion took over. Clothing was draped and poolled on the floor and furniture. Kisses and caresses grew more and more heated until finally they joined together just as they'd always meant to be, their love flowing strongly between them. Unspoken but acknowledged. There. "Dana?" Mulder's voice was soft and sleepy as he enfolded her in his arms. "Yes, Fox-love, what is it?" hers answered, equally sleepy. "I love you." "I love you too." There was a deep, loving kiss exchanged as the energy fled them both, and they fell asleep that way, wrapped securely in each other's arms. -End- "The Truth is Out There. Trust No One."- from "The X-Files" "I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat is to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with someone else who's already naked."-Mulder "Maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you'll get lucky." Scully(tXF-"Detour") Pursuing a BS (Electrical Engineering)-Winter Quarter 1998(Phil380,EE210) "In the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that you can." - Celine Dion - "Power of the Dream" "Let's get Dangerous!" - Darkwing Duck. Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area.