Title: After Talk

Author: Gallena

E-mail: gallenaverde@yahoo.com 

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: None really, but season 7 to be safe. 

Disclaimer: They aren't mine. You know the drill.

Summary: All Things vignette

"Say something about `the world not coming 

to an end' and die Mulder."

"Scuuu-lly," he whined contentedly, "I was 

thinking more along the lines of the earth 

moving, angels weeping . . ."  He continued 

the thought with a trail of kisses along her 

shoulder.

". . . aliens invading the earth," she said 

with a smirk.

Mulder loosened his embrace so he could see 

her face more clearly.  "Out of all the 

times I imagined this Scully, never once did 

I dream you'd be such a smart-ass 

afterwards."

"Give me a break Mulder," she said, turning 

to face him completely.  "You expect me to 

believe you spent time fantasizing about the 

afterwards?"

He was having a hard time reading her.  She 

didn't look upset, but she hardly seemed 

overjoyed.  Post-coital Scully was a 

completely new phenomenon.

"Actually, I have given it some thought," he 

whispered as he ran the back of his hand 

tenderly across her cheek.  "Quite a bit 

really.  Seven years worth of unspoken, uh, 

emotions and issues, it seemed 

insurmountable some days."

"Maybe it is," she replied, suddenly 

fascinated by the edge of the pillow.

With his index finger he gently lifted her 

chin so she couldn't look away.  "You don't 

believe that."  He tried not to make it a 

question.

"No, no I don't," she said after a bit.  Her 

eyes held something he still couldn't 

identify.  "But how do you change such a 

long standing habit?  What has gone unsaid 

before has, has hurt at times Mulder - 

deeply."  A single tear began to trail down 

her face.  "And I was always too proud to 

ask, too afraid of revealing my hand.  The 

stakes are so much higher now," she paused, 

unsure of herself, "at least for me."

He embraced her fiercely.  "Scully, you are 

my last, *best* chance.  You are *it*, you 

know that.  We'll work on the talking."

". . . and the secrets and the ditching."

He was relieved by her somewhat playful 

tone.  "May I remind you that just . . ."

She interrupted him with a shove to his 

chest.  "Yes, yes, you don't need to bring 

up *that*."  Scully lay her head down on his 

shoulder and snuggled up close.  "I'm sorry 

Mulder, I guess I was suddenly feeling 

insecure about being able to do this.  I'm a 

bit overwhelmed."

"I'll take overwhelmed over smart-ass any 

day," he chuckled.  Then, "soooo Scully, 

overwhelmed huh?  It must have been pretty 

good."

She snorted.  "I was wondering when I'd have 

to perform the requisite ego stroking."

"Oh yeah?"  He began to tickle her 

violently.

"Mulder!" she squealed, suddenly trapped 

beneath him.

"Say it Scully."

She could barely speak through her giggles.  

"Of course it was good, it was great.  Happy 

now?"

He stopped, serious again.  "Yes, I am happy 

now."

She smiled that rare Scully smile, the one 

that melted his heart.  Her eyes sparkled 

with glassy tears and the perfect moment 

that they had missed time and again finally 

caught up with them.

"I'm gonna say it Scully.  Stop me now if 

you're not ready to hear it."

She blinked once, twice.  "I'm ready."

"I love you," they said simultaneously.