Title: Peanuts Author: DM E-mail: unruhe1121@hotmail.com Feedback: is treasured and always replied to. Rating: PG Category: V, R Key words: Mulder/Scully Romance Spoilers: Agua Mala Disclaimer: Not mine; they belong to 1013 Productions, FOX, and most importantly, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Summary: “I was thinking, Scully,” he waits a minute, a delicious smile curling the corners of his mouth, “I’d like to take you out. On a date. . . a real date.” Notes: My last three projects have all dealt with some serious issues presented on the show. It’s now time for some good, old-fashioned fluff! This is the sixth vignette in a series that follows Mulder and Scully through the episodes in Season 6, beginning with Rain King. They’re more or less a series of stand-alone stories, the MSR having already been established in the first two installments. If you would like to read the series, it goes as follows: ‘Kroner’ ‘Georgetown’ ‘One Simple Kiss’ ‘We All Make Mistakes’ ‘Personal’ ‘Peanuts’ They may all be found here: http://www.geocities.com/dmldr42/fanfiction.html All of my other stories may be found at my website: http://www.geocities.com/dmldr42 And, thank you *again* to Carol A for such a quick beta! She’s the absolute best! For those of you who know her, I’m right, aren’t I? :) Peanuts By DM “It’ll be a nice trip to Florida,” he said. I should have known better. . . at least our assailant was something slightly more predictable than a mothman, but not by far. He said the case would get us back into the swing of things. It’s true we’ve been assigned elsewhere for the past several months, but deep in the back of my mind, the part where secret wishes and desires reside, the ones that will never be uttered or heard by another soul, I knew what my partner was doing. I don’t think he imagined Mr. Dales’ story was much more credible than my own opinion on the matter. I think he wanted to pursue this case as an excuse to get away for a few days, get back into doing what we do best. Hey, I can hope, can’t I? Figures he’d pick Florida. . . in the middle of a hurricane, no less. And, it figures Mr. Dales was right. But, now that all is said and done, I can’t say I’m complaining. It’s not everyday I’m able to witness someone telling Mulder that he’s a lucky man to have me by his side. I think I like this Arthur Dales. . . despite our first meeting. “Peanut?” Mulder’s outstretched hand produces a bag of honey-roasted peanuts. Yes I want one, but my hips won’t appreciate the sugary treat. “Do you know how bad those are for you?” I busy myself with my bag, searching for something, anything. . . trying to rid my mind of the temptation. “The air we breathe is bad for you, Scully, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop breathing.” He’s got a point. I’ll give him that one. Maybe one won’t hurt. How he eats the junk that he does and retains a healthy body mass is beyond me. I take one, deciding I’ll only live once and also because I deserve it. I saved my partner and delivered a baby, all in a days work. The nut crunches under the pressure of my teeth and the sweetness makes my mouth water. I reach over and take the bag out of his hands. Yes, I deserve a treat. “I thought you’d enjoy them,” he smiles as he reaches inside his coat pocket revealing another bag identical to the one I hold in my hands.” Mulder knows me far too well. “So,” he begins, eyes down, tracing invisible patterns on the leg of his slacks. “Got anything planned this weekend?” “You mean besides getting out of this airport?” “Besides that,” he smiles, chancing a look in my direction. Granted it’s only been about a week, but ever since our conversation in my apartment, during quiet moments he’s been obnoxiously tentative around me. I think he’s afraid I’m still upset over the entire Agent Fowley incident, but I’m not. Upset with him, that is. It wouldn’t be entirely smart to put me in a room alone with that woman. There are a few unspeakable things I’d like to do to her. But, that’s beside the point. “A nice long bath.” I reach over and place my hand over his, the one playing with the fabric of his pants, and gently squeeze it. “Other than that, I’m all yours.” The self-assured, almost cocky presence that I’ve grown to love about my partner comes flooding back all at once. I’m not used to making such overt declarations, especially in public places, but the look in his eyes tells me my reward will be well worth the sacrifice. We sit that way for a while; I can only guess what thoughts his mind is perusing, but I know I’m anxious to get the weekend started. “I was thinking, Scully,” he waits a minute, a delicious smile curling the corners of his mouth, “I’d like to take you out. On a date. . . a real date.” So help me, but I’m feeling mighty flirty today. I can’t help but wonder what’s gotten into me. “Why Agent Mulder, I believe that would strictly go against the proper code of conduct for two partnered agents-“ And then he leans over and kisses me, and so help me I kiss him back. We’re in Florida. This isn’t an official case. Why shouldn’t I kiss him? “I suppose that’s against the proper code of conduct as well, huh?” My lipstick is smeared across his upper lip. So much for color stay lip color. “No,” I reply. “Kissing is okay.” He looks devilishly pleased with himself, so as a precaution, I add, “when we’re not on assignment.” “What if we go undercover?” I lift my eyebrow in a response he knows all too well as he reaches behind me and wraps his arm around my shoulder. We wait in comfortable silence for our flight to be called. *** “It’s beautiful,” I breathe, letting the twinkling lights of the city soak into my memory. “Have you ever been up here before?” I shake my head. After all the years I’ve lived in Washington, I’ve never taken the time to explore the Old Post Office. I wasn’t even aware tourists could visit the top of the tower. “My dad brought my sister and I up here once when we were kids,” he begins. “Sam was petrified, she was always afraid of heights.” A wistful tone overrides his usual monotone. “I always thought it would make a good make out spot.” I turn in his embrace, eyeing him suspiciously. “I was mature for my age,” he assures me and I can’t hide the smile that rests on my lips. I turn back around, leaning into him once again. His arms tighten their hold around me. It’s chilly out tonight and I’m especially thankful for the gesture. “Thanks for coming, Scully. We should make a habit of this.” “What, and be normal, Mulder?” I ask, teasing him. “I don’t think we’re allowed to be normal.” “Let’s make an exception.” “I think that can be arranged.” I turn again in his arms and wrap my own around his waist. “Wanna test out my theory?” “What th-“ His lips cover mine. Oh, *that* theory. Yeah, it’s a good make out spot. I have to agree with my partner on this one. This feels good. The city swirling busily on below us, me in my partner’s arms. . . sharing a kiss that has my entire body tingling from head to toe. At first I was irritated with him for using his badge to get us up here. The tower closes at six, but there was no deterring my partner from completing our date just the way he envisioned it. Now I’m slowly beginning to admit to myself that if you’ve got the ability to make things work in your favor, go ahead and use it. We’re all alone, and the city is nothing but a whir in the depths of my brain. I’m concentrating on Mulder’s breathing, his heartbeat, his hands in my hair. The sound of his cell phone piercing the frigid night air. Figures. Regrettably, we pull apart. “Thought I’d turned it off,” he offers in apology. The mere idea of him losing touch with the rest of the world just for me is uncharacteristically touching right now. I chalk it up to the hormones raging through me due to his lips pressed against mine. “Mulder. Sir, no, you’re not interrupting anything.” I eye him warily. Oh yes he is. “Skinner,” he mouths to me in explanation. Yeah, he’s interrupting, but I can’t expect Mulder to explain that to our new boss. I quietly thank our lucky stars again that we no longer report to AD Kersh. Being reassigned to the X-Files has its many perks, AD Skinner as our new superior is just one of them. “Monday morning? No, that shouldn’t be a problem. No, I’ll call her. You have a good night, Sir.” He hangs up his cell. “Meeting with Skinner on Monday morning.” “We’re officially back to work, huh?” We were given the week off after the apparent ‘murder’ of Agent Jeffrey Spender. His body has yet to be recovered. Skinner gave us the opportunity to regroup before heading back down to the basement. It wasn’t until late Thursday evening that they recovered all possible evidence from our office and allowed us use of it once again. Agent Fowley has been reassigned elsewhere. Where, I’m not sure and I haven’t asked Mulder what he knows, either. “And right back into the swing of things, it appears.” “We’ve still got the rest of the weekend before Monday morning, Mulder.” With that he smiles. “Now where were we?” I waste no time in showing him. *** “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he leans over and chastely kisses the tip of my nose. “You’re leaving?” I yawn and hit the power button on the television, the Sunday evening news just ending. “Meeting tomorrow morning, bright and early. Remember?” He looks almost cheerful repeating the news. I know he’s ecstatic to be back, even if we are kicking things off with a meeting. “See you tomorrow then,” I follow him up off the couch and to my front door. He kisses the corner of my mouth and leaves. I lock the door behind him and go to straighten the cushions on the couch before retiring to my bedroom. The phone rings and my lips curl in response. I know exactly where he is, so I grab the phone and walk to the window before answering. “Goodnight, Mulder,” I say when I answer. “Thank you for the weekend.” “Like I said, we should make a habit of this.” He looks up at me from the walk below. “I think we’ve earned a bit of normality.” “You think?” I ask, watching him watch me. “I know.” He presses his lips to his hand and blows a kiss up to my window. Good night, Scully.” A good night, indeed. End.