Title: Food, Fighting, and a Fluttering Heart Author: Chase Buckingham Category: VR Rating: G Spoilers: Small references to Bad Blood and Patient X Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance Summary: In a heated debate with Bill, Scully finds a new part of her soul... Archive: Sure! Wherever, just put my name on it and let me know : ) Feedback: YESYESYESYESYES!!!!! AltarGirl2@aol.com Disclaimer: Bill and Dana Scully and Fox Mulder belong to Chris Carter (my personal God) and Ten-Thirteen Productions. I would never DREAM of infringing on copyrights- I'm just having a little bit of fun with my two fave characters... I'll return them unharmed Dedication: For Jane, Jess, and Raven Without further ado.... Dana embraced her brother warmly- it had been too long since she'd last seen him. She'd been angry with him, but as absence makes the heart grow fonder, she was happy to have him for dinner. He cared a lot about her, and she was grateful for it, and therefore she put up with his flaws. After the usual chit chat, they sat at the kitchen table, where Dana had laid a simple but wonderfully aromatic meal. "You *cook*?" Bill asked, incredulous. She smiled. "Yes, William, your little sister has learned to live on her own. Aren't you proud?" As her brother shoveled a large amount of food into his mouth, he nodded. "Yes! Quite delicious, Dana. Anyway, how've you been? I hear you had an- uh- interesting- experience in Texas?" She rolled her eyes. "More like chaotic and aggravating. It was like it wasn't even *real*, it was so absurd. I was about to *kill* Mulder. Other than that, though, I've been great." He nodded, sipping his wine thoughtfully. "And how is Mr. UFO Himself?" He asked in a mocking tone. He could be so pathetic. "He's, *fabulous*, Bill. As to the title, I think he's renounced it. He doesn't have the same passion as he used to. It should be relieving, but for some reason it upsets me. Things are changing too much too fast." Her voice became wistful as she said these words, and that bothered him. "Don't you ever get *sick* of him? He seems rather confused to me." She pursed her mouth, repressing the dirty look that was dying to get out. "No. I don't. And he's not." He arched and eyebrow. "Oh? I find him rather aggravating. He seems to want to control you. Don't you think?" "No! He's very sweet to me and would give up everything in a second for me. You don't know anything about him or me or our relationship. Don't waste your breath pretending you do, okay?" The dirty look escaped. "Well, perhaps not, but I know something of it, and I don't like him. Why are you getting so emotional over this, Dana? He's just your partner." She slammed her hands down on the table. "Dammit, Bill! Why are you so insensitive? He is *not* 'just my partner'! He is my closest friend, my only confidant, the only person on Earth who understands me... and a thousand other things. He means more to me than I can even tell you, and don't you *dare* go around insulting him!" She was truly angry with him, and seeing that made him wince. "Dana, don't get so worked up about it! I guess there's more to- ah- you two than I thought. Relax." She didn't relax. She was still angry with him, and wasn't going to let him off so quickly. "Don't get so worked up? Well, you're right- there *is* more to us than you'd imagined. He is the most wonderful person I know- he's generous, sweet, funny... not to mention the fact that he's saved my life more times than you've had hot meals! He has been there for me when no one else was, has cared for me and put my needs before his, has never once judged me, has been my sanity, and has carried me when I was weak. And because of all that, not only am I grateful to him, not only am I indebted to him, but I..." she faltered, a shocked and confused look on her face. He leaned forward, curious. "You... what?" "I... I love him," she said with an air of wonder, eyes wide, mouth hanging open. "You WHAT?" he repeated with a completely different tone. She glanced at him as though she'd forgotten he was there. "Ah, excuse me, please." She locked herself in her bedroom and picked up the phone, trying to control her shaking hand as it dialed the oh-so-familiar number. "Mulder." "Fox, this is Dana. Look, we need to talk..."