Happiness: Two Sides To Every Story Author: shawntaw Category: MSR, Au Rating: PG Disclaimer: I didn't create these amazing characters, so no one's paying me. Summary: Mulder's view of the schmoop... Feedback makes me very happy at shawntaw@hotmail.com :) TO DANI WHO HAS MADE A WEBSITE OF MY STORIES: www.geocities.com/corran_14776/shawntaw.html Thank you.:) VERY IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT FEEDBACK: Life got really crazy for about a month and my e-mail got so stacked up that there was no way in heck that I could personally respond to everyone like I usually do. I just want you to know that I read your feedback if you wrote and it brightened my day!:) And, if you write me again (hint hint) I PROMISE to respond this time, ok? *BIG GRIN* ********************************************************************** ** Mulder entered Skinner's office with his shoulders hunched. The older man greeted him standing by his desk, hands in his pockets. "You know then, " he stated. Mulder nodded. "Where's Scully?" "She took off. I think she's a little overwhelmed and...embarrassed." Skinner nodded, "Understandable." He gestured at the seats in front of his desk. "However, if you'll bear with me for a few minutes, I think I have some good news for you and Agent Scully. It won't negate the embarrassment of having your private lives gawked at, but - in the long run - I think you'll both be happy." Mulder took the proffered seat. Skinner sat on the corner of his desk and looked at Mulder with a serious expression, but - to Mulder's surprise - Skinner's eyes were twinkling. "You're bluffing me! You aren't just trying to soften the blow; you really DO have good news! They-they're not splitting us up?!" Skinner shook his head and smiled. "No. For some reason, the powers that be have decided that it would be easier to keep you together and your unorthodox work under the umbrella of the F.B.I. rather than risk splitting the two of you up and having you run off together on renegade investigations on your own time." He huffed with amusement, "Like you don't do that already. Anyway, they didn't put it that way. They actually said that as long as the personal relationship does not interfere with your solve rate and is not overt in the workplace that it is not an issue. Obviously, the CSM and his bunch might have other ideas, but you can't plan your life around POSSIBLE danger and-" Skinner saw the happiness at this news dampened in Mulder's eyes by worry. "What is it, Mulder?" "Sir?" "What else is bothering you?" Skinner had a sudden thought. "Is it Diana? You don't have to worry about her anymore. We traced the e-mail to her work station, but all her things were cleared out and she seems to be long gone. Probably back working with that black-lunged son of-" "That's not it," Mulder interrupted gloomily. "What then?" "Our relationship and marriage being ok'd by the OPR is all fine and good, but I wonder if Scully isn't a little worried that she'll be permanently stamped as 'Mrs. Spooky' after this. Maybe that's the real reason she's been so resistant to going public with our relationship." "Stop being a yutz, Mulder. She's loved you for years; everyone knows that." "I know, I know, I just guess I'M worried if being completely attached - MARRIED- to ol' 'Spooky' won't hold her back; I've screwed up her life so much already." "Get a grip, Mulder." Mulder blinked at him in suprise. "Give the woman credit. She has choices and she chose you. She loves you even though you are the world's biggest idiot sometimes. Just be grateful and be happy." To soften his words, Skinner leaned forward and put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Be grateful and be happy," he repeated earnestly, "You've both earned it." Mulder looked at his boss, nodded his head once decisively, and stood. "I-I guess I'd better go find Scully and tell her the good news." Skinner stood and walked him to the door. "If you two need me for anything, call me after lunch." He opened his door and Mulder walked through. Mulder paused and turned. "Thank you, sir. I'm taking your advice." Mulder offered his hand and Skinner shook it. ********************************************************************** *** Kim watched this exchange with a glad heart. Once Mulder found Scully, everything would be fine. "Agent Mulder," she said as Skinner shut his door, "Agent Scully told me to tell you she'd be in the cafeteria." Kim paused, "Good Luck, Mulder," she added with an unprofessional grin. He grinned back, "Thanks," and dashed from the room. ********************************************************************** **** Mulder entered the cafeteria and was momentarily thrown off by the throng of people milling about. He had to pause for a moment to scan the room for Scully. *Why would she have picked such a crowded place? Why expose herself to further humiliation?* Mulder spotted her the moment she stood on the chair and was heading toward her rapidly. "I would like everyone's attention, please!" she announced in a loud, authoritative voice. *What is she doing?!!* Mulder found himself frozen mid-step with shock. Everyone became still and conversation filtered down to silence as they all contemplated the barefoot, red-headed "Ice Queen" standing on a cafeteria table making a proclamation. "I know that a certain picture of Agent Mulder and me has been circulating-" At this there was a blatant whistle and some tittering. Scully blushed, but merely held her head high and continued. Mulder felt like killing someone and all the blood in his body rushed to his head. He felt dizzy with embarassment and protectiveness for Scully. *Why, WHY, would she put herself through this?!* Mulder was standing halfway between the door and where she stood, seeming rooted to the spot, fists clenched, in shock. "-so I guess it will be no surprise to you when I say that, yes, Mulder and I are involved in a physical relationship. We have been for several months." There were some disbelieving huffs in the crowd and some low muttering amongst themselves. Scully held up her hand and the crowd was once again silent. She saw the cafeteria doors open to admit Skinner. He looked confused for a moment, took a few more steps into the room, saw her and then cocked an eyebrow in surprise. Mulder followed her gaze, saw Skinner, and tried to catch his eye to see if he had an idea of what Scully was up to and why. But like everyone else, Skinner only had eyes for the woman standing proudly on the wobbly, laminate table, presenting her heart on a platter to the wolves surrounding her. She cleared her throat and plowed on. "I know it is hard for you to believe, but I am here to tell you the whole truth to satisfy your petty gossip-mongering and your betting pools so that it will end and we can all get back to work. The truth is we have only been involved for a matter of months, although I have loved Mulder for years." At this, several people looked Mulder's way to gauge his reaction, as did Scully. He was oblivious to their stares as he walked slowly forward and the crowd parted before him. He held up his hand to her and said quietly, "You don't have to do this, Scully." Mulder thought how odd it was to look up at Scully. He was so used to looking down to his side to get her opinions or sideways looks that spoke volumes. But it made sense somehow. There were so many things about her that he DID look up to. Her bravery for one. She smiled lovingly at him. "I want to," she responded. He said nothing, but let his hand drop to his side. "What you don't know is that Mulder asked me to marry him and I accepted his proposal," she returned to addressing the throng of agents, secretaries, and other assorted employees of the F.B.I. There was a collective gasp of surprise. She waited for the shocked muttering to die down. Mulder was still looking at her with that serious, worried look. *That's one way for them to find out, Scully. I don't mind, but what are you trying to prove?* Everyone was staring at her expectantly, wondering what revelations were yet to come since she still stood on her 'soapbox.' "And this ring," she said, indicating her right hand, "belongs on this finger," she finished, removing it from the incorrect hand with a flourish and placing it on the correct finger while looking directly at Mulder. Ok, that satisfied the possessive, chest-beating caveman in him. His mouth quirked a little and she grinned at him openly. "I didn't want us to say anything because I was scared for our partnership. But I want everyone to know now that the cat is out of the bag, so to speak, that I am not embarrassed by my relationship with Mulder. You will not be able to use this to belittle our work or snicker about us at the watercooler. This is not an 'affair', it is a marriage and I will not tolerate any crap from any of you." There was a sobering silence and Mulder's small uplift of lips became a genuine, "YOU GO GIRL!" smile. She looked into his eyes. "Mulder, I know that in the movies it is usually the man that makes the grand, public confessions of love, but -" Scully broke into song. Horrible, off-key, warbling, song. Collectively, the room flinched. "Wise men say....only fools rush in..." Scully sang with all her heart. Mulder burst out laughing. The forest. She was remembering his request in the forest. "Sing something," he had said, and - even though she couldn't sing to save her life - she had trusted him enough finally to do just that. That's what she was doing now. She was proving her trust in him - IN THE TWO OF THEM. She looked directly in his eyes, cocked an eyebrow at him in challenge, and continued to butcher the normally beautiful love song. "..but IIIIIII caaaannn't heeeeellllpp faaaallllling in love...with...you.." He was laughing so hard now that tears were swelling in his eyes. His laughter was so raucous that it almost drowned out Scully's attempt at song. This was great. It was absolutely hilarious and so touching it was making his chest hurt. People were cringing, but looking at Mulder like he'd lost his mind. She could almost see them thinking, "For goodness sake, she's trying to do something sweet! Have a little tact!" Only Skinner in the back of the room had a big smile on his face. He knew that this is what Scully had intended, even if he had no idea of the joke behind it. "Scully! Stop it before security comes swarming in here thinking someone's being murdered!" Almost as though they'd rehearsed it, the entire room turned to look at Mulder in disgusted disbelief. She just poured out her heart to him! How could he be so- But Scully was laughing and letting Mulder pull her down from the table. They collapsed into each others arms, crying and laughing. "Elvis is rolling in his grave, Scully," Mulder said, wiping the tears from her eyes with his thumbs as he cradled her face and thought how incredibly blessed he was for someone so messed up. "I thought you said he faked his death, Mulder," Scully countered, doing the same to his face with her fingertips. They both became aware of their audience again at the same time. "Hey, you're not the only one who can showboat, you know," Mulder said - and dipped her as though they were dancing. One quick grin at her surprised face and he kissed her deeply and thoroughly in front of the lunch crowd in the cafeteria at the J. Edgar Hoover Building. The secretaries hooted first. The romance of it all carried them away. The cafeteria workers joined them, wiping the tears from their own cheeks and waving their dishtowels in the excitement of it all. Agents began clapping and even the couple of A.D.s that had wandering through for a snack had to show their approval by joining in. Soon the whole room was shouting and clapping and caught up in the moment. Mulder released Scully... *Ow, my back. I forget how short she is without the stilts.* ...and, still in a dip, asked her under cover of the noise- "Scully?" "Yes, Mulder?" Her eyes shone up at him and her hair hung back and away from her face like a auburn waterfall. "Answer me one thing." "What's that?" "If I promise never to ditch you or doubt you in the future, will you promise never to sing Elvis again?" "Shut up, Mulder." Scully was done with the witty back and forth. She grabbed him by the tie and shut him up herself... with a kiss. Mulder closed his eyes and the hoopla, the clamor, the greasy smell of the cafeteria all blurred into white noise and then into nothing until all he could sense was her. ********************************************************************** ****** Tada!!! The next installment was inspired by an e-mail from Mimic who suggested the idea of a jealous and envious secretarial pool....(hee hee hee....)