Title: Happiness - Family Dinner: Preparations Author: shawntaw Category: MSR, AU Rating: PG Disclaimer: If they were mine, this Sunday wouldn't be happening...Mulder, Mulder, where art thou? Summary: Can Mulder and Scully keep their hands off each other long enough to put this get-together on? Previous Titles in this series: "Happiness" (through a posting error on my part, this posted as (no subject) by shawntaw on atxc) "Happiness - The Morning After" "Happiness - The Secret" "Happiness - The Secret II" "Happiness - The Adjustment Period" "Happiness - The Adjustment Period II" "Happiness - Public Displays of Affection" "Happiness - Public Displays of Affection II" NOTE: Sorry the updates are coming slower, but you wouldn't believe the stuff going on at my house lately! *L* (If any of you out there have kids, you know what I mean! *L*) Please keep the feedback coming!:) For those of you sending feedback regularly - especially Teresa, Inya, and RL - thanks! I always look forward to your comments!:) And, don't worry - I am working on the next "Safe Harbor" right now...Mulder's POV...:) ****************************************************** She was lounging in her bed in her favorite pajamas, book in hand, half-listening to Mulder go on and on and on about some slime creature in Nowhere, Illinois that two people had seen on a night with a full moon and blah, blah, blah... She had ceased understanding him. Mulder was getting ready for bed. Scully watched him over her reading glasses, enjoying the show. Mulder gestured wildly with his hands as he stripped off his suit jacket and laid it over the foot of the bed. Then he toed off his shoes and began pacing while he worked his tye loose. "-and these guys said that the thing tried to stop them from demolishing the old house! TWO witnesses, Scully! They corroborate one another's story!" He pointed at a file on the nightstand on what had become HIS side of the bed and pulled his tye from around his neck. He tossed it on top of the jacket. "Blah, blah.." he continued as his nimble fingers danced down his torso, unbuttoning his white shirt. He undid the cuffs and pulled it from his arms, throwing it on his growing pile of clothes. Now he headed for the bathroom clad in his undershirt, suit pants and socks. He left the door cracked and continued to yell at Scully. "I know what you're thinking, but they swear they don't drink - except occasionally beer - and neither one does drugs." She heard a flush, water running, and then Mulder strode back out of the bathroom like he was shot from a cannon. "Blah, blah, blah.." Scully heard as she stared mesmerized. Mulder grabbed the bottom of his undershirt and tugged it over his head in one pull. She sighed. And failed to notice Mulder had stopped talking and that a smug smile was forming on his face. His hands moved slowly to undo his belt.. Her eyes followed. Mulder's grin grew as he began to unbuckle his belt.. and broke into song. "Babuh uh babuh uh..," Mulder sang as he performed his striptease with comic gusto. Scully fell back against the headboard, rolling her eyes and laughing, realizing she was caught. Mulder twirled his suit pants over his head and tossed them at Scully. He pulled off each sock and sling-shot them at her as she dodged. Gyrating around the foot of her bed in nothing but boxer shorts, he finished his song by leaping onto the bed and dancing at Scully's blanket-clad feet. "I wish I had a dollar," she choked out through her laughter-clogged throat, taking off her glasses to wipe the tears from her eyes, "I'd stick it in your waistband." He plopped down on top of her and began to kiss her face, her neck, her arms, her shoulders... "Mulder?" Scully murmured with her eyes closed, the book forgotten. "Hmm?" Mulder was busy with her earlobe. "I think I want to make tomorrow night's dinner for the whole family, not just The Gunmen." Mulder pulled away and looked at her. "Who's the whole family?" She opened her eyes to smile at him, "You know: my mother, The Gunmen, Skinner, maybe even Kimberly since she's been so helpful-" "Anybody else?" Mulder looked amused. "No, I think that's everybody who's in on it." "In on it?" "The secret." "Oh," he went back to nibbling. "Mmmmm..." she said. He smiled. "My thoughts exactly." ******************************************************** Scully e-mailed Kimberly and Skinner from the basement office first thing the next morning. "You are invited to my apartment for a special gathering of family and friends, tonight 7pm. Dinner will be served. Sorry about the last minute notice; I'll understand if you can't make it. Just let me know so I can plan the menu. Thanks, D.Scully" Kimberly's response was jubilant and almost instant. "I'm in! See you at 7pm!:) Kim" Skinner's came at lunchtime in his usual conservative manner. "I'd be delighted to come. W.Skinner" She almost rubbed her hands together in anticipation. She had already spoken to her mother and she had agreed to attend as well. Mulder was skeptical. "I hope we're not getting in over our heads. I mean, how do we know everyone is going to get along?" "Mulder, you worry too much." "We'll see." ******************************************************** She and Mulder cooked the dinner together. "Spaghetti. Salad. French bread. Easy," Mulder said, looking over the ingredients they had bought spread across the kitchen counters. Scully nodded, smiling and pushed up her sleeves. "Let's get cooking." Mulder waggled his eyebrows and pulled her to him. "Mulder! I mean it!" "So do I." She pushed the package of raw spinach at him. "You start making the salad. The rest of the stuff is over there. I'll start browning the meat and boiling the pasta for the spaghetti," she gave him a little push, "Go on, Mulder." Mulder sighed, giving up, "Ok, but did you get jarred sauce or are we making it?" Scully turned from the stove where she was getting started on the meat. "You know how to make spaghetti sauce?" He nodded as he began to wash the spinach at the sink. She shook her head with a smile, "Mulder, you never cease to amaze me. You can make the sauce, if you really want." Mulder turned toward her and grinned, "It will be delicioso!" He said with a bad Italian accent. "Isn't that SPANISH for delicious, Mulder?" "Hey, I didn't say I could speak Italian. I just said I could make spaghetti sauce." She threw a spaghetti noodle at him. He tossed a freshly-chopped carrot stick at her. She held up a wadded paper bag from the groceries they were using... "Oh no, we are NOT doing this. I'll only end up having to clean up the mess," she lowered her throwing arm and tossed the paper bag into her trash can under the sink. Mulder just smiled wider. "Fine. I'll just owe you." ***************************************************** "What time is it?" Scully yelled from the bedroom in a mild panic. "It is 6:45, Scully, you've got plenty of time. Calm down." Mulder pulled on the collar of his casual, green, button-down shirt for the fiftieth time. *Knowing they know is one thing, but parading around ENGAGED in front of your boss, his secretary and your your fiancee's mother...* He tried to take a deep breath to sooth the sudden dizzy feeling he had. *Fiancee...this is real, man, get a grip. At least the guys are coming...* Mulder tried to reassure himself. "Fifteen minutes is not 'plenty of time,' Mulder!" Scully yelled, "I can't decide what to wear!" Mulder paused in his fidgeting. That sounded so classically female. He had no idea Scully could do the whole 'closet-full-of-clothes-but- not-a-thing-to-wear' thing. He chuckled. She walked into the living room at that moment, dressed in a very nice sweater and slacks outfit. She was putting her earrings on as she strode into the kitchen. "What's so funny?" He smiled at her. One of the things he loved about Scully is that she was totally unaware of her beauty. "Nothing. By the way, you look beautiful." She blushed. How he loved it when she blushed. Mulder stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, he dipped his head to kiss her... The doorbell rang. They stared at one another for a moment. Mulder swallowed. "Well, let's get this show on the road." ****************************************************** Next: "Happiness - Family Dinner: The Event" Hey, I should have made it closer to Thanksgiving...Oh well, that is not how my muse wanted it *L*