Title: Happiness - Downtime Author: shawntaw Category: MSR, AU Rating: PG Disclaimer: Just dreaming of a happy life for Moose and Squirrel...no copyright infringement intended. Summary: "...you are mine...I am yours..." 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" "Happiness - Family Dinner: Preparations" "Happiness - The Gang's All Here" "Happiness - Marking Your Territory" "Happiness - Alone At Last" Note: I love feedback at shawntaw@hotmail.com. AND, thanks to Daniela Labod for making a website for archiving my stories.:) What an incredible thing to do!!!*G* Please visit my children..I mean, my stories *L*... at: www.geocities.com/corran_14776/shawntaw.html It is still under constuction and progresses daily. Keep checking...:) Thank you sooo much to those reading and enjoying this series who take the time to tell me that they are indeed reading and enjoying this series! *BIG HUG* :) ******************************************** Mulder and Scully didn't speak as Mulder shut the door. He merely stood there, taking in the scene before him, soaking in the warmth and security of it. The light was muted. The air smelled faintly of candle wax and the combinations of food that the partygoers had just eaten. Scully was moving around the table and the living area, collecting dessert plates and humming softly to herself. Mulder watched her as she moved...bending and picking up a dish...stacking it on the ones she already held...tucking a red strand of hair behind her ear... Feeling his eyes on her, she looked up at him. Scully smiled. Mulder smiled back and strode over to her CD player. He chose some soft jazz and then turned back to her. She still stood, smiling, holding the dishes and watching him. He walked over to where she stood, took the small stack of dishes from her, set them on the table, and pulled her into the empty space in the middle of her apartment. Scully sighed as he pulled her close and began to sway. She tucked her head under his chin and turned her head sideways against his chest. Her arms found their way under his, her palms against his back. Mulder buried his nose in her hair and breathed deeply. His long arms hung in a relaxed embrace against her back, sporadically tracing small circles with his fingertips along her spine. *We've come so far....so far....* He felt his breath hitch at the thought. *We could so easily not be here right now...not be like this...* Mulder's thoughts floated back over the years....Scully's abduction....her cancer....Diana... *Things could have worked out so differently.* He tightened his embrace around Scully. She responded by humming contentedly against his chest as they swayed to the music. Mulder pulled away from her and gazed down as she looked up at him. Scully was happy. There were no hidden messages in the blue depths of her eyes. She was simply for once...happy. This undeniable fact made Mulder smile with joy. He bent down to kiss her. Mulder felt more than saw Scully tiptoe in an effort to meet him halfway. He almost laughed against her lips at the unconciously considerate gesture. He knew she was remembering a joking off-hand comment he had made about his back and her height. His smile quickly dissolved, though, as they kissed. It wasn't a particularly passionate kiss. More the kiss of a long- married couple than the kiss of the newly engaged. A kiss of long-earned trust. Of absolute certainty... You are mine....I am yours.... Their lips moved against one another.. ...tasting...caressing... ...you are mine...I am yours... Mulder pulled away from her and looked again into her eyes. They were glazed over with a sheen of tears as were his own, he knew. He took her by the hand and gently tugged her toward the couch. "The dishes can wait until morning. Come sit with me on the couch," he said softly. She followed and sat beside him, snuggled against him on her couch. The two of them leaned into each other, listening to the beautiful music that filled the apartment, and basking in each other's presence. Occasionally, Scully would place soft kisses on his neck or against his chest where she lay. Mulder ran his fingertips in tingly caresses up and down her arms, bent to taste her lips. This could lead to something more. This could easily lead the two of them to her bedroom. Or not. It didn't matter. They were together. They snuggled closer to one another. The dishes...and the world... could wait until morning.... *************************************************** Just a little vignette...a little quiet time for our agents-in-love before I can think of some more mischief. I thought they deserved it...do you know how much work goes into planning and putting together a dinner for family?! *L*