Title: Happiness - The Secret Author: shawntaw Category: MSR, AU Rating:PG Disclaimer: Not mine. But I enjoy borrowing them and playing with them. Summary: Will "the secret" complicate their lives? Oh yeaah... Notes: This is third in the "Happiness" series after "Happiness" and "Happiness - The Morning After." Thank you to all those that encourage my sappy streak. :) ****************************** Scully twisted the ring around on her finger and considered taking it off for the one-hundredth time this morning. She didn't wear it on her left ring finger, but on her right one. Scully figured this way she could wear her engagement ring without anyone being the wiser. She couldn't wait to see Mulder's face when she strode down the halls of the J.Edgar Hoover Building on Monday wearing his ring for all to see. They had stayed up to the early hours of the morning discussing their future, the secret they must keep for now, and the wedding. Mulder had spent the night, but strangely the two had spent the time chastely entwined in bed, quietly talking. They talked about the past. They talked about work. They talked about the future. About nothing. And it was wonderful. This morning, Sunday, Mulder had headed back to his apartment with the promise to see her the next day at work while Scully had headed to Mass with her mother. ********************************************************************** Maggie greeted her daughter with open arms, "Dana! How are you this morning?" "Fine, Mom," Scully said casually, trying not to beam at her mother, "You?" "Good. Bill called last night. Matthew said the cutest thing.." Her mother's voice trailed off as she stared at Scully's hand. "What? What did Matthew say, Mom?" Scully felt the blush crawling up her neck to her face. *Casual...casual..remember, there's nothing going on..* "That's a lovely ring," she took her daughter's hand and tilted it in the light, causing the ring to sparkle. "Thank you," Scully responded, "Where do you want to have breakfast this morning? Our usual?" Her mother was looking at her with a serious expression. "Dana, I've seen this ring before." Scully couldn't think of a response. She swallowed. "Oh?" Maggie tilted her daughter's hand back and forth, staring at the ring glinting in the light. "Fox may not remember. He was pretty distraught at the time. I walked in on him sitting on my couch in the middle of the night. He used to do that sometimes while you were gone. Just appear in my living room. I think it made him feel closer to you." Maggie sighed, reliving those dark times for a moment. "Anyway, I walked in and he was holding this ring up to the light and looking at it. And he was mumbling to himself. After a minute, he realized I was standing there and put it in his pocket. Neither of us ever mentioned it." Maggie looked into her daughter's tear-filled eyes. "You said yes." It was a statement, not a question. Scully nodded. Her mother smiled. "Finally." **************************************************** Mulder tried not to whistle with happiness as he went about his business at his apartment. Everything seemed surreal. He looked around, noting the regular housework that needed to be done. He really needed to do laundry or he'd be out of underwear in a couple of days. *Scully loves me.* And the dishes were starting to pile up, too. He'd had to wash a fork just so he could eat the leftover spaghetti he'd warmed up for lunch. *Scully loves me.* He tried to think of something really disgusting to take his mind off the floaty feeling in his chest. *The bathroom. I really should scrub the toilet...Scully loves me!* Mulder stopped his pacing and assessment of his messy apartment. He began to laugh. It started out as a quiet, chest-shaking man-giggle and grew louder until he was clutching his stomach and crying with laughter. Damn, he was happy. *************************************************** Scully checked her appearance one last time before picking up her keys and heading out to work. She took off the ring and put it in her pocket. She got stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway. Scully put the ring back on and admired it in the morning sunlight. The traffic began to move and she went with the flow of it until she pulled into the parking garage. She took off the ring. Scully took the elevator into the building and began to make her way to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. She stopped off at the restroom first and put on the ring. It glimmered at her on her right hand, suddenly entirely too auspicious and glitzy. *Everyone will stare at it. Everyone will know. They'll separate us...am I having a panic attack?* Her breath came in heavy gasps. Scully willed herself to breathe slowly...naturally. *Breathe in...breathe out...just going for a cup of coffee...just a new piece of jewelry on my RIGHT hand..no one will even suspect..* She straightened up and pretended to start washing her hands as two women entered the restroom. *breathe in...breathe out..* "- and he wants it YESTERDAY. I'm not kidding, if the lab doesn't hurry with the results, he's going to pop one of those blood vessels that stand out on his head when he gets angry - Oh, hello, Agent Scully." Kimberly smiled pleasantly at her as she headed for a stall. "Good morning, Kimberly," Scully said to Skinner's secretary. The other woman fiddled with her hair and spoke to Scully's reflection. "Agent Scully? I'm Rhonda Mills, A.D. Smith's new secretary." The woman turned and offered her hand pleasantly to Scully. She shook it and smiled back. "Oh! What a gorgeous ring," the woman turned Scully's hand and looked at it briefly before releasing the handshake. "Thank you," Scully said, trying not to hyperventilate or blush. "Ring?" Kimberly said from where she was washing her hands, "Let me see." Scully held out her hand for inspection, feeling slightly silly. "Oh, that is nice, Agent Scully. Is it your birthday or something?" Scully cleared her throat, "Something like that." "Well, it's beautiful. If it wasn't on your right hand, I'd swear it was an engagement ring." Scully pretended to laugh along with the other women as she excused herself and dashed toward the cafeteria. She jammed her right hand into her jacket pocket. **************************************************** Mulder strutted down the hallway toward the cafeteria. He couldn't help it; he was walking with a definite strut. And he couldn't stop smiling. People were beginning to stare. He tried to tone it down a bit. He overheard a bit of conversation as he passed a couple of fellow agents, "..must have got some this weekend.." and a snicker. Mulder eyes darkened and he turned to look at them. They scattered like leaves to the wind and Mulder continued on his way. He had to make an effort not to grin openly as he saw Scully make her way through the crowded cafeteria toward the coffee urns. Then he stopped in his tracks as she reached out to fill her cup. The ring sparkled on her right hand in the overhead florescent lights. Mulder felt a knot in his chest. *Is she crazy? Someone will see! They'll know! They'll..* It suddenly hit him that Scully was wearing the ring on her RIGHT hand. She turned with her coffee and spotted him across the cafeteria. She waved with her right hand, obviously repressing a grin. *She wants me to see her wearing it* Mulder realized this suddenly and had to stop the completely goofy, proud look of ownership from fully forming on his face. He had a sudden picture of himself standing on one of the tables and announcing, "See the ring? MY woman!" Mulder choked back a laugh and met the concerned eyes of a woman passing by him. "Frog in my throat," he explained and cleared his throat for good measure. "Coffee, Mulder?" Scully held out a large styrofoam cup. "Thanks," he took it from her with a cocky half-smile. "Hey, Scully, nice ring. Is it new?" he asked loud enough for those around them in line to hear. "Yes, thanks for noticing, Mulder," she smiled at him, pleased. The two agents took their coffees and strode calmly toward the elevators. ****************************************** "I can't believe you wore it, Scully!" Mulder pounced on her as soon as the elevator doors closed. She grinned from ear to ear. "It is my engagement ring; I wanted to wear it." He pulled her up to him until her feet dangled above the floor and kissed her until they were both gasping for breath. "Why-why do I get the feeling that you've been wanting to do that for a long time?" she breathed. "Because I have," he said as he gently lowered her back to Earth, "Can't always be hunching over. I'll give myself a bad back." The elevator dinged and the two of them sprang apart. When the doors opened, the two agents stood their usual distance apart, discussing the paperwork they needed to get done first thing this morning. Kimberly, two other secretaries, and a male agent stepped onto the elevator. Kim nodded a greeting at each one and started to look away. She did a double-take at Mulder and stared. The other people on the elevator were involved in a conversation about an outrageous expense report turned in by a field agent and hadn't yet noticed Kimberly's silence. Kimberly reached out a tenative hand and brushed Mulder's arm. He and Scully looked up, startled. Kimberly looked nervously at her companions to make sure they weren't looking and brushed her thumb across her lips. Mulder's eyebrows arched and Scully looked shocked. She stared meaningfully at Mulder's lips and again wiped her thumb across her own. Mulder looked embarrassed and Scully was getting livid. She opened her mouth to say something- "Whoa, Spooky! You and the Missus need to be more careful!" The male agent was leering at them. Kimberly cringed. *Too late.* Scully looked up at Mulder in confusion and gasped. He had lipstick smeared across his full bottom lip where she had kissed him. The elevator entourage' were giggling among themselves as the doors opened on their floor and they disembarked. Kimberly lingered long enough to whisper. "I'm sorry. I tried to tell you." Mulder and Scully both gave her understanding looks as the doors shut. *************************************************** The doors opened in the basement to the arguing couple. "Well, we stink at keeping secrets," Mulder was saying as he wiped his lips with his hankerchief. "It'll be all over the Bureau in no time and then they'll separate us." Scully sighed. Mulder was in full "doom and gloom" mode. "Mulder, they only suspect that we kissed. They don't know for a fact that we kissed and they certainly don't know we're engaged!" "Oh, please! The rumor mill does not deal in facts, Scully. I might as well put out an e-mail announcement: 'Now here this - This weekend Agent Scully and I consumated our relationship, admitted we love one another and are getting married. Thank you for your attention.' Scully was turning the doorknob to open their basement office, "Mulder-" They both stopped in their tracks. A.D. Skinner stood in the middle of the office holding a file folder, a distinctly uncomfortable look on his usually stern face. The three regarded each other, not knowing what to say. Skinner cleared his throat and set the folder on Mulder's desk, "So, apparently you two had an interesting weekend.." Scully's face burned bright red. Mulder threw up his hands in defeat. "As I said, we stink at secrets." Skinner's hand reached out to grab Mulder's shoulder as he paced by. "Agent Mulder, I didn't hear a thing. I certainly didn't hear anything that would put a perfectly productive partnership in jeopardy should my superiors find out. But-" At this Skinner smiled warmly. "-congratulations to you both." He patted Mulder's shoulder and turned to leave the room. On his way, he lifted the right hand of the very stunned Agent Scully and scrutinized the ring. "Very nice," he commented, smiled at her and left. ***************************************************** They both stood in silence for a few seconds after Skinner left, collecting their thoughts. "Ok," Scully started, "damage control. Who knows about this?" Mulder fell heavily into his chair and it creaked ominously. "Definitely Skinner." Scully nodded, " And probably Kimberly. Oh, and my mother." Mulder sat up straight, "Your mother?" "She remember seeing the ring before-" "When you were abducted," Mulder finished, closing his eyes. "I had almost forgotten about that." They both sighed. "Well, most of the important people in our lives know about it. We might as well tell the rest of them." Scully stared at Mulder. "I thought you were worried about us being separated." Mulder nodded, "I was, but Skinner basically just told us he's going to turn a blind eye. And as long as the higher ups don't know-" Mulder grinned and shrugged a shoulder. "So, we're not keeping it a deep, dark, secret...just a selective secret?" Scully grinned back. "Exactly." Scully suddenly went serious, her eyes darkening. "Mulder-" He sat up in his chair again. "Scully, what is it?" "This is personal, but-" "Personal? Scully, I've asked you to marry me, nothings personal between us anymore. What is it?" "Mulder, do you have any family at all you'd like to tell? I mean, I know you've lost your parents, but isn't there anyone? An aunt? Grandparents? Someone?" Mulder rocked back in his chair and regarded her solemnly. "Scully, its o.k.; I'm not going to fall apart if you remind me I don't have any family. I already know that. And, no, there is no one left. No aunts. No grandparents. You're looking at the last Mulder." Scully walked over to him and leaned down to look into his eyes. "Not anymore." she promised. ******************************************************* STAY TUNED....:)