Title: NEW: Stargazing (1/2)
Author: DiLisky@ix.netcom.com
Date: Fri, 05 Sep 1997 15:11:36 -0700~
Title: Stargazing
Author: Kristyn Collins
Rating: PG
Category: S
Spoilers: none
Keywords: Pre-XF, Mulder/Scully friendship, Alternate Universe
Story Summary: A kind of "what if" story about what might have happened if
Mulder and Scully met as high-schoolers.
Archive: YES! At Goss, please. And anywhere else, but reatain author's name
and addy. And send me a note as to where, if you don't mind.
Disclaimer: Well, I don't know if this counts as a real X-files story, but I
give
the credit to Chris Carter for inventing the characters and their world.
Author's Note: This is a little strange for me. But I was so captivated by the
story "Friends Even as Children" I had to write this. You must, must, must
read that story by Penny Daza I'm sorry to her if she feels this is
infringement. It's the same premise, but a different story entirely. By the
way, I have lived in 5 different places in my short fifteen years, so I know
what she must've felt like. Plus the changing behind the blanket really
happened to me. Don't ask. Look for X-files references. Also, ignore the fact
that Mulder had to go through hypnotherapy to remember the aliens. I
forgot that as I was writing this.
Stargazing
By Kristyn Collins
Dana walked into the high school in Chilmark. This was the eighth place
she had lived in her short fifteen years. It was a lot of trouble making
friends and then having to leave them, so she didn't bother anymore. The
last place she lived was Norfolk, and she had only spoken to her lab partner
in biology on the phone. It was hard enough being a freshman, but she was
a middle-of-the-year-transfer freshman. And this was a small school, too.
They were the worst because everyone had grown up with everyone else.
She made her way to her first class- biology. She liked that class a lot, she
was a very good student. The teacher was a man called Mr. Niva who looked
strangely like Santa Claus.
Period two was french with Madame Laurent. She was a prim, proper sort
of
woman. Just the kind of person her mother was. Dana wasn't very good in
french, and the rest of the class quickly knew that when the teacher asked
her to conjugate a regular ir-verb and all she could do was stammer. The kids
all snickered. She hated every single one and made a mental note not to talk
to any of them.
The rest of the day was the same. She would get up in front of the
class,
introduce herself and then sit down and listen to the whispers and snickers.
She barely made it through to lunch without crying. She would have cried at
lunch if it hadn't been for a mysterious boy. She was sitting at a table all by
herself when he came up to her. He looked strangely sad and haunted. He
sat next to her.
"Hi. My name is Fox Mulder. Are you new here?"
"Yeah. I just moved from Norfolk," she said shyly. He was very
handsome,
and a lot older. He was her brother Bill's age. Or at the very least Missy's.
"My name is Dana Scully. Have you met my brother or my sister?" She
glanced around, seeing Missy surrounded by her new friends and Bill Jr.
playing football outside.
"No. Should I have?"
"No. I was just wondering what made you come over here."
"Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes. "You mean no one put you up to it?" She had
expected to be the butt of a few cruel jokes.
"Who would put me up to it? I don't have any friends either," he
shrugged,
like that didn't bother him at all. "But look, kid, if you don't want any
company I'll-" He rose, but she stopped him.
"No stay. But don't call me kid. Call me Dana," she said. "What year
are
you?"
"I'm a senior. You're a...sophomore I bet."
"No," she smiled. He was a charmer, this one. "Freshman. I just
turned
fifteen."
"I'm almost eighteen. But not yet."
"Can you drive?" she asked, wide-eyed. For as long as she could
remember
she had wanted to drive.
"Yeah. It's no big deal," he said. Then the bell rang. He asked for
her
phone number. She was amazed. This cute senior wanted her phone
number. Actually, she didn't have a phone number yet, so she gave him her
new address and made him promise to stop by before heading off to her next
class.
********
When she came through the door, she was greeted by her mother with a
hug. "How was your first day, honey?"
"Good, Mom. I only made one friend, though."
"What's her name?" asked her mother, leading her to the table. She sat
down and her mother sat across from her.
"*His* name is Fox," she said, "He promised to stop by later."
"Oh. How old is he?"
"He's a senior," she said.
Her mother frowned, "Dana..."
"Mom!" she groaned, "I can take care of myself. I'm fifteen. He's
seventeen.
That's not much older than me!" she exclaimed. Then her sister and brothers
came through the door. Missy sat down next to their mother and smiled at
her sister.
"I see you've met Fox Mulder," she said as if she were an expert on the
workings of this new school.
"Yes. Is there something wrong with him?"
"No. He's just labeled as kind of a hermit, that's all. But if you
want a hermit
for a boyfriend..."
"He isn't my boyfriend! He's stopping by later, and I want all of you
on your
best behavior!" she scolded.
"Yes, Mother," said Missy and Bill after giving each other a look. The
front
door opened and in walked Bill Scully, Sr. He was off of work for just two days
until his family got settled in their new home, and the children relished the
precious time they has with their father. So as soon as he walked in the door,
he was met with an onslaughts of "Hey, Dad, guess what?" And "Dad! Listen to
me, Dad!" "Dad!" Dana watched her siblings fight over their father as she
quietly went to her room and waited for Fox Mulder to arrive.
********
"Dana, it's Fox," sang Melissa, "Come in, Fox," she said. "Dana!" she
called
again. "Sorry, let me get the brat." She ran up the stairs. Fox followed her
and they both walked into Dana's room and found her curled up with her
favorite book- Moby Dick.
"Sorry," she said breathlessly. "I was getting to the good part. Hi,
Fox. We'd
better go downstairs," she said, but thought better of it when she heard
Charlie screaming at Bill. "Um...maybe we should stay here. Missy, tell Mom
Fox is here and that we'll be up in our room."
Melissa departed and Dana heard her sister screaming, "Mom! Dana has a
boy up in our room! Why can't *I* have a boy in our room?"
But her mom must have trusted them because she never appeared. Neither
did her father. So she and Fox were left alone to talk. It was five thirty.
"So...What brings you to Chilmark?" he asked, when they were settled.
Dana
sat on the floor, Fox sat next to her. It had never occurred to Dana that Fox
might have wanted something less than pure up in her room, because she
was, by nature, the most trusting of people.
"My Dad's in the Navy. We move around," she said simply.
"Oh. How do you like it here?"
"Fine, accept the schools are a little lacking."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. You're the only person who came down off your high horse to talk
to me."
"My horse isn't high," he said, trying to make a joke. It was lost on
Dana. "I
mean, I'm not that well respected at school. People think I'm strange."
"Why?"
"Dunno. Maybe it's cause I think that there are aliens walking among
us."
"Aliens, Fox?" she asked, amazed at how easy it was to talk to him.
"Yeah. From outer space. They come and take people away!"
"Where did you *ever* get an idea like that?"
"It's a long story," he shrugged. He eyes grew sad. She put a hand on
his
shoulder.
"I'm a good listener." She quit bugging him when she saw how lost he
became.
"It's a story for another time. Tell me more about your family."
"Well, around here most of the time there's me, my younger brother
Charlie,
my older brother Bill Jr. and my sister Missy. In Norfolk, Missy was never
around because she was always out on dates. Bill Jr. makes friends and
girlfriends easily too. Charlie's a bit of a Mamma's boy, so he's always near
Mom. I'm closer to my Dad. He reads to me from Moby Dick." she thought.
"My family's so different form yours. My parents are divorced. I
basically
live with just my mother."
"No siblings?"
"No," he answered quickly. Almost angrily. She told herself not to
ever
mention siblings to him again. She wondered why that was such a sore spot.
There was a very uncomfortable silence. He got up and looked at her
books.
She had a lot of poetry, some Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes. He picked it
up.
"I love Sherlock Holmes!" he exclaimed, holding it up.
"Yeah, me too. Being an investigator sounds so exciting."
"Are you thinking about doing that when you grow up?"
"Oh, no! I want to be a doctor. How about you?"
"I don't know. Psychology, maybe. Police work sounds like fun. You
don't
think so?"
"No unless you like chasing psychopaths around the country. No, thank
you!"
He grew silent again, and looked at his feet. Then he took a deep
breath,
"Listen, Dana?"
"Yes?" she answered. He looked worried.
"I know this is kind of last minute, but the Winter Ball is on Saturday
night,
and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me."
"I'm a freshman! You're a senior. Wouldn't that ruin your reputation?"
"Reputation? *I* have a reputation? I don't think so. If you don't
want to
go, just say-"
"No. I do! But I have a confession to make."
"Yes?"
"I've never been on a date."
"Neither have I," he said. She was comforted by the thought that he was
as
clueless as she.
"Do you want to stay for dinner?"
"No, I think I should go. My mother's expecting me. I don't like to
keep her
waiting. Dana?" he said, standing and leaning over to her, invading her
personal space.
"What?" It came out a little harsh. The closeness was new to her.
"I'll bring you a corsage."
"Okay." He left. She sighed, and when she heard the door close she ran
downstairs screaming, "Mom! I have a date! I have a date!"
"Really, Dana? Did Fox ask you out?" her mother's eyes narrowed. She
hadn't even seen him yet, but she knew when she did, her mother would just
love him.
"Yes. We're going to the Winter Ball this Saturday. I mean, if I can.
Can I
please?"
"I don't know. He's Bill's age," she said. Bill was seated at the
table, fork in
hand. Lately, he just ate and ate and ate. Melissa was sitting at her spot at
the
table pouting. Charlie was still talking to his father, babbling about how
wonderful his new school was in the den. "I will speak to your father about
it. Bill! Charlie! Come on! Dinner!" she called. Charlie, a spitting image
of
his father emerged.
"What's for dinner, Maggie?" said the elder Bill.
"Tuna noodle casserole." Charlie cheered, Dana scrunched up her nose,
Bill
licked his lips and Melissa continued to pout.
"What's wrong, Missy?" her sister asked.
"*You* have a date before me! How embarrassing is *that*? And he's a
senior, too!"
"I thought you said he's a hermit!"
"He's a cute hermit! He's a senior hermit!" yelled Melissa. As a
junior, she
was only interested in senior guys.
Dana sighed and took her victory silently. "Melissa, you're pretty and
nice.
You'll have a date soon enough," she said. Then she sat down and began
eating her dinner. It was a happy, animated family moment. The family was
normally happy, but usually Bill was away at sea. They laughed and talked
about their days and began to prepare to say goodbye to their father again.
********
A very different scene was taking place at the Mulder household. Fox
had
prepared himself and his mother dinner. It was leftovers. Something a
neighbor had given them. Since his father left, him mother had not been
domestically inclined. He prepared her meals. She was a zombie, in front of
the TV.
"Hi, Mom. I met someone today." Her eyebrows raised in response. "Her
name is Dana Scully. She's a freshman. She's pretty. She has flame red hair
and clear blue eyes. She trusts me already, Mom. Can you imagine?"
"That's nice, Fox," she said. He sighed and went up to his room to eat
his
dinner. He took out one of his father's books- "Moby Dick". By God, he was
going to impress Dana Scully if it was the last thing he did. He hadn't fallen
in love with her, exactly, but he was very intrigued by her as well as her
family. A few minutes later, he went back downstairs.
"Mom?"
"What?" she said, not looking away from the TV.
"I need to get a suit."
"You have plenty of suits."
"Yeah, but they're all too small."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Mom. I got them two years ago. Besides they're all stupid. Can
you
take me shopping Saturday?"
"Why do you need a suit?"
He groaned. "Mom, I told you I'm going to the Winter Ball. I need a
suit."
"You can go in the suit you have," she said.
"How abut one of Dad's?"
"No! You will not wear *his* clothes." Then she began to cry. Great,
what
was he going to do? He'd have to cancel on Dana or else find some way to
come up with the money for a suit soon. And a corsage. He promised her a
corsage! He sighed. He'd tell her tomorrow.
*********
Fox knocked on the Scully's door. Her mother answered. At least he
figured
it was her mother. She didn't look anything like Dana.
"Mrs. Scully?"
"Yes. Oh! You must be Fox," she said, welcoming him into their home.
"Please come in. Dana isn't home from school yet. How did you get home so
fast."
"I drove. I was going to offer her a ride, but I couldn't find her
today. I feel
really awful."
"About what?" she asked, preparing milk and cookies for the children
when
they came home. She made an extra plate for Fox and set it in front of him.
He thought he was too old to be mothered, but it felt good to have food
prepared for him for a change.
"Thanks. I can't go to the Winter Ball on Saturday."
Her face fell. "Oh. Why not? Dana has been so excited."
"So have I," he confessed. What was it with these Scully's and being
able to
talk to them? "I..." he trailed off. He was embarrassed.
"Fox," she said sternly, "If you're going to disappoint my baby girl, I
need a
good reason."
"That's just it. It isn't a good reason. My mother won't get me a
suit. I've
outgrown all my old ones. She says they still fit, but they don't. I don't
have
the money myself to get one," he said, finishing his plate of cookies. He got
up to wash it, but Mrs. Scully stopped him.
"Here. I have that. We gave our consent to Dana for her to go with
you, and
she was so excited. And I see that you want to go. I'll take you to get a
suit.
And then we'll go shopping for that corsage you promised her, okay?"
"Mrs. Scully! Thank you so much! But won't that embarrass her?"
"Well, it'll be our little secret. Give me your address and I'll pick
you up
tomorrow morning. I'll tell the children I'm going shopping. Okay?"
"Thank you," he whispered. he
wondered.
Then the door burst open and a troop of teens came through the door.
Melissa was first, followed by her two brothers and then Dana. Missy saw Fox
first and took over him.
"Hello, Fox. Getting ready for the Winter Ball?"
"Yes," he gave a sly glance to Mrs. Scully, "Are you going?"
"Mmm hum," she said, grabbing a plate of cookies. "Scott Johaanson
asked
me this afternoon!" she giggled.
"Scott Johaanson, huh? He's a nice guy. You'll have fun."
"I'm going with Kristen!" piped up Bill.
"Kristen Lawrence?"
"Yeah. She's great, isn't she?"
"I don't know her very well. She just moved here last year," Fox said.
He
noticed Dana was smiling at him. "Can we talk?"
"Yeah, let's go for a walk," she said, smiling.
So they bundled up and went outside into the cold February air. They
walked around the block four times talking. He kept asking about her family.
She tried not to mention his.
"Do you get the feeling that we know each other?"
"Yeah," she breathed. "Do you think that maybe we met as babies and are
only just remembering it?"
"No. I don't think so," he paused. "Do you believe in past lives?"
"Past lives?" She fingered the cross around her neck. The one her
mother
had just given to her.
"Yeah. Like our souls were once together. And then we died and were
reborn."
"I'm Christian," she said quickly. "I don't think that could happen."
"Oh," he answered softly. "Well, I think it could, and I think that's
what we
are. Soul mates." It was a bold statement for a seventeen year old to be
telling a fifteen year old she was his soul mate. But he felt it was true, and
somewhere deep inside, so did she. She nodded, and took his hand. Then she
took a deep breath.
"Fox, something's happened to you. You probably don't want to tell me,
but
I'd really like to help you out," she said. And then added, "I mean if you want
to tell me."
"Now isn't the time. Later, not now," he said. She shivered a little
from the
cold. He took off his jacket and put it on her shoulders, even though he only
had a light sweater on.
"Thank you," she said. He picked up her hand again. "I really do feel
like I
know you. There's just no...you know evidence that there are soul mates."
"Oh. Isn't it enough just to believe there are?" asked Fox. They were
nearing her house for the fourth time, and it was getting late.
"Belief can only take you so far. Sometimes you've got to have
evidence,"
she said. They stopped at her door and she waved goodbye. "See you
tomorrow night," she said cheerfully.
"Yeah, see you," he said. Then he lowered his gaze to the ground,
sighed and
slowly made his way back to the house.
******
Mrs. Scully left the house early. She picked up Fox and drove to the
department store. When they reached the suit store, they parked and walked
in.
"Oh, I'm so excited for you and Dana. You're going to have so much
fun!"
She exclaimed. Then her eyes grew dark, "Fox?"
He cocked his head as he looked at a suit, "Yes?"
"Is there anything you maybe want to get off your chest about your
family.
Why couldn't your mom take you today?"
"She's a little grief stricken. Dad's left her. And me and college and
all..."
"College? Where are you planning on going?"
"I applied to a few schools. Good ones. I think I can get in."
"Which one's?"
"Uh, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and my first choice-Oxford."
"Oxford? All the way in England?"
"Yeah. I can't wait to see who accepts me! The letters should come
around
April, I think."
He found a relatively inexpensive suit. He had brought with him all the
money he had, which was about three quarters what he needed. Mrs. Scully
paid for the rest. Then they headed to the flower shop. He learned that Dana
was going to be wearing an emerald green dress, so he got her a corsage he
thought would match. It was pale yellow flower. He smiled when he saw it.
It reminded him so much of her. Delicate yet bold. Striking yet simple. This
was going to be perfect.
Title: Stargazing(2/2)
Author: Kristyn Collins
For other info, see part one
Once again Melissa answered the door. She was wearing a cream dress which
looked nice on her. But nothing could compare to what he saw when Dana
entered the room. Her green dress set off her beautiful red hair and brought
out the blue in her eyes. He offered her the corsage a little awkwardly.
"I, uh..I got you...This is..." he stammered.
"Thank you," she said slipping it on her wrist. She brought out the
boutonniere her mother had bought for her. "And this is yours," she said
pinning it on him. They sat in the living room, and waited for Melissa and
Bill's dates to arrive. They were going to have a group picture before
everyone went their separate ways. Melissa would go to her date's house, and
then to a friend of her date's house. Bill was taking his date out to dinner.
Dana didn't know were Fox was taking her before the dance began. She only
hoped she didn't have to meet his family.
When everyone had arrived and had their pictures taken by Mrs. Scully,
the
parties left in separate cars. Fox held the door open for Dana, and she
thought with a smile what a perfect gentleman he was. When they got to the
car, he held the door there too. Then they got in.
"You haven't asked where we are going."
"No. I figured that was up to you. But since you brought it up..."
"Well, I don't know. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, a little."
"Okay, let's go out for dinner."
"Where?"
"I know just the place," he said, giving her a sly smile. She could get
used to
that smile, she thought.
They ended up at a tiny restaurant called "The Caf‚." An older woman
smiled
when they walked in.
"Fox!" she called. "Is it prom night?"
"No, Mrs. Seipowatz, Winter Ball." She smiled. She was short, kind of
dumpy,
but she seemed very kind. She pinched Dana's cheeks and winked.
"You've got yourself quite a catch, here...uh..."
"Dana Scully, Mrs. Seipowatz."
"I've know Fox since he was this high, and still needed a diaper." she
said,
pointing to her thick thigh. Fox gave her the "look," and she laughed
harder. "Take any seat you want. I'll make you both anything you want. But
ask Fox, my linguine is the best!"
"Perfecta," said Fox in his best Italian accent. Then he pulled out a
chair
for Dana. She glanced at her watch.
"We only have forty-five minutes until the dance."
"Don't worry, we'll get there."
******
And get there they did. What few girls Dana knew marveled at her. She
looked gorgeous and turned every head in the room. Fox heard whispers of
"who's that weird guy with, she's beautiful!". And "Wow! How'd *he* get a
date that pretty?"
He looked down, and Dana saw his distress. "Oh, Fox, what they think
doesn't
matter. Don't pay any attention!"
"But what about you? It doesn't bother you?"
She tugged on his hand, and led him on the dance floor, "Never. I don't
care
what people think."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I would follow you into anything," she said, putting her
arms
around him.
They danced and danced until around eleven. The dance would be over at
midnight. But when the clock struck eleven, Fox stopped dancing and
dragged Dana outside.
"Are your clothes going to turn into rags or something?" she complained.
"No. I wanted to go somewhere else."
"Why?" she insisted. Then she stopped. "Fox, I'm not going another
step
until you tell me where we're going."
"Just come on," he said, dragging her by the wrist and throwing her in
the
car. "It's a surprise." She quit complaining because she liked surprises.
"Close you're eyes," he instructed after they drove for a couple minutes. She
did so, and he opened the door and let her out. They walked a few more
minutes, until Fox instructed her to open her eyes.
"Oh, Fox! It's..." she looked at the sight before her. He had taken
her to a
large cliff with a lake below. The trees blew in the wind all around them,
creating a very calm and peaceful mood. He put a blanket on the ground and
stretched out on it, looking up at the sky. Dana did likewise, as best she
could.
Her dress was a little confining, and Fox saw her trouble.
"You want some sweats? I have some in my car."
"Yeah, but where can I change?" she asked glancing around to see if
there
was a bathroom anywhere.
"I'll hold up the blanket. I won't look, I promise." She raised an
eyebrow,
but then nodded.
"Okay. I trust you. But if you look, Fox Mulder, I swear to God I'll-"
"I won't look," he interrupted. Then he jogged back to where the car
was
and returned with sweatpants and a football jersey. She changed behind the
blanket her held up for her in front of his face. After she was done, they
stretched out on the blanket again. Fox was very quiet, as he gazed at the sky.
She waited ten minutes, lost in her own thoughts, before tentatively
touching his hand.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"Yeah. I was just thinking about some stuff," he said, grasping her
hand.
She took a deep breath.
"Really? About your family?" she already knew the answer to that.
"Yeah. And about my sister." Her eyes grew as wide as golf balls.
"You said you didn't have a sister," she gasped.
"Well, I do. I did. She's gone now because I couldn't protect her."
Dana
closed her eyes, thinking how awful it must have been for him to have lost a
sibling and not tell anyone.
"Did she die?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know. We were...we were playing a game and then *they* came
and
took her," he said, squeezing Dana's hand tighter.
"They? Who?"
He pointed to the sky, "Aliens, I guess. There was a bright light and a
presence in the room. She was calling for me, 'Fox! Fox!' and I couldn't help
her. Then she was gone and we never found any trace of her." His voice
cracked. He was about to cry, Dana realized. She took her free hand and
caressed his forehead.
"It wasn't your fault," she said reassuringly.
"Yes, it was. I didn't protect her. I let bad things happen to her. I
have no
idea where she is and there's nothing anyone can do to bring her back," he
sobbed a little. Then he leaned into her caress.
"Is this the secret you've been keeping?"
"Yeah."
"What was her name?"
"Samantha. She was a beautiful little girl. I hated her, though. I
called her
all kinds of names. I was a horrible brother!"
"I'm sure you weren't. I'll bet you were a great brother."
"Was not. I hated her. Dad liked her so much better than me. He never
beat
her."
Dana sat up straight, "Your father beats you?"
"Before he left he did. Now he's gone and it's just me and Mom. And
Mom
ignores me most of the time."
"Oh, Fox, I'm so, so sorry." He turned his attention to the sky. She
tried to
change the subject, "You can see so many stars here. They're beautiful."
As she laid back down he pushed himself closer to her face."Do you
believe
in the existence of extra-terrestrials?"
"What?"
"Aliens!" She didn't know what to say. She didn't really, but she
didn't want
to make the disappearance of Samantha seem trivial.
"I honestly don't know."
"Are you curious?"
"Not really. I think we have enough problems on this planet without
having to worry about another world."
"But what if these *things* exist? What if they're using us?"
"Then it would be logical to assume that we know about them or are using
them as well," she said in her most logical voice. "Of course, the universe is
so large. You never know..."
"Don't we?" he said, his eyes falling to the ground between them. "I
want to
find her." Five words. Dana understood the importance of such a statement.
She knew that in the end, it would define his life and possibly his death.
Instinctively, she knew these things because she knew Fox. More than she
knew herself.
"Then you will. I'm sure of it. I know that you're passion and beliefs
will
win over any obstructions in the end." He turned his head and smiled at the
girl. How could he tell her what he felt? He had never been in love before,
and he sure as hell didn't know that it felt so wonderful. His mother and
father never seemed to be in love. Since he could barely choke out anything
at this point, he remained silent, staring at the stars.
"They are beautiful, aren't they?" he said after a long pause. "They
are the
second most beautiful thing out here. You are the first." She stared, wait,
no,
she gaped at him.
"Thank you. No one's ever told me I was...No one has ever flattered me
like
that before."
"Then it's long overdue," he said as she settled into the crook of his
arm.
They looked at the stars and spoke in whispered hushes for another half an
hour, before he looked over and realized she was asleep. He brushed the back
of his hand along her cheek.
"Dana? Time to go." She sat up strait and nodded.
"Okay, yeah." She looked troubled.
"What's wrong?"
"I had a dream. You don't want to know," she said as they walked to the
car.
He touched the bottom of her chin and forced her to look at him.
"Of course I do, Dana. I want to know about it all." He held the door
open for
her. She nodded and smiled.
"Do you think other teenagers talk the way we do?"
"To each other? Naw. We're deep. Dontcha think?"
"Yeah. We talk a lot huh?" He started the car.
"You're stalling. The dream, out with it."
"Okay," she sighed and closed her eyes. "You were sitting in a large,
empty
room. It was metallic and cold," she shivered. "And you had locked yourself
inside. You were wearing all black. I knocked on the door, and finally you
let me in, but just as we hugged an angel came out of the ceiling and swept
me up and took me away. It took me to the sky. It dropped me off and I tried
to make my way back to you. When I reached the room, you had left. I felt so
alone. I wanted to be with you so much." By the time she was done with her
story, tears had sprung to her eyes. He stopped the car in front of her house
and helped her get her dress out of the back seat. He walked her to the door
and grabbed her wrist as she went to open the door.
"Dana, I'll never leave you. Ever. Promise me the same."
"I can't"
He looked grief stricken. "But why?"
"I told you, my family moves around a lot. I don't want to make any
promise
to you I can't keep."
"Well, promise me I'll be with you always, even if it's not always
physically."
"Always."
He leaned in and kissed her lips softly. It was new to her, as it was
to him,
and the kiss was very awkward. But it was a wonder to them both. She had
never imagined that actual fireworks went off when people kissed, but man o
man did she see fireworks! And as he felt the softness of her lips, he felt his
world had meaning, maybe just for a minute. And that meaning was to love
and be loved by Dana Scully.
******
"So, how was it li'l sis?" asked Missy, sitting on her sister's bed.
She had had
a great time, but noticed that Dana and Fox had left the dance early- and come
home late.
"Educational," was all Dana replied.
"Are you just going to leave it at that?" She looked at her sister
mischievously. "Did you go all the way?"
Dana looked shocked. "No!" she said, pushing Missy off her bed. "He
kissed
me, that's all!"
Now it was Missy's turn to look shocked. "That's all? You're glowing,
Dana!
What else happened?" she asked, crawling into her own bed. Their mother
came upstairs to tuck them both in.
"How was the dance, you two?"
"Not bad, Mom. Scott is a great guy, not my type, though."
"And Dana, how was Fox?"
"Good, Mom. We had fun, and I'm glad I went."
"Wonderful! I'm happy you had a good time," she said, kissing them each
on
the head. "Go to sleep, now. You've had a long night. Dana, this is the first
time you've been up this late, I think," she said. It was two-thirty in the
morning, as she turned off the lights. As soon as Mrs. Scully was out of
earshot, Melissa leaned toward her sister.
"So?"
"And I fell in love."
******
Dana was quietly sobbing in the corner. She was so damn happy here?
Why did her father have to move. Already, too. It had barely been a month
since they arrived in Chilmark. And Fox was leaving, too. He had gotten into
Oxford. So she really had no reason to want to stay, accept for the connection
it provided to Fox. Everywhere she turned, she saw him or heard him.
Conversations they had replayed in her mind. She hadn't told him she was
moving. She had two weeks before they had to leave and she had decided to
tell him tonight. It was been three weeks since the dance, and they had
talked every day at school and every night on the phone. they had been to
movies and back to the cliff now known as their spot- where they met as
often as possible. She was about to call him, but he beat her to it. When she
picked up the phone, there was an immediate click. That meant meet him at
"their spot" ASAP.
When she got there, he was waiting, and saw the sorrow on her face. He
rushed to her.
"You're moving, aren't you?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"I...just...knew." He wrapped his arms around her and her to his chest
and
they both sobbed. Then she pulled away.
"But why did you want to meet me?"
"I have something for you. Just a little something I picked up." He
took out
a book, a poetry book. Opening it, she realized it was one of her favorite
author's- John Keats. She hugged it to her chest.
"Oh, thank you!" He smiled.
"You didn't open it."
She opened it and a paper star fell out. It was made of gold-leafed
paper and
had the words printed on it:
"Dana-
Promises shall be kept. I will never, ever leave you. No
matter where we
find ourselves, my heart will always be with you. Forever. And I will carry
your heart with me. Remember the stars- how beautiful they were that
night. Remember me, and be happy. For whenever I think of you, no matter
how lonely I become, I will be happy. Love is happiness. Love is bliss.
Fox"
She stifled a sob. "This is beautiful. I...wish I had something to
give you in
return."
"Dana, before you showed up, I was ready to die. I had no hope, no
life. I
went through school, and even though I got good marks, it meant nothing.
Then that day I saw you, I knew. I knew that you would be my savior. I knew
you would save me. You've already given me something. You gave me a
reason to go on. Hope to find Samantha and anything else that may be out
there. I can confront the darkness now because I've seen the ultimate light."
He kissed her then. She pulled him into her. He had spread out a blanket like
the first time they were there, and they fell on the blanket, kissing and
sobbing. They didn't have sex. It seemed too vulgar for what they wanted to
express. They kissed and held each other for a long time.
******
He kissed her one last time. It didn't matter that the rest of her
family was
watching them. He just planted one on her lips, hoping to save her taste and
smell for always. They were all waiting for Dana to say goodbye to him. He
couldn't bring himself to say the words.
"I'm with you, Fox."
"I'm with you, Dana."
"I'll be with you always. I love you."
"I love you too. I'm gonna...I'll miss you so much."
"Yeah, me too. I love you so much. Please," she said reaching up to
kiss him
lightly. Nothing too graphic in front of Dad. "Don't forget me."
"Never. Me?"
"Never."
Then she pulled away- hardest thing she ever had to do. Missy came up
and
put her arm around her should. Dana took a large golden star out of her
purse and held it toward Fox. His mouth smiled a little, but his eyes were
still
sad. But he nodded. He understood. She'd never let him go. Ever. He hung
his head and waved goodbye. As night fell, he went to the spot and gazed at
the stars. Somehow, they weren't so beautiful that night.
The author wishes to again acknowledge Penny Daza and her work and it's
sequel. This work ended up too much like hers, and I apologize. There will be
no sequel, so I hope I'm forgiven. (
geocities.com/area51/portal/1720) (
geocities.com/area51/portal) (
geocities.com/area51)