Date: Sat, 11 Oct 1997 11:05:15 -0400
From: Emily 

I was just wondering if you could put this on your page...

It's a Mulder/Scully Romance in an Alternate Universe  If it was to be
rated anything it would be PG 13... here it is...

Disclaimer:  The X-Files doesn't belong to me they belong to Chris
Carter and 1013 productions.  No harm meant.

Strawberries

Sitting in a swing trailing her feet in the dust was a petite redhead. 
The sun that rose before her was a mass of colours and the rosyl light
touched her pale skin and turned it into a rose.  She looked at it and
she didn't 
notice anything else.

A boy stood a couple of feet away from her and he watched as she swang
gently.  He had never really liked petite red-heads.  He like tall,
long, blondes or brunettes, but he felt curiously drawn to this girl on
the swing.
Carefully he made his way to her, careful not to make any sound.

Quietly he sat down on the swing next to her, but she didn't acknowledge
him until the sun was up, and than shhe turned to see who it was who
just sat so close to her.  Her big blue eyes looked at him, and than her
head turned so she could get a better look.  She had heard about love at
first sight, and she usually scoffed at it for being romantic jibberish,
but she decided even if there wasn't, this was the next best thing.

"Hi."  The boy said.  "What's your name?"  Usually he didn't ask things
like that when he just met them on the swing b ut some how it seemed
vital for him to know this girl's name.

The girl thought rapidly.  Should she tell him her name?  She knew she
wasn't supposed to talk to strangers, but she didn't find him at all
threatening, so very hesitantly she replied, "Dana, Dana Scully."

The boy thought for a moment.  "Dana?  That's a pretty name."  He was
silent for a moment.  "My name's Mulder.  Fox Mulder."  He was getting
flustered, he wanted to hear her call him by his first name, so it would
seem closer to him, but he didn't let anyone call him Mulder.  

"Fox Mulder?"  Dana echoed.  She thought she had heard that name
before.  He sighed and closed his eyes for a second and suddenly she
remembered with sudden clarity where she had heard of him.  In the
girl's washroom at her new school.  She had only been one day but she
already had heard about him.  It seemed as though every time she went
into the school bathroom she heard a girl or two whisper something about
him to one of their friends.  Especially this one girl,  her name was
Pheobe.  She knew that much, she was the most popular girl in school and
she liked him.  A lot.  And from what she had heard he liked her back.

"Pheobe's Fox Mulder?"  She asked teasingly.  An impish grin tugged at
her eyes but her mouth were perfectly serious.

Fox Mulder scratched his head.  "First of all, I am no one's Fox Mulder,
and second of all, even if I was, I would not be Pheobe's Fox Mulder,
and lastly, where would you find that idea out?"

"Girl's washroom.  I remembered Phoebe mentioned something about a
steamy make out session in a rusty car."  She laughed a girlish laugh as
she saw the look on Fox Mulder's face.  "Fox Mulder, I do believe you're
blushing."

"Please,"  Fox said quickly, "Just Fox, and I had one incident where I
did kiss her in a car but it was just a one time thing."

"Some one should tell Pheobe that."  

"Believe me, I've tried.  I've got scars to prove it."  She laughed
again and Fox was pleased.  He definately loved her laugh.  It wasn't
fake like Pheobe's and her friends or silly like other girls.  It was
strong and it reminded him of bright sunlight.

"You aren't anything about what I imagined you would be like when I
first heard her description of you.  I was expecting a creep on a
motercycle."  Dana said very seriously.

"Well, you know, the motorcycle's in the shop and I can't put on my
bad-boy act without it so I decided I would swing beside Dana Scully in
the park today."  He teased very lightly.

"DO you really believe?..  In outer space and life on other planets and
stuff like that?" Dana asked thoughtfully.

"Yeah.  Definately.  So I guess you must have heard about Weird Fox
Mulder, eh?"  He looked at her.

"Yes, but you're not weird."  She smiled.  Strawberries.    He thought suddenly.

"Do you believe in life out there?"  He swept his hand out to the sky.

"No.  It's much easier not to believe.  It's almost too scary.  Like
walking into a dark room and knowing that you aren't alone."  She
blushed, ashamed that she just revealed her thoughts to him.  She
suddenly wanted to change the subject.  "What's it like, being 16? 
Being able to drive, to have the option of moving out? And all the other
stuff?"

"Being sixteen?  Just the same as being 13 I suppose."  He grinned at
her.

"Are you hinting at the fact that I might be 13?  Because, I am NOT 13. 
I am 15."  She looked rueful for a moment.  "I wish I was taller."

Fox damned himself silently.  How could he make such a dumb mistake? 
She didn't look 13, only her height said that.  She wasn't even built
like a thirteen year old.  "Sorry?"  He asked, smiling his lost puppy
dog smile at her.

"it's okay, I was never really angry, Fox. It's a family thing.  Missy
and I are both short.  Do you have a sister?"  She asked innocently.

Fox turned away gruffly.  "Yeah, no.  Not really."  Dana winced.  She
had obviously hit a weak point with him.  "I have to go now."  He said
without looking at her.  Dana nodded and he walked off to his house. 
Dana stayed at the swings a while longer but she was lonely after his
company, even  though they hadn't talked for long.

*****************************************************************************

The next Monday at school Dana sat on the edge of the sidewalk alone. 
It seemed that everytime she moved the people stopped trying to be
friends with her or something.  Maybe it was just she never bothered to
learn their names. Dana sighed and picked up a smooth pebble.  She
turned it around in her hands.  

Suddenly the screech of braking wheels brought her to attention.  A
rusty car nearly ran over her toes and nearly a heart attack too.  Fox
jumped out of the car carelessly.  He looked as if nothing had happened
and he sat down next to Dana with an air oof nonchalance around him
while Dana was still breathing fast.

"Nearly got my car dirty from you.  Some blood to add to the rust and
mud."  He said when she finally got her breath back.  

"Ha.  Ha.  Very funny Mr. Mulder."  She scowled at him and he gave her a
knowing smile.

"Didn't I say you could call me Fox?  It's a rare privalege, don't abuse
it." He teased.

"Fox Mulder.  I think you're the most mean boy in the school.  I don't
think you even gave Pheobe the chance to call you that when you were
making out in your car!"  Fox looked at her and she grinned like a
Chesire Cat and she stood up, dusted her jeans off and walked into the
crowd.

*****************************************************************************

At lunch that day Fox Mulder decided to catch up with her as she walked
to her locker.  The first thing he said was "You didn't say good-bye."

She looked at him and smiled again.  "You didn't say hello."

He ignored her.  "Why didn't you say Good-bye?"  He asked impatiently, 
"Come on, let it be a good reason, it's had me curious for the whole
day!"

"You are always looking for hidden meanings aren't you.  Well,  I'm
afraid you'll find this one frightfully boring.  I hate saying goodbye,
and I have done it often, so whenever I am going, I just smile and
leave, now, be nice and carry my books, you know, my arms get horribly
tired."

Fox laughed and heaped her books on type of his generous load.  She
turned to her locker and opened it carefully.

"I thought I had a messy locker, but this sure tops mine.  And this is
only your second day."  Fox teased.  

"Be nice or I'll ask Pheobe out for you.  And I know how much you would
hate that."  Fox whipped his head around very serious.

"You wouldn't, would you?"  He asked seriously.  He was sure that this
little red-head was capable of anything, if she wanted to.

"Well, I do need to go to the girl's washroom to brush my hair...  So if
I see her I'll make a point of asking."  Dana closed her locker quickly
and ran away before Fox could stop her.

Dana walked confidently into the girl's bathroom, a smile still on her
face. The group of girls standing in front of the mirror looked at her
with hostile glances.  Pheobe pushed her way out of the center of the
crowd and stood with her arms crossed in front of Dana.  

Even though Dana was not often intimidated by girls who thought they had
everything, she was feeling a little nervous now.  SOmething about her
eyes made Dana's stomach go flip flop inside.

"Leave Fox alone, Dana.  He's mine."  Pheobe looked behind her at the
group of girls.  "We'll make sure she's welcome if she doesn't, won't
we?"  The girls laughed at Pheobe's sugar sweet tone and they turned
back to the mirror.  Dana felt her anger swell and all the flutters in
her stomach were replaced by annoyance.

"Haven't I already gotten a desirable welcome, Pheobe?  And, don't worry
about me stealing him.  He was never yours to steal."  With that she
swept up to the mirror and the crowd parted like she had some sort of
disease.  Swiftly Dana brushed her long straight red hair and walked out
of the door, proud of her one victory.

Outside the door Fox was watching, he saw Dana sweep out like a queen
and he was wondering what she had done to make her look like that.

"Dana!"  He yelled, trying to get her attention.  But he had yelled too
loud and the whole school was stopped.  Pheobe chose that moment to
stomp out of the washroom and she spotted Fox.  Smiling sweetly she
walked up to him and kissed him squarely on the lips.  Slowly the crowd
began to move.  Fox chose at that point not to prolong the torture.  He
puched Pheobe away and scanned the crowd for Dana.  He saw a little bit
of red hair leave the school and he dove to get to it.

Dana had walked off after Pheobe had started to kiss Pheobe.  She wanted
to eat outside today anyways, so she wasn't leaving because she was
jealous, just because she didn't like her new friends taste in girls. 
Pheobe would surely have a little gloat after this.

Fox looked outside and he saw her sitting under his favorite tree in the
school yeard calmy eating her lunch.  He ran over to where she was and
sat down next to her.

"Do you have a drink?"  He asked urgently.  

Dana was chewing so she pointed to a thermos of grape juice.  Fox
eagerly took it and drank it in two gulps.  "Thanks,"  He said wiping
his mouth.  "Had to get that Pheobe taste out of my mouth."

Dana looked at her empty thermos bottle.  "You drank it all?"  She
asked, a little sad, a little annoyed and a little in awe of what he had
done.

"Yeah, sorry."  He said a little sheepishly.  "I thought that there
would be more in there.  But, there wasn't."

"That's okay.  What does Pheobe taste like that is so awful?"  She
asked, interested in the whole taste kiss thing.  She had never been
kissed before so she was pretty interested in the whole thing.

"I dunno, she just tasted mean.  And sour.  Not like other people.  I
had this other girl friend once, she tasted like milk.  Kinda tastless
and no fun.  And that is exactly what she was like."  

"What would I taste like?"  She asked, very amused by the whole
conversation. 

"Strawberries."  He said without hesitation.  Dana marveled at how fast
he could come up with an answer.  "What about me?"  he asked, wanting to
know what Dana would come up with.

"I don't know, something very much like you, kind of dark and
mysterious.  Maybe cappucino or something."  She took another bite of
her sandwich.  "Where's your lunch?"

"My lunch?  Oh, I never bring one.  Never bother to make one in the
morning." He said absentmindedly.

"Fox!  That's unhealthy.  Here, have the rest of my sandwich."  Dana
said.  Fox looked at it, it was peanut butter and honey, his favorite
kind of sandwich so he took it.  He tried to give a bit to Dana.

"Dana, take some, this is more than half!"  He said trying to shove it
at her.

"I know it is, but your bigger than me.  And take some of my yogurt." 
Dana said in a very doctor like voice.

Fox sighed and ate the sandwich quickly.  Dana held out the spoon of
yogurt to him.  "Take some, it's strawberry.  Just like me."  Dana said,
but Fox shook his head.  Dana thought for a moment and ate the spoonful
herself, making exagerated 'mmmm' sounds.  She put the yogurt spoon back
in the yogurt and looked away.  

Fox was happy.  He would have like some yogurt but he didn't want to
steal Dana's lunch.  All of a sudden out of no where two strong fingers
pinched his nose.  He clamped his mouth shut quickly before Dana could
thrust the spoon into his mouth.

Dana held on very tight.  Fox was beginning to look uncomfortable.  He
fell on the grass and squirmed but Dana held on to his nose.  Soon his
squirming became to much for her so she sat on his chest and waited for
about ten seconds.  All of a sudden Fox opened his mouth for air and in
went the yogurt.  Mulder chomped down on it and Dana let his nose go.  

"Mmm.."  Fox said, "This is very good.  Any more?"  Dana laughed and so
did Fox and soon their laughter filled the empty play ground. 

"The playground is all ours Fox, look!"  SHe said after the yogurt was
done. She swept her arms dramatically around.

"Only till the bell rings."  Fox said morbidly.  Dana looked at him
sadly.  

"Think about the good things.  Tomorrow we can own the playground
again!"  She wrapped Fox in a great big bear hug and much to his
delight, she smelled like strawberries.

*****************************************************************************

Dana and Fox grew to be very good friends, and Pheobe still confronted
her in the girls bathroom.  Dana didn't care.  Every day they would eat
their lunch under the tree.  Even when it rained.  The only thing that
bothered Dana was that something was keeping them from being really
close.  She had told him almost everything about her life, keeping in
only the pointless and dumb and he had told her little of his life or
anything like that.  

One day Dana walked into the girls bathroom and Pheobe was there,
putting on bright red lipstick.

"Dana,"  She said coldly.  "I have something to tell you.  You know
Fox?  His sister was kidnapped and he says she was abducted by aliens,
his father beats him.  You're best friends with a pyscho.  Only I am
able to help him, right girls?  So you should take a step back and let
me do the bonding."

Dana nearly cried for her friend when she heard this and so she ran from
the bathroom and underneath their tree.  For a while she had been
bringing enough for two for lunch so Fox expected her there.  He was
waiting there for his daily hug when he was nearly pushed over by the
force that she ran to him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry."  Dana said to him.

"For what?  What happened?"  He demanded.

"Pheobe, she told me, about your sister and your father and everything. 
I shouldn't have listened to her..."  Dana began to cry a little for him
and he held her even tighter.

"Dana,"  Dana was so close she could feel his voice through his body. 
"I'm sorry if you found out through Pheobe.  I was going to tell you
today because my father is coming home from a navy job that he was away
for three months on.  I just want you to know, that whatever happens,
I'll always be your best friend.  And I may just need you a lot then. 
Can I trust you?"

Dana looked up at him, her blue eyes wet.  "You can always trust me. 
Believe me."

Fox smiled as hard as he could for her.  He didn't want her to know the
dread that was filling him as he thought of his last encounter with his
father.  But somehow he knew that she knew about it.  "Got any yogurt
today?"  He asked weakly.  

"Yup, Strawberry.  Your favorite."

*****************************************************************************

That day as Dana was walking into her house she looked at her mother and
father in a new light.  They were angels and she loved them very much. 
She was even happy to have her sister and her brothers, even if they did
get kind of annoying.  The only thing she wanted now was to help Fox
through these next days.  And she could do that, if he would let her.

*****************************************************************************

Dana slept lightly that night, dreaming of Fox when suddenly she heard a
tapping on her window.  Dana opened her tired eyes and looked out and
saw Fox, with a black eye and a swollen lip tapping at her window.  He
had climbed the trellis up to her window and had been tapping on the
glass for a while before she actually noticed him.

Dana wasn't sure if this was a dream, but even if it was, she wanted to
have Fox inside.  Quickly she opened the window and helped him in.  He
looked frail and it frightened her, because she had seen him look like a
lot of things, but never frail.

"Fox, lie down on my bed, I'll get some washcloths."  Dana left the room
and wet some washclothes and got some cooling creme for cuts.  When she
got back into the room Fox was lying with a pained expression on his
face.  Dana gingerly lifted his head and put it in her lap and when she
looked at his face he notices little cuts, not deep enough to scar, but
deep enough to sting.  Gingerly she began to apply the creme to his
cuts.  He looked tired and a bit happy that he was here with her.

"Dana?"  He whispered.  "I'm sorry I came so late tonight.  I really
am."  He sighed, a little sigh that struck Dana right to the heart.

"Fox," she said quietly.  "If it mattered, would I be here right now
helping you with your cuts?  Or would I be your best friend?"

He chuckled.  "Did you know you're the only one who cares if I'm hurt or
not?"  The words came out more bitter than he wanted them to, but it was
said and he couldn't change that.

"Fox, I know this may not be the right time, but you can't depend on me
to be the only one who cares.  With my record of moving I should be
going in a couple more months.  But don't think I want to leave."

Fox nodded.  "You're too perfect to stay in my life."  A yawn
interrupted what he was about to say and he closed his eyes instead and
fell asleep almost instantly.  Dana lifted his head out of her lap and
put it on her pillow and she fell asleep next to him.

*****************************************************************************

The next morning Dana moaned and rolled over.  She inhaled deeply and
suddenly started coughing.  The pillow smelled like Fox.  She smelled
again and looked at the window.  A note was taped on it and it had her
name written on it.  She looked at it quickly.  It said nothing more
than "Meet me at the swings when you wake up."  

Since it was a Saturday her family was not yet up.  Quickly she walked
out the house but she left her own note before she left.  When she got
to the swings she saw Fox.  He looked a lot better than last night, his
lip had stopped swelling and had gone down a bit, and his eye was able
to open now.

She ran up and hugged him quickly.  She was happy to see him and he was
obviously happy to see her.

"How are you feeling?"  Dana asked gently, looking up at him.

"Fine.  Lots better than last night.  You know, when I first woke up
beside you for a second I wondered what happened last night."  He
teased.  "It's not often I wake up to anyone but a girlfriend.  And
sometimes I woke up to Pheobe."

"Fox!  I thought you said it was a one night thing?  And just kissing?" 
Dana said annoyed.

"I never said just kissing..."  Fox trailed off.  Dana was about to say
some more things when she saw the look on his face.  He looked like he
felt guilty and he was remembering something that didn't please him very
much.  Dana giggled.  It probably wouldn't have pleased him at the time
either.  Imagine having sex with some one who tasted sour.

"Was she completely sour?  Or just her kisses?"  Dana said wickedly.

"All Sour."  Fox laughed at her.  "Were you expecting that one Dana,
hmm?  hmm?"  Dana stuck out her tongue at him.

"Actually I was!  I guess I know you too much!"  Fox laughed even harder
and picked Dana up as if she were a feather and started carrying her to
the slides.

Dana screamed and kicked and laughed.  Fox pushed her down the slide and
jumped down to the end before she did to catch her.  "Have fun Dana?" 
He asked teasingly.

Dana patted his back.  "Hmm.. I don't know.  I've had more fun in my
life."  Dana jumped onto his back at that moment and wrestled him to the
ground.  "Like now."

Fox scoffed.  "I've had more fun with Pheobe!"

"Pheobe tasted sour though.  I taste like strawberries."  She grinned at
him. But you might have been lying.  I am going to find a boy to kiss
right now." Fox looked a bit hopeful at her.  Dana stuck out her tongue
out at him again.
"Not you, you're mean."  Fox grabbed her tongue.

"Now you can't kiss anyone!  Silly Dana, silly silly Dana!  What's the
matter?  Fox got your tongue?"

Dana grinned as best as she could and she bit his fingers.  Fox let go
with a yell.  "I win, I win!"  She shouted running away.  Fox ran after
her and they ran around and around until Dana had to go home.

*****************************************************************************

A week later at school Fox didn't show up.  Neither did Pheobe.  But
after that day they were both there, Pheobe with a proud expression and
Fox with a guilty.

Dana walked up to Fox with a knowing look in her eyes.  "Fox, you should
tell me the truth.  If you really don't like Pheobe, tell me.  Don't go
off and have sex with her.  I was worried sick about you.  I thought
something had happened!"

"How did you find out about the sex?"  He asked very ashamed. 

"Pheobe, Queen of the Washroom, told me.  She seemed to think it made
her better than me or something, she also said that you said she tasted
like strawberries."  Dana didn't know why, but that was what made her
the saddest. "I thought I was the strawberry one."  She said lightly,
trying to make it into a joke.

"I'm sorry I worried you, but I'm not sorry about anything else.  I
don't think it's any of your business."  Fox walked off, he didn't know
why he had lashed out at Dana.  He guessed it was because of the guilt
that he felt about doing it with Pheobe.

Dana walked out alone at lunch and sat underneath their tree.  She
didn't know if Mulder would come or not but she really couldn't care
less if he did or did not.  She didn't really care about him having sex
with Pheobe, it was just the strawberry thing.   Dana sulked and sulked so much that she
didn't notice that Pheobe was standing over her.  Dana looked up as she
cleared her throat.

Pheobe's perfectly manicured nails were at her cheeks and she looked at
Scully in a superior way as if she knew some big secret that just might
make the whole world a better place if she led you on and never told you
what it was.  Or, if she did it would be when it didn't matter anymore.

Dana smiled a little maliciously.  "Hello Pheobe, what can I do for
you?"  She asked a little coldly.

Pheobe smiled.  "I'm sorry about your little fight with Fox.  He's
pretty pissed off at you know, you know."

"Well, I'm not exactly happy with him too."  Dana said sulkily, wishing
that he was there.

"Why are you waiting for him, he's eating with me today.  Don't be so
depressing."  With that Pheobe walked away, leaving Dana to be sad in
her own little world.

That day after school Dana caught up with Fox while he was walking
home.  Thanking her lucky stars that Pheobe wasn't with him she ran up
to him as fast as she could.

"Fox!"  She yelled, "Wait up!"  Fox paused and looked behind him.  He
waited until Dana caught up with him.

"Hi, Fox."  Dana panted.  "We need to talk."  Fox grimaced.  

"All right, but if you just came to yell at me than I'm leaving."  He
said stubbornly.  

"Fox, I'm sorry.  It's your business what you say when you are screwing
people.  I shouldn't have interfered."  Dana looked up at him.  He
smiled.

"Well, Dana,"  He began.  "I was lying when I said that strawberry
thing, and I really don't like her, if you can still believe me.  I just
needed something to get rid of my lonelies, so I got her.  I figured you
didn't need me tapping on your window every night."  

Dana grinned.  "Maybe some day I'll come tapping at your window. 
That'll make it even."

Fox grinned.  "That's a good idea.  I'll book you a day."

Dana and Fox laughed and all their anger was forgotten as they walked
home that day.

*****************************************************************************

Dana and Fox sat inside the cafeteria now that the winter months
reigned.  Snow fell heavily and it was too cold to eat outside.  Dana
looked outside the window of the cafeteria with a glum expression and
Fox tried to talk to her unsuccessfully.

Dana sighed again for the millionth time in their conversation.  

"Dana, Dana?"  Fox asked for the millionth time also.  "Is something
wrong?  You know if there is you can always tell me."

"I know Fox, it's just, I wish it were Spring.  I miss it so much.  I
hate the winter.  And I'm worried I might have to move again.  I would
really hate that."

"I know what you mean,"  Fox muttered.  "So, do you have any plans for
this Friday?  I could take you to the movies.  As friends."  Fox
hurridly added the last two words in before Dana could get any ideas.

Dana grinned.  "I can't.  I finally have a date.  Can you believe that I
am about to have my first date on Friday?  I'm so excited!" 

Fox felt like some one had just run him over with a steam roller and
deflated all his dreams.  He knew that Dana just thought of him as a
friend but he thought that they belonged together.   'His'  Dana going
out on a date?  "With who?"  He asked, trying to get the conversation to
keep going.

"Oh, with Sean."  She smiled a little girlish smile and thought for a
moment. He asked me out just today.

"Sean the player?  Sean 'I just get bored after the first date?' Sean? 
Sean 'I scored today' Sean?  You're going out with that creep?"  Fox
said increduosly. 

"Fox!  Those are just rumors you know!  And whatever happened to 'don't
trust everything you hear?'"  Dana smiled sheepishly.  "If he pulls
anything I don't like, it's over.  You know me Fox!"

Fox laughed.  "I'd hate to be him when he gets shoved in the dumpster!"

*****************************************************************************

Soon Monday morning rolled by with a depressed Dana and a "I knew it all
along" Fox.

"God, I think I'm going to call off boys for ever.  Can you imagine the
nerve?  He's so mean, trying to have sex with me.  And when I didn'the
called me all sorts of mean names!"  Dana fumed.

Pheobe chose that exact moment to walk to their table.  "Hi Dana, I
heard about what happened on Friday.  I didn't think you would do it
with a guy on the first date?  And in an alley?  I think that's just
plain perverted.  He told everyone about everything that happened!"  She
laughed and moved to another table.  Dana's eyes grew larger and larger
and darker and darker.

"Where is that son of a bitch?"  She asked Fox, who also looked angry
and a bit surprised at the same time.  He pointed to a table on the
other side of the cafeteria.  Dana stomped there and stood in front of a
very surprised Sean.

"What the hell are you telling the whole school about?  Why are you
lying about me?"  She hissed at him, quiet enough for only him to hear. 
Sean took full advantage of it and stood up quickly.  

"Stop begging.  It's pathetic.  And what's more, it was the worst lay
that I have ever had."  He said that loud enough so all the neighbouring
tables heard and soon the word passed through the tables next to them.

Dana walked quickly back to her own table and sat down with a thump and
buried her head in her hands.

"Dana?"  He asked, "What happened out there?  What did he say to you?"  

"I asked him what he was doing saying all that stuff really quietly, so
only he could hear and he told me to stop begging and that I was the
worst lay that he ever had and I neved even had sex with him and now he
is telling the whole school that I was begging him.  I've never been so
humiliated in my whole life!"

Dana started crying and Fox went to her side and whispered into her ear,
"Let's go, let's leave the school."  Dana nodded and they left the
school as fast as they could without running.  When they were in the
school yard Dana sat down on a pile of snow and started to cry openly.  

"Come on Dana, we have to leave.  They're gonna ring the recess bell
soon and we don't want to be out here when the others come."  Dana
reluctantly stood up.  

"Where should we go?  We can't go to my house, my Mom is there.  How
about your house?"  Dana asked.  Fox nodded and they walked to his house
in silence.  No one was home and he unlocked the door with a key that
was under a welcome mat and they walked inside. 

End of Part 1

Date: Sat, 11 Oct 1997 11:07:00 -0400
From: Emily 
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: submissions@x-philes.com
Subject: Strawberries Part 2


Disclaimer:  These characters don't belong to me but to Chris Carter and
1013 Productions.  No harm meant.

Dana was surprised.  This house was silent and dark and not very clean. 
She didn't get to see very much of it because Fox hurried her upstairs. 
Inside she looked around and she wasn't surprised by what she found.  It
was dark, dark, dark, and millions of posters were on the walls with
sayings like "I want to believe" or "Believe"  The bed had a navy blue
comforter on it and it was unmade and clothes littered the floor.  Dana
picked her way to the bed and sat down since the chair was covered with
papers and a baseball.  Fox sat down beside her.

"What am I gonna do now?"  She asked quietly.  

"Dana, I know this is gonna be hard for you and all, but I'll get him
for you."  He said quietly.

"I don't need you to fight my battles for me."  She said sadly.

"Than let me get him for myself, and not for you."  Fox looked at her
and saw that she had stopped crying.

"alright than, I guess you can."  She smiled at him and snuggle up to
him, looking for comfort.  He wrapped his long arms around her and put
his chin on her head.  They stayed like that until Dana had to go home.

*****************************************************************************

The next day at school, Sean walked there with a black eye and a split
lip.  The school was abuzz with the news.  And he even wrote some notes
that he gave to each table in the cafeteria that he had never had sex
with Dana, or had never even had sex, and that he wasn't working
properly so he couldn't even have sex. 

When Sean came to their table Dana gave him a triumphant smile.  She
looked at the note after Sean left and smiled at Fox and gave him a
great big bear hug.

*****************************************************************************

Peace reigned in Fox and Dana's friendship and they spent all of their
time with each other.  Friends forever was certainly a big part of their
comradeship.  One day though, the world shattered for them both.

Dana walked up to Fox at school.  "Fox?  I'm moving in three days."  The
words hit him like a freight train and deflated all his happiness.  

The two spent all of their time together in the last two days, and on
the third day just before she had to leave they stood together near the
swings.

"I'm really going to miss you Fox."  Dana said softly.  "Your friendship
has meant so much to me lately.  I will never ever forget you."

"yeah."  He said gruffly.  "You're just going to get another best friend
some where else and I won't matter any more." 

"How can you say that?"  Dana asked, beginning to cry.  "I couldn't
forget you.  Even if I wanted too.  And every friendship will always
pale compared to this one.  Everything will."

Fox looked down.  He didn't want to let her go.  He was going to die
without her.  He knew it.

Dana knew this was her only chance, she wanted to do this.  She was
going to.
Now that he was looking away she kissed him gently on the lips.  Her
eyes were open, judging his reaction.  He swung her eyes over to her and
they looked at each other.  He relaxed and started to kiss back and Dana
closed her eyes.  They kissed for a long time when Dana pulled away.

"What do I taste like?"

"What do you think, Dana, strawberries."  With that, Dana smiled and
left.

THE END

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