TITLE:  Taking It Slow (1/2)

AUTHOR:  Marlen

E-MAIL:  crmv@aol.com

RATING: PG-13

KEYWORDS:  MSR, UST, RST, Alternating POV's
 
CLASSIFICATION:  Vignette, Romance

SPOILERS:  Anything before Requiem

SUMMARY:  Scully plans a day of relaxation.  Mulder 
has other plans.  There's food, a challenge and a 
first time for our duo.

DISTRIBUTION: I'll submit to Gossamer.  Otherwise, 
just drop me a note so I can visit!

DISCLAIMER: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully do not belong to 
me, they are the property of CC, 1013 productions and 
FOX.

AUTHOR NOTES: This story is a little something I wrote 
in the aftermath of my story Coming Back To You.  This 
is a prequel of sorts. I just wanted our agents to 
have some fun before the angst feast.  Hey, if George 
Lucas can do it, why can't I?  You can read any of my 
other stories at http://marlensxfiles.homestead.com 

WARNING:  Reading this when you are hungry will only 
instill a greater craving for food.

I have to thank my wonderful betas Georgia and Brandi. 



Now on with the show!



Taking It Slow (1/2)
By Marlen


It's the same thing day after day.

I get up as soon as the alarm sounds. I start the 
coffee machine, take a quick shower, dress, have a 
plain bagel, toast or the occasional bowl of cereal 
with my coffee, and dash out the door to start another 
day of chasing after monsters, ghosts, vampires, 
Mulder, you name it. 

But today is Saturday and I don't feel like having 
something perfunctory.

I feel like taking it slow.

I feel like turning off the alarm and sleeping in.

I feel like taking a nice long bath instead of a quick 
hop in the shower.

I feel like forgoing my make-up.

I feel like letting my hair dry in its natural curly 
state.

I feel like putting on the oldest, softest jeans I 
have.

I feel like wearing an equally old T-shirt.

I feel like drinking freshly squeezed orange juice.

And I feel like making breakfast from scratch.

I walk into the kitchen and look into the 
refrigerator.  Mulder and I just came back from a 
weeklong case in another small 'you name it' town, and 
I haven't had a chance to go grocery shopping yet.

I try to keep it well stocked; I can't stand it when 
I'm hungry at Mulder's.  He never has anything in his 
fridge that's seen the light of day since the Bush 
administration.  

I shudder just thinking about it.  

We always order take out when I'm there. No matter 
what time of day you can always predict what it will 
be.  The choices are simple: Chinese, Pizza, deli, or 
greasy burgers.  If it weren't for my constant 
exercising, I would weigh 300lbs.  That's if I don't 
die first from clogged arteries and high cholesterol.  

But not today.

I'm not ordering from a phone.  

It's not delivered to me in a box or bag.

And it's not going to have questionable ingredients.

I see that I'm out of a few things, so I grab my keys 
and head out the door to the market around the corner.

I'm back in a flash and start my preparations.  

I place the ingredients I need on the counter.  Eggs, 
ham, American cheese, shallots, butter, cream, 
oranges, salt and pepper to taste.

I grab the juicer out of the cabinet above the fridge.  
It's brand new.  Bill gave it to me on Christmas years 
ago, when I was in my 'juice everything' phase.  It 
didn't last long before I realized how easy it was to 
just buy the damn things.  

I'm not in the mood for anything processed or 
pasteurized.  There's nothing quite like freshly 
squeezed orange juice in the morning.  

When I'm done squeezing the life of these things, I 
pour it into a glass pitcher and put it in the fridge.

I crack some eggs and put them in a bowl along with a 
little salt and pepper.  

I chop up some shallots and put those into the bowl.  

I add little cream to the mixture and mix it with a 
whisk and put it aside.

I take some ham and cut it up into little squares 
while I heat up the pan.

I pour the egg mixture into it.  After a few minutes, 
I top one side of the omelet with ham and cheese, wait 
another minute, then fold the untopped side over and 
take it out when I see the melted cheese oozing out.

It smells divine.  I pour myself a glass of the juice 
I just made and take it along with my omelet to the 
table.  I'm about to dig in when hear a loud knock at 
the door. 

I sigh.  I knew this peace and quiet was too good to 
be true.

I drag myself over to the door and open it without 
hesitation.

*Gee, big surprise.*


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


"Hey Mulder."  She says without looking up.  *Doesn't 
she know how dangerous it is to do that?  I could be 
anyone and she just opened the door.*

"Scully, what if I was an attacker ... "

But then I see what she is wearing and I lose my 
capacity for speech.

I can't believe my eyes.

She's wearing a very worn pair of jeans, which have a 
rip displaying her very lovely knee. I can also tell 
the fit is a little snug on her.

She is also wearing her old Michigan T-shirt, which I 
have seen her wear numerous times, but I've never seen 
her in those jeans before.

"Relax Mulder, I knew it was you."

She stands there as I take her in.  She's not wearing 
an inch of make-up.  I can see her barely noticeable 
freckles across her cheeks.  It makes her look years 
younger.

And that hair!  I knew her hair wasn't naturally 
straight but I never knew how curly her hair really 
got when she doesn't blow dry it.

Her voice disrupts my musings.  "Mulder?  Earth to 
Mulder.  Are you coming in?  My food is getting cold."

*Food?* I sniff and smell an aroma that couldn't come 
from a box.  Scully's cooking?  And it's not burning?  
I walk in to her apartment.  "Scully, are you cooking 
something?"  

"Yes."

"What's with."  I motion my hand up and down her body.

"I just felt like taking today slow and relaxing."

A smile tugs at my lips "Kind of like *snow day* when 
you're a kid, uh?"

"Yup, kind of like that."  She smiles at me and I know 
I've been busted.  She turns and starts to walk 
towards the kitchen and I can't seem to get my eyes 
off her ass.  *My God, does she know what she's doing 
to me?*

Okay, I need to focus on something else "What's that 
ya making there Scully?"

"Omelets."

*Omelets?  Scully knows how to make omelets?  Scully 
can cook?  Since when?  What's with her today?*

"Mulder I have enough for one more if you're 
interested."

As if I could refuse, "Sure, I mean, if it's no 
trouble."  I don't want to sound eager.

She smiles "No Mulder, it's no trouble."

She pours the rest of the mixture into the pan then 
hands me a glass of orange juice, and it's good.  Very 
good.  "This is good.  Where did you get this juice 
Scully?"  

"From oranges Mulder."  She deadpans.  

"Very funny." Smart ass.

"It's freshly squeezed."  She says as she hands me the 
omelet. "What's up Mulder?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you here?"

I look around her apartment "I thought I would take it 
slow too."

She gives me this 'you're so full of shit Mulder' 
look, but nods her head and says "Ah, taking it slow 
is good to do once and a while."

I don't think she and I are thinking the same thing.

Maybe I can change that.

"This is really good Scully.  Where did you learn to 
make this." 

"Mulder, believe it or not I can actually cook.  I 
just never have the need to.  With it just being me 
and all."

"Hey, you can cook for me as much as you like."

"Is that an invitation?" She's got a neutral look and 
I can't tell if she's kidding or not and my defenses 
go up.

"I know you must have a story to go with these omelets 
of yours."  She smirks a little.  Am I that 
transparent?  

"Actually there is.  When I first got to college I 
befriended a guy named George.  We ended up in the 
same classes together.  I thought at first he was 
stalking me or something.  It was too much of a 
coincidence that he had the same schedule as me, but 
that's all it was.  Anyway, his parents wanted him to 
become a doctor just like mine did."

"Kindred sprit, eh?"

"Yea, I developed a crush on him and really wanted to 
go beyond the friendship thing."

I hate the thought of anyone with her besides me of 
course, but curiosity gets the better of me "Did you 
guys date?"

"We did for a bit, but nothing really developed.  We 
were better as friends."

*I hope she doesn't think about us that way.*  She 
must have seen my disappointed look because she then 
says, "It was for the best.  It never would've worked 
out."

"What happened?"

"He fell in love with someone else."  She says in a 
matter-of-fact kind of way.

"Let me guess, he was going out with you and another 
girl at the same time."

"Something like that.  It doesn't matter.  I wasn't 
his type."  

*Oh Scully don't sell yourself short.*  

"You might be his type though."

*Oh, now I get it.* 

"Anyway, he was a great cook and made the most amazing 
dishes.  He taught me how to make omelets; I adjusted 
it to my own tastes.  I was more upset that I would be 
losing a personal chef than a boyfriend, when we 
broke-up"


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


"Whatever happened to him?"

"Last I heard, he confronted his parents with his 
lifestyle and while he was at it added the fact that 
he didn't want to be a doctor.  As expected, they cut 
off his financial support.  He wanted to be a chef and 
got a full scholarship to The Culinary Institute of 
America, he transferred there."

"It must have been tough for him to confront his 
parents back then."  He says as he helps me clear the 
dishes and stick them into the dishwasher.

I nod. "I'm just glad he had Aiden for support.  I 
don't know what happened to him after that."

With breakfast finished, we settle on the couch when I 
realize Mulder distracted me from my question.

With a puzzled look "Mulder, why did you come over 
today?"

"I told you."

"Uh, no.  No you didn't."

He scoots a little closer to me so we are shoulder to 
shoulder.  I can feel his burning skin next to mine.  
It's enough to be my undoing.  He's wearing a gray T-
shirt and jeans.  It really shows off his best assets.  
"I'm hurt Scully.  I thought we were friends as well 
as partners.  Do I need an excuse to stop by and say 
hi?"

He is right.  Our relationship has progressed from 
partnership to friendship to ... what are we now?  I'm 
not sure if there is a name for it, but I know that 
the next step is inevitable.  The pull between us is 
constant and I know that the time for us to converge 
is coming soon.  

I try to act nonchalant "No, you're right, we are 
friends.  It's just usually you have a case or 
something else to discuss."

He leans down close to my ear and whispers "I'll let 
you in on a little secret Agent Scully.  It's always 
an excuse to see you."

I can't help but smirk and make a smart-ass remark, 
"Tell me something I don't know."  I turn my head and 
he doesn't pull away.  He's so close I feel his breath 
tingle my ear.  He's looking at my lips and I suppress 
a shudder.  

I wonder if we're thinking the same thing?

His lips are so close to mine.  I can't handle it any 
more and start to move towards those beautiful pouty 
lips of his, but then he pulls back.  *Ahhh!*  He 
grins and I can tell the wheels are turning in his 
head *Bastard* "I can cook too you know."

I try not to show my surprise and disappointment 
"Well, I can't wait to witness your cooking abilities 
Agent Mulder.  I didn't know you had any."

His eyebrows move up and down in a leer "I'm full of 
surprises, Agent Scully."

"You're full of something alright." I mumble under my 
breath.

"What did you say?"  I know he heard me.

I ignore his question and I say sarcastically "I 
thought it was a challenge just to pick up the phone 
and call for takeout."

Swiftly, he gets up, grabs his jacket and heads 
towards the door.

*What the hell?*  "Where are you going?"

With the most adorable grin that makes my insides melt 
and want to hit him at the same time, he turns towards 
me and says, "I never back down from a challenge."  

Puzzled I say, "But it's only 11:30!"

"If I'm going to do this right, I need time to 
prepare."  He turns back around and when he opens the 
door to leave he makes one more statement "Be at my 
place at eight sharp."  

I'm extremely curious as to what exactly he has 
planned.  I get up and start my own preparations for 
the evening ahead.


End of part 1


 

Taking it Slow (2/2)
By Marlen

See disclaimer in part one.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


I close the door behind me and walk down the hall.  My 
gleam turns into gloom.  I just had to open my mouth 
and tell her I can cook.  *Shit*  I've really backed 
myself into a corner, haven't I?

I've got to think.  

Think Mulder think.

Who can I call to help me?

Can't call Frohike, he'll be all over me with 
questions.  Who is it you're entertaining Mulder?  
Would it be one delectable little redhead?  You guys 
finally do the wild thing Mulder?

I've got it!

I'll call her mother; she likes me and already knows 
how I feel about her daughter.  I think I can trust 
her not to spill the beans on my inability to cook 
anything resembling food.

I grab my cell and dial.

"Hello, Mrs. Scully?  It's Fox Mulder ... no, Dana's 
okay ... okay, Maggie ... I'm sorry to bother you, but 
I was wondering if you could help me with something 
..."

We converse for a while and with a plan already in 
progress, I get into my car and head home.

I walk into my apartment and realize another challenge 
awaits me.  My place is a mess and I don't know where 
to start.

I start in the living room, picking up my discarded 
jogging shirt and pants from the couch, a sweatshirt 
on my computer chair and the matching pants on the 
coffee table.  I walk over to the bedroom and see that 
I have heaps of clothes everywhere.  I pick up the 
clothes and go to put them in the hamper when I notice 
the hamper is already overflowing.  Which I believe is 
a big sign that I have to do laundry.  I put my 
clothes into the laundry basket and go down to the 
laundry room.

With my clothes washing, I decide to clean up the 
kitchen. I walk in there and shudder at what I see.  
Dirty plates and glasses since I don't know when are 
piled up in the sink.  I think for a moment on how 
easy it would be to just throw it all away into the 
garbage, but I don't.  I'm surprised to find 
dishwashing liquid in the cabinet.  I wonder if Scully 
bought it for me as a hint, because I don't remember 
buying it for myself.  I put the plates in the machine 
and turn it on.  

After I wipe the counters down, I attack the 
refrigerator.  When was the last time I threw anything 
out of here?  I can't remember.  I throw out anything 
past its prime, which is pretty much everything.

With my clothes cleaned and put away, I look around 
the apartment to see the progress I have made.  *Not 
bad, not bad at all!*

I start thinking about Scully.  I really wanted to 
kiss her when I was at her apartment this morning and 
I'm pretty sure she wanted to kiss me too, but a plan 
started to form and I wanted to surprise her with my 
unknown abilities.  So unknown, I didn't even know I 
had it.  So what if I haven't cooked for someone in a 
decade.  How hard can it be?  Besides, maybe if 
everything works out tonight, she'll let me make her 
breakfast as well?

I realize time is ticking away and boot up my computer 
to print out the recipe Scully's mother graciously 
sent me.  She offered to make the meal and bring it 
over, but I insisted that I make it.  I could hear her 
smile as she said, "Okay dear, but feel free to call 
me if you need any help."  As soon as it comes out of 
the printer, I grab it and head out the door to the 
grocers.

It takes me an hour to find all of the ingredients 
plus a couple of extra things to enhance the mood of 
the evening.  

After I bought the groceries, I stop by a wine shop 
and can't decide on what to get.  Wine isn't my strong 
suit, so I ask the manager if he could recommend 
something.  After telling him what kind of food I 
wanted it to go with, he recommends a Chardonnay and I 
buy it. 

I also pass by a flower shop and have to get a single 
red rose.  I'm pulling out all the stops. 

According to Mrs. Scully the recipe should be easy to 
follow.  Even for someone like me.  *I wonder what 
Scully told her about me?* 

I get to my apartment and start my preparations.  


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Mulder left to make dinner.  I laugh at the thought of 
it.  He has never, and I mean NEVER lifted a single 
finger to make anything.  I doubt he even knows how to 
use the oven.  Does he even KNOW where the oven is?

I once snuck a bottle of dishwashing liquid under his 
sink to see if he would ever use it.  

He hasn't.

Knowing him, he'll go out to some fancy restaurant and 
order something outrageous and claim it as his own.  
Until I make him confess anyway.  I'm confident that I 
can get it out of him.  

As part of my 'taking it slow' day, I decide to pamper 
myself.  As I am coming back from my manicurist at the 
mall, I leisurely walk past a window and something 
catches my attention.  It's the most gorgeous sweater.  
It was baby blue and has a V-neck.  I go in to try it 
on.  It hugs my body perfectly.  A wicked smile 
crosses my lips as I imagine Mulder's reaction when he 
sees me in it.  

*Oh, I think he'll confess now.*

I decide to go for 'the casual with an underlying 
sexuality' look to drive Mulder over the edge and try 
on a pair of black fitted pants.  

I don't think of myself as attractive, but I'm not 
stupid. I try to stay in shape and I'm pretty sure 
Mulder likes what he sees.  I look at myself in the 
mirror *Oh, yah!  This is going to be fun.*  


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


I'm finishing the final touches when I hear a knock at 
the door.  As predicted, she's right on time.  I go to 
open it.  "Hey Scully."  I didn't think anything could 
top 'casual Scully' until I am met with what I've just 
named 'Kill me now cause I've just gone to heaven 
Scully' I may name it more appropriately later, when 
the blush I'm pretty sure I am wearing goes away.

"Mulder?"

I never realized how evil Scully could be until I laid 
my eyes on her.  She is wearing a sweater that matches 
the color of her eyes.  I can't help but look at how 
low her V-neck goes.  And I think I would remember 
those pants.   

"Mulder."

Her hair isn't as wild as it was this morning; it 
looks like it did when we were on that Arcadia 
assignment.  It was hard staying away from her then.

"MULDER!" I look back at her face.  She is trying to 
look as serious as possible, but I can tell by her 
eyes how much she is enjoying this.

Is she trying to torture me?  "You're right on time 
Scully, come on in."

"Smells good in here Mulder."  

"Thank you."

"Anything I can help you with?"  She starts towards 
the kitchen, but I stop her.  I want to surprise her 
with what I have done.  The expression 'slaving over a 
hot stove' applies here.  "No, I've got everything 
covered.  Make yourself comfortable Scully."

She looks flustered and I wonder why, until she looks 
around the room.  There are candles all around and 
soft classical music in the background.  Her face 
softens and she smiles a little.  She concedes, 
heading in the direction of the couch.

I get the chicken out of the oven.  I'm surprised it 
turned out so well.  I prepare our plates and put them 
on my table and light the candles.  

I motion for Scully to come over and I pull out the 
chair for her to sit in.  "Madam your feast awaits 
you."

"Aren't we being chivalrous."  She quips and then 
looks down at her plate.  From the look on her face, I 
think she's impressed by the meal in front of her.

I leave the room and come back with the wine and the 
rose I had purchased earlier.  I hand her the rose.  
She thanks me and breathes in the fragrance.  With a 
pop, I open the wine and pour it into the wineglasses 
I also got at the wine shop.

She takes a bite "This is really good Mulder." 

"Thank you."  It pleases me to no end that she likes 
it.

"What do you call it?"

"It's Lemon-Rosemary Chicken."

We are having a really nice time having small talk 
about anything other than work.  I take a good look at 
her as she sips her wine.  She really does look 
radiant tonight.  

She puts her glass down, stares right into my eyes and 
says in a playful voice "Okay Mulder, fess up!"

She surprises me out of my thoughts.

"What do you mean?"  


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Does he think I'm stupid?  The meal was too good to 
come from him.  "Come on Mulder. I know you got this 
from somewhere.  I mean, you don't know how to sauté 
asparagus, do you?"  

He looks taken aback and I doubt the comment I made.  
Did he really cook this meal himself?  His looks 
change to a smile "Scully, I'm flattered that you 
think my food is worthy of fine dining status."

I sit back in the chair and think for a second before 
responding.  "Are you telling me you went out, bought 
the ingredients and made this meal all by yourself?"

"That's what I did." 

He gets up, takes our plates to the kitchen.  I'm 
still not convinced and I follow suit.

He starts up the coffee and as I walk into the 
kitchen, I see the evidence of someone who actually 
cooked a whole meal.  Pots and pans recently used on 
the stove and ingredients spread on the counter. 

Mulder turns towards me "Scully, I'm not finished 
yet." 

"Mulder you made this amazing meal.  The least I can 
do is help clean up."

"Out!" he scoots me out of there.  

I settle on the couch and turn my head to see what he 
is doing, but I get distracted when he is bends down 
to go through a cabinet.  He is looking particularly 
scrumptious tonight.  He is wearing those jeans that 
show off his impeccably toned ass.  It makes me want 
to go over there and rip it right off of him.  He is 
also wearing a black fitted T-shirt, which shows off 
his muscular arms.  And don't get me started with the 
wire rim glasses his wearing.  Doesn't he know sexy 
those make him look?  I have to look away and get 
myself together before I do something really 
embarrassing, like drool.

He comes out of the kitchen with a fresh cup of coffee 
and a plate of dessert.  He's full of surprises today. 
"Mulder, you made dessert too?"

With a sheepish grin he says "No, this I bought."  

I look at what he gave me and smile; "You know what I 
like."    

He looks at it and waves it in front of my nose so I 
can smell it. "It's a New York style cheesecake topped 
with strawberries and sauce."  

I look at the mouthwatering dessert and lick my lips.  
I know what he is doing, but I go along with the game 
and look around. "Where's yours?"

"I thought we could share."  I wonder if he can see 
the blush on my face, but I'm not about to refuse.  

The corners of my lips turn up ever so slightly.  I 
guess this outfit worked better than I thought


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


I take her silence as a yes.  I proceed to take the 
spoon, scoop a piece of the cheesecake on it along 
with some of the strawberry sauce and feed her.  She 
watches me do this and as I put the spoon in her mouth 
she closes her eyes savoring the flavor. I take a 
strawberry and place it in her mouth; she takes a bite 
of it.  It is the single most erotic thing I have ever 
seen.  "Mmmmm."  She groans and it's taking all of my 
will power not to grab her right now.  She's teasing 
me and I immediately feel the effect she has in my 
groin.

She opens her eyes and licks her lips. "It's very good 
Mulder, you should try some."  Without breaking eye 
contact, she grabs the spoon and scoops some of the 
cheesecake and sauce.  She slowly places the contents 
in my mouth.  I don't know if it's the cheesecake or 
her making it so delectable.  I think it's the latter.  
She then darts her eyes to my mouth and gives me an 
evil grin.  I realize some of the sauce is dripping 
down my chin.  She moves towards me.  I'm frozen by 
her boldness.  Her concentration is focused on the 
spot the sauce has claimed.  She's closer and I feel 
lightheaded.  She closes her eyes.  Before I know it, 
she's licking the sauce off my chin.  

I take that as a sign.  I take my hands, cup her face 
and bring her lips to mine for a long, deep, sensual 
kiss.  We part for air, glance at each other and come 
together again in hungry kisses.  We're groping each 
other like teenagers now. I can't get enough of her.  
I want her.  Not just right now, but for as long as 
she'll have me.  She stops me and I think she doesn't 
want this as much as I do.  "Mulder."  She says 
breathlessly.

I'm disappointed, but respect her decision "Scully, I 
understand."

"You do?"

"Yes, I do."

She gets up and so do I.  I assume she's leaving, but 
then she grabs my hand and proceeds to walk towards 
the bedroom.  "Scully?"

She stops, turns and gives me a sympathetic look. 
"Before you ask, it's what I want.  Is it what you 
want?"

"If you only knew for how long."

I notice her eyes darken significantly, she clasps my 
hand with hers and pulls me again towards the bedroom.

Our clothes drop along the way and we stumble into the 
bed.  I'm constantly touching and examining her, 
making sure she is real.  That this is really 
happening.  I don't want to wake up and realize it was 
only a fantasy.  

Our lovemaking is everything it should be, soft and 
passionate yet at the same time intense and exciting. 

My fantasy has turned into reality.

Scully is asleep with her face on my shoulder.  I gaze 
at her beautiful face, touch her lips with my fingers 
and say in barely a whisper "My Scully".  I'm amazed 
on how comfortable and natural that sounded coming 
from my mouth.  It's like we've been together like 
this for years.  It's nice.  Very nice!

We are entwined, not only in sheets that surround us, 
but in our souls as well and I know that no matter 
what the future has in store for us we can handle it, 
together.  

I tighten my hold on her, kiss her head and think 
about what I should make for breakfast in the morning.



~End~


AUTHOR NOTES: The omelet part came to me when I was 
making omelets one morning and a light bulb suddenly 
appeared over my head. I figured I would just follow 
my muse and see where it would take me!

As my boyfriend so assiduously pointed out (rolling 
eyes-he's a chef), the omelet featured in this story 
is my own creation and not the actual way to make a 
traditional omelet. 

Completed: July 27, 2000

If you enjoyed it, please let me know at crmv@aol.com