Title: Fourth Morning
Author: Oracle
Classification: VRA
Rated: PG-13
Spoilers: None
Key Words: Mulder/Scully Romance, sallie-safe
Disclaimer: Not mine.

Summary: "Why did you stay last night?"

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This story was given to Lidia on her birthday and is
dedicated to her with much love! :)

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The motel room is streaked with dust-mote sunlight.

"How long have you been awake?" Scully asks, zipping her
skirt. She catches Mulder's gaze in the mirror as she pulls
on her stockings.

He blinks and reaches up to rub his eyes.

"Just now," he mumbles. "Too early for innuendo, Scully."

"I thought it was never too early."

"Well, for once I can prove you wrong."

She smiles and starts brushing her hair. Yawning, he
stretches his body out, sprawling his limbs to span the
entire bed. The sheets only cover him to his waist.

"How come you stayed last night?" he asks, closing his
eyes to yawn again, scratching the centre of his chest.

She licks her lips and stares at him, distracted. "I fell
asleep."

"Oh." He rolls onto his side, facing away from her. "When
does our flight leave?"

"Not for a couple of hours."

"Oh. Okay."

She sits next to him and puts a hand on his shoulder. He
tenses.

"Mulder, we should talk."

"There's nothing to talk about. You were tired. You fell
asleep in my bed. End of story."

"That's not the whole story." She wants to put her arms
around him but isn't sure how from this angle. She settles
for clasping his hand.

"It's okay, Scully. Can we not talk about it? I get it."

"Look, Mulder, I'm not very good at this. But I guess," she
bites her lip. "I guess that's just stating the obvious, isn't it?"

He shrugs.

"Why don't you ask me again?" she says. "I didn't know it
was such an important question."

"Ask you what?"

"Why I stayed."

He rolls over to face her, his expression wary. "Why did
you stay last night?"

"I wanted to fall asleep in your arms," she says. She
raises an eyebrow, "Satisfied?"

For a moment he looks on the verge of tears but then he
smiles, pulling her down onto the mattress, against his
warmth.

"You were using my hairbrush," he murmurs, nuzzling her
hair messy. "That's not very polite, Scully. I think you
should apologise."

"Why don't you make me?"

He pushes her onto her back and looms over her.

"Apologise or face the consequences," he growls in a mock-
German accent.

"You're crinkling my blouse," she complains, laughing.

"Well then maybe you should take it off."

She nods thoughtfully. "Maybe I should."

"Okay," he says quietly. He releases her hands and she
slides out from under him, flipping him over and straddling
his stomach.

"So are you going to take it off?"

"I said 'maybe', Mulder. You weren't paying attention."

He toys with her top button, his eyes darkening. "How about
I take it off?"

"How about you let me finish getting ready?"

"You're no fun, Scully."

That's a challenge if ever she's heard one.

"Oh yeah?" she asks, as she starts undoing her blouse. "Are
you having fun now, Mulder?"

He swallows and licks his lips. "I retract that statement."

Her blouse gapes open and he pushes it down her shoulders,
pushes it until the sleeves slip from her hands. He tosses
it away from the bed.

Suddenly exposed, she crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"Mulder, we'll miss our flight."

"So?"

"So we have a meeting today."

"We'll tell Skinner we got a flat tire on the way to the
airport," he whispers, stroking her stomach with his knuckles.
"Or how about this? I came down with a bug and wasn't up
to flying."

"You..." she sucks in a breath as he traces her navel. "Mulder,
you're like the devil on my shoulder."

"I prefer to think of myself as a fallen angel."

He pulls her arms from her breasts and kisses a trail from her
wrist to her shoulder like Gomez Adams, making slurping
noises even though his touch is light.

Scully shakes with suppressed laughter. "I'm serious, Mul...mmm,
Mulder. Let me up."

"You taste good," he murmurs, sucking at her neck. "I'll let
you up on one condition."

"Wha-what condition?"

"That you stay tonight."

Coming from any other man those words would be manipulative,
shallow. There's so much vulnerability in his voice.

"Every night, Mulder," she replies. She kisses him on his
hot, salty mouth, a lingering taste, a promise. "Every night."

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