Title: Your Kiss is on My Lips Author: Tess E-mail: tnv099@aol.com Distribution: If you want it, but I'd like to know where Spoilers: You guessed it - Millennium Rating: PG-13 Content: MSR Summary: The night's events from Mulder's perspective Your Kiss is on My Lips By: Tess '10, 9, 8, 7...' The crowd on the television is chanting as they count down the final seconds of 1999. Scully stands next to me; her attention focused squarely on the crystal ball dropping in Times Square on the screen mounted above us. '...3, 2, 1. Happy New Year!!' The crowd explodes as Auld Lang Syne plays. The camera catches a couple kissing and I am inspired. My eyes widen and I hesitate for only a second or two. I lean around Scully and she turns her head toward mine. I press my lips lightly against hers and she closes her eyes and leans in slightly to accept. I pull back and her eyes flutter open. She tilts her head slightly, arches her brow and smiles as if to say I smile back happily. "The world didn't end," I say. "No it didn't," she replies before dropping her eyes to the floor. I recognize that look. It is the one she wears when she is beginning to analyze something. "Happy New Year, Scully." "Happy New Year, Mulder," she responds. Her voice is contemplative. For a brief moment I wonder if she is upset. Maybe I should never have done that, but the thought fades quickly as the image of her tiny, joyful smile springs into my mind. I sling my good arm around her shoulders and urge her toward the door. We walk quietly across the parking lot to her waiting car. She unlocks the passenger door and waits until I am settled before closing my door. We drive in comfortable silence to my apartment. I know that she is thinking the same thing that I am thinking -- where do we go from here? But I'm not afraid and I sense that she's not either. This *thing* between us has been brewing for a lot of years, almost coming to a boil last spring when I took her in my arms to teach her how to hit a baseball before settling back down to a simmer. Although my nature is impulsive and rash at times, I am content to let things progress at their natural pace. Because I know where it's going to end. We are meant to be together. Perhaps we will decide that we need to wait until our work is done, until we find the answers we seek. Maybe not. But after tonight there will be no going back to pretending that we are only platonic partners. I know the truth and so does Scully. We pull up in front of my building and I fumble to release the catch of my seatbelt. Scully's fingers brush against mine as she helps set me free of my restraint. She unlocks her door and steps out of the car. I join her on the sidewalk. We are still silent on the short elevator ride to the fourth floor but Scully's eyes meet mine steadily. "Want to come in for some coffee?" I ask, finally breaking the silence as I unlock my apartment door. Scully leans past me and pokes her head into my apartment. She straightens and turns to look at me. Her eyes are merry as she replies. "No thanks. I just wanted to make sure there weren't any killer zombies lurking about." "You didn't check out my bedroom," I suggest helpfully. "Maybe some other time." Our smiles are wide. "Well...," she begins, "I should be going." "Yeah. Okay." "So...I'll probably talk to you later, right?" She's stalling. "Call me when you get home." "I will," she promises. She starts to turn away and then stops. Raising herself up on her toes, she brushes a kiss against my lips. "Good night, Mulder," she breathes against my mouth. She starts to pull away and then stops again. Her body tenses for a second and then relaxes. "What the hell," she mutters and seals her lips over mine. Her tongue darts out to tease the corner of my mouth and I open eagerly to encourage further exploration. Her lips move softly, roaming over mine, settling first on my upper lip and then nibbling gently on the lower. She breaks away with a small sigh and sinks back down on her heels. I cup the back of her neck with my hand and draw her back up to meet me. Now it's my turn. Her lips part in anticipation and my tongue sweeps past her teeth and into her mouth. She's straining on her toes to reach me and my arm drops from her neck to her waist as I haul her up against me. Her arms go around my neck, her hands fisting in my hair as our kisses change from curiosity to passion. We break apart again and Scully presses her lips against my cheek and exhales a shaky breath. I dip my head and bury my mouth against the pounding pulse in her neck. We hold each other tightly, waiting for our breathing to gentle, our heart rates to slow. I open my eyes and smile against her shoulder. A few minutes pass and then Scully's hands slide from my neck to rest against my chest. She presses lightly and pushes slightly away putting a little space between us. She fingers my hair and smiles. "It's late. I should probably get going," she says. I keep my arm wrapped tightly around her waist. "Yeah probably," I agree. "You really need to get some rest, Mulder," she continues. "Mmm hmmm." I make no move to release her. "It's been an extremely long day." "Yes, it has." I am very agreeable. I'm also still not letting go. Of course, she isn't exactly struggling to get away. Scully drops her head against my chest and laughs weakly. Stretching up again, she presses her lips against my ear. "I really, really have to go," she whispers. "I know." I squeeze her tightly and then loosen my arm. She presses a quick kiss to my lips and steps back. My arm drops to my side and I lean against the doorjamb. Scully is backing her way down the hall toward the elevator. "Hey Scully," I call softly. "Yeah?" "Whatcha doing tomorrow?" "It's already tomorrow, Mulder." "Okay, then later today?" "Oh, I have to wash the dog," she tells me. "Scully, you don't have a dog," I point out helpfully. "Did I say dog? I meant I have to wash my hair." "And after that?" "Um...I'm going to visit my mother???" "Your mom is in California." "Oh yeah." She smiles at me and waggles her fingers. "Bye." God, she's flirting with me! "Scully," I call out mock-warningly. "Mulder get some sleep. I'll see you later." "Today?" I press. "Later today," she confirms. She turns to walk to the elevator. "Hey Scully," I call again. She turns back. "Good night." She smiles again. "Good night, Mulder." She steps onto the elevator and I start to back into my apartment. Scully sticks her head out of the elevator, her hands holding the doors open. "Hey, Mulder," she whispers loudly. "Yeah?" "Happy New Year." I grin and she lets the doors slide shut. I close my apartment door and lean against it. "Happy New Year," I whisper and then think to myself that this year, it might be true. The End Thoughts? Comments? I'd love to hear from you at tnv099@aol.com *****