TITLE: Our Lives Series 01 - Bliss *Sequel to A Chance Meeting* AUTHOR: Angharad E-MAIL ADDRESS: sweet_roses_2000_uk@yahoo.co.uk DISTRIBUTION: No Archive (previous excursions being the exception). Story will be on my website at http://uk.geocities.com/little_corner_2000/ CATEGORY: Pre X File/AU, Scully POV KEYWORDS: MSM RATING: PG-13 SPOILERS: None DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters from the X Files; they are the property of Chris Carter and 1013 Productions but the other characters however belong to me! SUMMARY: 'I'm more than happy. I'm in a state of bliss.' Bliss PART 1/2 A shaft of warm sunlight falls onto two figures in the white covered double bed through a wide crack in the curtains. The curtains move each time a gentle breeze touches them and the sunlight is filtering through the thin material, dappling the walls. I feel the warm sun on my bare arms as I sleepily open my eyes to the sun shining through the window, lighting up the room around me. I stretch slightly and turn so I'm facing Mulder; his arms still around me. Stroking his bare shoulder, I watch him sleep, with a smile on my face as I think of last night. My eyes are drawn to the diamond on my ring, surrounded by topaz, glinting under the early morning sunlight, next to the thin gold band. I think back lazily to when he proposed to me for a second time. It was two months after I had gotten out of hospital. We were seeing each other regularly then, so much so that Mulder had come to staying the night most weekends though he spent most nights on the couch I muse. That can't have been comfortable I think with a grin but I had to follow the Catholic traditions that had been instilled in me. I think back to the night he surprised me with a feeling of warmth. He surprised me when I came home after a long and tiring shift because I was greeted with the sight of a candle lit dinner at one o'clock in the morning. I think then I realised how much he loved me. I'm aware of a smile on my face as I remember. We spent several hours savouring the meal, which consisted of aromatic pasta and garlic bread stuffed with herbs. Up until then I was a little wary of his cooking, as I had seen little evidence of it. Boy how he surprised me. But the biggest surprise was yet to come I think with a smile, glancing at his sleeping form, not yet aware that I'm awake though it is early; it's close to 6am. Returning to my thoughts, I remember Mulder spending nearly an hour trailing butterfly kisses along my neck while I was sprawled out on his lap on the sofa with a glass of wine in my hand. When he gently stopped and got up, placing my head on the armrest, I didn't think much of it; thanks to his kisses I think with a smile, which had put me in a languid state. When he returned and went down on one knee however, I sat up on the sofa, slightly surprised. My mind was cloudy due to tiredness and the languid state he had put me in moments ago. At this point it was nearly 3am. It was then he asked me to marry him in the gentlest tone I've ever heard, hand outstretched holding a little black velvet box. Tears slowly blurring my vision, I said yes and threw myself into his arms. It wasn't until he gently prised me away from his arms that I realised that I hadn't even looked at the ring yet. Holding a breath of anticipation, I opened the box slowly and gasped at the sight before me; it was a gorgeous ring; a single diamond surrounded by topaz. Looking into his hazel eyes, which were full of love, he put the ring on my finger. Bliss PART 2/2 Glancing at the clock on the wall I see it's only 6.15, too early to get up yet too awake to go back to sleep. I think of a comprise and lay my head on Mulder's bare chest. He responds in his sleep by wrapping his arms tighter around me, pulling me closer to his chest. I smile into his chest, happiness bursting within me, the blood flowing through my body, singing with happiness. With a smile still evident on my face, I think back to our wedding ceremony six months ago. It was a simple ceremony. Small. We'd decided beforehand only to have our closest friends there who were necessary as witnesses so the ceremony consisted of myself, Mulder, Carly, Jerry and a few other close colleagues. We had the ceremony in a small church, away from the city, that Carly knew about through her parents. It was a beautiful church. Elegant, darkly stained pews, carved wooden beams crisscrossing the white ceiling and sunlight filtering in through the old coloured stained glass windows making the sunlight a mixture of colours. There were bouquets of wild flowers adorning the end of the pews; I recognised the daisies and forget-me-nots among them, walking down the red- carpeted aisle. I too was holding a bouquet with similar flowers and I was dressed in a simple dress that enhanced my beauty, according to Carly. The dress was cream satin and had a faint embroidered design covering the dress. The sleeves reached down to the middle of my hand, ending in a triangle shape. The dress also emphasised my slimness but in a flattering way. I had a cream veil that matched the dress with white flowers nestling amongst my red hair, which was piled on top of my head with a few tendrils allowed to escape. I remember everything down to the last detail; I was wearing natural makeup; light eye shadow and rosy pink lipstick. The dress was picked out by Carly, her wedding present to me. I told to keep her money for something else but she insisted, saying that I was the sister she never had. I smile at the memory; we'd grown close during the time we spent together; we'd been living together since med school. I'll never forget the look on Mulder's face as he watched me walk down the aisle, full of happiness, wonder and most of all, love. I feel my body tingling as I remember the words we uttered in the quiet church. I'll always love you Mulder and I'll honour my vows 'til death do us part I think, stroking his arm again. Much of the day passed in a daze of happiness. We spent the reception at Carly's place; she'd found her own place soon after I announced my engagement to Mulder. That night, I felt so alive; I didn't know I could feel that way. I return to the bedroom, lit by the early morning sunlight, growing stronger with each passing minute. I recall the time we spent together, before we were married. Married. That word sounds so strange and yet so right. The one thing that I remember the most is the number of times I laughed. Mulder was always making me laugh, especially that one time when we were walking through the park and he grabbed me round the waist and dragged me over to the swings. He still makes me laugh now I think, as I sit up slightly, pulling the sheets around my bare body. I look down at him, watching the steady rhythm of his chest rising and falling, sleeping peacefully for a change. Not long after he started staying the night I found out that he suffered from insomnia and when it was bad as he was suffering from nightmares, due to the case he was working on at the time, I let him share my bed. Since then he has always fallen asleep with his arms wrapped around me. I don't mind; he makes me feel safe and loved. Though I don't need to feel that I think, it's evident that Fox William Mulder loves me, just like I, Dana Katherine Scully loves him though I'm now Dana Katherine Mulder I think with a smile. It is at that moment that Mulder chooses to stir, opening his eyes, revealing those gorgeous hazel eyes to see me staring at him with a smile on my face, "that's a nice sight to wake up to. What are you smiling about?" he asks with an amused smile. "Nothing" I reply, my smile becoming wider, "just thinking." "That's a dangerous pastime" he retorts. I chuckle at that and smooth his silky brown hair away from his eyes. He mirrors my actions; smoothing the flyaway strands from my face, even though we both know that it's in vain but I relish the touch of his gentle hand on my skin. Suddenly his face turns serious, "are you really happy? Stuck with me?" he asks quietly, almost gravely. I respond with a long kiss before replying, "I'm more than happy. I'm in a state of bliss." His face lights up from the inside like a child's and he pulls me down to him, kissing me once more. The End