Title: NEW: Stargazing (1/2) Author: DiLisky@ix.netcom.com Date: Fri, 05 Sep 1997 15:11:36 -0700~ Title: Stargazing Author: Kristyn Collins Rating: PG Category: S Spoilers: none Keywords: Pre-XF, Mulder/Scully friendship, Alternate Universe Story Summary: A kind of "what if" story about what might have happened if Mulder and Scully met as high-schoolers. Archive: YES! At Goss, please. And anywhere else, but reatain author's name and addy. And send me a note as to where, if you don't mind. Disclaimer: Well, I don't know if this counts as a real X-files story, but I give the credit to Chris Carter for inventing the characters and their world. Author's Note: This is a little strange for me. But I was so captivated by the story "Friends Even as Children" I had to write this. You must, must, must read that story by Penny Daza I'm sorry to her if she feels this is infringement. It's the same premise, but a different story entirely. By the way, I have lived in 5 different places in my short fifteen years, so I know what she must've felt like. Plus the changing behind the blanket really happened to me. Don't ask. Look for X-files references. Also, ignore the fact that Mulder had to go through hypnotherapy to remember the aliens. I forgot that as I was writing this. Stargazing By Kristyn Collins Dana walked into the high school in Chilmark. This was the eighth place she had lived in her short fifteen years. It was a lot of trouble making friends and then having to leave them, so she didn't bother anymore. The last place she lived was Norfolk, and she had only spoken to her lab partner in biology on the phone. It was hard enough being a freshman, but she was a middle-of-the-year-transfer freshman. And this was a small school, too. They were the worst because everyone had grown up with everyone else. She made her way to her first class- biology. She liked that class a lot, she was a very good student. The teacher was a man called Mr. Niva who looked strangely like Santa Claus. Period two was french with Madame Laurent. She was a prim, proper sort of woman. Just the kind of person her mother was. Dana wasn't very good in french, and the rest of the class quickly knew that when the teacher asked her to conjugate a regular ir-verb and all she could do was stammer. The kids all snickered. She hated every single one and made a mental note not to talk to any of them. The rest of the day was the same. She would get up in front of the class, introduce herself and then sit down and listen to the whispers and snickers. She barely made it through to lunch without crying. She would have cried at lunch if it hadn't been for a mysterious boy. She was sitting at a table all by herself when he came up to her. He looked strangely sad and haunted. He sat next to her. "Hi. My name is Fox Mulder. Are you new here?" "Yeah. I just moved from Norfolk," she said shyly. He was very handsome, and a lot older. He was her brother Bill's age. Or at the very least Missy's. "My name is Dana Scully. Have you met my brother or my sister?" She glanced around, seeing Missy surrounded by her new friends and Bill Jr. playing football outside. "No. Should I have?" "No. I was just wondering what made you come over here." "Nothing." She narrowed her eyes. "You mean no one put you up to it?" She had expected to be the butt of a few cruel jokes. "Who would put me up to it? I don't have any friends either," he shrugged, like that didn't bother him at all. "But look, kid, if you don't want any company I'll-" He rose, but she stopped him. "No stay. But don't call me kid. Call me Dana," she said. "What year are you?" "I'm a senior. You're a...sophomore I bet." "No," she smiled. He was a charmer, this one. "Freshman. I just turned fifteen." "I'm almost eighteen. But not yet." "Can you drive?" she asked, wide-eyed. For as long as she could remember she had wanted to drive. "Yeah. It's no big deal," he said. Then the bell rang. He asked for her phone number. She was amazed. This cute senior wanted her phone number. Actually, she didn't have a phone number yet, so she gave him her new address and made him promise to stop by before heading off to her next class. ******** When she came through the door, she was greeted by her mother with a hug. "How was your first day, honey?" "Good, Mom. I only made one friend, though." "What's her name?" asked her mother, leading her to the table. She sat down and her mother sat across from her. "*His* name is Fox," she said, "He promised to stop by later." "Oh. How old is he?" "He's a senior," she said. Her mother frowned, "Dana..." "Mom!" she groaned, "I can take care of myself. I'm fifteen. He's seventeen. That's not much older than me!" she exclaimed. Then her sister and brothers came through the door. Missy sat down next to their mother and smiled at her sister. "I see you've met Fox Mulder," she said as if she were an expert on the workings of this new school. "Yes. Is there something wrong with him?" "No. He's just labeled as kind of a hermit, that's all. But if you want a hermit for a boyfriend..." "He isn't my boyfriend! He's stopping by later, and I want all of you on your best behavior!" she scolded. "Yes, Mother," said Missy and Bill after giving each other a look. The front door opened and in walked Bill Scully, Sr. He was off of work for just two days until his family got settled in their new home, and the children relished the precious time they has with their father. So as soon as he walked in the door, he was met with an onslaughts of "Hey, Dad, guess what?" And "Dad! Listen to me, Dad!" "Dad!" Dana watched her siblings fight over their father as she quietly went to her room and waited for Fox Mulder to arrive. ******** "Dana, it's Fox," sang Melissa, "Come in, Fox," she said. "Dana!" she called again. "Sorry, let me get the brat." She ran up the stairs. Fox followed her and they both walked into Dana's room and found her curled up with her favorite book- Moby Dick. "Sorry," she said breathlessly. "I was getting to the good part. Hi, Fox. We'd better go downstairs," she said, but thought better of it when she heard Charlie screaming at Bill. "Um...maybe we should stay here. Missy, tell Mom Fox is here and that we'll be up in our room." Melissa departed and Dana heard her sister screaming, "Mom! Dana has a boy up in our room! Why can't *I* have a boy in our room?" But her mom must have trusted them because she never appeared. Neither did her father. So she and Fox were left alone to talk. It was five thirty. "So...What brings you to Chilmark?" he asked, when they were settled. Dana sat on the floor, Fox sat next to her. It had never occurred to Dana that Fox might have wanted something less than pure up in her room, because she was, by nature, the most trusting of people. "My Dad's in the Navy. We move around," she said simply. "Oh. How do you like it here?" "Fine, accept the schools are a little lacking." "Oh?" "Yeah. You're the only person who came down off your high horse to talk to me." "My horse isn't high," he said, trying to make a joke. It was lost on Dana. "I mean, I'm not that well respected at school. People think I'm strange." "Why?" "Dunno. Maybe it's cause I think that there are aliens walking among us." "Aliens, Fox?" she asked, amazed at how easy it was to talk to him. "Yeah. From outer space. They come and take people away!" "Where did you *ever* get an idea like that?" "It's a long story," he shrugged. He eyes grew sad. She put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm a good listener." She quit bugging him when she saw how lost he became. "It's a story for another time. Tell me more about your family." "Well, around here most of the time there's me, my younger brother Charlie, my older brother Bill Jr. and my sister Missy. In Norfolk, Missy was never around because she was always out on dates. Bill Jr. makes friends and girlfriends easily too. Charlie's a bit of a Mamma's boy, so he's always near Mom. I'm closer to my Dad. He reads to me from Moby Dick." she thought. "My family's so different form yours. My parents are divorced. I basically live with just my mother." "No siblings?" "No," he answered quickly. Almost angrily. She told herself not to ever mention siblings to him again. She wondered why that was such a sore spot. There was a very uncomfortable silence. He got up and looked at her books. She had a lot of poetry, some Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes. He picked it up. "I love Sherlock Holmes!" he exclaimed, holding it up. "Yeah, me too. Being an investigator sounds so exciting." "Are you thinking about doing that when you grow up?" "Oh, no! I want to be a doctor. How about you?" "I don't know. Psychology, maybe. Police work sounds like fun. You don't think so?" "No unless you like chasing psychopaths around the country. No, thank you!" He grew silent again, and looked at his feet. Then he took a deep breath, "Listen, Dana?" "Yes?" she answered. He looked worried. "I know this is kind of last minute, but the Winter Ball is on Saturday night, and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me." "I'm a freshman! You're a senior. Wouldn't that ruin your reputation?" "Reputation? *I* have a reputation? I don't think so. If you don't want to go, just say-" "No. I do! But I have a confession to make." "Yes?" "I've never been on a date." "Neither have I," he said. She was comforted by the thought that he was as clueless as she. "Do you want to stay for dinner?" "No, I think I should go. My mother's expecting me. I don't like to keep her waiting. Dana?" he said, standing and leaning over to her, invading her personal space. "What?" It came out a little harsh. The closeness was new to her. "I'll bring you a corsage." "Okay." He left. She sighed, and when she heard the door close she ran downstairs screaming, "Mom! I have a date! I have a date!" "Really, Dana? Did Fox ask you out?" her mother's eyes narrowed. She hadn't even seen him yet, but she knew when she did, her mother would just love him. "Yes. We're going to the Winter Ball this Saturday. I mean, if I can. Can I please?" "I don't know. He's Bill's age," she said. Bill was seated at the table, fork in hand. Lately, he just ate and ate and ate. Melissa was sitting at her spot at the table pouting. Charlie was still talking to his father, babbling about how wonderful his new school was in the den. "I will speak to your father about it. Bill! Charlie! Come on! Dinner!" she called. Charlie, a spitting image of his father emerged. "What's for dinner, Maggie?" said the elder Bill. "Tuna noodle casserole." Charlie cheered, Dana scrunched up her nose, Bill licked his lips and Melissa continued to pout. "What's wrong, Missy?" her sister asked. "*You* have a date before me! How embarrassing is *that*? And he's a senior, too!" "I thought you said he's a hermit!" "He's a cute hermit! He's a senior hermit!" yelled Melissa. As a junior, she was only interested in senior guys. Dana sighed and took her victory silently. "Melissa, you're pretty and nice. You'll have a date soon enough," she said. Then she sat down and began eating her dinner. It was a happy, animated family moment. The family was normally happy, but usually Bill was away at sea. They laughed and talked about their days and began to prepare to say goodbye to their father again. ******** A very different scene was taking place at the Mulder household. Fox had prepared himself and his mother dinner. It was leftovers. Something a neighbor had given them. Since his father left, him mother had not been domestically inclined. He prepared her meals. She was a zombie, in front of the TV. "Hi, Mom. I met someone today." Her eyebrows raised in response. "Her name is Dana Scully. She's a freshman. She's pretty. She has flame red hair and clear blue eyes. She trusts me already, Mom. Can you imagine?" "That's nice, Fox," she said. He sighed and went up to his room to eat his dinner. He took out one of his father's books- "Moby Dick". By God, he was going to impress Dana Scully if it was the last thing he did. He hadn't fallen in love with her, exactly, but he was very intrigued by her as well as her family. A few minutes later, he went back downstairs. "Mom?" "What?" she said, not looking away from the TV. "I need to get a suit." "You have plenty of suits." "Yeah, but they're all too small." "Are you sure?" "Yes, Mom. I got them two years ago. Besides they're all stupid. Can you take me shopping Saturday?" "Why do you need a suit?" He groaned. "Mom, I told you I'm going to the Winter Ball. I need a suit." "You can go in the suit you have," she said. "How abut one of Dad's?" "No! You will not wear *his* clothes." Then she began to cry. Great, what was he going to do? He'd have to cancel on Dana or else find some way to come up with the money for a suit soon. And a corsage. He promised her a corsage! He sighed. He'd tell her tomorrow. ********* Fox knocked on the Scully's door. Her mother answered. At least he figured it was her mother. She didn't look anything like Dana. "Mrs. Scully?" "Yes. Oh! You must be Fox," she said, welcoming him into their home. "Please come in. Dana isn't home from school yet. How did you get home so fast." "I drove. I was going to offer her a ride, but I couldn't find her today. I feel really awful." "About what?" she asked, preparing milk and cookies for the children when they came home. She made an extra plate for Fox and set it in front of him. He thought he was too old to be mothered, but it felt good to have food prepared for him for a change. "Thanks. I can't go to the Winter Ball on Saturday." Her face fell. "Oh. Why not? Dana has been so excited." "So have I," he confessed. What was it with these Scully's and being able to talk to them? "I..." he trailed off. He was embarrassed. "Fox," she said sternly, "If you're going to disappoint my baby girl, I need a good reason." "That's just it. It isn't a good reason. My mother won't get me a suit. I've outgrown all my old ones. She says they still fit, but they don't. I don't have the money myself to get one," he said, finishing his plate of cookies. He got up to wash it, but Mrs. Scully stopped him. "Here. I have that. We gave our consent to Dana for her to go with you, and she was so excited. And I see that you want to go. I'll take you to get a suit. And then we'll go shopping for that corsage you promised her, okay?" "Mrs. Scully! Thank you so much! But won't that embarrass her?" "Well, it'll be our little secret. Give me your address and I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. I'll tell the children I'm going shopping. Okay?" "Thank you," he whispered. he wondered. Then the door burst open and a troop of teens came through the door. Melissa was first, followed by her two brothers and then Dana. Missy saw Fox first and took over him. "Hello, Fox. Getting ready for the Winter Ball?" "Yes," he gave a sly glance to Mrs. Scully, "Are you going?" "Mmm hum," she said, grabbing a plate of cookies. "Scott Johaanson asked me this afternoon!" she giggled. "Scott Johaanson, huh? He's a nice guy. You'll have fun." "I'm going with Kristen!" piped up Bill. "Kristen Lawrence?" "Yeah. She's great, isn't she?" "I don't know her very well. She just moved here last year," Fox said. He noticed Dana was smiling at him. "Can we talk?" "Yeah, let's go for a walk," she said, smiling. So they bundled up and went outside into the cold February air. They walked around the block four times talking. He kept asking about her family. She tried not to mention his. "Do you get the feeling that we know each other?" "Yeah," she breathed. "Do you think that maybe we met as babies and are only just remembering it?" "No. I don't think so," he paused. "Do you believe in past lives?" "Past lives?" She fingered the cross around her neck. The one her mother had just given to her. "Yeah. Like our souls were once together. And then we died and were reborn." "I'm Christian," she said quickly. "I don't think that could happen." "Oh," he answered softly. "Well, I think it could, and I think that's what we are. Soul mates." It was a bold statement for a seventeen year old to be telling a fifteen year old she was his soul mate. But he felt it was true, and somewhere deep inside, so did she. She nodded, and took his hand. Then she took a deep breath. "Fox, something's happened to you. You probably don't want to tell me, but I'd really like to help you out," she said. And then added, "I mean if you want to tell me." "Now isn't the time. Later, not now," he said. She shivered a little from the cold. He took off his jacket and put it on her shoulders, even though he only had a light sweater on. "Thank you," she said. He picked up her hand again. "I really do feel like I know you. There's just no...you know evidence that there are soul mates." "Oh. Isn't it enough just to believe there are?" asked Fox. They were nearing her house for the fourth time, and it was getting late. "Belief can only take you so far. Sometimes you've got to have evidence," she said. They stopped at her door and she waved goodbye. "See you tomorrow night," she said cheerfully. "Yeah, see you," he said. Then he lowered his gaze to the ground, sighed and slowly made his way back to the house. ****** Mrs. Scully left the house early. She picked up Fox and drove to the department store. When they reached the suit store, they parked and walked in. "Oh, I'm so excited for you and Dana. You're going to have so much fun!" She exclaimed. Then her eyes grew dark, "Fox?" He cocked his head as he looked at a suit, "Yes?" "Is there anything you maybe want to get off your chest about your family. Why couldn't your mom take you today?" "She's a little grief stricken. Dad's left her. And me and college and all..." "College? Where are you planning on going?" "I applied to a few schools. Good ones. I think I can get in." "Which one's?" "Uh, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and my first choice-Oxford." "Oxford? All the way in England?" "Yeah. I can't wait to see who accepts me! The letters should come around April, I think." He found a relatively inexpensive suit. He had brought with him all the money he had, which was about three quarters what he needed. Mrs. Scully paid for the rest. Then they headed to the flower shop. He learned that Dana was going to be wearing an emerald green dress, so he got her a corsage he thought would match. It was pale yellow flower. He smiled when he saw it. It reminded him so much of her. Delicate yet bold. Striking yet simple. This was going to be perfect. Title: Stargazing(2/2) Author: Kristyn Collins For other info, see part one Once again Melissa answered the door. She was wearing a cream dress which looked nice on her. But nothing could compare to what he saw when Dana entered the room. Her green dress set off her beautiful red hair and brought out the blue in her eyes. He offered her the corsage a little awkwardly. "I, uh..I got you...This is..." he stammered. "Thank you," she said slipping it on her wrist. She brought out the boutonniere her mother had bought for her. "And this is yours," she said pinning it on him. They sat in the living room, and waited for Melissa and Bill's dates to arrive. They were going to have a group picture before everyone went their separate ways. Melissa would go to her date's house, and then to a friend of her date's house. Bill was taking his date out to dinner. Dana didn't know were Fox was taking her before the dance began. She only hoped she didn't have to meet his family. When everyone had arrived and had their pictures taken by Mrs. Scully, the parties left in separate cars. Fox held the door open for Dana, and she thought with a smile what a perfect gentleman he was. When they got to the car, he held the door there too. Then they got in. "You haven't asked where we are going." "No. I figured that was up to you. But since you brought it up..." "Well, I don't know. Are you hungry?" "Yeah, a little." "Okay, let's go out for dinner." "Where?" "I know just the place," he said, giving her a sly smile. She could get used to that smile, she thought. They ended up at a tiny restaurant called "The Caf‚." An older woman smiled when they walked in. "Fox!" she called. "Is it prom night?" "No, Mrs. Seipowatz, Winter Ball." She smiled. She was short, kind of dumpy, but she seemed very kind. She pinched Dana's cheeks and winked. "You've got yourself quite a catch, here...uh..." "Dana Scully, Mrs. Seipowatz." "I've know Fox since he was this high, and still needed a diaper." she said, pointing to her thick thigh. Fox gave her the "look," and she laughed harder. "Take any seat you want. I'll make you both anything you want. But ask Fox, my linguine is the best!" "Perfecta," said Fox in his best Italian accent. Then he pulled out a chair for Dana. She glanced at her watch. "We only have forty-five minutes until the dance." "Don't worry, we'll get there." ****** And get there they did. What few girls Dana knew marveled at her. She looked gorgeous and turned every head in the room. Fox heard whispers of "who's that weird guy with, she's beautiful!". And "Wow! How'd *he* get a date that pretty?" He looked down, and Dana saw his distress. "Oh, Fox, what they think doesn't matter. Don't pay any attention!" "But what about you? It doesn't bother you?" She tugged on his hand, and led him on the dance floor, "Never. I don't care what people think." "Are you sure?" "Positive. I would follow you into anything," she said, putting her arms around him. They danced and danced until around eleven. The dance would be over at midnight. But when the clock struck eleven, Fox stopped dancing and dragged Dana outside. "Are your clothes going to turn into rags or something?" she complained. "No. I wanted to go somewhere else." "Why?" she insisted. Then she stopped. "Fox, I'm not going another step until you tell me where we're going." "Just come on," he said, dragging her by the wrist and throwing her in the car. "It's a surprise." She quit complaining because she liked surprises. "Close you're eyes," he instructed after they drove for a couple minutes. She did so, and he opened the door and let her out. They walked a few more minutes, until Fox instructed her to open her eyes. "Oh, Fox! It's..." she looked at the sight before her. He had taken her to a large cliff with a lake below. The trees blew in the wind all around them, creating a very calm and peaceful mood. He put a blanket on the ground and stretched out on it, looking up at the sky. Dana did likewise, as best she could. Her dress was a little confining, and Fox saw her trouble. "You want some sweats? I have some in my car." "Yeah, but where can I change?" she asked glancing around to see if there was a bathroom anywhere. "I'll hold up the blanket. I won't look, I promise." She raised an eyebrow, but then nodded. "Okay. I trust you. But if you look, Fox Mulder, I swear to God I'll-" "I won't look," he interrupted. Then he jogged back to where the car was and returned with sweatpants and a football jersey. She changed behind the blanket her held up for her in front of his face. After she was done, they stretched out on the blanket again. Fox was very quiet, as he gazed at the sky. She waited ten minutes, lost in her own thoughts, before tentatively touching his hand. "Penny for your thoughts?" "Yeah. I was just thinking about some stuff," he said, grasping her hand. She took a deep breath. "Really? About your family?" she already knew the answer to that. "Yeah. And about my sister." Her eyes grew as wide as golf balls. "You said you didn't have a sister," she gasped. "Well, I do. I did. She's gone now because I couldn't protect her." Dana closed her eyes, thinking how awful it must have been for him to have lost a sibling and not tell anyone. "Did she die?" she asked quietly. "I don't know. We were...we were playing a game and then *they* came and took her," he said, squeezing Dana's hand tighter. "They? Who?" He pointed to the sky, "Aliens, I guess. There was a bright light and a presence in the room. She was calling for me, 'Fox! Fox!' and I couldn't help her. Then she was gone and we never found any trace of her." His voice cracked. He was about to cry, Dana realized. She took her free hand and caressed his forehead. "It wasn't your fault," she said reassuringly. "Yes, it was. I didn't protect her. I let bad things happen to her. I have no idea where she is and there's nothing anyone can do to bring her back," he sobbed a little. Then he leaned into her caress. "Is this the secret you've been keeping?" "Yeah." "What was her name?" "Samantha. She was a beautiful little girl. I hated her, though. I called her all kinds of names. I was a horrible brother!" "I'm sure you weren't. I'll bet you were a great brother." "Was not. I hated her. Dad liked her so much better than me. He never beat her." Dana sat up straight, "Your father beats you?" "Before he left he did. Now he's gone and it's just me and Mom. And Mom ignores me most of the time." "Oh, Fox, I'm so, so sorry." He turned his attention to the sky. She tried to change the subject, "You can see so many stars here. They're beautiful." As she laid back down he pushed himself closer to her face."Do you believe in the existence of extra-terrestrials?" "What?" "Aliens!" She didn't know what to say. She didn't really, but she didn't want to make the disappearance of Samantha seem trivial. "I honestly don't know." "Are you curious?" "Not really. I think we have enough problems on this planet without having to worry about another world." "But what if these *things* exist? What if they're using us?" "Then it would be logical to assume that we know about them or are using them as well," she said in her most logical voice. "Of course, the universe is so large. You never know..." "Don't we?" he said, his eyes falling to the ground between them. "I want to find her." Five words. Dana understood the importance of such a statement. She knew that in the end, it would define his life and possibly his death. Instinctively, she knew these things because she knew Fox. More than she knew herself. "Then you will. I'm sure of it. I know that you're passion and beliefs will win over any obstructions in the end." He turned his head and smiled at the girl. How could he tell her what he felt? He had never been in love before, and he sure as hell didn't know that it felt so wonderful. His mother and father never seemed to be in love. Since he could barely choke out anything at this point, he remained silent, staring at the stars. "They are beautiful, aren't they?" he said after a long pause. "They are the second most beautiful thing out here. You are the first." She stared, wait, no, she gaped at him. "Thank you. No one's ever told me I was...No one has ever flattered me like that before." "Then it's long overdue," he said as she settled into the crook of his arm. They looked at the stars and spoke in whispered hushes for another half an hour, before he looked over and realized she was asleep. He brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. "Dana? Time to go." She sat up strait and nodded. "Okay, yeah." She looked troubled. "What's wrong?" "I had a dream. You don't want to know," she said as they walked to the car. He touched the bottom of her chin and forced her to look at him. "Of course I do, Dana. I want to know about it all." He held the door open for her. She nodded and smiled. "Do you think other teenagers talk the way we do?" "To each other? Naw. We're deep. Dontcha think?" "Yeah. We talk a lot huh?" He started the car. "You're stalling. The dream, out with it." "Okay," she sighed and closed her eyes. "You were sitting in a large, empty room. It was metallic and cold," she shivered. "And you had locked yourself inside. You were wearing all black. I knocked on the door, and finally you let me in, but just as we hugged an angel came out of the ceiling and swept me up and took me away. It took me to the sky. It dropped me off and I tried to make my way back to you. When I reached the room, you had left. I felt so alone. I wanted to be with you so much." By the time she was done with her story, tears had sprung to her eyes. He stopped the car in front of her house and helped her get her dress out of the back seat. He walked her to the door and grabbed her wrist as she went to open the door. "Dana, I'll never leave you. Ever. Promise me the same." "I can't" He looked grief stricken. "But why?" "I told you, my family moves around a lot. I don't want to make any promise to you I can't keep." "Well, promise me I'll be with you always, even if it's not always physically." "Always." He leaned in and kissed her lips softly. It was new to her, as it was to him, and the kiss was very awkward. But it was a wonder to them both. She had never imagined that actual fireworks went off when people kissed, but man o man did she see fireworks! And as he felt the softness of her lips, he felt his world had meaning, maybe just for a minute. And that meaning was to love and be loved by Dana Scully. ****** "So, how was it li'l sis?" asked Missy, sitting on her sister's bed. She had had a great time, but noticed that Dana and Fox had left the dance early- and come home late. "Educational," was all Dana replied. "Are you just going to leave it at that?" She looked at her sister mischievously. "Did you go all the way?" Dana looked shocked. "No!" she said, pushing Missy off her bed. "He kissed me, that's all!" Now it was Missy's turn to look shocked. "That's all? You're glowing, Dana! What else happened?" she asked, crawling into her own bed. Their mother came upstairs to tuck them both in. "How was the dance, you two?" "Not bad, Mom. Scott is a great guy, not my type, though." "And Dana, how was Fox?" "Good, Mom. We had fun, and I'm glad I went." "Wonderful! I'm happy you had a good time," she said, kissing them each on the head. "Go to sleep, now. You've had a long night. Dana, this is the first time you've been up this late, I think," she said. It was two-thirty in the morning, as she turned off the lights. As soon as Mrs. Scully was out of earshot, Melissa leaned toward her sister. "So?" "And I fell in love." ****** Dana was quietly sobbing in the corner. She was so damn happy here? Why did her father have to move. Already, too. It had barely been a month since they arrived in Chilmark. And Fox was leaving, too. He had gotten into Oxford. So she really had no reason to want to stay, accept for the connection it provided to Fox. Everywhere she turned, she saw him or heard him. Conversations they had replayed in her mind. She hadn't told him she was moving. She had two weeks before they had to leave and she had decided to tell him tonight. It was been three weeks since the dance, and they had talked every day at school and every night on the phone. they had been to movies and back to the cliff now known as their spot- where they met as often as possible. She was about to call him, but he beat her to it. When she picked up the phone, there was an immediate click. That meant meet him at "their spot" ASAP. When she got there, he was waiting, and saw the sorrow on her face. He rushed to her. "You're moving, aren't you?" "Yes. How did you know?" "I...just...knew." He wrapped his arms around her and her to his chest and they both sobbed. Then she pulled away. "But why did you want to meet me?" "I have something for you. Just a little something I picked up." He took out a book, a poetry book. Opening it, she realized it was one of her favorite author's- John Keats. She hugged it to her chest. "Oh, thank you!" He smiled. "You didn't open it." She opened it and a paper star fell out. It was made of gold-leafed paper and had the words printed on it: "Dana- Promises shall be kept. I will never, ever leave you. No matter where we find ourselves, my heart will always be with you. Forever. And I will carry your heart with me. Remember the stars- how beautiful they were that night. Remember me, and be happy. For whenever I think of you, no matter how lonely I become, I will be happy. Love is happiness. Love is bliss. Fox" She stifled a sob. "This is beautiful. I...wish I had something to give you in return." "Dana, before you showed up, I was ready to die. I had no hope, no life. I went through school, and even though I got good marks, it meant nothing. Then that day I saw you, I knew. I knew that you would be my savior. I knew you would save me. You've already given me something. You gave me a reason to go on. Hope to find Samantha and anything else that may be out there. I can confront the darkness now because I've seen the ultimate light." He kissed her then. She pulled him into her. He had spread out a blanket like the first time they were there, and they fell on the blanket, kissing and sobbing. They didn't have sex. It seemed too vulgar for what they wanted to express. They kissed and held each other for a long time. ****** He kissed her one last time. It didn't matter that the rest of her family was watching them. He just planted one on her lips, hoping to save her taste and smell for always. They were all waiting for Dana to say goodbye to him. He couldn't bring himself to say the words. "I'm with you, Fox." "I'm with you, Dana." "I'll be with you always. I love you." "I love you too. I'm gonna...I'll miss you so much." "Yeah, me too. I love you so much. Please," she said reaching up to kiss him lightly. Nothing too graphic in front of Dad. "Don't forget me." "Never. Me?" "Never." Then she pulled away- hardest thing she ever had to do. Missy came up and put her arm around her should. Dana took a large golden star out of her purse and held it toward Fox. His mouth smiled a little, but his eyes were still sad. But he nodded. He understood. She'd never let him go. Ever. He hung his head and waved goodbye. As night fell, he went to the spot and gazed at the stars. Somehow, they weren't so beautiful that night. The author wishes to again acknowledge Penny Daza and her work and it's sequel. This work ended up too much like hers, and I apologize. There will be no sequel, so I hope I'm forgiven.