Subject: "The Power Of Good-Bye" by: Angela C.J. Wettergren
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 04:02:59 +0100
From: "angela.w" <starbuck79@hotmail.com>
Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative

Title: The Power of Good-bye
Author: Angela C.J. Wettergren
E-mail: Starbuck79@hotmail.com
Rating: NC-17
Category: S/R/(A)
Spoilers: None
Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance, Pre-XF
Summary: What would happen if Dana Scully and Fox
                Mulder met each other in Hawaii, a long time
                before they even knew the X-files existed?

Disclaimer: The X-Files is a show
            With music by Mark Snow
           (Do you think that'll do it, Linda? <g>)
           (BTW, Linda had to speak with her psychologist
            before she could answer that. <ggg>)

Disclaimer II: Yes, the title is stolen from Madonna's
song, but aside from that, this story has absolutely
nothing to do with it. In fact, I can't even remember the
lyrics at the moment, I can just hear the music in my
head. It's a good song, BTW.

Author's notes: This is the first time I have ever written a
Pre-XF story, so I hope you like the result of my efforts. I
simply wanted to write a story in which Scully and Mulder
didn't know each other from the beginning. Where they
are not yet scarred by time, still young and haven't found
out about all the evil in the world. If you think they are
out of character, that's because they probably are - from
what we know about them. Remember, we really have
no idea what they were like before they joined the FBI.
And before you write me about the condom issue, please
remember that this is fanfic, as in fan *fiction*. In my
story they don't have to worry about dangerous diseases
or unwanted pregnancies. Okay? Okay.

Dedication: To Linda and Alisha. You two make me
laugh so much. Love ya! Mwah!!! <g>

Feedback: Yes!! Please, *anything*. The addy is as
usual Starbuck79@hotmail.com

*~x~*~x~*~x~*~x~*~x~*~x~*
"The Power of Good-bye"
By: Angela C.J. Wettergren
*~x~*~x~*~x~*~x~*~x~*~x~*

"Dana, hurry up!"

Dana Scully sighed as her friends called for her. She was
still standing waiting for her bags at the airport, but at this
point it almost looked as if they had disappeared during
their flight. Her friends had found their bags almost
immediately, and were now waiting impatiently for
Dana's to show up as well.

"Look, I'm trying!" Dana shouted back, feeling just as
impatient as her friends. She hadn't really wanted to go
on this trip in the first place, and it wasn't starting out well
at all. Right now she just wished she were at home,
curled up on the couch with a good book.

Suddenly someone bumped into her from behind, and
she threw a quick glance over her shoulder, giving the
guy an irritated look. The guy simply shrugged at her,
saying a quick, "I'm sorry," before moving past her,
apparently looking for his own bags.

"Idiot," Dana mumbled under her breath, as she saw him
disappear into the crowd of people.

Finally she saw her bags, picked them up, and made her
way to her friends. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she said to them
as she put her bags onto a trolley, raising her hands in
front of her for emphasis.

Carrie walked up to her and put a comforting hand on her
shoulder, smiling at her. "It's OK, Dana, we're just a bit
restless after the long flight." Then she lowered her
voice, leaning in to whisper in Dana's ear. "That guy who
bumped into you..." Dana nodded, her bad mood
returning again at the mentioning of him. "He was such a
*fox*!"

Dana simply rolled her eyes at her friend. Guys were all
Carrie ever thought about, even though she even had
her boyfriend with her on this trip, standing just a few
feet away from them.

"Whatever, Carrie," she said to her friend, who just
smiled at her. "Let's go. We can't stay in this airport
forever."

They joined their other friends and then tried to figure out
just how to get to their hotel.

*~x~*

Fox Mulder looked after the fiery redhead as she joined
her four friends. The annoyed look in her eyes as she
had turned to look at him had been simply wonderful. It
had been so quick, but he had seen the passion in her,
the strong feelings she carried within her. She was so
beautiful, her red hair hanging loose over her shoulders.

He was brought out of his reverie as his friend Matt came
up to him. "So, who's that redhead you've been standing
here staring at forever?" he asked.

Fox turned his gaze to him for a second, and when he
turned it back to where the beautiful redhead had been,
she was gone. He sighed deeply, and turned back to his
friend again. "I don't know, Matt," he told him. "Just
someone I accidentally bumped into."

"Well, it sure looks as if she got you hooked right from
the beginning," Matt joked, and Fox playfully hit him in
the stomach, laughing with him. He grabbed his bags as
they came along, and they both went to try to find a
cab to take them to their hotel.

But Fox couldn't quite stop thinking about the redhead.
There had just been something very special about her.

*~x~*

Dana felt out of place. Carrie had her boyfriend Mike with
her, and Lauren had her boyfriend John. Dana just felt
like the fifth wheel.

"Look, guys, I'm gonna go down to the beach for awhile,"
she told them after having dinner later that night.

"Oh, are you sure?" Carrie asked, worried about her
friend. "We're going out to a club later, do you want us
to pick you up before we go?"

"No, that's all right," she answered. "I kinda just wanna
sit down there and... think. I'll see you all tomorrow, OK?"

Carrie knew better than to argue with Dana, so she
simply nodded her head, and Dana got up from the table,
leaving the others behind.

The beach was completely empty at this time of the day,
so Dana sat down right in the middle of it, looking out
over the ocean. It was wonderful. She had always loved
the sea, and so far this was the best moment of her trip
to Hawaii.

The sun was about to disappear below the horizon, and
the colors displaying themselves on the water were
simply too beautiful for words to describe.

Dana sighed heavily as she let her foot draw slow
patterns in the sand under her. She knew Carrie was
worried about her, that she wasn't having fun. She
*wanted* to have fun, but everything just felt so wrong.
She should have been here with Kevin, and not by
herself.

But those plans had just been flushed down the toilet.
She had broken up with Kevin only a month earlier, and
she was now left alone, sitting on an empty beach.

She didn't regret breaking up with Kevin - she wasn't
in love with him anymore - but right now she wished
she had just waited a month longer, and she wouldn't
have had to be so alone.

Now she felt jealous as she saw Carrie and Mike kissing,
or Lauren and John holding hands. She didn't expect
them to stop doing these things when she was near, but
that still didn't stop her from being jealous.

She watched as the last rays from the sun disappeared,
and then sat in the dark, listening to the waves beating
against the sand.

*~x~*

Fox couldn't believe his eyes.

He had had dinner with Matt about an hour earlier, and
while his friend wanted to go out and party in some club,
he simply felt like going somewhere quiet.

He had first gone back to the hotel, but after just a few
minutes he had decided to go down to the beach and try
to catch the sunset.

He was too late for that, but what he found on the beach
made him more happy than he had imagined.

Sitting there, all alone, was the redhead from the airport.
He didn't have to see her face to know that it was her. He
recognized her strong posture, looking as if nothing could
touch her. Her hair flew with the breeze from the ocean,
falling down on her back and then up again, as if
mimicking the waves in the water.

He didn't know whether or not to approach her. She
looked as if she had come down here to be by herself,
but he so much wanted to talk to her.

He took off his shoes, letting them hang from his hand,
and then slowly made his way down to the young woman.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" he asked, smiling down
at her.

She looked up at him, giving him a 'get lost' look, and for
a second he thought about leaving. But then her face
softened, and she smiled back at him.

"Sure..." she said. "Sit down," patting the sand next to
her, and he started to sit down. "But," she said, and he
stopped, "I should warn you. I might not be that good a
company."

Fox sat down completely, stretching out his legs in front
of him. "I'll take my chances."

"Your choice," she simply answered and then returned
her gaze to the black water in front of them.

They sat like that for minutes; side by side, neither of
them speaking. But the silence didn't feel uncomfortable.
It was as if they didn't really need words. Somehow he
could feel the sadness she was feeling, the loneliness.

"So..." he finally said, disturbing their silence. Her head
turned to him, but she didn't look angry. "You here with
friends?" he asked.

"Yeah, I am," she answered him. "You?"

"Same here. Only one friend, though. He's probably out
hitting on some girl right now."

"And what are you doing?"

"Well..." he started. "I saw this girl sitting all alone on the
beach, and I thought there was something very special
about her. So I decided I wanted to get to know her
better. " He kept his eyes on her the whole time, and
instead of looking away as anyone else would have
done, she kept his gaze with her own.

"So, do you know anything about this girl?" she asked
him, knowing perfectly well that he didn't.

"Well..." he started, not really knowing how much to tell
her. "I know she is the most beautiful woman I have ever
seen." At this, she blushed slightly in the dark, but she
still looked right into his eyes. "I know she has a strong
character. And I know she's sad about something." He
saw something flicker in her eyes, but it disappeared as
quickly as it had got there. "But I don't know her name
yet," he finished.

She didn't say anything, and when she noticed that he
wouldn't say anything else, she once again returned her
eyes to the ocean, and they were surrounded by silence
again.

"Dana."

His head spun around. "What?"

She turned her face to him and smiled. "My name is
Dana," she said.

A big smile lit up his face, and he reached out his hand
and shook hers. "Fox."

At this she started laughing out loud, and he cursed his
parents for giving him that name. Now he knew why he
hated it so much.

Dana saw the look on his face, and hurried to assure him
she didn't think his name was ridiculous. "I'm sorry, Fox,"
she got out between laughs. "It's just that my friend saw
you at the airport, and I think her exact words were..."
She paused, and changed her voice so it sounded more
like Carrie's, "He was such a *fox*," giving him a wink.

When the meaning of her words sunk in, Fox couldn't
help but laugh himself. It felt so good to sit here and
laugh with her, it felt so right.

"So you did recognize me?" he asked her when they had
calmed down again.

"Of course I did," she smiled at him. "Sorry for that look I
gave you at the airport. I was just in a lousy mood."

"That's OK, I understand," he told her, slowly nodding his
head. "So, who was it that put you in this lousy mood?"

A small laugh escaped her. "Quite a little mind reader,
aren't you?" she said. "I was supposed to come here with
my boyfriend."

Fox felt his spirits fall with her words. "So," he said,
trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice, "where
is he, this boyfriend of yours?" He couldn't understand
how anyone would choose not to be here with her.

"Oh, I broke up with him a month ago."

Fox let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
Dana noticed this, and smiled at him again. "Why did
you break up with him?" he asked her, not sure he
should, but he did it anyway.

"I don't know," she said slowly. "I guess I simply wasn't
in love with him anymore. I don't know if I ever really was
in the first place. I think I was in love with being in love.
Do you know what I mean?"

He nodded. "I do."

She nodded back at him, not asking any questions.
Looking back out over the ocean, she then said, "I love
the sea. Do you?"

"Well," he told her, "I love swimming in it, and I love
looking out over it like we're doing now. But I have to
admit I can't stand being on a boat." She looked at him,
as if asking for an explanation. "I get sea-sick. It's not a
pretty sight."

"I'm sure it isn't," she said, laughing softly. He really
loved hearing her laugh. It was like music to his ears,
and he hoped he would hear it again. Often.

They sat next to each other for a while longer, simply
enjoying each other's company and the comfortable
silence between them.

Fox allowed himself to turn his head and look at her.
God, she really was gorgeous, he thought. Her small,
roman nose, her full lips. And when she turned to look at
him, he knew he could drown in those eyes. They
watched him, big and blue, just like the ocean before
them.

"You are really beautiful, do you know that?" He just had
to tell her.

She smiled shyly at his words. "Thank you, Fox. I usually
don't get a lot of compliments."

"Well, you should." God knows he would give them to
her all the time if I had the chance. "You're gorgeous.
Never doubt that."

"Well, you're not so bad yourself," she laughed, feeling
that this was getting too serious. She stood up on her
feet and brushed the sand away from her dress. "Look, I
think I should go back to my hotel now," she said,
pointing up towards all the buildings.

Fox stood up next to her. "Will I see you again?" he
asked, not being able to keep the hope from his voice.

She gave him a beautiful smile before starting to walk up
the beach. After a few yards, she turned around. "This
spot tomorrow. At noon."

Fox was so happy he couldn't say a word, and simply
nodded like an idiot. She graced him with yet another
wonderful laugh, and he fell back in the sand again,
watching her as she walked away, thinking only of
tomorrow.

*~x~*

Dana lay in her bed back at the hotel, her feet dangling
over the bedpost. Her hands were on her stomach, and
she was staring at the ceiling.

She couldn't believe how good she had felt around Fox.
His company had never felt strange, not even when they
were completely silent, simply sitting next to each other,
gazing out over the ocean she loved so much.

She felt as if he had been able to read her mind. When
she came back to her room, she realized they hadn't
really talked that much, but she still felt as if she knew
him. He had hardly even told her anything about himself
but his first name!

Actually, the only thing she really knew about him was
that he was here with his friend, and that he got seasick
on boats.

But she knew that he was one of the nicest persons she
had ever met. He was kind, comfortable to be with, and
he really seemed to appreciate her. He had seen right
away that she had been thinking about something that
made her sad, that she felt lonely.

He made her feel better. He made her feel good about
herself.

A smile formed on her face, and she started laughing.
This was so silly! One hour with this guy she'd never
met before had turned her into a giddy little girl again.
And somehow she didn't mind that one little bit.

She got up from the bed and took off her dress, hanging
it on the chair next to her. Then she slipped under the
cover, snuggling her head into the pillow.

She couldn't wait for tomorrow to come.

*~x~*

He stood for minutes, simply staring at her slender form
lying under the parasol on the beach, protecting her fair
skin from the strong sun. She was lying on her stomach,
her head resting on her folded arms, looking like she was
sleeping. The black bikini she wore made a perfect
contrast to her light complexion and her auburn hair.

Suddenly she raised her head and looked straight at him,
her mouth coming into a full smile, lighting up her entire
face. She must've felt his eyes on her, must've known he
was watching her the whole time.

He walked over to her, spreading out his big bath towel
next to hers. She turned to her back, propping herself up
on her elbows so she could look up at him.

"So, you finally made it," she said to him as he took off
his T-shirt and lay down beside her. "I almost started to
think you'd forgotten all about me." She was trying to
make a joke, but he had heard the slight tinge of worry in
her voice.

"Oh, you won't get rid of me that easily," he said, and she
smiled at him, letting her head rest back onto the small
pillow she had made herself out of her clothes.

"Good."

She closed her eyes, and he watched her for a few more
seconds before taking her example, laying back on his
towel, enjoying the feeling of the sun on his skin. Of
course Dana was still laying under the parasol, but that
didn't mean he couldn't get a nice tan while he was here.

He suspected Dana dozed off after a while, but all he
could think of was that she was lying next to him. He
could feel her presence, even with his eyes closed. He
could hear her soft breathing, her still movements as she
moved her arm to rest next to her head. Her could smell
her hair, the faint smell from her shampoo.

He had turned to his side, his head resting in his right
hand, watching her relaxed face. Watching her chest rise
and fall with every breath. Watching her legs stretch out
on the sand below where the towel ended.

Her soft voice startled him out of his thoughts. "Why do
you like watching me so much?" She turned her head to
him, opening her eyes, looking into his.

"I don't know. I just like looking at you," he told her
honestly. "Why, don't you want me to?"

She closed her eyes again. "Nah, I don't mind."

He simply smiled at this.

*~x~*

They spent the rest of the day together on the beach,
swimming, talking or simply laying silent next to each
other, enjoying the others company.

At five o'clock they parted, only to get together again two
hours later for dinner in a small, but lovely, restaurant
down by the sea. They had walked past it at their way
back to their hotels, and had immediately decided they
wanted to go there that evening.

At exactly seven, Fox knocked on Dana's door at her
hotel. A few seconds later, she opened the door for him,
and the sight of her nearly knocked him off his feet. She
was wearing a simple blue dress, which ended a couple
of inches above her knees. The spaghetti straps showed
off her beautiful shoulders, only slightly covered by her
loose hair, falling down in soft curls.

He caught her eyes, and she smiled at him. "You look
wonderful," he told her.

"You too," she said back to him. He wore a pair of black
jeans and a simple white T-shirt, and he looked positively
gorgeous, Dana thought.

"You ready to go?" he asked her, and she quickly ran
back into the room to get her key, and then she came out
to him again.

"I am now," she said, and they walked side by side down
the hallway, Fox's hand somehow ending up on the small
of her back, leading her gently.

Dinner was wonderful. Dana couldn't remember when she
had last laughed so much with anyone, and she couldn't
believe how easy it was for her to open up to him.

"So, Dana," Fox said as they were waiting for their
dessert. "What do you do when you're not here in
Hawaii?"

"I'm going back for my second year at medical school in
the fall," she told him, and this seemed to impress him.

"Medical school?" he asked. "Wow, that's really
something, you know. I don't think I could handle that."

She smiled at him. "I'm sure you could."

"Nah, my stomach isn't strong enough."

She remembered what he had told her about boats and
suspected he wasn't much better with blood.

"Anyway, which university are you going to?"

"Maryland," she answered him. "What about you?"

"I'm going back to Oxford after this week. I still have two
years left," he said, wishing he didn't have to go back
there so soon.

"Oxford? Wow, a brainy one." He smiled at her. "What
are you studying?"

"Psychology. I wanna be a profiler for the FBI."

She laughed softly at this, and at his raised eyebrows
she explained, "You don't think you'd be able to handle
being a doctor, but you're willing to become an FBI
agent? Don't you think you'll get to see some pretty
gruesome things there?"

"Please, don't remind me," he smiled at her. "Seriously,
I think it would be very interesting and challenging."

"I agree," she told him. "And I think you'll make the best
profiler the FBI has ever had. I mean, with your ability to
read my mind and everything."

"Oh, is that what I do?" he asked and she nodded at him.
"Well, for what it's worth, I think you'll make a great
doctor too."

"Thanks. I hope so."

He reached for her hand over the table and gently
squeezed it. "I'm sure of it," he assured her. "You just
have to believe in yourself. I know I do."

She squeezed back, her lips curving up into a smile.
"Thanks, Fox."

They sat talking for hours, about everything and about
nothing. They never released the others hand during the
whole evening, Fox never even reflecting over the fact
that he was eating his dessert with his left hand.

*~x~*

The week went by far too quickly. Dana and Fox spent
every single waking hour together, not even caring about
what their other friends were up to without them.

In spite of Fox's earlier experiences with boats, Dana had
been able to make him come with her on one of the bath-
boats, and it had gone surprisingly well. Fox had only felt
sick for a little time when the boat was moving, but he
soon felt much better. Maybe because Dana had made
him lie back on the seats, gently rubbing his bare
stomach with her small, soft hands.

Her touch was electrifying. Fox didn't have any other
word for it. Her cool hands on his hot skin sent shivers
through his entire body, and finally he grabbed her
hands, pulling them away from him before he
embarrassed himself.

He quickly sat up next to her, and she smiled sweetly
at him, knowing perfectly well what kind of reaction he
had on her. "Feel better?" she asked, and he nodded,
thanking her.

"Feel like taking a dip in the ocean?" he asked her, and
she stood up beside him.

"Try and stop me," she said, and then she climbed up
onto the railing, and he watched her as she gracefully
dived into the waiting water.

He was quick to follow her example, diving in after her.
When his head came up above the water again he found
her right in front of him, kicking her legs under her to
keep her up.

"Isn't this wonderful?!" she exclaimed and started
swimming around him. "I wish I could live here."

Fox turned around in the water, following her with his
eyes as she circled him. "Don't you think it would get
kinda boring after a while?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, when you live at a place like this, do you really
think you'd appreciate it as much? Don't you think
living your whole life in the water would make it kinda
hard to sleep?"

She laughed. "Thank you, Fox, for ruining my dream."
She stopped right in front of him, her legs kicking again.
"You know what I mean. Here. Paradise."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. But my answer is still the
same; would you appreciate it as much?"

"You could be right," she said, thinking about it for a
while. Then she said, " Would it be OK if I said I wanted
to live here every summer?"

He smiled at her. "Who am I to disagree with you?" he
joked.

A big smile lit up her face, and before he got the chance
to see the mischievous look in her eyes, she splashed
water in his face, quickly swimming away from him.

"Ahh, I'll get you for that!" Fox screamed after her, while
laughing with her, and then rubbed the water out of his
eyes, quickly swimming after her as she tried to get
away.

"Oh no, you won't!" she screamed back at him, laughing
so hard she could hardly move in the wonderfully cool
water. Fox soon caught up with her, giving her his
payback, and their laughs were heard a long way.

*~x~*

"My sister disappeared when I was twelve."

Dana sat in silence next to him under the huge palm tree
giving them shadow, listening to his story. He was
looking out over the ocean, much like she had done that
first night. She carefully slipped her hand into his, and
he squeezed it gratefully, giving her a tiny smile before
once again returning his attention to the big waves
washing up onto the beach they were sitting on.

"I don't remember much," he continued, his voice holding
a sadness which made Dana want to cry. Instead she
simply held on to his hand, letting him go on.

"Sometimes, when I haven't looked at a picture of her for
a long time... I almost forget what she looked like."

Her free hand came up to cup his face, and she gently
forced him to look at her. His eyes were filled with
unshed tears, glistening on his dark eyelashes.

"You really miss her, don't you?" she asked him, already
knowing the answer, but somehow feeling the need to
ask him anyway. Somehow knowing that he needed to
talk about his sister with someone who didn't know his
family.

"Yes." His voice was barely a whisper, and she let herself
be embraced by him, as he pulled her to his chest, the
need to feel close to someone almost becoming
overwhelming.

They sat like that for a long time, holding on to each
other in complete silence. Fox never let his tears fall,
choking them back as he felt Dana's warm body resting
against his own.

He looked down at the top of her head; her beautiful,
auburn hair shimmering in the sun light. He raised his
hand to gently stroke her hair, and leaned his head back
on the palm tree, once again looking out over the ocean,
and the crowd of happy people swimming in it.

And then he realized he was happy as well. He was
happy to be there with Dana. He was happy to feel her
breathing next to him. And he also realized he wanted
to know everything about her. He had never felt that way
about another person his entire life, and while it made him
happy, it also scared the hell out of him.

"Dana?" He continued stroking her hair.

"Yeah?" Her voice was drowsy, and his heart beat just a
little bit faster.

"Tell me about your childhood."

"My childhood? You mean like my family, all the times
my heart's been broken, and so on? Things like that?

He snuggled down a little further in the sand until he was
almost lying down completely, Dana's head still resting
on his chest. "Yeah."

She was silent for a few seconds, as if contemplating
where to start. "We moved around a lot when I was a
kid," she started, and he couldn't help but hearing the
slight tinge of regret in her voice.

"We never seemed to stay in the same place long
enough for me to make any real friends," she continued.
"I mean, I had friends, but somehow I was always the
outsider. And those braces I had!" She laughed softly at
the memory of them now, but back then she had really
hated them more than anything. The pain she went
through just so her teeth would be straight.

"I remember in the sixth grade when I had my first big
crush on a boy. His name was Tommy, and I was so in
love with him. " She paused briefly, and then added,
"Well, for a twelve year old anyway." Fox smiled above
her. "Anyway, he was the most popular guy at our
school. All the girls thought he was so cool and talked
about him all the time. I never even dared tell anyone I
was in love with him as well."

Fox cut into her story. "Why not?"

She laughed again. "'Cause I knew he didn't like me
back! I would have been so embarrassed if he'd ever
found out!"

"Why do you think he didn't like you too? Maybe he did."
Fox couldn't imagine anyone ever not liking Dana.

"Fox, I had red hair and braces! Of course he didn't like
me!"

He tried to disagree with her, but she wouldn't let him.
"Fox, I didn't look the same way back then as I do now.
I like my hair now, but back then it was much lighter, and
I hated it. And you're a guy. You know that boys only go
after looks that age. I never stood a chance."

"But-"

"Fox, are you gonna let me tell the rest of this story or
not?" He could feel her smile into his chest.

"Of course. Please, go on." He felt better now that he'd
felt Dana smile, knowing that she didn't take all this too
seriously.

"Thank you," she said to him. "Now, where was I? Oh,
right. Anyway, as I told you, I was very much in love with
Tommy." He nodded on top of her head. "One Friday we
had this school dance, and *everyone* went. I was really
dressed up and everything, and I had finally decided I
was gonna try to get Tommy to notice me."

"Did he?"

"Well, when I got there, I found him dancing with another
girl on the dance floor, and then when he kissed her, I
just felt I should forget all about him. Which I did; the
following week I was in love with his best friend Jake in
stead."

He couldn't help but chuckle, and she looked up at him
and smiled. "Well, that's childhood crushes for you. I'm
sure you were one of those boys who broke every girl's
heart too."

"Well, I wouldn't know about that," he smiled back at
her.

"Yeah right," she said, not believing him for a second.

"Come on, tell me more," he insisted, his eagerness
that of a child.

She laughed that sweet laugh, which he loved so much,
and then said, "Well, there's always the story about my
High School prom..." and he leaned back in the sand
again, a smile still on his face, listening to her story.

They spent the rest of the day just like that. Lying in the
sand next to a palm tree on the beach, her head on his
chest, her arm resting lazily over his stomach. Him
listening to her stories about her childhood, about her
family, about her friends.

And he couldn't remember a single time he had been
happier.

*~x~*

"Dana, do you really think it's wise to spend so much
time with this guy?"

Dana looked up at her friend, her fingers still tying the
laces on her shoe. "What do you mean, Carrie?"

"I mean that he'll be leaving for England in three days,
and you act like it doesn't even bother you!"

Dana stood up from the chair she'd been sitting in, trying
to flatten out the wrinkles on her dress with her hands.
"Of course it bothers me!" she told Carrie. "He's my
friend, and I'll miss him. But I'll get over it." Who was she
trying to convince...?

"Is he only your friend?" Carrie asked, raising one of her
eyebrows in the same way Dana usually did.

"What do you mean by that?" Dana asked quickly, a
feeling that she didn't want to acknowledge rising in her
stomach.

"I thought you told me that you two were flirting like crazy
with each other. I just thought-"

"Well, you thought wrong," Dana informed her friend, just
a bit too harshly. "We're just friends, Carrie. Honest."
She went to pick up her little bag, and then went for the
door.

"Whatever you say, Dana," Carrie said, obviously not
believing her for a second. "I just don't want to see you
get hurt."

Dana stopped at the door, looking at her friend. "I won't
get hurt, Carrie. Look, I'll see you later, okay?" She
disappeared out the door as she heard her friend's good-bye.

*~x~*

After spending the whole day together, Dana and Fox
finally ended up at the same restaurant they'd been to
only a few days earlier. They had just finished their meal,
and were now sitting small-talking with each other.

It was about to get dark, and the beach lay completely
empty of people next to them. Fox came up with a
brilliant idea. "You wanna go for a night-time swim?" he
asked her suddenly, not able to keep the hope out of
his voice.

Dana looked up at him, a smile on her face. "Why not?"
she said. "But I have to go back to the hotel first, I don't
have my bikini with me."

She started to get up, but he grabbed her hand, stopping
her. "No, Dana, that's not necessary."

Confused, she asked him, "What do you mean?"

"Look, if we go down there now, we'll be able to catch the
sunset. You can just go in your underwear, can't you?"

She hesitated only for a few short seconds, but then said,
"Sure," and a big smile lit up his face.

Without letting go of her hand, he picked up his things
with his other hand, and together they walked toward the
beach. The decided to walk down the beach, until they
could no longer see any restaurants or people, and were
now completely alone.

The sun was still up, but it was getting closer and closer
to the horizon, and Dana and Fox hurried to get into the
water.

"God, Fox, this was a great idea!" Dana exclaimed as
her head came out of the water. She leaned back and
floated on her back, closing her eyes as she just let
herself enjoy the moment. Then she opened her eyes,
and looked up at the sky. "Look, Fox," she said to him
indicating the stars. "They are so beautiful."

"Yes... Beautiful, Dana," Fox replied, but his eyes were
on her, and not on the sky. He could only watch her as
she floated in the water in front of him, her petite body
following the motions of the occasional wave underneath
her.

The sun was now almost completely gone, and the
beautiful colors splashed over her face, making it almost
glow in the dark. He slowly swam up to her, until he was
standing on the bottom behind her. He carefully let his
hands rest under her shoulders, and she turned her head
slightly back in the water, looking up at him.

He was focusing his eyes intently on hers, and the look
in his eyes made her heart beat faster in her chest, the
blood run quicker through her veins. Then he slowly
leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. Dana
closed her eyes, and then his lips were gone.

Her eyelids were heavy as she opened her eyes again
and looked at him. His face were still just mere inches
away from hers, and she could feel his hot breath on her
cool skin. "Fox..." she whispered, her breath catching in
her throat.

Without words, he slowly turned her around until she was
standing up in front of him. Her whole body trembled, as
he put one of his fingers under her chin, forcing her to
look up at him. He carefully let his thumb caress her
bottom lip, while his other hand made its way into her
hair, gently pushing it out of her face.

Dana couldn't move. She didn't know what to say, or
what to do. She wasn't even sure what was happening.
She could only stare at him, as his eyes followed his
thumb's motion over her lip.

He was mesmerized by her face. Her lips. Her nose. Her
eyes... His gaze slowly traveled up her face, finally
locking with hers. He could drown in those eyes. Their
blueness were even darker than the ocean surrounding
them.

"Fox..." she whispered again, but he stopped her, gently
putting two of his fingers over her lips.

"Sshh," he said. "Don't talk."

Her mouth closed under his fingers, and he let his hand
drift down her neck, reveling in the experience of feeling
of her wet, smooth skin. Then he slowly leaned down,
and his lips touched just below her right ear, placing a
soft, soft kiss there. Dana wasn't even sure she would
have felt it, if it hadn't been for the tingling feeling that ran
through her body as soon as his lips touched to her skin.

He placed another soft kiss just a bit lower, and Dana
sighed as her head fell to the side, giving him better
access, allowing him to move further. Her eyes closed
as her arms found their way up around his neck, her
fingers winding themselves in his wet hair.

His lips left a trail of fire on her neck, from one side to
the other; his tongue snaking out occasionally to taste
her skin. Then he softly whispered in her left ear, "You
are so wonderful, Dana..." and she quickly turned her
head and captured his full lips with her own.

She seemed to melt under his touch. Her lips were soft
against his, as he gently nibbled on her lower lip, letting
his tongue soothe it. Then her lips opened under his, and
his tongue carefully slipped into her hot mouth.

She accepted him without hesitation, and his arms found
their way around her waist, pulling her closer to him, until
her body was completely pressed up against his own.

He let his tongue follow the contours of her mouth,
tasting and probing until they were forced to break their
kiss for air. Her breath was as shallow as his, when she
slowly opened her eyes, looking up at him.

He tenderly held her face in his hands, and leaned down
to kiss the bridge of her nose. Then he came up again,
his eyes locking with hers. "I want you so much, Dana."

Her blue eyes sparkled, as her hand came up to cup his
cheek, her finger tracing his lips. "Then take me," she
whispered.

His lips descended on hers once again in a passionate
kiss. His hands caressed her back, up and down, and he
felt her moan into the kiss. His fingers fumbled with the
clasp of her bra for a few seconds, before it seemed to
unclasp itself under his searching hands.

He reluctantly tore his lips from hers, and then looked at
her. He grabbed the loose straps of her bra, and then
slowly eased them down her arms, until her chest was
completely bare before him.

The water reached just below her breasts, and the small
waves brushed them gently in the night. She never tried
to hide herself from him as he looked at her. Her arms
hung loosely down her sides, as she watched him watch
her.

It was the most erotic moment of her life. His eyes as
he watched her body being revealed to him. They turned
dark with desire, while at the same time almost blinding
her with their brightness as a smile formed on his lips.

Her breaths came faster from anticipation as he slowly
lowered his head to her chest. He placed a feather-light
kiss just above her right breast, and her eyes fluttered
shut as she let out a quiet sigh.

Both his hands came up to cup her breasts, and he
squeezed them gently, letting his thumbs touch to her
erect nipples, only brushing them slightly as she
trembled under his touch.

Then his lips closed over her nipple, and she
unconsciously pushed herself closer to him, closer to that
wonderful mouth of his. A deep moan left her throat, and
she wound her fingers tighter through his hair, until she
was afraid she might actually hurt him with the force of
her grip.

He let his tongue swirl around her nipple in slow,
tantalizing circles until he could hear her panting above
him. Her breath was ragged as he rose until he was
standing face to face with her. He raised his left hand
and rested it on her cheek, caressing it sweetly. "Dana..."
She simply breathed through her parted lips. "Look at
me."

She slowly opened her eyes, looking straight into his.
The passion he found in them almost blew him away.

"Dana... If you want to stop this... then do it now."

She didn't say anything. Instead she lowered her hands,
and slowly drew her panties down her legs, stepping out of
them one foot at a time, until she was completely naked,
the water surrounding them her only cover. "I don't want
to stop this, Fox."

"Oh God." He grabbed her around her waist as he once
again bent down to kiss her; devour her with his mouth.

She pushed herself up against him, feeling his hard
erection straining against her through his boxers. She
broke the kiss and started kissing her way down his wet
chest, while at the same time her hands tried to free him
of his boxers. Finally, with a little help from him, she got
him out of them. She tiptoed on the soft bottom to nip
gently with her teeth on his Adam's apple, smiling as she
felt a groan come deep from his throat.

His hands found their way to her buttocks, squeezing her
gently as he drew her closer to him. She continued
kissing his throat, slowly making her way up to his chin,
his cheeks. To his forehead, to his nose, finally meeting
his lips in a kiss which left nothing to imagination.

She let out a soft yelp, as he suddenly used his hands
and lifted her up in one swift motion. She put her legs
around his back, positioning herself right above him. She
could feel him teasing her opening, and with his hands
still holding her in place, she slowly lowered herself onto
him. She relaxed her inner muscles, allowing him to fill
her completely, her moans mingling with his as they
simply stayed still for a few seconds.

He couldn't get enough of her. The feeling of her
surrounding him, wet and tight, was indescribable. Her
arms were wound around his neck, her fingers clutching
his hair, holding herself up, and he could feel her hot
breath on his neck. He felt as if he could lose himself
inside her. He wasn't completely sure he hadn't already.

He groaned into her shoulder as he felt her tighten her
muscles around him, somehow doing the impossible,
taking him even deeper inside herself. Her eyes met with
his, and she gave him a breathtaking smile, before she
scooped down to claim his lips in a kiss, her tongue
delving into his depths, and he met her with equal desire
and passion.

Then she used her legs to push herself up, almost so far
he slipped out of her, before she came down on him
again. Her thighs were already aching from the strain of
using muscles she'd hardly known existed, but the
exquisite pleasure that ripped through her body as he
met her thrust by thrust, somehow made the pain seem
insignificant.

His hands roamed over her back as their pace quickened.
It had become even darker around them, the only light
coming from the stars and the almost full moon, reflecting
in the black water. But as he looked into her eyes, he found
all the light he needed.

It was as if everything around them had gone completely
still. The only thing he could hear was her breathing and
his own heart, beating fast in his chest. He no longer felt
the water that surrounded them. He no longer felt the soft
breeze that seemed to flow through her hair. All he felt
was her. Only her.

"Dana..." he breathed heavily, kissing her neck, trying to
make her understand what she was making him feel, as
he once again pushed into her.

She gasped loudly as he hit her most sensitive spot.
"Fox!" she cried, and he found her mouth with his,
suffocating her cries with his kisses.

"God, Dana." Thrust. "You feel so good." He buried his
nose in her soft, damp hair, breathing in her smell. He
was intoxicated by her. By the way she felt, by the way
she smelled. By the way she called out his name.

She moaned softly in reply to his words, whispering his
name in his ear, then making sure he knew exactly how
good she thought he felt.

He quickened his movements even more, and she
followed his every thrust with a thrust of her own. He
could feel her getting closer and closer to the edge, and
he was right there with her.

She clenched her inner muscles tightly around him, as
he lowered his hand to rub her clitoris; their position
making it slightly awkward, but something neither of
them reflected over.

As soon as she felt his fingers touch to the very core of
her passion, she was seeing stars. The orgasm hit her
like a hurricane, ripping through her body; making her
nerve-endings so sensitive she felt as if her entire being
had been set on fire. "Fox! Oh God!"

Only mere seconds later, Fox followed her into the land
of oblivion, his warmth filling her already hot body.
"Dana!" He screamed her name into the nape of her
neck; his scream an echo of his own name coming from
her lips.

If anyone had walked by them on the beach, they would
have seen two black silhouettes clinging to each other in
the dark water. They would have heard the young man
saying the young woman's name over and over again,
finally being silenced by the woman kissing him.

They would have witnessed love.

*~x~*

Fox took her back to his hotel, and they made gentle
love to each other in his bed, whispering sweet words to
each other in the silence of the night.

Finally they fell asleep in each other's arms; Fox lying on
his back with Dana's head tucked in under his chin, his
arm curved protectively around her petite body, her hand
resting on his chest.

Fox was the first one to wake up. It was still dark outside,
and he carefully reached up above his head to turn on the
light. Dana stirred slightly in his arms, but her eyes
remained closed and she didn't wake up from her deep
sleep.

He indulged himself in the pure pleasure of watching
her sleep. Her face was relaxed and her mouth open; her
breath tickling his naked chest. Her auburn hair was
spread out under her head like a pillow, the soft curls
framing her face.

He felt her nude body pressed up against his own, and
he let his arm pull her yet a little closer to him. Her body
was so soft against him; her skin smooth like velvet
under his hands.

He couldn't get enough of touching her. His fingers
trailed down her arm and up again, down her back and
her sides, as if memorizing every curve of her body.

He took her smaller hand in his own, bewildered by the
fact that someone so strong in mind could be so small.
For what Dana lacked in size, she made up for in
intelligence. Fox, though, thought Dana was the perfect
size. The way she fit against his body, the way she had
felt when they made love. Nothing could ever feel better.

Nothing would ever feel better. He knew.

His eyes traveled back to her face, and he saw the small
smile tugging on her lips. Her eyes were still closed, but
he knew she was feigning sleep. He realized she was
enjoying this just as much as he was.

He ceased his hands' exploration of her body for a few
seconds, silently waiting for her reaction. He didn't have
to wait for long.

Dana wriggled her body restlessly. "Hey..." came her
muffled voice. "Don't stop."

He didn't.

*~x~*

"Dana...?" Fox slowly caressed her arm with his hand, up
and down in gentle, fluid motions, as they lay spent in
each other's arms. Her head was lying on his chest, his
arms holding her close to him, feeling the warmth seep
from her body.

Her eyes were open as she lazily ran her hand over his
chest, loving the way his skin felt under it. "Yeah...?"

She could feel him take a deep breath, his chest rising
under her head.

"I think I've fallen in love with you."

She closed her eyes, as the whole world fell apart around
her. A terrible pain clenched her heart, and she closed
her eyes even tighter, burying her face in his chest.

His hand came up to gently stroke her hair. "Dana, did
you hear what I said?"

"Yes... Me too." She placed her hand under her head,
catching the silent tear as it fell.

*~x~*

"Dana? Are you okay in there?"

Dana watched herself in the mirror, then bending over to
splash her face with the cold water. "Yeah, I'm fine." She
looked up again, but her eyes were still red from her
crying.

"Okay," she heard her friend call to her, "we're leaving
now. Are you sure you don't wanna come with us?"

"Yes, Carrie, I'm sure. I just wanna spend some time
alone, okay? Tell the others I said hi." She prayed that
her friend hadn't heard her voice breaking.

"Okay. I'll see you later then."

"Yeah... Sure."

She waited until she heard the door close behind her
friend, and then slumped down on the toilet seat, her
face in her hands, the tears welling up once again. She
bit her lip hard, trying to force them back again, but there
was no point in even trying.

The sobs ripped through her entire body, the pain in her
chest becoming almost unbearable. She pressed her
hands to her heart, rocking her body back and forth, as
the tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

When there were no tears left, she silently stood up,
once again turned on the water, and splashed her face
with its coldness. Her eyes were red and swollen, but
she didn't care anymore.

She slowly went out from the bathroom and put on the
clothes she had taken off earlier for her shower. The
clothes she had taken off when she and Fox had... She
closed her eyes tight, biting her lip, refusing to start
crying again.

She grabbed the key to her room, and then made her
way outside; forcing her way through the newly arrived
hotel guests down in the lobby, not caring about anything
but getting away.

Why had he had to say the words?

*~x~*

As Fox came out of the bathroom after his shower, he
immediately realized that Dana was gone. He quickly
rummaged the room for any possible note she might
have left. Finding nothing, he threw his clothes on,
running out of his room to find her.

*~x~*

Sitting up on the high cliff, Dana gazed out over the
ocean, her sight blinded by the unshed tears. The rays of
light coming from the sun hurt her eyes, but still they
remained open.

She knew Fox must be looking for her. She couldn't
believe she had left him like that. But she couldn't face
him. She didn't even understand her own feelings
anymore. How could she expect him to?

She should have been happy to hear his words. To hear
him say that he loved her. It should have been the
happiest moment of her life.

Instead she had felt nothing but sadness. Grief. Pain.
An unbearable pain.

She had told him she loved him too. She had told him
the truth. But that fact didn't make it any easier. It only
made if worse. So much worse.

The sun burning on her cheeks suddenly disappeared
as someone stood in front of her. She didn't have to
look up to know that it was him.

*~x~*

It had taken him a long time to find her. He had first gone
to her hotel, but she hadn't been in her room nor any
place else. He had gone to the beach, the the same spot
where they always lay, only to find someone else there.
He had looked everywhere he could think of, and found
nothing. It was as if she had disappeared off the island,
leaving no trace behind.

But then he had walked by "their" restaurant, and the
owner had waved Fox to him, asking if he was looking
for the beautiful woman who used to be there with him.
When Fox had told him that he was, the older man got
an understanding look in his eyes, and pointed toward
the cliffs at the end of the shore. As Fox turned to leave,
the man lay his hand on his arm. "She seemed very
upset," he told him. Fox wasn't sure if he had heard
some kind of warning in the man's voice. He nodded and
then walked away.

Once at the cliffs, Fox had no trouble finding Dana. Her
red hair shone in the sun, like it had been set on fire,
making such a contrast to the dull color of the cliffs, that
he was almost surprised he hadn't seen her sooner.

He slowly climbed up until he was standing right in front
of her. She didn't acknowledge his presence in any way,
still staring right ahead of her, as if she could see right
through him. But he knew that she knew it was him.

He stood silent for a few minutes, simply waiting for her
to look up at him, giving him the explanation he was
looking for.

But she didn't.

He slowly turned and sat down next to her. "Dana...?"
His voice was full of questions. What's wrong? Why did
you leave? Do you hate me...?

She stayed silent for several minutes, until she finally
leaned to the side, letting her head rest on his shoulder.
He carefully put his arm around her shoulders, and her
arm snaked around his back.

When she spoke, her voice was so tiny, so sad; almost
no higher than a soft whisper. "I didn't know love was
supposed to hurt this much." She paused for a few
seconds, as if not sure about what to say. "I always
thought that when I found the love of my life, nothing
would make me happier."

Fox didn't understand what she was saying. Was she
telling him that she loved him as much as he loved her?
Then why wasn't she happy like he was?

He looked down at her face, only to find a single, silent
tear running down her cheek. He raised his hand, gently
wiping the tear away, and she closed her eyes at his
touch, grabbing his hand with her own, clutching it to
her.

"God, I love you so much, Fox." He could hear the tears
in her voice, and she brought his hand to her lips, kissing
it over and over again.

"Dana...? I don't understand anything." The confusion he
felt inside was heard through his words, and Dana looked
up at him, meeting his hazel eyes with her own.

She released his hand, raising her own to his face, gently
stroking his cheek. He leaned down and brushed her lips
with his, then looked at her again. "Dana, please tell me
what's wrong."

A sad smile crossed her lips. "Why did I have to meet
you, Fox? Why did you have to stop and talk with me
that night on the beach?"

"I... still don't understand."

"Fox, what will happen when you leave for England?
You'll be going back to Oxford in just two days from now.
What will happen to us?"

Realization began to sink in, as he listened to her words.
He pulled her closer, holding her head to his chest as he
stroked her hair. "Dana... I don't know what will happen,"
the told her honestly.

They sat in silence, holding on to each other as he slowly
rocked them back and forth in soothing motions. She
clung to him as if her life depended on it, feeling his
arms tightening around her as she did.

"Dana?" he suddenly said, and she raised her eyes to
his. "Why don't you come with me to England?"

"Oh, Fox..." He had hoped she would sound happier at
his suggestion. "Fox, I can't come with you."

"Why no-"

She interrupted him, putting one of her fingers over his
lips. "No, Fox. I can't." Seeing the hurt reflecting in his
eyes, she quickly added, "That doesn't mean I don't want
to. Believe me, there is nothing I want more at this
moment than to say yes."

"Then why won't you?"

"Fox..." How would she be able to make him see? To
make him understand that it was impossible? "Fox, I
have my family in Maryland. I have my friends there, I
go to the university there. I can't leave." She kissed him
gently. "Not even for you. Do you understand?"

He hugged him to her. "I wish I could say I didn't, Dana.
Maybe this wouldn't be so hard then."

She could feel his heart beating under her, and somehow
that comforted her. "Fox... If this was meant to be, we'll
meet again."

He smiled above her. "You mean like fate?"

"Yeah... I guess I do."

"I didn't know you believed in fate."

She looked up at him, her gaze locking with his. "I do
now."

He captured her lips with his own, his tongue tracing
her bottom lip until she finally parted her lips, letting him
in. Their kiss was long and sweet, demanding yet gentle.
It was filled with love, longing, desire... And a sadness
neither of them had ever felt before.

He drew her closer until she was sitting in his lap, and
they held each other close, their eyes shut.

"I never want to open my eyes..." she whispered. "I never
want this moment to end."

"I know," he whispered back, kissing the top of her head.
"I know."

*~x~*

She came with him to the airport two days later. His
friend Matt obviously felt out of place, and disappeared
quickly, leaving them alone with each other.

They had spent every second of the last two days
together; making love, laughing, crying... He had asked
her again if she didn't want to come with him after all, but
he had already known her answer. And he understood
how she felt. They had just met. She had her whole life
ahead of her.

And like she had said... If this was meant to be, they
would meet again.

She followed him to his gate, and he took her hands in
his, squeezing them hard. Seeing her holding back the
tears, brought tears to his own eyes, and he let them
fall. She brought her lips to his face, gently kissing them
away, while telling him that she loved him.

"I love you too, Dana," he said back. "More than
anything."

He turned his head and kissed her deeply and
passionately, wanting to memorize everything about her.
She returned the kiss with equal passion, pressing
herself up against him.

As they broke the kiss she buried her face in his chest,
feeling his arms tightening around her as he pulled her
even closer. She felt him kiss her hair, and she looked
up at him. Tears were brimming on her eyelashes,
threatening to spill over any second.

In the speakers the could hear a woman's voice call
out that this was the final call for the flight to London,
and Fox took up his ticket.

Dana looked down at the ticket in his hand, and the
tears finally fell, as she realized that this was it. She
grabbed his free hand and raised her eyes again. "Go,"
she whispered. "Go..."

"I will never forget you," he told her, his eyes glowing
with the honesty of his words. "Never."

"Good." Her bottom lip quivered slightly from trying to
hold back the tears, and he once again leaned down to
capture her lips in one last, sweet kiss.

As she watched him disappear through the gate, she
softly whispered after him, "Good-bye."

THE END

End notes: I know this story would change what happens
when they do meet in the actual series, but since when
has that ever stopped me? <g> Aside from that, I hope
you enjoyed the story, and that you can find the time to
drop me a few lines with your thoughts. Remember,
feedback means the world to any writer.
                                 -- Angela