From aclayborn@hotmail.com Mon Nov 25 13:27:02 1996

Please replace this in the archive...I have a new e-mail addy...
thanks!!



Okay, Rhoni, you asked for it. This is in answer to a challenge on
a Halloween story about masks. I have not even checked my e-mail
messages yet today, so if this resembles anything posted so far I
apologize. Great minds must think alike! Anyway, I wrote this
in about an hour Sunday night, sans computer. (yep, that's right
folks-the ancient pan and paper trick) It is also my first
attempt at serious MSR, so bear with me.

Rating: PG-13 for some iffy words. Sorry, no NC-17 stuff here, I
can't write that stuff without laughing hysterically, it kinda
ruins the mood...you know!

WARNING! Extreme sappiness ahead! I mean the-finger-down-the-
throat kind. If you don't like M/S sappy love stories (what is
your problem anyway?!? <G)  DON'T GO HERE!!!!!! You have been
warned.

WARNING: Pendrall bashing ahead! (you can actually HEAR his 
heart breaking...HE HE HE <evil laugh

WARNING: a few references to 4th season ahead

WARNING: if the topic of men in tights bothers you-don't go
see the movie <VBG

WARNING: This story has TOO many warnings...somebody *stop* me...
(hey, Rhoni, I could NOT resist one...)


Here it is at long last. Hope you enjoy it!!!



Removing the Masks
by Amy C.
cfoxrun@geocities.com
aclayborn@hotmail.com



Dana Scully walked wearily into the basement office the held the 
X-Files. From the looks of the office and Mulder's desk, he had 
probably been here all night. His computer was on, but he was 
nowhere in sight.

<Probably making some coffee or something, she thought. 

They had both been working way too hard lately. What they both
needed was to have some fun. Watching a Nicks game at her place 
and eating pizza was his idea of fun lately, or watching those
videos of his...

<I could think of at least *one* more fun thing that would be a 
*lot* more fun for them both....

<Get ahold of yourself, Scully

Scully went over to her desk and opened her briefcase. As she was
rifling through her papers, she noticed an envelope with a cutsy
little ghost and a frankenstein on it exclaiming "You're Invited!"
She started to open the envelope as Fox Mulder walked into the 
office carrying a pot of coffee.

"Aaaaaahhhhh. I see you have received your invitation to the annual
FBI "Spooky" Ball- dedicated to the ridicule and humiliation of
yours truly-old Spooky Mulder himself."

<Why does he always look so damn good???

"Oh Mulder, it can't be THAT bad.'

<She looks SO beautiful today...

"Oh yes it can, Scully. You have never been to one of these Spooky
roasts before. The last time I went, 6 guys came dressed up 
as me, replete with blow-up alien dolls- *and* my ties. They
actually went out and bought duplicates of some of my ties, and
made up fake badges that said "Spooky Mulder" on them. They must
have been planning that for months. It was horrifying, seeing
all those people degrade themselves like that at my expense."

"Aaaaawwwwwww. Poor Mulder. Can't take a little bit af teasing?"

<the bastards

"Well, yeah, Scully, a little teasing I can take, but I'm no 
masochist. No way, you can count me out. Not even the director
himself could drag me to that debacle..."

<Not even *me*??

"Well, I think it sounds fun, which is something I am in desperate
need of lately. You wouldn't make me go it alone, would you?"

"Hey, you bet I would. This is one paranormal event I have *no*
intention of investigating. Besides, I'm *sure* Agent Pendrell
would keep you company, Scully."

<The little twerp...

"Ha-ha Mulder, very funny. I don't want to encourage the poor
kid."

<I *want* to encourage YOU, you big jerk...

"*I'm* not the one that flirts with him to our work done ahead
of everyone elses'."

<Oh man, THAT came out wrong...

"I do not!! I can't help it if he has a crush on me, I do NOT ]
encourage him!"

<If he really knew how I flirted, he would have noticed me
flirting with *him* a long time ago...

"Oh puh-lease, Scully! "That's excellent Pendrell", "Keep up the
good work, Pendrell", "You'll go far in the bureau, Pendrell".
The guy practically drools when you walk into the room! When I
went to see him during the Aboah case, I told him you had a date, 
and he practically went into wailing convulsions until I told
him you were with a stiff. It was pathetic, Scully."

<I did it on purpose, of course...heh heh heh

"We are *not* having this conversation. Mulder-king of the Bambi's.
I am going to this party ALONE and I will have fun, dammit! If I
didn't know better, Fox Mulder, I would think that you are 
jealous!"

<pleasepleasepleasepleasebejealous

<she's damn right I'm jealous

"Believe what you want Scully. You usually do. Just remember that
I warned you. Don't come crying to me when you heat Mrs. Spooky
jokes all night."

With that, Mulder left the office with the slam of a door.

<OOOOOHHHHHHHH that pig! Where does he get off talking to me 
that way! He deserves it if I go and have a great time without hin-
and I'll tell him ALL about it. I honestly don't know what I see in 
him...

<Yes you do, Dana. You love his passion, you love his conviction in his
beliefs, you love his eyes, youlove his sense of humor, you 
love his eyes...

<You said that one already, she chided herself.

With a sigh of frustration, she tossed the invitation into
her briefcase.

<Now it's a matter of pride. I have to go just to spite him.

What costume should I wear?


In the parking garage, Mulder was beating himself over the head-
literally.

<Mulder, you are such an idiot! You didn't want her to go to that
thing so the two of you could spend that night together anf you 
go and turn it into a matter of spite! There is NO way she going
to go anywhere with you now. And bringing up Pendrell was a BIG
mistake! Just put ideas into her head why don't you!

His other inner voice piped in- <Well Spooky, why *shouldn't* she
choose someone like Pendrell over you? You've caused her nothing 
but grief since day one. At least with Pendrell, she *might* 
have a chance at a half-way normal life. Why can't you let her find 
happiness where she can?

<Because I want her to find happiness with *me*

Mulder hated that admission, almost as much as he hated Agent 
Pendrell. He had to find the courage to stop this facade and tell 
her how he felt before it was too late. At least then he would 
know one way or the other how Scully felt about Pendrell...

and him.


Mulder came back to the office just in time to hear Scully on the 
phone with a local costume shop. He waited until she hung up, and 
left to run some errands to pisk up the phone and hit re-dial.

"Metro Costume Shop?"

"Yeah, this is Mr. Scully. My wife <I wish just called to reserve
a costume, but she forgot to reserve mine to go with it."

<wah wah wahwaa wahwaah insert Peanuts-adult voice here

"Yeah, that will be perfect."

<why did it have to be *that*, Scully???

"I'll pick it up this afternoon, she'll pick hers up later."


For better or worse- Dana Scully was in for a big Halloween 
suprise. More than one kind of mask was coming off *this*
Halloween.






Halloween Night


Dana stood in front of the mirror looking at the picture she.
made. What was I thinking! It was the only costume left in your size-
that's what. She twirled around in her dress to watch it move. 
It *was* beautiful. The perfect Cinderella dress-complete with
glass slippers- just like in the Disney movie. 

<Maybe I'll meet Prince Charming she thought wryly.

The color was good for her, it almost matche dher eyes. She had
swept her red hair up into a chignon for a dramatic effect.
The off-the-shoulder dress almost made her feel naked. Too bad
Mulder wasn't going to see her in this- then he might know what he 
was missing.





She had just pulled her car into the parking lot and had put her 
tiny face mask on when her cel phone rang.

"Scully"

"Hey, Scully! I take it you haven't joined the festivities yet?
I thought I would give you one last warning before you head to your doom."

<In this outfit, I could be heading to *my* doom...

"I was just about to go in, Mulder. I can't wait."

<I wish you were here wiht me...

"Ha-ha. I hope you went as a knight, cause you are going to need 
the armor for protection against those sharp-tongued bastards. 
Don't say I didn't warn you."

<click

<If I didn't love him so much, I would hate that man...




Scully milled around the ballroom, casually smiling at various 
people she recognized. No one had actually spoken to her yet- but
she had heard the whispers...

"wow look at Mrs. Spooky. she doesn't look so spooky tonight..."
"don't say that toher face, she'll let you have it. She's not
like Mulder..."

She even saw three guys dressed up as Mulder (replete with 
blow-up alien doll she noticed) duck behind a column to hide 
from her.

<I must have quite a reputation from defending Mulder all of 
the time...

She was really starting to think that this was a bad idea,
but she refused to admit Mulder was right.

She turned to head towards the the refreshment table and ran right
into Agent Pendrell as Robin Hood- looking completely  
RIDICULOUS in those green tights- and looking at her like she was Aphrodite
herself.

"Agent Scully- y-you look terrific tonight!"

"Thanks, I <cough like your outfit too."

"Oh, it's just something I had in the closet..."

<I'd hate to see the rest of his closet...

'W-Would you like to dance Agent Scully?"

She did not want to hurt his feelings, he WAS sweet.
She opened her mouth to politely decline when she saw HIM.

Prince Charming

Literally

He was clear an the other side of the room, it was dark and her 
mask made it damn hard to see anything at all- but she knew it was HIM.

He *was* Prince Charming-down to the white tights and feathered hat.
And even though he was wearing an elaborate mask, she'd know
those eyes anywhere.

<Now *that* is how a man is supposed to look in tights, Agent
Pendrell

Pendrell forgotten, she started walking towards him just as he 
started coming towards her.

They met in the middle of the ballroom.

Neither said anything. Mulder was knocked speechless at the sight 
of his beautiful partner. He had *never* seen her looking like 
this-if he had he would have lost his cool exterior long ago.
Seeing her like this was almost worth wearing this ridiculous
costume. One way or the other people would be talking about 
this night for a while. She was an absolute vision. He had a sudden urge to
kneel down and pay homage to her magnificence- but he 
settled for a polite bow instead.

"My Cinderella- it looks as if fate has brought us together 
tonight."

<fate? No. It MUST be love...

"I was *hoping* to find Prince Charming tonight."

<Did I just say that?!?

"How about a dance m'lady?"

"I would be honored, my Prince."

<What was he doing here- in this costume? How did he know what I 
was wearing, was it just a bizarre coincidence??

"Are you suprised that I'm here, Cinderella? I'd hoped you would be.
He kept up the facade as he guided her around the ballroom
effortlessly."

<okay-no coincidense. The man just does his research.
Was this his idea if a sick joke- or was it more?

"Yes- I am VERY suprised- and happy. You needed to get out and
enjoy yourself."

"I am", he whispered in her ear.

Scully shivered as his breath caressed her ear. She was unaware
of the scene they were causing. Everyone in the ballroom was
desperately trying to watch them without being too obvious.

<For a room full of government agents, their surveillence 
techniques are lousy Mulder thought

He was fully aware of the scene they were causing. and he 
planned to make *more* of a scene before the night was out.

Scully was in heaven. Mulder's scent was making her light-headed,
as was the feel of his arms around her. She knew this was 
probably a mistake- but all she could think about was how much
she loves him- wanted him. For this moment he was hers and she was going to
enjoy it.

Mulder decided it was do or die- the truth was coming out tonight.

"Scully, I came here like this tonight because I needed to talk 
about something. Something important."

Scully cringed inwardly. She did not want to talk about work 
tonight. <Can't it wait, Mulder? Why can't we just enjoy this 
moment? Why can't we just be together? Why can't you just 
love me?

That last thought brought her head up off of his shoulder. She
was going to scold him and tell him that she didn't want to talk
about aliens or mutants or psychokinesis when she looked up
into his eyes...

And froze.

What she saw there made her heart stop.

It was love.

True love.

Her eyes filled with tears.

He saw the sheen in her eyes, and something else.

He saw at that moment that his love was not unrequited.

He yanked off his hat and mask and threw them to the floor. He
had to face her as himself.

"I came to tell you...I love you, Scully, and I am *not*
letting that pipsqueak Pendrell get *my* Cinderella."

Scully smiled at his words. She pulled off her mask, wet with her tears, and
let it fall to the ground beside his.

"He could *never* have me, Mulder. I've always been *yours*.
and I'll be yours until the day I die, and beyond. I love you."

Both were now unaware the EVERYONE was now unabashedly watching
them.

Mulder could not believe his ears. Scully, HIS Scully, just
professed to love him forever. He pulled her closer to him and 
leaned down towards her mouth...

The sound of AD Skinner coughing suspiciously loud brought
Mulder out of their fairytale world.

what did we almost do in front of God and the FBI???

"Well, Cinderella. it looks like the clock is about to strike
midnight- what say we go someplace a little more private for
our transformation before their eyes pop out of their heads?"

Scully nodded and followed Mulder - her real-life Prince
Charming- out of the ballroom, leaving behind a room full
of gawking agents.

They stopped outside on the steps as Mulder pulled her in
his arms and kissed her- unemcumbered not only by the Halloween
masks they had worn earlier, but also the emotional masks of the 
last four years. All facades melted with that one sweet kiss, 
and Mulder knew that there would be no more masks between them 
ever again.

They pulled apart and turned to do down the stairs when Scully's 
shoe came off on the step. She bent down to get it- but Mulder 
stopped her.

"Let Prince Charming do his job, Scully", He said with a silly
grin.

'As you wish, your highness..."

She tried to keep from laughing as he gently put the shoe back 
on her foot, and guided her to his car.

This was one Halloween that she would never forget. An appropriate
night to take off their masks and begin a new life together.


And inside the ballroom, amidst the flurry of gossip about what
had just transpired- lay two masks together on the floor. Robin 
Hood sighed wearily as he looked down at them- the last vestige of 
four years of denied love- and turned to leave.


The End


So what did you think? No, I don't really think they would ever 
do this, but it's my cheesy story, so don't flame me too much.
I hate my flame retardant suit, it's so hot!! 


Amy C.
aclayborn@hotmail.com
cfoxrun@geocities.com
http://www.geocities.com/televisioncity/1577

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