TITLE: I See What They Refuse To Show (1/1)
AUTHOR: Angharad
E-MAIL ADDRESS: rainydays@softhome.net
DISTRIBUTION: No Archive. Story will be on my website
at http://uk.geocities.com/little_corner_2000/
SPOILER WARNING: None
RATING: G
CLASSIFICATION: Vignette, Margaret Scully POV
KEYWORDS: MS UST, Margaret Scully
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters from the X
Files; they are the property of Chris Carter and 1013
Productions.
SUMMARY: Margaret Scully watches her daughter with Fox
Mulder at a family gathering.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you Kate for editing my story!
:)


I listen with delight at the antics of my dear nephew,
chuckling now and again; he's certainly like Bill was
at his age. I say my thoughts out loud, which causes
Tara, then myself, to erupt into laughter. I suppose
it seems strange for her husband to have been up to
mischief, making everyone laugh when he was three- the
age dear Matthew is now- seeing as Bill seems so
stern, especially when it comes to Dana, I think
ruefully; just like his father, I think briefly.

I excuse myself to make sure that everyone has enough
food and drink before refilling my own glass with iced
tea at the table that is filled with barbecued meat
that Charlie cooked before everyone arrived, along
with different types of salad and bread.

I savour the cool breeze touching my bare skin and the
general peacefulness on top of the laughter and
animated chattering. It feels good to have the family
under one roof. *Nearly* all, I think, as I feel a
pang of sadness wash over me, wishing that Bill and
Melissa were here, but the moment passes quickly; I
know they're by my side. Smiling to myself I glance
around the large porch. My eyes catch a glimpse of red
hair; Dana is in the corner, arguing it seems, with
Fox, though no one else has noticed.

Bless him I think, I know he feels uncomfortable
around the Scully clan, especially with her brother
glaring daggers at him, I think with a chuckle, seeing
him on the opposite side of the porch with Tara trying
to distract his attention.

I continue to watch them in the distance; I can see
that Fox is uncomfortable and has only come to please
Dana. He must be something, turning up at your
partner's family gathering even though you don't want
to- that's plain for the world to see, I think with a
smile.

I wonder if there's something going on between them
two? I muse.

I see Fox not really fighting back and I *know* Dana
has a temper on her but for them to have been partners
this long, Fox has bound to have found a way to defuse
her temper or fight back but at the moment he isn't
even trying. I wonder why?

Hmm, why on earth would Dana be arguing with him? Aha.
I see why. He's refusing to 'mingle' with the guests.
Well I can't blame him, I think with a smile, aware of
his obvious discomfort.

I continue to watch them in the distance, Dana's small
frame and red hair offset by Fox's tall profile and
brown hair in the evening sun. 

I notice that Fox is standing very close to Dana, even
though she's admonishing him, I suspect, the train of
thought causing me to smile. I also notice that Dana
isn't making any attempt to push Fox away from her
personal space. I know she's somewhat fanatic about
her personal space but I guess it just shows how close
they've become. But I had no idea they were that
close.

I see Dana looking up at him, trying to conceal her
anger so as not to attract the attention of the rest
of the family though I suspect the only attention she
doesn't want to attract is Bill's. 

Her arms are now crossed in a classic gesture of
defiance and, judging by Fox's reaction, I can see
that he can read Dana almost as well as I can, his
face showing an amused grin.

I see Fox looking down at her, waiting for her to
finish, the faint expressions on his face the only
clue that he's listening to her.

Suddenly it strikes me, why Fox has come here even
though he doesn't particularly want to and why he's
allowing Dana to admonish him without fighting back.
It's as simple as this: I see what they refuse to
show. They're in love. Though I suspect they think the
other feels the same way too.

My suspicions are confirmed when I see Dana break out
of her façade of barely concealed anger into a timid
grin, looking down briefly before meeting Fox's eyes.
Whatever he said to her has gained her forgiveness and
I see Fox briefly smile back at Dana.

Not hiding my broad smile, I see Dana and Fox walk
towards me so I wait for them to reach me, where I've
been standing for the past ten minutes, at the table.
 
I see Dana questioning my smile with a hint of a
confused frown on her face but I refuse to give my
thoughts away. She would kill me if she knew what I
was thinking.

"Are you enjoying the barbecue?" I ask.

I see Dana chuckle to herself before answering, "It's
great Mom but you don't mind if we leave early do you?
I don't really feel up to having another confrontation
with Bill today."

"It's okay Dana," I answer with a gentle smile,
kissing her on the cheek and briefly folding her into
my arms.

"It was nice to see you again," I say, directing my
comment to Fox. I see him smile, answering, "The
pleasure's all mine Mrs Scully."

The gentle smile stays on my face as I see them walk
through the house from the porch door, so close, yet
barely touching.

I hope you're very happy together I think, happiness
flowing through me. They couldn't be more suited for
all their faults in the world. 

Taking a sip of my slightly cooled iced tea, I return
my attention to the rest of my family, the smile on my
face refusing to disappear.

THE END