Summary: Dana isn't the only Scully interested in an X-Files agent.

Author Note: This story does not exactly follow the current X- Files season. I do not like that Chris Carter has Mulder being forced to be away from Scully and William, so in this story he isn't. Other than that, things are pretty much the same. Mulder is still out of the FBI. Scully still teaches at Quantico. Doggett and Reyes now run the X-Files. Accordingly, all character information used may or may not reflect the current season. I stopped watching the show for a while in protest of David leaving and was only lured back when I saw how well-developed Doggett and Reyes were becoming.

Special Agent Monica Reyes sighed as she strode down the hallway. Stopping in front of one of the nondescript doors, she adjusted the package she was carrying so she knock. The door opened a few seconds later to reveal Fox Mulder standing there. As usual, Monica had to tamp down the wave of attraction she could feel coming over her. She had been attracted to Mulder from the first time she had heard about him. After all, they shared a common interest in the paranormal. Her attraction only increased when she had gotten her first look at him. She had always been attracted to dark-haired men. Maybe it had something to do with her growing up in Mexico, she was not sure. But as much as she was attracted to the tall, dark, devastatingly handsome man in front of her, she knew she would never act on her feelings. Mulder, after all, was in love with someone else.

ed to that, the person he was in love with was someone that Monica had come to count as a friend. She truly liked and admired Special Agent Dana Scully. But every now and then, the little demon inside of her just wanted to grab Mulder and have her way with him, especially when he smiled as he was doing at the moment.

"Hi, Monica," Mulder said as he opened the door wider to let Monica in. "Come on in."

Monica stepped into the apartment. Even though she had been here several times before, each time she came by the place had changed. Mulder had been slowly moving his stuff into Scully's apartment. He was taking his time because, in truth, he and Scully were looking to buy a home. Mulder had proposed to Scully right after William was born and although Scully had said yes, she had wanted to wait until New Year's to get married. When they had announced the date, Mulder and Scully had shared a secret smile so Monica could only guess that the date had special meaning for them. However, tonight she was here for a different reason. "Happy Birthday," she said as she handed Mulder the package she had brought.

"Gee, thanks for reminding me that I just hit the big 4-0," Mulder replied, teasingly. "But since you brought me a gift, I will forgive you." "For a forty year old man, you are such a child sometimes," answered a soft, yet firm voice. Turning, Monica saw Scully enter the living room. In her arms she carried William. Monica found it hard to believe that William was already five months old. It seemed like just yesterday that she was delivering him.

"Hi, Monica. I'm so glad you could come," Scully said as she joined Monica and Mulder by the door.

"Thank you for inviting me," Monica replied.

Scully was about to speak again when William suddenly lunged out of her arms toward Monica. Monica reacted quickly and caught the little boy. Neither Scully nor Mulder seemed particularly fazed by what had just happened, but Monica was a bit shaken. "Does he do that often?"

Mulder laughed. "Almost constantly. When he wants something, he just goes after it."

"I wonder who he gets that from," Scully said, her eyebrows raised, but her voice was tinged with amusement.

As Mulder chuckled again, Monica looked down at the boy in her arms. Though he had been born bald, William was now starting to get some hair. It looked like it was going to be brown, just like Mulder's. William's eyes, however, were the same shade of blue as his mother's. His face shape and coloring were also Scully's, but he was tall for his age. There was no doubt about it. William was an adorable mix of his parents, the perfect blend which seemed to be a reflection of Mulder and Scully's relationship. Yin and yang. Harmony and chaos. Light and Dark. Monica wished she could find someone who complimented and completed her the way that Mulder and Scully did each other.

Monica was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Scully inquire, "Would you mind helping me finish up in the kitchen?"

"Not at all," Monica responded, glad to have something to distract her from her thoughts.

Mulder reached out and took William from Monica. "Come on, Slugger. Let's get out of Mommy and Monica's way."

Monica watched Scully stare after Mulder as he carried William into the other room. Scully blushed when she noticed that Monica had seen her. "I just can't get enough of seeing them together. I can't begin to describe how it makes me feel."

Monica smiled in response to Scully's comment, but deep down the loneliness she always tried to keep hidden threatened to surface. She took a deep breath to get herself under control and followed Scully into the kitchen.

Several hours later, Monica stood by the fireplace feeling quite out of place. Most of these people had known each other for years. Even Special Agent John Doggett, her partner, had more right to be here that she felt she did. To make matters even worse, she could get herself to stop staring at Mulder. She kept wondering why she could not find someone like him. Sighing, she headed into the kitchen to throw her cup away. She might as well go home where she could truly be as alone as she felt. Still deep in her self-pity, she did not look where she was going and ran right smack into a muscular chest. As two hands lightly gripped her arms, a deep voice said, "Sorry about that. Are you all right?" Monica looked up and found herself looking at an extremely handsome man. He had dark brown hair and his facial features seemed somewhat familiar, but Monica could not place where she had seen them before. But what drew her in the most were the man's eyes. They were the most amazing shade of greenish-blue she had ever seen. Monica could not recall seeing the man before and wondered how she could have missed him in the small apartment. The pressure on her arms increased slightly as the man asked, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Monica shook her head and was about to about to answer when Scully suddenly swept by her. Monica thought to herself as Scully pulled the man before her into a hug. "It's about time you got here," she heard Scully say.

"Sorry, one of my students had asked to see me about an assignment. It took longer than I thought it would," the man answered.

"Mom was getting a bit worried," Scully said, then she turned toward Monica. "Oh, I'm sorry, Monica. I don't think you've met my brother. Monica Reyes, Charles Scully."

Taking a second glance, Monica could now see why Charles had seemed so familiar. Looking at him standing beside Scully, she could definitely see the family resemblance. She also felt bad about her earlier, uncharacteristic thoughts. She was soon refocused, however on Charles as he smiled at her, which made him even better looking. "So, I finally get the extreme pleasure of meeting the person who delivered my favorite nephew."

Both Monica and Scully chuckled. "I wouldn't say that meeting me is an extreme pleasure, but let me say that it is a pleasure meeting you, Charles."

Charles wrinkled his nose, making him look about twelve. "Please call me Charlie. Every time I hear someone call me Charles, I think I'm in trouble for something."

"Which is something you should be used to by now. I hate to steal you away, but both Mom and Mulder wanted to see you when you got here," Scully said with an apologetic note in her voice.

"I'll be right there," Charlie said. As Scully walked away, he turned to Monica again with a smile on his face. "I hope I get the chance to talk to you later." At Monica's nod, he started to walk away, then stopped and leaned back toward her. "Oh, and it really was an extreme pleasure meeting you, believe me."

Monica watched Charlie head into the other room with a shocked look on her face.

The next day, Monica sat at her desk going over some files. She and John were currently between cases, so they were trying to get caught up on some paper work. She, however, was having trouble concentrating. Her thoughts kept going back to the night before. She really had not gotten the chance to talk to Charlie all that much, but what little contact she had intrigued her. And it was not just because of his looks. Charlie Scully seemed to be every bit as intelligent as his older sister. That attracted Monica even more. She had always liked a man with a good mind. Of course, his looks were an added bonus. He had been dressed casually in a polo shirt and khakis, but they had done nothing to his obviously muscular build. Charlie was not quite as slender as Mulder, but he was definitely in good shape.

A knock at the door broke into Monica's thoughts. Looking up, she wondered if she was losing her mind because standing in the doorway was Charlie. Monica closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. No, he was still there. Charlie's presence was further solidified when John spoke up. "Hello, Charlie. What brings you down here?"

Scully suddenly stepped around her brother. "Charlie was over at Quantico visiting me when he mentioned he had never seen the X-Files office. Since I had to come over here to deliver some autopsy results, I figured now was as good a time as any. Plus we wanted to know if the two of you would care to join us for lunch?"

John shook his head. "I would love to, but the plumbing in my house has been acting up and I arranged to let the plumber in over my lunch hour." He looked down at his watch. "In fact, I'd better be going."

As John made his way out of the office, Scully turned toward Monica. "Monica?"

Monica shrugged. "Sure, if I'm not intruding, that is."

"Not at all," Scully had just answered when her cell phone rang. "Excuse me." She stepped off to the side.

"Are you sure you don't mind me interrupting your time with your sister?" Monica asked Charlie, who was leaning against the door jam.

"Like Dana said, not at all," Charlie replied, a smile crossing his face.

Monica found herself smiling back as Scully re-entered the office. "That was Quantico. They just had a body come in that needs to be autopsied right away and the Chief Medical Examiner is out on vacation. I'm afraid I have to take a raincheck on lunch."

"No problem. I would tell you to have fun, but well . . .," Charlie said as he gave Scully a hug. Monica thought he whispered something in Scully's ear, but she was not sure. As Scully left, Charlie turned back to face Monica. "So, I guess it's just you and me. Still feel up to lunch?"

"Of course," Monica answered. "But since I am stuck with you, I get to pick the place," she added playfully.

"Lead on, McDuff," Charlie said, following Monica out the door.

Ten minutes later, Monica sat across from Charlie in a booth at her favorite café. She had found the place shortly after moving to D.C. and liked that it offered so many vegetarian dishes. She had been raised a vegetarian and never had any trouble finding things to eat at the restaurants around Mexico City. It had been a little harder since coming to the States, though.

As she sipped her water, Monica looked over at Charlie. Today he was wearing a dress shirt, tie, and dress slacks. The clothes fit him so well that Monica wondered if he went to a tailor. Obviously a taste for tailored clothes ran in the family as Scully dressed in a similar fashion. Her thoughts were interrupted when Charlie said, "So, tell me a little about Monica Reyes. No, actually, tell me a lot about Monica Reyes."

Monica smiled self-mockingly. "There's not much to tell really."

"I would disagree. I mean, seeing as I don't know much about you besides the fact that you delivered my sister's baby, agreed to take over her position on the X-Files, and are a beautiful woman, there is a lot to learn."

Laughing softly, Monica said, "What would you like to know, although I wouldn't mind hearing more about that beautiful woman comment."

Charlie laughed as well. "I'll save that for when you realize how boringly, normal I am."

"How do you know I am not the same way?" Monica countered in a teasing tone.

"You're a F.B.I. agent. Need I say more?" Charlie asked.

"But that's just my job. I might collect postage stamps in my spare time."

"Well, then I'll just give you the ones I collected in my travels to add to your collection."

Monica shook her head. "All right, wiseguy, like I said before, what would you like to know?"

"Where were you born?" Charlie inquired.

"I was born in Austin, Texas, but I was raised in Mexico," Monica said, just as the waitress brought their food.

"See, something interesting already. Why did your parents move to Mexico."

Monica picked up her fork. "They didn't. I was adopted," she said off-handedly as she stabbed at her lunch.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Charlie said as he laid his hand gently on Monica's arm.

"You didn't. I'm the one who is sorry. You asked an innocent question. It's just that I have run into some people who suddenly treat me differently after they find out I was adopted," Monica replied quietly.

"I wouldn't do that."

Sighing deeply, Monica said, "I always seem to raise my defenses just in case somebody does have that reaction."

Charlie moved his hand away and picked up his own fork. "Would it help if I told you that my own two daughters were adopted?"

"You have two children?" Monica asked, wondering for a moment if it bothered her that Charlie had children but quickly realized that it did not.

Reaching down, Charlie pulled out his wallet. He opened it and held it out to Monica. Inside was a photo of two adorable little girls. The older one was of obvious ethnic decent. "Megan is eight and Gillian is six."

"They're adorable," Monica responded, handing Charlie's wallet back to him.

"I like to think so. They are one of the main reasons I decided to leave the field," Charlie said as he took a bite of his sandwich.

"I never did hear what you do for a living."

"I teach archeology and anthropology at The Catholic University of America. I got my doctorate while in the field. I always figured I would end up teaching one day. I just didn't think it would be this soon," Charlie said, sounding a bit sad.

"The same rules apply to you that do me. You don't have to talk about anything that makes you uncomfortable," Monica replied.

Charlie gave Monica a half-smile. "No, talking about this doesn't bother me. I just didn't expect to be talking about such serious things during our first actual conversation."

Monica smiled in return. "Well, look at it this way. It's a good way to get to know each other."

"True," Charlie answered.

"So, what besides your children made you give up relic hunting?"

Charlie sat for a moment and looked off into space, then said, "I realized that I was using being away so much as an excuse to hid from my life. I got married when I was twenty-two, but I think I knew within a month of getting married that it had been a mistake. I was raised a Catholic and did not believe in divorce. Besides I did love Bethany, my ex-wife, but looking back I don't think I was in love with her. Anyway, when I was offered the chance to go on a dig in New Guinea, I jumped at the opportunity. I figured that being away from all of our family would bring Bethany and I closer. She did not share the same thoughts. She wanted to stay in California, where we were living at the time."

Monica could see where this was going. "You went anyway, didn't you."

Nodding, Charlie continued, "Since my orginal plan was obviously not going to pan out, I changed my point of view. I figured Bethany and I needed some time apart. Absence does not always make the heart grow fonder, though. Anyway, this went on for about two years, then Bethany found out that while it was possible for her to conceive, it would extremely hard for her to do so. Strangley, she did not seem at all fazed by the news, just said that it was God's will. I suggested that we look into all of our available options, but Bethany said she already knew what she wanted to do - she wanted to adopt. So, I flew home as soon as I could and we filled out the necessary paperwork. A year and a half later, we adopted Megan. I was doing digs here in the U.S. so I could be home for longer stretches at a time and things were all right for a while. When Meg was about a two, Bethany said she wanted to adopt another child, so we started looking again. Six months later, we got Gillian. I was fairly happy during this time unitl I realized one day that the only interaction I had with Bethany was through the girls. We were like two strangers living in the same household. I was determined to make my marriage work, buy then I was offered a fairly prestigious position as the head of an important dig in South America. Looking back, I probably should have turned it down and concentrated on my homelife, but part of me was glad for the chance to get away. I missed my daughters, but I didn't really miss my wife. I felt horrible for feeling that way, but I took some comfort in the fact that Bethany most likely felt the same. And I was right. I recieved the divorce papers in the mail along with a new shipment of supplies. All I requested was joint custody of the girls, which Bethany granted and I signed the papers about a year ago. When I came home to deliver them, I looked at my daughters and saw how much they had grown up. I had always resented that my own father was gone so much when I was growing up and had never pursued a career in the military for that very reason, yet I had ended up doing the same thing anyway. Bethany's family had moved to Maryland and she decided to move there so she could be closer to them. It just happened to work out really well that is also where most of my family is. I applied for a teaching position at several of the local colleges and universities and was hired at CUA."

Monica took a drink from her water while she thought about what Charlie had just told her. She had to admire him for sticking to his beliefs. She had the disctinct impression that if Bethany had not filed for divorce, Charlie would still be married to her. She also somehow knew without asking that Charlie had remained faithful to Bethany despite their unhappiness. She was amazed by that due to the fact that more than one of her ex-boyfriends had cheated on her. "Do you ever regret getting married?"

A thoughtful look crossed crossed Charlie's face. "Not really. I think I would like to get remarried someday, but I know that Bethany and I were not meant to be together. I think I married her because I thought that is what I was supposed to do. I should have followed in Dana's footsteps and waited for the one that was really meant for me. But then if I had done that, I would not have Megan and Gillian, so I was blessed more than I should have been." He paused for a moment. "Okay, how did we end up talking so much about me anyway? I thought I asked about you?"

Laughing, Monica answered, "I'm in law enforcement. I'm trained to make people spill their guts."

Charlie laughed as well. "I'll have to be on my guard from now on."

"Yes, you will," Monica teased.

As the meal progressed, the topic turned to general things. Monica learned that Charlie's favorite rock group was the Beatles and that he hated rap as much as she did. Monica found herself admitting to her hidden love of old Broadway musicals, a fact which hardly anyone knew about. Monica was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Charlie. He seemed to be truly interested in hearing her views and opinions, which was a welcome change from the men she usually went out with.

They were just finishing their meal when Monica heard Charlie suddenly exclaim, "Damn." Seeing that Charlie was looking over her shoulder, she turned around and spotted Mulder being seated on the other side of the resturant. Scully was with him. Knowing that an autopsy generally took several hours to perform, Monica wondered what she was doing here. The autopy must have gotten cancelled, she decided. Then glancing over at Charlie, she noticed that he was looking down at his plate with a slight blush on his face. Monica suddenly realized what was going on. She had been set up. Normally she would have been upset at having been lied to, but she was really flattered that Charlie had obviously gone to such lengths to ask her out. However, the oppturnity was much too good to pass up. "You're busted, mister. It was Mulder on the phone to Scully earlier, wasn't it?"

Charlie nodded, finally lifting his gaze to meet Monica's. "So, just how big of a dork does this make me look?"

"None at all. I'm flattered that you went to so much trouble. But Charlie . . .," Monica said, then paused.

"Yeah," Charlie replied with a nervous look on his face.

"All you had to do was ask."

Monica stood in front of her closet trying to decide what to wear. It was Saturday and she and Charlie were going to explore D.C. together. After her comment about only needing to ask her to get her to go out with him, Charlie had done just that. Since neither one had time to enjoy all the city had to offer since moving there, they decided it what the perfect, casual, second date.

Sighing, Monica looked over at the pile of clothes that were scattered all over her bed. Normally she did not put much thought into what she wore. True, she did like to keep up on the latest fashion trends, but she also liked other styles as well. Vanity, after all, was not a major concern for her. Her parents had always stressed the importance of inner beauty over outer beauty. So although she had been blessed with model good looks, they were not something she thought of all that much. She was much more proud of her academic and professional accomplishments. But every so often, normal insecurities snuck in and now was one of those times.

Knowing she needed something to calm her nerves, Monica started to walk into the kitchen where she suddenly remembered she had a pack of cigarette she had forgotten about when she threw all her other ones away. She was halfway to the kitchen when her willpower kicked back in. she thought to herself. Smoking had been her one vice for a long time, but she had decided to give it up about six months before. Normally she did not have a problem going without, however when stressed she would almost give in again.

With her determination once again in place, Monica headed back into her bedroom. Still frustrated, though, about what to wear, she decided to put on the first thing she grabbed. Reaching into the closet, she pulled out her favorite pair of jeans and the top her mother had sent from Mexico just the week before. She had just put them on when the doorbell rang. Looking at the clock, she saw that it was much later than she had thought it was. It was most undoubtedly Charlie at the door. Taking a quick glance in the mirror, Monica realized that she had grabed the right outfit. The dark burgandy of the top brought out the warm tones in her hair and face. The peasant style, empre waist and cotton gauze fabric hugged her curves in all the right places, but was still comfortable. It also looked really good with her jeans. To complete the outfit, she grabbed her favorite pair of leather sandals, glad that the day was warm enough for her to wear them and that she had painted her toenails the night before.

Monica crossed to the front door and took a deep breath. She could not remember ever being this worked up before a date. There was just something about Charlie Scully that caused her to feel unbalanced, but in a good way. When she felt she was back under control, she opened the door, but the view on the other side caused a whole new set of emotions to surface. Charlie stood there wearing a chamois-colored, light suede shirt over a blue T-shirt which intensified the color of his eyes and emphasized his build. The jeans he was wearing also fit really well. The outfit said "Man", but the shy look on his face was quite endearing. Monica found herself very drawn to the combination.

"Hi," Charlie said.

Monica opened the door further to allow Charlie to enter. "Hello, yourself," she tossed back. "I'm almost ready to go."

"You look ready to me. In fact, you look amazing."

Monica smiled. If nothing else, Charlie was good for her ego. "Thank you, I could say the same to you. But I just need to grab my purse."

"You won't need it. Today is my treat," Charlie answered.

"But you already paid for lunch the other day. I really don't expect you to pay for today as well," Monica said. She was flattered that Charlie had offered, but she wanted to make it clear that he should not feel obligated to pay everytime they went out. That was just not something she expected nor wanted.

Charlie shook his head. "I know you don't, but part of me is an old-fashioned guy. Since this is our first, offical date, I want to do this."

"Okay, I'll agree, but only if you let me be the one to pay next time," Monica said as she grabbed her keys off the table.

"I really do believe in equality, but I'd agree to anything if it guarnteed me a chance to see you again," Charlie countered.

Monica blushed as she followed Charlie out the door and locked it behind them. Damn, he knew the right things to say. He led her to a black, sporty-looking SUV. He opened the door for her, which was something she was not used to. As she got in, she noticed that the car smelled faintly of the cologne that Charlie wore. It was spicy, yet still a bit earthy and smelled really wonderful.

Charlie shut Monica's door, then went around to the other side and got in himself. Turning to her, he said, "You know, I should have probably asked this inside, but do you have any choices on where to go first?"

"No, not really. I guess I would like to avoid all the traditoinal, touristy places," Monica said as she put on her seatbelt.

Charlie mirrored Monica's actions. "I agree." He started the car and slowly pulled out onto the street. "I had the deli around the corner from my place pack us a lunch. Since it's such a nice day outside, I though we could have a picnic somewhere." Then as if reading Monica's thoughts, he continued, "Don't worry. I noticed at lunch the other day that you were a vegetarian and asked them to pack accordingly. You're not a vegan, are you? I couldn't tell that."

Monica shook her head. "No, I'm not."

"Good, because I got dessert as well. I just didn't want you to feel you had to eat anything you were uncomfortable with."

"Thank you." Monica was silent for a minute, then said, "I can't believe you paid enough attention to what I was eating to realize I was a vegetarian."

Charlie just smiled. "I told you that I wanted to learn everything about you."

Several hours later, Charlie and Monica pulled up in front of Charlie's apartment building. So far, the day had been wonderful. They had decided to spend the morning wandering around the little shops in the art disctict. Monica was surprised to learn that Charlie has quite an extensive knowledge of art history, although after she thought about it, she knew she should not have been considering Charlie's career choice. And as with lunch two days before, he seemed just as interested in her opinion about the pieces they were seeing as he had about other topics. Even when they disagreed, it was in such a way that the other did not feel slighted. Monica was still getting used to that. She was also finding herself more and more drawn to Charlie. At lunch he had reached over to wipe away a bit of hummos from her mouth and she had to bite back the moan his touch had invoked. By the end of the day, she was aware of his every touch, every inflection of his voice, his every glance and she found herself wanting more.

"I hope you don't mind stopping by my apartment for a moment, but I wanted to get the leftover food in the fridge before anymore of the ice melts," Charlie said.

"Not at all. Besides, I would love to see where you live," Monica replied as she got out of the car.

Charlie came around to Monica's side of the car. After he got the basket out of the backseat, he led her up a short flight of stairs. He opened the main door of a two-story, brick townhouse. Inside there was a door directly across from the main door and a staircase on either side. Charlie walked over to the door and unlocked it. He pushed it open and stepped back so Monica could enter. As she did, she looked around. The room was larger than she expected. The kitchen was to the left and a hallway that she assumed led to the rest of the place was off the living room. Evidence of Charlie's love of acient artifacts and his travels was reflected in the furniture and artwork. Although the decor had a decidely masculine feel to it, Monica found she liked it as it sort of fit into her own eceltic tastes. Turning toward Charlie, she said, "I like your apartment."

"Thanks," Charlie responded as he walked into the kitchen. "A couple of things really drew me to this place. I like fireplaces and there is one in the master bedroom besides the one in the living room. There is also a decent sized, fenced-in backyard that the girls can play in when they come visit me. Thta is next to impossible to find in the city."

"I'm sure the girls will like that," Monica said as she joined Charlie in the kitchen. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Charlie shook his head. "No, I'm just about done."

"Can I get a glass of water?" Monica asked, just as Charlie shut the door of the refrirgerator.

A sheepish look crossed Charlie's face. "Oh God, I'm sorry. I should have offered you something."

"That's all right," Monica replied. As she reached out to open the refridgerator door, her hand brushed Charlie's whose own hand was still on the handle. Monica drew in a quick breath. Looking up at Charlie, she noticed that he appeared to be just as affected as she was. Their gazes locked and without any conscious thought, she leaned in toward him and their lips met. At first the kiss was gentle, but a few seconds later, Monica found herself pinned up against the refridgerator door. Charlie had one hand resting on the door by her head and the other he wrapped around her waist. He pulled her closer to him and she felt that he was just as aroused as she was. The kiss continued for a few moments longer, then they both had to break away to catch their breath. "Well, I must say that was a heck of a lot more satisfying than a glass of water."

Charlie laughed softly. "I'm glad. God, I've been wanting to do that all day. I know this may be too soon, and if it is, that's all right, but I want you, Monica."

Another wave of arousal washed over Monica. Lord, what this man did to her. "I want you, too."

Smiling, Charlie said, "I'm glad." Then a serious look replaced the smile. "I just want you to know up front that I . . . what I mean is . . . Damn, this is hard to say."

Monica reached up and ran her hand down Charlie's face. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. I promise I won't judge you or laugh at you."

After he took a deep breath, Charlie said, "The only woman I have ever been with is my ex-wife."

"And this should bother me why?" Monica inquired gently, not understanding why Charlie would think she would be upset about the lack of lovers in his past. It was actually wonderful not to have to wonder for a change.

Stepping away from Monica, Charlie continued, "Because I don't know if I will be able to make it as good as I am sure you are used to."

Monica watched as blush crossed Charlie's face. She was continuially surprised by this man. Most men bragged about their sexual prowess, making themselves out to be better lovers than they actually were. But here was Charlie worried that he might not be able to please her. What a dear, sweet man. "Again, I don't see much of a problem here. Woman are pretty much built the same way and overall we liked to be touched in much the same manner as the next one. True, we each have our own indivuidal, favorite places to be touched, but that is the fun of it all - learning where those are."

"That's just it," Charlie said as he ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how a woman likes to be touched. Bethany didn't like sex. To her is was just something that one did in order to have children. We only did it a few time before she found out how hard it would be for her to have children and when we did have sex, it wasn't exactly romantic. She would only do it with the lights off and with no unnecessary touching involved. After she found out about her condition, I don't recall us ever having sex again. I think in total we had sex maybe ten times in our twelve year marriage." He turned away from Monica. "God, this is so embarrassing."

Monica stood there staring at Charlie's back. How could his wife ever have resisted him? Not only was he incredibly sexy, but he was the most thoughtful man she had ever met. She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Charlie, there is absolutely nothing to be embarrased about."

"I just want so badly for this to be good for you," Charlie said softly.

"And it will be."

Charlie turned around with a look of total disbelief on his face. "How can you be sure of that."

A gentle smile crossed Monica's face. "Most of the men I have ever been with in the past, although there honestly haven't been all that many, didn't really care about me or my needs. They just wanted to make sure their needs were satisfied. Not one of them as ever worried about pleasing me. It will be good between us not because of your experience or any lack thereof, but because you truly care enough to want it to be a mutually satisfying expereince."

This caused Charlie to smile in return. "Well, I know it will be good for me."

Monica raised her eyebrows. "How can you be sure of that?" she returned Charlie's words to him.

Leaning in, Charlie said, "Because I'll be with you." Then he kissed her again.

Monica felt tears spring to her eyes at the gentleness of Charlie's kiss. One thing could not be denied. The man knew how to kiss. That was one area he need not be worried about at all. As they kissed, Monica suddenly had an idea. When they broke apart, she asked breathlessly, "Charlie, do you want to touch me?"

Charlie's eyes had turned a deep aquamarine color. "More than anything, but . . ."

Monica put her finger over Charlie's mouth. "Shh, no more. Come on." Turning, she led Charlie across the living room and toward his bedroom. Not knowing which way to turn, she looked over at Charlie and raised one eyebrow. This caused him to smile and step into the right doorway off the hallway. The room was just as tastefully decorated as the rest of the apartment. A large, queen-sized bed stood in the middle of the room across from a large stone fireplace. Monica could see why Charlie liked it so much. She could just picture lying in bed watching a fire blaze while wrapped up in Charlie's arms. Blushing slightly at her own thoughts, Monica walked over to the bed. If she wanted to make that fantasy a reality, she had to make Charlie comfortable with her first. She knew ony one way to go about that. She reached up and placed her hand on the side of Charlie's face. "I know you are scared about doing something I won't like, but, Charlie, I am not Bethany." Charlie opened his mouth to say something, but Monica put her hand over his mouth again. "I know you know that, at least mentally. Now we need to convience you emotionally. I'm not going to reject you. If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be. But, I do want to be here. Very much. I want to know what it feels like to have you touch me. So tonight, you are going to do just that. Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to touch me, you have my permission to do so. I promise not to lie to you. If I don't like to be touched there, I will tell you so. I don't want there to be anything we can't talk about. We seem to be doing well with each other so far."

"But I don't want this to be about just me," Charlie said, the raspiness in his voice betraying his desire.

"It won't be. I want this just as much as you do. I believe I just said that. I've have always wanted to be the center of a man's desire before. I'm glad you're the one."

"Me, too," Charlie responded. He looked helplessly at Monica for a moment. "Where would you like me to start?"

Monica held her arms out at her sides. "Wherever you like."

Charlie stepped up to Monica and pulled her into his arms. He leaned down and kissed her again, but this time he by-passed her lips and began kissing her neck. Monica was just getting used to how good it felt when she suddenly felt Charlie bring his tounge into the action. He lightly began atlernating between licking and kissing her. Monica tipped her head back to give him better access. She once again had the thought of what a stupid woman Charlie's ex-wife had been to give him up. Not being able to contain her desire, she moaned deeply. Charlie at once stopped and looked at her. Monica smiled her approval and Charlie smiled softly in return. Seemingly encouraged, he moved his hands to her waist. Again he met her eyes and Monica nodded. Seconds later, her top lay in a heap on the floor, followed by her jeans. She started to kick off her shoes when Charlie suddenly knelt in front of her and gently removed them for her. He lifted each leg and slid her jeans off as well. When he looked up at her from his position on the floor, Monica could not get over the look on his face. It was a mixture of desire and awe. No man had ever looked at her like that, like she was some sort of goddess. Then as if to confirm her thoughts, Charlie said, "God, you are so incredibly beautiful." The tone of his voice reflected the emotions in his eyes.

As Charlie stood up, he shrugged out of his suede shirt and pulled his T-shirt over his head. Monica had to resist the urge to touch the well-defined chest in front of her. Hopefully she would get the chance to do that later. Tonight was about Charlie and what he wanted.

Charlie had toed of his shoes during Monica's introspection and was undoing his jeans. His eyes never left Monica's as he let them fall to the floor, then moved closer to her. "Are you sure about this is what you want?"

Looking at the sexy, yet vulnerable, boxer-clad man in front of her, Monica realized that she had had never wanted anything more. "Yes," she said, without hesitation.

Charlie smiled shyly. "Good," he said simply. Reaching over, he turned back the bronze-colored comforter that was on the bed. He took Monica's hand and gently pulled her to him. The other hand he buried in her hair. Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed her. He let go of her hand and moved his own up her back. Monica could feel himfumbling to get her bra clasp undone. Finally with a growl of frustration, he removed the hand from her hair and used both hands to undo the clasp. Once that was done, he resumed kissing her as he slid the straps down her arms. Her bra soon joined the pile of her clothes. Charlie eased her back onto the bed, removing her underwear as he did.

Monica watched the expression on Charlie's face change as he sat there staring at her just as he had done after removing her jeans. It was almost like she was one of his beloved artifacts, something that needed to be studied and categorized. Cautiously, he reached out and placed his hand on her stomach. Monica smiled encouragingly at him. He then moved his hand with excruciating slowness, causing her to moan with pleasure. Charlie at once removed his hand, obviously thinking that he had done something wrong. Monica took his hand and placed it back on her stomach. She smiled at him again and said, "No, that was good. I liked to be touched there."

Charlie smiled back and moved his hand again, this time his touch was a little more sure. When Monica moaned again, he brought his other hand up to join the first and his exploration began in earnest. He moved his hands gently over her body leaving no area undiscovered. He varied his strokes and his pressure, testing to see which got him the most response. When he got to Monica's breasts, he took his time and gave each one an incredible amount of attention. Then one hand began to move across her lower abdomen. By this time, Monica was practically panting. No man had ever spent this much time exploring her body before. Charlie lightly put his hands on her waist and leaned over. Ever so softly he began to kiss a path across her stomach, then he moved lower to between her thighs. At first he was a bit hesitant, but when he heard the reactions he was causing, he seemed to gain more confidence. Already being fairly worked up, he had Monica on the edge within moments. Seconds later, she felt herself give into the release. It had not been the most intense orgasam of her life, but it had been the most satisfying one, by far.

Charlie moved up the bed to lay beside Monica, a look of surprise on his face. "Did I just cause you to . . . ?" He tapered his sentence off, unable to finish his thoughts.

Monica laughed softly, delighting in Charlie's boyish amazement. "Yes, you did. See, I told you not to worry."

Wrapping his arms around Monica, Charlie whispered in her ear. "That was by far the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

Monica blused at the absolute sincerity in Charlie's voice. Reaching out, she intertwined her fingers in Chalie's hair and pulled him into a kiss. They continued to kiss for several, long minutes when Charlie suddenly pulled back. "What's wrong?"

Charlie flopped onto his back. "I just realized that I don't have any sort of protection here. Being married I . . . uh . . . never had to worry about getting someone pregnant, so I never bought any. Considering how much I wanted this to happen with you, it's incredibly stupid of me not to have had the foresight to think about it," he said, running his hand through his hair.

Monica lay there for a moment and looked at the man lying next to her. Normally a man saying he did not have a condom would bring an immediate halt to the evening. True, she was on birth control herself, but with most men you could never be sure about their sexual history. Charlie had already been completely upfront with his, so she was not worried about that. She was a bit worried, though, that he would not want to be with her without any sort of protection. Quietly, she said, "You were honest with me, so I will be with you. I've always made sure I've used a condom in the past and I'm tested regularly for my job, so I know I'm free of anything. And I'm on birth control pills. But it's your decision to make whether or not you want this to continue."

Rolling onto his side, Charlie asked, "Do you want this to continue?"

"Yes."

"So do I," Charlie said as he pulled Monica into his arms again. He ran his hand down her face, looking into her eyes as he did. Then he reached down and she felt him remove his boxers. With their gazes still locked, he gently rolled her onto her back. She could see the question in his eyes and she nodded, letting him know that this position was fine with her. They could explore other positions later. Right now she wanted Charlie to go with what he was familiar and comfortable with. Moving so his body aligned perfectly with hers, Charlie took a deep breath and slowly slid into her.

At the first thrust, Monica felt her eyes widen a bit in surprise. She had not looked down at Charlie's lower half since he began touching her, so she was not prepared for the fact that he was a bit larger than any man she had been with in recent memory. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of Charlie moving in and out of her. His moans of pleasure only added to the sensation and heightened her own arousal. After a few minutes, though, she noticed that Charlie's moans began to sound a bit strained. Opening her eyes, she saw a look of almost pain on his face. Monica was worried and confused for a moment, then it dawned on her that he was holding back his release, trying to make her come again. Reaching up, she brushed a damp lock of hair off of Charlie's forehead. "Don't hold back, baby. Just listen to what your body is telling you it wants." She watched Charlie shake his head." "Don't wait for me. I've already had my release. It's your turn now." Monica's words seemed to work because she felt a shudder pass through Charlie and he sped up. She knew she herself was a long way from having a second orgasm, but she was so much enjoying the feel of Charlie moving inside her that it did not matter. She sensed he was close, so she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his back, pulling him closer. Seconds later, she felt Charlie release himself inside of her and heard his cry of pleasure.

As Monica lay there holding Charlie as he tried to regain his surroundings, she realized that although she had not come from the sex itself, she had just experienced something wonderful. True, several of her past experiences had given her mind-blowing orgasms, but they had always left her feeling empty inside. This was the only experience where she could remember feeling totally at peace and truly emotionally satisfied.

After a minute or two, Charlie raised his head from where it had fallen on Monica's shoulder. "God, that was amazing."

Monica smiled in response. "I could say the same to you."

A slight frown crossed Charlie's face. "You don't have to say that. I'm sure you've had better."

"I told you I wouldn't lie to you," Monica said, feeling slightly hurt that Charlie would think she would lie to him, even if was to save his feelings.

Charlie must have picked up on Monica's hurt because he quickly answered, "I'm sorry. I'm still a little insecure about all this."

"Don't be. You were wonderful and it will get even better the more comfortable we get with each other."

"So, we can do this again?" Charlie asked shyly as he rolled onto his side.

"Most definitely."

"I'm glad." Charlie was quiet for a moment, then said, "Monica, can I confess something to you."

"Anything," Monica replied as she moved to mirror Charlie's position on the bed.

"I deliberately ran into you that day at the party."

"Really? Why?"

"I noticed you right away, but since I didn't recognize you, I guessed at who you were. It seems I was right. Anyway, my first thought was why Dana hadn't told me how beautiful you were. The second was that you seemed sad. Then I noticed that you seemed to be watching Mulder. I didn't even know you yet, but I got jealous that he had managed to capture your attention, the attention I suddenly wanted directed at me. I know this is going to sound horrible, but I guess I just need to know that you truly want to be with ME and that I'm not just you're second choice."

Monica moved closer to Charlie and took his hand in hers. Intertwining their fingers, she said, "Never. Yes, I was staring at Mulder, but it wasn't for the reason you think. It wasn't him that I wanted, but what he represented."

"And that is?" Charlie prompted.

"Unconditional love. I see the way he and your sister are around each other, how much they love each other. I wanted that. I still do. I want what they have."

Charlie looked down at his and Monica's joined hands. "So do I. I've already failed once at love, and I don't want to do it again. But there is something else that I can't deny and it scares me a little. I could easily fall for you, Monica, if I haven't already. God, I am so drawn to you, even more so after getting to know you. It frightens me how much I care for you already."

"I feel the same way," Monica admitted softly.

They were both silent for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly Charlie started laughing. He must have noticed the curious look on Monica's face because he said, "I just suddenly thought about how my brother, Bill, is going to react when he finds out I'm seeing you."

Monica raised an eyebrow. "And this is funny why?"

"He's going to absolutely hate that yet another Scully has fallen victim to the charms of a X-Files agent," Charlie explained.

"Didn't you know that was our plan?" Monica countered. "The sole purpose of the X-Files is not to solve unexplained cases, but to capture the hearts of the Scully family."

"Well, two down. Three if you count my mother. Too bad Missy isn't still with us or we could have introduced her to John and completed the set."

Shaking her head, Monica said, "And they call me the weird one."

Charlie smiled in return. "Yeah, but you like me anyway."

"Lord, help me, but I do."

"Good, because I don't think I can let you go," Charlie said as he leaned in and covered Monica's mouth with his. As he did, Monica realized for the first time in a long time she no longer felt alone.