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Title: What's Up Doc? Summary: An Easter egg hunt, a field of tulips, and a Cadbury Cream Egg. Another fanfic challenge! Thanks to The Church of "X" for the elements! Authors' Note: This story follows our first, "Rite of Spring." It's not necessary to read that one first, but we sure would like it if you did! It can be found at the great vault of all fanfic- Ephemeral. ** April was usually a month which Scully enjoyed. The sun would shine, the cherry blossoms would waft their heady aroma into the stale DC air and her closet would suddenly be home to outfits that had colors other than black or gray. This April, however, was one which she would just as soon forget. It got off to a shaky start from day one, when an interdepartmental baseball game ended in a trip to the hospital and a cast. Mulder had not meant to break her leg. After all it was an accident, but what with the constant itching and her curtailed mobility, she was getting more and more frustrated with each passing day. So why was she sitting here in a rabbit costume, with a black nose and whiskers painted across her face? It's a long story. ** Earlier that day at Scully's Apartment "But Mulder, why do I have to be the one to dress up?" she whined, hoping for a sympathy vote. "For a start, Scully, you are the only one small enough to fit into the costume, and secondly, it's the only activity today that will allow you to sit down and take the weight off your leg," he offered. Typical of Mulder to get her to comply with his wishes by masquerading them as concern for her well being. "They managed to get one big enough to fit Bruce Willis," she retorted. "Yeah, well that's Hollywood and this was the only size they had left at the costume rental shop," he told her. "Why do we have to go to this thing anyway? Neither of us has kids and I have much better things to do today than Thumper impressions." She was going for the Disney approach now, but even that seemed futile. "Scully, if you can't say something nice... Anyway, you know it's a direct order from Skinner, a penance for our little indiscretion on Friday," he muttered apologetically. "What do you mean, 'our' little indiscretion, Mulder? As I recall it was you who insulted the wife of AD Kenton." "I was just quoting to her great words from a giant of history. Winston Churchill, to be exact." "Mulder, these social events are meant to cement internal relations, not destroy them." "Well, she accused me of being drunk." "WELL, how could she know that you are that obnoxious sober? So what exactly did you say to her, anyway? I just need to know why I have to make a complete ass out of myself in a damn bunny outfit." "I think the quote was, 'Sir, you are drunk' and I said, "Yes, madam, and you are ugly, but in the morning I will be sober," he said with a self-satisfied smirk. Scully raised a reprimanding eyebrow. "Oh Mulder," she said wearily. She took in his child-like face and her resolve crumpled. "Ok, but you owe me big time. BIG TIME!" She grabbed the costume and hobbled to the bedroom to change. Later that Day As they arrived at the annual egg rolling contest and hunt held on the Great Lawn of the White House, Scully felt incredibly self conscious as she tried to adjust her ears. They had not sat right ever since Mulder had shut them in the car door. Oh yes, he owed her big time. To one side of the First Family's historic home was a lovely, secluded garden. Scully looked around at the tulips and cherry trees swaying in the sun-warmed breeze and let out a sigh. At any other time she would have reveled in the serenity of the space. Today, however, she was dressed in a furry costume with her plastered leg snugly fitted inside. To add to her pleasure, she was surrounded by 50 screaming children of different ages who all wanted their personal audience with the bunny of honor. Last, but certainly not least, today was the day her seasonal allergies chose to arrive with a vengeance. She could only hope that that the annoying little sniffle she experienced upon waking would not develop into a full blown hay fever attack. She wanted to be anywhere but here. She handed out brightly colored eggs to children big and small, with as much enthusiasm as she could muster under the circumstances. The small comfort of at least sitting down was afforded her. The fact that the sun was shining with the air getting warmer was no comfort at all. The costume was getting damn hot and the rise in temperature was making the cast itch even more than usual. And here came another sneeze. She wanted to kill someone and that someone stood about six feet tall and had a small mole to the right of his mouth, not that she stared that often. The maddening crowd of children began to thin as each one received his or her reward for being, well... children. Scully marveled at how quickly peace was restored to the garden upon their leaving. "Er, what's up Doc?" Mulder inquired in his best Bugs Bunny voice. "Oh very funny, Mulder. Now get me out of here!" she hissed. "Scully, you know we have to stay until 2 o'clock. Orders are orders. Anyway, I always had fantasies about you being a bunny girl," he leered. "Well this bunny is not going to be featured in any of your fantasies today, G-man. Yet meat cleavers and implements of torture are beginning to feature in mine!" She quickly regretted that her words came out a little more aggressively than she had intended. He swallowed hard and tried to calm her. "Have you eaten today, Scully? Maybe you have low blood sugar or something. Why don't you have an Easter egg?" Why did men always assume that crankiness in women was either PMS or low blood sugar? It seemed beyond their comprehension that they just might piss women off. She looked at him in surprise as he leaned over and picked a Cadbury's cream egg from her basket and started to carefully unwrap it. He seductively bit off the top of the egg, licking his lips for any stray chocolate. He then proceeded to gently run his tongue repeatedly over the rim of the egg, occasionally flicking into its creamy core. She stared, unable to take her eyes off him. His tongue plunged into the molten depth, lapping out the remains with enthusiasm. Through it all, he wore a lascivious grin on his face. Scully squirmed, licking her lips in an involuntary response. Not to be outdone, she took another egg out of the basket and peeled off the wrapper in a deliberately slow manner. She looked dewy eyed at him and just as he was about to fall into the wells of her pupils, she took a huge, vicious bite out of the egg and looked at him smugly. Mulder unconsciously put his hands over his crotch and winced. A sneeze broke the silence, then another. "Achoo" "Mulder, could you get me a tissue, please?" she said as her eyes began to tear causing her to squint from the bright sunshine and pollen. "Achoo" Mulder pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. "Achoo" "Are you ok?" he asked. "Yes, achoo, I achoo, am fine, I think. It's hay fever." Sniffle. "Do you have something you can take for it?" "Well, yes, but it's at home," she managed to eek out in mid sneeze. The tears were streaming from her pollen-infested eyes, her whiskers were running into black rivers down her face. "I'll see if anyone has any antihistamine you can use. I'll be back in a minute." "But Mulder, those will make me slee-." She stopped in mid-sentence as she realized he was already on his quest and nothing she said could stop him. In a way she was glad he had left before starting on the Watership Down jokes. Yes, he was a laugh a minute. He came running back, as best as anyone could with a small child holding onto his leg. "Here, Scully, Agent Rice's wife had something which could help." Scully took the packet and read the instructions. "It says here, " telling him what she already knew, "that these could cause drowsiness. It says you should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or wear rabbit costumes while taking these." She looked up hopefully. "Nice try, but you are here for the duration like it or not." She snatched the bottle of Evian from his outstretched hand and swallowed two pills. "Thank you," she said reluctantly. Achoo. "You're welcome, Scully. Now I hope you will excuse me while I go and deposit this little limpet of mine back to his parents." Scully slumped back wearily, shutting her itchy eyes against the sun. She felt a tug at her leg and looked down into the eyes of a small child. The blue eyes which looked back at her were pools filled with wonder and suspense. They were so like her own before life had encroached on her wonderland. Geez, even she couldn't help making the rabbit jokes. Her own child, her only child would be about the same age as the one which stood before her now. What would Emily be like if she had survived? What would her favorite color be, her favorite flavor of ice cream? It was the details which Scully missed, the minutiae which added up to a life. It was a life of firsts- first trip to the cosmetics counter, first date, first prom dress, which Scully would never know like the rest of the mothers here today. The little girl asked to sit beside her in order to tell the Easter Bunny some small, little girl secret. Scully ever so gently picked her up and settled the sweet little one right beside her. The child snuggled into Scully's furry side. If she just closed her eyes, Scully could still see Emily. Yes, the wonder and magic of a child, just like the one beside her now. The peace of remembering was like a blanket, tucking Scully in for a short rest. ** Mulder had run the gauntlet of children and was now exhausted and amazed at the fortitude of the parents who toiled to raise them each day. He returned to the bench to find Scully asleep, a small child cuddled up against her. The picture brought tears to his eyes for he knew the images which must be flickering on the screen in his partner's mind's eye. How he wished he could give her this- this future of egg hunts, visits to Santa, and endless birthday parties. Even if he couldn't give that joy to her, he hoped to at least give her the chance of experiencing what it seemed everyone else had- something vaguely resembling a normal life. He didn't even know how he would start to do this for her. Today, though, was as good as any to start. A worried parent came running up and looked relieved when she saw her daughter safe, sound, and snuggled up to the Easter bunny. The woman went up to the child, slowly picked her up and cuddled her to her breast. "Come on Hannah. Time for us to go home," the concerned mother said. Mulder looked at Scully's exhausted face and smiled. He kept forgetting how tiring it was to have a leg out of action. He always thought Scully was invincible. At times like these, he saw that she was as delicate as the tulips that surrounded them. He leaned down and brushed her cheek. "It's time to go home, Scully," he whispered so as not to wake her. "Home" had a nice ring to it, he thought. Maybe this year he could give something back to the Easter bunny after all. END Thank You's to Pequod for her kindness and beta input and to the very insightful Erlybird whose encouragement and grammatical magic continues to amaze and astound us. We feel honored to be assisted by both of you!
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