From: taffyxf@yahoo.com
Title: Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Author: Taffy Northwood
E-Mail: taffyxf@yahoo.com
Rating: NC17 (now and then)
Category: AU, MSR
Archives: Just ask.
Feedback: Never in bad taste
Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, Skinner and any
other XF characters are on loan only.
Summary: In 1911 New York City, there were two
distinct and separate worlds: that of the very wealthy
and that of the very poor. Could love bridge the
great divide between those worlds for two star-crossed
lovers?
Author Notes: Like a huge part of the fandom, I've
become absolutely dotty over AU fic. This is my
modest attempt to put Mulder and Scully into another
time and place. Please be aware, this is a
work-in-progress.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses - Mr. and Mrs. Fox Mulder's
story - Part 24
"Lunch was delightful, Fox, but I thought you'd called
me because you had news."
"I do have news," he replied.
They walked down 42nd Street in the bright spring
sunshine. Diana's hand rested on Mulder's arm and
she glanced at him from under the brim of her hat.
"Well, then, what is it, pray tell? Why don't
you tell me?"
"I'd rather show it to you," he replied. In truth,
he wasn't sure how Diana would receive the information
he had for her. "And here we are."
"Fox, I don't understand. Why are we at a moving
picture theater?"
"Come on, they're waiting for us."
Mulder had been so concerned about Diana's reaction
to what he had to show her, he'd rented the whole
theater so they'd have some privacy.
"Ah, Mr. Mulder," the theater manager said, as he
ushered them through the dimly lit lobby area. "I'll
give word to the projectionist as soon as you're
ready."
They passed through the velvet curtains to the
theater proper. Mulder chose two seats on the
aisle, turned and nodded to the proprietor. The
curtains closed behind him and in a few minutes,
the whirr of the projector was heard below the
piano introduction.
"Fox, what's going on?" Diana hissed as the
screen lit up with the words "A Biograph Picture."
He hushed her, as the title card changed, showing
"Directed by D. W. Griffith," and finally, "Her
Heart's Desire."
The movie opened in a department store where a young
woman waited on a haughty customer. A young stock boy
pulled an amusing face, nearly causing the girl to
burst into laughter.
"That's your daughter," Mulder whispered to Diana.
"That's Grace."
"On my God," she gasped, one hand flying up to cover
her mouth.
They watched the young woman on the screen. Her face
was so mobile, every nuance of emotion playing across
her features. She wasn't beautiful, as one would
expect an actress to be, but what her face conveyed
was somehow more than beauty.
Mulder had searched for months, hiring Moe Bocks to
find Diana's illegitimate daughter, the product of a
girl's indiscretion with a young composer.
Young Grace O'Connor had left her strict Christian
home and come to New York City. With Bocks initial
report, Mulder had feared the girl had wandered onto
the rough streets of the Bowery, possibly succumbing
to a life of degradation.
Bocks hadn't discovered how Grace had made the
fortuitous connection with Biograph Pictures and
D.W. Griffith, but in a matter of months, the girl
had risen to featured player. Appearing under the
name of Louise Grace, Diana's daughter was one of
Biograph's young stars. Watching her luminous
face on the screen, Mulder had no doubt that her
career would soar.
He tried to follow the story of the young shopgirl
who attracted the attention of the store owner's
playboy son. Mulder's mind insisted on straying
to Katie, picturing her in the place of the naive
young girl and himself in the part of the
ne'er-do-well rich boy.
The girl rejected the playboy, who accused her of
stealing a silver comb from the display case and
planted the evidence in her coat pocket. The girl
was fired, thrown out of the store in disgrace.
Louise was heartbreaking as she wandered the streets,
crying and shivering. The stockboy exonerated the
shopgirl, unmasking the playboy as a cad. As the
stockboy took the swooning shopgirl in his arms,
the placard reading "The End" filled the screen.
Mulder turned to Diana.
"Grace is safe," he said. "My source says she's
hard-working and extremely well-respected. And
she's making quite a substantial salary--reportedly
$100 a week."
"Oh, Fox, thank you for finding her."
"She's wonderful, isn't she?"
"I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was absolutely
incandescent."
"My man hasn't yet contacted her directly. His instructions
were to make any inquiries with great discretion. I can
have him speak to her and set up a meeting whenever you
wish."
"No! Oh, Fox, no. I couldn't. She's doing so well, and
I'd only complicate her life."
"It can be handled very carefully. Grace is aware of
her adoption, though I understand she knows none of the
details. She's probably wondered about you as much as
you've wondered about her."
"But, Fox...she's an actress. I can't reveal myself
now--think of the scandal. It might be damaging to
her career."
"Damaging to her career or damaging to your character,
Diana?"
"Both. You know as well as I do, how important it is
for a woman to maintain an impeccable reputation in the
community. The hint that a woman had an indiscretion
in her past...let's just say that society can be
unforgiving."
"I see," he said. There was something about the look
in her eyes that gave him pause. For a moment, he
wondered what she might know of his own past.
"I do wish someone could give Grace some guidance.
That's quite an income for a young girl, and I'd hate
for someone to take advantage of her. Perhaps, you
could advise her, Fox."
"Diana, you're more than equipped to advise her."
"I can't, Fox. I couldn't risk exposing myself."
"She doesn't have to know you're her mother, then.
I can arrange for you to meet her casually."
"It's out of the question. Really, it's for her
good as much as mine. I'm sure I don't have to tell
you how awkward it would be for her. I do want to
be involved, but it has to be from a distance. But
you could guide her in my place."
"Diana, it's out of the question. How it would
look for a married man to concern himself with the
finances of a young actress?"
"Oh, Fox," Diana laughed. "Don't be so provincial."
The lights in the theater came on, and Diana took
Mulder's arm as she rose from her seat.
"You call me provincial when I talk of decorum, yet
you allow the fear of public censure keep you from
your only child," he said.
"It's entirely different for a man. A lady is utterly
ruined by a scandal, where a gentleman merely appears
more rakish and interesting."
Mulder shook his head. Diana's fierce drive to locate
her daughter had come close to ruining his life. Now
the daughter was within reach, but the mother was
satisfied with the flickering image.
He didn't understand women. In particular, he didn't
understand mothers.
[continued in next message]
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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