From: bellydancergirl7@aol.com   
      
   All notes disclosed in chapter one.   
      
   Sorry it's taken so long.   
      
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   "Hurry up, mommy! We're gonna be late! He's not gonna wait forever!"    
   Cassie yelled to her mom. She was excited to see Mulder before he had    
   to leave for his baseball.   
      
   "Relax, I'm coming. Trust me, he'll wait until the last second if    
   necessary," she assured. "Do you have your bag?"   
      
   Cassie held up her travel bag. "Are we ready now?" she asked    
   impatiently.   
      
   "Yes, we're ready."   
      
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   Mulder had a smile on his face as soon as he saw them. He dropped his    
   bag at his feet when he saw Cassie running toward him. He picked her    
   up and spun her around before settling her against his hip.   
      
   "I missed you, kiddo," he told her.   
      
   "I missed you, too, but I think mommy missed you more," Cassie told    
   him, glancing over at her mom.   
      
   He smiled. "Did she?" Cassie nodded. "Well, you know what? I missed    
   her, too."   
      
   Dana hid a smile unsuccessfully. He set Cassie down when she started    
   to giggle. He pulled Dana close instead, longing to feel her body    
   close to his.   
      
   "Have a good day at work?" he asked, his hands moving to her waist.   
      
   "Yes, I did. I got the most interesting phone call today from this    
   man. Perhaps you know him."   
      
   "Maybe. What's the guy's name?"   
      
   "George Hale. He asked me the most interesting thing today."   
      
   "What'd he want to know?"   
      
   "He asked me if I wanted to have dinner with him tonight at his    
   penthouse."   
      
   "How dare he!" he mock protested. Then he turned serious. "What else    
   did he say?"   
      
   "He also wanted to know if my daughter and I would consider staying    
   the night as well. His argument was it's closer to the hospital."   
      
   "The nerve of that man! What'd you say?"   
      
   "I said yes. I couldn't resist when he said he wanted to show me his    
   view."   
      
   "I bet he has a really big view," he guessed.   
      
   "I wouldn't know; I haven't seen it yet."   
      
   They smiled at their innuendos. Mulder only hesitated for a second    
   before kissing her. He could hear Cassie laughing from behind them    
   but he paid no mind. He was finally where he'd wanted to be all day.    
   He made sure they were pressed close together.   
      
   "You know, your daughter's right there," Mulder mentioned of their    
   previous conversation when they parted.   
      
   "She wasn't listening. She knows better," she explained to him.   
      
   "I sure hope she does."   
      
   He felt a tug at his pant leg. "Mulder? Did you bring the puppy with    
   you?" Cassie asked sweetly.   
      
   The adults smiled at each other before pulling apart. He picked    
   Cassie up again.   
      
   "No, I didn't. I'm sorry, sweetie. I had to leave her at home because    
   I have to go to work. I play baseball, remember?"    
      
   Cassie nodded. "Are you gonna win?"   
      
   Mulder smiled. "I'm gonna try." He set her down to dig a key out of    
   his pants pocket. He leaned down and held the key in front of    
   her. "Tell you what. Because I trust you, I'm going to give you this.    
   Go to the Trump Building; mommy will help you find it. Go see Abe    
   first, tell him I sent you and it's okay for you to go up.  Go to the    
   very top floor and you can take Snickers for her walk. That sound    
   good?"   
      
   Cassie smiled her mother's smile. "Sounds great!"   
      
   "Good. I'll be back before 7:30 to make dinner. Got any secrets you    
   can tell me about what kind of food she likes?"   
      
   Cassie motioned him closer to whisper, "She likes pasta and loves    
   chocolate."   
      
   "Cassie!" they heard Dana exclaim. But Cassie only giggled.   
      
   Mulder straightened with a smile twinkling in his eyes. "I have to    
   get information from her. She's like my partner in crime now. With    
   her, I'm guaranteed to get on your good side."   
      
   "Oh, is that so?"   
      
   He stepped closer to her. "Yes, that's so." He leaned down and placed    
   a gentle kiss on her lips. "Feel free to look around my place as    
   well. And, just so you know, the best view…"   
      
   She held up a hand to stop him. "Let me guess—your bedroom."   
      
   He grinned cheekily. "Third floor, feel free. Spectacular view."   
      
   "We'll see."   
      
   A car horn from behind them got their attention. Mulder groaned when    
   he looked and saw his driver impatiently waiting.   
      
   "I have to go. He's starting to get angry," Mulder said, pointing    
   over his shoulder. "Will you be there when I get back?"   
      
   "Yes, we'll be there," Dana assured. "What time will you be back?"   
      
   "The game's over at 6:30, but with press and everything else, I'll    
   probably be there at 7:00. Luckily, I have every necessity to cook    
   any meal."   
      
   She gave him a sweet smile. "I have faith in you."   
      
   The car horn honked again.   
      
   "You're wanted," she pointed out.   
      
   "Hopefully by you," he grinned.   
      
   "Yes, you are, but right now, you're wanted by your driver. Go before    
   I get you in trouble."   
      
   "What if I want to stay?"   
      
   "Then your team will be mad at you and therefore me." She gave him a    
   push in the direction of the car to get him to move but he was slow    
   going.   
      
   "I can't give you a goodbye kiss?" he complained. She rolled her eyes    
   and pulled close once more. He was still smiling when he kissed her.    
   They could hear Cassie laughing again, but to them, they were the    
   only two in the universe.   
      
   "I think I'm addicted to you," he murmured close to her ear. "I know    
   I'm addicted to you."   
      
   She kissed his cheek, lingering for a moment. "Go win your baseball    
   game."   
      
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   *What am I getting myself into* was Dana's first thought when they    
   had first stepped foot inside Mulder's penthouse. Coming back a few    
   hours later, she didn't think her brain had moved from those words.   
      
   Cassie loved the spacious, and triplex, penthouse the moment they'd    
   entered. Mainly because of the puppy but also because she couldn't    
   believe someone lived in a house so big.   
      
   The first thing Dana had noticed when she first walked in were the    
   large windows overlooking Central Park.   
      
   Now, at the hour of 6:00, Cassie was playing happily with Snickers by    
   the windows. It made Dana smile to see them so happy. She settled    
   herself in a chair close to keep an eye on them but for the most    
   part, her mind couldn't be further away.   
      
   Earlier, she'd been thinking her relationship with Mulder was moving    
   too fast. Now, she didn't know how she felt. She knew she wanted the    
   relationship, the first relationship she'd had in almost five years.    
   She didn't know if she was ready to be in a relationship with a    
   famous man but she had to try first. When she had been looking around    
   his penthouse, she noticed he was a down to earth type of guy but he    
   still knew the worth and appreciation of expensive things. She knew    
   she could handle it when they were alone and away from people. But    
   could she do it with cameras flashing in her face?   
      
   "Lucy, I'm home," she heard faintly from the other room. She smiled    
   at the age-old saying. She tried not to appear eager as she gathered    
   Cassie and ushered her, and her new four legged friend, to the living    
   room.   
      
   "Hey, you," she greeted as Cassie flung herself into Mulder's    
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)