From: bellydancergirl7@aol.com   
      
   All notes disclosed in chapter one.   
      
   Many chapters are going to pop up over the next four (that's 4)    
   days.  After that, I have nothing written.  My inspiration has a    
   short fuse these days.   
      
   A/N1: I'm introducing a new character in this chapter, only in name    
   though.  She's an original creation that I made for a few of my CSI    
   stories.  She's perfect for all occasions.    
      
   A/N2: I also want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews. They    
   really put a bright spot in my days.   
      
   0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0   
      
   "I can't believe you can cook," Dana said, still incredulous. "I    
   thought bachelors weren't supposed to know how."   
      
   "Well, about three years ago, I learned. I guess I got tired of    
   living on take-out and room service all the time. Believe it or not,    
   I started watching the Food Network and it taught me a lot of things.    
   I can't cook a culinary masterpiece but I can cook your basic meals,"    
   he explained. "Pasta happens to be my specialty."    
      
   "I can tell. But I still can't believe you can cook. I think you're    
   the only man I know who can."   
      
   "I'll take that as a compliment."   
      
   "Trust me, it is."   
      
   Mulder clasped her hand in his, admiring the sight. He glanced over    
   to the other end of the couch. Cassie was sleeping peacefully after    
   having fallen asleep right after dinner. Dana told him it was because    
   of all the excitement from earlier. She looked like an angel when she    
   was sleeping, so much like her mother. He couldn't believe how fast    
   they'd taken to each other, Cassie and him. He knew she'd stolen his    
   heart. Her mother, on the other hand, had stolen every piece of him.    
   He knew he was in love.   
      
   He stood suddenly. "Did you look around?"   
      
   "Only down here. I thought I'd wait for you to show me the rest," she    
   told him, swinging their hands in the air. "Will you show me now?"   
      
   He nodded, pulling her up to stand. He led her to the stairs after    
   she made sure Cassie wouldn't wake up, anytime soon. She kept his    
   hand in hers as she followed him closely up the stairs.   
      
   "It's not interesting on the second floor," he told her. "It's only    
   guest bedrooms, a gym, and my office. There is a balcony off the gym    
   and the guest bedroom though, if you'd like to see it."   
      
   "Take me upstairs, Mulder."   
      
   "Just wait until you're saying that for real," he whispered in her    
   ear, smiling as he watched the blush spread across her face.   
      
   He opened a door to their left, obviously leading up to the third    
   floor.   
      
   The first thing Dana saw was the bed. The large, king size bed. It    
   was the only thing in her line of sight besides the large windows.    
   When they emerged past the hallway, she was amazed a man could have    
   such taste. And still be straight.   
      
   It was a large, spacious. It made her a little jealous that her room    
   wasn't that big. There was a large fireplace in the center of the    
   room, with a large Plasma TV mounted on it. Typical guy. He had    
   chairs in various places as well as a small bookshelf full of books    
   on the far wall.   
      
   "I can definitely see you," she told him, moving around the room.   
      
   "Really? I think it needs a woman's touch," he said, following close    
   behind. She glanced back at him but his eyes darted to the    
   balcony. "What I really wanted to show you was the view from the    
   balcony."   
      
   She followed him to the doors, the clear sky and view already breath    
   taking. The New York skyline shined back at her. She saw the darkened    
   spot in the middle—Central Park. She could see the George Washington    
   Bridge off in the distance, car headlights twinkling.   
      
   "It's so peaceful up here," she told him in a quiet voice. For some    
   reason, she felt the need to keep quiet, like she'd be disturbing    
   something or someone. "It's beautiful."   
      
   "I know," he murmured. She could feel his body heat behind her. "The    
   view's the reason I bought the place. That and I really like it here."   
      
   "I can definitely see the appeal."   
      
   "If you can see the appeal here, you should see the appeal in    
   Chicago," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist when he saw her    
   shiver from the chill."   
      
   "Chicago?"   
      
   "Yeah, I have a nice place in Chicago. It faces Lake Michigan. It's    
   smaller than this place but I still love it."   
      
   "Do you spend a lot of time there?"   
      
   "Only when we have games or in the off-season. I will also spend time    
   at my new place in the Virgin Islands."   
      
   She turned to face him, a smile on her face. "How many places do you    
   have?"   
      
   "Only the three. Two are for work purposes and one is strictly for    
   vacation and relaxation."   
      
   "Have you been there yet?"   
      
   "No, I just bought it a week ago. My realtor found it and she knew    
   I'd love it."   
      
   "She?" Dana repeated.   
      
   "You have nothing to be jealous of. She is Viviana Fiorio. She's also    
   my event stylist."   
      
   "So she's a realtor and a stylist?"   
      
   "Clothing is her real passion and being a realtor is kind of just    
   something on the side. In my opinion at least."   
      
   "How'd you meet her?" Dana pried. She'd known the man for three days    
   and she was actually jealous of this other woman.   
      
   "She is the *wife*," he stressed, "of a football friend of mine."   
      
   She didn't realize it but her shoulders relaxed after hearing that.    
   Her arms went around him, noticing for the first time how warm he    
   was. And muscular. She rested her head on his chest, noticing as well    
   how perfect they fit together.   
      
   "Can this work?" she asked, her voice noticeably quieter.   
      
   "Can you handle it?"   
      
   "I think so. Yes, I can."   
      
   "That's good because I don't know what I'd do if you couldn't," he    
   admitted. She smiled against his chest. She still couldn't believe    
   that after such a short amount of time, she felt such strong feelings    
   for him. She didn't think she'd ever felt so comfortable with any man.   
      
   "What's it like having this…. lifestyle?" she wondered.   
      
   He hugged her tighter. "It's difficult sometimes, but it makes a lot    
   of things so much easier. Most of the time, you're surrounded by    
   people but at the end of the day, you realize how lonely you are."   
      
   She tilted her head up to look him in the eye, her chin resting on    
   his chest. "Are you still lonely?"   
      
   He kissed the tip of her nose and gave her a bright smile. "Not in    
   the least."   
      
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   Continued in next chapter…….   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
       
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
   
     
   
      
      
       
   
               
All notes disclosed in chapter one.
   
   
   
   Many chapters are going to pop up over the next four (that's 4) 
   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)