From: taffyxf@yahoo.com
Title: Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Author: Taffy Northwood
E-Mail: taffyxf@yahoo.com
Rating: NC17 (eventually)
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 1909 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 - Fox Mulder's story. Part 14
"Welcome to the Plaza Hotel," the desk clerk said.
"Your suite is ready, Mr. Mulder. I hope you and
Mrs. Mulder enjoy your stay."
The man rang his bell and the bellman appeared to
take their bags. Katie's eyes were huge as she took
in the elegant hotel lobby with its palatial marble
walls and floor. Fox was rather pleased with himself
for choosing the Plaza. Only two years old, the hotel
was the epitome of opulence.
Katie's fingers were tight around his arm as they
followed the bellman to the bank of elevators.
Their suite was on the eighth floor. The bellman
opened the door and they entered. Fox heard Katie's
quiet gasp at the beautiful mahogany furniture, heavy
silk drapes and damask upholstery.
A lavish arrangement of roses adorned the carved
dining table, with smaller ones on either side of the
sofa. A box of chocolates sat beside a large bowl
of fruit on the coffee table. Fox was pleased to
see his instructions had been followed.
"Thank you," he said to the bellman, handing him a
quarter. "That will be all."
Katie wandered around the room in silence, finally
stopping at the window. Fox came behind her, his
hands encircling her waist. He wouldn't be able
to do that much longer, he thought.
"Is everything all right?" he asked, leaning
close to her ear.
"It's fine," she said, turning her head to look
into his eyes. "This is...it's just going to
take some getting used to."
She stretched up to place a soft kiss at the
corner of his mouth before stepping away. Katie
took off her hat and went into the bedroom.
"Sweet Jesus! What on earth is this?"
Fox rushed into the room to find Katie standing,
hands on hips, surveying a sea of glossy white
boxes that were piled on the bed. Each box was
emblazoned with the name "Lord & Taylor."
"Mulder?" she said, turning to face him.
"They're for you," he said. "A brand new wardrobe.
I wasn't sure they would arrive in time."
"You bought me a wardrobe? When? I don't understand."
Katie's sharp tone was far from the delighted surprise
he'd pictured when he ordered the dresses and hats and
undergarments.
"I ordered all of this when we bought your honeymoon
clothes," he said. "I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, you certainly succeeded at that." Katie's gaze
was sharp as she looked first to the mountain of boxes
and then back at him. No, this was not at all what he
had in mind when, with one eye on the dressing room where
Katie was putting her old clothes on, he'd given his
instructions to the dressmaker. "Did you stop to think
that perhaps I wanted to choose my own clothes?"
Fox struggled to answer her. He'd truly not meant to
offend Katie. He knew she was a very practical woman,
but, surely, all women liked pretty things.
"I thought you'd be happy," he said finally.
"Mulder," she began, her head down, eyes shadowed by
her lashes. "Were you...were you afraid I'd embarrass
you as I am?"
"No," he said, taking her hands in his. "Never that.
Katie, you have to know how much I admire everything
about you."
He brought her hand up to his mouth and pressed a
reverent kiss onto her palm. Katie closed her eyes
and allowed him to pull her into an embrace.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "It was very thoughtful
and I'm being incredibly ungrateful. Why don't we
open the boxes and see what you picked out?"
Fox had explained to the sales associate that he wanted
simple, elegant clothes for his wife. He'd told her
that his bride needed a number of practical dresses
for daytime. He'd also ordered lovely gowns for
evening for no other reason than he wanted to see her
in satin and velvet.
As Katie opened each box and shook out each garment,
Fox saw that the saleswoman had done a remarkable
job of translating his wishes into reality. Between
them, they emptied all the boxes and put the clothes
into the capacious closet alongside Fox's suits.
Skinner had arranged for them to be sent over before
Fox and Katie's arrival.
"Oh, Mulder, I love this one," Katie said, holding
up a nile green dress with a large, scalloped
collar. "I've never had so many pretty things. It's
too bad that I'll only get to wear them for a few
more months."
"Then we'll buy you some new clothes."
"Mulder, I want you to promise me one thing," she
said, putting her arms around him. "No more
surprises. I love the new clothes, but please
let me decide what I need and don't need."
Katie drew him down for a passionate kiss, and any
argument he might have had was forgotten. With his
arms around her, he reveled at the way her curves
melted against his hardness.
They pulled at each others clothes and Fox wished for
the hundredth time that there weren't so damn many
buttons and hooks and layers to Katie's garments.
He'd invest millions in easier to open fastenings
for women's clothing.
He and Katie made love amid the boxes and wrappings
and dresses on the bed. Tissue paper crinkled under
them as he buried himself in Katie's sweet, hot depths.
Afterward, a sated and drowsy Katie slept. Fox put
on his undershorts and trousers and went into the
sitting room, carefully pulling the bedroom door closed
behind him.
It was time to grow up and take responsibility for
what he believed in. With a deep breath, he picked
up the phone on the desk. When Edgar answered, Fox
asked to speak with his mother.
"Hello, Mother. Did you enjoy your holiday?"
"Very much, dear. Newport is always such a lovely
change from New York. We missed you, though. How
is the lodge?"
"The lodge was wonderful."
"Fox, dear, where are you?" she asked, her voice
sounding puzzled through the phone line.
"I'm in New York, Mother, at the Plaza Hotel."
"The Plaza? I don't understand--are you coming
home, dear?"
"Soon, Mother. Will Father be home tonight?"
"Of course, Fox. He'll be home by seven as always."
"Good, good," Fox said. "I'll see you for dinner.
And, Mother--I'm going to bring the surprise I told
you about. Have Edgar set another place at dinner."
He sat at the desk, scratching his chin. While he
had no doubt that his parents would come to love
Katie, he was under no illusions that he and Katie
would be sailing some rough waters tonight.
When he peeked into the bedroom, he saw that Katie
[continued in next message]
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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