Always a Bridesmaid
by Aries
March 2002
Fandom: XF
Pairing: M/K
Rated NC-17 for language and m/m sexual situations
Spoilers: Nah
Summary: The reason for Fox's sudden mood swings eludes Alex until Scully finally puts two and two together and whacks him over the head with the answer.
Schmoop warning: My apologies for not adding this to most (probably all) of my stories. If you don't like mush, stay away.
Big shout out to Carol, who had this wittle bunny she wanted me to adopt…
Feedback: You betcha! As always, I can be reached at MMCUSN@aol.com
Archive: RatB, Den of Sin, Slashville
I'd appreciate a quick shout from anyone else who wants it, okay?
http://www.squidge.org/terma/aries/aries.htm
http://denofsin.slashcity.net/aries/ariestitle.html

********************


"Okay, Chuck, what've you got?

The balding man adjusted his glasses and cracked his knuckles, grinning madly.

"Check this baby out."

The two agents leaned forward, expecting something big.

Chuck reached into his pocket and, with a flourish produced a small, square black box.

"Viola!"

"It's a box, Chuck," Scully said flatly.

"Ah, yes. But it's what's *in* the box that's so special."

"Bigfoot's toenail?" Fox asked. "The universe's smallest spaceship?"

Cackling, Chuck whipped the cover off to reveal the top of another box.

The agents stared blankly.

Shaking the velvet box out into his palm, Chuck handed it to his friend.

"Open it!" he urged excitedly.

Sighing, Fox obliged the other man, and he and Scully looked inside.

"Uh, Chuck," Fox began in his usual monotone, "I'm flattered, but I already got a man."

"It's for Vicki!" Chuck yelled, snatching the box back.

"That phlebotomist you were so hot for?" Scully asked. "I thought she was seeing someone."

"She was, " Chuck confided. "But the guy turned out to be married…twice…at the same *time*."

Fox folded his arms over his chest and leaned up against his desk.

"Bummer."

"Yeah." She called me one night a couple of months ago, crying her eyes out. What was I gonna do? I had to go over and comfort her."

"Uh huh."

"One thing led to another," the other man grinned, "and…we've been seeing each other almost every day for the past month."

Scully cocked her head.

"And you don't think it's a wee bit too soon to be giving her a ring?"

"Isn't that what a guy does when he wants to marry the love of his life?"

"Not every guy," Scully replied under her breath.

Fox said nothing.

"*Anyway*," the other man said, changing the subject slightly, "Mulder, I'd like to ask you a big favor."

Fox broke his silence.

"Yeah, sure. What is it?"

Chuck took a deep breath and smiled.

"I'd like you to be my best man."

Fox's jaw went slack, and he blinked at the other man.

"Your…"

"Best man!" Chuck shouted, slapping the taller man on his upper arm.

"Chuck, I…I don't know what to…" Fox gave his friend a curious and somewhat hopeful frown. "Don't you have anyone you'd rather ask? A brother? Kid who used to steal your baloney sandwiches in the first grade…fourth cousin twice removed?"

"Nope," Chuck answered still smiling. "No close male relatives, and *you're* my best friend."

Fox looked to Scully for help but received none from the smirking woman.

"Geez, Chuck, I'm…I'm flattered," Fox droned, shooting Scully an evil glare.

"So you'll do it!" the other man chirped, immediately jumping to conclusions.

"Uh. Well…I mean…aren't we being just a little premature? Before you start planning the wedding, hadn't you better make sure that your intended is going to say yes?"

"You..." The smile faded a bit. "You think she'd say no?"

"Mulder," Scully whispered, motioning to the suddenly forlorn man.

Fox rolled his eyes and reached out to his 'best friend'.

"Chuck…hey. C'mon now."

"Well, why would she say yes, huh?" Chuck moaned. "Geez, what was I thinking? I mean look at me. I'm short, I'm bald, I'm a geek…"

"Yeah, but maybe she's into that sort of thing," Fox reasoned, earning himself a chastising glare from his partner. "What I *mean* is…she obviously cares about you. She…" He looked to Scully, grimacing and giving her an incredulous stare. "…*must* be attracted to you. She's still going out with you, right? That's gotta count for something."

"Yeah…"

"Listen," Fox said, clapping the other man on the back, "you go ahead and spring that rock on her. How could she possibly say no to a guy with your uh…charm?"

"Yeah." Chuck perked up. "*Yeah*. I'm gonna do it! Tonight. It'll be perfect. We're going out to The Pink Parrot for dinner then…"

"The Pink…Parrot?"

"Yeah. It's this little hole in the wall theme restaurant downtown. Vicki loves that place. She loves *pink*…"

"I see," Fox responded, eyes closed. "Well. Anyway. Congratulations, bud. You uh…you just let me know when and where, and I'll drag out the old powder blue ruffled shirt, okay?"

"Cool." Chuck threw his arms around the other man. "Thanks, Mulder. I'll give you a call."

Scully congratulated the beaming man and watched him amble out the door before she turned to her partner and blew out a heavy breath.

"Oh, man. What d'you think his chances are?"

"With a phlebotomist who was dating a bigamist and likes to frequent a joint called The Pink Parrot? Probably pretty good."

Scully smiled at the comment, then she sent Fox a curious glance.

"Uh…hey, Mulder? You don't actually have a powder blue ruffled shirt, do you?"

Fox snorted loudly. "Even if I ever *had*, do you seriously think that I do any more?"

"No, I suppose you wouldn't. Not once Alex got a load of it."

Smirking, Fox turned and picked up the file he'd abandoned when Chuck had arrived.

"So, what d'you think of this one? Man and woman in Fairfax found electrocuted in their car. Really electrocuted. I'm talking like, crispy critters. No explanation other than a very localized weather event."

"How localized?"

Fox smirked up at his partner. "A single storm cloud right over their vehicle."

"Mulder, that's ridiculous. For more reasons than I can rattle off in one breath."

"There's a witness…"

"Oh, God," Scully sighed. "Of course there is."

"I talked to him earlier."

"Okay…"

"I uh…thought the bodies should be examined."

One red eyebrow arched suspiciously.

"And?"

"They'll be here in the morning."

"Oh, God, *Mulder*."

"At least we don't have to go anywhere…yet…c'mon, Scully, I'll owe you."

"You *always* owe me."

"Well yeah, but…hey. Hey, you know that baked stuffed shrimp of Alex's that you like so much?"

"Yeah. Did you learn how to make it?"

"What? Me? Hell no. I'll get Alex to make it one day this week."

Scully threw her head back and shook it.

"He's got you so spoiled it's ridiculous."

"He loves me," Fox explained, a broad grin curving his lips.

"I know, I *know*." Scully gathered up her belongings and headed for the door. "Let's get out of here. I've got some lab reports to go over, and you…" She shook her head in mock exasperation. "You have to go *talk* Alex into paying up on yet another one of your debts."

Still grinning, Fox picked up his jacket and followed his partner out the door.

********************

Alex stared at the computer monitor, reading the same paragraph for what had to be the twentieth time.

"It's not right, it…"

Growling loudly, he highlighted the entire paragraph and hit the delete button.

"God, this sucks," he mumbled, leaning back as far as he could go and clasping his hands behind his head.

It didn't suck at all. In fact, it was pretty damn good. Book good. Of course that was Fox's opinion of the autobiographical account he'd begun several weeks ago at his lover's urging.

After he'd written that letter to Matthew, he'd felt so much better that Fox had suggested that as part of his ongoing recovery he might want to consider writing. It was very therapeutic, Fox had explained and, Alex might find, a much easier way of expressing himself.

After much thought, Alex had decided to give it a try. He'd started as far back as he could remember, cruising easily through his childhood and teen years, difficult as parts of that had been. But once he'd reached his time at the FBI and his inevitable involvement with Smokey and his cronies, the words had stopped flowing, and he'd become frustrated. At least half a dozen times he'd threatened to scrap the whole thing, but each time Fox had managed to soothe his ruffled feathers and get him back on track.

Now, here he was for the umpteenth time. Run directly into a brick wall, and his patience was wearing thin.

//Delete it all. Go ahead. Just erase it and forget the whole damn thing.//

//And give up. Is that really what you want to do?//

//No, but what else am I supposed to do? Every three sentences, my mind goes blank. It's so fucking annoying.//

//You know what Fox would say.//

"Yeah, yeah."

"Yeah, yeah, what?"

Alex spun around in his seat, meeting the gaze of the man standing in the doorway. He sighed heavily and turned back toward the monitor.

"I'm stuck. Again. There aren't words enough, you know? No way I can really, properly describe the hideousness of these men and their sick projects…and my part in them…"

Fox approached and draped his arms over Alex's shoulders, kissing the younger man's head lightly.

"So, leave it alone for a while. Shut the computer down and do something else."

"If I did that every time I got a mental block, I wouldn't be logging in very many hours."

"Better you work one good hour than sit here getting aggravated for five or six. This is supposed to be therapy, not torture."

Alex answered with a low groan.

"Come on," Fox coaxed, saving what Alex had done then shutting the computer down. "I got something that'll entertain and amuse you." He pulled the younger man up and led him over to the sofa, where Alex dropped down and pulled him onto his lap. Laughing softly, he pushed at Alex's chest as his lover began to kiss and nibble at his neck.

"What're you doing?"

"Entertaining and amusing myself," Alex answered, catching Fox's earlobe between his teeth and pulling.

"Yeah. Uh…no. That's not what I meant."

Pushing out a hard breath, Alex let go of Fox's ear and looked expectantly up at the other man.

"Chuck's getting married."

"Chuck." Alex fixed a disbelieving stare on his lover. "That geek, Chuck? The one who helps you out sometimes?"

"Yep. Well…let me correct that. He's got the ring, and he's going to give it to his girlfriend tonight. I think he's got a pretty good shot."

"Really?" Alex shrugged. "Well, they say there's someone for everyone."

"Yeah," Fox agreed. "And I haven't told you the best part."

"You mean it gets better?"

"Yeah. Uh…he asked me to be his best man."

"He…noooo." Alex threw his head back and began to laugh. "*You*?"

"He says I'm his best friend," Fox said flatly.

"If *you're* his best friend, he's in big trouble. Fox, how often do you see this man? You never go out anywhere with him. You only visit him or talk to him on the phone when it involves a case, and he's been here what? All of once?"

"I know," Fox moaned. "But he's so happy. I couldn't say no."

"No, I guess you couldn't. Well. Have a ball."

"Ohhhh, no. I'll tell you what. If I gotta do this, you and Scully are going to be right there with me."

"What? Why should Scully and I have to do the chicken dance just because *you're* the guy's best friend?"

"You don't think he's not going to invite you, do you? He knows Scully just about as well as he knows me, and he knows we're a couple. You're going."

Alex dropped his head back against the cushions, groaning loudly.

"Come on, babe," Fox murmured, nuzzling his lover's exposed throat. "It'll be fun."

"*Fun*. You name me one fun wedding you've ever been to."

"Well, there was…and…" Fox straightened up, giving Alex an indignant look. "Two months ago. My cousin Bobby."

"God. The reception lasted almost as long as the engagement."

"It wasn't that bad," Fox grinned down at the other man. "You enjoyed watching my mother's face when we walked in together."

Alex chuckled softly. "Yeah, okay, I'll give you that one. I don't think she expected to see us there, or she wouldn't have gone."

"And when we got up to dance?"

The chuckle turned into a full laugh.

"I'd never seen anybody turn so white."

"I know. Clearly, she had no idea that Bobby had asked me to be an usher. Strange, huh?" Fox asked, changing the subject a bit. "First an usher, now a best man, and all in the span of a few months."

Smirking, Alex patted Fox's back and spoke sympathetically.

"Always a bridesmaid…"

When his crack got no response, he lifted his head and snapped his fingers in front of Fox's suddenly blank face.

"You in there?"

"Hmm? Oh. Yeah. Funny."

Frowning slightly, Alex watched as Fox got up and walked over to the window.

"I think we'd better take Clyde out soon for his walk," Fox said softly. "He was pretty wound up when I came home."

"Can you see him out there?"

"No. Which probably means he's in a corner somewhere, digging something up."

Emitting a long sigh, Alex rose to his feet.

"Why don't you go change, and I'll go see what he's up to."

Fox gave the younger man a half-hearted smile.

"'Kay."

Alex remained where he was for a few moments after Fox had left the room, contemplating his lover's suddenly pensive mood. Unable to figure out what could have happened in that brief period of time, he decided to wait. If Fox was still distant when he came back out, Alex would ask him then if anything was wrong.

That settled he started for the yard.

"Clyde…dog, where are you?"

********************

"Yeah, but what I can't understand is how every time you get yourself into trouble with Scully, it's *me* who ends up making it up to her."

Fox gave Alex one of his patented, cock-stiffening looks.

"I always make it up to *you*, don't I?"

"Yeah," Alex murmured, brushing the side of his lover's face with his knuckles. "You do."

He had no idea what had happened to cloud Fox's mood for those few minutes back at the house, but now he was fine, and Alex elected not to worry about it.

"You know, you're really spoiled."

"Scully said the same thing to me earlier." Fox sent Alex a sweet smile. "You got nobody to blame but yourself."

"I know," Alex answered, stopping as Clyde paused to sniff a tree. "It's okay. I wouldn't have you any other way."

Fox leaned in and nuzzled the curve of Alex's neck, prompting a soft moan.

"Don't you think we've been walking long enough?" Fox asked, letting his hand glide up and down the small of Alex's back.

"Question is, does *Clyde* think we've been walking long enough?" Alex tossed back. "You know he'll drive us crazy if he doesn't get enough exercise."

"Well, look. We're right near the park. Why don't we let him run his brains out over there for a while, then go home?"

Alex agreed, and the men walked in the direction of the park. When they reached the open field, Alex let Clyde off of his leash, and the dog took off, bounding around the grounds in search of a stick. The two stood side by side, watching as the German Shepherd found a tree branch downed in the windstorm that had come through two nights before.

"Is he kidding?" Fox asked, watching the dog drag the six-foot branch over to them.

Laughing, Alex stepped on the branch and broke a two-foot piece off, stripping away the leaves then throwing the stick as hard as he could. As Clyde tore after it, he turned to Fox, a leering grin on his face.

"He likes 'em real big…just like his daddy."

Fox chuckled, shaking his head. "Sick bastard."

"Tell me it ain't true."

"I'm not *that* big."

"You? Who said anything about *you*? I was talking about *me*."

"Oh, *God*."

Clyde returned with the stick, growling. Alex took it away and threw it again then turned to his lover.

"Gimme a couple of hours. I'll have you screaming that."

Fox shook with suppressed laugher. "You and your huge dick?"

Alex threw his head back and stared up at the sky.

"Ohhhh, boy oh boy. You're just *looking* for trouble, aren't you?"

"Not *me*." Fox approached the younger man, pushing his crotch against Alex's hip. "I'm just looking to get fucked."

Alex slipped an arm around Fox's waist, holding him in place.

"By taunting me?"

Fox shrugged and gave the other man a tiny smirk.

"Well, I guess I know *how* you want it." Alex leaned in close to Fox's ear. "Damn slut."

"Don't you love it?"

"You know I do."

Alex looked for Clyde and found that he'd abandoned his stick and was now happily chasing squirrels at the far end of the field. Whistling sharply, he waited for the dog to reach them then snapped the leash on his collar. Taking Fox's hand in his own, he tugged none too gently as he began to walk.

"You're lucky I'm starving. The time we spend eating might give me enough opportunity to cool down a little."

"Why would I want you to cool down?"

"Because then maybe you might be able to sit down tomorrow."

"I love it when you get all 'dom' on me," Fox purred, rubbing his cheek against Alex's shoulder as they approached their street.

Alex gave no response, and when they finally reached the house, he unlocked the door, letting Clyde enter first, then Fox. Before Fox could take three steps forward, Alex grabbed him, kicking the door shut at the same time, then he threw him up against it.

Fox grunted as some of the wind got knocked out of him, and before he could take a recovering breath, Alex's mouth was on his. He raised his hands to his lover's chest but found his wrists immediately enclosed in a firm grip and pushed up to the door, on either side of his head.

A low growl rolled in Alex's chest as he deepened the kiss and Fox writhed against him, but soon a wild yapping sounded, and he tore himself away from the older man's mouth to frown down at the excited dog.

"Clyde, go away and let the adults play for a while, huh?"

"He doesn't want to play," Fox informed the other man. "He's warning you to keep away from me." He looked down at the dog, grinning. "Get him, Clyde. Attack!"

The dog jumped up, bracing himself against Alex's shoulder and began frantically licking both men's faces.

"Oh, God. Clyde, come *on*."

"I keep telling you to close him up in the laundry room first, " Fox reminded Alex. "He does this every time we start fooling around. Or walk through a room. Or talk above a whisper…or breathe…"

Alex pushed the dog down then pointed at the older man. "You remember where we were. After dinner, your ass is mine."

"Yes, *sir*," Fox drawled, rubbing his hand over the bulge in the younger man's jeans.

Alex emitted another growl and nipped at the full lower lip before turning and leading the dog away.

Fox watched smiling as the other man smoothly moved from his sight.

Damn. After all this time together he still found Alex to be the hottest thing going.

The smile softened.

And after all this time they were still wildly in love.

The smile faded then disappeared.

So what was that tiny pinprick of…*something* that would hit him from time to time over the last couple of months?

Fox thought on it for several seconds before shaking the feeling off and joining Alex in the kitchen.

********************

"Oh, I swear to God, it never fails," Alex groaned, reaching for the ringing phone.

"*Scully, if this is you, I…who? Oh. Yeah. Yeah, he's here."

Dropping his head back against the sofa cushions, Alex shoved the phone in front of his lover's face.

"*Chuck* would like to speak to you."

Fox licked the last bit of lemon meringue off of Alex's cock and took the phone from his hand. Tossing the younger man an apologetic look, he answered the phone.

"Chuck? What's going on?"

"Mulder, I couldn't wait. I'm in the men's room at the Pink Parrot."

"Chuck, you can take a leak without calling to let me know."

Chuck burst into laugher. "No, you loon! I'm calling to tell you that she said yes!"

"She…she did? Chuck, that's great. Congratulations."

"Thanks, buddy. You're the first to know. I mean, you know, after me."

"…Right," Fox droned, gently nuzzling Alex's still rigid cock. "Well. If you're still there at the restaurant, you'd better hurry up and get back to her before she thinks you changed your mind and took off on her."

"Yeah. Don't want to keep my little love monkey waiting…"

Fox closed his eyes and shook his head.

"So, okay, Mulder. Uh…I'll get back to you later when we set a date, okay?"

"Okay, Chuck…yeah. Okay. Congrats again."

Fox disconnected and blew out a quick breath.

"Well, it's on."

"So I gathered," Alex answered, running his fingers through the naked man's hair. "Just tell me you're not going to have to wear something he's picked out."

Fox gave the younger man a hint of a smile and rested his cheek on the denim-clad thigh.

Alex cocked his head, looking down at his quiet lover.

"You okay, lisa?"

"I'm fine," Fox murmured, gently rubbing Alex's thigh.

Alex slipped his hand under Fox's chin and lifted the other man's head. Meeting a dull green and gold gaze, he caressed the stubbled jaw.

"Are you tired?"

"No." Fox's hand slid up into the opening of Alex's jeans and wrapped around his cock.

"Are you sure, baby? If you are, we don't have to…"

"I'm not tired," Fox broke in running his tongue up the underside of the erect organ even as he continued to stroke it.

Alex sighed softly, still holding Fox's eyes with his own. Christ, that tongue was deadly. And now it was working unmercifully up and down his length, scrambling his thoughts and blurring his vision. His eyes dropped shut, and he arched his hips, silently asking Fox to take him into his mouth.

Slowly, Fox lowered his head, taking Alex in, inch by inch until the whole of him was engulfed in moist warmth. Hearing the soft hum above him, Fox began to suck lightly until the sound grew louder, and he felt Alex's fingers tangle in his hair.

Sable lashes swept downward as Alex's eyes rolled up into his head, and his world narrowed to the swirling, dizzying sensations within him that the man kneeling at his feet delivered with loving care.

"Baby," he whispered, petting his lover's head. "Mmm, so…suck me, lisa…harder. Yeah…oh, yeah…"

Fox pushed forward, his face buried in Alex's crotch as he obeyed the breathy command. Alex's cock nudged the back of his throat, and he worked the hard length of muscle, sucking and stroking with more intensity.

Alex emitted a loud, sobbing growl and jerked upward once, straining against the explosion that threatened to consume him. The hands that had been stroking Fox's hair so tenderly, convulsed, holding the golden-brown strands in an involuntarily harsh grip. Still Fox continued, feeding off of his lover's excitement, now moaning as his head bobbed up and down on Alex's cock.

"*Christ*," Alex grated through clenched teeth. "Oh, *God*. Don't…don't stop, baby. Almost there," he panted. "Just…"

Snarling wildly, he began to buck, shooting several bursts of semen down Fox's throat, and the older man swallowed it all, sucking and lapping at the spent organ until Alex collapsed into a gasping, boneless heap. He sat slumped against the cushions for quite some time before he was able to open his eyes. When his sight finally cleared, he looked down at the top of the silky head resting on his thigh and smiled wearily.

"Lisa."

Fox lifted his head and gazed up into sated, emerald eyes. Alex caressed his jaw then pushed back and stretched out on his back, pulling Fox up and then down on top of him. Hugging the older man to him, he moved one hand up and down his back in long strokes.

"Have I told you today how amazing you are?"

Not answering, Fox snuggled closer, rubbing his head against Alex's shoulder.

"And have I told you today how grateful I am that you're mine?"

Soft combination of a moan and sigh.

"There are times when it still astounds me."

Fox lifted his head and stared down into adoring eyes.

"Moy lisa," Alex whispered. "My beautiful Fox." Tilting his hips a bit, he pressed against Fox's unsatisfied erection while gently squeezing the older man's rear.

"Let me do something about this for you," he purred.

Fox lowered his head, meeting Alex's lips in a thorough kiss. At his lover's urging, he opened his mouth and his tongue crept out to meet its mate.

As they kissed, tongues stroking and teasing, Alex raised the hand on Fox's back to his head, grasping his hair while his other hand continued to caress and squeeze his ass. And just as he knew it would, his cock began to stir. He never ceased to be amazed at how quickly Fox could get him up again. A few more minutes, and he'd be ready for more.

Fox writhed in his lover's arms, moaning at the feel of Alex's clothing scratching at his bare skin. The rough scrape of the younger man's jeans against his cock sent jolts of electricity crackling through his body, and he shuddered briefly before pulling his lover's tongue into his mouth and sucking hungrily on it. His aggressiveness surprised Alex, and the younger man paused for half a beat, waiting for the rest of him to catch up to his rapidly filling cock.

//What was that? Ten minutes?//

He couldn't be sure, but he was willing to bet that at some time in their relationship they'd broken somebody's record, somewhere.

Both hands coming around to Fox's chest, Alex put a few inches distance between them. Focusing a smoldering stare on the older man, he pushed against him, letting his renewed arousal be known.

"Help me, lisa," he breathed, having to say no more than that for Fox to understand.

Lifting himself into a kneeling position, Fox's hands went to the waistband of Alex's jeans. Slowly, he worked the worn denim down over his lover's hips, giving complete freedom to his cock. He slid the pants down, his palms stroking over the length of Alex's legs, stopping when he reached the other man's calves. He then very briefly abandoned his task to remove the socks from his lover's shoeless feet, and pulled the jeans all the way off, letting them fall to the floor.

Alex held his hands out, silently asking Fox to come back to him.

Fox refused, prompting a low growl from the man on the sofa.

"Lube," he said simply, quietly disappearing from the room. He returned seconds later to his now smiling lover, and squeezed some of the contents of the tube onto his fingers.

"Who gets it?" he asked Alex, standing above the horizontal man.

"Me," Alex answered decisively, sucking in his breath as Fox applied the cool cream to his rigid cock. When Fox finished, he drew the other man down, coaxing him into a sitting position over his hips. Passion-darkened eyes studied the other man, and Alex lifted his hands, stroking them over his lover's well-muscled thighs. "Now, you get it." He lifted his hips, pushing his cock against Fox's ass.

"Get what?" Fox asked, wiggling back against the hardness at his rear. "Lube?"

Alex's mouth twitched into a smirk. "Not exactly what I meant."

"Then, what?"

"I meant," Alex rumbled, rhythmically thrusting against the older man, "my dick up your ass."

Fox's eyelashes dropped halfway, giving Alex that smoldering, bone-jarring look that never failed to ignite his constantly simmering desires.

"Give it to me," the other man moaned. "I need it."

Lifting Fox a bit, Alex gripped his own cock at the base and positioned it at his lover's anus.

"You always need it." He pushed upward, just barely stretching the tight entrance. "Come on, Fox…my beautiful slut. "I got what you need."

Trying to control his rapidly increasing respiration, Fox sank down onto Alex's waiting cock, slowly impaling himself on the solid column of flesh. He fought to keep his eyes open, focusing them on his lover's face. He loved watching Alex; always, but he had his favorite moments, one being those first few seconds of possession. Regardless of who was on the receiving end, the expression on Alex's face was always one of such extreme bliss and awe. That look warmed Fox to his soul.

It also made his cock throb.

Hands wandering the expanse of Alex's chest, Fox began to move. The feel of the younger man's cock gliding so gently within him finally closed his eyes, and he let the incredible feeling take him over.

"You drive me crazy when you do that."

The breathy words brought Fox back from his sensual heaven, and he fixed a dreamy, mildly curious gaze on his lover.

"Those sounds," Alex whispered, forcing himself to maintain his cool. "You'd think that by now they wouldn't affect me, but…" He jerked once, driving his cock deep into the other man. Fox's responding gasp sent a shudder through him, and he had to do it again. Letting his body relax, he sank back down onto the cushions then tensed again, thrusting as hard as he could.

Fox's head snapped back, and his sharp cry pierced the air. Before he could fully recover from the jolt, Alex's hands clamped over his hips and lifted him a fraction then forced him back down, surging up to meet him. As did the rest of his body, Fox's fingers clenched involuntarily, his short nails scratching at Alex's chest. The act only seemed to inflame the younger man, and he growled through gritted teeth, thrashing relentlessly against Fox.

"*Fuck*…ohhh, God…c'mon, lisa…c'mon…"

Grasping his own erection, Fox began pumping frantically in an effort to catch up to Alex as he bounced up and down on his cock. Faster and faster he moved, beads of sweat forming on his brow and trickling in small streams down his face. His harsh cries mingled with Alex's, creating a deafening racket as they both came, and seconds later the two fell silent, lying limply together.

Fox shifted after long moments, the combination of perspiration and semen blending between their bodies, causing him to slide over Alex's torso. The younger man moaned softly, raising a hand to Fox's back and stroking the slick skin.

"Mmmmm."

Fox lifted his head and gave his lover a weary smile.

"Good?"

Emerald-green eyes opened halfway and met hazy gray.

"Nah, it sucked."

Scowling, Fox tapped Alex's forehead with his fingertips, earning an impish giggle from his lover.

"You know I'm kidding," Alex cooed, wrapping his arms around the older man. "Christ, how could it ever be *bad*?"

Fox shrugged. "It happens."

"To *other* people it happens. Not us."

"Oh." Fox propped his head up in his hand. "So, you're telling me that we're immune to the jaded couple syndrome?"

"That's what I'm sayin'."

"How can you be so sure?"

Alex shifted his head and stared intently at the other man.

"Fox, is there something I should know?"

"Of course not."

"So, why are you asking me stuff like that?"

//Yes, Fox, why *are* you?//

"I don't know," Fox shrugged. Just making conversation."

Alex threaded his fingers through Fox's hair and tugged gently.

"I love you. Wildly. Insanely. Do I really have to tell you this?"

"No. I know you do. With all my heart I know it."

"Okay, then."

"I just wonder sometimes if you'll always feel that way. And I…"

"And you what?"

"I wonder what it would feel like if one day you stopped. What would I do…how would I…"

"Fox, cut it out," Alex demanded, slight irritation edging his tone.

Fox fell silent, staring at the curve where Alex's neck met his shoulder.

"Baby, what's up?" Alex asked, all traces of anger gone. "Something's clicking away up there," he said, tapping at Fox's temple with one finger.

"Nothing," Fox insisted. "Don't you ever find yourself thinking strange thoughts sometimes for no reason?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Well, that's all this is."

"But it's a *hell* of a strange thought, lisa. It bothers me to know that these ideas would even enter your head. After everything we got through to be where we are…"

"I'm sorry," Fox murmured. "I can't help the crazy things I think about."

"How often do you think of this stuff?"

The older man shrugged. "Not often. Forget it, please? I didn't mean to upset you."

Alex pulled Fox down, wrapping him in a firm embrace.

"Fox, you're my world. I'd sooner give up breathing."

"I know."

"You'd better," Alex warned with mock sternness, kissing the top of the golden-brown head. "I don't want to have to kick your ass."

Fox raised his head again, giving Alex a tiny grin.

"You got no problem with spanking it."

"A different matter entirely. You get off on getting spanked."

Fox lowered his lashes but the smile remained.

"I got you thinking about it right now."

"No…"

"Liar. You're getting hard. I can feel it."

Fox yelped as Alex's hand came down soundly on one smooth cheek.

"Yeah, you want it, ya kinky, insatiable bastard."

Fox writhed against his lover, nuzzling his jaw. It was all the answer Alex needed.

"Come on," the younger man ordered, pushing Fox off of him and getting to his feet. "Let's go into the bedroom, where we can get more comfortable."

Taking the other man's outstretched hand, Fox followed him into their room, where he would spend the remainder of the evening begging for mercy. When it came some two hours later, he lay face down, completely wasted; the evidence of Alex's loving 'attention' branded in vibrant red across his ass.

Alex lay smiling, watching the motionless form. He'd given Fox exactly what he had asked for, and there was no doubt that for tonight at least, there'd be no ridiculous thoughts like the ones that had littered his brilliant, albeit sometimes warped mind earlier.

He closed his eyes and slept.

********************

"Morning, Mulder."

"Hey."

Scully dropped her things down on her desk then unfolded the top of the paper bag she'd brought in. The crinkling sound drew Fox's attention away from the case closed drawer he'd been rummaging through, and he smiled as his partner withdrew a wax paper cup and handed it to him.

"Thanks."

Fox sipped carefully at the steaming contents then pulled out the file he'd been looking for. Dropping the file onto his desk, he took his seat.

Scully watched, frowning thoughtfully and waited until he was comfortably settled before she spoke.

"Mulder, you looked like an eighty-year old man just now."

"What?"

"The way you sat down. Does your back hurt?"

"No, it's fine."

Observing the secretive little grin that began to twitch at the corners of Fox's mouth, Scully sighed loudly.

"Oh, God. Okay, forget I asked. When you start smirking like that, I just *know* Alex has something to do with it, and that's it's something kinky."

Her partner's failure to respond confirmed her suspicions.

"Good Lord," she sighed again and settled down to her own work. Several minutes later, Fox looked up from his file.

"She said yes, by the way."

"She, who?"

"Vicki, she. You know, Chuck's phlebotomist girlfriend?"

"Oh!" Scully put down her pen, smiling. "*Wow*. Chuck must be on cloud nine. What'd he do, call you last night?"

"Yeah."

"So, when's the wedding?"

"Don't know yet. Said he'll get back to me."

As if on cue, Fox's cell phone rang.

Holding one finger up to Scully, he pulled the phone up to his ear.

"Mulder…hey, Chuck. I was just sharing your good news with Scully."

"Congratulate him for me."

"She said congratulations…yeah. Oh yeah, I'm sure she will. I…what? That quick? Wow. How're you going to be able to plan everything in that short a time? …Uh huh….that's a big help…yeah? …Well, good luck with it. Let me know if you need a hand with anything. Hmm? Oh. Yeah, of course. Uh huh…yeah…o-okay. I will…I won't…okay. Talk to you later."

Fox hung up and blew out a relieved breath.

"Excited, is he?"

"For lack of a better word. " Fox leaned back in his seat, wincing a bit. "They've set the date for the twenty-fifth."

"Of…"

"This month."

"Is he *serious*?"

"Yep."

"But…geez, Mulder, that's only three weeks away."

"I know. But he says it'll all work out. The bride's uncle owns some function room in Arlington. They're going to do it all right there."

"Yeah, but that's not all there is to a wedding. What about flowers, tuxes…the bride's *dress*…invitations…"

"Oh, that reminds me. Chuck said to invite you. "

Scully gave her partner a blank look, to which Fox smiled.

"Don't expect any embossed linen in the mail."

"You're *kidding*."

Fox shook his head.

"He…my God, the *least* he could have done was invite me himself!"

"I guess he figured it'd be okay if his best man asked you in his stead."

"Good Lord." Scully rolled her eyes, clearly ill at ease with the way Chuck and his intended had decided to handle what she considered to be the most important day of any couple's lives.

"Hey, what's more important, Scully?" Fox asked, tapping into the woman's thoughts. "Etiquette or the happiness of the bride and groom?"

"You're a man, Mulder. I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"Well, apparently Vicki doesn't understand either, and she's a woman."

Scully emitted a disgusted grunt.

"I know. I can't figure that one out."

Fox shrugged and looked down at his cup.

"I just think the important thing is that they love each other, and they want to be married."

"Yes, that matters. Of *course* that matters," Scully agreed. "It's just really nice to have something beautiful to look back on and remember in their old age."

Fox chewed on that one for a while, then…

"Yeah. I guess…I…it would be nice."

Silence fell for a few seconds, then Scully spoke again.

"So, where in Arlington is this place?"

"Someplace on Whitman. Narrows Crossing?"

"Sounds familiar. I'm surprised they aren't having it at The Pink Parrot."

"Too small. Apparently Vicki has lots of family."

"Oh, beautiful. So I get to shmooze with a bunch of people I don't know from a hole in the wall at a wedding that was tossed together in three weeks time."

"You sound just a little snobby, Scully," Fox pointed out, smirking over at the woman. "And anyway, you'll be there with Alex."

"*Alex*?" Scully laughed. "You don't think you're going to get him to go to this."

"Yeah, he'll go. Why wouldn't he? Chuck invited him, and he's my partner."

"Uh huh. This isn't baked stuffed shrimp, Mulder. This is a *wedding*. You know, crying mothers, drunk uncles, a reception hall full of screaming kids, three hundred pound bridesmaids in…oh *God*, pink taffeta doing the electric slide…"

"Speaking of baked stuffed shrimp, how's day after tomorrow for dinner?"

"Yeah, that'll be good."

"Okay. Anyway…he went to my cousin's wedding. And there wasn't anything there like what you're describing."

"I'm glad to hear that. And I think Alex just went to stick it to your mother."

"He went because Bobby went out of his way to meet and invite him, and Alex actually liked him very much. And he loves me."

"Okay, Mulder, okay. But we'll just see how happy he is about Chuck's wedding when you tell him what you found out today."

Fox started to laugh. "Just think of all the fun you two will have together, bitching and moaning."

"Oh yeah, I can't wait. Be sure and tell me tomorrow what he says."

"Fine," Fox shrugged and drank some of his cooling coffee. "Well, I guess we'd better get some work done," he said, changing the subject. "It's been so quiet around here lately, Skinner's going to start to wonder if we've gone AWOL or something."

The partners fell into silence, each working on their own projects for most of the day. The only interruptions were a visit by Scully to forensics, two more calls from Chuck, and a brief appearance from the A. D., checking in to make sure no one had closed the office down without his knowledge.

"I found it taking him kind of long to come check on us," Scully said just minutes after Skinner's departure. "I can't remember ever going a day without seeing him for some reason or another, and today would have made *four* if he hadn't decided to come down."

"I think he's shocked that I haven't got anything cooking," Fox droned as he walked around the office putting everything in its place. Scully watched, grinning.

"You know, it's finally happened."

"Hmm?"

The redhead waited until Fox had replaced the last file in its proper drawer then elaborated.

"Alex has rubbed off on you. You're actually putting things away and not even thinking about it."

"Oh." Fox looked at the file cabinet then back at his partner, smiling. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Didn't hurt a bit, did it?"

Fox laughed softly. "You weren't there yesterday."

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Let's go home."

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