Title: Discovery of Forgiveness
Author: Erin M. Blair
E-Mail: eblair@sonic.net
Classification: SR--Story, Romance
Content: Mulder/Scully UST
Rating: PG
Spoiler: Never Again
Distribution: OK to archive at Gossamer, Xemplary, FanficX, and any other MSR archives. Please forward to ATXC. Please let me know where this story is going so I can visit it. =)

Disclaimer: The characters of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and the FOX Network. No infringement is intended.

Author's Note: This story is a prequel to "Discovery of Hope" and it is a Mulder/Scully romance. NoRomos are warned.
Feedback: Much appreciated. This story is set after Redux II, not after "Never Again." Just a FYI.

Summary: Mulder realizes what a jerk that he has been, and does something about it.

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DISCOVERY OF FORGIVENESS
Written by: Erin M. Blair
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Fox Mulder's Apartment
Alexandria, VA
Monday, 6:30 p.m.

"How come I hadn't gave Scully a desk?" Fox Mulder wrote in his journal in his apartment. "She is just as important to the X-Files as I am. I know that she deserves more, but what could I do to show her how much I care for her?" He put the journal down, and decided to do something about this.

FBI Building
En Route to the X-Files Office
Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.

"You promise you are not going to say anything to Scully about the surprise?" Mulder asked a few agents near the elevators.

"Don't worry about it, Agent Mulder. We won't tell Agent Scully about your present," replied Agent Chris Anderson.

"Thanks," Mulder replied. "I want this to be a huge surprise." *I can't wait to see her reaction...*

Fifteen Minutes Later
X-Files Office

Mulder was waiting for Scully to knock on the door to see the surprise. He got out a card with a rose on it, and began to write. "Scully, here's something that I should have got for you a long time ago. A desk. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. Lots of love, Mulder." *It's not great, but it shows how much she means to me.* He placed the card and a rose on her desk. *Maybe I should have bought a ribbon for the desk?*

Mulder heard a knock on the door, and called out. "Come in!"

Scully walked in. She couldn't believe what she saw on the door. *So he finally bought me a nameplate for the door!* "Hi Mulder. I saw the nameplate on the door. After five years of being partners, you finally got me a nameplate for the door."

"It was time," Mulder replied. "Notice anything different about the office?"

Scully looked around the office, and her blue-green eyes landed on the new desk which had a card and a rose in a tangerine colored vase. She went to the desk, and opened the card. "Mulder," she said, softly. "I don't know what to say..."

"Do you like the desk?" Mulder asked.

"I like the desk. I thought that you would never give me a desk," Scully replied. "You don't know how much this means to me." She gingerly touched the vase as she was touched by this sentiment. She _was_ important to Mulder in his life as well as his equal.

"I think that I have an idea," Mulder replied. He was delighted that Scully enjoyed the gift. *She still has no idea how much I really care for her.* "You are my equal. You deserve the desk, and you are a very important part of the X-Files as I am. I should have bought all of this long time ago. I have been a complete jerk. Will you forgive me?"

"I forgive you," Scully murmured. "I'm glad that you finally admitted that I'm your equal. For awhile, I had been wondering..."

"I know," Mulder replied.

Fox Mulder's apartment
Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.

Mulder took out his journal from his desk, and he turned the pages to a clean sheet. "I gave her a desk and the nameplate. You should had seen her reaction. She was in shock! I told her how she's important to me...but there's still more I hadn't told her. I don't know if I will. I treasure what we have right now, and I don't want to lose her. She's an important part of my life just as I'm in hers." He closed the journal, and put it away. *Will I ever admit my feelings to Scully?*

End of Story

Next Up: Discovery of Hope

Scully finds something about her abduction. Will Mulder and Scully reveal how they feel towards each other?

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- Erin Blair
- eblair@sonic.net
- "And if I quit now, they win."
- from the X-Files: Fight the Future Movie