TITLE: The Park of Hidden Memories AUTHOR: Erin M. Blair E-MAIL: eblair@sonic.net FEEDBACK: Yes, please. DISTRIBUTION: OK to Gossamer, Ephemeral, The Nursery Files, and MSR Fanfic Cheerleaders. RATING: PG CATEGORIES: SA -- Story, Angst. KEYWORDS: Mulder/Scully friendship. Pre-XF. SPOILERS: Little Green Men. Small spoilers for: Pilot, Conduit, Duane Barry, Ascension, and One Breath. DISCLAIMER: Mulder, Scully, and Melissa Scully belong to Chris Carter. SUMMARY: Scully and Melissa were walking in the park when they approached a young boy -- Mulder -- sitting on a bench and looking as though he lost his way. NOTES: I would like to thank both Devin and Jen for beta reading this story for me. This story takes place a few days after Samantha's abduction. Although Mulder and Scully's initial meeting in this story was just pure friendship, there is a slight DAL (deep abiding love) mixed in. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + A young girl was walking her dog with her older sister. They were walking in the park when they approached a young boy sitting on a bench and looking as though he lost his way. "My name is Dana and this is my sister, Melissa. She's the older one. And this doggie is named Spunky." "Spunky?" the boy questioned. "That's an interesting name for a dog." "My brother named him that because the doggie is happy all the time, but you don't look so happy." "Billy named him Spunky," Melissa said. "What's your name?" "Fox Mulder," the little boy said. "And yeah, that's my real name. I hate it. Call me Mulder, okay?" Dana and Melissa nodded and then chorused. "All right." "My life is over." "That's pretty dramatic, F-Mulder," Dana said. "Your life isn't over. We're still little. How could you know that? Are you psychic?" "No, no, it's just that my sister was taken and my parents blame me." "I'm sure they don't hate you, Fox...I mean, Mulder," Melissa said. She looked at her sister. "Your parents love you and they would be so sad if something bad happened to you." She paused, thinking of her sister and brothers. "I would be sad like you, if something were to happen to Dana and our brothers, Billy and Charlie." "Melissa, I didn't know you felt that way about Billy, Charlie and me." "I do, Dana." Dana sat down next to Mulder. "Mulder, you will find her someday. You just need to have some faith." "You mean, like talking to God?" Dana nodded. "Yeah." "I don't go to church. My parents don't attend church, either. We used to go to this church that accepts all faiths - what's the word?" "Interfaith," Melissa supplied. "Right, but Mom told me she stopped going because she lost faith in Him when Samantha didn't come home after I lost her." Mulder didn't know why he was revealing so much of his life to Melissa and Dana but they seemed safe to him. "Don't give up, Mulder." "I won't." "You never know what you'll find out there if you don't look," Dana said. She looked at her sister, nodding. "I believe in you." "Thanks. I'm glad someone believes me." "Make that two," Melissa quipped. Mulder gave the girls a hopeful smile. Maybe they were right - maybe finding his sister would bring him happiness? He hoped with all of his heart that these two red-haired angels were right. ~~ The End