Dedication: This is for Smokey, Rodney, Thaw, Fungi, Roger, Bugs, Sparkey, Winston, Rosie, Poppy, Tabs, Monty, Peaches and
Oscar. They are all animals that I either own or want to own. P.S. Times may be funny and I'm not very good at geography (old
sixties song I love!) so don't expect it to be perfect. I know now that Avoca is actually on the east coast but this was started three months ago and I didn't know then, I can't be bothered to change it know. So ignore everything about Ennis and Kilkee and stuff.
 

"Ireland?"

"Yep. Flight's booked and we leave at 8:00am tomorrow. You better go home and get sorted out. We'll be over there for a while. You'll need more than you usually do."

Dana Scully watched her partner's face. "Mulder, explain to me again why you have got us a case in Ireland. We don't have jurisdiction in Ireland. That could be a problem."

Fox Mulder grinned. This was so like Scully. "I thought it might be a nice break. I won tickets to a little town in Ireland. Bally-something."

"Mulder, there are lots of places in Ireland call Bally- something."

"This isn't a case. I need someone to take and you're always my back up plan."

"So now you're saying you're inviting me to Ireland for a "nice" short break. How long is this "nice" short break?"

"2 weeks." Mulder braced himself for the flow of questions bound to come. He was surprised they didn't.

"Ok Mulder. I'll see you tomorrow. 8 am?"

He nodded and she left the office. "Phew."

Somewhere above The Atlantic Ocean.
Mulder looked down at his beautiful partner sleeping. She had drifted off during the flight and now rested heavily on his arm. He shifted a little so he could maybe get some sleep and she moaned. He looked at her and realised she was still asleep. Gently he stroked her hair as he soothed her and she settled down again.

Shutting his own eyes, he realised he couldn't sleep and he glared at the seat in front. He would have to put up with his ever-insistent, time-demanding thoughts, not that they didn't plague his dreams aswell. This time they took a different track. They were no longer worrying and pesky. They were about his love, the woman he adored most in the world. He decided he liked these thoughts. Scully. She was the only person he had ever let entirely into his heart. She knew everything about him. He didn't think there was anything she didn't know and if there was then he was sure that it would come out. She was also the most beautiful woman he had ever had the pleasure of knowing and definitely the most intelligent. She was fast on the uptake and she had a strong, agile memory. He loved her. He had never doubted it.

He was still stroking her hair, enjoying the feel of it beneath his fingertips. Her own fingers were curled up on his chest as she slept. Mulder gazed down at her lovely face. The strawberry-red lips were slightly pouting and her porcelain skin was cool to the touch. He wrapped his winter jacket around her, realizing how cold it had become over the sea. He wanted to protect her, spend the rest of his life with her. When she had had her near fatal encounter with cancer he had been ready to do anything. He would have died if it meant he could save her. There was nowhere he would rather be than with Scully.

Scully? Why had he always insisted on calling her that, it was so unfeminine? Dana suited her much better but it was too late to change. It was these moments he enjoyed most about being with Scully. He loved their playful flirtation and dinners together but he adored intimate times with her, even if she was asleep.

Scully stirred. Mulder helped her sit up and she rubbed her eyes. Her voice was groggy as she settled back in her seat. "How long was I out?"

Mulder looked at his watch and smiled. "About an hour." He decided to be mean. "Most of that time was spent on my arm."

She blushed deep red and he grinned. "Sorry."

"Hey, forget it. I'm not bothered." He touched her arm gently and she nodded.

"Whereabouts are we?"

Mulder looked at his watch again to check how long they had been flying and then looked back at her. "Over the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. We've got about 2 hours left."

She smiled and snuggled farther down into her seat, letting her eyes close once more. Her head soon fell to the side again and she was leaning on his arm once more. He pulled her close and shut his own eyes, falling into a light sleep.

Mulder awoke with a start as a hostess came round with instructions to put up their chairs and folding tables. Mulder sighed and very gently shifted Scully to her side of the two seats. He carefully adjusted her chair and let her sleep on, fastening her seatbelt for her. As the plane flew in towards Shannon Airport Mulder shook Scully awake. Her eyes fluttered open and she regarded Mulder with a calm stare.

"We're about to land."

Scully moved to get her things but he sat her down again. "I got all your things from the compartments. They're beneath your seat. You can get them in a minute. First let me fix this mascara eye." He dabbed at her tongue with a tissue and then wiped away mascara that had run during her sleep. She smiled gratefully and then started to get her coat on. He followed her example and got his stuff together.

"Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

"Did I sleep on you again?" Mulder thought for a minute. Should he tell her the truth and let her be embarrassed? While they had been sleeping the second time she had shifted and her hand had gone up to his neck, snaking round it to get a good hold. It was all in her sleep and she would be embarrassed about it. "No. No you didn't." He ran his hand over her hair. "At least you got a good rest so we can go sight seeing as soon as we unpack."

"Mulder. However much I sleep, I will still have jet lag. So will you. So I think we should separate as soon as we get there. That way we can rest and still be able to sample the nightlife tonight."

Mulder nodded. Scully was right, as usual.

"We are now making our descent into Shannon airport. The weather is dull and rainy. Thankyou for flying Virgin with us today and thank you to our cabin crew. I think you'll all agree they were wonderfully helpful."

"He's sleeping with one of them."

Mulder had to stop a bombardment of giggles at Scully's deadpan statement. He could already tell this was going to be a wonderful two weeks. Mulder grasped Scully's hand as the plane came to land. They had been in planes together enough times for him to know that she hated both take off and landing. She looked at him, sending him a silent thankyou.

Shannon Airport Car Parks.
Mulder sat in the car as Scully came running across the car park. Rain was pelting down and she hadn't taken her umbrella. She came back with his requested map though and he took it from her. "You look like a drowned rat." She glared at him and he shrunk farther into the plush leather seating of the car. "Well it looks like we are going from here to Limerick, then to Ennis and the straight on west to Ballykissangel. Scully nodded and took the map from him, placing it on her lap.

"I picked up some tour guides and a pamphlet on Limerick. We can go back up there one day."

Mulder nodded and started fiddling with his radio. When he couldn't concentrate on that and the road at the same time, he gave up. "Scully? Would you find a good station on there please? Something uplifting or else I'll fall asleep."

She gave him a "I told you so" look and turned the dial a bit and came up with a station called Atlantic 252. "This should do the trick." Loud pop music filled the otherwise silent car and Mulder looked at her. "What?! Because I'm a 34 year old woman I can't like pop music? You're way older than I am but I can see what your radio is tuned to. You listen to this stuff all the time."

Mulder shrugged and tapped his fingers along with the beat.

An hour later Scully could see Mulder was about to fall asleep at the wheel. She shook him by the shoulder. "Mulder, as soon as we near Limerick we're swapping. I can tell you're exhausted and our holiday isn't going to very enjoyable if we are both wrapped round a tree." Mulder gave her a tired smile.

After a quick change and an hours drive they pulled into a filling station. Mulder was fast asleep in the passenger seat. Scully gazed at him as she paid the man filling up the car. He looked so innocent when he slept. Many a time had she crept into his room when he was drenched in sweat after a nightmare. He had woken a few times to find her next to him, soothing him back to sleep. When she watched him sleep it was almost impossible to believe that the same man could be so disturbed over the painful events in his past. The man she saw now could have been a happily married man. A man with a family and a job that didn't involve lost sisters or alien abduction. Hell he could be the perfect husband for her. She mentally slapped herself for thinking such a thing. There was always a faint hope that that annoying little voice was wrong. A hope that Mulder felt the same a she. The odds on that were about 1,000,000 to 1 though. She had to put it away in a dark part of her mind, a part that was steadily growing more cobwebs, along with all her other false hopes, lost loves and painful memories.

Mulder stirred, turning his head but drifting back into sleep. A small moan escaped his lips and he bit his bottom lip in his unconscious state. Scully recognized the signs, Mulder was slipping into nightmare mode. Carefully she smoothed the hair back from his brow while she kept her hand on the wheel and one eye on the road. She hoped to rouse him and succeeded. He turned to look at her with large hazel eyes. Those eyes were exhausted.

"What?" His voice was groggy and he straightened his spine in the chair.

"You were on the verge of another nightmare." Scully gave him a sympathetic look. She expected Mulder to leave it at that but he didn't.

"How would you know what my nightmares look like?"

"I've sat by your bed enough times, trying to rouse you from them and I don't usually get such a fast response."

Mulder studied her face and he saw sadness, strength and what looked like--NO, it can't be, but it was--love. He decided he was hallucinating due to his tiredness. Nodding at her he studied the road signs. They drew near to the little town that was their destination. Scully stopped and asked a little old man with a herd of sheep where Fitzgerald's pub was. He gave them directions and Scully thanked him, leaving him standing staring after the car. She smiled at Mulder.

"Don't you just love the Irish accent?" Mulder grinned.

"Yeah but they probably hate ours."

"Probably."

Fitzgerald's Pub 3:46pm.
Mulder exited the car, stretching his legs. Scully picked up her handbag. "Are you sure this is the pub Andy meant?" she gave Mulder a skeptical look.

He nodded. "Yeah, he says it's the best place to stay for miles. By the looks of it, there isn't another place to stay for miles."

Scully nodded and followed Mulder into the pub. Inside sat a graying man with a smiling face. By his side was a woman with auburn hair tied up in a long ponytail. They were both leaning on the bar, behind which stood a woman with shoulder length curly black hair. She was wiping the top of the bar while talking to the other woman. A boyish looking male was sitting in one of the far off corners with a young man about his age. They were discussing something over beers.

Mulder walked up to the bar with Scully behind him. "We're looking for some rooms for about two weeks."

The woman looked at him and smiled. "You're American?"

Mulder nodded and she grinned. Then she caught sight of Scully. "Can I have your names please. Just sign here."

Mulder signed and handed the pen to Scully. She signed and smiled at the woman behind the bar. "We're looking for Assumpta Fitzgerald. Can you tell us where she is?"

"You're looking at her."

Scully smiled even more broadly. She liked this woman already.

"So, you're going to be around for a couple of weeks. You better get to know this lot."

Mulder nodded to her and she started the introductions. The man and the woman were Siobhan and Padraig. The two lads were Liam and Donal. She grinned. "How many rooms did you want?"

"Two please."

"Ok."

Scully climbed the stairs, preceded by Assumpta and succeeded by Mulder. She showed them the rooms and Mulder raced downstairs to fetch the bags. When he returned he found Scully in his room.

"What are you doing in here?"

"Assumpta realized she's already got mine booked and there are no more free so she put me in here with you."

Mulder felt a shiver run up his spine. There was only 1 bed. It was massive and double but it was still only 1. At last he would get to share a bed with Scully. He smiled at her and she relaxed.

"I'll take the left if you don't mind."
 
Mulder smiled again. "Sure, Fine, Whatever."

He helped her unpack and then collapsed on the bed. He felt his eyes close and Scully smiled. She crept out of the room and let him sleep. She made her way downstairs and was greeted by Assumpta.

"Dana. More people for you to meet." Standing at the bar were three men. One was a priest with dark hair and shimmering eyes. He had the aura of someone who could put you at ease. The smile he gave her was a genuine welcome. She found out that he was Father Peter Clifford, he worked at the church she had seen on her way up. Next to the priest was a smaller man with dark cropped hair and blue eyes. He had his arm around Siobhan's waist and was talking to Padraig at the same time. His name was Brendan and he worked at the school. Last in the line was a short, rather fat little man. On his head he wore a little tweed hat and he was wearing a matching material suit. He was smoking a cigar. She was told that he was Brian Quigley. He was the former employer of Liam and Donal.

"There's also Father Mac. You'll meet him later and his "Friend" Kathleen, she runs the village store."

Scully nodded so Assumpta carried on. She didn't want to confuse the poor woman with names and the such like. "There's Eamonn who owns the farm up the road. He's a little eccentric."

Scully interrupted her. "Yes we met Eamonn on the way. He gave us directions."

Assumpta smiled back at her. "I hope this isn't too confusing."

Scully shook her head, just as the door opened again. in stepped a woman with black hair down to her mid-back. She was pushing a pram and the pram was immediately wheeled into the back room.

"This is Niamh and her son, Kieran."

Niamh came over and shook hands. "Hi, nice to meet you." She opened the hatch on the bar and slipped in.

"Thanks for doing this for me Niamh. I'll be back when I can. Dana, just stick with Siobhan."

Siobhan smiled and called her over. "Dana, this is Brendan."

Brendan smiled and shook hands with her. Siobhan spoke up again. "Dana, I've got to attend to some pregnant pigs on Eamonn's farm, you're welcome to join me if you're not squeamish about such things."

Scully shook her head. "No, I'm an FBI Agent and a medical doctor so I'm sort of used to things gory and grimy."

Siobhan smiled and patted Brendan on the arm. "See you later."

Brendan nodded and sauntered over to Padraig.

Siobhan's jeep.
Siobhan stepped out of the jeep and Scully followed her. "It shouldn't be too bad today. I just have check up on her."

Scully nodded and watched as Siobhan tenderly touched the pig, her hands firm and careful, probing the animal gently. When she had finished, Scully spied a wizened old man shuffling towards them. She realized that this was the man they had met earlier that day. He came over and looked Scully up and down. She looked a little out of place with her hair carefully done but she didn't think she looked too bad. She heard Siobhan whisper in her ear. "Don't mind him. Just treat him gently."

Scully smiled and Eamonn carried on towards his pigs, ignoring her completely. When they got back into the car Siobhan began to talk, just general chitchat. They got onto the topic of animals and pets. Scully described Queequeg carefully and Siobhan commented on her choice of name.

Scully told her about her father reading Moby Dick to her. "I guess my strangest encounters with animals would have to be the time I was attacked by hundreds of killer cats and when I had to perform an autopsy on an elephant called Ganisha. As you can tell, Mulder and I don't lead normal lives."

Siobhan was intrigued by the elephant autopsy.

"It was terrible. Mulder stayed as far away as he could get and I don't really blame him."

"You seem to have a very close relationship with Mulder. Are you close?"

Scully nodded. "Yes and you and Brendan seem very close."

"Ah" Siobhan concentrated on the empty road ahead as if there was 4-mile traffic jam. "Brendan and I are in a kind of predicament. I'm pregnant, with his baby."

Scully lowered her head. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's fine, you weren't to know."

"I had a daughter. She was very sweet. I hardly knew her though." Scully kept her eyes down.

Siobhan looked over at her and sighed. "What happened?"

"What didn't happen? I didn't even know Emily existed until 3 weeks before she died. A mix up that is too complicated to go into. When I found out that Emily had been adopted and both her adopted parents were dead, I tried to find her real Mother. She had the same DNA as my sister so I thought she was hers, turned out she was mine." She sniffed and Siobhan handed her a tissue.

"How did she die?"

"She had a disease they couldn't even name. They had never seen it before. It took over her body and put her
in a coma. She died and I didn't stop it."

"I'm sure you couldn't stop it." Scully nodded.

"That's what Mulder said but."

Siobhan pulled up outside the pub. "I've got to dash but we're all meeting up in the pub later. You're welcome to join us."

Scully nodded as she jumped down from the cab. "Thanks Siobhan, it was great to talk to someone who doesn't automatically tell you it's a conspiracy."

Siobhan laughed and pulled off as Scully strode into the pub.

Fitzgerald's Pub. 8:09pm.
Mulder had awoken sometime before and found Scully's note explaining that she had gone for a ride around town and she would be back soon. He sighed, she said he was always ditching her? Just then the bedroom door opened
and in stepped Scully. "Hello sleepy."

Mulder grinned and looked up at her. "Have a nice time out with What-ever-her-name was?"

"Siobhan and I had an incredible time. We talked and she is so nice. I was introduced to everybody and we're supposed to meet them at about 8:30 so we should get our skates on."

Mulder nodded and hopped out of bed. He found he was just wearing his boxers and blushed.

"Well I couldn't let you sleep in jeans, now could I?"

"Of course not." He made his way into the bathroom and emerged sometime later to find Scully lying on the bed crying. He rushed over and knelt by her side. "Scully, what's wrong?"

She shook her head at him. "I'm fine Mulder."

He would usually disagree with her but he knew well enough to leave her alone. They made their way downstairs to find Peter, the priest and Assumpta talking heatedly in the kitchen. Niamh was in the bar and Siobhan, Brendan, Padraig and Ambrose, Niamh's husband were leaning on the bar. Siobhan waved to Scully and smiled. "Everyone, this is Dana."

They all said hello and Mulder tried to blend into the background. Scully didn't help much though.

"Everyone this Mulder." She dropped her voice to a conspirital whisper and everyone moved in. "His real name is Fox but I don't think you should call him that, he might get ANGRY!"

Mulder glared at her and everyone laughed; they could tell these were going to be an eventful two weeks. The whole evening went smoothly and everyone regaled everyone with stories about everyone. Scully and Siobhan became brilliant friends and Mulder, Brendan and Padraig wouldn't stop talking. When they finally headed upstairs Scully flopped down on the bed.

"Told you they were brilliant."

Mulder gave her an evil look and hopped onto the bed next to her. "Bet they aren't as brilliant at tickling as I am." With that he grabbed Scully round the waist and tickled her until she begged for mercy. "That was for telling them that I'm called Fox. Did you see Padraig's face?"

Scully nodded and burst into giggles again. slowly he brought his face down to hers. She inhaled sharply and he smiled, taking a piece of hair away from her face.

"Dana, I love you. I think about you all the time."

She looked up at him in shock. Sure, she loved him but she was hoping that it would never come to a head. Instead of pulling away she reached up and kissed him. It was amazing, she was flying. Mulder rolled her on top of him and she sank into his chest, wrapping her arms around it. He smiled up at her and kissed the forehead that was leaning against his. There was a look of understanding in his eyes as tears began to fall silently from her own.

"Dana, what's going on?"

She looked at him. "I never thought this would happen." She smiled slyly up at him and pulled him down on top of her.

He grinned and kissed her passionately. "Not tonight Scully, I want it just as much as you do but we're both tired."

She nodded and he rolled off her and snuggled into the curve of her back.

Fitzgerald's bar. Back room.
"Peter no! I can't do this, I'm married and you're a Catholic Priest."

"Do you think I don't know that? Do you think I haven't noticed that Leo isn't around either?"

Assumpta sighed. "Peter, what do you want me to say?"

Peter looked at Assumpta and sighed as well. "I want you to say what you think. Do you honestly think I have come to this decision easily? Do you think that I don't stay up every night trying to fathom out these feelings? I don't even think I'm a Priest anymore, I spend more time thinking about you than Him up there."

Just as Assumpta was about to burst into tears and fling herself at him, Mulder and Scully came through and said good morning.

"Assumpta, Peter. Assumpta are you ok?" Mulder was worried by the upset look on Assumpta's face.

She nodded and Scully dragged Mulder out of the room, giggling. Assumpta watched the departing agents with a look of grief on her beautiful face. Peter saw the look on her face and pulled her in close. For a moment she leant into him but then she pulled away, shaking her head.

"I know that you have thought about this but I'm after coming out of a messy marriage that hasn't even legally ended yet. I just cant get involved right now."

Peter looked at her and smiled gently, an anguished look coming over his features. "You do admit that you feel the same though?"

"No! Yes! I...I don't know what's going on at the moment Peter."

Peter looked at her with anger in his eyes and slammed out of the kitchen. Brendan and Siobhan watched him nearly run out of the pub. Small sobs could be heard from the kitchen.

Rental car.
Mulder had let Scully drive as they headed out of town, speeding towards Kildargen. He didn't know why but after
the things they had gotten up to the night before he was in the mood to let Scully take charge. Anyway, he had shown who was boss in that enormous bed they had to share. Not that he was complaining, of course. After last nights little revelation he would never go back to how they were before. He gazed at her profile as she concentrated on the road ahead. She was staring at the stony tarmac and didn't seem a bit aware of her surroundings. That was why she didn't notice Mulder's hand snaking up her back and coming to rest on her shoulder. She jumped a mile when he squeezed gently. She turned to smile at him and he leaned in and captured her lips with his own.

"Mulder, I'm driving in a foreign car and on the other side of the road. It's hard enough to concentrate without you turning me on completely!"

He grinned at her and kissed her cheek. "That's what men are for."

"What? Terrorizing young ladies like myself?!"

"No, loving them to pieces and if they don't love them back, torturing them until they admit to having wild fantasies about them in red lace."

She turned and gave him a strange look and then swiveled back to the road. "You did mean me in red lace didn't you?"

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me Agent Scully!"

She gave him a withering look and pointed out the sign to Kildargen. "Look. We'll be there soon. There's supposed to be a really good police force here."

"Who told you that."

"Niamh."

"And how does she know."

"Ambrose just happened to be part of that police force."

"Oh. I bet they're not as good as us."

"Mulder, we're part of the FBI. No one is as good as us."

He grinned as she shut off the motor. "What are we going to do today Agent Scully?"

"We're going shopping. I want to have a look around an Irish town center.."

"Oh tits."

"Not yet Mulder." Scully giggled at that and Mulder looked at her dumbfounded. "I hoped we might find a park bench and have a nice, calm game of tonsil tennis or tongue wrestling. Your choice." She gave him that look again and he pretended to faint, falling onto a stone brick wall.

"You alright there sir?" The young boy that Scully had seen about Ballykissangel was standing by Mulder.

She smiled at him. "Don't mind him, he's only making a fool of himself."

The boy nodded and Scully continued. "You live in BallyK don't you? What's your name?"

"Aye, I do. My name's Kevin. I'm Padraig's son. You're the Americans aren't you. Me Dad said about you."

Scully smiled. She loved how fast news spread in a small village. In some respects the FBI was like that. Mulder had now crawled up off the floor and was smiling at Kevin. Kevin grinned back and then spoke again.

"I've to be goin', my mate'll be lookin' for me. No doubt Assumpta will be looking for yous if yous don't get back before dark."

Scully grinned as he walked away and pulled Mulder close, walking with him into the town centre.

6:00pm.
They returned to the pub and hurried up the stairs, ignoring the tense look on Peter's face. They returned to find Siobhan, Brendan and Padraig propping up the bar and chatting to Niamh. Ambrose, they learnt, was at home, watching Keiran. Scully watched as the door opened and Peter sat up. She saw Assumpta enter the bar and move to serve someone. Scully saw the flicker of tension pass between her and Peter and she smiled secretively. Mulder saw it and leaned in to her.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Look at Peter and Assumpta, it is so obvious they're in love. Why don't they just get together?"

"Might have something to do with the fact that she's married and he's a catholic priest."

Scully laughed and nodded. "Yes well."

Just then Assumpta stalked up to them and smiled brightly, all her past tension forgotten. "So, how are you finding Ireland?" There was a forced cheerfulness in her tone and she tried to smile.

Scully placed a hand on her arm. "I love it, I think it's the most beautiful place a I've ever been to."

Mulder smiled at his partners obvious delight and squeezed her hand tightly. Mulder sat down at a table and let the women talk, Padraig, Brendan and Brian soon joined him.

Two weeks later. Mulder stood outside the pub as Scully hugged everyone for the 1000th time, sharing tears with Niamh, Siobhan and Assumpta. He finally stepped over to her and smiled politely. "Scully, we better get going, we're gonna miss our flight."

More wailing, beating of chests and gnashing of teeth followed and Mulder had to drag her away in the end. Everyone waved frantically as the car sped off.

In the Pub. Assumpta and Peter were the only ones left in the pub when Mulder and Scully left. As Assumpta went to follow the others he caught her hand and pulled her to him in a fierce hug. She gasped but didn't pull away, instead, welcoming his embrace with one of her own. When she finally pulled away she looked at him and smiled sadly. "How're we going to make this work?"

"I don't know, all I know is I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Assumpta grinned shyly and reached up to kiss his lips. It was magic, nothing like either of them had ever experienced before.  Peter looked at her and licked his lips, savoring the taste of her on his lips and loving the feel of her in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to lift her into his arms. She then kissed his neck all over before he carried her up the stairs, away from prying eyes.