Title: First To Know

Author: Dana Doggett - danadoggett@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.danadoggett.com/

Dates: February 23, 2009; final April 27, 2010

Distribution: Semper Fi, Serenity of X, We Shall Not Forget. All others please ask.

Rating: G

Category: Doggett/Scully

Timeline: Valentine's Day circa "The X-Files" Season 9.

Beta: Rubine Goslay

Summary: Monica is the first to know on Valentine's Day.

Author's Note: This story is in response to the VALENTINE'S DAY FICLET 
fanfic challenge at Semper Fi (http://www.danadoggett.com/dsr/)


-----


I hold his Valentine's Day card in my hand. I spent nearly twenty minutes deciding on the 
perfect card. If I weren't so attracted to him and if I didn't want our friendship to turn into 
something more I would have been out of that Hallmark store in record time. I close my 
eyes, take a deep breath and enter our office. He's not here.  There's a vase of a dozen 
roses on his desk. My heart skips a beat. He actually got me, Monica Reyes, a dozen 
beautiful roses. I smile and walk towards the flowers, they've got to be for me. My smile 
fades as I see her name, Dana. He got a dozen dewy red roses for her, not me.

I hear the elevator door ding open and do my best to try to hide the pink envelop in my 
hand. If he loves her and not me I don't want him to see this card. I quickly open my desk 
drawer and slam it shut. 

"Monica?"

I look over at him and Scully is at his side, smiles on both their faces.

"John, hi, um. Happy Valentine's Day you two." I hope my smile doesn't give away the 
jealousy that I feel.

John looks to Dana and leans down to whisper something in her ear. She smiles up at him 
and nods.

"Monica, we'd like you to be the first to know." John grins.

My stomach turns inside out; this can't be good for my heart. 

"John and I decided to get married." She smiles sincerely.

My eyes bug, I blink to hide my surprise, but it is a surprise. I didn't even know they were 
seeing each other.

"Congratulations, I, I..." I sound like a blubbering fool, "I had no idea you two were an 
item."

Dana walks over to me and wraps her arms around me. My eyes fall on the sparkling 
diamond on her finger. 

John opens his desk drawer and takes out a white envelop and hands it to me.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Monica." 

I take the card from his hand and open it. The card features a kitten and puppy cuddling 
together on a heart-shaped bed and reads "I wish you lots of puppy love this Valentine's 
Day". 

"That's really cute, John." I look into his eyes and see how happy he is today. "I wish I 
had a card for you, I didn't think we'd be exchanging cards this year." I lie. 

"No need to apologize, Monica." He moves towards Dana and takes her hand in his. "I've 
already got all I ever need this Valentine's Day." 

I try to smile, but can't. I sit down behind my desk and take out the card I chose for him 
and I toss it in the trash. All the while Dana and John share ideas about their upcoming 
wedding.

I turn my attention to my computer and pull up a case report that needs to be finished and 
on Skinner's desk by the end of the day. Happy Valentine's Day to me. Note the sarcasm. 

THE END