Title: Frustrating Day Author: Erin M. Blair E-Mail: eblair@sonic.net Classification: VRA--Vignette, Romance, Angst Content: Mulder/Scully Romance. Other POV. Spoiler: Duane Barry, Ascension, One Breath, Memento Mori, Redux, Redux 11, and X-Files: Fight the Future Movie. Rating: PG. Archive: Anywhere, especially to Gossamer and other fanfic archives. Please post to ATXC. Disclaimer: The characters of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully aren't mine, as they belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and the FOX Network. No infringement is intended. The character of Erin belongs to me. Well, she's me. =) If you want to use me for a future story, Chris, you're welcome to moi. Author's Note: With the way that I had been feeling lately, I need all the encouragement that I can get. So, I wrote this story. It cheered me up. And no, I never had a run in with Mulder and Scully. I wish. =) I'm taking a much needed break from the Discovery and the A Twist Of series. I know. I know. Usually, I don't write these kind of stories, but this story came out of me... Dedication: To any author who had been frustrated about writing, as well as "new" authors who are trying to find their niche. This is for you. Hopefully, this story will be inspirational for you. I also dedicate this story to: Lauren M., Kim, Lauren N., Shaina, Laura P., Carol, Dew, Simon, Ingrid A., and anyone who have beta read my stories. You're great. I also dedicate this story to David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson who gave Mulder and Scully a soul. Feedback: Much appreciated and welcomed. Summary: A X-Phile fanfic writer is frustrated dealing with the fanfic world when two agents come into her life and helps her. -------------------------------------- FRUSTRATING DAY Written by: Erin M. Blair -------------------------------------- I put my backpack down at the Santa Rosa Junior College's library. I took my "Introduction to Cultural Communication" text book out of the bag, and placed it onto the table. I had to study for my quiz. I needed to make good grades this semester or I'll be disgusted at myself. I had never been an "A" student, unlike my brother who always did well in school. He already graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in Sociology with honors. Honors. I could never achieve that. I had to struggle to get good grades all through out my life. I have always looked up to him because he's so smart. I toss the book aside; as I can read that later. I *know* this cultural communication pretty well since I had always been very interested in it. I took out a little blue notebook from backpack. It was my X-Files fanfiction writing notebook. I always bring it with me wherever I go...not to mention the X-Files: Fight the Future novelization! X-Files is always on my brain. I know so much but when I write it down on paper, it looks like I suck. My friends have told me that I have talent as a writer. In my sophomore year of high school, I was writer of the month. I *can* write, but I had been out of practice for so long. "Can we sit down here?" I heard a female voice, and I nodded. "I guess." The tears of frustration were flowing down my cheeks. Some people might say that it's my time of the month. They might be right. Still, I should apologize for my behavior. "I'm sorry. I had no right to snap at you." "That's all right," a male voice said. "It must be hard to be a student." I looked up, and I gasped. No, it couldn't be. It's just a television show! Am I losing my mind? "You're Mulder and Scully. Right?" "How do you know?" Scully asked. "We're FBI agents from Washington DC." "I'm dreaming this. I know. I fell asleep, and I'm dreaming this," I replied, muttering to myself. "There has got to be a logical explanation for this..." "We're real," Mulder said, with a smile. He took out his badge, and showed it to me as did Scully. "Aren't you guys a figment of Chris Carter's imagination?" I asked, not sure what to make of this. "Who's Chris Carter?" Scully asked. "Do you ever watch the X-Files?" "We work in the X-Files Division in Washington DC," Scully explained. She paused. "I'm not sure what you mean. We hardly have time to watch television..." "How about movies?" I asked, innocently. "I saw the ads for the Titanic video," Scully replied. "Not that movie," I answered. "Oh my God, I can't believe that you have never seen the X-Files on tv or seen it at the movie theatre. I think that we're going to have a little talk..." "There's a show about us?" Mulder asked. "Yes, there is," I answered. "It's about these two agents called Fox Mulder and Dana Scully who search for the truth in the X-Files, but weird things happen to them..." "Is that the Cliff Notes version?" Scully asked, with a smile. "OK. What weird things?" "You really want to know?" "Yes, I would." "Are you sure, Scully?" I asked. "Sure," Scully replied. "On the *show*, Scully, you had been through the winger. That's for sure. And Mulder, same thing with you. Only not so much happens with you.." "I bet," Mulder laughed. "Well?" "Now, this is on the *show* and the *movie*, I don't know if any of this has happened to either of you," I said, as I took a deep breath. "Scully, on the show, you were abducted by these government conspiracy people led by the Cigarette Smoking Man. They stole ova from you and gave you a nasal pharangeal mass. Cancer. Mulder found a chip which helped you to recover. I don't know if it actually cured it. It could have been anything really... Faith in God? The chip? Your love for Mulder? I don't know. While you were kissing Mulder, you got stung by an alien virus infected bee and taken away by the fake ambulance. Mulder rescued you by giving you that vaccine. That's just the highlights version of what happened to you," I answered. I turned to face to Mulder. "As for you, your sister was abducted by aliens in 1973. You blamed yourself for many years, and went to Oxford. You joined the FBI, and in 1991, started the X-Files. In 1992, you became partners with Scully..." "Is that it?" Mulder asked me. "Well, no, but going into your history, will take me a long time. Anyway, you can watch the television show on FOX, FX, and the syndication reruns..." "FOX? Is that the network?" "Yes," I replied. "Some fans hate it though..." "Why?" Mulder asked, curious. "FOX has been shutting down every single fan site on the Internet..." "How come they would do that? Scully and I were shut down, but we got the X-Files reopened. Eventually. Why would a network go after fan sites?" "The show is their crash crop. It's not Beverly Hills 90210 or Melrose Place. X-Files gave FOX a lot of money in terms of advertising dollars. FOX is very protective of that show. Anyway, they want to protect their copyright and feel that the sites are threatening to take over," I explained, with a sigh. "No money is being gained from this..." "Hmmm, sounds strange," Mulder said, with a sigh. "Since I have never heard of the show, I don't know what to think." "Neither do I. I don't know what to think of all of this either because I don't know all of the facts. Well, is anything that I said true or false..." "Somewhat," Scully replied, with a sigh. "It looks to me that they have left out one detail though..." "What's that?" I asked, as I looked at their smiling faces. "We've been married since 1993, and had a child, Emily, in 1994." "Really?" I asked. "I'm a shipper, but I would never had guessed that you had married and had a child together." "You did see my name hyphenated on my badge?" Scully asked me. "Um, I glanced at it." "Well, Erin, it took us only a few months to figure it out," Scully said, with a smile. "I haven't told you my name..." "It's on your notebook. Erin M. Blair," Mulder replied. "See." "I can see," I answered, frustrated. "What's wrong?" Scully asked, concerned. "Oh, nothing. Nothing you can help me with..." "Oh, really?" Scully asked, as she arched her eyebrows. "Yes, you're going to laugh anyway," I replied, with a sigh. I showed the blue notebook to Mulder. "What's this?" "X-Files fan fiction," I replied, simply. "A bunch of people write MSRs, Slash, and other fun genres. It's really fun, but sometimes, it can be frustrating." "Hold on a second, you're confusing me. What's MSR? Slash? That *sounds* awful," Mulder replied, as he looked confused. "Slash is same sex romances. Oh, like you and Skinner..." "Ewwww," Mulder replied. "Do they have me getting it on with Scully?" He secretly gave Scully a smile. "Yes," I replied, simply. "That's what they call NC-17 sex stories..." I paused. "Not that I wrote any..." "How come?" Mulder asked. "Too embaressed. There are a lot of good authors that write those kind of stories, but I'd never tried. I don't want to write something like that," I answered, with a shrug. "Now, what's MSR?" Scully asked, as she returned the smile to Mulder. Then, she looked at me. I don't know about you, but I think that Mulder and Scully have eyes on each other. If only Chris Carter, David Duchovny, and Gillian Anderson had seen what I had seen! I took a deep breath, and continued. "Mulder/Scully Romance." I gave them a smile. "That's what I write." I gave them a photocopy of "Discovery of Hope". "I want your opinions on this one. It was my first story, and I think that it sucks." Scully took the story, and she read the story to herself silently. "This is nice... I like it. It's simplistic, but you do have a grasp for storytelling." "Yeah, well, I'm nowhere near as wonderful as some of the authors that are out there like Paula Graves, Penny Daza, and the list goes on..." Mulder put the story down, and he looked at me. "When did you start writing, Erin?" "April," "Of this year?" Scully asked, as I nodded. "You're just beginning writing fanfic. You probably haven't written as long as those authors. It takes time and practice in order to do well." "I know, but it's frustrating." "Let me ask you a question, Erin. Why are you writing?" Mulder asked. "I want you to think hard on this one..." I had always loved writing ever since I could remember, and I needed to find why. Maybe that's the answer. I do love writing. It gives me a glow of self-confidence. To know that I can do it. "I love writing, and I enjoy learning everything that I can." "That's your answer, Erin. Keep writing stories, and I'm sure that people will start reccommend your stories," Scully replied, encouraging. "Have faith in your work." I pondered what Mulder and Scully are trying to tell me. It's what my friends have been telling me all along. Writing take practice, and hard work. I have the love of writing, but do I have the faith? Will I ever get better? "I don't have faith," I said, with a sigh. "I want it back." "You *do* have faith, Erin. It's inside of you. All you have to do is to find it," Scully replied, with a soft smile. She looked at her watch, and sighed. "We have to go. Promise me something, Erin?" "What is it?" "Promise me you'll find the faith." "I will..." End of Vignette.