I hope you enjoy this.  I would really appreciate feedback. You can e-
mail me at YRLD43A@PRODIGY.COM   Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me 
encouragement.

Summary:  Pendrell finally finds love, but is it too late? 
Spoilers: Tempus Fugit-4th season
Classification :  S

Disclaimer:  The characters and situations of the television program 
"The X-Files" are the creations and property of Chris Carter,  Fox
Broadcasting, and Ten Thirteen Productions, and have been used without
permission. No copyright infringements are intended.  This work is not
to be forwarded or distributed to any newsgroup, FTP, or WWW site without
the permission of the author.

I do give permission for it to be put on atxc.

*************************
Pendrell's Luck
By Patty Hayes
March 18, 1997
*************************

She sat a few feet from him, still nervous, even after six months of 
working with him.  'Why doesn't he notice me?'  She thought to 
herself as she kept watch of him from the corner or her eye.  She 
fell for him the first day she met him.  He was so shy, so kind and 
had the most beautiful blue eyes.  With that red hair, he blushed 
with the slightest gesture.  Olivia loved it.  She'd had her share of 
ups and downs with men.  In her school days, she was breathtaking, 
with long thick wavy black hair, dark brown eyes and she was 
developed beyond her years.  The boys in high school and later in 
college always made unsolicited advances toward her.  They were 
insincere and immature and she was naive and always ended up hurt.  
She grew to dislike men but believed it to be her fault.  So she 
downplayed her physical assets, kept her hair tied up, wore 
unflattering glasses, no make up and baggy clothes to hide her 
perfect figure.  It worked, no one paid any attention.

Now she wanted the attention, she wanted it from him.  "Agent 
Pendrell?  I'm finished with this, do you have anything else for me?" 
 She asked hopefully.

He turned and smiled, oblivious of everything except his work.  "No, 
thanks Olivia, that'll be it for today.  Why don't you go ahead and 
go home.  I'll lock up."

She nodded as he turned back to his microscope, her smile fading.  
"All right."  She hesitated then continued.  "Well, good night then.
"

"Good night."  He never even looked up.

Olivia sat at her vanity that evening as she brushed out her hair, 
softly talking to herself.  "It's no wonder he doesn't notice you, 
look at yourself.  You couldn't hold a candle to Dana Scully."  She 
closed her eyes, fighting back the tears and continued to brush.  
"She's not interested in him, why can't he let it go?  She's too 
close to Agent Mulder.  Oh, Dana's nice enough, she'd never lead him 
on.  She's been nothing but friendly towards me and him, but I think 
she's got eyes only for Agent Mulder."

When she opened her eyes, the bluriness from the tears put a soft 
glow over her image in the mirror.  She began to see herself in a new 
light.  Olivia opened the drawers of her vanity and pulled out 
packages of makeup she'd purchased a long time ago.  A little blush, 
a little color over her eyes, some mascara and finally some color for 
her lips.  She applied a little at a time, not really seeing the 
whole picture until she finished.  Then she was amazed.  All of a 
sudden she was seeing a different person.  Someone just as beautiful 
as Dana Scully, only different.  She went to her closet and began 
thumbing through her wardrobe.  She found a couple of nice outfits 
her mother had bought for her.  Olivia had never worn them because 
she didn't feel they were right for her.  She smiled at herself in 
the mirror, holding the new dress up to her.  Well, tomorrow the new 
Olivia would walk into the office.  A beautiful, voluptuous woman, 
instead of a homely, shy girl.  

*****

Olivia walked into the federal building with a new born confidence.  
She actually blushed at the heads that were turning in her direction. 
 She almost felt giddy with excitement.  Would it make a difference 
to the person she wanted to impress?  She was just stepping into the 
elevator, alone, when she heard a voice.  

"Hold the door!"

She reached out and pressed the open button and waited.  A few 
seconds later, Agent Fox Mulder stepped in.  She didn't look up at 
him but could feel his eyes on her.  Suddenly she felt uncomfortable 
and tugged at the hem of her short skirt.

"Thanks."  He said, out of breath from rushing.  Pressing the same 
button for the floor she had pressed.

"Sure."  She replied, and stepped back.

She was small in stature, so he seemed to tower over her, for a 
moment it made her nervous.  Not that Agent Mulder would do her harm, 
but for a split second, the fears from her younger days returned.  
Fear of being alone in a tight situation, depending on only herself 
to emerge safely.

"Are you all right?"  Mulder asked, noticing her obvious nervousness.


Olivia finally looked up at him and smiled.  "Yes, thank you, I'm 
fine."

"Olivia?"  He was amazed at the transformation.  He'd seen her many 
times in Pendrell's office, but never really saw her.

She smiled again, this time blushing and nodded, tucking a strand of 
hair behind her ear.

"You look very nice today."  He said in a nonchalant manner.  He 
didn't want her to think she didn't always look nice.

She lowered her head, in a shy, coy way, tilting her head slightly 
upwards.  Her eyes swiftly glancing at him, then back to the floor.  
"Thank you."

The elevator stopped at her floor and they both emerged.  Neither 
said anything as they walked the hall to the lab.  Mulder smiled 
inwardly, he'd seen this same situation before.  Olivia wanted to 
impress someone, he hoped it might be Pendrell.  Maybe he could save 
Scully a few awkward moments.  When they reached the lab, Mulder 
opened the door for Olivia and stood back.

"Thanks."  She said as she passed over the threshold.

"My pleasure."  He replied, still grinning.

She looked at Pendrell as she came in, but his head was buried in 
some project, but when Mulder spoke, he snapped to attention.  "Agent 
Mulder,  I have the results you were looking for.  Should we wait for 
Agent Scully?  I don't want her to miss anything."  He still didn't 
notice Olivia.

Mulder grinned slightly.  "No, she won't be joining us today.  I'll 
be meeting her at the crime scene in an hour, though."

Pendrell nodded, the obvious disappointment showing in his eyes.  
Olivia hated that look, even though she wanted him to notice her, she 
hated the fact that he hurt over anyone.

Mulder kept one eye on Olivia and saw the pain on her face as 
Pendrell was obviously disappointed that Scully was not with him.  He 
mistook the look for anger or hurt at Pendrell and not for Pendrell.  
The thought crossed his mind that Pendrell must be blind.  Working 
every day with this woman and never noticing her.  He suddenly wanted 
out of this threesome.

Pendrell and Mulder discussed the latest testings and findings and 
when they were done, Mulder headed for the door.  He stopped and 
looked at the two in the room.  'Maybe they just need a little push.' 
 He thought.  "Oh, Olivia?"  He spoke rather loudly.  "Thanks again, 
for this morning."  Mulder smiled broadly and left.

Pendrell looked up with a start at the tone of Mulder's voice, a look 
of confusion crossed his face.  Then he turned his head toward Olivia 
for the first time that morning.  He stared with his mouth hanging 
open.

Olivia was startled as well, she blushed, smiled, nodded at Mulder, 
not really knowing what he meant.  Then looked at Pendrell and saw 
his reaction.  She suddenly knew what Mulder had done and a part of 
her was silently thanking him.

"Olivia, can you run these tests for me?"  He stammered.  "Um, when 
you get a chance, I mean?"

She smiled and nodded.  "Sure, Agent Pendrell."

"Please, call me Brian."  He blushed again, continuously and Olivia 
was delighted.  She turned away from him and she had a hard time 
containing the smile that spread wide across her face.

She walked on clouds all day.  Every time she looked up, he was 
staring at her, it was as if he couldn't take his eyes off her.  
After a while, Olivia feared she'd done the wrong thing.  If he 
didn't like her for herself, then any kind of relationship wouldn't 
work.  But maybe it just needed a boost.  She always felt, it he just 
took the time to know her, things would work out.

The day was ending and Olivia felt she'd been holding her breath all 
day.  "I guess, I'll go home now, if you don't need anything else."

"No, we're done here, thanks."  He watched her take off her lab coat 
and place it on a hanger.  She looked wonderful.  He liked her hair 
long, she always wore it up, why hadn't he notice how beautiful she 
was before now?  "Olivia?"

"Yes."  She replied, again hopefully.

"Would you like to have dinner, maybe?  Sometime?"  Pendrell asked 
shyly, eyes moving from her eyes to the floor.

Olivia hesitated as if she were thinking.  She didn't want to seem 
too quick to reply.  "Sure, I'd like that."

"What about tonight?  Are you doing anything?"

"No, tonight's fine."  Two extremely shy people finally broke the ice.


They met later at a small bar/restaurant.  They had a light dinner 
with a couple of drinks.  Neither really drank much, but both needed 
the courage tonight and they felt that a drink might loosen their 
inhibitions.

They talked and talked until the bar was ready to close.  For two who 
had been scared to death to talk to each other, they made up for lost 
time.  The time had gone by so quickly and it got to a point where 
neither noticed anyone else in the place.  As if they were totally 
alone.

He walked her, his hand on her elbow, to her car and stood by the 
door, shyly deciding on whether to kiss her or not.  After all, they 
did work together, and this was just a dinner.  Or a first date.  She 
was silent, but couldn't take the suspense, so the liquor in her made 
the decision for her.  She reached up and, pulling him to her by his 
lapel, kissed him lightly and quickly on the lips.

She was on her tip toes and her eyes were closed and she could feel 
his breath on her face.  He leaned down and put his arms around her 
and kissed her gently, but passionately.  They separated, and finally 
took a breath.  Both smiling, he reached for her hand and squeezed.  
"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah."  She answered breathlessly.  Then he opened her car door, she 
got in and drove away.

He stood, watching her drive off.  Pendrell couldn't believe that 
he'd never really known Olivia before.  He discovered they had so 
much in common, he was amazed.  He really liked her and suddenly 
realized he'd gone through the entire evening without thinking of 
Dana Scully.  A part of him was sadden by it, but another part, the 
part that was thinking of Olivia, was glad.

*****

Olivia and Pendrell became inseparable over the next four months.  No 
one at the Bureau, save Mulder, knew they were an item.  Mulder was 
pleased with what he thought was his doing.  It was a subject that 
was not to be made public at the Bureau.  At least not until they'd 
made a decision.

Pendrell was happier than he'd been in a long time.  He finally found 
someone that was for him.  He believed there was someone for everyone,
 he once thought that person was Dana, but now he knew better.  He 
wanted Olivia, he wanted to have children with Olivia, he wanted to 
spend the rest of his life with her.  It actually surprised him that 
he was truly in love with her.  So when he asked her to marry him and 
she said yes, he was the happiest man alive.

Olivia, too, was ecstatic.  Her hopes and dreams had come true.  
Pendrell was in love with her and she was in love with him.  When 
he'd gotten down on one knee and proposed, she thought she would die 
right there in the restaurant.  Everyone around them clapped and 
congratulated them.  She was speechless, that is after she said yes.  
They made plans.  Wedding plans, or at least they set a date.  They 
were even looking at homes in Alexandria.  Here she was, twenty six, 
engaged to be married.  Her whole life had turned around within a ten 
month period. 

It would soon change again.

Pendrell saw Olivia off at the airport.  She wanted to tell her 
mother in person.  Then she would join Pendrell to tell his family.  
God, he hated to see her leave.  They hadn't been apart one day over 
the past two months.  He was going to be lost without her.  As the 
plane departed, he sat in his car, too wired to go home, he wanted to 
celebrate.

He ended up at the same bar he met Olivia at for their first date.  
He sat at the bar, third drink in hand.  He knew he shouldn't have 
been drinking, he hadn't had much to eat, so the liquor affected 
faster than normal.  Someone had mentioned Dana's birthday the day 
before and he couldn't believe he'd missed it.  He wanted to tell 
Dana about his engagement, how happy he was and how he wished her the 
same happiness.  She would be happy for him.  There would always be a 
soft spot in his heart for her.

His thoughts were of her as he noticed her reflection in the bar 
mirror coming toward the bar.  He reached out and grabbed her sleeve.


"Hey, birthday girl."

THE END