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“A blind date? Mom, I really don't know." Scully chews on her lip, curling a finger around the phone cord.
“Do it for me, please?” Her mom asks. “I want you to be happy, Dana.”
“I am happy,” she says too quickly. It’s not a lie; she isn’t unhappy with her life. Her job fulfills her, she has a home she loves, her family, and a Mulder. Her life may not look like she imagined it when she was younger, but getting married was never a priority for her. Of course, she thought she’d have someone special in her life at her age. Kids maybe, too. Or at least a pet.
“Yes, I know, honey. But it’s just one date. He’s perfect for you.”
“You said that before,” Scully says, remembering a date not too long ago that almost bored her to tears. Halfway through Mulder had called her with a case and she’d never been so glad that someone had been murdered.
“This time it’s different. If it doesn’t work out, I will leave you alone.”
“You promise?”
“Dana, trust me. He’s tall, he’s got brown hair and a charming smile.”
“That could be anyone.”
“He’s a sweetheart and a kind soul. You’re going to love him,” her mother says with a dreamy sigh. “So can I let him know you’ll meet him next Friday?”
“I just don't know."
“One date. Do it for my sake, Dana. I’m not getting any younger.”
“You’re not old, mom.”
“But I am getting older. So?” She won’t give up. Scully takes a deep sigh. Today is Sunday so between now and Friday she might find a reason to call this whole thing off. There’s no harm in saying yes now if it means making her mother happy.
“Fine,” she says and hears her mother cheer on the other end of the line.
“You won’t regret this.”
She’s not so sure about that.
*
Scully doesn’t believe in conspiracies, but if she did, she’d believe that the universe was against her this week. On Tuesday she and Mulder flew all the way to Tulsa to investigate people behaving strangely. By Thursday afternoon, it was clear that there was no supernatural power at hand. A young sous-chef had merely laced pastries with drugs. That meant they were going home and she had no reason to call off tomorrow’s date with the mystery man.
A tall, dark-haired sweetheart – that is all Scully knows about her date. Her mother said he was around her age and a doctor who works too much. Resting her head against the plane’s window, she considers it. What if her mother is right and this guy really is a good match for her?
She steals a glance at Mulder, who’s flipping through a comic book someone left on his seat. From time to time, he chuckles, his lips curled upwards in a soft smile.
For the longest time, Scully thought that she and Mulder might find a way to turn their friendship into more. First, there was the almost kiss, then there was him telling her he loved her, and the baseball session a few weeks ago. All the moments in between, too. They have years of them under their belt. Yet, every time they move towards more, there’s something that gets in between them. Whether it’s bees, ex-girlfriends or simply work. Now she’s going on a date and if her mother is to be believed, she will meet someone who will fit in her life and enhance it. Someone who is not Mulder.
“You okay?” Mulder asks her and she realizes she’s been staring at him the whole time. “Do you want me to read you some of this? It’s funny.”
“Yes, please,” she says, and true to his word, Mulder starts reading to her from the comic book, making funny noises and chuckling in between. With a smile on her face, Scully listens.
*
There’s no new case, no pressing report or important meeting that might keep her from her date today. As much as Scully wishes there were. Mulder leaves early, which is unusual for him, and eventually, there’s nothing she can do but go home, too. To get ready for her date.
While they were in Tulsa, her mother let herself into her apartment, leaving a dress and a message for her:
‘I told Dave you’d wear this dress so he’ll recognize you. Have fun, honey.’
Scully takes the dress out of the wrapping and sighs. It’s a beautiful dress, perfect for a first date on a warm summer night.
She showers and puts it on, the soft cotton hugging her figure perfectly. She looks at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman she sees reflected. The flowers on the dress are understated, not too flashy. It’s exactly the kind of dress she would have picked herself. She makes a mental note to thank her mother tomorrow, knowing that she will want to know how the date went.
She enters the cute and cozy Italian restaurant close to her apartment where the date is to take place. Scully wills herself to remain calm, running her sweaty hands over her dress.
“May I help you?” A waiter greets her with a welcoming smile.
“I’m here for a date,” she admits, heat shooting into her cheeks.
“Ah yes. Ms. Scully, I presume?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Follow me. Your date is already here.”
If the waiter says more, Scully doesn’t hear it. Her heart is pounding in her chest, and then, when she sees her date, his expression as surprised as what she’s sure her own face displays, it might just stop for a moment.
“Mulder?” She asks, her voice shrill. “This is my date? Are you sure?”
“Um, yes. This is- I can check, but… I don’t think we made a mistake, ma’am.”
“Don’t worry,” Mulder says to the waiter. “I just have that effect on women.” The waiter quickly runs off and Scully sits down opposite Mulder.
"You look beautiful, Scully," he says, his voice full of awe, but she can't believe this is happening. How can Mulder be her date?
“Did you know?” She asks him, reaching for his glass and taking a huge gulp, needing the ice cold water. He shakes his head, but he’s grinning.
“I had no idea, but I probably should have. Scully, your mother is a mastermind.”
“She lured you here.”
“She did. She said she had something important to discuss with me concerning your birthday and that it had to be in person.”
“Mulder my birthday is in February.”
“That should have been my first clue. What did she say to you?” She blushes furiously. Mulder isn’t here for a date. He wasn’t told he’d meet the love of his life, his soulmate, the woman who might complete him like a puzzle piece that was missing.
“Scully?”
“A blind date,” she admits, avoiding his eyes.
“Oh, this is too funny.”
“Thanks,” Scully mumbles. So much for this being her perfect man. What was her mother thinking?
“No, you don’t understand,” he says, and she nods because she really doesn’t. "I think your mom... I think she did this on purpose."
"Yes, but why?" Scully asks him, taking in his appearance for the first time. He's freshly shaven and wearing a black sweater. He looks good. Very good.
"Maybe she thought we deserved a nice dinner."
"But she said... nevermind. She called you Dave," Scully says, laughingly shaking her head. "I can't believe she did this."
"You're not mad, are you?"
"No," she says. "I just don't understand why she said this was a date."
"It can be," Mulder says.
"You don't need to humor me," Scully replies, reaching for the menu.
"I'm not, I... I'm glad it's you. I'm glad your mom did this for us. I think she knew that I- I might have let it slip that I'm interested."
"Interested," Scully repeats slowly.
"In you. In this. Maybe we needed that final push. Unless you're not interested in me."
"I am," she admits, feeling like a 16-year-old. "You know I am."
"I was hoping you'd say that. Mother always knows best, huh?"
"Guess she got tired of waiting for us to figure it out ourselves."
"Can't blame her," Mulder says, grinning. "Come on, let's eat and show your mom we know how to date."
*
The next morning her mother calls early - earlier than Scully would have expected - and is full of childish glee.
"How was it?" She asks, not even saying good morning.
"Dave didn't show up," Scully says, taking a sip from her freshly brewed coffee. It's needed this morning, since she didn't sleep much the night before.
"What? But I thought..." Her mother's voice breaks her heart and Scully knows she can't keep it up.
"You could have just told me it was Mulder, mom."
"So he was there? You had a great night?" Scully smiles to herself, rembering. There are some things she won't tell her mom.
"We did."
"I wasn't wrong, was I? You and Fox."
"You weren't wrong," Scully admits, watching as Mulder pads into the kitchen, wearing a shirt and his boxers. His hair is wild, his eyes red and small, but he's grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm so happy, Dana. I felt you two needed some help. So I can set an extra plate for Fox tomorrow?"
"You want Mulder to come to Sunday dinner?" She looks at him as she repeats her mother's words and he nods at her.
"I do. Please tell him he's welcome to join us."
"I will. Thank you, mom. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."
"Love you, too, honey. And give my love to Fox. Bye."
"So Sunday dinner," Mulder says once she's hung up the phone. He's playing with her fingers, seemingly needing to touch her, despite them being inseparable since last night.
"You're ready for Sunday night dinner with my family?"
"I'm ready for all of it, Scully," he says, kissing her softly.