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“You sure you guys will be alright?” Scully asked for probably the third time already.
“Yes, Scully, we’ll be fine.” Mulder reassured her. “Right, buddy?” he asked turning to their four-year-old who was already bouncing off the walls with energy.
“Yeth, Daddy!” William exclaimed. He was all smiles and excitement that Scully couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Alright, but you have to promise Mommy that you’ll be good for Daddy.” Scully said, getting down to William’s level.
William nodded his head eagerly before saying, “I pwomise, Mommy.” He had a serious look on his face that Mulder would swear made him look so much alike Scully.
“Okay, well, you guys have fun, alright?” she said. “But not too much fun.” She added, looking up to Mulder who just winked back.
“Give Mommy a big hug, buddy.” Mulder instructed William.
William softly lunged himself into Scully’s arms and she engulfed him with a hug and tons of kisses that made him giggle loudly. It was one of the sounds that made Scully’s heart soar with so much love.
“I love you, both.” She said, pressing a kiss on William’s cheek before standing up and kissing Mulder on the lips.
“And we love you too.” Mulder told her, pressing another kiss on her lips.
Scully walked them to the car, made sure they all had their stuff packed – food, first aid kit, bicycles – yes, bicycles. They were going to a trail that Mulder reassured her was safe for the both of them. She trusts him so much that she doesn’t seem to worry.
She watched her boys drive away, waving back at William who was waving to her from his booster seat and blowing her kisses. When they were out of sight, she went back inside and wondered what to do having the whole house to herself for the next couple of hours.
The drive to the trail wasn’t that far. The whole way, William was looking out the window, pointing out things he could see. He was absolutely excited. He loved going on a bike day with his dad in their favorite trail.
“Alright, buddy, we’re here.” Mulder announced, unclipping his seatbelt. William let out an excited shout and wiggled his little body in his seat. Mulder had to laugh, “Wait for me, bud.”
William patiently waited for Mulder to let him out. He watched his dad get their things from the back of the car, and immediately hopped on his small bike as soon as Mulder placed it on the ground.
Mulder shook his head with amusement as his son waited for him. He was clearly wearing the same expression Scully would have when she was starting to get impatient.
“Just a few more seconds, buddy. I just need to attach this camera, alright?” Mulder explained to the little boy. “We’re gonna show this to Mommy later.”
After attaching the small camera in between William’s handlebars, Mulder went to ride his own bike. Next thing he knew, William had zoomed off. Mulder had to pedal as quickly as he could to catch up to his son. They knew the trail well enough already, having visited so many times, but he can’t help but have a little bit of fear at the back of his mind.
When he was able to catch up to his Speedy Gonzales-esque of a son, he could hear William scream with joy.
“This is sick!!!” William screamed and Mulder couldn’t help but laugh. He couldn’t wait to show Scully the video.
They spent the next hour cycling around, eating their snacks, and cycling again. It wasn’t until William tripped while exploring during one of their breaks that prompted it was time to go home. Mulder cleaned him up and did some first aid on the wound in his knee. The irony of how William doesn’t get any injuries while riding a bike, but gets a scrape while looking around.
William was sniffling all the way back to the car and Mulder’s heart clenched. He hated seeing his son hurt or crying. He wanted to carry him so bad, but he had a backpack and two bicycles needed to be brought back as well.
As soon as they reached the car, Mulder picked William up and the little boy immediately wrapped his arms around Mulder’s neck. He was no longer crying, but still sniffling and buried his face against his dad’s neck.
“It’s okay, buddy,” Mulder soothed, rubbing William’s back. “We’re gonna go home to Mommy now, okay?”
William nodded, still clinging to Mulder tightly. It was a bit of a challenge getting him to his seat, but eventually, he let go. Mulder quickly packed up their things and drove them home.
Arriving home, Scully greeted them by the door. She took William, who was now asleep, from Mulder’s arms and carried him to his bedroom. She didn’t bother to change him out of his clothes yet; they were going to change his sheets soon anyway. When she spotted the Bandaid covering William’s knee, she pressed a kiss over there before moving to his forehead. He looked like an angel while asleep; his lashes long, his lips like Cupid’s bow, his cheeks still pink.
She was about leave his side when she heard him murmur, “I had so much fun wif Daddy, Mommy. Best day ever” before falling back to sleep. Scully smiled and brushed away his hair that was falling to his eyes. He needed a haircut soon.
Scully headed back to the living room, and there he found Mulder passed out on the couch. A smile once again graced her lips. Walking slowly to his sleeping form, she knelt to the side of the couch and pressed a soft kiss on his forehead. “They really had a long day” she thought.
Deciding to make some food for her boys, she spotted the small camera on the coffee table. Turning it on, and looking through the gallery, she saw a video of William. When she pressed play, she covered her mouth to stifle a laugh as she watched her son ride through the trail like a pro. She was amused beyond measure hearing the words come out of the four-year-old’s mouth.
After watching the video two more times, Scully went to the kitchen. She marveled how her life has turned out. It was better than she has ever imagined and no matter what, she wouldn’t change a thing.