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Chapter Text

As much as Washington, D.C.’s very own Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully enjoyed traveling across the country for work, there were some places that she wanted to avoid after. If the circumstances were especially eventful. Sometimes having an elephant memory sucked. 

Two years ago? She’d wanted to avoid the state of Texas for as long as possible, specifically… the odd little town of Cheney. Where the trailer park vampire coven lived. Or did. Where were they now? But Mulder giving her a vampire figurine as a joke that Halloween, however, did make Scully smile. At least there was that. Scully also kept it on her treasure shelf at home. 

Then there was last year. Scully wanted to stay out of the Kroner area of Kansas for the rest of her life. While Holman Hardt had gotten in to Mulder’s head about the concept of romantic feelings in general, so too had Sheila Fontaine done the same to or for? Scully. The effect was unorthodox and in a staggering fashion. But Sheila had been very effective.  

And it wasn’t as if Scully could forget her words to Shiela in the bathroom. Just before they’d been hit by reality. 

“Well, it seems to me that the best relationships—the ones that last—are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with.” 

So just how had she gotten in to this exact situation?

“Babe,” Scully sighed as she and Mulder exited his vehicle. “Remind me how it is that we got here for this ‘weekend getaway.’ Please?” 

Heart fluttering at the use of the pet name now, Mulder quipped, “I drove.”

Scully playfully flipped him off. “Come on.”

Mulder laughed. “They’re your family and your people. Norfolk base really is the best place for a Navy family reunion.”  

“Yeah.” Scully sighed. “That’s a good point.”

Mulder spoke gently to her. “What is it?”

Scully admitted, “I was just thinking about the lessons we learned in Kroner.”

“Wow.” Mulder said. “I also was. Great minds think alike.”

Scully gave a soft laugh before tacking on an additional thought. “I can’t believe it took people as kooky as Holman and Shiela to open up our eyes.”

“Uh-huh. But I’m eternally grateful to them for that. You and I,” Mulder held one of Scully’s hands in his own before kissing her fingers. “Are it for each other. For life. Do I have any idea of what the rest of the year will bring? Hell, no. But I completely cherish this… this… How do you describe whatever it us that we have?” 

Scully pulled herself together after having turned weak-kneed at the kiss before she could formulate a proper answer. “Let us call it ‘a space between best friends and lovers.’ We aren’t dating yet. However…”

Now Mulder’s heart catapulted in to the solar system. ‘We aren’t dating yet.’ 

The woman desired a true romantic relationship with him as much as he desired one with her. Scully had admitted in a clever way, even. 

But Mulder completely reigned himself in when he realized what she also meant. While they weren’t officially saying those three magical words… there was also the part where they’d made love. To the fullest extent. And just when had that occurred? Two entire weeks ago already. Had they any regrets? No. They’d even talked about it. All the same? He, Mulder, understood just why that encounter was fresh on Scully’s mind. And for a number of reasons. 

“However,” Mulder picked up the torch. “You really wouldn’t change what we it is that we do have?”

“Mhm.” Scully said. “The way that you love me brings me such peace. But it just took dropping out of medical school and being in the FBI for years first before I even got on the right track.”

Mulder hugged Scully when he saw that her bottom lip was wobbling. “You had another dream about being pregnant, didn’t you?”

“I did. Oh, Fox… it felt so real.” Scully lamented as she melted in to his hug. “There’s also the part where we’re going to meet Bill’s and Tara’s newest…”

Mulder asked, “Will you be okay?”

Nodding when Mulder kissed her on the top of her head, Scully said, “Yes. Don’t worry about me.”

But Scully still didn’t let go of Mulder straight away when she held him close. Mulder understood. Scully was thinking, as much as he was, about their now longed-for-son. The loss of Emily had been horrible. The mystery child had left handprints on both of their hearts. Mulder also held Scully during the times that she also wept about not being able to conceive. It was heart-wrenching. But Mulder held her and comforted her out of love. Still… part of their post-sex conversation had been about how she wasn’t ready to give up hope on motherhood. Yet. 

Now here Scully was, admitting to a pregnancy-related dream. And had Mulder dreamt before waking up that morning of Scully being beautifully swollen with his child? Yes. He had. 

But had Scully mentioned that her own dream had been at the same time? Or that her breasts were even feeling sore in that moment? No. She chose to believe that that was happening because her emotions were fully getting to her and affecting her entire body because of what was to happen in a few more moments now. Scully had always been a very ‘heart on sleeve’ person, but her life in the FBI didn’t let her show the trait fully off. Just what did such a trait mean for today? That anything was possible. 

Once both people had straightened themselves out, Scully made her own quip. “I can say there’s one good thing about us being here today.”

Mulder spoke as they joined the throng of people in the parking lot that were steadily making their way to the building. “Oh? And what’s that?” 

Now feeling pleased with herself, Scully said, “At least we’re not in Kansas in anymore.”

Mulder laughed as he put a hand around Scully’s waist. “Very smooth. Come on. Let’s go inside.”

Rather unsurprising to anyone who knew her, Margaret ‘Maggie’ Katherine Scully was one of today’s program coordinators. And she felt pleased. Herself a grown ‘military brat,’ Navy reunion gatherings like this one were not new to her. Today’s event wasn’t even her first since becoming a widow some years ago already. But this one was most certainly special. And for a number of reasons. 

Did Maggie dare give away what was making her so giddy? No. Still, her friends were amazed and pleased that she was taking any decor-adjacent project thrown her way. Even task-delegating. So as the matriarch stood admiring her handiwork of a fully-decorated Navy base event hall, she began to feel even more content, especially when she fully registered that the night was themed after her favorite movie of all time. The Wizard Of Oz. 

But her heart did soar when she noticed two people in particular move through the registration line. 

Remembering where they were at that the setting was very casual, Mulder addressed his other half by her name. “Dana. Look who’s here.”

Mulder watched in delight as both Scully women hugged each other when Maggie did join them. One of his favorite things in the world was watching these two. 

Even for everything they'd been through in the past, Mulder loved knowing that the Scully matriarch and her youngest daughter were now close to the point that they were even working on an actual friendship. Recent big life events, including the younger Scully’s remission from cancer, had caused them to find perspective. And how. 

It also was not lost on Mulder that Scully’s mother had always been fond of him, even in the face of how unpleasant the circumstances their first meeting had been. He cherished their bond. Maggie was fully aware. And for everything she knew he’d been through, Maggie had long ago chosen on her own to treat him like one of her children. Even to the point where she remembered him on his birthday. And at Christmas. Today? It was the first time they’d seen each other since Teena’s funeral. 

“Fox,” Maggie spoke maternally as she pulled away from their own hug. “How are you?”

“I’m well. Thanks. And,” Mulder tacked on a new thought as it popped in to his head. “Thanks for sending along all that food after the funeral. It means a lot. Will you also please thank your friends who pitched in?”

Maggie nodded. “You are absolutely welcome, son of mine. And yes. I will make sure they know.”

“Good. Thank you.” Mulder then shuffled his feet sheepishly. “Dana and I also have plans tomorrow to sort out which dish goes back to whom. Can you make sure that your friends also know that?” 

Maggie continued to show sympathy to her surrogate son. “I’ll make sure they know. Don’t worry.”

Mulder exhaled heavily. “Thank you.”

“Mom,” Scully said suddenly as it dawned on her what the event was. “Did you decide on… the ‘broader canvas’ here?”

Maggie shook her head as she re-registered the Wizard of Oz theme. “No. I didn’t. Why?” 

Scully looked to Mulder. “Guess what mom’s favorite movie is. Ever?”

At once amused, Mulder said to Maggie, “You more than understand that we investigate things that are unusual…”

Maggie nodded. “How true. Did you finally have a case you can really tell me about?” 

Wow. She is to the point, Mulder thought. “Yes. Remind us to tell you some time about what happened when we went to Kroner, Kansas. Okay?”

“Alright.” Maggie became thoughtful. “Kroner, huh?”

Mulder said in surprise, “You know it?”

“Yes.” Maggie confirmed. “They had a long spell of wacky weather and an actual drought. But then their world was finally righted. Last year. Fox? What did you and my daughter do?” 

He looked over to the younger Scully for back-up. Although to zero avail. She was preoccupied with plucking hor d’oeuvres from a platter and on to a plate when a passing-by server offered them. But Mulder quite suddenly realized that Scully had been eating a lot more than usual, as of late. And often. Just what was that about? 

Ignoring the amused look that Maggie was giving him when he did look back to her, Mulder finally sputtered, “Where are you from?!”

Laughing, Maggie said, “I’m from an actual village in the Kansas farmlands. How I met Dana’s father is another story. But my father, Charles William O’Shea, was a Navy admiral upon retirement. My mother was a village teacher. Her name was Katherine, but everyone called her ‘Kate,’ or ‘Katie.’ Even visitors passing through. In the summertime, Katie drove an actual bookmobile to offer books to the children in the areas that were more agrarian than where we were. Katie also provided food for those kids.”

“Wow.” Mulder marveled. 

“My big sister, Olive—God rest her soul—always tagged along. So did I. We loved it.” continued Maggie. “But every Fourth of July, we went to visit my mother’s mother. We even went when my father was deployed.”

Now Mulder asked, “What was your grandmother’s name?”

Genuinely touched that Mulder was this curious, Maggie said, “My mother’s mother was called Melissa Margaret Flynn. She was from Ireland. Same for my mother and my sister. But my dad? Throughly a New Yorker.” 

“How did your parents meet? When did your dad move to Ireland? But how,” Mulder only just refrained from pinching himself. “Did everyone get all the way to Kansas?”

But Maggie laughed again. “Dana knows the story. Get it from her. Anyway… My parents, my grandmother, and my sister would have loved you so much. Every last one of them could tell stories well. But their favorite stories were always about being at Nana Melissa’s house in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. You’re clever. Do you care to guess what precious little sleepy town we would stop in on the way there because it had the only diner that my parents liked?”

More amazed than ever, Mulder said, “Kroner.”

Maggie nodded. “Mhm. So I’ll ask again: what have you and my daughter done to leave an impression on a weird town in the middle of absolutely nowhere? I’d like to know. Please.”

Nearby, the younger Scully had already cleaned up from polishing off her hor d’oeuvres. While it wasn’t news to her that her mother was a Kansan or that there were actual Ireland-born people in her family tree, it was absolutely a revelation that Maggie had heard of Kroner, let alone been annually. But then she noticed that her mother had Mulder boxed in. Proverbially. 

Quite familiar with how persuasive her mother could come across as when she wanted to underscore a moment, Scully looped an arm through Mulder’s as she said to Maggie. “Hey. Is my big brother here yet?”

Did it escape Maggie’s notice that the people before her were acting like a married couple? No. Just as it didn’t escape Maggie’s attention that her offspring seemed to be caressing her own middle, even touching it, with a frequency more than what was normal. But the matriarch somehow kept her cool. Miraculously. 

Answering her daughter, Maggie said, “No. But I did get a call from Tara to say that they’ll be here in thirty minutes. Or so.”

“Excellent.” Scully then heaved a sigh. “You know? I can’t believe I haven’t met the baby as of yet…”

Knowing that Bill’s and Tara’s youngest child was a brand-new baby girl named Melissa, but also that his other half hadn’t seen the other Scullys because they’d only moved the D.C. area but a week ago, Mulder gave her his hand to hold. Scully took it. Fast. How she loved when he was an anchor. 

Pleased that Scully had visibly relaxed, Mulder said gently to her, “I think you said in the car that you’ve lived here before…” 

Scully perked up. “Uh-huh. That was for all of high school. But during the rest of my school career? We were overseas. Mostly.”

Mulder lifted one eyebrow. “Hm. Only ‘mostly’?” 

“There was also half a year at the base in San Diego, back when I was thirteen. And talk about a wild time.” Scully looked over to Maggie. “Mom…?”

But Maggie understood and motioned for them to go. “Have fun. I’ll make sure that Billy and Tara find you both when they get here. Okay?”

Mulder and Scully said as one, “Thank you.”

Both young people then hoofed it towards the refreshment area. Maggie watched them go. At least until someone called her away for help about the event hall decorations again. 

Chapter Text

Mulder and Scully had seen so much of each other’s off-the-clock lives over the years that it certainly aided as to why they knew each other as well as they did. But not even until the previous year did they begin to see each other through more non-tragic lenses. And they both loved what they saw.

Meaning? Scully proudly showed off everything to Mulder that she knew about the Norfolk Navy base. And Mulder happily soaked it all in. Once his family fell apart during during his childhood, he later arrived at the conclusion that he didn’t deserve any happiness once his parents divorced and slowly deprived him of normal affection. But Scully’s continual gentleness and patience over the years changed Mulder’s mind on the matter. So he happily let Scully show him this corner of her world. 

But just when did they split up? When Scully realized that she needed the facilities. And that there was a line. So Mulder waited for her. It was at that juncture that Maggie pounced. Again. 

Speaking pleasantly as she joined him, the matriarch began, “Fox? I have some people here that I would like for you to meet now. But where is Dana?”

Tearing his gaze away from a photo collage about the base’s rowing team, now Mulder faced his friend. “You just missed her. She went to the facilities.”

“Oh. Then Dana will be very surprised.” remarked the matriarch. “Charlie is here. I wasn’t sure if he’d make it, so I was completely sworn to secrecy. But everything panned out.”

“Your youngest children,” Mulder said as a certain fact came back to him. “Have not seen each other for three whole years. But he and Bill randomly bumped into each other out west last summer. Correct?”

Maggie nodded.  “Yes. Here he is now.”

The matriarch moved to the side and her youngest child stepped forward. Charlie. Elusive because he was not content to be a Navy man like the other men in his family, nor keep on being so close to home like Melissa had been and even Dana currently was when there was just so much of the country to explore, Charlie Scully was a nomad. Or at least the two thousands version of one. But the resemblance was clear. Extraordinarily tall just like Bill Scully Junior, but bearing brown hair, Charlie seemed to take after his mother’s part of the family tree in all else. Mulder had seen enough Scully family pictures over the years to know that the mischievous glint he was noticing in the younger man’s eyes had been inherited from William Scully Senior. 

But then Mulder suddenly saw just what had kept Charlie busy over the past three years. Beside him was a young woman, whom like Charlie was in her early thirties. Between them? A very adorable redheaded girl who… just happened to be the spitting image of the aunt who had chosen that moment to be absent. Still? She was dressed nicely. And so were her parents. Each of these three Scullys looked ready for a good time. 

Charlie said to Mulder, “I’m so happy to finally meet you. At last. I’ve been hearing stories about you for a very long time now.” 

Mulder said in surprise, “Really?”

“Mhm.” Charlie shook shook Mulder’s hand. “I’m the ‘elusive Scully.’ Melissa had her ways in that fashion, but she was just so much older than me that I fully took her advice about exploring the country. Dana definitely also gave me a nudge.”

“Hm.” said Mulder. “That sounds correct.”

“I also wanted to go. Both of my sisters were already settled in the D.C. area, and Bill was already with Tara in Japan.” Charlie went on. “Exploring felt like the right thing to do. But now I’m home for good.”

Mulder now returned Charlie’s handshake. “I’ve always wondered about where you were. But I’m elated to have a little brother. Always wanted one for as long as I can recall. Would you please introduce me to your family?” 

Because the heavens were also looking out for Scully that day, her trip to the facilities was quick. And she also felt better. Good thing. 

She couldn’t believe her eyes when she did reach the others. “CHARLIE?!” 

Yet again amazed that his darling soulmate loved him enough to let him see even this corner of her world, Mulder watched the younger Scullys embrace. It was a beautiful sight. 

But the third Scully sibling said to the fourth one, “Did you tell anyone where you’ve been since I last saw you?”

Charlie nodded. “Yep. I told Fox.”

“Good.” Scully approved. “Then I’ll get the answer from him at a different point. What are your family’s names? Everyone is beautiful.”

Flattered by her kind words, Charlie pulled his own soulmate forward to him. “Dana? This is my wife of three-and-half years, Lilac. She’s very excited to be here.”

“Dana,” Lilac spoke merrily as she gave her a warm hug. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

And Scully melted into Lilac's embrace because she was very gentle. In that moment, Scully chose to believe that Lilac's arrival was Melissa working from the heavens to make sure that she had her own adoring little sister to look out for. Surely. It made sense. 

But Scully returned the hug before holding Lilac out at arm’s length. “I’ve always wanted a little sister. Now I have one. Care to share anything more…?”

Nodding, Lilac smoothed out the midsection of her dress to show off a sizable baby bump. “Here is one of the reasons we are moving to D.C. for good now. Dana? Your nephew is going to be joining us later this year.”

Heart leaping, Scully told Charlie and Lilac both, “Congratulations!” 

The couple said as one, “Thank you.”

“And whom,” Scully indicated the girl in the others’ company. “Would this be?”

Touching the top of his daughter’s head, Charlie then told his big sister, “Little one had some setbacks when she was born, but Lilac and I gave just about everything we had to give our girl what she needed. That’s why we couldn’t come back soon. I am sorry over it.”

Now Scully hugged her brother again. Though they were not as close as she had been with Melissa, they were still close enough that she had been the first person he’d called after a spontaneous Las Vegas marriage to Lilac. Charlie had just been extremely vague on the details because the event had been in his now-ended ‘wild’ phase. But Scully had never pressed him. She wanted him to have at least one big sister that he liked. On top of that? Her life had been too busy at the time to think too much about it. Charlie was there now. And that mattered the most. 

“You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. I mean it.” Scully reassured Charlie. “You grew up and now you even have a family. Sometimes that supersedes all else. I understand. But all of you are here now and that brings me such joy. Most of all? I am so proud of you.”

“Wow.” Charlie hugged his big sister again. “Thank you so much.” 

Bobbing her head in acknowledgment, Scully then regarded her niece. And her heart flip-flopped. The little girl really did look exactly as she had at that age. Although it became quite plain in a heartbeat what her capital setback was. The girl had a feeding tube. 

Promptly doing all in her power to not think of Emily and what health issues that she had had, Scully spoke to her with kindness. “I’m Aunt Dana. What’s your name?”

The girl took Scully’s hand as she crowed, “Flip!” 

Lilac sighed, “Her name is Filipa.”

Charlie nodded. “But she calls herself as Flip now because she finds it amusing. Now she doesn’t respond to ‘Filipa’ unless we middle name her.”

“Mhm.” Lilac added. “Our girl also goes by Flip, on account of she considers Filipa Katherine a chore to say. But the middle name is for you.”

Heart fluttering, Scully then returned her attention to her niece. “I am so pleased to meet you. But, Flip?”

“Hm?” free hand on her closest feeding tube adhesive, Filipa Scully looked up at her new friend. “What it is?”

Not missing a beat, Scully told her, “I think you are completely beautiful.”

Going weak-kneed at the compliment, Filipa trilled, “Thanks!” 

Turning conspiratorial, Scully then said to Filipa, “Why don’t we get out of here so the other grown-ups can talk?”

“Yes!” the girl agreed as she exited Lilac's arms. “But where do we go?”

Scully said, “Why don’t you lead us?”

One hundred percent enticed, Filipa towed her aunt along behind her as she scanned the area to find the most interesting thing. Or just what caught her attention fastest. Did anything else matter? No. 

Chapter Text

Not long after Scully and Filipa wandered off together, more members of the family arrived. Just whom? Bill Junior, Tara, and both of their children. Maggie watched as her family caught up, made new introductions. Bill and Mulder even decided to work on a friendship. Life was beautiful.

But Bill soon said to Maggie, “Where is Dana?”

Maggie pointed to a comfortable sitting area out of the main way of the room’s activity. “Just there. She’s with your niece now. Filipa Katherine. Both of them adore each other.”

Lifting an eyebrow at the mention of his niece’s middle name, Bill said, “Wow. Then this’ll definitely be good.”

After a spot of exploring, Filipa then elected to sit on one of the softer pieces of strategically-placed furniture for awhile. Her little feet felt tired. When Scully sat beside her, Filipa promptly moved closer for a snuggle. And her aunt was happy to oblige.  after that? Aunt and niece began to people-watch. But Scully was quick to scoop her niece up after a few moments when she spotted a new delegation of people on the approach. Did Filipa find the abrupt uptick amusing? Yes. 

Giggling, Filipa asked Scully curiously, “What it is?” 

Now Scully told her, “It’s time to meet the rest of the people in our family that I told you about. Remember?”

Nerves quite suddenly becoming Filipa, she held on to Scully’s shirt while she gave a squeaking answer of, “Yep!” 

Scully gently hugged her sidekick. “Just take it easy. Okay, Flip? All they want to do is love you.”

Deciding that this was reasonable, Filipa watched Scully catch up with everyone. She even acknowledged those she was then introduced to. But the girl was content to let the adults talk. 

Noticing that Filipa had reached her limit, Scully said to the others, “Hm. That’s that with her. For now. But even Matthew has told me hi. So… that leaves one last person…”

“How true.” Tara tarted up her six-month-old child. “Say hi to your newest niece now. I am proud to present Melissa Katherine.”

Recognizing the sound of her name, baby Melissa looked around. She then zeroed in on her aunt when she noticed her first. And she leaned towards her to see what would happen. Surprising even herself, Scully managed to hold both of her nieces at the same time. Her heart then proceeded to cartwheel when she realized that even Melissa looked enough like her to be her daughter. Was this real? Scully didn’t know. 

But just as both Filipa and Melissa gave happy sighs, a new thought occurred to Scully. “Can someone help me sit back down? Please?”

Both of her brothers helped her out. When Scully had settled and the children were comfortable, she found herself lost in a well of motion. Briefly. Both of these darling children were her nieces. And not only did they look like her, but their parents had unknowingly done the same thing of giving the little ones her middle name because they loved her so. Life was beautiful. But not wanting to be left out, Matthew slid out of Bill’s arms and sat on Scully’s lap, facing her. The boy was not shy. And he made sure his aunt knew. 

Repeating himself again from before, two-year-old Matthew said cheerfully, "Hi!” 

Scully returned gently, “Hi. Do you think you’ll play with Flip later on?”

“Yep.” the boy decided after a serious moment of mulling things over.

“Okay.” Scully then adjusted Melissa’s dress when she noticed a wrinkle. “Can you tell me what you think of your sister?”

But with an almighty eye-roll and a scoop of exasperation bigger than himself, Matthew huffed, “She cries.”

Maggie and Mulder watched from a distance as even Charlie and Lilac joined in with Bill and Tara to watch those on the couch. Life was beautiful. 

Maggie said to Mulder, “What are you thinking?”

Mulder told the truth. “Life is beautiful.”

Spying her daughter go back to her earlier habit of absentmindedly caressing and touching her middle, Maggie responded, “Indeed. Life is absolutely beautiful. Go. Be with everyone.”

Mulder didn’t need telling twice.  

Chapter Text

As the journey home was long, Mulder and Scully booked a stay in the first halfway-decent motel they found after departing Norfolk-proper. But they had anticipated such an event beforehand. Meaning? They both already had their overnight bags packed and in the trunk of Mulder’s car before leaving the D.C. area that morning. Now they could unwind together. 

Quite unsurprisingly, while Scully hung a ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign on the door after they’d both unpacked, Mulder had even flicked the television on. Home Fries played. But Mulder soon set the picture on mute. 

“Hey.” he said when Scully sat beside him on the first of the two beds. “Are you good?”

Knowing that he meant her overall feelings about seeing her family, Scully nodded. “Yeah. Thanks. Home is wherever I’m with you, but I’m just glad to not be on the road.”

“Mhm. I agree.” Mulder checked the time on the nearby alarm clock. “While it may just be half past five, it looks like much later…”

Scully nodded as she recalled the dark sky. “Uh-huh. Talk about some godawful rainclouds…”

WOOSH!

No sooner had these words been said than they were treated to a cascade of a rain downpour. The still-muted television switched over to a weather broadcast. Mulder turned the sound on again just in time to hear that while there was no chance of thunder or flooding, it was advisable to stay off the roads until further notice. But that was all Scully heard. 

Nearly at once after that, she received a slew of telephone calls, to the point that she just took the calls in the bathroom so she would stand a chance of hearing anything over the rain. Her family had called. It seemed they’d all had the same idea to check on her and Mulder. But it was Maggie, the second caller, who kindly informed her daughter that all of them had found three hotel rooms not far from the base. Everybody was together. And safe. 

Mulder spoke to Scully when she sat beside him again. “Everything okay?”

Scully undid her cardigan and her blouse. “Long story short? The others are all safe at the same hotel. I made sure they know that we’re here. Still, I think the only reason we didn’t end up at the same hotel as them is because we left first…” 

But Mulder had come to smirk about something else just then. Scully had now tossed her cardigan and her blouse to the armchair in the corner of room. Both landed there neatly. Now Scully was down to her tank-top, her bra, her underthings, and her jeans. 

Mulder still knew her well enough to understand exactly what was being initiated. Each of them enjoyed sex, even heavy petting. All the same? While Scully was a truly sexual creature, she was the first woman that Mulder had been with who truly cherished all of him. Even in bed. 

Just as she loved being loved by him, he loved being loved by her. Dana Katherine Scully was very gentle. And so kind. But even when she was in the throes of it, she still found ways to cherish him. And that was just one of the many reasons that he loved her so. 

Mulder cast his own shirt and undershirt aside as he said, “Come here.”

Scully made herself comfortable in Mulder’s lap. “I can’t imagine life where you aren’t there.”

“Yes. I feel that way about you.” Mulder pressed a kiss to Scully’s crown and splayed one of his large hands protectively over her lower middle. “But I’d still make sure that you have something of mine to keep. Okay?”

Scully marked him with a kiss on his throat before saying, “Wow. Thanks.” 

Mulder hugged her. “I’m also glad I paid attention to what the clerk said.”

“Oh?” Scully then came up quite blank. “What’d he say?”

Mulder said, “That there are other people in this joint. However… we haven’t any neighbors. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Scully proved his point by re-securing the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign after noticing it had fallen outside when she went to check. She also closed the curtains. No one would bother them until they were fully ready to get back on the road. Perfect. 

In hardly any time at all, both lovers had lost all their clothing. Scully even sheathed Mulder’s great comforting length with ease. But not long into the pleasant rhythm she’d created, she began weep. Her desperation to experience motherhood had come forward. So too did the well of emotions that she’d been keeping a cap on that day. 

Mulder understood. He hugged her and comforted her because crying in this kind of situation was not new. And Mulder would know. He’d been the one to do so during their first encounter. Today? It was now his turn to help her. And he didn’t mind. Whatsoever. 

As it was now raining like the end of the world, the air outside was muggy. To that end? While the curtains were still closed, the windows were wide open. Meaning? Anyone passing by Room 1013 would have heard two human beings giving themselves to each other. It was just the first time they’d ever been that loud. 

Scully would herself down first but didn’t break then rhythm as she whispered in Mulder’s ear, “Thank you.”

And that was all it took for Mulder to drain himself in to Scully. Both were fully enveloped in the moment, holding each other close. Until the well rain dry. Not another item in the world mattered. 

But when they finally both wound themselves down and cleaned each other up, they rested, caught their breath. After that? Scully soon found herself up on her elbows and then on the verge of being moved to tears. Mulder was planting very gentle kisses across her middle. For Scully, her heart fluttered fantastically. Just as she loved to shower him with positive affirmations in the form of kind touches whenever possible, Mulder always returned the joy. Seeing her glow so brought him joy. 

Running her fingers through Mulder’s hair, Scully remarked, “I guess this means we’re it for each other. For life.”

Mulder quipped, “I think that we’ve been it for each other since the day that you first showed up to the basement all those years ago. Don’t you, Dana?”

She laughed. “Come on. Be serious.”

Mulder kissed Scully. “Then yes. I agree that this does mean we’re it for each other, for life. Both of us know this choice is running all kinds of gambits. Good and well. Risk-taking is not new to you or me, but I’m willing. Are you?”

“I am.” Scully answered without hesitation. “Yes, Fox. Absolutely.”

“Then that’s that.” Mulder lovingly hugged Scully. “We’re it for each other. For life. But in more ways than one.”

Mulder then returned to kissing Scully’s middle for a few more moments. The act made her feel deeply loved. So she didn’t rush him. Not at all. 

When Mulder spoke again, it was gentle, thoughtful. “Some day, we’ll have a nice little hideaway out in the countryside. Farrs Corner. That area is nice and quiet, especially by Wallace Road. Sometimes I hike there.” 

“Hm. I know that area, too.” Scully realized as old memories of exploring the surrounding area upon her move from Baltimore to Georgetown. “But whoever finds our dream house first gets to name it. Deal?”

“Yes. Deal. And,” Mulder continued to be thoughtful. “When we live there, you’ll be so beautifully and heavily pregnant with our child. How does that sound to you?”

Scully sighed blissfully, “So absolutely and completely perfect.”

Mulder brushed Scully’s hair from her face. “What do you need? Right now?” 

Scully pointed to her lower middle. “Please…?”

Mulder understood even this, too. “Yes. I love you.”

Scully’s heart fluttered all over again as Mulder began kissing her middle once more.  “Thank you. I love you.”

Mulder was the first man whom Scully had ever been with to cherish her in every way. The wait for this man had been completely worth it. And would she do it all again? Yes. No question. It also helped Scully to know that Mulder felt the same way about her. This moment was perfect. No question.  

Especially because neither occupant of Room 1013 had any idea that that Mulder was lovingly and unknowingly giving gentle kisses to their teeny-tiny but steadily gestating child who didn’t feel ready to make their presence known. Yet.