Chapter Text
Over the years, Mulder and Scully had learned that if other units needed to borrow them both for an assignment, those other units would follow through on letting them know. Even without hesitation. But because it was very nearly Christmas, they held their tongues. One sizable holiday bonus each had been dangled before them. Enticement.
Still… There came the particulars. And how.
Assignment: glorified house-sitting in a gated community.
Reason: to keep an eye on a nearby house where confirmed weapons traffickers were operating.
Catch: pose as an expecting couple while waiting, without cluing the neighbors in, for the local field office to move in on their target in the morning because it really would take that long.
Extra task: hang on to three particular props because they belong to your home office.
New unexpected task: maintaining the guise until the airport shuttle arrived in the morning.
LONE RIVER MOTEL
15 MILES OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS
CHRISTMAS MORNING
In a way, Mulder didn’t mind being away because his off-the-clock life was just so boring that December twenty-fifth would not have been any different. He also felt cheerful because he had Scully for company. He had long considered her as his best friend, his family. And he knew she felt the same way about him. Scully also didn't mind being away from home for the holiday. Mulder was her best friend, her family. So that was that. Being kind to Mulder was fun because she was as fond of him as he was of her. The partners had also experienced enjoyment over their assignment because their temporary neighbors at Littlewood Grove had successfully fallen for the act.
Still… Mulder found himself reflecting on their current hiccup.
Debriefing (and even opening Christmas presents from home) at the field office had gone in such a blur that it hadn’t been until they were on the way to be driven out to The Lone River Motel that Scully realized that she and Mulder were still wearing their 'expectant couple' disguises. True, they belonged to their home field office, but there just hadn’t been any time to put them away. So far.
And for that, Mulder supposed it wasn’t any wonder that even the motel manager believed Scully was in her ninth month of pregnancy.
But Mulder also noticed that his partner had played along without a second thought.
Even that she was enjoying herself.
It was each of these items Mulder found himself ruminating on as he headed back to Room 1013. He had picked up some breakfast for them.
Although there was nothing extraordinarily special about The Lone River Motel, it did have an on-site Denny’s attached. That made perfect sense because the whole property was the first one available of its variety after leaving the refreshingly normal gated community of Littlewood Grove.
The closest airport was definitely still a ways away. But Mulder and Scully had been given an FBI-issued charge card to handle accommodation-related expenses until they made it all the way back to D.C. again. Everything else? It had all been handled by the office back in The District.
Now they could truly be themselves. Mulder just hadn’t bargained for the scene he encountered upon returning.
Presently...
It so happened that Scully had just landed herself in something of a comically quandary.
Because she had been unpacking and making their joint motel rooms into a home away from home, she hadn’t removed her disguise pieces. Yet.
However, Scully wasn’t overly-concerned in that area just now. She was thinking more about the television report concerning the weather she’d just seen. Its prediction of a colossal downpour over the area had happened that quickly. It even brought corresponding chilly weather.
So Scully turned up the heat in the in-room thermostat. Things had to be rectified so because her pull-over sweaters wouldn’t’ve fit. And removing her fake bump was definitely a two-person job. The dilemma happened for an entirely different reason.
Opening the door to Room 1013, Mulder first experienced relief.
Its warm air was a welcome change from the cold outside air. Mulder hadn’t gotten caught in the rain because it had begun while he was under the hallway overhang. All the same? Even for Texas, it was odd weather.
Then Mulder experienced surprise next.
His partner other half was in his room. Scully had been in Room 1012, her own when he’d left. There had once been a time when Scully would not have ever dreamed of crossing this line. Now here she was counting on in the domesticity their assignment had called for because she had wanted to. And because it came naturally. The woman felt content.
Mulder also knew a very sure fact about his other half now: Dana Katherine Scully was marriage material.
His thought train finally sent him careening against a brick wall of utter confusion when the entirety of the picture finally caught up.
His best friend was definitely still hearing her undercover disguise looking for all the world like she was heavily pregnant… and she was… giggling?
Mulder closed the door behind him and put things away as he said, “Scully? It’s usually me who's done something wacky if we’ve been apart for twenty minutes.”
“Or even less.” now Scully pointed towards the floor. “I dropped the remote for the television. And now I can’t reach it.”
Mulder knelt down in a very particular fashion and picked the remote up. Scully had been right. The thing was unreachable because it had landed under her bump. Now Mulder briefly wondered if she could even see her feet. He still held the remote up. Then a surprised silence fell. Both parties had taken stock of the entire picture at the same time.
He was on bended knee and holding out an item of significance.
Though he had the television remote and not a diamond ring, everything else was universal. Both partners realized this.
I really would not mind the real version of this from him one day, thought Scully.
I hope I can do this the right way for her one day, thought Mulder.
He stood up quickly. The spell was broken.
Mulder gave an acknowledging head-bob when Scully thanked him as they finally sat down. She had moved it and two chairs over from the kitchenette area. Now the pair had settled in the large walkway area between Mulder’s bed and the tall dresser atop which the television sat. Now they had a place to just sit without having to worry about balancing things on the bed. That felt nice.
Mulder said to Scully at length, “I can help you take that thing off…”
Scully leaned back in her chair and absently touched her hands to her fake bump, albeit in a surprisingly natural way. “Hm. I suppose that’s true. Still… You saw the manager…”
Now Mulder chuckled. “Never mind that he was taken aback that we have two separate rooms and we’re frequently mistaken for a couple as it is, but…”
“Yeah.” Scully agreed. “The man actually bought my disguise. He really does think that I’m nine months pregnant.”
“Uh-huh.” then Mulder tacked on a new thought. “Hey. Did you do theater when you were in school? At any point?”
“No.” Scully laughed. “No one could have ever paid me enough money. That was the extracurricular that Billy and Missy excelled in. But you know? One of my favorite memories of life concerns the time when our school put on a production of Peter Pan.”
Quite curious at once, Mulder asked, “What happened?”
“The school theater director, who was new at the time,” Scully said. “Suggested that my brother and sister try out for the roles of Peter Pan and Wendy.”
“I see. Peter and Wendy cared about each other in their own ways, but they were never a thing. But I guess the Disney version stirred some of those things up. Or whatever.” now Mulder shrugged. “Exactly what did your siblings do? Freak?”
Scully nodded. “Mhm. I watched them tag-team in colorfully explaining to Missus Waddington that it was a ‘one or the other, but not both’ situation. The only reason I was there was because it was after school.”
Mulder guessed, “Then you had to walk home?”
“Yeah.” Scully confirmed. “Our base was hardly even a block away.”
“Okay.” said Mulder. “Then did it ever effectively click with Missus Waddington?”
“Yes. And she apologized.” Scully recalled. “The part that sealed it was when my siblings drove home the age difference there.”
And now Mulder asked, “What was it? A year?”
“Slightly less.” admitted Scully. “They were ten when this happened. Me? I was eight.”
“And,” Mulder said. “Why do you even remember?”
“It was the day after our birthday. That’s how.” Scully answered. “I had a new action figure of The Third Doctor, my first sonic screwdriver, and my first copy of the story in question here. So my afternoon had been sorted. Cherry on top? It was raining.”
“And rainy days make you feel cozy.” realized Mulder. “Then you just couldn’t wait to get home. Still a Doctor Who fan?”
“Yes. That will never change. By the way…” Scully cleared her throat before she could go entirely off-track. “When I say ‘our’ birthday…”
“What about that?” Mulder asked.
“Billy and Missy really weren’t that far apart. They were even often in the same class. Maybe the rules were different?” now Scully had her own shrug. “But anyway... I was born on my mother’s birthday. And the same was true for Melissa. Learned that when I was three. Didn’t believe anyone until Melissa explained it sagely to me in a five-year-old way that I guess I believed.”
Mulder asked, “Has your life ever been quiet?”
“Surprisingly,” sighed Scully. “No.”
Mulder pressed, “Then what became of the Peter Pan production?”
“My poor brother ended up having to drop out. Billy broke his leg.” Scully told Mulder. “And he’d been all set to be Captain Hook, too.”
“Hm. That's totally rotten luck.” said Mulder. “What about Melissa?”
Proud, Scully answered, “My big sister was Peter Pan.”
Shaking his head in amazement, Mulder found himself remarking, “Wow. I bet she loved that.”
“Uh-huh. I can tell you that she definitely did. Billy eventually later laid tracks for himself that led to his current life in the Navy. But Missy was a theater major.” Scully absently touched the tabletop. “Charlie was about four when all this happened. So he didn’t know much about anything. Still… Charlie eventually got bit by the rugby bug. Me? I was in Girlguiding.”
Mulder made a momentary time-out signal. “Girlguiding, rugby, walking home from school to your base? Come on. Where were you all? England?”
And Scully said with a wink, “Yes.”
Continuing to be amazed, Mulder asked, “Is Girlguiding the English version of Girl Scouts?”
“Yeah. Something like that fashion.” Scully answered. “My father was an outdoorsy person for as long as I knew him. And my mother is definitely still that way. But I’m the only one of their kids who has ever gotten interested in the outdoors.”
“Ah.” Mulder connected a dot by himself. “Then being in that program as a kid taught you even more about the outdoors than your parents did?”
“Mhm.” said Scully. “Just why the hell do you suppose it is that I usually bail us out of the outdoor cases that go haywire?”
“First of all,” Mulder decided. “That's incredibly amazing.”
Scully said,”Thanks. But what is your second point?”
Mulder quipped as he gestured to Scully’s faux-bump, “No cursing in front of our daughter.”
“Yes, dear.” Scully returned before softening up. “Hey… Mulder? Have you really been picturing a daughter this whole entire time?”
“Yeah. My sister and I were close. But personally?” Mulder shrugged. “I also couldn’t imagine having a brother.”
“The job is a wild ride.” reflected Scully. “But why is it so easy for you to picture waiting on a daughter?”
“Because we both had sisters we truly loved. I also really did like Melissa.” Mulder then furrowed his brow. “Hey… What was her middle name?”
“She was Melissa Róisín.” answered Scully. “Why?”
I want to remember so that one of our future daughters does get that name in some fashion, Mulder thought.
“I guess I just realized it was never something I never asked.” Mulder shrugged. “But, hey. Róisín is nice. Family name?”
“Uh-huh. Róisín was my father’s mother.” explained Scully. “The name is one of the world’s many variations on the name Rose.”
Perking up, Mulder said, “Wow. My mom loves roses.”
Vastly amazed she didn’t melt into a puddle as she processed this tidbit, Scully laughed nervously as she replied, “Hm. Then I guess we're talking about fate."
Mulder felt his heart skip a beat over those words. But so did Scully. Each had long felt it was fate that they’d even met in the first place at all.
Scully spoke again after a beat. "It's also my understanding that Nana Róisín died just before my mother found out she was expecting me. That said? I learned that Melissa was basically a modern version of Róisín down to her looks, personality, hair color... Even the sound of her voice.”
“Woah.” said Mulder. “Then what about Melissa’s cosmic ways?”
Heaving a sigh, Scully admitted, “That was my mother’s mother.”
Electing to bail Scully out, Mulder said, “Okay. Then I guess that’s that.”
Scully nodded. “Mhm. Got anything else to share?”
“Yeah. In another world… I know that Melissa Róisín and Samantha Ann would have been absolute best friends.” Mulder again gestured to Scully’s middle. “The cherry on top? I can tell you that you do look very convincing."
Had there not been a table between them just then, Scully would have kissed Mulder. Even on the cheek.
But she replied, “That was very kind of you to say. Also… I’ve noticed that you haven’t taken off the wedding ring prop they gave you. Be honest here. Did you forget you have it on?”
Regarding his gold band for a few moments, Mulder soon looked to Scully as he confessed, “Uh-huh. I got used to the thing. And I guess you also did?”
Now Scully looked the matching band she wore. It was gold. And its design came across as being effectively simple. But it worked for what it was. That had become that. Scully still realized with a jolt that it didn’t stop her from wishing for a diamond ring someday from the man sitting opposite her. And… she also wondered if he wanted to give her one.
Mulder did.
Even in that infinitesimal moment while Scully studied her own bureau-issued prop, Mulder had a vision of proposing to her one day when they were older. And retired. She was the love of his life, and ever since everything that had occurred only last month at The Temple Of The Seven Stars, Mulder knew that he was the love of Scully’s life. No question.
They’d just had to wait their entire current lifetimes to find one another.
“Well… You’re correct. I did also get used to my own ring.” Scully finally said. “But I guess that the field office people here must not have said anything about the props because they belong to our branch in D.C., anyway. On top of that? I’m sure our fellow agents would like to see their families. At some point today.”
Mulder nodded before tacking on, “Admit it. You also like how the bump feels.”
Scully admitted, "Yep. Guilty. It’s very comforting. And…”
“Yes?” asked Mulder.
“I have every hope to be a mom one day. And I would like to be happily married to the father of my children.” Scully said. “But knowing myself? The children would happen first.”
Mulder found himself asking gently, “Would you mind?”
“Not at all.” Scully said. “I mean it. So long as everyone is happy and they know that we love them? I really would not even mind an engagement after the children happen…”
Heart already skipping a beat at her use of the word ‘we,’ Mulder now asked, “Hm? What’re you thinking?”
Scully responded, “The father of my children would also have to understand that I would absolutely prefer a casual at-home proposal because I really am not as fancy as most people seem to really think I am.”
“Okay. That’s fair.” decided Mulder. “Have anything else you’d expect?”
With a nod, Scully answered, “The man would have to be on bended knee. Much like you just were…”
A wildly loud silence filled the air as she realized what she’d said.
Mulder stayed patient. He was also working on refraining from proposing then and there because while he was falling even more in love with her as the conversation continued, he did not want to ruin the moment. At all.
Dana Katherine Scully was worth everything. Full-stop.
Their Tennessee temple misadventure had already shown them that their souls had always been connected. Mulder loved that. He also had the sense that Scully’s feelings were mutual on the matter. Otherwise? She would not have shared what she had.
“Hey. I am a vault.” Mulder quickly retrieved their still-hot food from where he'd set it on a countertop earlier and put it on the table. “What is your most picturesque proposal scene? I’d like to know. Please.”
“My most ideal proposal scene? Well… I’d expect that we’d both be retired from work for good. The proposal happening on Christmas Day would also be splendid because I guess I'm that kind of romantic." Scully watched Mulder sit back down at the table. "One more plus? The entire family being local. I would not want them to be present…”
Mulder guessed, “Now you're saying that knowing everyone had settled in the area would also be splendid?”
“Uh-huh.” confirmed Scully. “That.”
“Okay.” said her other half. “Exactly what kind of house do you picture?”
“One that’s off the beaten track in the countryside. Nature and a big yard are musts that I refuse to budge on.” Scully told Mulder. “Our house would look unremarkable to outsiders. But it’d be a well-earned paradise to our family.”
Mulder said, “Wow. That's a really nice way to put it. Seriously. What else do you picture for your ideal proposal?”
“The kids and the dogs will be sacked out on the couch after a fun morning. And rainy weather? That’d be fun because I'd remember this conversation we're having right now.” Scully absently tapped her fake bump. “I will probably even be pregnant with baby number four. Being a parent later in life would be a wild experience. That said... I can also promise you that it wouldn’t be unheard of.”
"Oh?" said Mulder. "Then was one of your parents born at a later age to their own folks?"
“Yep. “That is how it went for my mother. But nana lived so long that she liked to joke she was immortal. My favorite part," Scully turned coy. "Is definitely her name.”
“And…?” Mulder pressed. “What was it?”
Scully winked again. “Her name was Dana.”
"I guess that that's that about how you got your name." said Mulder with great amusement. "Exactly how long was nana on this planet?”
Scully said without missing one single beat, “A century.”
Awed, Mulder told her, “That’s amazing.”
Scully took his words in stride as she tapped her fake bump again. “I’m not going to let the horrors I’ve endured over the years halt my quest where motherhood is concerned. And I’m sure not going to let any future drama stop it. So… I feel that a very casual proposal where we only have to worry about ourselves and those in our house is completely perfect. I couldn’t ask for more than that. Ever.”
Mulder felt his heart skip another beat. He knew that Scully meant the ‘couldn't ask for more than that’ part both in answer to his question about proposal parameters and in answer to The Broader Picture. The fact that she trusted him enough to want to share any of this meant the world.
Scully thought, This man is completely worth waiting for because he is marriage material.
Only just refraining from telling Scully that he’d remember these things in the future, Mulder finally said, “I believe your happily ever after will be wonderful.”
Experiencing a flip-flopping of her heart, Scully asked, “Really?”
“Mhm.” said Mulder with great confidence. “I believe it because I already believe that you’ll be with your soulmate. He’ll be with you, knowing that you’re the soulmate he waited an eternity for. The two of you are going to love those babies, and that dog, and that paradise for everything that the whole entire picture is going to be. Your hearts will even be full because you’ll have absolutely earned that paradise. On top of it all? The family will only know peace because your problems are going to be behind you. Closure will have happened.”
Closure that I promise I will get for you, Mulder silently vowed.
Greatly moved and only just holding back a proposal of her own, Scully said, “Wow. Thank you for those words. It was all incredibly nice of you. And so sweet. By the way…”
Electing to play along with her topic change, Mulder asked, “Yes?”
“When we were in Home,” Scully said carefully. “Did you really mean it when you said that you’d settle in some place like that?”
“Yep.” answered Mulder. “Of course… I would never once desire the kinds of horrors we saw there because they were brutal…”
“Hey.” Scully turned gentle. “Please keep going. Okay?”
Mulder tried again. “Okay. Then taking that all into account, I really have always pictured living somewhere quiet with a happy family. To be honest? No one’s ever asked.”
Scully said in surprise, “Just me?”
“Uh-huh.” confirmed Mulder. “I mean everything I just said to you. Really. Just because the family that I was born into failed so miserably, that doesn’t mean that my future marriage has to. And so? I like to imagine that I’ll be happily married with kids one day.”
Now Scully asked hopefully, “What else do you imagine?”
“That my wife and I will break the cycle together.” answered Mulder. “Have I been engaged or married before? No. But…”
“Oh.” said Scully. “But you really do picture yourself as a ‘one-and-done’ kind of guy?”
Mulder answered, “Exactly. I will completely love my soulmate for everything she is, Dana. And more. But I also hope she loves me the same.”
Scully thought, I already do.
But now she looked at him unblinkingly. “Wherever your future wife is, Fox, I believe that you already loves you like that. And more than you could ever possibly know. However… If you’ll excuse me… Real or not… Our baby weighs a ton. Be right back. Okay?”
More smitten than ever because of her use of the word 'our,' Mulder only just remembered himself in time to answer back, “Okay.”
God, I hope I can marry her one day, thought Mulder while Scully made haste for the facilities.
And she thought to herself as she headed away, God. I hope I can marry him one day.
Upon Scully’s return…
She and Mulder finally ate breakfast. They also traded all kinds of stories about their growing-up years. They also agreed to keep up their ‘married couple’ façade for the sake of the office clerk until check-out the next day. No need to ruin the illusion. Right?
There was also an unspoken agreement that they wanted to keep up the illusion because they were continuing to love every moment of it.
Once breakfast had been cleared away, Mulder and Scully broke out their Christmas presents. Neither had been forgotten by their mothers that day. Both Mulder’s mother and Scully’s own had sent care after learning from their children that they’d be unavailable for Christmas Day. It was a fun surprise.
The agents had opened them between being successfully extracted from the gated community and getting debriefed at the FBI field office they’d been assigned to there in The Lone Star State. Even that had served as a nice distraction.
Chief amongst Scully’s presents? A brand-new Scrabble set.
So she and Mulder played the game together as a new movie started on the television.
Scully’s favorite part was what it was. A very familiar version of Peter Pan.