A/N: Hopefully this fills in some of the blanks for you that were left by me skipping to the epilogue in ooom after they finally got together. No more slow burn this time! Your patience has been rewarded! I have a feeling this won't be the last time I write in this universe...
Mulder blinks awake, a ray of sunlight hitting him right in the eyes from the gap in Scully's blinds. It takes a second for him to adjust to his surroundings, the unfamiliar sheets and warm body beside him still new and exciting. His arm tingles from loss of feeling, trapped beneath her head. The last time they'd awoken to Madeline's cries, she'd slipped right back into his embrace after tending to her, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
How had it taken them so long to get to this point?
Breathing in a sigh of contentment, he allows himself a moment longer with her, curling his arm around her middle and filling his lungs with her scent. He parts the soft, coppery strands of hair covering the back of her neck and presses a kiss there, closing his eyes and resting his cheek against her head.
He's so unbelievably lucky. If only his younger self could see how everything would turn out.
It takes all his strength to drag himself away from her, but he wants to get a head start on the day while Maddie is still asleep, so he carefully extracts his arm and presses one more tender kiss to her head before heaving himself off the bed. The shirt he’d discarded the night before had been claimed by Scully the first time Maddie woke them, so instead, he heads to his room, digging around in his drawers for a suitable alternative.
In the mirror in the bathroom, he catches sight of his own reflection, and he stops for a minute to inspect it. For the first time, he’s actually seeing himself as a father, as the man that Scully loves. It's somehow revelatory, a groundbreaking discovery. True happiness visibly changes a person, and he sees it in himself, for probably the first time in his adult life. He likes it.
Before heading into the kitchen, he pokes his head back into Scully’s room to check that both his girls are still asleep. Scully has rolled into the divot he left on his side of the bed, and his pillow serves as his stand-in, wrapped tightly in her arms. His heart squeezes with affection. Despite every inclination telling him to go back and claim his space next to her, he shuts the door with a soft click, making his way to the kitchen.
The fridge, filled to the brim thanks to Margaret Scully and her church friends, contains plenty of food to get him started on breakfast. Bacon and eggs is easy enough, and since being domesticated by Scully several months ago, he's picked up a thing or two. He might even be able to put together a nice mixture of fruit for them to enjoy, something healthy she might appreciate. He has no delusions that the energy to make such an effort in the mornings will continue in the coming days, but today he is ready and willing.
After all, there's something else he really wants to do today.
Just as he's putting the final touches on their meal, he hears the whimpers of their daughter, and the sound of Scully stirring in the bedroom. Perfect timing. He sets the skillet aside, turning off the burner before making his way over there. He knocks lightly on the door before pushing it open.
“Morning!” he says, smiling to himself at the sight of her messy hair.
“I wondered where you went,” she replies, in the process of lifting Maddie from her bassinet and carrying her to the changing table. She sniffs once in the air, her eyes meeting his with curiosity. “Did you make breakfast?” she asks.
“I did, it’s all ready when you are,” he answers, drawing a beautiful smile from her. “I can get her changed if you want to go on out there.
Her brows furrow. “Are you sure? You've already–”
“Hey,” he stops her. “I can do it. You get ready for the day and I'll meet you out there, okay?”
“Okay,” she says, smiling softly.
He walks toward her to collect Maddie, pausing to give her a quick kiss before taking the baby into his arms.
“I love you,” he says, the relief at being able to freely say those words feeling like a weight lifted off his shoulders.
And to his delight, she says it back. “I love you too.”
-.-.-
He feels ridiculous, asking his own wife out on a date, but he loves her so much, he does it anyway. It's going to sound silly no matter what he does, he thinks, so he decides to really commit to it, and writes out:
Will u go out with me?
□ yes / □ no
on a scrap of paper, and slips it to her across the table at breakfast.
A grin lights up her face, which she attempts to conceal with her hand, and she shifts Madeline into her other arm so she can pick up the pen and check the box for “yes.”
Mulder feels a burst of giddiness from his head to his toes.
Tomorrow?
he writes, passing the paper back to her again. He watches as she scrawls in her neat little handwriting:
Where?
-.-.-
When Maggie arrives the following night, it’s to find them both dressed to the nines, her daughter putting the finishing touches on her hair while Mulder takes care of Madeline’s diaper in the other room.
She had been delighted to receive their call. After the unpleasant conversation she'd had on the phone with her eldest son, she had worried about them, wanting to check up on them, but unsure if Dana would appreciate the prying. She decided to give it a few days, and maybe stop by to offer her services however she may be useful if there are no objections.
To her surprise, her services are requested before she can even offer. Babysitting. Just for a few hours, they say. She hardly dares to consider the possibilities.
But seeing the two of them, looking as polished as ever, sets her heart ablaze with hope. She drops her purse onto the kitchen table, hurrying across the room to the bathroom where Dana is attempting to set a curl so that it lays just right on her head.
“Dana?” she asks, eyes wide as she tries to silently convey every question that has passed through her mind in the last few minutes.
“Mom! Thank you so much for coming.”
“Anytime, sweetie,” she says.
She feels restless. Jittery. Her hands, she doesn't know what to do with her hands. It would be imprudent to ask, but she has to know.
“So… you're all dressed up,” she notes. “Is it a… court date? Something to do with the adoption?”
She doesn't think so. Or rather, she hopes that it's something else.
“A court date?” Dana laughs, looking at her incredulously. “At this time of night? No, it's just a date date.”
Maggie releases a gasp of air, immediately enveloping her daughter in a bone-crushing hug.
“Oh, thank the Lord!” she cries, grinning from ear to ear, powerless to stop the tears from pooling in her eyes.
“Mom, you’ll wrinkle my dress,” Dana complains half-heartedly, though she smiles on in amusement.
“Oh…” Maggie says with a sniffle, wiping her eyes and pulling back just a little. “Honey, he'd love you even if you wore a plastic trash bag,” she assures her.
“Yeah, but I just spent fifteen minutes ironing this,” Dana replies, unable to hide her brilliant smile. Not for a minute does she bother to deny that Fox Mulder loves her. Not even for a second. Maggie could collapse in relief, to see her daughter so at ease. So openly in love.
She hugs her again, headless of the carefully ironed dress.
“I’m so happy,” she says, cupping Dana’s cheek with her hand. “So happy for you. Oh, Dana!”
Dana chuckles, taking her mother’s hands and stepping backwards out of the bathroom. “Madeline’s bottles are in the fridge,” she says, her eyes practically shining with elation.
“Right, yes,” Maggie says, soberly remembering why she's here. But it's hard to pull back on the restraints of her pure joy at finding all her prayers finally answered. You can't put a dimmer on that amount of happiness.
“You have mine and Mulder's phone numbers,” Dana adds. “Try to put her to bed at about 8:00, I'm hoping to get her on a schedule.”
“Of course.” She'd expect nothing less from her pragmatic daughter.
No sooner does Fox step an unsuspecting foot in the living room than he's overrun by his mother-in-law, pulled into her tight embrace. With the baby cradled in his arms, he's powerless against her, looking up at Dana in surprise as he endures the shower of kisses she bestows on his cheek.
“I knew you could do it,” Maggie says, fondly patting him on the cheek and gazing up at him with pride. “You have told her, haven't you?”
“I've actually got Bill to thank for that,” he jokes, and Maggie huffs.
“Oh, that boy. I've given him a piece of my mind. He won't bother you again.”
He had better not. She and Bill Senior had raised him better than that. She was horrified by his appalling behavior.
“Mom,” Dana interrupts, fastening an earring in place as she walks over to give her a parting kiss on the cheek. “We've got to head out. We have reservations.”
“Of course!” Maggie answers. Fox goes to hand her the baby, but she waves him away. “Oh, put her down for a minute and let me take a picture of the two of you! Where is your camera?”
“Mom…” Dana whines, and is that a hint of pink she detects on her cheeks?
Fox, for his part, obeys, chuckling all the while. “Oh, come on, Scully,” he says as he hands the camera to Maggie. “Don't you want a memento of the night the handsome Fox Mulder took you to prom?”
She rolls her eyes, even as she finds herself being wrapped in his arms, her back pulled against his chest.
“We're going out for dinner and drinks, Mulder,” she says, raising a doubtful eyebrow. But when he nuzzles her neck with his nose, she can't help the brilliant smile that blooms on her face, overshadowing any embarrassment she might feel in front of her mother.
Maggie snaps a few photos, grinning like a mad woman at the happy sight before her.
“Okay, really, that's enough,” Dana giggles, turning in Fox’s arms and pushing him away. “Mom, thank you for watching Madeline. You'll call us if you have any trouble?”
“Of course! Though I have raised four children, sweetheart, I think I know what I'm doing.”
“But–”
“Oookay, Scully, let's get out of here,” Fox says, stopping her with a hand on her shoulder before she can argue any further. He grabs her jacket and holds it out to her, helping her into the sleeves. “Thanks again, Margaret,” he says.
“Anytime! I'm happy to be of use!”
Fox lifts Maddie from where he'd laid her down, holding her against his chest and bouncing her gently. She stares up at him with big bright eyes, and he angles his neck down to press a kiss to her fuzzy little head.
“Bye, my sweetheart,” he says. “We’ll see you in a little bit.”
After adjusting her hair to the outside of her collar, Scully joins him and says her own goodbyes. Maggie catches the forlorn look on her face that every mother has when leaving their child for the first time. She remembers the feeling well.
“Get out of here, you two,” Maggie urges good-naturedly, taking the baby into her arms. “Stay out as long as you’d like, we’ll be just fine here.”
With one last doubtful glance backwards, Dana is guided by her partner’s hands on her shoulders out the door as he whispers words of encouragement. Maggie can't help but smile as she watches them. Her daughter is in good hands.
-.-.-
“It's weird, isn't it?” Scully asks, sitting across from Mulder in a candlelit restaurant.
“What, this?” His eyes scan their surroundings. Fancier than their usual digs, sure, but not particularly odd.
He takes a sip of the white wine he’d ordered for them, something far more expensive than his usual tastes, but worth it for the occasion. She's not getting cold feet at this point in their relationship, is she? It's a little too late to back out now.
“Are you about to break my heart, Scully?” he asks, chuckling to hide the twinge of nervousness.
“No,” she assures him with a small smile, plucking another bite of her breadstick off and popping it into her mouth. “No, I meant being away from Madeline. It's weird. She hasn't even been with us a week, and it already feels like…”
“Like there's a person missing from our party, yeah,” he finishes for her, knowing exactly what she means. “I guess it is kind of weird. It was just me and you for so long, you'd think it would feel like it always has.”
“I guess a lot has changed.”
He smiles, tapping his foot against hers under the table. “I guess it has.”
But at the same time, there are plenty of things that stay the same. Mulder performs a magic trick, making his spoon disappear from beneath his napkin, to the embarrassment of Scully, who enjoys his antics more than she lets on. When they get bored waiting for their main course to be served, he scoots his chair over to make room on his side of the table so they can whisper outrageous made-up stories about their fellow restaurant-goers to each other. The couple in the corner, she decides, are rival investment bankers for high profile clients. Their love affair would jeopardize both their companies, but they're powerless to stay away. Mulder says their waiter is actually three guinea pigs in a tuxedo, that's why their food is taking so long.
There's no shortage of laughter, despite the prim and proper atmosphere of the restaurant. They get more than a few concerned looks, but they're used to those by now. He does, however, attempt to stifle her giggles after a particularly loud snort erupts from her, holding her face against his shoulder to shush her while carefully steeling his own features. Something she'd said had caused water to spill from his nose, and she'd been laughing at his expense ever since.
“Real mature, Scully,” he says, his fingers tangling in her hair as his shoulder muffles the sound of her laughter. “I think that's enough wine for you.”
After a moment or two more, her shoulders stop shaking and all that's left is the most brilliant smile he's ever seen. She turns her head sideways, resting her cheek on his shoulder and releasing a contented sigh.
The waiter brings them the bill. He doesn't even look at the price total before slipping his credit card into the folder.
Whatever he'd paid for the night was well worth it.
-.-.-
Outside the restaurant, the evening air is cool—a reminder that summer has yet to officially arrive, to keep a few sweaters handy for when a cold front blows through. His hand is warm in hers, though, and there's music playing softly from somewhere down the block. It's a perfect night.
With dinner completed, their next stop is a classy little bar a few streets over that plays the kind of jazz music that Scully likes, and Mulder barely tolerates. But this had been his idea, and she appreciates his willingness to suffer in exchange for her enjoyment. How very Mulder of him.
They come to a stop at a crosswalk, the red “stop” hand telling them to wait. Cars drive leisurely past, the hum of their engines and rumbling of their tires blending in with the whip of the wind that comes to tangle Scully's hair. Mulder beams down at her, brushing the errant strands from her face—a fruitless task until this gust blows through.
He opens his mouth as if to speak, then closes it again, glancing around at the passing cars, at the marquee lights from the theater across the street.
She follows his lead, standing beside him and wondering at the slow pace of life they seem to have dipped their toes into. Not every day has to be like this, of course. They'd both go crazy if it were. But this is what she'd meant by ‘getting out of the car.’ Just sometimes, to be like other people. To slow down and enjoy the world around them, the infinitesimally small moments that would otherwise pass them by. She thinks they deserve that.
The crosswalk beeps at a steady rhythm, as unhurried as they are.
“Scully, would you–” he starts, clearing his throat. He looks down at his feet, his thumb fiddling with the diamond that sits on her finger. “You know, now that your family knows, we could–”
“Aren't you supposed to be down on one knee?”
Her question leaves him completely dumbstruck, and she wishes she had a camera to capture the look on his face.
“Scully?” he rasps in confusion.
She shrugs nonchalantly, concealing a smile. “It's just, you forgot last time. You just kind of blurted it out.”
Now he knows she's teasing him. One corner of his mouth quirks upward and she sees playfulness illuminate in his eyes to match hers.
“Do you want me to hire a professional photographer for this too, or will you let me finish?” he says lowly, leaning in close and squeezing her hand.
She looks at him with a smirk, one eyebrow raised, and he kneels, right there on the sidewalk.
“Scully… my lovely wife,” he starts, gazing up at her with the pale yellow light of the street lights reflecting in his eyes. Her heart skips a few beats. “Would you like to have a big white Catholic wedding with me? Tuxedo, bridesmaids, the whole nine yards?”
She pretends to think for a moment, her eyes drifting to the heavens. Then comes her response.
“Mm—no.”
“No?” He seems appalled.
And as fun as it is to mess with him, she can’t leave him hanging for long.
“I would like to have a small wedding, though,” she says. “Just our families and closest friends.”
She can see the relief written on his face plain as day. As if she'd ever say no to marrying him again. Doesn't he know, now, how much she loves him?
She tugs on his hands and helps him to his feet, finding herself suddenly face to face with his infectious smile.
“Easiest guest list in the world,” he says. Then he lowers his lips to hers and kisses her. Across the street, the display on the crosswalk flashes with descending numbers, and they've missed their chance to go. But this side of the street is just fine, thank you very much.
“You know, technically what we're talking about here is just a vow renewal, not a wedding,” she informs him, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye.
He grins. “Oh, I'm well aware. You're already hitched to my wagon, honey.”
That earns him an eye roll. They're back to waiting again, this time without the other pedestrians who have left them behind. One of them probably ought to go press the button again, if they really want to cross.
“I know it was crazy, and probably stupid, looking back, but… I liked our wedding just the way it was,” Scully says. “Just you and me.”
“Me too.”
Thinking back on that day, it still doesn't feel real sometimes. Some days, the sight of the ring on her finger catches her by surprise, and the one on his fills her with a kind of primal possessiveness.
“We really did this all backwards, didn’t we?” she says.
“Definitely. Remind me to thank your brother for giving me the motivation I needed to tell you. He can come to the wedding—”
“Vow renewal.”
“—just for being the one to get our heads out of our—”
She kisses him, stealing his words from his lips. His hands find her waist, then her back, and she can't believe how right this feels. How quickly they've gone from friends to more.
Then again, maybe it wasn't so quick after all.
“Is that how you're gonna shut me up from now on?” he asks, breathing deeply to catch his breath.
She nips at his bottom lip again, then his jaw. If he needs a verbal answer after that, then she has severely overestimated his intellect
But it seems he’s catching on.
“I can live with it.”
-.-.-
In the end, they decide that drinks and jazz music can wait for another day.
“Would you be offended if I said I'd rather just go home?” Scully asks.
He gazes down at her beside him knowingly. “You miss her, don't you?”
Her lower lip juts out in an exaggerated pout. “Yes.”
“Me too.”
And so, they instead turn around and go straight back to their car, setting course toward home. Mulder can tell without even looking at her that she spends the entire car ride worrying over Madeline’s welfare, despite the fact that Margaret Scully is sure to be a more than adequate babysitter. It’s such a maternal instinct, though, that it fills Mulder with pride.
Dana Scully is many things—an enigma at times—but on top of all that, she is now a mother. It only makes him love her more.
Back in the hallway of their apartment building, he stops her in front of their door before she can open it. If this is their first real date, then he wants to close it out properly.
“I had a really nice time,” he says, and though it’s a joke, he means it sincerely.
Her doubtful eyebrow arches toward the ceiling, as predictable as Old Faithful. “Really, Mulder?” she asks, looking at him in that way he knows means ‘I think you’re a dork.’
“Did you have a nice time?” He makes it clear he’s expecting an answer, leaning in close to draw it from her.
The corners of her mouth twitch, and thanks to his expert knowledge of Scully’s many microexpressions, he knows she’s amused.
“Yes, I did, Mulder.”
He grins and pokes her in the arm. “Now say the next part.”
This time she rolls her eyes at him. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I was given a script.”
He playfully pinches her sides, pulling her closer. “Oh come on, you know the words…”
She sighs, looking up at him with the smallest of smiles gracing her face. “We should do this again sometime?”
There it is.
“Yes, we should,” he agrees. Then all there is to do is seal the deal with a kiss. He takes it slow, chuckling a little at how silly it all seems. He hasn’t kissed a girl on her doorstep after a date (with the girl's mother waiting just inside) since he was in high school. What he hadn’t expected was that he would feel the same rush of exhilaration as he did back then.
“Mulder,” she says between kisses.
He hums, his brain only barely capable of comprehending language.
Pouty Scully is back. “I miss my baby.”
Oh. Right.
Behind her back, he manages to slip his keys in the lock, and she shoots him a thankful smile as he turns the doorknob. She breaks from him just in time for him to crack open the door.
“You’re back early,” Maggie comments as they enter, looking up from the book she’d been reading while waiting for them on the couch. In the kitchen, freshly cleaned baby bottles are stacked on a drying rack beside the sink, and the place is spotless. For as little time as they’d been gone, her mother had obviously gotten a lot done, proving once again what a master at her craft she was. They still have a lot to learn.
“Mulder missed Maddie,” Scully says in explanation.
“Hey, so did you!” he defends himself. Maggie merely shakes her head and smiles, clearly entertained by their playful bickering.
Scully sets her purse aside, then starts removing her coat. “Did she do okay?” she asks, her brow furrowed in thinly-veiled worry.
“She was a perfect angel,” Maggie answers. “Only one dirty diaper, and she finished her whole bottle. She did fall asleep a little early, so she might be waking up again soon for another feeding.”
Mulder can see the relief as it eases the tension in Scully’s shoulders. He takes her coat from her, hanging it on the coat rack behind him along with his.
“Okay, that’s great, Mom,” she says. “Thank you so much for watching her.”
“Anytime, dear. She’s just the sweetest baby. If you ever need me to babysit overnight, am I correct in assuming you now have a spare room for guests?”
“Mom!” Scully blushes.
“Actually, we were just talking about turning it into Maddie’s nursery,” Mulder says, wrapping an arm around Scully’s waist and pulling her into his side. To his delight, he succeeds at getting her to turn an even deeper shade of red.
Maggie scoffs in amusement at her daughter’s uncharacteristic bashfulness. “You are married , Dana. I’d be surprised and disappointed if you weren’t—”
Scully hurries to gather her mother’s things, ushering her to the door. “Okay, I think we’ve kept you for long enough, Mom, thanks for coming. You’d better get on home.”
“We’ll call you,” Mulder adds with a cheeky smile, earning him a smack on the shoulder by an indignant Scully.
“You’d better,” Maggie threatens teasingly. “I trust you had a good night? Fox, I must say, that shade of lipstick suits you very nicely.”
Scully groans. “Bye, Mom,” she says insistently, practically shooing Maggie out the door. She’s reached a level of red-in-the-face that Mulder previously thought impossible to attain, and it just makes him want to squish her cheeks and tell her how adorable she is.
“Love you too, Maggie,” Mulder says for them both, his heart almost bursting with joy at really being a part of a family again. This is what he’d been looking for for so long. Who would have guessed he’d find it with his FBI partner and her stalwart Catholic mother?
“Goodnight, Dana. Goodnight, Fox,” Maggie says, stepping out into the hall. “I love you both.
And that sweet girl of yours.”
Scully sighs. “Love you, Mom. Goodnight.”
-.-.-
“I was thinking about what your mom said earlier,” he whispers in the darkness, his arm wrapped around her waist underneath the covers of their bed. She turns her head to glance back at him.
“Mulder, we do not need her to babysit overnight,” she says. “I don't want to be away from Maddie that long.”
He breathes a laugh. “I know. That's not what I was going to say, actually.”
Her brows furrow, and the sheets rustle as she turns over to look at him properly. His hand slides over her silk-clad torso, and he rubs his thumb over her side in soothing circles as she settles.
“Oh. Then what is it?” she asks.
He hums thoughtfully. “I was thinking, it would be nice to have space for guests, and a nursery for Madeline.”
Again, he finds confusion written on her face. “Well, there are only two rooms in this apartment, Mulder, so I'm not sure where you think we're gonna—”
“What about a house?”
That silences her.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” he says, smiling. “Come on, what do you say?”
“I–” She's not sure what to say. “I don't know.”
“If we lived somewhere bigger, I'd have less reason to say no to a dog,” he offers temptingly.
Her eyebrows raise. “You want to get a dog?”
“I didn't say that,” he answers, laughing softly. “I said I wouldn't have as much of an argument against it. There's a difference.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Mulder?” she asks jokingly, her own smile pulling at her lips.
“I'm right here, honey,” he says, wagging his eyebrows at her and digging his fingers into her sides. Then, turning serious again, “It's not that I’m against dogs. It was just your yappy cannibal dog, specifically.”
“It's not a cannibal if the thing it eats isn't of its own species,” she corrects. “Dogs are animals. It did what it needed to survive.”
“Stop, stop, you’re gonna give me nightmares,” he says, covering her mouth with his hand. “You're not helping your case, you know.”
She smiles and brushes his hair back. He's noticed she has a thing for his hair. She can't seem to keep her hands off even during idle conversation.
“Hey, you brought it up,” she points out. “A house, though, Mulder? Are you sure?”
“Why not? I've told you before that I'd live away from the city if I could. Wouldn't you?”
She smiles and closes her eyes, humming. “It does sound nice,” she admits.
“Well then, let's look. Let’s just see what's out there.”
“Okay,” she agrees. “I want it to have a porch.”
“Oh, that's a must,” he says, nodding seriously. “And a couple acres of land, at least.”
“What are we going to do with several acres, Mulder?”
“Start a garden, put in a pool? Maybe build an underground bunker for doomsday prepping?”
“Can I veto that last one?” she asks.
“We’ll talk about it later.”
She grumbles even as he pulls her to his chest, snuggling her close.
While in some ways, the birth and adoption of their daughter felt like an end to their long and fraught journey, he hopes it's clear now that it's just the beginning. Their lives will look a little different from here on out, but there is so much more to come. A house, a real wedding. Maybe even a dog.
Oh, who is he kidding? Of course they're getting a dog.
“Dana?” he murmurs into her hair. Already her body has relaxed in his arms, and he knows she's moments away from falling asleep, his adorable little narcoleptic wife.
“Mm—what?”
“I love you.”
He can feel her smile against his chest, and she snuggles in closer.
A/N: True to my word (for once) here's a fic set in my "of our own making" universe, picking up right where we left off in the chapter before the epilogue! If you haven't read "of our own making," you might be a little lost, but I can't stop you from reading it anyway. The second part will be posted tomorrow <3
This is it, the thing she’s scarcely allowed herself to hope for. Mulder—all of him. As a friend. As a partner. As a husband. Now, a lover.
Her family.
“Your brother’s an idiot,” he says into her mouth, startling a huff of a laugh out of her before he devotes himself entirely to the kiss, giving his utmost care and attention to the fullness of her bottom lip.
She smiles and pulls back just long enough to look at him, his shining, tear-filled eyes and radiant grin making her stomach do somersaults.
“Shut up, Mulder,” she says, cupping his face between her hands.
His fingers brush her tears away, leaving only happiness in their wake.
And she kisses him again.
-.-.-
His awareness of his surroundings, at the moment—though usually rather fine-tuned—is limited only to the soft lips beneath his own, and the echo of I love you, too in his ears. He almost doesn't hear the crescendoing whimpering sounds coming from out in the hall, but she does.
“I guess we should have known that was coming,” she says with a small smile, brushing his hair from his forehead and settling her hand over his cheek to stop him.
At some point, they had wound up reclined on the bed, her hair fanned out over the pillow behind her. His head falls limply into the crook of her neck in defeat, as if he could hide there for just a moment more before their daughter’s complaining turns into full-blown tears.
“Maybe if we stay quiet, she'll…” He trails off, freezing in place. Scully follows suit, turning her ear to the door that sits ajar. It's silent. They wait, neither daring to make a move as they listen to see if the noises will continue, but they don't. It stays blissfully quiet as they both subconsciously hold their breath. The interruption gives him an idea.
“Hey, Scully,” he whispers after a moment, pressing a tentative kiss to her lips, as if testing to see if one tiny peck on the lips might disturb whatever peace their daughter is currently enjoying in her bouncy chair in the hall. “What do you think of me doing some redecorating in my room?”
He runs his hand up her side in a gentle motion, then back down, repeating this pattern like it’s second nature.
“Mm,” she hums, lost in the sensation of his touch. It's new, but at the same time, it's as old as their trust in each other. It’s been there from the very beginning, from the moment his fingertips grazed her back and declared her markings to be mosquito bites.
“I'm thinking some light pink for the walls,” he continues, looking at her intensely to gauge her response.
This gets her attention. “Pink, Mulder?” she asks, a crease appearing between her brows. He resists the urge to smooth it with his lips, laughter bubbling in his chest.
“Yeah,” he says, beaming down at her. “And I've heard they make these tiny little beds for babies. Cribs, I think they're called?”
Now, his meaning cannot be mistaken. He watches Scully's face as her brain connects the pieces of the puzzle, and her expression turns to one of surprise. “Mulder—”
“I mean, if you don't have any objections, that is,” he says, walking back his offer just a little. Has he been too forward? Too presumptive? The last thing he wants to do is overwhelm her. If she needs her space—
“Mulder…” she repeats his name again. And then she's pulling him close, her arms wrapped around his neck. He settles on his side on the bed, pulling her with him and not letting go. She buries her face in his chest, and he has an inkling that her motive might be to conceal another round of tears.
“Is that a yes?” he asks, grinning into her flaming red hair.
She springs another kiss on him in answer, and his heart gives a flutter.
This time, the cry from the hall is sharp, and Scully pulls back again, leaving Mulder to chase her lips as she grudgingly separates herself from his embrace.
“I have a catalog you can look at in the cabinet,” she says as she gets up from the bed, discreetly wiping a tear from her eye as her lips curl up in a smile. “No hot pink. And no Teletubbies.”
She walks backwards slowly through the door, her eyes never leaving his. As soon as she's out of his sight, Madeline’s cries instantly quiet.
Mama's here, baby girl.
Mulder flops back onto the bed, an irrepressible smile adorning his face as he stares up at the ceiling. He can still feel the imprint of her lips on his, her hands in his hair, on his cheek.
He wonders if he should send Bill a thank you card. Scully’s phone still lays where they had left it on top of the bed spread, mercifully silent.
He knows they haven't heard the last from the eldest Scully sibling, but they have at least earned a brief period of peace.
She loves him, and he loves her. And what everyone else thinks?
Well, he doesn't particularly care.
-.-.-
Stepping out of Scully’s room feels like entering a parallel dimension. Fifteen minutes ago, he was a man desperately in love with his best friend, silently pining for her while coparenting the child they had adopted together. Now, things have changed. He’s seeing everything in a whole new light. There’s a lot still to be defined, yes, but things are different. Noticeably so.
That’s not his best friend over there feeding the baby a bottle. Well, it is, but it’s also his wife, who it turns out also loves him. Go figure.
There’s a photo of their wedding on the mantle. They put it there for when the representative from the adoption agency came to do a home visit, but she’d kept it up. That meant something, now that he knew. Now that the truth behind their fake relationship had been revealed, and it wasn't as fake as he'd thought.
She smiles at him as he comes to sit beside her on the couch, neither of them saying a word. He gets the sense that she’s thinking along the same lines as him, wondering what this will mean for the plans they have made. Nothing has to change, does it? Some part of him had always hoped they would end up here, he just didn’t think it would be so soon.
Starting something like this with lifelong ramifications is scary enough on its own. To do it while sleep deprived and in the midst of the biggest life change he’s ever experienced is crazy—although it’s no different than the typical Mulder and Scully level of crazy, he supposes. They’ve always done things in their own way. It wouldn’t be them if it wasn’t.
“Are you—?”
“Have you—?”
They both start speaking at the same time, chuckling awkwardly when they realize what they’ve done.
“You go first,” Scully says, her cheeks reddening as she glances down at Maddie to avoid eye contact.
He clears his throat. “Have you thought about calling Charlie?” he asks, forcing the words from his lips. The last call with a Scully hadn’t gone well at all, obviously, but he has higher hopes for the youngest. It’s the right thing to do, and they’ve already waited longer than they should have. They can’t keep putting it off forever.
“I’d be surprised if he hasn’t already gotten an earful from Bill,” Scully answers, a frown appearing on her lips. He drapes an arm over the back of the couch, his fingers coming to rest on her shoulder, massaging there lightly. “Could you burp Maddie?” she asks, starting to pass the baby off to him. “I’ll go get my phone.”
He holds Madeline by the armpits, carefully transferring her to his chest as he watches Scully get up and leave. “You don’t have to do it right this second,” he calls across the room, beginning the steady rhythm of pats on the baby’s back.
“No, you’re right,” she says, breezing back into the living room. “I want to talk to him. Now’s as good a time as any.” Before he can say another word, she’s already dialing his number, curling up with her legs crossed on the cushion beside him.
He feels like an intruder on the upcoming conversation, though he knows he’s almost certainly welcome. And after how the talk with Bill Jr. had gone, he’s not about to leave her to face this by herself again, though he doubts they’ll have a repeat performance of what had happened before.
She sits so close to him, he can feel the warmth of her body. He can hear with perfect clarity when Charlie’s voice comes across the speaker.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Charlie.”
“Hi, Dana.”
On his shoulder, Maddie lets out a burst of air, relaxing into his hold. Scully flashes him a small smile.
“So,” Charlie continues, the silence lasting just a little too long.
“I have a feeling you know why I’m calling,” Scully starts, her posture growing tense. “Has Bill spoken to you?”
Her fears are confirmed in the sigh that comes across the line next.
“Yeah. Yeah, he has,” he answers.
Scully settles back into the cushions of the couch, her shoulders slumping. “Charlie–”
“I've been wondering since Christmas what you guys were actually up to,” he says, just the barest hint of laughter in his tone of voice. “I feel like I can die happy now finally having an answer.”
She sighs, running a hand over her face in relief that he seems to be joking rather than taking it the way Bill had. “Well, don't do that. Your niece would like to meet you.”
“Niece, huh?” he asks. “Nice. Bill couldn't even tell me her name, if you can believe that.”
Mulder could. Mulder could definitely believe that. His heart broke for Scully.
“It’s Madeline. Maddie,” she answers.
Mulder wonders what time it is, wherever Charlie is. He sounds tired. But then, so would Mulder if he’d just had an exhausting conversation with Scully’s older brother, so he really couldn’t fault him for that.
“Please tell me you gave her Mulder's last name,” Charlie pleads. “That would really send Bill over the edge.”
Scully bites back a smile, and it sends a thrill right through him. He’d never get tired of hearing her say their daughter’s full name aloud. The honor of her passing on both his sister's name and his last name is one he'll never be able to repay, no matter how much he may try.
“Madeline Samantha Mulder,” she confirms, suppressing a laugh at the way her brother cheers.
“Yes! Oh, Dana, have I ever told you that you're my favorite?” he says. “Melissa would be so proud of you.”
Mulder watches as her eyes turn wistful, seemingly focused on something thousands of miles away. “Thanks, Charlie,” she says, biting her lip. “I wish—” The next words seem to catch in her throat, but Mulder understands, and he knows Charlie does too. He holds out his hand, delighting in the way she seamlessly slips hers into his palm without even looking. She tries to finish her thought, but it isn’t necessary. “You know, I wish she—”
“I do too.” Charlie speaks softly.
The line falls silent for a moment, the two siblings lost in the memory of their fallen sister, and Mulder lost in the memory of his.
“She told me about Mulder once, you know,” Charlie says eventually. “Years ago.”
Mulder shifts, intrigued.
“She did?” Scully asks.
“Yeah, after you were…” He trails off here and whistles an eerie, spooky-sounding tune rather than finishing his sentence.
Mulder grins, and Scully rolls her eyes. Predictable like the tides in the ocean, both of them are.
“She told me she'd just met our future brother-in-law,” he continues. “I didn't think she was serious. Just another of her wild predictions that doesn't come close to coming true. When I saw you both at Christmas, though…”
“I'm sorry we didn't invite you,” Scully interrupts him.
Mulder can almost see the younger man waving off her apology on the other side of the phone. “Nah, I've been to a fake wedding before,” he says nonchalantly. “You seen one, you've seen 'em all.”
Scully shakes her head, her eyes filled with mirth instead of the sadness that had been there before. For a few moments, they sit in comfortable silence, thankful to Charlie for being his usual, understanding self.
“Bill was pretty worked up, though,” he adds after a pause, “yelling about a “sham marriage” and all that.”
Scully sighs—frustrated, but not surprised, by Bill's continued behavior.
“But it isn't, is it?” Charlie asks knowingly.
Scully’s eyes flick up to meet Mulder’s, and he gives her a small smile and a nod, his fingers reaching for hers on her lap.
“No. It's not,” she answers breathlessly, swallowing back some emotion. Tears prick at Mulder’s eyes too, and he bows toward her to press a kiss to her forehead. “Turns out we're really bad about lying to ourselves out of some misguided fear of being open with each other,” she adds.
Charlie gives an exaggerated gasp. “No, you?”
Scully closes her eyes and sighs, her lips curled up in a smile. Mulder gives her fingers a squeeze.
“I'm sorry, Charles,” she says.
“Hey, just invite me to your next wedding, ‘kay?”
Now, that's an idea…
-.-.-
The rest of the day is spent looking after Madeline, marveling at her tiny features and trying to catch some sleep whenever she does—a task that Mulder, notorious insomniac, finds impossible. Scully insists he try to rest, though, and only when she puts on some kind of chick-flick period drama as background noise does he have any success. He conks out right on her shoulder before Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy even appears on screen, his jaw hanging open slightly in his sleep.
She watches him for a moment, noting every freckle on his skin, the slope of his nose, the flop of hair hanging over his forehead now that his hair has started to grow back out. Maddie lays tucked away in her pack ‘n play already, swaddled in a pink blanket and snoozing peacefully.
She could sit like this forever, Scully thinks, listening to the even breaths of the two people she loves most in this world; But unfortunately, reason must prevail. She can almost hear the parenting class instructor’s voice in her ear reminding her to sleep when the baby sleeps, so she dutifully reaches for the knit blanket on the cushion beside her, and drapes it over herself and Mulder.
He won’t mind, she remembers with a smile as she curls into his side, tucking her feet underneath herself. Since this morning, he’d hardly been able to keep his hands off her, personal space apparently a thing of a bygone era. They could live in an apartment half the size of this one, with as close as Mulder had stuck to her all day. His hand was practically glued to her lower back, even when she was just putting away dishes or preparing formula for Maddie.
He seemed to revel in this newly sanctioned element of their relationship, and was taking full advantage of it at every possible opportunity. Not that she was complaining; She was as guilty of it as he was, if not more so. For years, she’d had to resist the temptation to hold him. There had to be a limit to the friendly touches they could bestow, or they would’ve been forced to acknowledge that their feelings were anything but platonic.
But now, they’ve broken free of those limitations. He is hers, and she is his. In every possible way.
She sighs, leaning her cheek against his warm shoulder. The piano music coming from the TV is barely audible, but as her eyes drift shut, it relaxes her. In his sleep, Mulder shifts, nestling deeper into the cushions. His head lolls to the side, landing on top of her head, and she feels him exhale. The picture they must pose is like two pieces of a puzzle, perfectly fitted together. For the first time in her adult life, she feels complete.
She has all she needs right here.
-.-.-
After dinner, and a sponge bath for Madeline that leaves her less than thrilled, Scully sends Mulder off to take a shower while she puts the baby to bed.
“Let’s get you all warm,” she says to Maddie as she lays her down on the changing table. She grabs an infant-sized diaper and puts it on her with practiced ease, smiling at the sound of water running and Mulder humming on the other side of the wall.
That's her husband.
“Daddy has a nice voice, doesn’t he?” she says conversationally, maneuvering Maddie’s arms and legs into the onesie. “I’ll spare you from mine.”
Before she zips up the pajamas, she bends over and tickles her tummy, pressing a kiss to her baby soft skin.
“All clean after your bath, hmm? Doesn’t it feel nice?”
Madeline blinks up at her, apparently deciding whether or not to forgive her for the cold and wet first experience in the baby bathtub. She had been cranky in the last half hour, even before the bath. It’s definitely time for bed.
She fights sleep for as long as possible, draining her bottle quickly and then crying inconsolably until her exhaustion wins out and her eyes close. Scully watches her, her face relaxed in sleep, and can hardly believe this is her life.
She rocks her for a few more minutes, listening as the shower eventually turns off in the bathroom. A muffled swear sounds through the wall, followed by the clatter of several objects hitting the floor. Her collection of lotions, if she had to guess. Not breakable, at least, but to be fair to Mulder, they were in a spot that was just asking for them to be knocked over.
With one last glance back at Maddie, who is mercifully still asleep, she slowly rises from the rocking chair. Taking extra care not to jostle her in the transfer, she places her in her bassinet, watching as her chest rises and falls evenly with every breath.
A gentle knock on the bedroom door pulls her from her reverie, and she feels her heart give a lurch. She pulls herself away from Maddie’s bassinet, her stomach fluttering with butterflies as she approaches the doorway. Deep breaths, Dana. It’s just Mulder, she reminds herself.
Her hand clasps the doorknob, and she twists it, pulling the door open. At the sight of him, her lips curl into a smile, and she feels all traces of nervousness melt away.
He’s looking at her with that boyish smile of his, his hair all spiky from the shower. Droplets of water bead on the tips of his hair like early morning dew, every so often dripping onto the soft gray t-shirt he wears. Each one leaves a mark where it lands, absorbed into the fabric.
“Hi,” she says.
“Hi.”
He has the pillow from his bed tucked under his arm like he’s ready for a sleepover, and he fiddles with the hem of the pillowcase, waiting oh so patiently for her next move.
She makes it.
Grabbing him by the arm, she pulls him inside, walking backwards with him slowly as he grins at her.
can you write something about post S11 Mulder found TikTok and asks William to explain it and later Mulder asks Scully to do a TikTok with him (something cheesy or very dorky but cute)
It had been a quiet afternoon at the Unremarkable House, the kind of day where everything seemed to move at a slower pace. Mulder had been sitting at the kitchen table, laptop open in front of him, scrolling through the endless stream of what seemed like nonsensical videos when he stumbled upon something called "TikTok." The name alone intrigued him, and soon enough, he found himself down a rabbit hole of short, fast-paced clips—people dancing, pranking, lip-syncing, and generally doing things that he couldn’t quite wrap his head around.
"Jackson’s got to know about this," he muttered to himself, grabbing his phone and sending a quick text to his son.
It didn’t take long for Jackson to respond, and before Mulder knew it, they were on a video call. Jackson appeared on the screen, his face a mix of amusement and curiosity.
"Hey, Mulder. What’s up?"
"Do you know what TikTok is?" Mulder asked, as though he were about to crack some major conspiracy wide open.
Jackson grinned, already sensing where this was headed. "Yeah, of course. It’s everywhere. Why?"
"Well, I’ve been watching these videos, and I don’t get it. What’s the point? People are just dancing, and then there’s music, and sometimes they’re doing… well, I don’t know what they're doing, but they’re all just—having fun?"
Jackson chuckled. "That’s kind of the point, Dad. It’s just a place where people can post quick, funny, or even ridiculous videos. It’s supposed to be chill. There’s no deeper meaning or conspiracy here unless you want to claim that niche. You can do anything on it—dances, challenges, jokes, pranks, even educational stuff. You name it."
Mulder leaned back in his chair, frowning thoughtfully. "So, it’s like… a place to embarrass yourself in front of millions of strangers?"
"Pretty much," Jackson replied, still smiling. "But in a fun way."
Mulder pondered this for a moment, incredulous. "And people watch this stuff? Like, a lot of people?"
"Yeah, tons of people. Some of these creators are huge. People love it. And you can make your own TikToks too if you want."
Mulder’s eyes narrowed mischievously. "Interesting. And how do you make one?"
Jackson laughed. "I can walk you through it if you want, but I have a feeling Dana's going to find it hilarious if you try."
"Well, speaking of which…" Mulder glanced toward the living room where Scully was sitting with a book in her lap, completely unaware of his budding plan. "What do you think of me convincing your mother to do one of these TikToks with me?"
Jackson’s laughter grew louder. "I think you’re going to have your hands full with that. But I’d love to see it if you can pull it off."
"Challenge accepted," Mulder said, a grin spreading across his face.
Later that evening, Mulder approached Scully with the same determination he used when presenting his wildest theories. She was still on the couch with Lily fast asleep upstairs, now curled up with a cup of tea, and looked up at him, raising an eyebrow as he stood there, clearly plotting something.
"Mulder…" she said cautiously. "What are you up to?"
"I’ve discovered something today," he began dramatically, pacing a little as he built up to his request. "It’s called TikTok. Have you heard of it?"
Scully blinked at him, half-amused, half-bewildered. "I know what TikTok is. Why?"
"Well," Mulder continued, rubbing his hands together. "I was thinking… we should do one."
Scully stared at him for a moment, then let out a small laugh. "We should do a TikTok?"
"Yes. You and me. Together. Something fun, something… cheesy," he said, throwing in his best attempt at a charming smile.
Scully looked up at him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to figure out if he was serious. "Mulder, we are not teenagers. What could we possibly do that anyone would want to see on TikTok?"
Mulder took a seat next to her, leaning in with a gleam in his eye. "That’s where the genius of it lies. We don’t have to do something crazy. We could do one of those cute, couple-y things people seem to love. I’ve seen some of these challenges where people throw stuff at each other and then hug or… I don’t know, something dorky."
Scully shook her head, smiling despite herself. "So, you want us to humiliate ourselves on the internet for the entertainment of the masses?"
"Exactly," Mulder said, beaming. "Come on, Scully. When was the last time we did something completely ridiculous together?"
She sighed, giving him a long look, but there was a softness in her eyes. "Okay, fine," she said finally, much to Mulder’s delight. "But I get to veto anything that involves dancing. Or singing, you know I cannot carry a tune to save my life."
"Deal."
The next day, they found themselves standing in the living room, Mulder holding his phone, looking way too excited for Scully’s liking. He had picked something simple—a cute couple’s challenge where one partner points to themselves or their partner in response to a series of questions about their relationship. Harmless, cheesy, and dorky enough to satisfy Mulder’s newfound fascination with TikTok.
Mulder propped the phone on the table, setting it up to record. "Okay, ready?" he asked, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
Scully crossed her arms, giving him a skeptical look but unable to hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "Let’s just get this over with."
They started the video, answering questions like "Who’s the better cook?" and "Who’s more likely to make the first move?"—pointing at each other and occasionally exchanging playful eye rolls. By the time it got to "Who’s the bigger nerd?", Scully pointed at Mulder without hesitation.
"I’m not a nerd!" Mulder protested, though he was clearly enjoying himself.
Scully shot him a look. "Mulder, you’re doing a TikTok with me right now. That speaks for itself."
When the video ended, Mulder stopped the recording, looking incredibly proud of himself. "That wasn’t so bad, was it?"
Scully shook her head, laughing. "You know, I’m actually surprised. That was… kind of fun."
Mulder grinned. "See? Now we’re officially TikTok stars. The internet’s going to love us."
"I don't know about that," Scully rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling as Mulder fiddled with the phone, uploading the video with a caption that read: When your partner’s still obsessed with the truth, but you just want to read a book.
As the video uploaded, Mulder leaned in, pressing a kiss to her temple. "We make a good team, don’t we?"
Scully smiled, leaning into him. "Yeah, we do. Even if you are a dork."
Mulder laughed, wrapping an arm around her. "I’ll take it."
And as they stood there side by side watching their silly video on the screen, Scully couldn’t help but feel a sense of lightness. It was a reminder that, even after everything, they could still find joy in the little moments—TikTok or not. @today-in-fic
Characters: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, William | Jackson Van De Kamp
Relationship: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Additional tags: Family/Adventure, Season/Series 11, Post-Season/Series 11, Family Feels, Family Fluff, Action/Adventure, Drama, Romance, Mystery, The Unremarkable House (X-Files), The X-Files Revival, Post-Canon
Summary: After that night by the water, William is a changed man. Literally. But before anything more can happen, he must find himself. Regain his footing in the world. So what happens when his hand is forced by a completely unexpected source? Any choice he makes next will alter his life. Permanently. But he must choose: will it be for worse... or for a greater good?
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
How do I explain to the guy I’m dating that I’m falling for him but the only person he had to worry about me loving more is a middle aged actress 30+ years older than me who I love
Long story short…. He cheated on me and put some of my friends against me so no boyfriend anymore, happily single and still in love with GA btw HAPPY BDAY TO THE MOTHER OF MOTHERS 🪩✨
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