Mulder rolled over, the sheets rustling as Scully shifted to face him.

"Are you awake, Scully?"

She sighed. "Yes. Why?"

"I think we need to talk."

She looked him over. "Okay."

"You never asked for a divorce after you left. Why?"

"I thought it was temporary. I always thought I would cool off and come home, but after a while, I started to wonder if that was what you wanted." Her voice caught.

He reached for her hand. "I never stopped wanting you to come home. But I knew that it had to be your decision. I just wanted you to be happy, Scully, even if that meant you couldn't be with me. I just wanted you to be happy and safe, Dana. That's all I've cared about for a long time."

A tear slid down her face. "I just hate that I wasted so much time. I should never have left."

"You needed space. Much as I hate to admit it, I needed it too, awful as it was at the time. You leaving snapped me out of it, motivated me to get the help I needed. I started seeing a psychiatrist again. It really helped, you were right. As per usual," he chuckled.

She smiled half-heartedly. "Are you still going?"

Mulder nodded. "I wanted to keep myself on the right path this time, and I knew I needed to straighten up if I wanted you to stay this time."

"Mulder, I shouldn't have run out on you. I gave up on you, and I never should have left you. I'm so sorry."

"You know you're forgiven, sweetheart."

"But I promised to stand by you when we got married. I broke that vow. I fled the minute the darkness threatened to overtake you. I was too much of a coward to stand by you when you were struggling."

"We've both messed up, and we've both broken those vows in different ways, you know that. Yes, you messed up, but that never made me stop loving you. That's never been in question."

She burrowed her face into his chest, clutching handfuls of his shirt. "I love you so much."

He kissed her head. "I know."

"And I'm not leaving again, I promise."

"I wouldn't let you. I'd grab your hand and never let you get out the front door."

She smiled softly. "Of course you would."

"You know me, my stubbornness. That's why you fell in love with me, isn't it?" He poked her side teasingly.

"Among other reasons," she gently kissed him. "You know I don't just love you for your stubbornness, right?"

"Of course I do, sweetheart. What's not to love?" He needled her, eliciting a giggle.

"I'm serious. I'm staying. I'm coming back home."