It's not that she didn't love him, it was just the fact that they worked together; and it's not that she was afraid, it was the fact that they'd be separated. Come to think of it, maybe she was afraid. She was afraid of losing her daily work routine- of being removed from the X Files, removed from Mulder. Ever since their visit with troubled writer Phillip Padgett, she couldn't shake her thoughts. He had expressed to them something she couldn't express to herself- "Agent Scully is already in love," his words were still clear as day. For years she had loved Mulder as a friend, but being in love? She tried to rationalize everything that occurred but she knew she was doing it to put herself at ease. She knew she would rationalize it into a lie. How long would she ignore this? All the times they called each other at 3 in the morning just because they couldn't sleep, the times she had fallen asleep in his apartment, the everlasting gazes…

She had to shake it off. She was merely 2 minutes away from entering the basement office she shared with Mulder. She couldn't bear any more change to her life.

"Mulder." She greeted her partner as she opened and walked through the door.

"Scully..." Mulder trailed off, looking down at the old files sprawled across his desk. He couldn't help thinking of his former neighbor, Padgett. Who was Scully in love with? Sure, he told her he loved her but he was pumped with hospital drugs. Even so, she had scoffed in his face.

"Anything planned for us today?" She asked, making sure to avoid eye contact. She still felt slightly awkward.

"Nothing for us here, Scully. I'm sure the aliens have a weak signal today." He laughed and looked up at his partner. She kept her head down but he could see the smile forming on her face. A sweet and subtle smile, the one that had drawn him in that first day in 1993.

"Spooky..." She replied, now looking up at him.

"Do you think I'm spooky?" They both started laughing and remembered their old conversations. They had called him 'Spooky Mulder' in the bureau but she always respected him. He knew that.

"Why don't we finish up and get out of here. I have quite the extensive collection of DVD's at my apartment." Mulder flashed her a half smile and looked back down at his files as he began to organize them.

"Umm, sounds good to me I guess." Scully tried to conceal her curiosity but he always knew how to read her, like she was an open book.

They finished up in the office and headed out. Mulder opened the door for Scully and placed his hand on the small of her back, leading her out. He always did this and she secretly liked it.

"Sooooo Scully, how about you drive me to my apartment?" He asked as they entered the elevator. He pressed the button to the first floor.

"And why would I need to do that, Mulder?" The elevator came to their stop and they both exited simultaneously.

"Well I took a cab here, couldn't find my keys this morning. And I figured with you coming over and you, well, you might as well drive us over there and stay." They were now exiting the building and making their way to the parking lot.

"Alright Mulder." She unlocked her car and he got in the passenger seat. It was a 20 minute drive so they made light conversation.

When they arrived, they walked to his apartment in silence. Mulder unlocked the door, letting Scully enter first. They both headed for the couch.

"Well Mulder, you got me here. Now what?" She looked at her partner, who looked at her.

"Oh! Yeah uhh the DVD's." He jumped up and went over to one of his shelves. "How aboooout... ahh look at that, Star Trek." He turned around, giving her a warm smile.

"Well, if that's your choice let's get to it." Scully returned the warm smile as he popped in the movie and sat down next to her.

They had done this before- watched movies on his old couch after work or just because. It usually ended with her falling asleep first and him putting a blanket over her and heading to a room he barely slept in. Mulder hated sleeping alone. He usually slept on the couch because he took up all the room and didn't feel the empty spaces.

"You know Scully," he broke the silence. "Star Trek is one of my guilty pleasures. Not too many people know that." He let out a sigh and made himself a bit more comfortable. As he leaned back on the couch he outstretched his arm, putting it behind her.

"Huh. Very interesting Mulder." She was looking up at him, watching his eyes light up with every scene. Scully wondered what memories he had relating to this particular series that made him appear so genuinely happy.

"Is it, Scully? See most people expect it from me. They expect weird and geeky things from Spooky Mulder." He looked down and caught Scully's gaze. "I mean, you know it doesn't bother me." He tried to reassure her but she could read him very well.

"Well that's good that it doesn't bother you." Scully was unconvinced but she thought it best not to fuel a fire.

The rest of the movie was watched in silence, seeming like it would go on forever. Occasionally they would readjust themselves, but each time they did they only got closer. The later it was, the closer they got. By the time the end credits rolled, Scully was already asleep.

"Scu-" Mulder quickly stopped himself and exhaled a deep sigh. She had her head gently placed on his shoulder. Both of her legs were on the couch, right tucked under left.

Slowly, he reached over her and grabbed the blanket he kept there in case she did just this. He softly placed it over the both of them, most of it over her small body. Just seconds after, Mulder found himself drifting off.

It was morning time, somewhere around 6AM. Scully was laying on top of Mulder with her arms wrapped around his slender yet toned body. Mulder had one arm acting as a pillow under his head while the other clung to Scully's waist.

*beep,beep*

Mulders alarm went off in his close to empty bedroom. If it wasn't for his waterbed and side tables, you would never have guess someone inhabited the space. Slowly, they both started to come to a conscious state. Mulder took the hand clasping Scully and swept it across his face. It took them both a minute to register what was happening.

"OH, Umm..." Scully slightly raised up and shook her head. She closed her eyes, trying to gather her thoughts.

"Its uhh, it's alright..." Yes, it was alright but it made Mulder feel things he would rather not address.

"I'm just gonna..." Scully placed a hand on Mulder's chest in order to get herself up. She climbed over him which sparked Mulders wild imagination; but he knew he could never think like this and continue working with her.

"It's fine, really. I dont want you... I mean I don't want you to feel embarrassed...or umm uncomfortable." He got off the couch himself and was now standing in front of her.

"Well Mulder it sounds like you're the one who's uncomfortable." Scully placed her hands on her hips and did her best to look him in the eyes. He was so tall...

"Listen, how about I make us some coffee while you freshen up? I still have your clothes from the steakout."

"I guess that's fine by me. Where are they?" She crossed her arms in front of her and tilted her head to the side.

"They're uhh on my bed in my room there." He pointed towards the bedroom with the mug he had in his hand.

"Be right back." Scully disappeared into his room.

Mulder tried to his best to shake the idea of her undressing next to his bed.