Mulder was finishing taping the walls as he prepared the bedroom to be painted. He looked over as he heard Scully sigh from the doorway. She was dressed and ready for the baby shower.
"I can't believe you're actually making me go to this thing," Scully said, crossing her arms, her shoes dangling from her fingers, as she took a deep breath.
He looked at her and rolled his eyes.
""Making" you go? Scully, it's your baby shower. The women at the hospital are doing this for you. I'm not "making" you do anything," he shook his head as he finished the corner and stepped off the step ladder.
"Besides, you can't be here when I'm painting, as you are aware. So, you go to the party and then I will meet you for dinner at the hotel. You'll stay there while the fumes get out of the house and I finish up here. It's all planned, as you well know. So, go," he said to her with a waving motion of his hand.
She stared at him and reached to touch her stomach. "This dress feels too tight. I don't know if I should wear it. You wanna take it off of me?" she asked, a purr in her voice.
She had bought a new dress for the party, a blue one, almost the color of the paint they had selected for the bedroom. She had tried it on downstairs a few days ago and asked him what he thought of it. He had walked over to her, his hands reaching out to caress the soft fabric, before slowly sliding it up and off of her, tossing it on the kitchen chair. His hands ghosting across her body, caused her to shiver. Her underclothes and his own clothing quickly following as he pulled her onto him on the couch, their mouths fused together, her nails gripping his neck.
After they had finished and they lay on the couch, sweaty and panting, she lamented that she would need to return her dress. He looked at her, surprised. She explained that if everyone who saw her in the dress responded the way he did, she would be in trouble. He had laughed, then kissed her until they both moaned.
He narrowed his eyes at her, and shook his head. "Don't think your seductress charm will work on me again, woman. You need to scoot out of here. I got stuff to do. Go on," he put his hand on her waist and herded her out the door.
She whined as he pushed her gently to the stairs. He grabbed her overnight bag and walked behind her as she headed down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water as she sat down at the table. She huffed at him but he ignored her.
He set her bag down, grabbed her shoes from her, and slid them on her feet. Even pregnant, she insisted on wearing heels. These were shorter than normal, but still, that was his Scully.
She sighed again as he stood up. She pulled on her dress and he reached his hand out to her.
"Your dress looks fine, Scully. Stop acting like you're being sentenced to death. It's a baby shower, for god's sake," he said rolling his eyes.
"Ha!" she said as she stood up, holding onto his hand. "You think it's just a party? Just a gathering? You aren't going to be the one whose stomach they will be touching, or trying to guess how big it is, cutting strings to show the size. You won't be asked over and over about the sex of the baby, why you don't know, and what names have been decided on. You don't have to play baby games where you "guess the flavor" of the baby food in unmarked jars. You also don't have to listen to births those attending went through or, as doctors, have experienced. I'm a doctor, and a woman who's had a baby, I don't need to hear about it. I know it's going to hurt."
He stood and stared at her. "Bullshit. All that will happen in two or three hours?"
"Yes! What do you think happened at these things?!" she said, throwing her hands up in the air.
"I don't know! How would I? I've never been to a baby shower!" he said, feeling horrified. That sounded awful.
"Yeah. That's what happens. It's not as cute and charming as it sounds," she said, walking toward the door. "I mean.. okay it's pretty cute. All the tiny clothes, the toys, the discussion of cute things the babies do or first smiles."
She picked up her keys and put on the cover that came with the dress. A light short sleeved white top. "The stories of first words, when they first walked.. we get to do that Mulder. Be there for all of it this time," she said, her eyes sad.
She looked at him and sighed. He walked over to her and pulled her to him. She put her face in his chest and he heard her sniffle.
"Scully," he said holding her tight and closing his eyes. "I know you regret missing William growing up. I do too. All we can do is know he is safe and one day we will see him again."
He pulled back and held her face in his hands. He wiped her tears as he heard tires crunching on the grass outside. They both turned to see Skinner pull up and get out of the car.
"Well good. Skinner is here now. You can finally get to work," she said jokingly, trying to lighten the heavy moment.
"Finally?" he asked. "I've been ready to get to work. I've just been waiting for your ass to leave."
He smacked her ass and she giggled. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. Then a deeper one. He put his hands on her waist and held her as she deepened the kiss even more.
He pulled back and stared eyes of fire at her. "Jesus, woman. Get out of here. We have stuff to do and Skinner does not want to see us makeout again."
"No, he does not," came Skinner's deep but annoyed voice from the side of the porch through the screen door.
She laughed and Mulder winked at her. She kissed him again, grabbing onto his shirt. She planted little quick kisses all over his face before he pulled his head back, laughing.
"I'll see you later," she murmured against his lips, kissing him once more. "Bring a sleeping bag,"
"Oh.. you implying I'm gonna get lucky?" he asked, grinning at her as she stepped back.
"Come on.." Skinner said, a growl in his voice.
She giggled and grabbed her bag, pushing open the screen door.
Skinner stood up from his spot against the railing and walked over to her. He kissed her cheek and took her bag out of her hand. He put his hand on her back and led her down the stairs.
Mulder watched them from the doorway, giving them a moment. He saw Skinner lean in and say something to her and she laughed, head thrown back, hand on her stomach. He looked back at Mulder and so did she, the both of them smiling. Making a joke at his expense, no doubt. He just smiled.
The day after they had found William and saved Skinner and Reyes, they had gone into the bureau to give their statement to Kersh. He had shouted and screamed, only to have them both stand up and quit, causing his face to become the angriest he had ever seen. Scully's anger had exploded to the surface, in a way he had not seen in a long time. He had to pull her out of the room by the back of her coat, knowing her so well and sensing her white hot rage. She had been shaking as they left. She thanked him for pulling her out of there as she was close to telling Kersh to fuck off and go straight to hell.
After they left, and her anger had dissipated, they had gone to be see how Skinner was doing. He had a fractured leg, a couple broken ribs, and a laceration on his head. He was on a lot of painkillers and did not wake when they had visited.
Every day he had gotten better. Now six months later, he had made almost a full recovery. He had also quit the bureau, where he felt his presence was no longer needed. He was contemplating working with a Veterans program, but also enjoying his time off. He and Mulder had met up quite a bit recently, being two out of work ex FBI employees, they had time on their hands.
He was there today to help with the painting and putting the furniture together. Everything was downstairs, waiting to be hauled up once the paint was dry. Thankfully, the day was warm and therefore the walls would dry quickly. Once it was done, they would begin to put the things together and then arrange the room.
Mulder watched Skinner say something else to Scully and she nodded, her face serious. She and Skinner stared at each other and he put his hand on her shoulder and nodded. He stepped back and put her bag in the car.
Mulder headed across the porch and down the stairs. Scully looked at him and smiled. He reached in his pocket and took out a cardboard card holder. She looked confused as he handed it to her.
"The hotel room card. Room 621. It's written down on the cover, in case you forget," he handed it to her and she raised her eyebrows.
"This is a really nice hotel, Mulder," she said, surprise in her voice as she looked at the name.
"Did you expect something else?" he asked her.
"Considering the places we've stayed in the past, I did," she said honestly.
"Well, that wasn't on me," he said with a look to Skinner.
"Oh, fuck off," Skinner said, walking to his car to get his toolbox.
They both laughed and Mulder opened the door for her. She got herself in and buckled her seatbelt. She rolled the windows down as she started the car. Mulder leaned in for one more kiss and turned to walk away.
"Hey, hon," she called out.
He turned around and walked back at her head gesture.
"There is still one more box of stuff in the living room. The stuff from my mom's house," she said quietly, looking in his eyes. "It's full of papers and says "Mulder Family" on the top envelope. I didn't want to open it. So it's there still."
"Are you telling me to go through it?" he asked her, lowering his eyes.
"I'm not telling you to do anything. I'm just reminding you it's there and we are getting things situated, that's all," she said, touching his face as he nodded.
"Okay," he said stepping back from the car so she could get going.
"Big, small, and every way in between," she said, putting the car in reverse, looking at him and smiling.
"Love you, too," he said with a smile as she backed up and then drove off.
Skinner came and stood next to him. He watched Scully leave and shook his head.
"You are a very lucky man, Mulder," Skinner said quietly.
"You have no idea," Mulder replied, shaking his head.
They both turned and started back up the steps. Skinner grabbed the toolbox from the porch and Mulder held the door as they walked inside.
"Wow.. that's a lot of boxes," Skinner said, setting down his toolbox and eyeing the area of the room that held all the items to be put together.
"Yeah, but we, well Scully, has it all arranged with how it needs to go, so it shouldn't take to long. Paint first, though. It's all ready," Mulder said, looking at the pile of stuff.
Mulder walked into the kitchen, grabbed two beers and they headed upstairs. They stood in the room, looking around. Everything was ready, they just needed to get started.
"What time are you needing to get out of here?" Skinner asked as they began pouring paint into trays.
"We have reservations for dinner at the hotel at 7:30. So 7:00, latest," Mulder answered.
Skinner nodded and they began rolling the brushes in the paint and then along the walls. They worked quietly together for awhile until Skinner gave a disbelieving chuckle.
Mulder looked at him, wondering what he found funny.
"A baby," Skinner said, shaking his head.
"I know," Mulder agreed.
"How did this even happen?" Skinner asked.
"Well.." Mulder began, but Skinner cut him off.
"That's not what I mean. She's not supposed to be able to have children. How could a woman who is supposedly barren get pregnant twice?" Skinner asked, pausing in his painting to look at Mulder.
Mulder sighed and stopped painting too. He shook his head and rubbed his face. He looked down sighing and then looked back at Skinner.
"Honestly.. we haven't delved into it too far. We're still shocked it happened. So many negatives to focus on, we've made an effort to only think of the positives. She's healthy, the baby is growing and developing like she should. I think that's as far as we want to go for now," Mulder said, shaking his head again.
"She?" Skinner asked. "It's a girl?"
"No. I mean, we don't know. We aren't going to find out. Scully seems to think it's a girl. That it feels different this time. I don't know," Mulder said shrugging his shoulders.
They looked at each other. Skinner shook his head.
"I don't buy it," he said, grabbing his beer and shaking his head again. "You question everything, Mulder. The fact that she had one child and now another, pardon my bluntness, at her age combined with all we know about the past, it just..it seems unlikely. It also seems unlike you to not ask questions."
He took a drink of his beer and then stared at Mulder. Mulder sighed and rested his paint roller in the tray.
"I have thought about it. It has been something, I've considered. Honestly.. the thought that this child could be wanted and sought after terrifies me. But, I don't feel that could be the case," he said, leaning against an unpainted wall. "I told you William had Scully's DNA. I'm not so sure about mine. And I know you have your doubts."
Muider held his stare until Skinner had the decency to look away. "You know he's a god damn liar," Mulder said quietly.
Skinner nodded. Mulder sighed and put his head against the wall, closing his eyes.
"If you think he's a liar, know he is, why not test your own DNA?" Skinner asked, watching Mulder.
"I don't want to know the truth," he said his voice wobbling a bit. "I feel like.. that means Scully is all alone in this, and I can't, I won't do that to her. That the truth we've believed for so long was a lie. That in our crazy fucked up journeys, something else was done to her. Something she did not deserve or consent to.. I won't do that to her. He is my son, no matter what."
He stared hard at Skinner, daring him to say or think otherwise. They stared at one another until Skinner nodded. Mulder let out a breath and they resumed painting the room. Quiet, but comfortable.
Between the two of them, it did not take long to finish the first coat. Just as they were about to start on the next one, the delivery truck pulled up, bringing the rocking chair, footstool, car seats and crib mattress.
Mulder and Skinner went downstairs to meet them. As Mulder was directing them to leave the items in the living room, another car pulled up.
A young kid stepped out and reached into the backseat, grabbing a pizza. Mulder was confused, he had not ordered anything.
"I think you might have the wrong address," he said to the kid as he approached the steps. "I didn't order a pizza."
Even as he said it, he felt his stomach rumble. It had been a long time since breakfast. Maybe he could convince the kid to sell it to him, with some extra money for the true recipient.
"Uh.. no this is the correct address. But I think I have the name wrong. I'm not sure it's the correct name," he said, looking a bit nervous.
"Does it say Fox?" Mulder asked with a sigh. "That's my name."
"No.. it says "Schmoopie"?" he read off the receipt, his face going red.
Mulder laughed and shook his head. Scully. What a troublemaker. She had called him that once when he had been angry with her. Angry for something stupid, and she had laughed at his attitude. She had made faces as he huffed and puffed, acting like a child.
"What's the matter, Schmoopie? You're so angry? You're wrong and I'm right. Admit it. Quit being such a baby. Get over here and kiss me."
And so he had. But from then on, she would call him that to make a point, and push his buttons.
"Yeah.. that's me," Mulder said, shaking his head at that memory, still chuckling.
He reached for his wallet but the kid stopped him.
"No sir, it's already paid for and the tip is covered too. I was told to have it here by 12:30 and to say… to say," he said, closing his eyes, his face even redder. "To say, god…"this is for Schmoopie and the SkinMan.""
Mulder laughed even harder and even Skinner chuckled. The kid was standing there sweating and red as could be. Mulder clapped him on the back and took the pizza from him, handing it to Skinner.
"I'm incredibly sorry you had to do that," Mulder said laughing still. "My.. the woman who ordered it, has a wicked sense of humor sometimes. She wouldn't know who was bringing the pizza and the message was designed to embarrass us, not you. I will tell her she failed miserably and to stick to her day job."
He took his wallet out and handed the kid a twenty. His eyes lit up and he stuttered a thanks as he stepped back to his car. He drove off quick as lightning with Mulder still laughing.
The delivery guys left after him, the items sitting in the living room. Mulder gave them each a generous tip, not needing a drone attack to ever be repeated.
As they drove away, he took out his phone and sent a text to Scully:
"Chair and other items delivered. Thanks for the pizza. Hope it's the best I've ever had, as I had to give the poor, red faced, exceedingly embarrassed, delivery boy a twenty.
Schmoopie and the SkinMan"
He laughed and turned to Skinner. He had set the pizza down on the railing and gone back in to grab two more beers. Mulder grabber the pizza and set it on the table between the two chairs in the corner of the porch.
They had recently purchased all new furniture for the porch. Something better than what they had in the past. The possibility of a porch swing had even been discussed. Mulder had secretly purchased one and he and Skinner had plans to hang it today.
They both sat down and Mulder opened the pizza box. He took a beer from Skinner and grabbed a slice of pizza. Skinner did the same and they ate in silence.
Skinner looked around and then at Mulder.
"This place is exactly the kind of place I could picture the two of you living. After all the shit you two went through, this place just seems..right. It's like your place, but with a mix of Scully's. The location is definitely you. No one around, paranoid as always."
Mulder laughed, but knew Skinner was right. This place was out of the way, but they had still been sought after. Just recently, as Skinner knew. Even after all this time, they had gotten away just as they had practiced in the past.
When they moved into this house, they had run drills on how to get out at any perceivable time and location. Tied up. Handcuffed, separately and together. The way they had responded recently, after years of being apart, made every drill worth it.
Mulder's phone buzzed and he picked it up. Scully had replied:
"God, Schmoopie and the SkinMan sounds like an adult themed superhero duo. I hadn't thought of that until I saw it written down. Thank you for that image in my head, Mulder."
He laughed again and told Skinner what it said. Skinner shuddered and got up, taking the leftover pizza inside.
Muider went to get the porch swing where he had hidden it from Scully. It had arrived a couple of weeks ago and luckily she had been gone when it did. He hid it in his office. He very rarely went in there anymore and she never did so he knew it was safe.
He brought it out to the porch and they began to put it together. With Skinner's tools, especially the drill, and the two of them working quickly, they had it finished in hardly any time. They moved the furniture they had previously been sitting on to the other side of the door, grabbed a step stool, and began to hang the swing.
A lot of swearing, sweating, and yelling took place as they tried to get it hung exactly right and in the right spot. Skinner made sure it was anchored tightly. Finally, it was finished and they stepped back to observe their work.
Moment of truth came when they both sat in it, testing its weight capacity. It barely made a sound and it swung out at exactly the right amount of space. They got up and Mulder went into the house. He grabbed the seat cushion he had purchased to go with it, and some pillows. He added them to the swing and looked at it again.
The swing was dark black wood with a curved back and black chains. The seat cushion was a cream color and the pillows were colorful floral pillows he had seen her looking at in the store when they bought the other furniture. He knew she would love this swing. He could picture her there, rocking the baby, her eyes closed, happy and content.
A hand on his shoulder, stopped the tears which always seemed so close to the surface these days. He was really getting soft in his old age. Middle age could eat a pile of shit.
They decided to bring all the boxes upstairs and have them ready to go once the second coat of paint was done. It was a lot of work but it was the best plan.
The next coat of paint was done quickly and they brought in the first item-the crib. It was bulky and relatively easy to accomplish. Then the bassinet and the changing table.
Mulder tested the walls and found them to be almost dry. He began to take down the tape and plastic drop cloths. He took the paints and all the supplies out, as Skinner continued working on the bookcase and dresser.
Once he was back upstairs, they finished up the last items, before discussing where it should all be set. They both agreed to not have the crib by the window. They decided on the wall to the right of the room, along with the changing table. The dresser would be closest to the door. The rocking chair in the corner to the left of the room, with the long bookcase under the window.
They set to work getting it all arranged. Muider went back downstairs and grabbed the crib mattress and the rug. Next was the hassle of the rocking chair and footstool, but they made it. The bassinet was moved into their room.
They still needed curtains for the window. Everything else though, Mulder would get done on his own, once he came back from dinner with Scully.
"Well, you got about twenty minutes to spare," Skinner said as he packed up his tools.
"Yeah," Muider replied, looking around the room.
They got it all done. All of it. Plus the bonus project of the porch swing. He was anticipating the look on her face when she saw it. This room though..this room made him emotional. Never in all the years they lived here, would using it for a child have crossed his mind.
He may have hoped, but he knew it was a slim hope and not one he had ever expressed to Scully. They had hardly ever discussed William. It had been painful and almost taboo. He wished he had brought it up now, but the past is the past. He had to let it go.
Skinner finished gathering his tools and they headed downstairs. He put the toolbox back in the car and turned to Mulder.
"I can't thank you enough for your help," Mulder said with his hands in his pockets. "For today, but for everything, Skinner. I know we've had times of mistrust and miscommunication, but there was always an underlying reason for it. More often than not, it was for Scully. Her safety and her well being was all I ever cared about. Is all I care about."
He looked at Skinner and then away. Looking at the house and all around him, before looking at Skinner again.
"You were there for her when I couldn't be. You cared for her, lent her your strength, remained someone she could count on," he shook his head. "I cannot properly express my gratitude to you for being there for her. She's strong and tough, god knows I know that, but she needed someone. She had you and for that.. I am forever in your debt."
Mulder put out his hand and Skinner looked down in surprise. He grasped it, and pulled Mulder to him in a one armed embrace, patting him roughly on the back.
Mulder saw him discreetly wipe at his eyes as they broke apart and he shut the backseat door. He fumbled with his keys and nodded his head, his eyes downcast. He looked up at Mulder and nodded again.
He opened the car door and got in, rolling down the window.
"I'm happy to help, especially for her. And the baby. Glad we were able to get it all taken care of today," he said looking at the steering wheel, not meeting Mulder's eyes.
Then he turned to him and held his gaze.
"You're a good man, Mulder. A good man. She deserves a man like you, just as much as you deserve her."
He started the car while Mulder tried to swallow past the lump in his throat. Skinner may be a few years older than him, but he felt as if he had been praised by his father. Those words carried more weight than Skinner would ever know.
Mulder stepped back, giving Skinner room to back up. He started to do so and then stopped.
"Hey, Mulder!" he called out.
Mulder walked close to the car, waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Why don't you marry that woman? Twenty five years is time enough to get to know a person, don't you think?" Skinner asked in his usual snarky tone.
Mulder smiled and Skinner nodded. He waved and drove away. His taillights disappearing before Mulder turned back toward the house.
I'm working on it, Skinner, he thought. I'm working on it.