Scully
When Scully got home from work, she knew something was abnormal. First off, she smelled a warm sugary smell as she walked in the door. Was Mulder baking? Was that even possible? She doubted herself as she walked into the kitchen, and saw Mulder holding a pan of rice crispy treats. In her spot at the table was a glass of cold milk, full to the brim, and Mulder was attempting to cut the gooey treats while standing next to her chair. Scully stared at him in astonishment until he freed a portion of the dessert, and plopped it onto her plate. "Mulder?" she asked, still in shock. After running through various scenarios in her head, and questioning Mulder about them, she was confident nobody was dying, hurt, injured, and Skinner had not called. But then what could cause Mulder to act this uplifted? What could cause him to cook?
As she ate the treats, which were surprisingly delicious, she continued to try to pry the truth out of her long time partner. However, after understanding she was not getting anywhere, she stopped and let him lead the conversation. He was so happy. It had been too long since they had just sat together while talking and smiling. He insisted to hear about her day, and didn't in turn get bored by the little details like he usually did. He did not attempt to change the subject or talk about the FBI even once. When she told him about Ellie, she could not help tearing up as she remembered the broken hearted little girl. Mulder's right hand gently laid on top of her left as she finished the story, and he rubbed the back of her hand slightly as he empathized.
When Mulder's hand touched hers, a shock spread through Scully's entire body. It was like a jolt of electricity had been suddenly zapped through her. She realized in that moment how much she could still be effected by Mulder, and vowed to find a way to fix things between them. There were times when she thought it best to leave over the years, but something had always driven the two of them back together, and in that moment Scully appreciated that inanimate force.
Mulder
Once he came up with his plans, he knew he was going to have to ease into the explanation with Scully. If he went to quickly, she would shoot it down without even thinking about it. However, if he dragged it on too long, she would find to many reasons to say no. He was halfway positive giving her a week to pack and tell work was a bad idea, but he knew how mad she would be if he waited until the last second. He wanted to show her that this was genuinely planned out, and not just him "trying to believe." He had heard that phrase way too frequently lately, and just wanted the two of them to be on the same team once more.
Even though Scully tried to hide it, Mulder knew how powerful her sweet tooth was. The way to her heart was probably at least partially through her stomach. He looked up recipes to try and bake something for her. He would rather bake than buy, to signify the effort he was putting in. Unfortunately, everything looked way too complicated. Everything required measuring spoons, and for the life of Mulder he could not understand the concept. When Scully would bake, he would always ask her why she couldn't just use a regular spoonful, and she would always just laugh at him without giving a complete answer. Finally, after searching "desserts for first-timers" Mulder found the recipe for rice crispy treats. It looked easy enough, so he tried it for Scully. He finished just in time as she walked in the door. He was hoping to have time to sample them first, in case he created something horrible, but he put the first one on to her plate. Her eyes lit up slightly as she walked into the kitchen, but he could also see her mind working. She knew something was going on, and the way she questioned him was a way to make a seasoned criminal give in. Mulder was experienced with her ways though, and knew just how to distract her from her thoughts. When they started talking about her day, Mulder let out a sigh of contentment for the first time in a long while. Maybe this plan could work after all. She certainly seemed receptive to him now. As she told him about the little girl he wondered if she would reject a touch from him. He wanted to kiss her, so badly, but knew that wouldn't go over well yet. He lightly rested his hand on top of hers, and felt the nervousness of a school boy as he did it. It was worth it though. Even though his partner had aged, the skin of her hand was as smooth as ever, and just rubbing his finger on her hand was giving him goosebumps. However, he knew he had to pull away from the touch and not get lost in it. After all, he had a legend to explain.
He started by telling Scully the legend. As she heard that it was going to be a myth, she leaned back in her chair and sighed exasperatedly. She interjected hastily into his tale,
"Mulder I know you want to believe but you just can't. This is just some old folktale in South Carolina. The Fbi is over, as far as the xfiles. Whether they are out there or not, we are done with them, and this right now, is why I've been thinking we need to be done with each other as well."
A stunned silence followed Scully's exclamation. Mulder could tell that both of them had thought those words at some points, but never had anyone voiced him so bluntly. Scully's words went straight to his heart, and he felt as if a knife had been stabbed through his chest. The physical pain was so much that he almost cried out, but instead he sat in stunned silence. It looked like Scully was stunned as well. She sat next to him frozen, one hand left where he had touched it a moment earlier, the other still on her cup of milk, about to lift it. Her expression seemed angry as her eyes filled with tears, and even after what she just said, Mulder wanted to make her pain go away.
Finally, when Mulder could not bear it any more he spoke to her softly.
"Scull, I've loved you ever since our first case together when you doubted me every step of the way. And I still continue to love you as you doubt me now. I understand your thoughts, and understand why you feel the way you do, but give me one last chance. Give me this trip to South Carolina and this case. If afterward you still feel this way, then we will legitimately start building our separate lives. But it could help us to. Will you give me this last chance?"