A/N: So now I know exactly where this story is going, how it will get there, and how it will end. I saw it in a dream. And I'm not entirely joking either.

After arriving at the farm and choosing two medium sized buckets, Mulder and Scully headed towards the apple orchard. There was a short debate over which tree to pick, but in the end they chose one in the far corner of the orchard. Mulder climbed up on the ladder and tossed apples down to Scully, who looked them over for worm holes before putting them in the buckets.

"Hey Scully?"

"Yeah?"

"When you were a kid, how often was your dad gone?"

She sighed and looked an apple over as she thought.

"A couple of months a year. Sometimes more. Why?"

"Well, it's just that it seems that you were very close to him, and I figured that being a captain he would have had to be out to sea a lot. I was just wondering how you even got to know him."

"He wrote us letters when he was gone. One for each of us, as often as he could. It probably wasn't the best, but it was more than most kids get."

"Do you ever wish he'd had a different job?"

"Maybe when I was younger. But he loved what he did. It wouldn't have been fair to wish something else on him."

He was quiet for a while, handing her a few apples until the first bucket filled up.

"What was it like before your sister was gone?"

A long sigh and three apples came before he answered.

"It was the all-American family. Barbeques and baseball and roast beef for dinner. My mom wore an apron and my dad smiled. We went on vacations. Spent time together. My parents never fought. It was the life every kid wants."

"I'm sorry you lost it."

"Me too. But hey, you never know. Maybe it'll happen again in my next life."

"Maybe."

He climbed down the ladder and sat next to her on the ground.

"Scully, you think we're messed up?"

"Relative to who?"

"The rest of the world."

She chuckled and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah. Probably."

"We should do this more often."

"What?"

"Not work."

"Okay. Deal."

"Come on, let's get out of here. I want some pie."

She smiled as he helped her up from the ground. She didn't mind that he kept a hold on her hand as they walked.

"I think you overestimated on the apples, Scully," Mulder commented once the apples were peeled and cut and put into the pie pan.

"Well, you were very good at not wasting."

"What are we going to do with an extra bucket of apples?"

"When life gives you apples, make... apple juice?"

He chuckled.

"Think your mom could use them?"

"Hmm... maybe. I'll call and ask her."

"Okay. So what do we do now?"

"We put the pie in the oven, wait an hour, take the pie out of the oven."

"An hour? What are we going to do for an hour?"

"I am going to lie down on the couch."

"Tired?"

"You wouldn't believe how much."

"I should have let you sleep in."

"I did sleep in. I just didn't sleep well."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, fine," she answered, closing the pie in the oven and setting the timer. "Just one of those nights, you know?"

"Yeah, I've had my fair share."

She smiled and went out to the living room, lying down on the couch with a sigh.

"Dude," Mulder chuckled. "You didn't even take your shoes off."

She laughed and buried her face in the couch cushions.

"I don't seem to care."

He sighed and pulled her shoes off, setting them next to the door. She handed him the remote and sat up.

"Think there's anything good on?"

"You've got ESPN. We're bound to find something worthwhile."

She yawned as he sat next to her, then rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and kissed her forehead.

"Why haven't you been sleeping?"

"I said I didn't sleep well last night."

"You haven't been sleeping well for weeks. I can see it in your eyes."

"Then stop looking at them."

"Scully."

"What?"

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Because it's going out of style," she mumbled.

He cleared his throat pointedly.

"I don't know, Mulder. I just can't sleep."

"A lot on your mind?"

"Maybe. But I don't want to talk about it right now, okay?"

"Alright. Go to sleep."

"Mulder?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"What do you want for dinner, Mulder?"

"You don't have to make me dinner, Scully. You already put up with me all day, and made pie."

"I'll put that on my résumé for sainthood. Now really, what do you want?"

"I can just run out and grab something-"

"I'm feeding you. Get used to it."

"Okay, fine."

"I have hamburger and chicken and steak..."

"Steak sounds good."

"I also have some shrimp I can fry up. I know you like that on your steak."

"Trying to butter me up?"

"No, I just like to take care of you sometimes."

"You take care of me all the time. You practically have to tie my shoes."

"Only when you forget to double knot them," she said with a grin. "Mulder, you're not incapable, and I don't do everything for you. As it stands I think we're pretty even as far as taking care of each other."

"You rarely let me take care of you."

"Mulder, you're the only person I allow to take care of me. Even though it doesn't happen very often."

He sighed and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

"I do kind of like it when you let me take care of you."

"Ug, are you referring to the Great Cold and Flu incident of 1998? Because that was not pretty, my friend."

"You blow your nose cute."

"Shut up."

She wiggled out of his arms and headed for the kitchen, Mulder following close behind.

"Can I at least help you?"

"Do you want to make the salad?"

"You're making me have salad with this? Why?"

"Because I care about you and I want you to live a long life. I don't want to have to boycott your funeral."

"I don't want to have to boycott yours either. Maybe we should both get cryogenically preserved."

"Sounds good. They'll have to put our holding tanks far away from each other."

"Why?"

"Because even frozen, we're going to bicker."

"I'll just let you win."

She smiled and took the steak out of the fridge.

"So Scully, what exactly do I put in a salad?"

"I think I just made a big mistake," Scully commented as Mulder returned to the couch from the bathroom.

"How's that?"

"I called my mom."

"Man your battle stations."

"And I asked her if she wanted some apples."

"I think I know where this is going."

"And she demands that we join her for lunch tomorrow at noon."

"Nice work."

"I'm sorry. You know how she is. I couldn't say no. I even tried to save you by telling her that you were out of town, but I had already told her about the apples... She might wash my mouth out with soap for lying."

"Well at least I'll get lunch and a show."

"Shut up," she giggled.

"I do like your mom, you know."

"Yeah I know. She's just so... overbearing and nosey and... a little tactless."

"Tactless, yes. Although she is the only person in the world that can get away with saying the things she says."

"Well if you wouldn't encourage her..."

"How do I encourage her?"

"You smile like a lunatic and nod like she's got a point or something. The best defense is to roll your eyes and scoff and sometimes go "Mooooooom!" Believe me it works."

"Then why is she still doing it to you?"

"Because in your presence it's just too hard to resist."

"Oh is it?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

"I totally set myself up for that, didn't I?"

"Completely."

She just rolled her eyes and turned back to the TV.

"Scully you can flip through the channels all you want. It's Saturday night and nothing is on."

"It's only 7, there's still hope."

"I admire your determination, but I think I might have to go out and rent something."

"Okay, just make sure it's something I would approve of."

He rolled his eyes and headed for the door.

"Popcorn too?" she asked, glancing his way.

"You're hungry again? Already?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, popcorn too," he said with a sigh as he shut the door behind him.