Been a while (sorry!) like I've said before, family difficulties mean I may sometimes not update for a while, but I'll never completely abandon a story. I know how annoying that can be! haha


Mulder woke the next morning to the feeling of soft warm lips trailing down his neck and then along his collarbone.

"I love you," Scully whispered against his sternum.

Mulder smiled, "Yeah…you do, don't you."

Scully smirked and then teasingly nipped his skin before lying back down and resting her head on his solid warm chest. "It felt amazing, waking this morning surrounded by…you."

Mulder grinned and kissed her wavy hair, "Like Christmas morning..." he agreed happily.

"Like Christmas, my birthday, St Paddies day…and the first day of summer break all rolled into one…but better."

"I love you," Mulder said sleepily and pulled her tighter against his side.

"So…what do we do today?"

"Where are we?"

"No idea…" Scully said chuckling happily. "Near the border of Oklahoma? Or possibly just over into Texas…"

"So we can try and get some gas, and then drive a bit further west…maybe stop in New Mexico tonight?"

"No time for aliens," Scully said with a smirk.

"The only out of this world entity that I am interested in right now is currently curled up next to me."

Scully moved to straddle Mulder's waist, she smiled down at him; hair sticking up all over the place, her lips were swollen and dark pink, her eyes sparkling.

"You look breathtakingly beautiful…" Mulder said serenely.

Scully bit her lip self-consciously, "I haven't done anything with my hair, I didn't even bring any makeup with me…"

"You've never looked so beautiful, Scully," Mulder said tenderly and tucked a strand of unruly hair behind her ear.

A tear slid down Scully's cheek and she leaned over to kiss his lips chastely before slowly nipping and flicking her tongue down his throat and towards his stomach.

"So...we have a busy day?" Scully asked with a smile just above his navel.

"Ye-yeah…I mean, sure…busy…" Mulder said haltingly.

"We need to rush off then? No time to…waste…?" Scully's teeth nipped his belly.

Mulder groaned and bucked a little towards her. "Depends…what…you call…waste…Scully…" Mulder murmured roughly, his hand sliding into her hair and gasping loudly. "I…consider…every moment…I'm touching…you…to be vital…necessary…completely funda…oh fuckmental!"

Scully's eyes danced as her lips finally slid over the head of her partners straining cock. "Mmmmmfundamental…" She hummed against his flesh hungrily, "…I like that." His cock hit the back of Scully's throat and her eyes sparkled, "Taste so good…" She hummed as she pulled up and flicked her tongue on the sensitive underside.

Mulder groaned and reached to lift her up, simultaneously pulling his partner level with his lips and rolling her under his hot clammy body. His hips found their natural home between her legs and his cock thrust lazily against her soaking wet core as he kissed her gently. His lips plucked at her bottom lip and then his tongue slid slowly along the top, his eyes holding hers and looking right into her soul, "You are everything, you are fundamental."

A tear slid down Scully's cheek and Mulder chased it with his lips before murmuring words of hope and love huskily into her ear.

"Make love to me, Mulder…" Scully whispered breathlessly.

"Always…" Mulder replied and then pulled up slightly before sliding slowly and deeply inside her wet core.

"Oh, God!" Scully gasped and closed her eyes.

"Open your eyes," Mulder gasped against her lips as his hips slowly and smoothly began to roll against her.

Scully's eyes popped open and linked with his, holding them steadfastly as her legs came up around his waist and her heels moved to dig into the back of his thighs. "So good…" She said tearfully.

"Don't cry, baby…" Mulder said kissing her temple as the tears flowed into her hair.

Scully smiled widely and reached to touch the side of his face with her right palm, "Happy tears, Mulder. Only happy tears."

"Love you…" He repeated roughly as his hips sped up slightly but retained their slow steady pace. "Can you come like this?"

Scully bit her bottom lip and nodded, her eyes rolling back, "Mulder, I came just looking at you last night."

"Keep your eyes on me…" Mulder repeated desperately, "I want to watch you...to look into your eyes when you come."

She gasped and forced her eyes back to his as her orgasm built and started to steal her breath, "Love you…"

Mulder nodded and kissed her lips - whispers of kisses, alongside whispers of love.

Their eyes locked together as Scully's body rolled into the strongest and most emotionally powerful experience of her life, "Mulder…" she gasped holding him tightly in place and letting her mouth fall open on a shuddering breath that didn't even have the power to scream.

Mulder watched her eyes widen and her breath stop, the beauty of the moment and the tight contraction of her core gripping his cock and pulling him over the edge with her. He locked, deep inside her, her hips holding him in place as his seed coated her pulsing walls.

His face dropped to her shoulder, his eyes closed and he inhaled deeply as his breath returned to normal. "I adore you," he murmured against her skin.

Scully nodded and brought her hand up to the back of his neck, holding his face against her throat desperately. "I would have died without you," she said tearfully, knowing that he finally understood.

Mulder nodded slowly and then trailed his lips back to hers, when their eyes met he held them firmly, "Never again."


Several hours later they were back on the road. Scully sat casually against the passenger door her feet propped up against Mulder's legs, her toes casually wiggling against his thighs as he drove.

Mulder glanced over at her and smiled as they pulled onto the highway, "Safety first?"

Scully rolled her eyes, "We just escaped death, I'm feeling like I can push a few boundaries…"

Mulder raised his eyebrows.

"There's no one else on the road, Mulder, and I trust you…"

Mulder smirked and rolled his eyes.

"Besides, three bouts of life-changingly great sex in two days and a lady can become extremely hedonistic."

The car swerved briefly and Scully grinned.

"Life changing eh?" Mulder said the words catching in his throat a little.

Scully smirked and bit her lip before leaning over and whispering in his ear, "Mulder, I didn't even know it could be that good…I mean, the power, the strength…" she grinned and leaned to cup his cock lightly, "…the size…"

Mulder gulped and kept his eyes on the road, barely blinking, "Ssssscully…you were right…even under an act of God I would not let anything happen to this vehicle with you inside…but please, are you trying to kill us both?"

She laughed joyfully and slid back over to her side of the car, "Sorry, Mulder. I'm just so happy…I couldn't help teasing you."

He smiled at her briefly and then looked back at the road, "That good, eh?"

Scully grinned and popped a small piece of chocolate into her mouth, "Oh hell, yes…!"

Mulder smiled and bit his lip. He noticed a sign on the side of the road and grinned even wider before starting to sing; "You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona, Kingsman, Barstow, San Bernadino. Would you get hip to this kindly trip, take that California trip… Get your kicks on Route 66… Get your kicks on Route 66…"

He grinned over at Scully who joined in quietly, "And I'll meet you on Route 62…Get your kicks on Route 66…"


They heard the sirens before they saw the car. Mulder looked in his rear-view mirror and sighed before pulling up at the side of the road.

As he rolled down his window the deputy walked up slowly, "Where you guys headin'?"

"To family in San Diego," Mulder answered easily.

The man nodded at Scully, "Wife?"

"Girlfriend," Mulder corrected.

"Does the little lady realise its state law for everyone over the age of 18 to wear a seatbelt?"

"Well, while I can't speak directly for her knowledge of specific state laws regarding the wearing of seatbelts, as an FBI agent I can assure you my partner is more than aware of the importance of road safety…Scully?"

Scully chuckled at Mulder's controlled response to the deputy cutting her out of the conversation. "Road safety," she smiled and then continued with mock seriousness, "yes, that is extremely important."

"You're a fed?" The deputy asked Mulder with a slight eye roll.

"We're federal agents," Mulder corrected with waning patience. "We're heading east to see family and I really can't see why road safety is suddenly your most pressing priority...after the events of the last few days."

"So, now you and your girlfriend think you know my job better than I do?"

"No…now me and my partner, Special Agent Dana Scully, are suggesting that you might like to work on your priorities."

The deputy leaned down and opened his mouth, clearly about to explain his priorities to Mulder, when Scully reached over with the hundred bucks she had just slipped out of her bag…it's amazing what you can get away with when you're practically invisible and the testosterone is pumping.

Holding the money up in front of the officer Scully smiled with coy sweetness, "Sir…my lover and I just escaped one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in the history of the human race…we are tired…we are exhilarated…and we are more than a little horny. We are also going to be out of your state in less than half an hour. So, what do you say to accepting this gift as a genuine apology, from both of us, for wasting your valuable time? Then leaving us to peacefully remove our debauched disrespect for the law out of your jurisdiction?"

The sheriff stared at Scully with his mouth open, then back at Mulder, then he returned his stern gaze to Scully, "Half an hour?"

Scully grinned, "We'll even promise to break the speed limit."

The sheriff looked at Mulder and smiled, "I don't like you much, but I like your girl."

Mulder chuckled, "Well, I can't fault your judgement on that."

Nodding slowly the deputy took the small wad of notes from Scully's hand and stepped back from the window, "The state of Texas would like to thank you for your visit, but we do feel that you would both be more at home in the state of California."

Mulder smiled at Scully as she moved back into her previous seat and dropped her feet back onto his thigh.

"The Federal Bureau of Investigation thanks you for your diligence and devotion to duty…" Scully replied cheerfully and then grinned at her partner as he pulled away from the side of the road and drove quickly towards the New Mexico border.


As Scully pulled into a motel later that night Mulder stirred and looked around.

"Where are we?"

"Zuni Reservation, a little past Ramah…" Scully said pulling on the handbrake and turning to smile at her partner. I filled up about an hour back and put some more in the gas can so we should be okay for a while."

Mulder smiled and nodded, "So how are you feeling Bonnie? Tired?"

Scully smirked, "You're never going to let me live that down are you?"

"Scully, that was so hot!" Mulder grinned.

"What can I say, I'm happy…and ain't nothing or no one gonna bring me down."

Mulder laughed and opened his door, watching him get out Scully climbed out of her side and walked around the 4x4 and into his warm embrace.

"Missed you," Mulder said happily.

Scully laughed, "I haven't been anywhere!"

Mulder kissed her head and inhaled deeply, "Even a cars width is too far."

"You sap," Scully said leaning up to brush his lips with hers briefly and then turning out of his arms and walking towards the reception.

"Good evening," A surprisingly young girl with purple and green hair greeted them with a warm smile as they walked up to the desk.

"Got any rooms for the night?" Mulder asked.

"One?"

Mulder nodded happily.

"Yep, some people just moved on…gonna take my dad a while to set up the room though," She replied apologetically.

"Any good places to eat locally?" Scully asked easily.

The girl smiled, obviously happy that they weren't annoyed at the wait, "Yeah sure, there's a nice place down the road…'bout 5 by foot if you're walkin'."

"Okay, well I could do with the walk," she looked up and Mulder nodded. "Put us down for the room and we'll be back after dinner."

The girl smiled and pencilled them in, "Any bags I can hold for you? Safer in here than the yard…"

Mulder shook his head, "We haven't really got much…"

Suddenly realising their new guests were travelling from back west the girl nodded sadly. "Anything I can get you guys? I mean the shops are shut but the gas station might be open…or if I can do anything…" Her words faded and she winced, obviously feeling pretty useless.

"We're okay thanks," Scully smiled kindly. "We haven't got much stuff, but we have each other."

The girl smiled and nodded, "Yeah...I guess that's something."

Mulder shook his head, "That's everything."

The teenager's eyes welled up; she bit her lip and nodded. Then after a short pause, "The news…the pictures and the stories…it's so frightening…"

Scully reached to take her hand, "It's going to be okay you know? It'll take a while…but we'll all be okay.We're the lucky ones."

"You guys have money? For the food I mean…"

Mulder smiled at her thoughtfulness, "We're fine, …?" He paused.

"Saffron," the girl said with a genuine smile, "Saffron Gilbert, my dad, Ron, owns this place."

Mulder nodded, "Well, it's good to meet you, Saffron. I'm Fox and this is Dana."

Saffron smiled at Scully, "He is a bit isn't he."

Scully laughed and looked back at Mulder, "What is it with you and the ladies?"

Mulder flushed slightly at the young girl's flattery and then reached to wrap his arms around Scully's upper body from behind. "While I appreciate the sentiment," he grinned at the girl, "…you know I'm only interested in one lady's appraisal."

Saffron smiled widely at them, "You guys are so cute."

"Cute?" Mulder winced distastefully.

"I think you're pretty cute…" Scully teased mercilessly.

Just at that moment, a man arrived at the reception with a huge Alaskan Malamute, "Hey Saffy. How goes it?"

"Good, Dad, this is Fox and Dana…"

Ron reached and shook their hands.

"Please, call me Mulder," Mulder said quickly.

Ron nodded, "Mulder…and Dana, Saffy sorted you out okay?"

"I've put them in the room the Dawkins just left," Saffron said, pointing at their book with her pencil.

"That won't be ready for a while," Ron pointed out.

"They're happy to go for food down the road first, they weren't annoyed about the wait…they're…I mean they've been travelling from the west…they're really nice and they haven't got much…"

Ron looked up at them both sadly and nodded, "Right, okay…so can we help you with anything?"

Scully shook her head, "We're fine, thank you. Your daughter has been great…we really just need a sleep and some hot food."

Nodding again Ron scribbled a note in their book, "The room is on us, it's not much…after everything…but it's the least we can do."

Saffron smiled tearfully at her dad and then yelped when their malamute leapt up and rested his paws on her lap excitedly, "Queequeg, God, you scared me!"

Scully beamed broadly, "Queequeg?"

Saffron nodded and kissed the dogs head.

"Weird name if you ask me…but it was my wife's favourite book," Ron said rubbing the dog's head. "She passed away last fall and Queequeg here was her mom's last gift to Saffy."

Scully nodded, her eyes welling up slightly, "I'm sorry…"

Mulder tightened his arms around her.

Ron shook his head and smiled, "You guys married?"

"Not yet," Mulder said leaning to kiss Scully's temple.

Scully's smile brightened, "No, not yet."

Ron smiled warmly at the couple, "Well, you guys give us a couple of hours and we'll get you all set up for the night. The restaurant has a bar and live music, you guys look like you could use some time to unwind."

Mulder nodded, "That sounds great. We'll see you both later?"

Saffron shook her head, "I knock off soon…you'll both come see me tomorrow though? I'm in from 9 and…well…I'd like to see you both again before you leave."

Scully nodded, "We'll see you before we head out, and thank you for your help Saffron."

Saffron nodded and smiled up at her dad, "I told you they were nice."


When Scully walked out of the restaurant bathroom she saw a willowy dark-haired woman with insanely tight pants sitting in her seat at their table and flirting outrageously with Mulder.

She walked around into his eye line and stopped by the wall for a while, watching them with a thin smile.

After about thirty seconds Mulder politely tried to remove his hand from his new friends grasp and shift his leg away from her constant attempt to trap his limbs between hers.

She watched him glance up and catch her eye.

For a second he looked nervous, like he thought he was going to get into trouble, but then Scully winked at him and the smile spread across her face.

Mulder's expression turned to amusement and mild irritation. He realised that Scully had actually been standing there watching this vapid flirt fail to get the hint and hadn't even attempted to come to his aid.

Mulder raised an eyebrow at Scully as 'Thumper' (as Scully had christened her) turned to see what he was looking at over her shoulder. Scully laughed at the sight and then slowly pushed off the wall and walked back towards her partner.

"Scully…" Mulder said with a level of relief that made Scully's grin widen. "I was just telling Jemma here about you," he paused and then continued pointedly, "I was wondering where you were."

Scully smiled sweetly at Jemma and then slid into the booth next to Mulder. Pushing him effortlessly along his seat and settling with her left side touching him from calf to shoulder.

She held out her hand to Jemma, "Hello, I don't believe we've met? I'm Dana."

Jemma glanced at Mulder and then back to Scully before taking her hand weakly and giving it one shake, "Jemma."

"So I'm told," she smiled at Mulder and then looked back at their guest. "Sooooooo…it's nice of you to come over and say hi, being visitors to the area and all."

Jemma smirked with clear irritation and then smiled back at Mulder.

Despite her comfort with the situation, Scully was still shocked when she felt Jemma's leg slide back under the table and try to approach Mulder's calf. She automatically shot her leg out, blocking the girl's path, and then hooked her partner's legs behind her own. Looking at Jemma with an icy stare Scully very quietly warned their visitor.

"Be very careful."

Jemma froze under Scully's sudden and steely caution. She quickly pulled her legs back under her seat, and then she looked over to the corner of the bar. She waved and smiled with exaggerated enthusiasm. Then glanced over at Mulder, before quickly standing and pulling on her jacket. "So…well…I see an old friend in the corner over there…and…well, I would hate to miss her…so…it was good to meet you…both…and…yeah…goodbye."

"Oh no, so soon?" Scully said then looked over at Mulder with an exaggerated pout. "And we were all just getting to know each other!"

Mulder couldn't even attempt to control his laughter at Scully's expression. Then he looked up at Jemma with a small shrug, "I did try to tell you my girlfriend wasn't to be messed with!"

Jemma rolled her eyes and started to walk away. She called back over her shoulder, "You ain't all that anyway…"

Scully reached to take a sip of Mulder's drink and smirked at him happily, "Maybe not, but you are all mine."

"Hey!" Mulder said pretending, and failing, to look offended.

Scully shrugged, "Where's my drink?"

"I didn't know if you were drinking or not so thought I'd wait till you came back," Mulder explained.

Scully nodded and sipped his drink again. "I'll have one, but I'll take the first shift tomorrow so you can relax and have a few if you want."

Mulder shook his head; "To be honest I have more exciting plans for our evening…plans for which I intend to remain completely sober."

"Now, I like the sound of that," Scully smiled and reached over to look at the menu. She was still sat comfortably against Mulder's side and rested her hand on his thigh as she skimmed her options.

"I can't believe you just stood there and watched me suffer like that," Mulder said with a slight pout that Scully just caught a glimpse of and quickly leaned up to kiss.

When she pulled back Scully shrugged, "I don't know why…I suppose it felt good. Watching a woman flirt with you and know, for the first time really know, that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Do you understand what I mean?"

Mulder smiled and nodded, "I guess…but I could've done with the backup."

"You were doing fine, and I came in at the end didn't I?"

"My lioness…" Mulder chuckled, then put his arms around her shoulder and stretched his feet out.

Scully hooked one ankle over his and shrugged, "Maybe vixen…?"

Mulder was about to retort when a young girl came over with a pad, "What can I get you?"

"Steak for me, and some fries…Scully?"

"Think I'll try the Green Chile Stew…and I'll have a Corona and a bottle of iced water."

Nodding the server looked back over at Mulder, "Another drink?"

Mulder shrugged, "Another water please, I wouldn't want to get drunk for my hot date."

The girl smiled broadly at Mulder and then addressed Scully, "You guys travelling west?"

Scully nodded, "Good to see that you're open."

"Yeah…our boss thought about closing, but you know what can we do? This is a community bar, a place for people to come together…and as difficult as it is…"

"…Life has to go on." Mulder finished.

"Yeah, I mean…what other choice is there?" The girl nodded.

Scully nodded sadly.

"Well, I hope you guys have a good night…" The server smiled at them both, her eyes lingering on Mulder for a second before she walked away.

"I really can't take you anywhere, can I?"

Mulder smirked, "I only have eyes for one lady, Scully, and she's the one that has most of the guys in this bar seriously questioning their life choices."

"So I'm a life choice now?" Scully laughed as she pushed the menus over to the other side of the table.

"You're MY life choice, Scully."

"So you're saying you no longer believe in fate?"

Mulder shook his head, "I believe that there is no one else on this planet who I could love as much as you, and no one else who could love me as well as you. I also believe that you were sent into my life for a reason…reasons I chose to ignore for an insanely long chapter of my life…but I also believe it is our choice to welcome love, to embrace it…and to nurture it."

Scully nodded, "The universe sent us a massive push in the right direction though."

"I already knew that I was in love with you, Scully. I've been in love with you for so long I can hardly remember what it felt like not to love you. I genuinely believe it was only a matter of time…I mean I know I can be obtuse…but look at you…I am only human."

Scully laughed and leaned up to kiss his neck, "I love you, too."