§§§

"So.. I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then?" Mulder shuffled his feet awkwardly as Scully set her purse down. They'd just gotten back from getting ice cream and Mulder was getting nervous. It was late. He didn't know what she wanted.

"What?" Scully turned around and gave him a confused look.

"I said that I guess I'll see you tomorrow… Do you want me to pick you up? Or do you want to drive?"

"Mulder," she sighed, beginning to walk closer to where he was standing in the entryway. Gently grabbing his hand with the tips of her fingers, she pulled him further inside the apartment and shut the door. "Stay. Please?"

Mulder looked up at her, searching for any hint of her being kidding. "Stay?"

"Stay." Scully smiled.

They walked hand in hand back to her bedroom before Scully stopped and remembered something. "Um, why don't you get into bed… I forgot that I have to call Missy quick."

"You're going to call her right now? It's kind of late…"

Scully laughed. "She's a night owl. She'll still be up for a few hours."

"Oh, okay.." Mulder felt kind of weird getting ready to go to bed in her bed without her.

Scully went out into the living room while Mulder began getting into bed. She waited for Missy to pick up the line.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Miss. It's me. Sorry about-"

"Dana, tell me everything! I need details like yesterday!"

"Miss," Scully laughed. "Not now. Maybe tomorrow." Her tone dropped in volume as she uttered the last sentence.

The clues clicked together in Missy's head, allowing her to figure out what was going on. "He's still there. Isn't he?"

"Yes, he is," she breathed.

"Dana, you definitely owe me answers…"

"Why don't you just ask him yourself?" Scully asked her sister dryly.

"I haven't met him, Dana. He doesn't know me."

"Oh, he knows you alright.."

"What?" Missy was beyond confused now.

"Oh, nothing. From the other life.." Putting her hand to her forehead she continued her statement. "You can meet him tomorrow. I can't believe it, Miss, but he actually wants to meet dad."

"Brave man." Melissa observed absentmindedly. "He must really love you if he wants to meet dad. Wait! Is he going to ask you to marry him?!"

"No! Missy! Good Lord. Nothing has even happened really. He's definitely not going to do that. We haven't even…. Besides, even if I wanted that, I don't think he's really the marrying type.."

"But he loves you?"

"I don't know, Miss. I think so. But we haven't gotten to that point yet… I hope he does… Okay, I have to go now. I don't want to leave Mulder alone in my bedroom for too long. I was just calling. Actually I don't really know why the hell I called. I guess I just wanted to talk to you."

"Okay," Missy chuckled. "But I expect major explanations tomorrow about all of this. Bye, Dana."

"See you tomorrow, Missy. Bye." Walking back into the bedroom, Scully became anxious at what she would find. Navigating through this new closeness and intimacy between them was nerve wracking, but exciting. It was equally the best and scariest thing that she'd ever done. But she knew that this was what she wanted. He was her forever and she wanted him to know that. Opening the bedroom door, she was surprised at how at home and natural he looked sitting up against the headboard of her bed, reading a book, in his boxers. The sheet was draped haphazardly around his legs, while the comforter was pushed down towards the end of the bed.

Looking up from the book he was reading, Mulder gave her a half smile as she entered the room. "I was starting to think that you might have decided to run."

"Not running." Scully smiled back at him through the dim lamplight. Walking over to her dresser, she made a decision- hopefully a good one.

Mulder gasped when he glanced back up from his book and saw that Scully was changing right in front of him. He was both astounded and grateful that she felt comfortable enough to do that. Her back was facing him, but he knew that she knew he was watching. He studied her form without regret as she pulled her shirt up and over her head. Her figure really was incredible.

He'd only seen her naked a few times, but all of those times weren't really situations in which he could enjoy her shape and the soft feel of her skin. Every time it happened, he was solely focused on keeping her alive or getting them out of danger. Now that he was free to look at her without having to worry about one of them dying, he couldn't help but drool a little bit. How could he have gotten so lucky as to be allowed to witness something as beautiful and sacred as Dana Scully getting ready for bed?

His eyes trailed after her newly pajama adorned figure as she headed into the bathroom. By the time she came back out a few minutes later, Mulder was laying down flat on the bed, with his head on the pillow and his book starting to droop lower and lower. He was slowly beginning to nod off.

His senses were immediately woken back up, however, when Scully took the book out of his hands, placed his bookmarker back in where he had left off, and pulled the sheet back on his side. She climbed in and settled down on top of him, exactly how they had woken up this morning.

"Well just make yourself comfortable there, Scully." He joked as she tucked her head underneath his chin.

"I just did." She retorted back, swirling his chest hair around with her index finger. "I told you I liked it here earlier. So, sue me."

Mulder laughed. He wasn't quite sure how to respond to her statement, but her words sure did make his heart feel like it was ten sizes bigger. "Goodnight, Scully." Mulder kissed the top of Scully's head and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep his subconscious registered her whispered reply of: "I love you."

§§§

Waking up on Sunday morning came about very slowly and groggily for the both of them.

Initially, Scully had woken up around 8:30, with Mulder spooning her from behind with his arms wrapped around her, one hand on her stomach and the other hand on her breast. Enjoying the touch and feel of Mulder holding her, she was too comfortable to move and just snuggled back into his embrace as she drifted back off to sleep.

Mulder had woken up when she readjusted her body closer to his. He tightened his grip on her and pulled her as close as he could towards himself. It felt, to him at least, that no matter how closely he held her, she was never close enough. He didn't think that it would ever feel as if she were close enough.

Mulder woke again a little after ten, due to Scully rolling over in her sleep. She snuggled deeply into his chest, causing him to smile. A sleepy Scully was probably just about the cutest thing he'd ever seen. He'd probably never tell her that, though. For some reason he didn't think that the ever accomplished, pint sized human that was laying in his arms would appreciate being called cute. Kissing her forehead, Mulder brushed the hair away from her face.

Her eyes opened slowly, a small smile gracing her lips as she realized where she was and who was holding her. "Mmm," she hummed contently, burying her face into the crook of his neck.

Mulder froze slightly at the feeling of her wet lips brushing against his skin. It wasn't really like a kiss, but her mouth was crooked open slightly, just enough for her breath to come out and greet his goose-bumped skin in short, hot puffs of air. He leaned away slightly, not wanting to feel his erection. "Scully," he said lowly, caressing her back in small circles. "We should probably get up, now."

"No." Scully mumbled against his skin defiantly. "Don't wanna. Too comfy."

Her childish grumpiness caused Mulder to chuckle. "Okay."

" 'Kay." She let her eyes close as she tried to find her way back to sleep.

"Hey, Scully?"

"Hmmm?"

"I love you, too."

Scully's head shot up faster than a rocket. "You what?"

"I love you, too," he repeated. "Last night you said 'I love you' before we fell asleep. I'm just saying it back. I mean it, Scully. I love you."

"You do? You really do?" Scully couldn't hide the hopeful yet still skeptic undertone in her voice.

"Ugh, you didn't believe me last time I told you either," Mulder sighed and began to draw patterns along a slot on her hip where her shirt had risen up. "You know this is just like you, Scully. That's somewhat comforting that you don't believe me, actually."

"What do you mean last time, Mulder?"

"Last year, Scully… after the boat.."

"Oh, my God! You remember that? You were serious? I thought that had been the drugs talking, Mulder!" Scully squealed out, kissing against his chest playfully with the heels of her hands as she sat up.

"Since apparently you still never believe me when I tell you anything," Mulder exaggerated. "Would you mind if I tried to show you?"

Scully sucked in a breath, crossing her legs Indian-style underneath her as she brushed an errant strand of red hair behind her ear. She wasn't sure what was about to happen. "O- okay…"

Mulder, too, sat up. However, he turned to face her and slowly encroached upon her space. His legs came up around her, encasing her thighs between them. He kept scooting toward until her folded knees hit the sides of his torso.

Without saying a word, Mulder carefully leaned towards her, giving her enough space and time to say no or lean away.

She did neither of those things.

His right hand came up to caress her cheek as he pushed through the final space that separated them. Much like yesterday, their kisses were slow and sensual. Mulder was being passionate, but at the same time ever so gentle. He didn't let his tongue meet hers, no matter how much she tugged on his lips and pulled at the hair on the back of his head.

In that moment, Scully believed him. He really did love her. Truly. Wholy. Irrevocably. She felt all of the love, admiration, and permanence flowing from his body as his lips continually touched hers.

His hands soon slid down from her face and hair, down her arms, coming to rest on her hips. He broke their kiss casually, winding down until they were merely just pecking at each other. When his head pulled away from hers, she wasn't ready for it. Her mouth tried to follow his as he retreated.

"Do you believe me now?" His voice sounded deep and rough.

It made her shiver with desire. "I believe you." She exhaled deeply, closing her eyes, trying to savour the flavor of him. "I believe you," she repeated.

"Will you let me take you out to lunch?"

Scully cracked her eyes open. "Like a date?"

"Yeah," he chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. "Something like that." He thought for a moment. "How about I go home and change. Pick you up in two hours? Wear something nice… But not fancy," he added as an afterthought.

"Okay," Scully ran her thumb across the outline of his lips. "Just one more thing before you go?"

"Hmm?"

Scully unfolded her legs and laid them on top of Mulder's thighs. Scooting herself as close as she could get, she leaned back in towards him. With both of her hands around his waist, she yanked his body closer to her.

Mulder grunted with the force of her pull.

Her tongue came out to greet him almost immediately after their lips touched again. Forcing her way into his mouth, she began to explore something that she'd been waiting for for a long time.

His tongue twisted around with hers, fighting for dominance. Hers deemed itself the winner this time, as Mulder finally relinquished control and let her do what she wanted. He groaned as she sucked his tongue into her mouth, wrapping her legs together behind his back, and beginning a slow grind against his still hard erection.

Her bad were scratching lightly against the back of his neck, driving him crazy. He felt as if he were going to explode. All of these new sensations, they were too much. He felt dizzy.

He stopped her as she made a grab for his belt buckle. "Scully. Scully," he breathed. "Slow down."

His resolve almost broke as he watched her luscious lower lip pop out in a sad pout.

"Why not?" She asked sadly.

"God, Scully. I'm trying to do the right thing here, and you're pouting at me like I just took away your favorite toy. You're killing me."

"I'll remember that," Scully quipped mischievously.

"Oh, I'm sure you will," he laughed.

She ran her nails up the back of his head, causing his body to tingle with want. "What do you mean You're 'trying to do the right thing'?"

"I want you more than anything, Scully. You. Not just your body, although I really really am looking forward to that part , too." He glanced at her with a longing once-over. "I want what's up here." He tapped the side of her head. "And what's in here." He tapped roughly over where her heart would be, while avoiding her breast.

"Mulder you've got what's in both of those places already.."

"Not legally, I don't." Mulder said smugly.

Scully's eyes grew wide. He didn't mean… no he couldn't. Could He? "What?" she shrilled.

"You heard me, Scully. I'm not doing you until there's a ring on this hand!" He tapped his left ring finger.

If Scully hadn't been so shocked, she probably would have laughed at his comedic joke. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious, Scully." He waited a second before adding, "Just to be clear, this isn't me proposing. This is me telling you that I want to date you, then I want to marry you, and then I want to spend my every last living day with you, Scully."

"But.. But.. Mulder! No sex?" Scully's voice took on a small pitiful whine.

Mulder shook his head. "Nope. No sex. I want to do this right. Scully, we've been given a second chance. And I want to do everything differently with you. You're different than the other girls that have been in my life in previous years.. and I feel differently about you, too; I want us to do this," he signaled between their bodies. ".. the right way. Because we're right for each other."

"Ueeeaghh." Scully clunked her head against his shoulder. "Mulder, do you realize how long it's been since I've had sex?"

"No, but I'd love to discuss it with you…" He pushed her off of him as he disentangled his legs from hers. "...later. After our date. Or after we go to dinner. I'm going to go so you can get ready." He leaned in, cradling her chin in the space between his thumb and index finger, as she sat in the middle of the bed and pouted. "I love you," he reminded her, kissing her chastely, but sweetly, on the lips.

"Love you, too," she mumbled against his mouth.