The unremarkable House
Tuesday October 13th
Mulder wakes up as he feels a small hand hitting his cheek, he opens his eyes slowly but closes them again to see the brightness of the sun coming through the window of the room, the hand hits again on the cheek this time with more force
'No Gracie, don't hit Dad so hard' he hears Scully's voice speaking sweetly but firmly to his daughter, he smiles still with his eyes closed and starts tickle the little girl, she laughs throwing her head back putting her eyelids together and trying to push her father away from her.
When he sees her face red, he let her rest and she sighs with relief, Scully smiles resting her hand on Mulder's chest 'Happy Birthday Mulder' she says close to his ear, he shivers feeling her breath close to his skin and turns to look at her, she's smiling warmly, looking like an angel.
The little girl moves closer to him again and kiss his cheek 'Happy Biday daddy' she says with a little apprehension, Mulder realizes her nervousness and hold her closer to him startling her, but instead of tickle her again, he kisses her sonorously. She giggles a little resting her face on his shoulder and he caresses her hair tenderly.
Scully sighs and he turns to look at her again 'You look beautiful, Scully' he says in a whisper, she smiles and runs a hand through his disheveled hair, he takes her hand and kisses her 'I'm a decade older, Scully' he says staring at her.
She giggles leaning closer to him and kissing his forehead 'So?'. He's gonna answer but Gracie looks up to him and takes a sit on his belly taking his breath away. He snorts moving the little one and laying her on the bed 'Easy, Your daddy is older today'
The little girl opens her eyes throwing herself back to her father's arms and resting half her body on his chest 'No older daddy, cuter' he laughs kissing her hair, Scully moves away getting a tray from the nightstand and putting it on the bed next to him
'All right Gracie, now let daddy eat. Come with mommy' the girl nods and kiss his father one more time before reaching her arms to her mom to go with her, but first Mulder holds Scully's hand and make her kneel on the bed for him to kiss her, the girl giggles and then jumps in her mother's arms walking away from her dad.
When he goes downstairs half an hour later, bathed and groomed, discovers that the whole room is full of gray and pink helium balloons, on the wall next to the stairs a big sign that says Happy Birthday, and a cake with pictures of his whole life on the coffee table next to the couch. William receives him with a big smile 'Happy Birthday, old man'.
Mulder smiles hugging his son and then looking around one more time 'What is all this?' he says taking one pink balloon from the ceiling
William smiles shaking his head 'Those where Gracie's idea, you know she loves pink' Mulder laughs letting the balloon go up to the ceiling again 'They will be here soon, thy just went to pick something' he says walking to the kitchen 'How does it feel to reach old age?' William says with a grin
Mulder shakes his head smiling to the floor. His son won't change, he always makes the most reckless questions. But thinking about it, he really doesn't know, he feels the same, especially now with a two years old baby girl around the house
'I feel great, I know I'm sixty, but it doesn't make a difference, I'm just one year older' he says with honesty, William nods half smiling
'Well said dad, you look great for your age'
'Thank you, but why you had to say - for your age - you could just said - you look great - don't you think?'
They both laugh and take a sit on the dining table where William served a couple of cups of coffee 'And how are you son, how's college?'
the young man shrugs his shoulders taking a sip of coffee 'It's alright, same old' Mulder nods knowing he won't say more
'I'm glad to see you, Will'
The young man smiles 'I'm glad to see you too, dad'
A car parks outside and both men walk to the door to receive the two women of the house, William walks to the car while Mulder remains in the threshold looking at them. Scully walks towards him with a couple of bags while William takes her sister from the back seat
Mulder smiles to his wife when she's closer 'What have you been doing, honey' she smiles looking back to set the alarm of the car
'Bringing a couple of surprises for someone who's birthday today' she says going under his arm and walking in. He is still surprised that she can get under his arm, her height always makes him fall in love. 'Did you like the balloons?' she asks putting the bags on the dining table
'I do' he says walking inside after his children 'I love the pink ones' he says looking to his daughter, she smiles on his brother's arms and pulls down so he puts it on the floor
'I knew you were going to like daddy' she says jumping to try and catch one
He laughs and gives her a balloon kneeling in front of her 'Thank you baby' he says giving her a kiss on the forehead 'I love them'. She giggles, peck his lips and runs around the room with the balloon in her hand, he smiles and stands again, not without a cracking of his knees. He walks to Scully and holds her from behind 'What do you have there?' he says looking inside the bags and discovering a glimpse of red fabric 'What's that?' he says reaching for it, but she hits his hand with hers
'That's for later, be quiet' she says looking back to check their children didn't hear them. He smirks and kiss her earlobe making her giggle
'How's a naughty girl?' he whispers trying to keep the conversation just between them, he looks up at him with a little blush 'I'm sure tonight will be epic' he says kissing her cheek, she turn around again opening the other bag
And he sees it, his mouth opens and he feels tears in his eyes, she turns to look at him putting the gift on the table so he can see it completely, a tear roll down his cheek and he hug him tightly resting her head on his shoulder 'Oh Mulder, don't cry honey'. He kisses her forehead wiping his tears away 'Do you like it?' she asks looking up to him and back to the gift
'I love it, it's perfect' the little girl comes running and hugs his legs making him lose his balance and moving Scully with him 'Slow down, pumpkin' he says and the girl giggle against his leg, he leans down and carries her so she can see his gift too.
Grace opens her mouth and looks to his dad 'It's beautiful daddy' she says covering her mouth with one hand, he smiles and kiss her cheek
'I know baby, it is'. William can't over his curiosity and approaches them to see, since nobody wanted to say what it was he has to find it by himself, Mulder feels his presence and gives a step back so his son can look at it closely. The young man remains quiet looking at it slowly, Scully tries to decipher his expression but it is almost impossible.
He finally turns to see them and smiles 'That's a family present, actually' Mulder nods and Scully huffs a laugh nodding too
'I'm beautiful' the baby yells and everybody laughs
'You are' Scully says caressing her chubby leg making her laugh, 'I think we all are, baby'. The picture is perfect, a sunny day in the beach, all of them smiling while making a sand castle, the whole family together. Mulder smiles warmly, there's no better birthday gift that have his whole family together, but then he smirks, knowing his night would be even better.
