A/N: Here it comes … chapter 10! Enjoy it! And once again – thanks so much for reviewing. I never thought that I would even get one review! I'm really happy! And that's because all of you.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10.45 AM, EST-Time, Saturday
Back in the garden
With their present at hand, they were once again finding their way through the labyrinth of peach trees, while Mulder was desperately trying to sign the birthday card. But in vain.
"Oh come, sign the card! We're nearly there." Scully demanded with a suppressed voice, but Mulder seemed to have real problems signing the card while walking at the same time.
He was about to do it but then he withdrew his hand everytime. "What do I write?" He fumbled on the pen in his hands only showing his nervousness. "Fox Mulder? Mulder? Or Fox? Or …"
Scully shot him a disbelieving glance. "Fox."
He was unsure and didn't make another try to sign the card but simply stared back at Scully, which would cause her to explain her decision.
Scully started sighing and then explaining. "Fox Mulder sounds too formal, Mulder is complete nonsense …" Mulder looked hurt at that statement but she tried to make him understand, "… Fox is nice. It's more personal. Anyway, that's what she calls you."
Mulder nodded in agreement and tried to put his signature next to Scully's. He wanted it to look perfect, not as if some small child had scribbled it down – but that was impossible if he was supposed to do it while walking. "Damn it, Scully, I … I can't do it. Not while I'm walking."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Margaret Scully, who had gone to the bathroom and therefore headed towards the clearing a little later than all the others, strolled through the rows of peach trees. The sun was shining into her face and she held the present for her mother in law under her arm. She was content and happy to be together with her family and …
"Damn it, Scully, I … I can't do it. Not while I'm walking."
Maggie Scully stopped and listened for a second. She was unsure if she really had heard something or if it was just the slight breeze rustling through the branches. Shaking her head and declaring herself nuts, she started towards the clearing again, as she definitely heard her daughter's voice.
"Oh, come on, Mulder. You're kidding, right?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Scully was walking at Mulder's side and looked up into his face. He was still trying to write his signature next to hers. Apparently without success. Could it really be that hard? Writing while walking? She had done it, too.
Fox shrugged his shoulders. "I want to do this right, you understand? If I don't give my best now, you'll be mad at me afterwards." Mulder was protesting.
Scully grinned and stopped walking. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sign the card. And it was better to stop and let him sign it while standing, than dealing with illegible hieroglyphs. "Fine, so we'll do it while standing!" She answered with an amused smile.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"… we'll do it while standing!"
Maggie Scully instantly dropped the present and covered her open mouth with her hand. What did her daughter just say? What were they doing? She could hear everything. What was happening? Was it just a joke? What if it wasn't? Maggie couldn't believe her ears. Her heart started beating fast and her palms moistened. Dana herself had told her that nothing was going on between her and Fox. And Maggie had believed her. Maggie swallowed and stood still like being paralyzed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They had just stopped walking and finally Mulder was able to sign the birthday card, put it back into the cream-colored envelope and handed it over to Scully. "I'm done. Happy?"
Scully nodded, the amused smile still surrounding the edges of her mouth. "Oh yes. Can we go now?"
Mulder nodded his head yes and they both started towards the clearing.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10. 48 AM EST-Time, Saturday
Garden of the peach plantation, Lincoln Landing
Mulder and Scully arrived the clearing at exactly the same time Maggie Scully came into view. Her skin color was pale as chalk and she shot her daughter a very bad glare, which caused Scully to change some irritated looks with Mulder. Maggie Scully was walking next to them and scrutinized the two.
Scully wondered what that look was about, but shoved the thought aside as her granny stood up and smiled in her direction.
"Hey, you two beauties? What took you so long?" Katherine Scully directed her words towards Mulder and her grandchild, while grinning mischieviously.
Maggie turned even paler.
"If you want to have more time for yourselves, you just have to mention it, okay?" The smile on Katherine's face didn't vanish, but her view trailed over to the enormous amount of presents in front of her.
"Oh please, granny!" Scully reminded her with an annoyed look, placed a huge kiss on her cheek and afterwards her gift on top of the others. "Happy birthday, granny! The present is from Mulder and me."
Katherine closed her eyes happily and hugged her grandchild real tight. "Thank you, sweetie!"
Mulder smiled friendly and came a little closer. He offered his hand like a gentleman. "And a happy birthday from me, too, Mrs … Katherine!" Right now, he was really happy he'd agreed to accompany Scully. It would have been boring and lonely in Washington. Being here was … adventurous in a way.
Katherine got up and hugged him, too, which confused Mulder at first. He didn't know what to do at first. And the sight made Scully laugh. "I really hope I'll be seeing you again next year, Fox!"
Mulder hugged the old lady back, nodded and smiled softly. "It would be a pleasure."
"I hope so!" Katherine answered and then turned towards her presents.
Scully beamed all over her face, which was infectous and so, Mulder smiled back.
Maggie Scully observed everything that unfolded between her daughter and Fox distrustfully. She would use the next given opportunity to confront her daughter with her encountered incident in the peach garden.
A/N: That's it … for now! But there's still more to come ... so, wait until I update chapter 11. Thanks for all your nice words. See you!
