Chapter 11: Happy Birthday to Mulder!

It had been a long time since Scully got out of hospital and went back to school again. Still, she couldn't make Monica believe that she and Mulder was "just friend." Monica's curiosity was rising again.

"Mo… No. I said it one million times; a guy and a girl cannot be just friends?" Scully tried hard to persuade her.

"No, if they meet each other every weekend go to the cinema together and make phone calls every night!"

"Monica Reyes! Mulder and I do not make phone calls every night!"

"So it's every hour, then," Monica winked at her.

"Oh okay, Mo, I give up," Scully sighed. It was true that after the night he saved her life, their relationship had grown stronger and stronger. She always wanted to meet him; she always wanted to talk to him. With his hilarious topics, he could made her burst with laughter all the time. But she couldn't sure if there was a more suitable word to describe her relationship with him than "friendship". A close friend? Aw, even Dana Scully couldn't believe it, too.

The phone suddenly rang; it made her startled. She knew who it was, because she set a special ringtone for his phone call.

"Hi"

"Scully, it's me."

"Yeah…" Scully smiled when she heard the familiar voice.

"I'm sitting at a café near your university? Are you free now? I have something for you…"

"Yes, just a few minutes."

"OK, bye."

"Bye," Scully hung up.

"Uh huh?" Monica was staring at her. Her face seemed very serious.

"What?"

"Don't ask me Dana. You're gonna leave me to meet your new close friend, right?" Monica tried to duplicate Dana's raising brows.

"Monica…" Scully said with her guilty voice.

"I'll never forgive you," Monica turned her head away.

"But…"

"No Buts! Unless you buy me a pizza!"

Scully smiled, kissing on her forehead, and then she quickly grabbed her pocket and walked outside.

"Hi."

"Hi," Scully smiled when she saw Mulder sitting there inside the café, "what happened?"

"Nothing."

"Huh?" Scully raised her eyebrows.

Mulder smiled on her familiar facial expression.

"I just want to meet you. I'm going back to Oxford soon."

"Oh…" Scully replied, trying to hide her depression in her voice. "Will it be long?" she asked.

"No, just a few days. I need some help from my instructor on my thesis. I just feel worry about the fishes…"

"I can help," Scully smiled, "I'll go to your home and feed them."

"No, you don't have to. I don't want to take your time."

"I have free time, Mulder," Scully tried to persuade him.

"OK, Scully. Open your hand."

"Huh?" Scully seemed to be surprised, she didn't believe in her ears.

"Open your hand," Mulder repeated.

Scully opened her hand; Mulder put a key into it.

"What is it?" Scully opened her eyes widely.

"As you can see, it's a key."

"A key for what?"

"For my apartment."

"Huh? But what am I supposed to do with it?"

"Feed the fishes," Mulder laughed and Scully blushed immediately.

"Oh… I forgot…" Scully said very mildly.

"And don't come to my house when you're hungry. You know that, those fishes are not enough for a meal," Mulder joked.

"Oh my brother…" Scully's face turned as red as her hair."

A week later.

After a flight delay of three hours, at last Mulder could flew back to Washington DC from Oxford. He caught a taxi and went to his apartment. Someday ago, when he called Scully, she sounded so happy, so eager to meet him. He felt that she had some "secret thing" for him back in the US, but she just refused to let him know. He smiled and said jokingly that he hoped she would not tell him any "bad news" about the fishes.

Mulder opened the locked door and went into the apartment. There were only a pale light from the lamp on his desk. He hung his overcoat up on a hook, stepping into the next room.

The empty room didn't look like it was seven days ago. There were some colorful balloons hung high above. A big flower pot and two witch hats was placed on the table. Mulder laughed; he knew who did all this for him.

Mulder lowered his upper body; the little girl was sleeping on the couch. She must have been preparing for his "surprise" but fell asleep before he came home. Mulder caressed her hair, smiling and stared at her. She looked so beautiful, just like an angel when she was peacefully laying there sleeping. Her red lips are so attractive… No, Mulder, not now.

Scully slowly opened her eyes.

"Hmmm"

"Hello sleepy," Mulder said mildly.

"Mulder?" Scully opened her eyes widely. She was surprised. "What time is it?" She realized that she had slept for at least some hours.

"A little bit late in the night, Scully."

"My God, I just want to make you surprised…" Scully said, regretting that she fell asleep long before he arrived home.

"This is a big surprise, indeed. Scully, you decorated my house just like it's a kindergarten," Mulder burst into laughter.

"Mulder, you tease me!" Scully felt embarrassed.

"OK OK," Mulder tried to hold his laughter.

"Close your eyes, Mulder," Scully sat on the couch and said immediately.

"Huh?" Mulder curiously looked at her.

"Just do it," Scully repeated, "and don't open your eyes until I tell you to do so."

Mulder laughed and closed his eyes "I promise."

A few minutes later, he felt the air around him was becoming hotter and hotter.

"Open your eyes!" Scully said.

Mulder slowly opened his eyes. Scully was standing right in front of him, with a birthday cake on her hands. There were even some small candles stood on the cake.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MULDER!" Scully shouted out cheerfully.

Mulder eyes were widely opened; he looked at the cake, and then stared at Scully. Birthday? He himself couldn't remember it. This must be the "secret thing" she tried to hide on the phone.

"What? Mulder, isn't today your birthday?" Scully seemed worried.

Mulder looked at her cute expression, smiling and shook his head.

"No Scully. It's just… I don't have any birthday eve for a long time. Ever since Samatha was kidnapped…"

"I'm sorry Mulder. I don't know this could bring your memories back…" Scully bit her lips. She started to felt guilty.

Mulder laughed it off.

"No, Scully, you make me feel happy. Thank you for remembering my birthday."

"So you should wish something, and then blow of the candles…" Scully brought the cake closer to him, looking at him with her cute puppy eyes.

Mulder closed his eyes and blew off the candles.

"OK, Mulder. What was your wish?" Scully put the cake on the table, asked curiously.

"I think it's a secret?" Mulder winked at her, "you don't have any present for me?"

"Isn't it your present?" Scully seemed surprised.

"Huh?"

"OK, just kidding. This is your present," Scully pulled a well warped, beautiful decorated box from a bag on the lounge and gave it to him. There was a red ribbon tied around the box.

"Happy birthday, Mulder."

"Hey don't say that again Scully. I'll be one year older every time you say it," Mulder said jokingly, "can I open it now?"

"Sure."

Mulder took off the warping paper. It was a book titled "Extraterrestrial Life."

"Oh Scully…"

"Do you like it?"

"Very much. Thank you."

Scully smiled. Although her plan to make him surprised didn't go exactly as she expected, at last she made him feel happy.

"Now close your eyes one more time," Scully ordered.

"Not a kiss for the next present, is it?" Mulder closed his eyes.

"NO! Hahaha!" Scully laughed out loud.

"Ouch!"

Mulder shouted out. He nearly jumped up on the couch. His face was covered with cream from the birthday cake. Scully showed him her hands, which was full of cream. She started to giggle.

"The punishment for your dirty thought, Mulder," She continued to laugh.

"What is dirty, huh red head Scully?"

Suddenly, he came closer to her, warped his arms around her shoulder and kissed her. Scully seemed to be surprised at first, but then she put her arms around his neck, kissing him back with a passionate kiss.

Mulder felt very happy. The first time a girl could make him feel so good. A girl who cared for him and made him forget the past. Yes, the past…

Mulder and Scully was still drowning in the kiss when suddenly there appeared someone right behind them.

"Hey!"

The two lovers statred, turning their head to the voice.

"Diana?" Mulder was really surprised.

"I'm sorry, but the door is not locked," Diana said coldly, and gave Scully a dreadful stare.

A/N: Sorry for letting Diana spoil the party. hehe. Leave your review. Thank you.