disclaimer: the x-files do not belong to me, i'm simply borrowing characters and situations for recreational purposes and my immense enjoyment.


~May 20, 1989~

A squealing, shoeless little girl met Mulder at the door when he awkwardly stumbled through it with multiple parcels and balloons in his hands that morning. He would never forget her first steps. They had been practicing in the park one Saturday and she had hesitantly let go of her mother's hand to take a step on her own across the grass. Right to him. He'd felt so much like a dad that day.

Since she had stepped those first steps, she'd really taken to running. She ran everywhere. Like the world was too slow for her. Slow down, baby girl.

Now it was Anna's first birthday. She had officially turned one on Thursday, May 18, at 11:52 in the morning, but the party was on Saturday. Balancing on top of the bags of plastic cutlery and small decorations was her cake. When Mulder arrived at the bakery, all the women standing behind the counter smiled at him. He could only smile at the cake. It was big and had pink frosting with white accents. In the middle, in purple piped frosting, it read "Happy Birthday Anna." It was decorated with piped flowers of all colors, and a few bumble bees and butterflies.

"Thank you so much, it looks amazing," he had thanked the bakers.

"I hope your daughter enjoys it," one of them, a woman of about 50, had remarked. Almost once a day when they were out running errands or enjoying their time together, someone mistook him for Anna's father. Not only was it too lengthy to tell them the truth, but Mulder's reactions to such assumptions were always elated, so he never bothered to correct these people. Besides, why would he want to be anything else to her?

"Where's Mommy?" Mulder asked the girl at his feet, knowing he was going to need some help to be able to set down the cake in a safe manner. Anna just looked up at him and gave a toothy grin. She hadn't started talking yet, but, just like Scully, she could speak volumes with her expressions.

"Here here," Scully said, rushing out of the bathroom to help him. Even though she had already gotten dressed in a fitting sweater and jeans for the party, she had been cleaning. He wished she would spend the first half of the day relaxing, knowing how hectic the second half was going to be. But Scully was extremely paranoid when it came to her house and gatherings. Judging by how much work and attention to detail she gave everything in her life, Mulder knew that this was probably a natural, life-long habit Scully had formed.

"Oh my goodness," she said when she took her first look at the cake. She had the same reaction Mulder had.

"I think we'll be giving this bakery more business in the future, don't you?"

"Definitely."

"Alright, anything else that needs to be done?" he asked. It was a stupid question. They still had a million things left to do, but he wasn't sure where she wanted his help and where she didn't.

"Yeah, I need you to put up the streamers," he was going to make a short joke but thought against it, "set the table, and give her a bath while I finish the food and the cleaning. Try not to clean her up until the very last possible minute, though, because we both know how capable she is of undoing everything in a short amount of time. I laid out her dress on the bed, you just need to find her a hair bow," Scully ordered. Mulder stood very straight and saluted, earning him a laugh. She knew she asked a lot of him, but Scully honestly did not know how she could throw this party without Mulder's help. Having to plan a party for her parents, Missy, Ellen, and Trent would have just proven too much without him there to pick up the slack. She told him that she considered this party jointly thrown by them, but he had managed to get her a rather large gift anyway. As much as she felt he already had done, Scully knew that her friend really enjoyed spoiling her daughter. They'd nip it in the bud if it ever became an issue, but for now she knew there wasn't any harm in it.

At a quarter to 2, the first knock arrived at the door. Anna had just been freshly dressed, and since she was perfectly ready for her birthday party, Mulder figured they'd better go greet her guests. It was Grandma and Grandpa, and they hardly paid Mulder any attention as they scooped the baby out of his arms. She was their whole world. She filled that role in more lives than theirs.

The second guest to arrive was Melissa, and then fashionably late came Ellen and Trent. Scully's brothers had both gone on separate tours that prevented them from being there that day, which she was only a little upset about. She and Bill still hadn't made amends, and she really didn't want to hash out their problems at her daughter's first birthday party. And knowing Bill, that's exactly what would have happened. A phone call was enough.

"She looks absolutely adorable today, Dana," Ellen commented. They were sitting at the table, their gazes were fixated on Anna, Mulder, and Trent in the living room. Mulder was some kind of super human, managing to read Anna a story and play army man with Trent at the same time.

"Thanks. I can't take all the credit, though, Mulder dressed her. And he's gotten pretty good at styling the six or seven hairs on her head."

"What a great guy." Yeah, he was a great guy. And her life had done nothing but improve since he had entered it.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Anna. Happy birthday to you!" the crowd sang as her smash cake was brought out to her. Sitting in her high chair with a bunch of people and cameras surrounding her was something new for the baby. But instead of throwing a fit or being shy, she ate up the attention. She smiled and laughed, then stuck her hand in the cake and smeared it over her cheeks once her mom blew the candle out. Since everyone else was clapping for her, she decided to clap too. Maggie got some priceless pictures during the scene.

Watching the performance Anna was giving, Mulder felt luckier than the luckiest man alive. Here was this perfect little angel who made him happier than he ever thought he could be, and she loved him. He wasn't used to being loved back.

As the party guests left and thanked the two for the wonderful time, Scully felt a great sense of calm wash over her. By the time her parents left at around 8:30, she was sated and exhausted. The same could be said for Anna, who was sleeping across Mulder's lap. There was still frosting smeared on her face and fingers, her hair was a mess, and she was the most content little girl in the entire world. Scully plopped down on the couch next to the two of them, deciding the mess could wait until tomorrow.

"Think she'd notice if a fire truck drove through the living room?" Scully asked. Mulder scoffed.

"I don't even think I would notice if a fire truck drove through the living room."

There was something making Scully uncomfortable, and she fished around on the couch beneath her to find a small plastic doll that was part of a set Anna had received as a gift from Ellen and Trent. She threw it across the room.

"Kid made out like a bandit today," she remarked. And she had. Despite there being only a few guests, Anna had gotten more presents today than Scully had anticipated. Her parents had custom-ordered an Amish rocking horse, plus three new outfits, and a large amount of money donated to her college fund. Melissa had a tree planted in the rainforest for her (she did that for everyone, it was such a Melissa gift) and also got her the most beautiful hand-painted china tea set that Scully had ever laid eyes on. She'd have to remember to buy her a cheap plastic tea set one day. There was no way she'd let Anna use that, having been a little girl once herself. Ellen and Trent had gotten her the plastic doll set, more outfits, and Trent himself had given her a set of children's classic books. From her mother, Anna received blocks, books, outfits, and a large stuffed bear that Anna had picked out herself in the toy store earlier that week. She tried not to go overboard on the toys, knowing how quickly they lost their novelty when she was a child, but she couldn't resist getting the bear after watching her daughter grabbing for it. And her reaction had been the same today, she petted its soft fur several times before laying her head against it for a number of minutes. Scully wondered if the reason why she liked it was because when she did that, the fur on her face felt a bit like Mulder's cheeks after a few days without shaving. It was a stretch, but she had no other explanation for why she would do that.

Mulder had gone completely overboard, with an turtle-shaped activity table, more books, and a diamond pendant necklace for when she was older. Not trying to show anyone up, he had insisted that it wasn't real diamond for the whole party, but Scully knew better. She had gone to the bathroom earlier and just held the necklace in her hands, dangling it above her palm and close to her face. She couldn't believe that out of every toy, book, game, or outfit the world had produced for one-year-old girls, Mulder had decided that the gift he wanted her daughter to have was a diamond necklace.

"I think she got exactly what she deserved. Well, not exactly. I'd give her the moon if I could," Mulder smiled, stroking the baby's thin hair. The bow he had placed at the top of her head had long since fallen out, but he had proven himself in the world of baby stylist enough.

"Come on now, Mulder, we don't want to spoil her. Diamond necklace this year, moon next year."

"Scully, I saw how uncomfortable you looked when you opened the necklace. I'm sorry if it wasn't appropriate," he apologized, remembering the looks of shock that had been on everyone's faces when she popped open the jewelry box earlier, sitting on the floor now beneath their feet. He had taken Anna browsing for mother's day presents and they'd ended up in the jewelry store. As much as he wanted to buy everything in there, Mulder knew that spending a large amount of money had the potential to raise a lot of questions on mother's day. So they got her tickets to see the ballet instead. But he did not manage to leave the store without spotting the ½ carat round diamond pendant set in white gold. Even though he had shopped for Anna's birthday weeks ago, he couldn't help dropping the $2,500 that day for the necklace. He imagined her as a beautiful young woman, this hanging from her neck, and he knew there was no possible way that it would not be hers.

"No, it was just… unexpected," she said truthfully. Scully didn't want Mulder to take her reaction the wrong way. He was allowed to buy whatever he wanted for Anna. But she had gotten eyes from Ellen, and most importantly, her mother. Truth be told, it was a little uncomfortable for her, but that shouldn't get in the way of the incredible gift her friend had given her daughter.

"I saw it one day and I imagined various stages in her life. Like, first holy communion, first school dance, and I just couldn't imagine her not having it. So, I guess it was as much a present for me; a promise of the dreams that we have for her."

That was so fucking beautiful. Why did he have to be so sentimental and irresistible when she was tired and not thinking clearly?

"I think it's your way of promising her that you'll always be there. Not only for the milestones, but for the boring everyday stuff too."

"And I will."

"Even when you have to yell at her to clean her room and she screams that she hates you?"

"I was actually hoping you'd do the majority of that."

"I probably will. But you're not off the hook."

"But I'm... Mulder," he pouted, earning him a playful shove.

"You know, she's going to grow up and we're going to get into arguments. She's going to slam her bedroom door and scream that she hates us. Whether its bedtime or curfew, you're going to be there right?"

Grabbing her sticky birthday party hand and lacing their fingers together, he vowed, "Always."

"Thank you," Scully smiled, resting her head on his shoulder and trying to fight falling asleep right there. No such luck. The little family slept peacefully on the couch, more content in each other than any material possession could ever make them.