The next thing Mulder knew he was feeling the vehicle pull to a stop. He opened his eyes when he heard the passenger side door slam closed.
Caroline turned back in her seat and smiled kindly at Scully who was still sleeping soundly with her head in Mulder's lap. "You really love her don't you Mulder?"
Mulder smiled resumed gently running his hand through Scully's hair, "She changed my life Caroline. When she first walked into our office I was a single-minded and arrogant man, she forced me to question everything I believed in and in doing that she made me better and stronger." Mulder looked down at his partner as she shifted slightly in his lap, "but she did more than that, she became my champion, my support, my friend. She didn't blindly believe in everything I did, but she always believed in me and that made me want to be a better man...I guess so I could somehow be deserving of her faith in me...AND she fell in love with me," Mulder looked up and smiled at Caroline in genuine amusement, "I still find that astounding."
Caroline laughed quietly, "And the fact that you both look at each other like a hot fudge sundae? That's just a bonus?"
Mulder grinned, "Well she is stunning...absolutely breath-taking…"
Caroline smiled at Mulder and turned to open the door, "Scott needed the bathroom so we're taking a break for half an hour. If we try and get back on the road by 1pm we should be in Eddington by 3."
Mulder nodded quietly as the door closed. He leant forward in his seat and touched Scully's shoulder, "Scully…Scully…wake up," she stirred, "Scully…"
She rolled back in his lap to meet his eyes, "Mulder…I'm sorry…I fell asleep…"
"Hey that's fine sweetheart, we've been stuck in this thing for hours over the last few days, I fell asleep too…" He brushed the hair off her forehead and leaned down to gently kiss her lips.
"Mmmmm, sweetheart I like that." she smiled and lifted her head off his lap slightly to meet his lips again.
"Really? I wasn't sure if you'd like terms like that..." Mulder asked.
"I'm not if I really have before, but I think I'm going to like being your sweetheart…actually I'm sure I will." She sat up and straightened her clothes smiling at him happily. "Maybe lay off the terms of endearment at work Mulder, but for the next few months…and when we're at home…you're free to call me whatever you wish."
Mulder grinned, "How about my sexy little vixen?"
She raised her eyebrow, "Now that one is definitely only in private Fox." She winked.
Mulder sighed happily and then opened his door, "We have about half an hour to stretch our legs, use the bathroom and grab some food. Caroline thinks we'll probably by in Eddington by 3."
Scully reached for her own door, "Well then we'd better get moving…" she got out of the vehicle and walked around the back of the 4x4 to meet Mulder on the other side. "You go freshen up, I'll get us a sandwich, then if we have time we can take a short walk before we have to get back into that tin can."
Mulder ran his hand down her arm then lightly squeezed her fingers, "OK, I'll see you in a minute."