"Sit…sit…sit down please Queequeg". Ashley frowned as, rather than obey her command, Queequeg sniffed around the floor in front of him. "Sit please".

"Baby, did you show him the treat you're holding?" Scully asked from where she sat by her computer, busy typing up notes from the Clyde Bruckman case. "Show it to Queequeg like I showed you earlier, and then he'll do as you ask".

"Sit please", Ashley ordered, holding out her left hand which held the treat. She didn't have a firm grasp on the food and Queequeg seized his opportunity, snatching the biscuit from her without even thinking of obeying her command.

"Noooo!" At her daughter's cry of disappointment, Scully turned around in her chair.

"No Ashley, you don't give him the treat until he does what you've said. Just show him first".

"I did, but he took it from me".

"Well that was very naughty of him. Why don't you try again?" Getting to her feet, Scully retrieved the bag of treats and handed another biscuit to her daughter. "Here you go".

"Queequeg, sit". This time Ashley held the biscuit in closer towards her. Queequeg seemed to consider his options for a moment before reluctantly parking his butt down on the floor. "Yay mommy, he did it! He did it!"

"He did". Scully smiled. "Now you have to give him his treat and –" She was interrupted by a knock at the door. Turning her back on her daughter, leaving her to keep training Queequeg, Scully headed over to the front door and opened it. She was surprised to see Mulder standing before her. "Hi".

"Hey. Sorry to interrupt".

"That's ok. I was just finishing up my report".

"Great. I found this in the back of the car". Mulder held out a soft toy rabbit that Scully had picked up at the pet store.

"Thank you". She took hold of the rabbit just as Ashley caught sight of their visitor.

"Hi Mulder".

"Hey trouble".

Abandoning her game, Ashley ran up to Mulder, who lifted her up into his arms and kissed her forehead. "I've been training Queequeg to sit".

"You have?"

"Uh huh".

As though realising that the humans were talking about him, Queequeg approached Mulder, growling as he realised they had a visitor.

"Queequeg", Scully warned, but he ignored her, letting out a bark. "Queequeg! Sorry", she apologised to Mulder, who smiled uncertainly.

"It's ok, I get the hint". He placed Ashley back down onto the ground and she immediately ran off with the dog. "I just popped round to bring this back for you".

"Did you take the car back ok?"

"It's all taken care of".

"What about the deposit?"

"All fine".

"Really?"

"I just cleaned it up and used a lot of aftershave. I don't think they even noticed".

"Good work".

"How's the new addition settling in?"

"He was up a few times in the night, but otherwise it's all good. Ashley is now keen to get him trained, and has spent the past few…" She trailed off as she caught a glimpse of her daughter sneaking something into her mouth. "Ashley, no! They're dog biscuits".

"But Queequeg likes them", she protested, pouting as she put the placed the pack of dog biscuits back onto the table.

"Yes but Queequeg is a dog. You're not. At least I hope you're not".

"She does display some canine tendencies", Mulder quipped.

"Dog food is for dogs honey".

"But Queequeg ate my food last night and that's not dog food".

"That's because you deliberately dropped some of your dinner onto the floor. I've already told you not to do that".

"Listen", Mulder interrupted. "I'd better head off". Though he loved hearing Ashley and Scully disagree with one another (Scully had found her match with her three foot tall miniature), he didn't want to intrude on any plans they had.

"You're welcome to stay and have a coffee if you like?"

"It's ok, I –"

"Can we take Queequeg for a walk Mulder?" Ashley asked, seemingly unaware that he couldn't say no to her.

"Only if your mom agrees", he replied after considering her question.

Ok". It seemed like Scully was eager for adult conversation. "Grab your boots little lady. Let's go".

Xxxxxx

Mulder watched as Ashley raced on ahead. Though she'd started out as being the one who held Queequeg's leash, she soon tired of her job and relinquished control to Mulder. Thankfully Queequeg didn't seem to mind, and hadn't even attempted to snap at Mulder since he'd taken over.

"Back it up a little Ashley", Scully called, relieved when her daughter finally came to a standstill. "Don't run off".

"How did she end up there anyway?" Mulder asked. "One second she was trailing behind with the dog, and the next thing you know, I've got him. How does that work?"

"It happens when you're too polite to say no to my daughter. You know that you don't have to keep agreeing to anything she asks".

"I know, I know. I had some spare time though and –" A thought suddenly entered his mind. "I'm sorry Scully, have I interrupted your day?"

"No, of course you haven't. Ashley loves having you around". He wondered whether the little girl was the only one who felt that way. "We just don't want to keep you from anything".

"I didn't have much else on the agenda this weekend". He didn't dare say he was bored; relieved when he'd found Queequeg's soft toy in the back of the car.

"Well thank you for appeasing my daughter. Just remember that you don't have to".

"How's she been doing lately?"

"Good", Scully replied thoughtfully. "Better I think. Her teacher has mentioned that she's been a little quiet lately, but her work is good and she hasn't fallen behind in her class".

"That's great".

"It's a relief in a way. I just worry about her being withdrawn".

"It's still early days Scully. It wasn't that long ago since Melissa died. Ashley's been through a lot and it's only natural that she's retreated into herself".

"C'mon Mulder!" Ashley called, clearly impatient at having to wait for the adults. "C'mon mom".

"She's not quite so quiet at home", Scully remarked dryly.

"If she was, that's when I'd start to worry".

"I know, I just want her to be happy".

"It looks like the dog is making her happy".

"He is. Plus she has two friends from school coming over tomorrow, so hopefully that'll please her too".

"Good luck with that".

"Thanks". She grinned. "That's nothing compared to next weekend".

"Oh?" Scully had scheduled some vacation time, though Mulder had yet to discover her plans.

"Yeah. Turns out I'm a sucker for punishment. We're heading to California".

"California?" Realisation dawned on Mulder. "You're not…?"

"Yup".

"Disneyland?"

"It's what Ashley asked for. And if it keeps her smiling, I'm sure I'll survive. Just. Plus my mom and Bill and his wife will be there too, so it won't all be bad".

"Well good luck Scully".

"You think I'm an idiot?"

"Not at all". In reality, he thought it was a great idea – it would do the two of them good to get away. "But Scully?"

"Hmm?"

"If your mom's going, who's looking after Queequeg?"

Scully cleared her throat nervously. "Umm…actually Mulder?" she began as they finally caught up to her daughter. "Ashley has something to ask you".

To be continued.