March 31, 2021
Mulder felt a kick in his back and his eyes flew open. The sun was just beginning to come up, the room filled with soft light. Another kick and then rustling followed by a deep sigh. He turned over and smiled at the sight that greeted him.
Scully lay on her left side, Faith nestled into her, both of them sleeping, Scully's mouth open slightly as she breathed deeply. Faith was outside of the covers, the fleece blanket from her bed discarded by her feet. He knew she was not cold though, the dark blue footed pajamas, with the small beige and brown owls, keeping her warm and toasty.
Her top molars were coming in and for the past couple of days, she had been very crabby and clingy, wanting Scully primarily to hold her. She'd had a low grade fever, her eating habits and sleep schedule shifting a bit, and at night she would wake up crying, rubbing at her cheeks and calling for Scully.
They had given her some medicine, which was a struggle at times as she did not want to take it, crying and clinging to Scully as she hid her face. In a moment of genius, Mulder had taken the medicine and added it to a small amount of apple juice when she was not watching. Mixing it up, he had brought it back to the table, asking her if she wanted to have some juice.
Turning it into a game, he had used a medicine syringe to squirt plain apple juice into his own mouth, exclaiming about the deliciousness of it. Her curiosity piqued, he had drawn the medicine/juice combination into a separate syringe for her, and slowly given her the full dose of the medication. Once it had gotten into her system, she had been better, still a little clingy, but more her happy self.
For two nights, after she had woken up crying, she had been brought into their bed, all of them tired and needing to sleep. It was sweet and cute, watching her lying between them, until he had been elbowed in the eye and accidentally been kicked in the balls, causing him to draw in a sharp breath and cough.
But it had helped her and that was what mattered, he thought as he stared at them with a smile. He hated seeing her hurting and whatever it took to get his girl back to feeling happy, he would do it. Her teeth were finally starting to show, so hopefully she would be feeling better soon.
Scully shifted and her eyes opened for a second before closing again. She exhaled, as she pulled Faith closer, holding her in her arms. Breathing deeply, she fell back to sleep, and he smiled again.
He heard a bell tinkling and then a low chirpy meow as Grey jumped onto the bed and walked over to him. She purred loudly as he pet her, flopping down heavily and rubbing her head into his hand. He closed his eyes as he continued to pet her, lying still so as to not disturb the sleeping ladies.
He must have dozed off, because when he opened his eyes again, Faith was awake and laughing at Grey, the room now brighter. Scully smiled sleepily at him and then looked at Faith, rubbing her back gently.
"Good morning, love. How are you today? Feeling better?" He squeezed her leg and she laughed happily as she looked at him.
"Thank Christ for that," he muttered as he looked at Scully and she laughed softly.
"She kick you in the nuts again?"
"No, and thank Christ for that, too…" He shook his head and she laughed again with a nod. "I don't mind sleeping with her, but…" She hummed with another nod, their attention turning back to Faith and Grey as they played on the bed.
A couple of hours later, they were driving to the designated site to receive their first dose of Covid shots, finally eligible to do so. Waiting in line, all of them masked up, Faith's a bright pink with many colorful butterflies, Scully began to sniffle and he looked at her in surprise.
"I'm so happy," she said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "Last year… I wasn't sure we would even be here." She shook her head and he smiled, reaching for her hand and squeezing gently. Breathing out, she closed her eyes, tears spilling out.
Receiving their shots simultaneously, Faith singing in the back, and Scully crying happily, they pulled forward to wait and be sure neither of them had any type of reaction. Scully wiped her eyes and blew her nose, laughing as she cried again.
"It's silly…" she said and he shook his head.
"It's not." He took her hand and kissed it, shaking his head again. "It really isn't."
"It's just… this past year. This virus… the past administration… I just…" She started crying again and took off her mask, covering her eyes. "So many people died unnecessarily. I…"
"I know, honey." He kissed her hand again, rubbing her fingers as she took some deep breaths and calmed down. "Please don't feel you need to apologize. You're a scientist above all else, I know what this means to you. To all of us… but especially to you and others like you." She nodded and squeezed his hand. Wiping her eyes, she put her mask back on and nodded at him.
They waited the appropriate amount of time before they left, neither of them having an adverse reaction. Faith's mask had been taken off and she was talking to her baby doll as they drove away, both of them taking off their own masks.
"I've been thinking," she said, glancing at Mulder. "It's Good Friday in two days and… I'd like to go to church." He looked at her before looking back at the road. "You don't have to come, of course… but I'd like to go." She smiled at him and he smiled back with a nod.
"Okay."
"I just… I feel I need to go."
"I understand. I think it's a good idea," he said. "What about on Easter?"
"No. I think Friday will be enough. I want to have Easter morning together and I was thinking we should see if Skinner and Rachel want to come over for a late lunch/early dinner."
"I think that's a wonderful idea." He smiled again and she reached for her phone to give them a call.
At the grocery store a few minutes later, the cart full of items they had been lacking, they also had ham, potatoes, fresh green beans, wine and sparkling cranberry juice, as Rachel and Skinner would be joining them.
A dozen white eggs were added and when they walked down the seasonal aisle, there was a debate over which egg dye to purchase. Mulder was immediately drawn to a box promising galactic eggs, but Faith liked the classic rainbow colors, pointing out the butterfly and showing him.
"You aren't going to win this one," Scully said in a low voice and he could hear the smile behind it. "Besides, I get a vote and I vote for classic ones with tablets. Last year, we didn't do them and it's something I've thought a lot about since then."
He stared at her as he held the galactic egg dye box in his hands and Faith held the other in hers, touching the butterfly and saying hello. Scully raised her eyebrows and he knew he had lost. With a nod, he put his back and she touched his back.
"Next year, I promise," she said and he gave her an exaggerated sigh, causing her to laugh and squeeze his hand.
A pale yellow basket was also added to the shopping cart, not for Faith, but to be used for the gifts Scully had purchased for Rachel and Skinner. She had searched for a gift for the twins, some little items and a matching set of onesies. As they were joining them for dinner, the basket would be a good way to give it to them.
"None of that grass shit though," she said under her breath, pointing to it on the shelf. "That stuff is the worst."
"Agreed."
All the items in the cart, they continued to the checkout, paid for the groceries, and headed home.
April 2, 2021
"It's a pretty flower," Mulder said to Faith as they were on their walk and Scully was at church. "What color is it?"
"Pink. It's a pink flower, Dada."
"It is indeed, my love." He smiled at her as he stood up and stretched, groaning as he moved his arm, the injection spot feeling sore.
He took a deep breath, smelling the scent of mud, the ground still wet after the rain from a couple of days ago. Bella loved it, runny where it was dirtiest, her tongue hanging out happily. Mulder knew she would need to be washed before she would be able to go inside, but the trouble was worth it if it meant she'd had fun and had gotten some exercise.
Faith had her rain boots on as they walked and enjoyed the cool breeze of the late afternoon. She was not as keen with the mud, but she liked looking for flowers, rocks, and pine cones that were on the ground; carrying them in her own small pockets or handing them over to be held by Mulder.
"Should we head home, love? Or walk a bit more?"
"More, Dada."
"You're the boss," he said with a smile and reached for her hand, Bella running beside them with a happy bark.
When they arrived home a little later, he grabbed the towels and soap he had thoughtfully left on the porch. Turning on the hose, he brought Bella over to the plastic pool they had bought for her last summer.
Apologizing for the cold water, he washed her quickly, drying her and bringing her onto the porch so she would not roll in the muddy grass, thus starting the process all over again. She ran back and forth, rolling on her back and scooting her face on the floorboards as Faith laughed from the grass as Mulder cleaned up.
They both turned at the sound of a car pulling up as he lifted the pool and dumped out the soapy water, leaning it against the house. Bella barked as she stood with her paws on the porch, her tail wagging as Scully got out and opened the gate.
"Mama! Mama home, Dada!" Faith said as she started to run to her, but Mulder caught her and picked her up.
"Whoa. Mama has to bring the car in and we have to watch out. Stay where it's safe, my love, okay?"
"Yes, Dada," she said, nodding her head seriously.
"Good," he said, kissing her cool cheek and pulling her fluffy beanie down further.
Scully pulled the car to the side of the house and got out, closing the door and locking it. Mulder set Faith down and said she could go see Mama now. She ran towards her as he walked to close the gate.
"Hello, my love. Well, I see you've had a fun afternoon." She squatted down and hugged her, but did not pick her up, not wanting to dirty her dress and coat. "What treasures did you bring home today? Anything in your pockets?"
"Yes. I have rocks. Flowers. Pink flowers, Mama." She reached into her coat pockets and took out a black rock, two pink flowers and some leaves, handing them all to Scully. "Pretty flowers, Mama."
"They are pretty, honey. Very beautiful." She smiled at Faith as she held the squished flowers and rolled the rock between her fingers. Looking up at Mulder, he winked and put out a hand to help her up.
"Good service?"
"Yes. It's what I was needing." She smiled and he kissed her, squeezing her hand and taking the rock from her. "Don't drop it. Put it-"
"In with the others… I know." She smiled again and nodded as she took Faith's hand, all of them walking to the garden area and adding the day's treasures to the many rocks already placed inside it.
"One day we should make a stepping stone or something with the rocks she's brought home over the years."
"I like that idea," Scully said, as he placed the black rock next to a small gray one.
"You have any other rocks in those pockets, Miss Faith?" he asked, checking and finding nothing but some stray pieces of grass. "Nope, we're all good." He kissed her and scooped her up, causing her to shout out and laugh, her muddy rain boots kicking into his side. He smiled as he looked at her and she smiled back, glad she was finally back to her happy self.
April 3, 2021
Mulder covered the table with a plastic tablecloth as Scully placed the coffee cups on the table, each one filled with a different color of dye and a spoon. The eggs were on the counter in the carton, hard boiled and ready to go. Faith was wearing a pair of old pants and a shirt that was a bit too small; an outfit that could get stained without any worry.
"You ready to color the eggs, my love?" Scully asked as she lifted her into her booster chair and pushed it close to the table.
"Ready!" Faith said with a smile.
"Okay! Let me show you how to do it. Which color would you like? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, or purple?"
"Purple!"
"Okay," Scully chuckled and picked up the cup of purple dye as Mulder took out his phone, taking video and pictures. "So…" She grabbed the eggs and set them close, but out of Faith's reach, taking one from the carton. "We take an egg, carefully, and we place it on the spoon and then set it in the cup." Faith leaned forward and watched as Scully set the egg in the cup and stirred the liquid gently.
"Now, we leave the egg in for a couple of minutes… but, let's see how it looks so far." She put the egg on the spoon and lifted it to show Faith who gasped and looked up at Scully.
"It's purple! Dada! Egg is purple!" She looked at Mulder and he laughed softly, taking a picture of her happy surprised face before he put his phone down on the table.
"Purple is good. But what about blue?" He took an egg from the carton and placed it in the cup of blue dye, smiling at both of them as Scully put the egg back in the cup of purple dye.
Ten more eggs were done, some colored on with a white crayon, a design created that remained undyed: a heart, butterfly, Faith's name, and a couple with scribbled lines drawn by Faith. She was quite proud of them and kept picking them up and smiling, showing them the pictures she had made.
Mulder helped her set them into the small cardboard egg stands, only one of the stands not being used as she had taken a liking to the picture on it and kept a hold of it. The eggs set back on the counter, the table wiped off, and cups set in the sink, they had some yogurt and strawberries before Faith would be going to bed.
"Dada, eggs so pretty. Purple butterfly so pretty," she said, yogurt on her chin as she looked at the eggs on the counter. "Mama see blue egg? My egg."
"Yes, that egg says Faith. That's your name." Scully smiled at her and wiped her chin.
"So pretty," Faith said, sighing before she took another bite. Mulder shook his head with a smile as he stared at her.
After changing her into her pajamas, a couple of books read, they said goodnight and put her to bed with her egg stand picture held tightly in her hands.
"I love so much that she fixates on things that interest her," he said as they closed the door and Scully chuckled.
"Of course you do," she said softly, touching his chest and kissing him. "She's a mini you when it comes to that type of thing." Laughing again, she went downstairs and he followed.
They cleaned up and got the items out for the Easter baskets they were going to fill. The basket from last year for Faith and the new one for the upcoming twins.
"Look how tiny these are," Scully said with a sigh, her lip sticking out, as she held up the tiny onesies. They were white with large dandelions, the seeds blowing across it. One said: Sometimes when you wish for a miracle and the other said: You get two. "Faith used to wear things this tiny. Remember how small she was, Mulder?"
"I do," he said with a chuckle, reaching for one of the onesies. "She was the most beautiful little lump." Scully grabbed the onesie back and swatted him with it as she laughed. He winked and filled Faith's basket as she filled the other.
Into Faith's, he placed a few brightly colored plastic eggs, a rainbow colored stuffed butterfly, a wind up hopping yellow chick and white rabbit, a pink bottle of bubbles, purplish pink princess Goldfish crackers, sidewalk chalk, and two applesauce pouches.
In the other basket, Scully placed the same organic brand of soap and lotion they had used for Faith, two board books: Goodnight Moon and Guess How Much I Love You, four large plastic eggs with a couple of pairs of little socks in each one and two packs of pacifiers. The onesies were folded carefully and laid on top, a white ribbon tied on the top of the handle.
"You know Rachel's going to cry when she sees that," he said, nodding to the basket as he stood up.
"Of course she will. But happy tears are the best tears." She smiled at him as she stood up and he reached for her hand, spinning her around and then pulling her close.
"They are indeed." He kissed her and she laughed. Stepping away, she put the eggs in the refrigerator, ready for the hunt in the morning, before taking his hand with a smile and leading him upstairs.
April 4, 2021
"Again Dada," Faith laughed, handing Mulder the wind up rabbit. "Again please." He smiled as he wound it up and held it as he then wound the chick, setting them on the floor.
"And… GO!" he shouted as they began to hop and she dissolved into giggles, on her knees beside them. He laughed as he watched her, looking up at Scully as she smiled down at them.
She winked and took the eggs from the fridge, walking outside to hide them while Faith's attention was elsewhere. Coming back in after five more times of him winding up the toys, she nodded at him and he picked Faith up, grabbing her basket on the way.
"Okay, love. You won't remember from last year but, we need to find the eggs and put them in your basket. Oh look! There's two right there!" He pointed to the porch swing, bringing her attention to the red and blue egg, and she walked over to pick them up. "Great job. Now let's put them in the basket." She set them inside and looked up at him, somewhat confused.
"Over here, honey," Scully said and Faith turned around. Walking over to her, Scully pointed to her muddy rain boots that were sitting by the door. "Look inside." Faith bent down and looked inside, reaching in and pulled out an orange egg from one and a yellow one from the other. Smiling at Scully, Mulder held the basket out to her, and she placed them inside.
Putting on her boots, they continued with the egg hunt, finding a couple in the garden, one by Bella's pool, the trees by the gate, in the shed, by the car, and the last one under her blue plastic bucket in the yard. All of them accounted for, they went inside to have breakfast.
"Again, Dada," Faith said as the door closed and she ran to pick up the wind up toys.
"It was your decision to buy those," Scully said with a smile, taking the basket from him and bringing it into the kitchen.
"Yes... it was," he agreed, taking the white rabbit and winding it, grinning at the happy smile on Faith's expectant face.
"It's so good to see you both," Scully said, hugging Rachel and rubbing her arm as she stepped back and gave Skinner a one armed hug, as he was carrying a bakery box. "Happy Easter."
"God, it smells good in here," Rachel said, setting down the purple basket in her hand, taking off her coat and hanging it up. "That ham is making my mouth water."
"Feeling better then?"
"Yes, thank god. I hope I'm past the morning sickness, but…" She shrugged and let out a sigh, smiling as she saw Faith. "Miss Faith, that is a beautiful dress. You look so pretty."
"Hi, Rachel. Hi Unco!" she said, running to them for hugs.
"Here, this is for you, sweetie," Rachel said, squatting down and handing her the Easter basket. "From me and Uncle."
"Oh… so pretty!" she said, taking out the pink polka dotted bunny and giving it a hug. "Pink bunny."
They all laughed and watched as she emptied it of the other items and then filled it with plastic eggs, placing the eggs around the house. Skinner was chosen and persuaded to go on a hunt, Faith laughing and clapping when he "found" each egg.
Rachel cried when she was given her gift, just as Mulder had predicted, touching the dandelions and letting out a deep breath with a nod.
"This is so beautiful. And absolutely true," she said softly, rubbing her stomach and smiling at them. "Thank you."
They sat down to eat, everyone exclaiming over how good the meal was and how they had missed out on it last year. Beginning to reminisce, they shook their heads at how terrible and worrisome it had felt at the same time last year.
"What a difference a year makes," Mulder said and they all raised their glasses in agreement.
Talk then turned to the vaccine. Skinner was getting his second dose in a week and Rachel was waiting on advice from the obstetrician.
"I've called Elise and made an appointment to see her in two weeks for the next ultrasound and check up. I'm hoping we'll be able to know the sex by then, but it might be too early."
"Have you decided if you'll move?" Scully asked and the conversation turned to real estate. Rachel brought up an app on her phone, showing them places they had been looking at, but had yet to inquire about.
"It's still early, but…" She shrugged and reached for the bowl of mashed potatoes, placing a large spoonful onto her plate.
After they ate, Scully and Rachel sat on the porch swing, reading books to Faith. Mulder and Skinner stood in the grass, drinking a beer and throwing the ball for Bella.
"Things are better?" Mulder asked and Skinner nodded with a smile.
"Better. Still… nervous, but…" He looked at Rachel reading as Faith laughed and he chuckled softly. "It's going to change everything, but I'm ready for it."
"Yeah," Mulder agreed with a smile.
Dessert, a chocolate pie, was eaten on the porch, Faith once again hiding eggs in plain sight for them to find, Grey following and batting at them, chasing one across the porch as it bounced loudly.
All too soon, they were gathering up their things, giving hugs, and saying goodbye. Faith gave Rachel a purple plastic egg with a blue butterfly sticker and Rachel thanked her with tears in her eyes, cursing her hormones as they all laughed.
Waving goodbye as they drove away, Faith asked for another egg hunt and Mulder agreed to one more before bed. As he began to hide them, Scully took Faith upstairs to change her clothes and brush her teeth.
Coming back down, they both smiled at Faith as she padded around in her footed pajamas, the basket held tightly in her hands, exclaiming happily and excitedly every time she found an egg, and placed it inside, Grey once again chasing after the ones that fell from the basket, spinning them wildly across the hardwood floor.