Scully had a headache. A huge blinding headache that was not getting better. The hum of the plane's engines were usually a welcome distraction from Mulder's yammering but right now Scully just needed silence.

Mulder had been his usual self, giving the hostess the occasional flirtatious smile. Scully was not one to be jealous but it did get annoying when women returned the look. She knew that Mulder probably didn't think anything of it but they always seemed to. The hostess had turned her back preparing the cart with the food. Scully stuck her tongue out at the hostess who fortunately just missed it. She knew it was childish but this was ridiculous.

She was now coming down the aisle with the cart and Mulder had sat straight and craned his neck as if a meerkat searching for danger. Unfortunately for Scully she had taken the aisle seat as Mulder always sat in the window. He made it very clear every time they ever got on a plane that he had to sit next to the window.

Scully always tried to assure herself that this was because of the case where he'd almost been abducted (he was just making sure that there was definitely nothing out there) but she knew it was his paranoia once again defining his actions. More to the point when buying food he was going to have to reach over her.

Scully could see it now. Mulder would give his charming smile and ask for something that would no doubt be really annoying to hear him eat. Fortunately it wouldn't be sunflower seeds as she had made sure the company were not selling them and had already confiscated his own pack.

"Could I have a bag of peanuts?"

Scully glared at him.

"Please."

Mulder seems to get so wrapped up in his head that he forgets simple manners. Scully huffed.

"We've got the normal or the family sized."

Scully shifted uncomfortably and her shoulders tensed.

"Ooh well since you have it I'll have the family sized."

Scully slumped, Mulder didn't seem to notice and gave her an eager smile that she returned half heartedly.

"Umm, would your wife like anything?"

They both looked up in shock.

"Nonono,..."

Mulder began.

"I can assure you, I am not his wife!"

The hostess simply shrugged and continued walking down the aisle.

"Scully, you wanna snuggle up and get all cosy."

She just rolled her eyes.

"Eat your peanuts."

For some reason having peanuts and eating them like a normal person never occurred to Fox Mulder. Instead he would find the most elaborate ways to get them into his mouth. The majority of the time, however, he did not manage that.

He had begun by throwing them in the air and lining up his mouth as if a catcher preparing to receive the ball. The only real practice Mulder had on throwing objects was pinning pencils to the office ceiling. Therefore, the peanuts went everywhere. Of course, because he had the family size pack, it was never ending.

Half an hour into the flight, Scully was just about ready to jump out of the plane. Mulder had many of his failed attempts lying on the floor and in the hair of the woman sitting in front of them. He now seemed to be just shoveling the peanuts into his mouth. As he was doing so he offered the bag towards Scully but she just gave a disgusted expression. Really Mulder?

After he had finished chomping through half the bag he turned towards Scully with a bright gleam in his eyes.

She gave a slight huff. This is going to be another 'Mulder being a crazy conspiracist isn't it. She did enjoy when Mulder got like this, that puppy-like enthusiasm radiated from him and it honestly comforted her that there would always be that innocent part of him. After all the loss Mulder had suffered he could have gone 'dark side' long ago. This may be the only thing keeping him sane.

Nope not going there today. Mulder had seen her space out and had stopped talking.

"You know Scully, I've known you long enough that I can tell when you're not listening to me. Is something wrong because as much as I enjoy hearing my own voice I much prefer yours."

He frowned and leant back in his chair although his head was still facing her. He raised his eyebrows.

"Mulder I'm fine I've just got a headache, okay?"

He simply shrugged and stared more pointedly at her.

"Mulder, will you give it a rest?!"

Scully had half shouted that and she severely regretted it. Several people had turned their heads towards them and peanuts had flown out of a certain woman's hair. Times like this reminded Scully of why she often just slept on flights but unfortunately they were not travelling far enough for that.

Silence

"Look, I agreed to come didn't I?"

Mulder shook his head and turned back towards the window. The woman sitting in front of Mulder had continued staring in their direction while plucking the remaining peanuts from her hair. Scully tried to distract herself by reading over the case reports. By this point, her headache seemed to have completely disappeared.

Mulder had fallen asleep and was slowly slipping from his headrest onto her shoulder. It was really quite comforting to feel Mulder's gentle breathing against the sleeve of her blouse. Scully hadn't realised how other people must see them.

Usually it was fine because they were quite often at crime scenes but when they were in places like this; nobody had any reason to think that they were two FBI agents on a case. Looking around the cabin there were plenty of other people wearing suits.

She could actually see why others may think they were a couple, his head on her shoulder and their little arguments. Half of her actually found that hilarious; her and Mulder as a couple? The other half, well the other half knew that nothing was ever going to happen. That was it...

Okay, yes there was that almost kiss in his apartment's hallway but their emotions had been all over the place at the time with her nearly leaving the Bureau and the x files being closed.

And then there was also the kiss at new year… But that was just a friend thing right? No, not friends. Her and Mulder were more than friends. I would do anything for Mulder. Give my life for him. That didn't mean there would ever be anything romantic, although she did wonder what Skinner must think of them. God, they acted like such children in front of him. She was surprised that within the first year of having responsibility for them he hadn't requested to be assigned new agents who were more 'well-behaved'.

It was a given that with all the betting that went on inside the FBI there was almost definitely one surrounding the two of them. She figured that half the building thought they were sleeping together. Scully tried to avoid going to the higher floors as much as possible; all it would bring were sideways glances. Especially after their various escapades around the globe. With each return, conversations seemed to become more hushed when they entered a room.

A slight jolt brought her back to the present. Mulder was still asleep on her shoulder and the rest of the cabin seemed to have completely forgotten about the two of them. Probably got enough problems in their own lives.

Scully looked down at Mulder with a soft smile. He looked so harmless like this and yet she knew that deep inside of him there was something wild. A flame, that she hoped would burn forever.