November 2010
Scully yawned deeply as she pushed back from the desk and stood up. Her back groaned as she stretched and shuffled to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.
It was late and she was tired, but she had to finish her work before she went to bed. Yawning again as she poured the coffee into her mug, she let out her breath louder than she intended.
Picking up the mug, she glanced up the stairs as she walked quietly back to the small room off the living room they had deemed "the library." It was full of books, some nature pictures she had liked and framed, medical journals, and a small desk. She used it as her home office sometimes, Mulder's feeling far too chaotic with its stacks of folders, newspaper clippings, and photographs for her to find a sense of calm in order to get any work done.
Setting her mug down on a side table, she picked up her laptop and her notes, and sat down in the large light gray chaise lounge chair, shifting the cream colored throw pillows behind her. She sighed as she stared at the computer screen, the cursor flashing as it waited to be of service. Picking up her mug, she took a drink of coffee and set it back down on the table. Letting out a deep breath, she began to type, yawning behind her hand, determined to finish her task.
Mulder woke up from an odd dream, sitting up and looking around their dark bedroom. He yawned as he rubbed his face and stood up, stretching and stumbling toward the bedroom door. He walked down the stairs and shivered as he headed toward the library, seeing the light inside glowing faintly like a homing beacon. Entering the room, he smiled at the sight before him.
Scully was asleep, her mouth open, glasses perched on her nose, her laptop slipping sideways onto the chair. He gently lifted it and the screen glowed brightly asking for her password. He entered it and saved the document she had been working on. Closing the computer, he set it on the small desk. As he took off her glasses, she stirred and opened her eyes.
"Mm. Oh… noooo," she groaned with a whine. "What time is it?" He chuckled softly as she stretched, sliding further down into the chair.
"It's late, Doc," he said, smiling at her pouty frown. "Or early, depending on how you look at it."
"Hmm," she whined and he chuckled again.
"Come on. Let's go to bed."
"I don't think I can get up," she breathed, burrowing into a pillow.
"Okay," he said with a nod, setting her glasses on the desk and reaching for the throw on the back of the chair. He shook it out and covered her, smiling as she smiled contentedly. "Goodnight, hon."
"No. Stay with me," she said, one eye popping open sleepily.
"Scully…"
"There's enough room. Come on. Just a few minutes." She moved to lay on her right side and lifted the throw, inviting him to join her. He smiled with a nod, and laid down beside her, wrapping them both in the throw and pulling her close.
"Just a few minutes," he restated and she nodded against his chest.
"You're so warm," she whispered with a hum. "You smell good. Like laundry… and… Mulder." She yawned deeply and he smiled, running his leg over hers.
"And you smell of coffee," he said, pulling back to kiss her. "Taste of it too. It didn't help, huh?"
"Mmm no," she hummed, moving closer to him. "Too tired. Oh… my document." She started to pull back, groaning as she made to sit up.
"Document saved," he reassured her, helping her to settle once more. "Automatically and manually."
"Mmm. Good man," she whispered, kissing his neck softly. "Thank you." He nodded and rubbed her back, humming quietly in her ear.
Within minutes, she was asleep, breathing deeply as he continued humming, until he too fell asleep.
Scully opened her eyes and stretched. Frowning, she looked around as she sat up, the early morning light coming in gently through the curtains. She laid back down and wrapped the throw around her, closing her eyes with a sigh as she thought of finishing her work before she had to leave at noon. It was nearly there, but she was not ready to face it just yet.
But then, the scent of fresh coffee forced her eyes open and she took a deep breath. Stretching once more, she rose from the chaise lounge chair, bringing the throw and wrapping it around her to ward off the chill of the morning.
She saw Mulder at the kitchen counter, pouring coffee into two mugs, adding cream and sugar to one and stirring it with a spoon. She smiled as she walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her cheek on his back.
"Hey. I was just going to bring this to you," he said, rubbing her arm with his free hand. "Do you want some breakfast? I was thinking French toast."
"Hmm. That sounds good, but not yet. Just the coffee for now." She kissed the middle of his back and he chuckled softly. He turned around and she enveloped him with the throw, his arms wrapping around her and holding her close.
"Were you comfortable enough last night?" she asked, as they began to sway slightly.
"You're talking to a guy who spent the better part of his younger adulthood sleeping on a couch," he teased and she smiled.
"But that couch was long enough for you to lay on comfortably. This one isn't exactly the same."
"Hmm," he hummed, drawing slow circles on her back, causing her to shiver. "My feet hung off the edge a little, but it was a small price to pay to sleep next to the woman I love."
"So cheesy," she whispered with a smile as he exhaled a laugh and she closed her eyes, letting out a gentle sigh. Pulling back, she stared at him and he smiled, bringing his hands up to hold her face, and bending his head for a kiss.
"How about I bring the coffees to the library?" he asked, his thumbs rubbing her temples softly, his fingers scratching gently against her scalp and she sighed.
"Sounds great. I need to use the bathroom and brush my teeth," she said, tasting her bad breath and knowing he had tasted it as well. It definitely was not the first time, or the last, but it was still not exactly pleasant.
He smiled, kissing her again, silently saying he was not fazed by her morning breath. She smiled and stepped back, laying the throw on the couch as she passed, shivering in the chilly room.
A few minutes later, she joined him on the chaise lounge, snuggling together as they drank coffee, the throw covering them both. They spoke of the work she would need to get done soon, him promising French toast to fuel her when she was ready to eat. She smiled and laid her head on his shoulder, his lips quietly kissing the top of it.
"You got everything?" he asked and she nodded with a smile as she zipped her bag.
"I do. Thank you." She walked over to him as he held her coat for her, sliding it up her arms and lifting her hair from inside as she adjusted the coat and turned around. "Thank you for breakfast and listening to the presentation. I know it's not exactly the most exciting information."
"Hey, Doc… if anyone can make long medical jargon interesting, it's you."
"Bet you say that to all the girls," she teased and he smiled with a shake of his head.
"Don't know any girls. Just you, woman." She grinned and raised up on tiptoes for a kiss. He obliged her, his tongue running softly across her sweet lips. She pitched forward and steadied herself with a hand on his chest.
"Not fair to kiss me like that as I'm walking out the door," she whispered and he chuckled, kissing her once more.
"Just reminding you to hurry home," he said innocently and she hummed, staring into his eyes as she took a deep breath.
"I'll see what I can do."
"I'll be here, Doc."
"Hmm," she hummed again and stepped away, shaking her head. He smiled at the way his kiss could still affect her, just as hers did to him.
He followed her to the door, her bag and car keys in hand, and stopped on the porch as she continued down the steps and to the car. Placing her bag in the backseat, she closed the door and turned to him with a smile.
"I love you."
"So cheesy," he said, echoing her words back to her and her smile widened. He walked down the steps and brushed her hair back behind her ear, his thumb softly stroking her cheek. "I love you too."
They stared at one another, both smiling happily. He kissed her, a chaste sweet kiss, and she hummed against his lips.
"I gotta go," she whispered and he nodded as he stepped back but she did not move, staring at him as she licked her lips.
"Get outta here," he chuckled and she shook her head as she opened her door.
"Stop being so goddamn adorable and I can. Jesus…" He laughed and stepped up the first two steps backwards, waving as she closed her door and shook her head again.
She drove away and he went back inside with a smile, walking to the kitchen to clean up the breakfast mess, a plan for a nice dinner and some wine already forming in his mind.
He turned on the water to warm it, smiling as he thought of her happy face when she walked in after a long day and found candles lit on the table, soft music playing in the background, and a home cooked meal waiting to be shared together.