Location: Betty's Dine-in and Take-out E ST NW, Washington D.C.

Time: 12.10 pm

Mulder stretched his arms as he tried to get comfortable in his chair l next to her. It was a warm summer day and they were extremely lucky that they decided to get out of the office early to grab some early lunch. It was a rather boring day with no field work so she was right, a quick stroll outside to get some fresh air and warm sunlight seems to be the perfect remedy to clear their minds.

It didn't take long for the diner to get crowded and filled with hungry crowds. Soon the seats were full but they were still comfortable in a corner spot by the shady tree.

He looked at her trying anxiously to start a conversation. It always puzzled him that they coupled up so well in professional matters but they get dwelled in a dark void whenever they step outside of that comfort zone to a much personal level. There had been favourable changes over the past few months and it felt like an eternity to him. He often wondered if she needed more time for her soul to heal from all the trauma she has experienced over the past few years.

"How is your pasta..?" He asked as he showed a handful of chips into his mouth playfully.

"It's good.." she said softly as she pushed the plate back and looked at him.

"Hey.." He hushed as he gently reached to brush away a drop of sauce from the rim of her lips. "I wish I get lucky as this sauce drop" He chuckled.

She smiled, making his heart race. Sooner their eyes met for a brief intense second before he purposely let her swift away with just a squeeze on her arm. He never wanted to cross her comfort zone specifically in public. But in his mind he has kissed her a thousand times already.

"Mulder..is that Leslie?" She pointed out a woman who just passed them carrying a fussy looking toddler. She seems to be rushing to grab lunch.

"Oh shoot..yes it's her" He confirmed. Leslie was the lady from the Evidence Department who was one of the few people that was truly on good terms with them.

"Hey Leslie.." He called her name as she waved at her. She smiled and rushed back to them.

"Oh God..Agent Mulder and Agent Scully..you are God sent.." she panted as she talked to them.

"I was rushing to get us lunch but the crowd seems to be too much..Guess we came a bit late"

To their surprise the little girl who was then fussy seems to be in a greater interest with the tomato rose on Scully's plate. "mama a red flower" she was struggling to get down from her mummy's hands to grab this fascinating object.

"Gracie..honey no..that's Dana's lunch.."

"Leslie let me get your lunch, I think I will be able to manage the queue" Mulder offered quickly.

"Thank you so much Agent Mulder..I wish that getting lunch for a grumpy 4 year old would be as easy as that.." she smiled at them. "Do you mind if I keep her with you two instead until I get us lunch?"

"Of course" they both answered at once with a quick stare at each other.

"Gracie..honey mama will quickly go in and get you your favorite jelly sandwich and strawberry milk..now can you stay with mama's friends here till I come.."

The toddler nodded her head slowly as Leslie placed her down carefully.

"Come here Gracie..you can sit with me.." Scully gently held the little one as she slowly settled on her lap. Soon the little one was busy poking the tomato and making funny faces at it.

"Well that's a tomato Gracie..have you seen tomatoes?" Now Scully had taken the tomato on to her palm so Gracie could have a better look at it.

"Tomato..tomato….tomato...potato..potato!" she giggled as she looked around.

Mulder looked at Scully, who is now giggling with Gracie. His heart began to ache to see her happy and completely taken by the childish amusement of this little one. He forced a smile to his lips to hide his pain and sooner another conversation started between the two ladies.

"Gracie this is Fox..see fox has potatoes on his plate.." She looked at him for a brief second and smiled heartily.

"Fox has potatoes..Fox fox fox..does he live in the jungle?

It made everyone burst out a loud laughter. She grabbed his hand as she couldn't help it any more.

"Gracie honey, my name is Fox but I'm not a fox you see..so I don't live in the jungle.."

"OK..I see..can I have a potato..ummm Fox please.."

"Yes of course, you can take as much as you want.." He offered his half finished lunch to Gracie.

"Gracie" Scully called out gently as she wrapped her arms around the chatty little one. "I think you should know nice songs..can you sing for us please?"

"Hmm..Miss Eliza says I sing very well". Her little face beamed with innocent joy.

"Miss Eliza told us too..and we would love to hear you sing! Scully added as she kissed the crown of Gracie's head.

Soon she started to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Scully cuddled her more and held her tightly as she listened carefully.

"Seems like you are having fun" the singing stopped only to hear Leslie's voice.

"Yeah..She is a very good girl..that's a lovely song Gracie..thank you so much.." Scully kissed the little one just before letting her go to her mama.

"Oh yes she is" Leslie remarked as she winked at the agent's and sighed.

"Gracie is a very good girl and once in a while she decides that she can't go to the day care and throws a fit.. which happened to be the day that mama has a department meeting" Leslie sounded funny and concerned at once. "Only God knows how I'm going to manage this now.." She sighed as she sat down.

"Well Gracie can stay with us if she likes.." Scully added promptly. "Our field visit got canceled today so we are there in the basement the whole day.."

"Oh my God you are truly God sent..you know.." Leslie looked at the agents thankfully.

Location: J. Edgar Hoover Building, FBI, Washington D.C.

Time: 4.37 pm

Scully got down on her knees to hug Gracie one last time before she left.

After two trips to the cafeteria, three trips to the washroom, one brief nap on Scully's lap, Gracie was quite unhappy to go home. She dragged the plastic bag which was full with coloring sheets, markers - the exact same set of markers she never let Mulder to touch by any chance, pencils and paper clips.

"You are a very very very good little baby you know.." she patted her cheeks before kissing her forehead."

"I have no idea how to thank you" Leslie smiled as she marched away with Gracie.

Mulder sighed as he watched Scully getting up. Her hand was gently touching her gold cross as she smiled at him briefly before turning back so he could close the door. He knew her gesture very well and he knew that she needed her space to collect every bit and piece of memory of Emily that was thrown away by Gracie's sudden appearance.

He quietly returned to his desk as she was busy tidying hers. He felt as if the wall clock was banging inside his heart as he kept watching her secretly.

Once everything was kept back in place, she sat down on her chair as she pulled out her purse from the drawer. He watched her as she pulled something out, wiping a tear from her face at the same time.

His heart sank, he felt his fists clench in pain and a bitterness crawling up in his throat. He needed to hug her and to say that he is truly sorry for everything that she has lost.

He got up slowly and walked to her once he was behind her he slowly placed his hand on her shoulder.

She grasped at once, but after realizing that it was him, she called out his name and turned to him. He knelt and hugged her as she started to cry out loud.

He wondered helplessly while he held her. The emptiness he felt was too intense and he was struggling to find words to comfort her.

"I would do anything..anything and everything for you Scully.." He whispered as he kissed her forehead. She smiled briefly before falling again to his embrace.

"I know you do, Mulder.." she closed her eyes as she breathed into his racing chest.

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