Scully stared at herself in the bedroom mirror and sighed. Turning to the left and the right, she tugged at her white blouse. It felt a little tight and she was feeling a little self conscious.
It had been six months since William was born and the shift in her body from pregnancy was still obvious. To her anyway. But it seemed it was especially now as she wore a suit for the first time instead of the recent more comfortable clothes she'd been wearing.
Mulder came into the room and she glanced at him. His eyebrows went up and he whistled under his breath.
"Wow. Look at you," he said, stepping closer and looking her up and down. "It's like old times. You-"
"Mommy!" seven year old Emily yelled, as she burst through the door, her hair wild from sleep and dragging her purple blankie behind her. "William is crying. He was laughing and happy, but now he's crying. I think he's hungry."
"I got him," Mulder said, nodding at Scully and patting Emily's head as he walked past her.
"Why are you wearing that, Mommy?" Emily asked as she stepped closer to Scully, bundling her blankie in her arms.
"I'm going to work today, remember? Daddy will be here with you two today."
"Oh," Emily said, nodding. "But I don't want you to go." She stuck out her bottom lip and Scully smiled. Stepping beside her, she hugged her close and kissed the top of her head.
"I know, but it won't be long, I promise."
"It will be," Emily said, burrowing into her waist and Scully laughed silently.
"It will be fast, you'll see. Hey, how about some chocolate chip waffles?"
"Yeah!" Emily yelled, breaking from the hug to run from the room and ask Mulder for the waffles.
Scully laughed as she continued getting ready before leaving the room, feeling nervous and unsure of the day ahead.
Emily was kneeling on a chair wearing her alien apron mixing chocolate chips into the waffle batter as William lay in his bouncer seat on the table, gurgling and happy. Mulder was taking out the waffle maker, singing Joy to the World, as Emily hummed along. Scully's heart ached at the sight of them and all thoughts of returning to work left her head.
"Em, you got those chocolate chips in yet?"
"Yup! It's ready!"
"Great. We just need this to warm up and… hey there," Mulder said, catching sight of Scully. She shook her head and bit her lip, tears filling her eyes. He glanced at William and then stepped over to her. "What's going on?"
"How am I supposed to leave this?" she said, gesturing to Emily and William. "Leave them?"
"Because one of us has to work and you're much prettier, therefore it was you who Skinner requested," he said with a smile. "Plus, you're incredibly brilliant, so that helps."
"Mulder," she said softly and he pulled her close.
"It will be tough, but we got this."
She sighed as she held him tighter and he hummed reassuringly.
"William, you want a chocolate chip?" Emily asked and they both broke apart, turning toward her.
"No!" they shouted and Emily looked at them with wide eyes.
"I was just teasing. I know he's too small for chocolate."
A waffle and some coffee, plus extra cuddle time with William as Scully ate, and she was ready to go. Emily gave her a drawing she had made of all of them under a rainbow and Scully stuck it in her new bag.
Kisses, hugs, and goodbyes were said and then she was walking to the door, looking back longingly at Emily lying on the floor with William.
"They'll be okay," Mulder said softly and she nodded with a sigh.
"I know."
"And I just have to say, I love our kids, Scully, but I can't wait for them to go to bed because you look really good in your new suit."
"Mulder!" she said, her mouth dropping open in surprise.
"It's the truth. I was going to tell you earlier, but babies and chocolate chip waffles come first," he said with a chuckle. "You look incredible, honey."
"It's not… not too tight or looks like I'm still carrying some baby weight?" She stared at him and he stepped back to look her up and down.
"I think you're beautiful. Are you still carrying baby weight? Yes," he said, and she waited, knowing his response would be truthful and kind. "It took ten months for him to grow and develop. Took two months before you even felt relatively normal, why would everything snap back in four more?"
"I know, but…"
"You're beautiful. With or without the baby weight. Personally, I like it." He smiled as he pulled her close and ran his hands over her waist and her hips. "It's all kinds of sexy."
"Really?" she asked with a grin.
"Oh yeah," he said, bending his head for a kiss.
"Daddy!" Emily shouted and he pulled back with a groan.
"Just a sec, baby." He shook his head and sighed. A quick kiss and he nodded at Scully. "Fifteen minutes after bedtime, you and me…" He pumped his eyebrows at her and she giggled with a nod.
"See you later," she said.
"Yes you will… sexy. Go. Kill it today."
"I will. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye, babe."
He stepped inside and closed the door. She let out a deep breath as she smoothed a hand over her stomach with a smile, now feeling confident and ready to face the day.