February 23, 2000
Scully smiled as she lay propped up in bed, listening to the muffled commotion happening beyond the closed bedroom door. She frowned slightly before her eyebrows shot up and she heard Mulder calling for a kitchen towel.
"I got it, Daddy," Emily called back close to the bedroom door.
The dryer door opened and then slammed closed. Footsteps ran down the hall and Scully covered her mouth as she laughed quietly.
It was her birthday and last night Mulder had told her she was not to get out of bed in the morning, unless it was to use the bathroom. Beyond that, he had said nothing, only shrugging with a smile when she had asked him questions as to why.
Emily had come into the bedroom, the sun barely up, whispering quite loudly for him to wake up. Scully had feigned sleep, keeping her eyes closed until they left the room and shut the door. When they had left, she got up carefully and made her way to the bathroom.
"What do you suppose they have planned, little one?" she had asked softly as she rubbed her large, tight pregnant belly. "You think Daddy and your big sister are making me breakfast? I hope there's walnuts. Ohhhh and some peanut butter. Mmmm…"
After washing her hands, she had brushed her teeth and tied back her long hair, before getting back into bed and running her hands over her belly.
"Listen to them," she said. "Trying so hard to be quiet, yet being so incredibly loud." She had laughed as Mulder shushed Emily, who giggled loudly.
Another crash and Scully strained her ears, waiting to see what would happen next.
"It's okay. Here, catch." She heard Mulder say and Scully let out a deep sigh, her hands on her belly again.
"Calm breaths," she whispered, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
Whatever was going on out in the kitchen, it was not her concern. It was her birthday and she was very pregnant. Any messes would be handled by anyone other than her.
"Little one, next year you will be here. You won't be helping with whatever the plan is, or will be, but you'll be here with us. Wide eyed and happy, taking it all in as you look around. Your sister will be sure to narrate what is happening, she's good with doing that. And your daddy…" She chuckled as she imagined Mulder with a near one year old, explaining everything as he made the baby laugh. "… your daddy will love you so much. He already does, but when you're here, when he sees you and watches you learn and understand…"
Wiping her suddenly wet eyes, she sniffled. Reaching for a tissue beside the bed, she blew her nose softly and let out a deep breath.
"I love you, you little miracle." She rubbed her belly and felt a small kick, almost in response to her words, just as her stomach growled. "Yeah, I know. Hope they're done soon, I'm starving too."
"This plate, Daddy?" Emily called and she heard Mulder reply, but did not catch the words.
Breathing deeply, she nearly fell asleep, when the door creaked open and she startled, but kept her eyes shut, not wanting to ruin the surprise. Soft footsteps sounded across the carpet and she had to work hard at not smiling.
"Should I say her name?" Emily whispered.
"Touch her hand and say it softly, yeah," Mulder replied and Scully felt Emily's small hand on her own.
"Mommy," she said softly and Scully continued her ruse of sleeping. "Mommy!" A little louder it was said, along with a shake of her hand.
"Hmm," Scully moaned, moving slightly.
"Happy birthday, Mommy," Emily whispered, close to Scully's ear and Scully opened her eyes slowly, blinking them as she pretended to wake up.
"What? What's happening?"
"It's your birthday, Mommy!" Emily said with a smile, clapping her hands together and jumping up and down. "Happy birthday!"
"Oh!" Scully said, smiling at her as she rubbed her eyes. "Good morning, honey."
"Good morning, Mommy. We made you a surprise."
"You did? What's that?" Scully started to get up, but Emily stopped her.
"No, Mommy. You need to stay here. Look!" She pointed to Mulder whom Scully had seen standing with a tray in his hands, but had said nothing. "Look what Daddy has for you!"
"Oh, what does he have for me?" she asked, smiling at Mulder. He winked and walked closer to the bed, setting the tray onto his side.
Grinning, she looked at each item on the tray. A stack of small round pancakes, a bowl of oddly sliced strawberries, a bowl of raspberries, a mug of tea, and a small bowl of walnuts. Butter and syrup were in separate small glass bowls along with a bowl holding a large spoonful of peanut butter. A small vase held a beautiful dark purple violet, with light colored edges. Cutlery was wrapped in a purple cloth napkin with green alien faces.
Scully grinned at Mulder and again he winked at her as she dipped a finger into the peanut butter, her mouth watering.
"This is perfect," she said, putting her finger into her mouth and sucking it clean. "God, that peanut butter is good." Mulder laughed as she picked up a walnut and popped it into her mouth.
"Happy birthday, honey," he said, bending to kiss the top of her head.
"Thank you," she said, eating another walnut. "No sparklers or pink Snoballs this year?"
"That's only every four years," he teased and she laughed.
"Do you like it, Mommy?" Emily asked and Scully smiled at her.
"I love it, sweetie. Thank you. Did you help?"
"Yup! I cut up the strawberries!" she said as she climbed onto the bed and pointed to the bowl. "Daddy gave me a plastic knife and I cut them for you."
"You did a fantastic job. Would you like one? Or a pancake?"
"Okay!" Emily said, reaching for a strawberry, but then she stopped. "But it's your birthday breakfast. You have to eat it."
"Oh, I absolutely will," Scully assured her, picking up a pancake and taking a bite. "But I want to share it with you. And Daddy, if he wants some too."
"Of course I do," he said, shifting things so he could join them on the bed. He moved the mug to the nightstand and Scully smiled. "Just want to be sure we don't have any further catastrophes. I'd advise a bath after breakfast while Em and I do a little straightening up."
"Will do," Scully said with a chuckle.
Emily ran out of the room to grab some extra plates and Scully looked at Mulder.
"Thank you," she said again.
"You're welcome, hon. Happy birthday," he said, kissing her slowly and softly. She whimpered as he pulled back and licked her lips, his kiss tasting of coffee.
"Delicious," she whispered and he chuckled, kissing her one more time as Emily ran back into the room.
Food was distributed among the plates and they sat together eating and laughing. Emily laid her hand on Scully's belly as the baby began to roll and kick, wanting to join in the fun.
"You'll be with us for Mommy's birthday next time, baby," Emily said, kissing Scully's belly as Scully touched her head and brushed her hair back.
"Yes, he will," Scully said with a smile.
"Or she," Mulder said, his mouth full of pancake.
"True," Scully replied, staring at Emily, her heart full of love. "Thank you, Em. Thank you for my birthday breakfast."
"You're welcome, Mommy," she said, touching her belly again and giving it a pat.
"We have gifts too," Mulder said. "Em, you wanna go-"
"Later. We'll get them later," Scully said, shaking her head. "This is more than enough for now." She smiled at him as Emily laid her head on Scully's belly, talking softly to the baby. "More than enough."
He smiled back at her, as she leaned her head closer and laid it on his shoulder. He sighed and placed a hand on her belly, his fingers rubbing gently.
"More than enough," he agreed in a whisper, and she sighed as Emily began to sing and she closed her eyes, happier than she ever believed would be possible.