The Best Decision

by ATTHS

A season two divergence in which Mulder makes a decision that leads to his life changing for the better.

"Scully, your mom asked if-" Mulder stopped in both words and steps as he entered Mrs. Scully's kitchen and caught sight of Scully. "What are you doing?" He grinned at her and she shook her head, her eyes wide and hands hidden behind her back.

"Nothing," she said, the words muffled around the obvious food she had in her mouth.

"Nothing? You're not… eating something?"

"No," she said, shaking her head again.

"Scully…"

"I'm hungry!" she exclaimed, bringing her hands back to reveal a nearly empty package of graham crackers. She took one out and took a bite.

"You know we're about to eat brunch, right?" he teased and she scoffed, taking another large bite.

"I blame you," she said around the food, small crumbs from the graham cracker falling onto the front of her dress. She brushed them away and over the rounded bump protruding beneath the fabric.

"Me? How is your hunger my fault?"

"Because your baby…" she said, pointing to her stomach. "…demands a lot of food. I swear, he's going to be huge. Look at the size of me already and I've still got three months to go." She rubbed her stomach and he smiled, stepping closer to her and laying his hand on top of hers.

"You look beautiful," he assured her and she took another bite of the graham cracker, the scent of cinnamon filling his nose.

"I know I do," she said, chewing and swallowing.

"Always so modest," he said with a laugh, moving his hand to her hip and pulling her closer.

"My beauty wasn't in question. We were discussing my need for food because of the size of this child of yours. He's going to come out looking old enough to vote."

He laughed again and she smiled, eating the last of the graham cracker and then wrapping her arms loosely around him.

"He, or she, is going to be a standard sized baby," he stated calmly, smiling as her stomach bumped against him.

"In weight maybe," she said, tipping her head back to look at him. "But they'll be like forty inches long."

"They're just gonna unroll from within? Like a scroll?"

"All arms and legs," she said with a nod and he chuckled, swaying them slightly.

He kissed her and then kissed her again, her lips sweet and tasting of cinnamon. She held onto him, pressing closer, his hands splaying across her hips.

"Ahem," said a voice and they quickly broke from their kiss.

Looking over his shoulder he saw Mrs. Scully smiling at them as she walked toward the fridge.

"I'd say to watch where those actions lead, but…" She looked down at Scully's stomach and Mulder felt his cheeks growing warm.

"Mom!" Scully said and her mother laughed at their obvious discomfort.

"Fox, would you help me bring the drinks to the table? If you can tear yourself away that is," she teased and he laughed softly, his fingers squeezing Scully's as he stepped to help with the task.

"Everyone is here, if you want to put away the graham crackers and join us, Dana," her mother continued to tease.

"I'm pregnant. I was hungry."

"Having had four children, I understand. But eggs and other things are better for you. So, put them back, if there are any left."

At this, Mulder chortled as the graham cracker package rustled, Scully undoubtedly taking out the very last one and eating it. Her mother laughed, as she handed him a pitcher of orange juice.

"When I was pregnant with Dana, what I wanted most was chocolate, any way I could get it. Your poor father…" she said, looking at Dana and shaking her head with a chuckle. "He went to the neighbors late one night to beg them for some chocolate. The woman who lived there, Mrs. Aaron, gave him what she had and then brought over a basketful the next day. I was embarrassed that I cried over it, but she told me she understood."

"Yeah, Scully's weakness is marshmallows. I've never seen someone put them away the way she does."

"Hey, I need those marshmallows. I'm growing a fifty inch child here," Scully said, chewing up the last of the graham cracker.

They all laughed and after bringing out the drinks, everyone was called to the table to begin to fill their plates.

The other guests, women from Mrs. Scully's church group, chatted as they stood and waited, allowing Scully to go first. Mulder smiled as he watched her, waiting to the side to allow the women to go ahead of him.

A hand straying absentmindedly to her stomach as she chose her food, Scully chatted and laughed with the others, her plate soon filled with many delicious items. He shook his head as he thought of the past year and how quickly things changed, his life now exponentially better.

Lost after the X-files were taken from them, he had been like a loose cannon, running off at any chance he got, ready to prove to everyone that he was right about everything. He had been reckless and stupid most of the time, he knew that now.

Not having Scully partnered with him had only strengthened their bond, as they met in secret and he asked for her advice on many cases. He simply did not trust anyone else.

Alex Krycek, a green agent who had been assigned to work with him, had raised his guard up. Never trusting him, he was now glad he had not as he had nearly cost Scully being abducted and possibly gone forever.

He shook his head and let out a deep sigh at the memory of the night he had almost lost her.

Duane Barry, a man who claimed to have been abducted by aliens multiple times, had taken Scully from her apartment. A desperate search had led Mulder and Krycek driving hurriedly up Skyland Mountain, arriving just as Duane had pulled Scully from the trunk of her own car, bound and gagged.

Krycek had been beside Mulder, his gun drawn, shouting at Duane to let her go. Duane had pulled Scully in front of him and used her as a shield, shouting back at them. Mulder's own gun had been trained on Duane, even as he had kept his gaze on Scully and seen the terror in her eyes.

She had struggled against Duane, but his grip had been tight and she had been bound. A bright light had shone suddenly all around them and Mulder had sprung forward when Duane's attention was diverted, grabbing at Scully and pulling her from him.

Krycek had shouted and then Mulder had felt a searing pain in his left shoulder. He had toppled forward, falling on top of Scully who had cried out from behind her gag, and then whimpered his name.

Painfully loud sounds and the brightest lights he had ever seen filled the sky, forcing him to close his eyes as he remained on top of Scully. A moan, a guttural cry, and a high pitched scream followed and then it had been dark and so deathly silent, even the wind had not stirred.

Then the sound of a car starting and peeling away had filled his ears and he had struggled to move. Pain still radiated through him as he had struggled to sit up and touch his arm. Warm, sticky blood had covered his fingers and it had been then that he realized he had been shot.

Krycek had shot him and not Duane.

Confusion had clouded his mind, but then Scully had moved from beneath him, and his attention had fallen to her. He had removed her gag and tried to untie her, but the pain in his shoulder had caused him to collapse before he had completed his task, her worried voice the last thing he had heard.

Bright lights and loud voices had him fighting to get away, calling out for Scully. Her touch and voice near his ear had been the only thing that had calmed him down, knowing she was safe. He had felt a sharp pinch in his arm and then he had fallen into blissful sleep.

He had woken up in a hospital, groggy from the medication, his arm and shoulder wrapped in gauze. Floating in a sense of nothingness, he had forgotten what happened, until he heard beeping machines and he had opened his eyes, trying to rise from the bed.

"Hey. Mulder. Lie still. You're okay."

Scully had been beside him in a second, her eyes traveling his face. She had been pale, with bruises on her cheeks and her bottom lip swollen with dried blood clinging to it.

"Hi," she had said, reaching out a hand to brush his hair back.

"You're okay?" he had asked, closing his eyes and exhaling.

"I am."

"Duane?"

"I don't know what happened to him. He was there and then he was gone."

"Krycek?"

"He left with your car. He shot you. If the bullet had been any lower, it would have killed you." Her voice had broken on those words and he had slowly opened his eyes, seeing hers filled with tears. "I was so scared."

"Mmokay," he had said, nodding as his eyes closed and he reached out, trying to find her hand. Her fingers had grasped his and he fell asleep once again.

After he had been released from the hospital, he had been on leave for three weeks as he had needed time to heal. Scully had time off as well and they had spent most of it together, discussing what had happened to Krycek and Duane, neither of which had been seen since.

One night she had fallen asleep on his couch, her head on the armrest and her stockinged feet barely brushing his thigh. He had lowered the volume on the movie they had been watching, and instead watched her breathing.

He had almost lost her, someone he had come to care for greatly and all because of his own personal pursuit of justice and truth. If she had been taken, he never would have been able to forgive himself.

Never.

She had stirred, pulled her feet away from him, and let out a deep sigh. He had stood up carefully, mindful of both his injury and waking her. Covering her with a blanket, he had smiled as he brushed her hair behind her ear before going to his bedroom.

As she had slept, he had laid in his bed, a decision being weighed and then decided; his resulting sleep the most restful he'd had in a long time.

Two days before they were to return to work, he had a meeting with Skinner to ask to be transferred to a teaching position at Quantico. Skinner had seemed taken aback at first, but then nodded in agreement. One week later, Mulder was teaching a class two buildings over from Scully.

They had lunch together nearly every day, in her office or his, or outside on a park bench. He would do his physical therapy activities after they had finished, Scully nodding her approval and offering suggestions.

Two months of lunches, dinners, and movie nights were spent as they always had been-as partners and friends. On Halloween, that had all changed when he kissed her for the first time.

He had come to her office at the end of a busy Friday, ready for dinner and a movie at her place. To his surprise, she had been waiting for him wearing huge sunglasses, an Elvis wig, and a long white sequined scarf around her neck.

"Happy Halloween, Mama," she had said, her lip curling as she shook her hips.

He had laughed and walked toward her, shaking his head as he looked at her eyes behind the sunglasses. She had smiled and as he pulled the sunglasses off, he had realized how badly he wanted to kiss her.

Gently touching her jaw, his fingers had moved across her cheek and to her throat, his thumb stroking her cheek softly. Her breathing had increased, her lips parting slightly as she had given him a small nod of encouragement.

Chaste. Sweet. And then explosive. The waters tested and explored.

He had stayed with her for that weekend, the majority of their time spent in bed, her soft cries of pleasure a sound he wanted to hear forever.

One month later, a case had been brought to Skinner's attention, the need for a profiler great. Mulder had been pulled from his teaching duties and was sent to Kansas for a week.

That week became three before the case was solved. He had fallen out of contact with Scully after the first two days, the case dark and disturbing, pulling him in and nearly breaking him down. He had not slept and barely remembered to eat or shower. The motel room he had stayed in became a mess of files, photographs, and yellow legal pads full of notes.

He had crawled so deeply into the killer's mind, he had felt he would not re-emerge.

When he had been caught, one of his victims escaping and telling the police what had happened to her, Mulder had felt he could breathe again. Falling onto his bed at the motel, he had slept, not waking until a cool, soft hand had touched his face.

"Mulder?" Scully had said, the two syllables breaking the dam inside of him.

He had sobbed and pulled her to him, not asking how she had gotten there, only crying as he had held her close. She had murmured to him, stroking his back, his hair, kissing his cheeks and forehead.

She had been the one to clean the motel room of the papers, gathering them in boxes for the field office in Topeka. When it had been finished, she had taken his hand and led him from the room.

He had been given two weeks off, Skinner thanking him and grasping his arm as he shook his hand.

He had stayed at Scully's apartment, having no desire to be alone. He had slept most of the days away, his mind and body exhausted. Horrible dreams had plagued him, waking covered in sweat and breathing hard, not sure where he was.

Scully had talked him down, her voice and touch soothing. She would start the shower getting the temperature perfect, help him undress and inside of it before then changing the sheets and giving him clean clothes that smelled of her laundry soap.

He had seen a counselor, something he would have scoffed at in the past, but found necessary before he returned to work. It had helped immensely, allowing him to sleep and begin to function properly once again.

He had spent every night with Scully since his return, but they had not been intimate since before he had left. He had not been in the right headspace and Scully had not pushed him.

On Valentine's Day, however, that had changed.

Scully had surprised him with a plateful of pink, heart shaped pancakes, rolling her eyes as she had stated that she knew it was super cheesy, but she could not resist.

Taking the plate and setting it on the table, he had reached for her, kissing her softly.

"Thank you," he had whispered.

"It's just pancakes," she had answered and he had nuzzled his nose against her ear.

"Not what I meant."

"Hmm…" she had hummed, pressing into him carefully. "You're welcome."

"I love you," he had said, kissing just behind her ear, a spot he knew she especially liked.

"Mulder," she had breathed, her hands gripping his t-shirt. "I love you, too."

Pancakes had been eaten for a late lunch, their need for one another far surpassing the need for food.

Everything had slowly been returning to normal, when the sound of retching had woken him nearly two months later. Stumbling to the bathroom, he had found her hunched over his toilet, her forehead dotted with sweat.

"I think… I think I have food poisoning," she had said, breathing hard. "I feel absolutely terrible."

"Food poisoning?" he had asked, running a washcloth under cold water. Lifting her hair, he laid it on her neck and brushed pieces of hair back as he had knelt beside her. "We ate the same thing last night and I feel fine."

"I don't know. I feel so nauseated. I've thrown up three times now."

"Hmm… sure you're not just coming down with something?" He had touched her forehead. It was cool, if not a little clammy. "No fever. Are you feeling achy at all?"

"No, just nauseated." She had sighed and rested her head against his chest. "I don't know what's…" She had pulled back and looked at him with wide eyes.

"What? You need to throw up again?"

"No," she had whispered, her lips moving but no sound coming out.

"What?"

"Valentine's Day. Oh my God!" she had breathed, sobbing out a laugh.

"What?" he had asked, with a frown, thoroughly confused.

"Oh, Mulder. We need to… to go to the store." She had started to stand up shakily and he caught her elbow, holding on and helping her up.

"Why? What's the matter?" He had shaken his head as she had washed her hands and quickly brushed her teeth, laughing out another sob. "Scully…"

"We need to go to the store and get a pregnancy test," she had said, after spitting and rinsing her mouth, staring at him.

"A… a… what?" He had stared back with wide eyes and she had squeezed his hand. "But… we've been using protection… You think…" He had looked down at her stomach in stunned silence. She had nodded and exhaled a shaky breath, pulling him dazedly from the room.

Twenty minutes later, they had stood in front of three tests laid upside down, waiting for his kitchen timer to go off.

"Mulder," she had said, reaching for his hand. "This isn't something we discussed. Jesus, it's not something we even anticipated. But I-"

"Whatever it is, Scully… I'm-"

The timer had buzzed and his words had halted. His heart had pounded as she licked her lips and nodded at him.

"All at the same time," she had said and he nodded back.

They had reached for the tests and turned them over, leaning close to look at them.

Every one of them had two lines.

"Holy shit," she had breathed and then laughed, covering her mouth as she began to cry.

"Pregnant," he had whispered, staring at the tests in disbelief. "I…"

"I'll need a proper test, but…" She had looked at him, her eyes shining before she suddenly sobered. "Is this… good?" Her eyebrows had knitted together and he had pulled her to him.

"It's… it's shocking, I admit. Life changing for certain." He had pulled back and held her face in his hands as he had smiled. "Shocking yes, but it's definitely good."

"Oh thank God," she had said, melting into him and crying as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

He had held her close as he stared at the tests over her shoulder, shaking his head, a grin slowly appearing on his face.

"God, but he's gonna be a cute kid," he had said and she laughed, her body shaking even as she sniffled.

"Or she," she had said and he exhaled at the thought of a little girl with Scully's red hair and his green eyes.

"Or she," he had repeated, lifting her off the ground and laughing as he buried his nose in her hair.

So much had changed since that day. An appointment with a doctor had confirmed the pregnancy and given them an expected due date of early December.

"Created on Valentine's Day and expected near Christmas…" Mulder had said, looking at the grainy picture of their small surprise. "Should we name her Holiday?"

"That's a terrible name," Scully had said, grinning at him, her hand rubbing her still flat stomach.

"We'll talk about it," he had said, shrugging as he reached for her hand, interlocking their fingers.

He had moved into her apartment, as she had two bedrooms. Their lives had merged together nearly seamlessly, though there had been adjustments. Small arguments had arisen, specifics of each other's preferences needing to be discussed and adjustments made.

It had been different living together as opposed to where their relationship had been before, but they both loved it. Nights had been spent planning the nursery, looking through catalogues to find what they wanted. On the weekends, they had gone shopping, slowly filling the second bedroom with items to welcome the baby.

"Are you just going to keep standing there?" Scully asked and he broke from his thoughts, shaking his head and staring at her.

"What?"

"You don't have any food," she said, taking a bite of croissant, her own plate almost overflowing. "Don't think that we're sharing because…"

"Fifty inch baby, I know," he said with a smile and she nodded as she took another bite. "Go sit down. I'll get mine."

"Get some extra bacon," she said. "I didn't want to take too much and look selfish."

"Okay," he said with a chuckle, kissing her forehead as he walked past her.

Plate filled, he went to join her, but was up again to get them both a drink before he had taken a bite. Coming back, she smiled as she watched him sit down and took the glass of orange juice from him.

Chatter went on around them, but he paid it no attention until a woman stood before them, and asked about the baby.

"You're due in December?"

"Yes," Scully said, smiling at her.

"Such a great time of year. She or he will be surrounded by holiday magic."

"That's the name we're considering," Mulder said, taking a bite of eggs.

"What is?" the woman asked, smiling at him.

"Nothing. Don't listen to him. He's teasing," Scully said, giving him a look.

"Are you planning to find out the sex? That's something people are doing now, you know. My niece just found out she was having a girl. She's actually due about the same time as you."

"Oh, that's nice," Scully said, her hand on her belly. "We do have that option, but we aren't going to find out. I want to be surprised."

"I like that. That's the way it was for us older folks. Hearing it announced by the doctor… such an amazing moment."

"Yeah," Scully said, smiling happily and slowly rubbing her belly.

"You are such a cute couple. Any plans on getting married?"

"Oh!" Scully said and Mulder watched her cheeks flush as she shook her head and smiled. "No. No plans."

"Your generation does like to do things differently," she said and Mulder felt, as well as heard, Scully's intake of annoyed breath. At the same time, he saw Mrs. Scully from across the room, frowning as she walked over to join them.

"Jane, there you are. Mary was just asking for the casserole recipe you were talking about after church last week."

"Was she? How kind. I could write it down for her. Have you got a pad of paper and a pen?" Jane asked, smiling at Mrs. Scully.

"Yes. Beside the phone in the kitchen."

"Wonderful. It was nice chatting with you both." She waved to Mulder and Scully, bending slightly to place a hand on Scully's belly and give it a quick pat. "Good luck with this little one. Enjoy every second."

"We will, thank you," Scully said, forcing a smile as she placed both hands over her belly to deter any further unwanted touching.

"Yes, it's just beside the phone," Mrs. Scully said, putting a hand on Jane's back to guide her toward the kitchen. "It's a white pad with peonies on it."

"Thank you, Maggie. I'll find it."

She walked away and Mrs. Scully sighed, shaking her head as she looked at Mulder and Scully.

"Did she say anything awful?"

"No. Not awful," Mulder assured her.

"Inappropriate? Personal?"

"Well…" he said, glancing at Scully who let out a breath.

"She's not always tactful. Don't mind anything she says. Truthfully," Mrs. Scully said, bending to pick up Scully's nearly empty plate and speaking softer. "I didn't exactly want her to come but…"

"It's okay, Mom," Scully said reassuringly, rubbing her arm as she lifted the plate away. "It's not something I haven't heard before."

"It's not?" Mulder asked, looking at her in surprise.

"No," she said, smiling at him. "One of my students asked and so did a woman I saw in the bathroom the other day."

"Asked what?" Mrs. Scully asked with a frown.

"If Mulder and I had plans to get married."

"Oh," Mrs. Scully said with a nod. "I see."

"It's fine. Like I said, it's happened before," Scully said, waving the concern away with her hand, smiling at her mother. "Do you suppose there's any bacon left?"

She turned her head to look toward the table, ending the conversation. Her attention diverted, she missed the quick glance Mulder and Mrs. Scully shared. Her eyebrow raised slightly and he gave her a small nod. She nodded back as she fought back a smile, walking away and leaving him with the task of finding out about the bacon.

Two hours later, he turned the car off the main road and stopped at the park near their apartment. It had become part of their routine in the past month to walk the path through the park on the weekends. Usually they stopped for an ice cream when they were done, Scully discussing the new flavor she would get while they walked, and then nearly always getting a double scoop of chocolate.

They set off, the warm summer afternoon sun shining down on them. She was quiet and he wondered what was on her mind, but kept silent, not wanting to pry.

She sighed loudly and then linked her arm through his, laying her head on his upper arm.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I was just thinking about what Jane said earlier and it made me a little upset."

"More than at your mom's?"

"You knew I was upset?"

"Of course I did, Scully," he said, squeezing her arm with his own and kissing the top of her head.

"It's just… it's an old fashioned notion that people need to be married, first of all," she said and he smiled. "And to get married because of a child is an even sillier notion. What if it had simply been two people enjoying good sex and it happened to lead to a baby? What if they weren't compatible to be life mates, but now society deems them locked together for life because of a child?"

"Is that what this is?" he asked, gesturing between them, still smiling.

"No!," she said, pushing against him. "Well… yes, sort of. The sex was good, but-"

"It was good?"

"Is good. Great actually."

"Mind blowing?" he teased and she chuckled.

"Sometimes," she said, her voice lowering. "You're very talented with your tongue."

His steps faltered and she laughed as she tugged at his arm, pulling him on with her.

"Sorry," he said, clearing his throat and shaking his head. "I wasn't expecting that turn in the conversation."

"Hmm," she hummed and he smiled as she gave him a sidelong glance. He chuckled softly and moved his arm, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together.

"So good sex is not enough of a reason to get married? Even, or especially, if it leads to the creation of a child?" he asked and she scoffed.

"Of course it's not."

"Not even mind blowing sex?" He looked at her and she stopped walking, staring at him incredulously.

"What?"

"I'm just curious about your personal marriage criteria. Do you have a list somewhere?" He shrugged with a smile as she frowned, shaking her head and letting out a breathy laugh.

"Why?" she asked, tilting her head and raising her eyebrows. "Are you going to ask me to marry you?" She shook her head again and he exhaled, suddenly very nervous.

"Yes," he said softly.

"Oh are you?" she asked in a sarcastic tone and letting out a disbelieving laugh.

"Yes," he said again and she stared at him, licking her lips and rolling her eyes.

"So you want my criteria list?"

"Well… I don't actually think it's all that necessary."

"What? You're not making any sense."

"I'm making perfect sense. You're just not paying attention," he said, grinning at her. She stared at him and let out a loud breath through her nose.

"You're going to ask me to marry you, but you're not interested in my marriage criteria? Did I get that right?" She let go of his hand and crossed her arms, raising her eyebrows again.

"I wouldn't say that I'm not interested," he said.

"But you're going to ask me to marry you?" She gave him an incredulous smile and shook her head.

"Yes," he said, unable to hold back his smile.

"And to you that makes perfect sense?"

"It does."

"You're maddening. You know that, right?"

"You've said as much once or twice."

She stared at him and put her hands up, as though surrendering to his crazy logic.

"You've already stated the reasons why you feel people shouldn't get married," he said, his hands in his pockets, feeling the small cloth pouch inside the right one. He held it and let out a breath. "Why should people get married?"

"Mulder…" She shook her head, looking almost annoyed. He found it charming and held her gaze, raising his eyebrows and waiting. "There are a lot of reasons."

"Like… love, companionship, caring for the other person? Wanting to spend the rest of your lives together? Because that person is the only one you can imagine binding yourself to forever? Because they are the one you think about above all others? Because they were not who you expected, but who you absolutely needed?" He watched her breathing increase and he smiled. "Would that meet your criteria?"

"Yes," she whispered, nodding her head.

"Okay then. That's good to know."

She stared at him as he continued to smile and then she cleared her throat. Taking a deep breath, she let it out and licked her lips again.

"Okay." She shrugged and turned to continue on and he laughed softly.

"So does that mean no?" he asked, quickly taking the cloth pouch from his pocket and removing the ring from inside of it.

"Does what mean no, Mulder?" she asked, turning around and looking at him in exasperation. "I don't understand what you're…"

She stopped and stared at him as he took two steps toward her, holding the ring between his thumb and index finger of his right hand.

"Is it a no to my proposal?" he asked softly, watching her look at the ring- a thin gold band with small diamonds laid beside a slightly larger one in the middle.

"What?" she breathed, looking up at him as he grinned.

"I told you I was going to ask you."

"I thought you were joking."

"I gathered as much," he said with a chuckle and she shook her head. "I wasn't joking."

"I can see that," she breathed, grasping his left hand and sighing.

"It's not because I feel I have an obligation to do it, in case that's what you were thinking."

"No," she whispered, tears shining in her eyes. "I wouldn't think that when it came to you."

"Good."

"But…" She shook her head and he smiled.

"Do you remember the night you had such horrible heartburn?" he asked, thinking back to how it had been that moment when he knew he wanted to marry her. "When you tried everything we could think of and then you called your mom to ask her?"

"God, yes," she said, wiping her eyes. "That was a horrible night. Why?" He shrugged with a smile and she gaped at him. "That was the moment? Why in the world would it be then?"

"I don't know," he said, shaking his head. "You were so uncomfortable and I wanted to help you so badly and I realized I wanted to do that forever. Not just as your partner, but as your husband. To seal the deal, so to speak." He smiled again and she whined out a laugh.

"And I knew this was where I wanted to ask you," he said, looking around at the park. "We were walking here even before that night and you laughed at some stupid joke I made, and if it was possible, I fell even more in love with you."

"Because I laughed?"

"Because," he said, smiling at her. "My jokes are incredibly corny, but they still make you laugh." He squeezed her hand and she smiled. "That's love, baby."

"Yeah, it is," she said with a soft chuckle. Leaning closer, he bent his head to kiss her, palming the ring to hold onto her waist gently.

Resting his forehead to hers, they both let out a breath as he smiled and closed his eyes.

"Scully… Dana… I love you. I can't imagine what my life would be like if you hadn't entered into it." He sighed as she sniffled softly and he pressed a kiss to her forehead before resting his against hers again. "Will you marry me?"

She let out a shaky laugh and drew in a deep breath. He waited, smiling as she sniffled again.

"Yes," she whispered and he pulled her as close as her pregnant belly allowed, his heart racing happily.

She cried and laughed, clinging to him as he whispered how much he loved her. He kissed her head, cheeks, nose and finally her lips, whispering his love once more as he kissed her again.

He pulled back slightly, held her left hand in his and slid the gold band onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly, just as he knew it would, and sparkled in the afternoon light.

Kissing the top of her hand, he looked into her eyes and smiled. He kissed her again and held her tight as she laughed quietly.

"Not where I saw this day going," she said and he laughed with her.

"No, I can't imagine you did," he agreed and she sighed, shaking her head against his chest.

"And here I was just complaining about marriage."

"No, not complaining," he said, pulling back to look at her. "Speaking your opinion, which still holds true no matter if we're engaged or not."

"Engaged," she whispered, letting out a breath and he smiled.

"We could be married for years and you could carry the same opinions, because they are your own."

"Engaged," she said again and he laughed. She looked down at the ring and then back at him. "It's beautiful. Simple and yet elegant. It's perfect."

"Sounds like someone I know."

"Are you calling me simple?" she said quietly and he laughed heartily.

"You are anything but simple, Dana Scully," he said, taking her hand and looking at the ring encircling her finger. "It is a perfect representation of you. Quietly beautiful as it draws your complete attention."

"Mulder," she breathed, grasping his fingers and sighing. "I love you." He raised his eyes and smiled at her.

"I love you too."

He kissed her softly and then held her hand as they stared at each other.

"Won't Jane be happy?" she asked snidely and he laughed. She chuckled and then squeezed his hand. "I know my mom will be. Though she doesn't speak of things the same way as Jane, I know she holds value in tradition."

"Hmm," he hummed with a nod. "That's why she already knows."

"What do you mean?"

"It's why it's taken a while for me to ask. Your mom's been out of town."

"What?" she asked in confusion and he smiled.

"I had the ring and wanted to ask you, but she was out of town."

"What does that-"

"She's your mother. You hold her in high esteem and she and I didn't really know one another, aside from the few meetings we've had. You and I are living together and are going to be parents. I wanted her to know for certain that was not a role I entered into lightly. So we met and I told her of my intentions."

"Mulder…" She shook her head and let out a sigh.

"She wasn't too hard to win over," he said with a chuckle. "Especially when she saw the ring."

"I'm not surprised. You can be very charming," she said, smiling at him and giving his hand a squeeze.

"I've heard that before," he said and she laughed before placing her hand on her stomach with a sharp gasp. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she breathed. "Your giant baby must be happy with all these new developments. They're twirling around inside of me."

He laughed and placed a hand on her belly as he shook his head.

"Giant baby," he repeated, feeling the baby moving around as he stared into her eyes.

"We'll see who's right soon enough," she teased and he nodded with a hum, her hand covering his as she smiled.

A small ceremony took place one month later on a Thursday afternoon at St. John's church. Father McCue presided over it, while a handful of friends were in attendance.

Mrs. Scully was there, along with Ellen, Scully's closest friend. The Gunmen showed up, all in suits, though Langly's was actually a tuxedo shirt with a blazer worn over it. Frohike kept pulling at the neck of his tie while Byers grinned at them.

Skinner stood to the side, his stance rigid and expression serious, but he smiled when Mulder kissed Scully for the first time as his wife.

Their life settled into its normal routine, until Scully's water broke three weeks earlier than her due date. They hurried to the hospital where they then waited for nearly twelve hours before active labor started.

Three hours later, a wailing bundle was laid onto Scully's chest. Mulder could hardly see through his tears as he gently placed his hand onto the impossibly tiny back of his daughter and kissed Scully's forehead.

Once the room had been cleared and it was only the three of them, Mulder held the snugly wrapped sleeping baby and smiled at her.

"She's beautiful," he whispered. "And only nineteen inches long."

"Only," Scully said and he grinned at her.

Her hairline was sweaty and she was exhausted, but she smiled at him and motioned him over to sit next to her on the bed.

He sat and they both stared at the child they had created. She grunted and made a face, her lip pulling down before she settled again with a sigh.

"Absolutely beautiful," he whispered, kissing her tiny, bald head.

"She's perfect," Scully said, stroking her soft cheek with the backs of her fingers.

And she was.

A perfect baby that would one day welcome two more siblings into her life, each of them loved and spoiled by all who knew them. Three incredibly brilliant and inquisitive children, who enriched their parents lives each and every day.

"And to think, it all started because of mind blowing sex," Mulder would tease softly in Scully's ear and she would laugh as she playfully smacked him, her eyes shining.