The Widow's Diner

"Welcome in folks," the waitress said with a smile as they sat down and she approached their table. "How are you on this fine fall day?"

"Just fine," Mulder said, grinning back at her and Scully knew they had made an instant connection.

For all his idiosyncrasies, Mulder had a magnetism that tended to draw people to him. Usually, it was the ones who felt the same disconnect from society as he did.

But more often than not, she thought as she looked at the buxom, middle aged waitress whose name tag read Flora. It's women like this who must have a kind of sixth sense about him and feel that undercurrent pull to mother him. Biting back a smirk, Scully studied the menu she was given.

"I'll give you a few minutes and I'll be back," Flora said and walked away, winking at Mulder.

"She seems nice," he said and Scully snorted behind her menu. "What was that for?"

She looked up at him and laughed at the surprised expression on his face.

"Mulder," she said, still laughing as she shook her head.

"What? You don't think she's nice?"

"Oh, I have no doubt that she is," she said, moving her silverware to the inside of the table.

"But…"

"It's just…" she said, looking at him and smiling. "You know how only dogs can hear dog whistles because of the frequency?"

"Yeah?" he said, frowning slightly.

"Well, I think you carry a frequency with you," she said, waving her hand to indicate his general being. "One that mothering type women can't help but be drawn to, like a moth to a flame." She smiled and he stared at her unblinkingly.

"You base all of that off of her bringing our menus over and saying hello?"

"No," Scully said, laughing as she shook her head. "That's based on years of observations while eating in diners just like this one, all across this country. Years, Mulder." She smiled and he let out a slow breath.

"Well," he said with a nod, a smile pulling at his lips. "You're nothing if not thorough. The consummate scientist." He tilted his head and she shrugged as she raised her eyebrows.

"I have been trained to observe and make hypotheses," she stated and he laughed as he turned his attention to his menu. She smiled as she watched him. "You watch, she'll offer you a piece of pie when we're done with our meal. On the house."

"Holy shit," he said, looking back up at her, his eyes wide. "I've been offered free pieces of pie, or something similar, a lot. Are you saying that's why? Because of my animal magnetism?"

"I wouldn't call it that," she said with a laugh. "But…" She shrugged again and he pursed his lips together.

"Hmm… I see how your scientific research has been conducted. Free pie versus no pie. I'll be on the alert now."

"You won't," she snorted, shaking her head vehemently. "You'll get wrapped up in whatever the two of you are discussing and joking about and suddenly you'll wind up with a dessert in front of you, fork in hand."

"Or two, as I do always share," he said, winking at her. "Or at least I offer."

"Yeah," she said with a small smile. "You do."

They stared at one another, the bustle of the diner going on around them, until a plate fell and their fellow patrons gasped. Turning to look at the sound, the moment was broken and their attention instead fell to their menus.

"Have you decided?" Flora asked, coming back to their table, her notepad in hand. Mulder caught Scully's eye and he grinned.

"I have. Well, we have, right?" he asked and Scully nodded. "You go first."

"What can I getcha, hon?" Flora asked, smiling at Mulder before looking at Scully.

Oh yeah. That pie is already waiting on a plate for him, she thought, shaking her head.

"I'll have a cup of the creamy chicken soup and a ham and cheese sandwich."

"Oh, that's a good choice," Flora said. "That soup is my personal favorite. Perfect for when the temperature starts to drop. And for you, hon?"

"Well, after an endorsement like that, I'll have to have a cup of the soup too. It sounds good. And a bacon cheeseburger, extra pickles on the side, please."

"You got it, hon," she said, winking at him and writing his order down. "Anything to drink, or you good with water?"

"Water is fine for me," Scully said and Mulder ordered an iced tea.

"Got it," Flora said, taking their menus. "Soup and drinks will be out soon." She touched Mulder's shoulder and Scully gave him a knowing look as she walked away.

"Plated and waiting for a scoop of ice cream," she said and he guffawed, slapping the table as she smiled.

He continued chuckling as he looked around the diner and then pointed behind her. She turned and looked, finding photos of cemeteries decorating the walls.

"Interesting choice of decor," he said and as she too looked around, she saw that the majority of the pictures were of cemeteries, an old covered bridge taken in different seasons, and many different people standing or sitting on a large rock jutting out over a valley, smiling and flashing the peace sign.

"Perhaps the story behind the name of the diner. Maybe the owner is a widow and they have a leaning towards the macabre."

"Oh, that's such a good word," he said, looking at her and pumping his eyebrows. "Macabre."

She rolled her eyes with a smile and looked around again, finding that the pictures did not exactly carry a creepy feeling, but rather felt celebratory, in an odd way.

"The rock… I wonder what that has to do with others. The bridge looks very old, and the cemeteries are rather self explanatory, especially given the name of the place, but the rock…" She shrugged and Mulder hummed as he nodded.

"Maybe Flora can answer that question," he said. "I'll ask her when she comes back with our food." He flashed her a smile and her stomach fluttered.

Damn you, she thought. How do you do that to me?

"I'm sure she'll tell you everything you need to know if you ask nicely," she said snidely, rolling her eyes.

"We're conducting an experiment tonight, Scully," he said, glancing to his left with another big smile and she saw that Flora was making her way over to them with a tray of food. "I'm gonna test different theories here. First experiment, gain knowledge of the immediate surroundings."

She laughed and he winked quickly as Flora set the tray down and handed out their food.

"Here you go. Soup for each of you. Water for you and your iced tea, hon."

As she took two straws from her apron pocket, Mulder caught Scully's eye and mouthed the word hon. She gave him a pointed look, implying that yes, she had noticed the use of the word as it was directed at him alone.

Told you, she mouthed back and he laughed silently.

"Thanks, Flora," he said, taking the straw and smiling at her. "The soup smells delicious."

"Tastes even better," she replied. "But it's a bit hot, so take your time. Your other food should be out soon." She smiled at them and took a step back, but he stopped her. "Yeah, hon?"

"Just had a question about the photos on the wall," he said as Scully unwrapped her straw and stuck it into her water, taking a drink.

"Oh," Flora said as she looked around and then back at them. "You're obviously not from around here."

"No," he said, taking out his badge and showing it to her. "We're with the FBI."

"Oh," she said, this time in surprise, glancing at Scully with a smile. "Good for you. More women should be in places of authority like that."

"I couldn't agree more," Scully said with a smile, feeling oddly flattered.

"So you're here investigating the missing men," Flora stated and Scully nodded. "It's a shame what happened to them, but I can't say I'm surprised."

"Why's that?" Mulder asked and Flora sighed as she looked at the pictures of the people on the rock.

"Has no one told you about the Widow at the Edge of the Rock?"