17.

7.30am

"Dana!" Scully stopped kissing Mulder and he extricated his hand from beneath her skirt waistband. Both looked behind him and relief washed over them both, as they saw no one was stood behind him.

"Yes Mom?" Scully called over Mulder's shoulder. Her head rested there momentarily as her desire waned. She felt guilty all of a sudden, like a caught schoolgirl who was smoking in the bike shed.

"Did you still want me to look after Samantha this weekend? I did promise her the trip to the zoo." Scully moved away from Mulder and entered the living room. Mulder headed upstairs to find his shirt.

"It's up to you two, Mom, I don't mind. I do have a few things to sort out. Samantha? What would you like to do?" she looked at her daughter who was still spooning soggy cornflakes into her tiny mouth.

"Zoo! Daddy and Mommy and Nanna take me to the zoo! Please Mommy." Samantha looked up with eager eyes waiting for her Mother's reaction.

"That sounds ok. We'll ask your daddy when he comes down stairs again. Is that alright with you Mom?" Scully looked away from her daughter to her Mom.

"That's fine, Dana, now Samantha are you sleeping here tonight? Or would you like to come to Nanna's house for a sleepover?" Scully's Mom looked at her and saw the bruise to Scully neck recognising it for what it was. "Dana, it would give you and Fox the time you need to get to know each other again… even if you have already done some of that!" Scully's mouth dropped open at her Mother's words and then realised her Mom must have seen her love bite. Screwing up her face  she looked away from her Mom.

"Nanna's house." Samantha called after watching her Mom for the ok to stay with her grandmother.

Scully smiled. She couldn't fathom exactly why her daughter would gauge her own opinion on these things but it was cute that she did.

"I'll go pack your bag. Mom will you collect her from school?"

"Sure."

Scully headed up the stairs to pack Samantha some clothes for the following day. She grinned as she headed up the stairs. 'Mulder all to myself and I can make as much noise as I please!' she thought. Taking the overnight bag that was in the landing cupboard Scully headed to her daughter's room to pack her some things.

Scully looked in her own room, on her way back down the stairs, to see Mulder sat on the bed looking lost. Leaning against the doorjamb she waited until he registered her.

"Hey." He said looking her over making her blush.

"Hey yourself. Samantha is staying with Mom tonight and tomorrow we're all going to the zoo. Is that OK?" she paused "Is something the matter?"

"No. I was lost in thought. What do you think Skinner will say?"

"That for your own health and safety you should move out of here… Coz I'm likely to cause you a serious strain!" he couldn't help but smile. "That or he has the case in its final stages and getting a court date will be the next step."

"I hope so. I feel bad for putting you under the pressure of my being here." She sat beside him on her bed.

"Its ok, Fox, I missed not having you here. Stay, please?"

"I want to… If Skinner objects I'll find a way around it. We belong together."

"And to think it was just meant to be a one-night-stand!" she joked knowing that was all it had meant to be. In a drunken stupor she had asked him for a one-night-stand that they would forget about in the morning. It hadn't worked. They didn't forget about it that next morning or the one following. It was like fireworks exploding within them both when their bodies had first touched in that all consuming passionate clinch. She could remember it as if it were yesterday.

"That was your idea, not mine. I said we wouldn't be able to stick to just the one night." Mulder commented just as he had at the time of her asking.

"Ok, so for once you were right!" She softly laughed as he pushed her backwards onto the bed and straddled her.

"What do you mean for once?" he tickled her then until she begged him to stop. "Say that I'm always right and I'll stop."

"K- Okay, I'm always right." Scully laughed once more as he tickled her again. "Stop it!" grabbing his face in her hands she thrust her face forward and planted a kiss on his lips. He stopped tickling her and kissed her back. She broke the kiss. "I want you now."

"I know but… your Mom."

"Please. I'll be quiet. I promise." He kissed her forehead and rubbed his nose either side of hers. Their eyes locked and he knew he'd never be able to move away from her. He kissed her again before pulling her further onto the bed.

"You'd better be quiet or your Mom will kill us both!"

8am

Skinner's car drew up to Scully's house. It had been a while but he still knew the place by heart. Those first days after her trial had ended he had spent watching the house for any sign of Mulder. Mulder could not see her under any circumstances. That was why Samantha had been kept from Mulder. For him to return would mean Scully being imprisoned for lying under oath among other grislier charges. Skinner saw the familiar car of Mrs Scully and smiled. He'd always liked her perhaps too much he couldn't help it. He may be married but that didn't stop you fancying another person did it? Skinner shook his head in protest of his thoughts.

He was at the front door before he could gather his thoughts. This meeting was going to be difficult. Ringing the bell he waited for the person to answer. It could be anyone.

"Uncle Walter." Samantha cheered opening her arms for a hug from the huge figure in the doorway. Skinner picked her up in a tight hug.

"How are you Samantha?"

"Fine. Did you bring me anything?" she asked knowing he always did.

"Samantha, its rude to ask!" Scully scolded her daughter before speaking to Skinner she would instil manners into her child before she reached 6. "I'm sorry S- Walter."

"Its okay Dana, as a matter of fact…" he set Samantha down and opening his briefcase he handed Samantha the latest of Barbie's little sister's.

"YAY! Its Hawaiian Stephanie! Mommy Look. Daddy look. Nanna look what Uncle Walter got me! Thank you Uncle Walter." Samantha ran from each person showing them the small figurine in the fluorescent pink box. A look of joy was visible on her face.

"You shouldn't have Walter. You spoil her." Scully said not wanting to sound ungrateful.

"Its okay." He said before looking at Mulder and nodded. They both knew the business in hand and walking one behind the other they headed for the dining room table.

Scully looked up at the clock. 8.15am in all the excitement Samantha had missed her school bus.

"Mom, can you take Samantha to school?" Scully's Mom nodded her reply. "Samantha go say bye to Daddy and Walter." Samantha skipped through to the dinning room to say goodbye to her Father and 'Uncle'. Moments later Scully also went into the dinning room to say her goodbyes. She had a class at 9am and would be late if she didn't hurry, the traffic was bound to be heavy already. Placing her hands on Mulder's shoulders she leant down and kissed the top of his head. After making him promise to see her for lunch she left a key for Mulder and the house.