54.
6.45pm
Mulder opened the door to a cacophony of children's voices. It was something he hadn't expected to hear… more children than just Samantha could be heard. Smiling to himself he entered the living room to face the music. From Scully's message he was both worried about the situation he would come home to and her jibe about Monica… what had she seen? Taking a deep breath he was amazed to see Scully flaked out upon the sofa. She looked ill. Her pale cheeks were flushed with what looked like a temperature and her skin… it was so pallid. She was wearing a black strappy vest top and denim clam-digger trousers but she looked so uncomfortable spread out on the sofa… he wondered if she had another scare… what if she had lost the baby while he had been spending all that time with Monica. Gently he sat down on the floor beside her and held her cool hand. Scully began to stir from her semi-slumber. It was just too darn hot to do anything. The afternoon's events had made a huge adjustment to her life.
"Hey" Mulder said kissing her hand.
"Hey." She looked into his eyes searching for the lies he would tell.
"Are you okay? You look sick?"
"Sunburnt, not sick, you should know this look by now! How was your meeting?"
"Listen about that…" he swallowed hard, this wasn't going to be easy to get out of if she had seen what he suspected… being with Monica wasn't a choice… he had to, she was the only one who could help him… who could solve this problem. Dana would never understand.
"I know you were with Monica." She held his gaze waiting for those lies to pour from his mouth… the ones denying the affair… the ones that would break her heart into two.
"I was… it's not what you think."
"What do I think?" Mulder just looked at her trying to raise his eyebrow how she could but failed. She almost laughed. Almost, it hurt too much for her to be amused at his failings.
"Dana, please."
"No… I think you've lied to me for too long. Why can't you just be honest?"
"Don't get on your moral high-horse. You can hardly talk. Who denied me the right to know my child for SIX years? For God's sake Dana!"
"Don't you dare start? It's hardly my fault you left me. You wouldn't have come back if I had asked you, not when you were faced with a trial and certain DEATH!"
"If you must know Monica was helping me organise a surprise for you… She has helped me plan a trip away with you to a hotel in Baltimore for next weekend. I thought it was about time we spent some quality time together BEFORE the baby is born. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"No… I saw you with your arm around her!" Scully accused.
"Yes… because we had been into the jewellers pretending to be a couple… to buy you this." He handed over the tiny box he'd had in his pocket most of the afternoon.
Opening it Scully found a simple gold band with a diamond held within it. She touched the stone gently with her fingertips. Looking at him she let a tear trail down her cheek.
"I'm sorry… I just keep hearing you on the phone to someone being too nice and flirting. Seeing you and Monica made me jump into the stratosphere. I apologise."
"Wow, Dana Scully apologises… I wish I had that on tape!" Taking her hand in his he removed the gold Celtic band and replaced it with the diamond engagement ring. It was a close fit; in fact both rings were now since her fingers were swelling with the heat and pregnancy. Scully figured in the next few months the rings would be relegated to her necklace.
Placing the Celtic band into the box he saw Scully's face fall.
"What's wrong? Don't you like the diamond?"
"It's beautiful… I just wanted to wear both rings."
"I was going to get this one polished up for you. Is that okay?" Scully nodded, unsure as to why it needed a polish when she had only worn it for a matter of two weeks. He gently stroked her cheek with the back of his hand making her wince as he touched her sunburn. She smiled when he kissed the tip of her nose as an apology. His kisses moved across her cheek and down to her lips where they were met in a passionate embrace. Hungrily Scully kissed Mulder back. She needed him. Only the touch of his lips against her skin could produce that feeling.
Mulder's hand ran across her stomach and slipped it beneath her top teasing its way up her ribcage.
As if on cue, a thundering of footfalls came down the stairs. Mulder removed his hand from its haven and looked in awe as two giggling red-heads ran across the living room to the kitchen and back again with soda cans in their small hands.
"Hi Dad!" they called innocently over their tiny shoulders.
Open mouthed Mulder looked at Scully who gently leaned over and closed his mouth before he drooled on the carpet.
"What is William doing here?"
"That's what I tried to call you about… apparently the Vanderkamps have had a change of heart. Or should I say William has been displaying too many signs of his gifts which have freaked them out. Not to mention Mrs Vanderkamp found out she is pregnant AND she thinks William was much happier in that hug I gave him last week than he has ever been with her. I got a call this afternoon. Basically, either we took him or they took him to Social services." Mulder nodded taking in all the information and slowly a smile spread across his lips.
"We're a family at last." He said before resuming kissing Scully making her giggle as he tickled her. "I love you."
"Ditto." She laughed as he pouted and softly kissed his lips once more. "Now go get our food… the take-out list is on the table. Then when you get back I need you to shift William's toys to the guest room."
Sighing Mulder eased himself up from beside her and taking the list in hand he headed out to collect the varied list of foods.
"Barbeque ribs, sweet and sour chicken balls, prawn crackers, chicken korma and rice, ultimate perfection pizza!" shaking his head he entered the first take-out place – the pizza parlour.
