Return to Me 18

Scully's POV:

3 days later

We got to stay an extra day before returning to Washington DC, not that we could do much, Mulder might have been let out of the hospital but he still wasn't healed enough to go into the water, so we didn't get to go to the beach. Furthermore, we had to stay at a motel, the house was no longer available to us, and they were cleaning the master bedroom's carpet, so even if it was an option we couldn't stay.

At the moment, we are on our way back to DC, by means of airplane. Mulder's sleeping, has been since half an hour after we took of and not to longer ago started to talk in his sleep. Not actual words, more like mumbling, his words are incoherent, although I think I did hear him say Scully once. But I can't be sure.

We should be landing in an hour, and they already brought our in-flight meals along, which was in no way appealing. So, I've been snacking on the little bags of peanuts and soda. Not very nutritious, but they probably taste much better than the fish or chicken the airlines would have me eating.

Mulder stirs in his sleep and lifts his head, looking at me groggily, "what time is it?"

"5:32, we should land by 6:30. You've been sleeping since we took off, I was wondering if you were still alive."

"The medication they gave me, it's biggest side effect is drowsiness."

"I kind of figured that Mulder. Anyway, you missed the dinner they brought by. Although I wouldn't have recommended eating it anyway."

"It couldn't have been *that* bad."

"Yeah, it was Mulder. I took one look and said no thank you, but then again, you would probably eat anything. I've seen what lurks in your fridge. It's a bit scary."

"Not just a bit Scully, a lot. Im too afraid to even clean the fridge out, for fear something's going to jump out at me. I'd finally be in an x-file."

"Mulder, you don't need to be in an x-file, you are an x-file."

"Why, thank you Scully. That makes me feel much better."

"Your welcome."

We spent the next hour or so talking about various things, old cases he and I went on, ones that I went on while he was missing, one's he went on while I was missing. Finally the plane touched down and we got our stuff and after dropping Mulder's things off at his apartment and getting him something to wear to work the next day we went to my apartment where we ordered pizza and watched movies. I let him pick out the movies and we ended up watching Alien and Contact, he had wanted to watch Close Encounters with the 3rd Kind and Plan 9 From Outerspace, but I didn't have those two movies on my person.

We went to bed around 11 o'clock ready for work but at the same time dreading the field report we would have to write, not because we had to put something unbelievable in it--because for once we actually didn't--but for the simple fact they were the most annoying part of the job. And I was not looking forward to it one bit.

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Mulder's POV:

6:15am

The noise I was dreading rang obnoxiously in my ear. The damn 'beep, beep, beep' of an alarm clock is enough to drive the strongest man insane. And it was already starting to take its toll on me. I yanked the chord out of the wall, which earned a slap from Scully.

"Don't do that Mulder, it's dangerous, not to mention you could break the damn clock." She slid out of the bed and ran into the bathroom, "you need to head home!" She called and I heard the sound of water running, then the distinct sound of the shower.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Im going." I too climbed out of the bed. I fumbled around the still dark apartment searching for my keys, and after bumping into a coffee table…twice…I finally found them. Well, they actually fell on my foot, but I still got them. I yelled to Scully that I would see her at the office and took off for home, where I would shower and leave for work.

8:06 am

Scully walked into the room with a huff and sat down at her desk, "damn traffic." She muttered under her breath as she switched on her computer.

I chuckled at this and she shot me a look.

"What is so funny?"

"You cursed."

"What are you five?"

"No, it just sounds funny when you curse. It's not natural sounding."

"Oh, and it sounds *natural* when you curse?"

"Of course, a big macho man like me…it's only natural."

"Sure Mulder. When I swear it's strange when you swear it's manly."

"Yeah."

She took a sip of her coffee and keep a fixed gaze on me, one that said you-are-such-an-idiot and why-do-I-waste-my-time? She finally rolled her eyes and turned away, the resounding clicking of the keyboard keys filled the office.

"Scully, what'cha doing?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yeah."

"Working Mulder, writing my field report. You know, bad guy kills 8 people, then your stupid ass gets shot, and I have to save the day. Yet again may I add."

"When have you saved the day before Scully?"

She thought about this for a moment, "you remember that virtual reality game? You know Jade Blue Afterglow, that slut that you couldn't keep your eyes off of--"

"Hey! You can't blame me for that, plus we weren't even together then."

"Like that matters. Anyway, she would have killed you had I not showed up, face it I beat you at a game designed to appease male testosterone."

"Ok, I admit, you saved the day. Name another."

"You really want to play this game don't you? Ok, another times I saved your sorry ass. Tooms would have killed you had I not been there to help, Phaster would have to, then there was Model, do I need to continue further?"

"Yes, please do."

"Ok, when that AI had you trapped in that trailer, when the CSM had you in that dream, every single time you've been shot, or hurt otherwise--"

"Ok Scully, you win. You've saved the day many a time before."

"Thank you, it's nice of you to finally realize that."

"Although I do tend to save the world a lot…not just the day."

"Whatever Mulder, why are we having this discussion when there are field reports to write. Work, now."

"Yes mother."

11:56

"Scully…im hungry."

"Good for you."

"Come with me to get something to eat."

She looked at me evilly, "I have come to the conclusion that you have this elaborate conspiracy to keep me from doing my work. All I want to know is why."

"So I can have you all to myself." I wink at her, "come on Scully, it's time for lunch break anyway. Let's go get some Chinese."

"Fine Mulder." She saves her work and shuts down her computer. Then she gets out of her chair and grabs her purse and jacket. I follow suit. She knocks on the door that conjoins Reyes' and Dogett's office with ours and Dogett answers.

"Yeah."

"You guys want to come with us for Chinese? Mulder's whining about being hungry." She lifts her eyebrows, "or if you guys were busy."

He laughs, "no, no. We were just writing our reports." He turns behind him, "Mon, you want to go out for something to eat?"

"Sure John." She answers, then they walk out the door.

We head out the door and upstairs by means of the elevator, after Scully and I get into her car and Reyes and Dogett get into his we take off for Scully's and my regular Chinese restaurant. 45 minutes later we're back at work, typing up our field reports.

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4 months later

Scully's POV:

Well, im 8 months now, and instead of walking I waddle. Mulder thinks that it's cute, it think it's just too damn annoying. And uncomfortable, you know you hear pregnant women talking about not being able to see their feet but you never really believe that it's true. Well, my friends, im here to inform you that it is. I can't even put my shoes on anymore, Mulder has to. And talk about back pains, they're so horrible. I think by now Mulder could be a professional massage therapist, he's damn good at it.

Today is my last day at work, for a long while. I won't start back again until the twins are 5 months, earning me a 6 month maternity leave. They've decided not to give Mulder another partner, and just wait for me to come back after my leave. Im now going through my desk, and Mulder's too, just looking for things of interest. One of the things that I come across is the gift Mulder gave me for my birthday on the 4th year we worked together, the Apollo 11 key chain. Another thing is this strange penny and dime fused together. I never understood where that came from. I found it in Mulder's desk after that informant of his never came through.

"Scully." Reyes calls, sticking her head out the door, "I thought you were off on maternity."

"Today's my last day."

"Oh, well, if you and Mulder aren't already busy John and I wanted to know if you two wanted to come over for dinner, it'll be at John's."

"I'll have to ask Mulder, but if it's up to me than sure."

She smiles and goes back to working. Moments later Mulder comes through the door.

"Hey hon."

"What did I tell you about calling me things like that at work. Somebody could hear you."

"Like anybody's going to come down here."

"You never know."

"Reyes and Dogett want to know if we'll come over for dinner tonight."

"As long as I don't have to cook im game."

I nodded and put my last item in the box, "well Mulder, looks like this is it." I looked at him sadly, "no more working together for 6 months. And this time you can't blame it on them trying to split us up." I chuckled slightly, "you're going to have to help me with this box. Im too far along to carry anything."

He nodded and grabbed the box, "let's get going then." We walked up to my car and he put the box in the backseat. "I guess I'll have to take this out tonight then won't I?"

"Yeah, then my daily massage." I looked around and when I was content that nobody else was in the garage I kissed him deeply. When we pulled away I smiled. "I'll see you later ok? Find out what time we need to be at John's for me."

"Ok." He kissed me quickly before shutting the door. I turned the car on and drove to my apartment. Hours later Mulder came through my apartment door carrying the box and sat it down my table. He gave me a kiss and sat down next to me on the couch.

"They're expecting us at 8."

I nodded and leaned on his shoulder, he draped his arm over me. "So. How was your first day without a partner?"

"I got a record number of pencils in the ceiling." He joked. "Seriously, it was boring. It's not fun working if I don't get to stare at you."

"Well, bring a picture, then you can stare at it."

"I think I just might do that."

I laughed and switched on the TV, we watched Stargate SG-1 until 7 when we took off to meet Reyes and Dogett.

After we ate at Dogett's house we talked about work for awhile, Mulder and I left around 11 and arrived at the apartments a little before 12. Mulder had already moved into the same complex as I lived in, his apartment was--strangely--42. He grabbed a few things from his apartment and came down to mine. We watched Jay Leno and Connan O'Brian until we fell asleep on the couch. Sometime during the night I woke up, the joys of being pregnant calling, and had to slip from under him on the couch. He stirred and I told him to go lay in the bed. A few minutes later I was warming up next to Mulder under the sheets of my bed.

I was not looking forward to the next month of solitude at home.

~**~**~**~

a/n: I know the whole 4 month jump is kind of big, but the story was going so slow, I had to speed it up. Thank you to everybody who has reviewed, as I've said before I love reviews. Anyway, im thinking anywhere from 2 to 4 more chapters. This is turning out to be a long story. Im trying to hurry up and finish it. Anyway, hope you enjoyed these last two chapters.