Mulder woke to the insistent sound of a child crying.  The unfamiliar cacophony of noise was coming from the hallway and was unusual enough not to register for a moment.  He rolled over away from the sound screwing his eyes up tighter but it was a futile effort.  The clamour penetrated his sleepy haze and he let out a deep breath of resignation.

          One defiant eye stayed closed as the other slowly opened to register his surroundings.  Daylight streamed in from the windows and he rolled over onto his back to bask in its gentle warmth.  His cheeks puffed out as he exhaled a long held breath and sat up forcing both eyes to open.  The cries were louder now but he could hear the soft accompaniment of Tara's singing voice making him smile.  Dressing quickly he combed his fingers through his hair as he stepped out into the hall nearly running into Tara.

"Oh Mulder I forgot you were hear. Did we wake you?"

"No not at all.  What's got this little guy all upset?"  He waved his fingers in front of Mathews tear stained red puffy face.

"Just one of those days.  Dana is down stairs finishing her breakfast but you better hurry if you want to get any."

          Mulder smiled again and waved at the child but it had little effect.  With a shrug he turned and went down the stairs finding the kitchen empty.  There was a small pile of pancakes on the table that were still warm so he grabbed a plate and took four of them, dripping syrup over them.  They were sweet and warm and melted in his mouth and he couldn't help moaning a little in pleasure at their delectable taste.  From behind him a cup of coffee was placed by his side and he turned to see Mrs Scully sitting down with a cup of her own.

'"How did you sleep?" she asked sipping the hot drink.

"Fine.  It's real quiet out here."

"Yeah.  I figured you for a city boy."

"I am.  And I guess I always will be but if I really had a choice…" his voice tapered off as he took the final bite of his pancakes and sat back into the chair.  His coffee was hot and black with no sugar and he wondered for a moment how she knew he liked it that way, but it was a fleeting thought he passed by quickly.

"How did the meal go? Was it nice?"

"It was beautiful." He wondered how much Scully had told her mother.  Her knew they were close but he didn't think she would share details of their kiss.  The kiss he could feel pressing against his lips, the taste of her skin on her shoulder, the sensation of her shivering beneath his mouth.  Glancing back up to Mrs Scully he saw her watching him a soft knowing smile on her lips and he blushed.

"Dana is outside trying to teach Bill a lesson with the basketball."

          Mulder laughed as he finished his coffee and carried the mug over to the sink.  He looked out at the back garden for a moment and as Mrs Scully stood beside him leaving her own cup beside his, she slipped an arm around his back and gave him a light hug.  He didn't look down, he didn't need to, to see the joy in her eyes.  It was all pouring into him through the tight grip she held on him.

"You should go out to them."   Her words were low and she didn't press the unspoken issue so he turned and walked through the hall to stand on the porch.

          The Scully siblings were racing around the driveway, Bill bouncing the ball just out of Dana's reach, but she was laughing more with every failed attempt she made.  Like a cruel game of keep-away Bill held the ball over his head but she was too well trained to let it go on for long.  With a well placed jab into the ribs she managed to get him in a tender spot making him bend low enough for her to grab the ball. 

          Before he could recover she raced over to the hoop and scored an easy basket.  Bill laughed as she came bounding back strutting her stuff with a sway to her hips.

"Okay Dana even with your cagey tactics I'll give you those points.  Which makes us…" he looked up to the sky with his hand on his chin.

"19 to 2?"

"That's right…I'm 19…I only need one more shot to win."

"Yeah Billy boy you said that last time."

          She passed the ball to him and saw Mulder sitting on the doorstep, squinting in the sun to watch them.  She smiled at him and gave a little wave before tossing the ball to her brother.  Bill glanced at Mulder but as he wiped his brow with the crook of his arm he closed his eyes and turned back to his sister.

          Dana was crouched before him her arms poised ready to intercept the ball but Bill was bouncing it low by his knees never letting it wander far from his hands.  He took a step left then bounded to the right.  He twirled faster than she could follow and ran an easy lay up to the basket to score.  Running a lap around the makeshift court he cupped his hands around his mouth and made fan fare sounds chanting his name.

          Scully stood still letting him celebrate his hallow victory.  Mulder approached her shaking his head slowly his hands in the front pocket of his jeans. 

"You don't got Game Scully," he said.

"I'm too short for this game."

"Well you got two points."

"Only by cheating," Bill said as he gathered the ball from the bottom of the garden to where it had rolled.

"Drastic times called for drastic measures."

          Bill tossed the ball from where he stood at the bottom of the driveway and the ball sailed easily through the hoop. Dana went to get it and passed it to Mulder.  As if testing the ball he bounced it off the tarmac before going for a shot.  It went in without hitting the rim.  Getting the ball again this time Scully passed it to her brother who was watching Mulder with something akin to admiration.

"Well you guys obviously have me beat.  I'm going in for a drink."

          Mulders mouth opened as he was about to protest but she ignored the gesture and walked inside.  The bouncing of the ball could be heard as she entered the kitchen and poured a glass of juice from the fridge.  Her mother greeted her with a smile as she joined her at the table.

"I hope you know what you are doing Dana," she said as her daughter nibbled on one of the cold pancakes that was still sitting on the middle of the table.

"I can keep telling them both but they are too stubborn."  She stood up from the table and refilled her glass from the fridge before walking towards the living room.  "It's time they figured it out between themselves."

          Resisting the urge to look out of the large bay window she sat heavily onto the large beige couch and sighed. The bouncing ball could be heard from the driveway and children's voices.  Dana smiled at the image of Mulder and Bill playing amongst the kids.  A noise behind her head made her look around and she saw Tara leaning against the doorframe a wicked smile curving her lips.

"What?" Dana asked turning away and hiding her blush behind her glass of juice as she took a long sip.

"You kissed him."

"I did not!"

"He kissed you then…either way there was kissing!"  Dana looked away and Tara moved into the room circling the couch and sitting next to her with a whoosh of air.  "Last night? Was it your first kiss? What was it like?"

"Tara…" she began searching for the right way to steer the conversation away from its present topic but the hot colour rising up her cheeks gave her sister in law all the info she needed.

"It was your first!" she exclaimed with delight.

"Well yeah…" Dana finally admitted glancing at the door to make sure the moment wouldn't turn into a movie moment with Mulder standing at the door.  With a breath of relief she saw the hall was empty.

"So…" Tara encouraged her to continue, waving her arms in front of her to drag the details out of her.  "What was it like?"

"It was…it was strange."

"Good strange or bad strange?"

          Dana laughed throatily relaxing more into the couch and letting the tension ebb from her body with the mirthful sound.

"Good strange Tara, it was definitely good strange."

"But…I hear a but at the end of that sentence."

"It just feels like a summer fling."

"Danny Zuko and Sandra dee?"

No not quite.  I'm not about to burst into song or anything."

"Its so clear how close you and Mulder are.  If I didn't know better I'd say you were already sleeping together."  Scullys eyes shot away from the corner of the ceiling and locked with Tara's.  "I know I know your…just friends!" she added making air quotes with her fingers.

"Tara we work together everyday.  If something went wrong…"

"If something went right," Tara countered.

"Our position at work could be compromised-"

"Your position outside of work could be compromised!"

"It might crumble everything we've worked on."

"It might enhance everything you already have."

          Scullys words faltered.  Tara was voicing her own thoughts on the subject she'd spent so long dwelling on.  Her eyes wandered around the room flitting from photo to photo all too aware of Tara's scrutiny.

It was then that the almighty bag of the front door slamming against the wall shattered the peace in the house.

"It was an accident!" she heard Mulder exclaim.

          The commotion went through the hall and into the kitchen where Tara and Dana followed it.  Bill stood over the kitchen sink with copious amounts of blood falling out of his nose and Mulder stood behind him holding out a towel.

"What happened?" Tara asked rubbing her husbands back and she took the towel from Mulder and gave it to Bill. 

"Mulder! That's what!" Bill shouted wincing as Tara pressed the bridge of his nose.

"It was an accident," Mulder said meekly.

          Dana walked over to Bill and wordlessly pushed him into a chair.  From the freezer she gathered the ice into the towel and pressed it against his face.  He muffled against the force she held onto the towel but it only made her pressed harder.

"This will help with the swelling," she said and shut you up too she added silently.  "So what did happen?"

"We were just shooting some hoops.  I turned to make a shot but when I jumped we banged…his nose…my shoulder."  Scully glanced at Mulders blue tee shirt and saw the bloody stain on the shoulder and collar.  "It was an accident…" he added.

"Accident my ass!" Bill cried out slapping his sisters hand away and standing up.  "You did it on purpose."

"I didn't."

"Don't give that crap Mulder."  Bills voice was raising and he turned to face him stepping around the chair to get closer, his hands clenching into fists by his side.

"William Scully!" They all turned to see Margaret Scully standing by the backdoor he arms folded across her chest and her brow knotted into an unfamiliar frown.

"Stay out of this mom."  He turned back to Mulder and took another step closer his face furious and bloody but to his credit Mulder held his ground.

"Bill stop it."  Dana stepped around them and pushed Mulder aside taking his place in front of her brother.  "Mulder said it was an accident.  Let that be the end of it."

"Well I say it wasn't an accident.  Who do you believe Dana?"            Bill's fury switched to his sister with ease.

"I know Mulder and I know he wouldn't have hurt you on purpose." Her voice was calm but it only seemed to make him angrier.

"Over your own brother? Blood is thicker than water."

"No Bill…you're just being thick."

"I eh…I better go."  Mulder watched the rage build between them for a second before backing out of the room.  He rushed up the stairs and threw his stuff into the black shoulder bag at the same time fishing his phone out of his pocket and calling the airline.  He pulled his bloody tee shirt off while he was on hold and grabbed a clean one from the bag.

"Yeah I want to change my flight please…San Diego to Washington…flight 749 on the 23rd…Fox Mulder."

          He was put on hold again and with the phone pressed between his head and shoulder he shook out the clean top and put his arms in.

"Fox Mulder," he repeated.  Somewhere in the back of his mind he registered a child crying and he briefly wondered why the ticket sales operator had a child with her.  "Today…yeah the next available flight."

          Suddenly it he realised that the child was crying on his end.  He tossed the tee shirt back onto the bed and walked cautiously to the door as he reeled off his VISA card numbers

"Okay, thank you." Slipping the phone back into his jeans pocket he ambled down the hall and slowly pushed Mathews door open.  The child was lying in his crib with his legs in the air and his face red and puffy.

"Hey little guy," Mulder said softly.  Mathew's cries faltered at the sight of the stranger peering over the edge of the crib.  "How come you're crying?"

          He reached in and ticked the child's tummy but the novelty of the new arrival had worn off and his cries started again.

"Hey now, don't cry."  Tentatively Mulder picked him up and held him against his chest.  He swayed gently and spoke softly to ease his cries walking over to the window as he did.  Wearing only his jeans and trainers he enjoyed the heat from the sun on his bare skin and the softness of the baby in his arms.

          Mattie had fallen into a contented slumber but Mulder didn't seem to notice or mind as he kept swaying holding him closer still, one hand supporting his head and body the other reaching up to tenderly stroke his head.

          Scully watched from the doorway not wanting to disturb the image before she had a chance to absorb it fully.  As she took a step closer he looked up and smiled. When she got to their side she pressed a light kiss to Mathews head and leaned into Mulder, one hand slipping around his back.  She rested a head on his shoulder and he kissed her forehead as the three of them swayed wordlessly.

"He was crying," Mulder whispered after a moment.

"I think he's asleep now," she whispered back but loathed to break their circle.

          For a moment he didn't move but then he stepped over to the crib and gently placed Mathew in.  the child fussed for a moment, winging at the loss of heat form being close to Mulders chest and as he bent over to pull the blanket over him he was more than a little aware of Scully hand resting on his lower back.

          As he turned he felt her hand trail around to his side.  He pressed his finger to his lips and looked down to her with a smile.  She was looking back, an unfamiliar expression on her face.  His hand dropped to her shoulder and the other one mimicked her touch and grasped her waist.  His lips came down in a tender kiss, gentle yet exploring as his tongue pressed past her lips and into her mouth.  Their embrace tightened as he stepped closer and pulled her against him.  She could feel the heat from his bared chest pouring over her like liquid fire ignited by her dancing tongue against his.

          He hand squeezed his side and she moaned into his warm mouth but instead of pushing them over the edge the delicious sound to pull them back.  Slowly the kiss receded and with a moan of his own Mulder pulled away.  They stood for a moment looking at eachother in wonderment.

"Maybe we should eh…" he nodded towards the door.  With a smile she agreed and they carefully stepped out to go into Mulders room.

"I changed my flight," he said suddenly as he took the clean tee shirt from his bed and pulled it on over his head.

"Already?"

"I had to.  Before he killed me."

"Mulder he knows it was an accident.  He's just a hot headed oaf."

"But this is his house, his vacation, his family.  I think I've done enough to ruin it for him."

"When do you leave?" she hugged her arms to herself and watched as he packed the rest of his stuff away.

"In a couple of hours."

"I'm going with you."  He stopped packing and turned to her his surprise mixing with a smile.

"Don't you want to stay here with your family?"

"No.  We've got a week left.  I want to spend the rest of my time off relaxing…with you."  Slowly he nodded his head and walked over to her.  He gathered her into his arms and hugged her tightly.  She went down to explain their plans to her family as Mulder finished packing for them both and changed her flight too.  Joining them in the kitchen soon after he tentatively walked into the quiet room only to have all eyes turn to him, their expression unreadable.

"Mulder…" Bill stood up form the table and walked over to him.  "Just so you know…no hard feelings."

"Sure," was all he could manage in a way of a response.

"And you're welcome to stay if you want."

"Thank you Bill, but I had better get back to DC anyway."

          Bill gave a curt nod and walked out of the room to finish cleaning his face.  Tara stood and hugged him with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry Mulder."

"It's not your fault Tara." Mulder hugged her back and smiled as she walked past and followed her husband.

"Well Fox it was delightful to see you again.  Don't be a stranger." Margaret Scully came over and took him into a strong hug he wasn't prepared for.  "Thank you for coming," she whispered in his ear and she squeezed a little tighter before releasing him and leaving the room.

          Turning to Scully who was still sitting at the kitchen table he looked surprised.  She stood up and ran her hands through her hair, brushing it behind her ears.

"Shall we go?"

"Are you sure Scully? Why don't you stay and spend some time with your mom?"

"Don't you want me back in DC? Having withdrawal symptoms from the office?"

"No…I just…"

"Take me home Mulder."

***

Washington was a dammed sight colder than California.  Their breaths appeared in puffy clouds in the twilight air as Mulder opened the car and they both clamoured in.  Mulder immediately turned on the heat and rubbed his hands together to generate some warmth. 

"Should be warm in a second."

"We should have gotton some coffee in there."

"Coffee? Nah Scully we need something more than coffee!"

          Without explanation he pulled out of the car space and drove away from the airport.  She wanted to ask him what he meant but she was afraid to burst the bubble that had enveloped them with an unfamiliar intimacy.  She leaned back in her chair and looked out the window letting the seatbelt support her head rather than rest against the cold glass.  She thought of leaning towards Mulder but was unsure of the reaction she'd get so she settled for the coarse material of the belt.

          Finally the sight of Mulders apartment came into view.  Wondering whether she was supposed to take the car home or accompany him in she remained still as he turned off the engine and turned to her.  For a a moment he just looked then eh climbed out of the car and gathered the bags from the boot.  He came round to her door and jerked it open.

"C'mon Scully."

          Without a sound she took his outstretched hand and let him lead her up to the fourth floor.  His apartment was cool so he dropped the bags in the hall and went to sort out the heating.  She draped her coat over the chair and sat on the couch.  Mulder reappeared with two glasses of wine and an enigmatic smile.  The tall almp in the corner of the room was on but it illuminated only some of the room leaving the rest of it in a quivering darkness.

"So one more week left.  Do you think you can last?" she asked sipping her drink and leaving the glass on the coffee table.

"I can't say I'm not dying to get back in there…but this is a nice alternative."

"Is it really good enough for you?" she asked and suddenly the room charged with a tension that was only waiting for an ignition.  The topic had changed and neither of them could do anything to meander back to the safe ground they were used to.

"Good enough? It's more than I would have hoped for." His voice was even and low but his eyes locked with her capturing her surprise at his simple words.

"Mulder we have a week left before Skinner will let us back in to the office-"

"Yeah so we should probably stop wasting time…"

          He put his glass down next to hers and moved closer to her on the couch so their hips and thighs were touching.  With one hand on the back of the couch he turned her face towards his with the other and kissed her.  She didn't respond immediately but soon the warm sensation mixed with the sweet taste of the wine on his lips and tongue won her over and she kissed him back.

          Tasting and testing the waters they gently explored each others mouth accompanied only with a soft moan and the movement of his hand from her chin to her shoulder.  Soon it wandered down her arm and skirted over her fingers before slowly working up her thigh and resting on her waist.  When he pressed his fingers against her top sliding them beneath the rim she took in a deep breath and her alarm bells went off. 

          Her hands moved and she put them on his chest revelling in the heat of him first then finally managed to push him away.  He sat back in surprise his breathing shallow and staggered as his confused eyes searched her hooded ones.

"Scully…"

"No Mulder I cant do this."  She stood up and fixed her top Brushing her jeans down as if they were dirty.  "I'm sorry."

"What is it?" He stood with her and grasped her arm as she backed away.

"I can't just do this…now…with you…not like this."

"I don't understand."  She tried to take her hand back but he just held tighter tugging her around to face him.

"Please Mulder let me go. I want to be alone."

"Scully tell me what I did. Tell me what's wrong."

"Mulder…just let me go."

          He held onto her for a moment longer as if his will alone could make her change her mind but with one last pull she broke free of his embrace and gathered her coat off the chair.  Walking over to the door she opened it and put on her coat.

"I'm sorry Mulder. I just want to be alone." She turned to leave but looked back again his desolate stance almost making her change her mind.  Maybe she should just go back to him.  Enjoy the warmth of his embrace the sensuality of his lips and the intensity of his wandering hands. But without the longevity of the situation she couldn't pour herself into it.  She couldn't risk the pain she knew it would cause once the status quo had to be replaced.  "I'll call you," she added feebly as she turned and closed the door behind her.

*I'm in the process of backing up all my fics to get them ready to post on my own site and I found myself reading back over the stories I've posted here.  I can see a remarkable difference in the first one I wrote to the rest even this one I'm writing now and I have to say it's because of all the feedback I got from all you guys.  PixieBunnyDust, Blacktrillium, dana_Maru, Gillian Leigh and everyone else whom my fish like memory hasn't mentioned!  You have been here since I practically started. Thanks for the constant feedback and pokes to finish!

This WIP is dedicted to all you guys! :)