He drove them back to her apartment without a word. There was no need for words right now. The dinner had gone better than Mulder had originally planned and he knew that Scully was having a good birthday. He took her home and walked to her door, holding her hand.

She turned to him. "Well, I...I had a wonderful night tonight, Mulder. Thank...thank you for the best birthday ever."

"You're welcome. I'll see you tomorrow…okay?" He smiled at her.

"O...ok. Good night." She turned back toward her door.

He turned her around and kissed her passionately, his hands going up into her hair.

She steadied herself against the door as she returned his kiss surprised by his urgency.

He pulled back and gave her a smile before he turned to walk away.

She stood there in complete shock and couldn't believe what she was about to say. But where was the harm? It was just an invite, right? "Mulder, would...would you like some coffee or hot cocoa to get rid of some of those chills?"

"Sure, that'd be fine."

She smiled as she unlocked the door. "Good. I would just hate to have you drive home with chills."

Mulder came inside and felt warmth. "Thanks, Scully. I really appreciate that."

She closed and locked the door. "You can sit on the couch by the fireplace. That should help warm you up some. Do you want coffee or hot chocolate?"

"Coffee is fine." He went and sat by the fireplace.

She placed her shawl on a chair and headed to the kitchen. She glanced at the vase of roses on the counter and smiled. It was hard to believe that had started the evening. She then went about making the coffee before walking back to the living room. "It shouldn't take long for it to heat up. "You know I was thinking...I could throw those pants in the dryer a little? I have to admit I know nothing about tuxes but..."

"No. It's okay. It may dry the pants up or something."

"Oh right. Well, I'm really sorry about you falling in the pond."

"Oh not, it's fine."

She took a seat next to him. "If it's any consolation the shawl you saved...it was a gift from Melissa years ago. I would have been quite devastated had something happened to it."

"I'm glad I could be of service to saving it."

"You did fall into the water quite gracefully."

He laughed softly. "Thanks."

She smiled at him. "You've truly made this night, special, Mulder. Thank you."

"That's all I wanted to for you."

"Even if I'm dry and you're not?"

He smirked. "Well…I could take off these wet clothes."

"Well, you...you can if you want. I could get you a blanket to wrap yourself in and...."

"And what?" he raised his eyebrow.

She swallowed and then heard the coffee maker beep. "Oh, coffee's done!" She quickly headed to the kitchen.

Mulder just smiled to himself as he sat down in front of the fireplace.

She took out some coffee cups and then went about pouring the coffee. "Do you want creme or sugar?"

"No thank you."

She picked up the coffee cups and headed back to the fireplace. "Here...here we go."

Mulder smiled as he took the cup from her. "Scully…thank you so much."

"It's just coffee." She took a seat next to him.

"I meant…about tonight."

"But I'm the one who should be thanking you." She took a sip of her coffee.

"Yeah, but you see…tonight was more than taking you out for your birthday. I've…always thought you were a very…beautiful woman and I've wanted to take you out for so long but I've been afraid to." He took a sip of the coffee. "I was afraid you would reject me."

"And I was afraid of the exact same thing."

"But…I'm glad we went out tonight…it's restored my faith…as far as romantic relationships go."

"It has? I...I mean it has for me as well." She quickly took a sip of her coffee.

He sipped his coffee and gazed into the fireplace.

"You know the last time I sat like this in front of the fireplace with someone...was someone who I thought was you. I'm speaking of Eddie Van Blundt of course. You…remember him, right?"

"I do. I remember him doing something on this couch too."

"Well, I was a little tipsy at the time, Mulder."

"Did you want it to be me?"

"Did I want it to be you?" she asked giving him a look. "Mulder, I did think it was you."

"I meant…" he took another sip of coffee. "I know you thought it was me…but after you found out it really wasn't me…did you wish it was or did you get caught up in the moment?"

"I was...disappointed, I think." She took another sip of coffee.

"Ahh…" He looked at her. "I wish it could had been me."

"You do? Mulder, I was droning on about my high school days. Hardly world class entertainment."

"So? I would have been with you."

"Well, this is true. I'm sorry I brought that up, there really was no need to. I was just making small talk and being in front of the fireplace conjured that up."

"Don't worry about it." Mulder let out a sigh. "Guess I better get going, huh?"

"Well, you haven't dried off yet, have you?"

"I'll be all right."

"You know you could stay here if you want?" she asked finding herself blurting it out without thinking.

This caught his attention. "Really?"

"Well, I mean...you could get out of your wet clothes and stay warm by the fire...on the couch." She paused before adding. "So you don't get sick."

"Well…thanks," he smiled.

"That's only if you want to of course."

He ran over his options for a long moment. "Sure…why not?"

"Ok, uh why don't you go into the bathroom and get out of your wet clothes and I'll bring you blanket after I change ok?"

"But Scully…I have no other clothes here. What am I wearing?"

"What do you think the blanket's for?" she asked grinning.

He gave her a lopsided grin before heading into the bathroom.

She watched him head into the bathroom and then went into her bedroom to change. She reached behind and started working slowly on the zipper of the dress. It would have been easier for Mulder to do it but she didn't want to press her luck. She finally managed to slip out of the dress and took off everything but her underwear. She slipped into a pair of PJs and then went to her closet to retrieve a blanket. She walked up to the bathroom door and knocked. "Mulder?"

He got out of his wet clothes and then wrapped a towel around himself. He then opened the door.

She was completely taken by surprise at the towel. "Ah ha." She cleared her throat. "I mean...here's your blanket." She held the blanket out to him.

Mulder smiled and took the blanket, wrapping it around him. "Thanks."

"No....no problem. That should keep you VERY warm."

He walked over to the couch. "Thanks for letting me stay."

"It's...no problem, really. It's the least I can do after you got soaked retrieving my shawl." Did he sense how nervous she was? Although she herself didn't understand just why she was so damn nervous in the first place! Then again, it had been a long time since she had another man at her apartment too.

Mulder lay on the couch and stretched out. "Well…happy birthday, Scully."

She sighed to herself as she saw her partner in a compromising position. A compromising position on HER couch! She was beginning to think of the second part of her wish now but shook her head. "Thank...thank you, Mulder. I hope you sleep well, out here. Good...good night." She quickly turned around and started toward her bedroom before she said something stupid to scare him off.

"Hey Scully? Did your wishes come true?"

She stopped in her tracks. "My...my wishes?"

"Your birthday wishes."

She turned toward him. "The cake was very nice and the dancing..."

"And…?"

"And the...the kissing we shared. It was wonderful."

He smiled as he shifted on the couch. "More from where those come from."

"What...what do you mean?"

"I meant…that, well…you can kiss me anytime you want. I think we've finally broken that wall."

"I...I think so too. I just didn't want to spoil too much of a good thing, you know?"

"Me too." She had a really good point

"Right." She could feel her nerves getting worse the longer she stood in front of the couch. "Well, I guess I'll say good night then?"

Mulder nodded his head and smiled at her. "Good night, Scully."

She turned toward the bedroom and stopped, turning around again. "If...if you need anything..."

"Just come wake you?"

She nodded. "Don't hesitate."

"Thanks." He shifted on the couch before closing his eyes.

"Good...good night." She turned back around heading for her bedroom with her eyes closed. She was fighting so much right now within herself but her Catholic girl beliefs were winning. It was enough to have kissed him but to want something more then that? Well, that is something a female NEVER instigated. She closed the bedroom door and just hoped there was some old romance movie on to take her mind off who was on her couch wrapped in a blanket.