Present Day, X-Files Office...

Monica watched Phoebe glancing over at her from time to time waiting for her to say something, or to tell them about a case they were going to start working on. Agent Carmichael had spent almost a week doing the paperwork that had piled up in the office during Monica's absence, she was eager to get out in the field but had been instructed that she was under no circumstances to rush things and put too much pressure on Monica. Dana Scully had been very clear in her instructions when she called Phoebe at home the night before telling her to tread carefully and to remember who was in charge.

By lunch time things were no different. Monica hadn't spoken to Phoebe and Phoebe was getting agitated. She wanted to at least be able to talk to her partner even if they were going to be spending the whole day in their office. Phoebe stood up and fumbled around in her bag for a few minutes before turning to Monica and biting the bullet.

"Can I get you anything for lunch Agent Doggett?"

Monica looked up but only expected and prayed that somebody was talking to John, hat he was in the room. But the room was empty and realised the question had been directed at her.

"No thank you."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"Ok well, I'll just be a minute."

Phoebe walked out of the office and Monica felt terrible. She had come back to work to take her mind off things and to move on, to get past what had been the biggest challenge in her life to date. All she had managed to do so far was dwell on John and the fact that he wasn't sitting at the very desk she now found herself working at. For the first time that day, and in deed two weeks, she picked up a new file and examined the case inside. She could do this; it wasn't as hard as she had been making it for herself. She could control this first day back and everything that happened. So she promised to make an effort when Phoebe got back.

As Phoebe walked into the office with a big warm smile, clearly for Monica's benefit,

Monica actually smiled back and stood up with the case she had been looking at.

"Did you get a chance to look at this Mathers case?"

Through a mouthful of sandwich Phoebe nodded her head and tried to answer.

"Hmm, yeah... I umm, I looked at it when it came in yesterday."

"Well when you've finished with lunch maybe we should go and talk to the family and see what we can find out."

"Great! I mean, sure. Whatever you're comfortable with."

Monica looked at Phoebe suspiciously. There was an aura around this young woman that made Monica think someone had warned her to be extra nice. She didn't want them to start working together under false pretences; she wanted them to be able to be themselves. It was the only kind of environment she had ever worked in, and she didn't want that to change now. She sat down and watched Phoebe rush her sandwich just so she could get out of this office. Suddenly Monica knew exactly how she should spend her first day back at work with her new partner.

"How's the sandwich?"

"I've had better, but you know canteen food right."

"Yes I do. Wha'da'ya' say we get out of here and go some place for something half edible and a drink?"

"Now?"

"Yeah, I know I'd rather do that than go and see this family, and I know you wanna get out of this office probably as badly as I do."

Phoebe looked a little scared at the prospect of going against any kind of FBI protocol, and drinking with a fellow agent in the middle of the day was definitely something she had avoided so far. But she did desperately want to get out of here

and if the best way to do that and get to know her new partner was by going for a drink then so be it.

June 27th, Mulder Residence...

When Mulder opened the door to Monica and John he was joined by Anna who had been looking out for her parents from the second they had called to say they were on their way to collect her. They had spent a long afternoon doing paperwork in the office and Monica wanted nothing more than to go home with her little girl. When she saw Anna all of the things that had been going through her mind about work disappeared so she could concentrate on the rainbow of colours her daughter was showing off.

"My God John did you let her get dressed in the dark?"

"I let her wear whatever she wanted, it's good that she wants to develop her own style."

"She's four."

"My mom let me pick out my clothes when I was a kid."

"And the less said about that the better."

John tried to look offended but in stead felt completely liberated to see Monica smiling. She picked Anna up and hugged her tightly. This made everything worth it.

"I missed you so much baby."

"I missed you too mommy, daddy made pancakes for breakfast."

"He did?"

"Uh huh, and we had chocolate sprinkles, and strawberry sauce, and daddy got it on his shirt."

John was waving his arms around like a madman behind Monica to try and get Anna to stop making him look like the worlds easiest father to walk all over, but Anna enjoyed it when her parents playfully teased each other about how they treated her. It made her feel special when the two people that loved her the most had nothing better to discuss but her.

"Well I think we should get you home before you dazzle anybody else with this outfit."

Anna giggled as Monica placed her back down on the floor and took her hand.

"Thanks again Mulder."

"Hey it's my pleasure. Dana'll be sorry she missed you."

"She still at work?"

"Yeah. Workin' late."

Anna tugged at Monica's hand eager to go home so she walked to the car with her and fastened her in. John hung back to talk to Mulder.

"We still on for tomorrow night?"

"Sure. Just don't forget her favourite toy or anything like that, I don't wanna be up all night trying to get her to sleep if she's left something at home."

"I'll triple check everything before we leave her. I appreciate you doin' this for us."

"Anytime. I know what it's like when you feel you never get anytime to just be a couple."

"I bet. I just want Mon to be able to relax, this case has really taken it out of her."

"Yeah Dana said it was a tough one. Well I'm sure you'll both have a great time tomorrow."

"I hope so."

John turned around to the car and just stared for a moment at Monica laughing and talking with Anna. He'd make damn sure they had a good time this weekend they both needed it.