Spoilers: XF – X-Cops (S7) CI – None

A/N: I apologize for the delay in getting this last part out. Life can sneak up on a person, and mine finally did. On the plus side, I now have a whole new collection of ideas banging around in my head, including some very tasty angst. The epilogue is given to you without the benefit of beta'ing. All mistakes in that part are mine and mine alone. They just weren't done with me yet while I was cleaning up. Anyway, I give you the Fantastic Four™ and alcohol.

The gang's all here

Alex and Scully took their seats. As Scully sat down next to him, Mulder leaned over and stole a kiss, still amazed at how much he could miss her when she was gone. As their lips separated, their eyes locked. Volumes passed between them in the moment they shared, the rest of the world forgotten. They both started grinning at the same moment, eliciting a chuckle from their companions. The moment broken, Mulder and Scully turned to face the other couple.

Alex had seated herself a respectable distance from her partner, a difficult task given his size. As always happened, despite her best efforts, contact was inevitable and their knees frequently brushed against each other under the table. Looking for anything to take her mind off the feeling of her knee against his thigh, she focused her attention on the couple across from her. It warmed her heart to see two people so obviously happy, their years together evident in their unspoken communication.

Watching Mulder and Scully stare at each other, oblivious to the world around them, tugged at Bobby's, until recently buried, desire to be in love, to be happy with a woman who could put up with his numerous personality quirks. The pressure of Alex's knee against his denim-clad thigh only served to remind him that the woman of his dreams was sitting beside him, near enough to touch. Resisting the urge to turn and touch Alex, he started fidgeting with his glass. Just as he was about to clear his throat, he saw Mulder and Scully break into simultaneous grins. Arching his eyebrow, he then heard two distinct chuckles, one Alex's and one his.

Scully locked eyes with Bobby, her annoyance at being laughed at quickly pushed aside by her amusement at the look on Bobby's face. His eyebrow was arched, his lips pulled into grin and his eyes clearly confused by the situation he found himself in. Scully started laughing, tears running down her face. Gasping for air, her hands flailed around. One finally landed on Mulder's knee, squeezing. The other landed on Bobby's hand, still clutching his glass.

Surprised, Bobby yelped and withdrew his hand, knocking over his glass. As spilled beer began inching it's way towards the edge of the table, and Bobby's lap, Alex and Mulder also started laughing. The commotion attracted the looks of the people seated around them and their waitress. She rushed to the table, towel in hand, barely catching the beer before it trickled to the floor at Bobby's feet.

The spill safely contained, the waitress stood for a moment and watched the two women and one of the men laughing at the other man. As she mopped up the last of the spill, the tall, attractive focus of the laughter began to laugh as well. Smiling, she asked the table if they needed another round. Receiving affirmatives all around, she headed back towards the bar, a smile on her face.

"Well, Goren, I hope you're happy. Everyone in here thinks we are all drunk now." Mulder picked up his napkin and wiped the tears from his eyes, fighting to keep from laughing again.

"Don't you Goren me, Fox." Bobby barely got his hand up in time to deflect a playful slap coming from his left. His look of surprise was met by a look of satisfaction from Mulder's redheaded protector.

"Careful, Bobby. She's very protective of my name. Something about how it only sounds right being screamed."

Mulder's luck wasn't nearly as good as Bobby. Scully slap landed squarely on his shoulder, causing him to flinch. With the same hand that landed the blow on his shoulder, Scully caught Mulder's glass before it could complete its tumble to the table. "Bobby, how much did you let him drink?"

Bobby shrugged, his eyes moving from Scully to Mulder, before momentarily resting on Alex. "He's a big boy, Scully. You mean to tell me that he can't hold his liquor?"

"Hey. I'm sitting right here, ya know." Crossing his arms, Mulder put on his best, most pathetic puppy dog face. "Alex, you don't think I'm drunk, do you?"

Enjoying herself more than she expected to be, Alex decided to get into the game and have a little fun with Mulder. "Ahhh, what a cute little puppy. Scully, I didn't know they let dogs in here."

Alex's timing couldn't have been better. Both Bobby and Scully struggled to keep from spewing their mouthfuls of beer onto the table. Mulder struggled to keep from smiling, determined to play the wounded bit to the hilt. Alex simply grinned at Mulder and took another draw from her glass.

"Come now, Mulder, you don't think I've seen that look before? You and my partner must have gone to the same finishing school. He tries to pull that one on me once a week, at least. I don't buy it from him, why would I buy it from you?" Alex set her drink down and, throwing caution to the wind, reached over and gave Bobby's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Unable to decide if Alex was just trying to let him know she meant no offense or if there was something more, Bobby kept his hand still. When Alex didn't remove her hand from his, he hazarded a glance at her. As he turned towards her, their eyes met and locked. Bobby turned his hand under Alex's, until their palms were touching; heat on heat.

Scully and Mulder watched; their own hands clasped together under the table. Turning towards Mulder, Scully pulled his ear close to her lips. "Should we put them out of their misery?"

Smirking, Mulder quickly turned his head, catching Scully by surprise and planting a kiss on her nose. "What did you have in mind?"

Scully stood and stepped away from the table. "Bobby, would you care to dance?"

Startled, Bobby turned to see Scully standing before him; her hand outstretched, an expectant look on her face. Reluctantly releasing Alex's hand, he stood and took Scully's, following her out onto the dance floor.

Taking Scully's action as his cue, Mulder also stood, extending his hand towards Alex. "Come on, we can't let them have all the fun."

Bobby's size had enabled he and Scully to carve out an area to dance in, mercifully free of other people banging into them. When Alex and Mulder located the pair, their heads were bent together, Scully imparting some bit of advice to Bobby. As Mulder began dancing with Alex, he made a point to back into Scully, reaffirming that he was on the same page as she was.

Several songs passed, the two couples finding their respective rhythms. Then Scully put her plan into action. She positioned herself carefully. As she felt Mulder and Alex nearing, she turned and grabbed Mulder by the shoulder. They both then turned to the side. The crowd and the music did the rest.

Bobby and Alex found themselves dancing together, pressed close and moving together. Mulder and Scully were nowhere to be seen. The atmosphere and the alcohol were having their intended effect. Bobby and Alex found their own rhythm and became lost in each other.

Mulder and Scully sat together at the table, content to be with each other and enjoying their evening. Both were several sheets to the wind and having a spirited discussion about the likelihood of alligators living in the New York sewer system. They were passing the time the way they always did; him throwing out absurd theories, her shooting them down with science. Neither was worried about the location of their friends.

Bobby and Alex finally found their way back to the table; pushing through the crowd, hands clasped together. Once seated, Bobby signaled the waitress for another round. He then turned towards Mulder and Scully.

"We thought you two had left."

"No such luck, Bobby. I didn't want to stick you with the tab."

"That wasn't necessary. It's the…least I could do."

Shaking his head, Mulder waved the waitress over and asked for the tab. As they waited for the waitress to return, Scully decided to test the waters.

"So, what do you kids have planned for later?"

Bobby looked at Alex as he thought over his answer. Seeing that she wasn't going to jump in and save him, he turned back to Scully.

"I-I…don't know."

When the waitress returned with the tab, Mulder handed her a credit card without looking at the bill. Seeing Bobby and Alex both shaking their heads, he grinned.

"What? Private practice has been good to me. Say, I hear there's an entertaining rerun of Cops on tonight."

"Mulder…"

"What, Scully? Haven't you watched it since it happened?"

"What are you two talking about?"

"Bobby, you mean to tell me that Mulder hasn't told you about the time we ended up in the middle of a taping of Cops."

Bobby and Alex looked at each other and started laughing. Perplexed, Mulder and Scully stared at the other couple.

"I thought those people looked familiar. Do you remember me telling you that, Alex?"

"Yeah. And I thought you were crazy. Looks like we were both right."

The two couples stood outside, taking in the fresh air and quiet. Alex stood next to Bobby, her arm tucked through his, her body pressed close. Mulder and Scully stood across from them in a similar pose.

"So, Bobby, call me in the morning and we'll have some lunch before I kick your ass."

"You haven't got a prayer. I'm going to wipe the court with you."

"Now now, boys. Save it for tomorrow. Come on, Mulder, I'm tired."

"Dana, while the boys are shooting hoops, maybe we can find something to do."

"I'd like that, Alex. See ya tomorrow."

Bobby and Alex turned and started towards Alex's apartment, walking arm in arm. Mulder and Scully watched them go, a smile playing across both their mouths.

"What do you think, Mulder?"

"I think it's a start. What do ya say we head back to the hotel and have some fun."

"Oh, Fox, you devil."

"You'll be screaming that soon enough, m'dear."

Epilogue – The next day

"And now it's only ten to thirteen. I thought you were going to wipe the court with me, Bobby.

"I'm just getting warmed up, Spooky."

"You've been talking to Scully behind my back, haven't you?"

"Getting jealous?"

"Nah. She just has a soft spot for the tall, goofy ones."

"Who are you calling goofy?"

"Aha! I thought you'd be harder to distract. Fourteen, ten."

"I think you're cheating."

"Ah, come on. It's not my fault you didn't get much sleep last night."

"Wh-what are you talking about?"

"Bobby, sometimes you really can be a bit dense. It's written all over your face."

"Well…really?"

Mulder stopped, holding the ball under his right arm. He sighed deeply and approached his friend. Setting the ball on the ground between them, he laid a hand on Bobby's shoulder. "It's okay, Bobby. I know you work with the greatest detectives in the world, but this isn't exactly a crime. Trust me."

Hanging his head, Bobby exhaled loudly. "I-I just…I don't know, Mulder."

Picking up the ball and starting to dribble again, Mulder smiled at Bobby. "Go with your heart and everything will work out."

Mulder pushed Bobby before faking to his left. Bobby moved right, staying with Mulder. As Mulder prepared to drive for the basket, Alex and Scully entered the court, calling to the boys.

Surprised and distracted, Bobby looked over at them. Mulder saw his chance and took his shot.

"Fifteen, ten and game!"

"Cheater!"

"No. I just take advantage of every opportunity. Something you would do well to try some time. Come on, let's go see what Scully spent my money on."

The two men walked towards their partners, pushing each other like school children, smiles on both their faces.

Fin

A/N: And now, loyal reader, we leave the Fantastic Four™ to their own devices. Rest assured that they will be reunited. And there will be less alcohol and silliness involved. I thank you for your time and your wonderful feedback.