Scully trudged up the steps of her four flight walk up after a hard day at work. She felt a slight twinge of resentment toward her partner. It wasn't that she though he was lazy. She'd never considered Mulder lazy. In fact there were times when he was downright overzealous about his goals. But now they'd gotten themselves stuck in an age of counter culture and "Fox" -as he now liked to call himself- was enjoying it a little too much. Maybe it was his way of avoiding depression. He missed his job and he missed his work. Which was normal, she missed hers too. She'd gone through medical school to become a doctor, joined the FBI to protect and serve, and now she found herself in the past with no future. No résumé, no medical license, and no career. All she'd strived for and worked for and she was working at a day care center. Scully stopped in front of the apartment and fished around in her purse for her keys.

"Dana"

Scully turned and saw Mulder in the doorway next door. He was barefoot, wearing cutoffs and the same tie-dyed shirt he'd been wearing on the weekend. She figured this was either day three or four. Scully thought she heard the musical stylings of Bread in the background.

"I thought I heard you get back. We're playing Twister"

Scully knew the 'we' he referred to consisted of Mulder and the kids who lived in the apartment. Dawn, 10 and Dusk, 12.

"That's nice" Scully smiled weakly as she unlocked the door.

"Why don't you join us?" Mulder invited, grinning.

"I don't think so Mulder" Scully was tired from chasing two year olds all day.

"Aww c'mon" Mulder was enthusiastic. Like a kid who'd eaten too much sugar.

"Fox" Scully implored.

"Just one game" Mulder wheeled. "It'll be fu-un" hesaid in a sing-song voice.

Scully looked at him. His hair was hanging in his eyes and he was smiling that boyishly charming smile. The one she had trouble resisting. A lot of trouble resisting. "All right" She gave in and joined them next door. "Hi kids" She addressed them all, making a point of including Mulder in the group.

"Hi Dana" Dawn greeted her.

"Take your shoes off" Mulder instructed her, rocking back on his heels hyperactively.

"Gladly" Scully kicked her shoes off and wiggled her toes, sighing with relief. "How are you kids enjoying summer vacation?" Scully watched as Dusk and Dawn took turns spinning the arrow and placing themselves on the mat. "It's great" Dusk said emphatically, trying to blow his hair out of his eyes.

"You're turn" Mulder announced. Scully flicked the pointer and took her place on the mat.

"Tell her the news kids" Mulder said.

"What news?" Scully asked.

Dusk looked at Mulder.

"Go ahead" Mulder told him.

"Fox can't hang out with us anymore" Dawn said morosely as she deftly flipped her ponytail from her right side to her left without shifting her position.

"Why not?" Scully asked, stretching her right hand past Dusk to reach red.

"He got a job" Dusk announced.

"You didn't" Scully craned her head around to look at Mulder.

"I did" He said proudly.

"Doing what?" Scully asked, trying to decide whether she should put her leg around, or in between Mulder's arms.

"Running the deep fryer at Hamburger Heaven"

"Are you serious?" Scully wasn't thrilled.

"I thought you'd be proud of me" Mulder sounded hurt.

"I am." Scully reassured him. Placing her left hand gingerly on his right foot, and reminding herself that without even a high school diploma to his name she should just be glad her Multiple degreed/recently turned hippie sort-of-partner had gotten a job that didn't include washing windshield's. "I'm very proud of you"

Mulder suddenly slipped and fell flat on the mat, starting a chain reaction which resulted in a four man pile up. Scully's leg was pinned under Mulder's chest, Dusk was lying on her right arm and Dawn smacked her head on the floor and started crying. It took a few moments for everyone to extricate themselves.

"Sorry about that" Mulder apologized.

"One more game?" Dawn pleaded.

"Not for me" Scully stood up.

"Just one more?" Mulder begged from the floor.

Then Dusk started in and soon all three of them were looking up at her with sad eyes.

"All right" She smiled in spite of herself. "One more game"