Mulder arrived at the Halliwell manor just as Piper was making a start on dinner. He went to the kitchen first, to get a drink.
"Hey, where've ya been?" Piper greeted him cheerily.
"What's with the sudden attitude change?" Mulder couldn't help asking.
"Leo's decided to go back to being a Whitelighter so he can be with his family again." She replied chirpily.
"That's good." He told her with a genuine smile.
"What did you get up to today anyways? You've been gone for hours."
"Oh, just arranging a few reservations, hoping a certain lady will accept the invitation."
"You really do love her don't you?"
"Who?" He asked, trying to pretend he wasn't talking about Scully.
"Dana. It's obvious you know. Just not to her."
"I wish there was some magic way to tell how she felt about me." He sighed.
"Well, there are a few things actually. One being, Phoebe's empath power." She smiled.
"So I just have to ask Phoebe?"
"No, I could just tell you."
"How's that?"
"Because we've already had a talk about her feelings for you. Phoebe sensed it before."
"And, how does she feel exactly?"
"The same way you do about her, Mulder."
Mulder mumbled 'thanks' and left the kitchen, leaving Piper to tend to dinner.
He joined the rest of the women, and Leo in the living room where they were watching Wyatt orb random household items around the room, showing off. He was in his playpen and each time one of his aunts took something off him he shouldn't have, he simply orbed it back to him again like it was some sort of game. He looked at the glass cabinet that still held all of the things from Piper and Leo's wedding and orbed the photo of his parents to him. He sat gazing at it as if he knew things would be like that again, for an 18 month old, he seemed to know a lot of what was going on with his adult family.
Piper emerged from the kitchen carrying the dinner plates, letting Paige set the table as she went to get the dishes of chicken, potatoes and other various vegetables for dinner. Everyone sat around the table, helping themselves to whatever they pleased, chatting happily about Leo being home and what plans they had for Valentine's day. Both Mulder and Scully stayed out of this particular part of the conversation, Scully because she didn't have any plans… that she knew of. And Mulder stayed quiet so as not to spoil the surprise he had for his partner.
Oops, meant to upload this chapter last night ... But you'll just have to wait till Tomorrow to see what Mulder's Valentine's plans are, as I think I'm spoiling you enough giving you two chapters at once teehee