note: I apologise this has taken so long to post, but has been screwy and I couldn't get on. Thank you for all the fantastic reviews – I really enjoyed them and felt very flattered. There's going to be a lot more ship and stuff in the upcoming chapters, so stay tuned!
And, you know, reviewing is good ;)
6.
"I didn't think that FBI partners were allowed to be involved," Alice said between mouthfuls of spaghetti.
"Well, it's not technically against the rules, but it isn't exactly encouraged," Mulder pointed out, shooting out a hand and steadying a glass that had gotten within Lucy's questing hands. He pulled it away from the baby and passed her another wedge of cheese instead. "Scully and I didn't advertise our relationship, but no one said anything because they've never had a problem with the work we've done."
"And no one's suspected for the last four years?" Alice asked doubtfully.
"It's going on five now," Mulder corrected.
"I suspected," Maggie said, surprising Mulder. He glanced at her, and then looked at Scully who shrugged her shoulders. "Don't look so shocked, Fox. I know my daughter, and I think I know you well enough by now."
Mulder blushed slightly, and looked at his plate. Either Maggie knew more about his feelings than he thought she should, or she was pretending to have noticed things so it didn't look like they'd 'left her completely out of the loop', despite the fact that in reality nothing had actually happened. Mulder didn't like lying to Maggie, and he didn't think he could quite meet her eyes because of the lie he and Scully were trying to live.
"You have to admit though, it does look a bit suspicious and convenient of you to suddenly announce your involvement and engagement now, after all this time," Alice persisted.
Scully surprised him, and snorted. "Well, the office pool has been saying that we've been doing it for years. I think we'd shock them more if we weren't involved than if we suddenly announce we are involved. I don't think anyone at the Bureau will doubt for one second that we aren't serious."
It was true, office gossip had them screwing before they even met, but Mulder wasn't as convinced as Scully that confirmation of their 'relationship' would be as accepted as Scully seemed to believe it would be.
"I'm serious, Mulder," Scully said, staring at him. "I've heard them talking, especially in the ladies bathrooms."
"You never said anything."
Scully shrugged. "It didn't really seem important. If they weren't gossiping about whether or not we were doing it, and for how long, I'm sure they'd find something else to gossip about in terms of what we got up to."
"What were you doing?" Jacob asked curiously.
Scully blushed and bit her lips.
"Working," Mulder lied.
"I bet you were working," Alice muttered.
Mulder looked over at her, suddenly remembering why she was here, and raised his eyebrows. "Oh, so now you believe it," he grinned.
"Touche," she said, smiling as she raised her glass to her lips.
"Will this help though?" Scully asked almost desperately.
Alice licked her lips, her eyes flicking cautiously to Jacob who appeared lost in contemplation of the pile of peas on his plate. "I think so," Alice said. "I can't do anything until Monday, but I'll arrange for someone from the agency to come see you as soon as possible. I've cleared your custody until the sentencing anyway, so you'll have a few months at least. If things run smoothly in those few months, and the agency is happy, I can't see why they'd reject the application."
"You sound more optimistic than you did yesterday," Scully cautiously.
"Well, like I said, marriage will make a big difference. It sounds unfair and horribly discriminating, but unfortunately that's the way our system operates. There's still counselling, and applications and interviews to come for all of you, but if you do what I suggested and step back from the frontlines, Dana, along with the relocating to a house, I think you'll stand a good chance."
"Dana, I don't want my peas," Jacob said loudly.
"Well, little boys who don't eat peas don't get ice cream," Scully said firmly.
"Mulder didn't eat peas."
"He's going to," Scully said, looking at Mulder.
Mulder really didn't like peas. At all. "Scully," he whined.
"Peas, Mulder." She handed him the bowel.
Mulder dropped three peas onto his plate.
"More."
He scowled darkly at Scully, and scooped a spoonful onto his plate. Still scowling, he raised a forkful to his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed the vile vegetable as quickly as possible.
"Now you," Scully said, turning to Jacob.
Jacob, Mulder was amused to see, tried hard to copy the scowl that had been on Mulder's face not even two seconds earlier. The little boy munched a mouthful, trying to scowl at the same time. Scully bit on her lip to try and keep her giggles in, and Maggie Scully discreetly turned her face from Jacob so he couldn't see her smile of amusement.
"Good boy," Scully praised when Jacob swallowed. "Mulder, I still see peas on your plate."
The scowl was back in place, all amusement gone as Mulder studied the peas on his plate. "You know, Scully, maybe I've changed my mind about being your Daddy."
"Mommy always makes daddy eat his carrots," Jacob said sympathetically, "and Daddy says she's mean."
"Your Daddy was a smart man," Mulder told Jacob.
"Peas, Mulder," Scully ordered, obviously fighting a grin. "And you too, Jacob."
Silently, the two men ate their peas.
---
"I want Mulder," Jacob said stubbornly.
"Mulder will be up in a minute," Scully said patiently. "He'll come and tuck you in once you've got your pajamas on and brushed your teeth."
"And a story?" Jacob implored Mulder directly.
"If you go upstairs with Dana and get ready for bed, I'll tell you a story," Mulder promised, smiling at Jacob.
"Okay," Jacob agreed happily, taking Dana's hand. "Can I play with the duckie again?" he asked as she led him upstairs.
"I have to say," Alice said from her seat on the sofa, "that I'm very impressed with how you and Dana handle the two children."
Mulder looked at her. "You sound surprised."
"Neither you or Dana have your own children," Alice said. "I'm just surprised at how well the two of you are taking to it."
"Jacob makes it easy, and no one could say that Lucy is a difficult baby," Mulder pointed out.
"Jacob's making it easy now," Alice agreed, "but the type of trauma he's been through has a horrible way of coming back to haunt children."
"What should we do?" Mulder asked her.
Alice shrugged. "Just watch for any changes. He might just present with nightmares that run their course, or he could become aggressive, or moody, or rude… Watching him tonight, I'd guess that he'll become very demanding and push the boundaries are far as you'll let him."
"Why?" Mulder questioned curiously.
"He'll want control over as much as possible. Once he believes that you and Dana will be there for him constantly, he'll want to control it to make sure he doesn't lose it again."
"What should we do?"
"Be firm, and don't give in to him," Alice suggested. "Of course, I could be wrong, and he might only have the nightmares. He might even be lucky and escape the trauma coming back to him. He's been lucky with you, Dana and Maggie. You've been wonderful to them both, and I'm very happy I decided to let them stay with Dana."
"You decided?" Mulder teased lightly.
"Yes," she said, grinning. "If you're going to be married soon, Mulder, you might realise that the woman is always right."
"The woman is always right anyway, whether I'm married or not," Mulder retorted.
"You learn fast," Alice chuckled.
They settled into silence, listening to the sound of running water upstairs and the faint murmur of Scully and Jacob chatting. "Yesterday he was so quiet and shy," Mulder said finally. "Today he's talkative and outgoing and friendly."
"A part of that is because of the care you've all given him," Alice said, nodding. "I really hope you get these kids, Mulder," she said quietly. "I promise you, I'll do everything I can to help you and Dana."
"Why?" Mulder asked, watching her. "What's changed your mind from viewing me and Scully as bad cops, to suddenly wanting us to be good parents?"
"The way the two of you are," Alice said finally. "I explained to Dana that I was scared you two wanted to use the children. It's happened before, and I imagine it will happen again. I just didn't want that to happen."
"We wouldn't do that," Mulder said quietly.
"I know that now," Alice smiled. "It's seeing people like you and Dana who take in children and care for them like your own, that reminds me why I do this job. There are so many children who aren't as lucky as Jacob and Lucy, and get passed from family to family with no care or love shown to them by the system or their own families. You and Dana care, and that's the most important gift you can give these children."
"My family wasn't a great family," Mulder admitted. "I'm scared of doing the wrong thing by the kids."
"As long as you do what's best for them, you'll be fine," Alice encouraged. "And like I said, I'll do what I can to make sure the two of you keep the children."
"Thank you, Alice," Mulder said quietly. "That means a lot."
Alice smiled. "And Mulder, I'm not going to pry as to whether or not this marriage is a marriage of convenience or not, but you and Dana better be prepared for some very, very personal questions on the nature of your relationship. Normally it's not questioned, but your circumstances are suspicious. If you two are being colourful with the truth, I'd suggest you get your stories very straight and very detailed."
Mulder glanced surreptitiously at Alice, who looked at him innocently. "I'm not blind, Mulder. I'm fairly certain other people aren't blind either, and it just takes the wrong questions for everything to fall apart."
"What was it?" Mulder asked finally.
"You check with each other before you say anything that might contradict something said before," Alice admitted. "Of course, you didn't hear that from me. As far as I'm aware, the two of you are very happily engaged and very much in love."
Mulder stared at her dumbly, until Scully appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "He wants his story now, Mulder."
"Think about it, Mulder," Alice said as he rose to his feet. She grinned at him brightly. "You might even want to make it fact as opposed to fiction."
Mulder grinned. "Fact would be good," he admitted with an uncharacteristic display of openness.
"I thought so," Alice agreed, grinning in return.
"What were you two talking about?" Scully asked on the way to the room Lucy and Jacob were sharing.
"I'll tell you later," Mulder said, stepping closer to her and savouring the light scent of perfume clinging to her skin.
She looked at him strangely, and then preceded him into the room where a little boy was waiting for his fairy tale.
Oh yes, he thought, the lingering scent tingling in his senses, fact would be very preferable to fiction.
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