ACT ONE

ACT ONE - PART ONE

Scene 1 - Sunday, March 4, 2018 - Morning - Surroundings of the Unremarkable house

Moans and groans. Inhaling, exhaling. Wince and frown.

Mulder was jogging in the woods, pushing hard his physical limits and forcing his legs into long and powerful strides. Since he and Scully had fought against the bad Russian guys of Purlieu Services he had reinforced his training. He wanted to be in the best shape for her; he wanted her to admire his healthy body and to think he was completely healed -both physically and mentally.

'Mens Sana in Corpore Sano' had become his motto, more than ever since he had seen and noticed how she had looked at him, how she had touched his chest and admired his sore body in the Long Lines Buildings.

He was and would be the new Fox Mulder reconquering his other half by a discreet but constant strategy. He knew -or, rather, he believed- that it was just a question of time, maybe of days; a matter of her adjusting to the new him and foreseeing an endless future together.

Now smiling despite the physical pain, soundtracked by 'Ho Hey' from The Lumineers in his ears, he was hopeful and happy. He listened to the song a few times in a row, remembering the bright redhead apparition on the lyrics 'so show me family, all the blood that I will bleed', when sitting on his porch some weeks ago. That had been a good omen he wanted to believe in.

'I belong with you, you belong with me' was the truth they both knew for so long. They just had to make it work in daily life, once again and this time for good. He was ready for the challenge and, as much as he could guess, she was too.

Almost.

Smile and sigh. Inhaling, exhaling. Moans and groans.

A beep signaling a text on his phone interrupted his train of thoughts. He checked the message while running at a slower pace -"Someone wants to see us ASAP. Heading to our home. Will explain there."

Scully.

Our home?

'Love we need it now, Let's hope for some, Cause oh, we're bleeding out,' was singing in his ears.

He took a short cut and ran as fast as he could to come back home.

Their home.

Almost.

Scene 2 - Unremarkable house

When he arrived in the long alley heading to the white wooden house, he noticed the two parked cars. Scully was already there and she didn't come alone. The mysterious 'someone' was there too.

He felt a bit disappointed. On his way back he had hoped for an exclusive moment with Scully, for enough time to exchange intimate words and sweet gestures -maybe even more? Yet, in front of the stranger it would undoubtedly be all business right away.

He stepped on the porch, walked towards the door, put his hand on the door handle, and sighed heavily while entering the house.

"Here he is!"

"Still in great shape as far as I can tell."

"Running had always been his thing."

"I'm so happy to visit you two in your house. It's amazing!"

"I'm afraid he has to take a shower ASAP."

"He's so sporty and... muscular."

"It's a nice place to jog with all the natural surroundings."

Blah blah blah.

The words had been launched as soon as Mulder had put a toe inside the house. The constant chat besieging him and making him halt in the doorway was coming from the two women sitting on the couch, each one holding a cup of tea. His lovely redhead and a blonde, vaguely familiar.

"Hi, there!" he only managed to say while Scully quickly reached him and grabbed his arm, leading his body to the bottom of the stairs.

"Mulder, you're completely soaked by sweat, so messy, muddy, and so... bare. You need to go and wash before being polite," Scully said authoritatively, pushing him upwards.

'Bare?' he thought while ascending the stairs. 'I wear shorts and a tank top.'

A few seconds later, he stepped into the shower and let his thoughts focus hard in his memories. Downstairs he had seen their guest for only a few seconds and from a few meters away, but he was sure to know her.

From their past in the FBI... When he came back from the dead.

"Leyla Harrison!" he yelled out loud.

Scene 3 - Unremarkable house

When Mulder had come back downstairs fresh and clean, Scully had settled him beside her on the couch. Leyla was sitting opposite and was facing them in a comfortable armchair.

Leyla was hugely delighted to visit Mulder and Scully in their lovely house and to have a slight insight into their intimate lives. She hadn't really understood what Scully had explained to her about the current unconventional situation of their couple -sparse and unclear words as if Scully had something to hide and had wanted to get rid of this part of their mundane chat.

It didn't matter to Leyla to know the reality because what was clear and loud in front of her was Mulder and Scully's unearthly love for each other.

She couldn't tell if her most significant clue was the way Mulder and Scully were diving into and were giving in to each other's stare; or the way they were lightly touching each other's body; or just the electricity and change in the air she sensed when these two were only a few inches apart. She just felt blessed to witness once again their interrelationship -bringing sweet memories of a cute banter about an Alien spaceship in Antarctica, when she had been lying in a hospital bed.

She would have to focus hard on her task and be all professional -but damn! That was so difficult for her not to be distracted by these two, completely unaware of the effect they could have on someone else. Not to forget Agent Mulder who had aged like a fine wine... and was so... she couldn't even find the words in her mind, so troubled she was since he had appeared in the threshold.

"I'm so happy to see you, Agent Mulder. Though, I wish it would have been in other circumstances," Leyla said, keeping her inappropriate feelings at bay.

"Just call me Mulder, Leyla. I'm glad to see you too. You seem to have become a fierce Agent in the FBI," Mulder replied, sensing a profound change between the woman he had known back in the days and the one facing him. Despite her shyness right now, he could guess how strong and determined she certainly was in her job -something pouring out from her posture.

"Thanks, you're nice. I'm very sorry to intrude into your home like that. I'd have preferred..." Leyla explained.

"That's okay, Leyla. It's a safe place here, and it was the closest one to be reunited so fast and so easily," Scully interrupted.

"Why the rush? And the secrecy? What's all about?" Mulder asked.

"Skinner advised me to encounter you first, away from the FBI. So you could give me your opinion on something I've dug up. I wanted to meet you in a more neutral place, a coffee shop, but Agent Scully, whom I reached first, proposed your house. I really didn't want to bother you on Sunday and..." Leyla clarified.

"I told you, it doesn't bother us, Leyla. It's more practical for the three of us to meet there. Go ahead," Scully said.

"I'm not sure there's any kind of emergency either. But, once I'd explained my suspicions to Skinner, he told me it was better to handle the situation ASAP. Because maybe one life is currently in danger. At least, it's what my gut is telling me," she added with a smile.

Mulder and Scully looked at each other for a second and nodded in unison.

"Well, believe my experience, your gut can be your best advisor," Mulder said with a big smile.

Scene 4 - Unremarkable House

Mulder and Scully were waving to the car leaving the alley. They were standing on the porch close to each other, like the ordinary couple they were once and would have said goodbye to a friend or a relative visiting them.

In one hour, they would join Leyla and Skinner in the FBI Headquarters. That was the conclusion they reached after hearing Leyla's persuasive speech and arguments.

When the car was out of sight, Mulder instinctively put his right hand on Scully's lower back and began to push her towards the entrance of the house. When he realized what he was doing, he stopped his gesture -maybe Scully would want to take her car and drive to her home promptly. In a moment like this, he would always be oblivious of their current situation.

Mulder leaned his head down and stared at Scully, wondering what he might say to describe their relationship. Scully wasn't living here, but it was still half her house -legally and spiritually. They were spending most of their free time together, but they weren't together in the usual sense. He concluded that the couple they were forming these days was mostly blurry, just a sketch of a drawing full of ghostly lines from the past, waiting to be precisely outlined by the hand of the artist -fate? Scully's choice?- still hesitant to mark the paper for good.

Scully sensed Mulder's hesitation and stared back at him. She didn't need to ask him what his thoughts were right now. She was able to see through his eyes and to reach his inner soul, especially the part that was concerning them. She could read there all his hopes and expectations, all his vulnerability and sensibility, all his wounds and fears. She was always feeling guilty when she faced them, because she was the one who had left the other one and their home, some years ago. Though, something had changed recently and she could now read confidence, quietness and patience when scrutinizing his eyes.

This observation made her conscious that she hadn't reached a stable and safe place in her inner soul, and that she hadn't found the right path she would want to take with Mulder.

Yet.

However, she could be a woman of action and decision for both of them, now and then.

She smiled, took his hand and said:

"I think we have some little time before heading to the FBI. I guess we could take a moment... just the two of us and without mentioning the case."

"Wanna eat something?" Mulder asked as they were entering the house.

"I could say I'm a bit hungry. For a unique taste," Scully replied, stopping them in the living room. "We didn't properly greet each other when you came back from your jog."

Facing him, she enclosed his head with her two hands and pulled it down towards her own face. She then kissed him tenderly and chastely on the lips. Mulder remained mostly passive, enjoying the sensation and pleased that Scully had taken the lead. Nevertheless, he knew how to subtly push her forward.

"Fully satiated?" he whispered softly against her lips, perfectly aware that it wasn't the case. He then held his mouth still on hers, applying a featherly touch on her flesh and sending his warm breath on her delicate skin.

Scully didn't answer but resumed her kiss after a few seconds, switching it into a deeper one that would give her what she had been craving since Mulder had appeared in the house. They both naturally sank in the embrace, Mulder pulling Scully's body against his and firmly gripping his back with his two hands, Scully scratching his hair and neck.

Whereas passionately kissing, they were restraining their hands from taking a step forward and touching more sensitive areas. Both weren't sure that indulging in their sexual desire right now would be a good idea, each one for a different reason. Mulder didn't want to just fulfill their physical needs; there was so much deepness and significance he was expecting for the two of them when it came to intimate matters. Scully didn't want to give Mulder false hopes and to mislead him, as long as she wasn't sure of her definitive decision about them.

Mulder broke their kiss and apologized for the hard-on he couldn't hide and which was bumping into her belly:

"I'm sorry... I... don't want to... pressure you... so to say."

"Mulder, never apologize for that," Scully replied. "I'm as aroused as you. If no more."

They stood still for a while, each one pondering their next move. Both wondering if they should endure or put an end to the exquisite torture they were in.

As had happened many times in their past, they reached a common ground at the same moment.

"Just to release..." Mulder started, "... pressure before business," Scully finished.

They were mature adults, after all. They could have sex just for the sake of it, without weighing the act itself with all the confusing feelings of their hearts, and without letting it be a milestone for their relationship.

So, they moved to the couch -for the bed was sacred and inappropriate for an impromptu that would have to remain nonsensical- and went for a lighthearted casual quickie, Scully straddling Mulder's lap, their bodies half-clothed, their eyes half-closed, and their inevitable moans, half-mouthed.

For they were still halfway from each other one.

ACT ONE - PART TWO

Scene 1 - Towards the FBI Headquarters

They had taken Scully's car so they could discuss the case before reaching the FBI Headquarters and allow Mulder to have a snack -he was utterly starving.

As soon as Scully had turned on the ignition, they had switched into their investigator mode. More precisely, they had genuinely tried, in the beginning.

What they hadn't planned was that they couldn't pretend to act casually and leave their feelings and frustration in their house, on the couch. They had brought a third passenger in the car, sitting on the back seats; they couldn't see it directly, but they could feel its presence. If it had to take shape it would be a big question mark, a symbol for all the questions they would have to answer sooner or later -'Can we really ignore we just made love because we simply love each other?', 'What's next from now?', 'How do we truly stand today?', 'What do we want for our future?', 'To spend it fully together, or still on semi-separate paths?'.

Mulder opened the discussion.

"I'm not sure why Skinner wants us on it. Not really X File flavored at first sight," Mulder said while biting on his huge home-made veggie sandwich.

"I guess it's because we are experienced and used to unusual investigations. We also are still some kind of outsiders in the FBI... we can investigate more discreetly. And you were and are a great profiler, never forget that," Scully replied.

"Well... If you say so. I might be a bit rusty."

On these words Scully glanced at Mulder. Rusty? Damn, he had never looked so good and so appealing. How could she even escape him if she ever wanted to? It seemed impossible.

Of course, that wasn't what he had meant, but, for sure, she was convinced that his mind wasn't rusty either.

"Let's focus on Leyla's observations. I found her very convincing," Scully stated.

"She was," he agreed. And, after a chew, "She impressed me."

'And she was amazed by you,' thought Scully. That was one of the things that had ignited her desire: the presence of Leyla and the way Leyla had stared at Mulder. Scully had felt an ounce of jealousy, she couldn't deny it. And then, there had been the way Leyla had acknowledged both of them -as a legitimate and ordinary couple. That was certainly significant.

"You know, at some point, she had made me think of you," Mulder said, turning his head to admire Scully's profile. "I cannot say why or what... because she's not exactly like you. That was troubling."

'And that had reminded me of so many reasons why I loved and love you. For so long,' thought Mulder. These last weeks, everything would remind him of Scully and his love for her, more strongly than ever. That could be a color in the sky when the sun was setting, a smell from the grass when jogging, a smile on a stranger's face, a line read in a newspaper -seemingly insignificant things and unrelated to Scully, yet overwhelming his brain with intense emotions intricately connected to her. Was he becoming excessively soft and sentimental with age? Was that a problem? He just missed her so much; he just needed her by his side, 24/7.

"Mulder, wake up! You're drooling on your sandwich," Scully launched at Mulder when she realized that he was completely lost in thought.

"What?"

"Nevermind. Finish your snack. We'll arrive soon."

While Mulder was busy chewing and swallowing, now fixing blankly the road through the windshield, Scully couldn't help glancing at his profile. Especially his jaw and his lips in action. How many times had she spent staring at these particular parts of his body? She could lose herself in his movements, scrutinizing every anatomic details, then comparing the subtle differences between the actual scene and the other ones memorized in her neurons -the color of the skin; the state or absence of the stubble; the shape and the contractions of the muscles of his jaw; the motion of the tongue within the mouth that she could only guess. Unfortunately, right now, she couldn't satisfy her favorite pastime satisfyingly -she was driving. So, she let her thoughts be fueled by sounds and glimpses, and, mixed with reminiscences of their earlier kiss, she fell into a sweet sensual reverie. However, her fantasies became soon punctuated by her lingering doubts and interrogations about their future together.

"Scully?" Mulder suddenly asked after a while that neither of them would have been able to quantify.

"Yeah?"

"I think we've almost reached the FBI and we haven't begun to discuss the case yet."

"Oh, well... Doesn't matter. This isn't our case. We'll do that in the appropriate office."

Then, after a silent beat: "Scully?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we getting… old?"

Actually, Mulder had wanted to pronounce another word -like 'sentimental', or 'softhearted', or 'wistful'- but he had preferred to stand on a more neutral ground.

"Don't say nonsense, Mulder. We aren't old," Scully replied with a big smile and a tap on his thigh.

Scene 2 - FBI Headquarters

Skinner was waiting for Mulder and Scully, standing in the doorway of his office. Leyla was already settled around the huge oval desk, piles of sheets scattered in front of her, and rereading for the nth time her notes. The hallway Skinner was scanning was deserted. Only a few people would have a good reason to frequent this part of the building on a Sunday morning. Nevertheless, he was worrying that someone could witness their impromptu secret meeting.

When he heard the characteristic sound of two people emerging from the elevator, then walking toward his direction before turning the corner and being in sight, he exhaled loudly. Not that the two Agents were late: they were actually one minute early, he had checked his watch. Though, they could have been more prompt.

His impatience instantly faded away when he saw Scully smiling and staring straight at him, moving in long and determined strides. She was followed by Mulder a few steps behind her, seemingly focused on a spot in Scully's back and displaying a strange smile on his face. Was Mulder mesmerized by the motion of Scully's hips, or even her bottom? The thought made Skinner sigh deeply, then smile. He had always had a soft spot for these two and their gooey but idiosyncratic relationship.

When they reached his door, Skinner moved aside and switched to his usual boss face.

"Agents, thanks for coming. Enter, please," Skinner said and let them through.

"Thanks for trusting us, Walter," Scully replied warmly.

"Our pleasure, A.D. Skinner," Mulder added with the beginning of a wink.

Skinner shook his head and rose the corner of his mouth imperceptibly, almost failing to keep his professional face.

However, once the door was shut upon them, there were nothing but four Agents working on a case and discussing what course of action should be planned.

Scene 3 - FBI Headquarters

When he heard Skinner's office door closing, Tom Colton stepped out of the corner where he was hiding. He hadn't wanted to be seen but he had wanted to witness their arrival.

Agents Mulder and Scully, Mister and Missus Spooky, the legendary couple, the myth.

Colton hadn't had a chance to stumble upon them during these last few months, since he had been assigned to the Headquarters. Or, rather, he had cautiously avoided to encounter them. But, today, as they were meeting Leyla, he couldn't help observing them.

Dana Scully was still stunning, her beauty and her strength of character floating around her as she was walking along the corridor. She hadn't climbed the ladder all the way to the top but she had explored so many more challenging and risky roads. With so much talent and adventures.

Unlike himself.

And there was Agent Mulder, always giving off that specific aura of peculiarity and nonchalance, screening his determination and passion. Colton would easily admit that the guy was odd but he would never call him insane again. He would even envy some of Mulder's feats, these legendary cases he had worked on and that had been spread out in the whole building till these days.

Nothing compared to his own pathetic records.

Last, there were the two of them as a whole entity. Always together, a fortress of loyalty. Colton couldn't believe he had been so foolish and so presumptuous to think he could have broken it, decades ago in Baltimore.

He was so young and naive, back then.

Avoiding to make any noise, Colton was now walking backwards, moving away from Skinner's office. His intention was to sneak a bit more into the deserted corridors.

Suddenly, he felt his phone slightly buzz in his back pocket. He picked it up and read the text he had received: 'Hon, I'm afraid I won't be back home till evening. Even night. Hoping all goes well with the kids. Kiss.'

An air of guilt on his face, Colton tapped back: 'Don't worry. Everything is OK. Do what you have to. Kisses from all of us.' For a few seconds he hesitated, his thumb hovering over the sending touch on the screen. Then, clenching his jaw and muttering 'Oh, shit,' he sent this message.

Noticing he was standing by a lavatory, he entered the room. He stepped toward the sink and splashed his face with fresh water. Then, he picked up a flyer from an inside pocket of his jacket, and read once again what was written on it.

Looking at his face in the mirror, he quietly but resolutely pronounced the words imprinted:

'Make Manhood Great Again.'