Sunday night… the weekends always seemed to vanish far too quickly these days. Mulder had taken to spending Friday and Saturday nights at her apartment but, at least for now, they were still spending their weeknights apart. Scully still needed her space, and they had both agreed that they needed to maintain their focus at work if they wanted to have any hope of getting the X-Files away from Diana and Spender.

But, despite their agreement, she missed him when he wasn't around, especially after having him to herself for two days. Sure, there were two toothbrushes in the cup beside her bathroom sink, and a razor and shaving cream on the counter. When she'd run out of coffee, the new bag of coffee beans she'd bought at the grocery store had been his favourite brand rather than hers. Last week, she'd found the shell from a sunflower seed in her shoe as she was lacing them up before her run.

She hadn't been annoyed. Ridiculously enough, it had made her smile.

Maybe, maybe someday sooner than she'd thought, things would change again. They could find a place of their own, something new to have together…

The phone rang and she glanced down at her watch. 6 o'clock, right on schedule.

"Hello?"

"Are you moping about again?" Stella's voice sparkled with humour.

"No," Scully answered indignantly, drawing the blanket up around her knees and reaching for her mug of tea. "I don't mope." She took a sip and set it down on the end table next to the couch.

"Of course you don't. That's why I make a point of calling you on Sunday evenings."

"How was your week?"

"Pretty rough, actually. I've been assigned to another set of serial sexual assault cases, likely at least two attackers working cooperatively." She was quiet for a moment. "I've done a lot of these, but you never truly get numb to the anger, to the violence, that's been inflicted."

"That's not a bad thing."

"No. No, it isn't."

Scully scrunched her toes under the blanket and took another sip of orange pekoe. "Mulder and I are being loaned out to Quantico the week after next. Some sort of training exercise. I never thought I'd be looking forward to teaching a batch of wet behind the ears recruits about decomposition and crime scene analysis, but it beats sitting at a desk."

"I'm sure you'll get the X-Files back. You're nothing if not determined."

Scully let out a small snort. "You think I'm determined? Wait until you meet Mulder."

"I can't imagine that would be a good idea."

"You might be surprised… I think you two would get on better than you think."

Stella made a soft huff, a little like a laugh. "Well… never say never. Perhaps some day."

"I'd like that," Scully said quietly. "Some day." I miss you, she thought, although she didn't say the words out loud.

They chatted for another twenty minutes about everything and nothing, until Stella muffled a yawn. "Bed time for me soon, I'm afraid. Up too late last night and it's time to pay the piper."

"I'm glad you called." The phone was pressed against her shoulder, her eyes closed, and she could hear the gentle sound of Stella's breath against the receiver. It was almost like they were in the same room together.

There was a long pause, long enough that Scully could imagine Stella saying, 'I miss you, too,' and then Stella's voice was in her ear, soft and low. "Good night, Dana."

"Good night."

She hung up the phone and finished her tea in quiet contemplation. She had tried her hand at normal relationships, and they had ended in disaster. Yet, somehow, she had managed to stumble into two very unconventional ones that ended up suiting her just fine. She shook her head. Life was funny that way. Things could change again tomorrow but, at least for now, her heart was full, and she was content.

And that's all - at least for now. I've had some thoughts for a sequel, so we'll see if the muse cooperates. Thank you to everyone for reading and especially to those who took the time to leave a comment. I appreciate the support! And, of course, a super special thank you to my wonderful beta, Josie Lange, for slogging through another long story with me and for all her helpful advice and corrections. :)