Chapter 4

Mulder loved to hear Scully laugh, really, he did, but he preferred that it not be at his expense. He crossed his arms in front of him and glared at his wife.

"Why is this so funny?"

"Oh, Mulder, I'm so sorry, I don't mean anything," she said but couldn't stop laughing.

"I'm taking Danny out for a man's day…"

Scully began to giggle again.

"You are insulting my manhood and I don't think I like it."

She tried to control herself and managed to stop laughing though she couldn't stop the grin that was still on her face.

"I don't mean to….that is…"

Mulder was giving her his best pouty face and she broke into laughter again.

"I don't understand what is so funny. Yeah, me and Danny. A man's day out in the world," he said his anger rising.

"Yeah, that!" Scully turned away

"Stop it already!" He stalked across the kitchen and pulled his still giggling wife to him, holding her tight. "I'll make you giggle if you're so intent on laughing!" He began to nuzzle her neck in earnest, causing her to laugh harder. "Surrender!"

"Never!" She squirmed against him.

"Surrender!"

"Mulderrr…" she threw her head back as he bit it softly, her laughter rapidly turning to a new emotion.

"Now what was that about me not being man enough to spend a day with Danny?"

"It's not that. It's just that you're…distinct kinds of men…"

"And?" He continued his gentle assault on her neck, slowly starting to unbutton the buttons on her blouse.

"And I'm not sure…that your…idea of a man's day is the same as the Captain's…"

"You really think I'm not…manly enough?" he opened her blouse to reveal a silk lacy bra and cupped her breasts within his hands.

She rubbed up against him and felt his arousal. "I think you're more than enough…" she breathed into his ear and then opened her mouth to him. He kissed her fiercely and thrust his tongue into her mouth and she moaned.

"Mulderrr…."

"Scuuully…"

"Mom! Dad!' the small voice whined from the doorway.

Mulder and Scully froze where they stood, and slowly released each other's face and lips from one another. Scully gulped, knowing that she couldn't turn around to look at her son given her state of undress.

"Will?" Mulder cleared his throat. "I thought you were playing."

"I was until you got too noisy."

"Too noisy?" Scully murmured and gave Mulder a scolding look.

"Yeah, I could hear you. You were…excited!"

Mulder and Scully exchanged a horrified look, and Mulder turned around, shielding Scully from William's sight as she rebuttoned her blouse.

"What did you hear?" Mulder asked his son who looked up at him innocently.

"Not with my ears."

"Will! You're not supposed to be listening in."

"I didn't mean to, but you were loud!"

"But you can do some things to block us out, right?"

"Yeah, I just wasn't expecting you and Mom to….to be all lovey!" The boy said in a frustrated voice.

"Sorry Will. It's just that your Dad and I love each other," Scully said with a bright smile as she turned around.

"Yeah, I know." Will folded his arms in front of him and scowled at his parents, looking for all intents like a small version of Mulder.

Scully bit her lip and tried not to laugh as she looked at Mulder who had assumed the same exact pose. She walked over and knelt in front of her son. "You know that listening to people's minds is wrong, don't you?"

"Yeah," the boy uncrossed his arms and nodded, "I know. But I couldn't help it! I can hear you think about kissing each other and hugging…"

"Stop!" Scully raised her hand, not wanting to know if Will could hear the rest of their adult thoughts.

He looked at his mother and father with a glum expression. "I don't like it either."

Mulder knelt beside his son. "What do you need to be able to block us?"

"I don't know, just telling me maybe."

"You just need to know that we need…private time?" Mulder asked.

"Yeah, Dad. I think that would work."

"And if you block us out it won't matter what we do?"

"Nope. And I won't hear you!" He smiled happily.

Mulder smiled across at Scully. "Think we can remember that, Scully?"

"Pretty sure we can, Mulder." She ruffled Will's hair, and he gave her a reluctant smile. "I don't want to educate you at too young of an age…"

"But Mom, I…"

Mulder put a hand over Will's mouth. Will and his Dad exchanged a long look and after a few moments Will nodded.

"Will?" Scully quirked an eyebrow at her men.

"Nothing, Mom." He sighed. "Can I go now?"

"You won't listen in?"

"Really? You need private time now?"

"Yeah, I need to talk to Mulder…your Dad."

A brief expression of relief flitted across the boy's face. "Yeah, sure. I won't listen."

"We'll come get you for dinner."

"Okay," he said and left the kitchen going back to his toys.

The two adults looked at each other and laughed.

"Damn, Scully," Mulder grinned like a Cheshire cat. "What a boy!"

"Yeah, well don't get too excited. That's rather inconvenient, don't you think?"

"Maybe, depends what we do," he said with a twinkle in his eyes as he helped her to her feet and pulled her close again. He placed a loving kiss on her lips and for just a moment she rested her head against her chest. Then she pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"We need to finish our talk."

"About what?"

"About your man's day with Danny? What will that consist of?"

"Oh, that." Mulder eyed her with suspicion but saw no trace of laughter.

"I know you won't go sailing."

"God no!" Mulder blanched remembering the occasion when the Captain had taken him sailing with a hangover.

"Or fishing?"

"No, not at all what I had in mind." He rubbed his chin. "I know we're different but there are some basic traits that all men have in common."

"And what would they be?"

Mulder smirked. "Men love women, at least most men, and for certain Danny and me."

"Which means what?" Scully looked amused again. "That you'll go drinking?"

"Well, yeah, that," Mulder shoved his hands in his pockets, shifting uncomfortably.

Scully folded her hands in front of her and looked him in the eye. "Mulder, are you planning to take him to a strip club?"

He bit his lip. "I hadn't decided, but it did…cross my mind."

"Why would you do that? He's devoted to Carolyn, even if they have hit a rough patch. And you're devoted to me, aren't you?"

"Do you have to ask?" He stepped into her space again.

"Then why would you do that?"

"It's like this, I think he's forgotten what it is to be a man. And by that I don't mean all the pretentiousness or posturing that the male of the species tends to do; those are usually layers of bullshit."

"Here, here!"

He continued, ignoring her. "I think he needs to connect to what he is again at a basic level. And trust me, Scully, things don't get much more basic than a strip club."

"And what would you be doing?"

"Chaperoning him. Reminding him of what we are, and that on our most basic level we are attracted to beautiful women. We often have basic biological urges that we cannot control. And you're a doctor so don't tell me you don't know that."

"Umm, I do know that, but it doesn't mean I approve of this plan of yours."

"Approve? Maybe not. But do you understand it."

"Yeah, I guess. You're trying to get him to reconnect with the biology of being a man again."

"Right, because once he does that and accepts that's the physical part of who he is now I think it will be one less thing for him to struggle against. I think he's putting too much pressure on himself to want to be physical with Carolyn…"

"…and he's just not ready." Scully sighed. "I just never thought this would be an issue."

"Neither did he, or any of us."

"Well, I don't approve, but I understand…sort of." She wrapped her arms around her husband. "But if you do anything while you're there you're a dead man," she whispered into his ear.

He stared after her as she tossed a smile his way and walked out of the room.

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They stood outside of the Master Suite and stared at each other. After a few moments, the Captain took Carolyn's hand and held it within his own, turning it over and then he kissed it tenderly.

"Goodnight, my dear."

"You aren't coming to bed?" She inclined her head to the open door of their bedroom.

"I am indeed going to bed, but…not with you. Not tonight."

"But…" Carolyn looked so forlorn that Daniel felt his will tested, but he had to remain resolute as he wasn't ready to resume relations yet with his wife.

"I'm sorry, my love, but I am not yet…ready. I shall be staying in the guest room until I have come to terms with my new existence."

Carolyn gave him a sad look but stepped into his space and wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight. He stroked her hair, lamenting the fact that he was so at odds with himself. She finally sighed and stepped away from him but not before placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Am I permitted to tell you that I love you?"

He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Yes, just as I am permitted to tell you that I love you now just as I always have." He sighed and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. "This circumstance is unforeseen, and you have my sincere apologies."

"We'll get through it, we always have, and we always will. And now we truly do have the rest of our lives."

He nodded. "Oh, and I will be leaving early in the morning as Fox is stopping by to pick me up."

"For your man's day out?" Carolyn couldn't help herself, she giggled just a little.

"And what, pray tell is so funny?"

"Just the thought of the two of you spending a man's day out and about together. You are very different types of men."

"Yes, the thought had crossed my mind as well. But he thinks he can help, and he is a psychologist and in today's world I am led to believe that kind of thing may be helpful to someone such as me who is having unexpected…difficulties…adjusting to life."

"Hmm, maybe. Well, you can tell me about it when you get home tomorrow." She offered him a dazzling smile. "While you boys are out Dana and I might have our own day."

"That sounds like an excellent plan." He paused and bowed to her. "Goodnight, my love."

"Goodnight Daniel." She stared after him as he walked down the hall and entered the guest room. "Blast!" She muttered and entered the Master Suite.

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AN: Ahh, Poor Daniel. But things will get better! With a friend like Mulder he simply has no choice. Thanks for reading and I hope you're enjoying this last entry. Thanks for reading!