Mulder sat on a bench in the middle of Washington Park. He had not been there since he and Scully were taken, and was a bit apprehensive of his surroundings at first. He was not entirely sure of why he chose to come back to Washington Park, but the location seemed right for the task at hand.
The box had been in the hallway closet, exactly as Scully said. What Mulder held in his hands now was what was inside the box. The letter-sized envelope seemed innocent enough, but he was afraid of what was inside. Hesitantly, Mulder lifted up the sticker that sealed the envelope and pulled out its contents. Two pages of white paper filled with Scully's handwriting threatened to fly away as Mulder quickly scanned the lengthy letter.
After reading it the first time through, Mulder leaned forward and planted his face into the palms of his hands.
"Scully, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Mulder sat back and read through the letter again, this time thoroughly.
"Dear Mulder,
I will rue the day when that name no longer has meaning to me. I will rue the day when you suddenly become 'Fox' instead of 'Mulder.' Your last name has become a term of endearment to me as I am sure mine is to you.
Over these past couple of years I have felt myself become someone, at times, completely unrecognizable to myself. Though I try hard to follow the conventions of science, I find myself swept away in your theories and your passion. I realize that often it may seem that I am constantly at your back, questioning your every move, but truth be told, it is because I am afraid. I'm afraid of what you may find. I'm afraid of losing the conventions that ground me.
Mulder, every day when I go to work, I find myself transported into a different world. In this world there are no pretenses. There are no walls and no masks and no forgiving because there is understanding. I believe that our relationship has been built upon understanding and faith. The understanding that we each must do what we believe is right and the faith that we will both pull through.
And now it is on this understanding and faith that I will reveal something that I have kept inside of me for too long. I hope, Mulder that you will not turn your back on me once I say what I mean to say. Everyday you go looking for manifestations of your truth, but I find my manifestations of truth in you.
I have been in love before so I know that what I feel with you is nothing of that sort. It is higher and more powerful. There is something nearly ethereal in our bond. Mulder, I know you feel it too. I can tell in your actions and words. You speak to me differently than to others, but it is not in a condescending way. You speak to me like I'm the only person in the world you can trust. You are the only person I trust too.
I express my feelings in this letter because if I speak them out loud, there is no taking them back. If, somehow, you don't feel the same way, I will understand. If, somehow, you do, then Mulder, we've already wasted so much time.
I have loved you since the day I met you.
Scully."