"I hate it when Skinner's right," Mulder muttered, sitting down on the bench next to Scully.

"Me too," she agreed.

"So what do we do?"

"I don't know."

They sat in silence, staring out over the reflecting pool. She didn't want to talk to him and he didn't want to talk to her, but now they were forced to. Right here on this bench, they had to decide what was most important. Their jobs, their partnership, their friendship, or freedom from the arguing and the hating. Her chin rested in her hands and she replayed the last few weeks in her head. She backtracked, trying to figure out where it all went wrong, where they had slipped up. But she could only remember the fighting. There was not a time that she could think of, even years ago, that was not outlined with some sort of frustration. That didn't, however, change the way she felt when she looked at him. He was her best friend, and she loved him, despite it all.

"I think we should give it a shot," she whispered finally.

"When you're right, it's not as bad as when Skinner's right."

"Does that mean you agree or just that I'm right and you're forced to go with my answer even though you don't like it?"

"It means I agree."

"Okay."

"Hey Scully," he said after a moment.

"Yeah?"

"I don't like fighting with you. I really don't. I know it seems like I do because I've been making it sport lately, but I really hate it."

"I'm not a fan either."

"Any suggestions on how to stop?"

"I'm all out. You?"

"Well, Jack Kerouac once said that his aunt said that the world would never find peace until men fell down at their women's feet and asked for forgiveness," he said moving from the bench to kneel on the ground.

"Oh my word…" Scully muttered, looking down at him.

"Just trying to broker a little peace on earth here."

She smiled and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him up from the ground.

"You don't have to go to all that trouble. Besides, I would have to fall down at your feet and ask for forgiveness too."

"All's fair in love and war."

"That's what they say."

"I guess we'd better go tell Skinner."

"You think you can face him after that incredibly juvenile fight we just had in front of him?"

"Scully, you know me. I have no shame."

She smiled and he pulled her up from the bench.

"I think that it would be a good idea if we put a moratorium on all things controversial for awhile."

"I think that is a very safe idea, Mulder."

Side by side, they walked back together.