After a delicious lunch Mulder started rooting in his pockets. Monica looked on puzzled.

"What are you looking for?"

"My sunflower seeds. I know they have to be here somewhere." he said, then started searching through his jacket. A couple of seconds later he exclaimed happily.

"Ah hah! I have them." he took a plastic baggie out of his pocket. "Damn." he swore, seeing that it was completely empty.

Suddenly an almost full bag was thrust into his line of vision. He looked up from the precious sight into Monica's eyes.

"I'm practically addicted to them and always have a bag with me." she said in way of explanation.

He just sat there, staring at her with his mouth gaping open. Finally he shook off his stupor.

"Sunflower seeds!? You love sunflower seeds!? A woman after my own heart. Could you be any more perfect? You're single, right?" Mulder asked gleefully.

She decided not to bother telling him about the utter inappropriatness of his question and instead answered. "Yes."

"Good. Not anymore."

THAT one definitely threw her. "What!?"

"Well, you have an open mind, are an expert in occult and folklore, you're a believer and you love sunflower seeds. You're perfect for me. We're identical, made for each other." Mulder explained patiently, as if it was completely logical and she was just obtuse for not recognizing it.

"Are you insane!? You can't just decide for me that I'm your girlfriend just because we're so alike. I still love John and you love Dana."

"You said earlier that you know there will never be anything for you with Doggett. You also know about Scully and me. We're both moved on, so why don't we try to find happiness and love with each other?"

She was quiet for a while, completely stunned by his reasoning. She opened her mouth to object, but quickly snapped it shut. Maybe she was insane also, but there was definitely some logic in that reasoning.

She thought for a while and then shrugged.

"You know what? You're right, we really are right for each other. Just let me warn you, if you look at anyone else's breasts and ass but mine from now on, I'll shoot you. Remember, I have a gun and know how to use it. What is more, I'm fully prepared to use it. Your days of oggling other women are over. As are the days of all those videos that aren't yours."

At his look of surprise she explained. "Dana has told me all about them. You won't need them anymore, you have me from now on. And you're stuck with me for good, whether you like it or not. And if you intend to complain, let me remind you that it was your idea."

He was quiet for a while before speaking. "Okay, just know that all that goes for you too."

She nodded and he continued. "Okay, girlfriend, just let me pay this and we can go, I have a few cases I would like your opinion on."

She grimaced. "Please, no 'girlfriend'. We're not in high school anymore. And no 'lover' either, it's for those who have only sex to bind them, we have more."

"So what do I call you?"

"You can call me Monica. If you twist my arm you can also call me 'honey', 'baby' or 'sweetheart'. But no 'babe'"

Mulder grinned.

"And I'll call you Fox."

Mulder's grin vanished. "Come on! I hate that name." he whined.

"Non-negotiable." she said firmly. "If we are to have a romantic relationship I refuse to call you by your family name. If we get married it would look pretty weird calling you by my family name, wouldn't it?"

Mulder looked dazed. He definitely hadn't expected that she would even think about long term with him, much less marriage. He was surprised to realize that the prospect of being married to her didn't bother him. Hell, he couldn't wait for it to happen, for them to spend the rest of their life together. Suddenly he was looking forward to the coming years with more enthusiasm and eagerness than he ever had.

Still, he had to check. "Married?"

"I'm not accepting anything less. That and children. At least 2 of them. I also want you to develop as close a relationship with your firstborn as Dana will allow. As I said, I'm not accepting anything less." she stated and he saw the sincerity in her eyes.

"Good, neither do I, so I'm glad we agree on that. So, honey, what do you say we get out of her and start with the rest of our life?"

"I say: lead on, sweetheart."

They payed and left a tip, taking hold of each other's hands for the first time and headed out.

To finally fulfill their destiny as soulmates.

THE END

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AN: thus ends my first XF fic. Comment to the soulmates thingie... Mulder and Monica have so much in common, are so identical, alike, according to canon, not to mention the chemistry they shared just made air crackle and pop, that I think I can safely declare them soulmates. While Mulder and Scully shared a lot of love, history and an amazing friendship, I can't proclaim them soulmates because they are so different. They are different as night and day, personality-wise.

Should I write more Mulder/Reyes fics?