A/N: This is one of three prompts sent to me from tumblr user deanwincherter. The prompt was "The 2012 claendar that hangs in Mulder's room makes Scully angry. Each day that passes he marks with a big red X...each X is one less day they have together."

Don't forget to review! Warning, this one is more sad than my last two.

One Less Day

The games she usually plays with herself to help her fall asleep aren't working. No matter what she does, her mind keeps flashing back to that damn calendar hanging up in Mulder's unoffical office. It made her sick, Mulder marking off days with a foreboding red X. Everyday brings them closer to their last.

December 21st 2012.

Scully would never cop to it, but the thought of that day filled her with a ridiculous sense of dread. She can't help but believe as Mulder does, that the 20th will be their last day together.

She rolls over in bed to look at the blue glow on her nightstand. 12:08 AM. Officially a new day. Officially one less day. She bit her lip to keep from crying, she couldn't stand the thought of ever losing him.

Giving up on sleep altogether she eases herself out of their shared bed, careful not to wake Mulder who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. He didn't stir as she padded out of their room and into his.

Scully flicked the light switch and was temporarily blinded. Squinting, she took in the sight of the calendar. It was a simple one with mountain landscapes and inspiring quotes. This month's was "Dream Big", whether or not the pun was intended was yet to be determined. This time biting her lip wasn't enough to keep from crying as she put a big red X through the box marked 17. 'One less day, one less day', her mind kept repeating.

"Scully?" Mulder startled her, she spun around to find him leaning against the door frame. He took a couple tentative steps toward her. "What are you doing up?"

She considered him for a beat. "I couldn't sleep", she replied softly.

He took note of the red marker in her hand. She pretended not to notice.

"Scully."

No answer.

"Scully."

"Mulder."

He took another half step towards her so that he was right up against her. He took her hand in his. "Let's go to bed."

She shook her head and tried to blink away the tears that were welling up. "Mulder, I can't",she said forcefully.

"Come on, I'll make you some tea to help you sleep", he says, misunderstanding her.

"No Mulder, I can't... I can't stand to look at this damn calendar anymore!"

"What?" he asked, still not understanding.

"Mulder, I feel silly saying this, but as we get closer and closer to... you know I just can't help but think about the big what if. And if what you found all those years ago is true then our time", she paused to blink away tears. "Our time with one another is running out. And, at the risk of sounding like a five year old, I don't want it to end."

He was speechless. All he could do was pull her into an embrace while he gathered his thoughts. She finally let her tears begin to fall.

"Our time together isn't going to end Scully", he finally murmurs. "We aren't going to separate in December, or any other time for that matter. I don't know exactly what you believe anymore, but I'll tell you what, we have been through too much for even the worst, death, to ruin it."

She sniffed and looked up at him. "Do you really believe that?"

He nodded. "Whatever comes on that day, whatever happens, we are going to face it just like we've faced everything else." He kissed the top of her head. "Together."