A/N - Hi. :) Thanks for the reviews & feedback on comma placement! :) I'm glad it's not much of a big deal. Whew!
Here's the second chapter. Enjoy!

Dana Scully, at the sink, scrubbing her hands under the running faucet, let out a slight laugh at her mother's clichéd joke. The moment Scully had finished washing her hands, the clock had struck eleven. She had been doing the dishes to preoccupy her anxious mind. She turned the knob on the faucet, turning it off. A sudden silence had fallen over the room without the pleasant sound of the running water. The silence remained until Scully spoke up.

"Mom," Scully turned to Maggie who had been standing beside her. She spoke in an soft, almost inaudible tone. "I don't know if I'm comfortable with my partner staying with us." Scully admitted with a brief sigh. It was obvious she had been exhausted. The way she spoke, the bags under her eyes. When was the last time she had gotten a good night's sleep? She couldn't even think back that far. Had it really been that long?

"Why not? He needs somewhere to stay, Dana. We're doing the man a favor."

"I know mom, it's just, I thought it was going to be just you and I." Scully looked down toward the floor, unsure as to what to say. Mulder had been in the living room, isolated. Who knew what he had been doing. Hopefully not throwing pencils at the ceiling for entertainment.

"I love you." Maggie paused. "We'll find time to spend together, don't worry. I know it." Maggie embraced Scully and smiled softly. Scully returned the smile then nodded. She looked toward the direction the living room was in, and turned her eyes toward Maggie.

"I should say something to him."

--

Scully entered the living room slowly with her arms dangling by her sides. Mulder was seated on the couch, looking around the living room, trying to find something to catch his interest. The room was quiet. Not a single sound.

"Mulder…" Scully began to speak as she walked toward the couch. "I'm sorry." Scully's tone was still hush, soft, inaudible. She meant her apology. What had happened earlier between the two was rough.

Mulder's hazel eyes shot up, looking into Scully's. At that moment their eyes met, he could feel a connection. A different kind of connection. One he had never felt before. But what was it?

"No biggie." Mulder responded non-chalantly. He took his eyes off Scully and looked forward. Thoughts wandered slowly, swiftly through his mind about her. He couldn't help but think about her. Why did she contribute this much interest to him?

"Mulder… Look. I am sorry I yelled at you earlier," Scully took a seat beside her partner. "I just – I was looking forward to a weekend off with my mother. I needed to relax. I need to relax. I rarely find the time anymore."

"It's not my fault I was kicked out of my apartment, was it?"

"You weren't paying your rent, what do you expect?" Scully arched an eyebrow. She knew she was doing Mulder a favor. He had nowhere else to go. Of course she wouldn't toss him out on the streets.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Mulder responded dully.

"Mulder…" Scully swallowed. "It's getting late and I need to get some sleep. I'll talk to you in the morning."

Scully stood up. Before she could exit the living room, Mulder stopped her.

"Wait." He said, standing up.

"Yes?" She asked, turning around, causing her red hair to shake.

At that moment he looked Scully in the eyes again. The connection.

"Nevermind." A grin appeared on Mulder's face.

Scully wasn't sure what had been going on in his spooky mind. She didn't respond. She just simply turned around and exited the living room.

"Goodnight Scully." Mulder mumbled under his breath, the grin had never left his face.