Disclaimer: sadly I don't own these characters. Wish I did, but I don't. They belong to the master, CC, fox networks and 1013. But if Chris carter accidently came across this story and decided to use it to made a third X Files movie, he can have it.

Summary: I needed some cheeriness before the drama and sadness of the next few chapters, don't be put off though; the events that take place in the next two are vital to the plot. This chapter is all about scully's birthday present. PS this chapter is a bit longer than my earlier ones.

Spoilers: This story will make frequent references the show. Be warned. I did some research with the dates and ages of the characters, I like being accurate. It helps if you have watched the show, but if you haven't recently; just trust me. I even get brave and let Mulder and Scully refer to David duchovny and Gillian Anderson, but that's not till later.

A/note: I am jumping for joy over all the positive reviews! They make my day, they really do! I know I said I hate cliffhangers, but I did it in this chapter. A little suspense is okay, and the next chapter will be up soon. Please understand that I don't leave anything up to chance, everything has a reason and an explanation. Hey, I like detail!

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08:32 AM

February 23rd – 2012

Mulder/ scully residence

Scully slowly woke, her arms wrapped around Mulder's chest. She frowned as she felt Mulder play with her hair, her face relaxed; 'awe….' She thought, 'he missed the sunrise to sleep in with me'. She carefully opened her sparkling blue eyes, only to be met by his; bright green today, if she remembered correctly; green meant happy, brown for normal, and dark brown for angry or sad. This morning they were particularly green, almost emerald.

"Good morning," He said, leaning down to give her a peck on the lips, "and happy birthday." he went to give her another quick kiss, but she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him atop her. They lay there for some time kissing. He pulled away from a now disappointed scully; she didn't want him to go, he didn't either, but he had to give her his well protected gift. It was now or never.

"Now you have to give me my second present." She said cheekily. Mulder frowned slightly, 'when did I give her a first one?' he thought. Scully cocked her head to one side and rubbed his back; oh, now he understood, she meant him. He blushed at the thought; it was really flattering, after all this time that she considered waking up next to him like a birthday present. Truth was, he felt the same way about her. He loved waking up to her in the morning; he even got depressed when they were separated by work.

"Okay, but you're gonna have to close your eyes," she put her hands playfully up to her eyes. Mulder chuckled; he took one of her hands in his, pulling it away from her face, "just not yet, there's something I want to say first." She nodded.

"okay, today is your birthday; I could recount the day we met, or about all the wonderful years we've had together, I could spend a few years lying here telling you all the reasons why I love you;" she blushed at this, "or describe all the ways I'm sorry for the things I cost you over the years… but this you know already; what I know is that, if I only have 11 months-" scully brought a hand up to his face, she knew what he was referring to; the invasion. He continued, "or 11 hundred years with you, there would be only one thing I would change…" this caught scully's attention, she now had a slight suspicion about what Mulder's mystery gift was; but she didn't dare speculate, not yet. He smiled, "this is were you close your eyes."

Scully quickly obeyed, snapping her hands back up to her face to hide her joyous anticipation. Mulder slid his hand under his pillow, he pulled out the little velvet box and opened it with one hand, it made a small snap as he did so. "my life is already perfect with you in it, but I want to spend the rest of my life, no matter how long, or short;" he could tell that she knew what he was asking, tears were steaming out from under her hands, "married to you." She tore her hands away from her face and stared into his eyes.

"Dana scully, will you marry me?"

All she could do was cry and nod profusely, too distracted by the gravity of the moment to speak. She gasped at the beautiful ring sitting before her; a large diamond sat between six smaller sapphires. Right now they matched her eyes, which had turned a deep ocean blue, filled with love and joy. Mulder let out a big sigh of relief, he tried to wipe scully's tears away, but it was futile, they just kept pouring out her eyes. He took her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger; she closed her eyes to try to control her breathing.

She couldn't resist; once the ring was sitting snuggly on her finger, she brought both hands up to his face. He rolled onto his back; taking scully with him. They celebrated their engagement till they were interrupted, after 11 o'clock, by scully's cell phone. Damn. She got out of there bed and walked to the dresser where it sat.

"Scully?"

"Dana, it's me," scully smiled, it was her mother; "I wanted to call you to say happy birthday."

"Thank you mum. Mulder gave me his gift; you will never guess what it was."

"Oh! He gave it to you already! Oh honey, what did you say? Yes or no?"

"I said- hang on, how do you know about the ring?!" Scully peaked over her shoulder to see a very guilty, yet adorable looking Mulder hiding behind her pillow, his nose and eyes looking over top.

"Dana, I'm surprised at you! Fox is a gentleman; he asked permission first." Mrs. scully told daughter mockingly. Scully smiled, she should have known.

"I see. Well I said yes, mum." Scully chirped into the phone, admiring her ring.

"Oh honey, that's wonderful! Look, Dana, I'm sorry but I have to go; but once again, happy birthday and congratulations to you and fox. I am so happy for both of you.

"Thank you mum, I love you." Scully smiled.

"I love you too sweetie, both of you! Bye."

"Bye mum." She hung up the phone and turned back to Mulder. He was smiling behind the pillow.

They spent the day together; accepting phone calls and visits from friends and family. Even bill called, scully told her brother about her engagement to Mulder; needless to say, he wasn't happy about it, but he didn't want to ruin his baby sister's special day. By the end of the day; scully was floating on air. Mulder left her to head into town to pick up a few things, after about half an hour since he left; scully's phone rang again. 'Who could that be?' she thought as she picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"I'm calling for a Miss Dana Katherine scully?"

"You got her." She replied cheerily as she once again admired her wedding ring.

"Miss scully, my name is detective Murphy. I work in the Baltimore precinct; I regret to inform you that there has been an accident."

Scully stopped cold. 'Oh god no' she thought