A/N: Figured we needed a nice, smiley chapter after the last few downers. Happy reading. And thanks to my Julia, my Jule, my Julesy!

Scully blew the hair off of her forehead and dropped the scrub brush into the bathtub. She had gotten Weslynn a package of bath time crayons that weren't supposed to stain the tile. They had lied. She was now spending a nice sunny afternoon scrubbing the bathroom.

"Wes, honey you're pretty quiet in there," she said.

"I'm just making something."

"Are you going to clean up after yourself?"

"Yes. I promise."

"Okay. Carry on."

"Can we call Papa later? The game is today."

"What game?"

"Mom!" Weslynn sighed, coming out of her room. "The Yankees versus the Sox!"

"Sorry. I forgot to mark it on the calendar."

She would never understand Weslynn's fascination with baseball, but she suspected it was because it was something she could do with Mulder. They hadn't seen him in several months, as visits to Boston weren't always easy for him. He called a lot though, and that seemed to work for the most part, but a lot of days, Scully missed him almost desperately.

"Mom, can I use some glue for my project?"

"You can use some stick glue."

"I need runny glue."

"May I ask what you're doing?"

"Umm…"

Her voice trailed off and Scully grinned.

"Did you get into your glitter?"

"It's only on my desk!"

"If you don't spill on the carpet, you can use runny glue. Just don't go wild."

"Mommy, I never go wild," she answered, shaking her head. Scully just smiled and went back to the bathroom. She couldn't believe that her tiny, pink, squealing baby girl had grown up into a seven year old, articulate, intelligent, humorous little woman. It seemed like a week ago that they'd looked at each other for the first time, and now she was in school and riding a bike and taking care of her own pet hamster. She was growing up, and growing up fast. Scully felt the need to capture almost every moment with pictures, but she never had the camera out or ready. She supposed it was about time to just pay someone to take pictures, but she wasn't sure how much Weslynn would cooperate with that. She could be painfully shy at times, especially when the attention was on her. She would much rather sit back and observe, and then share her thoughts later when she was comfortable.

The phone rang and she peeled off her gloves as she walked into the front room.

"Hello?"

"Hey Scully, it's me."

"Hi Mulder. What's up?"

"Nothing really. I'm about to go into a meeting but I wanted to talk to Wes for a few minutes."

"Okay, just a second."

She put her hand over the phone and called Weslynn into the room.

"You have a phone call."

"Who is it?"

"I'll give you three guesses."

"Papa?"

"Bingo."

She handed the phone over and Weslynn took it excitedly, holding it with both hands.

"Papa, are you going to watch the game? Do you think we'll win? Should I wear my hat for luck?"

"I can't watch the game today, but you watch it and tell me all about it, alright?"

"Okay."

"And I think if you wear your lucky hat, we have a real good shot at winning."

"YES!"

"I'll call you tomorrow and you can tell me about the game, okay?"

"Okay."

"I need to get off the phone soon, so can I talk to mommy real quick?"

"Yep. Mommy, he wants to talk to you!"

"Wes, you don't have to yell, I'm right here."

"I know!"

She rolled her eyes and took the phone back.

"Yes?"

"What are you guys doing this weekend?"

"Nothing that I know of. Why?"

"If this meeting goes well, I might be able to make it up there."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You interested?"

"What do you think?"

"Yeah, me too. I'll call you later and let you know."

"Alright."

"I gotta go. I love you."

"I love you too, Mulder."

"Mommy, is my shirt washed?"

"Yes, it's in your drawer."

"I can't find it."

Scully sighed and got up off the couch, tossing her book onto one of the cushions. Weslynn was making sure she had her outfit to watch the game in, even though the first pitch wasn't for another hour. She even had a pad of paper and a pencil ready to take notes for Mulder.

"Mommy, if I can't find my clothes I won't be happy enough to watch the game! You have to help me."

Scully pulled the second drawer open and produced Weslynn's "lucky baseball shirt" and Mulder's Yankees tee that she wore over that.

"There you go."

"Good. I think I just panicked."

"Your hat is on your doorknob. Are you going to change now?"

"No, I want to eat a snack before the game and if I get food on my clothes they won't be lucky anymore."

"Where did you hear that?"

"Papa."

"Honey, it's time you learned that Papa is crazy."

She just giggled and shook her head.

"He's the smartest man in the whole world. He told me so."

"Oh brother."

"He said you would say that."

Scully laughed.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with you two."

"Neither do we. Can I have a snack now?"

"Sure. What do you want?"

"Can I have strawberries and peanut butter? It will taste like a sandwich, but I won't have to eat the crust."

"That's really what you want?"

"Yes, please."

There was a knock on the door and Weslynn bounded out of the room to the front door.

"Wes, look through the window first," Scully reminded, close behind her.

"I know," she replied, peeling back the curtain. "It's Papa!"

"What?"

"It's Papa, it's Papa, he's here!" she shouted, struggling with the deadbolt. Scully reached over her and unlocked the door. Weslynn pulled it open, then vaulted herself at Mulder. He managed to catch her and pick her up.

"PAPA!"

"Hi Lynnie."

"We didn't know you were coming. Did we mommy?"

"No, we didn't," Scully answered, trying to tone down the smile that was nearly splitting her face in two.

"Now we can watch the game together, huh Papa? Can you stay all night? And tomorrow too?"

"Yes, I can."

She clapped her hands in excitement and kissed his cheek.

"I'm having a snack. You want some?"

"Sure."

"I'll get you a plate!" she said, wiggling out of his arms and running into the kitchen.

"So that call earlier, was it the airport you were going to, not a meeting?"

"I'm wily."

She chuckled as hugged her. She always felt so safe and happy and complete in his arms, and she'd really been missing the feeling.

"How long are you here for?"

"I have to leave Sunday night."

"That's not very long."

"I know it's not. But it was the best I could do."

"I'll take it."

"Papa, the game is going to start soon!"

"I know. You'd better go and get your baseball watching clothes on. And grab a jacket too."

"Why a jacket?"

"Because my dear, you and I are going to the game."

"What?"

"I have tickets for this game. Two of them. And you're coming with me."

"Really? For reals?"

"Yeah, for really reals. If it's okay with mommy."

Weslynn just looked up at her and Scully laughed.

"There's no way I would say no to that. Go change your clothes, baby."

"YES!"

She ran off to her bedroom and Scully patted Mulder's chest.

"You're nice."

"Sorry I didn't ask you beforehand."

"That's okay. You don't need to ask. She's practically your kid, if the matter of taste is any indication."

"Yeah?"

"She's been eating sunflower seeds."

"That's my girl."

She hugged him again, burying her face in his chest.

"I'm glad you're here. I missed you."

"I missed you too. I don't like being away from you."

"I don't like it either. I wish it could be different."

"I know. That's why I-"

"Papa, let's go or we'll miss first pitch. Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

"Alright," he agreed with a chuckle, reaching down to straighten her hat.

"Honey, you be good, and hold Papa's hand okay?"

"I will, I promise."

"And not too much junk food, okay?"

"Okay," they answered in unison.

"I'll call you if we're going to be late," Mulder said, leaning in to kiss her cheek as Weslynn pulled him out the door.

"Alright. Drive safe."

Weslynn stared out the window as she tapped her converse clad foot against the seat in Mulder's rental car. She'd covered the shoes in Yankees stickers earlier this morning, and the tongue of each shoe had a glittery "NY" emblazoned on it. She was pretty sure they were the coolest shoes ever. Mulder was in full agreement.

"Papa, do you think A-Rod will hit a homer?"

"Probably."

"Think we'll catch a ball?"

"If one comes our way, I'll try and get it for you."

"Can I get a hot dog?"

"Sure."

"But I have to not tell mommy, right? I have to tell her I ate chicken strips, right?"

"I don't want you to lie."

"But that's what you said last time!"

"I know. And I was wrong to do that."

"Oh. So I can tell mommy I had a hot dog?"

"Yeah. There won't be anything she can do about it after you eat it anyway."

"Mommy calls stuff like that 'working the system'."

"Well, it kind of is. But I think mommy would understand."

"Probably. She's nice."

He finally found a space within walking distance of the entrance, and pulled the car into the spot.

"Are you ready, sports fan?"

"Totally! Let's go!"

He helped her out of the car and they walked towards the entrance. Weslynn held his hand tightly as they navigated through the throngs of people, but soon they were finding their seats. It was close enough that they could tell what was going on, but much further away than watching it on TV. Weslynn plopped down in her seat, then stood up again, scoping out the field.

"I hope nobody tall sits in front of me."

"If they do, I'll hold you up so you can see."

"Okay. Can we have a hotdog now?"

"We'll go in a while."

"Okay."

She stood there quietly, taking in the pre-game action. Mulder chuckled to himself as he watched her concentration. She looked just like Scully when she was concentrating, even down to the lip biting. He never realized how fast she was growing up until he saw her again. Two inches in the last three months at least. Her hair was longer and losing some of its curl and she was missing a tooth. She was barely a little girl anymore.

"Papa, they're going to sing!" she shouted, as a woman came out to sing the national anthem. "You gotta stand up cuz you're an American, right?"

He chuckled and stood next to her for the duration, then sat back down as the game started.

"Look, there's Carl Pavano! He's so awesome, huh?"

"Yes, he is. Who's your favorite?"

"Derek Jeter! Duh!"

She turned back to the field and was fully transfixed on the game. She only jumped up once when Carl Pavano threw a fast ball past one of the Sox, who was obviously not paying attention. She did, however, squeal in delight when Alex Rodriguez slid into home.

"They're gonna win, Papa. I just know it," she announced as they players jogged off the field between innings.

"Maybe so. Come on, let's go get a hot dog."

"Yes!"

He picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, and they wove their way through the crowds to the concession stand.

"Hey Papa, wanna know what?" she asked, leaning down to talk in his ear. "At school once, this boy gave me a Mets hat."

"What? Why did he give you a Mets hat?"

"Because I always play baseball at recess, and he likes me. And he picked the METS! Can you believe that? What a dummy."

He chuckled.

"What did you do with the hat?"

"I threw it in a muddle puddle."

"For that, you get two hot dogs."

The game was in the final minutes, and Weslynn was getting sleepy. She and the teenaged boy in front of her (who had happened to catch the only fly ball of the game) had cheered "Come on Yanks! Wash those Sox and lose them in the dryer!" for the better part of an hour, and now she was totally wiped out, sitting on Mulder's lap and watching the game through glassy eyes.

"Wes? Honey, do you want to leave?"

"No, not yet. We gotta see if they win. I have to cheer for them if they do," she answered, trying to fight a yawn. Her eyes fluttered closed and stayed that way, even through the end of the game. She woke up a little when Mulder stood up and helped her into her jacket.

"Hey," the kid in front of them said, turning around. "You want this?"

Weslynn looked at the ball he held out for her, and then grinned.

"Really? But you catched it."

"I know. But I got a lot of them. Besides, you helped me cheer, and I think we made the Yankees win."

"They won? I fell asleep."

"That's okay. You cheered pretty loud. Here, take the ball. You can go down and have them sign it."

"Even Derek Jeter?"

"Yep."

"Could you sign it too?"

"You want me to sign the ball?"

"Yeah! You were my cheering partner!"

He chuckled and grabbed the pen he had been using to keep track of the box scores, signing his name quickly.

"Here ya go kid."

"Thanks… Scott!" she said, reading the name.

"You're welcome. Bye."

He wandered off and got lost in the crowd, while Weslynn turned to Mulder, her mouth agape.

"Did you see that, Papa? He just gived it to me for no good reason!"

"I saw. They say Yankess fans are the best."

"Yep, that's the truth. Can we go down and get the ball signed?"

He looked at his watch and sighed.

"Yeah, we might as well."

They gathered their things and headed down to wait outside the locker room. There weren't very many people down there, as the reporters were probably outside the home team's locker room. Weslynn shifted from foot to foot, her excitement growing by the minute. It wasn't long until players started to trickle out of the room. She boldly held her prize out for them, making sure to inform each one that a nice boy named Scott gave the ball to her. They all smiled as they signed, a few of them even shaking her hand.

"Derek Jeter!" she shouted as her favorite player came out of the room. "Derek Jeter! Can you sign this? Please? Pretty please?"

He chuckled and crouched down next to her, signing the ball.

"What's your name?"

"Weslynn. I cheered loud for you. Me and the kid who caught this ball. We cheered for you to wash the Sox and lose them in the dryer. Cuz Papa says everyone loses socks in the dryer, just not the baseball player kind. Did you hear us cheering, Derek Jeter?"

"I sure did, Miss Weslynn. You have a nice evening, okay?"

"I will. Thanks for winning!"

He gave her a smile had went on his way while Weslynn practically shook with excitement.

"Did you see that? I talked to Derek Jeter! I can't wait to tell mommy! Can we go home now?"

"Sure."

He held her hand as they made their way to the car. She was humming "Take Me Out To The Ball Game," but by the time she was buckled in, she was almost asleep again. Mulder leaned in to the car and kissed her cheek, brushing her hair away from her face. He never wanted to sped another day without her.

When they finally got home, it was nearing midnight. Weslynn was snoring gently as Mulder picked her up out of the car and took her inside. It took a second to figure out how to hold her and get the door unlocked, but he finally managed. All the lights were off, and he quietly made his way to her bedroom where he took her jacket and shoes off and hung her hat on the bedpost. He tucked the blankets tightly around her and made sure her stuffed caterpillar was in the crook of her arm before kissing her forehead and leaving the room.

He went back to the front door and made sure it was locked before creeping into Scully's room. She was laying on her side and had probably been asleep for a good hour. He slid in behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her cheek.

"Hey," she said sleepily, snuggling back into his chest. "I tried to stay up until you got home. I just couldn't."

"It's okay."

"Did you have fun?"

"Yeah. I'll let her tell you about it."

"Mm-kay."

"Are you awake enough to talk for a bit?"

"Yeah. I think so."

"I have to tell you something."

"Is it bad?" she asked, turning just slightly and rubbing her eyes.

"No. It's part of the reason I came up here this weekend. I had to sign some papers for a townhouse."

"A what?"

"A townhouse. I'm moving."

"Here?"

"I forgive the silly question because you're tired, but yes."

She smiled and rolled over to face him.

"When?"

"Two weeks. I'm going to work at the field office, and the townhouse is only three miles from here."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

The moonlight reflected off the tear that was coursing down her cheek, and he leaned down to kiss it away.

"I've always wanted you with us, Mulder. I never thought it would happen."

"You really thought I could stay away forever?"

"No, but… it just never seems like our time, does it?"

"It's always been our time, Scully. It's been hard sometimes, but it's always been you and me."

She smiled and leaned up to kiss him gently.

"I'm glad. I don't want you to be anywhere else."

He laced his fingers with hers and kissed her forehead.

"This is the only place I belong."