Scully stepped through the door and shed her jacket, hanging it on the tree by the door. She sighed and moved into the kitchen, dropping her keys and purse on the table next to the mail. It had been a long day and she wanted nothing else than a dinner and a long soak in the tub. They might even have to order out because her feet were not up to the idea of standing in the kitchen cooking for half an hour.

She walked down the hallway towards Weslynn's bedroom. She never wanted the same kind of Chinese food, and Scully wasn't sure where they were on the menu. She could hear chattering from Weslynn's room and she peeked around the door, finding Weslynn and Katie sprawled out on the floor, eating candy.

"I mean, I understand why she hesitates, but honestly, it's been years. A lot of years. 16 if you wanna get specific."

"Yeah Wes. But what happened was… horrible."

"I know that. I get it. But through all the horribleness, he was there. He's always been there for her and he's always been there for me, and he's been waiting for years to be with her. I don't know why she won't take a plunge and be with him."

"Maybe they're not as in love as we thought they were."

"Katie. It's my mom and dad. They're insane in love with each other. They were insane in love years before I ever showed up. They'd be together now if it weren't for me."

"Maybe they are in love. But I think it's more complicated than that."

"No. She's just scared. She's always scared, but she shouldn't be. He's not going to hurt her. He's not even going to rush her. They always talk about how much they trust each other, but it's such crap. If she trusted him, really trusted him, she would let him have that heart she's so carefully chained up. He loves her, Katie. And she just pushes him away and I see how it hurts him, but I think it's always going to be this way. They're going to live the rest of their lives like this and it makes me so sad."

"They're adults, Wes. They can make their own decisions. I agree, it seems stupid after all this time, but you can't change it."

"Slap me if I ever act like this."

"Consider yourself slapped."

Scully backed out of the doorway carefully, not wanting them to be aware of her presence. She kind of knew Weslynn felt this way, but hearing it out loud put it into a harsh perspective. She was teaching her daughter to run and hide and deny, when those things were the exact opposite of all she'd ever stood for. It was so false and such a lie and she hated herself for doing it.

Sighing she turned back and knocked on the door again.

"Hey girls, I'm getting Chinese. Make your requests now or eat nothing but rice."

"Szechuan chicken!"

"Crispy beef with hot sauce!"

"Egg rolls!"

"Hot and sour soup!"

"Egg flower soup!"

"Hong Kong lo mein!"

"Refried beans!"

"Katie, that's Mexican," Weslynn laughed, hitting Katie with a pillow.

"I got excited."

Scully chuckled and went to place the order, the whole time thinking about what Weslynn had said. It was definitely time to stop shoving this under the rug. She needed to do something and soon.

She hung up the phone and grabbed her coat again.

"Girls, I'm going to run an errand. Food money is under the Elvis duck."

"Okay!" they chorused as she headed out the door.

Soon she was behind the wheel, driving down the familiar roads and biting her lip while she thought. She had no idea what she was going to say, or even if she was ready, but maybe it was time to do this.

She parked her car next to Mulder's and turned it off, taking a deep breath. She'd never been this nervous when going to talk to him.

She made it up to his apartment in a fog, only coming back to reality when she heard herself knocking on the door.

"Hey Scully."

"Hi."

"What's up?"

"Can we talk?"

"Uh-oh."

"No uh-oh, just can we talk?"

"Sure."

She followed him inside and shook her head when he gestured at the table. This was definitely a couch conversation.

"What's up?"

She took a deep breath and very quickly told him what she had overheard the girls talking about. His face remained the same, but she could tell he was totally taken by surprise.

"You weren't expecting this. I know. I wasn't really either. But I think I'm ready. I'm tired of being scared. I'm tired of looking at you and seeing how much you love me and being totally paralyzed by it. I'm tired of telling myself that I don't feel the same way that you do. We should have had this conversation years ago, but I was so terrified of everything that I couldn't form the words. And I'm sorry. I didn't want you to ever think that I didn't trust you."

"I know, Scully," he said, pulling her into his arms. "I know. I didn't want to pressure you or make you feel like your needs didn't matter."

"You never made me feel that way, Mulder. I always knew you would wait. I just didn't expect that I would make you wait this long."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Are you doing this just to make Wes happy?"

"What?"

"I have to ask. You only came over here because of what she said. I need to know if this is you or her."

"You really think that I would just do this for her?"

"Scully, her whole life, every single thing you have done has been for her. I don't think you even realize that you do it. And in some instances that's good, but in this one I really need to make sure this is you."

"You know what Mulder? Forget it. Here I am baring my soul to you for the first time in years and you question me? I'm trying to be honest and you don't believe me? I'm telling you what you've been waiting for and you act like I don't know what I'm talking about? How can you do this?"

"Scully-"

"No. I shouldn't have come. Things were fine just the way they were. This was a bad idea; I should have known it."

"Don't-"

"I'll go."

"We can talk about this."

"I don't think so, Mulder. Not this time."

"Hey, I waited for you for years," he started, following her to the door. "I was patient and understanding and now you're just going to say "screw it" and leave? That's not fair. Maybe I need some time to think too."

"I don't know what you want from me! You want to be with me and then you say you need time? Fine. Take all the time you want. Call me when you trust my judgment."

"Scully, don't go."

She pulled the door opened and stepped out, then turned back, her eyes more venomous than he had ever seen.

"Don't you ever, ever use my daughter as an excuse again."

She slammed the door behind her and the clock on the wall shook with the force of it. He stood there quietly for a minute, not sure what to do. He never thought this conversation would end up so far away from target.

His phone rang just after six the next morning and he rolled almost off the couch to grab it off of the coffee table.

"H'llo?"

"What did you do?"

"Lynn?"

"Yes. What did you do to mom?"

"More information, kid."

"Don't call me kid. Mom came home last night and went straight into her room. She didn't come out all night and when I went to check on her she was crying. She wouldn't tell me why. I know she was over at your place and I know something happened. My mom doesn't just cry for fun. What did you do?"

"Sweetheart, we had an argument."

"That's crap and you know it. You guys argue all the time. I don't really care about the specifics, but you had better fix this before I come over there and fix you."

"Lynn."

"I'm serious. I love you, but she's my mom and I'm taking her side."

He nodded even though she couldn't see him, and let out a sigh. He hated when she was right.

"I'm on my way."

"You'd better bring some chocolate too."

He hung up the phone and took a quick shower, then headed out the door. The drive was too quick and he pulled up outside of their house just over half an hour after the phone call. He sat in the car for a moment, running his hands through his damp hair. The talk they were about to have was going to change the course of their entire lives.

He got out of the car and walked up to the front door, taking a deep breath before he opened it. Weslynn was sitting on the couch, twisting a strand of hair around her finger and reading a thick book that probably had a small font.

"She's in there," she said, jerking her thumb in the direction of Scully's room. She didn't look up from the book, much less meet his eyes and he walked over to her, pulling the book down from her face.

"It takes two people to fight, kid. I just want you to remember that."

She nodded and he went into the bedroom, the door creaking as he opened it. Scully was laying on the bed, her back to him. He didn't know if she was awake or not and he sat down slowly on the bed.

"You really hurt me last night, Mulder," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," he answered, laying down behind her. "It's not that I don't trust your judgment. I just want to do this right."

"I realized that about an hour ago. I'm sorry I just sprung it on you. I didn't mean to, but I didn't know what else to do."

He brushed her hair from her face and pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.

"I wrote this letter a long time ago. Right after Wes was born. I was going to wait to let you read it, but I think you need it now."

She sniffled and took the paper from him and unfolded it, rubbing her eyes before she read it.

Scully,

Neither one of us is really much for sentimentality, but tonight I couldn't sleep and this was all I could think to do. I know you know that I love you, even though the number of times I have said it is less than the number of normal ties I own. I really do love you though. More than I really understand. And today, looking at that sweet little mini-Scully in your arms, I was overcome once again. You're my whole world, Scully. My life. Everything good that has ever happened has been from you. I don't think I can ever repay that. I will always love you, Scully. No matter how life turns out, you always have my heart, and I will do anything to protect yours. Anything.

Mulder

She wiped the tear that was trickling down her cheek and turned to look at him.

"I don't want to mess this up either, Mulder. If it didn't work, I don't know what I would do."

"I know. And I've had this conversation in my head so many times, but I can never think of anything to say that would assure you. I think we just have to jump in."

She nodded and he kissed her forehead.

"We'll go slow, and we'll make sure we're both comfortable with everything. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now, after 24 years together, can I finally really kiss you?"

"I guess that would be okay."

"You sound really excited."

She smiled and reached up to pull him closer.

"I haven't had butterflies since the twelfth grade," she said, giggling right before his lips fell upon hers. They glided together for a moment before finding that perfect balance, the precise harmony that had fastened itself to every other branch of their relationship. His fingers traced across her face and through her hair, cradling her head in his hand, while her own fingers trembled against his neck. He pulled away after a moment, looking down at her. The lack of sleep, the previous tears, or simply the kiss had turned her eyes the deepest shade of indigo, one he had never seen before.

"You're good at that," she whispered, one hand resting against his chest.

"You're better."

Her face flushed and he smiled before capturing her lips again.

"I love you, Scully."

"I love you too, Mulder."

Twenty-four years in the making for this one perfect moment that would define the rest of their lives. Completely worth it.