The only sound surrounding them was the slamming of the cabinets, all completely on her part. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching her cautiously. The suppressed smile on his lips was getting harder to hide as he watched her throw her little tantrum.
It had been three weeks since they came back from Martha's Vineyard, three weeks that he still hadn't asked her to marry him. She set everything up perfectly, to give him that moment, the 'right time' he was waiting for. Her family was all in town for her mother's birthday, a big dinner to celebrate. She even bought a new outfit, dressing up more than she normally would for such occasion. The entire evening, Mulder charmed her family, everything going just fine until they all got up to leave, no proposal.
"Thank you so much for letting me join you guys, it's nice to meet most of the Scully clan." He said, flashing them that winning smile she loved so much. It definitely opposed the frown on her face, the stubbornness shining through her pursed lips and arched eyebrow.
"Scully, what's wrong?" He asked, masking the amusement in his voice.
"Nothing. I'm just making coffee." She bit back at him, slamming another cabinet. He smiled, her back still facing him.
"I thought dinner went well, don't you?" She scoffed under her breath, not as well as she had planned in her head.
"Yeah, it was fine."
"At first I thought your brother hated me, but I think that's a natural instinct. That protectiveness."
"Yeah, sure. Were you planning to stay tonight?" She asked pointedly, still not turning to face him. He pulled the ring box out of his jacket, running his fingers over the smooth velvet material.
"If you want me to." He stepped towards her slowly, hiding the box behind his back.
"Do whatever you want, Mulder." She lazily waved her left hand in the air at him as she stirred her coffee aggressively with the other.
He caught her wrist, holding it gently as he fully stepped behind her. She stiffened at first, not expecting the sudden move. He trailed soft kisses from her fingertips, to her palm, to her wrist. She shivered under his touch, momentarily forgetting why she was annoyed. He felt her begin to come to her senses, tugging her arm away gently, before he interlocked their fingers together.
He turned her to face him with only a little force. She was stronger somehow when she was being stubborn. She rested her hip against the counter, keeping her gaze downwards towards their intertwined hands. He smiled, seeing that she was more than committed to this. She wanted this, she is fighting for it. He knew that the anticipation would allow her true feelings to shine through if he waited long enough.
He closed the gap between them more, stepping closer until his head was lingering just above hers. He kissed her forehead, gesturing for her to look up. Their hands were still linked, his right hand hiding behind his back, cradling the small box. She finally glanced up, licking her lips before catching his gaze. His eyes had a twinkle in them that she couldn't decipher, not able to analyze it before his lips enclosed on hers.
As frustrated as she was, she melted into his embrace, reaching up to wrap both arms around his neck. He moaned as her tongue flickered against his bottom lip, teasing, wanting more. He wrapped his left hand around her waist firmly, causing her to notice the other hand missing. This wasn't normally how he held her.
"Whatcha hiding, Mulder?" She asked against his lips.
"Nothing." He feigned innocence, a shrug for the full effect.
She arched her eyebrow, playfully this time, reaching to his side and sliding her hand around his waist. Their size difference was working to his advantage at the moment, since she was practically melded into his body, and still couldn't reach around to where the box was hiding in his other hand. She gave up on her efforts, pouting slightly. He smiled, leaning down to kiss that pout he loved so much.
"Fine, don't tell me." She turned around again, back facing him. He huffed out a small laugh of amusement, pressing himself into her completely.
"You're really cute when you're stubborn."
"I'm not stubborn. I'm just annoyed."
"Why, what's wrong?"
"I just thought tonight was - I just thought it would have gone differently."
"Differently how?"
"I don't know, Mulder. I'm tired, I'm going to go to bed. Stay if you'd like." She waved her hand at him again, turning to step away. He didn't let her get far.
"Hey, Scully…" His voice was cautious, suddenly nervous. The change in his tone made her stop in her stride, half-turning her head to glance back at him.
"Yeah?"
"You forgot something."
"What are you talking about, Muld -" She exhaled deeply, irritated with this entire evening and the stupid game he was playing. Her voice cut off as she turned around to see him standing there, cradling the small box in his hand. Her eyes widened, anxiety suddenly rising as the moment she anticipated was actually occurring.
"You forgot something." He repeated. "This." He held the box out gently to her, it resting in his palm. She licked her lips nervously, fidgeting with her hands.
"And, uh, what's that?" He smiled, stepping towards her, approaching slowly. He stopped as he was standing just before her, causing her to look up. There was a gleam in his eye, a promise behind his actions.
"A proposal."
"Have you been planning this all night?" That eyebrow was arched again, he could tell she was catching on.
"Maybe, how am I doing?"
"So, you intentionally didn't ask me at dinner, to get me - get me worked up over it. Thinking this was never going to happen." She scoffed, his demeanor changing. Maybe this wasn't his smartest plan.
"Yeah, but Scully -"
"I don't know whether to slap you, or kiss you." She said, stepping forward and cradling his face in her hands. He relaxed under her touch, resting his forehead against hers.
"You could start by saying yes."
"I don't remember there being a question." He huffed out a small laugh, she was stubborn, but she was right. He nodded against her, kissing her chastely on the lips.
"Dana Scully, will you marry me?" Her eyes began to brim with tears, the smile appearing on her lips. She nodded, reaching up to capture his lips.
"Yes." She whispered against his mouth, choking back the sob in her throat. He deepened their embrace, holding her close to him. "Do I get to see what's in the box?"
"I guess that does come with the proposal." He chuckled, opening it slowly. She was almost nervous that it was going to be some extravagant ring, given what she's learned about Rosie. She was relieved and touched to see the simple, yet elegant ring sparkling back at her. It truly was perfect.
"So was this what was in the safe deposit box?" She asked as she lay on his chest, their bare skin melded together.
"Yeah, I'm actually a little surprised at how modest it is."
"No, it's perfect. How did you know it would fit?" There was a long pause, causing her to lift her head enough to catch the guilty smile bestowed on his face.
"Your mother may have helped with that…"
"She knew? For how long?!" She scoffed at the thought. Just last weekend she was droning on about how she thought he may never ask her. No wonder her mother sat there quieter than usual. She should have known there was a conspiracy brewing at dinner when they were whispering off to the side. She lost hope when he didn't ask her in front of everyone.
"When did we get back from the Vineyard?"
"I'm going to kill her. I can't believe she knew and didn't tell me." Scully groaned into his chest, feeling the ripple of his chuckle.
"Your mother is a good ally, never underestimate her skills."
"I'm sure she was more than excited about the idea."
"She was, I'm honestly impressed she was able to keep it a secret for so long."
"Oh, I guarantee you everyone in my family knows...well, except me." She mock glared at him.
"It was kind of cute how angry you got though."
"Mulder, I was about 2 seconds from shooting that smug grin right off your face. I honestly thought you were never going to ask me, or - or changed your mind or something." He laughed at the absurdity of her thoughts, flipping them so he was lying fully on top of her.
"I was never going to change my mind, I guess I just needed to know that this is what you really wanted. Through all of this, I've never wanted you to feel forced into anything."
"Oh, Mulder. I know I'm not always good about saying it, but I do love you. I'm here because I want to be." She reached up to run her fingers through his hair gently, seeing the truth in his eyes. He leaned down to kiss her, sealing the sentiments of their newly growing relationship.
The rest of the weekend passed, another Monday rolling around for them to stop by Scott's office. Both of them had blissful smiles on their faces as they entered, the apparent shift between them. It didn't take much to know they completed this task, too.
"Well, since you're here, I'm assuming congratulations are in order." He smiled at both of them, seeing the blush tinge her cheeks.
"Thank you. We - uh, it was just this weekend." Mulder grinned, still not believing she was entering this willingly.
"Well, I see that everything is in order." Scott said as he glanced at her left hand, seeing the ring that was requested to finish this task. He escaped to his office, coming back with a larger envelope than either of them had seen before. Mulder gave him a puzzled look, causing Scott to grin.
"Do I even want to know?" He groaned, Scully's interested only piqued.
"Ah, come on, you should have known that Rosie was going out with a bang. This is her final task." He said as he handed the envelope to him. "It's for both of you."
"Well, I would hope so, I kind of already proposed, so that could make things really awkward if I had to marry someone else." Mulder teased as Scully swatted his arm, rolling her eyes in the process.
"Thank you, Scott. It was nice to see you again." She said, ushering Mulder out the door.
"It's always a pleasure, Dana. Congrats again." He smiled at them, already acting like a married couple.
They made their way to work together, several people asking Dr. Scully about the shiny new piece of jewelry on her finger. She confirmed that she was indeed engaged, but left the details to their imagination. They were working separate cases, and she was buried down in the morgue for most of her day. He finally mosied his way down there, it taking longer than she expected.
"Hey, how are things going?" He asked as she had her arms elbow deep inside a body.
"Keeping busy." She grunted as she lifted the organs from the corpse.
"I see that. Are you trying to seduce me?" She laughed, chucking the organs on the scale.
"Is it working?" She asked, glancing at him through her glasses. He loved watching her in work mode.
"Oh, definitely." He stepped up behind her, resting his hands on her waist.
"Mulder, we're at work. Someone could come in here at any moment." She squirmed away from his touch.
"Scully, when's the last time anyone even stepped foot on this floor other than you and me?"
"That's not the point. Work is off limits."
"Well then what's the point of being engaged?" He pouted. She rolled her eyes at him, working her way to the other side of the table.
"You really need to work on your sweet talking."
"If work is off limits, then have a late lunch with me. I can tell you haven't eaten."
"How do you know that?" She asked with a heavy sigh. He didn't dare say it was because she's irritable and testier than usual.
"You - uh, you've just been busy. Come on, the body will still be cold when you get back...at least I hope." He teased, causing a laugh to escape her lips.
"Let me change, I'll be right back." She nodded, passing him to the changing room. She paused, turning quickly to peck him on the lips before disappearing into the small room. He loved her more every day.
It took them the first red light they hit before he leaned over and captured her lips with his own. She laughed against his mouth, cradling his face with her hands. His physical eagerness was something she always admired, and definitely never objected to.
They agreed to bring the envelope to lunch, opening it together to see their final task. They suspected it was about marriage, foreseeing the direction all the other cards were leading them to. Both were anxious to see the details, considering this one was definitely larger than the others.
"You ready?" He asked, exhaling deeply as he popped open the clasp to dump the contents on the table. Two smaller envelopes fell out onto the table, as well as a final numbered one, and a stack of papers. They both looked at the materials, puzzled by what everything was.
"Maybe we should start with the numbered one." She said in a small voice. He read it first, smiling as his eyes followed the words. He handed it to her, knowing it would make her smile as well.
Dearest Fox,
You've made it this far, which can only mean that she is just as special as I would have hoped for you. It could also mean that you've paid Scott half the money to cut the rules, but I have faith in you. I want all the best for you and your bride, as I'm sure you've suspected is your final task. The inheritance will be yours the moment you say 'I do.' There are two letters, one for you and one for your future wife. You are to only read these on the morning of your wedding.
There are several places that mean the world to me, any of which you may decide to marry. You must decide together, though remember, she is always right.
I wish the best to both of you, and that your life is filled with nothing but love.
With all my best wishes,
Rosie
"She's a smart woman." She smiled, laughing at the small jokes within the words.
"Yeah, if I would have known I could have just paid off Scott, it would have saved me so much time." He teased, causing her to take a fry off his plate and throw it at him. He laughed, reaching across the table to grasp onto her hand.
"Remember, I'm always right." She mock glared at him, linking their fingers together.
"Did I mention she was slightly crazy? I'm really starting to question that more now."
"Do you recognize any of these places?" She was already sifting through the pictures, eyes widening at the extravagant and beautiful places staring back at her.
"Some. She'd traveled a lot in her lifetime, always chasing the next adventure. One year, she just packed up and had me drop her off at the airport. She picked the first flight out, and stayed there for a month."
"Where'd she end up?" Scully huffed out a small laugh.
"Mexico. She loved it there, I thought she may never come back."
"Mulder, these places are gorgeous. I don't even know where to start."
"Well, it looks like there are 4 properties she's laid out for us, all relatively local. Maybe we can visit one every weekend, see what feels right." He said with a small shrug. All of the locations that Rosie had chosen were modest, intimate, and absolutely perfect for both their simple tastes.
"That...actually sounds like the perfect plan."
"You sound surprised, I feel like I should be offended."
"I'm not going to lie, I'm impressed."
"Well I've got plenty more where that came from, Scully. Just you wait and see."
"Really?" Her eyebrow arched challengingly.
"Maybe, but don't hold me to it." She laughed, loving him even more.
As they made their way back to work, they had some time to spare, sitting in the car before making finally entering the building. They were both anxious to read the cards addressed to them, knowing they weren't allowed to open them just yet. It was killing her to have it and not be able to read it.
"I'm going to take these." He plucked it out of her hand, causing her to pout.
"That's not fair, you get to have yours, but I can't have mine?"
"No, I'm going to lock them away until we are allowed to read them."
"When - uh, when were you thinking we should -" She licked her lips, the topic of conversation suddenly making her nervous.
"There's no rush, Scully. We can take the next month to look at the places and decide where we want to even have it. Then we can go from there." He suggested, trying to ease the apparent nerves washing over her.
"Okay, yeah." She managed, nodding in agreement. They were really doing this.
That weekend they made their first trip to a Virginia Beach house. The keys were picked up at Scott's office, with their accommodations for their stay. The surprise came when he told them they'd be staying in the house, and provided no more details. When they pulled up to the secluded area, Scully's breath hitched at the rustic beauty of the old house. It was modest, compared to Rosie's other establishments she's experienced, but it was breathtaking. He parked in the long driveway, escorting her inside with they keys they were provided.
"Mulder, this place is incredible." Her eyes were absorbing the homey decorations, a warm feeling flushing through her. They both explored the house, Scully finding her way to the outside balcony that overlooked the ocean. Saltwater mist washed over her, leaving her in a moment of complete ecstasy. The house sat on its own section of the beach, away from any other travelers.
"Let me guess, this is your favorite part?" He asked, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. She smiled, turning to nuzzle her head just under his chin.
"It's stunning. You didn't know about this place?"
"She used to take long weekends to visit 'her beach,' but I just assumed she had a favorite section or specific place. I didn't know she meant here."
"Well, she does have excellent taste."
"Come on, let's go take a walk on the beach." He offered her his hand, leading her down the stairs off the balcony. They strolled hand in hand, enjoying the weather and the sand under their feet. He loved the blissful look on her face, losing inhibitions as he glanced over to see the wind ruffle her hair and the chilled air cause a rosey color to tinge her cheeks. He stopped in his stride, wrapping his arms around her, bringing her close. She huffed out a small laugh, surprised by the move.
"Thank you, for bringing me here. I think looking at all these places first was a perfect idea." She smiled, running her fingers through the errant strands of hair on the back of his neck.
"Scully, I'd marry you right here, right now. Where we get married is up to you." He said as he leaned down to place a chaste kiss on her lips.
She thought about it, actually let the thought of marrying him right now, today, run through her mind. Images of their journey here flashed through her mind as she gazed into his eyes. She could see the truth staring back at her, their truth. Everything between them moved rapidly, but something's never felt more right in her heart. Though a forced happening on Rosie's part, it was the best thing to ever come barreling into her life. She nodded slightly, her lower lip moistened by her tongue.
"Okay." He stiffened for a moment, a puzzling expression clouding his face.
"Okay?"
"Let's get married, here. Now." Her voice was just a whisper, unsure of her words.
"Scully, I didn't mean -"
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have -" She began to step away from him, embarrassed that she took his words for face value.
"Wait, just wait. That's not what I was implying."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"But I meant what I said. I would marry you, anywhere, anytime."
"Mulder, it's okay. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. Let's just head back to the house." She sighed, walking ahead of him on the beach. A million thoughts and ideas running through his mind. He finally caught up with her, seeing the tears daring to escape her eyes.
"Scully…"
"I think I'm going to lay down for a bit." She said quickly, escaping to the master bedroom. She was detaching herself because she felt idiotic, and embarrassed. He had to put his thoughts into actions quickly.
When she roused a short while later, she blinked several times before accepting what she was seeing. There was a rose, settled neatly on the letter for her from Rosie. There was also a separate note in Mulder's familiar scrawl.
'Please consider putting on a dress and joining me for dinner. Reservations are at 7, be ready by 5. We have a quick stop before. Read her letter.
Love,
M'
She smiled, only he could make her feel at ease when she was doubting herself. She furrowed her brow, picking up the letter designated for her. They weren't supposed to read them until their wedding day, another thought popping in her head as her eyes widened in realization. Her hands became shaky as she pulled the paper free from the envelope.
My Dear Child,
I do not know you, as you do not know me, but I know that you are special. You have captured the heart and soul of my dear Fox, whom I cared for as my own. I'm sure you are quite puzzled by this letter, though if you've been along for the ride, I should hope he's shared everything with you. If he has not, as he is rather emotionally subdued, then I shall share with you my wishes. My tasks for him were simply a push in what I am hoping is the right direction for both of you.
This is my final ask, and then I will be but a memory, a loved one, I am hoping.
As you should be reading this on your wedding day, I want you to know in your heart that this is right. When you envision yourself the happiest you've ever been, if it is not with my sweet Fox, then I ask you to step away. It is nothing personal, it is that I am protective of him and only wish him the best. If it is him that you love with your entire self, I ask that you share something with him that you've never shared with anyone before. A secret that would make anyone else change the way they see you. Do this before your vows, as they should be made with unconditional love.
I am sorry I am not there to join in on this celebration, but please carry me in your hearts.
With all my love,
Rosie
Scully wiped the tears away from her cheeks, choking back a sob. It was like reading a love letter written just for her. She always was a sucker for those romantic comedies. She took a deep breath, knowing exactly what she hadn't shared with Mulder. Not even her family really knew what happened, they just saw her fall apart and move away. She always ran, but hoped this time she wouldn't have to. She let out a deep sigh, getting ready for their final adventure.
When she made her way downstairs, Mulder was waiting nervously for her on the couch, hands folded in his lap.
He had read his letter from Rosie, the contents similar to Scully's. He knew this was right, but telling her his deepest secret was something he hoped would never come up. His sister's disappearance was something widely known, though his experience that evening was only ever shared through regression therapy.
"Hey." She said in a small voice, smile touching her lips. His head shot up to see her, words escaping as he took in her appearance. She was wearing a fitted, deep blue dress that made her eyes glow. She was beautiful, and every doubt he had vanished at the sight of her.
"Hey, uh, looks like you got my note." He smiled, standing anxiously before her.
"I did, as well as Rosie's."
"What did - uh, what did yours say?"
"I imagine something similar to yours. Should we head out?" She asked, grabbing her shawl and gesturing towards the door. He nodded, still at a loss for words. All afternoon he called around, asking the local courthouses to stay open later. Turns out one of them knew Rosie quite well, willing to grant his pleading wishes.
He parked in front of the large building, both of them sitting in silence. She licked her lips nervously, fiddling with her thumbs.
"So…" He began to say, causing her to chuckle. "I'm guessing you caught on to my plan of action for tonight."
"I'd like to think so, yes."
"I'm supposed to tell you something that would normally make people go running for the hills, I guess to ensure that you still want to marry me."
"Well, I've lasted this long." She teased, his slight smile fading.
"Scully…" He began. She held her breath, not knowing what his secret could possibly be. "I've told you about my sister's disappearance, but I never told you the details."
"You said you didn't remember."
"I don't, well, I didn't. I don't know. I went to regression therapy, to see if I could trigger any memories of that evening. What I think I remember gets hazy sometimes, but seems so vivid. She was floating in the air, Scully, a light dragging her out the window. I couldn't do anything, I was frozen. I felt like a failure after that, like I had failed her." The tears began brimming his eyes, she reached out to grasp onto his hand. His grip tightened on her, she wasn't running, yet. "Based on the research I've done, and some of the other case files in the basement, I truly believe she was abducted...by extraterrestrials." Her breath hitched, this secret was definitely a doozy. "You can go running now."
"I believe...that's what you believe happened that night. I would never doubt you on that." She said softly, intertwining their fingers together. He glanced up to meet her eyes, knowing the promise behind her gaze. He leaned forward, capturing her lips forcefully. They were both reaching for each other frantically, feeling closer than ever before.
"I love you."
"I haven't told you my secret yet."
"I don't care what it is, I still love you." He deepened the kiss, causing her to chuckle against his lips. Her smile faded as she pulled away slightly.
"It's my turn."
"Nothing will change how I feel about you."
"I'm not so sure." She said carefully, taking a deep breath. "When I was in med school, one of my mentors took an extra liking to me. He was brilliant, and nationally known for his work, and that was exhilarating. To have that kind of attention was, I don't even have words for it. There was only one problem...he was married, and significantly older than me. I think I knew deep down that it wasn't long term, but I was so caught up in the moment that I lost a sense of reality. The affair continued, and I didn't know who I was anymore. I was scared for how deeply he said he loved me, I ran. That's how I ended up here in the first place. It was a weak moment of adolescence, and I'm not proud of it."
"Did you love him?" His voice was calm, and that unnerved her more than anything.
"I thought I did at one point. When I tried to imagine myself living with him for the rest of my life, I couldn't."
"I would never judge you for your past, Scully." His voice was genuine, eyes sincere. He cradled her face, his thumbs running over her cheeks, wiping away the tears. He leaned in to kiss her, passionately this time, a promise behind their embrace. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Mulder."
"Come on, this is our first stop." He flashed her that mischievous grin she loved. She smiled at him, holding his hand as they stepped across that threshold together.
"We're married, Mulder." She said, her naked form curled up against him, admiring her ring.
"I know, I still can't believe you agreed to this."
"You've been saying that since we started these tasks."
"I don't know if I'll ever believe it." He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent.
"My mother's going to kill me for eloping."
"We can throw a celebration of sorts when we get back. Plan it out, repeat the vows. You can wear a giant white dress, and we can have a really bad wedding singer." He said excitedly, causing her to laugh wholeheartedly. "Chicken or fish, Scully?"
"Neither, we can keep it simple. Just family, a few close friends."
"I believe there's also supposed to be a honeymoon somewhere in there."
"What, no extravagant plans from Rosie for that?"
"No, she left me hanging on that one. I'm actually a little hurt." He feigned a pout, causing her to reach up and kiss his lower lip.
"Well then we can plan that together, too."
"I'm actually surprised this was the final task for us. It almost settles in that she's officially gone."
"Do you think she has more tricks up her sleeve?"
"I almost don't want to find out." He groaned, knowing that it was a valid question. This was too simple for her final wish. She was always one for the theatrical surprises.
They spent their weekend together, married and enjoying the quiet solitude of their own little beach. Neither wanted to leave, procrastinating as long as they could before they needed to drive back.
There was an awkward moment when he pulled up to her apartment, considering they didn't live together, and it was something that had managed to go undiscussed over the course of the weekend. There wasn't much talking done since they got home from dinner the night of their marriage.
"Do you, uh, want to stay? It's late."
"I have an extra suit in the car, I can just wear that for work tomorrow." He nodded, agreeing since he couldn't imagine sleeping in an empty bed now, without his wife. He chuckled to himself, she was his wife now.
They laid curled up as they had become accustomed to, with her cuddled into his side. The unanswered question was surrounding them, floating heavily in the air.
"Hey Mulder…"
"Mmm?"
"I was wondering, if you wanted to stay a little more - uh, permanently." He smiled, eyes closed as he was nearly drifting off to sleep.
"I don't know, Scully."
"What, why?" She shot up from her warm spot, furrowing her brow at him. He didn't need to open his eyes to know the look he was receiving from her.
"Because I was planning to buy us a house, maybe with a big yard, and a large office."
"Jesus, Mulder. You scared me, don't do that." She swatted at his chest, burying her head against his bare skin, feeling the ripple of his laugh surge through his chest.
"I couldn't resist."
"I want my own office."
"Okay."
"And maybe a large kitchen."
"Okay."
"And -"
"And we can start looking at places this week. There's obviously no budget."
"Oh, right. Are we stopping into Scott's office before work tomorrow?"
"I was planning on it."
"How does - uh, how does the inheritance part work?"
"Well, as he explained to me before, once everything's completed, I'll get a very substantial amount of money in the form of a check. The house will be transferred to my name, as well as her assets."
"Are you ready for that?"
"Are you?" He asked, nudging her arm. The thought that this was all now hers was still something she needed to wrap her head around. She nodded wordlessly, cuddling into his side tighter, leaving no gap between them.
The next morning, she was slightly more frantic than usual during her morning routine. He watched her like she was an animal, careful not to poke the bear. There was something different about her since she left the bathroom earlier that morning, but he couldn't decipher what it was. He chalked it up to nerves about them completing the tasks, he felt them, too.
"Scully, are you almost ready, we still need to -"
"I'll be done in a minute, Mulder." She bit back at him. He wanted to laugh, this was the wedding bliss everyone spoke so fondly of. He poured them cups of coffee to go, making hers just as she always had it. "Okay, let's go."
"Here, coffee. We can get breakfast on our way to work."
"No, it's okay, I don't feel that great."
"Do you want to skip the office visit? Maybe you should just stay home and rest today."
"I'm fine, Mulder. Let's just go."
It was a quiet ride to Scott's office, considering he was trying to live long enough to make it there. It seemed like anything he said was setting her off today. He had hoped the coffee would make her a little more human this morning, but she hadn't touched it since they got in the car. He was almost sure he made it right, but she only took the smallest of sips, and left it untouched.
"Well good morning, please don't tell me this task has already been finished." Scott greeted, genuinely surprised to see them there. He could see that she was annoyed, and he was fearful for his life. He hoped they hadn't made it this far to turn everything down.
"We - uh, eloped over the weekend." Mulder said with a small smile.
"Excuse me for a moment." Scully said quickly, making her way to the bathroom.
"That wedding bliss, huh?" Scott teased, a scoff escaping Mulder's lips.
"So what happens now?"
"Well, you completed the task, so the inheritance is yours. I'll have our office draw up the paperwork and issue the check, but there is something else."
"I should have expected that."
"It's not what you may think. Just more, surprises, from the old broad."
"These last few months have been pretty damn surprising already." Mulder mumbled, wincing at what was potentially waiting for him.
"The places that she wanted you to get married at, are all her properties as well."
"Wait, all those houses are her properties?"
"Yes, which means they come with your inheritance."
"Seriously?" Scully chimed in, coming back from the bathroom and catching the tail end of their conversation.
"Yes, she also left you a final letter. Let me get that for you." Scott escaped to his office, leaving them alone in the large conference room.
"It's not too late to run, Scully."
"I may be the only one to panic and run from a substantial amount of money." She scoffed. He leaned in to kiss her lips, her melting into his touch.
"That's what I love about you."
"I'm sorry I've been so on edge this morning, I think my nerves got the best of me."
"It's okay, this is a lot to handle, I know."
"There's, uh, something else we should talk about later, too."
"What is it, Scully?"
"Mulder, I -" She began to say, wanting to calm his fears that she could see shining through his eyes. She wasn't handling this well.
"Alright, everything looks in order. Here's a final letter addressed to both of you, as well as the breakdown of the inheritance. I'll give you a moment to sign everything over to your name." Scott began to explain, both of them sitting there lost in their own thoughts. "There's a spot for you to add Dana's name if you choose, let me know when you're done." He excused himself to his office, leaving them alone.
"Maybe we should read the letter first." Mulder suggested, seeing the worry in her eyes.
"Yeah, okay."
He opened it, setting the paper between them to read together. She exhaled deeply, letting her curiosity take over. She smiled, seeing Rosie's signature at the bottom.
Newlyweds,
I hope you are reading this after spending some much needed time together. New relationships are precious, and fragile, and I hope that you take the time to cater to yours. I did not leave a request for your honeymoon, as by now you should be able to make that decision on your own.
There is one final surprise. Upon the birth of your first child together, there's another half of the inheritance that will be yours.
Have fun, cherish each other, and I wish you the best.
Forever with all my love,
Rosie
They both smiled, relaxing around her words. A thought popped into Scully's head, brow furrowing in confusion. "There's more money?"
"I guess, though I'm not surprised. The amount seemed off, based on what I knew about her family money. I didn't know about the properties though."
"So, there's no more tasks, just another part of the inheritance when we - uh, when -" She stammered. This was a topic they managed to avoid, leaving it as part of their unspoken discussions. He could sense her nervousness about the subject, reaching for her hand in a comforting gesture.
"I know we've never talked about it, but it's something I've thought a lot about recently."
"Really?" She asked, a hopeful tone in her voice, searching his eyes for the truth.
"Well yeah, I mean, I've never done all this before but I'm pretty sure that's what comes next in this little routine we've got going." She chuckled, leaning forward to rest her forehead against his.
"Sooner than you may think." She whispered against his lips, causing him to pull back, a different expression in his eyes. He was filled with excitement, and amazed at the concept. She bit her lip, nodding as she answered the unasked question in his eyes.
"How's everything going in here?" Scott asked, entering the room a short while later.
"Great, I think we signed everything." Mulder said as he collected the papers together to hand to him.
"Did you read the letter?"
"We did…" Scully spoke up, smiling coyly at Mulder, color tingeing her cheeks. "And we'll be back in about 8 months to show proof of completion."