A/N: I am glad people are liking this story as much as I am. Makes me happy.

Scully flopped down onto the hotel bed and kicked her shoes off, burying her face in the pillow. She heard the door close behind her and felt Mulder flop onto the bed next to her.

"Hey, get your own bed."

"Yours was closer."

"But you're in my way," she said, trying to push him in the other direction.

"Maybe you're in my way."

"It's my bed!"

He glared at her and growled a little before rolling off the side of the bed and standing up.

"I need dessert."

"Oh really?"

"I'm longing to try the vanilla soft serve and Skittles."

She chuckled and rolled over onto her back to look at him.

"It's good with gummi-bears too."

"I'll be back in a few minutes."

The door closed behind him and she snickered to herself. She could get that man to do anything, even without trying.

She rolled off the bed and searched through her suitcase for some pajamas. She finally found a pair of black lounge pants and a pink Henley and changed her clothes quickly. She repacked her suitcase and made sure that she wouldn't forget anything when they left in the morning. She thought about going over and packing for Mulder, but she figured his hotel room would be pretty trashed and she'd never find everything anyway.

She opened the door to the deck and moved the curtains so the breeze could come inside. The earth was still and all she could hear was the crashing of the waves on the shore.

She didn't want to leave. Didn't want to deal with tomorrow. Didn't want to go home to her lonely apartment where open windows brought in the smell of car exhaust and cigarettes. No one ever wanted to go home after a vacation, but this time, for some reason, it felt worse. It felt like the end of something great.

She shoot the feeling away and sat back down on the bed, turning the TV on and flipping through the channels. There wasn't very to choose from, but with a little patience, she came across Anne of Avonlea. It had just started and she settled back into the pillows to watch the story unfold.

Anne reminded her of herself- stubborn, feisty, and misunderstood. Maybe she wasn't as much like that now as she used to be. She was more able to pick her battles now than she had been as a kid.

The door opened a while later and Mulder came in with two plastic containers of ice cream and a brown paper bag.

"You're awesome," she said as he sat down next to her.

"Yeah, I know."

She laughed as he handed her the plastic bag. It was full of candy and she smiled knowing exactly what he was thinking.

"We're going to find the absolute best ice-cream topping combo ever."

"The gummi-bears and mini-oreo's are looking kind of promising."

"We're going to be sick."

"Yeah, but it's vacation."

Two hours later, she was fading fast, her eyelids drooping and staying closed for longer periods of time before she opened them again. Her head fell gently against his chest and she tucked herself under his chin, her arm draped across his stomach.

"Scully?" he whispered, not sure if he should stay or go.

"I'm cognizant of what time it's become," she mumbled.

"I think it's bed time for you," he answered back, pulling the blankets tighter around her. He left a kiss on her forehead and moved to stand up, but her fingers curled around his shirt. He laid there quietly for a moment, his fingers grazing over her arm. She looked so perfect right there next to him, like that's where they both belonged. He'd always thought that, but tonight, in the platinum illumination of the moon, he truly felt it in his soul. He wanted to ask her if he should stay, but he couldn't bear to wake her, so he got comfortable where he was. She stirred a little as he moved, her eyes cracking open and meeting his.

"Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Stay here."

"I will. Goodnight."

"'Night."

The waves outside pulled away their last strains of awakeness, and they both drifted to a sleepy, peaceful place together.