A/N: I'm not even sure what I was going for here.

X Files doesn't belong to me.

Scully was usually good about thinking before she spoke. It wasn't as if she hadn't been short with her co-worker before, and he had been just the same to her multiple times. They always accepted each other's apologies—he was particularly sweet about it, and she appreciated that quite a lot. But this fight was rather heated, and she didn't know why and if she would forgive herself for yelling, "I just can't stand you, Mulder!"

Once that exclamation had left her lips she paused, avoiding eye contact with him as she began to gather her belongings. It was past five and she was more than ready to leave. "I-I will see you tomorrow," she murmured, opening the door.

"Scully," Mulder began.

"Let's just...not." she slammed the door behind her and speed-walked to her car, not wanting him to follow her. He didn't. But the pit in her stomach was undeniable, and as she drove home she felt like she was going to be sick.

Her and her partner had been arguing about flight arrangements, which turned into an argument on Mulder's responsibility. He claimed he didn't need her marching around telling him what he was and what he needed, and she claimed he needed to be more organized. This led into shouting about how he was so defensive and how no, she was making something out of nothing and it finally led to him yelling, "God, Scully, just because you're on your period doesn't mean you can be like this." And that led to her declaration of not being able to stand him.

It was the meanest thing she had said to him—oh sure, she had called him an "asshole" in jest a few times, never really seriously, and sometimes he called her a "brat", but that too was always in jest. It was sort of affectionate, those words they tossed around, because deep down they knew they loved each other, though they wouldn't admit it. But there was no love in the words they had exchanged, just bitterness and just pure malice. And I'm not even on my period, she thought, first somewhat jokingly, then she began to feel bad. Oh, God, does that mean I'm rude and bitchy all the time? Have I just been like this the whole time and no one's told me? Why haven't I realized this?

She made herself dinner once she got home, but nothing tasted good. She found herself with that pit still in her stomach along with a lump in her throat and a sad panging in her chest. She threw her leftovers in the fridge and took a long, hot shower. When she returned, there was a message on her machine.

"Scully," Mulder's voice said. "Please. Talk to me."

The message had been left only fifteen minutes ago, so she reluctantly dialed his number and snuggled up on the couch. He answered the phone with "Scully?"

"What would you have said if I was Skinner, Mulder?"

"He wouldn't be surprised."

"Mulder...I think I need to go first here."

"Okay."

"I'm sorry. I agree that I had no reason to act the way I did. I do admit that I don't agree with you on certain topics and I didn't like the way you were just dropping everything to go do a case that really doesn't matter, but who am I to talk, really-"

"No, Scully, don't say that."

"Okay, sure. Fine. Whatever. Anyway-"

"There's that again."

"What?"

"That 'sure. Fine. Whatver'. That thing."

She chuckled. "I didn't realize I said it so often. Anyway, I did say quite a few stupid things and I really didn't mean a lot of them, like me saying that I couldn't stand you. I didn't mean that, it was said purely because of the anger I was feeling in that moment. I'm sorry, Mulder."

"I said a few dumb things, too. I'm sorry for asking if you were on your period. I sounded like a stupid teenager. You deserve so much more respect, Scully."

"We both said some stupid things, nothing's new. I just took it to another level and said something too personal. But it wasn't true. I think we can move past it now." Scully said, trying not to sigh in relief.

"I-it just...it really hurt me to hear you say that about me...to say that you couldn't stand me, and I know you didn't mean it now, but I was so worried that you actually did."

Now she sighed. "Oh, Mulder. I could never mean that."

"Good, because I could never feel that way about you either. I don't think you're bitchy or rude or anything like that." he sounded so sleepy, but still genuine.

"Are you tired? You sound so tired."

"I am," he admitted. "For once."

"Get some rest, okay?"

"I'll try."

She hung up and felt glad that he had forgiven her, as always. Maybe he's too good for me, she thought. She was about to head to bed when the phone rang again. "Hello?" she answered it, suspicious.

"Scully, you know I love you, right?" it was Mulder again.

"I-I suppose I do, Mulder, but it's nice to know."

"Good. Because I do."

"Well...thank you. I love you, too."

"Thank you, Scully. Goodnight."

"Goodnight. Get some sleep."

A/N: I was going to write some sappy conclusion to this chapter but I think it can just end here. These two and their relationship dynamic is interesting in the fact that it is built on trust, but they have such differing beliefs. They have loved each other from the beginning, perhaps not in the romantic sense. They've just had such a strong connection that eventually developed into romantic love, and to me it always just seemed like they never acknowledged their deep, personal connection. So I wrote this boring little chapter because I wanted to kind of explore some of the side-effects of their differing beliefs—the arguments and whatnot, and also a little acknowledgment of that connection they've always had. I'm sorry this was probably boring, and I have no idea how to word things and blaaaaah. Thanks for reading.

I'm still accepting requests, by the way.

-Lulamae