Disclaimer: X Files belongs to Fox and Chris Carter.

Charlotte

They were expected to be in Charlotte by 10:30 on Saturday so the pair decided to take that Friday to make their way and enjoy the day. Mulder rationalized skipping work by complaining about having to go at all and Scully did not have the energy to disagree and honestly didn't want to. Being the level headed of the two had become harder since their first kiss on New Years and even harder since they slept together. She tried to stay strong but he would smile and she would feel herself folding.

Scully was lost in these thoughts looking over at her partner at the wheel of the car cracking open sunflower seeds. She had never been the day dreaming type of girl either. She wanted to hate it all but she was having fun for the first time in so long. She felt like a teenager again.

A hand waving in front of her face broke her from her trance.

"Scully? I know it is hard not to get drawn in by the specimen before you but you're still my navigator." Mulder said glancing at her with a flirtatious smile.

Scully straitened up in her seat her face turning violently red and she took the map in hand. After discussing different routs and which is best (and maybe a small argument) Mulder graciously gave her permission to continue to admire him.

"Shut up Mulder." Scully said crossing her arms over her chest and turning to look out the window to hide the small smile that came to her face.

"What were you thinking about?" Mulder asked with genuine curiosity.

"Oh it's stupid I've just been in the car too long."

"Oh come on Scully!"

"Ok well I don't know! It's just been a while… and I guess I just feel like I am going soft."

"Been a while since what?" Mulder said with fake seriousness and a raised eyebrow.

"If you are going to ask me what I am thinking and then mock me I won't tell you anymore."

"Ok ok. You mean soft like letting me get away with stuff you would have put your foot down on before? If so then a little. But softness goes both ways Scully. I am sure there will be a time soon when you don't want to do a case or something and you can use your womanly wiles."

"Please. When you are on a case not even sex could distract you."

"You say that cause you haven't tried yet. Maybe you should try it. In fact I think that I have an idea for our next case right now…"

Scully gave him a light punch in the arm. They enjoyed the rest of the drive hands entangled and smiles on their faces.

One of the many perks that came with the new aspect of their relationship was already being so comfortable with one another. At first this had worried Scully because it would maybe put too much pressure on them but it had not seemed to make any difference so far. She did like that she didn't feel too self-conscious about her appearance and smell after the long drive. When the first moment of self consciousness arouse she reminded herself that Mulder had once seen her naked and covered in slime so anything less than that was nothing. She also knew that he was never concerned about his smell or appearance, which made her feel better as well.

One of the reasons that neither of them had dated in so long was how tetious it was to begin a new relationship. It always took so long to get to know the person and then you had to keep them updated and learn all of these new things. Both of them were already very private people and found letting anyone in difficult so starting a romantic relationship with all of that already taken care of was a welcome thing.

They got out of the car at the hotel and grabbed their weekend bags. They could tell that there were already agents that had arrived as well.

Mulder turned to whisper to Scully in the foyer, "Avoid eye contact and remember they can smell fear."

She giggled softly

The woman at the front desk called for them next and gave them their assigned rooms. As soon as they received the keys they both tried to make a run for it without seeing anyone they knew. But it was just not in the cards.

A man came up out of nowhere pulling Mulder around by the shoulder and bringing him into a tight obnoxious hug.

"Aw! If it ain't ol' spooky!" The man said loudly as he slapped Mulder's back.

"Hey Greg." Mulder said trying to hide his irritation.

"And who might this lovely slice of heaven be?" Greg said as his attention turned to Scully.

"Agent Scully. I'm Mulder's partner." She said dryly. He held out his hand as if to shake but when he took her hand he instead put it to his lips and bowed.

"Pleasure." Scully quickly pulled her hand away considering giving the man a piece of her mind but the want to get out of there made her reconsider.

"Come on man that is not how you treat a fellow agent." Mulder said his irritation now very thinly veiled.

"You're right you're right. Sorry ma'am."

Scully just nodded.

"Well I hate to go so quickly but we actually have some work to do so…" Mulder said as he began to lead Scully away his hand at on her lower back.

"Hey wait Fox man!" Greg yelled.
Mulder put his finger up in a one-minute gesture to Scully and walked back over.

"Yes?"

"What's your room number? Since things have not started yet I was thinking of having a little party if you know what I mean." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Uh it is on my room key thing over with my stuff I'll get it to you later."

"Oh wait one more thing: is your partner single?"

"No." Mulder said curtly.

Greg looked up at him amazement on his face, "Oh I see. You doing her? I heard that might be the case. I mean sitting in that basement with a hot piece like that…"

Mulder was getting his fist ready for a good punch when Scully called over to him.

"Hey Mulder your phone." She said holding it up.

Greg made a whipping sound as Mulder walked away.

"Fake call. I could tell you were getting pissed. Didn't want to already have problems before we even start." Scully said.

The elevator doors opened and the two agents stepped in. Mulder quickly pressed the close door button to avoid running into anyone else.

Scully put her hand on Mulder's elbow in an attempt to calm him. When he looked down she smiled at him and he immediately felt calmer.

Once they found their adjoining rooms they went in and first thing opened the shared door and settled in keeping their things in their own respective rooms. Both were in desperate need of a shower and change of clothes.

Once they were properly washed and comfortable Mulder made his way into Scully's room hands in his sweatpants acting casual as if he had just happened upon this room. Scully was on the bed in pajama shorts and one of Mulder's shirts brushing her wet hair and reading a book. She smiled at him and he came around to the other side of the bed throwing himself down on the bed jostling Scully and throwing her belongings off of the bed.

"Mulder." She said disapprovingly. He just gave her a smile and she turned away to prevent her own. She acted as if she were very engrossed in the show that was playing on TV but in reality had no idea what she was even watching. Mulder took his hand and put it on her calf moving it up and down. She looked at him dubiously but turned her face back to her book pretending not to care.

He took a different approach and tickled the sensitive spot behind her knee. She held back for as long as she could.

"Mulder!" She cried kicking her leg up and pushing him.
He cracked up.

"Come on Scully. Isn't this supposed to be some kind of romantic weekend away?" He asked

"Yes it is. I'm so tired. Don't you just want to cuddle?"

"Oh I do love cuddling." He replied moving up the bed over her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and began kissing her face and neck. Scully could feel herself giving in as his breath tickled her ear and neck.

Soon enough they were making love and forget the outside world.

The alarm went off at 9:30. Scully was tangled in the sheets and for a moment she didn't know where she was. When a strong arm wrapped around her waist she remembered and smiled. She turned on her side to face him and moved close. Her nose touched his and she gave him a small Eskimo kiss. She felt his morning erection against her leg and smiled knowing what their morning had in store.

By 10:15 Mulder was dragging his feet like a child who didn't want to go to school. He even tried to convince Scully that he was coming down with something. He seemed to go through the stages of grief. Luckily Scully had been through this with him before and knew not to react. She just went along with getting herself ready every once in a while telling Mulder to brush his teeth or put on a shirt. For the first couple years they worked together this behavior had annoyed her but now she just knew it was apart of him. She knew in the best and worst ways Mulder was child like.

There was a point a few years ago when Scully realized that his flaws were a part of him. Mulder could be selfish, childish, and bull-headed but he was also passionate, sensitive, and smart. She understood something that she had never understood in any other relationship that it was possible to love a persons flaws and she loved his. As annoying as they could be they were part of him and she knew she had things about her that annoyed him and knew that he still loved her.

So because of all this she smiled to herself as he walked in circles around the rooms pretending to not know where his shoes and socks were.

She finally decided to grab them herself. They were not hard to find.

"Right here Mulder. Now come on you know we have to do this and if we are late it will be even more unpleasant." She said holding up his shoes and socks.

"Yeah I just want to stay in here all day. Maybe head out for some food and then just lay around." He said laying back on the bed looking at the ceiling.

She smiled at him and sat next to him.

"Some other day." She laid the shoes with the socks in them on his stomach and got up to finish her own routine.

She was finishing her lipstick when Mulder appeared in the mirror leaning against the doorframe.

He looked down at his watch, "Wow 10:25. Scully you're going to make us late." He said not even bothering to try to look serious.

Scully just glared back at him.