As soon as they entered Scully's apartment, Mulder jumped on the couch and started to lick his balls.
"Yes, Mulder," Scully rolled her eyes. "Do feel at home."
She should have left him at his place, she thought. He would have been fine for the night and she could check him out before and after work. It's just that it seemed too cruel. He must have been scared, going through such an unbelievable experience, and she was literary the only friend he had left.
Not that he had many more friends as a human, but still… Besides, Genia could return at any moment and Scully wanted him around when that happened.
"I will not screw up my last wish," Scully chanted in her head. "I will NOT screw up my last wish!"
She went to the kitchen, took down a bowl and filled it with water. When she returned to the living room Mulder was still busy with basic hygiene. She stood there, holding the bowl, feeling awkward as hell.
"You must be thirsty," she finally said, forcing a smile. Mulder raised his head, looking way cuter than a grown dog is supposed to look. "If you keep this up I might just keep you," Scully thought to herself and her smile grew more genuine.
"Woof!" Mulder barked, jumped from the couch and approached his partner. She crouched to his level, placing the bowl on the floor in front of him, and watched him drink it, fast and loudly.
"Good boy," she said automatically, but as soon as those words reached her brain she covered her mouth with her hand and jumped to her feet. What was she doing? Treating her partner like a real dog? The cutest, smartest, most obedient dog she ever had…
God, she wanted him! It was so wrong on so many levels, but she was dog-less for too long and she yearned so much for a warm, hairy friend to come home to, and this sweet, lovely thing with Mulder's eyes…
God, what was wrong with her?
She walked away, trying to get some distance, but Mulder followed her. When she stopped, he took advantage of her stillness and hugged one of her legs with both of his front ones, getting ready to…
"Oh no, you don't!" Scully pushed him away. "I have guns, Mulder, remember? Mine AND yours."
Mulder whined and sat down, offering his pawn in apology. Scully smiled, accepting it. She couldn't stay mad at her partner for long and she definitely had a soft spot for dogs. It will be hard to set boundaries for this one and prevent him from taking advantage of her in any way he could think of. Special Agent Dana Scully didn't have many weaknesses, but tail wagging little monsters were always her undoing.
The door bell rung, causing Mulder to growl.
"It's ok," Scully assured him. "It's just my mom."
Mulder was still suspicious, but when he saw Maggie and sniffed her thoroughly, he started to happily jump on and around her. Scully rolled her eyes at this exaggerated show of affection.
"Good boy," Maggie stroked him, feeling instant connection. "What's his name?" she asked her daughter.
"Mulder," Scully said simply, taking her bags and leaving them on the coffee table, while Maggie played with her partner.
"God, will he remember any of this?" Scully thought. "And if he doesn't and I tell him, will he be able to believe me? This is a little too far-fetched even for Mulder. If I tell him, I will probably lose all my credibility in his eyes for-about-ever."
"Does he know?" Maggie's voice brought her back from her thoughts.
"Does who know what?" Scully was confused.
"Fox, of course!" Maggie exclaimed. "That you love him!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Scully tried to brush her off. But she knew, of course she knew. She wasn't getting younger and her mother was annoyingly aware of that.
"He loves you, too, I can see that," Maggie was just being a mother.
"Mom, I don't…"
"You even named your dog Fox!"
"What? I didn't… This isn't… His name is Mulder, not Fox! It would be silly to name a dog Fox."
"Not as silly as naming a child Fox," Maggie smiled fondly.
"Mom… This has nothing to do with my partner!" Scully insisted.
Nothing!
Nothing!
Nothing!
Except everything…
Scully sat on her couch, feeling beat. She couldn't force herself to retell the stupid story about Mulder's uncle. She would just leave her mother to enjoy her love fantasy and plan the imaginary wedding. That scenario suddenly felt more believable than Scully's reality. Who cares, either way? It won't bring him back…
"Oh honey, I'm sorry," Maggie sat next to her and reached for her hand, holding it protectively. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's really none of my business."
Only then Scully realized that she was crying. Mulder must have realized it at the same moment because he immediately jumped on the couch by her other side and started to lick her tears.
"Mulder, stop that!" Scully couldn't help but to chuckle. He was all over her face and instead of stopping he was only getting more persistent.
"Enough!" Scully was laughing now, pushing him away but without any of her previous authority. "All right! All right! I love you too!"
It was such an easy thing to say to a dog.
Maggie had no idea that she just witnessed exactly what she was hoping for.