This was written from a prompt on Twitter from my moots Julia and KT!

This is for you both! Thank you for the inspiration!!!

Post revival fic. I took some liberty with canon. But then again, it's what I do.

Happy reading!!!

The period between Summer and Fall was Mulder's favorite time of the year. The sweet spot. It was that magical time when everything was about to change. The air was cooler, the sunrises and sunsets were softer and the colors were a mix of greens and golds.

Every morning, he woke to his internal clock of 5 a.m., which, compared to his past, was a huge improvement. Six hours of sleep was all he needed—well, that and a comfortable bed that was occupied by Scully. She was his sleeping pill.

The smell of coffee and change was in the air. He slowly pulled the covers off, careful not to wake his sleeping bride. Over the years, they shared countless beds together. And the way Scully's sleeping pattern evolved to what it was now always made him chuckle. Most nights, her tiny naked frame took up majority of the bed and the covers.

There were occasions, in the beginning, when they slept in the same hotel bed out of necessity. Mulder would wake up and she'd be curled up in a fetal position, her back facing him.

Then, as things changed in terms of feelings and relationship dynamics, he'd wake up and she'd have an arm or a leg touching one of his body parts. Those were the moments he'd never forget—the beginning of forever.

Eventually he'd wake up and she'd be smashed against him or he'd have his arm tightly wrapped around her. Their bodies and hearts always knew what they needed before their minds did.

Until one night, the touching turned into something more. And nothing about them would ever be the same. It was all a secret, of course, until one New Year's Eve, when he decided the secrecy wasn't worth it and kissed her in public.

"The world didn't end," he told her.

In fact, his world had just begun. It was never easy; they had lost and regained each other more than he cared to remember. But in the end, they always came back to each other. It was always going to be them in the end.

Mulder rubbed the sleep from his face and as he rose out of bed, he stole one last glance at Scully. Her long red hair messily draped over her shoulder. The shape of her naked body engulfed in a sea of white bedsheets still took his breath away and he couldn't help but place a soft kiss on the small of her exposed back, between her two dimples.

She stirred, murmuring into her pillow as he let his lips linger on her flesh, "Don't start something you can't finish, professor." He smirked at her threat before he fumbled his way over to the chair in the corner of their bedroom, grabbing his sweatshirt from the armrest.

Mulder tip-towed his way down the stairs. He stopped at the fourth step from the top, taking in the view from the large living room window. Mountains as far as the eye could see, and depending on the season, they were either covered in green or white, or a little of both. Scully discovered the sight when they had moved in. They were alone that day, Skinner and Arlene took the kids into town for some shopping. Mulder was in the kitchen unboxing dishes when she yelled for him. He never hesitated when she yelled his name; it was instinct. He found her at the top of the stairs, and she waved him up to join her.

"Turn around. Look," she had instructed.

They stood at the top of the stairs for a moment, taking in the view together, before he playfully asked her if they needed to bless the stairs. Of course they did; she told him and they made love at the top of the landing.

Colorado wasn't exactly on their radar but it had been a welcomed change. After CSM was killed and Skinner was released from a three-month hospital stay, Mulder was done with the FBI for good. He wanted to take his family as far away from the darkness as he could. This time, he wouldn't fail. This time, it was for good.

He poured himself a cup of coffee and made his way out to the front porch. He sat on the swing that William and he put up last spring. The early mountain air was crisp and chilly and the sound of silence was louder than any DC expressway.

"Hey handsome." Scully's voice from behind settled on him like a warm, cozy blanket. He shifted his eyes up and leaned back, gently rocking the swing as he did so. He would never get tired of hearing her voice. Her arms wrapped around the back of his neck and he opened his eyes just in time to see her blue eyes searching his face from above.

"Good morning, sleepy head," he said, reaching up and tucking a stray red lock behind her ear. She kissed him on the tip of his nose then stood, her hands resting on his shoulders.

"Mulder. I'd hardly consider sleeping in for thirty minutes longer earns me the title of sleepy head. Besides, I was awake when you left the bed, or don't you remember?" she said with a tiny crooked grin.

He patted her hand. "Fair enough."

She shot him the I was right look and took a seat next to him, pulling her feet up and sliding them under his thighs. She shivered and he opened his arm, cueing her to lean in closer. Taking her usual morning spot tucked beside him.

"It's getting colder, Mulder."

"I know." Taking a sip of his coffee then placing the mug on the wooden porch railing. He looked over at Scully. She was every bit as beautiful as the day she shook his hand in the basement office. Only now, a distant worry occupied her face. He knew what it was, of course. She was worried they'd lose it all—the life they finally made.

Mulder reached for her hand and gently squeezed it, breaking her from her thoughts.

"I'm okay," she said, offering him her best attempt at reassurance. He smiled, knowing very well that she battled the same thoughts and anxieties he did.

Scully smiled back, "I don't have to be at the clinic today until noon. What about you? What's your schedule like?"

"I'm yours, all day if you want. I can call Jeffery and he can take my class," he said, then kissed the top of her head.

Mulder extended his legs to the wooden floor and used them to push the swing back and forth effortlessly, creating a soothing and gently sway that matched the pace of their tranquil morning together.

"Poor Jeffery, you really do keep him on his toes."

A small giggle escaped Scully's mouth.

"Hey, what are TA's for, if not to pick up the slack of an older absent-minded professor?"

"I would hardly call you absent-minded," Scully said with a smirk.

"Ouch," he said. "If I recall, you did just call me handsome, not five minutes ago."

"Ohhh, you're handsome alright, even with that scruffy beard, but let's face it, Mulder, we are older, and well..."

Hi interrupted her, anticipating her next sentence, "Scully, stop worrying. We will be here for her and for William. We aren't going anywhere." He ran his fingers up and down her arm as she sighed into his chest.

"Sometimes I think of our life before and it doesn't seem real. It feels like it was all a dream some days—a nightmare others," she whispered. Mulder nodded in understanding.

They had been through so much that it almost read like a science-fiction novel. But now, in this place, they had worked hard to build a life void of the past darkness that consumed them. Before they left, Skinner assured Mulder of their safety. However, for Mulder, the past was always one thin line away from the present, but he swore to himself that he'd never let a thing happen to his family now.

There were things in place that, if needed, they could leave for another location. But he refused to let Scully worry about that.

"We will never go back to that life. I won't let us," he said with a strong determination in his voice that even surprised him.

Scully squeezed his thigh, nodding. "I know you won't," she said.

She looked up, her eyes filled with love for him. It still shocked him when she looked at him that way. It still took him by surprise that he could be loved the way she loved him.

"I love you. You know that, right?" he said, this time moving his lips to meet hers. Scully hummed against his mouth and she gently shifted her body to face him; their lips still tangled in a passionate kiss. His body warmed and pricked with arousal.

He gently pulled away and she whimpered in response.

"Speaking of starting something, Doctor?" he teased.

Scully's eyes were dark and wide, and he knew the look well; he craved that look, memorized it, and cataloged it in his brain. He would never forget that look.

Scully sat up, straddled his lap and the opening of her silk robe granted him a peek of her creamy breasts and fleshy pink erect nipples.

"I knew I was in love with you the night we stood in the rain. I knew I'd follow you anywhere," she said, cupping his face in her hands.

"Oh really?" He said, knowing very well that he had fallen in love with her the moment he read her thesis. Shit, he even memorized it.

She pressed into him and peppered his neck with tiny kisses that sent the blood rushing to his groin. She sucked his neck, and he pulled her bottom square over his already hard dick.

"Yeah," she whispered into his ear. "I was just too scared to believe it." Moving her kisses to his cheek. "Oh, Scully," he moaned, "that made two of us."

Their lips met once more and this time Scully opened her mouth, inviting his tongue inside. Her hands found his pajama bottoms and she moved her thighs squarely above, fervently sliding down the length of him.

Mulder hissed in pleasure as her warm center engulfed him. His hands moved under her robe and up her back as she slowly glided up and down on top of him.

"God, Scully," he growled as she moved to a rhythm only he could hear. He knew morning sex was her favorite. And the swing happened to be in the perfect spot for it. She continued to move her body on top of him.

Her breath quickened and her thighs tightened. "I'm close," she whined. Mulder furrowed his brow in concentration.

"Take me with you," she said as she grabbed the back of the swing.

His body took over and his hands palmed her hips as he quickened his thrusts. He gladly granted her request and together they peaked over the edge of ecstasy soaring into euphoric pleasure.

Scully collapsed on top of him, resting her head on his shoulder, her breath warm against his neck. "I needed that," she said with a satisfied sigh.

"I always need that," he chuckled and she returned a giggle. She pushed her body up, kissing him one last time as she took her seat next to him once more, adjusting her robe.

Mulder leaned over and grabbed the blanket that was laying over the back of the swing and covered Scully with it.

"Just in case, you know who wakes up," he said to her with a wink.

As if on cue, the back porch swung open, and a loud crash proceeded as the door hit the outside wall. Soon after, a tiny red-headed Scully clone in a Barbie pink nightgown stood before them. Scully sat up, addressing their new guest, "Well, good morning, Bean!" She said and the little girl climbed in between the two of them with a look of determination smeared across her face.

All business, just like Scully, he thought to himself.

Scully smiled up at Mulder, and he gently scooted over to make space for their early morning visitor.

"Daddy, tell me the story about why you and Mommy call me Bean."

She said it with a look of accomplishment. She had recently been able to climb the swing herself without any help from him or Scully. He was proud of her feat, but he also realized his baby girl was growing up.

Only because she asked him to do so at least twice a day—once in the morning and once before bed—he chuckle at her request.

Mulder gently pushed the swing back with his feet and both his girls giggled at the movement. He spread out his arms against the back of the swing and they tucked in closer to his body. He could have easily scooped them both up and held on to them for forever—metaphorically speaking, of course.

"Okay. When you were in your Mommy's belly..."

"It's called the womb, Daddy."

Her tiny voice was music to his ears, even as it interrupted him. Mulder looked up at Scully and she shrugged her shoulders.

"What?" She said sheepishly, "Well, it is."

Mulder cleared his throat.

"As I was saying, when you were in your Mommy's...," he hesitated, "...womb, you were very active during certain times."

Smiles from both beauties let him know he had chosen the correct term. He raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but think he had two skeptics in his life. He continued, "when she drank hot liquids, like tea or coffee, and when she laughed."

"And I would move and wiggle, right?"

"Yep, you would. So I, your brilliant, funny, and handsome Daddy," both giggled again, "started to tease your Mommy about having a jumping bean in her belly."

"Oh, Daddy," she erupted in uncontrollable laughter. Even though she had heard it hundreds of times. She still laughed.

Scully joined in, "And I told your Daddy, the only thing I had in my womb was a beautiful, smart, funny…"

"Jumping bean!" Mulder interrupted.

Tickling his little girl as she laughed even louder, squirming between him and Scully.

Mulder pulled his girls in tight to his side, and gently pushed off the ground with his feet sending the porch swing into another soothing rocking motion.

Scully sighed and he looked over, mouthing, you okay? Scully nodded her reply and squeezed his resting hand on her shoulder. He closed his eyes concentrating on the moment, not wanting to forget anything.

A small hand patted his cheek, "Daddy, are you okay?"

Mulder opened his eyes, "Yes, Sweetheart, I'm okay."

"Good, because I'm hungry. Can you make me your special pancakes?"

Mulder smiled, "Nothing would please me more," he said as he stopped the swing with his legs. He stood up and stretched his arms high in the air and immediately Scully stood wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I'll clean up."

She gave him a quick kiss and headed inside, "C'mon, Bean lets get the mix out for Daddy," her hand extended for her mini-me to grab on as she jumped from the swing.

Mulder watched the two loves of his lives walk into the house and he couldn't help but tear up. He would have never thought his life would have ended up this way.

He would stand in the rain with the young red-headed, blue-eyed FBI partner sent to spy on him a million times over if it meant he'd always end up here in this moment.

Nothing had ever mattered more to him.

He grabbed his coffee cup off the wooden porch railing and blissfully walked toward the sound of his two best girls laughing from inside the kitchen.

Mulder smiled, This really was the sweetest spot in his life.