May 10, 2024
"You think we'll be able to see them?" Faith asked, looking at the pictures on Mulder's phone as she sat beside him on the couch.
"I really think we will, but it won't be until way after you've gone to bed."
"If they are in the sky, will you wake me up and let me see them?" She turned her head and looked at him, her blue eyes wide.
"To see the aurora borealis in our own backyard? You better believe I will. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us." He smiled at Faith and then looked at Scully. "Mommy and I have talked about seeing them, but it's very far to travel and sometimes it might not be the best weather conditions for it. But the fact that all we have to do is walk outside to see them, you better believe I'll wake you up so that you don't miss them."
"Good. I want to see them. They're so pretty," Faith said, smiling and looking back at the pictures of the northern lights on Mulder's phone. "Will it be pink like in the pictures?"
"I think so," he said, kissing the top of Faith's head as he looked at the pictures as well.
"I like all the colors, but the pink in the sky is my favorite."
"I know it is," he said, glancing at Scully and finding her smiling at them.
"Well, if we're going to possibly be seeing the northern lights from our porch, I think we should get some things ready for when we're outside," Scully said. "Some warm clothing, blankets, maybe some snacks." She shrugged as she smiled and Mulder nodded, kissing Faith's head again.
"Okay Squatch," Mulder said, closing his phone and setting it on the coffee table. "Let's go gather things and set them by the door so we don't have to worry about it once the sky is full of beautiful night lights."
"Can I bring some of my animals down too?"
"Of course. Whatever you want to bring with us."
They all stood and trooped upstairs, talking about what they hoped to see that night. Scully walked into their bedroom to get blankets and Mulder followed Faith into her room, grabbing the empty laundry basket outside of her door.
"I want Aley to see it," she said, picking up the gray alien with the pink belly from her bed and looking at it. "But I also want to sleep with her."
"I could grab her when I wake you up," he said, knowing it was her favorite stuffed animal. "You could put the ones you want to see the lights but don't mind not sleeping with tonight in the basket and then Mommy and I will make sure they are outside with us."
"Okay. Can you bring Aley and Bunny?" she asked, picking up the pink bunny she had gotten for Easter four years ago.
"I can do that," Mulder said with a smile.
"I don't want them to miss it," she said again and he nodded.
"I'll grab them for you," he said and she smiled as she put them back onto her bed.
"Okay. I'll put the other ones in the basket."
"Put whatever you want in there. I'll get your clothes while you do that."
By the time she was done and he had made a small pile of clothes, the laundry basket was nearly overflowing.
"Is this every animal you have?" he teased and she nodded her head solemnly.
"It's a once of a lifetime thing to see," she said and he laughed softly as he picked up the basket.
"Once in a lifetime," he agreed, waiting for her to walk out of the room as he followed behind her.
"Oh," Scully said as she walked out of their bedroom at the same time with a laundry basket of her own. "I see… all of the animals have been invited."
"It's once of a lifetime, Mommy," Faith repeated and Scully looked at Mulder, holding back a smile.
"That it is," Scully replied and they both followed Faith as she walked down the stairs.
"She is so cute," Scully said and Mulder nodded as he adjusted the laundry basket, grabbing a wayward stuffed dog.
The baskets were set down by the door and they all went into the kitchen to collect some snacks. Thermoses were placed on the table, ready for hot chocolate once the time drew closer. Pretzels, graham crackers, fruit snacks, and green grapes were put into bento boxes and set beside the thermoses.
"There," Faith said, brushing the crumbs from the graham crackers off her hands. "Now we're all ready. Can we see if the lights are out there now, Daddy?"
"We can check, but it's not quite time yet, Squatch. Not for a few hours still."
"But… maybe they are?"
"Let's check," he said, putting his hand out for her to take it. She took it and then reached for Scully's.
"All of us will check," Faith said and Mulder smiled at Scully over her head.
When they opened the door, turning off the porch light as they stepped outside, they saw that the sky was no different than usual.
"Just the night sky," Faith said with a sigh, letting go of their hands and walking to the railing. Laying her arms on it and crossing them, she then rested her chin atop them, sighing once again.
"But look how clear it is," Mulder pointed out. "Perfect conditions for viewing the lights."
"You're sure they'll be there?" Faith asked, turning her head to look at him. "And you won't let me miss it?"
"Yes, they will and no, I won't," he said, lifting her up with a smile. "We're all ready. We just need to wait."
"It will take a long time," she said softly and Scully laughed, stepping closer to them and rubbing Faith's back.
"You just have to be patient, love. That's all."
"It's hard being patient, I know. I'm so sorry you inherited the impatient trait from your mama," Mulder teased and Scully narrowed her eyes at him.
"Might wanna rethink those words, pal," she said and he laughed.
"Hmm," he smiled, winking at her as he rocked Faith gently. Scully shook her head, but her lips quirked up into a smile.
"Well, how about we go inside and have your sweet treat and then read some books in bed?" Scully asked and Faith nodded as she looked at the sky one more time.
"See you later," she said softly and Scully stuck out her lower lip as she looked at Mulder. He grinned and hugged Faith closer.
"Aw, Squatchy my love," he said, kissing her cheek and walking back into the house.
Her sweet treat eaten, a raspberry flavored popsicle, teeth brushed and pajamas on, they all snuggled into her bed with a pile of books. Two of them were about stars and the constellations and they took longer looking at them, Faith asking many questions.
When it was time to say goodnight, she asked to look out the window one more time, just to be sure it had not started yet. Mulder opened the curtains and then the blinds, both of them looking up at the night sky.
"Not yet," Faith whispered, holding tightly to her alien.
"But soon," Mulder promised, running his hand over her head. "The minute I see it, I'll come get you."
"And Aley and Bunny," she reminded him.
"Of course," he said, scooping her up and carrying her to bed as she laughed. "I couldn't forget the two best friends."
"Thank you, Daddy. I'm very excited to see the lights."
"Me too, my love," he said, as she snuggled down on her pillow and he covered her up. He kissed her and smiled as he said goodnight.
"Goodnight," she said, closing her eyes with a smile.
"Goodnight, honey," Scully said, giving her a kiss and brushing her hair back. "I love you."
"I love you too," Faith said, opening her eyes and looking at Scully, who kissed her again and then stepped back.
"We'll come back and get you as soon as we see the lights," Mulder promised again as he turned off the lights, leaving her room bathed in her night light of rotating stars. "Love you bunches."
"Love you handfuls," Faith said and Scully laughed softly as Mulder closed the door. He sighed and looked at her as he shook his head.
"I love her so much," he said quietly and she nodded, her arms going around his waist.
"I know you do."
He bent his head and kissed her, his heart full of happiness.
"Come on," he said, pulling back and taking her hand. "Let's get ready and wait."
"Get ready and wait," Scully repeated with a laugh.
"With a glass of wine," he said, starting down the stairs.
"Oh, now you're talking," she said, squeezing his hand as he chuckled softly.
He poured them each a glass of wine and they set about making sure the blankets and stuffed animals were ready to be taken outside. Bella joined him on his trip to the shed to get the large tarp they kept out there, as well as the sleeping bags.
"It's gonna be a beautiful night, Bells," he said, scratching her ears as her tail thumped against the doorframe. He grinned as he looked up at Faith's window, remembering what she had said. "Once of a lifetime it will be. Come on, girl."
Bella trotted alongside him back to the house, leaving him to continue up the porch as she went sniffing around the yard. He laid the tarp over the railing, the sleeping bags on the chairs, and looked up at the sky.
"I just had a message from Rachel," Scully said, stepping onto the porch.
"Everything okay?" he asked, turning to look at her.
"See for yourself," she said with a grin, holding her phone for him to see the picture Rachel had sent.
It was from their back porch, two glasses of wine just visible on the table as the majority of the picture was of the night sky.
"She said for us to take lots of pictures as they probably won't see it as well with the city lights."
"Yet another perk to living in the middle of nowhere," he said, grinning as he looked around at the relative darkness.
"True." She turned her phone around and looked at the picture again. "I'm glad they will be enjoying it too."
"Though I doubt they will be waking the twins," Mulder teased, giving her a side glance and she looked at him with wide eyes.
"Not if they value their sanity," she replied, closing her phone and putting it in the pocket of the hoodie she wore. He laughed and looked back at the sky.
"Think our phones will capture it well enough or should I see if I can dig up the digital camera?" Scully asked and he shook his head.
"Nah, I think the phones will be fine for it. Although… maybe we should? Just in case?" They looked at each other and nodded, walking into the house to see if they could find it.
Camera found and battery plugged in to charge, hoping it would be ready in time, Mulder went back outside, bringing the baskets with him.
He took the tarp from the railing and brought it down to the grass. Laying it out, he then grabbed the sleeping bags and unzipped them, lying them face down on the tarp. The baskets were then brought over one at a time, Scully joining him to lay the stuffed animals down in a line on their backs at the edge of the sleeping bags.
"I still can't believe this is going to happen," she said, looking up at the sky.
"Me either," he said, shaking his head and smiling. "But I'm incredibly excited."
"Me too."
They walked back onto the porch and he went inside to grab their glasses of wine and the blanket from the couch.
"Could I interest you in a turn on the porch swing?" he asked and she laughed with a nod.
She took her glass and sat beside him as he pushed against the porch, causing the swing to move slightly.
"How much longer?" she asked, covering with the blanket and taking a sip of her wine.
"It said it could happen anytime between ten and two in the morning. So…" He looked at his watch and sighed. "A little over a half an hour for the start, but for now we must rely on Mother Nature."
"And you know how we women like to make a grand entrance," she teased, laying her head on his shoulder.
"I'd say it's more of knowing how to wow the crowd," he said, resting his head on hers. "Of which you do on a daily basis."
"Charmer," she said softly.
"Beauty," he replied and she laughed as she took another sip of wine.
They sat and talked, the swing moving and squeaking occasionally. At one point they both got up to refill their glasses as well as prepare the hot chocolate, wanting to be sure everything was ready, before sitting on the swing once again.
"It's both amazing and somewhat worrying that we'll be able to see the northern lights this far south," she said, shaking her head.
"Hmm," he hummed with a nod. "For tonight, I'm going to focus on the amazing side of it. I know that there could be negative sides to it, but…"
"Yeah. Sorry to bring the negative into it."
"It's understandable."
"That I would be negative?" she asked, looking at him with an eyebrow raised.
"No! That's not what I meant. I didn't…" He shook his head and she started laughing, leaning her head back on his shoulder.
"You're so easy," she said softly and he shook his head.
"You're terrible."
"Hmm," she hummed as he rocked the swing.
He closed his eyes and began to hum a nameless tune, his foot tapping against the porch. She sighed against him and he smiled.
Bella's tags jingling startled him awake and he lifted his head, yawning as he opened his eyes. Looking around, he saw the greenish glow in the sky and he grinned.
"Scully," he said, gently bumping her with his shoulder. "Honey, wake up. Look."
"Hmm," she hummed, raising her head and stretching with a yawn. "What did you say?"
"It's starting. Look at it!" He pushed the blanket off of him and stood up, hurrying off the porch as he stared up at the sky. "Look at it!" He laughed and raised his arms up. "Oh, she's gorgeous!"
"Wow," he heard Scully say from the porch and he turned to look at her, her head tipped back as she too stared up at the sky.
"Isn't she beautiful?" he asked, looking back at the colors in the sky.
Green blended to purple and he stood mesmerized by it. It moved, but not overly so, almost as though it was dancing slowly, enjoying the chance to show off the beautiful colors that were being created.
"It's amazing. So beautiful," Scully said, now standing beside him. She took his hand and squeezed. "It makes me want to cry."
"Yeah," he said, feeling that way himself as he watched the stars twinkling around the sky. A plane flew overhead and he wondered how it would look from that height.
"Look how it changes slowly," Scully said, pointing up. "It's so beautiful."
"It is," he agreed, letting go of her hand to put his arm around her shoulders.
They stood together, silently watching it before he turned them, smiling at her as he held her closer, swaying them slowly.
"You know, dancing with you under the moonlight will be so commonplace after being under the aurora borealis. No offense to the moon, but come on. Look at this beauty on display," he said, taking her hand and spinning her. She laughed as she looked up and then at him.
"Definitely no offense to the moon, as she is quite beautiful, but I know what you mean."
He pulled her closer and they stared at each other, smiling happily. He looked up again and shook his head.
"I'm basking in the glow of women in all forms this evening," he said with a smile. "Corporeal and celestial."
"As it should always be," Scully laughed and he spun her again.
"Amen to that," he said, pulling her back and dipping her, then kissing her neck as he brought her closer. She laughed again and he smiled.
"Come on," Scully said. "Let's go wake up Faith."
They hurried inside and up the stairs. Opening her door, they walked to her bed where she slept with both Aley and Bunny held tightly in her arms.
"Wants to be extra sure we don't forget them," he whispered to Scully and she chuckled softly. He stroked Faith's hair, smiling down at her. "Hey, love."
Her eyes opened immediately and he pulled back in surprise.
"Are the lights in the sky?" she asked, blinking as she started to sit up. "Is it pink?"
"Well, how about if we get downstairs and you can see for yourself?" Mulder asked, chuckling softly at her enthusiasm.
"I was dreaming about it," Faith said, pushing her covers back and stretching. "I dreamed it was pink and blue, like the cotton candy we got at my school carnival."
"That sounds like a good dream," Scully said, taking Aley and Bunny from Faith.
"Yeah," Faith said, slipping from the bed to the floor and stretching again. "I'm ready to go see the lights."
"How about we make a quick stop at the bathroom and then we will?" Mulder asked, smiling at Faith.
"Okay," she said with a nod, sleepily stumbling from the room. Mulder smiled at Scully as they followed after her, and waited in the hall.
They heard the toilet flush and a few seconds later, Faith walked out of the bedroom, wiping her still damp hands on her pajamas.
"I liked the cotton candy at the carnival," she said with a smile and they both nodded.
"I remember," Mulder said.
"What if the sky was cotton candy?" she asked. "Wouldn't that be fun? It would smell so good all the time."
"It would," he agreed, bending to lift her into his arms. "Now come on! Let's go see that beautiful sky!"
"Yeah!"
When they got to the bottom of the stairs, he set her down to quickly help her put on her hoodie, an extra pair of pants, her coat, beanie, and shoes.
"All ready. Let's go," Scully said, smiling at Faith.
"Bella, come on," Faith said to Bella, who was laying on her bed. Her ears perked up and then she stood up, stretching before walking over to Faith, her tail wagging.
"Okay. Here we go."
"I want to close my eyes and be surprised," Faith said, her hand on Bella's collar. "Can you help me, Daddy?"
"I can, love. Close your eyes and give me your hand." She closed her eyes, put her hand out, and he took it with a smile.
"I'll open the door," Scully said, looking at them and smiling.
"Thank you, Mommy," Faith said, squeezing Mulder's hand, her eyes closed tightly.
Scully opened the door and stepped out, glancing up at the sky and smiling. Mulder watched her take out her phone and point it at them. She nodded and he smiled, nodding back.
"Okay, here we go," Mulder said, stepping backwards through the doorway and holding Faith's hand as Bella squeezed past them and onto the porch.
"I'm excited," she said quietly and he smiled.
"Careful. It's dark out here."
"Okay."
"Four more steps, honey. One, two, three, four. Now stop and hang on. Let me move out of your way." He nodded to Scully and they switched places so she could get a good video. "Open your eyes in three… two… one."
Faith took a deep breath and opened her eyes, her mouth dropping open in surprise.
"Oh my gosh," she whispered. "It's so beautiful. It's… so many colors. Oh, I love it." She smiled and glanced at them and then back to the sky. "It makes me feel so happy. It gives me tears in my eyes."
"Oh, honey," Scully whispered.
"But I'm happy," Faith said, looking at Scully, her eyes shining with tears. "It's better than my dream. I love it so much."
Scully stopped filming her, put her phone back in her pocket, and held Faith's face in her hands as she kissed her forehead.
"Can we go on the grass?"
"Absolutely."
They walked over to the sleeping bag covered tarp and sat down, staring up at the sky. Aley and Bunny were added to the line of animals, Faith telling them about the beautiful colors in the sky.
A trilling meow was heard and Grey came running over to them, purring loudly as she pressed against Faith's chin.
"Grey, look at the sky! Look how beautiful the colors are! See the pink? And the purple?" Grey meowed again, purring even louder as she rubbed against Faith. "It's amazing. Once of a lifetime, Grey."
"Once of a lifetime," Mulder said quietly, looking at Scully.
"Absolutely it is," she said, grinning as she took pictures with both her phone and the digital camera.
"It's kind of cloudy, but I can still see it," Faith said, staring up and smiling. "So many colors."
"So vibrant," Mulder said and she looked at him with a frown. "It means they are bright."
"Yes. Very vibrant," Faith agreed looking back at the sky.
Mulder ran back inside a few minutes later to get the bento boxes and thermoses of hot chocolate. Exclaiming over how beautiful and wonderful the lights looked, they drank and ate, Bella and Grey lying beside them completely unfazed by the phenomenon.
Faith moved to Mulder's lap with her alien after about an hour, and leaned back against him, eating the last of her grapes as she watched the sky.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, my love?"
"Aley thinks the sky is beautiful."
"She's absolutely right."
"Yeah. She is. She wishes it was like this all the time."
"Hmm… but then it wouldn't be once in a lifetime," he said and she exhaled softly.
"Yeah. But then it would be all of a lifetime."
"Well," Mulder said, smiling at Scully and then looking at the sky. "I can't argue with that."
"I think it would be wonderful to have it all the time," Faith said, rubbing her fingers across his wedding ring as she too looked at the sky, a big yawn escaping as she shifted slightly.
"You want to go back to bed, my love?" he asked and she shook her head even as she yawned again.
"I want to watch the lights and see the cotton candy sky," she said, yawning once more.
"Okay, baby," he said, smiling at Scully as she moved closer to them, laying a blanket over Faith. She kissed the top of Faith's head and then sat beside him, resting her head against his arm.
Within minutes, Faith was asleep, her mouth open slightly. Scully began to hum the same tune he had been humming earlier and he smiled, his lips pressed in Faith's hair.
"Once of a lifetime," he whispered and Scully chuckled with a nod, before humming softly again, the night sky above them alive with color.