Scully shuffled into the kitchen, her hair still tousled from sleep and her robe loosely tied around her. The faint whiff of coffee brewing brought a tiny flicker of energy to her otherwise groggy state. What she didn't expect to see was Mulder, dressed and ready to go standing at the counter with a baby strapped to his chest in a carrier. Beatrice, if she wasn't mistaken, was wide-eyed and curiously gazing around the room.

"Good morning, Scully," Mulder greeted, keeping his voice low. "Little Miss 'I Don't Need As Much Sleep As My Sisters' here has already had her bottle, a diaper change, and is all set for the day."

Scully leaned against the counter, eyeing him and the baby. "Beatrice, right?"

Mulder nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "The letter on her bed was B, so this should be Beatrice. I'm still figuring out which is which, but I've got one thing down—Joanna is definitely the smallest."

Scully stepped closer, brushing a gentle hand over Beatrice's fine, soft, strawberry blond hair. Beatrice blinked up at her mother, her eyes big and curious, and Scully couldn't help but press a kiss to her forehead. "And what's your plan with her so early in the morning?"

Mulder sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "You know, I had this sudden realization this morning—while trying to find anything edible for breakfast, mind you—that the Gunmen and I somehow managed to bring you an industrial-strength bottle sterilizer, five different baby carriers, more diapers than a hospital nursery, and even a wipe warmer, but—"

"But?" Scully prompted, a hint of amusement in her tired voice.

"But we didn't think to stock up on actual food for you," he said, gesturing toward the nearly empty pantry with a sheepish shrug. "Seriously, Scully, there's not even cereal in here. I'm both impressed and horrified."

Scully smirked, leaning back against the counter. "Mulder, if I weren't so sleep-deprived, I might actually be mad. But as it stands, I'm just mildly amused."

"Well," Mulder said, adjusting Beatrice in the carrier, "to make up for this grievous oversight, I thought I'd take her on a little outing to the bakery. Later, all five of us can tackle a grocery run. You know, a like some sort of family adventure with me tagging along."

Scully raised an eyebrow, still half-asleep but entertained. "How very Seventh Heaven of us."

As Mulder stepped toward the door, Scully stopped him with a gesture. "Wait a second." She reached for a tiny knit hat on the counter and carefully placed it on Beatrice's head, tucking her soft hair underneath. "It's cold out there. Keep her warm."

Mulder glanced down at the baby, who was now snugly bundled with her hat in place, and gave Scully an appreciative smile. "Got it. Anything else, boss?"

Scully's hand lingered on Beatrice's head for a moment longer before she straightened up, then said to the baby: "Bring Mommy a Boston cream donut if they have it."

Mulder adjusted the straps of the baby carrier and gave her a mock-serious nod. "I'll see what I can do," he said, earning a faint laugh from her.

As he moved toward the door, Scully couldn't resist adding, "And Mulder?"

He paused, turning back.

"Thank you."

Mulder's expression softened, and he gave her a small nod. "Go catch a few more minutes of sleep. You've earned it."

With that, he slipped out the door, Beatrice happily nestled against him, ready for their morning adventure.

Once outside, Mulder tucked Beatrice's hat more snugly over her head and zipped his coat partway to shield her from the chill. He started down the block, glancing at the baby strapped to his chest. "Okay, little Miss Beatrice," he said softly, keeping his pace steady. "Your mom asked for a Boston cream donut. I don't know if you know this yet, but that's her favorite. She usually sneaks one on cases, like it's her little secret. But she doesn't indulge much—always thinking about being healthy, setting a good example, all that."

Beatrice blinked up at him, her wide eyes taking in the movement and sound of his voice.

Mulder chuckled, his breath forming little clouds in the chilly air. "Thing is, kid, after everything she's been through these past few days, I think she really deserves one. Don't you?"

The baby gave a soft coo, and Mulder grinned as they approached the bakery. "I knew you'd agree. Let's make it happen."

Mulder pulled his coat tighter around himself as he walked down the chilly street, the crisp morning air nipping at his face. Beneath his coat, Beatrice was snug in her carrier, her tiny hat carefully adjusted over her head to keep her warm. He'd already stopped twice to readjust it, worried the cold might creep in, but she seemed perfectly content, her wide eyes darting from one sight to another.

"You're taking this all in, huh?" Mulder muttered softly, glancing down at her. Beatrice blinked up at him, her tiny face serious as though she was mentally cataloging every detail of the world outside. "I don't know if you've got your mom's scientific curiosity or maybe her need to overanalyze everything, but either way, you're already a thinker."

As they approached the bakery, the warm smell of freshly baked bread wafted out, and Mulder smiled. "Smells like heaven, doesn't it, Beatrice? Too bad you're on a strict liquid diet for now."

He stepped inside, carefully pulling the door open without jostling Beatrice. The cozy bakery was bustling with morning customers, the air filled with chatter and the sound of coffee machines. Beatrice's gaze darted around, following the movement of people and the soft glow of lights behind the pastry case.

Several patrons noticed Mulder as he stood near the back of the line, clearly trying to shield the baby from the crowd. One older woman smiled warmly and motioned for him to go ahead. "You've got a little one with you—please, go first."

Mulder hesitated for a moment but nodded gratefully. "Thanks."

As he moved up, a younger man behind the counter grinned at him. "Your first outing with her?"

Mulder adjusted Beatrice's hat again. "Yeah, something like that. Just picking up some reinforcements for the day ahead."

"Adorable," the man said as Mulder scanned the menu. "Take your time."

Mulder ordered quickly: a mix of pastries, bagels, and a loaf of sourdough bread. He made sure to grab a Boston cream donut for Scully. Beatrice squirmed slightly in the carrier, her big eyes still roving the room as the bag of warm baked goods was handed over.

"Thanks," Mulder said, stepping out of line and heading for the door. "And thanks for letting me skip ahead."

The same older woman who'd motioned him forward smiled again. "You're doing a great job, Dad."

Mulder opened his mouth to correct her but stopped, simply offering a polite smile instead. As he stepped back into the cold, Beatrice let out a soft coo. Mulder glanced down at her, his grin widening. "I guess they think your Uncle Mulder is your dad."

The walk back was quiet, save for the crunch of snow underfoot. By the time they reached the apartment, Mulder's coat was still snugly wrapped around Beatrice, and she'd begun to doze off, her small body relaxed against his.

As he unlocked the door, Mulder peeked down at her, his voice soft. "Mission accomplished, partner. Let's see if your mom approves of our haul."

Once the triplets were fed, changed, and dressed warmly for the outing, Mulder helped Scully maneuver the triple stroller out of the apartment. It was a tight fit through the doorway, and Mulder chuckled as he muttered, "This thing's like a small tank. You could probably clear traffic with it."

Scully smirked as she locked the door behind her, a long list folded neatly in her coat pocket. "Focus, Mulder. We're leaving to grocery shop, not make social commentary on strollers."

"Hey, I'm just saying, this thing could double as a mobile command center," Mulder quipped, giving the handle a gentle nudge to test its steering.

The babies, bundled up in cozy blankets and hats, blinked up at the world with varying degrees of interest. Joanna, the smallest, was already dozing off, while Beatrice and Sabrina looked around, their wide eyes taking in every detail of the hallway and, later, the streets.

As they walked, Scully pulled the list from her pocket, scanning it quickly. "Okay, we've got a lot to cover. I hope you're ready."

Mulder raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding? A Saturday grocery run with three babies? This is going to be the highlight of my week."

Scully glanced at him, deadpan. "And here I thought the highlight of your week was us combing through that secret military facility where experiments on humans were conducted."

Mulder smirked. "That was a close second. But this? This has snacks and no armed guards chasing us down. Big improvement."

When they reached the supermarket, Mulder held the door open as Scully maneuvered the stroller inside. The bright lights and bustle of the store didn't faze the triplets, who remained calm as they entered the produce section. Mulder grabbed a basket, while Scully took charge of navigating the stroller.

"First up—fruits and vegetables," Scully said, checking her list. "We're out of pretty much everything."

Mulder picked up a bunch of bananas, tossing them into the basket. "Healthy start. What's next?"

Scully glanced at the list. "Apples, oranges, spinach, and—" She looked up to see Mulder making faces at Sabrina, who giggled softly from her seat. "—Sabrina, stop distracting the help."

Mulder smirked. "She's my morale booster."

Scully watched Mulder engage in a one-sided conversation with Sabrina about the merits of organic produce.

"Now, Sabrina, the key to a good avocado is the perfect balance of firmness and ripeness," he said, holding one up for her inspection.

Scully rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile as she reached for a bag of apples and then for the avocado. The next half-hour was a mix of navigating crowded aisles, grabbing pantry staples, and making sure they didn't forget essentials like coffee.

Mulder steered the stroller briefly while Scully examined a row of pasta sauces. "What's the verdict?" he asked.

"Marinara," Scully said decisively, dropping a jar into the basket. "It's versatile."

"Noted," Mulder replied. He leaned down to check on the triplets, who were starting to fidget. "Alright, ladies, hang in there. We're almost done."

By the time they reached the checkout, the stroller was attracting plenty of attention. A middle-aged woman in line behind them cooed at the babies. "Oh, triplets! Aren't they precious?"

"They are," Scully replied politely, keeping her focus on unloading the basket.

"Double trouble with a bonus," Mulder added with a grin, earning a nudge from Scully.

Once the groceries were bagged and loaded into the stroller's bottom compartment, they headed home. Scully looked at Mulder as they walked. "Not bad. You handled that well."

Mulder gave her a mock salute. "I aim to impress."

As they reached the apartment and started unpacking, Joanna began fussing. Mulder scooped her up quickly, rocking her gently. "Alright, alright, I get it. Grocery shopping isn't your thing. But don't worry—your mom got everything you'll need for the week."

Scully watched him for a moment, her expression softening. "You're good at this, Mulder."

He smiled at her over Joanna's head. "It's easy, because they are so adorable."