The soft hum of the bathroom fan followed Scully as she stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped tightly around her body and her hair damp against her shoulders. On her way to the bedroom, she decided to take a quick detour to the living room to check on the triplets. She found Mulder crouched by the playpen, the triplets happily kicking their tiny legs and babbling softly.
Her gaze sharpened as she noticed something new: each baby had a small, brightly colored bow tied neatly around her head. Beatrice wore a pink one, Sabrina had a yellow one, and Joanna sported a light blue.
"Mulder," Scully said, crossing her arms as she leaned against the doorframe, "did you put bows in different colors on my daughters?"
Mulder glanced up, his cheeks flushing. "Uh… yeah," he admitted sheepishly.
Scully raised an eyebrow. "You did that to be able to tell who is who, didn't you?"
Caught, Mulder nodded, his embarrassment evident.
Scully's lips twitched with amusement. "Then make sure the bows match their booties," she instructed with mock sternness. "Because it's confusing for me when the booties say it's Sabrina, but the bow says it's Beatrice."
Mulder chuckled, his shoulders relaxing. "Yes, ma'am," he teased, leaning down to adjust Joanna's bow with exaggerated care.
Later that day, after a quick trip to the office to grab some files and check in with Skinner, Mulder returned home carrying a sleek, elegant paper bag.
He found Scully in the kitchen, carefully preparing bottles for the girls. Wordlessly, he set the bag on the counter in front of her.
Scully glanced up, surprised. "What's this?"
"Just… something I thought might help," Mulder said, his tone casual but his eyes betraying a nervous anticipation.
Curious, Scully opened the bag and pulled out a small velvet box. Inside were three tiny, delicate bracelets, each engraved with one of the girls' names: Beatrice, Sabrina, and Joanna.
"Mulder," she breathed, her voice soft with awe. She picked up one of the bracelets, marveling at its intricate detail. "This is beautiful. But…" She hesitated, looking up at him with a mix of gratitude and reluctance. "I can't accept something like this. It's too much."
Mulder shook his head, stepping closer. "Scully, it's not too much. They're for the girls. And it'll make things easier for us. You'll never have to worry about mixing them up. Plus, when they get older, we can add links to the chains so they'll still fit. They can keep them all their lives if they choose to do so."
She held his gaze, her resolve wavering. "It's just… it's such a thoughtful gift. But it's so valuable."
Mulder gave her a small smile. "Think of it this way: consider it all the birthday gifts I never got you over the years."
Scully let out a soft laugh, the tension easing from her shoulders as she looked back at the bracelets. Her fingers brushed over the engraved names, her heart softening at the thoughtfulness behind the gesture.
Before she could respond, Mulder reached into the bag again and set a second velvet box on the counter in front of her. "There's one more thing," he said, almost shyly.
Curious, she opened the second box to find a sleek, understated gold bracelet. It matched the delicate simplicity of her cross necklace, and the word Mom was engraved on one side. On the reverse were the initials B, S, J.
Scully stared at it, her lips parting in surprise. "Mulder… this is—" She faltered, emotion thickening her voice. "This is perfect."
"It felt right," Mulder said softly. "You wear the cross as a symbol of faith, of strength. I thought this could be a symbol of… them. And you."
She lifted the bracelet carefully, running her thumb over the engraving. Tears pricked at her eyes, but she blinked them away, swallowing hard. "I don't know what to say."
"'Thank you' would be a good start," Mulder quipped, though his tone was warm.
She looked up at him, her expression a mixture of gratitude and affection. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Then, with a rare, unguarded gesture, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "For everything."
Mulder's smile widened, his voice teasing as he added, "And if you're feeling particularly grateful, you can let me off diaper duty for a week."
Scully laughed softly, shaking her head as she carefully closed the box. "Don't push your luck."
Scully scooped up the smaller box and headed for the nursery.
Mulder followed her, leaning in the doorway as Scully approached the crib where Joanna was stirring. Gently, she slipped the tiny bracelet over her daughter's wrist, adjusting it with care. "There," she whispered, brushing her fingers over Joanna's soft hand.
Sabrina and Beatrice remained fast asleep, their tiny fists curled. Scully moved to them next, repeating the same loving gesture with their bracelets.
Mulder watched in silence, something tender and unspoken in his expression as Scully adjusted each bracelet. She lingered over each girl, her face soft with a mixture of pride and affection.
When she finally looked back at him, her voice was barely above a whisper. "They're perfect, Mulder."
He smiled, stepping further into the room. "They are and now they have these cute little bracelets", Mulder joked.
Scully gave him a faint, wry smile, but her eyes betrayed the depth of her emotion. She leaned down, kissed each of the girls on the forehead, and let the moment settle.