The bathroom was filled with the lingering scent of baby shampoo and the sound of soft giggles as Scully wrapped a towel around Joanna, who was freshly bathed and squirming in her arms. She handed the tiny, wiggling bundle to Mulder, who stood by the changing table, ready for his next task.
"All yours," she said with a teasing smile, stepping back to lean against the doorframe, her arms crossed.
Mulder grinned at her, taking Joanna carefully and settling her onto the padded surface of the changing table. "Alright, kiddo, let's see if we can get you dressed without too much of a fuss," he said in a mock-serious tone.
Scully couldn't help but watch as he worked. There was something endearingly clumsy yet determined about the way he handled the girls. His large hands moved gently, expertly threading tiny arms and legs into the soft fabric of the onesie. He hummed a tune under his breath, pausing to make silly faces whenever Joanna looked up at him.
"You're a natural," Scully said softly, almost to herself.
Mulder glanced over his shoulder at her, smirking. "Don't let the girls hear you say that. They'll think I have this all figured out."
Scully chuckled, but her eyes lingered on him as he finished dressing Joanna, snapping the last button with a triumphant flourish. He lifted her up and planted a kiss on her cheek, eliciting a delighted squeal from the baby.
"There we go," he said, holding Joanna up as if to show her off. "Ready to take on the world—or at least the next five minutes before you spit up on this outfit."
Scully shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. "You do realize that's exactly what's going to happen, right?"
"Yeah, but it's worth it," Mulder replied, his tone light but sincere. He handed Joanna off to Scully before turning back to the changing table to retrieve Sabrina, who was lying there patiently, all bundled up in a towel, her big eyes watching him intently.
Scully watched the scene unfold, her heart swelling as she took in the sight of Mulder carefully dressing Sabrina. He was so gentle, so attentive, his brow furrowing slightly in concentration as he tried to get the snaps on her onesie to line up correctly.
"You know," she said quietly, her voice laced with warmth, "I don't think I've ever seen you more in your element than you are right now."
Mulder looked up at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Really? Even more than when I'm chasing down little green men?"
Scully nodded, her smile widening. "Even more than that."
He finished dressing Sabrina and lifted her, cradling her against his chest, heading for the nursery where Beatrice was already sleeping in her bassinet. "Well," he said, leaning down to nuzzle her tiny nose, "I guess this is my new X-File: figuring out how to keep three little girls happy, healthy, and entertained."