The triplets were buzzing with excitement as they piled into the car. "It's time, Mom," Joanna declared. "We're not kids anymore. We want real bras."
Scully glanced at Mulder, who had volunteered to come along. "Are you sure you're up for this?" she asked him skeptically.
Mulder shrugged, a playful smirk on his face. "I've faced aliens, conspiracies, Skinner's temper and the feminine hygiene aisle. How hard could bra shopping be?"
The department store was bustling, and the girls eagerly dove into the lingerie section, inspecting every rack. Joanna gravitated toward sports bras, Beatrice eyed more structured styles, and Sabrina debated over colorful patterns.
Mulder wandered a few steps behind them, clearly out of his element. He picked up a lacy bra with a quizzical expression. "What's this even for?" he muttered under his breath.
Scully smirked and gently pulled it from his hand. "Not for the girls, that's for sure."
The triplets were engrossed in their choices, debating the merits of adjustable straps versus pullover styles. Mulder, meanwhile, found himself drawn to another section entirely.
When Scully turned around to check on him, she found him holding up a matching set of elegant black lace underwear. He gave her a cheeky grin. "Valentine's Day is coming up. What do you think?"
Scully's face turned a faint shade of pink, and she snatched the set from him. "You're supposed to be helping the girls, not shopping for me."
"I can multitask," he teased, clearly pleased with himself.
Eventually, the girls each settled on their first bras, proudly carrying their selections to the register. On the drive home, they were chatting excitedly about how grown-up they felt, completely unaware of the set hidden in one of the bags for Scully.
Later that evening, as Scully unpacked the bags, she found the set Mulder had snuck in. She shook her head, amused, and called out to him. "You're incorrigible, you know that?"
Mulder poked his head around the corner, grinning. "You love me anyway."
Scully rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her smile. "I do. But next time, you're going bra shopping solo."
The girls, overhearing from the other room, burst into laughter. "Maybe Dad should stick to aliens!" Joanna joked.
Mulder raised his hands in mock surrender. "Noted. But I still think I did pretty well."