After prom, the girls came home right when their curfew started. Mulder had waited for them on the couch, but had fallen asleep. Bea and Sabrina each kissed their sleeping dad on the forehead before walking upstairs. Joanna, however, stayed behind, quietly waiting for Mulder to wake up.

When he finally stirred, he blinked a few times, disoriented, then looked up at her. "Did you have a great evening, Jo?"

Joanna nodded pensively, but there was something else on her mind. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting before meeting his eyes. "Dad, can I ask you something?"

Mulder rubbed his eyes, still half-dazed from sleep, but he smiled. "Sure. Anything. You know that."

Joanna bit her lip, clearly gathering her thoughts. "How does consent work?"

Mulder froze for a moment. His brain immediately kicked into overdrive, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Did something happen tonight?" he asked, his tone careful.

Joanna shook her head. "No, nothing happened. I thought it might, and I was prepared, but... Mark, he said he wanted to take things slow." She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "I don't really understand it all. I thought I did, but... what does that mean? How do you know when it's the right time for both people?"

Mulder exhaled slowly, trying to find the right words. He gestured for her to sit beside him on the couch. When she did, he turned to face her, taking a deep breath. "Consent," he began, his voice firm but gentle, "is all about respect. It's about both people being on the same page, making sure that each person feels comfortable and willing. It's not just about saying 'yes,' it's about making sure you're both okay with what's happening. And that goes for everything—not just relationships, but in every situation."

Joanna sat back, her brow furrowed as she processed everything Mulder had said. "So when Mark said he wanted to take things slow, it doesn't mean he doesn't like me anymore?"

Mulder gave a small, reassuring smile, leaning forward slightly. "I can't speak for Mark, sweetheart. But what I can tell you is that when your mom and I were starting out, I took things slow because I wanted it to be right. I didn't want to rush into anything or mess it up. And," he added with a grin, "well, there were three babies at the time, so logistics played a role too."

He let out a light laugh, and Joanna couldn't help but chuckle with him.

"Yeah, that would make things a little more complicated," she said with a grin, feeling a little lighter. "But… I guess I understand. Taking things slow means you care about making sure everything is right."

"Exactly," Mulder said, his expression softening. "And it means Mark respects you, your feelings, and the pace you're both comfortable with. You don't need to worry about it. What matters is that you're both in a good place, and you're communicating with each other."

Joanna nodded slowly, feeling more at ease with the situation. "I guess that makes sense. Thanks, Dad."

"Anytime, Jo," Mulder replied warmly. "And don't ever hesitate to talk to me about anything."

Joanna smiled at him, feeling more confident in her own understanding. "I won't. I love you, Dad."

"I love you too," Mulder replied with a proud smile as she turned to head upstairs.

Later that night, after the conversation with Joanna, Mulder joined Scully in their bedroom. She was sitting on the bed, brushing her hair, her expression contemplative as she glanced at him.

"How'd it go with Jo? You guys took quite some time after the girls came home" she asked, setting the brush aside.

Mulder sat down beside her, letting out a breath. "It went well, I think. She asked about consent and... well, I tried to explain it as best as I could without scaring her—or myself." He chuckled softly, running a hand through his hair. "It's one of those moments where you realize how grown-up they're getting, you know?"

Scully smiled gently. "She's lucky to have you to talk to about that kind of thing. Not every dad can handle those conversations."

Mulder leaned back on the bed, propping himself up on his elbows. "It got me thinking, though. She mentioned Mark wanting to take things slow, and it made me think about us—about how we took it slow back in the day."

Scully turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "What about it?"

Mulder hesitated for a moment before smirking. "I guess I just wanted to know... how did you feel about us taking it slow?"

Scully tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Honestly? It was almost painfully slow."

Mulder laughed, his eyes lighting up. "Painfully slow, huh?"

Scully chuckled too, leaning back against the headboard. "We had newborn triplets, Mulder. That came out of nowhere, mind you. And yet, you were there—all the time—doing everything for us. You were handsome, reliable, and completely devoted. It was hard not to... notice you in a different way, even when I was exhausted."

Mulder raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin on his face. "Handsome, huh? Keep going, I'm enjoying this."

Scully rolled her eyes but smiled, continuing. "But seriously, without the triplets, we probably would have... you know, taken that step earlier than we actually did. But those girls changed everything. They forced us to take our time and build something solid—not just for them, but for ourselves."

Mulder reached over and took her hand, his expression softening. "I wouldn't change it, though. As slow as it was, it gave me time to really appreciate what we were building. You, me, and the girls—it all felt right. Even if it took a while to get there."

Scully squeezed his hand, her gaze warm. "It was worth the wait."

Mulder smiled, leaning in to kiss her gently. "It always is."

They stayed like that for a moment, the quiet of the night wrapping around them like a warm blanket. Whatever challenges they faced, whatever moments tested them, they knew that the foundation they'd built—slowly but surely—was strong enough to withstand anything. And now, seeing their daughters navigate their own lives, they felt an overwhelming sense of pride in how far they had all come together.