It was a quiet night, but the peace was broken when the soft sounds of footsteps padded down the hallway. Beatrice, Sabrina, and Joanna, their small faces shadowed by worry, appeared at the door of Mulder and Scully's bedroom. Their eyes were wide, and their little voices trembled as they spoke.
"Mommy? Daddy? We had bad dreams," Joanna whispered, her voice thick with sleep.
Mulder and Scully, already settling into bed, exchanged a glance. It wasn't unusual for the girls to seek comfort after a nightmare.
"Come on, sweethearts," Mulder said, patting the space beside him. "Come on up."
Beatrice scrambled up first, her small arms reaching for Mulder. Sabrina and Joanna followed suit, each of them squeezing into the bed next to their parents, nestled in the warmth of their arms. Scully, who had been half-asleep when the girls arrived, smiled sleepily as they climbed in, each one seeking the comfort of her closeness.
"It's okay, girls," Scully murmured, still drowsy, her voice soft and soothing. "You're safe now."
The girls snuggled in, finding their spots, their little hands clutching at their parents. Mulder, always the storyteller, felt the need to distract them, to ease their fears. He turned to the girls, his tone playful, and tried to shift the mood.
"Alright, alright," Mulder began, his voice lowering into a comforting cadence. "Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there were three brave little princesses—just like you girls."
The girls' eyes, still half-lidded with sleep, perked up slightly as Mulder continued.
"These princesses lived in a beautiful castle, right by the ocean, where the waves sang songs at night. But one day, something very strange happened. A dragon appeared—big and green and with scales that sparkled like the stars."
Scully smiled softly, already starting to drift off, her head resting on the pillow as Mulder's voice continued to fill the room.
"The princesses, however, were very brave," Mulder said, glancing down at his girls, his voice soft but lively. "They didn't run or hide. They stood tall, side by side, ready to face the dragon together."
Beatrice's eyes fluttered open, Sabrina's small hand instinctively reaching out to her mother's arm, and Joanna listened intently, comforted by the warmth of their parents' presence.
"And you know what happened?" Mulder continued, his voice warm and reassuring. "The dragon wasn't so scary after all. He was lonely and lost. So the three princesses—just like you girls—showed him kindness. And guess what? The dragon became their friend and promised to protect their castle."
Mulder glanced over at Scully, who had long since fallen asleep, her breathing steady and deep, her face relaxed in peaceful slumber.
Mulder smiled to himself, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from Scully's face. Then, in a soft, teasing tone, he looked at the girls and whispered, "Well, looks like your mom always wins the sleeping game. She's asleep before we even finish the story."
The triplets giggled, their little voices light and filled with comfort. They snuggled closer, their fears eased, lulled by their father's voice and the warmth of being surrounded by their family.
"Mommy's the best," Beatrice murmured sleepily.
Mulder nodded, his smile tender as he watched his girls finally settle into sleep. "Yeah, she really is."
And, in the quiet of the night, Mulder lay back against the pillows, his arms wrapped around his girls, his gaze lingering on Scully, who remained peacefully asleep beside him.