On Saturday night, Mulder seemed to radiate happiness as he held the door open for Dana Scully, leading her out of a cozy little Italian restaurant. The place had been perfect—not too quiet to feel overly intimate, but not so crowded that they couldn't hear each other talk.

Scully slipped her coat back on as they stepped into the crisp evening air. "That was nice," she said, glancing at him with a small smile.

Mulder nodded, his own smile soft and genuine. "Glad you think so. Ready for part two?"

"Part two?" Scully raised an eyebrow. "This date is a two-parter? Am I getting the fancy treatment, or do you go through all this trouble for all your dates?"

Mulder chuckled nervously. "Actually, I haven't been on a date in years."

The words hung in the air for a moment as Mulder felt an ache stir in the back of his mind. The breakup with Diana Fowley three years ago had left him heartbroken, a wound that took longer to heal than he cared to admit. For a long time after, he hadn't had the energy or the interest to try again. And now, standing here with Scully, he couldn't quite believe he was finally taking that step.

Scully's expression shifted to mild surprise. "Really? You?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Well," she said, matter-of-factly, "you're good-looking, charming... I can't imagine you don't have your pick."

Mulder felt a sudden wave of awkwardness and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh-kay," he said, his voice slightly higher-pitched than usual, "let's get part two started before I turn beet red. Come on."

Scully smiled to herself as he led her to his car, her curiosity growing.

During dinner, Mulder had noticed small things about Scully. She hadn't ordered any wine to go with her meal, nor had she sipped the digestif that came at the end of their meal. It wasn't the kind of thing he'd normally think much of, but tonight, he caught himself paying attention. He didn't care either way—he was happy just to be with her—but he followed her lead and stuck to water himself, figuring it might make her more comfortable.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up to the city's observatory, its silhouette illuminated against the night sky.

"The observatory?" Scully asked as she stepped out of the car.

Mulder grinned, his earlier awkwardness replaced by genuine enthusiasm. "I figured you might appreciate the science angle. And there's something about looking at the stars that puts things into perspective and maybe, if we're lucky, we do get to see a UFO."

As they walked toward the entrance, Scully found herself smiling again. This wasn't what she'd expected, but she had to admit—it was thoughtful.

Inside, Mulder led her to a telescope set up for visitors. The guide on duty pointed out a cluster of stars visible that evening, and Mulder waited while Scully leaned in to take a look.

When she straightened, she looked at him, her eyes bright. "That's incredible. You were right—perspective."

Mulder's smile softened. "I think it's a good reminder that there's more out there than just our little piece of the world. Sometimes, it's nice to get out of your own head."

Scully glanced at him, sensing there was more behind his words. She didn't press, but instead said, "This was a good idea, Agent Mulder. Thank you."

"Part two's not over yet," he said, his voice light but his expression warm. "Come on—there's more to see."

As they moved through the observatory, Scully found herself relaxing more than she had in months. Mulder's awkward charm, his thoughtfulness, and his clear passion for sharing this experience made the night feel special—different from anything she'd expected. For Mulder, he couldn't help but think about how much lighter he felt being here with her, realizing that maybe, just maybe, he was ready to leave the past behind.

When Mulder pulled up in front of Scully's apartment building, the street was quiet, save for the soft hum of streetlights above. He walked her to her door, the weight of the evening lingering between them.

Standing in front of her door, both seemed unusually hesitant.

"I'd ask you in for coffee," Scully said, glancing up at him, "but my sister and my daughter are inside. I wouldn't want things to get awkward."

Mulder offered a small smile. "That's alright. I had a really nice evening, maybe..." He trailed off, the words hanging in the air.

Before he could finish, the door swung open to reveal a woman with a bright, knowing grin. "Of course you're asking him in, Dana," she said cheerfully. "Hi, I'm Melissa. I babysat my adorable niece tonight, who's finally asleep despite her best efforts. So, you two can come in, have that coffee, and talk some more. It's not that late."

Scully sighed, clearly caught off guard, while Mulder chuckled softly at the unexpected interruption.

"Is that okay with you, Dr. Scully?" Mulder asked, his tone gentle.

Scully hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Sure. If you want to."

Melissa rolled her eyes dramatically. "Just come in already." She stepped aside to let them in, heading straight to the kitchen. "I'll make coffee and be out of your hair in no time."

Mulder glanced at Scully, who gave him an apologetic shrug as they followed Melissa to the kitchen.

They sat down at the small, cozy kitchen table while Melissa moved around the space with practiced ease. She set out cups, poured steaming coffee, and placed a plate of cookies on the table.

"There you go," Melissa said, straightening up. "Enjoy the coffee. I'm heading back to my apartment. I've got a crystal workshop in the morning."

"You really don't have to leave because of me," Mulder offered politely.

Melissa waved him off with a smirk. "And miss the chance to let you two figure this out without me playing third wheel? No thanks." She grabbed her coat from the back of a chair and headed for the door. "Goodnight, you two. Don't keep Dana up too late. She's not as young as she used to be."

"Melissa," Scully said in exasperation, but her sister was already out the door, laughing softly to herself.

Scully sighed and turned back to Mulder, who was grinning as he picked up his cup of coffee. "She's... something," he said.

"You have no idea," Scully replied dryly, though the fondness in her tone was unmistakable.

The two sat in the quiet kitchen, the warm aroma of coffee filling the space. "Well," Mulder said, taking a sip, "this might be the most entertaining end to a date I've ever had."

Scully chuckled softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Melissa has a way of keeping things interesting."

"Clearly," Mulder replied, his tone warm. "But for the record, I'd say this entire evening was pretty great."

Scully met his eyes, her expression softening into a genuine smile. "Yeah, it was."

The kitchen was quiet, the warmth of their conversation filling the space as Mulder and Scully spoke with an ease that felt both natural and unexpected. But the moment was interrupted by the soft sound of small, sleepy footsteps padding into the room.

"Mommy, you're back," Maddie mumbled, her voice thick with sleep as she appeared in the doorway, clutching a small blanket.

Scully turned toward her, surprised. "Maddie, why are you not in bed?"

"I woke up," Maddie said simply, making her way over and climbing into Scully's lap. She rested her head against her mother's shoulder before turning her gaze toward Mulder. "Hi, Mr. Fox."

Mulder smiled warmly. "Hi, Maddie."

The little girl suddenly perked up, her sleepy expression giving way to a spark of curiosity. "Mommy, did you ask him? About the ice skating?"

Scully's cheeks flushed faintly as she glanced at Mulder. "We're going ice skating tomorrow afternoon," she explained, brushing a strand of hair from Maddie's face. "And Maddie would like you to come with us."

Maddie shifted in her mother's arms, turning wide-eyed toward Mulder. "It's going to be so much fun. Please say yes," she said with the innocence of a child eager to please.

Mulder chuckled, charmed by her earnestness. "It's okay with me if it's okay with your mom."

Maddie beamed, the excitement lighting up her face. She hugged Scully tightly, resting her head on her mother's shoulder once more. As her eyes began to flutter shut, she murmured, "It's okay with you, isn't it?"

Scully looked down at her daughter fondly, stroking her hair. "It's fine, sweetheart," she said softly.

Turning her gaze back to Mulder, she added, "You really don't have to come. Maddie's been curious about what it means to go on a date and why she couldn't come with me tonight. I think she's trying to make up for it."

Mulder gave a small, understanding nod. "I see," he said, his tone gentle. "I'd really like to go, but I should warn you—I'm not exactly great at skating."

Maddie, half-asleep but still listening, muttered, "Mommy's really good. She'll show you."

Mulder laughed softly. "Sounds like a plan," he said, standing from the table. "I should get going, though. Skating tomorrow, it is."

Scully rose with Maddie still in her arms, her daughter already drifting back to sleep. "We'll pick you up around three," she said, her voice quiet so as not to wake Maddie fully.

Mulder nodded, giving them both a warm smile as he headed for the door. Scully watched him go, her thoughts lingering on the unexpected turn her evening had taken. A small, contented smile played on her lips as she gently carried Maddie back to bed.

Settling into the driver's seat, Mulder started the car but didn't immediately pull away. Instead, he sat there for a moment, a smile spreading across his face as the evening replayed in his mind.

Dinner had been perfect—simple and comfortable, with conversation that flowed so easily he hardly noticed the time passing. And ending the night at her apartment, with Maddie's unexpected invitation to go ice skating, had only added to the charm of it all.

It had been a long time since he'd gone on a first date, let alone one that left him feeling this way. The memory of Scully's smile, her quiet laughter, and even the gentle way she held her daughter tugged at him in a way he wasn't quite ready to name.

As he finally pulled away from the curb, he couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself. "That was a really nice first date," he murmured, shaking his head slightly at the thought.

And tomorrow—ice skating with Scully and Maddie—he found himself genuinely looking forward to it. Maybe this was the start of something worth holding onto.