Shortly before 3 PM, Mulder stood outside his building, adjusting his jacket as he waited. Right on time, Scully pulled up in her car. She rolled down the window, flashing him a smile.

"We could have picked you up from your apartment," she said as Mulder opened the passenger door and climbed in.

"I just thought with Maddie and the booster seat," Mulder said, buckling up, "it would be easier like this."

Scully laughed softly. "Maddie knows how to get out of the seat. And the police don't look kindly on it. Do you know what the fine is for driving with a toddler who unfastened her seatbelt?"

Mulder smirked. "A trip to the orphanage for the said toddler?"

Scully burst out laughing. "Yep. I briefly thought about it."

From the backseat, Maddie piped up cheerfully, "Hi, Mr. Fox! Are you a Tonya or a Nancy?"

Mulder glanced back at her, a bit confused. "Uh, hi, Maddie. A Tonya or a Nancy?"

Before he could answer, Scully stepped in with a grin. "No one's going to club anyone's knee today."

"Good to know," Mulder said with a chuckle, still not entirely sure where the conversation was going. "But if it helps, I'm more of a Bambi-on-ice kind of guy."

Maddie giggled. "Bambi falls a lot. Are you gonna fall, Mr. Fox?"

"Probably," Mulder admitted with a grin. "But I'll do my best not to take anyone else down with me."

Scully shook her head as she started driving. "Let's hope we all survive this outing with our dignity intact."

Maddie didn't miss a beat. "Mommy's the best skater ever! She'll show you how not to fall!"

Mulder glanced over at Scully, his lips twitching in amusement. "I'm looking forward to it."

The drive to the rink was filled with Maddie's excited chatter, ranging from what snacks they might get after skating to a detailed list of what tricks she hoped to try on the ice.

Mulder, meanwhile, caught himself stealing a glance or two at Scully. She seemed relaxed and happy, her face soft with a quiet warmth as she listened to her daughter. He smiled to himself, realizing how much he liked this dynamic, how natural it felt to be a part of their world, even if just for a day.

When they arrived at the rink, Maddie was out of the car as soon as the doors unlocked, bouncing on her toes and grabbing Scully's hand.

"Come on, Mommy! Let's go!"

"Patience, Maddie," Scully said, laughing as she retrieved their bag from the trunk. "We'll get there."

Mulder followed behind, grinning. "Looks like she's got the whole day planned out."

"She usually does," Scully said, shaking her head fondly. "Good luck keeping up."

Mulder smirked. "Challenge accepted."

By the time they arrived at the rink, Mulder's nerves had been replaced by growing excitement. The rink was lively, filled with families and couples gliding across the ice, laughter and the sound of skates creating a cheerful symphony.

Maddie wasted no time grabbing one of the penguin skating aids designed to help kids keep their balance. "Look, Mommy!" she called, gripping the handles tightly and pushing it across the ice.

Scully helped Mulder lace up his skates, her nimble fingers tying the knots effortlessly. "Ready?" she asked, standing and extending a hand.

Mulder wobbled as he stepped onto the ice, gripping the railing for support. "Ready might be a stretch," he said, half-joking.

Scully skated ahead effortlessly, then turned to face him, gliding backward with a smile. "Come on, you'll get the hang of it."

Mulder took a tentative step, then another, his feet sliding awkwardly beneath him. Just as he started to find a rhythm, he lost his balance and tumbled onto the ice with a soft thud.

Scully laughed, skating over to him. "Need a hand?" she asked, offering hers.

He took it, letting her pull him up. "I'm starting to see why skating isn't part of FBI training," he quipped.

"Don't worry, I've got you." Scully took both his hands and began to skate backward, guiding him forward with steady movements. Mulder focused on her, trusting her to keep him upright.

Nearby, Maddie was having the time of her life with her penguin, occasionally stopping to watch her mother and Mulder. "You're doing great, Mr. Fox!" she called out, beaming with encouragement.

Mulder smiled back, his confidence growing with Scully's help. "Thanks, Maddie! You're not too bad yourself."

Scully turned her head slightly, amusement dancing in her eyes. "See? You're skating now."

"With your help," Mulder replied, feeling a flicker of gratitude that went beyond the ice. He took a moment to appreciate how natural this felt—sharing a lighthearted afternoon with Scully and Maddie.

As they circled the rink, Maddie giggled and wobbled with her penguin, occasionally calling out to Scully for attention. Scully balanced seamlessly between guiding Mulder and keeping an eye on her daughter.

After a few laps, Mulder started to find his footing, though he still stumbled now and then. "This is harder than it looks," he admitted.

"You're doing great," Scully said, her voice warm with encouragement. "And you've only fallen twice, which is impressive for a beginner."

"Twice so far," Mulder corrected with a smirk.

By the time they paused for a break, Mulder's confidence had grown considerably, though his legs ached from the effort. Maddie, meanwhile, was still full of energy, spinning her penguin in circles and laughing gleefully.

Sitting on a bench to catch his breath, Mulder watched Scully help Maddie adjust her skates. He couldn't help but smile at the scene—a picture of warmth and simplicity that he hadn't realized he'd been missing.

"Ready for another round?" Scully asked, looking up at him with a playful glint in her eye.

Mulder pushed himself to his feet, his smile widening. "Lead the way, Dr. Scully."

As they returned to the ice, Mulder couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a fun afternoon. It was a glimpse into something new, something he wanted to hold onto.

For now, though, he focused on staying upright, savoring every moment of this unexpected but perfect day.

After an hour of skating, the trio decided to take a break. They sat down at a small rink-side café with a view of the ice, their cheeks rosy from the cold. Maddie eagerly unwrapped her hot chocolate, blowing on it to cool it down before taking a sip.

Mulder opted for a coffee, while Scully nursed a tea, her hands wrapped around the warm mug.

Between bites of a cookie, Maddie looked up at Mulder. "Mr. Fox, what was your favorite snack when you were young?"

Mulder smiled, leaning back in his chair. "Well, my favorite snack has always been corn dogs."

Maddie scrunched her nose in thought. "They're alright, I guess. But they're not sweet."

Scully smirked over her tea. "Of course, you'd pick something deep-fried."

Mulder raised an eyebrow. "Hey, don't knock the classics. What about you, Maddie? What's your favorite snack?"

Maddie grinned. "Cupcakes. With lots of sprinkles." She paused, her expression turning serious. "Mommy says I can't have too many, though. She likes veggies. She always tells me to eat them."

Mulder glanced at Scully, who was rolling her eyes with a small smile. "Veggies are important," she said.

Maddie pointed at her mother dramatically. "See? She says that all the time."

Mulder laughed. "She's got a point, though. Veggies are good for you. But, between us…" He leaned closer to Maddie, whispering conspiratorially. "I think a cupcake every now and then doesn't hurt."

Maddie giggled, covering her mouth with her hand as if Mulder had shared a great secret.

Scully shook her head, though her smile remained. "Thanks, Agent Mulder. Now she's going to hold that over my head the next time she wants dessert."

Mulder shrugged, grinning. "I'm just here to provide balanced opinions."

Maddie beamed at them both, clearly enjoying the playful exchange.

As Scully pulled up in front of Mulder's building, the car settled into a comfortable silence. Maddie was sound asleep in her booster seat on the back bench, her small head leaning against the window, her breaths soft and even.

Mulder glanced back at Maddie, then turned to Scully, lowering his voice. "I had a lovely time—yesterday and today. Thank you."

Scully smiled warmly, keeping her voice low. "Me too. We should... maybe do this again sometime."

Mulder's face lit up, his grin impossible to hide. "We should. Definitely."

As he reached for the door handle, Scully added softly, "Good night, Fox."

Mulder paused, making a slight face. "Please, call me Mulder. Everyone does. That, or Spooky."

Scully blinked, caught off guard for a moment. A hint of color rose to her cheeks. "I'd rather call you Mulder, then. You're not spooky at all."

He chuckled softly, stepping out of the car. "Thanks. Good night, Dana."

"Good night, Mulder," she replied, her smile lingering as he closed the door.

Mulder stood on the sidewalk as Scully drove away, watching the taillights fade into the distance. His grin widened as he turned toward his building, the warmth of the evening still buzzing in his chest.