Scully stood at her sister Melissa's front door, holding Maddie's hand. The little girl clung to her mother for a moment before Melissa swooped in, scooping her up with a grin.

"You're in good hands, Maddie," Melissa said with a playful wink, then turned her attention to Scully. "And you—you look nice. Nervous, but nice."

Scully rolled her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It's Mulder. I'm not nervous around him. He's a really good man. He's kind and patient and..." Scully blushed, a light pink tint rising to her cheeks. "I like him," she admitted, the words coming out in a soft rush. "We haven't really made plans for tonight. So..."

Melissa raised an eyebrow. "And yet, things seem to be going really well. You're glowing, Dana."

Scully didn't respond right away, but the blush on her cheeks spoke volumes. She said her goodbyes to Maddie and her sister, then headed to Mulder's apartment.

When Mulder opened the door, he greeted her with an easy smile, his tie already loosened. "Hey. Come on in."

Scully stepped inside, noting the relaxed atmosphere of his apartment, a stark contrast to the usual tension of their work. "So, what's the plan?"

He shrugged, gesturing toward his couch. "I thought we could just hang out. Unless you've got something else in mind?"

She smiled softly. "This works."

Mulder quickly disappeared into his bedroom to change, and Scully took the opportunity to browse through his video collection, trying to decide on a movie for the evening. From the other room, Mulder's voice floated out. "We could cook something, or order in."

"Order in sounds nice," Scully replied, glancing over her shoulder.

Mulder's voice continued from the bedroom. "Pizza or Chinese?"

"Chinese," she decided. "I'll call." She grabbed the phone and placed an order at a nearby restaurant.

After the delivery arrived, they settled onto the couch with their food, talking at first about work, then about everything and nothing. Eventually, their conversation gave way to a comfortable silence, broken only by the soft sound of lips meeting. They kissed, slow at first, but with growing intensity, their connection deepening in the quiet of the apartment.

As they came up for air, Scully rested her forehead against his, her breaths uneven. She could feel the build-up between them, the desire to take the next step, but Mulder's words about her memory coming back at the worst possible moment played in her mind.

"I think..." She paused, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "I think... You're right. I'd like to try. The hypnosis. I need to. I owe that to myself... to us."

Mulder pulled back slightly, surprised, but careful not to let it show. His protective instinct kicked in, and he wanted to make sure this was truly what she wanted. "Are you sure?"

Scully nodded, her voice steady but quiet. "I might never get justice for what happened. But maybe I can get some peace."

Mulder smiled, pride and relief evident in his expression. Without hesitation, he got up and walked to his desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out a small card, handing it to her.

"This is the therapist I was telling you about," he said. "She's good. Gentle. She'll take care of you."

Scully took the card, her fingers brushing his for a moment. She smiled softly. "Thank you," she said, her voice full of sincerity.

Mulder sat back down beside her, his hand finding hers. "I can babysit Maddie for you when you go. Or take you there, or pick you up. Whatever you need."

She looked at him, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. "You don't have to do that."

"I know," Mulder replied simply, his gaze steady. "But I want to."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, without warning, Scully leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek, a quiet gesture that spoke volumes. "You're a good man, Mulder."

He shrugged, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. "I try."

Scully let out a quiet laugh, her body relaxing as she leaned against him.