On Sunday morning, Mulder woke to the sound of small feet padding down the hallway. The sunlight was streaming through the curtains, and he was vaguely aware of Scully still nestled against him.

Maddie burst into the room and climbed onto the bed with all the energy of a five-year-old, her wide eyes taking in the scene before her: her mom lying next to Mulder, his arm draped protectively over her waist.

"Why did Mr. Fox sleep in your bed?" she asked curiously, tilting her head.

Scully blinked herself awake, her voice still a little groggy but warm. "Well, Maddie, he was tired, and Mommy likes him. That's why she let him sleep in her bed."

Maddie considered this explanation, her little brow furrowing. "I think he likes you. He smiles a lot when you're there, and you said I should smile at people I like." She paused, then added decisively, "He didn't smile at the lady with the big microscope."

Mulder, now fully awake and releasing his arm from around Scully's waist, couldn't help but laugh. "That's an interesting observation, Maddie. But you're not wrong—I do like your mom."

Scully turned her head to look at him, her amusement softening into something warmer. "And, Maddie, I like Mulder too. So, he might be around more often."

Maddie nodded, seemingly satisfied with this new development. "Okay. I'll draw you another alien," she said to Mulder. "You can stick it on our fridge, so you won't miss it when you're here."

Mulder grinned, touched by her thoughtfulness. "That's very kind of you, Maddie. Thank you."

Maddie beamed and scrambled out of bed, already on her way to retrieve her crayons and paper.

As her footsteps retreated, Mulder and Scully turned to each other, laughter bubbling up between them.

"So, you don't smile at Agent Keller?" Scully asked, a teasing glint in her eyes as she thought of the older agent with a reputation for inappropriate behavior.

Mulder groaned, his tone half-amused, half-exasperated. "And encourage her? Not a chance."

Mulder sighed dramatically. "On my first day, Regis sent me to see her about a case, and she pinched my rear."

Scully, laughing harder now, shook her head in disbelief. "She didn't! Isn't she like twice our age?"

Mulder grinned, joining her laughter. "She is! She's almost as old as my mom. Apparently, it's a rite of passage in my department."

Scully's eyes sparkled with amusement. "As long as you're calling it your rear," she said pointedly, then added with a mischievous smile, "Maybe I should try it sometime."

"Pinching my butt?" Mulder quipped, his voice light. "Sure. But not right now. I'm so comfortably sitting on it."

That sent Scully into another round of laughter, her head tilting back against the pillows.

"So," Mulder continued, his voice teasing but warm, "how do you feel about having an alien on your fridge for the foreseeable future?"

Scully laughed softly. "I hope it's not just for the foreseeable future."

They both fell back into the pillows, savoring the moment. Mulder reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face, his smile growing.

"This feels good," he said quietly, and Scully nodded, her hand resting lightly on his chest.

"It does," she agreed.