Title: The Visitor

Rating: K

Status: Complete

Spoilers: None

Feedback: Please leave a review

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended, characters and show reference belong to their creator CC and 1013. I wish I could be so creative as to have invented them but sadly…I am not. If you know the characters, they aren't mine. Blah, blah, blah, you know the drill but please leave a review.

Summary:

Scully wakes up in a bad mood and Mulder tries to figure out why. He stays clear of her at work but she goes to his apartment to explain her bad mood.

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Scully lay back down in the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her day hadn't even started, and she just wanted it to be over. She would love to roll over and stay in bed all day. The sun had just breeched the horizon, and light was seeping through the crease where the blinds met the window frame. Soon Mulder would get up, make the coffee and leave to get ready at his apartment because for some reason he hadn't yet left his razor or personal toiletries at her place, after almost a year. Adding to all of this she felt like crap, she was tired, achy and she could feel a headache coming on. She sighed and flipped to her side grabbing the covers and wrapping herself in her protective chrysalis. She stared at her dresser wondering why the universe was working against her.

Minutes later she heard him. "You awake Scully." He whispered softly to her as he began to stir.

"I have been." She answered back trying not to let him know she was annoyed. She wasn't annoyed at him, just life in general.

"Didn't sleep well." he asked as he kissed her neck.

"No, I didn't."

"I'm sorry for that you sound tired, and I know a tired Scully is an annoyed Scully, so I'll get out of your way." He threw the covers off and sat up his feet hanging from the bed. After gathering his bearings he looked back at her wishing he could change her mood.

"Mulder, not now. I'm not in the mood for banter, or anything else for that matter." She hadn't moved, she didn't feel like it.

"I'll start the morning elixir and be out the door in a few minutes so you can get ready in peace and quiet." He reached over and placed his hand her shin rubbing it.

"Uh hmm."

He wasn't sure what to make of her short, curt answers but he also knew her well enough to know she was annoyed at something. Badgering a tired, annoyed Scully only made a bigger annoyed Scully. He would have to wait a while before asking her what was going on. He pulled on his T-shirt, and pants, brushed his teeth and grabbed his go bag. As he reached for the doorknob she shuffled into the living room. Her robe was untied, and she didn't seem to care. He sighed at how much he loved this woman he just wished he could get her to open up more.

"Bye." She said as she walked down the hall to the kitchen, her robe hanging loosely around her.

He reached for the door handle and gathered his courage. "I made a pot. Is everything okay Scully."

"I'm fine Mulder."

She poured a cup of coffee and retreated down the hallway with no further comment, shuffling her feet towards the bathroom.

"Right." He whispered to himself and with that he walked out.

He decided on a detour to her favorite pastry shop and picked up a cruller, her favorite and a couple of cranberry-orange muffins. He opened the office door and walked in. She was standing near his desk in a black pant suit with a light blue shirt underneath, case file in hand. He admired how beautiful she looked with what appeared to be such little effort on her part.

"I come bearing a cruller and muffins." He sat the bag down on his desk, but she offered no response. "Scully, there's a cruller in the bag just for you."

"I heard you Mulder." She didn't give him the slightest look.

"Okay." he muttered under his breath.

They sat in silence for what seemed like an hour to him. Finally, he couldn't take her silent treatment anymore.

"Scully is everything okay. You haven't eaten the donut or said two words this morning."

"I'm fine Mulder." she snapped at him. "I just don't feel like talking."

"If something is bothering you just say it."

"I said I'm fine." She huffed as she sat down and began typing, only to stop and stand-up seconds later. "I need to check if the results are back from the lab yet." She headed for the door.

"I'm going to the archives; I can pick them up if you want me too."

"I'll do it, like I always do." Her words were curt and succinct. She pulled open their door with force and walked out letting the door close with a definitive thunk.

"Scully, wait, what was …" Mulder let out a deep sigh and sat back in his chair. 'God, she's moody today.' He thought.

What had he done to warrant this bitchy attitude from her. They had a nice night last night. They made dinner together, watched a movie, went to bed, talked for a little while before he wrapped himself around her and held her until sleep captured them both. He worried maybe things were happening too fast for her. They were spending a lot of time together. He had been practically living at her place in the evenings, maybe she didn't want him around so much. He knew she loved her alone time and her privacy. She could so easily break his heart, maybe he would give her some room tonight and stay at his place, in his lonely, empty apartment with a cold bed.

He gathered his jacket and left the office for the archives. Staying there for even one minute more was too long. He grabbed a hot dog from his favorite food cart listening to her in his head about how unhealthy they were. He tried to silence his thoughts by taking another bite before his guilt took over completely demanding he toss the remaining edible into the trash. It was then he felt it hit his shirt, he looked down and saw the bright yellow sauce on his white shirt.

"Seriously, yeah, I need this today. She got me, even when she's not here somehow, she tags me for enjoying a hot dog." Realizing he was talking out loud he stopped near a trash can and swiped the mustard with his napkin tossing it in. He thought it was just another addition to his less-than-stellar day. He put his jacket on to hide the stain util he got home later and could soak it or figure out what Scully would use to clean it.

Scully arrived back at their office and noticed he wasn't there. She was having a bad day and although she knew she'd been short with him she didn't want to be alone. She sat at his desk and began typing her field report on the case they were working on. It seemed the report would never end, she was so damn infuriated, and she still felt shitty. She just wanted to go home, get into a pair of soft pajamas and lie in bed. She needed to sulk until she felt better and damn him, why didn't he know that. The thought only caused her to become frustrated at him. Why didn't he know how she was feeling. They've known each other for years and have been involved for almost a year now. God, he could be such a man sometimes. She looked at the clock and saw it was well after six. She saved her work and shut off the computer. It wasn't lost on her, he failed to return to the office.

"Great, now my day ended the same way it began crappy."

She walked to the door, put on her coat and stopped. She looked back at his desk and bit her bottom lip, turned, locked the door and walked out. Her hopes of seeing him in the parking garage were dashed when she reached her car and no Mulder.

She put the key in her door and walked in hoping he'd be there, but she hadn't seen his car out front. He hadn't called her all afternoon, and she didn't call him fearing he wouldn't answer. She took her misery out on him, and he did nothing to earn that. Mulder was never anything but respectful, and thoughtful, with her. She had no doubt he loved her deeply and completely and she'd shut him out when she needed him.

She changed her clothes, washed up and poured a glass of wine because God knows it didn't matter now. As she picked up the glass she walked towards the couch, she knew she couldn't sit there, alone. She stepped into the bathroom and looked at herself. Her faded Maryland T-shirt and matching grey sweatpants reflected her mood. She had bags under her eyes, and she looked exhausted. She let out a laugh, it felt like even her old clothes and physical appearance were telling her to go to him and make it better. She threw some overnight clothes in her go bag along with a few toiletries and in ten minutes she was driving to him.

She saw his car was parked outside and a light in his living room was visible. Unless he was out for a run, he should be home. She walked inside and took the elevator up to his floor. She stood outside contemplating what she would say to him to break the tension she caused; she knocked. He opened the door and there she was. Her head snapped up and she looked at him, lips pressed tightly together, eyebrows raised.

"Scully, come in." He was surprised to see her on his doorstep. He stepped aside and she walked in. "Let me take your coat." He reached for the collar and slid it off her shoulders.

"You didn't come back to the office today." She hadn't meant for that to come out in a whisper, but it did.

He stepped next to her after hanging her coat. "No, I um, I … I thought it was best to be scarce considering you seemed…. How are you feeling, any better since this morning"

"I was being bitchy and I'm still tired and achy, I just feel like crap." She helped him out with the description of her mood.

"Your word, not mine. You want some tea." He turned towards the kitchen. "You're not coming down with anything are you Scully."

"No. Mulder, I… "

"It's okay Scully, I understand. We all have bad days." His voice faded out as he filled his teapot.

"No, you don't understand." She shook her head and looked down.

He stepped out of the kitchen after turning on the stove. He motioned towards the couch. They sat down and she clasped her hands in her lap. He spoke first.

"Then help me understand. Scully if we are moving too fast for you, just tell me. If you've had too much Fox Mulder let me down easily. I don't want to smother you or…"

"That's not it Mulder."

"Am I spending too much time at your place."

"That's not it either."

"Did I do something wrong, did I do too much or too little of something, did I say something, not say something. Did you need…"

She looked at him and reached for his hand squeezing it. "It's not you Mulder."

"I've had a woman tell me that before Scully. Please don't say *it's me*. If you want to stop seeing each other just say it."

She leaned over and kissed him. "That's not it either."

"Then help me. It needs to be spelled out for me unfortunately."

"I'm not sure you going to want to hear what I have to say most guys don't want to know anything about it."

"Glad you noticed but I'd like to think I'm not just any guy Scully. Try me."

She gave him half a smile. "When I got up this morning to use the bathroom I had a visitor."

"What, was there… oh, that visitor. Is that why you were feeling like crap."

"Yes, but even that is expected. It's the actual event that has me upset."

Mulder looked at her thinking it was probably a monthly occurrence for her since she was about thirteen, he didn't know why this month would be any different from the others. Then it struck him, it wasn't about the visitor, it was the fact the visitor arrived. The teapot screamed; he caught her trying to get up and reached for her hand gently tugging on it, so she sat back down.

"I'll get it. Scully, I'm sorry. I should have figured it out. I know you are not a morning person, but you were exceptionally distant today and I should have realized it."

She sat in silence until he returned with two steaming mugs of amber liquid, setting the mugs on the coffee table then sitting down next to her.

"It's not your fault Mulder I was just hoping that maybe, it wouldn't come. I was a week late, and I started thinking maybe… then this morning. I didn't even want to go to work."

"You should have stayed home. If you would have told me, I would've stayed with you."

"It's nothing you can fix Mulder. I need to come to terms with the fact we may not be able to conceive but I hold onto hope. I'm so sorry I shut you out and took my frustration out on you today."

"Come here." He said as he patted the spot next to him. "I think about it too Scully, and I also hold on to hope just as I hold on to you and your beliefs. We've discussed this aspect of this road we are travelling on. I need you to talk to me though. We are building a future Scully, and we know what we are trying to achieve may take time, and it may not happen at all. I'm not going anywhere, if it doesn't happen just know I'm still here, right beside you."

Scully scooted over to him, he put his arm around her shoulders and held her tight kissing the top of her head telling her everything would work out.

"Mulder," she hesitated. "Am I pretty enough for you."

"Scully you are too pretty for me." He started to giggle at that question, but he stopped himself knowing she was sensitive right now.

"I'm serious."

"The insecurity bug bit you didn't it. Scully you are the most beautiful, enchanting woman I have ever met. I don't ever want you to think otherwise."

"Every woman gets bitten by the insecurity bug Mulder, and it happens almost every month when hormones kick. It's just most of the time I deal with it not wanting to admit I occasionally succumb to them, and I have the rare pity party."

"I have them too Scully women don't have the market on insecurities."

She turned to him and studied his soothing green eyes. "No need to be insecure Mulder, I'm not going anywhere." She was surprised he had insecurities. He's handsome; he has all the qualities a woman would look for he's tall, smart, athletic, funny and compassionate. "Am I enough for you."

He leaned into her and stroked her hair, running his fingers through it, massaging her scalp. "You Dana Scully are plenty for me. No man could ask for more. I am the luckiest guy on Earth, never doubt that. I thought maybe I was hanging around too much."

"Never." She smiled.

"Don't give up hope Scully. I should have been more respectful to you, too us."

"What do you mean."

"When we started our intimate relationship, I never offered to wear protection, I should have. I should have respected you more than to just think since you didn't mention it or ask me to use it, it was okay."

"We knew very well what we were doing Mulder and besides what does that have to do with anything now."

"If I had been wearing protection we wouldn't be going through this disappointment, it would've been almost a guarantee we wouldn't get pregnant until we discussed the possibilities of it happening."

"Mulder, I thought we wanted the same thing."

"We do, I just hate seeing you go through this. Maybe we are both anticipating too much too soon. Couples sometimes take years to get pregnant Scully we're hoping for results every time."

"It's going to be difficult Mulder. I want to believe the doctors are wrong, and that I'm no different than any other woman or sheer will would make it happen."

"Scully you are different than other women, that's exactly why I fell in love with you." Saying that he tried to lighten the mood. He hugged her tighter.

"Great save." She said as she snuggled further into his arms.

"We need to just relax Scully, let's enjoy each other, enjoy this, what we are building no pressure, no expectations, no worries. Tell me when you are having a bad day or feeling crappy. I'm here for you, for us."

"You can have children Mulder, and I …" she started to whisper but he interrupted her.

"Stop. Stop that right now. We are in this together, children or not. Don't misunderstand me Scully, I want your children, but if you don't have kids, I don't have kids. You have so much faith, so much belief, I can't help but have it too." He couldn't remember a time he felt so helpless, but it had been years, her abduction no doubt.

He gazed at her tenderly wanting desperately to take away her pain. He placed his hands under her arms and lifted her over his leg and sat her between them. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in the nape of her neck as he kissed her gently and whispered, "Stay the night."

"I did bring my bag; I thought maybe I could …." She muttered to him as she exposed more of her neck to him.

He kissed her again, giving her what she indicated she desired from him. "I'll go grab it, just give me your keys, that is if you're staying." He rose to retrieve her bag out of her car.

"I'm staying. Mulder." She looked up at him as he stood. "Where did you get the mustard stain on your shirt." she asked as she noticed the yellow mark on his shirt. Her fingers touched the spot, she couldn't help but smile because she knew he stopped at his favorite food cart and grabbed a hot dog.

"I thought I cleaned that better." He said looking down at his shirt, seeing the neon yellow stain on it.

"It's mustard, you need to use baking soda and white vinegar."

"How did I know you'd know that."

"Because I'm enchanting." Scully smiled at him.

"That must be it." He bent down to kiss her.

"Hmmm" she moaned as his lips met hers. "It's going to take some effort to clean that stain so, I could be here a while."

"I'll trade you sleep overs for stain removal and Scully if you're still feeling crappy, I have Motrin in the bathroom."

"I've taken something, so maybe another before bed."

She chucked at his attempt to make her feel better and isn't this why she came over to begin with. Mulder will always make it better, he will always be her light in the dark, her salvation.