The icy January air bit at Scully's cheeks as she stepped out of the cab and approached the Gunmen's lair. The urgency of their message had left her unsettled, the words still fresh in her mind: "Get here as soon as you can. It's important." Frohike hadn't offered any details, but his tone had carried an edge of seriousness that made her nervous.
Clutching her coat tightly around her, she climbed the steps to the familiar warehouse door. As much as her belly allowed, she moved quickly, her heart thumping slightly faster than usual—not from exertion, but from a vague sense of unease.
When she reached the door, she paused. It was ajar.
That was unusual. The Gunmen were obsessively cautious, always triple-bolting the door and running every security measure they could imagine. A sliver of darkness stretched out from the open doorway, and she frowned, her mind immediately racing to worst-case scenarios.
"Frohike?" she called, hesitantly pushing the door wider.
The interior was eerily dark, shadows stretching into every corner. Her heels clicked against the floor as she stepped inside. "Langly? Byers?"
There was no response. She hesitated, her hand instinctively brushing over her belly, as if to reassure herself and the baby within.
"Guys, are you here?"
Suddenly, the lights snapped on, flooding the room with warm, golden light.
While the other guests were elated that she didn't seem to suspect anything, Mulder could hear the worry in her voice. It twisted something deep in his gut. He could tell their little joke had unsettled her, and it killed him that they had made her worry, even for a second.
"SURPRISE!"
A chorus of voices erupted, startling Scully so much that she actually took a step back. She blinked in disbelief as a roomful of smiling faces greeted her.
The chaos of the moment overwhelmed her. Bright decorations hung from the ceiling—streamers in shades of pink and blue, balloons bobbing in clusters, and a banner stretched across one wall reading, "Welcome Baby Scully!" A table near the center of the room was laden with food, gifts, and an elaborately decorated cake.
Her mother was the first to step forward, her eyes brimming with tears. "Dana, sweetie, are you surprised?"
"Mom…" Scully murmured, her voice caught in her throat as she took it all in.
Lisa, her midwife, came next, beaming as she hugged Scully gently. "Dana, you look amazing! I told you not to stress—this was all under control."
Scully's college roommate from her days at the University of Maryland appeared next, pulling her into a warm embrace. "Dana, it's been forever! You didn't think I'd miss this, did you?"
As she scanned the room, Scully was struck by how many familiar faces were here. There was Skinner, standing near the food table with a faint but genuine smile. A handful of agents she had worked closely with over the years—some from the lab, others from fieldwork—stood chatting by the drinks. Of course, the Gunmen were there, dressed slightly more presentably than usual, beaming proudly at her from behind a pile of presents.
Agents Doggett and Reyes were also there, standing near the drinks, looking slightly out of place but pleased to be included. Reyes offered a warm smile, while Doggett gave her a small nod, his usual stoic expression softening just a little.
And then her gaze landed on him.
In the far corner of the room, leaning slightly against the wall, was Mulder.
He wasn't smiling exactly, but there was a softness to his expression—a quietness that was uncharacteristic for him. He looked like he had been standing there for a while, content to stay in the background.
For a moment, their eyes met, and Scully's heart gave an unexpected flutter.
Her mother's voice brought her back to the present. "Dana, are you okay?"
Scully blinked, looking at her mother, then at everyone else in the room. The enormity of it all—the effort, the thoughtfulness—pressed against her chest, and her eyes began to fill with tears.
"I just…" She paused, pressing a hand to her mouth as she tried to gather herself. "I can't believe you all did this."
Frohike stepped forward, arms spread wide. "Believe it, Scully! It was about time someone celebrated you properly. You deserve this—and more."
Langly snickered from behind him. "Yeah, and don't think this gets us out of babysitting duty later."
The room filled with laughter, and Scully wiped at her eyes, letting herself smile through the emotion.
As she looked around again, her gaze once more found Mulder. He hadn't moved from his spot, but his eyes were still on her, a flicker of something unreadable in them.
She hesitated for a moment, then let the thought go. Whatever this moment was, it wasn't about complications or unspoken words. It was about her baby, about the people who had been there for her when she had needed them most.
"Thank you," she said, her voice steady now as she addressed everyone in the room. "This means more to me than I can say."
Her mother squeezed her hand gently, and the room filled with chatter as the guests began mingling and celebrating.
From across the room, Mulder shifted slightly, as if debating whether to approach her. But for now, he stayed where he was, letting her have the spotlight and the joy she so richly deserved.