The drive to Scully's building ended with the same heavy silence that had lingered between them most of the evening. When Mulder pulled into the parking space and cut the engine, Scully reached for the door handle.
"Thanks for the ride," she said lightly, not expecting him to offer more.
Before she could respond, he added, "I'm walking you in."
"Mulder, I'm fine," she said, her voice tinged with both weariness and protest.
"Humor me," he replied flatly, already stepping out of the car.
Scully exhaled sharply, biting back a retort as she climbed out of the car. Her belly made getting out of vehicles a challenge, and by the time she was upright, Mulder was already at her side. They walked to her building in silence, her slow pace dictating their rhythm.
When they reached her apartment, she unlocked the door, pushing it open and stepping inside. She turned to say goodnight, but Mulder had already followed her in without waiting for an invitation.
Something in his demeanor had changed. He was no longer the distant, uncertain man from the car ride. Now, there was a quiet determination in his movements, a purposefulness that she hadn't seen in him for a long time.
"Mulder…" she began, exasperated.
But he ignored her tone, moving into the living room like it was his right. His eyes flicked over the space, familiar yet subtly changed. There were traces of her pregnancy everywhere—baby books on the coffee table, a folded blanket draped over the arm of the couch, and even a pair of small shoes sitting on the shelf by the door.
"Is there something you need?" Scully asked, crossing her arms.
Mulder turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Yeah. To talk."
Scully's brow furrowed. "Talk about what?"
"About this," Mulder said, gesturing vaguely around him. "About you. About us."
"Us?" she repeated, incredulous.
"You know what I mean."
Scully sighed, walking past him to set her coat on the back of a chair. "Mulder, it's late. I'm tired. And honestly, I don't think I have the energy for this right now."
"Well, I don't think we can keep avoiding it," Mulder shot back.
She turned to him, frustration flashing in her eyes. "Avoiding what, exactly? The fact that you've been back for months and you've barely spoken to me? The fact that you're acting like a ghost in my life?"
"You think this is easy for me?" Mulder snapped, his voice rising. "I was abducted, Scully. I spent God knows how long in places I can't even begin to describe. I come back, and everything's different. You're different."
"Of course I'm different!" she fired back, her voice sharp with anger. "You disappeared, Mulder. I thought I lost you forever. Do you have any idea what that did to me?"
"You think I don't know what it's like to lose someone?" he retorted, his tone laced with bitterness. "When you were abducted, Scully, I went through hell. And when you came back and shut me out, I didn't push. I waited. I accepted it."
Scully stared at him, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I'm tired of playing the 'who suffered more' game, Mulder. It doesn't help anyone. And frankly, I'm done with it."
"Good for you," Mulder said sarcastically. "But don't pretend like you didn't shut me out again the moment I came back."
"Shut you out?" she repeated, her voice rising. "I'm sorry if I wasn't the perfect welcoming committee, but do you have any idea what I've been through? I grew your child, Mulder! I watched your body get buried—"
She stopped abruptly, her words catching in her throat. Her eyes widened, and she looked down in shock.
"Oh my God," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"What?" Mulder asked, his tone shifting instantly from defensive to alarmed.
Scully's hand moved to her belly, her face pale. "My water just broke."
For a moment, Mulder just stared at her, processing her words. Then he blinked, his body snapping into action.
"Okay," he said quickly, his voice a mixture of panic and determination. "Okay. Uh… hospital. We need to get you to the hospital."
Scully took a deep breath, trying to stay calm as her heart began to race. "The hospital bag. It's in my bedroom, behind the door."
Mulder didn't hesitate. He turned on his heel and strode toward her bedroom, yanking open the door and spotting the packed bag exactly where she said it would be. Slinging the strap over his shoulder and grabbing the baby carrier right next to the bag as well, he rushed back out, finding Scully bracing herself against the couch, her breathing measured but tight.
"Let's go," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.
He moved to her side, carefully guiding her toward the door. His arm hovered just behind her back, ready to catch her if she stumbled. The fight, the tension, the months of unspoken resentment—none of it mattered now.