Mulder took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, squaring his shoulders against the lecture he was very likely to recieve about his bad behaviour from his wife now that he had returned to the scene of the supposed crime (if wanting to spend some quality alone time with Scully was a crime then he would happily let her use the handcuffs she had hidden in her bedside table on him later tonight as punishment) and carefully opened the door to his office while looking back at their son who was still playing his game before closing it quietly behind him and waiting on the other side, patiently.

"Walk away from the Wall of Lego, Mom"

Scully chuckled softly at something her mother had said on the other end of the line and then started to sit up properly on the comfy leather couch as she noticed Mulder staring at her from out of the corner of her eye. She gave him a quick but very pointed glance to which he raised his arms up in mock surrender, then lowered them and pouted at her in response.

"I promise you that Will will not be disappointed if you decided to buy him an educational book about Space or Nature, he really loves to read and learn at the same time. Or you could even pick a book that we could read to him at bedtime. We've read 'Moby Dick' together a few times, just as dad and I used to do. I think Ahab would be proud"

Maggie suddenly grew sombre and quiet on the other end of the line at the wistful hope in her daughter's voice and the childhood memory knowing how much she had struggled with wanting Father's respect and pride. Scully stood up, took a few steps over to the old antique desk that was pushed up against the window and leaned her back and right elbow on it while staring straight ahead at the opposite wall with a concerned look on her face.

"Mom?"

"That's wonderful to hear, sweetheart, really. I know he would... and he would be so proud of the amazing woman and mother that you have become as well. I just wish he had had the chance to meet and get to know William"

"So do I"

"I know. Please, give William a kiss for me... and tell him that I love him. I will see you in a couple of days for the party. I love you, Dana"

"Love you too. Bye, Mom"

Scully smiled sadly as she placed the cordless down on the desk and walked over towards Mulder who was still standing with his back against the door and a worried look on his face.

"Scully?"

She slipped her arms around his waist and rest her forehead on his chest, confusing the fuck out of him. Mulder, though confused by her sudden melancholy, immediately wrapped his arms around Scully hugging her back tightly and wondered out loud what had been said to cause it.

"This is not what I was expecting. I thought... that you would be furious with me"

"I'm sorry, Mulder"

Scully mumbled before breathing out a content and grateful sigh against his old grey t-shirt, squeezing him tighter and then inhaling his scent to ground her. Thankful, that after all they had been through during their time at the FBI neither one was too seriously injured and that they were still alive to enjoy raising their son. Thankful, she still had her husband and that William still had his father. Scully has no idea how her mother has coped alone in the years since her fathers death. Knowing how heartbroken and completely lost without Mulder she would be, she could only imagine how much worse it was for her mother.

"For what, Scully?"

"For overreacting"

"I wouldn't say that you-"

"No, Mulder, I did... and I really shouldn't have. I need you to know that I am so thankful to have you in my life"

"Well, I'm just grateful that you put up with me and my shi- I mean, shenanigans. You owe me no apologies, Scully"

Mulder leaned down to kiss her forehead as she looked up at him with adoration in her azure eyes and gently gripped the soft curve of her hips, his fingers inadvertently slipping underneath her tank top as it rose up an inch, helping her up onto her tip toes and kissed her on the lips so slowly and passionately that it almost made her knees buckle.

"I love you so much"

"I love you so much more. Look, I don't want to ruin this moment of unexpected forgiveness and tenderness but our son hates me now, so can you please tell him that I'm not horrible person like he seems to think I am"

"Oh, I highly doubt that. William is just... protective of me, that's all. Its a trait that he inherited from you, Mulder. You're so much alike, that its actually a little bit spooky sometimes"

Scully carefully untangled herself from Mulder's warm embrace and smiled up at him with the hope that he know understood why William had reacted the way he had and that he shouldn't have taken it so personally.

"Okay, but you'll still go talk to him for me and talk me up, right?"

"Sure"

Mulder sighed a sense of relief washing over him as Scully patted him comfortingly on the chest and then she reached behind him opening to the office door to leave and go talk to their son.