Headers and Notes in Part 1

Part 12 of 12


Epilogue

6 Weeks Later

Scully's Apartment
Georgetown, D.C.
June 22, 2001
9:00 pm

Mulder laid back into the cushions, swinging his bare feet up onto the 
couch, his eyes closing.

The apartment seemed extra quiet with William gone.  No familiar baby 
patter as Scully bathed and prepared him for bedtime.  No 'feed me 
now!' wails from William if she wasn't quick enough to offer him her 
breast.

He missed it, and their son.

And William had only been gone half an hour.  Picked up by his extremely 
happy Grandma, along with enough baby paraphernalia to last a month, at 
least, although he was only staying one night.  Scully had wanted to make 
sure she had covered all the bases.  

Which included pumping extra breast milk.  Though Mulder was certain 
William would not be guzzling down the eight 8 oz. bottles in the 
ice-packed cooler.  She had fed him just before her mother had arrived, 
and he was now down to only two feeds during the night.

Thinking of Scully breastfeeding William brought a sudden, vividly 
clear memory to his mind.

Of waking that very morning at 5 am, his face mashed into Scully's 
pillow, and sweeping his arm out to encompass her in a hug.  Only to 
find that the bed was empty.  Rolling over and blinking blurred eyes to 
be greeted with a most beautiful sight.  A sleep-tousled Scully, clad 
only in a nightshirt, nursing William in the rocking chair by the 
window.  Pale, early morning sunlight had been streaming through the 
partially drawn shades, bathing them both in an ethereal glow.  Scully 
had been unaware she was the focus of all his attention, and he had 
watched with a tender smile as she had stroked William's downy head 
with her free hand, the other arm cuddling him to her body.  She had 
been singing a lullaby, in her soft, slightly off-key voice, the chair 
rocking with gentle motions.

He decided right then as he lay smiling on the couch that those times, 
when he could watch Scully with William, and she did not know she was 
being observed, were his most favorite.  

For while Scully had definitely opened more once they had begun a 
personal relationship, and even more so since William's birth, she had 
a natural reticence, or reserve, that she just could not overcome.   
Her actions were far more relaxed when it was one-on-one, particularly 
when it came to William.

Not to suggest she was not loving or attentive...she showered a 
generous amount of love on he and William – in gestures and physical 
contact, and the tones of her voice.   She just seemed hesitant to do 
so when others were around, even her mother.  And sometimes when he was 
there while she interacted with William.  She was far more comfortable 
alone with the baby, or it was just the three of them.

His eyes opened again, a slight tension running through his body.  The 
word comfortable had triggered his worry-button.  Scully had gone to 
change into something 'more comfortable' after her mother had left, and 
had yet to emerge from the bedroom.

She had not allowed the sheen of tears in her eyes to fall as she had 
kissed William goodbye, but her distress had been obvious to both he 
and Mrs. Scully.  Yet she had not wanted to change their plans for an 
evening alone, their first since the birth of William.  And having just 
received the all clear that day from her doctor to resume sexual 
activities.

He hoped she was not in there, crying.

Sitting up, his feet falling to the floor, Mulder was just about to 
stand when the sound of running water reached his ears.  Not the taps 
of the bathroom sink, but those of the bathtub.  His breathing 
quickened.

Scully was running a bath.

New tension raced through his body, from the soles of his feet to the 
top of his head, most of it centered in his groin.  Scully in the bath 
was another favorite time.  Topped only by the combination of Scully 
and he in the bath.

He rose on suddenly weak legs, and managed to stride swiftly, and 
without stumbling, down the hall.  A pool of light on the night-
darkened floor spilled out from the open bathroom door.  If the door 
had been closed, he would have left Scully alone, and waited anxiously 
for her to come out.

An open door was, and always had been, an invitation.

He hesitated though, hands coming up to brace himself on the doorjamb, 
and looked within.

To see Scully, wearing a short - very short - silk robe, bent at the 
waist, and presenting her profile as she lit candles that were 
clustered together on a little table by the bathtub.  Her hair was 
pinned up haphazardly, sexily, little tendrils caressing her neck and 
cheeks, and the front of the robe gaped open.  Revealing that she 
appeared to be nude beneath it.

He might have made a sound, he wasn't sure, but she looked up at him 
then, her cheeks flushing.

"Hi," she said softly, and straightened, her hand shaking out the match 
she had used to light the candles.  Turning aside briefly, she put it 
down on the edge of the sink.

"Hey," he said back when she turned back, eyes sweeping her from head 
to toe.  He smiled slowly when she visibly shivered.

"I was...going to take a bath," she said next, her voice faint.  Her 
gaze flitted from his chest, muscles delineated by his pose and his 
tight tee shirt, to his mouth.  She licked her lips.

His smile widened.  "I see that."  He lowered his arms, one hand 
flicking the light switch off during its descent, and advanced further 
into the bathroom, watching her eyes dilate.  "Care for some company?" 
he asked her, making his voice the low rumble that always seemed to 
turn her crank, stopping just before her, mere inches now separating 
their bodies.

Scully shivered again, visible even in the low light from the candles, 
and then took a deep breath, which immediately drew his eyes to her 
breasts.  To her hardened nipples poking at the silk of her robe.  

Clearing her throat, she replied in a stronger, more assured voice, 
"As a matter of fact, I was hoping you might want to join me."

"Always," he told her, and saw her flush deepen. 

He searched her eyes for any signs of distress, or dismay.  Or sadness.  
And saw only desire.  His already stoked arousal flamed higher, and he 
wanted nothing more than to haul her into his arms and throw her onto 
her bed.

But he did not.  He was going to take this slow, even if it killed him. 
At least he would die happy.

Lifting one hand, surprised it was steady, he skimmed his knuckles down 
one smooth cheek, dropping off her jaw to land on the hem of her robe.

The weight of his hand rested on her breast, and she inhaled sharply, 
noisily, her chest rising.

Mulder could feel her heat, through the silk, and smell the wonderful 
scent that was Scully.  Not perfume, for she would not wear any while 
nursing William, but her own natural essence, mixed with the heady 
aroma of her arousal.  His nostrils flared, and his breath stuttered in 
his lungs.  He felt himself swaying towards her, and took a small step 
back to slow down, his hand sliding from her body and falling to his 
side.

Scully's body swayed as well, towards his, looking amazingly fragile 
and delicate.  With an embarrassed laugh, she straightened her 
shoulders and took a step back herself.  "Um..." she said, and waved 
her hand at the filling bathtub.  "I hope you don't mind bubbles," she 
blurted then.

She was nervous, he realized.  He exhaled the breath he had apparently 
been holding, and scrubbed his hand through his hair.  He was a little 
nervous too, but seeing her that way calmed him.  Smiling again, he 
quietly said, "I don't mind them at all."  

Stepping forward once more, he cupped his hand on the cheek he had 
caressed moments ago, and leaned in to press a feather-light kiss on 
the other one.  "Relax, Scully," he whispered, moving his lips to her 
ear.  "It's just you and me."  Sliding back to her mouth, he said 
against her lips, "Nothing has to happen, if you're not ready, Scully."  
A gentle kiss, then he pulled back slightly.

Her eyelids fluttered, and she ducked her face into his hand, rubbing 
against his palm.  Taking a deep, shaky breath, she whispered, "Thank-
you, Mulder."  She laughed then, a light, low sound, and continued with 
wryness, "I'm very ready, Mulder.  Believe me.  I just..." Her head 
ducked further, until she seemed to be studying their feet.  Another 
small laugh, and then she lifted her head to meet his gaze squarely.  
"Just a little shy all of a sudden."  She shook her head.  "Silly."

"It's not silly," he told her, his thumb moving along her cheekbone.  
He leaned in and punctuated his next sentences with butterfly kisses to 
her nose.  "It's endearing."  Kiss.  "It's sweet."  Kiss.  "It's sexy."
Kiss.  He growled the next.  "It's arousing."

She had started to giggle, her body leaning against his, but at his 
last remark, it turned into a moan.  "Mulderrrrr...God, I love you!" 
she exclaimed, voice low and very intense.  Her hands came up to grab 
his head, rather forcefully, and she rose up on her toes, her lips 
landing on his, hard.

He parted them instinctively, his hands landing on her hips, pulling 
her even closer, and her tongue invaded his mouth.  Her breasts were 
pressing into his chest, her nipples hard points stabbing at his flesh, 
and his arousal surged against her soft belly.

Time had absolutely no meaning.  There was just he and Scully.

Until she broke away and breathlessly panted, "The water!"

Mulder staggered back a step and watched as Scully walked on unsteady 
legs to turn the bathtub taps off, the bubbles near to overflowing.  He 
took a moment to suck air into his depleted lungs, before remarking, 
"Close."

She met his eyes, hers dancing with laughter, and more.  "Very."

His next words stuck in his throat as her hands lifted to the sash of 
her robe and slowly untied it.  He stared avidly as she shimmied her 
shoulders gently and the silk started to slide down her arms.  But she 
crossed them in front of her body, her hands clutching the hem to her 
breasts, so the motion was arrested.  He sighed, his breaths choppy and 
harsh.

Her lips curved in a siren's smile, and then her arms swept down.

The silk robe pooled at her feet.

***

9:00 pm


This is ridiculous, Scully told herself, and forced her gaze away from 
the telephone on her night table.

William would be fine.  There was no need to call.  Besides, her mother 
had only left a half hour ago.  She probably hadn't even gotten home 
yet.  And most likely he would sleep for a few more hours before his 
next feeding. 

But this was the first time he would be away from her, from them, for a 
visit longer than an hour, and she was a little apprehensive.  She knew 
her mother was perfectly qualified to take care of William, and she 
trusted her implicitly.  This was something her mother had been looking 
forward to - time alone with her newest grandson – for quite a while, 
but it was still difficult.  

Shaking her head, she rose from her seat on the edge of the bed where 
she had been staring ridiculously at the phone for the last ten minutes 
or so.  There was a sexy man – her man – waiting down the hall, and she 
was in here moping, alone.  When she could be with him.  Should be with 
him.

It was time to...Why was it the only words coming to mind were 'get it 
on'?  She shook her head again.  What a romantic way to describe what 
she knew was going to be a delightful interlude between two people who 
had been denied the company and pleasure of each other's bodies for far 
too long.

Get yourself together, Dana, and seduce your man.

A tiny smile on her lips, Scully moved to the foot of the bed, her 
hands going to the hem of her sweatshirt.  Tugging it off, she draped 
it over the footboard, before bringing her hand to the waistband of her 
leggings.  After removing them and laying them atop the sweatshirt, she 
unclasped her maternity bra and removed it with a sigh of relief.  It 
was a rather uncomfortable garment, albeit a necessary one, unfortunately.  
It was also quite unattractive, in her opinion.  No doubt Mulder's as 
well, though he had never said word one about it.  

She rubbed at the faint marks under her breasts before laying it aside, 
and then slipped her cotton panties off.  A chill ran through her, and 
she quickly moved to her closet.  Pulling the door open and stepping 
inside, her hand halted in mid-action, about to grab her robe.  

Her staid, dependable, plain, completely and utterly un-sexy terry 
cloth robe.  Not very conducive to a romantic evening, that was for 
certain.  Frowning slightly, she shook her head and dropped her hand to 
her side, shivering again.  Her eyes landed on another robe – a very 
short, sexy, silk one that Mulder had once admired many, many moons 
ago.

Perfect.

Another smile lifted her lips, a naughty one, and she pulled the robe 
from its padded hanger.  It was enough covering for now – she knew the 
silk covering wouldn't be on long, anyway.  Once Mulder heard the bath 
water running, he would come to investigate, as she had planned.  She 
was a little surprised he hadn't come looking for her already, she knew 
he had seen the tears she had managed not to let fall as she had kissed 
William goodbye. 

Okay, enough thoughts about William.  He was in capable hands, and had 
been fine when he left.  He was still fine, and he would be fine.

Time to think about just she and Mulder. 

Scully slipped her arms into the sleeves of the robe, enjoying the feel 
of the cool silk gliding over her sensitive skin.  Closing the closet 
door, she turned around and found herself staring at her own 
reflection.

Hesitating before tying the robe's sash, Scully walked closer to the 
mirror and stared at her nude body critically, head tilting to one side 
slightly.  A rather rigorous after-childbirth exercise program had 
helped her to easily shed the extra pounds, and toned her body, but she 
was...different.  She was...rounder, softer.  She could see it in her 
face.  In her hips, her breasts, her belly. 

What would Mulder see?

Her right hand left her robe and lifted towards her face, and she 
watched as the hand of the woman in the mirror did the same.  Fingers 
touched her cheek with feather-softness, eyes remaining on her 
reflection, before gliding down her throat to her breast.  Her nipple 
hardened as one fingertip skimmed it, and she shivered.  Her hand went 
next to her belly, lightly palming the slight swell, the edge of her 
pinkie just brushing her mons.  She shifted and turned to her left, her 
right knee bent, still eying her reflection.

And knew Mulder would see a desirable woman, skin pliant and radiant, 
body ripe with want.  

With her cheeks blushing rose, she brought the hem of her robe together 
and tied it loosely with the sash.  Turning to face her dresser, she 
found a small band for her hair.  She gathered her hair up as much as 
possible, some strands too short to be up in a pony tail, and secured 
it with the band.

Walking quietly, but with surety, she entered the bathroom, flicking on 
the light.  She deliberately did not close the door behind her.  
Opening one of the cupboards, she gathered up a handful of candles, in 
varying sizes, and placed them on the little stand she kept by the tub, 
for holding her current paperback novel, or sometimes her portable 
radio.   

Leaning down, she plugged the bathtub before cranking the taps on, more 
hot than cold.  Selecting bubble bath in a scent that wouldn't have 
Mulder later complaining he smelled like flowers, she poured some of it 
into the filling tub, and then replaced the recapped bottle in the 
little tray partly full of other similar bottles.  A second later the 
room was redolent with the aroma of sandalwood.

The next step was to light the candles for more ambiance.  She moved 
back to the cupboard, feeling the silk slide luxuriously over her skin, 
imagining it was Mulder's hands instead, and removed a pack of matches.  
Back to the tub, where she lit one and bent at the waist to touch the 
small flame to each candle's wick.

The sensation of being watched washed over her first, a not unpleasant 
feeling.  Followed by the faintest of sounds - a man's breath, indrawn 
and rough. 

Mulder.

Her hand shaking slightly, Scully lit the last candle and glanced at 
the doorway.  She felt her cheeks flush, seeing him poised there, his 
arms up and hands on the doorjamb.  He was so unbelievably sexy.  All 
she could think of to say was, "Hi."  Not quite the come-hither opening 
line she had intended to use when he joined her.

Blushing even more, she stood upright, waving her hand to put out the 
burning match.  Once it was out, she put it down on the sink's edge, to 
let it cool.

"Hey," he said back, in low, intimate tones.  As intimate as the look 
in his eyes when he ran them over her body.

She couldn't help the little shiver that ran through her from his look, 
and saw him smile when she did.  Oh, Lord, that smile.  What it did to 
her insides. "I was...going to take a bath," she managed to get out, 
while wondering in the back of her mind where the smoothly confident, 
bent-on-seduction woman she had been had gone.  

Meanwhile, the witless wonder she had become couldn't help staring at 
his chest, at the muscles clearly defined by his tee shirt.  Her tongue 
came out to swipe at her lips.

That smile grew deeper.  He sounded amused when he replied, "I see 
that."  He stepped into the bathroom, one hand flicking the bathroom 
light off, and added in that purring rumble that made her insides 
quiver, "Care for some company?"

He now stood directly in front of her, their bodies almost, but not 
quite touching.  Scully felt her nipples harden beneath the silk at his 
proximity.  Attempting to regain some control, despite the arousal that 
was zinging through her, she cleared her throat and remarked, "As a 
matter of fact, I was hoping you might want to join me."  The words 
sounded confident, as she had intended.

"Always," he intoned huskily.

And then he was touching her.  A light glance of his knuckles on her 
cheek, her jaw.  Hand dropping to land on her breast, a warm, seductive 
weight.  Her chest was rising and falling rapidly with her altered 
breathing, despite that weight.

She heard herself babble something about him liking bubbles, and 
blushed again, from a combination of arousal, embarrassment and 
shyness.

And he soothed her, teased her.  Aroused her further.

Somewhere in the flow of touches and kisses and the near overflowing 
of the bathtub, she found her inner seductress.  Untying the sash of 
her robe, she let the silky material slide down her arms.  Before it 
could continue downward, she brought her hands to her chest, halting 
its descent.  Enjoying the look in his eyes, the sound of his aroused 
breathing.  His sigh of dismay when the robe went no further.

A thrill of power ran through her, a pleased smile crossed her lips, 
and she dropped her arms to let the robe fall all the way to the floor.  
Traces of a lingering shyness had her ducking her head slightly, 
starting to bring her arms up to cover her bare breasts.

"Oh...Scuh-leee," Mulder sighed.  "You..." His voice trailed off, his 
Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed noisily.  "You are absolutely 
beautiful."  

She felt his gaze like a heated caress.  Touching her breasts, the 
slope of her belly, the flare of her hips.  Lingering briefly at the 
triangle between her legs before sweeping back up.  All her shyness 
fled.  Her head lifted, to meet his eyes proudly.  "Our bath awaits," 
she said.

Another thrill ran through her when he drew his tee shirt over his head 
in one fluid motion and tossed it aside.  His hands were at the button 
of his jeans faster than she could believe, and a second later both 
jeans and briefs were gone.

Her eyes were naturally drawn to the shadow of his groin, to his half-
erect penis, when he stepped closer.  Mulder said nothing, merely 
stepped over the tub's rim, into the mass of bubbles, and then held out 
his hand.

Once she had placed hers within, he carefully helped her into the tub.  
His other hand skimmed down her belly, briefly touched her hip.  "Turn 
around," was his huskily voiced request.

She complied, and felt the water slosh and the brush of his body as he 
sank down in the water.  His hands touched her outer thighs, and then 
she was seated between his legs, her back to his chest.  As she wiggled 
about, tucking her head in the hollow of his neck and shoulder, she 
felt him hard against her lower back.

She couldn't help wiggling more.

***

9:20 pm


He had no words...she was absolutely stunning.  Childbirth had merely 
enhanced the beauty that had already been there.  Added a fullness to 
her body that made him weak in the knees.

Her shyness touched him as she brought her hands up, and her head 
ducked to hide her eyes.

"Oh...Scuh-leee," Mulder said softly, not surprised by the huskiness 
of his voice.  It was a wonder he had one at all.  He was certainly 
finding it difficult to breathe.  "You..." His voice did fail him 
then, and he had to swallow thickly to ease the dryness in his mouth.  
"You are absolutely beautiful," he finally got out.

He ran his eyes over her, letting his appreciation and desire shine 
through.  Admiring her full breasts with their crinkled nipples, the 
sweet, gentle rise of her belly – not as flat as it had once been, but 
utterly sexy, inviting further caresses, from his hands and mouth.  
The auburn curls at the apex of her thighs received a protracted glance, 
and had his arousal stirring further.

With pride flaring in her eyes, Scully straightened, her shoulders 
going back, thrusting her breasts forward, and said, "Our bath awaits."

Suddenly eager to feel bare flesh on bare flesh, and feeling restricted 
by his clothes, he yanked his tee shirt off and sent it flying.  His 
jeans and briefs came down together, and were discarded with equal 
quickness.

Scully's eyes flicked down to his penis, which was at half-mast, and 
definitely interested in proceeding further.  He, however, wanted to 
take things slowly, and climbed into the tub, holding out his hand to 
help her in.

Carefully, he guided her into the tub, their hands clasped together.  
He couldn't resist the urge to touch her, and let his other hand glide 
over the soft skin of her belly to her hip.  "Turn around," he 
requested, in the same husky voice.

When she had, he sank down into the hot, bubbly water, letting go of 
her hand, his eyes caressing her backside as he went.  Once seated, he 
laid both hands lightly on her legs, and she followed the unspoken 
appeal, sinking down into the water until she was cradled between his 
legs, her back lying along his chest.

The feel of her body against his was beyond arousing.  Her silky smooth 
legs, brushing his hairier, longer legs, her toes tickling his calves.  
Her soft, smooth back and her arms, draped over his on the rim of the 
tub.  Her delectable backside, which was pressing his burgeoning 
erection into his own belly.

She was wiggling about, getting comfortable.  Only he was getting more 
and more 'un' comfortable with each delicious little wiggle, in a very 
good way.

Oh.  That last 'wiggle' seemed quite deliberate.

"Ignore him, Scully," he whispered just above her ear, his lips 
pressing a kiss on the little spot behind it.  

"It's hard," she said.

He knew she meant it in an entirely different way, but he couldn't help 
teasing her.  "It certainly is," he whispered back, thrusting 'it' 
gently into her rear.  "And all because of you."

She made a sound of rueful dismay, and from his vantage point above and 
behind her, he saw her eyes close and a blush pinken her cheeks.  
"Mulderrrr..." she said then, with embarrassment, and a slight chiding, 
in her voice. 

"I know, baby," he murmured.  "I'm a horrible tease.  But you love me 
anyway, right?"

She was silent; her eyes remained closed, body and face still.

"Right?" he repeated, and nuzzled his nose into her neck.  No reply.  
He nuzzled her again, then spoke a little louder.  "Baby?"

He got a reaction then - a breathy giggle and her attempting to squirm 
away from his nose.  "Oh, I see," he said with mock-sternness.  "What's 
good for the goose is good for the gander, huh?"  His arms slipped away 
from hers, his hands going under the bubbles so he could glide his 
fingers teasingly along her ribcage, while his mouth took up the 
torment at her neck.

"You can..." Breathless words that faded with a giggle and a wiggle. 
"...gander me..." A laugh this time, and her hands moved to try and 
stop his, sending water and bubbles sloshing over the sides of the tub.  
She screeched the last word as his fingers tickled unmercifully.  
"ANYTIME!"

"With pleasure," he growled into her neck, and at the same time his 
lips suckled a section of her skin, his hands slid from her ribs to 
gently cup her breasts.  He was careful not to tease her nipples, for 
she was still quite sensitive from nursing William.  He also did not 
want to start the letdown process; it wouldn't exactly be conducive 
to romance if she had to go express her breast milk.

Her head fell back with a sigh, her back arching slightly to thrust 
her breasts more fully into his hands.  "Ohhhh..." she sighed.

Pressing a kiss on the spot he had been sucking, he whispered, "Is 
this okay?"

"Mm-hmmm," she sighed.  Or was it a moan?  

Whatever it was, the throaty sound had sent a shiver through his body, 
and had him thrusting his hips up, pressing his erection into her 
again.

She answered with a surge and a slow circling of her hips.  "Feels so 
good to have your hands touching me, Mulder."

Did it ever.  "Yes, it does," he agreed.  He slid his right hand down 
her stomach, over skin silky smooth and slick with bath oil, and toyed 
with her belly button.

She sucked in her next breath noisily, body tensing infinitesimally.

"Scully?" he croaked, his hand halting, starting to slide away from her 
stomach.  "Did I –" His desire waned slightly.  If he had hurt her...

Her fingers grabbed his, halting his retreat, and she guided his hand 
back to her stomach, only lower, his fingertips just brushing the top 
of her mound.  "Shhhh..." she said.  "Don't stop, I'm fi...it feels 
wonderful, Mulder." 

"Are you sure, Scully?" he asked.  "We don't have to do anything at 
all, you know that, right?  I'm just happy to be here with you like 
this, it doesn't have to go any further."

"Mulderrrrr..." Her voice was lower, and sounded embarrassed again.  
"I'm glad we're together too, just the two of us."  She squirmed a 
little, her fingers flexing on his, still held over her heat.  With a 
nervous laugh, she continued, "It's been a while, Mulder, and I'm..."

"Horny?" he supplied with a grin, renewed arousal surging through his 
body.

"Well, if you have to put it that...Yes, I am," she whispered.  Her 
head turned, so that her lips were now on his neck, and she placed a 
kiss there, her tongue darting out to lick at a bead of moisture 
trailing along his skin.  "And I want this to last, you know?"

"It will, Scully," he said, trailing his hand up her belly, between her 
breasts to her face, tilting her chin up.  Their eyes locked for a 
moment, and then he lowered his to stare at her lips.  Her tongue 
darted out to lick the upper one, an unconsciously erotic move, and he 
groaned.  He brought his face closer, and repeated in a whisper, "It 
will last, Scully."  

Her eyelids fluttered before slipping shut, his name escaping her mouth 
on a sigh.

Their lips met, sweetly, and then the kiss grew hotter, more intense.

***

9:30 pm


"It will last, Scully."  Mulder whispered the statement a second time, 
and the words were both a verbal caress and a promise.

Scully's insides fluttered pleasantly, and her heart began a steady 
thrumming.  She sighed his name, her eyes falling shut, and felt his 
lips descend onto hers.

The kiss was gentle at first, his lips soft.  But it gradually became 
deeper, more purposeful, his lips firming, pressing harder upon hers.  
His tongue swept through her mouth then, teasing her gums, the roof of 
her mouth...her tongue. 

She moaned deep in her throat, her left hand coming up to cradle his 
cheek, just as his hand now cradled hers.  Shifting slightly, she tried 
to gain better purchase within his arms, their position somewhat 
awkward in the confines of the tub.  Her right hand was on his hip, as 
an anchor, and she momentarily tightened her fingers as she tried to 
move.

Mulder's lips pulled away from hers, his breaths a harsh panting, and 
his head fell back against the porcelain rim.  He answered her moan 
with a low groan that was her name.  The fingers of his other hand 
flexed briefly into the flesh of her side, the tips just brushing the 
side of her breast.

Raising a delightful trail of gooseflesh over every inch of her skin, 
even in the heat of the bathwater, and the heat of Mulder's body 
pressed all along hers.

She shivered and husked out his name in drawn-out syllables.  "Mul-de-
errrr..." Her hand slid from his face to rest briefly upon her heaving 
breast before falling into the water at their sides.  She let her head 
snuggle into the hollow of his neck and shoulder, and wiggled her hips 
so that her backside firmly rubbed the very prominent erection pressed 
between their bodies.

Mulder's hips jerked, and his palm slid from her side to splay over her 
belly.  While applying a light force with his hand, he also pushed 
upwards with his lower body, intensifying their contact.  And 
apparently creating a very enjoyable friction on his penis - for he 
moaned yet again, a low growl that reverberated through her cheek, 
resting against his throat. 

He thrust like this with slow, gentle motions that rocked her body, and 
the water, for several moments, before stopping with one last, long 
push.  After his hips settled back down, the hand on her belly began to 
rub over her skin in ever-widening circles.

She shuddered, and her hand clenched on his hip when his fingers 
brushed first the undersides of her breasts, and then the top of her 
mound in one great, circling pass.  Her legs unconsciously attempted to 
spread wider, inviting more of his touch, and they encountered his 
unyielding, firmly muscled thighs.

"Wait," he whispered.  His palm pressed down on her belly again, while 
his other hand curled around her upper arm and held her as he shifted 
until he had drawn his knees up.

The water sloshed a bit, bubbles cascading over the sides, but she did 
not care.  It would be easily cleaned up later. 

She slid along his body a little bit, but his hand on her arm kept her 
from sliding too far down, her head now on his upper chest, his chin 
nudging her scalp.  His hand then left her bicep, and his arm slid 
across her midriff, just under her breasts, to hold her steady.  With 
his legs up this way, she was able to spread hers a slight bit further 
apart. 

"Okay?" he whispered then, and she nodded. 

With each breath she took, the undersides of her breasts were pressed 
into his bubble-slicked arm, teasing her senses.  He resumed the slow 
gliding of his hand on her belly, but did not rise above her belly 
button, with smaller circles, now that his other arm lay on her upper 
body.  Another delightful tease.

Finally his fingers trailed through the thatch of hair over her mons.  
Only a glancing touch, but her stomach muscles quivered in reaction 
just the same.

Mulder did it again, still a fleeting contact, and on the next pass, he 
applied a bit more pressure, scratching lightly at the flesh beneath.  
This time she bucked upwards, and her hand left her side to curl over 
the one on her midriff, her fingernails digging slightly into the skin 
just below his elbow.

He leaned his head down, his nose nuzzling through her hair until his 
mouth was by her ear.  "You like, Scully?" he husked.

"Ye-esss," she sighed back, hips moving restlessly, for his hand had 
gone back to rubbing her abdomen.  "I like. Please, Mulder...more."

His teeth nipped her lobe, and then his lips sucked it into his mouth, 
just as his palm slid down so that he was now cupping her entire mound.
Tension, a pleasurable tension, zinged through her entire body, and 
once more she bucked her hips.

He released her lobe and whispered, "Easy."  Then he applied pressure 
with the heel of his palm, and began moving it in slow, firm circles.  
Directly on her clitoris.  Her flesh, soft from the water, and highly 
aroused from the situation itself and Mulder's touch, had parted 
easily.
 
His fingers were resting lightly on her entrance, brushing over her 
sensitized flesh with the motions of his hand that had further 
goosebumps rippling along her inner thighs.  A second later he curled 
his long middle finger up, so that it slid through her folds and inside 
her.

Still slowly grinding the heel of his palm over her clit, but now in an 
up and down motion instead of a circling one, he began to pump his 
finger in and out of her, with equal slowness.

"A-hhhh...Mulder," she moaned, and started to thrust upwards with tiny 
jerks of her hips, her feet planted at the bottom of the slippery tub, 
and braced by the sides.

Already she was feeling the deep flutterings that signaled the start of 
her orgasm.  It really hadn't taken much.  But then again, she had been 
primed for this all day long, even having had what could be called an 
erotic dream about she and Mulder the night before that she had 
recalled with vivid clarity upon awakening at five am.  And being this 
close to him, and having his hands on her body, was always highly 
arousing.

His index finger joined the middle one, and he sped up.  After several 
deep, fast thrusts, he slowed again, and then pulled his hand back so 
that the tips of his two fingers were on her clit.  At the same time 
his teeth bit down on her ear lobe, he pressed down in a hard, fast 
circle.

And she came apart.

"MULDER!  Oh, God, Mulder!" she moaned, her core spasming and her hips 
jerking.  She dug her nails into his flesh, not meaning to hurt him, 
but needing to cling to him.  "Don'tstoppleasedon'tstop...MULDERRRR!"

***

9:40 pm


Mulder was torn.

Torn between his desire for he and Scully to be ensconced in her big, 
comfortable bed, and his desire to remain in the glorious cocoon of hot 
water, bubbles and Scully.

His quandary was wiped from his mind completely by the feel of her body 
sliding along his – of her shapely little ass rubbing his erection.

He automatically thrust up in response, and his hand moved to lie upon 
the softness of her stomach.  Holding her in place, and also pressing 
her more firmly into him.  A groan, guttural and deep, rose from his 
chest as the pleasure swamped all his senses.

After thrusting against her with slow, steady lifts of his hips for 
long, endless moments, he forced himself to stop.  It wasn't time yet.

Not for him, anyway.  But he had plans for Scully.

Starting with a light stroking of his hand on her belly, that slowly 
moved to circles that grew wider and wider.  Mulder ensured that his 
fingertips brushed first the sensitive undersides of her breasts, and 
then the top of her mons.  

Grinned to himself when she shivered, and her hand tightened on his hip 
in reaction.

She then tried to part her legs, but was hampered by his legs.  The 
limited maneuverability of her bathtub was both a curse and a blessing.  
He whispered for her to wait, and slowly shifted them both until his 
knees were drawn up, and his arm under her breasts kept her from 
sliding down further.

Once he had confirmed she was okay, he resumed the motion of his hand, 
in smaller circles, concentrating only on her lower belly.  When his 
fingers finally brushed her curls, the muscles of her stomach jumped 
and twitched.

Pleased, he did it again, and again, slowly applying more pressure.  
Scully bucked her hips that time, and her hand came up to clutch at his 
arm, nails digging just slightly.

He brought his head down to whisper in her ear, unable to resist 
nuzzling into her hair.  "You like, Scully?" he crooned, equally unable 
to resist teasing her further by moving his hand away from her sex.

Her sighing reply to his question revealed her pleasure, as did the 
tiny, restless movements of her hips.  Her plea for more, in a husky 
moan when he stopped touching her, was his reward.

He first bit her earlobe, and then sucked it into his mouth.  At the 
same time, he slid his hand down to completely cup her mons.

Scully bucked up again, sending a wave of watery bubbles cascading over 
one side of the tub, and Mulder let her lobe fall from his mouth to 
whisper, "Easy."  Using the heel of his hand, he pressed down upon her 
clitoris, and began to rub in slow circles.  He kept his hand flat, so 
that his fingers brushed her delicate lips with each rotation.

She seemed to melt back into him.  He continued to move slowly, 
teasingly, even though his mind screamed for him to move faster.  
Harder.

He had to listen to those screams then, and the slight, telltale 
reactions of Scully's body.  Curving his third finger on the next 
circle, he slid his third finger through her slick folds and up inside 
her hot, moist tunnel.

Switching from the circling passes, he rocked his hand over her mons, 
slowly inserting and withdrawing his finger.  Her inner muscles 
clenched at his finger with each thrust, and he gritted his teeth, his 
eyes momentarily falling shut, as he imagined how this would feel on 
his cock.  

But still he continued pumping in and out of her, rocking against her 
clit, never changing his pace.

Until Scully moaned brokenly, and started thrusting her hips upwards in 
a counter-rhythm.

Mulder knew she was close – could feel the trembling of her thighs, the 
tension in her entire body – and with the next glide, added his index 
finger, crossing the two for added stimulation.  He increased the speed 
of his thrusts for several seconds, slowed once again, before totally 
withdrawing his fingers until the tips were touching only the hard 
little bundle of nerves.  It began to pulse beneath his touch.  

With his eyes trained on her lower body, playing peek-a-boo through the 
dissipating bubbles, his teeth found her earlobe and nipped, at the 
exact moment he pressed down hard on her clit.

Scully was an amazing woman every day, but in orgasm, she was fire.  

As her release hit, her hips began to jerk, sending water sloshing 
everywhere, and she moaned out, "MULDER!  Oh God, Mulder!"   Her nails 
dug into his arm, a stinging, delicious pain he willingly endured, and 
she still thrust up and up, her breasts heaving and her core pulsing 
under his fingers.  "Don'tstoppleasedon'tstop...MULDERRRR!" she cried 
then.

His fingers continued to circle her hard little clit, gradually slowing 
as her hips lowered, and she came down from her orgasmic high, while he 
nuzzled her ear, her neck, anything within range of his mouth.  "Oh 
baby, you're so beautiful," he crooned.  "So beautiful when you come."

"Ohhhh...Mulder," Scully sighed then, turning her head to the side, 
towards him, her eyes closed and her chin tilted up, blindly seeking 
his lips.

Their lips met in a gentle kiss, while his fingers slowly eased away 
from her sex, coming to rest low on her belly.  She twisted in his 
loose grasp, so that she lay partly on her side, and the kiss deepened.

He broke the kiss finally, needing air and time to regain his 
equilibrium.  It was also time to get out of the bathtub.  Pulling away 
slowly, his teeth nipping at her swollen bottom lip, he murmured, "Can 
I wash your back?"

Her eyes fluttered open, and a lazy, pleased smile lifted her lips.  
"Mm-hmmm," she replied languidly, and they both shifted until she was 
sitting up, still between his legs.  She reached for, and handed him 
the spongy thing she called a loofah, and then the bottle of liquid 
soap.

Liquid Scully, he thought, his nostrils flaring and arousal ratcheting 
up another notch when he opened the bottle to squirt some on the 
loofah.  When it was sufficiently soapy, he began to smooth it over her 
creamy back, running it gently along her spine, dipping under the 
cooling water to tease the top of her behind.  As he neared the nape of 
her neck, Scully tucked her head down, one arm rising to hold the wisps 
of hair out of his way.

Swooping to that side, he ran the loofah from the curve of her armpit 
to her hip, then around to her belly.  Up to her breasts, which had her 
back arching, and down again.  "Lift your other arm," he said softly, 
and when she complied, lowering the first one, he repeated the motion, 
once again crossing her breasts.

When he had washed her front and back sufficiently, he dipped the 
loofah under water once more, teasing between her legs.

Scully sucked in her breath, and shifted restlessly.

Reminding himself they were supposed to be getting out of the tub, he 
withdrew it reluctantly and dropped it to one side.  Cupping water in 
his hands, he rinsed her carefully.  "All done," he murmured a moment 
later.  "Stand up, Scully."

Scully turned her head, and regarded him with heavy-lidded eyes, before 
blinking slowly.  "What about your back, Mulder?" she asked, her voice 
a seductive near-whisper. 

***

9:50 pm


Scully felt weighted, heavy – deliciously so.  Satisfied.  Tiny, 
lightning bolts of pleasure continued to run through her body, up and 
down her orgasm-weakened limbs.  Pulsed between her legs. 

Mulder's lips were on her neck, her ear, while his hand still lightly 
teased between her legs, easing her down from her plateau.  His 
seductively raspy voice crooned in her ear, "Oh baby, you're so 
beautiful.  So beautiful when you come."

She wanted his lips then, on hers.  "Ohhhh...Mulder," she husked out, 
and lifting her chin up, turned her face to his.  Her eyes remained 
lazily closed.  Knowing their lips would meet instinctively, naturally.  

They did find each other's mouths, easily.  Lips pressed together 
gently, and Scully found herself wanting more of him.  Turning into him 
further, so that she was nearly on her side on top of him, enabled them 
to intensify the kiss. 

It was hungry, and wild, and beautiful.

Mulder was the one who broke it, his breath washing over her face in 
warm, familiar pants.  He nibbled on her bottom lip before huskily 
saying, "Can I wash your back?"

A shiver skated down her spine, from his voice, the words, the thought 
of the loofah or his hands gliding along her skin.  Her eyes slid open 
lazily, and she smiled slowly.  "Mm-hmmm," she murmured.  

They moved together, until she was seated between his legs, her back to 
him.  Scully handed over the loofah and the bottled soap she had 
selected, and leaned forward slightly to give him better access to all 
of her back.

She heard the bottle lid flick open, and the slight expulsion of air as 
Mulder squeezed some of the soap out.  He inhaled deeply with a tiny 
sound she recognized to be one of pleasure, and a second later she 
caught the faint aroma of her favorite scents.

The loofah touched the middle of her back then, trailing down along the 
bumps of her spine, and her eyes fluttered closed in contentment and 
delight.  When it teased the top of her behind, she shivered and 
exhaled heavily, knowing that it would not take much to arouse her 
anew.

It trailed upwards next, and she lowered her chin to her chest, one 
hand coming up to hold her hair aside.  Mulder followed her motions 
with the loofah, dipping into her armpit before traveling down her 
ribcage to her hip, and surprising her by sliding over to her belly.  

And up to her breasts.

He was extremely gentle there, but she was extremely sensitive, 
particularly her nipples.  The loofah scratched feather-light across 
them, and they beaded instantly into hard points.  Her back arched into 
the caress, but it was already sliding away.

"Lift your other arm," was his soft command, spoken close to her ear.

She did, switching arms, and felt the soapy sponge traverse the same 
path it had on her other side.  It once again slid teasingly across her 
breasts, and she once again arched into the light contact.

When the loofah slipped between her legs, glancing over flesh still 
sensitive from her orgasm, that latent arousal did surge slowly to 
life.  Her entire body twitched, and her next breath was a sharp 
inhalation.

Mulder moved it away though, before she could lean back and give 
herself over.  His hands sluiced water on her back and shoulders, and 
cooling droplets slid in teasing rivulets down her front, over her 
breasts and now softened nipples.  "All done," he said quietly a moment 
later.  "Stand up, Scully."

She didn't want to leave the bathtub.  She hadn't had her turn yet.  

Turning her head slowly, she stared at him before husking out, "What 
about your back, Mulder?"

At the visible tremor that ran through his body, she smiled.  His eyes 
went wild and smoky, and his Adam's apple bobbed convulsively.  She 
maneuvered herself carefully, using first his knees, and then the sides 
of the tub, for support, until she was on her haunches facing him.  Yet 
no longer touching him anywhere.

Instead she let her eyes do the touching.  

Her gaze meandered over his chest, admiring the tight curls of hair and 
the equally tight, flat male nipples nestled there, and down his taut 
abdomen to his groin.  His cock lay dark and heavy between his legs, 
partially erect, and as she watched, it twitched and thickened further.

An idea blossomed, and the tip of her tongue darted out to moisten her 
lips.

Mulder groaned, low and deep.  The sound danced along her skin, 
tightening her nipples again and sending little spasms through her 
core.

Returning her eyes to his face, she caught and held his gaze.  Deciding 
to forego the loofah, her hand began to search for the bottle of liquid 
soap.  She deliberately and gently scratched her fingernails along the 
outside of his thigh as she retrieved it, carefully maintaining an 
innocent expression.

He shuddered, and sucked in his next breath noisily.  After holding it 
for several seconds, he formed her name with his heavy exhalation.  
"Scuh-leee."

"Yes, Mulder?" she said softly.  When he merely shook his head somewhat 
jerkily, she held the bottle up, and with slow, deliberate movements, 
opened it and poured a generous amount of soap into her other palm.  
She then held the bottle out to him.  "Could you close this, please?"

Another jerky motion, that of his hand rising from the water to take 
the bottle from her, his fingers fumbling the lid closed, and then he 
laid it aside.  His eyes had remained avidly on her hands, now rubbing 
the soap into a foamy lather.

Rising onto her knees, she leaned forward, watching as his eyes dipped 
first to her breasts, and then lower.  Placing her hands on his 
shoulder, she began to rub.

Scully washed first one arm, and then the other, right down to his 
fingers, where she thoroughly soaped each finger, and the space between 
it.  Her thumb swirled over his palms, feeling each hand flex 
instinctively, as if to grasp hers.

Next was his entire trunk, treated to an equally meticulous cleaning, 
from armpits to belly button.  That she had to tease a little, first 
circling it several times, before finally delving inside.  She relished 
how his muscles skittered and jumped beneath her touch, and the soft, 
sighing sounds he made.

She sank back down then, until her rear end rested on her heels.  The 
bubbles were non-existent now, and she could see that his erection had 
not diminished in the least, and was in fact looking rather...intense. 
It was a struggle not to wrap her fingers around it, to begin to stroke 
and tug and guide him to completion, as he had done for her.  But she 
persevered – she had other plans. 

Skirting his groin completely, hearing his husky moan of 
disappointment, she ran her hands down the taut muscles of his thigh.  
It did not matter that the soap was gone by now - it was the contact, 
the caressing, that was important.

She danced her fingers over his knee, and under it, and then along his 
hairy calf to his foot.  His long, incredibly sexy foot.  Which flexed 
and jumped in her hand, much as the muscles of his stomach had reacted 
to her touch just moments ago.  It was lifted from the water, his knee 
bending, and treated as his hand had been, before she switched to the 
other foot, also stroking each toe and between.

On the return journey up his other leg, she stopped just shy of his 
groin, and leaned back.  Running her eyes up and down his length with a 
pondering gaze, she brought an index finger to her mouth and tapped her 
lips.  "Hmmmm...Now how can I wash your back?" she murmured breathily.
Fully aware both of them knew that the washing was just a pretense.

"Back's fine, Scully," he said quickly, his voice hoarse.  His arms 
came up to grasp the sides of the tub, as if he were going to lift 
himself out.

"Oh, but Mulder," she husked, and batted her eyelashes at him.  "You 
washed mine, it's only fair that I wash yours."  Besides, she wanted to 
feel her hands gliding along his slick back, to feel the muscles 
straining beneath her fingers.  Not to mention his ass.  "Turn around, 
Mulder," she ordered then, putting a little bit of steel in her voice.

A somewhat difficult task if one did not stand and do so.  He was a 
fairly large man, albeit long and lean, and while her tub was not 
standard size, it also was not sized for such things.  She slid back a 
bit, to give him more room, and watched with hungry eyes as he came up 
on his knees, his cock jutting out proudly, the wiry nest of dark hair 
slicked straight to frame it enticingly.   

He posed for a second, sucking in his stomach and thrusting out his 
chest, and then turned without too much difficulty, presenting her with 
his back.

It was her turn to swallow convulsively.  Water coursed down his back 
and along the curves of his ass, still above the waterline, and she 
wanted to catch each and every drop with her tongue.

Sliding forward again, she lifted her hands up from where they had been 
laying restlessly on her thighs, and brought them to his shoulders.  
Flattening her hands, she stroked them slowly up and down his back, her 
breaths shortening as her desire increased. 

Although he had not touched his hands directly on her breasts or rear 
end, or between her legs while washing her, she could not resist the 
lure of the two globes of firm flesh so tantalizingly close.  On the 
next stroke, she did not stop at his waist and reverse direction as she 
had with the previous ones.  She instead let her hands slick down over 
his cheeks in a light caress.

They tightened, and Mulder's body quivered.  "Scully!" he gasped, and 
his hands once again came down to grip the sides of the tub.

Before he could move further, she came up on her knees, and aligned her 
body along his.  She slid her arms around his waist, and pressed her 
stomach into his ass, her hands spreading flat and low on his belly.  
He quivered again, and she rubbed her face along his upper back before 
turning into his skin to press an open-mouthed kiss there.

He inhaled and exhaled shakily, and jerked when one of her hands slid 
lower to wrap around his hard cock, unable to help herself.  "Scuh-" 
his voice broke when she squeezed lightly and he moaned, thrusting 
forward into her hand.  Sucking in another noisy breath, he tried 
again.  "Scuh-leee...please, not here.  Let's get out of the tub."

One last stroke over his hardness, one last, wet kiss to the skin of 
his shoulder blade, and then she released him.  She got to her feet 
slowly, watching as he did the same and turned around to face her.  He 
held out his hand, which she took, and held her steady as she stepped 
from the tub onto the thick mat.  A second later, he had climbed from 
the tub as well, his body brushing hers and raising goosebumps.

Turning away from him, she reached out and grabbed the plush towel she 
had earlier laid on the edge of the sink.  Shaking it out, she turned 
back to him, and holding the two ends, lifted the towel.

With gentle touches, she blotted the water from his shoulders and arms 
before moving to his chest.  After drying his stomach, not straying 
below the belly button, and ignoring the jut of his cock with supreme 
effort, she quietly said, "Turn, please."

Mulder blinked heavy-lidded eyes at her, the move sensual and arousing, 
before complying.  

Stretching up on tiptoe, she gently rubbed the towel over his shoulder 
blades and down his back.  Flat-footed once again, she smoothed the 
soft fabric over his ass, and then bent at the waist to quickly blot 
his thigh and calves.  Straightening once more, she again said, "Turn, 
please."  When he did, their gazes met for an instant.  

She then dropped gracefully to her knees.  

Mulder groaned again, his body swaying forward slightly.  Concentrating 
on her task, each of his feet were patted dry, then his calves, his 
knees and his thighs.

Scully let the towel drop from her hands, and looked up, to see Mulder 
regarding her with lust-filled, wondering eyes.  Still maintaining 
their eye contact, she rose up so that her head was level with his 
groin, bringing her hands to rest on his hips, and leaned forward.

***

10:05 pm


Although his mind was still reeling from Scully's seductively voiced 
query about washing his back, Mulder managed to hold it together.   
Even when she turned around to face him, and her hungry eyes trailed 
over his body, and had his half-erect cock stirring.

He nearly lost it though when her tongue slipped out and traced her 
slightly kiss-swollen lips.  Sheer force of will kept him in place, 
though he could not contain a deep groan.

His seductress then dipped a hand beneath the water, her eyes remaining 
locked with his.  A light scrape of her nails along one of his thighs 
had him gasping for breath, and had his body shuddering in reaction.  
He expelled the air he had unconsciously been holding.  "Scuh-leee."

"Yes, Mulder?" his Scully replied oh so innocently, her trademark 
enigmatic smile in place.  That smile did delightful things to his 
insides.  Not to mention other, more visible parts of him.

After managing to shake his head at her, unable to form another word, 
he watched as she poured soap into one palm, then stared stupefied at 
the bottle she had extended towards him.

Her words registered a slow, syrupy second later.  Oh.  She wanted him 
to close the bottle for her.  His hand felt thick and clumsy as he 
lifted it up to take the liquid soap from her, his fingers equally 
useless.  But he got the lid shut, without taking his eyes off Scully's 
own fine-boned, delicate-appearing hands, which were slowly and 
methodically working the soap into a lather.

That very action had never before seemed so sexy...so erotic.  Mulder 
was fascinated.  His imagination kicked into high gear, and he 
fantasized about hearing Scully tell him to kneel.  Fantasized she was 
coming closer, and her soapy hands were wrapping around his now 
straining erection.  Beginning to squeeze, and slide up and down his 
length...

And then Scully did rise, onto her knees.

She was a vision to behold.  A Venus rising from the sea.  His eyes 
were naturally drawn first to her breasts, bobbing gently, water 
beading on the generous globes, and then to the shadowy, wet triangle 
between her thighs.

Unlike his fantasy, her hands came to rest not on his cock, but on his 
right shoulder.  She proceeded to wash him with a studied thoroughness 
that was both tender and arousing.  His hands, his fingers, nothing was 
missed.

The little minx had him close to jumping when she toyed with his belly 
button, and his muscles bunched from the ticklish torment.  She teased 
him further by avoiding his very obvious erection, making him groan 
when her hands landed on his upper thigh instead.  She stroked them 
down his leg, and knee, to one foot and then the other, washing them as 
she had his hands.

It was the most sensual massage he had ever received, extremely 
heightened by the glide of the slick water.

After she finished her worshipping of his feet, Scully trailed her 
fingers back up his other leg.  Once again she stopped before reaching 
zero station, and leaned back.  Coquettishly, she touched a finger to 
her lips, her eyes on his cock.  "Hmmmm..." she sighed out.  "Now how 
can I wash your back?"

There was only one place he wanted her to touch him, with a need that 
had grown steadily in its desperation.  And it wasn't his back.  He 
told her so, his voice husky, the words nearly babbled.  He lifted his 
arms and wrapped his fingers around the rim of the tub, preparing to 
haul himself, and then her, out.  To any destination.  The floor, the 
sink countertop, her bed.

In the hazy sea of arousal he was functioning within, he heard her 
talking about fairness in a husking, teasing utterance.  Then her voice 
strengthened, the tone similar to her G-woman persona – long a turn-on 
for him – and told him to turn around.  

Mulder obeyed instantly, moving to kneel before her.  But upon seeing 
the diamond glitter of arousal in her eyes, and the rapid, shallow rise 
and fall of her breasts with their hardened nipples, he preened just a 
little.

Not long after he turned with some difficulty, he heard the water 
sloshing, and a second later, felt Scully's hands on his shoulders.  
Using her palms, she ran them up and down his back with slow, caressing 
motions, never venturing lower then his waist.  Despite his raging 
desire, it was very soothing.

On the next pass however, her touch became far more then soothing.  Her 
hands brushed over his ass, and his pulse leapt, fine tremors running 
through his body.  "Scully!" he exclaimed on a hoarse gasp.  This time 
when his hands went to the sides of the tub, it was to hold himself 
steady.  

And then her body was pressing firmly into his, her hands coming to 
rest on his lower belly.  Those same tremors shook him again.  Scully 
rubbed her cheek on his back, then kissed the same spot wetly.  He felt 
it down to his very toes, but most especially all along his cock.

Mulder drew in a rough breath, blew it out again, and nearly shouted 
when one of her hands wrapped around him.  "Scuh-" he tried to say, and 
lost it when she squeezed.  He moaned and thrust helplessly forward.  
Gasping in more air, he managed to speak somewhat coherently.  "Scuh-
leee...please, not here.  Let's get out of the tub."

She stroked his cock and kissed his back again, before releasing him.  
Her weight left his body, and then there was more water sloshing, 
surging around his thighs.  Knowing she had risen to her feet, he did 
the same, turning to face her.  She took the hand he extended to her, 
and he helped her from the tub before climbing out himself.  

Their bodies touched, a glancing brush, and he had to hold himself back 
from hauling her into his arms.

Just as he was about to reach for the towel Scully had put on the 
counter, she picked it up and shook it out.  Stepping even closer to 
him, she began to dry him off, with gentle dabs of the fluffy terry 
cloth.  Her quiet voice requested him to turn when she had finished his 
chest and belly. 

He did, slowly, and then felt the towel rubbing first along his 
shoulders, and then down his back.  The soft cloth ran lightly over his 
ass, making him briefly clench his muscles, and a second later was 
moving along his thighs and calves.

"Turn, please," she voiced softly again, and when he did, their eyes 
met.

He expected her to hand him the towel, for him to dry her off.  What 
she did instead had his heart actually stopping briefly.  He groaned at 
the sight of her before him on her knees, and actually swayed towards 
her.  If he had thought his cock was hard before, it was granite now.

She slowly dried his feet with the towel, then blotted and patted her 
way up his calves to his thighs.  He watched somewhat hazily as the 
towel fell from her hands and she lifted her head.

While keeping her eyes on his, Scully slowly lifted herself up on her 
haunches until her face was only millimeters from his hardness.  Her 
hands landed on his hips, sending a jolt of electricity through his 
entire body, and leaned close.

His mouth open slackly, he stared down with avidness as Scully's eyes 
fluttered shut.  And then she was nuzzling his cock with her cheek.

Her skin was slightly cool, and the contrast with his burning heat was 
an incredible feeling.  And it was soft as well, soft as the petals of 
a rose.  His hands clenched into fists to stop himself from winding his 
fingers into her hair and thrusting against her.

She continued to stroke his hardness with her cheek, moving her head 
gently from side to side to rub along him.

Suddenly her lips were brushing his cock, pursed closed, and as light 
as butterfly's wings.  

"Ahhhh...God, Scully," he moaned, his head falling back and eyes 
slamming shut as waves of pleasure fluttered up and down his cock and 
gathered in his balls.  Just from the mere touch of her lips.  Afraid 
he would fall, he had to shift, to widen his stance.

With her lips once again pressed to him, Scully made a pleased, humming 
sound, and the vibrations sent chills up and down his spine, and had 
him involuntarily thrusting after all.

Her fingers flexed on his hips, and she made the sound again, while 
this time rubbing her lips along his shaft.  His knees actually 
buckled, and he moaned her name again.

Mulder felt Scully's smile against his turgid flesh, and then she was 
whispering, the little expulsions of air as she spoke a delightful 
tease.  "Love you, Mulder, so very much," she was saying.  "I missed 
this, I missed us."

Before he could respond, her mouth had engulfed the head of his penis.

***

10:20 pm


Inhaling deeply, Scully breathed in the scent of sandalwood, and 
beneath it, the male musk that was Mulder.  Her eyes drifted shut and 
she nestled her face against his cock, let her cheek rub gently along 
his hot, hard length.  

Hazy, sweet, hot memories of loving him this way, of worshipping his 
body with her hands and mouth flitted through her mind, and sent 
arousal thrumming through her limbs, focusing and gathering in her 
core.  Remembering the satisfaction he had wrought from her with his 
fingers just minutes ago in the bathtub, she wanted to bring him to 
that same delirious release.

On the next side-to-side stroking motion of her head, she turned so 
that her lips came into contact with his flesh.  She kept that touch 
light, and her lips closed.

He shivered; she felt it through her lips on his cock, and her hands 
holding his slim hips.  Victoriously, she heard his soft moan, 
"Ahhhh...God, Scully," and hummed her contentment and delight onto his 
flesh.

This time he thrust forward.  Smiling inwardly, Scully tightened her 
grip on his hips, and repeated the humming sound, while firmly rubbing 
her lips along his length.  She was rewarded by the shudder that 
wracked Mulder's body and had his knees beginning to buckle, and a moan 
that was her name.

Her smile could not be contained, was pressed into his cock.  "Love 
you, Mulder, so very much," she whispered then, not moving her lips 
from him.  "I missed this, I missed us."  With a quick move, she slid 
her lips over the head of his cock, drawing it into her mouth.

With her lips pressing her mouth closed around him, she swirled her 
tongue over the tip several times, listening to his little sighs.  A 
moment later his hands came up – not clutching her hair, just resting 
lightly on her head, cradling her skull.

She applied light suction, and then using the tip of her tongue like a 
pointer, traced the ridge where his shaft met the head of his penis.  
Mulder was extremely sensitive there, and always reacted strongly.  She 
was not disappointed.  

He groaned low and deep, and his hands began stroking her hair.  "Oh, 
Scuh-leee," he whispered then.  "Baby, you don't have to...Ohhhhh."

His voice trailed off, for she had sucked lightly while humming again, 
knowing the vibrations would be very intense.

Wanting to tease him a little, to prolong the experience, she let his 
penis slip from her mouth, hearing his sigh of disappointment.  "I know 
I don't have to, Mulder," she told him, opening her eyes and looking up 
to meet his.  "I want to."  

Sliding her hands from his hips around to his ass, she began to knead 
the firm, tight flesh that began to flex beneath her touch.  At the 
same time, she ducked her head to nuzzle at his balls, darting her 
tongue out to trace the papery soft skin that covered his sac. 

Mulder shivered again, and thrust forward very gently, his hands still 
moving softly over her hair.  She switched from kneading his ass to 
smoothing her hands up and down with teasing glides from waist to where 
ass became thigh, while she resumed her earlier action of sliding her 
closed lips along his length.  

After several such caresses, she let her tongue slip out and ran it 
from base to tip and down again.  This time he shuddered.   

His quiet moans and murmurs accompanied her every action, every slide 
and caress, every kiss, lick or suck.  Encouraging her, rewarding her.

When he was reaching the pinnacle, his orgasm imminent, he uttered
her name in a warning.

One she ignored.

After, his breaths still uneven and harsh, he sagged to his knees and 
pulled her to him, one hand sliding around and up to cradle her skull 
at the base of her neck, and the other spreading wide on her lower 
back.  Holding her to him as if it were possible for their bodies to 
merge into one.  

She returned the embrace, both her arms wrapping around his waist and 
squeezing tight.  

He ducked his head and nuzzled her, before the hand at her neck slid 
around to tip her chin up.  His lips descended and engaged hers in a 
deep, soul-binding kiss.  One that she could feel clear down to her 
toes.

Pulling away at last, his hands moved to frame her face, holding her 
still as he stared into her eyes.  "I love you, Scully," he said then.

Scully smiled, her heart racing, from the kiss, and from the intensity 
of his declaration.  Silly, happy tears rose in her eyes, and she 
blinked rapidly to clear them.  "I love you too, Mulder.  So very 
much."

Mulder smiled back and brought his face down to hers again.  He 
feathered tiny kisses down her nose, across her cheekbone to her ear, 
which he nuzzled before moving back towards her mouth.

Before he could entice her into another kiss, she spoke reluctantly, 
but with necessity.  She could not remain in her current position any 
longer.  "And as much as I love this, Mulder, we've got to get up.  My 
knees are killing me!"  

His eyes turned somber, looked penitent.  "Oh, Scully, I'm sorry!" he 
blurted, getting hastily to his feet.  Yet his hands were gentle as he 
helped her up, both of them laughing softly when her knees creaked in 
protest.

"Don't be sorry," she said softly, palming his cheek, her thumb 
stroking his cheekbone.  "I'm not."

A second later she was gasping in surprise, and then sighing his name.  
For he had swung her up and into his arms, cradling her carefully 
against his chest.  She wrapped her arms around his neck, and was 
carried down the hall to her bedroom, both of them completely nude. 

It was decadent, and sensual, and erotic.

Beside her bed, he released her so that she slid slowly along his 
length, his hands coming to rest low on her back, holding her to him.
A quick press of lips, and he was releasing her to tend to the bed.  He 
folded the covers back, right to the bottom of the bed, and then held 
his hand out to help her into it.

Once she was there, had gotten comfortable on her side, propped on one 
elbow, Mulder murmured, "I'll be right back," and left the room.  True 
to his word, he returned in seconds, carrying a matchbook, most likely 
the one from the bathroom.  

She watched as he proceeded to light two fat candles on her dresser, 
and the tealight candles on her night table.  Admired the flex of 
muscles, and the play of candlelight over honeyed skin.  His masculine 
beauty nearly took her breath away.

After turning the little lamp there off, he climbed into bed beside 
her, and turned onto his side, facing her, mimicking her pose on 
propped elbow.

"You're even more beautiful by candlelight," he murmured, and lifted 
his hand to her face.  His index and middle finger glided along her 
cheek, from the corner of her eye and down, to stroke across her lips.

They parted on a soft expulsion of air, her eyelids fluttering shut.  
She swayed toward him, and felt his warm breath wash over her as his 
lips neared hers.  He brushed the lightest of kisses on her mouth, and 
then he was softly, slowly, kissing his way along her jaw.  Shivering 
in delight, she sighed, and tilted her head back, allowing him better 
access to her neck. 

His hand had moved from her face, and was on her shoulder, applying 
gentle pressure.  She allowed him to push her into the pillow, rolling 
easily onto her back.  He followed, his body a pleasant, heated 
presence aligned along her body. 

His lips then continued their teasing seduction of her body and senses. 

***

10:30 pm


All motor functions and intelligent or rational thought had fled long 
ago.  Probably at about the same time he had watched Scully's 
gorgeously sexy, swollen lips wrap around his erect, straining cock. In 
no time at all, his speech had been reduced to moans and sighs, and 
approximations of her name.

The pleasure continued to build and build, wrought by Scully's skillful 
mouth and hands.  Mulder reached the pinnacle at last, a hoarse shout 
escaping, and seconds later, fell to his knees, unable to support his 
own weight any longer.

Still, he was able to reach out and gently haul Scully against him.  
His hands went to their favorite positions – one cradling the back of 
her fragile neck, the other palming her lower back.  Nearly crushing 
her to him.  Doing his best to wrap himself completely around her.

Scully didn't seem to mind though.  Her arms came up and wrapped around 
his middle, squeezing him as tightly as he was squeezing her.  Bringing 
bare skin firmly against bare skin, cushioning her soft breasts into 
the harder planes of his lightly furred chest.  The curls of her sex 
tickling his abdomen, faintly stirring just satiated desires.

Mulder lowered his head, nuzzling into her neck, inhaling her familiar, 
natural, clean scent beneath the heavier, muskier sandalwood.  Moving 
his hand from her neck to skim along her jaw line, he nudged at her 
chin to lift her face up.  Tilting his own head, he leaned in and 
pressed his lips to hers in a long, deep kiss.  

As much as he wished it would never end, that they could stay in that 
particular moment forever, he had to pull his lips from hers.  Lifting 
his head slowly, he cupped her face in his palms, and looked into her 
eyes.  "I love you, Scully," he told her.

Her smile was radiant, the love obvious in her voice.  "I love you too, 
Mulder.  So very much."

His own lips curled in an answering smile as he lowered his head 
towards hers again.  He trailed light kisses over her nose, her soft 
cheek, veering to her ear, which he nuzzled briefly before returning to 
her mouth.

Scully stopped him just as his lips were descending for another kiss, 
telling him her knees were killing her.  He immediately felt guilty, 
remembering with a start that they were kneeling on the floor of the 
bathroom.  "Oh, Scully, I'm sorry!" he exclaimed, and got to his feet 
quickly, his hands gentle and reverent as he assisted her up as well.
Despite that, he couldn't help chuckling softly when her knees made 
their complaints known.

She stepped closer, her hand on his cheek and her thumb stroking, and 
murmured, "Don't be sorry.  I'm not."

On an impulse, one he could not explain, he moved and swept her up into 
his arms, holding her gently to his chest.  Scully gasped, a purely 
feminine sound that made him feel powerful and male, and capable of 
anything, and flung her arms around his neck.

He carried her thusly, down the hallway to her bedroom.  Enjoying the 
feel of her soft, smooth, naked skin against his.  

Coming to a halt beside her bed, Mulder lowered the arm that had been 
curled under her legs, letting her slide sensuously from his hold.  
Once her feet were on the ground, her lips lured him in, and he pressed 
a quick kiss on them, before sliding his arms from her and moving to 
turn the bedclothes down.  He folded them all the way to the foot of 
the bed.

After helping Scully into bed, and watching her make herself 
comfortable, he said softly, "I'll be right back."  Striding quickly to 
the bathroom, he retrieved the book of matches Scully kept there, and 
hurried back.

He was sure he could feel her eyes on him as he proceeded to light the 
candles in her room – the two fat ones she called pillars on her 
dresser, and the tiny ones on her night table.  Tealights, she had told 
him once.  When he turned to face her, it was to indeed find her eyes 
on him, a tiny smile on her face.

He slid onto the bed beside her, until he was lying facing her, propped 
on an elbow as she was.  With just the light of the flickering candles 
to aid him, he studied her.  They added a warm glow to her pale, milky 
skin, and a glossy shine to her hair.

"You're even more beautiful by candlelight," he told her, his voice 
sounding low and gravelly in his own ears.  His free hand came up, and 
he stroked two of his fingers along her cheek, smiling slightly when 
she ducked into his touch, her head tilting.

And when he gently traced her lips, they parted on a sigh, her eyes 
falling shut.  He leaned in as she seemed to sway towards him, and he 
skimmed his lips over hers before trailing tiny kisses along her jaw, 
his fingertips resting butterfly-light on the rapidly beating pulse of 
her carotid artery. 

Scully shivered, and her head fell back as she sighed. 

With that same hand, he pressed gently on her shoulder, encouraging her 
to lay back.  She did, moving easily and rolling onto her back.

He shifted, and aligned himself along her body, nipped her ear lobe, 
chuckling when she shivered again and sighed his name.  After tracing 
the shell of her ear with the tip of his tongue, he meandered down her 
neck to her clavicle.  He alternated between nipping the delicate flesh 
that covered the fragile bone, and placing wet, open-mouthed, sucking 
kisses there.

One of Scully's hands was in his hair then, her fingers weaving gently 
and scratching lightly at his scalp.  Turning his head a little, lips 
still busy on her flesh, he saw that her other arm was flung up over 
her head, and her hand lay on her pillow in a loosely curled fist, 
fingers flexing.  "Mulderrrr..." she sighed, and tossed her head slowly 
from side to side.

Resuming his task, his lips trailed along the slope of her breast.  He 
paused to murmur, "Love you, Scully," before darting his tongue out to 
flick at her already hardened nipple.

Scully inhaled deeply with a gasp, her back arching.  Which also thrust 
her chest upwards.

Mulder needed no further encouragement.  Taking a breath, his mouth 
descended, his lips surrounding her areola, and he sucked lightly.  He 
released it after a few seconds and trailed his lips down the generous 
mound to the valley between her breasts.  He nuzzled there, rubbing his 
nose lightly back and forth, knowing this always sent her pulse 
soaring, and the hand in his hair tightened.  The other wrapped around 
him and began stroking up and down his back from the nape of his neck 
to the tops of his ass.  Her legs were moving restlessly beneath him as 
well.

He nibbled his way up her other breast, briefly tasted her nipple, then 
shifting on the bed, headed downwards, his lips gliding over the soft 
skin of her belly.

***

11:20 pm


Scully sighed gustily, and stretched, her back arching slightly, arms 
reaching above her head, and her toes dipping momentarily to touch the 
mattress.  Her desire had been slaked, and in a most thoroughly 
satisfying way, and she felt loose and relaxed.  But surprisingly, she 
was not sleepy at all.

Mulder grumbled good-naturedly as he was dislodged from his place, 
which had been lying on his side next to her, one leg curled across 
hers, with his head pillowed on her belly.  One of his arms was slung 
across her abdomen, his hand resting lightly at her waist.  It 
tightened briefly, as he shifted and rubbed his head teasingly back and 
forth over her stomach before settling down again.  The soft strands 
tickled her bare skin, and had her squirming slightly.

He chuckled, but remained still.

Lowering one arm, she began to trace tiny patterns on his upper back 
with her fingertips, feeling him snuggle deeper into their embrace.  A 
sigh of contentment wafted up to her ears, her lips curving in a gentle 
smile.

After a short length of time, she became aware that something else was 
effectively rubbing against her – something hard and velvety soft, 
pressing into her lower leg.  Her smile deepened.  She nonchalantly 
stretched again, a kittenish sound accompanying the motion, and gently 
moved her leg, so that it brushed his erection.

His whole body quivered against hers, his hand once again flexing in 
the flesh of her side, moving to grasp her hip.  A low rumble that 
might have been her name, and then he was turning his face into her 
belly, his lips peppering tiny kisses around her belly button.

Scully sucked in her breath, and fisted one hand in her pillow.  The 
other settled on the top of his head to scratch at his scalp.  Her leg 
flexed involuntarily, and brushed his hardness again.

This time he began a slow rocking of his hips.

Pliant, Scully moved with him, easily, letting his motions rock them 
together. Leading them gently toward a timeless dance of pleasure.  Her 
hand gripped, then loosened in his hair, before she began to weave her 
fingers through it, from his scalp to the nape of his neck, over and 
over. 

Her arousal was already building so soon after her last release, the 
need and want gathering anew in her core and tightening her nipples.  
She marveled at the power he held over her, over her body, and at the 
ease at which her body responded to him.  

He plied that power so skillfully.

The only sounds in the room were the shifting of their bodies against 
the bed sheets, and their combined accelerated breathing.  In her ears 
however, her own heartbeat thudded – fast and loud.  

Neither of them spoke a word.  No words were necessary.

Mulder rolled over her then, until he was cradled between her legs, and 
resumed rocking.  With his elbows bent, his upper body rested on her 
pelvis, a pleasing, familiar weight.  His hands, which had settled 
lightly at her sides, began to skim up and down her ribcage while his 
lips blazed a trail of fire up her body.

His weight also created a hint of the delicious friction she knew was 
waiting for her.  If she tilted her hips up just...*so*, his body would 
grind against that spot that would send her arousal soaring, and her 
soul flying.

As his lips grazed the underside of her breast, awakening every single 
nerve ending in her body, she did move.  Drawing her feet up so that 
they teased his calves, and letting her thighs fall open wider, she 
arched her lower body up.

Mulder obviously deduced her intention, and began to rock a little 
faster, adding a bit more of his body weight.  His mouth also continued 
its exploration of her breasts, once again being extremely gentle with 
her now turgid nipples. 

His lips and tongue danced over and lathed every inch of her, and had 
her head tossing restlessly on her pillow.

He moved upwards again, his lips now buried in her neck, his hardness 
nudging determinedly at her opening.  Scully moved her hand from the 
pillow to his back, and began to glide her fingers up and down, feeling 
the fascinating play of his muscles as they shifted with his every 
movement.

His tongue traced the shell of her ear, sending shivers throughout her 
body.  He followed that with nipping little kisses of her earlobe.  In 
reaction, her hand first clutched at his back, then traced his spine, 
following the hollow dip to his ass, where she began to knead the 
tight, firm flesh.

Mulder's hips began to move a little faster, and his mouth became more 
ravenous.  His lips trailed along her jaw line, up to her mouth, and 
descended onto hers, just as the head of his cock slipped easily inside 
her wetness.

***






11:30 pm


It still amazed Mulder how easily he was aroused by Scully, all the 
time.  From the simplest of gestures, her scent, a certain look in her 
eye.  And of course, when she launched a full out assault, he had no 
chance in hell of resisting.  As if he would ever want to resist.

Right now he was slowly becoming hard just from the light touch of her 
fingertips teasing over his back.  His heart rate was increasing, his 
breathing was altered, and he could feel that familiar tingle low in 
his belly.

He did not move, however, for this was one of his favorite moments – 
although really, there were so very many of those.  He relished that 
initial surge of awakening arousal, before things got heated and 
hurried.  When things were slow and lazy, gentle and easy.

Scully was the one to initiate more.  

Mulder knew immediately her stretch was patently false – her body had 
tensed just slightly before she moved, and the accompanying sound, an 
almost kitten-like purr, was no accident.

He was unable to control his own body's reaction, a tremor running 
through him from head to toe, and moved his hand to clutch at her hip 
in an effort to hold reasonably still.  He muttered her name, his face 
already half-pressed into her belly – a surprisingly comfortable pillow 
for his head this last little while - and turned further so that his 
lips could make contact with her skin.

His teasing over her belly button garnered several responses from 
Scully.  He felt her tummy tremble as she inhaled quickly, and her hand 
moved up into his hair.  Her leg also rubbed his erection again.

Again he had no control – his hips started moving, in a gentle, rocking 
motion that intensified the contact between her leg and his cock.  
Scully moved with him, her fingers starting to weave through his hair, 
sending a wave of goosebumps rippling over his scalp.

As incredible as it felt, it soon was not enough.

Mulder gently rolled until he was lying on his stomach between Scully's 
legs, his lips a few inches above her belly button.  He was careful to 
hold his weight in check as he continued to rock, so that he would not 
press down too much and hurt her.  

He began to glide his hands up and down her sides, straying ever closer 
to the curves of her breasts, while trailing his lips upwards over her 
stomach.  When he brushed the underside of one, Scully shifted beneath 
him.  Her legs opened wider, her feet tickling at his calves, and her 
back arched upwards.

Smiling to himself, Mulder increased the speed of his rocking, while 
letting more of his weight press into her.  He let his lips move slowly 
and softly over the mound of her breast, to her erect nipple, sucking 
it briefly and gently before kissing and nibbling his way over to its 
mate.

When he moved up to her neck, Scully's free hand began stroking his 
back, the other one still fisted in his hair.  As his cock nudged at 
her sex with exquisite friction, he nibbled up to her ear.  He first 
traced the delicate shell with his tongue, delighted with her little 
shivers and sighs, and then started to nip at the lobe.

That had her fingers digging into his back momentarily, before she was 
sliding her hand down to squeeze and knead at his ass.

Which of course sent his arousal skyrocketing, and had his hips 
thrusting a little harder, a little faster.  Urgent now, his mouth slid 
along her jaw to engage her mouth in a hard, hungry kiss while his cock 
slipped partially inside her. 

Scully's body arched, her mouth pulling from his, and she made a tiny 
sound, a near breathless 'oh', as she quivered against him.  He buried 
his face in her neck, and felt her hand slide over the nape of his neck 
and down as the one on his ass slid upwards, so that both now clutched 
at his back.  She tilted her pelvis with his next rocking thrust, and 
he surged into her completely, buried from tip to root.

His groaning sigh was followed closely by Scully's, and then her legs 
were wrapping around his waist, her heels digging into his ass, 
silently urging him to move.

Their bodies moved in glorious unison, familiar partners in this dance 
as old as time, rocking and thrusting in rhythm.

And after they had reached the pinnacle, Mulder's powerful release 
triggered by Scully's equally strong orgasm, they rolled over as one, 
spooning together.

"Scully?" he whispered after a moment, listening to her soft, slowed 
breathing.  

"Mm-hmmm?"  She murmured the query sleepily.

"Love you."

"Me too...always."

***

June 23, 2001
5:45 am


Scully awoke with a little start, with the feeling that something was 
wrong.  Her eyes sought out her alarm clock on the nightstand, and when 
she saw the time, her heart started to pound.  William!

He had not cried yet, looking for his morning feed.  With growing 
alarm, she recalled that he had not cried once the entire night.

Her heart now thudding heavily, she sat up, or tried to anyway, for she 
was being held in place by the heavy arm around her waist.  A muffled 
snort, followed by a mumble that was her name, made her realize it was 
Mulder, spooned up against her so completely, it was as if they were 
one.

She remembered then that William was with her mother, and relaxed, 
heaving out a small sigh of relief.

Her eyes still open, a tiny smile now on her lips, she saw the remnants 
of the tealight candles they had burnt the night before.  A hazy 
memory, of the two of them sleepily rising some time after midnight to 
gut the candles and get ready for bed, flitted through her head.  With 
a tiny smile, she mused that they had apparently been very tired – they 
were both completely nude.

Scully shivered a little, for Mulder's lips were on her neck, 
occasionally moving against her skin in tiny, nibbling kisses, though 
she sensed he was not yet fully awake.  There was also his arm on her 
waist – he had moved it so that his hand lay low on her abdomen.

Already she could feel the vague stirrings of her body, from his 
nearness, his lips, his touch.  But she was content to lie still for 
now, relishing their closeness.  She let her eyes slip closed once 
more, settling drowsily back into her pillow.

Some time later, Mulder mumbled again, and his fingers fluttered 
against her lower belly, brushing the top of her mound.  Gooseflesh 
rose, and she moaned, very quietly, deep in her throat.

Until he repeated the action, with obvious purposeful intent, she had 
assumed the touch had been accidental.

Shifting and stretching out from her curled position, she let her legs 
tangle with his, and her rear end push back into his groin.  Noting 
with pleasure that other things were...stirring.

"Scuh-leee," Mulder husked into her neck, raising yet more goosebumps, 
and eliciting a shiver from her.  "Good morning."

"I hope it will be," she murmured, and wiggled her butt again.

"Certainly starting off that way," was his rejoinder.  He flattened his 
palm on her abdomen, pushing her backside into his rapidly growing 
erection more firmly, and began to rub her skin in small circles.  His 
mouth was busy as well, once again nibbling her neck, venturing up to 
nip at her earlobe.

"Mmmmm," she purred.  "That it is."  Her every nerve ending was humming 
with pleasure, her arousal building and building.  

The only drawback to their delightful position was that she was at a 
slight disadvantage – her hands had limited access to his body, and her 
mouth, no access at all.  She could rectify that, she supposed, by 
rolling over, but what he was doing now felt so good, she couldn't move 
beyond the gentle rocking of her hips.

Needing more contact though, she lifted one hand to rest on his forearm 
as his hand dipped lower, between her legs, and ran her fingers up and 
down in a light caress.  Feeling the soft tickle of fine hairs, and the 
flex of muscle as Mulder began his own caressing – a slow, steady 
stroking over her sensitive flesh.

There was no sense of urgency.  No hurried or rough movements.  It was 
gentle, and sweet, and blissfully slow.  Soft sighs, and murmurs of 
pleasure and encouragement and love were the only sounds in the room.

While Mulder's mouth worked its magic on her neck, his fingers teased 
her to readiness, and their bodies began to rock in tandem.  

Scully moaned his name breathily, and her hand slid from his arm to 
reach behind them both, so that she could touch him further.  First 
squeezing his hip, she then glided her palm along the length of his 
muscled thigh and back again.  Squeeze and glide, over and over, in a 
rhythm that matched the stroking of his hand, and the thrusting of 
their bodies.

After a few minutes of this, Mulder's hand slid from between her legs, 
and trailed down her thigh to her knee, curling beneath to cup it in 
his hand.  Gently, he lifted her leg, and draped it over his, so that 
her foot brushed the back of his thigh.  Her heart rate accelerated as 
she divined his intent, and her breathing quickened, became erratic.

His hand then glided up her leg and over her ass, caressing gently, as 
his fingers slid between their bodies.  A second later, she felt his 
turgid cock nudging at her entrance.  Mulder's hand moved to her hip, 
squeezing gently, and he thrust forward with equal gentleness.  His 
breath hissed beside her ear as he slowly filled her, turning into a 
softly uttered, "Scully."

"Oooooh, Mulderrrrr," she sighed, and could not stop her instinct to 
surge backwards, sending him deeper.  "That feels so gooooood."

His mumbled reply was lost to her, for he had begun to move, swiveling 
his hips at the end of each slow, gliding thrust, and she could no 
longer think.  She could only feel.

And it felt amazing.

***

6:20 am


From sound sleep to drowsy half-awareness to slow, burgeoning arousal.

It was a wonderful way to wake up, Mulder thought with an inward smile 
as Scully matched her body's rhythm to his, and they began to rock 
together.

His face was buried in her neck, lips and teeth and tongue at play, and 
his right hand was equally busy in the cleft between her thighs.  Each 
nip or suck of his mouth, or teasing glide of his fingers, was 
accompanied by soft sighs or throaty moans.

"Mulderrrr," he heard her husk out, and then her hand slid away from 
where it had been stroking his arm.  To land on his hip, which she 
squeezed, making his pulse leap, before she began smoothing her hand up 
and down his thigh.  Repeating the pattern – hip, thigh – once again 
perfectly in sync with the movements of their bodies.

Need.

He needed.  It swelled and throbbed within him.  

Sensing it was also greater in her as well, he withdrew his hand from 
her moist haven, and glanced it along her thigh, stopping at her knee.  
There, he slid his fingers underneath, to cup and gently lift her leg, 
bringing it over on top of his.  So that she was effectively straddling 
his thigh backwards.

Mulder listened as Scully's breathing grew heavier, louder.  As loud as 
his own panting breaths.

Needier.

Running his hand back along her thigh, he curved over the swell of her 
hip and then lightly stroked her ass before dipping lower.  After 
taking himself in hand and positioning the head of his cock at her 
entrance, he brought his hand back to her hip.  Tightening his fingers 
slightly, he gently thrust his hips forward.

He was surrounded by heat – delicious, pulsating heat - enveloping his 
length inch by slow inch.

Exhaling heavily, he sighed her name.  "Scully."

Scully responded with a low-voiced, "Oooooh, Mulderrrrr," and pushed 
her sweet little ass back further into his groin.  "That feels so 
gooooood."

His eyes slammed shut as his cock surged deeper, and intense waves of 
pleasure rippled through his body.  He tried to agree with her, but his 
words were inarticulate sounds uttered into her neck.

Neediest.

He added a swivel of his hips at the end of his thrusts, while picking 
up their speed and intensity.  Scully met each one with equal fervor, 
as her inner muscles began to clench around his turgid flesh.

She had also begun to chant a litany of his name with each forward 
surge of his hips.  "Mulder – Mulder – Mulder –"

Her voice was still low, and very, very husky.  It was the one he 
called her 'sex voice', the one that never failed to turn him on, or to 
send him spiraling ever deeper into mindless pleasure.  On the backs of 
his tightly shut eyelids, he envisioned her luscious, pouty lips 
forming the syllables of his name, and gutturally groaned her name as 
his hips jerked forward in reaction.  "Scuh-leee."
She moaned, and then hissed out, "Again, Mulder.  God, do that again."  
Her hand, which had been gripping the sheets in front of her, rose and 
draped over his, to clutch as his lower back, ineffectually pushing him 
against her.

Mulder let a small grin cross his face, imagining it must look fierce 
with his teeth gritted as they were.  

Anything for his woman.

His woman. 

He jerked his hips again, as she had demanded.  Another moan passed her 
lips, and then she sighed, "Yesssss...like that."  Her hips twisted, 
grinding herself into him.  "So...so...good...Mulderrrr."   The last 
part of his name was almost a wail, and Mulder felt her walls 
fluttering, gripping him even tighter as her orgasm built and built.

Primal instinct, need, took over.  His hand slid from her hip to 
flatten on her abdomen, and he used it to press her to him as he began 
to snap his hips forward.  

A second later he realized it was he who was chanting now.  Chanting 
her name as she had chanted his.  

Mulder felt Scully's release, felt her body tremble and shiver all 
around him.  Triumphantly heard her attempt at his name.  

"Mul...Ohhhhhhhhh!"

And then all thought and reason was lost in a blinding wave of pure 
bliss. 

Afterwards, they remained sprawled together with tangled limbs, still 
spooning - in exhausted repletion.  Heart rates slowed, returned to 
normal.  Overheated skin cooled.  Yet they remained - too tired to 
move, to rise and begin their day.

Later, Mulder wasn't sure which one of them had fallen back to sleep 
first.

***


8:10 am


This time when Scully awoke, she knew there was definitely something 
wrong.  Her eyes saw the time on her clock radio, though it took a 
moment for it to register in her brain.

When it did, she gasped out, "Mulder, we have to get up!"  Sitting up, 
she threw the covers off her body, partially dislodging them from him 
in the process.

He groaned a complaint, and turned to burrow into his pillow, one hand 
flailing weakly for the blankets.  Clearly trying to cover himself up 
again.

Despite the fact that she wanted nothing more than to snuggle up 
against him and sleep a little longer, she knew they had to get moving.  
"No, you don't, Mulder," she said, coming up on her knees to yank them 
completely off of him, to reveal him in all his bare glory.  "We have 
to get up and get ready, Mulder.  My mother and William are going to be 
here at nine!"

Mulder groaned again, as one eye slowly opened to peer at her blurrily.  
"Timezit?"  Then the eye blinked a few times and he asked, "Weren't you 
naked the last time I saw you?"

Scully glanced down at her nightshirt.  "Oh, I had to get up and 
express some milk," she said ruefully, a small grimace on her face.  
Her breasts had been very full, and somewhat sore when she woke up just 
after seven, having gone an entire night without William's feedings.  
"I got a little chilly, and slipped this on, then crawled back into bed 
with you to warm up a bit.  Except I fell back asleep."  She patted him 
on the thigh, adding, "And it's almost 8:15.  Get that gorgeous ass in 
gear."  With that, she climbed off the bed, and went to her dresser to 
get fresh underclothes.

"You think my ass is gorgeous?" he asked, his voice sounding pleased, 
and just a touch embarrassed.

She didn't bother to reply.

In the dresser mirror, she could see Mulder behind her on the bed, 
rolling onto his back and stretching.  Her mouth went dry as she stared 
at the flex and play of his muscles, at his long, lean body.  At his...

She forced herself to look away, down at the drawer of panties and bras 
she was searching through.  They didn't have time, and she was a little 
sore from all their activities of the night before.  Not to mention 
their early morning exertion. 

Finally finding her other nursing bra, she scooped it up, along with a 
pair of cotton panties, and headed to the bathroom.  Just before 
partially closing the door, to help keep the heat within the bathroom, 
she called out one last warning, in case he decided to doze off again.
"Move it, Mulder!"

"Yeah, yeah," was his faint rejoinder.

Smiling, she placed her underclothes on the edge of the sink, and then 
moved over to start the water, holding her hand beneath the flow of 
water until it was the desired temperature.  Hot.

After turning the showerhead on, she stripped off her nightshirt and 
hung it on the hook on the back of the door, then climbed into the 
stall.

The slight sting of the needle-like spray was welcomed.  It felt 
wonderful on her back and shoulders as she tipped her chin down and 
just stood there, directly under the water.

But she had no time to relish the feeling.  And she was eager to see 
her son.  Smiling at the thought of his sweet little face, she 
straightened up, and wetted her hair thoroughly before turning to reach 
for the shampoo bottle.

The shower door slid open just as she was about to pour some shampoo 
into her hand.  Mulder poked his spiky-haired head in and smiled 
crookedly, the look in his hazel eyes playful, and very, very sexy.  
"Mind if I join you?" he asked.  "I figure we'll be quicker this way."

Her brain had heard 'quicker' but her hormones substituted the word 
'quickie' instead.  Her pulse leapt, and she was so tempted to throw 
him up against the tiled wall.  She'd had dreams of Mulder in her 
shower.  His shower.  The showers at the FBI gym...

"Scully?" she heard, and blinking, saw that Mulder had quirked his 
eyebrow at her in a credible imitation of her exasperated look, 
although it was tinged with amusement.

She regretfully pushed aside all lustful thoughts, for now, and 
beckoned him in.  Giving him an eyebrow lift of her own, she warned, 
"No funny stuff."

Mulder gave her his innocent 'who me?' smile, then stepped inside.  
Obviously spying the shampoo bottle in her hand, he held out his hand.  
"Let me," he said.

She did not hesitate, merely handed him the bottle and turned around, 
presenting him with her back.  She loved to have someone wash her hair.

The aroma of her shampoo filled the shower stall, and then Mulder's 
very capable fingers were in her hair.  Massaging and scratching at her 
scalp, intuitively knowing how to do it just right.  She had a 
momentary thought about who might have taught him this skill, before 
she locked the flare of jealousy away, and just enjoyed.

All too soon he was whispering, "Okay, turn around so I can rinse."

She did, his hands light on her shoulders to guide her.  Her eyes were 
scrunched shut in fear of shampoo, and a jolt ran through her when she 
felt her body brush his.  He was so close...she wanted to touch.

Oh, boy.  This was not good.  She'd be on her knees in seconds if she 
didn't get them out of the shower.  "Mulder," she sighed.  "As much as 
I love the idea of us showering together...and believe me, you have no 
idea how much I've fantasized about us in a shower together, we've got 
to get moving.  You get washing, I'll finish my hair, okay?"

"Oooh, Scully.  Hearing the word 'fantasy' coming from your lips..."
Mulder let his voice trail off, sighing as well.  A second later he 
queried with the slightest hint of panic in his voice, "Your mom has 
her own key, doesn't she?"

"Mm-hmmm."

"Okay, then.  Please pass the soap."

Scully laughed, and then ducked her head under the water to rinse the 
shampoo from her hair.  By the time she opened her eyes again, her hair 
squeaky clean, Mulder was already waiting to rinse his own sudsy scalp.
They switched places, and she slicked conditioner on while he was under 
the spray.

Another little dance so she could rinse her hair again, and then both 
were scrubbed clean and ready to get out.  Mulder stepped out first, 
and gallantly retrieved her towel.  He wrapped it around her, taking 
time to tuck one end between her breasts, his knuckles gently grazing 
one mound, and then helped her out onto the mat.  He quickly knotted 
his towel around his hips before grabbing another one and blotting at 
her hair.

"Thank-you," she said softly, and rose on tiptoes to press a quick kiss 
on his mouth.

It deepened naturally, as soon as their lips met.  Her hands came to 
rest on his shoulders, to help keep her balance, while his came to rest 
on her hips.

This seemed to be a morning for regrets, she mused to herself, pulling 
her lips from his.  "Hold that thought," she told him.  "If William 
cooperates tonight, maybe you can help me have a shower then."

He smiled and tapped one finger to his head.  "Scully fantasies and 
holding that thought, right here."

With that, he turned and sauntered out of the bathroom, his towel 
precariously low on his backside.

She watched of course.  Who wouldn't?

***

8:10 am


This was nice, Mulder mused with sleepy satisfaction.

Strong, soft, capable hands – Scully's hands – stroked slowly up and 
down his back in a gentle massage.  He stretched and shifted lazily, 
moving with, and into the caresses.  If he'd been a cat, he was sure 
he'd be purring.

There was nothing overtly sexual in her touch – it was comforting.  
Soothing.  Relaxing.  But he couldn't help wishing that her hands might 
slide down just a little bit further, to begin stroking over his ass, 
and maybe lower.  To see if things might develop.  The possibility was 
certainly there – he was naked, he was always willing, and if one of 
those hands did move downwards, he'd be ready and able in no time.

He heard Scully say his name, and something about getting it up, and he 
was just about to reply with a snappy comeback when he realized he was 
cold.  Grumbling, he rubbed his face in his pillow and tried to grab 
the covers that had mysteriously disappeared.

"No, you don't, Mulder," he heard Scully say clearly.  Determinedly.  
Then the blankets were off him completely, and he knew he had been 
dreaming.  She spoke again, saying her mother and William would be 
there at nine.

Mulder groaned, and opened the eye that was not squished into his 
pillow.  He wasn't quite ready to leave the pleasurable feeling of his 
dream-state, though he knew he would have to.  "Timezit?" he asked, 
looking at Scully and immediately noticing she had on a nightgown.  He 
was fairly certain she had been naked the last time he had seen her – 
when they had both fallen asleep after their mutually satisfying, early 
morning romp.  Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he voiced his concern 
out loud.  "Weren't you naked the last time I saw you?"

He listened as she explained about getting up to express milk, wincing 
in sympathy when she frowned.  Then she gave his leg a casual pat, 
telling him it was almost 8:15, and to get his gorgeous ass in gear.

Scully thought his ass was gorgeous.  His mind was still wrapping 
itself around the gratifying yet slightly embarrassing thought as she 
left the bed and went to her dresser.  He needed confirmation - perhaps 
he had misheard.  "You think my ass is gorgeous?"

The teasing woman that she was, she didn't answer.  He rolled over 
slowly, onto his back, trying to see her face in the mirror, and saw 
that her eyes were focused on...his body.  Focused rather intently as a 
matter of fact.  Gratification won this time.  He preened just 
slightly, smiling to himself when her eyes dipped lower, then darted 
away.  He wondered if she could be talked back to bed, he was feeling 
rather sporty all of a sudden.  They'd be done in no time, and they 
could always shower together to save time.  Oooh, now there was an 
idea...

Scully retrieved what looked like a bra and panties, and left the room 
without looking at him again.  He sighed.  There went the sexy, come-
hither look he'd been trying out.

A second later he heard, "Move it, Mulder!"

Aye, aye, Cap'n Scully, he thought.  Wisely he stuck with calling back, 
"Yeah, yeah."

The shower idea still had merit.

He rolled out of the bed, and stood, stretching his arms up over his 
head, hands reaching towards the ceiling.  His spine popped, and he 
lowered his arms and did a few loose neck rolls before heading after 
Scully.

After taking care of his morning business, which including brushing his 
teeth, he moved over to the shower stall.  Through the frosted door of 
which he could see Scully's hazy profile - her trimmer, but still very 
curvy profile.  

Sliding the door open, he stuck his head inside and tried out his lady-
killer smile.  The one that either made Scully laugh herself silly or 
drag him to bed.

"Mind if I join you?  I figure we'll be quicker this way."  He didn't 
specify what exactly they'd be quicker at.  When she didn't respond 
right away, and in fact seemed to be tongue-tied, he called her name.
She blinked, seemingly stunned, and he lifted his eyebrow at her.

Scully flapped her hand at him, giving him permission to enter, but the 
look on her face and her words, 'no funny stuff', told him there would 
be no fun in the shower. 

He smiled again, his harmless guy smile, and entered the shower, 
sliding the door shut behind him.  She was holding her bottle of 
shampoo in one hand, so he extended his own, saying, "Let me."

She agreed promptly and silently, giving him the shampoo before 
spinning around and tilting her head back slightly.  Pouring a quarter-
sized dollop of shampoo into his palm, he put the bottle down on the 
small ledge and brought both hands to her hair.  He moved by instinct, 
remembering how Scully always responded when he played with her hair, 
his fingers scratching gently at her scalp, running the soap through 
the longish strands.  It amused and pleased him to hear Scully's little 
sighs and breathy sounds – he was sure she was unaware of them.

He couldn't wash her hair forever, as nice as it was, so he quietly 
said, "Okay, turn around so I can rinse."  He lowered his hands to her 
shoulders to help guide her around, certain her eyes would be closed.  
They were, adorably scrunched.

She surprised him then, with her next words, spoken regretfully.  
Particularly the ones about her having fantasized about the two of them 
in the shower.  Despite her reminder, he had to tease her a little.  
"Oooh, Scully.  Hearing the word 'fantasy' coming from your lips..."
He let his voice die off, she was right.  They really should get going.

Suddenly there was an image of Mrs. Scully in his head.  She was 
walking down the hall looking for them, and she came into the bathroom, 
to find them doing the vertical mambo in the shower.  "Your mom has her 
own key, doesn't she?" he asked, now just a slight bit worried.

"Mm-hmmm," was Scully's reply.

Shaking the image of Mrs. Scully's shocked face out of his head, he 
resolved to get his gorgeous ass in gear, and said, "Okay, then.  
Please pass the soap."

Scully merely laughed and started to rinse her hair.

He found the shampoo bottle, poured a much smaller amount into his 
hand, and quickly washed his own hair.  When Scully moved aside, he 
took her place and ducked his head under the hot spray to rinse out the 
soap. 

With very little awkwardness for two people who had never showered 
together before, they managed to maneuver about until they were both 
washed and rinsed.  

Mulder exited the stall while Scully was turning the water off, and got 
her towel first, uncaring as rapidly cooling water ran down his nude 
body in tiny rivulets.  He put it around her while she was still in the 
stall, so she wouldn't get chilled, carefully tucking one corner of the 
terry cloth between her breasts, before assisting her out onto the mat.
Then he grabbed his own towel, twisted it around his waist, and got a 
third towel, for her hair, which he started to help dry.

Scully's soft voice said thank-you, and then she was up on her toes to 
kiss him.

His mouth opened, as did hers, and his hands moved to hold her hips, 
feeling hers on his shoulders, as the kiss grew more intense.

Again it was Scully who had the willpower to stop them, although she 
sounded as reluctant as he felt to end it.

"Hold that thought," she said.  Then made his day by adding, "If 
William cooperates tonight, maybe you can help me have a shower then."

No maybes about it, he was there!  With a smile on his lips, he brought 
one index finger up to tap the side of his head.  "Scully fantasies and 
holding that thought right here," he told her, and headed out of the 
bathroom to get dressed.  

He put a little effort into his walk, knowing she was staring at his 
gorgeous ass.

***

8:55 am


Scully found herself nervously pacing by the windows once she was 
ready, her hair casually blow-dried, and dressed in khaki pants and a 
sweater.

This way she could glance out every so often to look for her mother's 
car, or possibly a glimpse of her and William as they came up the front 
walk to the apartment's entrance.

She was anxious and eager to see William; had missed their son 
immensely.  Though she and Mulder had not spoken of him, he had never 
been far from her thoughts, and she was certain the same was true for 
Mulder.  

Last night without William had been necessary for both of them, for so 
very many reasons.  It hadn't been just the sexual contact either, 
though that had certainly been an extremely important and integral part 
– a physical reaffirmation of their love.  It had been a chance to 
rediscover themselves as a couple, for them to spend quality time 
together, without any distractions or interference, as cherished as 
those might be.

A sound disturbed her musings, and she turned her head to see Mulder 
standing a few feet away, dressed in jeans and a tee shirt, his feet 
bare.  He also wore a tender, amused smile.  "Relax, Scully," he 
murmured, and came up behind her, his arms wrapping around her, pulling 
her into the warmth and strength of his body.  "Your mom is always on 
time, they'll be here any minute."

"I missed him, Mulder," she said simply, and brought her hands up to 
curl around his forearms.  Squeezing so that he automatically tightened 
his hold on her, intensifying their reversed hug.

His chin rubbed the top of her head.  "I know you did, baby.  I missed 
him too," he replied.

"Not that I regret last night," she quickly added, craning her head 
sideways to try and look at him, her eyes earnest.  "I don't, you know 
that, right?"  At his reassuring smile and nod, she let her own lips 
curve into a smile, a dreamy one of remembrance.  Her eyelids lowered, 
and she sighed gustily.  "I couldn't.  It was –"

A knock at the door had her voice trailing off, and she pulled free 
from his hold with such enthusiasm and speed, that she actually sent 
Mulder staggering back a few steps.  She paused, looking from the door 
back to him, with an apologetic yet impish twist to her smile, then 
rushed the last few steps to the door to yank it open without peeking 
through the spy hole.

Her mother stood there, one hand still poised in mid-air. 

Scully barely noticed, she had already shifted her gaze, to take in the 
sight of William, apparently sound asleep in his baby carrier, held in 
her mother's other hand.  "Ohhhh," her breath escaped her in a shuddery 
sigh of happiness and relief.  "William."

"Good morning, Dana," her mother said pointedly, though her tone was 
kind, and understanding.

Flushing pink, Scully lifted her head and smiled sheepishly at her 
mother.  "Hi, Mom."  After giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek, 
she stepped back, opening the door wide.

Mulder had joined her by then, and he immediately stepped forward to 
take William's carrier from her mother, lifting it up with ease and 
carrying the sleeping baby inside.  Her mother followed, having bent 
and picked up the well-packed diaper bag that had been resting at her 
feet, but came to a stop just inside the doorway.

"Mom?" Scully asked quizzically, hands already reaching out to take the 
bag from her mother.  

"I've got errands to run, and I'm sure you two have missed this little 
guy.  You don't need me hovering over you," her mother said in 
explanation.  "You can give me all the details later," she added, her 
eyes twinkling and a broad smile on her face.  "You're both 
looking...well-rested."

Scully blushed again, shooting a glance at Mulder who was standing 
beside her, but smiled back.  "It was a good night," was all she said, 
and saw Mulder's rather emphatic nod out of the corner of her eye.

"Well, William and I had a wonderful time," her mother said, changing 
the subject.  "He was as good as gold, Dana, Fox.  And I only had to 
get up twice to feed him during the night.  I'm looking forward to 
watching him again, and I'm sure you two wouldn't mind a night off 
again, so don't hesitate to ask."  Her eyes twinkled again as she 
looked from Scully to Mulder.

"We won't, Mom.  Thank-you," Scully said, and moved to embrace her 
mother.  After a long hug, she kissed her mother's cheek again, then 
stepped back so Mulder could also give her a kiss.

"Thanks, Mrs. Scully," he said.

"You're welcome, dear," she told him, then turned her head to look at 
Scully again.  "I'll talk to you later, Dana," she said, and headed 
out.

Scully shut the door behind her and locked it, then placed the bag off 
to one side, out of the way for the time being.  Mulder had moved over 
to the couch and sat down, and she headed over to join him.  William 
was still sound asleep in his carrier, which was beside Mulder on the 
couch.  He was fully engrossed in a study of their son's face, one hand 
gently rocking the carrier.  

Scully sat down on the other side of the carrier, so that William was 
between them.  She longed to pick him up and cuddle his sweet baby 
warmth against her, to inhale his sweet baby scent, but she did not 
want to disturb his peaceful slumber.

They sat quietly, enjoying the quiet time with their sleeping child.

It was she who broke the silence though, speaking softly.  Bringing up 
a subject that had weighed on her since its conception, just that past 
week.  "Mulder, do you regret..." she paused, and then continued, 
changing her question. "Are you all right about no longer being with 
the Bureau?"

Mulder looked at her, his expression growing puzzled.  "What brought 
that on?" he asked, his hand leaving the carrier to reach for hers, 
lying on her thigh.  He picked it up and gave it a squeeze before 
entwining his fingers with hers.  "We've talked about this already, 
Scully.  Of course I have regrets, it was a very major part of my life 
for a long time.  But my life, our lives have changed, and I think this 
is for the better, for all three of us.  With this consultant's job, my 
hours are practically my own, which gives me a lot of time with 
William, and you."  He lifted her hand up to his mouth, rubbing his 
lips along its back.  "What about you, Scully?  Are you all right with 
returning to the Bureau, to the X Files, after your maternity leave?  
To being partnered with John Doggett?"  

"I think so," she answered slowly.  "I'm willing to give it a try, 
that's for certain.  And if I find it's not something I feel I can do 
any longer, I'm sure I could find a position at Quantico.  Or even 
something in pathology outside the Bureau."

"You could always stay home and be my little housewife," he said in a 
teasing voice, although both his tone and his eyes were semi-serious.

She smiled at him, her eyes misting slightly.  Technically his words 
could be taken as a proposal.  Her throat suddenly thick, she swallowed 
and replied, "There's an option, yes."  

Technically an acceptance.

They grinned at each other, but said nothing further.

Both she and Mulder jumped slightly then, for William stirred in his 
carrier seat, emitting a small whimper.  Scully stilled her instinctive 
need to scoop him up out of the carrier, and instead watched as his 
face scrunched up momentarily and another tiny, distressed cry passed 
his rosebud lips.  He did not wake, however, though a frown remained.

After a few seconds and another whimper, Mulder leaned towards the 
carrier and carefully eased his hands in, one under William's bottom 
and the other cupping the baby's fragile neck and head.  Lifting him, 
he slowly straightened until he had William cradled in his arms, then 
leaned back into the sofa cushions.

Scully's heart melted at the look of absolute adoration on Mulder's 
face.  She lifted the carrier up and put it down on the floor to one 
side, so that she could lean against Mulder, craving contact with both 
he and William.  After first pressing a kiss on his cotton-covered 
bicep, she put one arm around Mulder's shoulders, her cheek resting on 
the spot she had kissed, and brought her other hand up to gently stroke 
the baby's tiny hand, lying on his little belly.

William's hand flexed, briefly clasping in a fist before relaxing 
again, and his lips pursed together, moving in a sucking motion.  His 
feet kicked then, and he broke into a yawn. 

"He's waking up," Mulder whispered, and Scully nodded against his 
shoulder, still as fascinated with the process as she had been each and 
every time she had witnessed it.

A moment later, William's tiny eyelids began fluttering, then finally 
opened, and Scully and Mulder were looking into the eyes of their 
child.


THE END (Part 12 of 12)

***

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