#birthday gifts | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

atths--twice · 2 years

Text

Imperfect Birthday

Mulder and Scully meet up during her lunch break from the hospital to celebrate her birthday. After a meal, gifts, and some flirty banter, a sudden accident befalls them, leaving both of them slightly injured and worried about the other.

This was a fun one to write quickly in order to have it done in time for Scully's birthday. Hope you enjoy it!

(I’m not entirely sure if @patientxphile is the creator of this drawing, but I am tagging them just in case. I did reach out to them to let them know their drawing inspired a tweet, which then inspired this story. ❤)

February 23, 2011 12:30 p.m.

Mulder sat waiting at Maria’s Mexican restaurant for Scully to join him for her birthday lunch, the small gift he had bought for her in his jacket pocket. He thought of what the look on her face would be when she opened it, and he smiled. No doubt she would get a kick out of it.

“Can I get you something to drink?” a waitress asked, smiling at him with a pen in hand.

“Could I get two glasses of water and two margaritas without alcohol?”

“No alcohol?”

“No, my… lunch date needs to go back to work and I have to drive home.” He smiled and she nodded, writing it on her pad. “Also, some chips and salsa, please.”

“Be back in a few minutes.”

“Thank you,” he said, smiling again.

Alone again, he looked at the menu, nodding when he made his decision. Closing the menu, he glanced round, but did not see Scully. Chips and salsa were set down on the table and as the server walked away, he felt a hand on his back.

“Hey,” Scully said, trailing her hand over his shoulder and squeezing his upper arm. “Sorry I’m a little late. Had to stop by and see a patient before I left.”

“Not a problem, Doc. I personally, have got nothing but time,” he said, as she sat down across from him with a smile. “Patient okay?”

“Yeah she is, just needed a little reassurance.”

“No one better to reassure her than you.”

“Sweet talker,” she said as she opened her menu and he chuckled softly with a nod.

“Here are your drinks, sir,” the waitress said, placing their drinks on the table. “Are you ready to order or do you need more time?”

“A few minutes more, please,” Scully said and the waitress nodded, walking away to the next table. “Margaritas, Mulder?”

“No alcohol,” he replied, sliding hers closer to her. “Gotta stay sharp.”

“Hmm,” she said with a smile, picking up her glass and bringing it to her lips.

“Wait,” he said, picking up his own glass and holding it out to her. She smiled again as she touched her glass to his. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you,” she whispered with a half smile, her eyes shining. He nodded his head and winked as they both took a drink. “Mmm, the lack of tequila is obviously there, but… it’s still good.”

“Can’t have you getting fired, Doc. Who will keep me in the lifestyle into which I’ve grown accustomed if you are?”

She laughed and took another drink, licking her lips, her teeth then scraping across the bottom one. He cleared his throat as he shifted in his seat, exhaling loud enough for her to hear. She shrugged slightly and held his gaze as he exhaled again.

“I only have an hour. If you keep looking at me like that, we’ll need to leave,” she said, her voice low and arousing.

“Me? You’re the one licking your lips that way.”

“Which way?” she asked. “You mean like this?” She did it again, only slower this time.

“Scully,” he growled and she smiled as she took another drink, watching him over the rim of her glass.

“So have you decided?” the waitress asked and Mulder inhaled deeply as he sat back, setting his glass down.

“Yes,” Scully said, setting her own glass down and glancing at her menu. “I’ll have the chopped salad and a bowl of chicken tortilla soup. Honey, what will you have?” She looked at him, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat and shaking his head. “I’ll have the beef fajitas and also a bowl of the tortilla soup.”

“Great. I’ll have that out for you as soon as possible.” She smiled and collected their menus before walking away.

“Honey?” he asked and she shrugged with a smile, reaching for a chip and dipping it in the salsa. He smiled and took one for himself, shaking his head as he took a bite. “So anything else happen today at the hospital, sweetie?”

“Well, honey, now that you’ve asked…” She smiled and began telling him about some patients and how she was happy with their progress. He nodded and smiled, happy that she was happy.

Their soups arrived and soon after, their meals. Asking for refills on both drinks, Scully picked up her napkin and unrolled it, taking out the silverware and laying the napkin in her lap.

“Oh, wait,” Mulder said, putting a hand up to stop her from taking a bite.

“What?”

“I have something for you,” he said, reaching into his jacket pocket and taking out her gift.

“Mulder,” she said, taking the slim rectangular box from him. “If this is a really long keychain…” He laughed and shook his head as she smiled.

Lifting the lid, she laughed as she took out the gift. Looking up at him, she grinned as she shook her head.

“Like it?” he asked with a smile.

“I forking love you,” she read, turning the fork around in her fingers. “I love it.” She smiled at him, squeezing his hand and laughing again. “You big weirdo.” He wiggled his eyebrows and squeezed her hand before letting go.

“There’s something else in there. It’s not just the fork, although it is a pretty great gift. Especially as it’s true.”

“Well, I forking love you too,” she said, smiling as she set the fork on her plate and picked up the box. “Oh, Mulder. This is beautiful.” She took out the bracelet he had purchased, smiling as she ran her fingers over the small diamonds set within it. “Thank you… honey.”

“You’re welcome, babe.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head as she handed him the bracelet and stuck out her right arm. He smiled as he fastened it around her wrist, placing a kiss there when he was finished.

“Ohhh! Do we have a birthday today?” the waitress asked, smiling as she set their drinks down, looking at Scully, who’s eyes had gone wide.

“No-” she started to say, but Mulder interrupted her.

“Yes. We are celebrating,” he said, nodding vehemently. “It’s this beautiful woman’s birthday today.”

“Happy birthday! I hope you enjoy your day.” She winked at her and Scully forced a smile before glaring at him as the waitress left the table.

“Mulder! You know what it means now that she knows.”

“I do, yes,” he said with a chuckle. “I wish I had a camera. Oh… right I have my phone! I almost forgot.” He took it from his pocket and laid it on the table.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You better not.”

“Oh, but I will. Now eat your food, your hour is nearly up.” She stared at him and he grinned. “You want some of mine?” He pointed to his plate and she nodded curtly, causing him to laugh.

They shared their meal between them, Mulder adding some salsa to his portion of the salad, finding the mixture of it with the dressing to be very good. Coaxing Scully to try it, he smiled when she nodded her approval.

Plates cleared away, she kept her fork, licking and then wiping it clean on her napkin. Smiling, she placed it back into the box.

“It’s a really cute gift. And I love the bracelet,” she said, touching it on her wrist. “Thank you.” She leaned forward and he did the same until he could reach her lips, kissing her softly.

“Hey hey! We have a birthday here today!”

Mulder opened his eyes, staring into Scully’s now wide open ones. He leaned back and she shook her head as he grinned. The waitress and five other servers gathered around their table and a large black mariachi sombrero, with silver designs, was placed on Scully’s head. She stared at him as she sighed. He laughed and picked up his phone, turning on the camera and recording her discomfort.

“Everyone! Todos! Nosotras tenemos un cumpleaños. Ayúdanos a celebrar!” They clapped and Mulder smiled as Scully shook her head, the silver balls hanging from the hat, bouncing back and forth.

“Cumpleaños feliz!” they all began to sing and Mulder laughed silently. “Cumpleaños feliz! Te deseamos todos! Cumpleaños feliz!”

Whooping, clapping, and cheering followed as a plate was set down in front of Scully. Small churros covered in whipped cream and caramel sauce held a single candle glowing brightly. She blew it out and more cheering occurred, an extra empty plate set in front of Mulder. The hat was taken off and she smiled her thanks as they all walked away.

“Happy birthday, Doc,” Mulder said and she blinked at him slowly, flipping him off as she scratched her chin. He laughed and ended the video.

“That wasn’t embarrassing at all,” she said, taking the candle out and laying it on the table.

“Can’t imagine why it would be,” he laughed, taking a churro and placing it onto his plate.

“Hmm,” she hummed, picking up a churro and taking a bite. “But damn that’s delicious. Worth it, I suppose.” He nodded and she rolled her eyes, smiling as she took another bite.

Their bill paid, her gift in hand, they left to choruses of happy birthday. Mulder took a huge handful of mints from the bowl and shoved them into his pocket, and Scully shoved him out the door with a reprimand.

“What? That’s why they’re there,” he said, defending his actions as he unwrapped a mint.

“A whole, huge handful? No.”

“Oh come on. You want one?”

“You know I do,” she said with a sigh, sticking out her hand.

He grinned and took one from his pocket, unwrapping it and holding it between his thumb and index finger. Offering it to her, she raised her hand higher. He shook his head and she smiled as she leaned closer. Licking her lips, she opened her mouth wide enough for him to place the mint inside.

Rubbing it across her wet lips first, he then placed it onto her tongue, bending his head to kiss her lips. She hummed, grabbing onto his jacket, as he held her hip. Their lips stuck together as he pulled back, the candy sticky sweet, and they both chuckled.

“Minty,” he whispered, licking his lips and kissing her again.

“An hour, remember? I need to get back and this isn’t helping.” He laughed and kissed her once more before stepping back with a nod.

“I’ll walk you back and then head home. Anything in particular you want for your birthday dinner?”

“Not really. This has been good, so anything will be fine.” She smiled at him and he bumped her shoulder, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together.

Walking down a couple of streets, they crunched their mints and discussed possible dinner plans, Scully shrugging with a smile, unbothered by any decision.

As they neared a corner to cross the street, many things happened at once and later it would be hard to pinpoint exactly what happened in what order.

Tires screeched. Someone screamed. A dog barked. A voice yelled. Then many voices. Everything echoed and then a dog, a large dog, came barreling around the corner and directly into Scully’s path.

He hit her legs, sweeping them out from under her. Her hand was pulled free of Mulder’s as she fell, and he stumbled forward, landing hard on his knees, catching himself on his hands. He groaned as he heard voices calling out and feet rounding the corner. A dog whimpered as he turned to check on Scully.

“Scully?” he said in a hoarse voice, his knees and hands killing him.

“Oohhh what… what happened?” she groaned, lying on her side. She struggled to sit up and he went to help her.

“Oh my God,” he said, stopping at the sight of her.

She had blood rushing down the left side of her face, dripping onto her shirt and blazer. Reaching up to touch it, it then covered her shaking hand, and she blinked up at him.

“What…?” She did not finish her sentence. Her eyes rolled back and her body went limp. He caught her and struggled for a second to lift her, his knees and hands screaming, her body like a dead weight to pick up.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry! He slipped off the leash! I couldn’t catch him!” a scared voice said. He glimpsed a young boy, about eleven, with tears on his face and then turned around. “Is she okay? I’m so sorry!”

“She will be. I need to get her to the hospital. Keep a hold on your dog.”

“Yeah. I… I’m so sorry.” Mulder could now hear him sobbing, others soothing him, but his only concern was for Scully.

She was breathing, he could feel it against his neck, but she was still bleeding; he could smell it on her. He knew head wounds bled a lot, but that did not stop him from worrying that she was bleeding too much.

“You’re okay. We’re almost there, honey. Can you hear me?” She did not answer and he increased his speed, now feeling the dampness at his knees, knowing he was also bleeding.

Ignoring his own pain, he held her tighter and continued his hurried steps, the hospital now in sight. Crossing the parking lot, he entered the emergency room, her blood dripping to the ground as he called out for help.

________________

“That feel okay?”

“Yeah,” he groaned, the antiseptic stinging his cuts. “Well, not exactly okay…”

“No, I’m sure it’s not. You had a hard fall.”

“Yeah. Not as bad as Doctor Scully, though. When will they be back, do you know?” Mulder asked, seething as the nurse cleaned his wounds.

“Considering she lost consciousness, they’re doing a CT scan to assess her for injuries.”

“Yeah,” he said, knowing she had gone back for that test, among others. “How long should it take though, ballpark figure?”

“Mr. Mulder,” the nurse said, looking up at him and smiling kindly. “I understand your worry, but she’s in good hands.”

“I know she is,” he said, nodding his head. “I just want to know she’s okay.”

“Should be soon, I’m sure.” She smiled again and continued cleaning his knees. He sighed, closing his eyes as he dropped his head back, jumping slightly when she hit a particularly sore spot.

“She lost a lot of blood,” he said softly and she hummed, patting his leg gently.

“The face and scalp have many blood vessels close to the surface of the skin, so it’s common for there to be more bleeding when there is an injury.”

“I know, it just… it all happened so fast.” He sighed and shook his head, scrubbing a hand across his face, the light bandages covering them soft against his skin.

“She’ll be okay. You’re okay too, though I’m sure you’ll be sore for a few days. You’ll be bruised, definitely, but we’ll get you some medication and that should help you out.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She patted his leg again and he sighed. “I’ll let this dry and get the bandages ready. Have you all set for when Doctor Scully comes back.”

“Thank you,” he said again, raising his head and looking at her. “I’m sorry I don’t know your name.”

“Tricia.”

“Thank you, Tricia. I appreciate your help.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. Mulder.”

_______________

Wearing a pair of light blue scrubs, which Tricia had kindly given to him seeing as how his own clothes were bloodied, he waited for Scully to be brought back to the room. His knees were throbbing, but Tricia had gotten him some ibuprofen to help with it.

Glancing up, he saw Tricia walking toward him, a young boy by her side. With a frown, he realized it was the boy with the dog that had knocked Scully down. Standing up stiffly, he nodded as they arrived at the room.

“Mr. Mulder, this is Carson Stevens. He said he knows you?” Tricia said and the boy nodded, his eyes red and full of tears.

“Is she okay? Your wife?”

“Well, she’s not my wife, but she’s going to be okay,” Mulder said, smiling kindly at him.

“I’m so sorry. My dog got scared of another dog and slipped out of his leash. He was too fast for me to catch him. My dad was behind us, but he couldn’t catch up either. He almost got hit by a car, the dog, not my dad, and it was… I was… I didn’t mean for him to run into you guys.”

“Hey, I know you didn’t,” Mulder said, touching his shoulder. “Is your dog okay?”

“Yeah,” Carson said. “We took him to the vet and he made sure he was okay.”

“That’s good.” He squeezed Carson’s shoulder and smiled.

“I’m really sorry,” Carson said again, sniffling and wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his jacket. “My dad said… said that I should do something to… to help you and your girlfriend. But I don’t know what I can do.”

“No. You don’t have to do anything, Carson,” Mulder said, shaking his head. “She’s going to be okay. You just make sure you keep your dog safe and… maybe get a harness for him.”

“Yeah, okay,” Carson said with a soft sob of laughter. “We already got one at the vet.”

“Good.”

“Thank you. And I really am sorry.”

“You go take care of your dog and thank you for checking on us, Carson.” He squeezed his shoulder once more and let go, stepping away with a smile.

“Okay. Goodbye.” He turned around and started to leave when he turned back, taking something out of his jacket pocket. “Oh, this was on the ground. I think it’s yours.” He handed him Scully’s birthday gift box and Mulder nodded.

“It was her birthday present,” Mulder said, opening it to make sure the fork was still safely inside.

“It’s a funny gift. That’s what my dad said, anyway. I didn’t get it.” He shrugged and said goodbye, waving at him as he walked out of the room, Tricia following behind him with a smile.

________________

Mulder watched Scully sleeping, with the help of a sedative, and sighed with relief.

Her CT scan had come back showing no sign of internal bleeding, but she had needed six stitches at her hairline from cutting it on something as she fell. She also had a bruised rib, a hairline fracture on her left wrist, and a large bruise on her left thigh where the dog's head had hit her before she fell.

While not the best news, it could have been much worse and he was grateful she would recover from her injuries, although she would be in pain and discomfort for a few weeks.

“Mmm,” she moaned, moving her head, frowning in her sleep.

He jumped up and bit back a groan as his knees nearly buckled. After not moving for a while, they had tightened up, the sudden movement unbearable.

“Ohhh,” she breathed and whimpered as she drew in a deep breath. “Mul… der…”

“I’m here. Lie still okay. You have a fractured wrist, a bruised rib, stitches, and some other bruises along your body.”

“Jeeee… sus…” she whispered, trying to open her eyes.

“Yeah.”

“So… not… not the best birthday…” she said with a moan, her eyelids finally cracking open, though her eyes were unable to focus on him.

“It could have been worse.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, closing her eyes and reaching for his hand. He took it and kissed her forehead softly.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered and she hummed, squeezing his hand gently.

“Not your fault,” she breathed. “Is the dog okay? They… they catch him?” He exhaled a laugh against her brow and kissed her again.

“Of course you would want to know if the dog was okay.”

“So he is?”

“He is, yes.”

“Good.”

___________________

February 25, 2011 11:30 a.m.

“You do know that I am right handed, right?” Scully said, smiling at him. He held a bite of food close to her lips as she lay propped up comfortably in bed and he sat beside her.

“And?” He raised his eyebrows as she took the bite, smiling as she chewed. “I’m doing this because…” He pointed to the words written on her birthday fork, and she laughed and then moaned.

“Don’t make me laugh,” she whimpered, closing her eyes and taking some small breaths.

“Sorry,” he said, rubbing her leg softly and smiling at her. She opened her eyes and smiled back. “You want to save this for later and take your pill instead?”

“Hmm, yeah.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.” He kissed her forehead and stood up slowly, suppressing a groan.

“Get one for you too. We can take a sedative nap together.”

“Okay,” he chuckled, carefully walking down the stairs, taking her plate of food to the refrigerator and placing it and the fork inside.

Filling a large insulated water bottle with ice and water, he capped it, grabbed a soft cloth ice pack and the bottle of pain pills, and walked slowly back up the stairs. He placed the ice pack on her ribs, over her shirt, and she exhaled a moan. Giving her one of the pills, he held the water bottle for her as she drank and swallowed her pill.

Taking a pill for himself, he drank only a minimal amount, leaving the water bottle on her nightstand. She smiled, tapping the bed beside her with her casted arm, and he smiled with a nod. Picking up the blanket at the end of bed, he covered her before walking over to his side.

Lying down, he sighed and closed his eyes, overwhelmingly tired from the stress of the last couple of days.

“You wanna hear my takeaway from all of this?” she asked and he smiled, turning his head to look at her.

“What’s that?”

Shifting a little with a moan, she looked at him, grasping the tips of his fingers.

“You should be allowed to enjoy at least one alcoholic beverage on your birthday, because you never know if a frightened dog, who chose flight over fight, will come and knock you off your feet causing you to wake up in a hospital bed broken and bruised.”

He laughed softly and shook his head. Squeezing her hand and letting it go, he turned onto his side, pulling the blanket over himself. He moved closer to her, but did not touch, as her left side seemed to be one continuous angry bruise.

“We’ll have a do over when you’re better.”

“Here at the house would be preferable.”

“Or we put you in a protective bubble as we leave the restaurant, ensuring your safety.”

“Logical. I like the way you think.”

“I’m picturing a giant squishy hamster ball. Wow, think of all the gas we would save if you simply rolled yourself everywhere.”

“Oh, don’t make me laugh,” she said again, breaths coming out in painful gasps.

“Sorry. Again.”

They lay quietly for a few minutes. He gently stroked her fingers sticking out from her cast and listened to her breathing.

“I forking love you,” she mumbled and he smiled.

“I forking love you too,” he replied. “When we’re better, we can expand on that as we spoon.”

She hummed a laugh and then groaned, squeezing his fingers weakly. He smiled, breathing deeply as he felt the effects of the pain pill begin pulling him to sleep.

#The X-Files #XF Fanfic #Post I Want To Believe #Pre Season 10 #Birthday #Birthday Lunch #Happy #Eating a Meal #Flirting #Birthday Gifts #Humor #Kissing #Accidents #Injuries #Worry #Caring #Injury Recovery #Love

78 notes · View notes

atths--twice · 2 years

Text

Faith’s Third Birthday

It's time to celebrate another Halloween birthday! Fun, friends, happiness... I mean what else do you need?

I seriously love writing these family stories, they just make me so incredibly happy. I love the little world I've created for these two rather loner type people.

I hope you enjoy it as I do. ❤

Number 40 in the Family Life Series

October 30th Madison Family Pumpkin Patch 12:00 p.m.

Mulder smiled as he pulled one of the two wagons through the pumpkin patch, Scully and Faith pulling the other, as she insisted on helping. There were people spread out in their family groups, no need for masks as they were all outdoors.

It was a perfect fall day: crisp enough out for long sleeves, but not a heavy jacket.

“Mama. See so many pumpkins. Look! That pumpkin is BIG!” Faith said as she pointed to her right. They both looked and Mulder nodded.

“It’s a very big pumpkin. I don’t think we need that one, Squatch,” he said and she looked at him, her eyes pleading. “But… I suppose we could go look at it. Come on.”

They abandoned their wagons and walked to the large pumpkin, letting Faith look at and touch it. Mulder lifted her up and set her on top, the highest point of it only as high as his shoulders. She squealed with delight and held onto the arm he kept wrapped around her.

“Mama! I on the pumpkin! Hi, Mama,” Faith said, waving at Scully. Mulder looked at her with a smile as he saw her taking her phone from her pocket and snapping some pictures.

“Are you up high, my love? Can you touch the sky?”

“No, Mama. The sky is high. I can’t touch it.” She reached, grunting as she tried to go up higher. “It’s too high, Mama.”

“Yes, love. The sky is very high,” Scully said, coming closer. Mulder wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple, smiling at both of them.

“Alright my girl, let’s go pick out our pumpkins.” He lifted Faith and put her on his shoulders, walked back to their wagons and set her onto the ground, squatting in front of her. “You want to help Mama or do you want to ride in the wagon?”

“I help Mama,” she said importantly. He kissed her cheeks before standing up and smiling at Scully.

“Let’s get a move on then,” he said, and they once again began to rumble through the dirt, on their way to find the perfect pumpkins.

Stopping after a few rows, he looked at Scully.

“How many will we need, do you think?”

“Well,” she said, stopping behind him, Faith walking over to a row of pumpkins and looking at them. “There will be three children who will paint them, not counting the twins, of course.” She ticked them off, smiling as she glanced at Faith who had squatted down and was talking to the pumpkins.

“I think the adults will want to do one too, or we should give them the option.”

“You think? Well, I know Alan and Ryan will, judging by their Instagram photos, both of them are quite artistic, but I don’t know about the rest and I don’t want to be stuck with a lot of pumpkins. What would we do with them?”

“Make pumpkin pie?” he said with a shrug.

“You will?”

“I can make a pie.”

“From a real pumpkin? Not a can of pumpkin purée?”

“I… can make a pie,” he answered, with just the slightest bit of uncertainty. She stared at him and he tilted his head. “You don’t think I can?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Not out loud.” She kept staring at him and he raised his eyebrows. “You’re still silently saying it very loudly.” She smiled and he shook his head.

“I’ll do it, just to prove you wrong.”

“Then by all means, get as many pumpkins as you want.”

“Oh, I intend to do just that,” he said, walking away in a faux huff, as she laughed behind him and Faith ran toward him with two tiny pumpkins.

“Dada, pumpkins for the babies. Little pumpkins for Liz Beth and Jakey. Here, Dada. For the babies.”

“Those are perfect, love. Go put them in the wagon.”

“Okay. I will.”

He watched her go, Scully’s phone out again as she smiled and took pictures. Looking up and catching her eye, he winked at her before he turned and began to search for the other pumpkins they would need.

An hour later, they pulled the wagons toward the car, Faith sitting on his shoulders and eating a ghost shaped lollipop, a new pumpkin bobble headed headband on her head.

She had ridden the ponies and jumped in a bounce house, laughing hysterically as she fell and got up many times. Flushed and happy, she had smiled as Scully put her shoes back on, and Mulder handed her a bottle of water.

“Jumping is fun. I like to jump,” she had said, her eyes shining as she had looked at Mulder.

Perusing the treats, decorations, and toys, inside the large barn, Faith had been allowed to pick one new item, as her birthday was the next day. She had chosen a small plush witch with purple hair, a black dress with multi-colored patches, black and green striped stockings, and black shiny boots. Mulder had been ecstatic with her choice, telling her about witches and goblins as Scully shook her head with a smile.

“Twenty pumpkins, Mulder. We bought twenty pumpkins,” Scully said behind him and he turned to look at her with a smile.

“Fifteen for the party, five for us to carve tonight.”

“Five is a lot. You sure you’re up for the challenge? Remember I am better when it comes to decorating pumpkins.”

“Among other things,” he said with a smile, knowing she was better than him at so many things. He waited for her to reach him, bending as he held onto Faith’s legs, and kissed her, her hand on his cheek and her thumb stroking gently.

“You’re going to lose so badly,” she whispered and he smiled as he kissed her again.

“Bring it on, honey,” he whispered back and she chuckled, patting his face with more force than usual.

___________________

7:00 p.m.

“It’s yucky in the pumpkin. Eww… Dada, you do it. It’s yucky.” Faith made a face as she sat on the table, looking in the pumpkin and wiping her hands on her pants.

“You don’t want to touch the gooey guts of the pumpkin?” he asked, teasing her with some he had scooped out.

“No, Dada. I don’t like it,” she said, pulling away with a whine.

“Mulder, don’t tease her,” Scully said, a small smile on her face. “Look at this one, Faithy. All cleaned out. Now we can do the face. You want it to have a happy smile?”

“Yes, Mama. Thank you.” She moved closer to Scully and looked inside the pumpkin.

“It’s empty. No guts.”

“Nope,” Scully chuckled. “No guts. Let’s make a face on it. You want to help me draw it?”

“Yes, Mama!” She clapped her hands and stood up, Scully reaching for her and holding her in her lap.

Mulder picked up a towel and wiped off his hands, took his phone from his back pocket and recorded a video of them drawing on the pumpkin together.

“Triangle eyes. A round nose. And a big happy smile.”

“Why him have triangle eyes?”

“You want a different shape?” Scully asked, looking at her and kissing her cheek.

“He have circle eyes.”

“You want circle eyes? We can do circle eyes. And a triangle nose.”

“Happy smile.”

“Yes, a happy smile. You want teeth?”

“No, Mama. Teeth can bite.”

“No, love. Pumpkins can’t bite. You want just a smile and no teeth?”

“A happy smile, Mama. Yes.” She looked up at Scully and smiled. “I love you. And you make a happy smile.”

“Oh, honey, I love you too. Let’s make our pumpkin. You can help me.” She squeezed Faith tight and looked up at Mulder with a happy smile of her own. He stopped the video and smiled back, putting his phone in his pocket and returning to his pumpkin.

As he scooped out his pumpkin and another, Scully showed Faith how to use the small knives to cut the pumpkin. Faith liked pushing the pieces through and watching them fall, looking through the face as well as through the top.

Grey jumped onto the table, sniffing around at the pieces that had been removed and the seeds and insides of the pumpkins. She batted a piece onto the floor, hitting it with her paw and letting it roll around. Bella came over and laid by Mulder’s feet, no interest in what they were doing.

“Okay. I think we’re done. Do you like it?” Scully asked Faith, setting the little knife away from her reach.

“Pumpkin has happy smile. Circle eyes. Triangle nose,” she said, touching them as she said it. “Happy pumpkin.”

“It is a happy pumpkin. Hey, Daddy, can you get us a candle?” Scully looked at him and smiled. He nodded and wiped his hands again, opening a drawer and taking out a tea light candle.

Lighting it, he handed it to Scully and she put it inside the pumpkin, putting the lid on top.

“Let’s take it outside, sweetie, and put it on the porch.”

Mulder lifted the pumpkin and Scully carried Faith, Bella standing up and following them out the door. Leaving the lights off, he set the pumpkin down on the top step as they walked down to the grass and looked at the pumpkin.

“What do you think, Faithy?”

“Pumpkin is happy,” she said with a smile, wiggling in Scully’s arms to get down. When she was, she walked up and knelt down on the step in front of the pumpkin, staring at it closely.

Mulder took pictures of her, smiling as he did, loving how interested she was in the holiday this year.

When they went back inside, her bedtime approaching, she stopped and looked back at the door.

“Mama,” she said, touching Scully’s leg. “I want the witch to laugh.”

“The witch? Oh, she didn’t turn on, did she? Well, my love, you will need to ask Daddy for that. It doesn’t work the same for me. Probably because I’m so-“

“Short?” Mulder asked, staring at her with a smirk.

“Petite,” she contradicted him with a glare. “I’m not a big galumphing man with gangly arms and legs that always sets off the sensor.”

“Gangly? Have you seen these muscles?” he asked, flexing his forearms and she hummed as she pursed her lips.

“Dada? I see witch laugh?” Faith asked, walking over and wrapping her arms around his leg as she looked up at him. He looked down and then back at Scully, who bit her bottom lip, trying not to laugh.

“Fine,” he grumbled, lifting Faith and throwing her over his shoulder. She laughed as she said goodbye to Scully and they walked back out the door, his sigh heavy as he went to do his girl’s bidding, even though he really hated that goddamn witch.

____________________

October 31st Creek Park 11:30 a.m.

“Okay, I think we have everything ready,” Scully said, setting the boxes of paint onto one of the picnic tables they had reserved for that morning.

Tablecloths covered them, hybrid “Happy Halloween Birthday” ones she had found on some website months ago. There were witches holding bunches of balloons with smiling pumpkin faces, ghosts with presents in their hands, and vampires with layered cakes on plates, grinning with large fangs. They were very cute and Scully had been incredibly proud to have found them, bringing them up often in conversations.

The pumpkins were all on one table with the paint and paintbrushes, stickers, googly eyes, feathers, sequins, gems, and sticky glue dots to hold things in place. Food and cupcakes would be arriving at 12:30, giving people time to decorate pumpkins and catch up.

“It’s perfect,” Mulder said, closing the stepstool they had brought and looking around. He had put up orange and black streamers across the slatted covering over the picnic area. “It’s low-key and exactly what we need.”

“Yeah, it’s good,” she said with a smile and they looked over at Faith as she spun around in her witch costume.

She had wanted to be a witch like the one on their porch, much to his dismay, as she seemed to enjoy running around and saying he he he, laughing when he would jump. Sometimes it was put upon and sometimes she truly did frighten him, which Scully found exceptionally funny.

Her costume was long sleeved, purple with gold sparkles, and a black bodice. She wore purple and black tights and a headband with a witches hat attached-black with a purple brim. She loved it, especially her black boots, wearing them every chance she was given.

He was wearing a black shirt with Bigfoot standing in profile beneath a hovering UFO, the beam of it shining down on him. Scully had laughed and shaken her head when she saw it, then showed him the shirt she had bought for herself. It was dark burgundy with a drawing of a large golden moon rising over water, and a black silhouette of a witch flying on a broomstick.

“Mama,” Faith said, clomping over to her in her boots. “We go see the ducks?”

“Not yet, my little witch, but in a bit, okay?”

“Okay. I… Unco! Raycho! You here!” She ran past Mulder as he turned and saw Rachel and Skinner walking toward them with a smile.

The babies were being carried together by Rachel in a single black wrap and Skinner had a large backpack in his hands.

“Hi, Raycho! Hi babies. I see babies, Raycho?” she asked, jumping up and down excitedly.

“Well, hello little witch, aren’t you the cutest witch there ever was?” Rachel said with a smile. “Happy birthday, Miss Faith. Let me sit down and then you can see the babies.”

“Come here, you,” Skinner said, sliding the backpack on and scooping Faith up in his arms. “Happy birthday, little girl. How old are you today?”

“I three.” She worked at holding her fingers down correctly and smiled at him. “This many, Unco.”

“Yeah, you are,” he said with a smile, kissing her on the cheek. He nodded at Mulder and they all walked to the tables. “Got her gift in the car. I’ll bring it over later.”

“Good idea.”

Rachel sat down and Faith was set down to see the babies who were sleeping, their heads close together and their hands touching.

“Hi babies,” Faith said softly, touching their heads gently. “Hi, Liz Beth. Hi, Jakey. See my dress? I a witch. He he he.” They stirred, but their eyes remained closed. She looked up at Rachel and Rachel smiled at her.

“They are sleeping now, but when they wake up they will love to see your dress,” she assured Faith and she smiled with a nod.

“Unco, see ducks? We go see ducks?” Faith asked, turning her attention to him. He glanced at Rachel and she nodded with a soft smile.

“I’m good here. You go on.” He nodded and set the backpack beside her on the bench, kissed the top of her head, and took Faith’s hand.

“Let’s go see the ducks, little witch,” he said and she cheered. He nodded to the others and off they went to the large pond not too far from the picnic area.

“Still wrapped around her finger,” Scully said with a grin and Rachel snorted.

“As if that would change. I hope you have room in your car for her gift because it’s not in a box. It’s a toy kitchen already put together and quite large,” she said, rubbing the babies backs. “He insisted it be ready to be enjoyed. God, I love him so much.” They all laughed and Mulder assured her they would figure it out.

Elise, Tyler, Raina, Emmy were the next people to arrive a few minutes later.

Elise, who had delivered Faith and the twins, walked straight to Scully and Rachel. Smiling as she looked at the babies, she held eighteen-month-old Emmy up to see them. She was dressed as a pumpkin with a headband that looked like a stem with curly vines. Raina, now six and dressed as Wonder Woman, smiled shyly at Mulder. He smiled and complimented her costume, asking her to tell him about it and soon her shyness had disappeared.

Violet and Denis were next, both wearing Halloween themed face masks and carrying three beautifully wrapped gifts. Saying hello to everyone, they gushed over the babies, asking how they were and how Rachel was feeling.

Amid the laughter, Alan and Ryan arrived, colorful gift bags in their hands, and both in casual costumes. Ryan was Indiana Jones, complete with a hat and whip, and Alan was Alan Grant from Jurassic Park. They all laughed and hugged, catching up and discussing what a year it had been, how happy they were to see each other again.

Faith and Skinner came back from visiting the ducks and was beyond excited to see everyone. She and the little girls ran around and played while the adults stood around and talked.

They sat to paint pumpkins: the kids, Alan, Ryan, and Denis, each taking care with how they painted them. Emmy lost interest after a while, so Tyler took her on a walk to the playground. Raina showed Faith how to paint carefully and Faith mimicked her, smiling when she got it right.

Mulder smiled as he observed and listened to both groups. He heard Raina complimenting Denis and asking him to help her. Faith asked Alan for “sprigles” and before Mulder could explain what she meant, Alan correctly handed her the glitter, and she shook it onto her multicolored pumpkin. Catching his eye, Alan nodded and tipped his hat, his attention then back to his pumpkin.

“So, how has it been for you with two babies?” Mulder heard Violet ask and Rachel laughed softly. “I always thought twins would be fun and interesting, but I wasn’t so lucky to have had them.”

“It’s been… I don’t want to say easy, because that’s not it, but it’s been… calm? I think that’s the word,” Rachel said and Mulder smiled at the sight of Scully holding Jacob and smiling down at him, Elizabeth still sleeping in the wrap. “Every movie and television show, we are shown that it’s chaos when you have a baby. I know it’s for dramatic effect and for laughs, but I feel it portrays things negatively. Not every baby cries all night, or the parents are zombies walking around constantly exhausted. Am I tired? Yes, but I’m not a wild-eyed, crazy-haired woman with half a face of makeup done.”

They all laughed and Rachel shook her head.

“I know it won’t always be this easy, or calm rather. They are only a month old, and still becoming acquainted with the world. Eating, sleeping, and pooping… that’s their routine. We have learned who they are and adapted to their needs. It’s not easy, no… but it’s not hard either. I feel like I’m explaining it wrong.” She looked at Skinner and he smiled with a shake of his head.

“You’re not,” Scully said softly, swaying in the way Mulder had once described as her figure eight motion when she had soothed Faith the same way as a baby. “I know what you mean, I think we all do. The first couple of months are like that, lots of sleeping and eating, but there is a peace to it, if you do it right. If you listen to your baby.” Mulder smiled at her, watching her watch Jacob, then looking over at Faith as she laughed at something Alan had said to her.

“Plus, to be completely honest,” Scully said and he looked back at her. She was smiling at Rachel and now swaying side-to-side. “You are a calm, kind, and attentive person, Rachel. You don’t lash out, get riled up, or upset easily. Babies can sense those things and they feed off that feeling. You are calm and so they are calm. Both of you.” She looked at Skinner and nodded. “Both of you know how to handle stress, to de-escalate a situation, and it’s why these little ones are calm and happy. They know they are safe and loved.”

“Dana, I swear to God,” Rachel said with a sniff, taking a tissue from a pack in the backpack. “You can’t say stuff like that when I’m all… emotional. It’s not fair.” Scully laughed softly as she swayed and watched Rachel wiping her eyes.

“She’s right,” Mulder said, nodding at Rachel as he stepped closer to Scully. Looking down at Jacob, he smiled and she raised her eyebrows, offering Jacob to him to hold, but he shook his head. “You hold him, he’s content.” He kissed her temple and went back to check on Faith.

Lunch arrived and the tables were cleared, as everyone sat down to eat, laughing and talking again about the past year. Elise told stories of seeing women and then delivering their babies in such stressful times and how it took a toll on her, Tyler rubbing her back as she began to cry, Rachel handing her some tissues.

Violet told them how happy she had been to pick up her mother and get their vaccinations. How she and her mother had cried and hugged when it was over and then the nurse who administered it was crying along with them. Scully admitted she had done the same and Rachel and Elise both laughed, saying they had too.

Tyler and Denis were in conversation, Tyler asking after his woodworking skills. A contractor himself, he was interested in how Denis created things, which tools he used, and which woods he found easiest to shape.

Alan was talking with Scully, her face serious as she shook her head and heard stories from the hospital. Ryan had quit, walking out a few months ago after losing five patients in one day and tiring of hearing people saying the virus was a hoax.

“I had to,” he said quietly, his eyes on the table. “It was killing me to not be able to help them, to hear what people were saying, yelling at me as I walked into the hospital…” He raised his head, mindful of the children around, especially Raina who was listening raptly to him. He smiled at her and she smiled back. “It wasn’t a tough decision to make, but I miss the work, the other doctors, the nurses...” He shook his head and drew in a deep breath.

“But, it’s all for good,” Alan said, putting his arm around Ryan and kissing his shoulder. “Remember we said we were planning to adopt? Well, it’s been two years and we’ve come close a couple of times, but it always fell through. So, we’re going to do foster care, with the possibility of adoption down the road. With Ryan home, he will be the one to care for them most and be available at any time they may need us.”

“I think that’s wonderful,” Scully said softly, smiling at them. “I’m so sorry you had to leave and why you did, but this… I think this was the plan set forth for you.”

“I think so too,” Ryan said with a nod, looking at Alan and taking his hand, smiling at him.

A cry broke through the air and they all looked to see Skinner standing up. Taking Elizabeth, he began walking with her, shushing her softly.

“Unco, I see Liz Beth?” Faith said, getting up from the table and going over to him.

“Honey, she needs to be rocked right now. In a little while, okay?” he said and she shook her head.

“No, Unco. I see her. Tell her no crying.” She looked at him and he opened his mouth to say something when Rachel spoke first.

“Let her see her, honey.” He looked at her and she smiled with a nod.

Sitting down on the bench, Elizabeth began to cry louder and Faith stepped closer to them, placing her hand on Elizabeth’s blanketed chest.

“Shh, Liz Beth. It’s okay. No crying, okay? Shhh…” She rubbed her chest softly, kissing her forehead and then stroking the top of her head with her other hand.

Elizabeth’s crying began to lessen and then stopped altogether, her eyes open and staring at Faith.

“Hi, Liz Beth. You okay. No crying.” She smiled and kissed her forehead again. When she pulled back, Elizabeth kept staring at her, when she suddenly smiled.

“Holy shit,” Skinner whispered and Faith looked up at him.

“She happy now. She smile at me, Unco.” Faith looked back down, but Elizabeth did not smile again. Skinner looked at the other adults and Elise shook her head.

“It’s most likely gas, she’s too young to be smiling like that just yet,” she said and Scully nodded in agreement.

“Still…” he said, looking at Mulder who raised his eyebrows and sighed, shaking his head.

“I don’t know, I think she might have a bit of that calming magic touch, just like you two do.”

“Yeah,” Skinner said softly. “Yeah, that’s it. You have the magic touch with the babies, sweet girl?”

“He he he,” she said in a high pitched voice, wiggling her fingers at him and smiling.

They all laughed and Skinner kissed Faith’s head before she ran back to her seat and began to eat again.

After the food was gone and cleared away, cupcakes were given out and they sang to Faith, as she blew out the candle on her cupcake.

Presents were opened, Faith exclaiming over them all, even the clothes as she said how pretty they were. She took off her witch hat headband and put on the new one with white cat ears, meowing and laughing.

The painted pumpkins were again visited, eyes, sequins, feathers, and any other decorations were added now that the paint was dry. Faith laughed as Alan and Ryan made silly faces and noises and helped her with her pumpkin, Raina also giggling as she added numerous googly eyes to her pumpkin.

Mulder was holding Jacob, smiling at him as he fed him his bottle, when Scully walked over and sat beside him. She bent and kissed the top of Jacob’s head, her thumb rubbing his temple gently.

“He’s so cute. So small. Could she have ever been this tiny?” she asked him, sitting up and looking at Faith, Alan tickling her with a feather as she laughed.

“Hmm,” Mulder hummed with a smile. “She definitely was, but it seems so long ago now.”

“I miss those times, but also love where we’re at now.”

“Same. I don’t miss the middle of the night feedings-”

“You don’t? I don’t remember you feeding her,” she said with a grin.

“No, but I got up with you.”

“You did, that’s true.” She smiled at Jacob and stroked his head again, her expression suddenly changing.

“Hey. Stay here, Scully,” Mulder said softly, knowing where her thoughts had drifted.

“I’m here,” she whispered and looked up at him with a nod. “I promise.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips, her hand moving to his cheek.

A whining sound pulled her away and they looked down as the bottle emptied. Mulder took the bottle gently from Jacob’s mouth and he began to cry. Handing the bottle to Scully, he held Jacob to his chest, patting his back gently and then rubbing it, encouraging him to burp.

Scully’s hand joined his and she nodded, letting him know again that she was okay. He smiled and nodded back, Jacob burping once and moving with a grunt.

“What do you think about offering to help them out once a month? Coming to stay for the weekend, helping with the babies, letting Faith bond more with them?” Mulder asked and she smiled.

“And watch her wielding her magic over them?” she teased and he nodded.

“Absolutely. I think we need to investigate that more thoroughly, because that shit…” He looked around and opened his eyes wide as he looked at her again. “That shit was spooky.”

“Well,” she said with a laugh. “We aren’t Team Spooky for nothing.”

“No,” he said, glancing over at Faith as Skinner pulled her onto his lap, and she squealed in delight. “No, weren’t not.”

Scully hummed and put her head on Mulder’s shoulder as together they continued rubbing Jacob’s back, watching Faith laughing as she stuck colorful gems onto Skinner’s face and head, and he pretended to be annoyed, but smiled softly at her, not caring one bit.