To catch up, here are chapters one and two.
The next morning, Mulder met Scully in the kitchen and wordlessly handed over two Tylenol and a glass of water. She threw back the dusty pills, and assessed him over the rim of the glass.
“Thank you,” she said, and he nodded. “Did your sister forgive you?”
“I’ve been granted a temporary reprieve,” he said, and Scully walked around him to pour herself a bowl of cereal. “She’s interning with the local police department this summer, she asked me to come down to the station in a few days so she can show me around. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be scared straight or if she’s letting me off the hook, but either way I promised to be on my best behavior.”
“What kind of internship?” Scully asked, spoon halfway to her mouth.
“I’m not exactly sure. Some kind of Women in Law Enforcement thing. She’ll mostly be getting coffee for dispatch, I think, but occasionally she’ll get to shadow a female detective, so she’s pretty stoked.”
“Sounds cool,” Scully said. Then, “...I don’t think she likes me.”
“She was just upset last night. Totally my fault. She’ll come around.”
Mulder plopped down next to her and poured a bowl of cereal for himself.
“What’s on the docket for today?” he asked her. He poured milk into his bowl slowly until it submerged the flakes like a rising tide.
“Med school applications,” she said, her mouth half full.
“And who are the lucky schools?” he asked.
“Stanford, UCLA, Michigan State and Columbia,” she said, “they’re amongst the few still accepting applications for this fall.”
“Not Georgetown?” he said, casually.
“Georgetown, too,” she said, “I love it here. I would love to stay. I do plan to apply, but…”
“But?”
“But when I inquired, they said their spots were filled and that they rarely make exceptions.”
“Too bad,” he said.
“Too bad,” she agreed.
They ate the rest of the meal in silence.
It had taken days to fill them out, but Scully had left the post office after mailing her applications and felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She was finally going after what she herself wanted and felt jubilant at the prospect. For too long she’d let other people’s expectations for her guide her life. She walked down the sidewalk feeling lighter than air.
The dull roar of an engine on the street pulled her attention and she turned to see Mulder sitting on his motorcycle next to her, pulling off his helmet.
“I thought that was you,” he said with a smile, which she returned. “You get all your applications out?”
She nodded, grinning.
“You make it out of the local police station without having to post bail?” she asked with a smirk.
“Just barely,” he said, then reached back and unsecured a second helmet, holding it up to her. “Want to go for a ride?” he asked.
She looked at the bike skeptically. Motorcycles had always freaked her out a bit.
“Come on, Scully, it’s a Saturday, live a little.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Why not?” she said.
“Atta girl,” he said, grinning. He helped her fit the helmet over her head, securing it under her chin. He lifted her visor before putting his own helmet on, and said “Hold on tight, okay?”
He mounted the bike and she climbed up after him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. The leather jacket he wore was warm from being in the sun.
He kick-started the bike and it roared to life beneath her. She felt a thrill as he pulled away from the curb and picked up speed, the wind teasing the hairs on her bare arms. She wondered if Mulder could feel her heartbeat as it pounded against her chest and into his back.
They crossed the river and he merged onto the parkway, the bike surging forward like a tracer round. She rested her helmeted head onto his back and watched the city give way to forest, neither knowing nor caring about their destination. After about ten minutes, he pulled off into a the small parking lot of a scenic overlook, the brown water of the Potomac rushing past them at the base of the hill they were perched on. He cut the engine and she slid off the side of the bike, reaching up to take her helmet off.
Mulder followed, his gaze piercing as she shook out her hair. She set the helmet on the seat, and he did the same. She turned to look around.
“This is pretty,” she said, “I’ve never been out here.”
“Me neither,” he laughed, and shook the jacket off his shoulders.
The June day was approaching full heat and the breeze that came up off the river was muggy and rich. They walked a little way past the lot and into the shade of several large maple trees. There was a neat rock retaining wall that ran the length of the lookout, and they each hopped over and sat down on it. Far below them the river purled off toward the Chesapeake, dotted occasionally with a kayak or sailboat. The air held the decadent smell of petrichor from rain the day before.
She looked over at Mulder, at his strong profile, the chiseled set of his jaw. He turned to her and caught her looking. Smiled.
The heather grey tee shirt he wore looked overwashed and soft. She had to stop herself from reaching out and rubbing it between her fingers.
“How’s Samantha doing today?” she asked.
“Better,” he said, relieved. “She’s thrilled with this internship. It sounds like she’s really taken to it.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Scully said.
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
“Hey, when do you start your new job?” she asked.
“Monday,” he said, his eyes wide. “They already have patients on the schedule.”
She put her hand on his shoulder.
“You’re about to be a real live grown-up, Mulder,” she said, “you ready?”
“Do I look ready?” he asked, pushing his shoulders back. If he’d been wearing a tie, he would have straightened it.
She turned to face him. Took the opportunity to look her fill.
“Mm… yes,” she finally said.
“There was a hesitation there, Scully,” he said playfully.
“There was no hesitation,” she played back.
“There was a decidedly skeptical hesitation.”
She pursed her lips.
“Listen, far be it from me to undermine your confidence…” she started.
“But?” he led.
“But don’t most grown men own furniture?” she teased, bumping her shoulder into his companionably.
He tilted his head back, busted.
“If that’s how you feel about it, how about you come shopping with me tomorrow?” he said.
“For furniture?” she laughed.
“That doesn’t sound like a good time?” he deadpanned.
“Let’s just go now,” she laughed again, “we’ll stack it on the handlebars and taunt the traffic cops.”
“You joke, but I’m serious. Come furniture shopping with me tomorrow.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“I guess it depends,” she finally said, “will we need Frohike’s truck?”
He laughed.
“How about if I borrow the truck, but not the Frohike?”
“Deal,” she said, “And all joking aside, is there any reason in particular we can’t go this evening? I mean, I’m free, and I’d hate for a newly minted grown-up like you to develop back problems from another night on the floor.”
She bumped into him again, enjoying their repartee. His face got an odd look to it.
“Actually, I have plans tonight,” he said.
“Oh?” she said, “hot date?”
“I don’t know about hot,” he said, “but I do have a date.”
She felt her stomach drop, then remembered telling him I’m thrilled to be single right now. She felt a small moment of grief.
“Oh, do tell,” she said, sounding entirely too cheerful.
“The uh, detective that Sam is shadowing, asked me out today. I felt kind of cornered, couldn’t say no.”
Mild relief.
“Aggressive, huh?” she said.
“Something like that,” he answered. “Anyway, are we on for tomorrow? I’ll buy you lunch.”
“Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse,” she said.
The warm breeze sloughed through the trees and settled between them.
XxXxXxXxXxX
True to his word, after breakfast, Mulder went out and rolled back an hour later with Frohike’s truck, but not Frohike.
“He wanted me to pass along his love,” Mulder said when Scully hopped into the cab.
“Is that all?” she asked, pulling the seatbelt across her lap.
“Definitely not,” Mulder said, “but I value my life.”
The truck was a late ’70s Chevy Silverado in metallic brown. It had a manual transmission and only got AM radio. A corner of the floor was rusted out and she could see the road flying beneath them.
“What’s our first stop?” she asked, fiddling with the radio to try to get a signal.
“I’m thinking bed,” he said, “in deference to my old man body.”
She smiled and the truck rumbled on, the transmission tacky. He had to kick the clutch at every stop light.
“Know where you’re going?”
He tapped the side of his head.
“Got it all mapped out.”
The only radio station that would come in was transmitting a baseball game, so they listened to it in silence for a few minutes. Finally her curiosity got the better of her.
“So,” she said, “how was the date?”
“Not bad, actually,” he replied, stealing a look at her as if to gauge her reaction.
She made sure to keep her expression neutral, pressed the vee of her toes hard into her flip-flops.
“Oh?”
“She’s intense, but funny,” he said. “Not sure if I see it going anywhere, but she asked if I wanted to go out again.”
She could feel his eyes on her and kept staring straight ahead.
“You should go,” she said. Stop talking, Dana.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” No.
“Oh, we’re coming up on the mattress store,” he said, “see if you can see a parking lot.”
They walked into the mattress store, eyes practically bugging out of their heads. It looked like close to an acre of nothing but bare white mattresses as far as the eye could see. There were SALE! Posters hanging above almost every section and cardboard cutouts of showcase models leaning against every third mattress.
Mulder took a step back.
“I’ll keep sleeping on the floor,” he said, “nothing is worth this.”
Scully grabbed his arm.
“Mulder,” she said, “you need, what? A bed, dresser and desk?”
He nodded.
“Then we’re practically a third of the way there. Come on.”
She pulled him along like a recalcitrant toddler.
It took about 10.2 seconds before they were met with a smiling salesman. By that point, Mulder seemed to have recovered.
The man was short, balding and entirely too chipper for his own good.
“You and the missus looking for a new mattress?” the man asked, “You know mattresses expire after eight years.”
She opened her mouth to correct him, but Mulder grabbed her arm.
“Yes,” he said, “the missus and I are looking for a new mattress. You have any newlywed discounts?”
The salesman waggled his eyebrows.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
He marched off ahead of them and Scully hissed “what are you doing?”
“Trying to save a little money,” he whispered back, “go with it.”
The salesman stopped in front of a row.
“Now, this here line is your best bet for what we like to call active sleepers,” at that he gave an exaggerated wink, “you folks looking for soft or firm?”
“Oh, my wife likes it firm,” Mulder said. Scully rolled her eyes.
The salesman moved to the end of the row.
“These are going to be the firmest on this end, getting softer as you move to the left. Why don’t you two lay down on a few and see if any of these speak to you.”
A new customer walked into the store then, and the salesman excused himself and ambled over to greet them.
“I’m not going to speak to you if you keep that up, Mulder,” she said.
“Keep what up?”
“My wife likes it firm,” she repeated in a low voice.
“What?” he said, all innocence.
“I’m leaving,” she said and he grabbed her wrist as she turned.
“Wait,” he said, laughing, “I’m sorry. He’s just lobbing these softballs out there, and I gotta take a swing. I’ll stop.”
She gave him a look.
“I will,” he said, putting on a straight face, still holding onto her arm, “just help me pick out a bed and we can get out of here. Scout’s honor.”
She relented and they cautiously sat on a few mattresses before getting comfortable. Eventually they were sprawled out next to each other, debating the merits of quilt-top vs foam.
The salesman finally came back over.
“Y’all have any questions?” he asked.
“Just one,” Mulder said, propping himself up onto his elbows. The salesman looked at him expectantly, “is that newlywed discount still on the table?”
XxXxXxXxXxX
They pulled into the parking space behind the building a few hours later hauling several large boxes containing the unassembled pieces of a matching set of a dresser, desk and nightstand. The bed would be delivered later that afternoon.
They were able to haul them up the two flights of stairs with a minimal amount of arguing which both pleased and surprised Scully.
They dumped them on the floor of the living room before plopping wearily onto the sofa.
“Oh God,” Mulder said, eyeing the mess of cardboard before them, “We have to assemble them.”
“What do you mean ‘we?’”
Mulder looked at her, his lips almost pouting and she laughed.
“Oh come on, it’s not like you have to build them from scratch, they give you directions,” she said, “If you’re lucky, they’re even in English.”
“You’re making this worse.”
“And enjoying myself immensely,” she said, “Do you have any tools?”
“Do you?” he asked.
“Of course, I do,” she said.
“Please grant a moment of silence for the death of my masculinity,” he said, dropping his head.
She swatted his shoulder.
“Stop being patriarchal,” she said, “I’ll help. Let me grab my tools.”
Three hours later they were drinking iced tea on the small loveseat on their balcony while the sun sunk slowly below the horizon, the cotton candy clouds a riot of color above them.
“I’m never moving again,” Mulder said, “tell Ellen she can sleep on the couch when she gets back. Or she can sleep with you. I’m done.”
Scully chuckled and wiggled down lower into the cushions. The temperature had dropped with the sun and she was still wearing a tank top and shorts, her feet bare.
“You cold?” Mulder asked her.
She shrugged.
“A little,” she said.
“Here,” he said, and pulled off the sweatshirt he was wearing, handing it over to her.
“Thanks,” she said, pulling it over her head. It was still warm from his body and smelled like sandalwood and a little like sweat. She wanted to pull it up to her nose and give it a big whiff, but she resisted. When he put his arms back down, he rested one on the back of the loveseat behind her. He wasn’t touching her, but she could maybe tell he wanted to.
“You nervous about tomorrow?” she asked.
“A little,” he said, smiling.
He had a tee shirt on under his sweatshirt, and it was riding up a tiny bit, the skin of his hip showing. He took a sip of tea, and she wondered for a moment what he might taste like.
“You’re going to do great,” she said.
He turned to look at her, serious.
“Thanks, Scully.”
“Don’t mention it,” she said dismissively.
“I mean, for everything.”
The moment felt weighty. She could practically feel the heat from the skin on his arm above her, and knew if she touched it it would be warm and exquisitely soft.
“Tell me another random and arcane fact,” she said, settling further into the loveseat, the collar from his sweatshirt brushing her jaw.
“In New York City,” he said, turning his face to hers, “on Broadway medians between 63rd and 76th streets, biologists discovered a new species of ant.”
She raised her eyebrows at that.
“They call it the ManhattAnt,” he smiled.
“Naturally,” she smiled back.
If she let herself, she could fall in love with him; absolutely, irreversibly. It’d be as easy as taking a breath.
He drained the rest of his tea and stood. She sat up.
“You want your sweatshirt back?” she said, her hand on the hem.
He waved her back down.
“Keep it,” he said, “I know where you live.” He then jerked a thumb in the direction of his bedroom. “Gonna try out that new bed,” he said, and opened his mouth like he was about to say something else. He shook the ice left over in the glass and looked down at it. “I… I had a good day today, Scully. Thank you.”
She gave him a close lipped smile.
“Night,” he said, drifting slowly off toward his bedroom.
“Night,” she said back.
She waited until his bedroom door closed before going inside. She slept in his sweatshirt.
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Peek a Boo
Pairing: Chris EvansxBlack Reader
⚠️: None🥰!
This was the first and last time you would be flying with just your three year old and no other help. From carrying him everywhere and trying to make sure you kept up with all of your belongings your body felt as if you had run a marathon. Luckily though, you only had to get through one more flight before you could finally rest in your bed and sleep for as long as you wanted.
Well, as long as your son permitted you to sleep that is.
You couldn’t complain too much though from how well behaved he was being. He didn’t cry on either flight you guys were on and busied himself with cartoons on your tablet, similar to how he was now sitting beside you.
“Do either of you need anything?,” the older flight attendant asks slightly leaning towards your direction.
“Um no I think we’re fine, thank you though.”
“You’re welcome! If you need anything just let me know,” she smiles before making her way down the aisle asking the other travelers the same.
“Mama, lo lo.” Lightly kicking his feet, he points towards the overhead compartment across the aisle.
“Ok sweetie, stay in your seat while I get your pillow,” you smile before getting up from your middle seat.
Waiting for you to retrieve his Paw Patrol pillow pet, he started to return his attention back to the episode in front of him. That is until he saw a plate of chocolate chip cookies a few seats ahead.
He knew he probably shouldn’t move, but it was his favorite cookie! What was he supposed to do, let it escape from his tiny fingers?
Removing his headphones and placing your tablet on your seat, he slides down from the blue cushion under him excitedly jogging to the white dish calling his name.
Wide smile spread across his chubby face, he takes the cookie closest to him before nibbling off a chocolate chip perfectly placed on the edge.
“That’s a good looking cookie you got there,” a male voice speaks making the toddler look up, the sugary snack still close to his mouth.
“You know, I had four cookies that looked just like that on this plate but it seems I’ve lost one. Do you know what happened to it?”
Shifting from one foot to the other, he shrugs before grinning as if he was Swiper the fox.
“Theo! I told you to stay in your seat love,” you try to whisper hurriedly picking up your son.
Now standing in front of you in his baseball cap, simple grey tee, and jeans, you immediately feel captured by the familiar blue eyes welcoming you to stay longer.
Shirt clinging to his muscles and bright smile making your heart melt, you couldn’t believe out of all the people in this world your son had to steal a cookie from him.
“Um I’m so sorry about this. We didn’t mean to disturb your flight.”
“No don’t apologize! You guys didn’t disturb me I was just watching a movie,” he lightly chuckles.
“Theo, did you take that from him? That’s not nice, remember you ask first,” you scold as he hangs his head holding out the uneaten half to the stranger. “What do you say?”
“Sowy...”
“Aww it’s ok Theo. Honestly I don’t need this many anyway so if it’s ok with your...um?”
“I’m his mom.”
“If it’s ok with your mom, how about you have another one?,” he smiles making Theo perk up looking towards you and hoping you’ll say yes.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to take away from your food like that.”
“No I insist, and if you want one you can have one too.”
“Fank you!,” Theo grins with mouth full of the rest of his cookie as he picks up another one causing both you and the generous man to laugh.
“You’re welcome! How about you mom?” Turning his attention back to you, frantic butterflies returned to your stomach as you felt yourself get flustered. You didn’t want to take it, but seeing that you were starving and those travel peanuts were not doing the job, you accepted his offer hesitantly removing the cookie from the plate.
“Thank you, that was really nice of you Chris.”
“You’re welcome, and you’re a fan?”
“Yea but then again who isn’t?,” you reply making him shyly look down as he rubs the back of his neck, small chuckle escaping his lips.
“Ma’am you need to return to your section,” a male flight attendant speaks walking up to the three of you. “Sorry for the disturbance sir.”
“No it’s ok they’re with me,” Chris replies, both you and the flight attendant looking at him surprised.
“Very well, but you only have one empty seat next to you and you’ll need two for the both of them to stay.”
“I can just go back to my seat, plus all our stuff is there so I really shouldn’t leave it. Thanks again for everything though,” you softly smile turning to walk away.
Not wanting to leave his new friend, Theo lightly whines as he turns to wave at Chris, hands still littered with the small crumbs of his snack.
“Alright no more exploring ok?,” you sigh as you sit him down handing him his tablet and pillow. “I don’t need you running into Beyoncé or any other celebrities.”
———
Only an hour left of your flight, you tried to focus on the words in your book, but could only think of the encounter from moments prior. Everything from his smile to the warm aura he emitted now had a permanent place in your mind seemingly pushing away all flags saying how you definitely should not catch feelings.
Distracting you from your small internal conflict, Theo giggles as he leans over the armrest peeking back and forth in the aisle as if playing with someone. Sitting up higher so you could look over the seats above you, you see Chris making funny faces towards your son while peeking back and forth as well.
As if sensing your eyes, he looks up at you adorably smiling from ear to ear giving a small wave.
“Dangit Theo why’d you have to be so friendly? And why’d he have to be so nice?!,” you thought as you waved back, mentally in disbelief at the situation you were in.
Sitting back down in his seat, you figured the two were done with their game. Peeking ahead again, you’re left slightly confused at his empty spot and honestly disappointed that you didn’t see his face.
“This seat taken?,” you hear making you jump while your son excitedly claps his hands together.
“Play!!”
“Yea buddy we can play as long as your mom is ok with it,” he smiles sitting in the empty seat next to you. “Also I realized that you know me but I don’t know you. Well nothing other than you have an adorable son.”
“As long as it’s nothing dangerous that’s fine,” you softly laugh as Theo climbs into your lap. “And thanks, I’m Y/N.”
“That’s a beautiful name,” he smiles, Theo lightly tapping on his hands anxiously ready to resume their game.
* 4 years later*
“Happy Birthday dear daddy, Happy Birthday to you!,” you and Theo sing as you light the candles on the circular cake in front of him.
“Aw thank you!,” Chris smiles kissing Theo’s cheek before meeting your lips. “You guys didn’t have to do all this for me, especially with everything going on.”
“Just because we’re stuck inside doesn’t mean you can’t have a cake on your birthday. That’s the least everyone should get.” Excitedly tapping your arm, your son waits for you to nod your head before quickly dashing up to his room to retrieve his gift.
“And speaking of birthdays, we have a couple presents for you.”
“Presents too?! You guys went all out,” he replies bringing you closer to him as you wrap your arms around his waist.
“Again it’s your birthday love! It shouldn’t be any other way.”
“Ok I got it!,” Theo says out of breath as he hands Chris the large envelope with the word ‘Daddy!” on it.
“Thank you! What’s this, tickets to Hawaii?”
“Look in it and see!,” Theo grins sitting on the barstool beside him. Breaking the seal, he removes a few papers along with a smaller envelope with his name on it in your handwriting. “Mommy wrote the letter for me with everything I wanted to say.”
“Happy Birthday Daddy! I hope it’s good and I want you to know I love you so much! Thank you for always helping me and playing with me. You’re the best dad in the world! I hope it’s okay with you that I want to be an Evans like mommy and my future brother or sister so I won’t be left out. Love you like cookies- no a million BILLION times more than cookies!! ~Theo”
Tears in his eyes, he sees the forms under the letter that read “Adoption” with Theo’s full name printed on it along with other information waiting for his signature.
“Of course you can buddy,” he sniffs as he picks up Theo to hug him tight. “Wait future brother or sister?”
Remembering the smaller envelope from you, he quickly opens it to see an ultrasound picture showing a small dot seemingly enclosed in a bubble.
“Remember that one night before all of this and you said if we had to be on quarantine it would probably get us in trouble? Looks like you were right,” you softly giggle wiping away tears of your own. Eyes and cheeks fully red, he deeply kisses your lips before pulling you into his other side.
“Hopefully all this didn’t overwhelm you.”
“Are you kidding? These are the best birthday gifts I could ever receive! I can’t wait to tell everyone the Evans’ family is getting bigger,” he smiles, thankful for what a plate of cookies and a friendly toddler had brought him.
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