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atths--twice · 1 year

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Faith and Hedy

Faith has been chosen as star of the week at preschool. You know Mulder is just as excited as she is with this news. ❤️ Number 54 in the family series.

March 16, 2023 9:30 p.m.

“Scully,” Mulder said, as he walked into the office and sat down on the overstuffed gray chair. “We need to talk about something.”

“What is it?” she asked, turning from the laptop to face him. “Is everything okay?”

“I just got an email from the school,” he said and she frowned looking over her shoulder at the laptop.

“I didn’t see an email,” she said. “But I haven’t checked it in a few minutes. Is everything alright?” She looked back at him, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

“Well…” He sighed and she drew in deep breath.

“Oh… it’s not something awful is it? Please don’t say it’s a virus. They already had the foot and mouth warning and I can’t take-”

“No. It’s not that.”

“Mulder…”

“Faith is going to be the star of the week,” he said with a grin. “They wanted us to know because it involves bringing home the class stuffed animal and taking pictures with it while she has it and then putting them into the class book, that will also come home with her, telling about what we did while it was with us.”

Scully stared at him and then turned back to her laptop with a shake of her head.

“What-”

“Mulder,” she said as she opened her email and clicked on the message from the school, reading it with a sigh. “You need to work on your delivery of good news as opposed to what could be a detrimental situation for all of us.”

“I thought you’d be happy. Faith has been wanting this for weeks now. She talks about it all the time.”

“I am happy,” she said, turning toward him again. “But you scared the shit out of me. I thought something awful was happening. Good news needs to be shared in a different way.” She raised her eyebrows and he smiled.

“Yeah. I suppose I probably could have had a better approach.”

“Probably?” she scoffed and he laughed, rising from the chair, coming closer to kiss her. But she pulled back, narrowing her eyes at him, then turned her head so he could kiss her cheek instead. “Oh, it’s like that is it?”

“It is for right now as I’m still imagining all the horrible things that could have been wrong.”

“Be more positive, Scully. See the light and not the darkness,” he teased and when she turned her head, a sarcastic comment most likely at the ready, he kissed her quickly on the lips and then jumped back before she could do anything.

“You dick,” she laughed, shaking her head. He winked and walked out of the room, laughing as a small couch pillow flew out behind him.

__________

“Daddy! Daddy!” Faith yelled as he walked into the classroom to pick her up the next afternoon. She ran to him, her smile huge. “Daddy! I get to be the star! I’m the star and I get to bring Hedy home with me.”

“Hedy?”

“Hedy the hedgehog! That’s her name, remember? I get to bring her home and have her for a whole week. That’s seven days, Daddy,” she said, as he picked her up and smiled, the shamrocks on her green headband bouncing.

“That’s right. So you’re the star of the week?”

“Yeah!” She threw her arms around his neck, squeezing him tightly as he closed his eyes and hugged her back.

“That’s fantastic news, my love. I know you’ve been wanting this for a long time.”

“Mr. Mulder?”

Mulder opened his eyes and smiled at Faith’s teacher Miss Cole. She smiled back as she held the hedgehog, a large book, and a manilla folder.

“As you heard, Faith has been selected as our star of the week.”

“Yes, I did. We’re very excited.”

“Very, very excited,” Faith said, smiling and nodding at Miss Cole.

“Good, I’m very glad,” she said with a small chuckle. “This is Hedy’s book where you may add pictures, stories, stickers, drawings- whatever you’d like to do. Within reason, of course.” She gave Mulder a look and he nodded with an understanding smile. “Please only use four pages maximum, so we will have space for all of our other friends.”

“We’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time. Those pages will be filled in no time,” Mulder assured her.

“Wonderful. I’m excited to see what you will do with Hedy,” Miss Cole said, handing the hedgehog to Faith, who grinned as she took it, squeezing it happily.

“Honey, can you go get your backpack and stuff from your cubby while I take this stuff from Miss Cole?” Mulder asked Faith and she nodded. He set her down and she ran off to get her things.

“I want you to know,” Miss Cole said. “Every time Hedy is returned to us, she is washed, dried, and then placed on the shelf where we can see her, but not touch her. I fully understand if you also want to wash her, but I just wanted you to be aware that we do wash her when she is returned.”

“Thank you,” Mulder said with a nod. “That’s good to know and I’m sure she will also be receiving a wash once we’re home.”

“Completely understandable,” Miss Cole said as she smiled, looking down at the stuff she still held. “Here is everything else that you’ll need and instructions on what Faith gets to do when she comes back to school next week. I know we sent you an email, but it’s good to have a physical copy as well.”

“Thank you,” Mulder said, taking everything from her as he saw Faith talking to Sadie and showing her the hedgehog in her arms. “She’s really been excited for her turn with Hedy.”

“She’s a sweet little girl,” Miss Cole said, looking at Faith with a smile. “Always so kind and curious. I’m glad she’s so excited.”

Mulder smiled proudly at the praise bestowed upon Faith, nodding his head in agreement.

“Daddy!” Faith said, running back to him as she called goodbye to Sadie. “Can we take Hedy to the park? I think she will like the swings.”

“Sure we can. You ready?”

“Yes! Bye, Miss Cole. We’re going to take Hedy to the park.”

“Have fun with her, Faith. I can’t wait to see the pictures you will add to the book.” Miss Cole gave her a side hug and booped Hedy on the nose. “See you soon, Hedy.”

“Bye, Miss Cole,” Faith said, waving Hedy’s small foot, smiling at Miss Cole.

“Bye, Faith. Goodbye, Mr. Mulder.” She nodded at them and walked back to the other children.

“Alright! You ready to go try out some swings at the park, Hedy?” Mulder asked, shifting the things in his hands to take Faith’s backpack from her.

“Yeah!” Faith shouted, dancing the hedgehog happily in the air.

______________

“These are so cute,” Scully said, as they sat on the couch later that evening. She was looking through Mulder’s camera roll after Faith had gone to bed with Hedy, who had been washed and dried when they arrived at home. “She had a good first day. Mulder… you climbed up that small enclosed ladder? That was very ambitious of you considering that you nearly got stuck last time.”

“That was only because I had the backpack on,” he said, smiling as she looked at him. “I didn’t have it this time and well… I made it.”

“Barely, I’m sure,” she chuckled, scrolling to the next picture.

“Yeah, but look how great that picture turned out. She’s so beautiful, Scully. And kind and curious, Miss Cole said earlier today.”

“Did she? Oh, I love this one. The way she’s looking at you. God, she is so beautiful.”

“Like you,” he said, watching Scully look at Faith, running her fingers over the screen.

“Mmm,” she hummed, selecting pictures and sending them to her phone.

“Scully, I added them all to our shared account. You don’t need to do that,” he said.

“You always say that and then I find pictures in your phone that I’ve never seen before. And then when I am scrolling through them, you tell me that next time you will be sure to remember, but you don’t.”

“Whatever,” he said with a smile, knowing full well that she was right.

“I’d rather cover my bases than miss out.” She handed his phone back to him as she picked up her own and looked at the pictures that had arrived. “There. Now I have them.”

“Mmm,” he hummed, echoing her earlier response, smiling as he changed his phone's wallpaper to a picture of Faith, Hedy’s head poking out from the top of her jacket, as he pushed her on a swing.

“What other plans were you thinking of doing while we have Hedy with us?”

“Well… I’m glad you asked,” Mulder said, opening his notes app on his phone and showing her what he had jotted down.

“Oh… you’ve already made a list. It’s serious,” she said, scooting down a little and snuggling into him as he began to read her his list of ideas.

______________

Saturday, they went to the library for story hour, as well as for the planned arts and crafts activity. When everyone was seated in the reading room, Miss Lauren, the librarian, welcomed them and asked how they all were doing, Faith raised her hand.

“Yes?” Miss Lauren asked with a smile.

Faith stood up from her spot on the floor and walked up beside her. She turned to the other children and held Hedy out in front of her.

“Mulder,” Scully whispered as she grabbed his arm, her eyes huge as she looked at him.

“This is Hedy. I got her from my school. She’s a hedgehog and she’s excited to hear the stories.”

“Oh my God,” Mulder breathed, taking out his phone and quickly snapping some pictures.

“Well, that’s fantastic,” Miss Lauren said. “I’m so glad Hedy is here with us today. I’m sure she will really enjoy the stories that have been selected.”

“She will. She likes to hear all kinds of stories.”

“Good,” Miss Lauren said with a smile. “Thank you for sharing her with us, Miss…?”

“Faith.”

“Faith. That’s such a beautiful name,” Miss Lauren said, touching Faith’s back. “Thank you for sharing Hedy with us. Now if you take your seat, we can start reading the stories.”

“Okay,” Faith said, grinning at her and then sitting back down, Hedy held in her lap.

Miss Lauren smiled and looked over at them, shaking her head when Scully mouthed I’m sorry to her. Reaching for the first book, Miss Lauren began to read and Mulder showed Scully the pictures he had taken.

“God, but she’s adorable,” she whispered and he laughed silently, putting his phone away and watching Faith as she listened to the story.

_______________

Sunday afternoon, they went to Skinner and Rachel’s to celebrate Rachel’s birthday, which was coming up on Wednesday. Faith excitedly showed Hedy to everyone, telling them about being star of the week and getting to take care of Hedy.

“Have you been having fun with her?” Rachel asked as she held Hedy and exclaimed over how special it was for Faith to have her.

“Yes. We went to the library yesterday and she had pancakes with me this morning. She liked the syrup best. She said that it’s sticky like honey. Hedgehogs like honey, Raycho.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that, thank you for telling me, Faith,” Rachel said, handing Hedy back and winking at Mulder and Scully.

The twins each got to hold Hedy, Faith telling them about her, showing them her eyes and little feet. When Jacob put one of the feet in his mouth, Faith gasped and took it from him gently.

“No, Jacob. She doesn’t like that. Don’t put her in your mouth,” Faith said, wiping off Hedy’s foot.

“Maybe we put her up where the twins can’t get to her?” Scully suggested, squatting down to be at Faith’s level, and Faith frowned as she contemplated it.

“No. I will hold her and they can touch her, but not put her in their mouths. I want to share her, but not all the time.”

Scully stared at Mulder as she stood up, shaking her head in disbelief. He laughed quietly as he turned his attention to Faith, who was indeed allowing the twins to touch Hedy, but not hold her.

“The things she says. The way she thinks… it amazes me,” Scully said softly.

“She’s truly becoming her own person,” he agreed, snapping pictures and shaking his head.

____________

Monday afternoon they walked over to Violet and Denis’s house to show Hedy the life-sized wooden giraffe, Jafadine, that stood in their yard.

Faith carried Hedy on her shoulders, singing a song she had learned at school, stopping every once in a while to show Hedy flowers or rocks that she found interesting, continuing with her song when she began walking again.

Scully slipped her hand into Mulder’s and squeezed gently, Bella’s leash held in her other hand.

“Remember when walks used to take so long? Her short steps and love for the same things that still give her pause, halting us as we walked?” Scully asked, letting out a deep sigh.

“I do,” he agreed, squeezing her hand and glancing at her with a small smile. “Those days and the days of necessary seclusion seem so far away and yet also like it was yesterday.”

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“But you know,” he said, letting go of her hand and putting his arm around her shoulders. “It’s like that video from ticky tock that Rachel showed you yesterday-”

“Do you mean TikTok?” she asked with a chuckle.

“Whatever it’s called,” he replied, pulling her closer. “That video she showed you, the one that made both of you cry, about how the baby you loved is replaced with a toddler you love just as much and then that toddler is replaced with a child and so on until all versions of the child leave all at once.” He stopped walking as the realization of the words hit him differently than they had when he had overheard them yesterday. “Oh… now I know why you were crying.”

“Yeah, thanks for the reminder. That was super great of you,” she said, wiping at her eyes.

“Ohhhhhh, Hedy, I love you. You’re the beeeeeest hedgehog in the whole entire universe,” Faith sang, spinning around with Hedy still on her shoulders.

They watched her dance around the dirt road in purple shoes, rainbow leggings under the sparkly green tutu she had worn on Saint Patrick’s Day, a pink fuzzy hoodie, her hair in two long ponytails, and they each sighed simultaneously.

“That day is far off, Mulder. So very far off. Let’s not taint today with those thoughts.”

“You said taint,” he whispered and she started to laugh, which broke through the sadness and brought them back. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him, Bella whining beside them.

“Mommy. Daddy. Come on, Hedy wants to see Jafadine. She’s never seen a giraffe before,” Faith called to them.

“We’re coming, honey,” Mulder said, kissing Scully’s forehead as they stepped apart. “Don’t want to keep Miss Hedy waiting too much longer.”

Taking Scully’s hand again, they continued their walk, Faith holding Hedy high up when Jafadine came into view.

Pictures were taken with Jafadine and all the other wooden animals hidden throughout the yard, as well as with Violet and Denis themselves. They grinned happily as Hedy rested on Faith’s head while she stood between them, making a silly face.

They stayed for dinner, Faith needing to be carried home, tired from a long day of fun, Hedy safe and secure in the pocket of her hoodie.

______________

Tuesday they prepared the star of the week poster, writing down the answers that Faith gave them to the questions asked on the paper.

My name is: Faith Katherine Mulder I am: four years old My birthday is: on Halloween… ooooooo I have: blue eyes and dark brown hair My favorite color: pink and purple My favorite food: spaghetti and watermelon My favorite toy: the alien with the pink belly, the blue dragon, and the pretend kitchen My pets are: a cat named Grey, a dog named Bella, and lots of fish- but they don’t all have names. My family is: Mommy, Daddy, Unco, Raycho, Jacob and Elizabeth. I am happy: when I am with my family and my animals

“I think these answers give a wonderful description as to who you are, Faithy,” Mulder said, adding a family picture, all of them standing together in the snow at the Christmas tree farm, in the designated spot.

“What’s a describtion?” she asked, as she looked at the other pictures he had added: Faith dressed up in her alien costume on her second birthday, Bella and Grey sleeping together, Faith eating spaghetti, her face very messy, Faith helping the twins open their gifts on their first birthday, and Faith on her own, sitting on the porch swing staring out into the distance.

“Description,” he said, putting emphasis on the p and smiling at her. “It means telling someone about something. For instance, how would you describe Bella to me?”

Faith looked at Bella who was currently lying on the floor with Grey next to her, kneading softly into her side.

“Bella is a dog. She’s black and has… one, two, three, four legs and a long tail. She gives me kisses when she’s happy,” she said, looking at Mulder and smiling.

“That’s a great description,” he said with an answering smile.

“You have green eyes and brown hair, Daddy,” she said, leaning closer to him, searching his face as she touched his arm gently. “You’re tall and strong because you can carry me and Mommy. You’re nice and you love me.”

“Yes, Faithy,” he whispered, pulling her to him and closing his eyes as he held her close. “Yes, I do love you. Very much.”

“I love you too, Daddy.”

When she pulled back, he glanced over at Scully who had her phone pointed at them. She smiled, her eyes shining, and nodded as his phone beeped beside him.

As Faith got down and walked over to Bella and Grey, he opened the message. Letting out a deep sigh, he looked at the pictures of him and Faith staring at each other intently and then hugging.

“Thank you,” he whispered, glancing up at Scully. She nodded as she slipped her phone into her pocket and he looked down at the pictures again, adding them to his camera roll.

____________

Wednesday, after picking Faith up from school, he took her to get something to eat.

“How was your day, my love?” he asked, taking a french fry from the basket, dipping it in ketchup, and taking a bite.

“It was good,” Faith said, adjusting Hedy on the table, making sure the straw to her small glass reached her mouth.

“That’s good,” Mulder said, smiling as he watched her. “The kids liked learning about you?”

“Yup. I got to be the line leader and to pick the after snack activity.”

“Wow, sounds like you had a great day. What activity did you pick?”

“Painting. I painted a sun and it’s wearing sunglasses,” she said with a giggle, looking at him and then taking a french fry for herself.

“Well, that makes sense since the sun is hot and very bright.”

“Yeah,” Faith said, looking at Hedy. “How many more days do I get to have her?”

“Two. You have to bring her back next time you go to school on Friday.”

“That’s not so many days,” she said with a sigh.

“No,” he said, trying not to smile. “But by the time you take her back, you will have had her for seven days, remember?”

“Yeah.”

“And we did a lot with her. We’ll have to start writing it all down and putting the pictures in the book tonight.”

“Will you take a picture of us now?” she asked, picking Hedy up and holding her as she pretended to feed her a french fry.

“Of course,” he answered, taking out his phone and snapping some pictures. She smiled when she saw them, showing them to Hedy as well.

When they left, Faith made sure to ask if Hedy could also have one of the balloons the restaurant offered, asking Mulder to tie it to her small paw. He obliged and on the outside bench, letting Faith borrow his sunglasses, he took pictures of them with their matching balloons, Faith laughing as she held the sunglasses to her face.

______________

“It’s our last night with Hedy. What would you like to do with her?” Scully asked, when they had come back from the afternoon spent with Rachel and the twins at an indoor play space.

Jacob and Elizabeth had stayed mostly in the area for smaller children, but Faith ran around all over, playing with everything that drew her eye. All the while, Hedy had gone with her in the little backpack Faith wore, her little head poking out through the zipper.

“I don’t know,” Faith said with a sigh. “I don’t want her to go. I like having her with me.”

“I know, honey,” Scully said, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. “But it’s time for someone else to have fun with her, just like it was time for you to have fun with her.”

“I know,” Faith said, burrowing into Scully’s arms, who looked up at Mulder with a smile.

“Oh… I got it,” he said, snapping his fingers. “I just thought of something that I don’t think Hedy has done with us yet, maybe even ever.”

“What?” Faith asked, her voice muffled.

“She hasn’t watched the stars come out while we lay on a blanket in the yard. Remember when we did that last summer?” he asked.

“It was warmer then,” Scully said, giving him a pointed look as she rubbed Faith’s back.

“It will be a little cold,” he agreed with a shrug. “But, we’ll dress warmly and bring some extra blankets with us to wait for the stars. We might even see a shooting star.”

“Do you think we will?” Faith said, sitting up to look at him, sniffling quietly.

“You never know with stars,” he said, raising his eyebrows as he smiled at her. “What do you say? You in?”

“Yeah,” she answered, grinning and nodding her head.

“Then let’s get busy gathering all the things we will need.”

Fifteen minutes later, he was putting down a large tarp that had been in the shed, heavy rocks holding it in place. Three thick yoga mats were rolled out, large sleeping bags were zipped together, and pillows and extra blankets were added to their makeshift bed.

Popcorn and bottles of water were brought out and once everyone was ready, the lights inside and out were turned off and they lay together in the sleeping bags, blankets on top of them, waiting to watch the stars come out.

Faith, lying between them, leaned her head against Mulder’s arm and set Hedy on his chest, lying on her back so she could look up at the sky. He smiled at Scully over Faith’s head and she smiled back.

“You know what to do if you see a shooting star, right Hedy?” Mulder asked and Faith shook Hedy’s body in a no motion. “Well, if you see one flying past, you close your eyes and you quickly make a wish.”

“Can it be for anything you want?” Faith asked and Mulder nodded.

“It sure can.”

“If I see one, I’ll wish Hedy could always stay with us,” she said softly and Scully hummed. “I know I have to take her back tomorrow, but I can still wish.”

“Sure you can, baby,” Scully said, turning to look at her, smiling at Mulder.

“Okay.”

They lay there for a while, Bella running around and coming over for occasional kisses and pets, watching the sky darken and the stars twinkling. Scully pointed out the constellations to Faith, telling her about the Greek mythology attached to them.

“I like the Pegasus one,” Faith said with a yawn, snuggling close to Scully. “But Hedy likes Cassiopeia.”

She yawned again, holding Hedy tightly in her arms, and Mulder smiled at her. Scully cuddled her, humming softly, as Faith yawned again.

He looked back up at the sky, at the constellations Scully had pointed out. He found Hercules, his own favorite, and kept staring when suddenly a star shot across the sky.

“Faithy! Did you-” he asked, turning his head to look at her, but he saw that she had fallen asleep and by the looks of it, Scully was not far off. “No, you didn’t see.”

He smiled and made a wish for all of them, for continued good health and happiness.

Taking out his phone, he moved carefully, getting one last picture of the time they spent with Hedy.

_____________

He carried the big book as they walked to the classroom, Faith’s pages full of pictures and stories of what they had done with Hedy. Faith had added stickers and written her name and Hedy’s under one of the pictures, smiling at it proudly.

“You ready?” he asked, taking Faith’s hand and giving it a squeeze. She sighed as she shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, I know, honey. Hey, hang on a second.” He stopped walking and squatted down in front of her. “Mommy and I were talking last night about how much you’re going to miss Hedy.”

“I will miss her,” Faith said, looking at Hedy with sad eyes.

“I know. So Mommy and I came up with an idea, but I’ll leave the decision to you.”

“What is it?”

“Well, we were thinking that maybe we could find a hedgehog stuffie that looks like Hedy. It might not be the exact same, but it would be a hedgehog. Would you like to have one?”

“It won’t be just like her?”

“I don’t know, honey. We could look and see what we could find.”

“Like the fairy doll?” she asked. “The one I lost and we couldn’t find her again?”

“But we found one like it? Yeah. What do you think?”

“I don’t know,” she said, looking at Hedy. “I like this one, but my turn is over now.”

“It is,” he said, watching her face as she stared at Hedy.

“I don’t know, Daddy.” She raised her blue eyes to him and he smiled, kissing her forehead.

“You don’t have to give me an answer right now. How about you think about it while you’re at school today and let me know when I pick you up. Does that sound like a good plan?”

“Okay,” she said, smiling as she squeezed Hedy.

“Great,” he said, hugging her tightly for a second. Letting her go, he stood up and reached for her hand again.

They walked into the classroom and she hurried to put her stuff in her cubby as he walked over to Miss Cole to hand her the book.

“Thank you,” she said, taking it and smiling in Faith’s direction. “We’ll all look at it together during circle time and discuss the things Faith did with Hedy.”

“She really had fun with her. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled as the children began to surround her and Mulder took that at his cue to leave.

Finding Faith in the play area with Hedy, he tapped her shoulder and then squatted down when she turned to look at him.

“I’m gonna get going now, love. You have fun. Bye, Hedy. It was nice having you with us this past week.” He shook Hedy’s small foot and gave Faith a kiss. “Bye, hon.”

“Bye, Daddy. I’ll think about my decision to tell you later,” she said, her tone very serious. He fought back a smile as he nodded.

“Okay. Take your time, Faithy. Bye, love.”

“Bye bye,” she said, turning back to the play area and pouring Hedy a cup of tea.

He walked out of the classroom and back to the car, his thoughts on what Faith’s decision would be.

Sitting in the car, he looked through the Hedy photo album and smiled. It had been fun to have her and see how Faith played with and shared her with others.

Nodding, he opened an app and began to search for a stuffed hedgehog that was similar to Hedy.

In case Faith decided she wanted one, he would be ready with options for her to pick from, the thought of the happiness in her blue eyes all the motivation he needed.

#post season 11 #xf fanfic #the x files #msr #love #happy #family life: the story beyond the series #domestic life #domestic fluff #fluff fluff fluff #preschool #friends and family #celebrating their life in real time #sweetness #star of the week

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astridncs · 2 years

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The Case of Pillows

Fictober 2022—Day 14: Scully's pregnant and hogs all the pillows, leaving Mulder nothing; tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober2022; also on AO3

His neck hurt, his back ached, and over all, he felt sore. But he can't really get mad at the cause of it. Turning over to his side he sees the love of his love hog and hug all of the pillows they had in the bed. She looked comfortable and almost well-rested. He moved closer to her before pressing a kiss to her warm forehead.

"Mmmm," Scully softly moaned in her sleep, burrowing her face into one of the pillows, obvious still wanting to stay in dreamland.

Mulder chuckled and let her be. He knew how she's been missing good sleep lately. Kissing her forehead again, he left their bed and headed to the kitchen.

He's been preparing her breakfast for the last few weeks now—toast to start (in case she wasn't feeling on really eating something), some fruit they have available, and milk. And everytime she'd request for something more special, he was more than happy to delivery. Everything for his Scully and their baby.

Returning to their bedroom with a food tray in hand, he found Scully still fast asleep. She was still on her side, the pillows positioned perfectly against her to fit her comfortably. She had a leg and arm draped over at least two pillows, and it reminded Mulder that maybe it would be a good idea to buy her a pregnancy pillow—something that seemed to be more comfortable than individual ones.

Setting the tray on top of the ottoman at the end if their bed, Mulder then moved to her side of the bed. He marveled at her beauty—her cheeks were now a bit fuller, her freckles a bit more prominent, and her lips more luscious—she was 'glowing' even in her sleep. He started to softly wake her up, tapping on her shoulder or peppering kisses on her face. She stirred at the sensations, and soon began to open her eyes.

"Hi, good morning." She whispered to him, still sleepy.

"Good morning, baby." He replied, then chuckled when he watched Scully crinkle her nose at the pet name.

He pressed a kiss on her nose before telling her it was time for breakfast.

"Help me up?" She said to him.

"Always."

Mulder helped Scully sit up on the bed, arranging the pillows on her back and returning some back to his side of the bed.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

They ate breakfast in bed, then snuggled afterwards. They didn't have to be anywhere and so lounging and lazing around seemed like a nice idea.

He was about to suggest the pregnancy pillow thing to Scully when he realized she had fallen back to sleep, this time latched against him and positioned as if she was a giant pillow. He shook his head with a smile. Pregnancy pillow suggestion can wait next time, he can be her human pillow and she can have his pillows as long as she wants.

#xffictober2022 #xf fictober 2022 #fictober2022 #fictober 2022 #todayinfic #txf #mulder and scully #scully pregnant #post season 11 #txf fanfic #astridncs #skepticsculls

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ryantryinx · 1 year

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* Need some ideas, of actual dates Mickey and Ian would likely do ( After being married ). Writing something and need some ideas. Something both of them would enjoy. Any thoughts are welcome *

#Writing thoughts #PLZ HELP #Gallavich #Post season 11 #mickey milkovich #ian gallagher #shameless #Actual date

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goodshipsmulder · 1 year

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So I finally joined Tumblr and I'm feeling very old and not sure how this all works but I'm diving in anyway...I have a lot of thoughts on MSR and got to start somewhere, right? So here is a little Thing I've Decided:

Scully is pregnant *with twins* at the end of season 11. They find out at a scan, where obviously Scully knows what she's seeing before Mulder does so she gets to tell him, there's a cute moment where they both cry happy tears at how extra lucky this was etc etc. Then Mulder spends the rest of the pregnancy driving Scully slightly nuts with his ideas about twin telepathy and psychology case studies.

It turns out to be twin girls and they get to honour both their sisters in their names (I'd like to think they'd compromise on something like Samantha Scully and Melissa Mulder)

#mulder and scully #the x files #post season 11 #scully pregnancy #headcanon

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lhaagain · 2 years

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@sicktember Prompt 2 - Homesick

(Set post S11)

"I do not think," Mother Mildred said, coming to sit next to Julienne on the bench overlooking the beach. "That I have ever known anyone so disinclined to take a reprieve from their responsibilities as you are, Sister."

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#sicktember 2022 #call the midwife #fanfic #sister julienne #mother mildred #injury recovery #post season 11 #the minor matter of four broken ribs and a grazed elbow #sj does not respond well to idleness #missing people and being missed in return #melancholy

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typicalopposite · 1 year

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Because I am she of very little common sense and I (apparently) like being overwhelmed with things to do. All you Gallavich people out there I humbly present you with this

*new Gallavich WIP because I am insane*

#gallavich #ian x mickey #ian gallagher #mickey milkovich #shameless #gallavich fic #shameless fic #post season 11 #lil bit of angst #lil bit of fluff #lil bit of all the things #see this is why I try to stick to one hyperfixation at a time #let it run its course then move on to the next #now here I am with like 5…6? playing tug of war for attention

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hunsimonbrainrot · 7 months

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I need more casual Simon because HE HAS DRIP!

#adventure time simon #fionna and cake #simon petrikov #adventure time #my posts #adventure time obsidian #obsidian #adventure time season 11 #adventure time marcy and simon #marcy and simon

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mattastr0phic · 2 months

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#I hit season 11 and now everyone has to deal with it #someone has to have made this joke before but i need it on my own blog #rvb #red vs blue #grimmons #dexter grif #dick simmons #richard simmons #grif rvb #simmons rvb #rooster teeth #i will get back to scp posting soon i am just a little insane about these guys lately :.)

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destinysbounty · 9 months

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Yall remember Kai's little speech at Zane's memorial right? In particular the moment where he says, "Wherever you are, Zane, you'll always be one of us."

Got that moment in your head now? Good.

Now think about the Ice Emperor arc in season 11.

Now think about both of those things at once.

Anyway, I'll be laying on the floor having an emotional crisis if anyone needs me.

#ninjago #zane julien #zane ninjago #ns11 #ninjago season 11 #ice emperor #destiny post

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atths--twice · 1 year

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February Happenings

Valentine's Day and Scully's birthday all in the same month? How will they celebrate this year?

Oh, I have missed this little family. Every time I drop back into their lives, I feel so happy and fluffy. I hope you do too. 💓

(Story 53 in the Family Series)

February 2023

Card stock in shades of pink, red, white, and a beautiful teal, lay on the kitchen table along with paint and paintbrushes, a tray full of glue, glitter, sequins, googly eyes, letter beads, and a cup full of edger scissors.

Scully looked at everything as she took off her coat and laid it on the back of a chair. Mulder was creating a space for Faith to begin their activity and Scully smiled as she watched him.

“Did you buy whatever she pointed at once again, Mulder?” she teased and he grinned, not stopping in his task. “You know, a box of valentines cards cost about three dollars, tops.”

“Premade, unimaginative, mass produced valentines cards you mean,” he said, shaking his head. “Something with candy added that is probably from last year because it wasn’t sold and was stored away for next year. No thank you.” He shook his head again as he laid Faith’s painting smock on her chair. “These valentines are going to kick so much ass.”

“You are too adorable. I love that you get so excited about everything with her,” she said, stepping closer and looking up at him with a smile. He smiled back as he set the pack of stickers he was holding onto the table.

“I love that she’s so excited about everything now. I mean she has been in the past, but with school and her growing up, she’s excited on a different level.”

“Mmhmm,” she hummed as she continued to smile. Grabbing the front of his shirt, she pulled him closer and kissed him. “Adorable. And so sexy all at the same time.”

“It’s a fine line, but I’m happy to walk it,” he said, kissing her again as she laughed softly against his lips.

“Okay, Daddy!” Faith said, coming out of the bathroom. “I’m ready to make valentine's cards. Mommy, me and daddy are going to make beautiful cards for all my friends at school and the teachers and also for Unco, Raycho, and the twins.”

Scully looked down at her as she stepped back from Mulder. Smiling at Faith, she placed her hand on her head and stroked her hair.

“They will be the most beautiful valentines ever, I’m sure. You have lots of supplies.”

“Uh huh,” Faith said with a nod. “Daddy said I could get whatever I wanted to make them.”

Mulder cleared his throat and Scully tilted her head as she looked at him.

“Did he?” she asked with a knowing smile.

“Yup!” Faith said, clapping her hands together. “So we got a lot of stuff. I like the sparkly glitter the best.”

“I’m sure you do, my love,” Scully said, shaking her head as her smile grew.

“Well, how about we get started?” Mulder said, looking at Faith with a smile and avoiding Scully’s gaze.

“Yeah! I’m ready!” she said, getting into her chair and sitting down.

“Sucker,” Scully whispered and she saw his eyes cut to hers with a smile as he helped Faith with her smock.

“Will you be joining us, Mommy?” he asked and she nodded happily. “Well, then please wash your hands first. Thank you.”

She chuckled softly as she picked up her coat and hung it on the new coat rack by the door. Faith’s pink coat and her small purple scarf also hung there along with Mulder’s new black peacoat. Letting out a deep breath, she left her coat and her worries about the day at the hospital behind, before walking to the bathroom to wash her hands.

Soap still clung to the sides of the sink and a large blob was stuck to the adorable fawn soap dispenser Skinner and Rachel had given Faith for Christmas. She had only relented to it being used for its actual purpose two weeks ago as she had insisted on sleeping with it at first, the pump portion left on a shelf downstairs.

Washing her hands, Scully wiped off the fawn, dried her hands, and walked back to the table and sat down.

She watched them, without helping at first, and she smiled. Faith was laughing at something Mulder said, his face contorted into a comical expression. Her eyes sparkled when she looked at him and he winked at her quickly as he reached for the cup of scissors.

The best of friends, Scully thought as she picked out a piece of paper and folded it in half.

“Daddy,” Faith said, still laughing slightly. “Can you help me make a heart? Will you show me again?”

“Absolutely, my love. Like this.”

He drew a heart on a piece of paper and pushed it toward her for her to see.

“I don’t know if I can do it like that,” she said with a frown and he smiled as he held her hand and traced the heart with her own marker.

“See? Like this. Or I can do this too,” he said, beginning to make dash lines to create a heart. “Do you remember when we did this last year? Mommy made them and then you drew over them?”

“I don’t know,” Faith said, frowning in concentration as she followed the dash marks. “I did it! I made a heart!” She smiled at him and then at Scully, who smiled back.

“Good job, love,” she said and Faith nodded as she looked back at the heart.

They began to discuss the day, Faith telling them about school and Mulder asking after one of her current favorite friends. Scully nodded as she listened, but her mind was elsewhere as she stared at Faith, wishing she could stay at this perfectly wonderful age.

Four years old now, she had grown up so much since she started school. She loved every bit of it, coming home with artwork and stories of her day.

The first month had been great and then something had changed and she cried every time, not wanting to go.

“It’s common that this would happen,” Scully had assured Mulder when he had called her at the hospital, where she had been attending meetings before her upcoming first day, to tell her of Faith’s tears. “She was excited at first but now the newness has worn off a bit and she’s feeling different about it. Once she’s there, I know that she’s fine. It’s just the initial shock of it. She’ll get past it.”

“As a man with a degree in psychology, I know this, but as her dad… I don’t,” he had said with a deep sigh and she had smiled.

“I know you do.”

And she had been right, of course. It had been only a couple of weeks of tears, and then Faith had been happy and excited to go to school again.

She had made friends quickly and talked of her favorites every day, saying what they had done that she liked most.

“Sadie can run really fast,” she had said at dinner. “Liam is so funny. He makes me laugh so much.”

As a result, they had met the parents of Sadie and Liam, along with those of Tawny and Micah, all of them stating that they had heard Faith’s name spoken often in their house.

“Who would ever have guessed that a child of yours, with your antisocial behavior, would be so popular?” Scully had teased Mulder and he had laughed.

“Who wouldn’t love her?” he had stated. “She’s amazing.”

They had celebrated her birthday at school, giving out small goodie bags to her classmates, which had been assembled by all of them one evening.

Mulder had readied the multicolored bags, writing each child’s name on it before handing it to Faith to fill with stickers, animal shaped erasers, pencils, and a box of crayons. She had then passed it to Scully to tie with a rainbow ribbon and place in a cardboard box.

Faith had come home singing songs, asking them to play school with her while she acted as the teacher, and sharing everything she had learned.

The twins, one year old and her very favorite playmates, had benefited from her schooling as she “read” to them every chance she had, explaining the pictures in the book as she pointed them out. She had told them about the life cycle of bugs, how seeds grew, and what made a rainbow.

“It makes sense that she would be smarter than the average toddler, having the two of you as parents,” Skinner had said, shaking his head when he heard Faith discussing reflected light and water droplets, the twins staring at her and listening intently. Mulder had grinned and nodded, pride shining in his eyes.

Over Christmas, they had all gone to a large cabin in the mountains. Scully had been happy to get some time off from the hospital. She loved being back at work, but some days were harder than others, and she felt it keenly in a way she had not before having a small child she came home to every night.

They had gone sledding, skiing, and built snowmen, women, and children. It had been fun and relaxing with Santa coming and bringing minimal gifts that kept all the children happy and playing together.

January had then trudged through as only January can do, feeling as though it stretches on through eternity.

“Waiting till February feels like the drive to Unco and Raycho’s house,” Faith had said one night, the excitement of the celebration of Valentine’s Day front in her mind after Mulder had told her about it. “It takes a looooong time.”

She had flopped dramatically onto the beanbag chair they had bought for her art corner, sighing loudly. Bella had hurried over, whining softly as she laid her head on Faith’s stomach. Her tail had wagged gently as Faith pet her and sighed again.

Once the calendar hit February, she had been in full Valentine mode, discussing and planning for the trip to the craft store. Now with all the necessary items purchased, she was ready to create her many visions for those she loved.

“So, hon,” Mulder said and Scully hummed as she looked down at the blank paper in front of her. She picked up a pencil and began to draw a heart. “Have you thought more about what I asked you last night?”

“What did you ask me?” Scully asked him, looking up with a slight frown.

“About your upcoming birthday,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “What you wanted to do that day.”

“Oh, that,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “I don’t need anything. Dinner. Maybe a little cake. Nothing special.”

“Nothing special?” he asked, scoffing at her words. “Are you hearing this, Faithy? Mommy said she doesn’t want to do anything special for her birthday.”

“But it’s your birthday, Mommy. It’s your own special day,” Faith said, frowning at her, the paintbrush in her hand full of blue paint. “You have to do something special.”

“What would you suggest I choose, my sweet girl?” Scully asked with a smile.

“Maybe… the trampoline place?” Faith suggested, her expression hopeful.

Mulder and Scully both laughed and she shook her head, stroking Faith’s cheek and booping her on the nose.

“I don't know about that, but I’ll keep thinking, okay?”

“Okay, Mama,” Faith said, smiling as she returned to her painting.

Scully watched her for a moment and then looked at Mulder. He grinned and winked at her and she smiled.

“Not the trampoline place,” she said firmly and he put his hands up in silent agreement.

____________

Scully stretched with a moan, cuddling into the bed, the blankets warm. She sighed as she opened her eyes and then closed them again. Stretching once more, she looked over her shoulder.

No Mulder.

That meant Faith was up already though it seemed early, judging by the light filling the room.

Pushing the blankets back, she sat on the edge of the bed and yawned. Standing up, she retrieved her slippers and shuffled into the bathroom. Coming out a few minutes later, tying her bathrobe’s belt around her, she walked to the door and turned the handle.

Many things happened at once and she stepped back in surprise as they did.

An assortment of colored balloons, previously held in place by the strips of rainbow crepe paper taped zigzaggedly across the door frame, fell at her feet, bouncing and collecting around her. Loud pops sounded as paper confetti flew through the air, and landed beside the balloons. Faith squealed and then laughed as Bella barked in surprise. Mulder laughed and then called down to Bella that everything was okay.

“Surprise, Mommy! Surprise!” Faith yelled, jumping up and down excitedly. “Do you like your birthday surprise?”

“Well,” Scully chuckled, her hand on her chest, where her heart was beating rapidly. “You surprised me very much. My goodness… I think you either added years or took some off.”

“Off an immortal?” Mulder teased. “I doubt it.” He grinned at her and she shook her head.

“Me and Daddy made the surprise for you, Mommy. We had a plan. It was a secret plan,” Faith said, looking at Mulder who nodded.

“It was indeed,” Mulder said. “It was actually Faith’s idea. She wanted you to have a special birthday surprise.”

“And you succeeded brilliantly,” Scully said, beginning to take down the crepe paper so she could leave the bedroom.

“You loved it?” Faith asked and Scully grinned.

“I did love it. Very much.”

“And the fetti canyon? That too?” Faith asked, jumping up and down.

“The confetti cannon? Yes, I loved it. And it definitely surprised me.”

“Yay!” Faith shouted, spinning around with her arms above her head.

Scully smiled at Mulder as she walked through the doorway and he smiled back.

“We chose pink for the confetti cannon because it’s your favorite color,” he informed her.

“Is it?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yup. For today it is. Happy birthday, love.”

“Thank you,” she said, placing a hand on his chest and rising on tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you.”

“Hmm. I love you too,” he said, kissing her again. “Okay! We can take care of this mess later because we have so much more planned for today, don’t we, Faithy?”

“Yeah! We made you breakfast, Mommy. Special pancakes, but it’s waffles instead,” Faith said, picking up two balloons and waving them around.

“Oh,” Scully laughed softly. “So waffles then?”

“Yes. Daddy let me lick the spatch… the spatch…”

“Spatula?” Scully asked, bending down to scoop Faith up in a tight hug.

“Yeah. The black one with the brown handle.”

“Was it good?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”

But breakfast had to wait… for a few minutes at least.

All the balloons were tossed down the stairs, floating gently into Faith’s waiting arms as she giggled and yelled let ‘em rip! much to Scully and Mulder’s amusement. Bella barked again, the amount of balloons seeming to make her feel anxious. Grey, running in from a morning romp, froze when she saw them, her fur rising as she hissed.

“Maybe we put the balloons in your room, sweetie,” Mulder suggested, as Bella whined and laid down on her bed, watching Faith with sad eyes. “I don’t think Grey and Bella like the balloons as much as you do.”

“It’s okay, Belly Bells. We’ll put them away now, okay?” Faith asked as she hurried over to pet Bella, leaning down to put their heads together. “Maybe if I have only two, it would be okay? I won’t scare you with them, I promise.” Bella licked her nose and Faith giggled, kissing her head before standing up.

The balloons were gathered and brought upstairs to Faith’s bedroom, the floor covered with them, except for the two left downstairs.

As they sat down to eat their breakfast of waffles with whipped cream, strawberries, and syrup along with eggs and bacon, Mulder and Faith informed her of the plans for the rest of the day.

“We have appointments for manicures and pedicures at ten-”

“Wait… all of us?”

“Yup. All of us,” he stated with a nod and she smiled. “Then lunch at that place you like by the water-”

“Zinnia’s?” she interrupted again, looking at him in surprise and he nodded. “Hmm, that sounds nice.”

“It will be,” he said, winking at her. “Then we’re going to Skinner and Rachel’s for a barbecue and some cake. Then, Miss Faith is going to stay the night and Uncle Walter will take her to school in the morning.”

“So we’ll have-”

“The night to ourselves… yes,” he said, staring at her with the look that made her stomach quiver, even after all these years.

“Imagine that,” she said, lowering her voice and watching the way it affected him, smiling when he shook his head at her.

“I’m going to sleep the night at Raycho and Unco’s?” Faith asked and Mulder’s attention turned to her.

“You are. Does that sound like fun? Was it a good surprise?”

“Yes!” Faith shouted, raising her fork in the air and Scully laughed. “I will sleep in the big bed. Can I bring my light night with me?”

“Of course you can bring your night light and whatever else you want, within reason.”

“Yay! Can I pack my backpack now?”

“Sure, if you’d like to, but we aren’t leaving for a bit yet.”

“Thank you, Daddy. I’m all finished with my breakfast.” She wiped her mouth and hurried from the table, nearly knocking over her glass of milk.

“Be careful!” Mulder called after her as he caught the glass. “Sheesh.”

“Impulsive. Quick to jump into a situation. Now where have I seen that behavior before?” Scully teased, taking a sip of her coffee and looking at him.

“Impulsive we may be, yes. But also detail oriented. And hyper focused,” he said, holding her gaze.

“Oh, I’m well aware of that quality,” she replied over the rim of her coffee cup. “But I never mind being reminded.”

“Hmm,” he hummed with a nod. “And I never tire of reminding you.”

“Daddy! Can you help me?” Faith called from upstairs and Scully grinned at him.

“You’re being summoned.”

“I noticed,” he said, continuing to sit and stare at her.

“You should go and see what she wants.”

“Hmm,” he hummed with an agreeing nod.

“Daddy!”

“Yes, Faithy. I’ll be right there.”

“Oh, bring the broom up with you,” Scully said, setting her coffee cup down and spearing a strawberry with her fork. “Or the vacuum, for that confetti mess on the floor, because I won’t be cleaning it up later. And unless you would rather do that than join me in the bedroom-”

“I’ll get the broom and the vacuum,” he said, jumping up and hurrying to grab them.

She laughed as she ate the strawberry, catching his eye as he started towards the stairs.

“Hey,” she said, jerking her head at him.

He nodded and came back to the table. She looked up and smiled as he bent closer to her. He kissed her softly, but she opened her mouth, not wanting a gentle kiss. Her tongue grazed his and the broom hit the floor with a loud clatter.

“Scully,” he said, pulling back and letting out a harsh breath as he shook his head.

He picked up the broom and stared at her as he walked to the stairs. She arched an eyebrow at him and he shook his head again.

“Make sure you get every piece of that confetti,” she told him.

“I won’t miss one,” he assured her, starting up the stairs as a purple balloon bounced softly down. They looked at each other and she laughed as he tried and failed to catch it.

“I’ll get it, you go help Faith pack,” she said as she stood up and picked up the balloon. “Oh and, Mulder?”

“Yes?” he asked, turning around to look at her.

“Thank you for making today special.”

“You’re welcome, hon.” He winked at her and turned to continue up the stairs.

She watched him, holding the balloon by its small neck, and hitting it against her hand.

“Can I help you clean up the fetti, Daddy? Can I use the broom?” Faith said and Scully waited to hear Mulder’s response.

“You can. We need to make sure we get them all off the floor.”

“Or Mommy might be mad?”

“No. She won’t be mad one bit. She just doesn’t want us to have to clean it up later tonight.”

“Because I will be at Unco’s and I won’t be here to help you?”

“Something like that, yeah,” Mulder said quietly.

Scully laughed as she went to clear the table, already thinking ahead to the evening and wondering if she should hunt up the pink and black thing that Mulder loved so much or if it would even be necessary.

Yeah, she thought with a nod, knowing how sexy it made her feel. Tonight definitely calls for the pink and black thing.

#the x files #msr #post season 11 #family life: the story beyond the series #love #happy #fanfic #family #domestic fluff #family fluff #valentines day #christmas #birthday #fluff and humor #birthday surprises

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blue-rick24 · 6 months

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fuckin’ sluts

#rick and morty season 7 spoilers #rick sanchez #jerry smith #shuffled rick #shuffled jerry #thats they’re names now I’M MAKIMG THAT A THING #MARK MY WORDS AT 11:51 PM EST OCTOBER 22ND 2023 #rick and morty #rick and morty season 7 #my post #rick and morty screengrabs #the jerrick trap

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bronzebluemind · 1 month

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It’s been 0 weeks since the World Cup finale, 17 weeks to go until sgp and 34 weeks to go until next season.

#and we are back 🫠👍#first countdown post is always the worst one #but it will get better just not now or the next weeks #trying to uphold some sense of community with these countdowns #i am not ready for the tag to die #and to not have any comps in the foreseeable future and with that no sj content #I'm fine this is fine #😭😭😭#oh I forgot this is also the first post that gets the offseason tag this is bad #someone sedate me until next winter #yeah I am feeling totally normal about this sure that's a completely healthy reaction #the range of emotions I went through preparing this post #and in case you're wondering I always plan to prepare these posts for a few weeks or the whole offseason in advance and never do it #so of course I frantically open tumblr at 11:59 am on sundays accompanied by muttering shit shit shit and type the post and tags #plans made but chaos reigns #there are no fixed calendars out yet they are usually discussed and approved in the spring meeting in april #but I based this on the last years so it should be more or less accurate :)#ski jumping #offseason2024 #sgp countdown 24 #actually it's 25 because it counts as part of the new season but that seem awfully confusing so it stays 24 here #sj countdown 24 #same with this one technically it's 24/25 but yeaaahhh the season starts in 24 so it's fine

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ughhhdavid · 11 months

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But can we talk about "Sleepless in Seattle"? Cuz I'm dying to talk about "Sleepless in Seattle". The movie about a reporter falling in love with a single dad who feels like he can't love again the way he loved his wife? The movie that Ted just had to say finds "superior" to You've Got Mail?

And can we talk about this quote from the movie? (Where the main character Sam is talking on the phone with a character named DR. Marcia FIELDSTONE???)

"Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together....

And I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her.

It was like coming home... Only to no home I'd ever known...

I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew.

It was like... Magic. "

#ted lasso #ted lasso spoilers #trent crimm independent #Ted x trent #Tedtrent #Tedependent #Season 3 #Episode 11 #Mom city #3x11 #Sleepless in Seattle #My post

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sixhours · 2 months

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Morning Sickness

Rating: Teen Word count: 1.2k

Notes: Post-ep for season 11. That “season finale” inspired me to try to make sense of the nonsense, and maybe give Mulder and Scully a chance to start to deal with the shit they’ve been dragged through.

Originally posted to AO3, Mar. 26 2018

It's dawn when Mulder shifts the car into park. A drizzle mists the windshield, muddying the house’s looming form, the dim glow of the porch light their only welcome. Next to him, Scully sleeps deeply, his jacket tucked into the crook of her neck.

He reaches across the console to touch her cheek. "We're home."

She stirs, blinking, before fumbling at the door handle in a rush. She's out of the car before he can offer to help, making her way to the house. He watches with concern as she pauses at the foot of the steps, leaning on the porch railing for a moment as if to catch her breath, before disappearing around the side of the house. He winces when he hears retching.

Skinner was going to make it, they said; a lumbar spinal fracture and two broken legs meant he had a long recovery ahead, but he was alive.

Reyes hadn't been so lucky. Mulder found her slumped in the driver's seat of Spender's car, blood pooling in the corner of her eye. Scully had moaned softly behind him, turned, vomited bile onto the pavement.

It wasn't until later that he remembered; Reyes had delivered William, had held him as he'd taken his first breath.

Mulder shudders, stumbling forward to check on Scully, finds her crouched over the overgrown garden. There's a lone rhubarb stalk struggling to greet the day, leaves beaded with rain, a survivor among the bittercress and chickweed.

"You OK?" he asks, feeling helpless.

"I need to eat," she murmurs, standing. "The nausea is worse if I don't."

He reaches for her hand, takes it, guides them inside. She shrugs off her coat, then ducks into the bathroom and closes the door.

Mulder stands in the kitchen, unsure where to begin. It had felt good -- too good -- to put aside reason, to put his finger on the trigger, aim, and let the bullets do the rest. He thinks of gunpowder residue and blood spatter, pushes up his sleeves and scrubs his hands until they're raw.

When that's done, he opens the fridge. She needs to eat. Bread, lettuce, turkey; this, he can manage. As he works, he doesn't think about the water lapping at the dock, doesn't think about watching himself fall backwards, doesn't think about the bullet lodged between his son's eyes.

He cuts the sandwich in half and sets it on the table with a glass of milk. She doesn't like milk, but it's good for the baby, right?

The baby. Christ.

He sinks into a chair as the weight of the day hits him. When she comes out, bathrobe cinched around her waist, he's staring at the table with his head propped in his hands.

"Thank you," she murmurs, sitting down, picking up half the sandwich and taking a small bite. Her expression is distant and closed, the dark circles under her eyes betraying her exhaustion. It's a long time before she speaks again, and when she does, her voice is almost inaudible.

"I had a...a vision," she murmurs, sipping her milk. "I saw William."

Mulder's pulse throbs, a glimmer of hope expanding in his chest. "You...he's alive? You're sure?"

She nods, avoiding his eyes. Bite, chew, swallow, sip. Repeat.

"How...?" he leans forward.

"I don't know," she sighs.

"If it's true, there's still a chance we could find him," Mulder says, thinking aloud. "We could--"

"Mulder, stop. Not now, I can't..." She trails off, ducking her chin, and he thinks of the warmth of her stomach against his blood-flecked palm. "He can't be another quest. You have to let him go."

Mulder swallows. "But...he's alive."

She nods, pushing the plate back. "He's weak, but he's safe. For now."

"Then he'll find us," he says, more to himself than to her. "Someday. When he's ready."

She presses her lips together. When she answers, her voice is hollow. "I'm going to bed."

"Scully..."

But she's already on her feet, moving toward the stairs. He watches her go, feeling lost, unmoored.

He's alive.

Mulder wraps the untouched half of the sandwich and puts it in the fridge, pours the leftover milk in the sink.

He finds her in the upstairs bathroom, staring into the mirror, her reflection haunted and pale. Steaming water runs into the basin, unnoticed.

"Scully?"

She startles, meeting his eyes before reaching for a cloth, but doesn't answer.

"Talk to me, Scully," he says, wishing for a church, for the ease they found over a prayer candle.

"Everything," she frowns, rubbing at her face with the cloth until the freckles across her nose burn pink. "Everything I tried to prevent for him, everything -- it came true."

She dabs lotion on her chin, under her eyes, punctuating each word with angry, jerky movements. "I lived with the guilt of his adoption, but there's nothing I could have done," she says, turning and striding past him to stuff the cloth into the hamper. "I never had a choice."

"Scully--"

"They used me, Mulder," she whirls on him, voice rising. "They used my body to make monsters. And I loved them, and they were taken from me. How can I bring another child into the world with that on my conscience? What hope do I have of keeping them safe, when everything that's come before has been ripped from my hands?"

She breaks off, her breath ragged, swiping at the corners of her eyes.

"What they did to you is unforgivable," he says, approaching her. "But this...this is different. You have a choice."

"I can't do it again," she breathes, eyes pressed shut. "Damnit, Mulder. It's not fair."

"No. No, it's not. But you don't have to do it alone," he whispers, taking her face in his palms, searching her eyes. "Do you want this, Scully?"

"I do," she says, her voice cracking as the tears pool in the whorls of his thumbs. "I do, so much. But I wish I didn't."

He wraps his arms around her, pulling her close. "So we'll make it work."

He imagines he can feel her eye-roll against his chest, but she softens. "Just like that, huh?"

"Just like that. I'll trade in the Mustang for a minivan, we'll get a Baby Björn--"

She sniffs. "What the fuck is a Baby Björn?"

"I have no idea," he admits, chuckling. "But if the number of missed calls on my phone from Kersh is any indication, we'll have a lot of free time to figure that out."

"I'm fifty-four, Mulder," she sighs, her voice small.

"And your breasts will be the envy of every grandma at the AARP."

She barks a laugh into his chest, fists gripping the fabric of his shirt as her laughter dissolves into a sob. He nuzzles the hair at her temple, kisses it, sways with her until the storm passes.

"What can I do?" he murmurs when her breathing has calmed.

"Just...hold me."

"That's what got us into this mess," he says, nudging her cheek with his nose, eliciting a tired smile. He pulls back the covers and follows her into bed, pulling her back against his chest. His fingers trace the line of her hip.

Tentatively his hand slides forward to her abdomen, barely touching, asking permission. She places her palm over his in answer, pressing down, guiding him to the spot just above her pubic bone where a gentle swell has already formed. He swallows hard, overcome with love and sadness and fatigue.

"I don't have it in me to hope for this, Mulder," she murmurs, her voice rough.

He kisses her cheek, whispering a prayer to the nape of her neck. "Sleep. I'll find enough hope for the both of us."

#the x-files #fanfic #season 11 #fox mulder #dana scully #fox mulder x dana scully #post-episode

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