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'HAPPY 40th SCULLY!'
By: Erin M. Blair

DANA AND FOX MULDER’S RESIDENCE
GEORGETOWN, MD
FEBRUARY 23, 2004

"Scully? Guess what today is?"

"I don't know, Mulder. I can't guess right now," said Scully as she helped William to put on his jacket. "I'm trying to get our kids ready to go to my Mom's house."

Mulder nonchalantly smiled. After everything they'd been through together, he wasn't bothered by Scully's mood. It was bound to happen. He went to the crib to pick up their daughter, Elizabeth, and he held her in his arms. "Scully, happy birthday!"

"It's my birthday today?"

Mulder nodded. "Yes. It was your birthday as of midnight. I saw the date change while I was watching the FOX News Channel late last night."

"Mulder, I'm sorry. It's just that I have a lot on my mind these days."

"Don't be, Scully. I know I haven't been the best husband these days...especially about your mood swings. I have no idea how pregnancy would do that to you," said Mulder. He put down Elizabeth in the crib, and then he gently rubbed his wife's back. "Better?"

"Much. Keep going, Mulder. It feels so good."

"We can't get raunchy in front of the kids, Scully."

"I know, but you don't know how wonderful it feels to feel the gentleness of your touch on my back."

"Scully...."

"Is this part of my gift?"

"Maybe. There will be more, Scully. Trust me on this."

"I most certainly will," said Scully. "You should know that by now."

*

Scully went to visit her mother's that morning to drop off the children for babysitting. "William, I hope you have a nice day at your Grandma's today. I will come get you and Elizabeth tomorrow morning."

"I will, Mommy," said William. He paused briefly and then he gave her a hug.

"What's this?"

"Happy birthday, Mommy."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Thanks, William. You made me the happiest Mommy alive."

"You're welcome, Mommy," said William. He paused briefly. "I want out, Mommy! I wanna see Grandma!"

"Be patient, William," said Scully. She helped her son to get out of the back from his toddler car seat.

"Yay!" squealed William. "Now it's Lizzie's turn."

Scully nodded. "Yes, it's Lizzie's turn." She smiled at William's use of Elizabeth's nickname. She carefully removed her daughter from the car seat's base. She loved the car seat because it converted into a baby carrier after removing it from it's adjustabel base. It was a very modernize one, not like William's from a few years ago.

Scully grasped the handle of Elizabeth's car seat with all the strength she could muster. She followed William up the stairs, to her mother's house. She saw her mother waiting for her. "Mom, you didn't have to watch for us."

"I wanted to, Dana. It's not everyday when you have a birthday. Happy 40th," said Maggie. "I have something for you on the kitchen table." She bent down to William's height and smiled at her grandson. "William, I have Blue's Clues on the television for you."

"Yay!" exclaimed William excitedly. He loved the show so much.

"Don't run in the house, William Fox Mulder!" yelled Scully. She put the baby on the sofa, and then she followed her mother to the kitchen. She saw a cake on the kitchen table waiting for her and an envelope. "Mom, you didn't have to..."

"Open the card, Dana."

Scully carefully opened the card to reveal a birthday card with red tulips on the cover and inside the card was a gift card to Target. "Mom, thanks!"

"I thought you could buy something that you really want," said Maggie. She paused, changing the subject slightly. "Is Fox planning something for you?"

"He was being secretive this morning, that's for sure. We're taking the day off from work today. I thought we'd have a nice, romantic day -- just the two of us. That's what I was looking forward to all last week," said Scully. "Five years ago, we went straight from being a couple to finding out that we were having William."

"I know. Time really flies by, doesn't it?"

Scully nodded. "Mulder and I are fine, don't worry."

"I wasn't worrying, Dana."

"I don't regret marrying Mulder and having William and Elizabeth. For awhile, I thought I was so infertile that I wouldn't be having any children...but I did. And now I'm having another baby." She walked to see her children. William was content with watching Blue's Clues and Elizabeth was sleeping in her carrier. "I have some thing's for them, Mom. They're in the tote bag."

"OK. I think everything will be fine, Dana. Go on and have a wonderful birthday," said Maggie. She placed the cake and the card in Scully's arms. "Tell Fox hello for me. OK?"

Scully nodded. "I will, Mom."

*

"How was your mother?"

"She's fine. She said 'hello' to you." Scully placed the cake down on the kitchen table and then showed Mulder the card. "Mom gave me a gift card for my birthday. She thinks I should buy something for us..."

"To where?"

"Target."

"That's a great store, Scully. They have this gorgeous, satin negligee that would look great on you..."

"Mulder..."

"Come in the bedroom."

She followed Mulder to the bedroom. "Mulder, I...I don't know what to say."

He gave her deep kisses on the neck and then fully on the lips. "I thought we could spend your birthday...in bed."

"Mulder! We have to pick up the kids tomorrow."

"At least part of the time, then."

She gave him a smile. "OK. So far, this is turning out to be a great birthday, Mulder."

"Hey, I'm glad." He helped take off Scully's pantsuit, and then helped her to bed. "Do you want to know your birthday present?"

"Yes, I do."

"We will have two weeks' vacation on Martha's Vineyard at my family's summer house. Your mom will take care of the kids while we're away. I thought it would be nice to spend a romantic time with each other. It will do us good."

"Mulder, that's wonderful! That's a wonderful present. You don't think it would bring back some sad memories for you?"

Mulder shook his head. He mumured in her red-gold hair. "I don't think so. I want to create new memories for us. You should know that by now. Nothing in my childhood could cause me pain. I've been through enough pain to last me a lifetime. You and the children bring nothing but joy into my life."

"I'm so happy for us, Mulder."

"Me, too. Scully?"

"Yes?"

"Happy birthday, Scully."

-- THE END --

DISCLAIMER: Mulder, Scully, and little William Mulder belongs to Chris Carter. Elizabeth Mulder belongs to me.