18.

( It's like he's in his early twenties again, dribbling the ball down the makeshift court with what he thinks is great finesse towards an unguarded hoop. )

17.

( In the cocoon of his apartment, they sit on his couch and smile down at their hands. )

16.

( There is nothing behind them on the darkening South Dakota highway but headlights; tiny white dots like floating stars in the distance. )

15.

( He has always teased her about her ability to fall asleep easily, citing natural disasters, the apocalypse; Scully would miss it all. )

14.

( Mulder slid down into the musty maroon vinyl of the booth, across from Margaret Scully and her pristine, grief-stricken stare. )

13.

It rained on Mulder’s birthday, crunchy leaves turning to mush on the street.

After work, before she picked up William, Scully stopped at a grocery store and bought a single cupcake from the bakery. Day-old yellow cake with blue frosting swirled on top. She was sure she had candles somewhere in her kitchen.

Someone, a friend of her mother’s, ( Read more... )

12.

( Well, that was one of the better ass-chewings we’ve had in the past few months, wouldn’t you say, Scully? )

11.

( He sits with her on the floor until her heart stops pounding and her breathing evens out. )

10.

( A talking bear, of the Grizzly variety. That's what three witnesses say they saw. )

 9.

"Excuse us."

That polite voice of hers, rubberband tight. Her hand on the crook of his elbow, leading him through the pack of security guards, police officers, gawkers. He could judge her mood by touch, and things were not looking good. They walked off together, her heels hollow on the tile, the mall smelling of new clothes and cinnamon pretzels ( Read more... )