IN AETERNUM

1. From Quest to Question

"Scully?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you never want to marry me?"

Blue eyes popped open, and she shifted in tangled sheets. The white cover slipped down her shoulder, revealing even whiter skin, and Mulder got distracted for a moment. Raising his hand, he reached out to feel her. Soft, so soft. Her face was still flushed from their recent lovemaking... or maybe it was his question?

"What do you mean, Mulder?"

Her voice was raspy, and shadows of her moans were still lingering in the air. In her eyes, though, he noticed a flicker of something else. Vulnerability? Cautiousness?

"You, me, marriage. Why did we never do it?"

"Well, for starters, you never asked."

His eyebrow arched up.

"You're a Federal Agent and a medical doctor. You're carrying a gun, wielding a scalpel. You wrote your dissertation about Einstein's Twin Paradox and you can run," he pointed towards the closet, "in those shoes. I have no idea how you do that. I'm constantly in awe of your abilities. Did you seriously expect me to, I don't know, just ask?"

She scrunched up her nose.

"So... just because I'm strong and adept, I shouldn't expect romance? Is that what you're hinting at?"

Taking her hand, he shook his head, placing a kiss in her palm.

"No, it's just, I respect you way too much, I guess, to simply propose something so important. But that's the sole reason? Me not asking you?"

Retaking control of her hand, she caressed his stubbly jaw, following the curve of his throat down to his chest. The wiry hair she encountered there tickled her fingertips in a million pleasant ways. The moment stretched, as Dana Scully probed the corners of her mind.

Marry me.

He had said those words to her a long time ago. On the phone. She remembered being annoyed and something about witches and dolls. The memory was blurry, though, and he had clearly not meant it back then. Had he?

Slowly, she shook her head.

"I guess I never thought marriage was open to debate. You were pretty busy with being dead, hiding from the government and awaiting the end of the world. Then I broke up with you..."

Her voice trailed off, and he found her hand on his skin, squeezing gently. His chest rose and sank with each and every breath, and his heart was thumping steadily underneath her touch. Thump. Thump. Thump.

"Did it never bother you that we were living in sin? You're Catholic, after all."

Scully thought about sharing a home, a life with Mulder; remembered the warmth, the laughter, the closeness. Eventually, a smile broke out on her face.

"There was nothing sinful about our life together."

He harrumphed and surprised her by sliding down her body. His breath tickled her bellybutton, and his tongue darted out, leaving behind a damp trail. A gasp left her mouth, as he made contact with her most sensitive skin; skin that had barely recovered from his earlier caresses. His lips kissed her intimately, evoking another gasp and a hiss.

"Hmm, I don't know Scully, I can recall a lot of sin."

Her thoughts went blurry, and her legs opened for him, as his tongue demanded access. Letting go of a shuddered breath, she surrendered herself to his ministrations. He was good at this, and he knew her so damn well. On the edge of her perception, she could feel his palms running up her thighs, could feel the silken sheets underneath her body.

"Not a sin," she managed to utter, and his chuckles vibrated against her flesh.

"Well, we could do that other thing that you like, then. Or... just marry me."

He stilled in the vee of her legs, awaiting some kind of response. Propping herself up on her elbows, she blinked, trying to make eye contact with the man between her thighs.

"You can't ask me like that."

His lips curved up in a boyish grin.

"Oh, I believe I just did."

Her head fell into the pillows once more, and mere seconds later, his mouth was back on her.

"Not fair," she muttered. "So not fair."

xxx

He didn't bring it up again. Not when pleasure rolled through her in heavy waves; neither when he pushed into her trembling body; nor when he pulled her into his arms afterwards, falling asleep in the safest of embraces.

He didn't bring it up until breakfast.

"So, what do you think?"

She hummed absentmindedly, scrolling through the news on her phone.

"I think aliens might have infiltrated our government after all. If not, they most definitely should. Hey!"

Scully protested, as he took the smartphone away from her.

"While I appreciate any reference to extraterrestrial life, didn't we agree on no cells during meals?"

She grinned adorably, taking a sip of coffee.

"Sorry. Old habits..."

"Die hard, I know. So, what do you think?"

A frown appeared on her brow, as she tried to put his question into context.

"I think... Sorry, Mulder. You lost me. What do I think about what?"

Another bite of toast made it into her mouth, and she chewed with relish.

"Will you marry me?"

Relish turned into despair, as she choked on her food, coughing heavily. Taking pity on her, he got up, fetching a glass of water, offering it to her.

"Here you go."

She took it, drinking greedily. Finally, the coughing subsided, and she licked her lips.

"Well... You meant it?"

He shrugged matter-of-factly.

"I love you."

Her face softened. Hearing those words again was still so new. Butterflies fluttered in her belly, as she cupped his nape, pulling him close for a brief kiss. He smiled, nuzzling her nose with his.

"Is this a yes?"

"No."

"It's a no?" He looked at her with big puppy eyes.

"No."

"Wow, that's a tough one."

Carefully, she put the glass on the table.

"Why do you want to get married?"

He leaned back in his chair, and under the table, his toe poked hers.

"You want to hear a reason? How much time do you have?"

She laughed out.

"Well, since it's Saturday... humor me."

"Alright. Where to start? I already mentioned that I love you."

Tilting her head, she smiled at him.

"Yes. But you could say it again."

"Scully, I love you. From the bottom of my heart. And I wanna spend the rest of my life with you. I let you go once, I'm not gonna make that mistake a second time. I want to make you laugh and smile and feel good. How am I doing so far?"

"Hmm... You're definitely on a roll. Go on."

"I'm 57 years old, and you're the singularly best thing that's ever happened to me. I want to promise to be there for you every day and I want to sign that promise. I want to call you wife. You could be the wife of my life, Scully."

She grimaced.

"The rhyme kind of ruined it, Mulder."

She got up as if to leave, and he grabbed her hand, tugging until she fell onto his lap.

For someone so strong, she was surprisingly light.

Surprisingly cuddly as well, he thought, as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'd be allowed to kiss you in a church," he murmured into her hair, and she shivered, remembering votive candles, a promise and a conversation in the pews.

"Mulder, you know that I love you."

His lips grazed her temple, as he hummed.

"But..."

"Here comes 'but'..."

"Can you give me a day or two to get used to the idea? Getting married... that's what normal people do. But is this us?"

His heart clenched a little bit at her reply, but he recovered quickly, swaying her gently on his lap.

"At least you didn't say 'no'. I can work with that."

"I promise to think about it."

xxx

And that's what she did.

Scully thought about it while running her usual five miles on the farm roads surrounding the little house. Getting married... Once upon a time, she had dreamed about her wedding. A big reception with family and friends, a white dress, the promise of a family of her own ahead of her.

She'd stopped imagining her wedding sometime after joining the x-files, after Melissa had died. Now there were hardly any relatives left, and as for the promise of an own family... Even the white dress seemed silly at the age of 54. Shaking her head, she pounded the pavement even harder.

Mrs. Spooky.

That's what the other agents had called her back in the day. Was she ready to become Mrs. Spooky?

Forty minutes later, her pedometer showed five miles, but Scully was none the wiser. She walked the last hundred feet back to the house, calming her racing pulse. Mulder was sitting on the porch, waiting for her with a glass of iced tea.

Bending down, she kissed him hello, accepting the cool beverage with sincere gratitude.

He leaned back, blinking against the morning sun, studying her short ponytail, her rosy face, her toned legs. Mulder knew that, from time to time, she was struggling with the concept of aging, but to him, she'd never been more beautiful. His gaze lingered on her breasts for a few inappropriate moments, and she caught him staring at her.

Mulder offered an apologetic grin and shrugged.

"You're hot."

She laughed out.

"I'm sweaty."

"Somehow that makes it even hotter. Why don't I join you in the shower?"

Putting her hands on her hips, she shook her head.

"Do you have any idea how many sex-related accidents occur in the shower?"

He slid deeper into his lounge chair, pulling her between his legs. His fingers played with the hem of her running pants, while he wiggled his eyebrows in a seductive manner.

"I like it when you go all Google on me."

Rolling her eyes, she pointed towards the entrance door.

"I'm gonna grab a shower. You can start a shopping list. We need toast and coffee."

Getting up, he nodded.

"We're out of detergent as well."

Looping his arm around her shoulder, he pulled her close, inhaling the scent of fresh sweat and woman; the scent of her on an ordinary Saturday morning.

"I'm happy," he smiled, cracking her heart wide open with such a simple statement.

xxx

Thirty minutes later, they were in his car on their way to town. She smelled like vanilla and spring, damp hair curling sweetly around her face. There was music coming out of the radio, and she hummed along with the melody. Happy, yes, that's what she was as well.

Happy in the little house, in their new-found intimacy. Happy in his personal space, in his company, his arms.

Dana Scully wasn't used to that sunny kind of happiness anymore, and it was as if she was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Happiness... could she trust it? Could she trust it enough to build the rest of her life upon it?

Opening her mouth, she turned to him. His eyes flickered sideways, giving her a brief smile.

"Yeah?"

"Just so you know, I'm thinking about your proposal. I really am."

"Care to share any preliminary results?"

"I'm happy as well. You make me happy."

Blindly, he reached out, his hand landing on her knee.

"Scully, just for the record. If you say no, if it doesn't get any better than this... it's enough. You're enough. More than enough. Just being with you every day is the best."

Her hand covered his.

"Thank you."

xxx

Whole Foods was buzzing with people, as they entered the store. She shivered, as an onslaught of temperature-controlled air hit her still damp hair. He noticed her discomfort and rubbed her arm with his palm.

"Divide and conquer?"

She nodded.

"The sooner we're out of here, the sooner we're back in spring."

Lifting herself onto her tiptoes, she squinted at the list in his hands.

"I'm gonna get fruits and veggies. And cheese and meat."

He hummed affirmatively.

"Non-food for me, then. Alright, Agent Scully, cash desk in twenty?"

"Make that fifteen."

He leaned down, parting with a quick kiss.

"Challenge accepted."

For a moment, she just stood there, watching his retreating form, appreciating his well-structured backside. With a very private smile, she finally turned around, ready to face apples and strawberries.

"Excuse me, Honey?"

The voice was elderly, and as she lifted her eyes, Scully found a tiny lady with gray curls and a wrinkly smile looking up at her. The woman was holding something that looked very familiar.

"Yes?"

"I think your husband dropped his wallet."

She offered the item to Scully.

"Oh, thank you. Indeed, that's Mulder's."

"I happened to notice the two of you. You reminded me a lot of me and my Wally, God bless him."

"Thank you, you're very kind."

"No problem, Honey. Have a nice day."

The lady shuffled away, and Scully regarded the wallet in her hand.

Husband...

Maybe a white wedding wasn't the point, and maybe happiness was fragile by nature.

Setting herself in motion, Scully put fruits and vegetables into her shopping cart. With great care, she chose nuts and cereals.

Maybe it was just about having faith.

She selected some pieces of cheese and opted on steak for dinner.

Maybe it was about belonging to each other. About putting a label on it – once and for all.

Husband...

Something like joy spread out in her belly, as she tasted the word on her tongue.

Wife...

She saw him from afar. He was standing in front of the vast range of shower gels, a frown on his handsome face. Her heart shifted in her chest, as she approached him, and Scully cast a quick glance at the bottles in his hand.

"Vanilla and sandalwood, please."

He sighed in relief.

"I always mix it up. I should take a photo of the label."

"My answer is 'yes', Mulder."

Turning around, he regarded her quizzically.

"To the photo?"

"No. I want to marry you. Let's get married. Yes, please."

He cried out, and she found herself flush to his body, his strong arms all around her, his mouth on hers – kissing the hell out of her in front of shower gel, body lotion and conditioner.

xxx

What do you do after getting engaged?

Mulder and Scully resumed grocery shopping. When they left the supermarket with big paper bags in their arms, the whole situation was almost surreal. But then he took her hand, threading his fingers through hers.

"I can't belief you said 'yes' in a supermarket."

"I can't believe you asked with your tongue inside of me."

They made it to their car before erupting in giggles. But it was a close call.

To be continued...

Season 11 might be over, Gillian might be done, but I am not.

Here's the deal: In my book, MS4 has never happened. Scully never got pregnant – not because I think a woman at the age of 54 shouldn't be pregnant, rather because I believe you shouldn't try to fix the William mess with another pregnancy. It's just wrong. Everything about this finale was wrong. Don't get me started.

For me, season 11 ended in a church, ended with Mulder and Scully taking a leap of faith. Together. I refuse to believe anything else.

This story takes place some weeks later. I promise it won't go to hell in a lovey-dovey handbasket.