Disclaimer: Not mine

Spoilers: Takes place maybe between Hungry and Milennium. There's a big gap there that needs to be filled.

A/N: I love fall. This will have more chapters as soon as I decide I actually want to sit down and write stuff. Happy Nine Year (maybe not to the day...) Friends Anniversary, Jessi! Love you. S.O.D.A!

Friday, 6:42 p.m.

"Hello?"

"Scully, it's me."

A sigh.

"Mulder, I don't ask for much. A Danish if you're already heading out for one. A coffee refill when you go to the break room. The window seat occasionally. But right now I am begging and pleading with you to not drag me out on some case. It's Friday and I'm tired and I really just want to relax tonight."

"That's not what I was calling for."

"Oh. Okay, what's up?"

"I just wanted to check on you. You didn't look so good today."

"I'm tired," she admitted finally. "That last case really took it out of me and I haven't caught up on sleep yet."

"Anything I can do?"

"Promise me we're not going anywhere for a while."

"I promise. What are you up to?"

"Uh... I'm taking a bubble bath."

He laughed.

"What?" she asked, indignant.

"That's so girly."

"Mulder, news flash, I'm a girl."

"Yes, but you're also freakishly strong, which makes one think that bubble bathing is not your style."

"Well it is. It's relaxing. I would tell you to try it, but I think you would break bones trying to get into the tub."

"What are you trying to say?"

"That you're accident prone. Also that you're 6 feet tall and tubs are like 4 feet long. Not a good combination."

"I guess not."

"Maybe you could get a hot tub in your apartment."

"Scully, do I look like Cosmo Kramer to you?"

"Sometimes when you first wake up, yeah."

He chuckled.

"You're spot on tonight."

"Yeah, but only because you're letting me get a word in edge-wise."

They were quiet for a while.

"So what else do you have planned for this night of relaxing?"

"Cookies. Reading in bed. Basically, that's all I've thought of so far."

"Well I'll leave you to it then."

"You don't have to hang up, Mulder."

"But... it's Friday. And you're busy."

"I'm never too busy for you," she said quickly, willing him not to hang up.

"Oh you're not?"

"Not intentionally anyway. I enjoy your company, Mulder. I hope you know that."

"I had an inkling."

"So what are you up to tonight?"

"I was going to go over and see the gunmen, but apparently our dapper friend Frohike has never had the chicken pox up until yesterday. I've had the chicken pox, twice, but he says he doesn't want anyone looking at him because he's hideous."

"What is it with the Seinfeld jokes tonight, and since when is Frohike not hideous?"

"Scully you're so mean."

"He looks like a lawn gnome and a badger had a baby."

"Scully!" he exclaimed, chuckling.

"I'm sorry. My mind goes weird places when I'm in that... whatever you call their habitat. It's like a contact high only without the pretty colors."

He was laughing loudly now, not solely because of what she was saying, but for the simple fact that it was her saying it.

"Scully, I've got to catch you in this mood more often."

"What mood?"

"You're snarky and... I don't know but I don't think I have ever witnessed you like this."

"I try not to let it out of the house."

He shook his head.

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I hadn't thought about it? Why?"

"Because, I was thinking."

"Great."

"This is the last weekend of the apple picking season, and I was thinking that there's nothing better than a homemade apple pie on a Saturday night."

"Mulder, do you want me to make you a pie?"

"No, I want to take you apple picking and then help you make pie."

"I see. Well, if you promise not to start a flour fight, you've got yourself a deal."

"I promise. Can I pick you up at 10?"

"Sounds good."