The Cheater

Part 3

by

Trycee

Time-Line: Present Day.

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-files, This is written for fun not profit.

Scully glanced at her watch. Work was over and despite Mulder's reassurance that she could take her time, she had replayed their argument over in her mind the entire day and realized that she had in part been wrong as well. Scully realized that she hadn't been considerate of his feelings lately. She hadn't bothered to call and check in with him as they had always done. And though Mulder had been wrong in accusing her of cheating, she knew she too needed to ask his forgiveness for her lack of care. She'd been absorbed in her work and in the debates and consultations with her fellow doctors. She'd was enjoying this time outside the hospital with someone other than Mulder and she felt a pang of guilt. He'd been waiting for her while she laughed and chatted as well as gone over her notes. It hadn't been entirely work related. It had been some socializing. She closed her office door and again noticed the stares and chattering she'd endured the entire day. She began to make her way towards the staircase when a nun touched her arm.

"Dear, if you're having domestic issues, you can always come and talk to me," the nun said, kindly.

Scully nodded. "Thank You Sister, but everythings's fine."

"Well, its spreading like wildfire around the hospital that you're husband caught you with a fellow doctor and flew into a rage," the elderly nun said. "I had to stop you and say something, dear. "

"Thank You," Scully said, backing up from the nun. "But that's just a horrible rumor, Sister." she said, walking off, leaving the nun standing in the hallway.

Scully drove home and parked the car in front of the front porch. She could see a trail of carnations dotted their front porch. She smiled and walked in catching him in the act as he sprinkled a bag of carnations in a trail heading towards the bedroom. A bag of unopened rose petals laid on the kitchen counter. He looked surprised as she stood in the doorway. "I didn't think you'd be home so soon," he said, looking disappointed.

Scully walked up to him and stood on her tip-toes and wrapped her arm around his neck bringing him closer to her level. She pressed her lips hard against his and Mulder responded, kissing her back.

"I...I..", he said, looking a little deflated. "I hadn't started on cooking you dinner yet," he said.

Scully glanced past him and noticed a few steaks marinating in a pre-made marinate sitting on the kitchen counter and she could smell the smoke from the grill on the wrap around porch through the glass door in the kitchen. "I'd prefer it if we did this together, okay?"

"You sure?", he said, with a glint in his eyes.

"Mulder, I felt bad after you left," Scully sighed. "I was wrong too. I should've called you these past few weeks. I should've let you know where I was. You were waiting on me and I don't want you to think that you're feelings mean any less than mine."

"Thank You," he said, kissing her soft lips. "A phone call is all I ask," he said.

"You have it from now on," she said. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too," he said.

He looked around at the unopened rose petals. "I was hoping to surprise you," he said, still looking let down.

"How about I go take a shower and we cook together. How does that sound?"

Mulder's bright hazel eyes began to sparkle. "Like we used too, Scully," he said, sighing loudly. "I miss you, ya know."

She smiled at him lovingly. "I miss you too when I'm gone. "

"Well hurry up," Mulder smiled. "I'll chill the wine."

"Okay," she said, turning to walk towards their bedroom but Mulder grabbed her hand. He kissed each digit on her finger. "Its always been just you and me, Scully," he said.

"It always will, Mulder," she said, as he pulled her into his strong embrace. "I could never want anyone else, Mulder. You have to know that. I love you with every part of my soul," she said, pulling back so she could look deeply into his eyes. "From the day I met you, Mulder, all I wanted was you. You have to know that."

"I do," he said. "I did too. I wanted only you," he said.

"Let me, " she said, trying to step away from him. "Let me get that shower."

"Okay," he said, and watched as she turned and walked off, closing their bedroom door behind her.

Mulder turned from the flowers and retreated to the kitchen. He added another bottle of wine to the fridge but took out the one he'd been chilling. He grabbed two wine glasses and walked out of the back door to the porch and sat them down on the table. He then stoked the fire of his grill waiting for the leaping fire to settle down. When he glanced intp the kitchen he could see Scully, dressed in casaul clothes,, her hair in a towel pulling out ingredients for their dinner.

He smiled to himself as he watched her for a few minutes. She noticed him and glanced up. "What?", she said, opening the patio door that separated them. "What?"

"I was just thinking, how beautiful you look."

"With a towel around my head?," she smirked.

"And yet your still stunningly beautiful. We don't do this enough, Scully. I don't want us drifting apart."

"I think all this definitely shows us that we need more time together," she said. "I'm off doing my work, you're doing yours."

Mulder walked up to her and pulled her roughly against him. "We used to work together, be with with eachother almost every second of the day."

"How did we not tire of eachother?', she said.

"Because we were in love and we played off each other, Scully.", he said, moving a strand of red hair out of her face. "I think we need to know, to reassure ourselves that we're still together. We still love each other. We need to connect so there's no more confusion."

"I agree."

"Maybe we need a date-night...do stuff we could never do when we were actually dating."

Scully nodded. "I just don't want you upset if I have to meet with other doctors, Mulder."

"As long as we communicate and we have an understanding...", he said.

"Alright," Scully answered.

Mulder let her go and then walked past her into the kitchen, grabbing up the steaks. "I'm gonna put them on."

"I'm making the sides," she said, as she returned to chop up the veggies for a salad.

She turned to see Mulder standing behind her and again they kissed and instead of pulling away, they kissed deeper. Scully placed a small hand on his chest and patted it, reassuring him through her touch that she was still there. "The fight is over Mulder. We're moving forward from now on," she said, shooting a glance in his direction.

"Alright," he said."No more jealousy, no more arguing."

"Okay," she said. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Mulder returned to the grill, placing the steaks on the hot fire as the aroma drifted into the surrounding area. It was such a normal moment, one Mulder had thought he'd nearly lost forever to a tall dark-haired stranger. He turned back to look through the glass door and saw Scully looked up at him and smiled. He burst into laughter and watched as she walked towards him, a smile on her lips. "You laughing at me?', she asked, playfuly.

His smile quickly faded, replaced by a dark desire in his hazel eyes that turned her into mush right in front of him. "Nothing. Its a nice evening at home and we're spending it together,'' he sighed. 'Just you and me, Scully," he smiled, widely. "Just You and Me..."

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THE END