Archive of Our Own ^beta

Scully sat alone at the desk in their basement office. Mulder was running down a lead and would not be back for another fifteen minutes. The moment of solitude would prove to be a perfect opportunity to go over the plans she had set in place for tomorrow evening. 

She reached into her suit jacket pocket and pulled out a list. With a pencil in hand, she went through each item carefully making sure she did not miss any details. If she was going to pull this off, she would expect nothing less than perfection. She recited the handwritten inventory softly to herself: 

Telescope, check 
Boat rental, check
Whites Ferry Boat Ramp, check
Compass, check
Dad’s October night sky star map, check
Lone gunmen, check
Sea sickness medicine, check 
Birthday cake, pick up tomorrow at 8:00 am 

After Mulder had surprised her with either her very early or very late birthday baseball lesson, she knew then she had wanted to do something special for him in return. To an outsider, his gesture might have seemed inattentive or ordinary, but Scully understood just how significant the act was. It was an expression of devotion, admiration and a long standing partnership built on trust. 

Possibly more, she thought. 

She picked up the phone and dialed the Lone Gunmen’s secure line and a familiar voice radiated through the phone.

“Frohike.”

“Frohike, it's me. Am I on speaker phone?” 

“Yes you are, little lady.” 

 “Good. I'm just double checking to make sure you all have everything in place for tomorrow night.” 

“Don't sweat it, sister. We have it all planned out. Mulder doesn't suspect a thing.” 

“Good. I need this to go down perfectly, Frohike. There’s no room here for error. You know how intuitive Mulder is, he can't catch onto the plan. You boys need to be on top of your game.” 

“We got your back, G-woman. Langly has Mulder believing we are taking him to visit a couple who have befriended a Sasquatch child.”  

“A… what?” she asked and then shook her head, closing her eyes. “You know what, forget I asked.”

“Byers even created a fake email correspondence to make it all believable,” Frohike continued with a chuckle as Byers shouted out from the background.  

“Don’t worry, Scully. We won't let you down!” 

Scully took a deep breath of relief and nodded, opening her eyes. 

“Perfect. Have him at the boat ramp a little before dusk, so let's say… five? Five thirty latest?”

“You got it. Oh... and Scully, I know I don't have to tell you, but this is going to blow our boy’s socks off. I don't think anyone has ever done anything like this for him… ever. Thanks for putting this together.”

Scully smiled into the phone, always appreciating Frohike’s candor.

“Don't thank me yet. We still have fifteen hours to go without spoiling the surprise.” She glanced at her watch. Mulder was due back soon. “Gotta go, boys. Thanks again.” 

She hung up the phone, but not before she received a bye in perfect unison from all three gunmen and she laughed silently, but then she sighed. Her heart hurt thinking about Frohike’s words, but it only solidified her resolve to plan and execute the perfect birthday surprise for Mulder. 

Failure was not an option. 

Five minutes later, the basement office door swung open and Mulder, clearly exasperated but full of kinetic energy, shuffled into the room. He plopped down in Scully’s chair and grabbed some sunflower seeds out of his suit pocket, tilted his head back, and popped a few into his mouth.

She always admired Mulder’s ability to enter a room with confidence, no matter his mood. She sat at his desk, her arms crossed as she checked him out. 

He was wearing his blue button down shirt, her favorite, sleeves rolled up to his elbows exposing his toned forearms. She could not help but think how incredibly handsome he looked. 

Clearing her throat, she hoped her reddened cheeks had not given her thoughts away as he sighed deeply, his neck resting on the back of the chair. 

“Dead end, Scully,” he said in a glib voice. 

“I’m sorry, Mulder,” she said sincerely and then hurried on. “Would you mind if I head out a little early? I… uh… have some things I need to do.”

“Reallyyy?” he asked with a slight spike in his voice as he raised his head and an eyebrow. “What's so important that it can’t wait? Anything I can help with?” 

She could tell she had piqued his interest. She knew her partner well enough to know, if she stayed any longer, his line of questioning would become more invasive and given the opportunity, he would be able to poke holes in any story she came up with of why she needed to leave early. She had come this far and she certainly was not going to be the reason the surprise was spoiled now.

“No, Mulder, but thank you.” She stood up quickly and walked around the desk to leave. Pausing beside him, she placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “Night, Mulder. See you later.”  

Scully held her breath all the way down the basement hallway, certain he would catch up and deter her. When she finally made it into the elevator, she leaned against the railing and slumped her shoulders, letting out a deep sigh of relief when she did not see him. 

This might just work, she thought, grinning to herself as the elevator doors shut. 

***

Mulder turned and watched Scully as she left the office. He found himself stealing glances and watching her more often than he probably should be. But who could blame him. Scully was stunningly beautiful and he could not help it. 

But she was more than that, he thought, letting out a deep sigh. 

When she shut the door behind her, he slumped down in the chair again, slightly disappointed. He knew he should not be because he was aware that he was the worst when it came to remembering important dates. But not Scully, not by a long shot. She always remembered special occasions. 

His birthday was tomorrow, and he thought she would have mentioned it, especially considering he would be taking a personal day tomorrow and would not be in the office. 

He had taken the day off to spend it with the Gunmen. They had called him, talking excitedly about a lead on a juvenile Sasquatch and had invited him along to authenticate the claim, to which he had happily agreed. 

But deep down, he had hoped Scully might have asked him to a birthday lunch or even better, dinner and drinks. He would have gladly canceled any and all plans, if Scully had even hinted at either option. 

One could only hope.  

He stood up and stretched his arms towards the ceiling, letting out another loud sigh. He tinkered around the office for another thirty minutes then decided to head home to his apartment. Patting his pants pockets, checking to make sure he had his car keys, he gathered up some case files from his desk and headed out the office. 

Turning off the lights, he shut and locked the door behind him, wondering if Scully would think to call him tomorrow and wish him a happy birthday. 

***

Scully opened her eyes before the morning sun had a chance to greet her through her bedroom window. She rolled over onto her side, peeked at her alarm clock and rubbed her eyes. 

6:00. Ahead of schedule, she thought. 

She could hardly blame herself for waking up so early, as she was far too wired to sleep. 

Wired and excited. 

Today was October thirteenth, Mulder’s birthday. She smiled as she sat up and reached for her phone to call him, hoping he was still sleeping and not awake at this early hour. If he answered, it might jeopardize the surprise, as he might suggest that they meet for breakfast or possibly lunch. She dialed his number and when it went straight to his answering machine she was instantly relieved.

“Mulder, it's me. Happy birthday. Enjoy your day off. I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

She ended the call and put her phone down on the nightstand. Making her way to the bathroom to take a quick shower, she thought of her plan, mentally checking through her list once more and pausing on the star map with a smile.   

When she was a little girl, her father had told her stories of sailors using maritime constellation maps to navigate the seas at night. Seafarers would create maps of the stars during the different seasons. With the constellations as their guide, ships were able to stay the course throughout the night. 

One particular story always stood out to her and she would often ask her father to recite it, though she knew it by heart, which he would with a chuckle. 

A young sea captain and his small crew of sailors were lost at sea one October night. He was newly married and had been gone from his pregnant bride for several months. The young captain used the constellations as a guide to steer his ship and crew back on course, bringing them home safely. The captain made it home in time to see the birth of their first child, which they named Corona, after the star cluster he tracked at night. 

With that story in mind, she had come up with the idea to rent a boat and take Mulder out to “sea” to stargaze using the old maritime constellation map as a guide. Her father had given it to her years ago, smiling as he told her to “use it wisely.” 

Scully could not help but think of his words as she also thought once again how employing the constellations as guides to navigate the seas at night was both romantic and pragmatic. She knew when she told Mulder the story she had loved as a girl, he would appreciate the juxtaposition of science and intuition. 

However grand her plan though, she knew a trip to the actual ocean would be too far, and so the Potomac River, which admittedly was enchanting at night during this time of year, was the next best thing.

The river was large, but also close to the city lights and she had needed to find a section on the river that was away from the city to have a better view of the stars. Whites Ferry public boat ramp proved to be the closest spot, without going too far out. It was only two hours away on the Maryland-Virginia border and it offered stunning views of the stars at night. 

It would be the perfect setting for her birthday surprise.

As an FBI agent, there were certain perks one could take advantage of and under the circumstances, she was not too ashamed to admit she had pulled a few strings to rent a boat. Everything was in order and going as she had planned and thanks to the help of the Gunmen, Mulder was still none the wiser.  

She finished getting ready, smiling as she headed out to pick up some last minute things, including Mulder’s birthday cake, then she set out to pull off what could arguably be the biggest surprise of Mulder’s life. 

****

Mulder woke to the sound of knocking. Startled, he instinctively reached over to his coffee table feeling for his glock. 

Less groggy as he began to remember his plans for the day, he put his gun back on the coffee table with a sigh and sat up on the couch. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stood, taking a second to stretch. 

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

“Mulder, it's us. Open up.” 

“Alright, alright… give it a rest. I’m coming.”

He dragged his feet to his apartment door and unlocked the deadbolt, turning around to head back to his bedroom. 

“It's open, fellas.”

The door opened and the three Gunmen entered his apartment like a hurricane. Mulder turned around, gesturing in the air as he opened his bedroom door, and looked at them. 

“Guys, it's early. Can you not be so… you ?”

“Sorry, buddy. Langly doubled our expresso this morning,” Byers said apologetically and Mulder rolled his eyes.  

“I'm going to hop in the shower. Don’t break anything while I'm gone.”

He smiled to himself as he turned on the shower, shucking his clothes as the water warmed up, thinking about the three grown men in his living room who were now trying very hard to heed his warning. 

***

Frohike paced the apartment while Byers and Langly sat on Mulder’s couch. All three exchanged glances. Frohike looked at his buddies, tapping his watch with a nod.  

“This has gotta work,” he said. “We can't let the little lady down.” 

“You know, Frohike,” Langly said, his knee bouncing from too much caffeine. “I think you just might be the only person who can get away with calling Scully little lady and still be walking upright.”

“What can I say, boys? I can’t help it if I’m her favorite.” 

“Yeah,” Langly snorted. “Whatever.” 

“You’re just jealous, hippie.” 

“Alright,” Byers said, glancing at his own watch. “We get Mulder out of here as soon as he’s ready. Grab a bite and get a move on.” 

“No fucking around,” Langley added and Byers shrugged. 

“I didn’t say that,” he replied as Langly stood up to peruse Mulder’s video collection. 

“But it was implied,” Langly said and Byers nodded. 

“T-minus twenty minutes, fellas,” Frohike said and they all nodded. 

***

Scully stepped onto the boat, setting down the last bag of items she had brought with her and sighed as she looked around. 

It was a beautiful fall day, the air crisp and the sun bright. It would be a perfect night for stargazing later, so long as the clouds continued to stay nonexistent. 

Taking off her coat, the sun and recent activities warming her, she set about preparing for her trip down the river and Mulder’s eventual arrival, smiling as her stomach gave a little lurch of excitement. 

****

“Are you guys sure about this couple?” Mulder asked, sitting in the Gunmen’s van, staring at the park bench where the couple had agreed to meet with information about the Sasquatch child. 

“Yeah. They said they would be here. We just need to wait.” 

“They said at one. It’s almost two thirty now,” Mulder said skeptically. “I think they’re gonna be a no show, if they were ever the real deal to begin with.” He sighed and shook his head. 

“Hey, man, don’t say that,” Frohike said, glancing quickly at Byers. “Sometimes it takes time. You know how people can be.” 

“I can try and call them. They gave me a number,” Byers suggested and Mulder shook his head. 

“Nah. Pretty sure that will be a bogus number. I had a feeling this was too good to be true.” 

“I’ll try it, let me see.” 

Just as Byers took out his phone, it rang and they all looked at one another. 

“Hello? Yes? It’s Byers, yes. Okay. Where?” He looked at his watch and nodded. “Yeah, we can be there in… a couple of hours. You have the… oh. Yeah, I understand. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Good… bye,” he said, looking at his phone before hanging up. “Well, that was them. They said they were here, but there were too many people around. That they felt nervous.” 

“So what do they want? Where do they want to meet?” Mulder asked, feeling both annoyance and excitement at the possibility of speaking to them. 

“Whites Ferry boat ramp,” Byers said and Langly nodded, taking out the map guide he kept under the seat and began searching for the quickest route to Whites Ferry. 

“A boat?” Mulder moaned, leaning his head back and closing his eyes with a sigh, already feeling seasick.  

Byers looked at Frohike and they both smiled before Frohike jumped into the driver's seat, arguing with Langley as the other two put on their seatbelts. 

*****

Scully stood on the boat, her cell phone in her hand, tapping it against her thigh as she waited for it to ring once, announcing the arrival of Mulder and the Gunmen. Her mind scrolled through the rolodex of thoughts she had of the day and settled on the anticipation of what was to come. 

Everything was ready, all she needed was Mulder. 

Her phone rang and she jumped. When it did not ring again, she knew they had arrived and Mulder would soon be walking down the ramp. She slipped her phone into her pocket and grinned. 

Staying out of sight, but standing where she could watch his arrival, she waited, her heart racing. 

She saw him and she grinned, noting the excited trepidation on his face as he looked at the boat. The guys were not behind him, and would most likely already have driven away, as was the arrangement. She grinned again as she saw him sigh and then step onto the boat ramp. 

“Hello?” he called out. “It’s Agent Mulder. You spoke with Byers earlier and said to meet here? Is it alright if I approach closer?” 

“That would be ideal,” she said, stepping into view and smiling at him. He stared at her, stopping in his tracks. 

“S… Scully? What…? How…?” he said, frowning as he shook his head. “But… I don’t understand.” 

“Happy birthday, Mulder,” she said, stepping off the boat and onto the ramp. 

“Birthday?” 

“Yes. It is your birthday today, correct?” she teased and he nodded with a confused look on his face. 

“But the…” He looked back toward the parking area and then back at her. “There was never a Sasquatch child, was there?” 

“No,” she said with a smile, shaking her head. 

“You planned this? The guys knew that you…?”

“They did.” He stared at her and she smiled again. “I needed time to get down here without you suspecting where I was for the day.” 

“So you sent me on a snipe hunt?” he asked, a smile twitching at his lips. 

“More or less,” she agreed with a nod. 

“Okay… so, what’s the plan? I’m… They left didn’t they? Dropped me off and drove away?” 

“They did.” She grinned and he nodded with a hum. 

“I take it your car is not here and the only mode of transportation is this boat,” he said with a heavy sigh. 

“Your assumptions are correct,” she said. “However, I did take into account your lack of sea legs. Or river legs, as it were. Hold on a second.” 

She stepped back into the boat and picked up the sea bands she had bought, along with a bottle of water and the nausea pills. Stepping out again, she handed him the bottle of water. 

“Here. Give me your arm.” 

He held out an arm and she slipped the band onto his wrist, twisting it to the correct location. He switched the bottle of water into his other hand and she slid the band onto his opposite wrist, situating it as well. 

“These are supposed to help with nausea, but I’m not entirely sold on them, so you should also take a pill to help it. Don’t want to ruin your birthday surprise by puking your guts into the river.” She smiled as she opened the bottle of pills and handed him one. “I think one should be enough. Don’t want you getting too drowsy.” 

“I’d take drowsy over pukey any day,” he said, putting the pill in his mouth and opening the bottle of water. Drinking it down, he wiped his mouth and stared at her as he replaced the cap. “So a boat was the idea you had for my birthday surprise?” 

“Yes,” she answered with a nod. 

“Despite me needing all these precautions?” He looked down at his wrists and then back at her. 

“Yes,” she said again and he hummed as he looked at the boat, a finger running across the band on his right wrist. “It’s something I love.” 

“What?” he asked, looking back at her. She smiled as she turned her head to look out at the water. 

“I’ve always loved the water. Boating. Sailing. It’s calming. My dad used to take us fishing when we were little. Sometimes the rocking would make me feel sleepy and he would laugh as I nodded off. There’s just something about it…” She looked at him again and she smiled softly. “You shared something you love with me for my birthday gift and I wanted to do the same for you. Yours just needed some… precautions.” 

She glanced at his wrist bands and shook the bottle of pills and he chuckled. 

“Well… then I suppose we should shove off,” he said and she nodded, excitement again stirring in her belly. 

“You get in and I’ll take care of it.” 

****

Mulder smiled as he stepped into the boat, sitting down and watching Scully prepare the boat to leave. She was quick and sure as she untied the ropes and tossed the boat's bumpers from the outside of the boat into the inside. Giving it a good shove once she was finished, she hurried aboard, laughing as she did. 

“When I was little,” she said, stepping to the steering wheel and turning the key to start the engine. “I was always the one to shove us off. Bill grumbled about it sometimes, saying it was a “man’s job” and my dad laughed, telling him to pipe down. I was the smallest and the quickest, not rocking the boat much when I jumped on.” 

“I bet he hated hearing that,” Mulder said, smiling at her as she started backing up. 

“He did indeed,” she laughed, turning the wheel when she had backed up far enough and then driving forward, not quickly, but at a comfortable pace. 

“So this is my birthday present, huh? You shouldn’t have,” he said, remembering her words to him on a baseball diamond a few months back. 

She looked at him with a smirk and he smiled as he looked up at the evening sky, the stars just beginning to come out. 

“It’s not a Sasquatch child, I know, but…” she teased and he chuckled. 

“It’s better,” he said softly, not looking at her, but watching her from the corner of his eye. He knew she had heard him above the sound of the motor by the way she glanced at him and he held back a smile. 

Watching the water as they drove smoothly over it, he felt happier than he had in a long time. Especially on any birthday he’d ever had. 

They did not really do birthdays, her and him, except the year when he had given her the Apollo Eleven keychain as they had shared dinner and drinks at The Headless Woman’s Pub. 

They did not go there anymore, however. Not since Pendrell had been shot and then died. Scully said she would rather not eat there again, her eyes sad when he had suggested it one night. 

No, they did not do birthdays. Yet this year… they were celebrating each other’s, sharing things they loved. 

He turned his head and looked at her, admiring her profile and smiling at the small smile he saw on her lips. 

“So,” he said, clearing his throat and adjusting the sea band on his wrist. “You had all the precautions. What’s the rest of the plan? Are we headed somewhere?” 

“Not in particular,” she said with a shrug. 

“Not to some rock in the middle of the river to have a good heart to heart?” he suggested and she laughed, the sound of it echoing out over the still water. 

“I’m not planning on sinking another boat, no,” she stated, laughing again and he shrugged. 

“That was Big Blue, Scully. Not your fault.” 

“Mulder…” she said warningly and he nodded, looking around the boat. 

“Where did you even get this boat?” he asked, standing up carefully and stepping toward the door to what he knew had to be a small cabin area. 

“No. You don’t get to go down there,” she said, holding her hand out and stopping him from opening the door. 

“What? Why not?” 

“Because I said you can’t. Please sit back down.” 

They stared at each other and she raised her eyebrows, her hand still blocking his access to the door. 

“Is the Sasquatch child in there? Is that my surprise?” he teased and she rolled her eyes. 

“Yeah. You figured it out. I’ve taken a forest dwelling cryptid from, not only its home, but its mother, and put it on a boat to take it for a cruise down the river. I thought it might enjoy being away from all it knows, locked in a cabin and waiting to be stared at by you with your crazy and excited eyes.” She stared at him and then rolled her eyes as she shook her head. 

“Ah, Scully. You truly know the way to a man’s heart,” he said, covering his heart with both hands as he stepped back from the door, grinning at her. “I’ll do my best to act surprised when I see it.” 

“You do that,” she said with a scoff and another roll of her eyes, shaking her head as she smiled. Putting up his hands, he sat back down and exhaled deeply. 

“How did you get the boat though?” he asked and she shrugged her shoulders. 

“I have my ways,” she said, glancing at him quickly. 

“The guys help you procure it?” 

“Nope.” 

“Hmm…” he said, leaning back and crossing his arms. 

“Agent Lincoln actually helped me out,” she said and he sat up with a slight frown. 

“Did he?” he asked, as he pictured the tall, sandy-haired agent. “How?” 

“Well, he happened to overhear me on the phone and asked if I was trying to find a boat to rent. I said yes and he suggested a guy he knew. I called him up and told him what I needed and…” She gestured to the boat with another shrug. 

“Just like that?” 

“Well…” She smiled at him and then licked her lips. “I might have implied it was for official bureau business.” 

“You lied?” he asked in mock incredulity, his mouth dropping open. “Agent Scully, I’m surprised at you.” 

“It’s not exactly a lie. We are federal agents and if we don’t technically use it for a case, how will they know? Maybe the mere thought of it will be their new claim to fame. People are drawn to odd things.” 

“Are you trying to imply something, Scully?” 

“No,” she said, laughing and shaking her head. 

“I don’t know,” he said, leaning back again, Agent Lincoln no longer a threat in his head. “I think people at the bureau would say otherwise about us working together.” 

“No they wouldn’t, Mulder. They don’t find me odd.” 

It was his turn to laugh, looking at her as she smiled at him, pushing the boat to go just a bit faster.

****

“Are you feeling alright?” Scully asked, noticing he had his eyes closed. 

“Hmm,” he hummed with a nod. “Not nauseated and only very slightly drowsy.” 

“Well, I suppose that’s as good as it can be considering your shortcomings,” she teased and he huffed out a laugh, his eyes still closed. 

She stared at him, his arms crossed and a smile on his lips, and she let out a quiet breath. 

The memory of his arms around her as they shared a baseball bat, hitting balls out into the night sky and laughing happily, pushed its way to the front of her mind. It had been fun, silly, and perfect. 

When she had left, her new suede coat, which was far too expensive, smelled of him. His cologne, deodorant, and him. The scent was simply Mulder, and one she would know anywhere. She had smelled her coat repeatedly, her stomach fluttering, until she had forced herself to stop, shaking her head at her almost childish behavior. 

“Everything okay?” he asked. 

“What?” 

“You’re staring at me. If we weren’t on the open sea… er river, without the fear of other vehicles close by, I’d be worried we might get into an accident.” 

“Excuse me?” 

“I’m just saying,” he said, smiling roguishly. “You seem more confident on the water than you do on the road. Maybe it’s the lack of needing to move a seat to reach the pedals.” 

“Mulder,” she warned. 

“It’s a compliment,” he hurried to assure her and she narrowed her eyes at him. “You said it yourself, you've always loved the water. I think it’s obvious in your ability to maneuver on it so well.” 

“I think that medicine may be affecting you more than you think,” she grumbled and he laughed. 

“All I’m trying to imply is that you look as though you belong to the sea, I mean river. As if you’re a seafarer who has taken on a watery quest, ferrying a soul across the River Styx or some such important task.” 

“Wow… You’ve taken anti-nausea pills before, right?” 

“Yeah, why?” 

“Did it act as a truth serum as it seems to be doing tonight?” 

He laughed again and shook his head. 

“Nah. And it’s not from the pills. I thought it last time I watched you drive a boat. Just didn’t think to say it then.” 

“Hmm,” she hummed, thinking of the last time they had been on a boat together. “Poor Queequeg.” 

“Yeah,” he said softly as she sighed, her eyes on the water. He exhaled loudly and then hummed. “I understand what you were saying now. How you would find it sleep inducing when you were younger. Being on a boat, I mean.” 

“You know, for a man who had a waterbed until very recently, I’m surprised that being on a boat makes you feel queasy, but that didn’t,” she said, giving him a look. 

“Oh… it did at first. It took a while to become used to it, as the couch had always been just fine, especially with it being so nice and stationary,” he said with a chuckle. “What took longer to get used to though, were the mirrors on the ceiling. But once the waterbed busted, I took those down.” 

“I’m sorry… what?” She looked at him, her brain trying to figure out if she had heard him correctly. “You… what?” 

“Look, I didn’t put them there,” he said defensively, shaking his head. “They were just… suddenly there.” 

“Mirrors. On your ceiling. They were just… there one day?” 

“Yeah. Actually, it was the same day as the waterbed. Remember when we went to Nevada? By Area 51?” 

“As if I could forget,” she scoffed. 

“Well, when we came back, all of that stuff was there. And the apartment was spotless.” 

“Did you order it all and you forgot?” she asked, her mind still on the mirrored ceiling, her thoughts racing at the images presenting themselves to her. 

“Ha!” he laughed loudly, sitting forward and shaking his head again. “Do you think I seriously stood in my bedroom one day, looked at the ceiling and thought, you know what it needs in here? Mirrors. Really, Scully?” 

“I don’t know,” she said with a shrug. “Hearing you had a waterbed was quite shocking. This is… it’s…” 

“Porny?” he asked with a grin. 

“Well… I…” 

“Believe me, it’s what I thought,” he said, standing up carefully and walking towards her. He stood beside her and leaned against the closed cabin door. “There can only be one reason people put mirrors on the ceiling, and it’s definitely not to stare at their own selves in bed.” 

“But,” she said, swallowing hard, her throat dry. “You’ve taken them down now.” 

“And without ever getting the true use out of them,” he said, sighing as he looked down and shook his head slowly.  

“Oh?” she asked, her heart fluttering oddly at that information. 

“Yeah,” he said, looking at her with a smile. “Now the only things up there are pencils, as it should be.” 

“Hmm,” she hummed, her thoughts still on what those mirrors and what would have shown if she had been in his bed. 

Stop it, she said to herself, shaking her head as if to get rid of those thoughts. 

“Mulder, you never cease to amaze me,” she said, looking ahead and turning the wheel to the left, although it was not exactly needed. 

“Because I took them down? Should I have kept them up and shown them to you first?” 

Her breath caught, which she covered with a cough. She glanced at him and then looked away. 

“No. That’s not what… I mean to each their own, but I… No,” she stuttered as the smile on his face grew and he nodded. 

“Yeah, it was good I took them down.” 

“You want to drive?” Scully asked, desperately wanting to change the subject. Stepping to the side slightly, she made some room for him. 

“Hmm…” he said, quirking his mouth and then shaking his head. “Thank you, but no.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah. I don’t know where we’re going for one, and for two…” He smiled, his eyes dropping to her lips before meeting her eyes again. “Seafaring Scully, on her mysterious quest, is enjoyable to behold.” 

If they had been different people, a couple in some romantic fashion, she would have kissed him. Would have pulled him close and perhaps gotten a little handsy with him. 

A lot handsy, she thought as the wind carried the scent of his cologne straight to her nose. 

But they were not different people and so instead, she rolled her eyes as she took control of the wheel once again.  

“I hope you’re not disappointed that there isn’t exactly a destination spot,” she said, suddenly worried that her idea would not live up to his expectations. 

“Can’t imagine I’ll be disappointed,” he assured her as she looked at him. 

“I… we just need to get a little further from the city lights.” 

“Whatever you have planned, Scully, I’m completely… onboard. Starboard, actually.” He grinned and she chuckled softly. 

“Technically, you’re port, as you’re to the left of me. I’m starboard.” 

“Eh,” he said with a shrug. “Sasquatch. Bigfoot.” 

Laughter burst from her, a deep belly laugh that made her lean forward over the steering wheel, gripping it tightly as her body shook from his incredibly corny words. 

“Mulder…” she said, still laughing softly as she shook her head and he grinned at her, winking before he turned to look out at the water. 

****

Back in his seat now, Mulder hummed and he closed his eyes, the anti nausea medicine indeed causing him to feel tired. Added to the late hour he had gone to bed and his early morning visitors, he could have nodded off easily. 

The engine cut off and he opened his eyes, looking over at Scully. She flipped a switch and he heard the anchor lowering. The boat rocked, and thankfully he found that it did not make him feel sick. 

“I think the combination of the sea bands and the drugs you supplied are doing the job nicely,” he told her as he looked around and realized they were in a little cove. 

“Good,” she said, opening the cabin door and turning on a light. 

“Oh… can I go down there now? Am I allowed?” 

“I suppose,” she said, rolling her eyes with a smile as she made her way down the ladder like steps. 

He stood up and followed her down into the small cabin and looked around, his eyes falling on the kitchenette, small table, and the bed. Opening a door, he found a toilet and he nodded as he closed the door. 

“You know, aside from the fact that I’d be on water, I think I could live like this- it’s simple, no fuss.” 

“There’s no shower,” she stated as she took a large leather tube shaped item from the bed. 

“We’re surrounded by water,” he replied and she gave him a disgusted look. He laughed as she shook her head. “Okay… I’d find some place and shower. It wouldn’t be so bad.” 

“Hmm…” she hummed, shaking her head again. “I do love the water, but not enough to live on a boat. At least not one this size. It’s too small and the lack of a shower or tub, no thank you.” 

“What do you have there?” he asked, pointing to the item she held. 

“This…” she said with a smile, patting the tube. “This was a gift from my father. Something I’ve treasured, but haven’t had an opportunity to look at for quite awhile.” 

“What is it?” he asked again, his curiosity piqued. 

“It’s a constellation map,” she said, opening the tube and taking out the contents inside. 

“What?” he asked, stepping closer as she unrolled the crinkly, but well preserved, paper out on the table. 

It did not lay flat, so he looked behind him, taking spice containers from the rack secured to the wall and placing them on the paper, using them as paperweights. 

“Thanks,” she murmured, smoothing the paper and letting out a sigh. 

He glanced at her, seeing the soft smile on her face as she looked at the constellations drawn upon it. Looking back at the map, he saw some he recognized, but many that he did not know. 

“You know, of course, that my father was in the Navy. He loved the sea, always speaking of it with great reverence.” She smiled again and he watched her trace the constellations, whispering their names softly. “He would tell us stories about when he was gone, but I would always pester him for different stories. There were many he knew, but one in particular was my favorite. I liked it for the romance of it, though I never would have admitted it, lest my brothers make fun of me.” She chuckled and he smiled with a nod of understanding. 

“Tell me the story,” he said softly and she nodded. 

“A young sea captain, who was newly married, was lost at sea with his crew one October night. They had already been gone for several months and while the crew was worried about their predicament, the captain's own thoughts were on his bride, who was pregnant with their first child.” 

“Newly married… they worked fast,” Mulder murmured and she laughed quietly. 

“Well, they’d had some time together before he left. Couple that with a lack of any type of protection and… well…” She smiled and he nodded as he raised his eyebrows and shrugged. 

“Please continue,” he said. “Did they make it home?” 

“They did,” she said, tracing the constellations again. “The sea captain used the constellations as a guide to steer the ship, bringing himself and the crew home safely. He made it in time for the birth of his child, whom they named Corona, after the star cluster he had tracked that night, knowing that it would be the one to guide him home.

Mulder smiled as she turned her head to look at him with a smile of her own. 

“That’s a really great story.” 

“Yeah. One of my favorites,” she said, looking back at the map. “I would listen to it and imagine this young man who, when it was discovered that he was lost, felt it keenly and-”

“Well, not only himself, but the entire crew,” Mulder interrupted, picturing the ship of men under the starry sky. “Most likely most of them were his own age, possibly even younger. Boys who would have gone to sea because it called to them or they were looking for work. All of them had families of their own, in some form or another. I’m sure they were all scared, but didn’t want to show it.” 

“Yeah,” Scully said softly. “Exactly.” 

“And the captain, being an intelligent seafaring man, knew the stars and how to read them. He knew how to bring them where they needed to be.” 

“Yes,” she said again, nodding slowly. 

They stared at one another, each imagining the story from different perspectives. 

Mulder could picture himself captaining the ship, bringing all of the lost souls home and hearing the relief and happiness in the voices of the mothers and sweethearts who had been waiting on land. 

Scully had always gone back and forth in her thoughts, wanting to both be on the ship as it sailed on the open sea, and also waiting at home, walking the shore as she waited for her beloved husband to return. 

Her romantic younger self had imagined the homecoming many times, caught up in the happiness. The sea captain had always looked similar to Tommy Shanahon, from down the street when they were stationed in San Diego, anytime she would think of the story. 

Now, as she stood in the small boat cabin with Mulder, his eyes shining from the story, she could only see him as the captain as he stepped off the ship, his eyes locking on hers as he grinned and hurried to her side. 

“So,” she said, turning abruptly and also taking a small step back from him, the image vanishing. “What I thought, for your gift, is that I could teach you how to navigate by constellations, like my father taught me. I could show you and you could guide us back home.” 

“Yeah,” he said, smiling broadly and nodding his head. “I would really like that. Show me what I need to know.” 

******

Scully watched Mulder as he slowed the boat down and stepped back to look up at the night sky, for at least the tenth time, and she smiled. 

He had been very enthusiastic as she pointed out the different constellations on the map. He knew many of them, but not their precise locations. Using the map, holding it up and comparing what they were seeing, he grinned as he named the constellations. 

“You sure you don’t want to use the telescope I brought?” she asked him again and he shook his head. “It would make it easier for you to see.” 

“I appreciate the offer, but no thank you,” he answered, as he continued looking up. “It wouldn’t be as authentic.” She smiled as she nodded and crossed her arms. 

“Well, it’s here if you change your mind.” 

“Thanks,” he said again, pointing up. “Hercules. He almost looks like he’s dancing, don’t you think? Some weird dance moves. Do you see it?” he asked and she nodded as she also looked up at the sky. “Bootes now… it looks like a giant kite. And Serpens, it reminds me of a… huh, a satellite dish.” 

“A satellite dish?” she asked, smiling at him. 

“Yeah, look,” he said, holding the map up as she took her flashlight from her pocket and shone the light on it. “See how it’s a triangle with a bendy line? Definitely a satellite dish.” 

“Okay,” she had said, turning off the flashlight nodding. 

“I think Corona was a perfect name for the captain’s child,” he said as he kept staring up at the sky. “Not just because it was the constellation he followed, but because of the shape of it.” 

“How do you mean?” she asked, frowning as she tilted her head back, looking at the Corona constellation and then turning her head towards him. 

“It’s almost shaped like a horseshoe,” he said, pointing again as he traced the air with his finger. “With the ends of it pointing up, a horseshoe represents good luck being collected. Even if the captain hadn’t known, or been overly superstitious, he followed the stars with a lucky symbol attached to it. It was destined to be.” 

He smiled at her as he rolled up the map gently and went back to the steering wheel. Increasing the boat’s speed slowly, he hummed under his breath. 

She looked at him and then back up at the sky. Her father had described the constellation as a crown, which was how she had always thought of it. But now, she did see it as a horseshoe shape and she found that she liked it better that way. 

Turning her attention to the water, she closed her eyes briefly as the warm fall wind blew through her hair. Opening them, she stepped closer to Mulder. 

“You’re quite the natural,” she said, her eyes traveling over him, liking the way he looked manning the boat. 

“Thank you,” he said, glancing at her and she nodded as she watched him.

“You just need um…” Placing a hand on the steering wheel, she turned it slightly to the left. “Only a little this way.” 

“Hmm, thanks.” 

“You’re welcome.” 

They drove for a while, neither of them speaking, no other people out on the water, the city lights glowing dimly on the horizon. 

“Imagine spending months on a ship,” Mulder said, breaking the silence. 

“Didn’t you say earlier that you wouldn’t mind living on this boat, or one like it?” she teased and he nodded with a smile. 

“True. But, me on my own is significantly different from a ship full of men. Especially as it wouldn't have a shower nor a toilet,” he said and she made a face. 

“The air would undoubtedly be thick with the spice of men,” she stated and he laughed. 

“I’m sure it was quite ripe,” he said. “But, I was actually thinking more along the lines of leaving your family behind. Your wife, children… I’m sure it was difficult.” 

“It’s what my father did. What many men, and women, still do,” she said with a small shrug. 

“Eh… I don’t see it that way, not exactly. With technology and more advanced vessels, it’s different,” he said, shaking his head. 

“I suppose it is,” she said, thinking of the days when a ship would be gone for months, no word of where it was at times. Mothers, wives, and children not knowing if their son or father would return. 

Again silence fell between them, her thoughts staying on the young captain, confidently following the stars that he knew would lead him home. 

Though her journey to meet him at the ferry had felt longer, it seemed that it only took half the time to reach the harbor where she had rented the boat. Switching places, as Mulder was not accustomed to docking a boat, he followed her instructions to ready it, jumping out to help lead it in and tie the rope to the cleats in the front and back. 

He grinned at her as he stepped back onboard, quite proud of himself. 

She gathered everything up, including the small cake she had purchased for him. Placing it in a bag, she turned the lights off and left the cabin. 

Dropping the keys in the after hours box as she had been instructed to do, she turned to Mulder and smiled. 

“So… you had fun?” 

“I did,” he said with a grin. “Much more than I had anticipated when I realized we would be spending time on the water.” He took off the sea bands and put them into his pocket. “They look and feel a little strange, but I think they worked really well.”

“Glad to hear it,” she said with a chuckle. “I do have something else for you.” 

“Is it a keychain?” he teased. 

“It is not,” she said, laughing again. 

“An alien implant?” 

“No.” She rolled her eyes and pointed to the picnic table underneath a street lamp a few feet away. “Let’s go sit down and I’ll give it to you.” He turned, walking ahead of her, and she smiled as she followed. 

“It’s not exactly a gift,” she said, placing the bag on the table and taking out the cake. “But, it’s something you’ll enjoy.” 

“Ohhh…” he said, sitting at the table and leaning forward with interest. “Is it chocolate?” 

“Of course. But… wait.” 

She opened the lid and then took out the sparklers she had also purchased. Pushing them down into the cake, she lit them with a lighter. They popped and sparked as she pushed it towards him. 

She watched his face as he saw the decorations on the cake, highlighted by the glow of the sparklers. Looking up at her, his expression unreadable, he looked back at the cake and shook his head. 

It was plain, with only vanilla frosting. On the top however, she’d had the bakery write Happy Birthday in brown icing. It also had a design, depicting their evening. A brown boat sat on blue water, the moon and stars above it. One constellation hung above the boat, a horseshoe crown shaped constellation, the yellow points placed in the exact locations. 

“Scully,” he said softly as the sparklers continued to pop and spark. 

“Happy birthday,” she whispered and he looked up at her again. She smiled and he sighed as he stood up and extracted himself from the table. 

Standing in front of her, he shook his head and then pulled her to him, surprising her as he held her tightly. 

“Thank you,” he whispered. “For everything today. I… It’s the best birthday I’ve ever had.” 

“Surely not ever?” she asked with a small laugh, trying to lighten the sudden heavy feeling. 

He pulled back, holding her upper arms gently as he nodded his head. 

“Ever,” he assured her. “It was thoughtful and surprising. I never would have anticipated it. Thank you, Scully.” He pulled her close again and she sighed as she hugged him back, closing her eyes. 

“You’re welcome,” she whispered. 

They both heard the sparklers fizzle out and they laughed softly as they broke apart, glancing at the cake before looking at each other and smiling. 

He cupped her cheek, his thumb running gently across it. She drew in a breath as he dipped his head and kissed her cheekbone, just above his thumb. Her eyes closed as he kissed her again and her stomach fluttered. 

When he pulled back, she opened her eyes and let out a slow breath. His eyes dropped to her lips and she nodded ever so slightly. A smile pulled at his lips and then they were pressed to her own in a soft, slow kiss. Twice more he kissed her in the same fashion and then he pulled back, searching her face. 

She smiled, her heart racing, and he grinned back. 

“Well… let’s see if this cake tastes as good as it looks,” he said and she laughed with a nod. He caressed her cheek as he dropped his hand and they stepped back from each other. 

He sat back down and took the spent sparklers from the cake as she took out the knife, plates, and forks from inside the bag. Cutting them each a generous slice, she handed him the piece with the Corona constellation. He smiled as he picked up his fork and took a bite, humming his approval. 

She sat beside him and took a bite of the cake, which was indeed very good, but her thoughts were not on the sweet taste of it. 

No, she thought only of the kisses they had just shared, the softness of his lips, and the gentle touch of his thumb against her cheek.

His knee bumped her leg and she glanced at him with a smile. 

“If there’s an iced tea in that bag of yours…” he said, looking at it and raising his eyebrows. She laughed softly, reaching for the bag and taking out a bottle of iced tea. “Ahh, Scully. This birthday just keeps getting better and better.” 

She laughed again as he opened it, took a long drink and then offered it to her. She accepted it and took a drink as he reached for the cake and cut himself another slice. 

“Did I ever tell you about the Lizard Man in South Carolina?” he asked as she set the bottle of iced tea down. 

She rolled her eyes with a quiet groan as he took a bite and began speaking. Tipping her head back, she looked skyward and sighed, ready to debate him about the scientific impossibility of a lizard man. 

The Corona constellation was directly above them and she smiled. As it twinkled, she changed her mind, deciding to let him talk for as long as he wanted about whatever he wanted. She could wait until tomorrow to discuss the inaccuracies. 

It was his birthday after all.