Mulder took the milk carton up to the checkout and waited for the attendant, who was busy marking prices, to notice him. While he waited, his eyes wandered the room and rested upon a tabloid magazine entitled �A Monster Killed My Neighbours!�
�Hi� the attendant said finally �Just the milk?�
Mulder couldn�t resist, �And this� he said, taking the magazine.
�That�s $8.35�
Mulder paid the attendant and left.
Breakfast was ready and Mulder had laid it on a tray, complete with a small vase of flowers, the magazine and the small, jewellery holder sized present. He carried it into the bedroom and set it on the table at Scully�s side. Why was it, Mulder wondered, that Scully seemed to look even more beautiful when she slept. He remembered watching William sleep peacefully the day after he was born, and how precious their son looked then, also. That had been the last night he had spent in Scully�s arms since last night. His heart sank, that had also been the last time he had seen William. He sighed, and thought of the consolation that William would be safe. No aliens or super soldiers or monsters to worry about. A normal life.
Mulder stroked Scully�s hair again and gently kissed her cheek. She stirred, but didn�t wake. Mulder stroked her cheek, and Scully�s eyes slowly opened.
�Morning� Mulder said cheerfully
�Morning� Scully replied with a weary smile. She yawned and the saw the breakfast tray. �Wow. It�s not my birthday� she said, feigning suspicion
�No,� He replied mysteriously, picking up the tray and setting it on her lap �This isn�t a birthday present�
Scully took a piece of French toast and thought for a moment �it�s not Christmas, either�
�Nope� Mulder agreed as he took a piece of French toast, too. Scully picked up the small present
�So, what is it?�
�A surprise�
Scully smiled �Can I open it?�
�Nope, not yet�
The smile faded �Why not?�
�You have to finish your breakfast first. As soon as you see this present, you�re gonna want to make wild passionate love to me, and that�s not good for you on an empty stomach�
�Mulder,� Scully said, feigning her there�s-got-to-be-another-explanation tone �it�s scientifically impossible for an inanimate object to have that kind of effect on a person� Mulder let out a chuckle, and Scully smiled �but that French toast does look really good�
Scully swallowed the last piece of French toast and took a deep breath �Now, can I please open the present?�
�No� Mulder said, picking up the tabloid �first you have to read this magazine cover to cover� Scully narrowed her eyes �I�m kidding� he admitted, handing her the gift. Scully unwrapped it and opened the small box. Inside was an Apollo 11 key chain not unlike the one he had given her for her birthday 5 years ago.
�Apollo 11� Scully said trying to sound enthused.
�Read the back� Mulder suggested.
Scully flipped the key chain over and read out loud �Dearest Scully, you are my one in 5 billion, will you marry me?� Her lips curled into a smile as Mulder pulled the tissue paper from the box to reveal a gorgeous gold ring with seven gemstones; diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz.
�Well?� Mulder asked
�Of course� Scully replied, and Mulder slipped the ring on her finger. �Mulder, you were right. I�m gonna make wild passionate love to you� and she began devouring him with her lips.
While Mulder and Scully lay in each others arms, Scully�s curiosity began to rise about that magazine that Mulder had bought. She decided to read it.
�What�s it say?� Mulder asked
�Apparently,� Scully replied �a monster killed a farm couple, Mr and Mrs Van De Kamp, and kidnapped their son.�
�Should we go check it out?�
�Mulder, you think this is a real monster? This could so easily have been a human murderer. Or, even more likely, someone�s sad attempt at their 15 minutes of fame.�
Mulder sighed �I really missed this�
Scully smiled �Me too. It�s just like old times. Ok, let�s go�
