AN: thank you all for reviewing and your encouragment!

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After a delicious lunch Mulder started rooting in his pockets. Monica
looked on puzzled.

"What are you looking for?"

"My sunflower seeds. I know they have to be here somewhere." he said,
then started searching through his jacket. A couple of seconds later
he exclaimed happily.

"Ah hah! I have them." he took a plastic baggie out of his pocket.
"Damn." he swore, seeing that it was completely empty.

Suddenly an almost full bag was thrust into his line of vision. He
looked up from the precious sight into Monica's eyes.

"I'm practically addicted to them and always have a bag with me." she
said in way of explanation.

He just sat there, staring at her with his mouth gaping open. Finally
he shook off his stupor.

"Sunflower seeds!? You love sunflower seeds!? A woman after my own
heart. Could you be any more perfect? You're single, right?" Mulder
asked gleefully.

She decided not to bother telling him about the utter inappropriatness
of his question and instead answered. "Yes."

"Good. Not anymore."

THAT one definitely threw her. "What!?"

"Well, you have an open mind, are an expert in occult and folklore,
you're a believer and you love sunflower seeds. You're perfect for me.
We're identical, made for each other." Mulder explained patiently, as
if it was completely logical and she was just obtuse for not
recognizing it.

"Are you insane!? You can't just decide for me that I'm your
girlfriend just because we're so alike. I still love John and you love
Dana."

"You said earlier that you know there will never be anything for you
with Doggett. You also know about Scully and me. We're both moved on,
so why don't we try to find happiness and love with each other?"

She was quiet for a while, completely stunned by his reasoning. She
opened her mouth to object, but quickly snapped it shut. Maybe she was
insane also, but there was definitely some logic in that reasoning.

She thought for a while and then shrugged.

"You know what? You're right, we really are right for each other. Just
let me warn you, if you look at anyone else's breasts and ass but mine
from now on, I'll shoot you. Remember, I have a gun and know how to
use it. What is more, I'm fully prepared to use it. Your days of
oggling other women are over. As are the days of all those videos that
aren't yours."

At his look of surprise she explained. "Dana has told me all about
them. You won't need them anymore, you have me from now on. And you're
stuck with me for good, whether you like it or not. And if you intend
to complain, let me remind you that it was your idea."

He was quiet for a while before speaking. "Okay, just know that all
that goes for you too."

She nodded and he continued. "Okay, girlfriend, just let me pay this
and we can go, I have a few cases I would like your opinion on."

She grimaced. "Please, no 'girlfriend'. We're not in high school
anymore. And no 'lover' either, it's for those who have only sex to
bind them, we have more."

"So what do I call you?"

"You can call me Monica. If you twist my arm you can also call me
'honey', 'baby' or 'sweetheart'. But no 'babe'"

Mulder grinned.

"And I'll call you Fox."

Mulder's grin vanished. "Come on! I hate that name." he whined.

"Non-negotiable." she said firmly. "If we are to have a romantic
relationship I refuse to call you by your family name. If we get
married it would look pretty weird calling you by my family name,
wouldn't it?"

Mulder looked dazed. He definitely hadn't expected that she would even
think about long term with him, much less marriage. He was surprised
to realize that the prospect of being married to her didn't bother
him. Hell, he couldn't wait for it to happen, for them to spend the
rest of their life together. Suddenly he was looking forward to the
coming years with more enthusiasm and eagerness than he ever had.

Still, he had to check. "Married?"

"I'm not accepting anything less. That and children. At least 2 of
them. I also want you to develop as close a relationship with your
firstborn as Dana will allow. As I said, I'm not accepting anything
less." she stated and he saw the sincerity in her eyes.

"Good, neither do I, so I'm glad we agree on that. So, honey, what do
you say we get out of her and start with the rest of our life?"

"I say: lead on, sweetheart."

They payed and left a tip, taking hold of each other's hands for the
first time and headed out.

To finally fulfill their destiny as soulmates.

THE END

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AN: thus ends my first XF fic.

Should I write more Mulder/Reyes fics?