His eyes are closed, his face buried in her hair, and aside from the fact that his joints don't really love this position, he could be thirty-six all over again. Holding her makes him feel like himself, like something in the world is right. She's going to live, and - for a little while, at least - they'll be happy. There's so much for her to look forward to, and it won't all be heartache.

"Believe it," he replies, rubbing her back. If he could kiss her, he would. "You're gonna live forever, Scully."