If they send her back, and she remembers all this, maybe she'll resent him for it later. He's promising her only the good things to come, none of the bad. But for now, it's worth it. Mulder lets his hand be squeezed, taking in her happiness like he could live off it, once the leftover steak's gone.

"He's a good kid. Plays football." The other ones are all good kids, too, and Scully's going to adore them. "Loves his Aunt Dana."