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When he first muttered, "I love you," he wasn't sure if she thought he was serious. He first said it after she and the Lone Gunmen saved him from the Queen Anne. He watches her walk out of his hospital room, determined to make sure she knows how serious he is.
The second time was when they were on a case in California. The sun was setting over the ocean, painting the sky with a wash of pinks and oranges. Mulder and Scully walked along the beach, their bare feet sinking into the warm sand. The waves crashed steadily against the shore, a soothing melody of nature's symphony. A particularly difficult case had just been solved, and Mulder felt incredibly grateful to have Scully by his side. He gazed at her intently, taking in every detail of her face - from her bright blue eyes to the curve of her jawline.
With a deep breath, he reached out and took her hand in his. She looked up at him, curious as to what he wanted to say. It was then that he spoke those three little words that held so much meaning.
"Scully," he said softly, "I just wanted to say I love you."
As soon as the words left his lips, Mulder felt a rush of emotions overwhelm him. Fear, vulnerability, but most importantly, love. Scully was surprised but touched by Mulder's words. She smiled and squeezed his hand but didn't say anything in return.
The third time he said those words was a few weeks later. They were sitting in the hotel room, and she was going over her notes from their latest case. He looked up from his paperwork to meet her gaze directly. "Scully, you know I love you, right?"
She froze for a second as she looked at him. Then she blinked and went back to reading her notes. "I care for you deeply, too, Mulder," she said without looking up. His heart breaks a little.
The fourth time Mulder said "I love you" was after a near-death experience on a case. They had both been injured, and witnessing his partner coming inches from death solidified for him that life wasn't worth living without Scully in it. He knew at that moment nothing else, not aliens or government conspiracies or anything, could ever compare with the life he wanted to share with this woman. As they sat in the hospital room recovering, he took her hand and said, "Scully, I love you more than anything."
Hidden under the exhaustion and pain she saw on his face was a small smile of relief. She leaned in to give Mulder a kiss on the forehead but still didn't say the words back.
The fifth time Mulder said it was on a stakeout. They had been sitting in a car for hours, waiting for their suspect to appear, when Mulder turned to Scully and said, "Scully, I don't say this enough, but I love you."
Scully smiled and looked at him, "I know, Mulder. You don't have to say it all the time for me to know how you feel."
The sixth time Mulder said "I love you" was on a particularly emotional case. They had just saved the life of a young girl whose father watched them through tear-filled eyes as they left the hospital. As they pulled away in their car, Mulder turned to her and said, "Scully, I love you."
Mulder's voice cracked slightly with emotion, let alone the intensity of what they had just witnessed. Scully paused for a moment, looking into Mulder's intense green eyes that seemed to fill her very being with light. She took a deep breath and finally said, "I love you too, Mulder."
Mulder's face lit up with joy, and he embraced her tightly. From that moment on, they knew their love was exceptional and would always be there for each other.