From: "Dream Cole" Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2000 09:55:37 CST Subject: xfc: NEW: Burdens (1 of 1), PG, MSR Source: xfc From: "Dream Cole" Title: Burdens Author: Dream Cole E-mail: dreamcole@hotmail.com Rating: PGish. Classifications: V, MSR (Okay, MSM), S Spoilers: None. But I'm ignoring any episode that said Scully could not have children. This is kind of a continuation of the Dream Series, although it is quite obvious what happened. The order in which their lives would go (in timeline order, dates are when written) is as follows: Suspicion- 8th Feb. 2000 Serenity- 1st Feb. 2000 Miracle- 3rd Feb. 2000 Burdens- 8th Feb. 2000 Misery- 3rd Feb. 2000 Bliss- 2nd Feb. 2000 Dream- 1st Feb. 2000 Love- 1st Feb. 2000 Wonder- 6th Feb. 2000 Joy- 5th Feb. 2000 If you are missing a piece, let me know and I'd be happy to get it to you. Summary: There are some problems still. Someone feels like a burden (gee, I wonder who it could be). Disclaimer: I don't own em. I'd like to, but I don't. Notes: If you are one of those who complained I explained too much detail, run away! This is all Mulder's thoughts and he notices a lot and says very little. By the way, I call Scully... Scully, among other pet names, sometimes Dana. But Mulder is still Mulder. Burdens I can be such an idiot sometimes. Now, that's not something I usually I think on a regular basis but it's something I have just realized and finally come to terms with. I am an idiot. So, we're (by we I mean my beautiful wife and I) nearing the middle of the second trimester of pregnancy and, thank the heavens, the love of my life is finally able to keep down food. Morning sickness is a thing of the past and I couldn't be happier. All I could think was how wonderful everything would be from this point until the end of the pregnancy. But then I (the idiot) did something I could kick myself for. We were getting ready for work in the morning. Not a big deal. But then I happened to mention that I thought I saw Dana's stomach getting a bit rounder than usual. Thinking nothing of it, I carried on with my life. I mean, it's not that big of a deal, if you think about it. Expanding in the waistline is a natural part of pregnancy and does two things: It says that the baby is healthy while at the same time announcing to the world that there is a baby inside. So my wife comes in, *skips breakfast*, and makes her way tidying up the apartment (nevermind that it is so clean one could eat off the floor). Ah ha. I notice: it looks like she's trying to suck in her stomach to appear thinner. "Don't try to hide it," I say, my second mistake of the day. She gets red in the face, then marches off to wait in the car, while I hurry after her with the keys in hand, trying to figure out what I did wrong. All day long I kept an eye on her and people's reaction to her. I do that anyway but this time I paid close attention. And, as usually, people stayed away from her. 'Ice Queen' was her nickname and, by golly, she seemed very proud of it. You would think so, the way her eyes glared at anyone who looked a second too long. I'd never seen her so... defensive before. Lunchtime: She appeared to have forgotten about it so I suggested she eat something, "for the baby". Pow! The third mistake of the day. She glared at me and made her way out of our office, slamming the door quite loudly too. Of course I had to follow her (what kind of a husband would I be if I didn't?) and I found her at our park bench. Her face was burried in her hands and the way she was hunched over made her look so little and helpless. Sliding my arms around her in a semi-hug, I tried to figure out what was wrong. Let's see: 1. Told her she was getting pudgy. 2. Insinuated she was hiding her stomach. 3. Asked her to eat. All three were in reference to the baby. Could she not want the baby? Is it possible that she never wanted this child, afraid of what it could change, of would could happen to it. So I asked her and the horrified expression she gave me scratched that idea out completely. Ok, she wants the baby. She just doesn't want to eat for the baby. Why? It'll make her fat. Why doesn't she want to get fat? Oh... everyone will know. I finally get it- what a shock the office will be in when the 'Ice Queen' shows up pregnant. There goes the reputation she had to build. And of course there's the touching. My wife prefers the "keep your hands to yourself" rule and with pregnancy comes people wanting to touch the stomach. Ugh. What a pain. And then there was Skinner. He didn't know and I can bet that when he finds out he will certainly keep us on desk duty (not that I mind) until after the child is born. That will make the love of my life feel like a burden, the one thing she hates. Problem discovered. Now how to fix everything? "Sweetie, it'll be okay. We can keep the whole thing a secret as long as you want. We've been doing a good job of it so far. Eventually we'll have to tell because most people will have figured it out but you can decide when and who to tell. And it won't matter what people think- you never minded before so why start now? If they so much as look at you funny I'll set them straight. And, we'll just have to hang a sign around you neck- no touching. Okay?" Turning on my charm, I peeked a glance at the woman next to me, waiting for her reaction. Hallelujah! I'm getting good at this supporting husband role. The smile I received truly made my day. Her eyes, glistening from tears not yet fallen, radiated such love and her expression was pure happiness. "We should tell him today." Wait, what? Say that again? Am I hearing things? I stared at my wife and when she repeated the words I nearly fell over. "But I thought..." I think I'm getting a headache. Two minutes ago I had figured out what was going on in her mind and now... I'm confused again. But she looked so sure of her decision that, without wasting another minute, she dragged me (still confused) up to Skinner's office, and announced her pregnancy, quite proudly I might add. Nothing remarkable happened. No confetti, band, etc. We were congratulated, asked when maternity leave were to take place and then assigned to desk duty. Oh well. There's just one more thing. On the way back to our office I could've sworn it looked like my wife was sticking out her ever-expanding abdomen, holding a hand over it quite protectively. Announcing to the world (or at least a portion of it) that we are expecting a child and are proud of it. Gee, you think you know a person... Author's note: Hello? Anyone out there? *taps microphone* Is this thing on? If you like it and you know it, e-mail me. If you hate it and you want to show it, e-mail me. Just e-mail me, k?