From: Laura Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2001 12:19:36 -0500 Subject: Page 65 part 14: Parenting Source: direct Title: Page 65 part 14: Parenting Author: Doc Category: R, A, S Rating: PG Key Words: Alternate Universe, Mulder Scully Married, babyfic Disclaimer: Everybody knows that I possibly couldn't own Mulder and Scully because I'd do too much with them. They are real people you know! Dedication: Hi to Didi S. Blue up north where it is nice and cool. Ahh to be in your shoes, with temperatures in the middle 70's (nice...) Summary: Mulder and Scully get the hang of this thing that most modern people call parenting. Note: This series has been so very fun, I don't know what I'll do without it. The only problem is that before I started it, I promised myself that I'd make no more than 20, so I'm going to stick to it. It may be a little longer between posts, so enjoy while you can! Oh yea, and this part is written from a dog lover. Feedback: Pleeeze! Good feedback is a must, but flames are a no-no. Email me at laura_c@imagin.net Okay, I think that's it. On with the flow, Here goes everything... It had been two weeks since Mulder became a father. Two weeks was a very long time. He still had to get used to eating after the baby did (if it meant eating with Dana) and only sleeping in matter of hours. Mulder longed for the days when he could sleep the night, yet he liked the time in the night when he can bond with Josh. Mulder was curled up, his hand protectively around his wife. He was awakened by cries of his newborn son. It was around two and feeding time was a little over an hour ago. It must mean that Mulder had duty to change Josh (a task that was a hassle). "Honey, your son is awake." Dana murmured sleepily. "He's your son too." Mulder said as he let his eyes focus. "Well, tonight he's all yours." Dana said, as she fell back asleep. "I know, and I wouldn't have it any other way." Mulder said as he kissed Dana atop the forehead. "Hey buddy, what's wrong?" he asked as Josh's cries slowed to whimpers at the sound of his father's voice. Mulder carefully picked up his son to find him soaking wet. "You poor thing." Fox said as he lay Josh on the changing table. He remembered when he first tried to change a diaper. It was about a week ago. "Dana, how do you get this on?" he yelled into the other room. "Just push back the tabs." She said. Mulder looked down to see buddy looking up at him with eyes that almost said "Don't look at me, I go outside to do my thing." When he finally got it on, he picked Josh up and found out the diaper was backwards. "Back to the drawing board." He mumbled. Mulder came back to the present when he remembered he had a job to do. It took him a week to get the hang of it, but he can do a mean diaper in a few minutes. Buddy was there, watching his every move. That made Mulder think. Buddy had no idea who this thing was that made earsplitting noises and smelled bad. Mulder took Josh over to the rocking chair and sat down. "Buddy come here. I'd like to introduce you to someone." Mulder said, as the dog trotted over, his tail wagging in all directions. "Buddy, I'd like you to meet Josh. He's the newest member of the Mulder household." Fox said as Buddy turned his head either in confusion or curiosity. When things were tense, Buddy's long pink tongue slurped Josh's face. Surprisingly Josh made no sound; he seemed perfectly content. "Come on, let's go down and have a snack." Mulder said as Josh looked up at his father with awe. Mulder still couldn't believe that he and Scully created this little person. A new life created by two. "Now, Josh. In a few days you'll meet your extended family. Let me give you some hints before you meet them, okay." Mulder said as he opened the fridge. "Anything look good in here?" Mulder asked, as he surveyed the area. Just bottles of milk (Scully normally breast feeds, but when its Mulder's shift she pumps), leftovers, and some orange juice. Mulder took a swig at the carton. "I'll teach you how to do this. Especially when Mommy's not around." Mulder said as he chuckled. "Okay, first off, there's your Uncle Bill. He doesn't like me very much, but he'll probably like you. He's very protective of your mother." Mulder said as he climbed the stairs back to the nursery. "Then there's your grandma, Maggie. She's a real sweetheart." "There's your Aunt Melissa and your Uncle Bruce. They're not around much." "There's your Uncle Charlie, and he's the best of all your aunts and uncles." Mulder said as he recalled a thought. "Well, I wish that your aunt Samantha was here, but she's not." He said, not wanting to feel weak in front of his son. "And then that, is your mother." He said as he entered the master bedroom. "Isn't she beautiful?" Mulder asked as he looked down to find Josh asleep in his arms. "Well, I must be boring." Mulder said to himself as he put Josh back in his crib. 1 week later: "Well, Dana, if you want to stay home then stay home. I think the FBI will let you take a leave of absence." Mulder said to his crying wife. "It was just so hard today, Mulder. Every moment I was thinking about him. If he was okay, if something was wrong." She said as he put his arm around her. "I know that my mom is great with him, and he loves her for it, but I just want to be a full time mother, just until he gets a little older." Dana said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Mom said that he picked his head up today, and I missed it." She said as she started wailing again. Talk about post partum depression. He just comforted her and let her cry into him. Mulder was getting the most pleasant sleep that he'd ever have tonight. He and Dana had just made love (they hadn't in such a long time, he was thinking about popping in one of those porn videos if he didn't get to touch Dana like a husband touches his wife). He curled up next to her, and spooned body into his. He fell asleep with pleasant dreams. He woke to find Buddy scratching at their door to be let out. "Buddy, do you want to go out?" Mulder asked, since sometimes, the dog liked to sleep on the patio. Mulder let him out eagerly and closed the door on the crack just so Buddy can get back in. He fell asleep dreaming of Dana and Josh and Buddy. All are people, I mean creatures that love him dearly. "Mommy, I'm hungry." A voice said. "Okay, Josh let me get the sandwiches out." Dana said as Mulder saw that they were at a park, having a picnic. "Buddy, come on boy." He said as the dog, now looking much older trotted up to him. Josh threw the ball and Buddy retrieved it, doing what his breed did best. "He's a handful, isn't he?" Dana said, looking at her pride and joy. "He sure is, and I wouldn't have it any other way." Mulder said as he kissed her. "Eww, that's yucky." Josh said, suddenly picking that moment to stop playing tag with the dog. "Well, someday you won't think it's yucky, Josh." Mulder said as Josh climbed up on his lap. Josh then played with his Daddy's wedding band. Mulder woke from his pleasant dream to a wet nose at his cheek. "Buddy go away." Mulder told the dog. Again, the dog put his nose to Mulder's face. "Buddy, stop it." Mulder said as he pushed the dog's nose away. Then the dog barked, and barked and wouldn't stop barking. "Buddy, what is it, what's wrong." Dana said, awakened by the commotion. "He won't stop barking." Mulder said as he buried his head under his pillow. "Mulder, I think something's wrong." Dana said, over the noise. As she sat in bed, wondering what was wrong with her dog, Buddy took her hand gently in his mouth and pulled her up. "Mulder, he's trying to tell us something." Dana said as she found her bathrobe and slippers. "Maybe he just has to go potty." Dana said, pointing to the dog who was dancing around the room, trying to get his humans' attention. "Fine, you let him out, I'll see what's wrong." Fox said as he tried to go back to sleep. Try to dream of the picnic. "Mulder!!!!!" Was Dana's shriek of reply. It was a parent's worst nightmare. Josh had somehow in his sleep rolled over for the first time and rolled on his belly. That is a no-no for babies and Josh stopped breathing. When Dana went into the room, he was turning purple from lack of oxygen. Dana and Fox stood outside the waiting room; wondering and hoping their baby boy would be all right. Dana's eyes were wet and puffy, and Fox had that "panic face" on all night. The pediatrician was called and rushed to the nearby hospital. The pediatrician walked out with a glum look on his face. Both Dana and Fox's smiles faded. "Mr. and Mrs. Scully, it looks like we caught it just in time. I think that Joshua is going to be fine. We need to monitor him for a while to keep him on pure oxygen but other than that I think he'll be home by dinnertime tomorrow. He's in room 1121 when you want to see him" The doctor said as both Dana and Fox sighed. "Thank you, doctor. I don't know how I can ever repay you." Dana said as she flung her arms around the man. "Just keep Joshua happy. And love him." The pediatrician said before he walked off (perhaps to go to bed). Mulder and Scully rushed into room 1121 to find their son sleeping peacefully, and with his color back. He picked that moment to wake up, and look at his wonderful parents. "Hey there, buddy. How you doing?" Mulder asked him as Josh stuck out his finger and played with Mulder's wedding ring. The funny thing was that he never would let go. Then he saw his mommy in the room and held his arms out for her attention. "I always told you he was a Momma's boy." Mulder said as she sat down on the bed and started nursing Josh. He clutched onto her gold cross as he suckled her breast. "You know what, Dana." Mulder said, as he saw a pleasant site, their family. "What, Fox." Dana said as she looked up at the love of her life. "Buddy didn't save this family once, he saved it twice." "And we have him to thank for that." Dana said as she rocked Josh back and forth and he was asleep in minutes. Seven Months Later: "Come on, Josh. Please eat." Fox said as he practically begged his son to eat. Josh just stuck out his bottom lip and gave a full-fledged pout. "What kind of a face is that?" Mulder asked his frowning son. "He gets it from you, Mulder." Dana said as he turned to see his wife just get out of the shower. He turned back to see Josh with his hands in the mashed peas and he had it all over his face and hands. He was giggling at the site that when he threw food on the floor, the dog would eat it. Now Josh and Buddy were covered in green goo. "Mulder, now we have two creatures to wash." Dana said as she got Josh out of his high chair. He was now full after smearing it on his face AND eating some of it. "I'll take buddy outside." Mulder said as he led the dog by the collar outside. At that moment, both parties struggled. Buddy strained on his leash and Josh tried to get out of his mommy's arms. "Dee Deeeeee" Came out of Josh's mouth as both parents just looked with utter amazement.] "Did you just hear that?" Mulder asked. "Did Joshie just say the dog's name?" "Maybe." Dana said as she was still holding the struggling green infant. "DEEEEEE." Josh wailed again. "He did, he's trying to say Buddy's name." Dana said as Fox chuckled. 'Well I'll be. I thought that his first word would be for his Dada, but I get replaced by a dog.' Mulder thought to himself as he and Scully decided to let Josh and Buddy take a bath together.