From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org
Date: 17 Nov 2003 06:01:51 -0000
Subject: Partners, Friends and Lovers -  (21/35)- Bonus Update by WilDaFox0619
Source: direct

Reply To: WilDaFox0619@yahoo.fr


Partners, Friends and Lovers 
Author: Wildafox0619
Chapter rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Not mine; XF characters belong to 1013 Productions.
Summary: See my headers for summary and notes.
Spoilers: Mid Season 4- a tiny mention of Leonard Betts


Chapter 21


Dana Scully-Mulder's Apartment - Georgetown - January 5, 1997 - 7 PM


The newlyweds parted company with Maggie after exchanging tight hugs
and tears of joy beside Scully's parked car. The car ride was spent
holding hands and smiling goofily at each other. Their happiness was
overflowing and they were basking in it.

They parked in front of Scully's building and left the car in a
hurry. They had been separated for what felt like eons and they had
some urges to take care of. Quickly. However, tradition had to be
respected and Mulder crossed the threshold carrying his new wife, who
was giggling like a schoolgirl. It was music to his ears. She was
glowing and she had never been more beautiful to him.  

He put her down once they were in the bedroom and admired her from
head to toe. He pulled off the shawl adorning her shoulders and let
it fall to the floor. Their eyes were burning with arousal; their
tension palpable. He approached her until their lips were an inch
apart and whispered in a deep sexy voice:

"You're so beautiful."

Their lips met in a fiery, frenzied kiss. She moaned as his tongue
traced her lips, slowly teasing her as it traced deeper and probed
further into her mouth. Their tongues duelled while their hands
started to tear at their clothes. Mulder's roaming hands discovered
the back laces holding his wife's dress and he unlaced them with one
hand, all the while caressing her body with the other. . He pulled
away from her, sliding the dress' straps over shoulders and watched
the light material pool at her feet.

He gasped loudly at the sight. Never in his wildest dreams had he
thought that she would wear that kind of underwear. The white lacy
merry widow was hugging her in all the right places and her breasts
were pushed up, making her appear more busty than usual. The thigh-
highs were an exciting added bonus and the strappy sandals completed
the sexy sight.

He held her tighter against him and pushed his already straining
erection against her belly, letting his hands travel lower. When he
met her naked rear, he gasped again. She was wearing a thong. Fantasy
Scully was in his arms and she was all *his*.

She took advantage of his moment of stupor to latch onto his lips
again. After a mind blowing open-mouthed kiss, she trailed a path
along his cheeks and down toward his neck. She quickly loosened his
tie and undid the top buttons of his white shirt, kissed down his
throat and nipped at his collarbone. She moaned when his hips ground
into her, making her very aware of his not so little problem down
south. She raised her head in time to see him dive toward her
breasts. 

He freed them carefully from the delicate lace of her undergarment,
and watched amazed as the tips immediately hardened, begging to be
sucked. He couldn't resist and took one in his mouth, nipping and
sucking on it while his hand took care of the other one.

She felt a gush of wetness pooling down below. Reaching down, she
unzipped his pants and pushed them down, then caressed his bulge
through the silk of his boxer shorts. 

He let the nipple go with an audible pop and gently removed her hand
from his groin. He pulled off his pants completely and led her to the
bed where she sat down. He took care of his shirt, socks and shoes,
keeping only his boxers on, then knelt before her. He lowered his
head to the skin at the top of her thighs where they weren't covered
by her hose, and kissed her there. 

She grabbed a handful of his silky brown hair and closed her eyes,
becoming more aroused from feeling him so near to her wet core. 

He went to the apex of her thighs, lapping sensuously at her hot
satiny skin.  He stopped to smell her tangy flavour gathered between
her legs and gave just a little flick of his tongue to the cloth
recovering her small bud of pleasure.

"Yessss," she hissed, moving her legs apart to give him a better
access. 

He got her message loud and clear and pulled the thong aside,
exposing her to his hungry stare. He licked his lips and then dived
in. He lapped at her wetness, the pleasure making her fall backward
on the bed. He sucked and tongued her labia slowly, bringing her near
the edge but never letting her fall over.

It quickly became too much for him. He needed to be buried deep
inside her, to feel her tight muscle around him, so he gave her clit
a last lick and stood up. His boxers were discarded haphazardly while
she threw her thong in the general direction of the hamper. He
climbed between her legs and, without preamble, entered her swiftly,
filling her to the hilt. Theirs lips met again and they kissed
thoroughly while he pumped into her. They were wild and
uncontrollable and it wouldn't take long to reach their release. His
tongue entered her mouth at the same rhythm as his cock pumped into
her vagina. A whirlwind of sensation enveloped them when they came
together, for the first time as husband and wife, and cried
simultaneously from pleasure.

This was real. They were official. The waiting was over, was what
they were each thinking after coming back down to earth. They were
smiling brightly, goofily, at each other, realising that they had
finally made it. They were partners, friends and lovers and the world
hadn't stopped moving.

She took his left hand in hers and kissed his wedding ring. He was
watching her and didn't miss the tears in her eyes.

"What's with the tears, Scully?" 

"It's just that..you are my husband. You are *mine*.." 
she said, still in awe. 

"And you're *my Scully*. You always have been and you
always will be."

"I know and I love it. And you'll stay my Mulder, too"

"Yours, forever."

They kissed one more time before falling asleep in each other's arms
on the rumpled bed. All would have been perfect had a feeling of
suffocation not awakened her. She switched on the bedside lamp and
saw that her nose was bleeding. She immediately recalled Leonard
Betts' last words to her. Filled with fear and dread, she got up and
rushed to the bathroom without waking her new husband. The most
beautiful day of her life was over. 

Chapter 22


Oncology Ward, Holy Cross Memorial Hospital - Washington D.C -
January 6, 1997 -  5 PM


Fox Mulder paced the hallway of the oncology ward. He shouldn't be
here the day after his wedding day. Scully shouldn't be inside the
exam room either, but it was the sad reality. They had been at the
hospital since 7:00 in the morning. She'd had several serious
nosebleeds and for the first time in her life, Dana Scully panicked,
calling the hospital before he was even awake. He had still been
basking in newly wedded bliss when he woke and found her side of the
bed empty. His joy died instantly when he found her leaning over the
bathroom sink, trying to stop the bleeding as tears flooded her eyes.
The honeymoon was over.

When the bleeding finally stopped, they both dressed in silence, not
ready to face the real issue, not ready to accept the possibilities.
He drove her to the hospital where emergency tests and exams had been
scheduled. He had stayed with her while a nurse drew blood but he had
to leave the room while the doctors were doing an x-ray. That's why
he was in the hallway, waiting for the diagnosis, hoping that it
wasn't what they both feared. He clearly remembered the abducted
women in Allentown. He knew about them developing brain cancer after
having their microchips removed from their necks, but he still
grasped at straws regarding Scully. 

He was the one who believed in extreme possibilities and he wanted
to believe that it was nothing more than a bad migraine or something
similar. He wanted to forget that they were in the oncology ward. It
couldn't be cancer. His Scully couldn't die now. He couldn't accept
it.

A nurse came out of the room and went to him, looking at him with
compassion.

"You can go and join your wife in Dr Palmer's office, Mr Mulder.
He'll go over her results with you both in a minute."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It was time to face the
music.



Dr Palmer's Office, Holy Cross Memorial Hospital - Washington D.C -
January 6, 1997 - 5 PM


Scully was trying to gather her strength and keep control over her
feelings and her growing fear. She was seated before Dr Palmer's
mahogany desk, knowing perfectly well what the diagnosis would be.
She had known deep down that someday it would happen, that her past,
her abduction, would catch up with her when she least expected it.
She had dared to hope that maybe she had escaped that particular fate
and therefore avoid the illness that had plagued the abducted women
of Allentown.

She thought about Leonard Betts and his last dreadful words -"you've
got something I need."
She had been in denial since then, refusing to understand the real
meaning of his words. After all, she'd had no solid proof until now.

It had to happen when she was happy, when for once in her personal
life her future seemed bright and full of hope. 

She heard the office door open and recognized Mulder's footsteps.
She braced herself for what was to come. She wasn't alone in this
predicament and she knew that it would hit him hard. He had already
lost so many people he loved and she didn't know how much more he
could take.  

Mulder entered the doctor's office. Scully had her back to him so he
couldn't read her expression. Maybe there was no problem and she
would turn to him and smile a thousand watt smile, telling him that
it was just a bad infection that could be cured easily. 

He lost all hope when she turned around. Her face was closed off and
she avoided his gaze. She was keeping a tight rein on her feelings
and one look at him could crumble the facade.

He sat down next to her and took her hands in his. They didn't speak
because they didn't know what to say; how to start a conversation
under these circumstances. He just leaned over and kissed her on the
lips. 

She didn't respond to his gentle kiss. She stopped him before he
went further, before he tried to hold her in his arms. She had to
stay focused on keeping her feelings at bay. She was on the verge of
bursting into tears, of letting go and expressing her rage at the
unfairness of her situation.

"Scully, please don't shut me out," he pleaded, afraid that once
again she would go inside herself and keep him in the dark. "I
couldn't bear it."

Her oncologist chose this exact moment to make his entrance. His
expression was grave. Mulder could have fooled himself until then but
the doctor's demeanour put an end to his speculation. The
conversation that followed would stay burned in his mind for the rest
of his life.

Doctor Edward Palmer sat down heavily at his desk. He had seen his
share of tragedy in the time he had spent in oncology and he was
usually able to distance himself from his patients' suffering. The
couple in front of him were waiting for his diagnosis and regrettably
he had to be the bearer of bad news. He knew that the woman was a
doctor, specializing in pathology but a fellow doctor nonetheless. It
was always harder for a doctor because they knew what they were
facing and usually were able to estimate their chances. He cleared
his throat, deciding to get straight to the point.

"Dr Scully, I am sorry to have to tell you this but the results have
come back showing that you have a nasopharyngeal mass. It's a small
growth between the superior conchea and the sinoidal sinus." he said
frankly. "I'm afraid you were spot on in your assessment of the
situation."

Mulder felt as if the earth had opened under his feet. Even though
he had known there was a possibility, he wasn't ready to admit the
woman he loved more than anything, had cancer. He struggled to
process what the doctor was saying. All he knew was that she was
going to die. 

Scully was staring at the doctor, unaware of Mulder's turmoil. Her
control would soon fail her and she had to know everything about her
prognosis first. She had to know the truth, so she donned her 'Agent
Scully' persona, distancing herself from the situation at hand,
treating it like a new case to be solved.

"How bad is it?" she asked coolly, as if it wasn't about her.

"Stage 2A. The cancer hasn't spread to the lymph nodes but we need a
MRI to confirm the blood results and to see exactly what we're
dealing with.  Unfortunately, what I can tell you at this point is
that due to the location of the mass it is highly improbable that
surgery will be an option.. "

"Stop it already!" Mulder burst in. "You're talking in riddles.  Not
everybody in this room is a goddamn doctor, you know. What the hell
is stage 2A?"

"Mulder, please.  It's okay." Scully focused on him for the first
time since he'd entered the room.

"Jesus, Scully!"  He yelled in an accusatory tone, turning toward
her. "It's far from okay!  How can you be so fucking calm? You've got
cancer, Scully. Cancer. How the hell does that make things okay? Why
are you acting so unconcerned, so goddamn detached?  This is your
diagnosis, your illness! It's not just another case file. Don't just
accept it, Scully. Fight it." He finished in a whisper, his voice
filled with pain.

He lowered his head, instantly ashamed of his outburst in front of
an audience. Sometimes he didn't understand Scully's reaction to
personal suffering and this time it had been too much. His breathing
was erratic and he was trying to stop the tears from falling. She was
going to die. She was going to leave him, just like every other
person he had loved. 

Scully waited until he calmed down. Doctor Palmer silently left the
office, understanding that the couple needed to talk privately before
they could continue with the discussion. It wasn't the first time he
had seen such an outburst. In fact he thought it was a good thing as,
once all feelings were out in the open, the patient and their family
were then able to concentrate on the healing process.

Scully's control failed her and she finally let the unshed tears
fall freely. She talked softly to Mulder whose breathing was becoming
more normal.

"I'm far from calm and collected, Mulder. I'm trying to process this
nightmare just like you. I need my control. It's who I am, Mulder,
but it doesn't mean I don't care. How can you believe that I will
just accept my fate? You want to know what I feel? It's unfair! It's
so fucking unfair! I was drowning in an ocean of happiness yesterday
and today I have been diagnosed with cancer.  What kind of sick joke
is that? I'm dying, Mulder!"

Mulder raised his face and saw a different woman from the one who
had listened placidly to Doctor Palmer. This Scully was crying big
fat tears, looking utterly devastated. He could read the fear, the
pain, and the hopelessness in this woman's eyes. He drew her into an
embrace where she sobbed, letting out all her frustration and pain.
He cried silently with her. They were both freeing themselves of
their pent-up emotion. 

Together they would need to gather their strength, as the biggest
fight of their lives had just begun.


Chapter 23

Dana Scully's Apartment - Georgetown - January13,1997


The previous week had been horrendous for Mulder and Scully. After
their breakdown in Doctor Palmer's office, they had both calmed down
enough to talk about the possible therapies Scully could follow.
Surgery had been ruled out of the equation when the results from the
MRI showed that the tumour was too close to the brain. The oncologist
had suggested chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy. It was the
best course of action for her kind of cancer and he was confident
that this combined therapy would help stop any further growth and
maybe even result in a reduction in its size. 

He also talked about the side effects of such intense therapies.
Sterility was one. Chemotherapy is so aggressive on the cells that it
destroys the ova. Sometimes, fertility could be regained but Doctor
Palmer wanted to err on the side of caution and suggested freezing
some of Scully's ova before the procedures began. They both decided
not to jeopardize their future. They tried to be hopeful and met a
fertility specialist at the hospital the following day. During this
procedure they discovered that Scully was already sterile. She wasn't
producing enough viable ova and a procedure that could help her to do
so would take too much time.  They couldn't risk jeopardizing her
cancer treatment with that sort of delay. 

It was the final blow to their already battered psyches, and the
main reason they decided to investigate the abductions of the women
in Allentown. Once there, they had discovered that all the abducted
women, except Penny Northern, had died of the same cancer so recently
diagnosed in Scully.   Penny was involved in a new clinical trial
under the supervision of one Dr Scanlon. It was a slim hope but
Scully tried it, only to be faced with heartbreak when Mulder, during
a follow up investigation based on a hunch, discovered that Scanlon
was up to no good.  They had left Allentown's hospital shortly after
Penny Northern's death. 

Scully had been silent during the journey home, fidgeting with her
wedding ring or looking at the road through the windshield. Once
home, she went straight to lie down on their bed. Mulder couldn't
bear to see her so defeated, so hopeless.

"You okay, Scully?" Mulder asked quietly.

"I'm fine," she lied, making him cringe inside. 

She was anything but fine but she needed to be strong, to be
positive for her treatment with Dr Palmer. He needed his strong-
willed Scully, the one that never gave up, the one who, in his mind,
could move mountains. He wanted her healed and whole. He needed her
back. He knew that everything that had happened during the last few
days had, without a doubt, crushed her spirit, but for Scully the
worst thing had been learning about her sterility. They had talked
about children in Home last summer and they had discussed settling
down and having kids. 

That's when it hit him. She thought that they would never have
children.  But he knew better. 
He had to tell her what he had found at the Lombard Facility.

Mulder joined Scully on the bed, laying down and spooning up against
her. He kissed her temple gently and whispered:

"There's still hope. You'll live and we'll have kids one day."

"It's no use living with false hope, Mulder. I have cancer. I am
sterile.  Even if I survive the cancer there will never be a child,"
she answered hopelessly, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"You're wrong. I made an important discovery while you were at the
hospital. I got into a facility with the guys' help and found
something we thought we had lost. I couldn't believe it at first, it
seemed so far fetched even for me, but it was true."

"What was true?"

"When you were abducted, all your ova were harvested. Don't ask me
how, I don't know, but the fact is your ova were stored in a cabinet.
There was a drawer for each abducted woman."

"That's impossible Mulder! It's just another hoax to make us chase
after false hope." she said, not wanting to believe, and afraid of
the possible deceit.

"I'm sure, Scully. The guys took them to a fertility clinic while I
was getting back to you. A doctor they know and *trust* confirmed
that they were indeed ova, viable ova. They were labelled with your
name. We have to run your DNA to be sure they are yours." He said
passionately.

"Did they store them?"

"Yes. They acted quickly. There's a drawer belonging to George and
Elizabeth Hale in a fertility clinic. They have been careful, very
careful. They know how vital it is for us."

Scully turned around in his arms and sobbed against his chest. It
seemed too good to be true. They would have to check if they were
hers, but if they were, there would be some hope left for them if she
survived the cancer. It made her more determined to fight. She'd
endure the pain, the nausea, the vomiting. She'd try anything if it
meant that someday she'd be pregnant with Mulder's child. 

Back at the hospital after Penny's death, she had said she'd carry
on and that she still had things to prove to herself. Regaining the
ability to bear a child, gave her the spark to ignite her
determination. She was going fight the fight for herself and Mulder.
She owed it to their marriage to stay positive and to believe in her
chances. Above all, she owed it to herself. She wasn't a quitter and
she was going to prove it.

She had a goal now. If she survived, she could try for a child,
Mulder's and hers. She was ready to do what needed to be done so that
one day she'd hold her own baby in her arms.

Her tears stopped and she raised her head to look at Mulder. His
beautiful hazel eyes were full of pain. It was hard for him too. They
had been married for such a short time and their world had already
been rocked to the core. Their honeymoon had been cut short and it
suddenly dawned on her that they hadn't made love since her
diagnosis. 

She caressed his cheek and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was
sweet and slow, as if they had all the time in the world. His hands
ran lightly down her back, sending shivers through her nerves and
making her feel alive for the first time since the word "cancer" had
come into their lives.

"I trust you, Mulder," she whispered, telling him with a few words
that she believed him about the ova he had miraculously retrieved
with the Gunmen.

He smiled at her and kissed her thoroughly, pressing his body into
hers, making her groan. Then things heated up and, for a while, they
were able to forget the Sword of Damocles above their heads. There
were only two bodies, two hearts, two souls entwined together. It was
the calm before the storm.


Chapter 24 


Holy Cross Memorial Hospital - Washington DC - April 27, 1997


Days had come and gone, spring replaced winter whilst Scully's
battle against cancer raged on. She had chemotherapy rounds every
four weeks, lasting five days. Five days hooked to the IV line
receiving potentially lethal combinations of drugs. Five days of
vomiting and feeling like death, weakening to the point where she
couldn't move anymore. 

It was her last scheduled treatment before starting on radiotherapy.
She had lost her hair and wore a scarf when she was at the hospital
and a wig when she was outside. Mulder had suggested that she had the
wig made to avoid any pitying glances. At first she had been angry at
him, thinking that he was ashamed to be seen with a bald woman, but
he had explained with tears in his eyes that he didn't want anyone at
the Bureau thinking less of her as an agent because she had cancer. 
When her hair started to fall out in handfuls, she was devastated and
refused to let him see her without her scarf or her wig because she
felt so ashamed of herself.

The FBI were aware of their marriage but the news didn't receive the
negative reaction they had expected. The news about Scully's cancer
stopped everybody dead in their tracks. They couldn't very well tease
them when she was so ill, though it didn't stop everyone and there
had been some "water cooler gossip" about it being a marriage of
convenience, Mulder taking pity on his dying partner. Skinner himself
had taken action to prevent the spread of such horrible and
insensitive speculation. 

Scully's brothers had both welcomed the news of their sister's
marriage with vastly differing reactions. Charlie had been thrilled
and happy for his sister, telling her that it wasn't news to him that
she loved Mulder. Every letter, every email she sent him was full of
Mulder and, early on, Charlie knew that it was love. Bill was another
deal altogether. He thought that Mulder was a reckless son-of-a-bitch
who would lead her to her death.

Maggie supported her daughter and son-in-law as much as she could.
She was there for the chemotherapy rounds when Mulder had to work and
couldn't get time off to take care of his wife.   Earlier that
morning, Mulder had been called away urgently by Skinner, and had to
leave Scully's bedside during her last course of chemo. Maggie had
taken over without question and held her daughter's hand while she
was struggling against the last round of chemicals.

Scully's latest MRI showed that the tumour hadn't grown but hadn't
receded either. Dr Palmer thought that it was very encouraging when
there was no growth. He was confident that radiotherapy would cause
it to shrink in size. 

Scully didn't feel confident. She felt ill. She felt weak. She felt
like dying. She had lost a lot of weight, and permanent dark rings
around her eyes only served to enhance the gauntness of her face. Her
blue eyes had become icy oceans of pain. She refused to look at
herself in the mirror anymore and also refused to let Mulder see her
naked, so whenever she needed to change she hid in the bathroom to do
so.

Mulder arrived back at the hospital 3 hours after the chemo had
ended.  He had received a call from Maggie an hour earlier, letting
him know how things had gone and telling him Dana was sleeping.  He
stood at the entrance to her private room and silently watched her
sleep.  She was a heartbreaking sight but he still loved her like
crazy. He regretted not being with her for this round, but he had
been busy all day trying to save Skinner's ass. The AD had gotten
himself into some trouble and had called on Mulder to help him hide
his tracks, which Mulder willingly did but in all honesty his heart
hadn't really been in it. The place he'd really wanted to be was
right by Scully's side.

He approached the bed and gasped when he saw how gaunt her face was.
The scarf had loosened and he saw her head for the first time without
cover since she had lost her hair. He didn't understand her need to
appear whole in front of family, especially him. She looked so frail
right now. He had a hard time reconciling this Scully with the fiery
creature he had known for five years, but she was still Scully, the
strong willed. The chemo made her feel down for days afterwards, but
once that passed she was back to normal, except for sharing her naked
body with him.

It wasn't that they didn't make love. They still did but she
insisted on the lights being off. and on wearing a tee shirt to cover
her thinness. He allowed her everything she wanted or needed and was
as supportive as he could be. There were times when it was too much
and he found refuge at Maggie's. His mother-in-law let him cry out
all his heartbreak, anger and frustration, and when he was done he
went home to his wife with a renewed will to fight.

He sat down next to her and, as if she had felt him, she opened her
weary eyes and tried to smile.

"Hey," she rasped.

"Hey yourself," he said, leaning over to kiss her.

"Missed you."

"I know..I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I knew that you couldn't possibly be here every time.
Don't beat yourself up over it, please. It's not as if it's sexy to
see me puking my guts out for three hours straight," she tried to
joke.

"You are always sexy to me, Scully."

"You are so sweet to me."

She held her hand out to him and he grasped it to kiss her wedding
ring. It was a ritual for him to kiss the symbol of their marriage.
It reassured him that he hadn't dreamt it all and that she was real.
He held her hand to his heart and caressed her fingers gently.

"How are you feeling?"

"No worse than usual. A bit nauseous."

"Do you need anything? I can ring for the nurse, I can.."

"I need *you*. You think you can sneak into bed with me?"

"You know me, never one to turn down an offer to go to bed with a
beautiful lady."

Their banter was always light hearted in an attempt to avoid any
heavy topics. He just asked if she was okay. She answered with
anything but "I'm fine" and then she got him into bed with her where
he spent the night. She knew he never slept at all, far too
preoccupied with watching her. She preferred having him next to her
instead of having him worrying like crazy at home and doing something
rash like running after an elusive cure. She knew the nurse on duty
would overlook the regulations and allow him to stay with her.

She fell asleep in the security of his arms, listening to his steady
heartbeat. There were other battles to fight tomorrow and they needed
their rest to start the last part of their war against the cancer.

Chapter 25 


Fox Mulder's Apartment - Alexandria - May13, 1997


Mulder was asleep in his bed. He had no choice but to keep his
apartment until the lease ran out at the end of the year. However, he
didn't plan on keeping it after then because he and Scully wanted to
eventually move to an apartment belonging to both of them. In fact,
he had spent only one other night here since their marriage. She was
tired after her radiotherapy and an argument got out of hand. They
had both decided on a little distance to give them the chance to cool
off. She finally joined him in the middle of night, unable to sleep
alone. They had made up like every married couple did and he returned
to her apartment the next day.

Tonight, he was here because of what had happened at Quonochontaug
while he was under the influence of the drug, Ketamine. He could have
killed her while he was hallucinating. He had fired his weapon at her
reflection in the mirror and it had been too much for him. 

Scully was silently watching him sleep. She had come here when she
couldn't find him at her apartment. His apartment was his private
refuge. She knew she would find him here and she needed to be with
him tonight.

She was starting to regain some of her strength since chemotherapy
was over. She had lost a lot of weight and tried to eat properly to
get it back. Her hair was growing back nicely, but she had decided to
keep wearing her wig until her red tresses were long enough. 

The radiotherapy was in progress but the tumour wasn't receding as
her doctor had hoped. After seeing Harold Spuller's ghost in her car,
she had finally admitted to herself that she was dying. She hadn't
told Mulder what she had seen that night, not wanting to tell him
what she thought it meant. She had tried to protect him as long as
she could, but soon Dr Palmer would run new tests and, if the
horrible headache she had on a daily basis was any indication, she
knew that it wouldn't be good news. It was time to come clean with
the man she loved above everything else. She couldn't go on lying.
Truth was the basis of their relationship and she wouldn't deceive
him.

She started to undress. For the first time in five months, she
pulled off every piece of clothing she had on her. She wanted him to
see the naked truth about her. It could very well be the last time
before the tumour attacked her brain and she would start to lose her
memories about their time together, about their love. She wanted him
to feel that she was still alive, to forget what happened this
afternoon. It wasn't important right now. What was important was them
and their love.

The final thing she removed was her red wig, exposing her downy
peach fuzz that was as soft as baby's hair. She joined him under the
covers and held his sleeping half naked body in her arms. She kissed
his shoulder, trying to wake him slowly. After a few minutes of
kissing and nipping, he turned around and opened his eyes.

He thought that it was just a dream. His Scully was never naked in
bed nowadays and she always wore either a scarf or her wig. This
Scully was naked and her hair was so short that it was almost painful
to see.

"I'm real, Mulder," she said, sensing his questioning gaze.

"Why..why are you here? I almost killed you today."

"You didn't. You made me remember that every day could be the last
day. I don't want to lose more time now. I need to feel. I need to
live. I need to love. I want to create memories." She said softly.

"Please, don't say that..I can't.."

"You asked me to not accept my fate when I was diagnosed. I didn't. 
Now, I want you to accept what I'm saying.  I'll have another series
of tests tomorrow and I'm prepared to face the truth; that I'm dying.
I want you to see what I see when I look at myself in the mirror. I
want you to accept what's there and what could happen. I could die.
The treatments seem to have failed and I don't want to be left with
regrets. I want to spend what life I still have loving you."

Mulder started to sob uncontrollably. It was too hard to hear that
from the person he loved most in the world. He wanted to tell her
that she was making a mistake, that she was healing, that the
treatments had worked, but deep down he knew better. He knew about
the nosebleeds, the ever present headache and the results of the MRI
done two weeks ago. He had seen Dr Palmer's hopeless face. He had
seen all the facts and he had refused to believe in the unavoidable
truth. His Scully was dying.

She held him against her, waiting for him to calm down, to process
the truth. It needed to be done. They couldn't keep on lying to
themselves. They had fought together with all they had, all they
were, but it hadn't been sufficient. She wanted him to accept the
reality so they could both enjoy what was left of 
heir life together.

The gut wrenching sobs stopped abruptly and he raised his tearful
eyes to hers.

"I love you so much, Scully."

"I love you too..that's why I needed to tell you the truth..
that's why
I want to make the most of the days we still have left."

He closed his eyes, trying to push the pain to the far recesses of
his soul. He'd try to make the most of it with *her*, for *her*, but
he was sure that he wouldn't survive her by long. He was sure that he
would die from a broken heart. He didn't see the need to share that
bit of information with her. He just took a deep breath and opened
his eyes to drown in her liquid blue eyes. Anything she was, anything
she thought, anything she felt, was here out in the open. Her eyes
were the windows to her soul where he could see the endless love she
bore for him.

He caressed her hair reverently, surprised by the softness and the
fiery colour of it. He'd known she was a real redhead since their
first time, but she used to dye it to change the shade. This was the
first time he was able to see her real hair colour. His fingers
travelled from her cheeks to her lips. She kissed his fingers before
their lips met again. 

He explored her thoroughly. She slid her tongue over his, sucking it
deeper into her mouth as she ran her hands over his body, pulling him
closer. Her hands roamed to the waistband of his boxers and she moved
to cover his erection, wrapping her fingers around his hardness,
tracing the outline through the cloth. He released her mouth and
moaned into her neck. He was already close to the edge.

She divested him of the last piece of clothing preventing them from
being skin to skin and then she moulded her petite body to his more
muscular one. It was so good to feel him almost surrounding her. It
was good to feel his skin, his sparse chest hair tickling her breast.

He rolled her onto her back and placed his rigid penis at her
entrance, feeling for her readiness. He wanted to take his time, to
reverently explore her body, but she decided otherwise. She arched
her back and he slid home easily.

Their eyes met and she nodded imperceptibly. He began to move slowly
at first, enjoying her tightness around him. It was so good to be
inside her again, to just feel her alive and to forget that it could
well be the last time. He put that sad thought aside and quickened
his pace.

She encircled his waist with her legs, making him go deeper and
deeper. She tried to burn his features into her memory. She wanted to
always remember his face while he was making love to her. She wanted
to never forget the love and the passion she was seeing in his hazel
eyes. If she was granted one memory of him, she wanted to keep what
she was seeing right now. When he was in the throes of passion, all
the hurt and the pain left his features and let the real Fox Mulder
appear. 

She felt him tense and she knew he was very close to coming. He
wanted to wait for her and she told him with her eyes that she was
ready. He gave one last thrust and spilled into her as she cried out
from pleasure. 

He fell into her arms and she held him fiercely. Their breathing
slowly came back to normal and he kissed her again, not wanting to
let go of her yet.

They didn't sleep much; rediscovering their bodies and creating new
memories to cherish. The fear and pain were kept at bay by
alternating slow lovemaking sessions with naps. 


Chapter 26


Dana Scully's Hospital Room - October 3, 1997


"I'd like to try this," Scully said 

With this sentence, she finally acknowledged the possibility that
her cancer could be an engineered illness. 

A lot had happened in the last few months and more in the last 24
hours. Back in June, she decided to stop all treatment when Dr Palmer
gave her the results of her latest exams. She wasn't improving. The
tumour was still there. She called a stop to the suffering and just
agreed on having MRI done to record the progression.

Her decision weighed heavily on her relationship with Mulder. He
didn't want her to give up and he became relentless, always off
chasing his elusive truth, endangering himself more than ever. In
early September, they finally separated following fight after fight
and they both agreed they needed some space. She couldn't keep on
watching his self-destruction. He was sure he would find some miracle
cure for her, when she was sure that all had been tried and all had
failed.

Maggie Scully wanted to mend her daughter's marriage but Scully
thought that maybe it was better for him to be away when she was
slowly weakening. She loved him enough to let him go. She thought
that severing their bond before she died would make her death easier
on him but she realised now it had been foolish to think that Mulder
could cut her from his heart so easily. She was foolish to think that
he would suffer less.

During his search for a cure Mulder came into contact with a Dr
Arlinsky who claimed to have found an alien corpse conserved in ice.
They soon discovered that it was another hoax designed to keep Mulder
on his toes. Soon after that, they learnt from a man at the
Department of Defence, Michael Kritchgau, that Scully's cancer had
been given to her to keep Mulder believing in the lies.

It had been the last straw for him and when a body had been
discovered dead in his apartment, every one believed that he had put
an end to his misery.

It was another lie, spread by him and Scully. Mulder had discovered
that his home had been under video and audio surveillance for over 2
months. When he confronted the man who had been monitoring his
apartment, a struggle ensued and a gun went gone off killing the man.
During his search of the dead man's apartment, Mulder found out that
not only did he work for the Pentagon, but he was in contact with
someone in the FBI. Someone of high rank.

He went to Scully with his plan to infiltrate the Pentagon and
persuaded her to identify the dead body lying on the floor of his
living room as his, therefore giving him time to find some answers.
They reconnected on a physical level that night and she admitted to
him that the cancer had spread.  Her days were numbered.

His journey inside the Pentagon had been interesting. He met up with
Michael Kritchgau who told him that everything had been a lie. There
were no aliens. It was a cover story for the government, who were
creating new secret weapons. He had seen what the government wanted
him to see and Scully's illness was just another means to deflect his
interest from what was really going on.

Further inside the Pentagon, Mulder came to a storage room with row
upon row of shelves. After searching for Scully's name he found some
metal tubes which he fully believed contained a cure for her cancer.
After narrowly missing capture, he took his find back to the Gunmen
to verify his suspicion, but they only found deionised water in the
tube.  His utter disappointment at this discovery was brushed aside
when he received a phone call telling him that Scully had collapsed
before the FBI committee and had been admitted to the hospital. 

Just when Mulder thought it had been all for nothing, he was
approached by CSM who told him what he was supposed to find inside
the tube.  After rechecking the tube, the Gunmen found a microchip in
the deionised water, nearly the same as the one extracted from
Scully's neck. Mulder rushed back to the hospital to tell Scully
about the chip and to finally hear her acknowledge that his paranoia
over the cause of her cancer was justified.

After discussing the matter with her doctor and her family, Scully
decided to trust Mulder's instinct and have the microchip put back
into her neck.  

Mulder released the breath he was holding and sat down on the bed
next to Scully. Maggie and the doctor excused themselves while Bill
Scully remained, undeterred. 

Both men were holding a glaring contest and Scully had to intervene:

"Bill please, I need to talk to my *husband*," she pleaded.

"What for? So he can feed you more lies?" Bill said angrily. "How
can you believe in that crap? How can you agree with that son-of-a-
bitch? Don't you see that he's completely delusional?"

Nobody had time to answer. Maggie Scully was back in the room and
grabbed her son by the arm.

"William Patrick Scully. Out. Now," she said in a tone that left no
room for discussion.

Although his father may have been a Captain in the Navy, it was his
mother who had held the fort at home, so Bill complied not wanting to
face the ire of his mother. He would have his time with that bastard
who married his sister. He swore it.

Once they were alone, Scully opened her arms to welcome Mulder into
her embrace. He tucked his head in her neck and held her tightly. She
caressed his back and his hair gently, silently telling him how much
he meant to her. Their split had been a big mistake. She had thought
that maybe he would hurt less when she died if they were already
separated. She had been so wrong. He had relentlessly searched for a
cure, a means to save her, and that's all that had mattered for the
last few months. And he was sure that the microchip was it. She had
nothing to lose by trying it, and it wasn't as if she had any other
choices.

She released him and cradled his face between her hands.

"Whatever Bill says to you, *don't* believe him. You did all you did
for me, only for me. I know it. You'd give your life for me if you
were sure it would save me."

"I'm guilty, Scully. Nothing can change that. They did this to you
because of me."

"Guilt will get you nowhere, Mulder. If it's my forgiveness you
want, you have it but there's nothing to forgive. I've followed you
of my free will. I fell in love with you. I married you. I made my
own decisions and nobody can take that from me. I won't let my
brother destroy what's between us. I swore to love you and respect
you till death do us part. I plan on honouring my vows to the end."
She rasped out.

She kissed him then. If tomorrow never came, she would have made
peace with the man she loved, the man she had followed to hell and
back. There was no one more important to her. He was family. He was
the one who risked everything to get the Holy Grail, the microchip
that allegedly could save her. There was no one else like him and she
was glad to have known him.

Their lips parted and he lowered his forehead to hers, whispering:

"You're the love of my life, Scully. There will never be 
anyone else."

"I want you to keep going, love. I want you to find Samantha and to
reunite with her. Promise me that you won't do anything rash."

"I can't promise you that."

"I want you to. I'm sure that we will be together again in the
afterlife, in our own time. Don't jeopardize that."

He laughed nervously. 

"How can you believe into the afterlife without having proof it
really exists? Who are you? What did you do with my beautiful no
nonsense wife?"

"I want to believe that, one day, I'll see you again."

"I want to believe that too."

"So believe me."


Chapter 27


Dana Scully's Hospital Room - October 4, 1997 2 AM


Mulder entered the darkened room where Scully was sleeping. He
walked to her bedside and touched her hair, then got down on his
knees and cried. It was so unfair. He had found his sister, but
Scully was dying. Samantha had been alive all along, raised by the
smoking bastard. He had lost all those years for nothing. Samantha
had searched for him and had been deluded too. 

The smoking man had the upper hand in everything. He had taken his
sister and he was responsible for the slow death of Scully. Mulder
had been offered a deal that he couldn't accept, even if it meant he
would get to see Samantha again. He couldn't betray what he and
Scully had worked for. The smoking man claimed that he had given
Mulder all he had ever wanted. Mulder only saw that Scully was still
dying and that Samantha didn't want to have anything to do with him.

In ten hours, he'd have his hearing at the FBI and maybe he'd be
jailed for killing a man. Jail was nothing compared to living his
life without Scully. His tears kept falling on Scully's hand and she
was awoken by his sobbing.

She squeezed his hand and opened her eyes to see the utter
devastation on his face. His suffering had hit the roof and there was
nothing she could do. She had seen her latest PET scan results and
there was no improvement. She had asked her mother to call Father
McCue so he could help her pray and maybe give her the Last Rites.
Maybe she could ask something more of him, but she needed to talk to
Mulder first.

She waited for Mulder to calm down. Once his tears had dried, he
rose from his kneeling position and sat down on the bed next to her.

"I'm sorry..I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay.  Mulder, I need you to do something for me." 

"Anything, you know that, Scully."

"Father McCue is coming here tomorrow morning. I want him to bless
our marriage."

"Scully, please..we still have time," he protested.

"You know we don't. You promised we'd have a Catholic wedding and I
want to have it, here and now. I want the Church to acknowledge our
love. I don't want to die without having God's blessing."

A last tear fell on Mulder's cheeks before he nodded his assent.



Dana Scully's Hospital Room - October 4, 1997 10 AM


They had talked about Samantha after he agreed to have the blessing
performed by Father McCue. He told her about the deal he hadn't
accepted and she assured him that he had made the right decision.
There was no reason to sacrifice anything more to their nemesis.

Mulder had left Scully at 4 AM so she could sleep, and had returned
just a few minutes ago. He'd had a meeting with Blevins who had
proposed a deal which he had refused. His soul wasn't on the market.
He would face the consequences of his actions.

Maggie had joined them to be their witness again. Bill had declined
the offer, but hadn't opposed his sister, letting her have her last
wish. It didn't matter anyway. She was at death's door and nothing he
could say would change anything.

Father McCue was ready to perform the ceremony. Scully was reclining
against the headboard and Mulder sat next to her, holding her hand.
She was pale and dark rings surrounded her eyes. Their wedding rings
had been removed so the priest could bless them during the ceremony.

"Dana, Fox, you asked me to bless your union today. I know the
circumstances are special so I won't do the usual speech about what
is love, what is marriage. I spoke with Maggie this morning and I
know that you intended to marry in the church before Dana was
diagnosed. I hope that this blessing will give you some peace. Now
let's begin..."

Mulder turned to Scully and burned his gaze to hers to say the words
they had written together last night.

"I, Fox William Mulder, take you Dana Katherine Scully, to be my
wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our
friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I'll love you
above and beyond this life. I give you my trust and my 
heart to keep."

"Your turn, Dana."

"I, Dana Katherine Scully, take you Fox William Mulder, to be my
husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our
friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I'll love you
'til my last breath and beyond. I give you my trust and my heart to
keep."

Maggie gave the rings to the priest, who blessed them and said: 

"The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and
spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in endless love. It is a
seal of the vows Fox and Dana have made to one another. Bless, oh
God, these rings, that Dana and Fox, who give them and who wear them,
may ever abide in thy peace; living together in unity, love and
happiness for the rest of their lives."

Mulder was given the ring to put on Scully's finger. He mirrored his
actions of the previous January.

"Scully, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all
that I am, and all that I have, I honour you. With this ring, I thee
wed."

He kissed her ring finger before letting her take his ring from the
priest. She let the tears fall freely when she spoke.

"Mulder, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all
that I am, and all that I have, I honour you. In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. With this ring, I
thee wed."

They were both crying now, absorbing the enormity of the moment.
Father McCue finished the ceremony:

"In as much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong
commitment, love and devotion, I now pronounce you husband and wife,
in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Those whom
God has joined together let no one put asunder. Fox, you may kiss
your bride."

He cradled her face between his hands and she whispered, "thank
you," before kissing him. When they parted, Maggie and the priest had
left the room, giving them some privacy before Mulder had to go and
defend himself before the committee.

"I gotta go face the music.  Promise me you won't give up while I'm
off trying to save my ass. Pray to that God of yours to give us a
chance." He said tearfully.

"I promise, Mulder. I won't leave you before my time."

He kissed her lips one last time, and then her wedding ring, before
standing up. She kept his hand in hers and whispered:

"You'll be in my prayers." 

"Have the Father say a few Hail Mulders for me, okay?" he said, with
a little smile that didn't reach his eyes, as Father McCue came back
into the room.

Whatever happened today, their lives were bound to change. For
better or for worse. 


Chapter 28


Dana Scully's Hospital Room -October 4 1997 - 10PM


Scully's cancer was in remission. Her latest blood work and MRI
showed a significant shrinking of the cancerous mass and a decrease
of the metastasis. It was more than anybody could have hoped for. 

Scully didn't know if it was the microchip or the 'Hand of God' that
gave her a new lease of life, but she was sure that she wouldn't get
rid of the little piece of technology that Mulder found for her. She
didn't care about everyone else's thoughts on the matter, her mother
or her brother, she would be taking no risks by removing it.

Her family had visited with her all afternoon and a good part of the
evening. Mulder had been out of sight all the time Bill had been
there. Maggie had just ushered everyone out so that husband and wife
could reunite peacefully and alone together.

Mulder had stayed in the hallway, looking at the picture of him and
his sister as kids. He had no doubt now that she had been alive all
this time. The Smoking Man had raised Samantha and kept her away from
her family for more that twenty years, feeding her lies. The young
woman he met was terrified and he was sure she would never be granted
another chance to visit him. The search was over.

The wonderful news about Scully's remission soothed the pain of
losing his sister. He could have lost everything but he was left with
the most important person in his life. Scully was the beacon in his
darkness and she was going to live. It would take him time to
reconcile the truth about his sister but, with Scully by his side, he
was sure he'd manage. It was time to stop living in the past and to
build a future, a family.

He stood and pulled himself together before entering the room that
had just been deserted by the Scully family. Scully was sitting
propped up against the headboard and smiled at him when he entered.
Her eyes were glinting for the first time since she had been
diagnosed. Even if the dark rings around her eyes and the gauntness
were still there, her strong will was back.

"Mulder," she whispered.

He went to her and crushed her small body in his warm embrace. They
held each other tightly for a sweet eternity. She disentangled
herself from him and scrutinized his face, his body. She realised
what a toll her illness had taken on him. She could tell he had lost
weight, because his clothes were hanging from him and she could feel
his bones through his shirt. His face was ashen and his eyes tired. 

"Where were you?" she asked.

"I was just outside your room, in the hallway."

"Why didn't you come in with Mom and Bill?"

"I just thought that I would let you have some time with them. It
was a kind of truce..with Bill," he answered simply, not wanting to
upset her.

"He demanded that you stay out of his sight?" she asked with anger.

"He didn't exactly demand, but if his eyes had been weapons, I'd be
dead," he said lightly.

"I'll talk to him. There's no way I'm letting him act this way with
you." 

"Don't get all worked up because of him. It's no big deal, really. I
needed some time to myself, to reflect, to regroup," he said,
lowering his eyes, trying to hide his pain.

"Skinner told me about the hearing. You named Blevins."

"Lucky guess." He smiled.

"You are going to be reinstated. They have no choice. Skinner will
make sure of that."

"I don't know if I want to go back," he said, softly.

"What are you saying?" She scanned his eyes trying to read him.

"The search is over, Scully. My sister is alive.  She's been with
the Smoking Man all this time. She doesn't want to have anything to
do with me. I've lost so much and could have lost more. I don't want
to go on like that. You are alive and in remission. We have second
chance and I don't want to miss it by chasing aliens or whatever.
It's time for us to call it quits and live for us." He said with
passion.

She cradled his face between her hands and looked him straight in
the eyes.

"I don't think you are objective enough to make any decisions today.
We have endured a lot these last few hours and I think we need to
rest and have all our wits about us to make a monumental decision
like that. I said *we*, Mulder, because there's no way you are going
to decide for both of us. We are a team. We are a couple. You don't
have to carry the world on your shoulders anymore. I won't let you."

She paused and let him digest what she had said. She would get her
strength back and they would both decide their future, together hand
in hand. His lonely years were over. She would be the supportive
wife, the comprehensive friend, and the protective partner he needed.

"We are going to sleep and tomorrow will be another day, a day I
thought I'd never see."

"Oh Scully," he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion.

She kissed his lips gently and then scooted over on the bed. He took
off his shoes and lay down with her, then she switched off the light
and snuggled against his chest.  

"I love you, Scully," he whispered.

"Love you too."

Sleep soon claimed them. Their future seemed brighter than it had
just a few short hours ago.  For once, their sleep wasn't interrupted
by nightmares.


Chapter 29


Bill and Tara Scully's Home - San Diego -December 22, 1997 


Dana Scully-Mulder wasn't enjoying herself. Her sister-in-law kept
on raving about her pregnancy, how her life had meaning now that she
was bringing a new life into the world, while Scully sat there,
sterile and out of the loop.

Her tumour had miraculously disappeared shortly after she went into
remission. Her doctor didn't exactly call it a miracle but it was one
without doubt. She and Mulder had started to talk about their future
and the possibility of children.  IVF was their best chance but it
involved intense treatments and the doctors wanted to wait a little
while before starting. Her body still hadn't totally recovered from
her illness and she needed to be strong in mind and body to face the
IVF procedures.

They had agreed to wait six months before starting on the
complicated journey of creating a new life with the help of science.
That didn't make it any less difficult for Scully to watch a very
pregnant Tara talking animatedly about her impending motherhood.
Nobody was aware of Dana's problem. She had wanted to keep it between
Mulder and herself, not feeling comfortable sharing it with her
brother or even her mother. She felt a failure, less of a woman. She
knew those feelings were irrational but she couldn't help them.

The fact that Mulder was away didn't help matters. He was tied up on
a case in Washington, desperately trying to finish up as soon as
possible so that he could join his wife and mother-in-law in time for
Christmas. She missed him like crazy and her mood wasn't exactly
festive.

"Dana?" called Bill Junior. "Dana? Are you with us?"

She jumped and smiled uncomfortably.

"Sorry, I must be more tired than I thought."

"You could at least try to enjoy yourself!" He sniped, being his
usual bullying self. "Or even fake being interested in what Tara is
saying."

"Bill, please, your sister is tired. It's no big deal." Tara tried
to soothe her husband.

"She'd be less tired if she gave up that nonsense she calls work
with that son of a bitch that she married!" he replied in a raised
voice.

"You just can't help it Bill," Scully seethed with anger. "You have
to blame anything and everything on Mulder! You can't just think that
maybe I'm hurt by all the talk about babies and pregnancies when I
know what I'll have to go through hell to have one of my own? Not
everyone can get pregnant just like that, you know."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? You can't have children?
Well, how the hell was I supposed to know that? You don't tell us
anything anymore! It's as if you've cut your family from your life!
You are full of secrets known only to Mulder. He's no good for you,
Dana. Look what he's driven you to. Look at this afternoon; running
to this little girl whose parents died in a car accident.  What the
hell is the matter with you?

"I received a call telling me to..It's not important. You wouldn't
understand."

"What is there to understand? You are becoming as crazy as him! I
don't understand why you stay with him, I really don't. He's already
cost you so much.."

Scully's mother and Tara sat silently while she and Bill fought.
There was nothing they could say to stop the war of words. It had
been simmering for a while and it was best to get it 
out in the open. 

Scully stood, saying steadily with her eyes full of unshed tears, "I
love him, Bill, and he loves me more than life itself. I've never
asked you why you married Tara. I've never said anything against her.
She is your choice and I respect that. I trust your judgement to make
the right choice. For once in your life, Bill, respect me. Respect my
choices. Respect my husband. If you can't do that, we have nothing
left to say to each other. Ask yourself, Bill, would a man face the
holidays with a brother-in-law who despises him for a woman he
doesn't love? Mulder would do *anything* for me. Would you do me a
favour and for once try to be civil? If not, I'm leaving tomorrow."

Bill had nothing to add to that. His sister had made herself very
clear. She kissed her mother and Tara goodnight and left the room.
Bill lowered his eyes under the reproachful look of his mother and
wife. He had pushed too far because he thought that he could talk
some sense into Dana whilst Mulder was away.  It never once occurred
to him that she was her very own person and that no one would make
her do anything she didn't want to do.

The remainder of the dinner was spent in silence with Maggie dying
to join her daughter but knowing that she needed to be alone. Tara
was fuming with her husband. For once, she was hosting the Scully's
Christmas festivities and Bill was already killing the mood. They
would have a serious chat when they were on their own.


***


Scully was sitting on the bed. She should have known that her
brother wouldn't understand. There was only one man able to do so and
she grabbed her cell phone and dialled Mulder's cell number. She
needed to tell him about the fight and about the anonymous phone
call. He answered on the first ring.

"Mulder, it's me," she said softly.

"Hey baby, missing me already?"

"More than anything."

"You okay, Scully?"

"You know that you are spooky, right?" she laughed. 

"That's why you married me."

"Yeah..I've just had a fight with my brother."

"What a surprise! Let me guess, it was about you marrying the wrong
guy."

"Not just that. Something weird happened today and he thinks I'm
losing it."

"Tell me."

"I got an anonymous phone call this afternoon.  A woman's voice
telling me that *she* needed me. I got it traced and went straight to
the address. There were police everywhere. Seems there had been an
accident, a couple was killed outside their home by a drunk driver.
Their daughter was the sole survivor.  Cute little thing.  And you
know what, Mulder?  I only saw her for a few seconds but I really
think she was the *she*."

"What aren't you telling me, Scully?"

"The caller's voice..it sounded so like Missy."

"Dana.."

"Tell me I'm not nuts."

"You're not. I have two theories."

"Already? You're getting faster these days," she teased.

"First theory, you are missing your sister because it's Christmas
and you need her with you to fight against your bully of a brother.
Second theory, someone is impersonating your sister and wants you to
be interested in that little girl's wellbeing"

"I've thought about that but I keep on asking myself why."

"You have to use your investigative skills Agent Scully."

"Very useful, Mulder, thanks."

"Glad to be helpful. Baby, don't worry, okay? I'll be there soon.
I'm almost finished with the case. Once it's done, I'm jumping on a
plane and I'll protect you against Bill."

"My Hero.  Look, I have to go, there's someone knocking at my
bedroom door."

Scully got up and went to answer the door. It was her mother.

"Dana, there's someone downstairs asking to see you."

"Who?"

"Casey Faulkner."


Chapter 30

Bill and Tara Scully's Home - San Diego -December 22, 1997 


Scully ended her phone call with Mulder, telling him she'd call back
later. She hadn't seen Casey since 1994 when they had talked about
why she had consulted Casey before her abduction. Shortly after that,
Dr Faulkner had moved to California. Scully didn't know why Casey
wanted to see her when they hadn't talked or even written to each
other for three years. 

She followed her mother downstairs. Bill and Tara were nowhere to be
seen, which was a relief. She wasn't ready to face her brother again
so soon. 

Casey was waiting in the lobby, next to the door. She had changed to
say the least. The once elegant and self confident doctor was now
replaced by a terrified looking woman. Scully could feel it from a
distance; her friend was afraid. She was staying in the shadows and
her dark ringed eyes were those of a bewildered being. 

"Dana.." she whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Scully approached the woman and saw that she was holding something
against her. Scully put a tentative hand on her arm and she jumped
nervously.

"Casey, what happened to you?"

"It's a long story..I just needed to see you and tell you the truth.
I've got so much regret, Dana. I hope that you will find it in you to
forgive me." She pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears.

"You're not making any sense, Casey. Come on, let's take a seat on
the couch and you can tell me what you're talking about."

Scully gently steered her into the living room while Maggie made a
discreet exit to let the women talk. Casey sat down heavily, still
clutching a black book against her chest. She lowered her eyes and
started her story.

"You remember the day we met a little after you came back from..your
abduction?"

"Yes. I wanted to know if you had found something special in the
blood work we did before I was abducted. You said that it was just a
bad case of the flu."

"I lied. I was told to tell you it was the flu..but it wasn't."

"What?" Scully asked alarmed.

The other woman handed her the black book she was holding so
tightly. Scully took it and when she opened it, she realised what it
was. Her journal, the one she had searched in vain for when she came
back from the hospital, She opened it at the last written page. Her
familiar scrawl jumped out at her and she read the last entry.

"August 7, 1994.

How I'm going to tell Mulder? I'm a modern woman and a doctor and I
didn't see it coming. When Casey wanted to go over my result with me
personally, I was worried that it was something serious. What she
told me seems unreal, as if it's happening to someone else. 

I'm pregnant.

I'm a grown woman, a doctor, and it didn't occur to me to think
about protection when Mulder and I had sex on my couch. What was I
thinking?"

The writing went on but Scully had stopped taking it in when she
read the word "pregnant". She wanted to say that it was a fake, that
someone was playing with her, but it made so much sense. The
nightmares she had about giving birth, her inability to remember what
she'd wanted to tell to Mulder before disappearing. The raw pain in
her heart was unbearable. The tears escaped her eyes before she could
hold them.

"Why?" she turned to Casey, her voice filled with pain.

"I had no choice. They were threatening to kill my family if I
didn't do what they wanted,!"

"And now? Why are you coming here to tell me that They took my baby?"

"I've escaped my watchdogs. My husband and my son died in a plane
crash. There's nothing stopping me anymore."

"What happened to my baby?"

"They tried to hybridise her. They tried to change her DNA but it
didn't work. When she was one year old, they finally gave up and put
her up for adoption. She wasn't what they hoped for."

"She's alive?"

"Yes, her name is Emily."

"Oh my God.."

She stood quickly and ran to the phone, dialling Mulder's cell
number with trembling hands. Tears were falling freely down her
cheeks. It was impossible. First the anonymous call that led her to
that little orphan girl, Emily Sim, and then Casey telling her that
she had been pregnant when she was abducted and that her baby had
been named Emily. It was too much. She didn't believe in
coincidences. She needed Mulder now. She couldn't face this alone.

"Mulder," he answered.

"I need you," she whispered.

"Scully, what's wrong? What's happening?"

"Please come as soon as you can. I can't do this by myself."

"I'll be on the next flight. Hold on, Baby."

She didn't hear him cut the conversation, she had slipped to the
floor, sobbing her heart out.
Casey Faulkner took that as her cue to leave. She put the journal on
the coffee table and quietly slipped out the door.  Alarmed by her
daughter's sobs, Mrs Scully ran downstairs to find her lying
heartbroken on the floor.


Chapter 31


Bill and Tara Scully's Home - San Diego -December 23, 1997 


Mulder arrived in San Diego twelve hours later. He had told Skinner
he had a family emergency and the AD accepted this without question.
He was on edge. He hadn't been able to talk to Scully since she had
asked him to join her. She had been crying, which was rare. Something
bad must have happened. He knew that she had met Casey Faulkner. What
could this woman have told her that caused her so much distress?

Dr Casey Faulkner had studied in Med School with Scully, and before
she had been transferred to California she'd been Scully's doctor.
The last time they'd met was after Scully's abduction. Mulder had a
nagging feeling that Faulkner's reappearance had something to do with
that dark period of their lives.  

He knocked at the door, bracing himself to face an angry Bill
Scully. There may have been no love lost between the two brothers-in-
law, but Mulder was in no mood to fight. He was relieved when Maggie
opened the door and engulfed him in her embrace.

"Thank God you're here, Fox!"

"Mom, what's wrong with Scully?" 

"I don't know. She locked herself in her room and she won't talk to
me."

"Did Casey Faulkner do something to her?" he asked angrily.

"When I found Dana, Casey was already gone. I helped her upstairs
and into bed. I haven't seen her since. I'm worried, Fox. Dana had a
fight with Bill about not being able to have a baby and then this
woman come over..I don't know what she told her to hurt her so much."

"I'll find out. Where is she?"

"I'll take you to her."

Maggie led Mulder to Scully's room. He took a deep cleansing breath
and knocked.

"Baby, it's me," he said softly.

He heard footsteps and the door unlocking. He opened the door and
faced his dishevelled wife. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her
clothes were wrinkled, and she was tightly clutching a black book,
her journal by the look of it. He went to her and she slumped against
him, sobbing anew.

He held her against his chest, whispering words of comfort, kissing
her hair and caressing her back in a soothing manner. It took a while
before she was able to calm down. She untangled herself and raised
her eyes to him. Her blue depths were testimony to the pain she felt.
He would kill anyone who had hurt her so much. 

He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. They had been separated
for three days and it felt like a month. When the kiss broke, she let
go of him and handed him the journal. She was already calmer and
ready to talk.

"What is it?" he asked, puzzled.

"Read the last entry, you'll understand."

He did so while she sat down on the bed, watching him closely. His
face paled when he read the word "pregnant". 

"Scully, it's.."

"It's my journal.  The one I searched for after I was released from
the hospital. I think They stole it. It all makes so much sense now."

"Where did you get it?  Casey Faulkner?  Did she give it to you?
Where did Casey get it?"

"Yes. She said that when They realised I was pregnant, they took the
baby, *our* baby, and tried to hybridise it. It didn't work so she
was given up for adoption."

"She survived and was used as a test subject?"

"Yes. I don't know how she was able to survive, but she did. We have
a little girl, Mulder and I know where she is."

"What?"  His brain was in overdrive, trying to grasp what she was
telling him.

"Casey told me that the baby had been named Emily. Remember the
anonymous phone call I told you about and the little girl I found who
I felt sure I was there to help?. Her name is Emily. Emily Sim."

"How can you be sure it's not a hoax? That it's really her? And how
the hell does Casey know so much?" 

"She was blackmailed. Her family's lives were spared as long as she
kept quiet about what she knew.  But her husband and son died in a
plane crash and she took the risk to come and tell me the truth."

"That's a bit of a coincidence, don't you think?"

"Yes, but it's our daughter."
 
"You think it means that They are purposely drawing us to her so we
can have her back? They aren't so magnanimous."

"I know that. It's our baby, Mulder. They know we'll do anything to
have her back."

"Yes, anything..It's so much information to digest." He said, his
eyes brimming with tears.

"I know. I felt overwhelmed by it and all I was thinking is that if
it's true and she is our Emily, then we have already lost three years
of her life. We are strangers to her.  We need to get tests run to
prove she's ours."

Mulder sat down next to Scully and she snuggled up against him. They
desperately wanted to be parents and here was a little girl, possibly
their biological daughter, appearing from nowhere. He couldn't help
but think that it was probably a hoax, but could they ignore the fact
that they had a chance to build a family? This girl was born from
their love even if, when she was conceived, they weren't ready to
commit together. Mulder felt that it was the sign he was waiting for
to change everything. It was time to live in the present, to build a
future. If gaining custody of Emily meant they had to quit their jobs
at the FBI, so be it. He wouldn't regret it.

"Baby, we'll do everything we can to get her. You have to 
believe me."

"I believe in you, Mulder."

"God, Scully.  A daughter.  We could have a daughter.."

She smiled. Her angst and pain were less acute when Mulder was here.
They were going to fight for themselves and a little orphan girl that
might be theirs.  


Chapter 32 


Social Services Building - San Diego, California -December 24, 1997


With AD Skinner's help, Mulder and Scully were able to build a solid
case documenting her disappearance and her supposed pregnancy. The
Gunmen had hacked into the hospital's patient files to get Scully's
gynaecological history, where Scully discovered, to her surprise,
that her gynaecologist thought that she had already given birth. The
piece de resistance of their file was in Scully's purse; a picture of
herself at three, a dead ringer for Emily. All the proof was adding
up and they were certain that Emily Sim was their biological 
daughter.

The hardest part was proving to Social Services that Emily was
indeed their little girl and that she had been stolen from them
during Scully's abduction. The first step was to get the social
workers to agree to having some blood work done. Then, if the DNA
matched, they would have to be investigated by the social workers,
probably like adoptive parents, so that they could gain custody of
Emily.

They were hopeful; they needed to be. They had already told Skinner
that they wanted to move out of the X-Files and be transferred
elsewhere in the FBI. At first, Scully thought that it was too much
to ask of Mulder, to let go of his passion, but he had been adamant.
He wanted to have a future and if having family meant saying goodbye
to the X-Files, he was ready.

Since his meeting with Samantha in the diner back in October, his
interest in the lights in the sky and other paranormal things had
abated. His sister was alive. She didn't want to see him or their
mother. End of story. It was a sad end, but at least she was alive
and had a family. It had put an end to his quest; his new goal was
Scully and their happiness. A happiness that included a little
strawberry blond girl called Emily.

They were sitting in the waiting room, holding hands and nervously
checking the time every second or so. They had an important meeting
with Miss Chambliss who was in charge of Emily's case. If she refused
to allow them to have Emily's DNA checked, all their chances would
fly out of the window. There was no way they could apply for a normal
adoption after claiming that the little girl was theirs. It was all
or nothing.

A woman came out of the office and headed towards them, smiling. A
welcoming face. After all, they were potential adoptive parents.

"Mr and Mrs Mulder? I'm Lucy Chambliss."

Mulder and Scully stood and shook the firm hand of the social
worker. She steered them towards her office and offered them a seat.
She took her place behind her desk, put on her glasses and looked at
them with piercing eyes.

"I understand that you want to adopt Emily Sim?"

"Not exactly adopt." Mulder started, while Scully played nervously
with her wedding ring.

"You want to be foster parents then?" she said, puzzled.

"Emily is our biological daughter." Scully blurted out.

"That's impossible. Emily's birth mother died while giving birth.
You must be mistaken."

"We have a file, documenting my wife's disappearance for three month
between August and November of 1994. She was found in a hospital
corridor on November 4. She was pregnant before disappearing. She
wasn't when we got her back."

Mulder handed her the file with all the information they had
gathered. Miss Chambliss read each one of the pages, becoming more
surprised by the minute. Everything they must have endured, losing a
child like that and not remembering anything. She felt pain for
Scully because she was sterile now and Emily could be her only chance
at motherhood. . Their story was far fetched but the evidence looked
genuine. 

"Mrs Mulder..I'm so sorry for what happened to you. I just need to
know something else. What makes you think that Emily could be your
baby?"

Scully rummaged in her purse and got the picture out. She handed it
to Miss Chambliss. The social worker raised her eyebrow.

"It's me at three."

Miss Chambliss took Emily's file out of the folder.

"Emily was born on November 3, 1994. We were told that her mother
died while giving birth. The baby was kept in orphanage until she was
one year old. The Sims adopted her and moved to San Diego."

"Where was she born?"

"In Washington D.C."

Mulder and Scully gasped loudly. Another piece to the puzzle. The
social worker seemed to sympathise with them, and they hoped that she
would agree to have blood work run so they would know for sure, once
and for all.

"Mr and Mrs Mulder, it's not usual procedure to have biological
parents asking for custody of their own child, especially after 3
years. In your case, I understand the circumstances are somewhat
special. Nonetheless, even if Emily is your child, you'll have to go
through an adoption procedure. It means that you'll be interviewed by
social workers, you'll be evaluated.  This process could take up to
six months."

"We know that. We'll do anything to have her back. First thing we
have to do is check that she is ours."

"I agree. We have to schedule an appointment at the hospital to.."

"We're going to go through the labs at the FBI. They can have the
results in 48 hours." Scully cut in. "You can have Emily's blood
drawn by the nurse at the children's center. A FBI courier will be
here to retrieve it and send it straight, with our samples, to
Washington."

"If you think it's better, I'm okay with it. I just have one demand:
I want to have the results sent to me."

"That's not a problem."

"We are agreed then."

They all stood and shook hands. Miss Chambliss hoped that the little
girl was who they thought she was. If not, it would be a huge
disappointment. She couldn't help but wonder why some people would
steal a baby from its mother only to give it up for adoption. The
world was going mad that was for sure.

Mulder and Scully, once alone outside Miss Chambliss' office, fell
into each other arms.

"This is our chance," she whispered.

"And we'll grab it with both hands. Come on, let's have some blood
drawn. We'll know in two days." 

"Yes, two days."

They left the social services building, hand in hand.


Chapter 33 


San Diego's Holiday Inn - Room 1013 -December 26, 1997


Mulder and Scully had to leave Bill Junior's house. The
uncomfortable atmosphere was too much for their nerves, which were
already frayed from everything that had happened since Emily's
discovery. They had rented a room at the Holiday Inn just a few
blocks down from the children's center where Emily was staying. 

Scully paced the room nervously as Mulder sat munching on sunflowers
seeds. The results of the blood tests were due any minute and waiting
was stressful. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had been difficult for
them because they were unable to concentrate on anything except the
possibility that they might be parents to a cute little strawberry
blond girl who was spending the holidays alone, without a family. 

The phone rang, interrupting Scully's musings. Mulder grabbed it and
answered, listening carefully to what the FBI lab tech was telling
him. His face was unreadable and Scully started to worry that they
could have been mistaken once again. He disconnected the call and
turned to her with the largest smile she had ever seen.

"The results are in.  Emily is without a doubt our daughter." He
said to a tearful Scully.

She went to him and they held each other while they both cried tears
of happiness. They were going to have a family after all.


Children's Center, San Diego - Same day.


Once they were calmer, they phoned Miss Chambliss and asked to be
given permission to see Emily. The social worker had also received
the results and she knew that the couple were desperate to see their
little girl. Emily needed to be cheered up too. Losing her parents
just before Christmas was hard for a three year old, and maybe
meeting her real parents would help her feel loved.

Miss Chambliss agreed to a visit but gave them clear instructions:
Emily wasn't to be told that they were her biological parents. They
were to be presented as potential adoptive parents. Emily would need
time to get used to them and, even if they were granted custody, they
were advised not to rush in and tell her the truth.

Mulder and Scully understood Miss Chambliss' worries and agreed do
as asked in the hope that it would enhance their chances of obtaining
custody.

They stood watching Emily through the one-way glass into the
playroom. She was sitting on the floor,, drawing carefully, her
little tongue sticking out of her mouth. Mulder could see a lot of
Scully in the look of concentration on the little girl's face. Scully
was only seeing the pouty lip and a little mole on her cheek in same
place as Mulder's. It was reassuring to see some physical signs that
backed up what the blood tests had revealed.

They were both feeling nervous. How do you connect with your own
child? How do you catch up on three lost years? How do you take the
place of the only people she has ever known as Mommy and Daddy? It
was not going to be easy and this first meeting would change
everything. It would be paramount to their chances of becoming her
parents.

Scully sat down next to Emily while Mulder took a seat in front of
them. 

"Hi Emily, my name is Dana and this is.."

"Fox," said Mulder. He did not want his daughter thinking that he
had no name.

"Hi," answered the little girl shyly, never stopping her drawing.

"What are you colouring?" asked Mulder.

"A potato," she said, wondering why this grown up was not able to
recognize it.

"Have you ever seen Mr. Potato Head?" 

Emily shyly shook her head at Mulder's question.

"He looks like this." Mulder made the goofiest Mr Potato Head
impersonation ever seen. Emily smiled at the funny man in front of
her and decided she liked him.

Her blue eyes pierced her father's heart. It was instant love and
Scully knew that they had made significant progress today.

"Are you going to be my new Mommy?" Emily blurted out, turning to
Scully. 

"I'd like to very much."

"And Mr Potato Head would be my Daddy?"

"Yes, honey."

"Will I have a brother or sister?"

"No. Not yet but we would love for you to be our little girl."

The little girl's eyes were full of tears. She didn't understand why
her old Mommy and Daddy had to go to Heaven and leave her here all
alone.  She had even written a letter to Santa Claus asking him to
forget about the doll she had asked for in her previous letter, and
could he please instead give her a new Mommy and Daddy who would love
her and never ever leave her.  It looked like it had worked, as today
these two people, the pretty lady and Mr Potato Head were asking her
if she wanted to be their little girl. She did not want to stay here.
She wanted a home with a Mommy and Daddy. She wanted her favourite
toys. She wanted a bedtime story. She wanted her old Mommy and Daddy
but they would never come back again. They were in Heaven with God.

She started to cry and Scully took her little girl into her arms and
told her that everything would be all right. She rocked her, holding
her little body tight against her chest. It was as if she felt the
instant connection between herself and her child. The bonding process
had already started to happen.

As Mulder sat watching his wife and child he realised that he was
seeing his future.  A future that nobody was going to get in the way
of. He had a new quest; gaining custody of Emily and making a
comfortable and safe life for her. He swore that they would make it
work.

He stood and gathered his girls into his arms, under the watchful
gaze of Miss Chambliss. Her heart went out to the little family in
front of her and she promised herself she would do everything she
could to reunite them. 



Chapter 34 


San Diego Hall of Justice - Judge Hartwell's Office - 
January 2, 1998 


A new year had come and Matthew William Scully was born at the
stroke of midnight, delivered by a tired Tara, making Bill Jr a proud
daddy. Mulder and Scully showed polite happiness at the birth of
their nephew, preoccupied by their scheduled hearing. Maggie's heart
was split in two. She had her first grandson while her daughter and
son-in-law were fighting to obtain custody of the little girl they
never thought they'd have.

Scully and Mulder had shared the truth about Emily with Maggie but
asked her to keep the particulars to herself. Scully was sure that
her brother would never believe that Emily had been stolen from her
womb. Maggie had assured them of her support and was willing to speak
up for them at the hearing, if she was needed. Their conversation had
been interrupted by Tara whose water broke in the middle of the
kitchen.

They were currently facing Judge Hartwell. The man took his time
reading all the information pertaining to the case: Scully's
abduction, her pregnancy, her cancer, her remission and her sterility
were documented.  The whole thing was heartbreaking for her. She knew
that she would have to revisit her darkest hours from the last four
years. 

Miss Chambliss had given her recommendation to the judge and she had
assured the couple that she thought that it was best for Emily to be
raised by her own parents. It was just a matter of convincing the
authorities.

The judge cleared his throat and asked his first question:

"Mrs Mulder, when did you discover you were unable to bear children?"

She wasn't expecting him to begin with that and the question
unbalanced her momentarily. She took a deep breath before answering.

"Before my chemotherapy we consulted a specialist to have some of my
ova stored.  It was during these tests that we were told that I was
sterile and, even if I survived the cancer, I would never be able to
bear my own children. It was a devastating discovery."

"Your doctor made a note that you had given birth but that you
didn't give him any information about it. Why?"

"I only discovered very recently that I'd given birth, and  my
doctor didn't ask me any questions about it. I have to admit it was
disconcerting when I read this in my medical file, and at first I
thought that it was a mistake; that my file had been mixed up with
someone else's. Then, I found a personal journal that I had kept just
before my abduction and in it I found entries that confirmed that I
was indeed pregnant."

"You were expecting Mr Mulder's child but you weren't married then?"

"No but we were..dating," she said blushing, embarrassed. 

"Obviously. The blood tests confirm that Emily Sim is indeed your
daughter. What I don't understand is how and why your baby was taken
from you, Mrs Mulder. How until very recently you didn't even know of
her existence.  Furthermore, it puzzled me that, just as mysteriously
as she was removed from your life, she is suddenly returned to it. 
It seems very convenient.  A little too convenient."

"It puzzled us too. I have no valid answer to give you. We have just
discovered that we have a child and we want to be given the chance to
raise her. We didn't willingly give her up. She was taken from us. I
was abducted, it's all there in the file in front of you!" Scully
said with a growing frustration.

"Mr Mulder, if things had been different would you have raised Emily
back then?" The judge went on, unmoved by Scully's outburst. He
needed to have his questions answered.

"Without doubt. Our relationship was burgeoning and although the
pregnancy wasn't planned I would have raised my child. I would never
have asked Dana to abort. A child is a gift." Mulder claimed, erasing
any last remaining doubts Scully had.

"Miss Chambliss seems to think that it would be best for Emily to be
raised by her birth parents. Are you ready to take on this
responsibility? Before you answer me, just think about it: she had
parents who are dead now but she loved them. It will be difficult for
her to adapt. It will be difficult to accept that you are her *real*
parents. Are you ready to face that?"

"We are." Answered Scully, convinced. "We understand that we can't
tell her the truth yet. We are willing to wait until she is older and
able to understand fully the exceptional circumstances surrounding
her birth and the first three years of her life.  All we want is a
chance to be there for her.  To give her everything she needs: love,
a home, a family."

Mulder squeezed her hand. She had stated the bare truth. Even if it
wasn't easy to lie by omission, they couldn't tell a three year old
the horrendous truth. She wasn't ready. She had to grieve for the
Sims and then adapt to her new adoptive parents. It was important to
create a safe environment for her. 

"You are both FBI agents, field agents. Your work is dangerous. Do
you think that these jobs provide a suitable environment for raising
a child?"

"We have both asked for reassignment. Our boss, Assistant Director
Skinner, is due to give us our new assignments in the next few days.
We are both being removed from field agent status." 

"I worry that this rather hasty change in your jobs might cause some
resentment towards Emily in the future."

"On the contrary, we have been talking about this sort of move since
Dana's remission. We wanted to slow down, to leave the danger behind.
We have already paid our dues to the FBI. It's time for us to live
for ourselves and our family. Emily will be our number one priority."

"What about accommodation? Do you have space for a three year old?"

"We have a spare bedroom in the apartment we are renting in
Georgetown. When the lease is over, we'll get something bigger, maybe
a house."

"I see that money isn't a problem. You have savings Mr Mulder. I
would be surprised if that sort of funding came from working for the
FBI."

"It's my father's money. I didn't have a use for it until now." 

His father's money was a sore subject for him. He always thought
that it was blood money but maybe if he could do some good with it,
it could redeem his father. 

Hartwell closed the files and pulled off his glasses.  "All right.
That's enough for now. I will give you my decision in the morning."

They stood and left the office hand in hand.  The hearing had been
awfully quick. They hoped that they had made a good impression on the
judge and that it was a good sign. They had another day to wait
before knowing for sure. It would be another sleepless night of
worry. 

They were surprised to find Maggie waiting for them. 

"What are you doing here, Mom? Is everything okay with Tara?"

"Yes, she is fine. I just needed to be with you. I've prayed for you
and asked God to give you a chance to get to know your daughter. You
both deserve some happiness."

"Oh Mom, thanks," Scully cried, throwing herself in her mother's
arms. 

It was good to have her mother's support. It meant a lot that she
had left the side of her only grandson to be there for her and
Mulder. She was reconnecting with her mother at the same time that
she was discovering that she, too, was a mother. It was a comforting
feeling and it lifted her spirits. She felt her confidence coming
back to her. She hoped it would be enough.



San Diego Hall of Justice - Judge Hartwell's Office -January 3, 1998


After a night of worry and little sleep, they were back in Judge
Hartwell's office. Maggie was waiting outside to support her only
remaining daughter in her fight to get her baby girl back. It meant a
lot to Mulder and Scully that she was being so supportive. 

Judge Hartwell was his usual detached self, rummaging through the
files. He had taken the right decision he thought.  He had reviewed
all the evidence and decided it was all genuine. He had also made a
call to A.D. Skinner to gain more insight into both agents'
characters. The man had validated everything the Mulders had said. 

Hartwell was a thorough man and after checking everything, the
decision was easy to make. He decided to stop playing with the nerves
of Dana and Fox Mulder and cleared his throat.

"After reading your files and checking all the facts, your case
seems to be taken from a science fiction novel. Nonetheless, I feel
that I have no right to deprive a little girl like Emily of her real
parents, so I'm giving you temporary custody for now. You'll liaise
with a social worker in Washington who will check on you each month
and make a report to me. If after six months, all seems to be fine,
you'll be given permanent custody."

"Thank you," whispered a crying Scully. Mulder embraced her tightly
and smiled through his tears. It was real; they were parents.

"That will be all." 

The judge stood and shook hands with them. Mulder and Scully were so
overcome with emotion that they were unable to utter a word. Once out
of the judge's office, they turned toward each other, arms around
each other's waist, tears in their eyes.

"Congratulations, Mommy," Mulder whispered lowering his mouth to
Scully.

"Congratulations to you too, Daddy," she whispered back, just before
their lips met in a warm and soft kiss.

Maggie watched them from afar, understanding that God had granted
her children the element of happiness that was missing to them. After
they parted, she went to embrace and congratulate them. In the space
of a few days, she had become grandma to a little boy and a little
girl. 

Scully and Mulder were walking on air. They were starting a new year
on a new basis. The last year had been nothing but suffering. This
year held a promise of joy and fulfilment. The changes were already
beginning and nothing would ever be the same again.



Epilogue


Mulder Residence - Alexandria - March 6, 2002


Dana Scully Mulder was thinking about the ten years that had passed
since that fateful day she had met Fox Mulder. On paper, it hadn't
seemed like a match made in Heaven. She was too scientific for his
leaps of faith. She had been sent to debunk his work and initially he
had resented her for that. Their first case had demonstrated that she
was more open to the paranormal than he would have thought. She had
also proven that she wasn't a little spy and that she would write
exactly what she thought was right.

The partnership soon became friendship. Friendship became love. She
smiled, remembering that she had sworn to herself that she would
never fall in love with the spooky, but handsome, Fox Mulder. She had
been na ve to believe that she could resist him. She would never have
imagined them married and parents to a seven year old girl.

Life had changed since Emily had come into their lives.  They were
now living in a safe and quiet neighbourhood in a house they had
bought a month after coming back from San Diego with Emily. The
little girl had fallen in love with the little backyard and the
upstairs bedroom that became hers. She had a wide bay window
overlooking the garden which allowed her to keep a careful watch over
her outdoor toys.

With the Gunmen's help, Mulder had painted the walls of the room
that Emily had claimed as hers, in pink, and put up a pretty border
showing dolls holding hands. Scully had furnished it with beautiful
white furniture and when Emily had seen it for the first time her
smile had lit up the whole house. 

Upon their return from San Diego, Scully had been reassigned to the
FBI Academy in Quantico where she taught Pathology, and Mulder had at
first taken an open position, teaching psychology at the Academy, but
soon found a better job at Georgetown University. He was still
teaching but he had left the confines of the FBI and was closer to
home, which allowed him to collect Emily from school every day.
Father and daughter had formed a very tight bond.

The X-Files had remained open. Two new agents were running it: John
Doggett and Monica Reyes. A.D. Skinner's assistant, Kim, had said
that they were a lot like Mulder and Scully: a sceptic against a
believer. He had also hinted that there may be something going on in
the basement because both agents were surely in love with each other.
It was reassuring that their work hadn't been for nothing and that
some people were still interested in finding the truth, whatever it
was. 

As Judge Hartwell promised, 6 months after the first hearing they
were granted sole custody of their little girl, allowing Emily to
take her father's last name. Her birth certificate had been
officially changed and nobody could even tell that she had been an
adopted child.

The previous year, they had finally revealed the truth to Emily. The
little girl had taken the news well, as though it wasn't a surprise,
as if she always knew. It had been a relief for both Mulder and
Scully. It had been a constant fear for them to reveal her origins to
their daughter.

All went quite smoothly. Even Bill seemed to have buried the hatchet
and was somewhat accepting of Mulder and Emily in the family. Maggie
had probably had a hand in his new behaviour but as long as every
family gathering was peaceful, nothing else mattered.

Tara had given birth to a little girl three years after Matthew. She
had been named Jennifer Margaret Scully. This birth, and the fact
that Emily wanted a little brother, had awakened Scully's desire to
have a baby, so they had started the IVF procedure. The first tries
had failed, but the doctors weren't worried. Sometimes it was long in
coming but it eventually happened.

Today marked two weeks after another try at IVF and Scully was
standing in the bathroom holding a pregnancy test in her hand. The
"+" pink sign was glowing. She was pregnant. All her dreams were
finally coming true.

Two arms encircled her from behind. Mulder put his chin on her
shoulder and saw the results of the pregnancy test. He was harbouring
a smug smile, a kind of "I told you so" smile. They watched their
reflections in the bathroom mirror. They were the poster couple for
happiness.

He put his hand on her flat belly. Soon, he would see her swelling,
full with his child, full of life, full of promise for a future seven
years ago they thought they'd never have. 


Location Unknown
Two days later

A man was sitting at his desk, reading an email on his computer. 

"Project started. Test positive. Due date November 20. Waiting for
instructions."

The Cigarette-Smoking Man smiled when he hit the delete button. His
long wait was finally over. Soon, he would have the perfect subject
in his hands, the one he had been working for.

The End.