From: DreamerFiles@aol.com Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 17:42:19 -0400 Subject: The Return Source: direct TITLE: The Return AUTHOR: Dreamerfiles EMAIL: Dreamerfiles@aol.com Disclaimer: We all know they aren't mine, so what's the point? But ohhh how I wish they were! Rating: PG-13 Spoilers: William Keywords: Reyes/Scully Relationship Author's Notes: If you don't like it, don't read it : ) Summary: Continuation to 'The Morning After' The Return ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ Two Weeks Later.... The predicament Agents Dana Scully and Monica Reyes had found them selves in after returning from Chicago had been strange to say the least. Dana had discovered that her keys were missing upon arrival at the D.C. airport and were most likely back in her motel room. Monica, her FBI partner, and good friend had offered her couch as refuge just until Dana's keys could be mailed overnight. But in some bizarre twist of fate the two Special Agents had ended up admitting their mutual attraction for each other. In the two weeks that followed, Monica and Dana had become lovers. And although they knew it would be hard, they had decided the it would be best for all involved if they were to keep their new relationship secret. Dana had anguished over whether or not she should tell her mother, Maggie. Maggie took care of Dana's son William and it would be very difficult to lie out right day by day. But in the end, she had known that lying would truly be the best. Maggie was a devout Catholic woman whose dream for her daughter was not to find a lesbian lover and raise her child with her. No, telling Maggie just might send her into cardiac arrest. The majority of the time, Monica was living at Dana's. The two women had decided the it would be easier for her to shift around and bring over what she needed to Dana's, than it would be for Dana to bring all the baby things to Monica's. So, every few days Monica would discover a new item or file that she was in need of and after work would swing by the abandoned apartment to pick up yet a few more things. All her calls were forwarded to her cell phone now, and Monica was sure a few people were starting to get suspicious. She knew she and Dana looked at each other differently know and she just prayed that no one else noticed. She was fairly sure that their partner Agent John Doggett was oblivious to what went on between them. John was still sure that Dana was still pining away for Mulder...ah, Mulder...the sore subject with everyone these days. William's father, Dana's former love, and the man who could and should be blamed for a lot of things. Agent Doggett sat perched on the edge of his desk, file folder in his left hand. In his right hand positioned towards the light, he held a slide. "I have to be missing something..." He muttered more to himself than to anyone else in the room. "It's the bright white lights John," Monica Reyes stated flatly. "You're not missing them, you can see them clearly, they're in front of your eyes." "It was the way the film was developed," he insisted. "Hey listen, I'd really like to discuss bright flashing lights with you...but, I have to head home." Raising an eyebrow he looked her up and down. "Why are you in such a rush? Hot date or something?" "Or something," she grinned as she picked up her jacket on the way out the door. ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ Monica Reyes' Apartment - Monica swung by her apartment to pick up some different clothes after work. She was getting tired of the same few outfits and knew others had to be noticing the repetitive clothing situations also. Dana didn't seem to care what Monica wore, it was more what Monica didn't wear that Dana preferred. THe two of them would forgo the work suits when at home together and opt for more comfortable oversized t-shirts most of the time. It seemed so funny to Monica, how layed back and sensual her red headed partner could be. Who would have thought that Dana Scully could love or be loved. She seemed hard to the core when they had first met. Like her heart had been iced over. But their bond had grown, and their love had become unstopable. Walking into her living room, Monica passed a small table which held several photos. On the left were her parents, her adopted parents. Another frame held a picture of her friend Claire, a former love. But the front two photos held the most precious people in her life. There was a picture that Dana had taken of Monica holding William. And Another photo of Dana and William. The photos were new, she had only gotten them days before..But she would treasure them always. Moving on past the table, and through the living room, Monica made her way to her bedroom. After pulling out a duffel bag from the top shelf of her closet, she filled it with the necessary things she came for and headed back to her car. Traffic was horrible on the way to Georgetown where Dana lived. But about forty minutes later she walked through the front door. "I'm home! You wouldn't believe the traffic!" She called as she came walked across the wood floor and threw her duffel bag onto Dana's couch. She could see William laying on a blanket in the middle of the floor. "Hey Will, what are you up to?" She cooed. "These drivers in this town are crazy honey, I think some of them should be shot." "Then why didn't you shoot them?" Dana finally asked as she rounded the corner coming out of the hallway. "I wanted to give you a chance to shoot first." Monica smiled. "How's the little guy doin?" "He's pretty good, he just ate. Was going to give him a bath...unless you'd like to do the honors?" "Course I would. Hey Will, how are you and I go and jump in the tub? We'll make one of those wet messes on the floor that your mommy doesn't like. Sound like a deal? I thought so." Dana scowled, "put the towels down on the floor Mon. And come here and give me a kiss." Monica looked from Dana to William and back again. "She's so bossy isn't she?" Walking over to Dana she leaned down and touched her lips to Dana's soft lips. When they separated, she walked over and lifted William into her arms. "Bath time, baby?" "Don't be too long, I'm going to make up dinner. Ok, Mon?" Dana called as she stood and walked into the kitchen. "Ok." ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ Monica had put a diaper on William and wrapped him up in a dry towel. Carrying him into his room, she found some clothes and put the small blue and green one piece on him. After positioning him on her hip, she made her way out into the kitchen where she stopped dead in her tracks. There in the kitchen stood Dana and Fox Mulder. Mulder turned to look at Monica but mostly turned his attention toward his son in her arms. Monica's full attention was on Dana. And Dana's attention...Monica was unsure of where exactly Dana was at the moment. "Hi Reyes," Mulder greeted her as he took William from her arms. "Hello," was all she could get out. "Dana?" She received no response. "Dana? I could use some help in the bathroom, I had a little problem. I got water all over like you didn't want me to, and I ran out of towels. I can't find anymore." Finally Dana nodded and slowly followed Monica into the bathroom. After the two were both there, Monica closed the door. "Dana? Did you know he was coming back?" "No." "Is he staying?" "I don't know." "You didn't tell him about us." Monica shook her head in disbelief. "We agreed not to tell anyone," Her answers were coming out as if she were in some trance like state. "This is Mulder we're talking about Dana. The father of your child. Now he's back! Do you want me to leave now? Is that it?" "No, I love you." "But you love him too?" "I don't love him, you know that. But he's William's father. He's a very important person to William." "And I'm not." "I didn't say that!" Dana insisted finally coming out of her trance. "Yes, yes you did Dana. You just made it perfectly clear what I am and what I'm not to you. You made it clear what I'll never be." "Mon..." She called as Monica hurried out of the room and out of the apartment. "Monica!!" Making her way back to the kitchen, Dana glared at Mulder who was struggling with a squirming William. "What? What did I do?" He asked. "You're you, that's enough." She sighed. "Listen, I don't think it's going to work with you being here. It has been some time since you were around and some things have changed..." "Ten months; how much can change in ten months with you Scully?" Rolling her eyes, she took a few more steps backward to make sure there was enough distance between them. "Ten months is a very long time Mulder, especially for William. You were here for all of what, two weeks? Then you disappeared." "What was Reyes' problem anyhow?" "She forgot she left something on at home." "I thought that was a mutual decision for me to leave?" "It was, but you also had the choice to stay Mulder. It's not like I was making up your mind for you...And now, now I have a life of my own. I'm just trying to tell you that I've branched out a lot. Before my life was just you. Now my life is William and whatever else new I've added. Do you understand?" "Are you trying to tell me you'd gotten new friends?" Mulder asked as he scratched his head in confusion. "Well..yes, sort of." "Are you seeing someone?" Dana knew the answer to his question and wanted to shout out 'YES!!', but she figured she had better play it a little more low key. "Yes, I am." "Is he good to you and William?" Mulder asked with a little sadness in his voice. "Mulder, I think we need to have a talk." "About?" "Let's go sit on the couch in the living room, ok?" Dana suggested leading the way. Mulder sat William up in the corner of his play pin next to the couch then sat down. After the two were settled, Dana thought about how to start her conversation. "Mulder, you love me right?" "You know I do Scully." "And you want to see me happy, right?" "Yes," He replied with assurance. "Well, I am happy. In fact, I'm probably the happiest I've ever been. I've found a person I am deeply in love with, and this person is passionate about me also. They absolutely love William, and they could be a wonderful second parent to him." "That's great Scully, I'm so happy for you. So who's the lucky guy and when do I get to meet him?" "Not him Mulder," Scully corrected. "It's Monica, Monica Reyes." She could tell that Mulder had stopped breathing for almost a whole minute. If he didn't say something soon she was going to be sick, she was so nervous. "Reyes? Does she live here too?" He asked hesitantly. "She stays here, yes. She has her own apartment also. But I don't see how that concerns you." Dana replied as she stood. "Actually it does, because if she lives here, I feel like I kicked her out of her place." Mulder grinned. "Oh," She smiled. "Yeah well, she probably feels the same way. But I'll give her a call here in a minute. She was mostly mad because I hadn't told you. So you're ok with this?" "As long as you're happy Scully, that's all that counts. Well, and that William is taken care of. I don't know Reyes very well, but I think she'll meet those needs." "Thank you Mulder," Dana smiled again and leaned in for a hug. "You've given me friendship and a miracle." "Yeah, yeah, now go call Reyes!" Pulling away, she walked around the couch and headed for the phone. Dialing the familiar cell number, she waited for it to be answered. On the third ring she heard an odd click and then a familiar voice spoke "Reyes". "Mon, where are you? Are you at your apartment?" Dana asked. "No," was the only reply Monica gave. "Mon, we need to talk. Tell me where you are." "Dana, there's no point. I think the two of you need some time to figure things out. William needs a mommy and a daddy not two mommys. I'm just going to keep my distance for awhile." "Monica, tell me where you are. I told Mulder about us, he's ok with it. He's leaving, I want you to come home!" The silence on the line told Dana there was no one there. "Damnit." After hanging up the phone, she walked back around the couch and sat next to Mulder. "She thinks you and I are something like made for each other. And that I'm not telling you about her. Oh, and that she's being kicked out of here. Did I get all of that right? I think so...ugh!" "Go to her Dana. She feels the way you felt about Diana," Mulder grinned. "Go to her, she needs you." "I don't even know where she is Mulder! She said she wasn't at her apartment, but she wouldn't say where she was." "Where else could she be?" "I don't know...work, Doggett's.." "Try those places. I'll stay with William here. If she comes back here I'll call you. Deal?" "Yeah, thanks." ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ Dana had driven by John Doggett's to see if Monica's car was there but had, had no luck. After stopping by the dark 'X files' office she had concluded that Monica hadn't been by there either. Finally, she decided to drive to Monica's apartment and wait there. After parking on the street she climbed the stairs to the second floor. Pulling out her key she unlocked the door and let herself in to the dimly lit entrance way. Making her way into the living room she found Monica asleep on the couch. Slightly heaving a sigh of relief, Dana sat down on the edge of the coffee table next close to Monica's head. "Monica? Mon? Wake up sweetie, we need to talk." Dana whispered as she stroked Monica's forearm with her index finger. "Hmm?" Monica moaned, resisting her awakening. At last she opened her eyes and looked up at Dana. "What are you doing here?" "We need to talk sweetheart." "No we don't." "Yes, yes we do. I had a talk with Mulder also." Dana whispered with a smile of reassurance. "I told him about us and William. I told him how much I love you. And I told him that ten months is a long time to be gone." "Dana.." "Shh..." Dana put a finger to Monica's lips. "He's happy for us, as long as you can make me happy. As long as we can take care of William." She smiled. "He told me to come find you. He's going to leave, but you have to come back first. I can't be without you Monica. I love you too damn much." "You're not supposed to do this to me, you're gonna make me cry!" Monica laughed. "I love you too Dana. Heart, soul, mind, and body...I love you." "Will you come home with me now then?" Dana pleaded. "Of course." ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ ~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~^/\^~~~ TWO DAYS LATER ... A.D. Walter Skinner's Office F.B.I. "Am I to understand that I was not informed that Mulder was in D.C. two days ago Agent Scully?" A.D. Skinner asked in a bellowing voice. Before his desk stood the three agents in charge of the 'X files' office, Agents Scully, Reyes, and Doggett. "That would be correct sir. Mulder only stayed for a brief period of time. He had other obligations to return to." Scully replied. FIN Feedback is always welcomed at dreamerfiles@aol.com