Yes, I know there are wedding stories out there. I know, because I've read all of them and each one is better than the last (even when I reread them in a different order :) But hey, I'm couch bound for a while and I decided to write ANOTHER wedding story. BUT, it has a few twists and turns and actually is meant to reveal more of the real story behind William Mulder's strange behavior. So, if you don't read it, you'll never know, now will you? HAH! This is a part of the series which started with Every Mother Dreams, and continued with Homeward Bound. It's in an alternate universe, of course, but one that is very, very close to our own. Some third season stuff involved, so be warned. Marital relations discussed but not described (although that pesky Telecommunitications Bill did make me consider getting really racy in this, I didn't want to leave my newborn son while I sat a few hours in a jail cell >:) Rating: PG-13 Story type: MSR--married Timeline--concurrent with the show, sort of. NOTE: It would help if you read Every Mother Dreams and Homeward Bound which have been posted on Extreme Possibilities and will eventually be found on the archives, I hope. Disclaimer: Yeah, right, I know, the boring part. Hey, I don't own these people, but can ideas be considered property? (NO!) Only if I try to make money off them, and I'm not, so there. However, Father Grant is fashioned off a good friend of mine, and so you can't use him, either, unless you ask real nice. TO BOLDLY GO (not a crossover) by Vickie Moseley vickiemoseley1978@yahoo.com Arlington, VA March 30, 1996 6:55 am It felt wonderful to run. Scully had kept him on a short leash for most of the week. He felt like he'd slept enough for a month already. It was time to get out and run. Mulder almost had second thoughts as he crawled out of bed an hour before. Dana was still sleeping soundly, her hair splayed out on her pillow, a faint smile on her lips. He thought about staying there and waking her up just to cuddle. But she had been up late the night before, finalizing arrangements for their 'big day', so she needed the rest. He had kissed her softly and quietly dressed in his running clothes. It didn't really look like a day any different from any other. It was rather gray, but warm, not that unusual for late March in the Washington Metro Area. Most of the trees were budding and he noticed that soon the azaleas would be in bloom. With any luck, the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin would cooperate for the Cherry Blossom Festival this year. For the last two years, late frosts had caused major disappointments to the District Visitor's Bureau. But for all outward appearances, it was a normal Saturday in the Capitol. On any other Saturday after his morning run, he would have gone home, showered and headed into the office. There were always files to read up on, journal articles to review, reports to write. It was quiet on Saturday and he managed to get a lot of work done, as much as he hated paperwork. But not today. Scully would kill him if he even suggested it. He had other things to attend to. And first on that list was getting married. he thought as he paused at a red light. He wasn't pleased that they were getting married so quickly, in such a rush. The baby was the reason, and that couldn't be avoided. It wasn't that he was upset at the prospects of marriage. He had wanted to marry Dana Scully for a long time. He had dreamed of it, late at night, in those times when he allowed himself the luxury of dreams of a normal life. He couldn't imagine marrying any one else. She was everything to him. And since Christmas, he felt married to her. But at the same time, he regretted that she would never have a big full blown wedding. She had dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand and a laugh. "I've been to plenty of big weddings, Mulder. None of them are ever as wonderful as the bride wishes they were. The caterers are late, the food is cold, the priest says the wrong readings. It's all too much anxiety for one person. And a big wedding is no indication of a good marriage. Some of the largest, most elaborate weddings I've been to have ended in disaster after six months. I'm more than happy to avoid the headaches and just have a nice simple ceremony for the two of us." At the time, she had sounded very convincing. But he couldn't help but wonder if some day she might regret not having had the chance to go all out. he vowed as he neared the apartment building and slowed to a walk to cool off. He walked up and down the street a couple of times, letting the sweat pour down his face and back and letting the slight chill in the air cool him off. He glanced up at his window. There was no way he was going to get sentimental about leaving this apartment. He couldn't count the number of times he had stuck tape on that window. Or how many panes of glass he had to replace. Not to mention the doorjamb, the lock, the faucet , and the screw that held the radiator grate in place. If he had his way, he'd just up and move over to Dana's tonight and never look back. Maybe the MIBs would come and set fire to the place and he wouldn't have to go through the hardship of packing. he chided himself. Maybe he could just let it out as a 'furnished sublet' instead. The wind was getting stronger and he was getting cold, so he headed inside. The smell of coffee greeted him as he opened the door to his apartment. The one thing that he had never considered was how wonderful it was to have another set of hands in the kitchen. Some days he made the coffee, but if a pot wasn't ready by the time she got up, Dana made the coffee. And bagels. Or pancakes. Or when she really wanted to show him how much she loved him, eggs. "Have a good run?" came the call from the kitchen. He could hear the sound of eggshells cracking against a skillet. He smiled. "The best. It's beautiful today," he answered as he came up behind her and kissed her neck and shoulders. She was still dressed in one of his old academy tee shirts, and socks and looked incredibly sexy. "Gee, it seemed kind of cloudy when I looked out the window," she said, moving her head to the side so he could kiss behind her ear. She would not moan, she kept telling herself. That only encouraged him and they had too much to do. But then, it was awfully early. . . "I'm jumping in the shower," he whispered in her ear. "I'll have breakfast ready soon, so hurry," she replied. He frowned. He had meant that as an invitation. But then, there would be plenty of time later this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow, Monday. . .technically speaking, they did have the rest of their lives. he reminded himself. Dana smiled after him. He was like a little kid sometimes. But then, it was that innocence that she had first come to love. No matter how much horror he had seen in his life, how many killers he had let crawl into his mind, he was still basically childlike in his approach to the world. He was open and honest and just waiting for each new experience. She scooped up the eggs and put both plates in the oven to keep warm. The toast was done, and she buttered it with a flourish. she grinned to herself. Ever since she was a little girl, Dana had wondered about her wedding. Unlike Melissa, who had her own wedding planned down to the flowers the groomsmen would wear on their tuxes, Dana had never planned, she just wondered. It hurt a little to think that Missy wouldn't be there when she exchanged her vows. She had always figured Missy would be her maid of honor. But if Fox had been right about his dream, there was a good possibility that Missy would be there, after all. That thought eased the pain just a bit. Mulder entered the kitchen and all thought of Missy flew out the window. she thought, reaching down in to the oven to retrieve the plates and hide her own blush. He reached over and kissed her. "This must be a special day. You made me eggs," he grinned devilishly. "Well, you've been a good boy lately," she teased. "You haven't complained about your diet once all week. I figured you deserved a reward. Besides, you'll need the protein for later." Her smile was positively wicked. "You know, locker room logic says that sex tends to slow down 'after' the wedding," he pointed out, grabbing a slice of toast and adding more butter. "Oh, and is that the same logic that says it's perfectly all right to cheat on your wife as long as it's not with someone she knows," she inquired, an eyebrow lifted for effect. "You heard that one, too," he asked, trying to hide his delight. "Well, we'll just see, Fox Mulder. I happen to know a couple who put a down payment on their house with their newlywed money." He chewed, swallowed and regarded her seriously, trying to determine if she were still teasing. "OK, I give. What's 'newlywed money'?" Again with the grin. "It's money that you put in the cookie jar every time you make love in the first year of marriage. Most people use a dollar at a time." She took another bite of eggs and looked very satisfied with herself. He gulped. "How big was the house?" he asked, wide eyed. "Oh, three bedrooms, two baths,. . .in Falls Church," she replied. His smile now reached from ear to ear. "Falls Church? High rent district!" He finished his toast. "I say, let's go for it! I know I have a dollar here somewhere. . ." She laughed out loud. "Save it for later. I have to get over to my place to meet mom. And your mother should be here soon, too. We should get to the church by 9:45, so we don't have a lot of time, anyway. You still have the rings, don't you?" "Inside left pocket of my blue suit. I'm not letting Byers get hold of them until the last possible moment. The man would lose lint in his navel." "So why didn't you ask Frohike or Langly to be your best man?" Dana had wondered about that for a while. "Byers looks better in a suit," came the reply as he picked up the dishes and put them in the sink. "Besides, Frohike is likely to be a little, eh, 'emotional' today. Since the only proof we're going to have of this wedding is the marriage certificate and a few pictures, I didn't want to spoil the little evidence we'd have." She laughed and ruffled his hair. "We'll have more than that, I'm sure." With a kiss full of promise, she left him to pack. Dana was anxious to get to her apartment. She had a thousand things to do and only an hour and a half to do them. Somehow, getting married had seemed so simple when they discussed it over dinner earlier in the week. Now, with so little time, she was getting panic stricken. At least she felt comfortable in their choice of priests. She'd known Father Tim since he was just plain Tim, the tall, too thin, quiet kid with a goofy smile who used to end up eating dinner at the Scully house more evenings than not. Tim was happy to perform the ceremony, minus the full Mass. She didn't think Mulder would survive a full Mass. That was asking too much of any agnostic, even one who was very much in love. But without the worry of a full Mass and a slew of attendants, a big reception and hundreds of guests, there were still so many little details. She knew the wedding had been rather hastily thrown together, but she still wanted it to be nice. She planned on it being the only wedding she would ever have, and she wanted to do it right. Still, it felt like she was really only going through the motions. She had committed herself to her partner, her soon to be husband, long ago. Christmas night had been her wedding, the first time they allowed themselves to come together, share each other physically, as they had long shared each other mentally. They had sworn their love before God, the universe, and each other that night, at least she had. It was as much of a wedding as she thought was necessary at the time. But Fox Mulder, as her mother had pointed out, was an honorable man. And he would never tolerate them 'living together' indefinitely without the legal acknowledgment. And he would also never consider bringing a child into the world without a formal commitment. It was something she loved about him. No matter how much he fought the conventional wisdom, he saw the need for some rules to society and was willing to make them his own. His view of society was easy, his relationship with his family, another matter altogether. If only she could mend the tear between himself and his own mother as easily as she was building a life with him. He hadn't said much since they had come back from his mom's house. The only time he even mentioned his family was when the package arrived containing her engagement ring, handed down from his paternal grandmother and some old letters. He had been quiet and withdrawn all evening after reading the letters, had come to bed after midnight and had just held her tightly all night long. She wished he would open up and tell her what was bothering him. It hurt her to see him in so much torment over some dusty old letters. Maybe, in the weeks ahead, she could get him to talk about it with her. She was getting pretty good at getting him to open up. Maggie Scully's car was already outside her apartment as Dana drove up. She hurried inside, hoping she hadn't kept her mother waiting too long. She suspected she was already in for a short lecture on why they should have at least _tried_ to stay in their respective bedrooms on the eve of their wedding. But Maggie was much too occupied with other things to give out any lectures this morning. "I picked up the clothes from the cleaners for you, and folded that load of laundry that was sitting in the basket in your room. Oh, and here's the key to Uncle Fred's cabin. Sweetheart, you know I wanted to get you a room at a really nice hotel for the weekend, one with room service and everything. Are you sure you want to go 'camping' on your honeymoon?" Maggie asked, still concerned that they might regret their choice of 'getaways'. "Mom, we spend so much work time in hotels and motels, it would feel like we're on a case! Besides, Uncle Fred's cabin is hardly camping. It's more like a resort. Camping means outdoor toilets and no electricity. That hardly describes Uncle Fred's," Dana replied as she threw the folded laundry into a suitcase. "Now, where did he put my travel bag when we got back from Massachusetts?" she mumbled and started rummaging through the bathroom closet until she retrieved the small bag of toiletries. Maggie leaned against the bedroom doorjamb and watched her daughter with an amused expression on her face. Dana looked up from her frantic activities and frowned. "What, mom?" "Well, I was just thinking that I had always dreaded your wedding day because I felt we'd have to discuss birth control," Maggie admitted with a mischievious grin. Dana smiled ruefully and shook her head. "Too late, mom. But if you have a speech planned, let me have in about 25 years, OK? I'll put it to good use with our daughter," she joked in return. "I still can't understand why you were in such a hurry to find out what the sex is. I always liked the surprise," Maggie countered, shaking her own head. Dana didn't really want to worry her mother with the real reasons for all the prenatal tests. "Mulder was so positive he knew, I just wanted to show him up," she answered. "And was Fox right or wrong?" Maggie asked. Dana got that smile on her face again. "Oh, he was right. Now, I'm making him tell me how big she'll be. Sex is easy, 50-50 chance. Guessing a baby's size and weight at birth, that takes real skill," she laughed and Maggie laughed with her. "I'm betting he'll be very close, if not right on the money," Maggie said and helped her zip the bag closed. "OK, what next? Where's the dog food so I can at least keep that little mongrel fed while you're gone?" With his shower out of the way, Mulder was busy packing his own suitcase when there was a knock on the door. He still hadn't changed, he was wearing the sweatpants and tee shirt he had pulled on before going in the kitchen for breakfast. He answered the door, half expecting the Lone Gunmen trio. Instead, it was his mother. "Fox, I certainly hope you have something more appropriate in mind to wear to the wedding! I know it's a casual affair, but really. . ." Ann Mulder berated her son, but there was a slight gleam to her eye. Mulder caught it immediately. The ice in his heart melted just a little. "Funny, mom. Real funny. Come on in," he said and headed back to his packing. "I'm just getting my stuff packed so I can take the luggage to the church. We'll be leaving after lunch and I don't want to have to come all the way back here to pick anything up," he explained. Ann took the opportunity to survey her son's apartment. She had been there only once, when he had just moved in. It was smaller than she would have liked, but he was by himself and in many ways, it looked like his room had when he was in high school. As she glanced around the kitchen, she noted the two plates, silver and two coffee cups in the drainer. "So, Dana's at her apartment this morning?" she asked. He stopped dead in his tracks. he fumed. "Yeah, she had to pack, too. And she was meeting Maggie over there," he said instead. "That's nice," his mother remarked and he shook his head. He really didn't want to deal with this right now. "Did she like the ring?" Ann asked from the living room. he mused. "Yeah, she loved it. Saved me a lot of cash, mom," he called out. He carried the bag out to the living room and set it by the door, then turned to face her. His face was pure mischief. "Funny, Fox. Very funny," she countered with a grin. "No, really, she did love it. Thanks for thinking of it," he said more seriously. "Did you get a chance to read the letters from your father?" Ann was good at interrogating a witness. "A couple of them," he replied tersely. "Look, mom, I know what you were trying to do. And yeah, it's nice to know that I was once his 'buddy'. But it doesn't make up for what he did. And it sure as hell doesn't qualify him for any Father of the Year awards. So let's just drop it, OK?" "I am not about to sit here and defend the actions of Bill Mulder," Ann retorted angrily. "But I think you need to come to terms with a few things. He was your father, Fox William. And he will always be your father. But more than that, he was a man, with all the failings and successes that entails. I can't forgive what he did, either, but the times were very different then. We were very naive. You, son, have a luxury we were never given. You have the courage to question those around you and above you. And might I point out, it was _you_ he asked forgiveness of, not me!" Mulder stood there, biting his lip and deciding how far he wanted to take this. "It scares me. I don't want to end up like him, mom," he said in a shaky voice. Ann got up from her seat on the couch and went over to her son. "Don't you see where that's not possible? You've already rejected the one ideal he was protecting. The complete infallibility of our government. He was so much like you, Fox. He was a good man, an honest man when I married him. Do you really think so little of me that you believe I would let a vile, dishonest, hateful man father my children? He changed because he was trapped. He came to realize how wrong he had been, but there was no way out. And every time he tried, he kept getting caught, just like a fly in a spider's web." She put her hand up to touch her son's cheek. "He wanted you to reject him, Fox. He didn't want to risk you growing up to make the same mistakes he did. And from where I'm standing, he did a pretty good job." She gently rubbed a tear away from his cheek. "You are going to make a wonderful husband," she sighed. "And I know you'll make a terrific father. What I want more than anything else is to see you happy, Fox. That would make my oldest and fondest dream come true." "Dana makes me happy, mom. She always has," he nodded. Then he took a deep breath and pulled away. "I better get dressed or she'll shoot me again," he laughed, then realized that his mother was looking at him with a concerned expression. "Oh, I deserved it, mom. It's a long story. Right now, I better get a move on." ****** > > TO BOLDLY GO>> part two St Jude's Catholic Church Tysons Corner, VA. 9:45 am The church was modern, round and nothing like anything Mulder could remember from his childhood. It was built in the sixties, and was white with stained glass windows that were abstract, mostly jagged pieces of different colored glass that were leaded together with no rhyme or reason. As Mulder drove up to the parking lot the only thought that flashed through his mind was how much the church looked like a space ship. he warned himself. "Not exactly like the little church in Chilimark," Ann remarked as she stepped out of the car. "No, it's not, mom. But it's not like we're members here. It's just where Tim is," he said quietly. Ann noticed the mood. She may not know her son well, but she knew her son. His moods weren't that different from his father. "Is something wrong, Fox?" "I was just thinking. This isn't Dana's church, either. I hope she doesn't regret not having a big wedding, one with all the trimmings." He sighed and stood, regarding the church. "Fox," Ann said, putting her hand on his arm. "The young woman I met at the hospital, the one who fought doctors, nurses, and me to keep you alive, is in love with you and I really doubt that it matters to her where you marry her or how big the wedding is. She's going to spend the rest of her life with you, and that is all that matters today." She turned him toward her and straightened his tie, even though it really didn't need it. "Now, you look handsome. I'm very proud of you. Go get married." She patted him on the chest, leaned up to kiss him on the cheek and brushed the lipstick off. As they started toward the door, a rather beat up VW vanagon pulled up beside Mulder's car. The Lone Gunman Trio stepped out, looking more than a little nervous. "I'll check out the church, you keep an eye on the groom," Langly nodded to Byers and headed through the church doors. "And I'll keep a look out for the lovely Agent Scully," Frohike interjected, taking up a position near the end of the sidewalk. Mulder shook his head and walked over to the little man, Byers and his mother in tow. "Frohike, I want you to go into the church, find a seat somewhere up front," Mulder directed, "and _stay out of trouble_!" he added emphatically. "And I will hold you personally responsible if the bride sees you here and decides to leave me at the altar," he growled. "Ah, Mulder, lighten up! Scully and I made our peace when you were dead last April," Frohike grinned, then noticed Mulder's 'cut it out' expression. "Frohike, I'd like you to meet my mother, Ann Mulder," Mulder hissed through clenched teeth. The little man's eyes grew wild as he realized what he had just said. "Oh, Mrs. Mulder, ahem, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, uh, make light of, ah. . ." "That's quite all right, Mr. Frohike. It was a difficult time, but it's over now and I'd just as soon forget it," Ann said, allowing Frohike to take her hand and shake it. "And mom, this is Byers and the guy in the church is Langly," Mulder added, allowing Byers to come forward and shake hands as well. "Byers is my best man, for lack of a better term and the other two are, well, security, I guess," he grinned at Byers who rolled his eyes toward the low hanging clouds. "If you ask me, Mulder, you would have done better to get weathermen," Byers commented dryly. "A little rain never hurt anybody," Mulder retorted, sneaking a glance at the sky. He took his mother's elbow and led her into the church. Tim Grant was turning on the lights as they entered. Langly walked up to Mulder and assured him that "the priest checks out." Mulder closed his eyes and wondered again at the wisdom of inviting the three anti-conspirators. He walked over to shake hands with Tim and introduce his mother. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Mulder. Dana and her mom arrived a little while ago. They're getting ready now, but we can start at any time." He walked with Mulder to the front of the church, out of Ann's ear shot. "Did Dana let you go running this morning?" he asked. Mulder had been very happy to find that Tim was _not_ what he expected as a priest. For one thing, Tim was very close to his age and understood completely that not all couples came to the Church and marriage first. He was just happy that this couple was making the commitment they had already made to each other a more formal commitment before God. He also was perfectly comfortable with Mulder's lack of formal religious beliefs. The man obviously believed in *something*, he was still searching, and Tim was content with that. "I snuck out at 6:00. But I didn't get yelled at when I got back, so I guess I'm off parole. For the time being, of course," he grinned. "Of course," Tim laughed. "I promise to make this as painless as possible, by the way. You want to go the 'repeat after me' or the 'two I dos' route?" Mulder's grin got bigger. "You mean I actually get a say?" "Well, to be honest, I asked Dana and she said to leave it up to you. She _must_ love you, man. Not a lot of brides let the groom decided any thing on their wedding day," Tim answered. "Make her happy. Let's do the 'repeat after me'. I know it's what she wants to do," Mulder said thoughtfully. "It's your funeral, er, wedding," Tim said with a twinkle in his eyes. "Sorry, just a little pre-wedding levity," he teased. "I bet you're a gas at funerals, Tim," Mulder said, trying to sound serious. It didn't work. "Yeah, well, I haven't had too many requests for refunds," the young priest retorted. "Shall I check on the bride so we can get this show on the road?" Mulder nodded and motioned for Byers to come join him at the altar steps. "You sure you want to go through with this, Mulder? I mean, it's not too late for us to spirit you away in the Vanagon," Byers said, half teasing. "No, Byers. It's about 3 years too late," Mulder smirked in return. Three years. That's all the longer he had known his soon to be lawful wife. But thinking back, he couldn't remember a time when he didn't know her, didn't love her. He remembered that before her, his life had been lonely and miserable. He didn't like to think about what his life would be like without her. He waited anxiously for the ceremony to begin. Dana stood regarding herself in the full-length mirror. Her mother, standing behind her, had the most incredible grin on her face. "You look beautiful, sweetheart," Maggie sighed. "I just wish. . ." Maggie stopped before she allowed that thought to reach her daughter's ears. a deep male voice echoed in her mind. Maggie smiled and nodded in compliance. But it was too late. Her daughter had caught on quickly to what her mother had left unsaid. With tears glistening in her own eyes, she regarded Maggie in the mirror. "Would Ahab approve if he knew about. . .about the baby?" she asked, pleading for the truth, but seeking reassurance. Maggie took the few steps until her arms wrapped around her daughter's waist. "He is estatic, sweetheart," she said emphatically. "He's up in heaven, looking down and he is so happy to see you so much in love. All he ever wanted for his children is that they be happy. And I know, I mean it, Dana, I _know_ he approves of Fox. Your father loves him just as much as I do." "Mom, you're talking about him like he's right here," Dana said softly, pain in her voice. Maggie pulled back and turned her daughter around so that she was looking into her eyes and not just her reflection. She took Dana's chin in her hand and wiped a tear away with her thumb. She brought her other hand up and held it over her own heart. "Dana, your father _is_ here. He's right here," she added, patting her heart and then doing the same to Dana. "And right here. And that's where he will always be." Maggie gave her daughter a hug. "I'm sure Ann and Fox are here. I better get out there or I won't get a good seat," she teased. Then she leaned over and kissed Dana softly on her forehead. "We love you very much, sweetheart," she murmured and left. Dana turned to regard her reflection again. The dress was simple, but elegant. She had found it at a little shop in Georgetown. A light cream color, it was silk, with a floral pattern, the hem fell just above her knees, and had long sleeves that came to a point at the backs of her hands. The neckline was simple and allowed her to wear her mother's emerald pendant. She had splurged and bought shoes to match the dress. Her hair was pulled off to one side and pinned with a comb of tiny cream colored roses and babies breath. She had decided not to bother with a veil, only the flowers. In her hands, she carried a single cream rose with ribbon streamers. It was a nice reflection and she silently wondered what her partner's reaction would be. "He's going to love it," a voice said beside her. Dana spun around, trying to find the source. In a shadowed alcove of the room, a shimmering image formed and became solid. "Hi, sis," Melissa smiled. "You look radiant." "Missy?" Dana choked, "you're. . .dead!" She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Melissa took a step closer. "I _know_ that! But you don't honestly think I would miss this, do you?" Melissa inquired and tilted her head to inspect her sister closer. "I have to hand it to you. I could never pull off roses and babies breath. I think I would have to go with daisies. You always were more sophisticated than I was," she said admiringly. "Missy, what are you doing here?" Dana stammered. "I'm reporting back to Dad. He's here too, but he thought you probably would rather see me. I told him he was being silly, but he insisted. And both of us coming, well, we thought that might be too much for you. If it's just me, you can always convince yourself that you're hallucinating or something equally scientifically explainable, but incredibly boring. Did Fox tell you we talked?" Slowly, Dana was regaining her ability to think properly. "Yes, he did. And why, may I ask, did you tell him about the baby before I could," she added, a little annoyed. Melissa giggled. "Ah, c'mon Dana, I was just having fun!" She grew serious. "Besides, he thought you were getting tired of him, you had been yelling at him so much. I don't know if he would have returned, in the state he was in. I had to give him a reason to come back. It wasn't his time." Dana thought for a moment. "Thank you. I mean, for giving him a reason." "Hey, what are big sisters for, anyway?" she grinned. "But you had better get out there, or he'll think you're standing him up. I love you both, you know. And little Meg. I'll hate to give her up to you, she's a real sweetie. But I'll just be content to play with the boys. They won't be arriving for a couple of years." Dana smiled patiently. "Missy, we haven't decided on a name for the baby, yet." Melissa's image started shimmering again. "As long as it's not Melissa, I don't care. But I still like Margaret," she said, fading out. "Missy, wait, I wanted. . ." Dana called, but the image had faded. Father Tim stuck his head around the door. "Dana, are you ready?" he asked, then looked around the room. He could have sworn he heard her talking to someone as he approached but she was alone. Dana swallowed back the tears in her voice. "Yes, I'm ready. Any time you are," she answered. He smiled at her and nodded. "Then it's showtime," he said brightly. "Oh, and Mulder decided on the 'repeat after me' vows, but then, once he sees that dress, he might wish he's made it easier on himself--he might have trouble keeping up," he teased. Everyone was seated, which wasn't saying much. Langly, Frohike, Ann and Maggie sat in the front pew, Frohike armed with a high powered Nikon to take pictures. Dana's friend Kathy had agreed to stand up with her and made it just in time to walk down the aisle. Just before she was about to enter the church, the doors opened and Dana turned to find the Assistant Director. "I'm not too late, am I?" Walter Skinner asked in a whisper to the bride. Dana broke out in a grin. "No sir, just in time. Go on up and take a seat. We're about to start." He nodded and made his way up the side aisle to sit behind the occupants of the front pew. Dana secretly wished Frohike might have snapped a picture of her partner when he realized their boss was in attendance. It would definitely be great blackmail material in the future. Tim nodded to Kathy, and the procession started. The church organist had been pressed into service and Dana had requested something other than the traditional wedding march. Mulder smiled as Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 issued from the organ at the back of the church. The same music which floated millions of miles away on the Voyager Probe. he thought to himself. This, too was an exploration, but of an entirely different kind. he thought, and it struck him just how many times he had looked over at her during their partnership and thought the same way. Even when she had been at her most frustrating, slamming his theories, calling him crazy, giving him that raised eyebrow that as much as words told him that she was not about to buy whatever it was he was selling, he would be taken by just how gorgeous she was. he wondered. But before he could formulate an answer, she was standing beside him, smiling shyly, as if she weren't aware of how beautiful she was, how much he loved her, how much he needed her, now and forever. The look he turned upon her silently conveyed his answer. Her smile brighten by a magnitude, she understood. Father Tim cleared his throat to break the silent communication. "We are here, in the House of Our Lord, to unite these two people in matrimony. This is not just a formality, but a consecration. Fox and Dana have been united, in work, in life, in friendship, and in their search, for a very long time. Now, they want to make that commitment formal, before God, before their families and friends, and to each other. Let us join with them as they pledge their vows." "If you'll repeat after me: I, Fox William, take you, Dana Katherine, to be my wife. . ." Suddenly Ann felt a slight breeze on the back of her neck. She turned and looked around, seeking the open window in the small church. In the back of the sanctuary, almost in shadow, she saw him. The image was faint, but there was William Mulder, looking exactly as he had on their wedding day, 35 years before. With a single look, he smiled and nodded his greeting to her. It took her no time to remember the way he had stood, looking exactly like that in the little college chapel in Boston. There had been so much animosity between them in the later years that most of her happy memories had faded. Today, however, watching their only son marry the woman he loved, a few of those memories began to shine again. She closed her eyes and let them float through her mind. Then she looked back again, and the image was gone. Since the wedding reception was lunch at a local restaurant, the party began almost immediately. Frohike requested to be the first to kiss the bride and Dana was amazed when he took her hand and not her pro-offered cheek. In a fit of endearment, she kissed him back, on the forehead. The blush didn't leave his cheeks until well after dessert. The newlyweds, as Langly kept referring to them, invited the Assistant Director to join them, but he begged off. "I just wanted to give you this," he said, handing Mulder a business envelope. "And to tell you that I don't expect to see either of you at the office until Wednesday. We can discuss the contents of that," he motioned to the envelope again, "at that time. Oh, and congratulations," he added, shaking both their hands before leaving the church. Mulder started to rip open the letter, but Scully stopped him. "Let's not ruin the reception," she whispered and he nodded, tucking the envelope into the inside pocket of his jacket. ****** > > To Boldly Go part three It had started to rain while they were in the restaurant and they said their good-byes under the awning. Maggie flashed Dana a 'are you sure you won't reconsider' look, she was still concerned that they were going to be disappointed in their choice of honeymoon accommodations. Dana smiled and squeezed her hand for reassurance. Ann was going to Maggie's house overnight before traveling back to New England. The two women had become friends in a short while. They still had a lot to catch up on, Ann hoping that Maggie could help her know her son better. But before they left, Ann pulled Dana aside. "I have something for you," she said in a quiet voice, not wanting Mulder to over hear. "Ann, you've already given us our present," Dana objected, but soon Ann was pressing a shoebox sized package into her hands. "No, this isn't exactly a wedding present, dear. Just, well, there's a note inside. It will explain everything." She leaned over and gave Dana a kiss on the cheek. "If anyone can help him accept the way things happened, it's you, Dana. He loves you very much. Just help him through this, please. I can't. Only you can." Dana gave the older woman a confused look, but Ann and Maggie had already started out toward Maggie's car in the parking lot. Mulder had been busy convincing Frohike that the three Lone Gunman didn't need to come and make sure the honeymoon cottage was properly 'debugged' and didn't notice the exchange between his mother and his new wife. Dana started to comment, but Mulder took the package from her and put it in the trunk with the rest of the packages. They had a nice drive in the rain ahead of them. "Tell me again how we snagged this place," Mulder asked as they arrived at the large A frame cottage in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. "Uncle Fred was Dad's XO. He never married, so he adopted us. After he left the service, he made a killing in electronics, sort of a mini Bill Gates. This is his 'get away' cabin. He lives in Florida, so he doesn't use it very often. He lets us use it whenever we want." She smiled as she punched the elaborate keypad security system in addition to using the traditional key. "He's also very into security systems. We're safer here than at the Pentagon." "_We_ have _never_ been safe 'at the Pentagon'," he shot back and immediately swooped her into his arms. "If you strain your back and try to use that as an excuse for poor performance later, you are *meat*, Mulder," she growled at him with a predatory gleam in her eyes. "You're light as a feather, ow! My back!" he feigned and dropped her on the nearest sofa where she pulled him down with her. He was on top of her, staring into her eyes. "Hi, Mrs. Mulder," he whispered. "Hi, Mr. Scully," she smiled back. He chuckled. "Hey, that's not bad. A great way to run from my reputation. I'll just take your name." "What reputation? That you are the most brilliant agent the Bureau has seen, with the relentlessness of Elliot Ness and J. Edgar combined? That you have one of the highest solved/case ratios, higher than any other single agent in the last ten years? That reputation?" she asked innocently. His smile brightened. "Is that what you think of me? Just a 'brilliant agent'? Gosh, how romantic," he chucked. She started kissing him on the nose, the eyelids, the forehead. "You didn't let me finish. I was just getting to the good part," she sighed in his ear. "Tell me later," he whispered in return and took possession of her mouth. Making love on the sofa had been wonderful, in the king sized bed in the loft bedroom proved to be even better and it was almost supper time before they decided it might be nice to explore their new surroundings. The cabin was enormous, the first floor consisting of a living room, dining room combination separated by a large fireplace, open on both sides. The kitchen was complete with all modern conveniences. A small room off the kitchen contained a laundry room. Two small bedrooms were downstairs with a bathroom connecting them. Up the open staircase was the loft. Huge glass triangles formed the east and west walls of the loft. The fireplace went through the middle and was open to both sides, as downstairs, dividing the room in to a sitting room and a bedroom. A king bed on the north eaves was flooded with early morning light on sunny days. A small efficient bath with a shower stall was built into the south eaves. After a few minutes of exploration, and Mulder suggesting several 'interesting areas' to 'investigate' later, Dana suggested that they unpack the car and eat. Maggie had packed Mulder's trunk with enough food for a week and a half, reminding Dana that they really should 'eat' while on this trip, too. It was still a little embarrassing for Dana to hear her mother tease her about her sex life, but it was also sort of nice, like starting a new chapter of their mother/daughter relationship. There was a lot more to her mother than Dana had ever imagined. "OK, I can understand that you are eating for two, but who else did your mom think we were bringing on our honeymoon, the Fifth Armored Division," Mulder grumbled as he brought in the sixth bag of groceries and an ice chest full of refrigerated foods. "You know we have to tote all this back home when we leave," he added. "Yes, and we don't have to go to the store for a week, so quit complaining," she warned him. "Did you bring in the other things?" "Suitcases, yes, presents, no," he answered. "Oh, this one, I did bring in. We forgot to open it." He tossed the shoebox package on the countertop. "Who's it from, there's no card?" She glanced up from rummaging in a lower cabinet to see the brown box. "That's mine. It's from your mom. She said it wasn't a wedding present. I have no idea what's in it. Why don't you open it?" she suggested. She was pouring a can of soup into a pot and setting it on the stove. Mulder picked up the package suspiciously. He turned it over several times before placing it carefully on the countertop again. "I really don't think your mother would send us a bomb, Mulder," Scully teased. "Just open it." "Maybe not a bomb in the traditional sense, love, but something equally explosive, nonetheless. No, she gave it to you. Obviously, she wants you to open. She had plenty of opportunities to give it to me on the drive to the church." He moved away from the package as if it were a snake about to strike. Scully turned to him with her hands on her hips. "I really don't think there's that much to read in to it. You were off arguing with 'the boys', and she probably forgot about it on the drive over." He stood shaking his head, it was clear that he wanted nothing to do with the package. "Do you know how silly you're being right now?" she asked, exasperated. He nodded. "But that's not enough to make me open that box," he said evenly. "The last package was quite enough for me, thank you. You get the honors this time. She likes you, she won't hurt you. With me, I'm not so sure," he added with a rueful shake of his head. She reached for the box, prepared to end the discussion. He quickly put his hand over hers. "Can it wait until after dinner? Every condemned man gets a last meal," he joked, rather lamely. She let out a sigh and moved the package aside to make way for the rest of the meal. It wasn't the fanciest meal they had ever shared, but it wasn't the worst, either. Soup, sandwiches, iced tea out of bottles--not exactly what Dana had imagined she would be eating on her wedding night. But then, it wasn't the food that made the night special, it was the man sitting across from her, who kept 'accidentally' rubbing his foot up and down her leg every time she wasn't looking directly into his eyes. "Mulder, I thought you had enough this afternoon," she teased. "If I don't eat, I'll faint," she warned with good nature. "I can never get enough of you, and you know that. We have three years to make up for," he shot back. "And you intend to make up for them _tonight_?" she laughed. "We could make a good dent, I figure," he leered at her. It was a good thing she had managed to finish her sandwich, because suddenly, all thoughts of food evaporated from both their minds. The fire in the fireplace had burned low and was now just glowing coals. Fox Mulder carefully slid out from under his wife's arm and pulled on a pair of sweatpants as he moved to the little sitting room. Before he got all the way out of the bedroom, he chanced a look at the small still form now huddled under the covers. he smiled to himself. Luck had nothing to do with it, he was sure. Fate, that had a lot to do with it. Fate caused Section Chief Blevins to pick Dana Scully to spy on him. Fate pushed them into circumstances that forced them to trust each other and no one else. Fate had put them in danger more times than he wanted to count and fate had managed to keep them alive when both of them should have been dead long ago. He was sure it was fate that had brought her back to him, from her abduction, from her coma. If their lives were ruled by fate, at least they still had each other. He suddenly remembered the envelope from Skinner. he mused. He searched in the closet for the jacket he had been wearing. The white envelope was still there. He sat down on the big overstuffed chair by the dying coals of the fireplace and opened the envelope. There was just enough light from the fire and the moonlight to see to read. He was sitting there, chewing on his lip and watching the now stoked fire, when Dana came in and sat down at his knee. "You OK?" she asked, noting his dour expression. "Fine. Hey, how's the psychiatric benefits on our health insurance policy?" he said, half jokingly. She leaned back to look at him more closely. "It's an HMO. Ten dollar co-pay in network. Why?" He handed her the paper. "Skinner's solution. I go back to VCS, you go to pathology. We have the X files as side projects. The way it's worded, we still report to him, he can assign us as he sees fit. But the bottom line is VCS gets me back as a profiler and you do lab work in DC until after the baby. Then, well, we see what happens when you come back from leave." She sighed heavily after reading the memo for herself. "But it sounds like it's just on paper," she said quietly. "You know as well as I do that Skinner doesn't want the X files locked in the archives anymore. He'll make sure we stay in the field. And you do profiles, now, occasionally. It won't be that bad," she tried to sound reassuring, but it wasn't coming through. He made a feeble attempt to laugh. "You don't know VCS like I do. When I got the new division, well, let's just say I didn't leave on the best of terms. They were pissed as hell that I got out when I wanted to. Reggie Purdue was the only one who didn't so much as tell me that they'd get me back, one way or another." He closed his eyes and leaned back on the overstuffed chair. He almost didn't notice when she climbed up on his lap until he found himself caressing her bare leg. "You've never talked about that time." She turned his head toward her with one finger. "It was bad, wasn't it?" It was more than a question, it was an invitation to cleanse his soul. "You have a flare for understatement, my love," he said with a sardonic smile. "Bad is a relative term. If losing your mind without hope of ever regaining it again can be considered 'bad', then, yeah, it was bad." She ran her hand through his hair for a moment. It felt soft and silky and she allowed herself to lose her emotions in the simple action. But the conversation was far too important for her not to continue it. "But you didn't lose your mind." "I came too damn close, Dana," he whispered. "You know the old adage, 'physician, heal thyself'? Well, when I woke up one morning, having not eaten in a week, having survived on no more than two hours sleep at a time for so long that I had forgotten what a pillow felt like, and I faced another profile only minutes after finishing a case, I saw what was happening. I knew I had lost myself. And I knew that I couldn't go on like that anymore. I did a quick and dirty analysis of my own behavior and if I'd been a clinical psychologist, I would have had me committed. By that time I already had stumbled on the X files. They were my salvation. Marty Props bought me the stature I needed to pull in a few favors. I wasn't leaving the Bureau, just moving on." He pulled her closer and let himself smell her nearness, her hair, her skin. "But this time it will be different," she whispered. He pulled back and reached up to brush the hair from her face, the unasked question playing across his eyes. "This time, you have me," she answered. He smiled and nodded, enfolding her in his arms and settling back to watch the fire dance off her hair. Sometime later, they wearily made their way back to the bed and for the rest of the night, he held her tight against him, as if she were a life preserver in a storm tossed sea. When the first rays of the sun filtered through the pine tree, she realized he had finally fallen asleep. Silently, she padded down to the kitchen and started the coffee. She decided to let him sleep. He needed it. She was grateful that the night had passed with only the echoes of nightmares, and not the nightmares themselves. She had just about decided what to fix for breakfast when she noticed the package still on the counter top. She reached over and picked it up. It was relatively light, and was wrapped in non descript floral paper. There was no tag or note, but she knew there wouldn't be. Just for fun, she shook it to see if it rattled. Something heavy shifted in the bottom of the box, but beyond that, there was no clue as to it's contents. She pulled up a stool to the counter and sat down to open the package. Once the paper was off, a shoebox was revealed. she mused and carefully took off the lid. She was somewhat surprised at what looked up at her from the box. A small stuffed bear, nose shiny from years of some child's 'love', dressed in a yellow rain slicker with a 'nor'wester' hat tied in place. It looked for all the world like a miniature fisherman, just waiting for the next squall to blow up. On his left breast were the words 'Niagara Falls, N.Y. She picked him up and held him, taking in the smell of dust and time and a small boy. Under the bear was a leather bound journal. She opened it slowly, not recognizing the handwriting, but seeing is was masculine and controlled. It had a vague familiarity to it, and she realized it looked a good deal like Mulder's handwriting. There was no preface to indicate who the book belonged to, but there was a scribbled signature on the upper left corner of the first page: W. Mulder. The journal had belonged to his father. A small white envelope was the only other item in the box. On the outside, it read simply, Dana. She laid the book and the bear back in the box and opened the note. "Dear Dana, I would like to introduce you to Alexander. I found him in the attic when I went to look for Grandma Mulder's ring. He's a little worn and the worse for wear, but I thought you might want to save him for our new little one. Perhaps, you and Fox might visit Niagara and get him a playmate. I understand that they still sell them at the gift shop there. Underneath Alexander is Bill's journal. He kept several, but this is the only one I could find. I don't know when it's from, I'm ashamed to say I didn't have the courage to open it. I'm afraid I'm not like Fox--I really don't want to know what secrets are hidden between these pages. But I know my son, and he does need to find the truth. I just hope it's a truth he can accept and learn to live with. You may think it odd that I have given this to you and not to Fox. Well, my motives were very simple. I want you to read this and decide if it will help my son in his search, or only cause him pain. I don't want to hurt him anymore, Dana. I've seen him hurt too many times. I'm trusting you to keep him safe, even from his father's memory and me, if need be. I do hope you'll let me know when the baby comes. I won't make a nuisance of myself, but I would like to see my grand- child. Maybe with the next generation, I can undo some of the mistakes of the past. Someone once told me that was what grandchildren are for. Take care of yourself and my son, Love always, Ann M." ***** > > The conclusion. The Brotherhood picks up about a month later. part four To Boldly Go disclaimer in part one The light was filtered only by the bare limbs of the trees outside the window. Even so, it wasn't bright enough to wake him. It was the sense that something was missing, or rather some 'one' was missing that brought him out of the dream he was having and into the waking world. Fox Mulder sat up and looked around the loft room, for a moment forgetting what had transpired the day before and how he had come to this place. Slowly, a quiet smile replaced the confused look on his face and he remembered. The wedding, the afternoon spent making love in a mountain hideaway, even the discussion of their jobs and their future by the firelight. Like everything else in his life, this was not going to be easy. But more than any other decision he had made in his adult life, he knew this new direction was worth any hardship that might come along. With the morning light, he realized one simple truth: as long as he was with Dana, they could face anything, and prevail. "Wife!" he bellowed, not even bothering to get out of bed. It was a teasing noise, he waited to see what kind of reaction it would cause. Down the stairs, in the kitchen, Dana couldn't suppress a grin. she thought to herself and reached over to pour another cup of coffee. Digging in the cupboard, she found a lap tray and added a bagel, some cream cheese and a butterknife next to the coffee, then headed up the stairs. Upon reaching the top of the steps, she saw him, grinning at her. "Yes, m'lord?" she feigned an accent and brought the tray over to him. He had to bite his lip to impose a serious expression on his face. "You weren't here to perform your wifely duties," he said, with a fairly good imitation of a scowl.. She walked over to the big, king-sized bed and deposited the lap tray at the foot. She sat down next to him, spread some cream cheese on the bagel and looked up at him wide-eyed. "And what 'wifely duties' would those be?" she asked as she handed him the bagel. Careful, so as not to disturb the tray, he pulled her onto his lap. "Oh, you know, the usual. Fetching my slippers, laying out my clothes for the day, drawing my bath, shaving me. . ." he said with a distinct gleam in his eyes, while wolfing down the bagel. She matched his gleam perfectly. "You're going to trust me with a sharp object near your throat?" she teased. "OK, skip the shaving," he replied and she shoved him hard enough to push him back on the pillows of the bed. They lay there, kissing a while, until she finally snuggled in the crook of his arm. "So, what got you up so early this morning? I was hoping for some 'quality' time," he remarked casually as he stroked her hair. "We're out of dollar bills," she teased, referring to the deal they had made the day before. He chuckled softly. "I was hungry and I didn't wake you because I thought you needed the sleep. You didn't sleep that well after you read Skinner's letter," she added. "Yeah, well, everything looks a little better in the light of day. I think you were right last night. Skinner seems intent on keeping us in the field as long as your condition permits. And I'll be a lot happier knowing that you are safe in the Path Dept. and not at the beck and call of anyone in the building," he said. "What about you? Are you going to be OK? What if you end up stuck with profiling all the while I'm not out in the field? That could be six months or more. I want you safe, but I would like to have you 'sane', as well," she replied, running her hands over his chest to make her point. "I'll keep hold of my sanity, as long as you're there when I get home. If I start acting 'nutsy', you have a piece of paper that gives you the right to kick me in the butt and make me get my priorities right. What's our silver pattern say again?" he smiled jokingly at her. "Something about 'It will all work out', if I remember it correctly," she answered. "Oh, I almost forgot. I've got someone downstairs I think you might know." She pulled from his embrace and almost ran down the steps. She reappeared a few moments later holding something behind her back. He braced himself for the worst. Smiling broadly, she whipped her hand out and deposited the little bear on his lap. "Remember this guy?" she asked brightly. For a minute, his look was one of confusion. Then, he slowly picked up the stuffed toy and examined it carefully. A ghost of a smile played on his lips as he brought the bear up to his face and rubbed noses with it. "Hey, Alexander. How've you been?" he said, only to the bear. Finally, as if he just remembered that she was in the room, he looked up at Dana. "I thought he was lost," he explained softly. "You're Mom found him while she was looking for your Grandmother's ring. She thinks we should go to the Falls and get him a playmate," she smiled as she thought of the note. "I think it's a great idea--I haven't been to the Falls since I was in middle school. I remember it was really beautiful at night with the lights under the mist and all." "It's a thought. Maybe a vacation before the baby comes," he answered. "So, what else was in that box. It was too heavy to be just Alexander." Dana sat silent for a moment and regarded the bedspread. She knew he wouldn't let her get by with ignoring his question forever. "It's a book," she said simply. His eyes shot her the next question. "It's one of your Father's journals." The look of shock on his face caused her to try and explain. "It's just one of them. Apparently there are more. Your Mother wanted me to read it first. She didn't want you to see it if I thought it might be too painful for you. She was trying to protect you. But I think you should read it. If it bothers you too much, well, I'm here anytime you need me." She reached into the pocket of her robe and handed him the leather bound book. He touched it gingerly, as if it might be too hot to handle. Slowly, he opened it, turning the pages, but not reading. He seemed lost in thought, a million miles away. "Look, I'm going downstairs. I thought I'd take a walk later. I'll come get you, see if you want to come along. I think you have some reading to do right now, though," she said and quietly left the loft. For a long time he simply sat on the bed and looked at the pages. His father's handwriting was very controlled, very fluid, and easy to read. But he didn't really want to read the words. It was still too close, still too hard to think about. He started to put the book on the bedside table but stopped. he thought. Carefully, he opened the book and settled back on the padded headboard of the bed. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> May 14, 1972 I got back from New Mexico last night. I still can't believe what's happening. D. assures me that it is all in the interest of National Security and I am at a loss to argue the point. I visited V. in his lab. The work is progressing at an amazing rate and V. is sure the next round of subjects will prove to be more resilient than the last. But it is not the work that is bothering me. It's the idea of the experiments. I guess I was happier not knowing what the work was about--in just blindly assisting in the security required to conduct the project. It is hard to know that so many subjects don't live longer than a few weeks. I know they aren't human, have no semblance of humanity, but it still makes me wonder if they feel as we do. Do they feel pain? Do they experience fear? Do they contemplate what will happen to them? D. says such speculation will only lead to my own insanity and can't possibly help the research. A. reminds me that he was responsible for at least one extermination of the original subjects and that he feels they are no more capable of such higher emotions than the garden variety tomato. V. has chosen not to even dignify my questions with an opinion. Fox has again made the baseball team. Right field. He has the arm to be a pitcher, but says he doesn't like the position. I've given up trying to tell him that it's better than the position he's in. He has a mind of his own. Sometimes I see myself in him. Other times, it's like watching a total stranger. Hopefully, he will get his head out of the clouds sometime soon and start taking life seriously. Until that time comes, I will simply have to try and keep my temper in check, something I find increasingly difficult to do. Samantha continues to follow her own drummer. She is a thinker, much deeper than Fox. Always with her nose in a book, always considering how to redesign the universe. She is a marvel to behold. And she looks more like Ann every day. For that, I am eternally grateful. The women in my family were never considered raving beauties. With her long dark hair and those hazel eyes, I'll soon be stringing barbed wire around the house to keep the boys away. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mulder sat and stared at the pages. The image of the men standing in front of the mining operation drifted into his head. He was almost afraid of who the mysterious D. might be. There was more to this book than he had imagined upon opening it. The year was the same one his sister had disappeared in. It was safe to assume from just the first entry that this was also the time when his father starting asking questions. It was everything Mulder could do to keep from sitting and reading the book through cover to cover. he chided himself. Downstairs was a woman who loved him very much, enough to give him the freedom to search for his answers while on their honeymoon. Dana could have waited to show him the book when they were back in DC. He wouldn't have known the difference. But instead, she gave it to him the minute he mentioned it. With a force of will, he put the book down and headed for the shower. Dana looked up from the book on her lap, hoping for some sign of life from the loft above. He'd been up there for over an hour. So far, she hadn't heard any of the sounds she was afraid she would hear: glass breaking, screams of anguish, the journal hitting the wall where it had been thrown across the room. But this silence was even more unnerving. She was just about to the point where she was going to go up and see if he was still awake, or still alive when he appeared on the stairs. "Hey, we're wasting daylight here," he boomed cheerfully. He had dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, hiking boots on his feet. "I thought you had invited me on a walk. Are you going, or what?" he asked playfully. She sat in the chair, stunned for a moment. Slowly, she shook her head and regarded his demeanor. "Are you all right?" she asked, wanting to make sure. Mulder sat down beside her on the sofa. "Yeah," he said, putting his arm around her. "It's not as bad as I thought it would be. Actually, there is the possibility that we might find some answers in those pages. But right now, I am on my honeymoon and I intend to spend every minute of that time with my wife. You wouldn't happen to have seen her anywhere, have you," he grinned. He leaned over her and was almost kissing her when she pulled him down and kissed him hard on the lips. "I say 'ditch the broad' and I'll show you a real good time, big guy," she purred in his ear when she finally released her hold on the back of his neck. "Sounds great, but she's an FBI agent and always scores in the high 90's on the shooting range," he murmured when she stopped kissing him long enough to let him breath. "I'll take my chances," she laughed and they both quit talking for a nice long time. There was a trail out behind the cabin that led to a little stream. A bend in the stream formed a small pool and an ancient oak supported a rope swing that could easily reach to the middle of the stream. "I see the work of a Scully in this," Mulder teased as they approached the pool. The forest undergrowth was sparse here, after years of children tramping it down. Dana smiled. "Yeah, that was Bill, Jr.'s idea. I think they put it up when I was 5 or 6. Of course, no one would let me near it until I was 10 or 11. That was when Uncle Fred had the old cabin out here." "You mean you didn't always have this luxury?" he laughed. "Oh, no," she chuckled. "The 'mansion' has only been here about 5 years. Before that, it was a one room cabin with a privy out back. I think that's how mom still remembers it and probably why she didn't want us to spend our honeymoon here. I don't know that she's been to this place more than once or twice. We used to spend whole weeks at the old place." She smiled, lost in the memory. "I remember the first time I got to swing on the rope. Missy was yelling at Bill that I was too young, Charlie was mad because no body would let him do it yet, and I just shinnied out the limb, grabbed the rope and shoved off. I felt like I was flying. . .Then I let go, but I didn't think about how I was going to hit the water." She was laughing now. "Don't tell me," he was laughing with her. "You belly flopped." "Big time! I got the breath knocked out of me and sank like a rock. The pool is deceptive. It's formed by the roots of this tree and is about 12 feet deep. Missy started screaming at the boys, or so the boys say, and Bill was cussing a blue streak about how sisters were 'too damn much trouble' and he jumped in after me. By that time, I was making my way back to the surface, but he had to show off his 'life saving' technique anyway. He grabbed me under my chin and I went berserk. I was madder than a wet hen, which I probably resembled. So I started hitting him on the head and when he finally got me out of the water, he threw me over his shoulder, carried me back to the cabin and told mom to keep me there." "What did your mom do?" he asked between gasps of laughter at the thought of his wife, soaking wet and angry. He'd seen her like that, and knew exactly what Bill, Jr. had been up against. It was fun listening to her family stories, he had so few of his own. "She told Bill that it was his responsibility to watch out for his younger brother and sisters and sent me back out, but not before she told me that the surest way to drown was to fight someone trying to save me," Dana laughed. "Sometimes I wonder how she survived, with the four of us butting heads all the time and Daddy gone so much. But she never seemed to let it get to her, she took it all in stride." "Your mom is the strongest woman I know," Mulder said thoughtfully. "Well, 'second' strongest, maybe," he corrected himself. "A _real_ close second," he added and put his arm around his wife's shoulders. She nuzzled into his chest, returning the embrace. "You hold up pretty well, yourself," she murmured. "Nah, I'm a basketcase, you know that. I definitely got the better end of this bargain." He leaned down and kissed her head. "Come on. Show me more of these woods." She looked up at him in feigned horror. "You aren't suggesting we take a 'nice little walk in the forest', are you, Mulder?" He shuddered. The last time he'd said that, it ended them in quarantine for a month. "Never. No way. Not me." It was past noon by the time they made their way back to the cabin. They ate a late lunch and Mulder insisted on cleaning up. He shooed Dana out of the kitchen and ordered her to take a bubble bath. At first, she thought he was kidding, but when he went in and started the bath water for her, she knew he was serious. He got out two big fluffy towels, a fresh set of sweats for her and even went so far as to put on some music in the living room, loud enough to filter through the door. When she entered the bathroom she regarded him with a sly grin. "Aren't you joining me," she asked coyly. He shook his head with a smile. "Not this time. You need some time all for yourself. We've been on a whirlwind the last two weeks and I want you to relax. Take all the time you want in the bath, when you finish, go take a nap. I've got something I need to do in town." She frowned. "Mulder, what are you planning. . ." she asked with an underlying note of suspicion. He laughed at her expression. "Nothing you wouldn't approve of, believe me. It's just a little surprise. I promise, I'll be back by 5, Scouts Honor," he added, holding up his hand in a Boy Scout salute. "You do that a lot, Fox William Mulder, and I don't think you *ever* were a Boy Scout," she said, still not convinced she liked the most recent turn of events. "I would never lie to you, my love," he said, kissing her on the head. He gently brushed the hair behind her ears. Then he leaned close and whispered in her ear "Eagle Scout, inducted 1975. I still have the badge to prove it." He kissed her again and turned to leave. "Be back in a couple of hours. Now remember, RELAX. Oh, and I love you," he added. Dana sank into the bubbles and let the water come all the way up to her chin. she mused. She stopped herself. she smiled and blew a couple of the bubbles across the tub. she laughed. So much had happened. Fox was right, she did need some time, just to herself. Often, when she was coming back from a really awful case, she would draw a bath and soak, giving herself the time to reflect on her life. Usually, she spent the time being grateful that she and Mulder were still alive. Sometimes, she would let her mind drift to what the rest of her life had in store for her. That was where she wandered today. The rest of her life. She had known for sometime that she would be spending the rest of her life with Fox Mulder. For a long time, she assumed that meant as his partner at work. Then, gradually, she started day dreaming of spending her *whole* life with him. All of it, the mornings and the midnights and all the time in between. But those were just day dreams, and her rational mind refused to let her believe it would ever come about. Until Christmas. And then she knew. And now she was his wife and he was her husband. She had always thought of those roles in terms of her parents, not in terms of herself. And even more astonishing to her, she and her partner, now wife and husband, were about to parents to someone else. It boggled her mind. she wondered. It made her feel a little better to know that she wasn't going to be going through this alone. Like everything else that had happened to her in the last 4 years time, Mulder would be firmly by her side, never wavering, always there to support her, guide her, help her. she sighed and let her mind drift to baby things, tiny dresses and ruffled panties, little patent leather shoes and tiny bonnets. . . She was standing in the back of a church. It was old and smelled of incense and flowers. She looked to her left and there stood Mulder, smiling at her. His hair was brushed with grey at the temples and his face had a few more lines than she remembered. He was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on, the years had been kind. He was wearing a black tux, with a grey striped ascot tie. He was fidgeting with the tie a bit. "Love, did I do something wrong here?" he asked. He moved his chin up so she could inspect his handiwork. She looked at it and then reached up to adjust the tie. He brought his own hand up to press her hand to his cheek. "You're the most beautiful woman in the place, you know," he whispered. "Any place." Then, his eyes tracked over her shoulder and he caught his breath. She turned and saw a young woman standing in the doorway. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and she looked so familiar. She was in a satin and lace wedding dress, very traditional in style. Her auburn hair was pinned back with the headpiece of her veil. The diamond and emerald necklace she wore brought out the green in her hazel eyes. She wore a dazzling smile but her eyes were shy, like she wasn't sure of herself. Fox went to her immediately and took her into a hug. "You look gorgeous, Pumpkin," he said to her, his voice husky with emotion. "Doesn't she, Mommy?" he asked, catching Dana's eye. Dana felt a hand on her shoulder but she refused to open her eyes. She didn't want to leave the dream until she heard his voice calling her name. "Dana, sweetie. I don't think it's too safe falling asleep in a tub of cold water." His voice was gentle, soothing, almost musical. "Come on, let's get you dry and in some warm clothes. Are you all right?" Now his voice was full of concern. She opened her eyes and focused on his face. He was looking worried, but when he saw her eyes, he smiled. "Hey, there you are. You were scaring me." He pulled her out of the tub and wrapped her in one of the towels, then handed her the clothes as she dressed. "I wanted you relaxed, not comatose, Dana," he chided playfully. She smiled at his joke and followed him up the stairs. He had laid a blanket out in front of the fireplace. There was a tray of cheese, meats and crackers and a wine chiller with a bottle in it. He pulled her down to sit next to him on the blanket and then drew out the bottle for her inspection. Sparkling apple cider. She laughed and shook her head at his thoughtfulness. "I love you," she said quietly. "I hope so, you're stuck with me," he quipped. He settled down next to her with a wine glass in his hand, giving her one as well. "A toast. To the most beautiful woman in the place. Any place." He raised his glass to her and then took a sip. She did the same. "Watch that stuff, Scully. It sneaks up on you," he joked. "I'll take my chances," she laughed. "Besides, I know you only want me out of control so you can take advantage of me," she added with a sly grin. "The advantage is all yours, my love," he murmured. He reached over to the table behind them and picked up a box. It was flat and rectangular, about 5 inches by 10 inches. A jewlers box. "Fox William Mulder, what did you do?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously. He handed her the box with a Cheshire Cat smile. She bit her lip and opened it. Inside was a diamond and emerald necklace. When she looked at it, she realized she had seen it before, the necklace in her dream. "Fox, this is . . .it's. . .my god, how much did this cost?" she stammered. He laughed. "Enough," he admitted. "I wanted to give you something special. I was thinking about Grandmother's ring. How great it was that she handed it down, that I could give it to you. So, I wanted something you could hand down. Our first heirloom, I guess." He took the necklace out of the box and carefully put it around her neck. The diamonds caught the firelight and danced little highlights off her face. "You can give it to our little girl when she's all grown up. If you want to part with it, of course," he teased. She touched the necklace loveingly and then wrapped her arms around the man she loved. "She'll look gorgeous in it, Daddy." the end, for now.