by Vickie Moseley
vickiemoseley1978@yahoo.com
 

Chapter 1 ARRIVAL

Hale Residence Backyard

Memorial Day, 2005

 Ten-month-old Missy was squealing as Megan pushed the infant swing a little higher.  Sammi was content to sit on a blanket on the lawn, helping the youngest Hawthorne, Stephen, build an intricate castle out of Duplo blocks.  Off to the side, away from small children and windows, Josh Hawthorne was teaching William how to throw a curve ball, with the middle Hawthorne, Patrick acting as catcher and giving advice.  The men were busy with the grill, a new one that Mulder had just purchased.  Scully and M.C. were in the house, putting the finishing touches on the Memorial Day barbeque that was fast becoming a tradition between the two families. 

"So you're going to be gone two months," M.C. stated again, for the sixth or seventh time that morning. 

Dana smiled indulgently and touched her friend's hand.  "Just two months," she reiterated.  "We haven't seen my family since Mom came out last year.  My brothers really want to meet the kids.  Bill and Charlie have never even met William and he's four years old now." 

"But two months?" M.C. repeated.  "I mean, when we go to visit my family in Chicago, I'm lucky if I can tolerate them for two weeks!  And don't get me started on Joe's side." 

"I know, it seems like a long time, but we have a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up.  We have to meet with lawyers, settle with insurance companies, basically get our identities straightened out.  And then there's the wedding." 

"Ah, yes, the wedding.  So Ellery is the best man and you're the matron of honor, right?" M.C. asked as she picked up a knife and started slicing tomatoes and onions for the burgers on the grill.  "It's so romantic, you know -- your boss marrying his secretary." 

"Well, Walter and Kim didn't start seeing each other until he wasn't her boss anymore," Scully reminded M.C.  "And even then, I don't know that Kim thought he'd ever pop the question." 

"Of course, I've met Walter, but what's Kim like?  I mean, he seems pretty set in his ways.  I'd hate to have to train him to be a husband!" 

Dana laughed.  "She already trained him to be a boss, what more could she need to do?  Kim is really sweet; she was a good friend to us when we were at the Bureau.  Besides, they deserve each other.  Kim is very easy going, quick to smile.  Walter needs that in his life.  I'm very happy for them both." 

"So let me get this straight -- you, Ellery and the three kids, your brother Charles and his wife with their two, your brother Bill and his wife with their two kids and Maggie all in one house.  Dana, even our house wouldn't hold all those people!" 

"We'll all only be at Mom's for a couple of days, MC.  Tara's father lives in Prince George's County, Maryland, so they'll stay with him most of the time.  As for us, we have a place set up, too.  Walter and Kim closed on their house last week.  Since Walter's lease isn't up until the end of August, we're going to sublet his apartment in Crystal City and he'll move into the new house." 

"Great idea!" MC said with a grin.  "When dealing with extended family, it's always best to have a nice 'fortress of solitude' to hide in." 

Outside, the topic of conversation was similar. 

"Two months.  Your mother-in-law seemed like a real sweetheart, but two months?  Are you sure you want to do this, Hale?" Joe asked, flipping a burger and almost landing William's hot dog in the dust as a result.  He caught it with the spatula just in time. 

"Maggie's not the problem.  Dana's brothers will be there for a couple of weeks, too." 

"Even that Bill character you've mentioned?"  

Mulder nodded.  "And his wife and their two kids.  Geez, we didn't even know Tara was expecting.  She found out just after we, uh . . ." 

"Took off like Bonnie and Clyde?" Joe provided.  Mulder shot him a sour look and tilted his head toward the kids.  "Sorry, Hale, couldn't resist," Joe chuckled.  "So what about the other brother, the one you say you never met.  How could you two be married twelve years and never meet her brother?" 

Mulder licked his lips at that one.  "Charlie and his wife lived over seas all this time," he finally said with a shrug.  "When he did come home, we were usually on a case." 

"Well, it sounds like a hell of a vacation to me," Joe said dubiously.  "Sure you don't want to stay here and let me teach you how to fly fish?" 

"Actually, Joe, I'm looking forward to going back.  I may not want to spend a lot of time with Bill, but I would like to meet Charlie and his family.  Besides, I know Maggie misses the kids.  It's going to be different.  A lot has changed since the last time we were there.  I think I can go back now, at least for a while.  But don't get me wrong, I'm sure I'll be ready to come home when it's time."

Dulles International Airport

May 31, 2005

"Tell me again why we decided to take a flight on the day after Memorial Day weekend, Scully." 

She frowned at him.  It had been a long, tiring flight.  Helena's airport was calm and relaxing compared to Denver, where they had to switch planes.  William had relished time on the airplane, demanding to sit in the window seat so he could look out at the clouds.  Sammi had slept most of the time, but Missy was not at all pleased and had whimpered and sucked her thumb, refusing her father's offers to play.  

Scully's lap was numb from holding the baby and waiting for the high-pitched screams she was certain they would be forced to endure.  But Missy never screamed, she just refused to take her nap and now she was even crankier than she'd been on the plane. 

"Mulder, I'm still trying to figure out what possessed us to try and take a pre-schooler and two infants on an airplane without the Fifth Armored Division as back up," she growled.  

"Well, I can see where Melissa inherited her 'grouchy' genes," he muttered under his breath as he switched the finally sleeping infant to his other shoulder. 

"I heard that," Scully replied as she stormed off in the direction of the baggage claim area, Sammi on one hip, William clinging to her free hand.  "You're not getting out of this one, buddy," she shot back. 

"Wait a minute.  I remember an adult discussion where we weighed the pros and cons of driving just over 2200 miles with three kids, which even if we drove straight through would take just shy of a day and a half against dragging everyone through a couple of airports for a period of about 10 hours." 

"I remember someone interrupting my bubble bath by joining me and somewhere in the extremely short introductory conversation, that person told me he'd booked flights already and we were flying into Dulles, my least favorite airport in the entire continental United States!" 

"I got a good deal on the tickets," he countered with a gleam in his eye. 

"You got a good deal, all right.  And it's the last good deal you can expect until we have a bedroom all to ourselves at Walter's condo," she replied with a sweet smile. 

Mulder drew in a deep breath and plastered a matching smile on his face.  "At least we'll have some place to hide out when Big Brother Bill arrives." 

They had just passed the various construction barricades (because Dulles Airport would never truly be finished) and rounded the corner to the baggage claim when William pulled free of Scully's hand and ran shouting down the concourse.  "Gramma!  Gramma!  We're here!" 

Maggie, beaming, swept the little boy up into her arms.  "William!  Look at you!  You've grown two inches since your last picture!" she exclaimed as she accepted the numerous kisses from her youngest grandson. 

William wiggled himself free and latched onto Maggie's hand.  "Gramma, the girls are big, too.  Look, Sammi can walk!"  He pulled at his mother's hand to let the baby down.  Sammi looked at her grandmother with wide blue eyes and immediately nestled into the crook of her mother's neck. 

"She's a little shy around people she's not familiar with," Scully explained contritely.  "By the end of the week, she'll be glued to your hip." 

"Oh, I remember.  You never were fond of strangers, either," Maggie said with a fond expression.  "Not sure what to make of all this, are you, sweetheart," she cooed to the tiny girl who intermittently snuck a peek at the woman trying to get her attention. 

"Ma-ma-mama!" cried Missy, awake from her too short nap.  Mulder jiggled her and stroked her hair but the young lady was not to be dissuaded.  "Ma-ma-mama!"  A quick pass of the twins and soon Missy was settling down and Sammi was content in her father's arms. 

"You two are pros," Maggie said, hugging her daughter and then Mulder.  "They've grown so much since the pictures from Easter.  Oh, I finally found a frame for that family portrait you sent.  I just love it." 

Mulder had been keeping an eye on the baggage carousel while they were talking and spotted the first of their luggage.  "Um, Maggie, could you . . ."  Sammi eyed her suspiciously as her father handed her over, but didn't bat an eye when she was finally in her grandmother's arms. 

Mulder pulled a cart off the long line and started tossing bags onto it.  "I hope I have enough room in the car," Maggie commented as she watched the luggage pile up.  "Oh, I remembered to bring the car seats, Dana." 

"Thanks, Mom," Scully said, relieved.  "That saved us a lot of trouble.  Three car seats are just not that easy to lug around." 

"Don't worry about space, Maggie," Mulder chimed in.  "We reserved a minivan for the duration.  We'll just have to go over to the Lariat counter.  You and Dana can take the twins in your car and Will can ride with me in the rental." 

Maggie nodded and then stopped.  "So, what do I call you now?" she asked.  Her perplexed look caused Mulder to tamp down on any smart remark that comment might have generated.  

"Joe calls me Hale, MC calls me Ellery.  But that's how they know me.  I don't expect you to change, Maggie.  You've always called me Fox." 

"But when I visited last summer -- " 

Mulder blushed and focused on the tile floor.  "It was still . . . we were still getting used to the idea that we weren't being hunted.  But how can I walk into the Bureau to pick up Walt for lunch or maybe just to say 'hi' and expect all those people who know me as Fox Mulder to start calling me Ellery Hale?  It just wouldn't work." 

Maggie smiled at him.  "OK, Fox," she said with a quick nod.  "We need to get home.  I have hamburgers and hot dogs waiting for you to put on the grill." 

"Daddy likes to burn meat, Gramma," William told her solemnly. 

"I remember that, Will.  Let's go to my house and he can burn some meat there."

I-95 heading to Baltimore, Maryland

4:15 pm

"Where did you and Mommy live?" William asked breathlessly as he watched the tall trees and the set back houses along the I-95 roll past. 

"Mommy and I lived in different parts of the city of Washington.  Grandma lives in Baltimore, which is a city all by itself," Mulder explained. 

"Did you live by Uncle Walter?" 

Mulder shook his head and stifled a chuckle.  William's curiosity was probably the most telling factor in his genetic background.  "You know, we'll go visit Washington tomorrow and I'll show you where Mommy lived and where Daddy lived and then where Mommy and Daddy worked -- how does that sound?" 

"And the zoo?" the little boy pressed excitedly.  "And the baseball game . . ." 

"We may save some of that for another day so the whole family can go.  Tomorrow it can be just you and me -- just the guys.  Mommy and the girls can get some rest after all the excitement of the plane ride." 

Maggie Scully's residence

Baltimore Maryland

The place hadn't changed much in four years, at least as far as Mulder could tell.  Four years.  It seemed like a lifetime.  He smiled down at his son as the little boy expertly unhooked the clasp on the car seat and climbed out of the Ford Freestar to stand next to him.  It was a lifetime, to William. 

"Wow, Gramma's yard is about as big as ours," the child exclaimed as he eyed the rolling lawn and big maple and oak trees. 

"She has a swing in the backyard, too, buddy.  I'll show it to you later.  Right now can you give your old man a hand and grab your duffle bag on the top there?" 

Between the two of them, William and Mulder got the luggage in from the car.  "Where?" Mulder asked Maggie, who was holding the screen door for him.  

"You and Dana have Charlie's old room and the kids are right across the hall," she said, following him upstairs.  He got to the first door on the left and dumped the luggage on the floor for sorting later.  

"So Charlie had a queen sized bed, huh?  Funny, I don't remember that," he teased Maggie when he looked over and saw a new bedroom suite that replaced the twin bed he remembered being in that room. 

Maggie grinned and lightly smacked his arm.  "Fox, you know better," she replied.  "I don't think you and Dana would have been very comfortable on that little twin bed.  One of you would have landed up on the floor and I know for a fact that my daughter is a bed hog!" 

"You got that right," Mulder shot back with a repressed chuckle. 

"Got what right?" Scully asked from the doorway, carrying Sammi in her arms.  "Where are the diapers, she's soaked.  Oh, Mom, new bedroom suite?  Looks great." 

"I'll take her," Mulder offered.  "You go help your mom get the meat ready and I'll be down to fire up the grill." 

Maggie and Dana checked on William and Missy before heading into the kitchen.  Maggie had a playpen set up in the family room and William had climbed in it to entertain his sister.  They were in the middle of engineering an intricate structure from plastic blocks. 

"He's so good with the babies," Maggie commented with an awed smile.  "He must get that from the Mulder side.  You four fought like cats and dogs." 

"Oh, don't worry, Mom.  He has his moments.  Just a few weeks ago I overheard him talking with Stevie Hawthorne about the best places to sell baby sisters on the internet," Dana said smugly. 

"Dana!" Maggie replied in shock. 

"I don't think he would ever actually put them up for sale, Mom.  I think he was just checking out his options." 

"Maybe you and Fox shouldn't let him play on the computer quite as much," Maggie advised firmly. 

In the kitchen, Maggie opened the refrigerator and pulled out the makings for salad, handing them to Dana.  They quickly went to work. 

"How are the Hawthornes?" Maggie asked. 

"Oh, they're fine.  Daniel is home from Iraq now.  He's still at LeJeune, but he had a month's leave.  Meggie is looking at colleges.  I don't know what I'm going to do if she goes off to school very far away.  We really depend on her for babysitting.  MC and Joe are fine.  The whole family was over Monday night for a barbeque.  They're going to keep an eye on the house for us.  Which reminds me, I have to call and tell them I have Millie holding our mail so they don't have to pick it up." 

Maggie smiled.  "Be sure to tell them I said hello when you talk to them." 

Mulder joined them, carrying a much happier Sammi.  "I'm putting the little mermaid here in the playpen so I can start up the grill." 

"Good idea."  From her place at the island counter, Dana had a perfect view of her three children playing somewhat contentedly in the family room.  "I'll keep an eye on them." 

The two women were quiet for a moment, until Maggie looked over at her daughter.  "So, Mr. Skinner and Kim are getting married the 25th?" 

Dana smiled.  "Yes.  Kim said she really didn't want to get married in June, but it was the only weekend available at her church.  Something about a cancellation with another couple's wedding." 

"Oh, dear.  Did a couple break up?" Maggie asked. 

"No, a couple eloped," Dana grinned in reply.  "I guess the bride's father suggested it as a joke and the bride and groom called his bluff.  They ran off to Vegas and got married in a wedding chapel.  Kim said it's been the talk of the congregation for weeks." 

"That poor mother," Maggie sighed. 

"Mother?  Why 'that poor mother'?  Those kids just saved that family a ton of cash, Mom," Dana answered without thinking. 

"That mother was cheated  --  Never mind," Maggie said tersely and turned to rummage in the refrigerator again. 

"Cheated how, Mom?" 

Maggie leaned against the counter and shook her head.  "I promised myself I wasn't going to go in to this," she muttered.  

Dana didn't think she was supposed to hear her mother's comment, but decided that she wasn't going to let it drop.  "Mom.  How do you feel cheated?" she asked, trying hard to keep the 'investigator' out of her voice. 

Maggie looked up at Dana with tears on her lashes.  "When you girls were little, your father and I used to joke about how much you were going to cost us.  We always dreamed we'd have to pay for lavish weddings with hundreds of guests.  Of course, as Missy got older and more . . . well, one time your father even said we might have to shell out for a wedding in Hawaii, on a beach somewhere.  But after she died -- "  The words caught in the older woman's throat and Dana ached to hold her in her arms. 

"Mom," she said, stepping closer, but Maggie held her hands out, stopping her. 

"No, listen to me.  I know it's foolish, I know it's selfish, but I thought with you, at least, I'd have a chance to see one of my daughter's married.  But you went ahead and did it behind my back.  Now, you can tell me all about your problems and how you had to run away, I understand all that, but Dana -- " 

"Mom!" Dana all but shouted to be heard over her mother's diatribe.  "We aren't married!" 

Suddenly the only noise in the kitchen was the ice machine in the refrigerator.  

Maggie recovered first.  "But the rings -- you're both wearing rings." 

Dana looked down at the gold band on her left hand; smiling as she remembered the day Mulder had placed it on her finger.  Finally, she looked up and met her mother's stare.  "It was for our cover.  When we moved to Montana, we wanted to appear as normal as possible to raise the least amount of suspicion.  Mom, at that point, we had no idea if there were bulletins out on us, our pictures on the 10 Most Wanted.  We didn't know if we'd find some never heard of actors portraying us on that FOX show one Saturday night, with John Walsh telling everyone to call if they'd seen us!" 

Maggie's legs were just barely holding her up so Dana took her mother's arm and steered her to one of the chairs at the breakfast table.  "Mom.  It's not what you think.  We just never got around to -- what I mean to say is -- " 

Maggie looked at Dana with tears streaking down her cheeks.  "Why wouldn't Fox want to marry you?" she asked in a small voice.  "I don't understand.  Is he afraid of the commitment?  After all these years -- " 

"Mom, it isn't Mulder," Dana said with a sigh.  "Please don't blame him." 

Maggie's frown deepened.  "What are you saying?  That it's you?  You don't want to get married?  Dana, you have children, you brought three children into this world and you don't want to marry their father?!"  The older woman started to rise in an effort to put as much distance as possible between her and her daughter.  Dana caught her hand before she got very far. 

"Mom, please, listen to me.  Please," Dana pleaded.  Maggie looked down at their hands and bit her lip.  Finally she sat back down.  

"So, I'm listening.  Explain to me why you'd ignore everything your father and I tried to teach you," she said, her voice steel, her expression hard though the tears still continued down her face. 

Dana swallowed.  In the back of her mind she remembered Mulder's words.  'It's time,' he'd said.  But it had seemed too late and she didn't want to risk what they had, what they still had.  How could she make her mother understand that? 

"Mom, Mulder and I are fully committed to each other.  We love each other completely.  There is never going to be a day when I don't want him next to me.  That's marriage, isn't it?  That's what it's really all about.  Why do a few words and a piece of paper make that more than it already is?  We have a life in Montana.  People there treat us as a married couple -- " 

"But you aren't married, Dana," Maggie said with a desperate sigh.  "You aren't legally married.  And you know what that means for those babies in there," she said, just barely getting out the words before her tears choked off her voice. 

"I just don't see what the difference is," Dana said, her own tears flowing freely. 

"You have lived on the edge of society, Dana.  You and Fox  were in horrible trouble.  Mr. Skinner told me all about it when Agent Doggett and Reyes returned from New Mexico.  He told me there were orders to execute Fox.  I understood why you went off with him without a word.  I can understand why you hid as you did, why you had to, just to keep William safe.  I know all that," Maggie's words, low but effective, poured out of her.  "But Dana, all that is in the past.  And you have a beautiful son and two beautiful daughters.  Don't you think they deserve better?  What will they say, when they're old enough to understand?  Because right now, Dana, I'm looking at you and I don't understand.  I don't understand at all." 

"Mommy, I'm hungry!  Hey, why are you and Gramma crying?"  William stood in the doorway to the kitchen, concern written clearly on his four year old face.  

Hurriedly both women wiped their eyes, but not before Maggie had a chance to catch Dana's gaze one more time.  "This isn't finished," she whispered.  "Hey, William!" she said, happily turning her attention to her grandson.  "Let's see if your dad has the grill going and we can carry out the hot dogs and hamburgers to him.  How does that sound?" 

"Goodie!" the small boy exclaimed, clapping his hands.  But as Maggie turned to get the food out of the refrigerator, William walked over to where Dana was busily slicing tomatoes and laid his hand on her arm.  "Mommy?" he asked worriedly. 

She wiped at her eyes again.  "Onions, William.  You know how slicing onions always makes Mommy cry," she said with a forced smile. 

The small boy could just peer over the countertop where she was pointing to a plate of sliced onions.  When he looked up at her again, she knew he didn't believe her. 

"It's OK, sweetie.  We were just talking," Dana said, reaching down to hug her son.  "Nothing's the matter.  It's all right." 

He nodded solemnly as he melted into her embrace.  His grandmother's voice pulled him away. 

"Ready, William?  Let's go watch your dad burn some meat," Maggie suggested.  As the two left the kitchen, Dana sagged against the counter in relief.  How much had he heard, she couldn't help but wonder.

  Flight into Egypt 7:  Going Home
 

Author:  Vickie Moseley

  Chapter 2 Mulder and William go to DC

Maggie Scully's residence

Baltimore, MD

May 31, 2005

8:30 am

"I'm all dressed!" William announced proudly as he stood in his grandmother's kitchen.  He had on heavy jeans and a long sleeved shirt under his favorite Yankees sweatshirt.  

Maggie looked over from her seat at the dinette table across from Mulder and tried hard to stifle her laughter. 

"Um, sport, it's going to be in the high 80's," Mulder squeaked out after almost choking on his coffee.  "See what Daddy's wearing?"  Mulder was attired in lightweight chinos and a short sleeved white and green striped polo shirt.  "C'mon, I know Mommy packed some 'hot weather' clothes in your bag."  As the two 'men' headed up the stairs, Mulder could hear Maggie's chuckles all the way to the second floor hallway. 

They returned in minutes, William now in an olive green cargo shorts, a matching tee shirt with orange trim, and leather sandals on his feet.  "You look very nice, William," Maggie assured him.  She motioned him over to her and ran her hand through his soft chestnut hair, straightening errant locks.  "You look so much like your Daddy," she said fondly. 

"I'm surprised the girls aren't up yet," Mulder said, finishing off his coffee. 

"Probably jet lag.  They had quite an adventure yesterday," Maggie replied. 

"They were up, you weren't," Scully said accusingly from the doorway as she homed in on the coffeemaker, bleary-eyed and still wearing her robe.  "They woke up with the birds.  I gave them some cereal and they went down for a nap." 

"Dana, I can watch the girls today, if you want to go with Fox and William," Maggie offered. 

"Not on your life, Mom," Scully said, sliding into one of the dinette chairs and sipping her coffee with a sigh.  "Mulder promised me a day to rest after all the running around and getting ready for this massive expedition, and I am taking it!" 

"You'd think you planned and executed D-Day," Mulder laughed.  The answering glare he received shut him up quickly.  "Well, 'Ike', Maggie, I think we'll take our leave.  C'mon, William, we're off to discover the wilds of the Federal Government!" 

"But I want to go see Washington, Daddy," William protested. 

"Same thing, sport," Mulder replied as he gave Scully a quick kiss.  Taking his son's hand, he headed out the door.  "I have my cell phone," he called over his shoulder. 

"Yeah, it might actually work here," Scully shouted after him with a smirk. 

"He's a good man," Maggie said, taking a sip of her coffee.  

"I've been saying that for years, Mom," Scully replied with a wry smile. 

Mulder buckled William into his car seat in the captain's chair directly behind the front passenger seat of the minivan.  "Where to first, buddy?" 

"I wanna see your house," William replied after very little thought. 

"I didn't live in a house, William.  I lived in an apartment building.  And we can't go in because I don't live there any more.  But we can drive past it and I can show you where I used to play basketball." 

William smiled brightly and clapped his hands.  "Yeah, Daddy!  Let's go!"

2630 Hegal Place

Alexandria, VA

Mulder pulled up to the curb and parked the car.  "There it is, buddy.  That's where Daddy used to live." 

William struggled with his seatbelt, finally unlocking himself from his safety seat.  "You lived here?  In this big house?" 

Mulder chuckled as he helped Will out onto the sidewalk.  "Well, it wasn't just me, William.  See each of those windows up there?"  He pointed out the windows in each floor of the structure.  "There were two windows facing this side of the street in my apartment.  So count over every other window.   That's an apartment, like we lived in last year before your sisters were born, remember?  So how many apartments were on each floor?" 

William thought hard and counted the windows.  "Four?" he asked slightly unsure. 

"That's right" Mulder encouraged him with a big smile.  "And there were four apartments on the other side of the hall.  Eight apartments on each floor, five floors -- " 

"A lot of apartments," William said in awe. 

Mulder chuckled again.  "Yes, there are.  And the apartment I had only had a living room, a kitchen, a tiny bathroom and one bedroom.  So the apartments are pretty little when you think about it." 

"One bedroom?  Where did I sleep?" William asked, a frown darkening his face. 

Mulder toed the sidewalk.  "I lived here long before you came into the picture.  After you were born we all lived at your Mom's apartment in Georgetown."  Mulder decided not to go into the fact that the three of them only lived there together a very short time.  It was a tale best told to an older audience. 

The door of the apartment complex opened and an elderly woman with a wire shopping basket on wheels tried to exit.  Mulder hurried to the door and held it for her.  She looked up at him, startled. 

"Agent Mulder?" 

"Mrs. Sullivan?" Mulder responded to the older woman's inquiry. 

"It is you!  My goodness, how long has it been?" the older woman's face lit up with recognition and happy surprise. 

"It's been about 4 years, actually," Mulder said, carrying the shopping cart down to the sidewalk.  

"And who have we here?" 

Mulder beamed with pride.  "This is my son, William.  William, say hello to one of my old neighbors, Mrs. Sullivan." 

William smiled shyly.  "Hi." 

"Oh, he is a charmer," Mrs. Sullivan said with a wink.  "Just like his father, I'd dare say."  Mulder blushed slightly at her comment, which, by the twinkle in her eyes, had been her intention.  "So, you finally settled down.  With that pretty little redhead, I assume?" 

Mulder's blush grew but he nodded.  "Yes, Dana Scully.  We have William and twin daughters, just turned one year old." 

"Oh, that's lovely," the older woman said fondly.  "Well, you tell her I said hello.  It's so good to see you, Agent Mulder.  You aren't thinking of renting here again, though, are you?  I don't think you'd all fit in one of these apartments." 

"No, no, Ma'am," Mulder said with a wry grin.  "I was just showing William the old stomping grounds.  His mother and sisters are back at his grandmother's house inBaltimore.  We're just out visiting." 

"We flew on an airplane," William interjected. 

"That must have been very exciting," Mrs. Sullivan said seriously.  She turned to take hold of her cart.  "It's been wonderful seeing you, Agent Mulder, but I have to get to the market.  If I don't hurry, I'm going to miss my soaps!" 

"Can we drop you?  We have the car right here," Mulder offered. 

"Oh, no, my doctor wants me to walk.  But if you stay in the area long, do stop by again.  Maybe bring your wife and daughters next time?" 

"We'll certainly try." 

They watched the older woman walk down the street, then Mulder looked up at the building again.  "William, see the second row of windows from the top?  Now count over four windows.  Those two?  That was Daddy's apartment." 

William squinted against the sunlight glaring from the windowpanes and then looked up at his father.  "Did you like that apartment, Daddy?" 

Mulder was deep in thought staring at the windows, unable to detect the residue of tape that should have been there.  Maybe the current resident was better at glass cleaning than he had been?  

"Daddy?" 

"What, son?" 

"Did you like it there?" the little boy repeated. 

Mulder thought about his answer.  "Sometimes.  When your Mommy would come over and have pizza or watch a movie with me.  But to tell you the truth, Will, I like our house by the Old Man much better." 

William beamed at his answer.  "Me too, Daddy.  Me too."

They walked down to the park where Mulder used to take his morning runs and then over to the outdoor basketball courts.  Kids were playing but Mulder didn't see any faces he recognized.  Will started growing impatient and finally they returned to the car. 

"Mommy's house next," William directed.  

"Yes, sir," Mulder replied with a mock salute, just to get his son to giggle. 

Scully's apartment building looked exactly as it had the last time Mulder had seen it.  It was disconcerting, remembering those last moments, holding her and William tightly against him, kissing them both one time, moving to the door and then coming back to kiss them both again.  He felt an ache in his chest build just at the memory of that day four years before.

"Which windows were Mommy's?" William asked innocently. 

Mulder had to swallow to get his voice to work.  "Third floor, right on that corner," he said, pointing out the three windows on the left side of the building.  "The window on the corner was Mommy's bedroom.  That one next to it was your bedroom.  And the other window is the living room." 

"You mean you and Mommy's bedroom," Will corrected. 

"Yeah, of course," Mulder replied, clearing his throat.  "C'mon, it's getting close to lunch time.  Let's see if Uncle Walter wants to join us and get hot dogs on the Mall." 

"Yes!  Hot dogs with Uncle Walter!" Will agreed, pumping his little arm in victory.  

Watching his son's enthusiasm, the dark shadows of the past slipped away and Mulder's smile returned to his face. 

J. Edgar Hoover Building

Federal Bureau of Investigation

11:15 am

"I never realized how hard it is to find a parking space around here," Mulder grumbled just under his breath. 

"There's one, Daddy," Will exclaimed, pointing across the street. 

"That one's too hard to get to, Will," Mulder explained patiently. 

"Do what Mommy does and turn in a big circle," Will directed. 

"You can do that in Mr. Airy, Will.  In Washington, a whole lot of people would get mad at you," Mulder reasoned.  "Besides, I see a spot right up in the next block." 

They parked and got out of the car.  The Washington heat had cranked up a notch and Mulder was glad he wasn't in one of his old Armani suits.  Will skipped happily at his side as they walked up to the enormous white stone and glass building that had been his life for so many years. 

The door at the visitor's entrance had a placard explaining that public tours had been discontinued for the immediate future due to retooling, but Mulder opened the door and walked up to the guard at the metal detector.  He was surprised when the uniformed man greeted him warmly. 

"Mr. Mulder and little Mr. Mulder!  Good to see you again, Sir," the guard said congenially and handed over two visitor's badges.  "Assistant Director Skinner has asked that you meet him in his office.  Same place he used to be, sixth floor, right next to the bullpen.  You remember the way, don't you?" 

"In my sleep," Mulder replied. 

"Nightmares?" the guard chuckled. 

Mulder grinned and nodded.  They moved through the metal detector, which William found just as fascinating as the ones in the airport, and headed for the elevators.  Will's eyes were the size of saucers as he looked at all the men and women in suits hurrying about their business.  He also seemed eager to see which of the people passing them had guns on their belts. 

"Did you wear a gun, Daddy?" he asked as they walked the hallway toward Skinner's office. 

"Yes.  I had to wear it all the time I was on duty.  Your mother had one, too." 

"Was Mommy good at shooting?" Will asked. 

"Too good," Mulder replied dryly, rotating his left shoulder.  "In this door here, Will." 

"Agent Mulder!  Oh, I'm sorry, uh, Mulder!" a flustered Holly from Records greeted him as soon as they walked in the door. 

"Holly!  What a surprise!  Hey, don't tell me . . . " 

"Yup, I got promoted," Holly grinned.  "AD Skinner plucked me out of Records.  Can you believe it?  I assaulted the man years ago and now I'm his administrative assistant.  What a world, huh?" 

Mulder smirked.  "Well, the second year we were partners, Scully . . ."  He was about to go into his story of Scully shooting him, but remembered a small person at his knee, listening with rapt attention.  "Yeah.  Anyway, it's great to see you.  I assume we'll be seeing you at the wedding." 

"I'm one of the attendants," Holly shrugged but her bright smile betrayed how proud she was to be included in the festivities.  She leaned down so that she was eye level with the boy at Mulder's side.  "And this must be Master William.  AD Skinner has told me so much about you," she said with an ingratiating smile. 

"Hi," Will replied, hugging his father's leg. 

Holly looked up at Mulder again.  "Kim wanted me to tell you that she's tied up all day with preparations for a big meeting the Director has on Capitol Hill.  But she wants you to bring Agent, er, Dana and the kids back next week so she can give William a tour of the building." 

"Will would really like that, I'm sure," Mulder replied. 

"Holly, is that my newest recruit?" boomed a voice from the inner doorway.  William turned toward the voice and sheer joy spread across his face. 

"Uncle Walter!" he squealed and propelled himself into the Assistant Director's arms.  Skinner hugged the boy warmly, picking him up and shifting him to his hip.  

"Will, you have grown so much!  How are your baby sisters?  Still trying to eat your toys?" Skinner asked seriously. 

"Mommy says they're getting teeth, but it's a constant bother!" Will exclaimed to the sniggers of Holly and Mulder. 

"Constant bother, huh?" Skinner repeated, shooting a glance over to Mulder. 

"Yeah.  Like when Daddy leaves his running shoes on when he comes in the house when it's raining.  Mommy says that's a constant bother, too," the boy elaborated. 

"Well, your father was definitely a constant bother when he worked here.  I'll have to congratulate your mother for finding the right words," Skinner replied with a smirk.  Mulder rolled his eyes, but wisely kept out of the conversation. 

"Can you come get hot dogs at the mall with us, Uncle Walter?" Will asked excitedly. 

"At the mall?" 

"'On' the Mall," Mulder corrected at his former boss's confused look.  "Will hasn't seen the Capitol or any the monuments yet, so I thought we'd go over to the Mall for a hot dog and walk around a bit." 

"Great idea!  Holly, I'll be back in an hour.  If Kim calls . . ." 

"You have your cell phone," Holly supplied.  "Have fun, you three!" 

Hot dogs and drinks in hand, the three strolled over to a park bench not far from the Museum of Natural History.  Mulder helped Will balance his drink on the seat before turning his attention to his own meal.  Skinner finished his hot dog with a contented sigh, leaned back and watched the interplay of father and son. 

"So, how're the new classes?" Skinner asked as Will proceeded to wolf down his lunch, taking the peculiar route of starting to eat his hot dog in the middle and working his way toward both ends in turn. 

"I really liked teaching clinical, surprisingly.  I was sure I'd suck at it," Mulder admitted. 

Skinner let out a snort.  "Mulder, I can't honestly think of a single thing you ever 'sucked at', paperwork and ass kissing notwithstanding, of course." 

Mulder grinned at the compliment.  "Of course," he readily agreed.  "But seriously, taking on the full load wasn't as bad as I'd thought.  I'm home less, but Scully has the girls and Will in a playgroup from church and now that she's writing journal articles, she's happier, too.  The college is already making noises that they'd like to get her over to teach, when the girls are a little older.  Things seem to be settling down for good." 

Skinner wadded up his hot dog paper and tossed it in the nearby trashcan.  "So, the idea of maybe coming back, finishing what you started, never passes your minds?"  He wouldn't meet Mulder's eyes as he recited this obviously well rehearsed speech.
 

"We found Sam, Walt.  She's gone, and has been a very long time.  As for the rest of it, last summer pretty much ended the threats we were worried about.  We know we have friends taking care of us, at least working on our behalf out there.  It was time to graduate to other things."  Affectionately he ruffled his son's dark hair.  "More important things." 

"You know, we still get cases," Walter said evenly. 

"I'm sure you have plenty of agents -- " 

"That's just it.  With the new emphasis on terrorism, there aren't any agents willing or able to look into cases that offer no rational explanation." 

Mulder took a napkin and wiped at the corner of Will's mouth, where mustard gave the child a crooked yellow mustache.  "Hey, wait a few years and you can recruit this one," he said, jokingly.  "Seriously, Walt, thanks for the left-handed offer, but we aren't interested.  Scully and I are happy in Montana, we have three little people who depend on us every minute of the day--there just isn't room for liver eating mutants in our daily schedules anymore." 

"Well, if you ever find a few spare minutes in the day -- " 

"I plan on using them to sleep.  Or other more constructive endeavors," he said with a malicious grin. 

"What I'm saying is that the Director himself instructed me to offer you a job -- strictly consulting basis only.  But your expertise in this area is outstanding." 

"Look, if you ever come across something that just grabs you by the short hairs, call me.  Otherwise, well, some things are better left unexplained, ya know, Walt?" 

"What are 'short hairs', Daddy?" Will chimed in at that moment. 

It was Skinner's turn for a wicked grin, but Mulder seemed nonplussed.  "Those are the little hairs at the back of your neck that the barber trims with the shaver, buddy." 

"Oh," said the boy with a carefree smile.  "Let's go see the pointy building over there," he added, waving toward the Washington Monument. 

"You learned that skill of explaining on the fly on reports you sent to me, you know that don't you?" Skinner growled in low tones so as not to be overheard. 

"Nah, I picked up that skill at Oxford.  When I was working under you, I was at the top of my game," Mulder tossed over his shoulder as he hurried to catch up with his son. 

Wednesday June 1, 2005

Maggie Scully's residence

Mulder was wiping off the outdoor furniture when he heard Maggie call out from the foyer.  "We're back!  Dana, Fox, they're here."  It had been decided by Scully that taking the children to the airport to greet Bill and Tara's plane was just too much excitement, so the Mulder-Scullys had stayed behind to finish preparations for the family reunion to take place over the next few days. 

Mulder waited until he heard Scully's footsteps on the stairs, where she had been making up the extra beds, before venturing back into the house.  He'd spoken to Scully the night before and had vowed to keep his distance from Bill as much as possible.  It was his partner's hope that he could avoid any unnecessary confrontations, although secretly Mulder knew that would be the most extreme of possibilities. 

"Oh, my God, look at you!  You look wonderful!  I love your hair!  Dana, you have to keep it long, it makes you look like a teenager!"  Mulder recognized Tara's voice as he pulled open the backdoor to enter the mudroom and head toward the kitchen. 

"Is this Julia?  Oh, Tara, she's beautiful!  May I hold her?"  

Mulder had to smile as he remembered Joe Hawthorne's reaction every time his wife, MC, had asked to hold a baby.  He was pretty sure Scully was content with their three, but they'd also mutually agreed never to say never again.  

"Oh, my, she's so light!  You forget how little they are," he heard Scully exclaim as he washed his hands in the sink. 

"So where are the kids?" Tara asked.  "Thank you for the pictures, by the way.  I love the one of you and Fox holding the twins with Will behind you and his little hands on your shoulders.  That is just so precious." 

"Yeah, too bad the first time we actually get to see the kid is from his pictures.  As I seem to remember, the only time we've seen Billy has been in his pictures."  That voice could only belong to Bill Scully, Jr.  Mulder forced down a flinch and finished drying his hands, still listening intently. 

"Will, Bill.  We call him Will," Scully corrected evenly. 

"What did I call him?" her brother asked, feigning innocence. 

"You called him Billy.  Please don't confuse him.  We call him Will or William, not Bill." 

"But he's named after Dad, right?  I mean Dad was called Bill." 

"He's named after Mulder's father -- William, and although Mulder's Dad was also called Bill, we, the boy's parents, are calling him Will," Scully said in a tone that gave no quarter in the argument. 

Mulder decided it was probably all shot to hell anyway, so he might as well make his entrance. 

"Hello," he said, forcing a smile.  Tara looked up and beamed at him, stepping forward to take him into a quick hug. 

"Fox!  It's so good to see you again!" 

"It's nice to see you, too, Tara."  Mulder disengaged from the hug and looked over at Bill, who was making no effort at all to extend his hand.  "Bill," Mulder nodded, also refusing to offer his hand.  

"Mulder," came the terse reply. 

"Mulder, meet Julia Annamarie Scully.  How old is she, Tara?" 

"Seven weeks on Friday," Tara said proudly.  

Mulder turned to peer at the tiny infant in Scully's arms.  "Scully, her eyes look a little like the twins, don't they?" 

Scully looked closer.  "Yes, I think those are definitely Scully eyes," she said.  

"I'm just so excited that she'll have some girl cousins!" Tara gushed effusively.  "My brothers haven't been much help in that department.  The only one who's even tried has two boys and with Charlie's two boys, well, the pickin's were looking pretty slim.  I mean, when we didn't know that you two were alive or anything and with William's adoption -- "  She quickly lapsed into embarrassed silence. 

Maggie walked in at that moment, hand in hand with a young tow-headed boy of about seven.  " . . . and you can go out in the backyard and play with your cousin Will," she was telling him.  She stopped talking when she noticed the strained quiet in the foyer.  "Is everything all right?" 

"Sure it is, just saying hello.  Well, let me help you with the bags," Mulder offered, breaking the tension.  He reached for the larger of two suitcases, only to find Bill's fist already tightly wrapped around the handle.  He looked up and caught the challenging glare from the older Scully, so he wisely chose the smaller of the cases.  "Maggie -- er, your mom has you two and Julia and Matty set up in your old room, Bill." 

"That's where we always stay," Bill intoned gruffly. 

"Good, then you can lead the way," Mulder said dryly, waving Bill in front of him.  They headed up the stairs to the backdrop of women's voices proclaiming the growth of young children. 

Bill shoved the door open and dropped the bag in the corner.  He turned and took the other bag from Mulder's hand.  "I suppose you're staying here," he said evenly. 

"Just for the night.  Tomorrow we're moving to a place in Crystal City," Mulder said, not rising to the bait in Bill's tone. 

"Yeah, Mom said you had money," Bill said with a sneer. 

"Actually, we're subletting from our old boss, Walter Skinner.  He's moved into his new house and he has three more months on his old lease," Mulder replied, using the same even tone as before. 

"I just don't get it.  Haven't you caused this family enough grief?  Why in the hell didn't you stay in Montana and let Dana come back home to be with her family?" 

Mulder stared at the other man for a few breathless seconds.  He knew Bill was talking about more than just a visit, that he'd assumed his sister would come back east for good.  Mulder just wasn't ready to get into that battle, but he wasn't going to walk completely away from it, either.   "Scully is my family, Bill.  And if you ask her, I think she'll tell you that I'm her family, too."  Without waiting for any rebuttal, Mulder stormed out the door.  

End of round one and even Mulder had to admit it had been a tie.

  Continued...