From: Ariel 'xfilesx' <vmfiles@hotmail.com>
          Date: Thur, 28 February 2008 10:33:23pm PST
          Title: The Talk: Futuristic Now (7/7)
          Author: Ariel 'xfilesx'
          Rating: R (for language and sexual situations)
          Spoilers: A few from season 2.
          Keywords: MSR Married
          Disturbed on: Gossamer, Ephemeral and
          Veronica Mars Files
          
          Intro: In this story season 8 and 9 don't
          exist. Although I did enjoy those seasons,
          they don't exist in this universe, and
          very little of season 7. Everything XF
          happened except for the extraction of her
          ovas.
          
          Summary: An AU version of married life
          with Mulder, Scully and their son William.
          I know they might seem completely out of
          character but its married life.
          
          *See part one*
          
          Disclaimer: The characters and situations
          of the television program "The X-Files"
          are the creations and property of Chris
          Carter, Fox Broadcasting, and Ten-Thirteen
          Productions. No copyright infringement is
          intended.
          
          My Beta: None
          
          Note: Please don't repost this story
          without author's permission.
          
          >>>>>>
          A month later
          
          Mulder was now working from home, keeping
          a close watch on his family. He had told
          Scully he let Tammy go but didn't actually
          give her a reason why, since they were
          interrupted by family issues. By night
          fall, Scully was completely whipped and
          had forgotten all about it.
          
          Scully's mother called earlier that day to
          plan her baby shower. Her mother was
          ecstatic when she found out she was
          pregnant. Her mother instantly knew and
          hugged her daughter and son-in-law to
          death at the news. She congratulated him
          on a job well done which ultimately
          embarrassed Mulder to death. He would
          never be able to live that one down.
          William was at Karen's house again. Karen
          was such a great person and even more
          great when she realized Scully was
          pregnant. She too, if her mother got
          everything set up, would be attending the
          shower.
          
          Scully had been trying to call her brother
          Bill to tell him the news but he didn't
          answer the phone. His wife, Tara did
          instead. She figured he didn't want to see
          her. He let his pure hate and disgust for
          Mulder get the best of him. Bill pegged
          Mulder as the root to all her problems
          when that was simply not true. The fact
          that they were together made her brother
          even sicker. When Bill found out Mulder 
          had proposed to her, he pretty much lost 
          it and came up with all the reasons why 
          she should have said no.

          -----
          On their first, almost official couple's 
          dinner, Scully asked Mulder not to do or 
          say anything rude even though he wanted 
          to; should have. He was being the bigger 
          man in the situation and she thanked him 
          for it at the end of the day with a whole 
          lot of gifts and surprises that blew his 
          mind in many ways. The love they made was 
          electrifying in every way as if both were 
          experiencing a torrid love affair for the
          first time. Both battered from their harsh 
          movements, ended the night on the floor 
          during the last act, sweaty and panting, 
          still holding each others, working their 
          way back to reality.
          
          "Wow." He breathed into her hair. She
          giggled, reaching up and moving dark locks
          of his short hair from his forehead. She
          was atop of him, caressing him still,
          completely sated with him. He couldn't
          think of anything else but touching her
          and living to remember the most amazing
          sex they ever had. She leaned in to
          whisper in his ear; her tongue came out,
          lapping and nipping at his lobe. He laid
          there, limp. Letting her have him how ever
          she wanted. He sighed against her
          shoulder, her breasts laying flat against
          his also sweaty chest. She kept a languid
          movement from her thigh going on his now
          flaccid length. If she kept at it, it
          wouldn't be for long.
          
          "Mmm, keep being nice to my brother like
          you were tonight and we might just do this
          every night." She chanted while breathing
          hot air against his skin. That thought, sent 
          a wave of wonder through his body, causing 
          him to shiver as if he were cold. He 
          had to have her again. He grabbed her and 
          flipped her underneath him. She gasped 
          as her hot back made contact with the 
          cold wood floor. He settled himself 
          in-between her legs, bracing himself up 
          on his forearms. He looked at her with 
          such excitement and wonder. He took her 
          plump bottom lip between his teeth, gently 
          nibbling at it. She let him, wrapping her 
          arms around his neck. He pulled back 
          once more.
          
          "Now where was I?" He said, his eyes
          roaming over her bared body, her eyes
          doing the same to his.
          
          "I believe you were about to kiss me." She
          said with a grin.
          
          "Yes, that and... I love you, so much. And
          not because of this, well part of it but
          for so much more." He told her. He
          couldn't take his eyes off her. She was
          completely captivating, breath-taking. The
          most arousing thing he had ever seen in
          his life. She smiled at his words.
          
          "I know that. But you don't have to keep
          telling me. Although I do appreciate it, I
          already know. You show me all the time."
          She let him know, making it known that he
          was showing her right now. They both were.
          
          "I know that you know. But I want to make
          sure you know and remember it. Does that
          make sense?" He said, she laughed again;
          taking his face in her hands and dragging
          him close to her face.
          
          "None in the least." She whispered against
          his lips, fervently kissing them.
          
          -----
          The doorbell rang throughout the house.
          Scully walked out from the hallway,
          wobbling toward the front door. She knew
          Mulder didn't hear the door since he was
          in his office, door halfway closed,
          listening to past sessions with a headset.
          He was being considerate about that,
          saving her from having to hear and listen
          to the thoughts of a delusional mind. She 
          got to the door, standing on her tippy-
          toes to look out the peephole. It was a
          lady in a cream suit with dark curly hair
          standing there, patiently waiting for the
          door to be opened.
          
          "Yes?" Scully opened with behind the
          cracked door.
          
          "Hi. Is this the Mulder residence?" The
          creamed suit lady asked.
          
          "It is." She answered, eyeing the woman
          strangely. The lady handed her a folded up
          sheet of paper.
          
          "You've been served." The lady informed
          her, walking away.
          
          Scully looked at the woman walking away
          then at the paper before closing the door.
          You've been served? Served what? She felt
          the baby stir inside her and she placed
          her hand on her stomach, calmly rubbing
          her belly. She opened the paper and nearly
          died right there. It couldn't be true,
          could it? She collected herself and
          quickly walked to his office. She pressed
          her ear to the door, trying to listen. She
          could hear a pen against paper, he was
          writing out another evaluation. She
          stupidly tapped on the door, forgetting
          that he wouldn't hear it. She pushed it
          open and went right in. She walked to his
          desk where he was working and tossed the
          opened paper over his work. He didn't
          realize she had walked in until he saw the
          paper fly in front of him.
          
          "Care to explain this?" Scully opened with 
          before he even read the letter. He looked 
          up at her emotionless expression. She was
          waiting until he read it before revealing
          her true feelings. He moved the head set
          away from his ears and down to his neck.
          He opened the notice, pouring over it.
          Okay now he realized what was going on. He
          knew he was in trouble. His ex-assistant
          Tammy was filing a sexual harassment suit
          against him. The letter was garbage. It
          read like complete bullshit. He never came
          onto her. She came onto him. In fact, he
          resisted. But that didn't matter now,
          because the jury was out and Scully was
          here. She crossed her arms over her chest,
          waiting for him to give her a plausible
          explanation.
          
          "Scully, it's not what you think." He
          said, sighing. He tossed the letter to the
          side. That wasn't going to make her any
          less pissed. And she had all the right to
          be.
          
          "Yeah I'll bet." Her voice rose. He
          couldn't say anything else. He should have
          told her why he let Tammy go but didn't,
          couldn't. They stayed in silence for a
          moment. He couldn't meet her gaze. He
          started to fiddle with a sheet of notebook
          paper. She calmed down a bit, collecting
          herself once more.
          
          "Mulder... I love you... with all of my 
          heart, but *this* is unacceptable." She 
          stated, effortlessly pointing at the 
          paper on his desk.
          
          "Scully---" He said, still not meeting her
          eyes. She cut him off before he could
          finish. She knew what he was going to say.
          
          "I'm not mad, Mulder. I'm disappointed."
          She voiced her inter thoughts when what
          she really felt like doing was beating 
          Tammy silly. Can this family get a break, 
          for once? He still couldn't meet her 
          eyes. They were everywhere except on her.
          
          "Look at me." She demanded and he obeyed.
          "How can you ask me to confide in you if
          you can't do the same in me?" She
          finished. He didn't answer her. He wanted
          to. His lips moved as though he wanted to
          speak but nothing was forthcoming.
          
          "Nevermind. What are *we* gonna do about
          this?" She said instead.
          
          "I don't know. Scully, I-I didn't... you
          know. I never." He tried to assure her,
          looking up at her with puppy dog eyes. She
          simply nodded, not giving him an ounce of
          reassurance what so ever. Instead she kept
          up her poker face. Not letting him know
          that she understood. She knew he didn't 
          sleep with Tammy. She knew him far to 
          well. But the fact that he told her, just 
          months ago, that he didn't want her to feel 
          like she had to keep secrets and yet he 
          was keeping them.
          
          "I know I should have told you but I
          didn't and I apologize for that. I
          couldn't face that truth that it had
          actually happened. And I couldn't stand to
          see that look you're giving me right now."
          He said.
          
          "It?" She emphasized with a raised brow.
          He started to reply to her question but
          the doorbell rang again. She turned out of
          his office in a flash, not even waiting
          for his answer. He quickly snatched off
          the headset, throwing it on his desk to
          chase her. They argued like married people
          all the way to the front door. They were
          embarrassed nonetheless when it was her
          mother they opened the door too. Way to
          greet her. They both looked at each other
          before Mulder grabbed his coat to leave.
          
          "Hi Maggie... ummm, I'll be back
          later." He said, not waiting for Scully's
          response. He left. Her mother noticed the
          dynamic pair were a bit off their rockers.
          Mothers always knew and she didn't like it
          one bit. She was rooting for the both of
          them and she adored her son-in-law and
          cherished the grandson they gave her.
          
          "Is everything alright between you two?"
          Her mother asked.
          
          "Everything is fine." She hesitantly said.
          
          "Don't lie to me Dana."
          
          "It's just work..." She said. It was work
          related, just in a different way.
          
          "Mom, I--I don't wanna do this baby shower
          thing." She told her mother, half way
          looking at her.
          
          "Why not? I've got Bill and Tara coming
          down just to see you. And I already called
          everyone."
          
          "Well can't you uninvited them? It's not
          like I don't appreciate you for doing this
          but I'm not sure if it's really what I
          want."
          
          "Well what do you want?"
          
          "I wish I knew. This pregnancy hasn't been
          easy for me, mom. And Mulder with his
          work... it's stressful." She crocked out.
          Her mother led her into the living room to
          sit on the couch. She looked exhausted and
          like she had a lot on her mind. Her mother
          took a seat across from her.
          
          "Dana... if you're not sharing your feelings
          with Fox, talk to me." Her mother said,
          clearing a path for her to open up with
          her. Scully sighed.
          
          "It's not that I'm not sharing my feelings
          with him but that he isn't sharing his
          with me. It's frustrating sometimes. And
          what makes it even worse is that he asked
          me to tell all with him when he isn't
          doing the same. Sometimes I feel like I've
          done something wrong, the reason he isn't,
          you know..." She gave up explaining, hoping
          her mother understood the point she was
          trying to make.
          
          "I knew when you were friends that you two
          told each other everything you never said
          to me. And I was ecstatic when I found out
          you two were together. When you were in
          that 'situation' during your time at the
          academy, Fox came to me with the news,
          sadly. It hurt him to tell me you were
          missing. He didn't want to tell me, he
          almost didn't. And I know that whatever
          *that* is, he kept it from you to protect
          you in some way. You get that look of
          sorrow and sadness when you learn of the
          truth. I myself--- hate seeing that look
          on your face. I can only imagine what it
          must be like for him. But don't worry.
          He'll eventually come around. You two are
          married and that's what married people do.
          My marriage to your father, god rest his
          soul, wasn't the easiest thing to mange in
          the least. But I still loved him very much
          so by the end of the day." Her mother said,
          in a very soothing tone.
          
          Her mother was right in everyway. Scully,
          a little teary-eyed from her mother's
          words, thought back to those days. Her
          kidnapping wasn't something Mulder was
          able to live down for the longest. He felt
          responsible when it was never his fault.
          He blamed himself through and through.
          When she was found, alive and well, he
          called her every night for a long time to
          make sure she was okay. Oh the days they
          were just partners and friends seemed like
          a universe away.
          
          "God, you're such a mom." Scully said,
          just above a whisper. She wiped her watery
          eyes with her hands.
          
          "That's what I'm here for." Maggie Scully
          said. Her mother had a way with words as
          did Mulder. He had amazing qualities and
          changed a great deal over the years, in a
          good way. She realized she should have
          been on his side automatically even though
          he didn't actually tell her himself. She
          made a vow when she said I do. And that
          vow was to love, honor, and cherish
          forever.
          
          "Now where is my grandson?"
          
          "Around..." Scully answered. Her mother gave
          her a look as though she didn't really
          know where William was.
          
          "Relax mom, he's at the neighbors. They
          have a son and a daughter. He's a very
          frequent visitor. I hope they don't mind
          too much." She sighed, plopping her head
          back on the couch.
          
          **
          Scully's mother stayed around for a while
          to finish her talk with her daughter. It
          was helpful in many ways and got Scully
          thinking, mostly happy thoughts. With the 
          night light peeking over. Maggie was
          walking down the pavement, leaving their
          home when Mulder pulled up.
          
          "Late night Fox?" Maggie said. He knew
          what she was getting at. It was his mother-
          in-law for crying out loud. She must have
          talked to Scully.
          
          "It's just... work." Mulder said causing
          Maggie to laugh a bit. Mulder had no idea
          why she was laughing.
          
          "You know, I could tell from the moment I
          met you that you two were one in the
          same." She let him in on her thought. He
          didn't know what to make of that and he
          simply shook his head in confusion until
          she clarified.
          
          "Dana said the same thing earlier."
          
          "Oh, that explains it." He said, not
          really knowing what to say. How much did
          she know? Scully must have really let her
          have it. More secrets have been dispelled
          here today than in their 10 year marriage,
          which made Mulder frown a bit. It was
          great that she was speaking with her mom
          but about that?
          
          "Be sensitive. She needs you and you need
          her." Damn, mothers know everything.
          Especially Scully's mom.
          
          "How much do you know?" He asked. It was
          mom's job to know everything. Mulder was
          still trying to figure out how much she
          knew but the looks and the brow raises
          weren't working.
          
          "Enough." Her mother was a good secret
          keeper and had a stone poker face. He
          wondered where Scully developed such a
          look and now he had his answer. It must
          have been a mixture of her mother and her
          father; who he never had the pleasure of
          meeting. Maggie gave Mulder a hug in the
          driveway. He looked like he needed one.
          Just before officially leaving she wanted
          to make sure he'd do what she asked.
          
          "Sensitive?"
          
          "Aren't I always?" He said.
          
          "Please ask Dana to reconsider the baby
          shower." She informed him. He didn't even
          know she wanted to cancel it. This was
          news to him. He nodded before she left. He
          watched her pull out of the driveway and
          around a street corner. He stood there for
          a moment, chucking a bit to the windy air.
          Her mother was such a great person and an
          amazing addition all offered with the
          Scully package. The only unflattering end
          of this deal was her brother Bill, yikes.
          
          Scully was in her own office in the house,
          surfing away on the web. She was onto
          something. The blue gleam from the screen
          bounced off her round framed glasses.
          That's where he found her when he finally
          made it into the house.
          
          "Hey... what are you doing?" He opened with.
          And she looked up to acknowledge him.
          
          "Just-- some research. Where have you
          been?"
          
          "Around. I needed to clear my head." He 
          explained, she nodded. "What'cha got 
          there?" He said, gesturing at her 
          laptop. He couldn't see the screen so he 
          came around to view it but she quickly 
          closed the top down. He gave her a look 
          of disappointment and then a frown, she, 
          returning the look. She started to speak, 
          trying to find the right words to use.
          
          "Mulder, if I show you something... you have
          to promise me you won't... react, you know?"
          She stuttered a bit. He nodded his agreement 
          as she turned back to the laptop, bringing 
          the screen up once again.

          He saw what she was looking up and kneeled
          down beside her. He read a few lines,
          using the arrow keys to scroll to the next
          paragraph. He was completely thrown aback.
          It was a news article on Tammy. There were
          about 3 other men, she worked for that she
          also accused of lewd conduct.
          
          "Where'd you get this?" He asked,
          suspiciously. Could she have been looking
          this up with her mother? Great.
          
          "We're ex-FBI agents, Mulder. We still
          have access to some things you know." She
          answered to his posed question. He sighed
          to the heavens. She was being a smart
          aleck. He figured he deserved it. Now he
          really knows where his son got that
          fitting personality.
          
          "Stop lying to me." She demanded. He met
          her semi-composed stare.
          
          "I wasn't lying." He blurted out.
          
          "Well then what do you call it?" She shot
          back.
          
          "--lying." He hesitantly agreed. It was
          technically lying in her book.
          
          "Exactly." She said in contradiction to
          his statement. "Don't tell me it's nothing
          when it's everything." She finished. He
          was being good, listening. It was her time
          to talk, and it was his time to listen.
          
          "Now... what have you learned?"
          
          "Trust woman's intuition." He retorted,
          thinking back to the time when his wife
          said she didn't trust that assistant of
          his. Scully had every right to be
          suspicious.
          
          "Not just any woman but your wife." She
          stated, very much serious. They shared a
          profound look of understanding and caring,
          lies no more.
          
          "When's the hearing?" He asked.
          
          "Next week at noon."
          
          "Damn, Scully, we have to call a lawyer
          and-and..." He stumbled in between words.
          
          "Calm down. I already have that taken care
          of." She calmly told him since he was
          starting to panic a bit.
          
          "What would I do without you?" His
          thoughts became words, completely amazed
          that she had worked so quickly.
          
          "God only knows." She said with a half
          smile, touching his cheek, her hand
          lingering there, looking into the very
          depth of his smoldering eyes.
          
          **
          A week later
          
          Scully called a lawyer alright. She must
          have had some type of ties to a rich
          family because the lawyer they had was
          well dressed and very expensive. He
          offered his services for free. This
          definitely wasn't going to help with
          sending their son to camp like they
          planned if they were forced to toss all
          their money away because of this. Scully
          was in a doubled breasted maternity suit.
          She had to buy more clothes for her six
          month bump, the only thing that stood out
          on her still small frame. Mulder wore his
          usual suit attire, it was common for him
          but for Scully, she hadn't worn a suit in
          months since her pregnancy. They dropped
          their son off at her mother's house before
          heading to their final destination. They 
          didn't tell him and he didn't need to 
          know. He had the right to remain a child 
          for as long as he can. Mulder didn't want 
          that to be taken away from his son just 
          as it had been taken away from him.
          
          They walked into the building, hand in
          hand, for what might be the ultimate
          detour in what should have been easy
          sailing. But for them, nothing ever came
          easy. Tammy was covered up in decent
          clothing. That was shocking to both, Mulder
          and Scully. They were all sitting around a
          large table, listening to Tammy feed everyone
          lies. Scully patted her husband's arm in
          pure support. She knew they were lies. The
          prosecutor was trying to wrap his mind
          around her allegations. He had to hear
          both sides before and if this matter went
          to court.
          
          "He--he kept coming onto me, asking me to
          perform things on him. I said no but he
          kept on asking. Telling me that I had to
          do it or else." Tammy said, lying her ass
          off. The prosecutor didn't seem to take
          her story seriously.
          
          "Why didn't you leave? If the working
          conditions were so bad, why stay?" The
          gray-haired man said from the head of the
          table. He was old-school when it came to
          law.
          
          "I don't know. I was scared. He threatened
          me." Tammy lied some more. Mulder wanted
          to literally kill her then, his eyes spoke
          death but he couldn't do it. Scully
          brought him back to reality with those
          little reassuring pats and looks. The
          prosecutor looked to the other side of the
          table for Mulder's response.
          
          "My client did no such thing. The
          plaintiff's story is completely
          fabricated. I have proof of that." The
          lawyer stated. The prosecutor was
          interested in that proof and asked if he
          could see it. The lawyer pulled out the
          article Scully printed a week earlier,
          with the man in charge scanning over it.
          Tammy's lawyer started running off at the
          mouth.
          
          "This is outrageous. My client did no such
          thing. That man should be in jail with a
          sexual assault charge on his record--."
          The lawyer went on until Scully cut in.
          
          "Watch it buddy!" Scully shouted until
          Mulder calmed her back down. She wanted to
          blow too. Their lawyer advised them not to
          speak out of term. The prosecutor spoke
          again.
          
          "I'm gonna have to cut this session short
          for further evaluation of this newly
          submitted evidence." He said, dismissing
          everyone. Tammy sped past them like a
          guilty party and out the door. At the rate
          this was going, it should be over within
          the next few days.
          
          **
          Three days later
          
          They were all back in the room, waiting on
          the prosecutor and his final decision.
          They didn't need this. They needed this to
          rule in their flavor. Scully was more
          afraid than Mulder at that point. She'd be
          alone, with a baby on the way. All their
          fear led to this very moment, all waiting
          for the ruling that would change their
          lives forever. Tammy wanted money, money
          they didn't have. Even if they did, they
          wouldn't give it to her.
          
          "I've reviewed over the newly submitted
          evidence and I'll have to throw this case
          out. You... ma'am are in the wrong. You
          should be ashamed of yourself. There's no
          case here." The prosecutor said, speaking 
          directly to Tammy.
          
          "That's bullshit!" Tammy screamed. Her
          lawyer tried to calm her down but she
          talked over him, pointing and screaming at
          the other side of the table.
          
          "That son of a bitch assaulted me and you
          do nothing!"
          
          "Control your client. Ma'am, I will hold
          you in contempt." The prosecutor said.
          Mulder took his wife by the hand and out
          of the room. She didn't need to listen to
          Tammy's tirade. Their lawyer told them it 
          had been a pleasure and he left soon after. 
          
          "Oh fuck you!" She bit out and the
          prosecutor had had enough. He motioned for
          an officer to come into the room to take
          her in for processing. They tried to cuff
          her.
          
          "You're making a mistake you son of a
          bitch! Arrest the both of them, not me!
          I'm Tammy!!" Her voice got distant and
          further apart with every drag from the
          room to a hallway toward a jail cell.
          
          Scully still heard her anyway and couldn't
          believe her ears. She had to stop walking
          for a moment, tightly holding her stomach
          and Mulder's arm. He noticed the discomfort 
          and pain on her face.
          
          "What is it?" He asked, touching her all
          over to check her. She closed her eyes,
          shaking her head.
          
          "I---I don't know. Mulder. Oh god." She
          said, barely above a whisper. She latched
          onto him for balance. He held her tight,
          trying to figure out what was wrong.
          
          "Is it... time?" If it was, they were in 
          for something wild.
          
          "Uh-huh. Yeah, I think so." She yelped.
          
          "It's too early Scully." He reminded her.
          
          "I know that but this baby apparently
          doesn't. Jeez, we gotta go. I can't
          deliver in a courthouse." She said. He
          quickly took her hand to go to the
          hospital. Better safe than sorry. This was 
          just the beginning of weird. The fact that 
          Scully wasn't sure if she was in labor or 
          not scared him to death.
          
          **
          Mulder drove like a mad man to the nearest
          hospital. They were there not too long
          after. Scully tried to breathe. Mulder
          thought it was fitting for her to try the
          breathing exercises he used on his
          patients. As soon as they got to the
          hospital, her water broke. This was
          definitely not good. They quickly prepped
          her for delivery. Scully was scared.
          Mulder had to sign her in at the
          information desk while they dragged her
          away.
          
          "Mulder!" She screamed out. Her
          contractions were ripping through her
          body. He flew through the form and was
          back by her side immediately. She was
          sweating profusely, gripping his hand as
          if life depended on it. They already had
          her on a table, her delivery on high
          alert. Mulder informed them of her
          previous visits and the nature of them,
          which they already had on file, but he
          wanted to be sure.
          
          "It hurts." She cried.
          
          "I know. I know. Just breathe..." He said,
          moving her auburn hair out of her face with 
          his free hand. Her eyes watered from the pain
          and fear.
          
          A while later, they had her lower body in
          generic stirrups, preparing her for
          delivery. Her contractions were starting
          to overlay each other. Mulder was standing
          next to her, still holding her hand,
          trying to reassure her that she'll be
          okay. Without warning, the gloved woman
          doctor stuck her whole hand inside
          Scully's cervix, to check and see how many
          centimeters she was dilated. She pressed
          her other hand into her stomach to see
          where the baby's head was. Scully gripped
          Mulder's hand even tighter, gasping in
          pain.
          
          "Oww oww!" She cried.
          
          "It's okay, it's okay." He tried to assure
          her. The doctor took her hand out to
          regard them both.
          
          "You're 8 centimeters dilated. You're
          gonna have to push for me Dana okay?" The
          doctor said, gesturing for the group of
          attendees to stand near her, ready.
          
          "I can't do this, I can't-I can't.
          Mulder." She breathed.
          
          "I'm here. I'm here. You can do this." He
          franticly said.
          
          "Sir, if you don't mind..." They wanted him
          to leave.
          
          "No! No. no." She wasn't having that. No
          matter how pregnant she was.
          
          "I'm not going anywhere." He told her.
          She slightly nodded; he brushed her
          dampened hair out of her face. They were
          about to begin.
          
          "Push Dana!" The doctor yelled and she
          did, screaming.
          
          "Don't leave me." Scully cried to her
          husband.
          
          "I won't." Mulder told her with
          conviction. She was in so much pain. It
          hurt her physically but him emotionally to
          see her this way.
          
          "Push Dana! Again!" The doctor yelled some
          more. She complied, completely wiped out.
          She squeezed his hand even more.
          
          "One more!" The doctor yelled again.

          "I can't--" She wasn't sure if she could do 
           it again. It hurt so much.
          
          "Come on Dana." He tried to encourage her 
          so she could push again. She was almost 
          done. She pushed out one more time and she 
          was done. The infant's cries rang through 
          the room.
          
          "It's a boy, premature but healthy as far
          as I can tell." The attendees and doctor
          proudly announced. They cut the umbilical
          cord, without asking if the father wanted
          to do it. She was breathing harshly from
          the pain; her body grew lack from the
          pressure and room air hitting her stretched 
          private area. They pulled a sheet over the 
          lower half of her body to cover her exposed 
          genitals. He rubbed the sweat and exhaustion 
          from her face. They laid the baby on her chest 
          for a bonding moment. She weakly rubbed the 
          baby's soft head. He placed his hand atop 
          of hers smiling warmly at her and their new
          edition. The doctors took the baby to a
          table to get cleaned up.
          
          "You did it." He whispered to her. She was
          still holding his hand.
          
          "I'm so tired Mulder. So tired..." She mumbled, 
          sleepily. She closed her eyes, trying to work up
          a smile for him, until she simply let go. The 
          monitors started to blink rapidly. The readings 
          were off. The strong line suddenly went 
          flat. Mulder started to shake her back awake.
          
          "Scully. Scully! Dana. Open your eyes." He
          franticly shouted at her, scared and
          panicking. It wasn't working.
          
          "No-no! Please." He cried, pulling her
          lifeless body against his chest. She was
          gone. It was too late by the time the
          doctors reacted. They couldn't revive her.
          He sobbed grievance into her hair, still
          holding her. Her head lobbed, inanimately 
          to one side.
          
          "No. No. I *need* you," He repeated, crying, 
          rocking her motionless body closely against 
          him. Tears trickled down his face onto 
          her unlively skin. The entire room stilled.
          
          = =
          Mulder ran into the hospital bathroom, 
          throwing up in the sink. He cried and
          cried, not believing his wife had just
          died in his arms after giving birth to 
          their beautiful son. He scoured at his tear
          stricken eyes, bracing himself over the
          sink. He had to face her family while
          trying to be strong for his two sons. He 
          didn't even get to tell her that he loved 
          her, for what would be the very last time 
          he'd speak those words to her, the very 
          last time she'd be able to hear those 
          words and that's what killed him most. Now 
          she sleeps, forever. He suddenly heard a 
          strange sound and turned around, looking 
          at the floor. He saw a woman's feet in some 
          very expensive heels step down off the 
          toilet. She came out, he looked up and it 
          was Tammy. She walked out; straighten up 
          her skin tight suit. He couldn't really 
          see her in-between tears but he recognized 
          her nonetheless. What was she doing here? He 
          was about to find out.
          
          "I heard your wife died." She said,
          completely unsympathetic. She was actually
          glad, happy, smiling broadly.
          
          "I just wanted you to know that I killed
          her." She publicized to him in the quiet
          bathroom. It was the men's room so she
          had to have been hiding there until he
          lost himself. His eyes widened at that
          statement.
          
          "You know those birth control pills she
          was prescribed? I poisoned them. Along
          with the prenatal vitamins she picked up.
          I switched the pills when she went to pick
          them up at the pharmacy. If you ever change 
          your mind about us... call me." Tammy 
          said. There was no *us*. They weren't an 
          item. Pure hate and anger was very visible 
          on his face, satisfying her. Mulder didn't 
          put two and two together until that very 
          moment. Scully didn't get sick or start 
          feeling bad until after she took those 
          pills. She had been tired and falling asleep 
          on him a lot lately as well. He couldn't 
          believe he didn't pick up on it.

          "Why her?! Why her and not me!" He yelled
          in-between tears.
          
          "I kinda like you. You two were completely
          mismatched. I had to get rid of her. I want 
          you. Just let me make it up to you." Tammy 
          said, putting her hand on his shoulder. Her 
          hand on him was unwelcome, dirty.
          
          "What do you want from me?" There was nothing 
          left this woman could possibly want to take from 
          him. She had taken the only woman he ever loved. 
          The only woman who had such a heart, capable of 
          loving him in return. The light of his life had 
          been deemed a distance memory.

          "Nothing, yet everything." She said. She was 
          crazy. She had been watching them before 
          he hired her. Why? What was the point? Scully 
          never did anything to this woman. His anger 
          lashed out, he took his hands up, choking 
          the life out of her, just as she had done to 
          Scully. A life for a life. She had stolen his 
          wife's life and he was gonna steal hers. She 
          didn't deserve to live. Tammy's eyes were 
          blood shot, caught completely off-guard. His 
          eyes were dark with pain, rage and tears.          
          
          "I can't breathe," She tried to voice. He
          tightened his grip around her neck,
          shaking her. He couldn't do it. He wanted
          to, he should have but he couldn't. He
          roughly threw her to the floor, collecting
          himself. Tammy scrambled to get up out of his
          range, running out of the bathroom. He ran
          out after her to formally confront her a
          second later but she was gone as well, 
          disappeared. That fast? He dropped to his 
          knees, crying his wife's name into his 
          hands. He couldn't go on without her.
          
          **
          Scully could see that she was leaving
          everything she loved. She tried to fight
          the light but it was much too strong. She
          went into it willingly. Scully awoke in bed
          screaming, frightening Mulder awake. She
          quickly sat up, trying to catch her
          breath.
          
          "What? What is it?" He muttered. She
          quickly laid back down, putting her hands
          over her face.
          
          "Oh my god--- it was just a dream." She
          breathed, sighing. Her eyes were about to
          tear at the very thought. Remembering the
          pain and hurt from her dream. She lifted
          the covers up to look at her stomach, it
          was flat.
          
          "I'm not pregnant." She said, a little
          joyful. That caught his attention and he
          fully awoke. All he heard was the word 
          pregnant.
          
          "Pregnant? You're pregnant?!" He was 
          dazed. He wasn't sure if she was talking or 
          if he heard right. He was confused, being 
          awoken abruptly in the middle of the night.
          
          "No, no." She said. She finally realized
          where she was. She was back in his apartment 
          in Alexandria. That dream to her felt like 
          reality. He buried his face back into the 
          pillow. It was still dark out and she was 
          talking. Sleep was the only thing on his 
          mind. She rolled on her side to shake him.
          
          "Mulder. Mulder. Wake up." She pleaded
          with him.
          
          "What, what? Alright I'm up." He rolled
          over to look up at her. She sat up as did
          he.
          
          "Mulder, I think I saw our future! And a
          lot of it I didn't find myself liking..."
          She told him.
          
          "Scully. Have you gone mad? Future? As in
          time travel?" He joked but she was
          serious.
          
          "Just hear me out." She begged. He nodded as 
          she went on. "Eveything was great. We were 
          married. We had our ups and downs, things were 
          okay but then I died and you were alone." 
          She told him, hopping out of the bed. She 
          started pacing his apartment. She then ran 
          into the bathroom. Married? Died? What kind 
          of dream was this? Scully talking about death 
          so candidly was scary, especially if it was 
          her own.
          
          "Died? What--What are you talking about?" 
          He asked. She started digging in the
          medicine cabinet, finding what she was
          looking for. The birth control pills she
          had started to take when she and Mulder
          became intimate. She had seen 17 years
          into the future, their future. She learned
          these pills she held in her hand, ultimately 
          led to the end of her life overtime and 
          possibly end the start of another, her two 
          unborn sons. If she was correct, these would 
          effectively harm them and kill her. She could 
          have them tested to see if they were really 
          poisoned but she didn't wanna risk it, she 
          already knew.
          
          Mulder rubbed his tired eyes. They were
          going to have to rethink sleep if they were 
          gonna spend the night at each other's place 
          again. Tonight was the night Scully would 
          come over and they'd sleep together. Not 
          sexually all the time, just kissing, sleeping, 
          hugging and holding each other. Scully apparently 
          had a different set of plans for tonight which 
          was cutting in on his sleep. She had been 
          pondering that dinner they had with her brother 
          for weeks. That probably would account for the 
          reason why she was making a mention of the 
          future. He got up and went to the open door 
          just as she tossed her pills down the 
          toilet. It burst into flames as soon as 
          they hit the water. She yelped. He quickly 
          yanked her away from the flames. It then 
          dissipated.
          
          "Scully. What the hell are you doing?" He
          asked, holding her against his chest by
          the wrists.
          
          "Saving our future." She pulled away to go
          to her purse for the other case of pills,
          tossing those as well. That fire was a bit
          smaller, she flushed them down the drain 
          afterwards. He looked on, completely 
          confused. Why are those pills flaming 
          again?
          
          "What's in those things? The-the fire?" He
          said.
          
          "I don't know. And I don't think I wanna
          know." She answered, dragging him back 
          to bed.
          
          "I'd rather live a future with you than a
          future without you." He murmured into her
          hair.
          
          "Not that future Mulder. Not that one."
          She retorted. "Well maybe some of it." She
          added, sleepy again. "Avoid women named 
          Tammy." She finished, burying her face in 
          his shoulder. Mulder couldn't get over 
          those flames. She was going to have to 
          explain that one tomorrow morning when 
          he wasn't half asleep, along with that 
          dream of hers. And who the hell is Tammy? He 
          thought but didn't say anything. They had 
          all tomorrow and the rest of their lives 
          for explanations.
          
          The End.

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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          This is the end. It's been fun! =]]]]]]]]]