Title: Whatever it takes… 
Author: DanaK; DanaK35@yahoo.com
URL: http://danak35.tripod.com/
Archiving: everywhere as long as my name stays on it
Rating: R
Classification: R, X (mild)
Spoilers: Season 5
Note: for the purpose of story line I will ignore FTF and season 6, 
it doesn't 
Keywords: MSUST, MSR
Summary: A year after Emily's "death", Scully gets a strange 
phone call … and must make a decision

Author's notes at the end.

Disclaimer: 'The X-Files' and all 'The X-Files' related characters 
and situations are the intellectual property of Chris Carter, 1013 
Productions and the FOX network. The following material is not 
intended to infringe on the above copyright in any way. Which 
means, they aren't mine, I just borrowed them … you know the 
drill!


Whatever it takes
by DanaK35


Thanksgiving

Scully's cellphone chirped just as she was on her way to her 
mother's Thanksgiving dinner.

"Damn," she thought and answered the phone with an unfriendly 
"WHAT!" expecting it to be Mulder and ready to tell him she didn't 
have time to talk to him right now.

"Ms. Scully?" a well modulated voice with a British accent that is 
vaguely familiar. 

"Speaking" 

"Ms. Scully, listen carefully because I will only say this once…there 
is someone at the Baltimore Orphanage of the Sisters of the Holy 
Cross that might be of interest for you…go there and tell the 
sisters that you have been sent by Mr. Horatio Wilde…they will 
know what to do…don't ask any questions. Good bye, Ms. Scully!" 

The line was disconnected and she suddenly felt a tight knot 
forming in her stomach. Something was wrong and she couldn't 
quite put a finger on it. Under normal circumstances she wouldn't 
have followed a lead like this, it was after all Mulder's specialty to 
run off on a wild goose chases after mysterious phone calls, but 
this time was…different. She turned at the next exit and headed 
back towards Baltimore. With a sigh she remembered that her 
mother must be expecting her by now and so she called her. Of 
course Margaret Scully was already worried. 

"No, mom, everything is alright, I am just not done here yet, I'll 
be there as soon as I can!" 

For an instant Scully debated with herself whether to call Mulder 
but then decided against it. They hadn't been on the best terms 
lately, with the X-Files burnt to ashes and them about to be re-
assigned to some field office god only knows where. Mulder had 
retracted into is shell once more and this time Scully didn't have 
the strength to pull him out. The destruction of the X-Files had 
taken away not only Mulder's cause but hers, too. For five years 
she had lived and breathed the SEARCH for the truth and now that 
everything was gone ... not closed...no DESTROYED she felt all 
the frustration and emptiness that had been there for a long time, 
surfacing. The last year had just been SO HARD, finding out about 
the cancer, fighting for her life, finding out she could never have 
children then finding and loosing Emily – her sweet Emily – that 
all had taken its toll on herself and on her relationship with 
Mulder. She couldn't even determine when their relationship had 
begun to deteriorate…was it when she found out about her cancer, 
and had just closed off to everybody even Mulder? Was it when 
she all her hopes for a normal life died with Emily? After the 
episode with Ed Jerse? Or did it start even earlier when Mulder 
had gotten so obsessed with Melissa/Sara Ephesian and THEIR 
past lives together (which had prompter herself to close off from 
him in the first place) ? And now Diana Fowley had appeared into 
their lives and her role in her partner's earlier history had 
disturbed Scully more than she wanted to admit, even more than 
that whole "past-life soulmate" story. Suddenly she was overcome 
by these unwelcome feelings of loss and jealousy. Suddenly she 
was frustrated by the thought of giving up her position as Mulder's 
confidant, his friend, after all he and this woman had a past, 
Mulder and her had... yeah after all that had happened between 
them during the last years what exactly did they have? Scully 
didn't ponder on the question further because she had reached the 
orphanage and got out of the car. 

The building was old, but beautifully decorated inside with 
cheerful wallpaper and drawings made by its' inhabitants. As she 
looked around curiously an elderly woman in a nun's habit 
approached her, a friendly smile on her face 

"May I help you?" 

"Yes, Mr. Horatio Wilde sent me…" Scully hesitated only for the 
briefest moment, it did sound so Agatha Christie. 

"Oh, yes, thank heavens you are here, I am sister Agnetha, please 
if you'd come with me, Mrs....?" "

Scully, Dr. Dana Scully!" 

Confused she followed the nun through a heavy wooden door to 
the back of the house where a playroom was located. Several 
small children were playing with Lego and dolls. A television was 
showing a Disney movie in one corner and sister Agnetha led her 
to a couch were a small girl with curly red hair was intently 
watching. An acute sense of foreboding overcame Scully for the 
second time that day and she felt the sweat on her forehead as 
the sister cheerfully announced "Emily! Someone has come to pick 
you up dear!" The little girl turned around and Scully looked into 
the face of her dead child…




Sister Agnetha gave her a funny look and she quickly tried to 
compose herself as hot tears welled up in her eyes. The girl 
looked like Emily, her sweet face smiling up at Scully, her hair 
longer and falling in soft waves around her face and eyes. Scully 
bend down and drew her into a fierce embrace, burying her head in 
her soft, sweet-smelling hair and hugged her tightly to herself. 
They stayed like this for a few moments and then she cleared her 
throat and looked up at sister Agnetha. 

"How did she get here?" 

"She was found on the front steps with a note that she would be 
picked up soon, and then Mr. Wilde called to tell us she would be 
picked up by a woman today…you weren't sent to pick her up?", 
her voice turned suspicious, and Scully quickly assured her that 
she was indeed here to get Emily and consequently asked for her 
things. 

She seemed to buy it and came back a couple of minutes later 
with a child's backpack. 

"That is all she has I'm afraid!" 

"That's fine," Scully got up from the couch and took Emily's hand, 
"come on, sweetie, let's go home!" 

She followed wordlessly out to the car and let herself get strapped 
into the seat belt. Scully's mind raced on the drive back to 
Washington, if this was indeed Emily then what happened a year 
ago? 
'It was all part of a cover up…she didn't die at all!' The thought 
came to her mind unbidden, but that had to be it! That MUST have 
happened or was this just another clone? Scully was determined 
to find out as soon as she had the chance.


An hour later she I reached her mother's house. All the lights were 
on and when she stepped on the porch she could hear laughter 
and children squealing inside. Bill should be there with his family 
and also Charlie with his wife and two kids. Scully took a deep 
breath and ran her fingers first through her hair, then through 
Emily's tangled curls. Then she knocked on the door and when Bill 
opened she put a broad smile on my face. 

"Dana, how great to…" her brother opened his arms to embrace 
her but stopped when he saw Emily "what in the world!! Dana?! Is 
that who I think it is…" 

Scully could only nod and he ushered her and the still mute Emily 
inside without another word. By now the full impact of the last 
couple of hours started hitting Scully and she suddenly felt her 
knees go weak. She willingly let him guide her inside, take her 
coat and gently push her down on a chair, placing a glass of red 
wine in hr cold hands. The present children quickly surrounded 
Emily.



"Oh my god, Dana" Margaret Scully stared at her daughter in 
disbelief, "what…how…where did she come from?" 

Scully took a quick sip from the dark red wine and, clearing her 
throat, explained to the family what happened. When she had 
ended everyone was talking at once, Bill and Margaret concerned, 
Tara, Charlie and his wife Rena excited. 

"Does Mulder know?" 

Mrs. Scully questions put a frown on Bill's face and made Dana 
realize that she completely forgot to call him and she immediately 
felt bad. 

"No, he doesn't" 

"Do you want me to call him?" 

Margaret offered but her daughter denied, getting up and moving 
into the kitchen where she could use the phone in privacy. But 
Mulder wasn't home and neither could she reach him on his 
mobile. Now instead of feeling guilty she felt confused. Where 
was he? He had said he was going to spend the Saturday at 
home, indulging in nothing more than grilled cheese sandwiches 
and beer. He had turned down Mrs. Scully's offer to have dinner 
with them, so where was he? Annoyed, Scully switched of her 
cellphone and joined the others. As she entered the dining room 
she was enveloped in holiday cheer, candles were lit, the food 
looked delicious on the table, her family simply enjoyed each 
others' company and Scully decided to forget about her problems 
with Mulder, the FBI, about the mysterious phone call just for 
tonight. Just for tonight she would have normal life. Emily was 
obviously happy enough playing with Charlie's two children and so 
she sat down and joined in the conversation…carefully avoiding 
going back to Emily's wondrous resurrection.

*****************************


Before Christmas

Dana Scully woke up early the next day, sneaking out of her 
bedroom on tiptoe to check on Emily and was relieved to see her 
still sleeping on the unfolded couch. Scully was still somewhat 
insecure about the little girl since she hadn't spoken to her at all, 
but the night before after getting back from her mom's she had 
carefully inquired her if Emily wanted to sleep in her double bed 
and she had shaken her head. It hurt just a little but on the other 
hand it would probably take some time for them to get used to 
each other. As she fixed herself some coffee she remembered 
Mulder and quickly dialed his number. He still wasn't answering his 
home or mobile phone and on a hunch she decided to try the 
office. The phone rang twice before being picked up by a woman.
"Agent Mulder's line, how may I help you!" 


Scully almost dropped the receiver as she recognized Diana 
Fowley's voice but composed herself.

"It's Scully, is Mulder there?" she asked curtly. 

"Yes, but he is getting us coffee at the moment, Agent Scully, do 
you want to leave a message?" 

"Just have him call me at home!" 

She slammed down the receiver and muttered a silent curse. "Oh, 
fuck him". She mumbled and dropped on one of the kitchen chairs, 
burying her face in her hands. 'Now, you know what he is up to!' a 
little vicious voice inside. 'No, you are jumping to conclusions here 
Dana, he…' 

"Dana?" 

Scully looked up with a start and directly into Emily's blue eyes. 
'Did she just say my name?' 

"Dana, I am hungry!" 

SHE DID, oh my god! 

"Sure, sweetie, come here!" 

She picked her up and sat her down at the kitchen after elevating 
her with a cushion from the couch. A perusal of her kitchen 
cabinets brought forth some cereal, which she served the girl with 
milk and Emily quietly ate and watched Scully drinking her coffee. 

"Do you remember me, Emily?" Scully asked after a while and 
Emily put down her spoon and cocked her head sideways.

"Yes, you are Dana, you played with me after my Mommy went 
away!" she answered in a surprisingly clear and calm voice. 

"That's right and what happened then, do you know?" Scully HAD 
to find out what the child remembered. 

"I was in a hospital and people were hurting me with things they 
stuck into my arms and you were there, too, with a man, and then 
you went away too and there was another man, like a grand-
daddy, and he picked me up. I flew in an airplane and I played 
with other children in a nice garden, but then the granddaddy took 
me back to the hospital and then you came again and picked me 
up from the women in the black dresses. Are you going to send 
me away too, Dana?" 

The innocent request brought fresh tears into Scully's eyes and 
she shook her head.

"No, honey, you can stay with me if you want to…" 


"I want to see my Mommy and Daddy again!" 

"You can't, Emily, they have both gone away and they won't come 
back... I am sorry!" 

The child reflected over this announcement for a minute and then 
she smiled at Scully and stated matter-of-factly. 

"Then can I stay with you, Dana, can I?" 

Now tears were streaming down Scully's face at the girl's 
innocence and demeanor and she took her into her arms once 
more. After breakfast she told Emily she had to take a bath and 
when the little girl was settled in a tubful of the warm water, 
Scully tried calling Mulder on his cellphone again. She really didn't 
feel like talking to "his chickadee" again. He answered after the 
first ring 

"Mulder?" 

"Why haven't you answered my calls, Mulder!" 

"Scully?" 

"Yes, dammit, what is going on, I have been trying to reach you 
since yesterday?" 

"I, well, …why…why have you been trying to call me?" 

"Something has come up…I need you to come here, NOW!" 

The urgency in her voice seemed to get through to him because he 
told her to hang on he would be right with her and hung up. Scully 
took Emily out of the bathtub and promised her to go out later to 
get her some new clothes and sat her down in her bedroom with a 
couple of toys she found in the girls' few belongings. Then she 
quickly showered and dressed herself and was ready just when 
there was a knock on the door. 
Scully opened and froze as she saw Mulder … and Diana Fowley. 
She had to fight the urge to scream at him 'What is going on? 
Why are you bringing her?' But instead she pasted a smile on her 
face and politely invited them in leading them directly to the 
kitchen. After pouring them coffee she stepped up to Mulder and 
told him over-politely.

"Could I speak to you for a second? … In private!" 

He gave her a funny look but followed his partner to the far corner 
of the living room.

"What the hell is she doing here Mulder?" Scully hissed and Mulder 
gave her one of his hurt-puppy looks.

"She called last night to go over a case file and that's what we 
have been doing, we..." 


Scully took a step back and turned white.

"You spent the whole night with her?" She asked and now it was 
Mulder's turn to look at her in shock as he realized the implication 
behind her words.

"No, Scully, I..." he began but her face had turned to stone.

"OK, Mulder, listen carefully what I tell you and don't DARE talking 
about any of this to HER, understand? I DON'T TRUST THIS 
WOMAN!"

He was taken aback by the harshness of her words and had a 
funny reply on his face when he looked into her icy blue eyes and 
decided against it.

"OK, Scully, relax, will you?" 

She shot him another cold glance and he had the feeling that 
something had just died between them. 

"I am listening, Scully! And I promise!" 

Only then he noticed the unfolded couch and raised an eyebrow. 

"You've had company, Scully?" Now his voice took an icy tone but 
Scully took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

"Shut up, Mulder and come on!" 

When she opened the door Mulder froze dead in his tracks, there 
on the floor was Emily, alive and smiling up to him. 

"It's him, Dana, he was at the hospital with you." She exclaimed 
and Scully quickly shut the door behind them. 

Mulder turned to her and stared at her in disbelief.

"Scully, what is going on here?" 

For a moment the animosity between them was gone and she 
visibly relaxed and led him into the adjoining bath and closed the 
door. 

"I don't know Mulder..." She replied quietly and then told him 
about last nights events. 

"What are you going to do now?" He asked softly when she had 
ended. 

"I have no earthly idea, Mulder, but this seems like a second 
chance to me…I guess I will have her examined, so I can be sure 
she is OK and she is indeed herself, you know what I mean."

"She could be a clone…" 



"I know, Mulder, I have thought of that but she remembers 
me…what would you have me do?" Crossing her arms in front of 
her chest she looked expectantly at him. 

"Scully, I don't know either…just be careful alright…I will try to 
make some inquiries!" 

"I rather you didn't, I can deal with this myself, after all the 
person who called told me not to ask any questions…just let me 
handle this by myself!" 

His eyes clouded over but he just nodded and let the room, 
kneeling down briefly to speak to Emily. Scully followed him back 
to the kitchen.

"Fox, we should get going…" Diana said when they entered and 
Scully winced at her using Mulder's first name. 

He uncomfortable shifted from one foot to the other and Scully 
just smiled at him sarcastically.

"Well, you have to do what you have to do, sorry to make you 
wait, Diana!"

Her voice dripped of sarcasm and she stepped aside so they could 
leave. Mulder signaled her that he would call but she just waved 
him off. She closed the door behind them and leaned against it in 
relief. She felt bad for having treated Mulder that way but WHY 
did he have to bring Diana. As if it wasn't enough that he was 
"working on a case" with her - during the weekend for god's sake! 
Shaking her head she called out for Emily and decided to go 
shopping for clothes for her to take her mind of things. She would 
think about Mulder later…


Scully and Emily had spent the whole Sunday, shopping for clothes 
and toys and eating ice-cream and hamburgers and when they got 
back to the house the little girl was exhausted and was put to bed 
after a shower. Scully drew herself a hot bath, lighted some 
scented candles and poured herself a glass of Chardonnay before 
sinking into the soothing water. She had immensely enjoyed the 
day with Emily, this glimpse of a normal life of a mother and her 
little girls out shopping and having fun. A single mother of course 
but it didn't bother Scully too much, she had always been able to 
take care of things on her own. She certainly didn't need Mulder! It 
had hurt to see him so familiar with Diana, but then what did she 
expect? Was probably happy to have her back and she had to 
admit that the two of them had been sort of stuck in their 
professional relationship. She had been in love with Mulder from 
the start but had buried these feelings inside of her, out of 
respect for their growing friendship, their work and out of fear to 
lose him one day. She was afraid that one day they would just not 
be lovers anymore and that would mean the end of their friendship 
and their work. Dana Scully's scientific mind refused to believe in 
forever, but somewhere deep inside her she had always hoped 
that she and Mulder would find their own forever somewhere along 
the way. Deep inside her she had hoped that one day she would 
be able to lead a normal life. If Mulder did indeed feel more for 
her than friendship he certainly hid it well. She had harbored the 
hope that they were indeed meant for each other, because they 
were just so good together, but that hope had started to fade 
that fateful day in Tennessee when Mulder had declared that 
another had been his soulmate through several lifetimes. 
Disappointed, Scully had built a wall around her emotions. She 
had always seen children in her future but that hope had died 
when she found out, that as a result of her abduction she would 
be unable to conceive. Another hope died another wall erected. 
Dana Scully closed her eyes and sunk deeper into the fragrant 
water. She felt so much older than her 34 years tonight, too tired, 
too disillusioned, too sad. Emily's mysterious re-appearance in her 
life was a sign – although she usually didn't believe in signs – a 
new hope, another chance and Dana Scully decided to take this 
one serious. If it meant giving her life a completely new direction 
– FINE…she was prepared to do whatever it would take to keep 
Emily this time.

********************************************

Fox Mulder stopped the car in front of Diana Fowley's apartment 
building and looked up in astonishment. 

"The Watergate, Diana?" 

She looked at him innocently "Yeah, they have great apartments, 
wanna come up and see?" 

He shook his head "No, I should get going…" 

"Oh come on, Fox, I won't bite you and besides you should get out 
of that dreary place of yours…come on!" 

She put her hand on his arm and he decided it wouldn't hurt if he 
looked at the place. They rode up the elevator and Diana 
maintained the idle conversation that had taken them through 
dinner. Mulder had been relatively quiet after leaving Scully's place 
and Diana hadn't been too happy about it. 'Bitch!' she thought but 
then turned to the man beside her with a charming smile when 
they reached her floor and she unlocked the door to her 
apartment. Switching on all the lights she made a sweeping 
gesture and said invitingly.

"Make yourself at home, would you like anything…a drink? A tour?" 

Mulder gave her a funny look and declined, strolling through the 
living room to the panoramic window. 

"Nice view" he commented, facing her "what are you up to Diana?" 

Her eyebrows rose in astonishment. "Whatever do you mean?" 

"Oh, COME ON, I know you, you want something from me, you are 
never this nice without a motive!" 

"Now, you are hurting me, Fox, you…" 

His face turned to stone. "Diana, I am not kidding, what do you 
want!" 



She looked down and then answered "I wanted to be your partner 
again, to re-kindle the relationship we had … at least the 
professional one!" 

She had stepped closer and played with the lapel of his leather 
jacket.

"You know that Scully is my partner, Diana!" 

"I know, but that doesn't mean we can't have a productive work 
relationship, after all we all work together again…" 

She came even closer and Mulder could smell her familiar perfume 
and shampoo. It sent a wave of memories through his brain and 
when she kissed him it was familiar too, but he nevertheless 
pulled away. 'This isn't what you want!' he told himself and 
stepped back.

"I think I have to go now! I need to call Scully!" With that he 
turned and left without saying another word. 

Diana stayed behind smiling to herself 'I have a feeling Dana 
Scully won't be your partner for much longer my dear Fox…"

***********************************


Early the next day Scully called Skinner and told him that she 
needed a few days off. 

"What's the matter Agent Scully, are you OK?" 

"Yes, Sir, it's just ... a situation has come up and I need a few 
days, it's personal..." 

"That's fine, your current duties can be filled by another agent. 
Call me if there is anything I can do, will you?" 

Scully smiled at her boss's worried tone. "Sure, good bye, Sir!" 

With that she hung up and called a friend of hers who was a 
pediatrician at John Hopkins in Baltimore asking to be seen with 
Emily as soon as possible 

"Sure, Dana", Sheila Workman told her, "come right over...I'll 
make time for you, what's going on?" 

"I rather not tell you on the phone, I'll be there in an hour!" 

Scully got Emily dressed and carefully explained to the girl that 
she had to be seen by a doctor. To her surprise Emily reacted 
calm.

"That's OK, Dana, will I have to get a shot?" 

"We'll see, sweetie, okay?" 


Emily nodded and they set off to Baltimore, after Scully had 
grabbed a copy of Emily's medical records from San Diego, which 
she had kept at the time. When she strapped Emily into the new 
children's seat in her car she had to smile. 'Boy, I definitely have 
to change a few things around here'. The car seat had been the 
first acquisition to accommodate a child in her life. She realized if 
she kept Emily a bigger apartment had to follow. She liked that 
thought it was the first step to a normal life.

Dr. Sharon Workman greeted Dana with a brief hug, then smiled 
down at Emily.

"Well, hello, I am Sharon, what's your name?" 

Emily smiled back shyly: "I'm Emily" 

"Hi Emily, would you please wait over there while I speak to 
Dana?" 

Emily nodded and sat down in the indicated corner that was 
decorated with cheerful animal posters. Sharon turned back to 
Scully.

"So, what's the deal?" 

Scully explained in brief words about what she had found out 
about Emily when she first met her in San Diego leaving out the 
part about Emily being her daughter instead saying that she was 
her niece. Then she described Emily's illness and produced the 
medical records. 

"...we thought she had died, or at least that's what I was told 
until two days ago, when I was instructed to pick her up, well, and 
here she is... I would like you to test her, if there is anything 
wrong with her, I need to know if I am dealing with a sick child 
here, it was pretty bad a year ago!"

Scully finished and looked at her friend. She had known Sharon 
since Medical school but ever since joining the FBI she hadn't 
been able to pay close attention to the friendship especially after 
working with Mulder on the X-files.

"That's weird, why wouldn't you know about her being alive all 
that time?", Sharon asked "after all she is your niece!" 

"At the time I had decided to adopt her but the authorities 
refused me...my job at the FBI and the resulting lifestyle weren't 
good for a child...and I don't really know why I hadn't been 
informed!" 

'If you only knew,' she thought to herself, but Sharon seemed to 
sense that Scully didn't want to talk about it and didn't push the 
subject. She went through Emily's records and then asked the girl 
to follow her to the treatment room, holding out her hand which 
Emily took trustingly. Scully followed and was amazed at how 
calmly Emily let herself be seated on the examination table, 
rolling up her sleeves and waiting for Sharon to give her further 
instructions. A chill crept down Scully's spine 'She obviously must 
be very used to medical examinations! What have they done to 
her?'


During lunch she called Mulder on his cellphone and briefly 
explained what she was doing to him.

"OK, Scully, do whatever you have to do," he replied "how's Emily 
doing?" 

"Oh, she is surprisingly fine, as if she is very used to being 
treated and tested by doctors. It's kind of eerie!" 

"She probably has, Scully... let me know if you find out anything 
more, will you?" the familiar concern was in his voice and Scully 
was glad that he didn't seem to mind her being away from work. 

"I will! Later, Mulder!" 

The day went by with several tests being performed on Emily and 
time in the waiting room in between and the little girl took it all 
with an almost eerie calmness. By mid-afternoon Sharon came 
back to the waiting room and motioned for Scully to follow her. 

"Well?" she asked when the office door had closed halfway behind 
them.

"She is fine, Dana, at least from what I can see so far. A little 
anemic, but the scans of her body and brain seem normal, she has 
the right height, weight and is the right intelligence level for a 
child her age, even a bit above. Of course we still have to wait for 
the results of the genetic tests...all in all I'd say you don't have to 
worry!" 

Scully felt her stomach settle in relief. 

"That's great, thank you so much!" She hugged her friend quickly 
and turned to leave.

"I will call you with the other results!" 

"Thanks! Bye!" 

Scully and Emily sat in a restaurant having pizza when her 
cellphone rang. 

"Scully." 

"Ms. Scully," the elegant voice with the British accent again.

"Yes?" 'Oh no what now?' 

"I gather you have had the girls examined?" 

Scully looked around nervously. Had she been watched? 

"Yes" she hesitantly replied. 





"Very good, I was certain you would do so. And you have found 
her in perfect health now there is one more decision to make, Ms 
Scully, ....?" 

"What do you want?" she asked sharply and Emily looked up at 
her in surprise 

"Nothing, Ms Scully, I am doing you a favor, I know how you have 
suffered when you lost her?" 

"Were you sent by THEM?" she knew it sounded ridiculous but she 
couldn't help herself.

"Oh, THEY know what I am doing, but it is not important, the girl 
doesn't play a role anymore. They are finished with her and they 
didn't object when I asked for her life!" 

A chill ran down Scully's spine for the second time today and she 
gasped.

"Her life?" 

"Yes, so Ms Scully are you going to keep the girl?" 

"Of course. Why are you doing this?" 

He chuckled. "I have grand-children Emily's age, but that's not the 
only reason, you'll find out soon enough."

"What about the authorities?"

"Don't concern yourself about the authorities, Ms Scully, in a few 
days more you will receive the appropriate documents, when you 
have made your decision..." 

"What decision? I said I would keep her...hello?" the line had 
gone dead again and she put the phone down in frustration. 

She didn't understand the cryptic remark and she was frightened 
by what the caller had implied. She had suspected all along that 
the consortium was behind this but she hadn't expected them to 
do her a favor. At least she was almost certain now that she 
would keep Emily and that brought infinite joy to her but also 
concern. 'How would she handle her job and a child?'. She would 
figure out a way, she always did. She would speak to Mulder and 
then to Skinner. With the X-Files gone they were in a whole new 
ballgame anyway. 

"Are you ready, Emily?" she asked and the girl nodded. 

Scully got up and took her hand.

"Let's go, we have to see someone?" 

"Who?" 


"Remember the man I was talking to yesterday? We have to see 
him, his name is Fox Mulder" 

"Fox is not a name!" 

"Oh yes it is, come on!"

After checking her watch, Scully decided to drive to the Edgar J. 
Hoover building, since she figured Mulder would be there anyway. 
She didn't want to speak him on the phone again and that way 
she could probably reach Skinner, too.

***************************

When she reached Washington it was already after six and most 
of the offices at Headquarters looked deserted. The security guard 
smiled at her when he saw her approaching with Emily. 

"Evening, Agent Scully? I didn't know you had a daughter!" 

Scully smiled back. "I usually don't bring her, Jackson, is AD 
Skinner still here?" 

"Yeah, he is still upstairs!" 

"Thanks!" 

Scully rode up to the bullpen where hers and Mulder's new offices 
– cubicles really – were located. Some agents were still present 
and they gave her a strange look as she breezed by with a little 
girl on her hand. She saw light in Mulder's cubicle and was glad to 
see she hadn't missed him when she heard a woman's voice 
speaking to him.

"Oh Fox, that is not true, I never said the evidence wasn't 
conclusive...!" 

'Diana Fowley – damn her' Scully thought but she approached the 
desk anyway, Mulder looked up.

"Scully hey! What's up" He jumped up from his chair when he saw 
her, "ah and you are bringing a new agent, I see, hey Emily, how 
are you?" 

He sat down on his haunches and shook Emily's hand and was 
rewarded by a smile. 

"Hello Fox Mulder!" 

Mulder shook his head and smiled back.

"Mulder, can I talk to you?" Scully gave Diana a sideways glance. 

"Sure, let me just finish here and..."

"It's rather important, Mulder!" 

Diana had gotten up and stepped forward, ignoring Emily and 
positioning herself between her and Mulder.

"So it this case, Agent Scully, now if you'd please excuse us, we 
haven't had the luxury of a day off..." 

Scully swallowed the sharp reply and just looked at Fowley coolly, 
shooting an icy glance in Mulder's direction. 

"Sure! Fine! Whatever! I guess that settles it anyway, now if you'd 
excuse ME, I have to see AD Skinner!" 

With that she turned on her heels and marched off, Emily close on 
her heels. She didn't react when she heard Mulder calling for her 
and he didn't follow. She was furious when she reached Skinner's 
office but she also saw very clearly now. 
The moment she had dreaded, the moment she had hoped would 
never come...she had just been there. There was another woman 
in Mulder's life now, professionally and possibly even in his private 
life and he had just shown her were his priorities were. It was as 
if someone had gripped her heart and was squeezing slowly. This 
would make her decision so much easier, though. She swallowed 
hard and entered the outer office. Skinner's admin was long gone 
and so she knocked softly on the door. 

"Come in!" Skinner got up and smiled when he saw Emily. "Agent 
Scully? What a surprise and who did you bring?" 

Scully moved Emily in front of herself an put her hands on the girls 
shoulders.

"Sir, this is my daughter Emily, Emily this is Walter Skinner!" 

His face registered only the slightest bewilderment.

"Hello!" Emily offered him her hand shyly and he bend down and 
shook it.

"Hi, Emily!" Then he looked back at Scully and lifted one eyebrow 
in surprise. "I thought she was..." 

"So did I, Sir, I have no idea what happened but I don't really 
care, I am just glad she is here!" Scully told him openly then 
continued. "I need to know what the bureau's plans for re-
assignment are, Sir, because I intend to keep Emily and that will 
certainly change things..." 

"I see, sit down Agent Scully" 

They did and when Skinner had settled himself behind his desk he 
spoke again.

"There are currently no plans to re-open an X-Files division so 
consequently you and Mulder will be re-assigned. Right now it 
looks like he will be offered a position for VICAP and you will be 
given the choice in either teaching at the academy or work for a 
field office. You and Mulder will NOT be reassigned together. 
Unless you choose the academy and Mulder accepts the position 
with VICAP ...." 

"That's not so important right now," Scully said softly and Skinner 
gave her an astonished look, she sighed and composed herself. "I 
mean...she changes everything" Scully didn't know if she was 
talking about Emily or Diana at that moment. "Sir, I feel I have 
been given a second chance...I mean, you know that I can never 
have a child on my own and then Emily is returned to me... I feel I 
have to take that chance, whatever it takes!" 

"I understand. You will be offered any of the two positions in a 
few days and I will accept whichever choice you make." Skinner 
had risen and Scully did the same. 

"Thank you, Sir!" She and Emily said their goodbye and left. Scully 
wanted to go see her mother and tell her the news.

*******************

Margaret Scully was shocked and overjoyed at the same time.

"I am so happy for you, Dana, but this whole thing gives me the 
shivers!" 

"It creeps me out, too, Mom, but the most important thing is that 
I have her!" 

"That's true...what about Mulder!" 

"Mulder has other priorities right now!" Scully replied shortly but 
she did feel bad about the whole scene in the office.

She felt she had to make amends with him, hear his side of the 
story and so she asked her mother to keep an eye on Emily for a 
couple of hours. She needed to speak to Mulder. Her mother 
agreed happily and when Scully saw that Emily was happily 
playing with Charlie's children she set off.


Scully reached Mulder's apartment 45 minutes later and sat in the 
car to prepare herself for what she had to say, when she saw the 
light coming on in his living room upstairs. 'Strange', she thought, 
'he must have been there all the time.' She got out of the car and 
looked up to the window when she saw him stepping out from the 
shadows. He seemed to be looking directly at her and she was 
about to lift her hand and wave when she stopped dead. Another 
figure had appeared behind Mulder and wrapped her arms around 
his waist. It was Diana Fowley and Scully stepped back in shock. 
Tears strung her eyes as she unlocked the car and slid back 
behind the wheel. 'Fuck him!' she thought as she started the car 
and drove off with screeching tires, angrily wiping away the tears 
with the back of her hand. She didn't look back or she might have 
been able to see Mulder shaking of Diana' s arms and stepping 
away from her shaking his head...

************************************************


Dana Scully resigned from the FBI the next day, offering the 
surprised Skinner no explanation, except that it was a decision out 
of personal reasons. She asked Skinner to have her desk cleared 
out by a clerk and the contents to be sent to her mother's 
address. She didn't call Mulder and didn't return his calls on her 
cellphone or at home. She was so hurt and disappointed that she 
couldn't face him anymore and after a while the phone calls 
stopped.

A week later Scully signed a contract at Mass. General Hospital 
starting January 1st. She had decided to leave not only the FBI 
behind but her previous life in Washington. Boston was still close 
enough for her mother to visit, but far enough away from Mulder. 
Until then, her time would be devoted to Emily and arranging their 
new life together.

Just before Christmas Scully and Emily drove up to Boston to look 
for a place to live. She had contacted a realtor and they met her in 
Cambridge to look at a house there. Mrs. Walker was a friendly 
woman in her fifties. The house in Cambridge was a small two-
story affair with a screened in porch and a garage. It seemed sad 
and neglected and Scully didn't like it very much but it had a back 
yard for Emily to play in.

"Well, what do you think, honey?" she asked her daughter and 
Emily shyly shook her head.

"Can we look at something else?" Mrs. Walker nodded and they 
drove to another house in the same area, which neither Scully nor 
Emily liked. 

"Do you have another one to show us? I'm sorry I don't really 
know what exactly we are looking for..." she apologized to the still 
smiling Mrs. Walker, who reflected for a moment and then her face 
lit up.

"Yes, actually I think I do have just the thing for you, Ms. Scully, 
it's partly furnished though.." 

"Let's look at it!" 

They followed the realtor over the Charles River back to Boston 
and stopped in front of a brownstone in the fashionable Back Bay 
section of Boston, just a block away from Commonwealth Avenue. 
Mrs. Walker led them up the stairs and unlocked the front door 
and Scully knew right away that this was it. The hallway had a 
gallery and a huge silver chandelier hung from the top. She and 
Emily wandered around the rooms that all had high plastered 
ceilings. Everything had been freshly painted in a clean white. The 
front living room was still furnished with flowered couches, heavy 
drapes and Tiffany lamps in light colors the dining room held a 
beautifully crafted table made of light wood and six matching 
chairs and an antique buffet. Scully felt like stepping into another 
century. A total contrast to her own style she nevertheless fell in 
love with the place. The kitchen cabinets were white washed 
wood. They went upstairs, Emily curiously running ahead. The 
master bedroom overlooked the street and had an oval window 
seat, with soft cushions, as had the room across the hall. That 
room was furnished and had a child's four poster canopy bed. 
There also was a vanity and a dresser, all made out of wood, 
painted white and yellow and matching the canopy and the 
curtains. This room had obviously belonged to the daughter of the 
house and Emily looked at it in awe. 

"Dana, is this a little girl's room?" 

"I think so, do you like it?" 

"Yes!" They looked at the other two rooms and baths it looked like 
the decision had been made. Back downstairs Scully turned to 
Emily.

"So, what do you think?" 

Emily's face showed a look of concentration, then she leaned 
closer and whispered "I think we should take it, and can I have 
the yellow room?" 

Scully laughed out loud and assured her that yes, she could 
indeed have the yellow room. Mrs. Walker informed her that it 
shouldn't be a problem but that for now, she could only rent the 
apartment, since the owner wasn't sure whether to sell it or not. 

"That's fine! I don't mind renting, in fact it suits me just fine, but 
how come?"

"The owner is an elderly lady who has moved to Florida, her whole 
family lives overseas, she has been thinking about selling it for 
the longest time now, but couldn't bring herself to it yet, don't 
worry though, it's not like you'll have to move out anytime soon!" 


Scully signed the lease on the house that afternoon and when she 
put her signature on the document she felt sad and ecstatic at 
once. It marked the first day of her new life, but also it marked 
the end of her time with Mulder. He wouldn't be part in this.

***************************


The first Christmas

Christmas Eve came fast and when Dana Scully opened the door to 
retrieve the paper she found a large manila envelope right next to 
it. She curiously opened it and dumped the contents on the 
kitchen table. It was a stack of papers and a vial filled with a 
bluish liquid. She picked up the papers and quickly read them. 
They were formal adoption papers, signed and sealed, stating that 
from now on Emily Sim, adopted daughter of the Mr. and Mrs. Sim 
of San Diego, natural mother unknown, would be the adopted 
daughter of Dr. Dana Katherine Scully, yak yak yak..... Scully 
closed her eyes and sighed 'Thank God, this was over!', Then she 
looked at the vial and the note that was attached to it, it read. 
'Ms Scully, Emily has to be injected with 0,1 of this liquid every 
month to prevent the symptoms you have encountered in San 
Diego. She will be perfectly fine as long as she gets the dose on a 
regular basis. We will provide you with a new vial each year. The 
current one will last 12 injections.' That was all and she sighed 
and put the vial with her doctor's bag that she kept in the hallway 
closet. A sleepy Emily stood in the door to the kitchen.

"What are you reading, Dana?"

"Just papers!" 

"Work papers?" Scully picked Emily up and held her close.

"No, these papers say that from now on I am your Mommy, what 
do you say?" 

Emily wrapped her arms around Scully's neck and kissed her on the 
cheek.

"I like that!"

***********************

It was a family Christmas spent at Margaret Scully's home. Bill 
and Tara were there with baby Matthew again and Charlie and wife 
Rena had been there ever since Thanksgiving with their children 
Katie and Peter, who took of with Emily as soon as they spotted 
her. After everyone had taken their coats off, Margaret Scully 
opened the door to the living room where the tree had been lit 
and the presents were waiting. Katie and Peter immediately fell 
on their knees and started to look for boxes with their names on 
them but Emily waited until Margaret told her.

"Go on, honey, there are some for you, too!" 

Later after dinner had been eaten and when the kids were busy 
playing with their new toys, the family sat around the fireplace, 
drinking eggnog and champagne, chatting with each other. Scully 
raised her glass.

"I would like to let you know that as of yesterday Emily is 
officially my daughter. I received the adoption papers." 

"That is so great!" Tara jumped up and was the first to 
congratulate her and the rest of the family joined in. 

After a while the conversation went back to other subjects and 
Scully got up and went outside on the porch, staring at the stars. 
She thought about Mulder and wondered where he was and what 
he did for Christmas and tears welled up in her eyes. She had 
been so busy for the last few weeks that she'd hardly had time to 
think of him and when she did now it was physically painful how 
much she missed him. His smile, his jokes, his hazel eyes that 
changed color depending on his mood, the way that lock of hair 
fell onto his forehead, his warm hand on the small on her back, 
the sight of his long fingers tapping away on the computer. 
Suddenly all these images flooded her mind and she had to sit 
down the steps of the porch. She buried her face in her hands as 
she silently wept. She had promised herself she would do 
whatever it took to keep Emily and start a normal life...she never 
expected to lose Mulder in the process.


NEW YEARS

Scully and Emily moved to Boston right after Christmas and spent 
New Year in their new apartment. When the ball dropped at 
midnight Emily was sound asleep on the couch and Scully stepped 
into the tiny backyard with her glass of champagne and watched 
the fireworks in the sky. It was a clear and cold night and she 
could see millions of stars shimmering and wondered if Mulder 
looked up at them, too. She wondered briefly if she should call 
him but put down the phone again, he probably wasn't even there. 
Scully lifted her glass and softly whispered. "Happy New Year, 
Mulder!" 

***************************************************

Fox Mulder was bored. Diana had called him earlier that night and 
upon hearing that he would stay home with a bottle of whiskey on 
New Years she had convinced him that he needed to get out of 
the house and dragged him to this party. The guests consisted 
mostly of FBI and some of them gave him funny looks. He heard 
"Spooky" more than once and a couple of references to "Mrs. 
Spooky" being absent annoyed the hell out of him. Diana seemed 
content to mingle and so he grabbed a glass of red wine from a 
passing waiter and stood to the side brooding. Every once in a 
while Diana would come by and ask him to join her with one group 
or the other, but he declined every time. As he watched people 
chat and laugh, he thought about his past and recent relationship 
with Diana Fowley. In the past, before the X-files they had briefly 
shared a stormy romance, but it had quickly dissolved into a 
pattern, where they still lived together, leading separate lives - 
and in the beginning it hadn't disturbed them. They had been 
friends, colleagues and making love once in a while had been 
pleasant and uncomplicated, since neither of them had had the 
time nor energy to pursue other relationships. But in the end it 
had lacked emotion and no sooner Diana had left him to pursue a 
more career-orientated path in the FBI and he had become 
engrossed in the X-files. But now she was back...back in his life, 
as his partner, not his lover but working hard on it and his Scully, 
whom he had loved for five years, whose life he had fought for 
was gone. He suspected her "flight" to Boston had something to 
do with Diana, what he couldn't fathom was why she had had to 
leave like that, without saying a word, without saying goodbye. 
When the clock struck midnight, Mulder lifted his glass and 
toasted wordlessly "Happy New Year, Scully!" before Diana 
embraced him...

***************************************************

A New Year

Dana Scully loved Boston. Boston was quiet and exciting, new and 
old, open and narrow-minded at the same time. She loved that 
she could walk Emily to school on her way to work. She loved the 
parks, the outdoor cafes, the museums and the variety of 
activities possible in and around Boston. She would pick up Emily 
after school and go to the Common with her. During the winter 
they went ice-skating and to the science museum, in the summer 
they took the ferry to Provincetown or drove North to the Beaches. 
Emily turned into a healthy, happy girl and Scully soon could not 
imagine a life without her. The two of them were content with 
each other. Men weren't an issue in their new lives, but Scully 
desperately missed Mulder. She lacked the spirit to call him and 
the longer she waited, the harder it got. She found new excuses 
and by the end of that summer she had given up on redeeming 
their relationship. She told herself it wasn't any use, that he had 
chosen Diana and she had chosen to leave and lead her own life 
with Emily. Whatever it takes,...


Thanksgiving

"Emily? What are you doing up there, we have got to go!" 

Dana Scully sat down the suitcase in the front hall and put her 
hands on her hips. 

"I'm coming, Mom, I just want to finish this picture for Grandma!" 

Scully rolled her eyes and went back through the kitchen one more 
time to check the backdoor. Emily came skipping down the stairs 
holding a sheet of paper just as Scully was putting her heavy 
black coat on. 

"Look, I made a picture of you and me, and there is the house and 
the ducks in the park!" 

She held up her masterpiece in childish glee and Scully nodded. "It 
is beautiful, I'm sure she will love it!", while slipping the jacket on 
her daughter. 

"Now, let's go, I don't think the airplane will wait for us, young 
lady!"

Emily excitedly jumping up and down in her seat when they 
reached Margaret Scully's house, where they were hugged and 
kissed and then ushered into the living room where a fire had 
been lit. Emily proudly presented her picture and was rewarded by 
more hugs and a gift. 

"THANKS, Grandma!" Emily scampered off happily to unwrap her 
present. 

"Bill and are coming tomorrow!", Margaret announced cheerfully 
while she pinned the drawing to the fridge with a magnet, "but 
Charlie can't make it this year, not even for Christmas! It is too 
sad, we never seem to be a complete family!"

Scully had followed her into the kitchen and was leaning in the 
doorway. 

"Do I hear some hidden meaning in that, Mom?", she crossed her 
arms in front of her chest and drew up one eyebrow. 

"No, dear, I think it is just sad that we never seem to be whole, 
be one...someone is always missing,...when you get older you 
notice these things more,..." she let her voice trail of and looked 
at her daughter. "Is there something you want to tell me, Dana?" 

"Maybe later, Mom!" 

In the living room they could hear Emily squeal in delight as she 
opened her present and soon she came running in a book in her 
arms and embraced Margaret.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" 

"You are welcome, hon!" 

After dinner and after Emily had been brought to bed, Scully sat in 
front of the fire, staring at the flames unseeing. She was brooding 
about her mother's earlier words. True right now, she didn't mind 
raising Emily by herself, but what would be in ten or fifteen years? 
Sure, she was strong now, independent and proud, but she did 
miss a man in her life. 'No, Dana' she told herself, 'not A man, 
Mulder!' There were certainly enough candidates at the hospital 
but she never went out with any of them, she could not forget his 
eyes tenderly looking at her... 'Oh, Mulder!' she sighed when 
Margaret had sat down beside her.

"Are you ready to talk, Dana?" Scully faced her mother and smiled 
sadly "There isn't much to talk really, Mom, it's just Mulder – I 
miss him! I thought I could do just fine without him, but the truth 
is I can't, I miss him...I saw him with Diana Fowley that night, 
when I decided to keep Emily and I just ran off, I never explained 
I never even gave him the chance to speak, Mom, and now I miss 
him so much!" Tears were running down Scully's face and her 
mother embraced her and rocked her gently. 

"Then speak to him now!" 

"NOW? I can't!" 

"Yes, you can!" 

"But Emily!" 

"Nonsense, Emily is sound asleep." 

Scully got up and ran her finger through her hair.

"But what if he is with her? What if he doesn't even care?" 

"He DOES care, Dana, he always has and if he is with another 
woman now, then at least you will know!" 

She was right of course and so Scully freshened up and climbed in 
her rental car after looking in on Emily.

Mulder's street was deserted. Scully parked across the street and 
tried to calm herself down. She had a sense of deja-vu as she 
looked up the darkened windows of his apartment. She could 
almost see him standing there, looking down and then arms 
encircling him, caressing him...'NO, I can't do this!' she started 
the car again, but thought better. 'This is ridiculous!' she said out 
loud, got out of the car and approached the building with a 
purposeful stride. She hesitated only briefly in front of his door 
and then knocked sharply. There was no answer and Scully almost 
left again but then she remembered that she still had his keys. 
Debating with herself for a second whether she should be using 
them like that, she opened the door silently and entered Mulder's 
apartment. Nothing had changed there. Mild chaos still reigned 
and the fish tank radiated pale blue light across the room. The 
desk was cluttered with papers, CD-ROMs and disks, the light on 
the answering machine blinked. The worn leather couch was empty 
and it looked like nobody had been there for days. Scully turned to 
leave when she noticed the door to he right of the couch. She 
peeked through the opening and saw Mulder sprawled on his bed -
he HAD A BED?-still wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. A glass of 
red wine and an empty bottle stood on the bedside table. Scully 
entered the room and sat down softly on the edge of the bed, 
watching him sleep. He looked relaxed and peaceful and she was 
overcome by a wave of tenderness. His hair was longer then she 
remembered and grazed his brows. His face was calm and Scully's 
gaze lingered on his full lower lip for a moment. He turned and 
mumbled something in his sleep and Scully reached out and 
pushed a lock of silky dark hair out of his eyes. 

"Hmm, Scully,..." he murmured and she shrank back, getting up 
from the bed with a start. 

Mulder turned on his back and opened staring up at her. She froze. 

"Scully? SCULLY?" he sat up and touched her arm, his fingers 
searching her hand as if to reassure himself that she was real. "I 
must be dreaming," he mumbled and rubbed his eyes. 

Scully stood there, unsure of what to do next, then she said.

"No, Mulder, it's really me!"

He straightened up and looked at her. 

"What are you doing here, Scully?" 

"I...I just wanted to see how you were doing...I am in Washington 
for the holidays!" 

He stared at her, his eyes growing hard and his face turning to 
stone. He had been in pain about her disappearance every single 
day during the past year and here she was, in his apartment, 
asking how he had been. 'WHY?' his mind screamed, 'WHY DID 
YOU NEVER CALL?' hot anger welled up in him and he replied icily.

"Why, Scully, you haven't cared for the last 12 months, why care 
now?" 

She took a step back as if he had physically hit her.

"I... I do care...I wanted..." she was so shocked by the icy tone in 
her voice that she was lost for words.

"What, Scully, finish the job...turn me into a fucking nutcase? 
WHAT DID YOU WANT!" He had gotten up and was hovering over 
her. 

She took another step back and glared at him, shock quickly giving 
way to rage. Who the hell did he think he was? 

"You selfish bastard!" she spat at him, "you are so fucking self-
centered it makes me sick, Mulder! True, I did walk out on you but 
I wasn't the one who screwed around with my ex-partner! I wasn't 
the one who left his partner totally alone when she needed him! I 
made a mistake, Mulder, but I only re-acted, damn it! I needed 
you, I had one of the toughest decisions in my life to make and I 
NEEDED YOU ON THAT!"

Scully breathed heavily and stared into his wide eyes and then she 
dropped her arms to the side as if all anger just drained out of her 
after the outburst. 

"You know what, Mulder, I am just gonna leave...it was a mistake 
coming here! Good-bye" She shook her had sadly and turned to 
leave. 

Tears streamed down her face and she quickened her pace to get 
out of the apartment. 

"NO! Scully wait!" 

With two steps he caught up with her just as she had her hand on 
the doorknob. He moved around her and positioned himself 
between her and the door and put his hands on her shoulders. 

"Let me go, Mulder!" She struggled to free herself but he was too 
strong.

"No, Scully, Scully, I am sorry, please don't leave,..." 

His eyes were soft again and when she tried to slip away he bent 
down and kissed her. Her lips tasted salty from the tears and he 
grazed them with his tongue before drawing her even closer. She 
went rigid for just a moment but then answered his kiss just as 
hungrily, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his head 
down, running her fingers through his dark, silky hair. Soon his 
kiss grew more demanding and he moved away from her mouth to 
cover her face and neck with small butterfly kisses along the line 
of her shirt. Her fingers moved down his back and under his T-shirt 
only to move back up on his bare back. He moaned softly when 
her hand caressed his stomach and his muscles tightened 
involuntarily. He picked her up swiftly and carried her over to the 
couch, where he slipped off his shirt and proceeded to do so with 
her shirt and button down sweater. Soon their hands and tongues 
were exploring each others' bodies, clothes were shed and 
discarded hastily, soft moans escaped their throats. Their love-
making was fierce and hasty as if they had to claim one another 
as quickly as possible. Afterwards they lay in each other's arms, 
spent and out of breath. Mulder has buried his head in the soft 
spot between her neck and shoulder as he inhaled the scent of her 
perfume mixed with her sweat and the scent of their love-making. 
Scully had wrapped her arms around him and one hand was 
playing with his hair. 

"Are you cold?" his voice sounded extremely loud in the silence of 
the apartment.


"Hmm, a little..." Mulder smiled and got up from the couch, 
scooping her up in his arms and carrying her to the bedroom. 
There he laid her down softly and crawled under the covers 
himself, spooning her. Scully snuggled close to him and he planted 
a kiss on her hair. 

"Scully...?" 

"Yeah?" Her voice was but a whisper. 

"I love you...I have always loved you", he said. 

She turned around to face him in the half-light of the room and he 
continued.

"I guess it took what it took to make me admit that, but I do, I 
have loved you ever since you walked into my motel room that 
night on our first case... I am sorry, Scully, you see, once Diana 
and I were...oh I don't really know what, but we are not 
anymore...she still means something to me, for old times sake, 
but that's  it...she tried of course but after meeting you how could 
I...I have missed you Scully, I have missed you so much!" 

He hugged her close to himself, so that their noses almost 
touched.

"I missed you, too, Mulder, I reacted too hastily, but at that time 
I needed you and...oh never mind. I love you, too, Mulder and I 
don't want to spent the rest of my life without you, but I also 
want you to know that I lead a different life now...Emily has 
changed everything. Apart from missing you, I like my life in 
Boston..."

"Shh...I know, I know!" He kissed her again and drew her even 
closer, feeling her naked body pressed against his own. Soon their 
kisses grew more intense and this time their love-making was 
slow, a gentle discovering of each other, lips to lips, heart to 
heart and when they both reached the peak of their lust, it felt 
like coming home...


Dawn came and Mulder woke to the sound of Scully moving 
around. 

"What are you doing?" 

"I have to go, Mulder, as much as I love you, I have told you, my 
life has changed...I can't leave Emily behind me..." 

"I know." 

"I will go home now, Mulder. You are more than welcome to join 
us for Thanksgiving...the decision is yours now...if you decide you 
will go on as you have I will learn to live with that...I love you, 
Mulder, and I will never stop." 

With that she pulled on her sweater and left. Mulder lay there, 
stunned by her words, lost in thoughts, he lay there for the rest of 
the day, only getting up briefly for a drink or some food. By late 
evening, he had made a decision.

*******************************************************
**

Christmas

Winter had come to Boston in full force. The roads were icy and 
the sky was slate gray. Dana Scully struggled against the fierce 
wind, Emily in tow, carrying a bag of groceries. When they finally 
reached their house, both were glad to escape the wind and the 
cold. Scully put down her bag on the kitchen counter, while Emily 
got rid of her coat. They sat down at the kitchen counter and 
drank hot cocoa. 

"Mommy, is Santa gonna bring me my roller blades?" 

Emily asked and looked at Scully with bright eyes. Scully had to 
smile.

"Well, if you were good then I don't thing there isn't any reason 
why he shouldn't, Emily" 

The girl seemed content with that and Scully was about to say 
something else when there was a knock on the front door. 'Who 
could that be...' she got up and opened the door. Fox Mulder stood 
there, his lips blue, his hands full of bags and a suitcase.

"Mulder? What are you doing here?" 

He gave her a lopsided smile.

"I have made a decision, Scully, I don't want to live without 
you...I quit...as from January first I will be teaching at Harvard, 
criminal psychology... and...yeah, Skinner wanted me to tell you 
that this sucks!" 

Scully's face lit up and she embrace him fiercely. Then she 
remembered the cold and pulled him into the house. 

"Come in, Mulder, you are freezing..." 

Mulder stepped into the parlor and embraced her. 

"Does that mean you'll have me, Scully?" 

She looked up into his eyes and smiled mischievously "For the 
time being..."

He smiled back and bent down to kiss her.


It was the most perfect Christmas. Emily accepted Mulder's 
presence with the calmness she seemed to expect everything in 
her life. She was shy at first and only looked in his direction once 
in a while. When they were alone in her room getting her ready for 
bed, Emily asked Scully.

"Is he gonna stay?" Scully's eyes clouded over. "...because if he 
is, Mom, that's OK, I like Fox," Emily continued, "and he likes you, 
Mom, I can see that ...and you know what?" she bent over Scully's 
ear "I think he likes me, too..." 

Scully had to laugh at her daughter's sincerity. 

"Yes he does, now it's time for you to sleep, honey, good night!" 

She kissed the little girl on the cheek and went downstairs where 
Mulder was sitting on the couch in front of the fire. Scully sat 
down and wrapped her arms around him. 'This is it...' she thought 
'this is what I want...' 

As if Mulder had read her thoughts he said "I know, Scully it's 
what I want, too, and I am going to do whatever it takes to make 
it work...."

THE END