~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Echoes of the past, Are always heard in the future.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Past Pretending By Joey R. ============================ Past Pretending - Prologue. Set in 1988. Fox Mulder was in California visiting some friends and getting away from the FBI Academy where he was currently in training. He needed a break from the Academy - and he needed to get away from Diana Fowley, a student at Quantico in the year above him, who he couldn't seem to get away from. Mulder was on the beach when he saw her. She was...amazing, the most beautiful woman he'd ever lay his eyes on. She was young, near his age but one or two years younger, he guessed. She was wearing a blue bikini top, which brought out the color in her eyes and cream sarong and she had long red hair. He watched her smile at something her friend said and knew he had to talk to her. He'd regret it if he didn't. He got up and walked towards her, hoping he looked casual. It was stupid, really. It wasn't as if he were an awkward teenager anymore. He was an adult, he was twenty-seven. He watched her friend head towards the see and saw his chance. He waited until she was looking his way before going up to her and introducing himself. " Hi," he smiled a little nervously, knowing this wasn't the kid of thing he usually did. " I know this may seem a little..forward but I saw you from over there and had to talk to you." " Okay," she smiled back, amused at his shyness. " My name's Dana, by the way. Dana Scully." " Fox.." He took her hand and felt a tingling sensation go up his arm. " But I usually go by Mulder, my surname, for obvious reason's." " So what do I call you?" Scully asked. " Fox or Mulder? If I call you Mulder, I'd want you to call me Scully so we're on even ground." " That's not fair," he grinned charmingly. " I like the name Dana but I hate the name Fox. So...Mulder and Scully?" " Sounds really weird but okay," she shrugged and smiled again. " Nice to meet you, Mulder. So, do you usually go around on the beaches talking and flirting with woman you don't even know and call them by their surnames or is this the first time?" " It's a first," Mulder laughed. " I promise. There was just something about you that caught my attention." " Thanks, I guess," she blushed prettily. " Do you live round here or are you just visiting? I haven't seen you here before." " I'm visiting a friend," he answered. " You're from around here, I assume?" " Sort of. I'm from all over. I was born here but I grew up in lots of different places with my family. My father's a captain in the Navy so we moved a lot. I'm here finishing my medical degree. I just have a year left," she explained. " So you're..how old?" Mulder frowned, trying to work it out. " Twenty-four. I've done a degree in Physics if that helps you understand how I'm in Med. School at this age. I'm a confusing person," she gave a one shoulder shrug. " How old are you?" " Twenty-seven, going on twenty-eight in October," he replied. " Not too old, I hope?" " No, you're a year older than my sister," she reassured him. " That's not too old. Maybe it would be if I was sixteen and you were almost twenty. For some reason, it usually causes a problem when you're younger because people don't think you know what you're doing." " Good. Next question. You are single, aren't you?" Mulder questioned as they began to walk along the beach. " Yep, you?" Scully felt - and managed to stifle - a shiver as his hand briefly touched the small of her back. " Definitely," Mulder hid a grin at her stifled reaction, knowing then that he wasn't the only one who felt the attraction between them. They talked more as they walked further along the beach. Scully learned about Mulder training for a job with the FBI and was interested in it. Mulder learned how she was unsure about where her future was going to take her, whether she wanted to pursue a career in medicine or not. She told him about her family and he told her - briefly - about his. He even spoke about his sister, something that surprised him as it was something he rarely did but she listened and sympathized. Before they knew it, it was quite late and getting cooler. Neither wanted to say goodbye so they lingered on the beach, despite knowing both of their friends had gone home. " Can I see you again?" Mulder asked as he walked her to her apartment block. " Maybe tomorrow?" " Sure," Scully nodded, stopping outside her building. " Fine by me." " I'll pick you up here? Is nine okay?" He grinned enthusiastically. " Yeah," she smiled. " I'll see you then." " See you," he responded, neither moving away. " So." " So," she murmured, stepping a little closer. Mulder took the hint and closed the gap between them, kissing her softly on the lips His arms went around her waist and her arms went around his neck as the kiss grew more intense, more so than either had felt before. Scully broke the kiss, they both needed to take a deep breath. They stared at each other in silence, unable to speak and unwilling to ruin the feeling that had fallen over them. " Goodnight, Mulder," she smiled softly. " I'll see you tomorrow." " Yeah, tomorrow," he grinned back at her and waited until she was safely inside the building before leaving to go to his friend's home. X~X~X~X~X The week continued and their friendship progressed. Mulder and Scully became close. Close friends. They began to spend every day, every moment together. The second week began on a new note. They finally acted upon the kiss they'd shared outside her apartment building and Mulder soon ended up moving in with Scully. They spent the second week, their last week, together as lovers. Then came the time to say goodbye. They spent the day together, as usual, and they ended up at Scully's apartment as usual. They lay on the couch, with Mulder's arms around her and her back against the couch. They were both upset, neither of them wanting their time to end as they knew there was little chance they'd meet again. Mulder didn't want to leave her, he didn't want to go back to Quantico with nothing but memories of the pretty redhead who'd stolen his heart. Scully didn't want to have to say goodbye and she didn't want to be constantly reminded of their goodbye every time she returned to her apartment. " I don't want tonight to end, Mulder," she murmured as he kissed her forehead gently. " I can't face saying goodbye, I hate good-byes. I've said too many of them." " Then we won't say goodbye," he reasoned. " I don't want to, either." " It's going to hurt, I'm going to hurt," she closed her eyes briefly. " Why does this feel so wrong?" " This feels wrong to you?" Mulder arched an eyebrow, taken back and surprised and a little hurt by her comment. " Yeah, kind of," Scully opened her eyes, sensing she'd upset him. " I don't mean us, I don't mean that at all. I just mean tonight, It feels different. Like it's going to be the last time we're going to be together." " Have you ever had a holiday romance before?" He asked curiously. " No," she frowned. " Have you? And are you calling this a holiday romance?" " No and no way," he answered. " This can't be a holiday romance. It means too much." I know. And this can't be just a holiday romance because I've never felt like this before," she sighed. " I've... I love you, Mulder." Mulder felt his jaw drop open and was deafened by the sound of his heart pounding. His first name was sounded so good when she said it, especially when the words 'I love you' went before it. " Mulder? Are you okay?" She was looking at him with a concerned expression on her face. He realized that he'd been staring at her, his mouth agape, for a few minutes. " I'm fine. I just...I love you too, Dana," he told her honestly. " I've never felt this way about anyone before, not like I do for you." " Good. I was beginning to think I'd killed you with the shock and that would do nothing for my ego. Imagine it, the first time I tell a guy I love him and he dies of shock," she smiled slightly and shook her head. " And you broke the pact. You called me Dana, which means I get to call you Fox." " I called you Dana once, you get to call me Fox once," he suggested, grinning at her admission and attempt at humor. His expression suddenly turned serious. " I'll never forget you, though. I promise." " I'll never forget you either," she smiled weakly. " Can we stop talking now? It's really depressing and I just want to enjoy our last night together." " Fine by me," he grinned suggestively before capturing her lips with his own in a very intense, very passionate kiss. X~X~X~X~X The sun was shining and the birds were singing. All in all, it was a typical summer's day in California. Scully woke up in her bed alone. She listened for any sound or sign of life but heard nothing so she put on her dressing gown and walked through to the living room. It was there that she found what she was looking for. On the table, there was a single red rose and a white envelope with her name on it. She moved over to the table, sitting down on the edge of the couch. She moved the rose aside and picked up the envelope, opening it cautiously. She read the words with a heavy heart. * Dear Dana, I remembered how you didn't want to say goodbye so I thought I'd say my 'Goodbye for now' on paper so that was we don't have to see each other fighting back tears. I hope that by writing this, it'll save us both from hurting as much as it would saying this in person. I'll always remember you - always - and I can't wait until I get my photographs developed so I don't have to rely on my memory to see you. I doubt I'll forget, though. I never could and I never will. As I write this, I keep telling myself that this isn't the end. I firmly believe that we will be together again, Scully. These last two weeks have been wonderful, you've become my best friend and the woman I love with my whole heart. I've included my address but I'll be moving soon so there is a chance we'll not be able to keep in touch. Even if we don't, I do think we'll meet up somewhere along the line. And I understand it would be hard for you and for me to write letters when we're so far apart, that's why I've left the choice in your hands. Remember I love you. Always yours, Fox Mulder * She smiled through her tears at his thoughtfulness and leaned back against the couch. She missed him already. She missed his presence, she felt his absence already. Sighing deeply, she carefully folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. She wasn't going to keep in touch with him, it would hurt too much. But she hoped that his belief held true, that they would someday meet again. X~X~X~X~X End of Prologue Past Pretending - Part one, 1991. [Author's note: Mulder isn't married and has just found the X-files, Scully is teaching at the Academy. In this universe, anyway.] Special Agent Dana Scully sunk into the chair in her office. She closed her eyes and heaved a sigh of relief. Another day was over which meant she only had to finish some paper work and then she could go home. Home to her new house which she could barely afford and her beautiful daughter, Alicia Marina. Scully smiled thinking about her three year old daughter. Alicia was special. Her father was a man who remained special to Scully although she hadn't told him of their daughter's birth. She'd tried, she dialed the number Mulder had left but then she always hung up. She'd written letters but remembered he said he was moving so they remained unsent in the bottom of a box in the closet. A box of memories stored away, gathering dust until the day when she was forced to confront them. Scully sighed and got to work on the reports that she needed to finish reading. She was so engrossed in the reports that the ringing of the phone startled her. " Agent Scully," she answered, barely managing to stifle a yawn. " Agent Scully, I'm calling for Assistant Director Skinner of DC Headquarters," a female voice replied. " I've been asked to arrange a meeting. Can you be here tomorrow at ten o'clock?" " Sure," Scully frowned slightly. "Can I ask what the meeting is about?" " I believe it's about reassignment. Can I tell the AD you can make it?" The woman explained. " Okay, I'll be there," Scully agreed, surprised. She hung up when the line went dead and looked blankly at the report on her desk. She had no idea what was going on. No one had said anything to her about being reassigned. Maybe it was just temporary or maybe the receptionist had got it wrong. Yawning, Scully got up from her chair and put on her coat. She picked up her bag and shut the door to her office, locking it behind her. She then walked towards her car and started the journey home. X~X~X~X~X She got home and said goodnight to her parents who were looking after Alicia whilst she was working. Then she carried the sleeping three year old up to her room and tucked her in, kissing her softly before going through to her own bedroom and changing for bed. She pulled out a clean night shirt from the bottom draw and put it on with a wistful smile. It wasn't really a night shirt, it was a cotton shirt belonging to Fox Mulder. He'd left it in her apartment in California and she'd claimed it as a night shirt since it was comfortable and reminded her of him. She got into bed and turned off the lights, falling asleep quickly. X~X~X~X~X At the same time, Special Agent Fox Mulder was lying on his couch staring at the ceiling. He was trying to decide whether to take the X-Files or not. Ordinarily, he wouldn't hesitate. The problem was, he needed a partner and the only partner available was Diana Fowley, the older Agent who had told him about the X-Files in the first place. He didn't want her to be his partner, he didn't want anything to do with her. There was something about her, something he couldn't put his finger on but something he didn't quite trust. She was pushy and flirted a lot. He didn't want to work with her, he sensed she wouldn't really help him. Yet he still wanted the X-Files. He wanted to use them to help him find his sister and proof of the existence of alien life. Mulder sighed and closed his eyes. He had to make a decision within the next few weeks. And he did need a partner, he just wished there was another option besides Diana Fowley. X~X~X~X~X Scully was up bright and early. She awoke to Alicia calling for her and went through to her daughter's bedroom. Alicia was standing up in her cot, holding her arms above her head. She giggled when she saw her Mom. " Up, Mommy!" Alicia ordered. Scully willingly complied and pulled her daughter into her arms, holding her close to her chest. Alicia had her mother's red hair and a light dusting of freckles across her nose. She had her father's eyes, though. Rich hazel eyes with flecks of green. She was also a very happy baby, she sometimes giggled for no reason and she obviously loved her mother. When Scully had first started going to the Academy, Alicia hadn't liked it at all but she'd got used to it and seemed to accept it. As long as she had her mother to herself on weekends, that was. Otherwise, she threw tantrums Scully as sure she got from her father and used the lost puppy expression Mulder had used once or twice in California. Scully settled Alicia in her chair and got her some breakfast. After breakfast, she started getting herself and Alicia washed and dressed and by the time Mr. and Mrs. Scully had arrived, Alicia was watching cartoons and Scully was on the phone with a fellow teacher at Quantico, arranging for someone to cover her classes whilst she was in her meeting. She let her parents in and kissed them both on the cheek. They sat down in the living room with Alicia as Scully finished her phone call. " That would be great, thanks. Bye," Scully said into the phone before hanging up. " Everything okay, Sweetie?" Mrs. Maggie Scully asked, sitting on the floor and playing with Alicia. " Everything's fine," Scully answered. " I have a meeting at Headquarters in DC this morning and I was just getting someone to cover my morning classes." " What about?" Mr. William Scully looked at his daughter in concern. " There's nothing wrong, is there?" " Not that I know of," Scully shrugged. " I'll be okay, Dad. If anything's wrong, you and Mom will be the first to know. I promise." " Okay, Starbuck," Mr. Scully kissed his daughter on the cheek and hugged her quickly. " As long as you're sure." " I'm sure," Scully smiled reassuringly. " Are you guys sure you don't mind looking after Alicia? I mean, I'm working now. I'm sure I could afford a baby-sitter or I could put her in day care. You're retired, you should be enjoying it." " We enjoy looking after our Grand-daughter," Mrs. Scully replied. " But we have been meaning to talk to you about something." " Oh?" Scully looked from her father to her mother. " What?" " You've been telling us for weeks that we should take advantage of our being retired and that you think we should go on a second honeymoon so we booked a holiday. We leave on Saturday," Mr. Scully told her. " We know it's short notice and if you need us to stay, we will." " No, you guys should go," Scully smiled. " It's about time you listened to me. Alicia and I will be fine. I can get some time off work or I'm sure she can go to the day care. She'll enjoy going there, I think Rachel's kids are starting next week." " Are you positive?" Mrs. Scully asked. " Your father's right, we can stay.." " No, you have to go," Scully reassured them. " And I have to go to work or I'll be late." She sighed and quickly kissed her parents and hugged her daughter for a long moment. " I won't be late tonight, I promise," she called as she left the house. X~X~X~X~X Scully made it to Headquarters ten minutes before her meeting was supposed to start. She asked for directions at the front desk and then made her way up to the office of Assistant Director Skinner. She felt the eyes of other Agent's on her back as she made her way up but she squared her shoulders and ignored them all. She finally made it to the elevator and kept to herself, avoiding the gaze of the man who stood next to her. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to accept her coolness. " Hi," he held out his hand. " Agent Jerry Lamana. And you are?" " Dana Scully," she politely shook his hand then turned her attention back to the elevator doors, praying they would open soon. " So you must be pretty new around here?" Jerry commented, ignoring her obvious lack of interest in small talk. " I haven't seen you before." " I teach at the Academy," she answered. " I'm only here for a meeting." " So you're hot and intelligent," he grinned suggestively, looking her up and down. She was wearing a fitted white blouse, black trousers and a fitted black jacket. Her red hair was down and was now just below shoulder length. She was an extremely beautiful woman and no one could tell from her figure that she had given birth. " So you doing anything tomorrow night?" " Yes," she answered sharply. " I'm washing my hair." " Ooh, we've got a fierce one here, haven't we?" Jerry's grin widened as he moved closer, invading her personal space. " Come on, Red. Loosen up a little. I could help you, if you want." " Okay," Scully smiled sweetly as the doors opened. " Take a cold shower." Leaving him open mouthed, she walked away as quickly as she could and headed towards AD Skinner's office. She took a deep breath and entered the outer office, where the receptionist she'd spoken to on the phone was sitting behind a desk. " Dana Scully to see AD Skinner," she spoke softly, trying to hide her nervousness. The receptionist smiled slightly at her. " I'll tell him you're here." She stood and went through to the inner office and reappeared a few moments later. " Go right in." Scully took another deep breath before entering the office, telling herself not to be nervous. X~X~X~X~X Jerry Lamana had stopped scowling by the time he'd got to his friend - and ex-partner's new office. He entered without knocking and found Mulder leaning over a file, an X-File. " Hey, Mulder," Jerry greeted him. " Jerry, what a surprise," Mulder didn't look up from his reading, something which annoyed Jerry so he sighed dramatically. Mulder stifled a groan and looked up. " So what's new with you?" " I'm in love," Jerry answered with a grin. Mulder rolled his eyes. " You fall in love every week," he responded. " Not like this," Jerry insisted. " This one's different. She's an agent and she's hot." " I didn't think there was a female agent in this place you hadn't already hit on," Mulder answered, turning his attention back to the file. " She's new, she teaches at Quantico," Jerry shot back. " You should have seen her." " So what was she like?" Mulder wasn't really interested, he just knew Jerry and he knew he wouldn't get a moment's peace until he'd listened to Jerry's latest tale. " Amazing. She's got a fierce personality, I like it. She wants me, I could tell," Jerry boasted, not caring that he was lying and not caring that Mulder could tell he was lying. " Did she say she was interested?" Mulder asked, hiding a smile. " No, she was playing it cool," Jerry replied. " But man, she wanted me. I could see it in her eyes." " So what did she look like? Something other than 'hot'," Mulder put down the file, forgetting about it until he could get rid of Jerry. " She had red hair, straight. A great figure and the most incredible eyes..." Jerry grinned. " I'm gonna ask her out." " How are you going to do that when you hardly know her?" Mulder looked doubtful. " I know her name. I'm going to do a search for her in the Bureau's database," Jerry grinned proudly. " You'll get in trouble," Mulder warned. " When have you cared about getting into trouble?" Jerry remarked. " And she's worth it." " Sure she is, just like the other four women you've risked you career on," Mulder shook his head. " At least I'm not still lusting after a woman I met almost four years ago," Jerry countered. Mulder gave Jerry a look that warned him he had almost gone too far. Jerry held up his hands in mock surrender. " Sorry," he apologized. " I didn't know it was still such a sensitive subject." " Well now you do," Mulder answered quietly. He turned his back on Jerry and concentrated on the file again. Jerry shrugged and got the hint, leaving without saying goodbye. Mulder sighed and leaned back in his chair, the file forgotten. It was hopeless trying to concentrate on the file. She'd been mentioned and now he wouldn't be able to put her out of his mind for the rest of the day. X~X~X~X~X AD Walter Skinner sat opposite Scully. He looked at her curiously. She wasn't what he'd expected. From reading her file, he'd learned that she was highly intelligent and she was also a single mother. He had been expecting someone who was a little older, not the attractive young woman who sat before him. " Agent Scully, you've been teaching at the Academy for a year now," Skinner spoke up. " Yes, Sir. I just began my second year a few weeks ago," Scully answered in a professional tone. " Do you like it at the Academy?" Skinner asked. " Yes, Sir," she nodded. " It's my job." " How would you feel about being reassigned as a field agent?" " I don't know, Sir. I'd like to be able to work outside the office but I have a daughter," she told him. " She's a big responsibility, I'm not sure how my being a field agent would affect her." " I understand," Skinner nodded. " That's why I'm offering you the chance to give being out in the field a chance. If you want it." " Sir?" Scully looked up with an expression that asked for more details. " A case has come to my attention. Three couples in Florida have disappeared with no motive and no method. Traces of an organic substance have been found in the house they were living in and you being a scientist have the right qualifications to assist," he explained. " If you chose to accept the job, you will be assigned to work with another three agents. You will go undercover with one of your fellow agents as a married couple. The other two accompanying agents will also be posing as a married couple and will reside in a house near yours so they can offer back up if and when you need it. The local law enforcement will also be on stand by." " I'm sure there are plenty of field agents with experience who are suitably qualified. May I ask why I've been chosen?" Scully asked. " This case is an X-File," Skinner explained, looking a little uncomfortable. " The X-Files are cases involving the paranormal. One of the agents you will be working with is interested in working on the X-Files full time but he needs a partner. If you take this case and you work well together and you are interested in being a field agent full-time, he may choose you as his partner. The other two agents working on the case are the only other choices he has. One of them is a former partner of his, the other is someone who has expressed an interest in the X- Files." " Then why doesn't he chose one of them?" Her brow furrowed. " His former partner is not interested and they have a difference in opinion over the future of their careers and the other agent hasn't struck a cord with him. I personally don't think they'd work well together so it would be pointless in assigning them both to the X-Files division," Skinner answered. " I would understand if you rejected the offer, with your daughter and all." " Actually," she started. " It sounds interesting. The X-Files sound like a challenge, more of a challenge than teaching the same things at the Academy over and over again. If it's possible, can I give you my answer tomorrow? My parents are going out of town and I'll need to find someone to look after my daughter whilst I'm away." " That would be fine," Skinner nodded. " When would be a suitable time to call you at Quantico?" " I have an hour between classes at eleven. I should be in my office," Scully answered. " You could get someone to call me then or I could call you and leave a message for you." " I'll get my receptionist to call," he made what could pass as a smile and she stood, shaking his hand. " I have a class." She bit her lip. " You're dismissed," he told her and watched her go. He wondered if there was anyway to get round her having a daughter if she couldn't find someone to look after her. It would be a shame for her to miss out on the chance of getting out of her office and the classroom for a while. X~X~X~X~X End of Part One. Past Pretending - Part Two. THE NEXT DAY. Scully said goodbye to her parents over the phone that morning and drove to the Academy with Alicia in the back seat of her car. She couldn't find anyone to take care of Alicia and had gone off the idea of leaving her at a day care center after talking to her friend, Rachel, who had tried putting her children in the day care but had decided against it after paying the center a visit. She carried Alicia to her office, managing to avoid anyone she knew. She settled her in her chair and waited for her sister, Melissa, to arrive. Eventually, Melissa did arrive and gave Scully a look when she saw Alicia. " Have I been tricked into baby-sitting?" Melissa asked warily as she stood in the doorway. " It's only for an hour," Scully bit her lip. " I've got someone to cover for me this afternoon. Please?" " Don't give me that look, Dee," Melissa rolled her eyes and picked up Alicia. " Hello, Honey." " Aunt Missy," Alicia giggled and started playing with the charm around her Aunt's neck. " Please, Missy," Scully pleaded. " I'll just be through in the lab, you can call me if something's wrong. Please?" " Sure," Melissa sighed. " What better way to spend my morning than with my beautiful niece?" " Thank you!" Scully hugged her sister and kissed her daughter's forehead quickly. " I've got to go, I'll be back in an hour. There's some toys in the bag and some snacks and a drink and if you're going to take her anywhere, leave a note." " Dana," Melissa shook her head. " I've looked after her before. We'll be fine, as long as that security guy doesn't come after me." " What?!" Scully froze in the doorway. " Tell me you're kidding. I'll get in trouble if you and Alicia are found here." " Well, I don't know if he was a security guard. He was an agent who tried hitting on me and then made fun of my clothes. He called me a hippie and didn't like it when I corrected him," Melissa shrugged. " Don't worry about it." " Fine but that reminds me," Scully started leaving again. " No more teaching Alicia New Age stuff. She's too young to understand you anyway but it still isn't what I want her listening to." " Okay," Melissa sat down in Scully's chair with Alicia on her lap. " Have fun, Dee." " Sure," was the last thing Melissa heard Scully say as she left the office. X~X~X~X~X AD Skinner in his chair and across from him sat Agents Mulder, Lamana and Diana Fowley. They were talking about the case but Mulder seemed distracted. Agent Lamana obviously wasn't too pleased about being assigned to an X-File and Diana Fowley obviously wasn't pleased that she hadn't been offered the job of being Mulder's partner. Skinner listened half-heartedly as Lamana and Fowley discussed who was being coupled with whom. So far, Fowley was determined to be with Mulder. But Skinner knew there might be a problem with that so he spoke up. " I will be assigning you with partners when I find out for certain who the fourth member of the team will be," Skinner told them. " There may be some added complications. Since that's all for now, you're all dismissed. Except for Agent Mulder." Lamana practically sped out the office while Fowley left a little reluctantly. Mulder stayed sat in his chair, looking expectantly at Skinner. " Agent Mulder," Skinner began. " I know you're not overtly enthused by the thought of Agent Fowley being your partner but it is a possibility. You need a partner before you can take over the X-Files division." " I know, Sir," Mulder sighed. " I just don't trust Agent Fowley." " So, that means you don't want to be assigned as her husband?" Skinner asked. " Not if it can be helped," Mulder smiled slightly, wondering for the fifth time why Skinner was looking out for him. One minute Skinner was just like all the other Assistant Directors and the next he was more...understanding. " Well, I'll see what I can do but it all depends if this works out. The other agent I would like to assign to this case has a daughter and if she hasn't found anyone to look after her, I was thinking about suggesting she bring her daughter along. That would make the undercover marriage look more realistic," Skinner told him. " But from what I hear, her daughter is her life so she might not be willing to go along with it." " If her daughter did join us, I'm sure we'd all be extra careful," Mulder said. " Is that why you don't know who will be assigned to be together?" " If she agreed, we'd have to make sure she and her daughter were assigned to be the wife of the man her daughter resembles most," Skinner agreed. " When will you know for sure?" Mulder questioned. " Once I've been to the Academy and asked her," Skinner answered. " You're welcome to join me." " I've got some work to do," Mulder stood at the same time as his superior. " Will you let me know, though?" " You'll find out tomorrow at the briefing," Skinner answered. He watched Mulder leave the office before putting on his jacket and heading over to Quantico. X~X~X~X~X Scully's class was running late. Melissa paced the small office, holding Alicia in her arms, wondering when her sister would finally come back. It wasn't that Melissa didn't like spending time with her niece, she loved it. Especially as Alicia had made her sister lighten up. But she had made plans for the afternoon, plans she didn't want to call off. Sighing, she almost jumped when the door opened. Instead of seeing Scully, though, Melissa found herself looking at a tall, balding man. She bit her lip and smiled nervously. " Hi," she greeted him. " Can I help you with anything?" " I'm looking for Agent Dana Scully," the man spoke. " I must have got the wrong office." " No, this is the right office," Melissa answered. " I'm her New Age sister, Melissa and this is her daughter, Alicia. She's in teaching right now. I can take a message." " I'll wait, I need to speak to her," Skinner answered. " Well." An idea began to form in Melissa's mind. " I know this might seem like a totally unprofessional situation but I'm sure Dana can explain it. And I have plans for this afternoon and since you're waiting for Dana...I don't suppose you can keep an eye on Alicia for me? I wouldn't usually do this but I made plans after Dana had left and if I don't leave soon, I'm going to miss my plane." " I...Sure," Skinner bit back a smile. Obviously only the physical resemblance was all there was similar between Agent Scully and her sister. " Thank you!" Melissa smiled and sat Alicia in Scully's chair. " Sweetie, I'm gonna have to go now but this nice man's gonna look after you until Mommy gets back, okay?" " Okay, Missy," Alicia giggled, not really understanding but not really caring. She heard the word Mommy and waited for her Mom to return. Melissa left five minutes before Scully's lesson ended. She walked into her office and came to a sudden halt at seeing Alicia on AD Skinner's lap. Skinner looked up and smiled slightly. " Your sister had to leave," he explained softly as Alicia raised her arms to her Mom. " Up," Alicia instructed. Scully complied and looked at Skinner as he stood. She was so embarrassed and so angry with her sister for being so irresponsible. " I'm so sorry," Scully apologized. " It's the first time I've brought Alicia to work with me. My parents left earlier than usual and my sister isn't all that reliable, as you can see. I'm sorry. This also means I can't take the case, Melissa was my last hope." " That's what I came to talk to you about," Skinner responded. " I was wondering, if it was okay with you, if you'd let Alicia join you. It would mean you could take the case and you wouldn't have to worry about not being with your daughter. And it would make your undercover status more realistic." " It's very tempting," Scully sighed. " But I don't want to put her in any danger. If there's any risk factor's involved, I'd prefer not to take the case." " I've spoken to the agent in charge of the case and he promised he'd be extra careful and so would the other's. And you'd be doing him a favor," Skinner commented. " You don't have to make your mind up yet, though. Why don't you bring Alicia to the briefing tomorrow and see how she is with the other Agent's. Then you can decided whether or not you want to take the case." Scully smiled slightly. " Why do I get the impression this isn't standard procedure?" " I...It's important the X-Files are opened, I know it would mean a lot to him," Skinner replied. " And he is one of the Bureau's top profiler's. It would be a shame to lose him." " Okay," she agreed. " We'll be there." " Nine o' clock, my office," Skinner nodded. " I'll see you there. Bye, Alicia." " Bye!" Alicia smiled toothily. " Oh and Sir?" Scully called out. He turned in the doorway and she continued. " I'm sorry for seeming like such a flake. I'm not usually this disorganized. Everything just seems to be happening at once this week." " I understand." A faint smile played on his lips. " Being a single mother and working full-time must be hard, especially when the people who usually help you are gone." " Thank you," she smiled again. " Goodbye, Agent Scully," Skinner turned and started leaving again. " I'll see you tomorrow." Skinner left and Scully settled Alicia in her chair as she tidied up. She smiled at the sight of Alicia playing with her toes and then helped the little girl put her shoes and socks on. " Home now, Mommy," Alicia grinned. " Yes, Sweetheart," Scully smiled again. " Home time." " Goody!" Alicia clapped her hands as Scully set her on the floor. Scully picked up the bag and took her daughters hand. They started slowly walking towards their car but hadn't got very far when Alicia tugged on her Mom's hand and stopped. " Up, Mommy!" Scully shook her head and picked her daughter up, wondering when how much longer she could carry Alicia around everywhere. Sighing to herself, she and Alicia started their journey home. X~X~X~X~X Mulder woke earlier than usual on Friday morning and stayed on his couch, staring at the ceiling. He'd had another dream, about Dana Scully. It was Lamana's fault, he shouldn't have mentioned her. For the last three, almost four years, Mulder had tried to put her out of his mind. It hadn't worked. He kept wondering where she was, what she was doing and why she hadn't called him. He knew it would have been difficult for them to stay in touch and he hadn't really expected her to try and keep in contact. It was still a little disappointing, though. He sighed and pulled himself up from the couch. He might as well get ready for the briefing and prepare himself for the worst - being assigned to a case with Diana Fowley, Jerry Lamana and someone he didn't even know but was quite confident he wouldn't get along with. Recently, since the X-Files came to his attention, he hadn't really been getting along with anyone. Chiding himself for being so negative, he went through to his bathroom and turned on the shower, hoping that if he started the day on a positive note, it would end on one. X~X~X~X~X Skinner was standing in the outer office when Scully got there with Alicia. For once, they were early. Alicia had decided to help her Mom out by sharing her shower instead of having a long bath and then running around the house for half an hour while her Mom tried to catch her. Skinner turned to them and smiled down at Alicia who was standing behind her Mom. Alicia smiled up at him shyly, clinging onto Scully's leg and cowering behind her. " Is it my imagination or was she a little less shy yesterday?" Skinner asked Scully as she tried to pry her daughter to come out from behind her. " I think there's too many people here," Scully answered. " She was the same in the elevator." " Well, why don't we go through to my office and you can get Alicia settled before the other's get here?" Skinner suggested. " Sounds like a good idea," Scully agreed. Skinner held the door open for Scully and Alicia who still hadn't let go of her Mom and then told his receptionist to show in the other Agent's when they got there. Alicia quickly claimed a corner of the office and opened her little pink knapsack, taking out her favorite doll and a book. She sat playing in a world of her own as Skinner and Scully down in their seats. " If she makes a mess, I'll tidy it before I leave," Scully promised as they watched Alicia talk to the doll. " That seems to be her biggest hobby." " It's okay," Skinner assured her. " Would you like a coffee or anything?" " No, thanks," she smiled politely. " I'm fine." " Mommy," Alicia broke the silence that had fallen over them. She stumbled over to her Mom, holding her doll. " Amy's not well." " Amy?" Skinner frowned slightly as Alicia tried pulling her self up on her Mom's knee. Scully shook her head and sighed. " Amy's her doll," she answered before helping Alicia onto her knee. " And she looks fine to me, Honey." " Not well," Alicia insisted. " She feels sick." Just as Scully was about to respond, Skinner cut her. " Why don't I take a look at her for you, Alicia?" " Really?" Alicia looked at him curiously. " You a doctor like Mommy? You make her better?" " I can try," Skinner smiled slightly and Alicia climbed off her Mom's knee and round to Skinner's chair. She held up the doll, 'Amy', and watched as Skinner took her and pretended to check her temperature. Scully hid a smile at the sight and wondered what would happen if word got out that an Assistant Director in the FBI was really a big softy at heart. After a few minutes, Skinner handed 'Amy' back to Alicia and told her she was all better. Alicia smiled sweetly and then went back round to where her Mom was. " See? She's better now," Alicia told her. " Will you come play with me, Mommy?" " I can't right now, Ali," Scully spoke soothingly, tenderly pushing a stray lock of red hair that had escaped from Alicia's ponytail back from her face. " I will once the meeting's over, I promise." " Okay," Alicia pouted slightly but accepted her answer and went back over to 'her' corner, talking to 'Amy'. Scully watched her go, feeling a little guilty. She hated having to put her work first, Alicia was the most important thing in her life and she hated upsetting her. But, she needed to work to support her and give her what she needed and wanted. " Being a single Mom must be hard," Skinner commented with a sympathetic look, bringing her out of her thoughts. " It is but it's worth it and I'm coping okay," she replied. " If you don't mind me asking, where's her father?" Skinner asked curiously, trying not to pry but wondering what the circumstances were. She'd never been married, it would have been mentioned in her file. " I don't know," she answered slowly. " He doesn't know about her." " Are you planning on telling him?" Skinner's brow furrowed. " I'd like to, if we ever see each other again," Scully smiled a little wistfully. " We were unable to keep in touch." Skinner left it at that, sensing she didn't really feel comfortable talking about it and that she didn't want to talk about it. He excused himself and went to get himself a cup of coffee. Scully sighed heavily after he'd left and walked over to her daughter. She knelt down on the floor and Alicia launched herself in her arms. " Are you unhappy, Mommy?" Alicia looked up at her with a concerned expression on her young face. " 'Cause he mentioned Daddy?" " No, Honey," Scully forced a smile. " I'm fine, just a little nervous about meeting the people I might be working with soon." " If you go away, I going too?" Alicia asked. " Definitely," Scully answered, giving her daughter a quick kiss on the nose. She was reading softly from Alicia's book when the door to the office opened so she didn't hear anyone enter until they cleared their throat. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Two. Past Pretending - Part Three. Mulder showered and dressed and went to work early. He had nothing better to do and he was curious to find out from Skinner if there was a chance he could get out of being stuck with Diana Fowley as his acting wife. He spent an hour or so in the basement office, where he was soon to be permanently reassigned and then he made his way up to AD Skinner's office. He smiled at the receptionist and she told him to go straight into the office. He went in and for a moment he thought he was alone until he heard someone talking softly. He looked around the office and saw the back of a red-haired woman as she knelt on the floor. He knew this was the agent Skinner had told him about and he knew she must have been talking to her daughter. He watched them for a moment, feeling envious of the closeness between mother and daughter. There was something strangely familiar about her but he couldn't put his finger on it. Shaking his head, he cleared his voice and waited for her to turn and introduce herself. X~X~X~X~X As it happened, introductions weren't necessary. Scully put the book down and stood up, straightening her jacket. She turned around and froze on seeing him. Mulder also froze. He stared at her, his mouth open. It was her, Dana Scully. The woman he hadn't been able to get off his mind. He looked behind her and saw her daughter standing behind her, peering at him shyly and holding onto her trouser leg. Scully had a daughter. Mulder looked into Scully's eyes. Was it possible...? Before either could say anything, Skinner walked into the room, accompanied by Fowley and Lamana. " Agent Mulder," Skinner nodded a greeting. " I was told you'd just got here. Agent Scully, this is Agent Diana Fowley and Agent Jerry Lamana." " Nice to meet you," Scully somehow managed to speak. Lamana and Fowley nodded and took their seats as Mulder continued to stare at her. " And this is Agent Mulder," Skinner finished. " Agent Mulder, this is Agent." " Dana Scully," Mulder responded quietly. Skinner looked surprised. " You two already know each other?" Skinner asked enquiringly. " We've met before, yes," Mulder answered for her. " Well, that young woman hiding behind her is Alicia, her daughter," Skinner told them. " If Agent Scully decides to join you on the case, Alicia will be going also." Mulder silently took his seat and watched as Scully disentangled herself from Alicia's grip and made her way across the room to her seat. She sat down, in the chair next to his and tried to avoid his gaze. The meeting began with Skinner talking about the information they'd all already been given. Then he asked if anyone had any theories, which no one did. Then the issue of who was being paired with whom came up but first Skinner had to find out if Scully was willing to take the case, even with bringing Alicia. " Agent Scully, have you made your decision?" Skinner asked. Scully felt all eyes on her and quickly cast a look at Alicia who was looking at her curiously. " Sure," she nodded. " We'll go, if that's all right with everyone else." " Fine with me," Lamana spoke up. Fowley shrugged and Mulder nodded. " Well, than that's settled," Skinner made a note of it on a piece of paper and then looked at the four Agents in front of him. " Agents Mulder and Scully will be assigned as the main couple with Alicia, Agents Fowley and Lamana will be the back-up couple staying in a house a few houses away. Anyone have any problems?" " Well, I thought I'd be paired with Agent Mulder since we will most likely be working on the X- Files together," Fowley spoke up. " I think it would be best if Agent Mulder was paired with Agent Scully and Alicia," Skinner told her. " Why?" Fowley obviously wasn't happy with the arrangement. " Because Alicia bares more resemblance to him than she does to Agent Lamana," was Skinner's answer. " How?" Lamana looked insulted. Scully bit her lip as the words 'Because he's her father' sprung to mind. " Agent Scully," Skinner turned to her. " Why don't you ask Alicia over and we can see who she does resemble the most." " Okay," Scully shrugged and turned to look at Alicia. Having heard the whole thing, Alicia started towards them. She carried 'Amy' with her and had her thumb in her mouth. She climbed onto her Mom's knee and looked shyly around her, her thumb still in her mouth. Scully took her small hand and took her thumb from her mouth and Alicia sat quietly, looking at her doll. " Agent Mulder and Alicia have the same color eyes," Skinner announced finally. " I assume it's all right with you two, Agents Mulder and Scully?" " Sure." Scully looked down at her daughter who was trying to hide her face from the others. " Agent Mulder?" Skinner asked. " Yeah, it's fine by me," Mulder spoke for the first time since the briefing had begun. " Then I expect you all to go home and prepare to leave. Your flight leaves in three hours. You'll need to go to find some rings before you leave," Skinner reminded them, shuffling papers on his desk. " Dismissed. Now if you'll excuse me, I have another meeting." The Assistant Director stood and left the office. " Yes, Sir," Lamana and Fowley stood, both looking annoyed at the arrangements. Mulder stood in silence, watching as Scully set her daughter on the floor and walked over to pack her things up. Lamana took Mulder aside and whispered to him loudly. " If you want to swap wives, I'm all for it," Lamana grinned suggestively. " She's still hot, even with a kid." " Grow up," Mulder retorted sharply, surprising Fowley, Scully and Lamana. " And don't even think about hassling her." " What's your problem?" Lamana spoke challengingly. " Just leave her alone, okay?" Mulder voice held a warning note. For a few moments, the room was silent. Lamana and Mulder stared each other squarely in the eyes. " I saw her first," Lamana finally spoke, gritting his teeth. " I think you'll find you're wrong about that," Mulder retorted, backing off a little once he realized Alicia was cowering behind her mother, looking a little scared. He walked away from Lamana and Fowley, who left the office after exchanging shocked looks. " I'm sorry about that." " It's okay," Scully answered quietly, trying to coax Alicia from behind her. " I just hope he stays away. He's the creep who hit on me in the elevator." " I'm sure you handled him perfectly," he replied with a slight smile. " You used to." " I told him to take a cold shower," she smiled back and Alicia stepped out from behind her. " You okay, Sweetheart?" " I'm fine, Mommy," Alicia nodded, copying her Mom's words from earlier on. " Mommy, is he the man from the picture?" " Yeah," Scully bit her lip and looked up at Mulder. " I…I think we need to talk." " Yeah, I think we do," Mulder agreed. He knelt down so he was on Alicia's eye level. " How old are you, Sweetheart?" " Three and four months," Alicia grinned, recognizing him from the photograph of her father. " Are you my Daddy?" Mulder looked up at Scully who nodded. He turned his attention back to Alicia. " Yes, I am." Alicia smiled and launched herself at him. Mulder hugged her close and closed his eyes, wondering how he could have nothing but memories one day and then have a daughter and hopefully a second chance the next. They pulled away and he stood, lifting Alicia with him. " I wanted to tell you...I tried but I ended up either hanging up or storing the letter in a box. I've got about ten or eleven unsent letters for you at home," Scully's words came out in a rush. " Of all the ways I imagined seeing you again and telling you about Alicia, this isn't one of them." " I look forward to reading those letters sometime," he grinned. " I've missed you." " I've missed you, too," she bit her lip. " But now is not the time to talk about it. I have to get Alicia home and packed and." Her voice trailed off as Mulder leaned, in, still holding Alicia, and kissed her softly. He moved away so he could look into her eyes. " I'm sorry, I just..." He started apologizing. " It's okay," Scully cut him off. " We... We can talk about this when we're in Florida. I've got a lot to do before then." Scully took Alicia off him and he kissed his daughter's forehead softly as way of saying goodbye. " We'll see you at the airport," she told him, starting to move away. She stopped suddenly and Mulder turned to see what had got her attention - and found himself looking into the surprised face of AD Skinner. " Sir." she stammered, casting a glance at Mulder over her shoulder. " We can explain," Mulder said quickly, not wanting to jeopardize the possibility of working with Scully. " I don't think that's necessary," Skinner told them. " I...Agent Mulder is Alicia's father? That's how you already knew each other?" " We met just over four years ago," Scully answered. " And he is Alicia's father. This isn't how I wanted him to find out about her but…" She broke off and shrugged a little helplessly. " It won't affect our working together," Mulder added. " On the contrary, I think it will. Given that you and Agent Scully are Alicia's parents and therefore were involved, I think it will give your 'married couple' act a more realistic edge," Skinner responded, putting emphasis on the 'were'. " If anything is to...develop, I don't want to hear about it." " Yes, Sir," Mulder and Scully said in unison. Scully and Alicia left the office with both Mulder and Skinner watching them go. Mulder turned to Skinner and bit his lip. " Sir, will this affect any chance of Agent Scully being able to work with me full-time on the X- Files if she wishes to?" Mulder asked warily. " Will what affect it, Agent Mulder?" Skinner picked up the file he'd came in for and started to leave the room. " I didn't hear anything." With that, Skinner left the room but not before Mulder thought he saw him wink. He shook his head and sighed before leaving for his apartment. X~X~X~X~X Alicia was running around the house and Scully was running around after her. They had to leave for the airport in ten minutes but Alicia was hyper from having met her father for the first time in person. The doorbell rang and Alicia stopped, standing on her tiptoes and peering around the net curtain, looking out the window to see who it was. She giggled on seeing her father standing on their front porch and started skipping around by the door. " Mom-my!" Alicia called in a singsong voice. " Daddy's here!" Scully frowned slightly as she walked into the hallway. She made a grab for Alicia as she opened the door but Alicia was too fast and bounced into her father's arms the moment the door was open, almost knocking him off balance. Mulder lifted Alicia easily and held her to him. He stepped over the threshold once Scully had moved aside and smiled as Alicia squirmed around until he set her down on the floor. Both Mulder and Scully watched as Alicia ran away. " You'll have to excuse her," Scully apologized as she shut the door. " She's been a little hyperactive since meeting you. And she can't decided what to take with her." " Too many toys for her to choose from?" He asked with a smile. " Something like that," she smiled back, a little wryly. " She told me she'd packed but when I checked, she'd packed only toys and no clothes. So I have to pack all over again." Scully stopped and frowned slightly. " How did you know where we lived?" " I know people," he shrugged and grinned a little sheepishly. " Some friends outside the Bureau hacked the files for me." " Okay," she shook her head. " I don't think I wanted to know that. Why did you come? You would be seeing her soon anyway." " I wanted to see you, without the others," he murmured, taking a step closer. She stopped him from getting too close by putting a hand out and touching his chest. " Don't," she whispered. " It's not a very good idea." " Why not?" He kept his distance but obviously wasn't willing to give up on the idea. " We have to work together, Mulder," she answered softly, not looking up into his eyes because she knew if she did, she would be in his arms in an instant. " Can you keep an eye on Alicia while I go and finish packing? She'll be in the living room." Without waiting for a reply, she left him standing in the hallway and disappeared up the stairs. He watched her go. As he started looking for their daughter, he decided he would make sure that by the time this case was over, he and Scully would be as close as, if not closer than, they were in California. X~X~X~X~X Mulder drove Alicia and Scully to the airport, despite Scully's protesting. During the ride, Scully stayed silent as Mulder explained how all the furniture and things they would need would already be there before they did and how some suitable furniture for Alicia was being delivered also as well as the investigative equipment they would need during the case. She wasn't really listening, though. She was thinking about the people they were going away with. Firstly, there was Jerry Lamana. Just thinking about him made her skin crawl. He wasn't the type of person he'd imagined Mulder being friends with but she had the feeling they were friends or at least had been. Before he'd hit on her, that is. There was something about him she really didn't like, she didn't think he could be trusted. He was the kind of man she'd expected to choose promotion over friendship, someone who didn't have much loyalty to anyone but themselves. Then there was Diana Fowley. Scully wasn't blind. She'd noticed the glare the older woman had given her when it became apparent that she and Mulder already knew each other. And she'd noticed how Fowley had glared at her when Skinner had announced Mulder would be assigned as her 'husband' because of the resemblance Alicia bore to him. Scully also recognized the name, she was sure Mulder had mention Fowley during their time together in California. She just didn't want to ask Mulder about it in case he thought she was jealous. She wasn't, she was just curious in case Mulder and Fowley had been involved. It was obvious they weren't now, otherwise he wouldn't have warned Lamana away from her in front of Fowley. Still, the thought did make her a little jealous, she hated the thought of Mulder being with anyone else even though she was determined they'd just be friends. " Scully? Dana?" She snapped out of it when she realized Mulder was talking to her. Scully looked at him and realized they'd pulled up outside the airport. " Are you okay?" " Yeah, I'm fine," she smiled slightly. " I was just...thinking." " About anything in particular?" He asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. " Not really, the case and things," she shrugged, taking off her seat belt and opening the car door. " The others will be waiting." " So let them wait," he murmured. " Alicia's sleeping and we don't need to check in for another ten minutes or so. I think we need to talk." " We can talk when we get to Florida," she retorted, turning in her seat to look at Alicia. She reached out a hand and touch her daughter's knee with a gentle hand. " Ali, wake up, Honey. Time to go." " Okay, Mommy," Alicia smiled sleepily. " Are we gonna ride the plane now?" " Soon, Sweetheart," Scully smiled softly and Mulder suddenly felt the urge to have her smile at him in the same way, like she had before. " We have to wait a little while." " Then we go on the plane?" Alicia asked, sounding hopeful. " Yeah, then we go on the plane," Scully smiled again. She pushed her door open and got out of the car. He watched her through the windshield as she walked round to Alicia's door and opened it before undoing her seat belt and taking her in her arms. " Is Daddy coming?" Alicia looked at Mulder through the car window. " I'm coming," Mulder reassured her, getting out the car. " Has your Mom explained why we're going away?" " It's work," Alicia nodded. " You're gonna pretend to be Mommy's husband." " Pretend," he echoed. " Which reminds me, I have the rings here." " Good," Scully set Alicia down on the ground put kept a firm grip on her hand. Mulder reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He opened it and took out an engagement ring and wedding band and then held a hand out for her hand. Sighing, Scully held her left hand out, palm facing upwards. He turned it the other way round and slid the rings on her finger. " Perfect fit," she murmured softly. " Did you get them from the Bureau?" " No," he shook his head and put on his ring, not caring to expand on the subject. Scully was silent as they got their bags out of the boot and didn't protest as Mulder carried her bag as well as his own. She held Alicia's hand with one of her own and carried Alicia's light bag, occasionally looking down at her hand and wondering where the rings had come from. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Three. Past Pretending - Part Four Fowley and Lamana were waiting for them at the terminal. They both looked surprised when they walked in together but Scully chose to ignore it. She also chose to ignore the nauseating feeling she got when Fowley stepped closer to Mulder than she had to and started talking to him in a low voice. Alicia led her Mom to some seats and climbed on her knee when Scully was sitting. It wasn't long before Alicia was dozing in her mother's arms and Scully was lost in a world of her thoughts. She didn't know why she was acting so cool to Mulder. There was no doubt in her heart that she still had strong feelings for him. Hell, she still loved him. But she had to keep reminding herself that they had to work together and Alicia was involved in the equation now. And Scully would do anything to stop her baby girl from being hurt, even if it meant putting aside her own feelings and happiness. Still, she did want to be friends with Mulder if they could be nothing more. And being cold towards him wasn't the way to go about being friends, was it? " Hey, Dana," The voice startled her from her thoughts. She looked up into Lamana's bluey-gray eyes and then looked around for Mulder and Fowley, both who were standing quite a way away. " I know we got off on the wrong foot." " Yeah, we did," Scully answered evenly, tightening her arms around Alicia and trying not to look as uncomfortable as she felt. " But I'm not really that arrogant," he finished. " So, I was wondering, if you were interested, maybe we could sneak away sometime in Florida and you could leave the kid with Mulder and Diana." " I'm not interested and I don't leave my daughter with strangers," Scully retorted sharply. Alicia chose that moment to wake up. She blinked sleepily and peered at Lamana before twisting so her back was to him - a sign that meant she didn't like him. Scully bit back a smile and watched as her daughter started playing with her gold cross necklace. " Mommy, when do we go on the plane?" Alicia mumbled. " Soon, Honey," Scully whispered. " You can go back to sleep if you want and I'll wake you when it's time." " Not sleepy," Alicia protested. " Where's Daddy gone?" Scully didn't answer. She looked up to Mulder and found he was walking towards her, an annoyed expression on his face - one that turned angry when he saw Lamana sitting next to her and Alicia. Lamana held his ground, even when Mulder was standing right in front of them. Scully briefly felt a little smug smile tug at her lips when she saw Fowley's expression but the smile faded when Mulder's eyes flashed in Lamana's direction. She looked up at him and touched his hand softly, silently warning him not to do anything either of them would regret in front of Alicia. Nodding, he sat down on her other side and Alicia climbed over onto his knee. " Mommy says we'll be going on the plane soon," Alicia spoke up, breaking the silence. " Are we really?" " Really," Mulder smiled at her tenderly and noticed Scully bite back a smile of her own. " You seem to be excited for the plane." " I've been on one before when Mommy and me moved near Grandma and Grandpa but I was little and I slept through it. Mommy carried me," Alicia answered, bouncing a little on his knee. " You still are little, Ali," Mulder responded, using the nickname Scully used for her. " But I'm bigger than I was then," she retorted. " How much bigger? About this big?" Mulder teased, holding his fingers and inch apart. " No, Daddy!" Alicia giggled and rolled her eyes. " I was a baby. Tell him, Mommy." " She was barely a year old," Scully told him, smiling a little. " The place in California was getting a little bit small." " I can imagine," he agreed, imaging all the toys and videos he'd seen in neat piles in the living room of her house in the small apartment he remembered in California. " It was comfy the way it was. With Alicia, it would be a little..." " Suffocating," she supplied with a smile. " So you remember the apartment?" " I remember everything," he murmured, his voice low. " Everything about those two weeks." To his surprise, Scully blushed and he grinned at her reaction. Obviously, she remembered everything too. Before he could he say anything else, Fowley spoke up having joined them and listened to their conversation. " So, how long ago did you know each other?" Fowley asked, sitting close to Mulder and making Alicia move closer to her mother so she was wedged between her parents. " About four years," Mulder answered. " Oh?" Fowley raised an eyebrow. " Were you pregnant at the time or was Alice born then?" " It's Alicia and no, Alicia's only three," Scully replied as Alicia wiggled around, trying to get comfortable in-between them. " We knew each other around...nine months before Alicia was born," Mulder added, looking into Scully's eyes as he spoke, letting her know he didn't care if the others knew. " I'm Alicia's father." " You're sure?" Fowley asked him coolly. Mulder shot her a glare. " I'm sure. I think I managed to bribe everyone to stay away from you after I left," he turned to Scully and spoke teasingly, his eyes telling her not to pay attention to Fowley. " Besides, Alicia's as cute as her father." " Well, that explains it," Scully shook her head, going along with it. " You didn't happen to threaten Nick, did you?" " Of course," Mulder nodded. " He was eyeing you up before I even left." " Nothing would have happened," Scully responded. " I didn't like him like that." " Good," he grinned and looked down at Alicia when she giggled. " And what are you laughing at, young lady?" " Nothing, Daddy," Alicia giggled again. " I don't believe you," Mulder shook his head and leaned in to tickle her, making her giggle even more. " Stop it, Daddy!" Alicia squealed. " Mommy, make him stop!" " I'm staying out of this," Scully smiled. Mulder stopped and looked up at her, a sly and mischievous glint in his eyes. " If I remember rightly, you don't like being tickled," he murmured, leaning in. " Is that where she's got it from?" " Maybe, but I don't think you should mention that in front of Alicia and if I remember correctly, you also didn't like being tickled." She answered in an equally as mischievous tone, suddenly not caring about the 'Just Friends' rule she'd set up in her head and wishing things were like they had been in California. Mulder was surprised but pleasantly surprised by her response. He didn't have the chance to respond. They heard it announced that they should start boarding their plane so they stood. Alicia remained sat down and looked up at them. " Are we going on the plane now?" She asked looking back and fourth between them. Scully rolled her eyes like her daughter had done earlier, making Mulder grin. He scooped Alicia up in his arms and nodded. " Yes, we are, Sweetheart," he told her. " You're not going to fall asleep, are you?" " Uh-uh," Alicia shook her head. " I wanna look out the window, Grandpa told me he and Grandma would wave." " You won't be able to see them, Honey," Scully told her gently. " You'll be too high." " I know but Grandma said to wave anyway because they were gonna miss me," Alicia grinned. " I'm guessing she's as close to your parents as you were," Mulder said as he carried Alicia and fell into step beside Scully. " Yeah. They spoil her rotten," she smiled. " And she loves it." " What did they think of you being pregnant?" Mulder asked, concerned about how they would have reacted and treated her when they found out she got pregnant by someone she didn't really know. " They were fine," Scully reassured him. " My Mom spoke to you on the phone and I think she fell in love with you then. My father was shocked at first but we talked and he helped support me and give Alicia the things she needed." " So your does your Mom still love me?" Mulder grinned. " Yes," Scully rolled her eyes. " Thanks to all the photographs I've got and she read that letter you left. And my father doesn't think you're that bad." " Oh, that's good to know," he retorted. " Seriously, he actually wanted to meet you and he probably still does," she answered. " I think he's got some twisted idea that we're meant to be together. And I blame my Mom for that. She's full of all that kind of stuff." " You mean the once in a lifetime love type stuff?" Mulder asked. " Yep," Scully sighed. " The one thing both she and my sister believe in." " Would you think any less of me if I thought like that?" He arched an eyebrow and lowered his voice. " No," she gave him a sly, sidelong glance. " I never said I didn't." They didn't speak again as they boarded the plane. Mulder quickly claimed the three seats together and Alicia claimed the window seat. Scully sat in the middle and Mulder sat in the end seat. Alicia got giddy and took her seat belt off as soon as she could so she could kneel on her seat and look out of the window. Mulder leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, feeling content for the first time in a long time. He moved his hand discreetly so it covered Scully's on the armrest. Scully held both armrests until the plane took off. It was clear she hated flying, something Alicia hadn't inherited. She smiled when she felt Mulder's hand cover her own and closed her eyes, knowing Alicia would wake her if she needed anything. The plane continued it's journey fairly smoothly and after making sure Alicia had had something to eat and drink, Scully felt the many sleepless nights she'd had catch up with her. Her eyelids grew heavier and she felt sleep set in. X~X~X~X~X Mulder woke up, unsure of why he'd woken. He felt something soft beneath his cheek and lifted his head carefully. He looked down and found Scully asleep, her head resting on his shoulder and one of his arms around her shoulders. Alicia was also sleeping, snuggling against Scully's other side and she also had Scully's arm around her. He didn't move anymore. He didn't want to. It felt comfortable, it felt right. He gazed at Scully's face as he had in California and realized she hadn't aged at all. She looked as beautiful as ever, slightly more knowing and mature but there were no lines on her face. He leaned back and closed his eyes again. He felt Scully move slightly but her head didn't lift from his shoulder. He opened one eye and found Alicia now sitting on Scully knee, her eye's wide-awake. When she saw he was looking at her, she put a finger to her lips. " Shh," she whispered. " Mommy's sleeping." " I know," he whispered back. " She looks tired." " She doesn't sleep," Alicia told him. " I have nightmares sometimes and Mommy stays awake to make sure I don't have anymore." " I bet she does," Mulder smiled and watched Alicia carefully climb over her Mom so she was sitting on his knee. She rested her head on his chest, just below her mother's and then fell asleep. He wrapped the arm that wasn't around Scully's shoulder's around Alicia and gradually fell asleep again, content to be holding his daughter and the woman he loved. X~X~X~X~X Scully woke and found herself in Mulder's arms. Carefully, she disentangled herself and tried not to wake him. He was still holding Alicia and it was such a sweet sight. She smiled, happy that her daughter was finally able to meet her father. She looked across the aisle where Fowley and Lamana were and felt a laugh rise in her throat. She nudged Mulder gently and when he opened his eyes, she pointed over to Lamana and Fowley. Mulder almost choked on a laugh. It was clear Fowley and Lamana didn't exactly like each other. They were sitting as far away as they could from each other. Lamana was leaning against the window and from where they were sitting, it looked like his face was pressed against the window. Fowley was half in her seat and half out. She was leaning onto the aisle, apparently trying to get as far away from Lamana and as close to Mulder as possible, even in her sleep. " Don't they make a cute couple?" Mulder grinned. " Oh, sure," Scully smiled. " And they're so convincing as a married couple." " Definitely," he agreed. They looked at each other in silence for a few seconds and then started laughing. " I can't help but wonder how they're going to live together." " Something tells me we'll be seeing a lot of them," she responded. " Then we'll have to lock all the doors and turn off the lights and pretend there's no one home," he suggested. They fell silent again and he looked down at Alicia, asleep on his knee. " She's beautiful, isn't she?" Scully murmured, seeing him gaze at her. " Would it be predictable of me to say she's just like her mother?" He looked up into her eyes. " Sounds like a line from the movies," she smiled. " But you can say it if you mean it." " I mean it," he grinned and brought a hand up to her cheek. " She has your looks." " But she has your eyes," she smiled. " Which is a good thing." " Why is it a good thing?" Mulder looked curious. " She reminded me of you," she answered quietly. " Her eyes change colors depending on her mood, just like yours." " So you like my eyes?" " Yeah," she smiled shyly. " They're warm, nice to look into." " Well, you can look into them all you want," he murmured, leaning in. " And I'm not sure we're going to be able to stay just friends, do you?" " We can but try," she whispered. " But I don't think we'll be trying all that hard." Mulder grinned and leaned in, covering her lips with his own. He kissed her passionately but slowly, lingering near once the kiss was over. She opened her eyes and found him gazing at her with a tender expression on his face, almost identical to the expression he'd worn whilst looking at Alicia. The only difference was his expression now showed his lust and hunger for her. She licked her dry lips and was about to speak when a flight attendant announced they were going to land. She woke Alicia and lifted her into her own chair, fastening her daughter's seat belt and then her own. Mulder stifled a sigh and fastened his own seat belt. He looked down at his hand when it felt warm and saw her hand resting over his. He looked up into her eyes and grinned, they'd been given a second chance and they could act on it later. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Four. Past Pretending - Part Five. They left the airport in separate taxis. Mulder, Scully and Alicia went in one and Lamana and Fowley had no choice but to go in the other. Mulder was surprised when Scully didn't speak to him in the taxi but he knew from the expression on her face that she was thinking very seriously about something. He instead talked to Alicia and kept her from disturbing her mother's thoughts. The taxi pulled up outside a white house and Mulder turned in his seat to see Lamana and Fowley's taxi pull up a few houses down. Scully got out of the taxi and helped Alicia out before turning to the driver. He handed her Alicia's bag and she shouldered it but not before she could stop Mulder from picking up her bag and his own. She rolled her eyes at him and took Alicia's hand, leading her up to the house whilst Mulder paid the driver. Scully pulled the key Mulder had given her from her pocket and unlocked the door, ushering Alicia in and waiting for Mulder. He led her into the house with a hand on the small of her back and then shut the door, locking it behind them. On the small table in the hallway was another key with a note telling them all of the furniture and equipment had been delivered and if they needed anything, they should call the local police force. Mulder scanned the note and crumpled it up, aiming and throwing it in the wastepaper bin by the table. He looked up when he sensed he was being watched only to find Scully smiling at him, standing in the doorway to the living room. " You're just a big kid, aren't you?" She asked with an amused smile. He walked towards her with a smile. He didn't answer. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him. He gazed deeply into her eyes and leaned in, kissing her softly before pulling back to see her reaction. Seeing she had no protests, he leaned in and kissed her again, slightly harder and more hungrily, pleased when she responded and kissed him back with an equal amount of pressure. Neither noticed Alicia sitting on the stairs watching them until the doorbell rang and she giggled. " I'll get it!" Alicia jumped up and ran to the door. She stood on her tiptoes and managed to turn the key in the lock but wasn't strong enough to pull open the door. Mulder reluctantly took his arms from around Scully and went to help her. They opened the door to find one of their new neighbors on the doorstep. " Hi," the short, brown-haired woman greeted them, her smile widening as Scully came into view. " Welcome to the neighborhood." She handed Mulder a medium sized fruit basket and then looked down at Alicia, who was shyly holding onto the back of her fathers leg. " She's such a beautiful child." " Thanks," Mulder grinned back at her, wrapping an arm around Scully's waist and falling into the role of her husband perfectly. " She takes after her mother." He ignored Scully when she rolled her eyes and continued. " I'm William Mulder and this is my wife, Dana. And this is our daughter Alicia but she's a little shy." " Jessica Philips," the woman held out her hand and Scully shook it since Mulder was holding the fruit basket. " It's nice to meet you." " Nice to meet you, too," Scully smiled. " Alicia, Honey, aren't you going to say hello?" Alicia looked up at her mother. " Hi," she smiled shyly, gazing at the woman standing on their doorstep. " Hi," Jessica smiled down at her before looking up at Mulder and Scully. " I have to go and meet the other new neighbors, a couple moved in down the street today." " Oh, that'll be Dana's cousin and his wife," Mulder nodded. " When we told them about this place, they wanted to come and see it for themselves." " I'll tell them you said hi," Jessica smiled again and left with a little wave. Mulder closed the door and grinned at Scully. " At least now Jerry won't be able to hit on you," he explained. " I think I would have preferred it if Diana was your cousin," she responded. " I don't trust her." " You've got nothing to worry about," he assured her as he put the fruit basket down on the table. Alicia skipped off into the living room and Mulder drew Scully into his arms again. " I remember you mentioning her in California," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck. " She's not an ex-girlfriend or anything like that, is she?" " No," he shook his head. " She's… an annoyance. And she's been annoying me since before I went to California so there's no chance of anything happening between us. She's gets on my nerves." He kissed her forehead. " You're not jealous, are you?" " Not if you can't stand her," she smiled up at him. " We should get unpacked and someone should be keeping an eye on Alicia. She has a knack for getting into trouble. I think she gets that from you." " Probably," he grinned and stole a quick kiss from her lips before letting her go. " Why don't you go unpack your things and Alicia's things and I'll keep an eye on Alicia and then I'll unpack my things and you can keep an eye on Alicia." " Fine by me," she kissed his cheek softly before making her way upstairs. Mulder grinned as he watched her retreating form and went through to the living room where his daughter was flicking through the channels on the TV, trying to find something that interested her. " Hi, Sweetie," he sat down on the floor beside her and stifled a grin when she moved into his arms. " What you doing?" " I can't find any cartoons," Alicia complained, switching off the television. " Mommy doesn't like me watching T.V. anyway." " Then what do you want to do?" Mulder asked, wondering how Scully could keep Alicia busy and work by herself. " I wanna paint," Alicia spoke decisively, in a manner he knew she must have seen her mother use and had adopted it for herself. " I've got some paints in my bag but Mommy has to watch me. I make a mess sometimes." " Why don't I watch you instead?" He suggested. " Then if you did make a mess, Mom would blame me and not you." " Okay," Alicia giggled. She was about to move away when she stopped and looked at him with an expression far too serious than a child of her age should wear. " Do you love me and Mommy?" " Yes," Mulder was a little shocked at first but he knew the answer and he knew it was true with a certainty he had never experienced before. " I love you, Ali. You're my daughter. And I love your Mom, too. Just don't tell her, I haven't had the chance to tell her yet." " Good," Alicia beamed. " 'Cause I love you too and I know Mommy does." " Has your Mom ever said she loves me?" He asked, sneaking a glance at the door to make sure Scully wasn't there. He had to be certain, if he knew she loved him, then he could stop fearing rejection. " Yes," Alicia nodded solemnly. " She talked about you when I was still in her belly and she told me lots about you and showed me pictures of you. She loves you a whole lot." " Okay," Mulder grinned happily. " We'll keep this a secret, okay?" " Okay." Alicia nodded and her red curls bounced around her face. " Where are your paints?" He looked around and saw the contents of her little carry-on bag covering the floor. Among them were a small set of paints and a pad of paper. He moved her and set her on the floor gently. He then stood and walked over to the paints and paper. " We'll go and sit at the table." " Okay," Alicia nodded and stood. She slowly made her way over to him and took his hand, making him smile. He led her into the dining room and over to the table where he put down the paints and paper before lifting her onto a chair. He moved into the kitchen and got a cup of water and picked up the newspaper he'd brought with him to the airport but hadn't read on the plane. Like a father, he covered the surface of the table with newspaper and opened the paints for her. Alicia smiled up at him and picked up a paintbrush. Mulder slid into the seat next to her and watched as she dipped the brush in the water and then into the yellow paint and started painting. He hid a smile as she concentrated on what she was doing. He could watch her for hours, just like he could watch her mother and never get bored. Mulder felt his heart lift, in one day he'd been reunited with the woman he'd been thinking about for four whole years and the daughter he didn't know they had. And for once, he felt like he was part of a loving family. He just hoped he could be the father Alicia needed since he himself hadn't had a loving father as a child. X~X~X~X~X Scully came downstairs half an hour later and found Mulder had caught the painting bug from his daughter. Alicia was working and concentrating so hard, she was biting on her tongue and Mulder's brow was furrowed in concentration. She stood leaning against the wall as she watched them painting together. She chided herself for not bringing a camera with her and vowed to herself that before this case was over, she'd have some pictures of Mulder and Alicia together. Seeing the content look on her daughter's face, she also vowed to make them being away together seem more like a vacation than a business trip. " She doesn't get her artistic talent from you, does she?" Scully teased as she made her presence known. Mulder looked up, startled and she saw he had a spot of paint on his cheek. Smiling, she walked over to him and she used a piece of kitchen roll on the table to wipe his cheek clean. " Though she obviously did inherit getting paint all over her from you." " You don't think I'd make a good artist?" Mulder pretended to be insulted. " I didn't say that," Scully smiled. " You'd make a good broke and homeless artist if you lived on the money your paintings earned you." She peered at the picture in front of him. It was just a series of different colored lines and specks of paint. " So what exactly is this?" " It's abstract," he answered her seriously. " It's...It's my view of the...garden." " Sure," Scully smiled a little doubtfully and moved round to her daughter. Alicia lifted her face for a kiss and Scully obliged, kissing her daughter softly. Mulder watched them and a sly grin spread across his face. " Is that all it takes to get a kiss from you?" He asked. His grin widened when she shot him a warning glare. " Look at mine, Mommy!" Alicia tugged on her hand and pointed at the picture proudly. " That's you and that's Daddy and that's me." " And that's the sun," Scully smiled, pointing at the yellow blob in the center of the picture. " And who's that?" She pointed at two stick men in the corner of the picture. " That's Grandma and Grandpa and that's a dog," Alicia beamed, obviously very proud of her masterpiece. " Can we have a dog, Mommy? Please?" " We'll see," Scully stifled a sigh. " Why don't you go and put this on the cupboard while I help Daddy tidy up and then we'll get you clean and ready for bed?" " Not sleepy," Alicia protested. Then she yawned, trying and failing to stifle it with her hand. " I think you are," Scully retorted, helping her down from the chair. Alicia looked to her father for a second opinion. " I agree with your Mom on this one, Ali," Mulder told her. " You've had a long day. The sooner you go to bed, the sooner you can wake up and we can go to the beach." " Okay," Alicia sighed, defeated, and left, holding her picture in both hands. " Does she always fight at bedtime?" Mulder asked as he stood and helped her start clearing away. " She hates going to bed. Usually, it takes three bedtime stories and the promise she can join me in my room if she wants to get her to go to sleep," Scully smiled, obviously very fond of her daughter. " Thanks for agreeing with me." " Isn't that what fathers do?" He moved round and wrapped his arms round her. " I guess it is," she leaned back in his arms and he felt her relax. " I guess I'm not used to having someone around to help at bedtimes. My parents usually leave before she's asleep unless I have to work late and she's asleep when I get home." " I don't want you to have to raise her and look after her by yourself anymore, Dana," he murmured, nuzzling her neck. " If you'll let me, I want to be a big part in both of your lives." " Definitely on Alicia's, maybe on mine," she replied, pushing away slightly. " I'm not sure if I can get involved with you like that, despite how much I want to." " We can talk later, once Alicia's in bed," he responded. " But I'll warn you, I'm not letting this drop." Especially not when I know you love me, he added silently. " Fine," she agreed. She pulled away completely when Alicia came in the room. " Come on, Honey. Bath time." " Bubbly bath?" Alicia's eyes brightened. " Yeah, your bubble bath is unpacked," Scully smiled and took her hand. " Oh, I unpacked your things, too, Mulder. There's only two bedrooms so we're sharing." " Fine by me," he called after her, grinning. So she wasn't sure about them getting involved. He'd just have to make her sure. X~X~X~X~X Half an hour later, Scully emerged from the bathroom with a clean smelling Alicia. Alicia had a miniature version of her mother's dressing gown on and behaved until she was out in the hall. The she pulled her hand free from her mothers and ran down the hallway. She giggled and shrieked as Scully tried to catch her, not paying much attention to what was in front of her. Or more precisely, who was in front of her. Alicia ran giggling straight into Mulder's arms. She giggled even more as he tickled her and swooped her up in his arms. He grinned at Scully. " I don't think Alicia's going to like having both of us around," he commented wryly as Alicia squirmed in his arms. " I think she will," Scully smiled, looking at her giggling daughter. " She doesn't like it when there's just the two of us." " Well, there won't just be the two of you for much longer," he retorted. " Daddy, will you come read me a bedtime story?" Alicia asked sleepily, staying still in his arms. " Mommy too?" " Sure," Mulder agreed and Scully nodded. He started going down the hall to Alicia's bedroom, stopping when he realized Scully wasn't following. " Scully? Are you coming?" " Yeah," she nodded. " I'm just going to tidy the bathroom a little bit, William." She smiled a little, using his undercover name. She knew why he'd chosen William instead of Fox and found it slightly amusing that he still wouldn't use his real name, even when they were undercover. " Okay, Sweetheart," Mulder grinned at her and continued carrying Alicia to her bedroom. Scully shook her head and went into the bathroom. As she tidied Alicia's toys away and wiped the floor dry, she wondered if she'd ever get used to Alicia not needing her as much as she used to. Sighing, she turned off the light and quietly made her way to Alicia's bedroom. She entered the room and immediately Alicia opened her arms, wanting a hug. Scully smiled and moved over, sitting on the bed beside Mulder and hugging her daughter close. " I'm in a big girls bed, Mommy," Alicia yawned softly. " So I see," she smiled. " Are you going to be okay?" " I think so," Alicia nodded. " If I get scared, can I sleep in your bed with Daddy and you?" " Of course you can," Scully answered, kissing Alicia's forehead gently. " Just yell if you need us." " I will," Alicia smiled. " Can Daddy read me one more story?" " You'll have to ask him." Scully turned to Mulder and saw he was half-asleep. She smiled and nudged him slightly. "Hey, have you got enough energy left to read our daughter one more story?" " I think I can manage," he grinned, his eyes half-drooping. " As long as it's short." " Read the last one in her book," Scully whispered. " It's the shortest but she never makes it to the end, not when she's this tired." " Okay," Mulder flipped to the last story and began reading. Five minutes later, Alicia was sound asleep and her parents were sneaking out of her bedroom. He half-shut her door and touched Scully's arm to get her attention. " Are you feeling up to talking or are you too tired?" " I'm too tired," she stifled a yawn with her hand. " We can talk tomorrow, can't we? I always get a little jet-lagged." " Okay," he nodded. " I'm just going to make sure the lights are off and check the doors are locked and then I'll be up." Scully nodded, stifling another yawn and made her way down the hall to their room. Mulder went downstairs, feeling a little disappointed. He had the feeling she was avoiding talking to him because she was going to break both of their hearts and tell him she only wanted to be friends. He wasn't prepared to accept being just friends, though. Not if there was the slightest chance they could be more. He heaved a heavy sigh and checked the front door was locked before turning out the lights in the living room and dining room. He went into the kitchen and made himself a sandwich, wondering why he hadn't eaten on the plane when Alicia and Scully had. He quickly finished the sandwich and went upstairs. He quietly walked into the bedroom he was sharing with Scully and found the lights were off. He shut the door a little bit to stop the light from the hall from flooding the room and undressed for bed. Once he was confident he could make it over to the bed without falling over anything, he turned the hall light off and half-closed the door, leaving it slightly open so they could hear Alicia if she called. He then made his way to his side of the bed and climbed in beside her. " 'Night, Mulder," Scully murmured sleepily. " Or William. Whatever you're called." " 'Night, Scully," he smiled and moved a little closer, casually draping an arm over her. " Sweet dreams." Mulder fell asleep, certain any dreams he had would certainly be sweet. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Five. Past Pretending - Part Six. She woke up to a giggle. Scully blinked to clear her vision and was momentarily very disorientated. She saw Alicia standing by her bed, giggling quietly and felt something warm behind her and something heavy draped across her hip. She moved her head to the side and Mulder tightened his arms around her and buried his head in her shoulder, nuzzling her neck. She closed her eyes and sighed before opening them and looking back at Alicia. " What time is it?" Scully asked Alicia softly. Alicia stayed silent and held up three fingers. Scully groaned and looked at the clock on the bedside cabinet. Almost three am. She lifted the comforter up and her daughter climbed in, nestling her back against her mother's stomach. Scully rested her chin on her daughter's head and closed her eyes. She had Mulder behind her and Alicia in front of her. And that was how she fell asleep. X~X~X~X~X Mulder woke up alone. Well, not really alone. Scully wasn't there like he'd expected but Alicia was. His daughter smiled and giggled, sitting up in bed and gazing at him. " Morning, Angel," he murmured. " Where's your Mom?" " Making breakfast," Alicia answered with another giggle. " So do we just wait here?" Mulder asked with a smile. " While Mom does all the work?" " That's how it usually happens," Scully answered for Alicia, carrying a tray. She shut the door with her foot and Alicia moved closer to Mulder, making room for her mother to join them. " Breakfast in bed?" He arched an eyebrow, paying more attention to the thin shirt she was wearing rather than what was on the tray she was carrying. " I recognize that shirt. I had one just like it." " Oh, really?" She gave him a look of mock surprise. " I wonder what happened to it. Maybe you left it somewhere but then you wouldn't do anything that careless, would you?" " Mmm," he grinned as she set the tray down and carefully joined him and Alicia in the bed. " I think the last time I saw it was on a beautiful red-head somewhere in California. Must have forgotten to pack it." " Must have," she smiled back at him as she handed Alicia a plate with some toast on it. " Looks a lot better on you, though," Mulder whispered over Alicia's head. " Looks better on me than it did on your red-head or looks better on me than it did on you?" Scully asked, taking a bite out of her own toast. " Well, since you and the red-head are the same person, it looks better on you than it did on me," he replied, sipping some orange juice and picking up a slice of toast. " I could get used to breakfast in bed with you and Alicia every morning." " Could get used to it," she repeated. " If you get the chance." " I'm hoping to get the chance but you already know that," he told her. " And we need to have that talk sometime today." " Why? Is there any reason you need to know where you stand today?" Scully looked at him, a curious expression on her face. " What do you mean?" Mulder put his toast down, not liking her tone at all. " I only want to know as soon as possible so I can prepare myself for not being with you in D.C., if I have to." " I mean, I find it hard to believe you're not involved with anyone or there isn't anyone you're interested in," she answered, her voice rising slightly. " And you just seem so eager to know whether I'm willing to go through with this or not...I get the impression if I take some time to think about it, you might not be interested anymore." Alicia was watching the interplay between her parents, a look that was a cross between interested and scared on her pretty face. She knew the tone her mother was using, she knew her mother was upset about something. Alicia looked at her father, who was saying nothing and just staring at her mother. She felt a tear track down her cheek and wiped at it with a chubby hand, unwittingly catching Scully's attention. Scully saw her daughter wipe her cheek and cursed herself for starting the conversation in Alicia's presence. Alicia could somehow tell if something was wrong or if she was upset. Sighing, she moved the tray and gently pulled Alicia into her arms. Alicia came to her willingly, nestling her head against her mother and enjoying the safe feeling of her mother's embrace. " It's okay, Honey," Scully whispered soothingly, rocking her daughter in her arms. Alicia stayed in her mother's arms for a while before going to her bedroom to play with some toys. Scully looked at the cold and uneaten food and cursed herself again for bringing up the subject - especially in front of Alicia. " What was all that about?" Mulder asked quietly, after Alicia had left. " We can talk later," Scully shook her head, biting her lip. She made an attempt to get up off the bed but he was too quick for her. He made a grab for her wrists and held her down, moving a little closer. "Mulder…" " I'm not letting you go until we talk about this," he murmured, his voice low and intent. " I know you want this as much as I do but I can't put whatever it is on your mind at rest until I know what it is." " That's just it, Mulder," she sighed heavily. " I want this but it just seems…too perfect. It just seems strange to me that someone like you isn't involved in a relationship with another woman." " I'll try not to be offended by that someone like you remark." Mulder made a weak attempt at humor. " You shouldn't be offended, it was a compliment," she smiled very slightly. " I mean that you turn heads, you're attractive. It's hard to believe you're not with someone because you're sweet and highly lovable." " Dana," he grinned, blushing slightly and slid his hands up her arms where they came to rest on her shoulders. " There's been no one since you. I haven't been able to get you out of my mind so the idea that you think I might have someone waiting in the wings is just ridiculous. I don't want anyone but you. And to be honest, the idea that you're single seems unlikely to me. You're beautiful, inside and out and I doubt there's many men who'd pass by without giving you a second glance." " I have Alicia," she answered with a tender smile at the thought of Alicia. " I don't trust most people with her, never mind any men." " There's something else, isn't there?" He gazed into her eyes curiously. " I don't know," she sighed heavily. " I'm just not sure if I can risk Alicia getting hurt if this doesn't work out. You're her father and I want you and Alicia to have a good relationship. If we got together again and then broke up, Alicia would be affected and I don't want her to be hurt. And it would hurt me if we broke up, you mean too much to me to lose as a friend as well as more. At the moment, I would love to believe we're meant to be together but part of me can't help but think you're saying you want to be with me because you feel you have to for Alicia's sake." " I don't know what I can say to convince you that we won't break up," he murmured. " But I know I'd be begging you to give us a chance even if Alicia hadn't been born. Yet, anyway. I love you, Scully. I've been lusting after you for the past four years, even Lamana would back me up here. And that was before I knew about Alicia. And I do believe its fate. It's more than a coincidence that we've been brought back together. Skinner could have assigned anyone with the same background as you to be my partner but he didn't, he assigned you. That has to mean something." " I don't know, Mulder," she started to reply but he pulled her closer and kissed her. Hard. She made no move to pull away and he lowered her down, his lips not leaving hers until they needed to breathe. " I love you," he whispered, desire darkening his eyes. " And there's only one way I know I can make you believe me." " I really hate to have to do this..." Her voice trailed off as he kissed her again and then left a trail of kisses from her lips down her neck. "Mulder." She tried to push him away. " Alicia could walk in." Mulder made a noise that was a cross between a growl and a groan and reluctantly got off her. He helped her sit up and kissed her softly. " Rain check?" " Once Alicia's asleep tonight," she smiled sweetly. " She didn't come through till three this morning so that gives us a couple of hours..." She leaned in and kissed him, softly and lovingly. " Can you wait till then?" " I'll have to," he mumbled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. He started leaving a trail of kisses from her neck and ended up kissing his way up to her jaw and then kissing her fully on the lips. " I love you." " I love you, too." Her smile widened but she pushed him away and stood. " We should get dressed before --" Scully was cut off by the doorbell ringing. She looked down at her nightshirt and then at Mulder in his pajama bottoms. " One of us has to get that," she told him. " And I'm not about to let you answer it in case it's Agent Fowley." " Getting territorial?" Mulder grinned and stood up. " What if it's Jerry?" " Firstly, you were the territorial one in Skinner's office when you warned him away from me and secondly, I have every right to be territorial," she remarked, walking over to the wardrobe. " Now hurry up and get dressed." " Okay," he walked up to her and embraced her from behind. " But since you unpacked my clothes, you're going to have to show me where they are." She didn't respond. She turned in his arms to give him a mock glare and he took advantage of their position. He pressed her back against the wardrobe doors and kissed her passionately. His fingers found the top button of her shirt and he would have undone the second one if there hadn't been a knock on the bedroom door followed by an unfortunately familiar voice. " Fox? Agent Scully?" It was Diana Fowley and from the sound of the footsteps coming up the stairs, Lamana was with her. They broke apart just before Alicia came in the room and ran to her parents. She looked scared, unhappy and shy. Scully looked to Mulder who bent and lifted Alicia into his arms before turning to the others with a glare. " What are you doing here?" Mulder asked them. " And how did you get in? Alicia can't unlock the door." " We picked the lock when you didn't answer," Lamana answered matter-of-factly. His gaze strayed to the unbuttoned top of Scully's shirt and he obviously tried to peer down her shirt. Scully responded with an ice cold glare and fastened the button as Mulder took a territorial and protective step in front of her. Lamana looked into Mulder's glare and gave a casual shrug, which seemed to anger Mulder more. " So what were you doing that kept you from answering the door?" Fowley's tone was accusing and suspicious. Mulder couldn't fail to notice a very small smug smile that Scully was trying to hide. He had difficulty hiding his own when Lamana threw a suspicious look in his direction. " It looked like we were disturbing something." " Well, you know how it is," Mulder shrugged casually and wrapped an arm around Scully's waist whilst holding Alicia with the other. " One minute you're pretending, one minute you're not." He grinned at Scully. " I'm sure it's the same with you two. You just get carried away." He watched Fowley and Lamana look away from each other. " Okay, maybe you don't know what it's like. Maybe you're just not suited." " Behave," Scully ordered quietly, seeing Fowley's anger growing with his words. " If you behave now and stop teasing and taunting them, I promise I'll make it up to you later on. You'll get more out of it then than you will now." " Okay," Mulder not so reluctantly agreed. " Could you leave us for a few minutes? We have to get dressed, we'll be in the living room soon." Wordlessly, Fowley and Lamana left. Mulder set Alicia on the floor and watched as Scully told her to go and choose her clothes. Alicia nodded and left and they were alone once more. " Now, where were we?" He turned to her with a devious glint in his rich hazel eyes. " Mulder!" She exclaimed, pushing him away. " Not now." " But Scully…" He gazed at her with puppy dog eyes, his fingers finding the buttons on her shirt again. She stopped him by covering his hand with hers. " We're supposed to be getting dressed, not undressed," she responded. " Later, I promise." " I'll hold you to that," Mulder grinned and brushed his lips against hers quickly before moving away. " You better hurry and get dressed before Alicia gets too impatient." Scully pulled a pair of jeans from the wardrobe door and pulled a cotton shirt from its hanger. He sat down on the bed and watched her move around the bedroom, assembling various objects of clothing. She stopped when she realized he was staring and gave him a scolding look. " Get up and get dressed," she ordered. " I'm not fending them off by myself." " I was enjoying the view," he argued. She arched an eyebrow and he feigned a long-suffering sigh. " Okay, Honey. But you're gonna have to prove later that all the spark hasn't gone from our marriage." Scully rolled her eyes and went through to their private bathroom, guessing correctly that if she stayed in the same room he did, they wouldn't end up getting dressed anytime soon. X~X~X~X~X A short time later, Mulder knocked on the door to Alicia's bedroom and entered when Scully called out that he could. He stood watching her brush their daughter's hair and felt nothing but complete love and devotion for them. They were his family and he was going to keep it that way. Scully quickly finished brushing Alicia's hair back into a ponytail and stood. Mulder looked her up and down appreciatively, admiring the smug jeans she wore. He looked up and caught her doing the same thing. She blushed when he caught her but met his gaze evenly. " Gray is definitely you're color," she told him, casting another glance at his cotton top. " And the black jeans are a nice touch." " You don't look so bad yourself," he retorted slyly. He then turned his attention to Alicia who was smiling happily. He knelt and she ran into his arms. " You look gorgeous, too, Sweetheart." " Just like Mommy?" Alicia giggled, blushing prettily. " Just like Mommy," Mulder confirmed with another grin. " And I think we should definitely go to the beach sometime today so I can show you two beautiful ladies off." " Can we, Mommy?" Alicia looked up at her mother hopefully. " Sure, Angel," Scully nodded, smiling. " We'll have to see what the others want, though. We are here to work," she reminded them both at the same time. " Yes, Mom," Mulder teased as he lifted Alicia easily and the three made their way downstairs to greet their unwelcome guests. " But we're allowed to have a little fun." " Oh, I know," Scully gave him a sly smile of her own over Alicia's head. " Believe me, I know." His grin widened and faltered only slightly as they entered the same room as Fowley and Lamana. They might be there working but that was definitely not the only think they would be doing. He knew Scully was determined to make it seem like a vacation to Alicia just as he was determined to make it like a vacation for all three of them. He let Alicia down when she squirmed in his arms and watched with amusement as she moved as far away from Lamana and Fowley as possible. She definitely took after her parents. He then turned his attention to Scully and sat in the chair opposite the couch where their 'partners' were sitting. Surprising both them and Scully, he took her hand and pulled her down onto his lap, ignoring the glares and looks he got as he did so. He'd be damned if he let an ex-partner and a woman he couldn't stand get in the way of what he wanted, of what Scully and Alicia and he wanted. It was time for the fun to begin, it was time to stop pretending that they were just pretending. It was time for them to start being the family they were. The family he was certain they were destined to be. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Six. Past Pretending - Part seven [Please note: I have no idea whether the scientific phrases and things I use in this part make sense. I made them up so don't sue me if you know more about it than I do.] Fowley and Lamana said nothing about Mulder's action although the look they shared told Mulder and Scully they didn't approve. Mulder didn't care, though. And he got the impression Scully didn't care much, either. Alicia played silently as the four adults discussed the case. She heard them talk about her Mommy being a scientist and having to go into town to a lab somewhere and she heard them talk about the neighbors. She didn't really care. All that mattered to her was that her father was there and her mother was smiling. She was happy, she had two parents who obviously loved her as well as each other and she was perfectly content with things the way they were. Being the idealistic and naive three-year-old she was, Alicia put the fact that they were here on a business trip of her Mommy and Daddy's out of her mind. She faded out, lost in her own make believe world and played with her dolls, Amy and every little girls favorite, Barbie. She only look up when she heard movement. She found her father was gone and so was that horrible woman. She stood on shaky toddler's legs and was about to go over to her mother when the nasty man beat her to it. Alicia watched, standing uncertainly, wishing her Daddy was here. X~X~X~X~X Mulder was in the kitchen. He'd gone to get a glass of water and Fowley had followed him. Now, she was blocking his way into the living room and he was struggling to maintain a grip on his temper. " So what's going on, Fox?" She spoke accusingly, in the same tone a jealous partner would use on a spouse they suspected was cheating. " You can't honestly tell me you're falling for someone like her." " I fell for her a long time ago," he retorted evenly. " And what goes on between Dana and myself is none of your business." " Maybe," Fowley tilted her head to one side and smiled what he could only assume was a seductive smile. " But you don't want this fling with her to ruin our chances of...working together, do you?" " This isn't a fling and I wouldn't work with you or anything else for that matter for anything. Nothing could make me do that," Mulder narrowed his eyes. " Now if you'd excuse me, I'd like to get back to the living room to make sure your acting-husband is keeping his hands off my wife." " Don't you mean 'acting-wife'?" She refused to move, standing directly in the doorway. She looked determined and stubborn, staying put and making no attempt to move. " Face it, Fox. This thing with her...It's a fling. Maybe for old times sakes or maybe to get it out of your system but...You can't honestly expect me to believe you're serious about her and that kid of hers. You don't know for certain if you're even the father and I don't think you're ready to make that sort of commitment. Not to a woman and a child, at least." " Alicia is my daughter," he glared at her, feeling the anger and rage boiling up and coursing through his veins. " What Dana and I have is special, I doubt you've ever known anything like it and if you stay the way you are, I believe you never will. And I already am committed to them, fully committed." He stepped closer, the height difference of a few inches proving an advantage. " Now if you'll get out of my way and my life..." " You can't have it both ways," Fowley responded evenly as she stepped out of the way. " What do you mean?" Mulder stopped once he was past her and turned slightly. " Oh, nothing," she smiled - a little too sincerely and smugly for his liking. " Just that you might not be able to have it both ways. You might have to choose whether you want her as a partner at work or a partner at home. The Bureau won't allow you to have both if they find out. You'll have to choose and whatever choice you make, it'll end." " And how do you figure that?" He wasn't worried, he just decided to humor her. He was certain no matter what happened, Dana Scully and their daughter would prominently feature in his life. He'd let her go once and now, he was determined to hold on. " Well...Choose her as a partner and you'll need someone to go home to, someone to keep you warm at night. Choose her as a lover and you'll need someone to work with, someone to spend all those hours with in some motel miles away...working, of course." She gave him a challenging look. " So, what would it be if you had to choose?" " I won't have to choose," Mulder answered honestly. " There is no rule that partners can't become romantically involved. As long as they still work well together, no action can be taken against them. And I'd rather quit than work with you." Mulder spun round and walked through the dining room. He stopped in his tracks as he crossed into the living room. He watched as Lamana roughly held Scully's wrist and tightened his grip as she tried to pull away. He saw the look on Scully's face, a cross between anger and fear, and he saw her eyes flashing angrily at Lamana. He also saw Alicia watching, horror and helplessness registering on her pretty young face. He was torn. Torn between the urge - and the need - to interfere and 'rescue' Scully from his so- called friend's advances. If he did that, it would certainly be a territorial act and might seem a little possessive. If he didn't interfere, he was certain Scully could handle it but he wasn't sure what she would want him to do. Some women might see his being protective of her was an insult, that he was saying he didn't think she could look after herself. On the other hand, she might be relieved that he helped her. Taking another look at the scared expression on his daughter's face, he shook his head of those stupid thoughts and cleared his voice. Almost instantly, Lamana let go and backed off. He wore a guilty expression. Mulder was pleased to see Scully was wearing a relieved expression and he felt relief wash over him. She smiled a little gratefully and moved away from Lamana. She took Alicia's small, outstretched hand, reassuring her little girl that she was okay. " Drink of juice, Mommy," Alicia spoke up. Scully nodded silently and led her daughter out of the living room. She gave Mulder a quick but sweet smile as she passed and he smiled back momentarily. After she'd gone, he turned his attention to Lamana who's head was guiltily lowered and who was almost cowering in the corner. X~X~X~X~X Scully ignored Fowley as she helped her daughter sit at the kitchen table and started to go about the kitchen getting Alicia something to drink. After Alicia was sat with her drink, Scully leaned against the kitchen counter and watched her fondly. " So, you shared the bed?" Fowley's voice startled Scully from her thoughts, having genuinely forgotten the other woman was present in the room. " Not that it's any of your business, yes. We did," Scully answered shortly but sharply, trying her best not to let the older woman grate on her nerves too much. " He's off limit's, Agent Scully," Fowley hissed. She moved a few steps closer and lowered her voice - not so Alicia couldn't hear, to make herself sound more menacing and to make herself out to be a threat to Scully, a threat Scully knew she wasn't. " You're not strong enough to be able to handle him and satisfy him." " He doesn't seem to think so," Scully answered coolly. " And he should know." " He's only acting like that because of that child and because we're here on business." Fowley shrugged, trying not to let Scully's confidence bother her. " He's a ladies man. If he settles with one woman, it'll be someone who he can rely on to tend to his every need." " Someone like you?" Scully arched a doubtful eyebrow. " Give it up. He isn't interested in you. He wasn't four years ago and he isn't now." " Oh he will be," Fowley's eyes narrowed. " Just as soon as I prove she's not his." She threw a pointed look in Alicia's direction before turning back to Scully for her reaction. To her surprise and annoyance, Scully remained calm, cool and collected. " You'll have a hard job, Agent Fowley," Scully retorted icily, holding her head high and staring down her 'opponent'. " Alicia is his daughter. That is the truth and I don't care how many investigations or tests you use to try and prove otherwise, you cannot change a child's parentage just because you're not happy with it." Scully moved away and lifted Alicia down from her chair. " Have fun acting like Mrs. Lamana," she called back over her shoulder. " I know I'll have fun being Mrs. Mulder." Scully and Alicia left the kitchen and Fowley slowly followed, seething at the younger woman's words. 'Acting' and 'being'. But she wasn't a fool. Fowley knew any attempt she made to split Mulder and Scully would be thwarted. Still, she was determined to make sure that Scully was only 'acting' as Mulder's wife, that it would be a long time before Scully changed into 'being' Mrs. Mulder, something Fowley wouldn't let happen easily. X~X~X~X~X Mulder faced Lamana squarely, an expectant look on his face. He took a few steps closer and stopped when Lamana took a few steps back. Obviously Lamana wasn't going to make the first move so that left it to Mulder. " I thought I told you to keep away from her. I did, didn't I?" Mulder asked, his voice as cold and hard as steel. " I told you not to hassle her." " So have you slept with her?" Lamana narrowed his eyes and straightened, changing the subject ever so slightly. He wasn't going to let Mulder push him around. He'd been in Mulder's shadow for too long and he wasn't going to sit by and watch him get everything he wanted. " Have you slept with Diana?" Mulder retorted evenly. He didn't really want to argue with Lamana, all he wanted was for Lamana to get the message that Scully was out of bounds. " Hell, no!" Lamana laughed and made a face at the thought. " But if Dana was here as my wife... There would be no stopping me." " I believe that, even Dana being unwilling wouldn't stop you from the looks of things," Mulder answered. He sighed and shook his head. " Alicia is my daughter, Jerry so you work it out." " Are you sure?" Jerry shot back. " You're just taking her word for it?" " I'm more sure of it than I have ever been about anything. Alicia is my daughter and Scully will someday be my wife," Mulder responded firmly, confidently. " So… you wouldn't think anything of a little friendly competition?" Lamana asked suggestively. " Despite what your ego believes, you're no threat or competition," Mulder replied coolly. " She's not interested in you, Jerry. Get over it." Jerry narrowed his eyes and was about to make another remark when Scully and Alicia entered the room, followed by Fowley. Mulder turned to look at Scully and became concerned the moment he saw the expression on her face. She looked…uncomfortable. Deciding to put a stop to it, he took a step closer to her and started to take charge. After all, he was the Agent in Charge. " We'll split up," he told the others. " I'll stay here with Alicia for the morning. Scully will go into town and go over the lab reports and do whatever tests she needs to in order to find out what that substance was. Agents Fowley and Lamana…You've got the choice of staying round here and becoming friendly with the neighbors…'" He paused to gauge their reactions before continuing. " Or you can go to the police station and look over the interviews with the neighbors and go over their backgrounds, try to find some clue as to who could be doing this." " We'll go to the station," Lamana answered before Fowley could. Fowley didn't say anything, but Mulder was pretty certain that was the option she'd choose. " We can meet up later if any of us actually find anything out," Mulder added as Fowley and Lamana made their way to the door. " If you find anything, call my cell phone. We'll call you if we find anything out." Somewhat reluctantly, Fowley and Lamana left the family alone. Scully felt the tension ease from the room and let her shoulders slump once she heard the door shut. She leaned against the wall and sighed heavily, closing her eyes. " Will you be okay with Alicia whilst I'm at the lab?" She asked quietly once she heard the television go on and heard the theme tune of one of Alicia's favorite programs. " I mean she can be extremely enthusiastic and energetic. I don't want to come home and find you've had a heart attack or something." " If your parents can look after her while you're at work, I'm sure I can manage for the morning," he grinned slightly. He moved over and rested his hands on her hips. He bent slightly at the waist and brushed his lips against hers softly, making her open her eyes. " Try and be back here for lunch." " What if I'm held up?" Scully stifled another sigh and gazed into his eyes. " I'll call and make an excuse for you to leave," he grinned boyishly. The grin faded as she closed her eyes again. " Something wrong, Scully?" " I... This isn't easy for me to say, Mulder," she opened her eyes and bit her lip. " But I want to do a paternity test on Alicia to prove you are her father." " What?!" Mulder was shocked. His eyes searched hers and he frowned when he found no hint of teasing. " You can't be serious." " I am serious," she lowered her gaze. " I want proof." " Why? Is there a chance I'm not her father?" He sounded hurt so she raised her eyes to his. " No but I'm not sure you believe me. You might now but Fowley and Lamana are right. You have no evidence and I don't want you doubting it later on," she reassured him. " And when your family finds out, I don't want them questioning it. I won't have Alicia hurt by what other people think." " Fine," Mulder lowered and softened his voice. " You're a great Mom, Scully. And a very honest and trustworthy woman. I know Alicia's mine, without the test but if you think it'll save us trouble in the future, then we can do it." " Thank you," Scully smiled softly and he felt his heart begin to pound. " I know it'll just be telling us what we already know but I won't have anyone planting ideas in Alicia's head. And I want her to be accepted by your family, without anyone having any doubts." " She will be," he nodded. " Well, as accepted as I am which isn't actually that much." " You've got a whole new family now, Mulder," she smiled up at him. " And you're very accepted." " Glad to hear it," he grinned again and kissed the tip of her nose. " You better go otherwise you'll never get back in time." " In time for what?" Scully asked, raising an eyebrow as she stood and stopped leaning against the wall. " You'll see when you get home," he replied with a secretive smile. She shook her head and went to put on her jacket, coming back a few moments later to kiss them both goodbye. " Hurry back." " I will." She smiled over her shoulder and left the house after picking up the keys to their rental car that had been waiting for them when they'd arrived. Alicia stood in the doorway and waved to her as she pulled out of the driveway. Mulder grinned down on his daughter and they left the doorway and went back into the house. X~X~X~X~X The drive into the town center was fairly relaxing for Scully. She managed to stop at a chemist and buy a camera, promising herself to capture at least one of Mulder's moments with Alicia on film. She enjoyed the scenery she passed and wondered if being married and living with Mulder would be as nice as it was so far or whether he was putting on an act to try and impress her. Either way, they'd managed to live together for a week in California with no arguments. Well, no major arguments. She was sure neither would have a complaint if they did live together when they got back to Washington DC. She shook her head. She was getting ahead of herself. Although she knew Mulder wanted to be with her and Alicia, she wasn't sure if that meant he was ready and prepared to give up his bachelor pad when they got back. She knew he was as serious about this as she was - he'd mentioned making her his wife in reality to Lamana when he'd thought she couldn't hear but she also knew it would be a big step for him. For Scully, on the other hand, committing to Mulder wouldn't be such a big step. She'd already been committed to him and their child for the past three/four years of her life. She sighed and pulled into a car parking space near the research institute she was told to go to. She got out of the car, checking she had her ID and cell phone with her and made her way into the old stone building. She followed signs to the office of a Doctor. Pamela Gellar and knocked politely on the office door when she got there. A tall woman opened the door and smiled warmly. She pushed a strand of her black hair from her green eyes and looked at Scully, holding out her hand. " Doctor Scully? Or should that be Agent Scully?" " Either is fine," Scully answered, shaking her hand. " I assume you're Dr. Gellar?" " Please, call me Pam," Dr. Gellar replied with another smile. " Then call me Dana," Scully smiled again. " Have you made any progress on determining what the substance is?" " I'm afraid not," Dr. Gellar shook her head and stepped out into the hallway, shutting the office door behind her. " I've never seen anything like this in my career. Then again, this isn't my field of expertise. Our botanist and chemical analyst left shortly before the deaths began occurring. I'm just covering until you got here because no one else would take the investigation." The two women fell into step with each other as Dr. Gellar led the way to the research lab Scully would be working in. " What have you determined about the substance so far?" Scully asked, curious to know as much as she could about what she was dealing with before she saw it firsthand. " Not a lot, I'm afraid. It most likely seems to be derived from chemicals extracted from an exotic plant but I haven't been able to find anything that matches the biological make-up of the cells," Dr. Gellar explained. " We were going to do some tests but then I heard you were coming and I thought I'd let you take care of it since this is more your field of expertise." " I appreciate that," Scully nodded. " I'd like to do some tests to find out the cells rate of reproduction and try to find out their origin. I was also told this substance was found but there was no sign of any bodies. I would like to know the chemical properties of the substance so we know what we're dealing with and what it's capable of." " I'll get it organized for you," Dr. Gellar nodded in agreement. " I also understand you're here undercover so you can be reached at the scene of the...crime." " Yeah," Scully nodded again. " But I'll leave my cell phone number, just in case I'm out and it's urgent." " Okay," Dr. Gellar slowed and took out a security card from her pocket. She put it in the automated lock and waited for the green light to flash before she pushed open the door. She then handed the card to Scully. " This is yours, just in case you need to be in when I'm not around." " Are these security measures necessary?" Scully frowned, looking a little surprised. " Not really for this, for something else," Dr. Gellar explained. " There was a break in a few months ago and some syringes were stolen. Since them they seem to have upped security around here. I'm not entirely sure why, I've just accepted it and got on with my job." " Okay," Scully sighed. She would just have to accept it as well. It had nothing to do with her or the case she was working on and that was fine by her. She was just going to mind her own business and keep her mind focused on the task at hand. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Seven. Past Pretending - Part Eight. Alicia was proving to be quite a handful. She was never content doing one thing for over an hour. At first she wanted to watch cartoons, then she wanted to paint and then she wanted to play in the garden. Mulder had helped her change three times by the time the phone rang. He heaved an exhausted sigh and picked up the receiver. " Hello?" He answered. " You sound tired," came a familiar voice, making him smile. " I told you Alicia could be a handful." " And you were so right," he stifled a yawn. " When are you coming home?" " In about an hour," Scully replied, smiling at the word 'home'. That was exactly how it felt to her. " There's a couple of things I want to take care of here before I leave." " Have you found anything?" Mulder asked curiously. " Maybe." It was her turn to sigh. " I don't know, I've never seen anything like this before. We did some tests on one of the cell samples and this thing, whatever it is, multiples at a tremendous rate if it's subjected to the right conditions. At the moment, I'm trying to find out what plant the basis of the substance was extracted from and where the plant is from. I'll have to come back and run some more tests tomorrow to find out what exactly this substance does and whether it's accountable for the disappearances or not." " Sounds like you've got a lot to do," he commented. " I have," she agreed. " I wish I knew what this thing is, Mulder. It's making me a little more nervous about bringing Alicia here." " Nothing will happen to her, I promise," he murmured. " And nothing will happen to you." " I can look after myself, Mulder," Scully smiled slightly at his being protective of her. " But this case... I guess it's because it's my first field assignment." " Oh, yeah," he responded thoughtfully. " I forgot that." " Should I be insulted or flattered by that?" She asked wryly. " I'm not all together sure," Mulder murmured, the grin evident in his tone. " I'll get back to you on that one. And as much as I'd love to keep talking to you, I don't think it's wise to leave Alicia by herself for too long." " Not wise at all," she agreed. " I'll see you later tonight." " See you," he sighed heavily. He put the receiver down on hearing the dialing tone and went in search of his daughter, hoping she hadn't got herself into too much trouble whilst he'd been on the phone. X~X~X~X~X Almost two hours later, the door opened and a weary looking Scully trudged in with a mountain of files in her arms. Luckily for her, Alicia was napping so she didn't have an energetic three year old bound up to her and make her drop her things. Mulder did greet her, though. He frowned as soon as he saw the files she was carrying. " I thought you were too old for homework." He helped ease her load and they walked through to the dining room. They set the files down on the dining room table and she gazed him an apologetic shrug. " What exactly is this?" He asked, indicating the files with a hand. " A little bedtime reading?" Scully gave him a helpless look. " I need to know all I can possibly know if I'm ever going to find out what we're dealing with." " Bedtime reading?" Mulder gave her a doubtful look. " Please tell me you're kidding." " Early morning reading then." She shrugged with one shoulder. " We're here to work, Mulder." " But we can still go out this afternoon? Alicia wants to go to the beach." His voice trailed off as she tried to hide an amused smile. " What? What did I do?" " You sound exactly like her," she explained. " You are really just a big kid, aren't you?" " Guilty as charged," he grinned and moved closer, pulling her into his arms. " Now what's my punishment?" His lips were barely a hair's breadth from hers when they heard it. " Mommy! Daddy!" Alicia called. Scully laughed softly and pulled back slightly, her blue eyes dancing merrily. " I think that's your punishment," she smiled, pulling away completely as their daughter ran through from her makeshift bed on the couch and into her mother's arms. Scully knelt and hugged her warmly, surprised at how much she had missed Alicia when they were apart and how it only seemed to register when they were together again. " Seaside!" Alicia squealed as she wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. Scully stood, lifting her. " We go to the beach now?" " All right, Sweetheart," Scully smiled at Mulder over their daughter's head. " We'll go to the beach for the rest of the day, okay?" " Yay!" Alicia smiled happily and squirmed until she was set down. As soon as she had her feet on the floor, she ran away from her parents, giggling. " Where does she get all of her energy from?" Mulder asked, looking at Scully with a look that was a cross between affection and bewilderment. " Is it making you feel old?" Scully teased, smiling mischievously. He reacted by arching an eyebrow and pulling her closer, wearing a sly expression. " I'm in the prime of my life, Scully," he retorted. " And I'd be happy to prove it." " You'll get that chance later," she laughed. " But by now our daughter is probably climbing the stairs with the intent of destroying her bedroom looking for a swimsuit." They looked at each other again for a few moments in silence and both made their way to the stairs. Sure enough, Alicia was halfway up the stairs and heading towards her bedroom. They stood watching her and started following when she had reached the top. On the landing, Mulder and Scully parted. Scully followed Alicia to her room and Mulder made his way to their room to change his clothes. Alicia was rummaging through her drawers and practically emptying the contents of the drawers onto the floor when Scully got there. She instantly stopped and gave her Mom her best innocent look, smiling sweetly. Scully smiled in spite of herself and pulled out a pink Barbie swimsuit. " Here you go," Scully answered. " You start putting it on and I'll help once I've tied up." " Okay," Alicia nodded, giggling a little as her curls bounced, framing her face. Scully began to fold Alicia clothes and put them back into place in the drawer as Alicia started removing her clothes in order to put on her bathing suit. Alicia giggled a little as she pulled her T-shirt off and momentarily had her eyes covered by the material, making Scully smile. Alicia had always giggled a lot. Even when there was nothing remotely funny, Alicia would sometimes giggle for no apparent reason. Not that Scully was complaining, she wasn't. She was glad Alicia was a happy child. She'd done everything she could to make sure Alicia was happy so she was pleased that she had succeeded. Looking over at her daughter over her shoulder, Scully bit back a laugh as Alicia struggled to put her swimsuit on. She had her head through one of armholes and an arm through the head hole. Alicia was frowning slightly in confusion and concentration. " Come over here, Sweetie," Scully held her arms out and Alicia walked over to her, a bashful smile curving her lips. It took a few moments to got Alicia sorted and the swimsuit on properly. " Thank you, Mommy," Alicia wrapped her arms around her mothers neck and hugged her before giving her a baby kiss on her cheek. Scully felt something familiar stir inside her as she hugged her daughter back. She knew exactly what it was, she'd felt it since Alicia's first birthday had appeared out of no where. It was longing for more children. Scully pushed the thought to the back of her mind and let Alicia go. Alicia started pulling on a T- shirt over her head and Scully went back to reorganizing her clothes. She jumped when two strong hands took hold of her shoulders and gave Mulder a look that showed she clearly wasn't amused at him sneaking up on her. " Sorry," he grinned a little and pulled her to her feet. " I just thought I could take over and let you change for the beach." " Okay," she shrugged casually and started to leave the room when he grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back. " Is something wrong?" The teasing vanished and he gave her a serious look. " I'm fine, Mulder," she answered almost automatically. " I'm just tired.... And I'm trying to switch from professional mode to Mommy mode." " Okay." He accepted her answer, not really believing it but knowing she wouldn't expand on the subject if he pressured her. She'd tell him in her own time what, if anything, was wrong. She left the room without saying anything else and Mulder took her place on the floor as Alicia watched from on her 'big girls bed'. X~X~X~X~X In the bedroom she shared with Mulder, Scully quickly changed clothes and put a two-piece turquoise swimsuit and then redressed in jeans and a cotton shirt. She didn't leave the bedroom as soon as she was ready, though. She sat down on the bed and started at herself in the mirror on the antique dresser. There was something different about her. She looked...more content than she had in DC. Her eyes had the telltale sign of a woman who was in love and was loved in return. For some reason, this made her feel uncomfortable. It made her feel slightly afraid, too. She was surprised that Mulder had so willingly believed her that Alicia was his child. He was her father but it still seemed…strange that he had so readily believed her and not questioned her about it. Obviously, she'd made quite an impression on him in California. And that scared her. She was different to the woman she was four years ago. Having a daughter had made her grow up a lot quicker and had changed her priorities. Mulder was devoted to Alicia and herself, that much was painfully obvious. And it scared her. She didn't want him to be disappointed if she wasn't the same fun-loving student she'd been back then. She wasn't as... fun loving. That was the only way she could describe it. When they'd met in California, she'd been adventurous and willing to try anything. Now she had responsibilities and limits and although she knew she was being silly, she couldn't help but worry that Mulder would tire of her and get bored with being in a relationship with her. Scully knew, deep in her heart, that what Mulder felt for her was as real and deep as what she felt for him. But sitting alone, in their room, she was scared that his feelings would change when they got home. She wasn't sure he realized yet what a huge responsibility it was to raise a child. The last three, almost four, years of her life had been divided between Alicia and working to support her. Scully hadn't had time and hadn't wanted anything else so she didn't know if she could divide her time into three sections. She'd have to learn if she wanted to keep Mulder, though. She shook her head to clear her mind of the thoughts and stared down at the rings she wore on her finger. She was being stupid. She was looking for excuses to end her relationship with Mulder now because she was scared and she was letting her fear consume her. Dana Scully hadn't been in a serious, long-term relationship for quite a long time. She had devoted the time and passion that could have gone into a relationship into her studies. Until she met Fox Mulder. She willingly invested that passion in a relationship with him, a relationship with him that was serious despite the lack of time. After that, she had tried to put the energy and passion back into her studies and had managed. But she wasn't as content as she had been before she'd experienced a love like the love she had shared - that she still did share - with him. She'd known what it was she was missing out on but no one else could make her feel like Mulder did. Than Alicia made her presence known and Scully put everything she was into doing the best for her child, taking care of her, loving her, supporting her... Scully sighed heavily. She was looking for excuses again. She shook her head and mentally slapped herself. It was all right to experience fear, it was a perfectly normal thing. She was scared of a committed, serious relationship in case she screwed it up. She vowed to herself that she would tell Mulder, most likely sometime that afternoon or evening. Before they took their relationship any further. Lying back on the bed, she closed her eyes briefly before opening them and looking at her hand. Scully studied the rings and remembered his answer when she'd asked if he'd got them from the Bureau props department. < Did you get them from the Bureau?> She sat up and looked at them more intently. The wedding band matched the one Mulder wore. It was a slim shimmer of gold with no engravings or anything on the outside. Her engagement ring was made up of a band of white and yellow gold entwined and twisted to give the ring shape. On the band was an elegant solitaire diamond, with two smaller diamonds, one at each side. It was a beautiful ring and it had an antique feel to it. She was enchanted by it already. It was like the engagement ring little girls dreamed of when they were young, it was certainly like the engagement ring she had seen in her dreams as a child when she'd seen her ideal wedding, usually to a movie star or singer. Wondering again where he got them from if not from the Bureau's prop department, she made a mental note to ask him about it later. She was curious. Wedding bands and engagement rings didn't just materialize out of thin air. " Hey," Mulder's voice made her jump and she turned slightly to see him. He knelt on the bed behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. " Alicia's waiting impatiently." " I'll be there in a minute," she told him, closing her eyes as he began massaging her shoulders, kneading them with just the right amount of pressure. " Are you okay?" He murmured, lowering his head so his mouth was even with her ear. " You seem a little…distracted." " I'm fine," she sighed and opened her eyes, moving away. " It's just something else we need to talk about later." She pushed herself off the bed and turned to face him in one swift movement. " We'd better go, Alicia's very impatient." Scully left Mulder alone in the bedroom and he followed a few moments later, wondering what it is she wanted to talk about. X~X~X~X~X The drive to the beach would have been an uncomfortable journey if Alicia hadn't kept the conversation going. She giggled a lot and asked if they would help her build sandcastles and let her go swimming. Mulder was certain her joyous giggling was contagious because he saw Scully smile and try to fight a laugh when Alicia asked him if he would let her bury him in the sand. " I'm not too sure about that, Ali," Scully answered before Mulder got the chance. " I think we should save burying your father till later on." " Okay," Alicia nodded, agreeing but not knowing why. Mulder threw Scully a grateful glance and she smiled back at him. They didn't speak or communicate again until they reached the beach, they just enjoyed the comfortable silence that had fallen over them. It was amazing how Alicia could put things into perspective, how she could lighten the mood without intending to. Mulder parked and Alicia instantly began squirming around in her seat. She fiddled with her seat belt until eventually it clicked open. Scully smiled and got out of the car, going to help her daughter. Alicia willingly let her mother take her in her arms and lift her out of the car. As soon as she was set down, Alicia started skipping away - until her father called her back. " Don't go too far, Alicia!" Mulder called, watching as she skipped away from them. He shared an amused look with Scully at their daughter's enthusiasm before opening the car boot and taking out a picnic basket. He enjoyed the look of surprise that came across Scully's face. " What? You thought I wasn't domesticated?" " I had my doubts," she teased. " Anything I can help you carry?" " Nope," Mulder threw the blanket over one arm and then picked up the basket, closing and locking the boot with the other. " Bet you didn't know I could juggle, either." " There seems to be a lot I don't know about you, Mulder. I know a lot, I remember a lot," she smiled cheekily. " But I hope I get the chance to find them all out." " You will," he grinned as they started walking towards the beach, keeping Alicia in sight. " I promise." Scully smiled but the smile faded when the rings on her finger caught the light and glinted, reminding her of her earlier thoughts. " Where did you get these rings from?" She asked, turning her head to look at him. " What?" Her question took him by surprise. He frowned slightly, his eyes clouding over with something she didn't recognize. " The rings? I just…got them." " Where from?" She pressed. " I'm just curious to know where they came from if not from the props department. You didn't just have them lying around your bachelor pad, did you?" X~X~X~X~X End of Part Eight. Past Pretending -Part Nine. They walked in silence for a few moments, their pace had slowed and Alicia was quickly moving further and further away. Scully narrowed her eyes and kept them focused on her daughter as she waited for Mulder to answer. She regretted asking him about the rings. It had changed his mood, changed the mood between them and she was certain she'd upset him by asking. Stifling a sigh, she waited for him to respond. He was the one in control of the conversation now. She wasn't going to push him if it was a sensitive topic. " I inherited them, from my Grandmother," he explained softly. " I got them after I came back from California and I...I just thought how perfect the engagement ring would look on your finger." " Mulder..." Her voice trailed off and she sighed. She was surprised at him giving her such a beautiful ring - especially one that obviously held a lot of sentimental value. " I don't know if I can wear it, either of them. They might get lost and." " They're staying on your finger, Dana," he answered firmly. " Where they belong." " I really don't think your Grandmother would approve, Mulder. Or your mother," she shook her head. " Things like these...They aren't supposed to be used as props." " Then don't look at them as props." He stopped walking and turned to face her. " If it makes you feel better, think about this as being a trial run. You will wear them again." " Really?" She bit her lip and gazed deeply into his eyes, searching his soul for a hint of anything, any clue to what he was feeling. " Really," he confirmed. " Both my Grandmother and my mother told me to give it to the woman I fell in love when I found her. I found you before I had this and I couldn't imagine anyone else wearing it. And now we've been brought back together." " By fate," she continued for him, feeling her eyes start to fill with tears. " I believe fate brought us together both times, Scully." Mulder took her left hand with the hand that wasn't carrying anything. " You're the only person I want to wear those rings. You've been the only person I've dreamed would wear them for the last four years." " Are you sure?" Her voice was barely a whisper. Scully bit her lip harder as her gaze began to blur. " I mean, you're not just saying that, you mean it, don't you? And you would without Alicia in the picture?" " I'm sure," he answered. " Before I even knew if we'd be together again and before I knew Alicia existed, I've wanted to be with you. That'll never change. You changed my life four years ago, Scully." " I... Well, I didn't know I made that much of an impression on you," she smiled softly. " You did," he returned the smile with a grin of his own. " I'm serious, Dana." " I know you are," she nodded, her gaze straying away from his. " But we'll have to put this on the back-burner. Alicia's probably found some trouble. I'm guessing she gets that from you." " Oh, yeah," Mulder went along with it and they started walking in silence towards the beach. They hadn't got far when Alicia ran up to them, her hazel eyes shining with excitement. She caught Scully's hand and tugged on it enthusiastically, pulling her Mom forward. " Hurry up!" She told them, pouting slightly. " Calm down." Scully couldn't help but laugh a little at Alicia's enthusiasm. " The beach isn't going anywhere, Ali." " But Mommy!" Alicia continued tugging on her mother's hand, using the puppy-dog look she'd inherited off her father and had perfected over the years. Seeing the look he used on Scully in California, Mulder laughed but quickly stopped at Scully's accusing glare. " Please!" " We're coming," Mulder spoke, trying to ease his little girl's need to rush. " Your Mom's right, the beach isn't going anywhere, is it?" " No but..." Alicia's voice trailed off as she tried to think of something clever to say. Finding nothing, she giggled and let go of Scully's hand, skipping away from them again but not quite so far. " She never fails to get you smiling," Mulder commented with a slight grin. " She's always happy and that's contagious," Scully answered with a smile. " And she means more to me than anything. All I want is for Alicia to be happy." " Well, you've certainly succeeded there." They walked down onto the beach and found Alicia was already sitting and digging in the sand. " I wish I knew how she was so energetic and happy all the time," he sighed. " Adults don't have as much fun as kids, do they?" " Maybe," she gave him a one-shoulder shrug. " Maybe you just haven't spent enough time around Alicia yet. You'll soon find it's contagious. A couple of hours playing in her world and it'll be like you're a kid again, believe me." They spread the blanket out and sat down, watching Alicia as she played and started to build a sandcastle, which was, in reality, a huge mound of sand piled up. Scully continued to watch Alicia as Mulder unpacked the picnic basket. He finished unpacking but she was too engrossed in her thoughts and her observation to notice. She was thinking about what he had said, about Alicia having more fun than adults. Alicia had a lot of things on her side to aid her in having fun, though. Things which Scully wanted her to keep for a long time, things like imagination and innocence. It never ceased to amaze her what Alicia's imagination could come up with and how content her daughter was without really doing anything. What looked like a pile of sand to adults was, to children, a huge castle made of sand. Scully knew form the experience of her own happy childhood what would be going through Alicia's mind as she built it. She would be imagining that it was a magnificent building and that a King and a Queen and some princesses and princes would live there. Scully wondered if Alicia ever dreamed of being a princess. Most little girls did at some stage in their child-hoods. Her mind wandered to Mulder. She knew from their time in California that his childhood hadn't been a happy one. At least, it had been until he had witnessed his parents arguing for the first time of many. Her heart ached as she remembered what Mulder had confessed to her one night in California. He had been afraid of his father, he had thought his mother didn't love him. The only reason he stayed with his family and didn't runaway like countless of other unhappy children was Samantha, his sister who he had loved and looked after like a father and brother. But she was taken from him. And he'd been afraid to leave, afraid of being alone and afraid of not being there if Samantha ever returned home. Scully sighed heavily and felt Mulder's hand gently wipe the tear from her cheek before she'd even known it had been shed. She turned to look at him, seeing his concern and felt her eyes sting with fresh tears. She couldn't look him in the eye, she turned away and blinked back her tears, trying to concentrate on their daughter, the daughter they had made together and would love together. Always. She wasn't going to deny him the chance to be a father, she wasn't going to deny him the chance to be part of a family that loved him. He deserved it and she knew it was what he'd been longing for since his sister had disappeared. X~X~X~X~X Mulder watched her as she watched Alicia. Her eyes were bright and the look on her face was one of pure contentment. He felt something inside him stir and moved a little closer. For the first time, he felt as though he was part of something wonderful, he felt like he was where he belonged. As a child, he had felt like he was in the wrong place. Growing up, he had felt lost, like he should be somewhere else but he didn't know where. Until California, until the day he fell asleep beside Dana Scully and woke up with her in his arms in the morning. That had felt like home. It had felt right. Leaving her had felt wrong, he had felt like he was turning his back on his chance at being content and happy. Being with her now...Having a child with her. It felt like he had come home again. He was safe and he felt like nothing could destroy him as long as he was with Scully and Alicia. He was meant to be with them and nothing was going to take them away from him. He watched as the expression in Scully's eyes changed. Her mood turned like the tide. Her eyes clouded over and a dark shadow passed over her face. He wondered what she was thinking, what had happened to make her miserable and bring her down. His heart pounded and he fought the urge to shake her out of her reverie. He didn't like the look of pain in her eyes, he didn't like seeing the tears form. He couldn't resist when a single tear tracked down her cheek. He lifted his hand and touched her cheek, wiping the tear away with his thumb. She was startled by the contact but didn't pull away. Instead, she turned to face him. His eyes searched hers but she broke contact before he found it in him to talk. She looked away, gazing at Alicia and he knew that if he didn't speak up soon, she'd hide what it was she was thinking of from him and he'd never know what had upset her. " Scully...Dana, what's wrong?" He brought his hand up to her cheek again and used it to gently turn her face towards him. " Tell me. Please?" " It's nothing, Mulder," she insisted weakly, trying to avoid meeting his gaze. " It's always nothing with you," he sighed heavily, his voice taking on a firmer edge. " What is it? Something upset you and you can't tell me it didn't. What were you thinking of?" " You," she answered softly, giving in only because she knew he wouldn't give up until he knew exactly what was bothering her. " I was thinking about what you told me in California, about your family." " Why?" Mulder's brow creased. " Why would it upset you?" " Because it upset you," she sighed heavily, feeling guilty when a look of pain flashed across his face before he could even try to hide it. " It's still upsetting you, I never should have told..." " Shh." He silenced her by putting a finger to her lips. " It's okay, I'm fine." " No, you're not," she shook her head. " You're upset, it's my fault." " No," Mulder spoke even more firmly. He cupped her cheek with a hand. " My family are to blame and you're right, it did upset me. It doesn't anymore, now I've got you and Ali... I just want to concentrate on us being a family, a happy one. And I don't want you upsetting yourself anymore by thinking of the past." " But it does upset me. I can't bear to think of you being so unhappy. In California, I felt sorry for you because I had a happy childhood and I felt guilty that you didn't. Now I'm a Mom and I just don't understand how your parents could act like that, I don't understands how anyone could make their own child feel like you felt." Scully shook her head, feeling hopeless as she imagined what he must have gone through and felt like as a young boy. " I wish I could change it, Mulder. I wish I could change your past." " So do I," he smiled slightly. " But you are making a difference now. Both you and Alicia. I wish my parents had been more like your parents but they're not, they weren't. Nothing is going to change that. All I can do now is be grateful that my daughter has a mother as wonderful as you and try to be the best father I can be to her." " You won't have to try very hard." She brushed his compliment away. " Alicia's already devoted to you, just as you are to her." " I'm still grateful you're her mother, Dana," Mulder responded honestly. " She's incredibly lucky to have you and I'm glad you two have had each other for the past four years. And I'm glad I'm with you now." " So am I and so is Alicia," she smiled softly. " Finally, she's getting the complete family she's always wanted." " What about you?" His question took her by surprise so he elaborated. " Am I part of the family you want? Does my being here fit in with your perfect family?" " You're like the piece of the jigsaw that was lost but now is found," she answered with a sweet smile. " You complete me, as well as our family." Her smile widened when another thought hit her. " Of course there are one or two more things that would make the family better, in Alicia's eyes as well as my own." " And what would they be?" He asked with a curious look. " Well, I know Alicia would like some company," she grinned slyly. " Problem is she doesn't want to wait." " We could get her that dog she's after in the meantime and then work on giving her some more company," he grinned back at her. " And I get the impression you wouldn't mind her getting some company, too?" " I've always liked dogs," she smiled. " As for the latter, I don't want us to rush into it but I'd eventually love for Alicia to have a brother or a sister. And I'm not getting any younger." " Could have fooled me," he rolled his eyes. " You're barely thirty yet, you're still young." " Okay, so you're the one who's getting older," she teased. " But the point is." She didn't get to finish, Mulder, pretending to be insulted, started tickling her to make her say sorry. She refused, unable to do so between her giggles even if she had wanted to. Her giggling caught Alicia's attention and the little girl bounded over, smiling as she saw her parents tickling and playfully fighting each other. Alicia quickly chose to be on her mother's side and soon Mulder was tickling both of the women he loved. Eventually, he stopped and the three of them rested on the blanket in silence for a few moments. Mulder was lying down, his arms around Scully who was lying next to him and leaning against him. Alicia was sitting up, leaning against her Mom and playing in the sand with her bare feet, having discarded of her sandals as she was building her sand castle. Alicia soon got restless and wiggled around, making her parents sit up and smile at each other over her head. Alicia looked at them, unsure about who's knee to sit on and eventually settled for wedging herself between them. Scully shook her head at her daughter and Mulder began dishing out the food. He handed Alicia a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, amused when Scully pulled a face in disgust. He handed her a small plastic container with a fresh salad in it, earning a thankful smile. Then he helped himself to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and they ate quietly. The sea lapped upon the shore, the gentle waves making a soothing sound. The soft sea breeze made the long grass on the sand dunes dance and whisper. Scully sighed contentedly, smiling as Alicia snuggled closer to her side as Mulder wrapped an arm around her shoulders. It was easy to forget about work, easy to forget that they were supposed to be there working. All she wanted to think about was being on the beach, with Mulder and Alicia close by. It was her idea of heaven, the kind of thing she'd imagined in her dreams. And now it was happening in reality and she didn't want anything to interrupt it. Alicia, typical for a child of her age, became restless and squeezed from between her parents. She stood and looked at them, smiling innocently. " Come play," she giggled, making it sound more like a command than a question. " What do you want to do?" Scully asked softly, enjoying the feel of both Mulder's arms around her. " Build more sand castles?" " No," Alicia shook her head. " Wanna go swimming." " Okay," Scully agreed, reluctantly standing and leaving Mulder's embrace. " Let me take your T-shirt and shorts, first. You better not get them wet." " Will you come swimming too, Daddy?" Alicia asked, holding her arms over her head so her Mom could help her out of her T-shirt. Mulder nodded his agreement and took off his own T-shirt. Scully helped Alicia out of her shorts and tried to ignore Mulder with his chest bare wearing only his swimming trunks and his wedding band. As soon as she was wearing only her swimsuit, Alicia skipped over to Mulder and tugged on his hand, pulling him in the direction of the sea. " Aren't you coming, Scully?" He lingered behind as their daughter raced towards the sea. " Maybe in a little while," she smiled up at him, having settled back down on the blanket. " You'd better go keep an eye on Alicia. She can swim but not that well." Mulder nodded at her before joining his daughter on the edge of the sea. Scully sat watching them, feeling more complete that she had in a very long time. X~X~X~X~X Alicia was timid at first, running away from the waves before they could reach her because the water was too cold. She shrieked with joy and giggled whenever the waves were too quick and giggled even more when her father scooped her up in his arms and carried her out further, into deeper water. She was giggling as he let her go in the water - until she was immersed in it and squealed at the coldness. All the while, she and Mulder both wore happy smiles. They played around for a while, splashing each other and chasing each other. Alicia was very eager to show her Daddy that she could swim and he was very impressed by it. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Nine. Past Pretending - Part Ten. Almost an hour passed and Scully had taken plenty of photographs of Alicia and Mulder. She watched them as they played, a soft smile forming on her lips. Neither of them were getting bored with playing in the sea. There was just one thing missing from the fun. Scully. Mulder and Alicia whispered secretively, making their way back to the shore where Scully still was. She saw them approaching and instinctively knew they were up to something. She narrowed her eyes and looked at them suspiciously. Alicia came to a stop a few feet a way and smiled innocently - instantly though unwillingly confirming Scully's suspicions. Mulder just grinned at her and moved to her side. " What are you up to?" She asked, feeling a little curious but mainly still suspicious. " We're not up to nothing, Mommy," Alicia answered, a giggle rumbling beneath her voice. " That's what I was afraid of," Scully answered with a soft sigh, her gaze moving from Mulder to Alicia and back again. " So…?" " We were just wondering if you'd like to come swimming," Mulder spoke up, the mischievous glint in his eyes serving to increase her heart rate as well as make her nervous. " Why do I get the feeling you're not going to take no for an answer?" Scully eyed them both warily. Her gaze fell on the clothes she'd discarded of a few moments ago and she regretted it. Now she was only in her bathing suit, which meant Mulder wouldn't think twice about... Before she could finish that trail of thought, Mulder scooped down and swooped her up into his arms. He began jogging towards the ocean as she protested rather feebly, Alicia's laughter following them. She looked over his shoulder and saw their daughter running to keep up with them, her eyes shining brighter than Scully had thought possible. She still fought Mulder, trying to get a hold of the situation, wanting to have her own two feet firmly on the soft blanket of sand that was the ground. Mulder was holding her tightly, though. Not tight enough to hurt her, just firm enough to make sure that all of her squirming about in his arms wouldn't loosen his grip on her. Before she knew it, Mulder had reached the sea and was wading in, until he was up to his waist. Droplets of the cold, salty water splashed upon her skin. She shivered, hoping she would have time to get used to the water before Mulder let her go but that was not to be. He took his arms from under and around her and she fell into the water, spluttering a weak protest. Scully resurfaced a few moments later, a look of mock annoyance on her face. She glanced at Alicia and found her daughter was giggling and clutching her stomach, verging on being hysterical. Alicia's giggling subsided when she caught sight of her mother's mock glare. She looked at her feet, kicking about in the shallow water and avoiding Scully's eyes. Scully then turned her attention to Mulder, who was looking a little less nervous but just as amused as Alicia had been. Scully stood with her hands on her hips, trying not to laugh herself. She brought one hand up to wipe salty water from her face and bit her lip to keep back a smile. She continued to stare at Mulder, his amusement fading and his nervousness growing under the intensity of her mock glare. She waited until Mulder was looking down at where his feet were under the water before she made her move. She darted across to him quickly, catching him off guard and pushing him, making him loose his balance. Mulder moved his arms helplessly as he fell backwards before landing in the water with a loud splash. Scully laughed and Alicia giggled again. They were still laughing when Mulder broke the surface, spluttering and looking so shocked that Alicia and Scully, who were just beginning to recover, burst into fresh peals of laughter. He got onto his feet and made a move in Scully's direction but she was too quick for him. She ran through the water, splashing him as she did so, and joined Alicia on the shore. The two ran, still laughing, as Mulder chased them back to their blanket. He collapsed breathlessly on the blanket beside them and wrapped an arm around Scully's waist. Alicia curled up against her Mom, exhausted from the day's events, and began to doze. Scully relaxed against Mulder and closed her eyes, not planning on falling asleep. Mulder smiled tenderly as he moved his arm so his embrace enveloped both Alicia and Scully and then he, too, began to doze off. X~X~X~X~X At least an hour passed before any of them woke. Alicia woke Scully. She wriggled against her, feeling cold and seeking her mother's warmth. Scully opened her eyes and shifted carefully away from Mulder. She managed to ease herself from between the pair and watched as Alicia rolled towards her father. Mulder drew her closer, murmuring for 'Licia to go back to sleep, making Scully smile. She stooped and took the picnic basket off the blanket, settling it on the sand before wrapping the remainder of the blanket round her daughter and 'acting' husband. She dried herself off on one of the beach towels and pulled on her jeans and cotton shirt. Scully sat on the sand beside the picnic basket, watching the waves roll in as she was drawn into a world of her thoughts. She got tired of sitting still after a few moments and stood, deciding to go for a little walk. A little while later, Mulder opened his eyes to find Alicia gazing up at him with a sleepy smile on her face. He took that as a hint and silently helped her into her clothes as he watched Scully walking towards them from the corner of his eye. Alicia ran towards her mother as Mulder dried and dressed himself and then proceeded to pack up as Scully lifted their daughter in a big hug and spun her round. Alicia's squeals echoed in his mind as he found himself thinking, yet again, of how lucky he was to have another chance and a new family with Scully and Alicia. Alicia was running towards him as soon as Scully set her down and he greeted both mother and daughter with a warm smile and kiss. He lifted Alicia and kissed her forehead before she wiggled out of his arms. He then drew Scully into his embrace and gave her a short but sweet kiss as Alicia kicked her feet in the sand, grinning at the show of affection between her parents. They started making their way back up the beach towards the car, with Alicia filling the silence with excited chatter about what she was going to tell Aunt Missy and Grandpa and Grandma when she got home. Her chatter continued until they were in the car and heading towards home when she fell asleep, exhausted. Scully twisted in her passenger seat and smiled tenderly at her exhausted daughter. Mulder caught her attention and smiled, taking her hand. He divided his attention between her and the road, until she scolded him for it, telling him to concentrate on getting them home. He grinned bashfully at her scolding and concentrated fully on the road, sneaking glances at her when he thought she wasn't looking. Scully rolled her eyes and looked out of the car window at the passing scenery as the journey continued. X~X~X~X~X They pulled up on the driveway of their home only to find Fowley and Lamana standing at the door, accusing looks on their faces. Scully shared a look with Mulder and rolled her eyes when he leaned across to brush her lips with his. She glanced over her shoulder at Alicia who was still sound asleep. " I don't want to wake her, she's had a long day," she spoke softly, as not to wake her. " And she'll wake up when she's hungry, anyway." " I'll carry her in and we can put her to bed," he suggested. " Good idea," Scully smiled. " That means you can fend off Agents Fowley and Lamana while I get Ali into her night gown." " Can't I stick with 'Licia and you deal with the terrible twosome?" Mulder gave her a hopeful look and she chuckled quietly, shaking her head. " Okay but you owe me. And I always collect." " I bet you do," she retorted as she got out of the car. Mulder followed her example and gently picked up Alicia once Scully had opened her car door and unfastened her seat belt. He carried his daughter as Scully strode passed Fowley and Lamana and unlocked the front door. Mulder followed Scully upstairs to Alicia's bedroom whilst Fowley and Lamana made themselves comfortable in the living room. He lay her on the bed carefully and kissed her forehead lovingly before kneeling beside Scully. " She's adorable, isn't she?" Scully murmured, her gaze remaining locked on her sleeping daughter. She lifted a hand and pushed Alicia's hair from her face, an unbelievably tender look in her eyes. Alicia looked so sweet and innocent. Watching her sleep had become something as a hobby for Scully. It was something she had found herself doing when Alicia was just a baby. She found it reassuring, knowing that her daughter was sleeping peacefully and was no doubt having the kind of dream that children of her age should be having. As a baby, Alicia's expressions had kept Scully amused for hours as they changed in her sleep. Watching her daughter sleep filled her with a joy and a sense of calmness that she had never known before. It instilled in her a sense of motherly pride and love that lifted her spirits whenever she was down. She felt tears sting her eyes as she touched her daughter's cheek, knowing that Alicia was one of the most precious - if not the most precious - gift she had been given in her whole life. Mulder watched the naked emotions play over Scully's face and swallowed the lump that had formed unexpectedly in his throat. He felt the pride of being Alicia's father swell up in him with the unconditional love he felt for both mother and daughter. He took Scully's hand from Alicia's face and held it in his for a few moments until she tore her gaze away from their sleeping child and met his eyes. He gazed deeply into her eyes, his heart pounding and suddenly found he had lost the ability to speak. She was beautiful. He had fallen in love with Scully all over again in the last few moments that they had shared together. Wordlessly, he brought her hand to his lips for a gently kiss and moved to cup her face with his other hand. " Thank you," was all he managed to croak. " What…" Scully had to clear her voice, also choked up with the sudden build-up of emotion. " What for?" " For giving me Alicia," he murmured, his voice husky and thick with emotions that made her pulse race. " And for loving me, for giving me another chance. You can't know how much it all means to me." " I can," she whispered. " I do. I... You gave me Alicia." They looked at each other in silence for a few moments, then their gazes drifted back to their daughter. They contemplated her in silence, both grateful to whomever or whatever had granted them a second chance and a beautiful daughter to make it with. Scully cleared her throat, bringing them back to the present. " You better go downstairs before they come up here." " I'm going," he smiled faintly, remembering their unwanted houseguests. " I'll have them out of here in no time." " Then get to it." Scully allowed a soft, chaste kiss before silently shooing him from the room. He grinned at her and left, heading downstairs to face their impatiently waiting guests. Scully watched him go before turning her attention to the task of changing her sleeping daughter's clothes without waking her. X~X~X~X~X As soon as Mulder entered the room, Diana Fowley was on her feet with a frown on her face. Lamana remained seated on the couch, a dark scowl on his face. " Where have you been? We've been trying to contact you." Fowley asked with a suspicious glare. " What was it you wanted to talk to us about?" Mulder ignored the first question completely. " I assume it's something to do with the case?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued. " Did your interviews reveal anything interesting or any hints as to whom our suspect could be?" " Well," Fowley faltered, trying to think of something to say. " We didn't really hear anything that could put suspicion on anyone..." " Then there's nothing we really need to discuss, is there?" Mulder responded quickly and sharply. " We were curious as to what Dana discovered, if anything," Lamana casually spoke up. " She found some strange things in her analysis of the substance but hasn't written a report yet. She was planning on doing it tonight," Mulder answered easily. " We'll let you know when we come up with something substantial." There was a moment's silence as Fowley and Lamana looked to each other, as if trying to come up with a reason for them to stay. Mulder, however, wasn't going to give them that chance. " If that's all..." He gestured towards the door. Lamana stood and glared at him. " This isn't very professional," he seethed. " What would AD Skinner say if he knew you were ignoring work in order to spend more private time necking with Dana?" " For you, it's Agent Scully," Mulder replied in a maddeningly calm tone. " And we're supposed to be acting like we're married. I'm sure Skinner would appreciate our attempts at making the situation as realistic as possible." Mulder turned his back on Lamana and Fowley, walking towards the door. He opened it and stepped aside, allowing them to get passed. Fowley stormed passed and marched towards the house she was sharing with Lamana. Lamana followed, pausing only to stare stonily into Mulder's eyes before turning his back on Mulder and angrily stomping away. " They didn't look very happy." Scully's voice surprised Mulder, making her jump and her smile. " Nope, not a very happy pair," Mulder grinned and shut the door with her foot, pulling her into his arms. " So, is 'Licia sleeping?" " Soundly," she nodded. " She's so exhausted, didn't even stir when I changed her clothes." " So she's a heavy sleeper. Wonder who she inherits that from," Mulder leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her lips. " Not me," she rolled her eyes. " Must be another one of her father's traits." " Must be," he murmured, concentrating not on the conversation but on leaving a trail of kisses from her jaw down her neck. Scully laughed and pushed him away, smiling at his pout. " We need to talk," she told him. Mulder groaned and rested his forehead against her. " Nothing good comes of talking." " Didn't we come together after you talking back in California?" She asked innocently. " Point proven," he rolled his eyes. " Now what is it we have to talk about?" " Just things," she shrugged and easily slipped out of his embrace. " We've got catching up to do, you know. We can't just start off from where we left off because Alicia's involved now and we've got our careers to consider. Besides, I want to know more about these X-Files of yours." " As you wish." Mulder grinned and led her by the hand through to the living room. They curled up on the couch together after getting a bottle of wine and settling in for the night. A while later, Mulder and Scully were laughing about something Alicia had said or done a while ago and the bottle was half-empty. Their laughed died down and she took another sip of her wine. They had shifted their position so she was sitting with her back against the arm of the couch and he was sitting with her legs across his lap. " So what was it like being a single Mom?" He asked softly. " I imagine it must have been tiring, with having to work through the Academy too." " It was okay," she bit her lip. " It was hard but I had help from my Mom and Dad and sister. My brother's, mainly Bill, were a little hard to deal with at first but even they helped out when they were in town. It was hardest when I was pregnant, actually. Having to finish my course at University on top of being seven months pregnant was a little stressful." Scully shrugged. " It was easier when we moved to DC after Ali was born. I had my Mom and Dad. They were really great, Mom babysat while I went through the Academy and Dad helped support us financially as well as emotionally. Being a single Mom wasn't easy but it's worth it." " What about having a social life or meeting guys? I suppose being a single Mom affected your having a life," he murmured, feeling a little guilty. " Alicia became my life. I know it isn't healthy and I wasn't forced into it but it was what I wanted and needed. I didn't really care about going out that much. If I ever wanted to, I had the choice. Mom and Dad or Melissa would have looked after Alicia, I just didn't really want to. There hasn't been anyone serious in my life since you, Mulder. No one could replace you and no one was good enough, in my eyes, to be there for Alicia. Besides," she took his hand and smiled mischievously. " It sounds like you've had as much of a social life as I did. Don't feel guilty about it because I honestly wouldn't change a day of it." She looked thoughtful for a moment. " Well, unless I could change it so you would be there with us." " I wish I could change it like that, too." Mulder squeezed her hand. " But you guys have done fine without me. Alicia's such a great kid and you've managed to get a fairly reasonable job although I'm surprised you chose the FBI instead of practicing medicine." " That's partly to do with you," she laughed, a little embarrassed. " Being in the FBI sounded a lot more interesting when you spoke about it. And I got the impression the Academy was a challenge and I like challenges." " You certainly do," he agreed. Silence descended on them for a few moments before Mulder leaned in to kiss her softly. " There's been no one else since California, you know. I've loved you for so long, no one else will ever do." " I love you too," she smiled. " But I guess you already know that." " I had a vague idea," he grinned back. " I think we've done enough talking for one night." " Yeah, it's quite late." Scully closed her eyes briefly before opening one eye and looking at him with a shy smile. " Time to go to bed?" Mulder nodded. " As much as I hate to say it, we've got some work to do tomorrow." They were quiet again for a while until Scully spoke up about what was both on their minds. " Would we be making a mistake by getting together? I really love the idea of working with you, I don't want to jeopardize having that chance." " Me either," he sighed. " But I believe it would be an even bigger mistake to stay apart when we both want to be together. Besides," he let his hand linger at her cheek. " There shouldn't be a problem with us working together if we stay focused on the case at hand during office hours." " Agreed," Scully smiled. She swung her legs to the side and stood, holding a hand out to him. Mulder took it and stood. He bent slightly and kissed her lovingly before taking her hand and leading her upstairs. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Ten. Past Pretending - Part Eleven. Small rays of light from the early morning sun slipped through the crack in the curtains and warmed their skin. Scully woke, smiling sleepily when she realized Mulder had not relinquished his hold on her throughout the night. Careful not to wake him, she turned in his arms and kissed him softly on the lips. Still asleep, Mulder responded, tightening his hold on her. Her smile widened and she kissed him again, only slightly harder and with more passion this time. She continued to kiss him until he opened one eye dazedly, a lazy grin spreading across his face. " Hi," she smiled warmly - and a little shyly - as he woke and stretched out a little. " Sleep well?" " Mmm," he murmured, pulling her even closer. " If you're going to wake me like that every morning, I'm gonna have to start going to bed early." " I thought I'd wake you and give you the chance to dress before Alicia made her appearance," she warned softly. " It's tradition for her to come in and say "Good Morning" before you get up." " Thanks for the warning." Mulder rolled his eyes and sat up. He put his legs over the side of the bed and reached for his pajama bottoms. At the same time, he reached for his - Scully's - shirt and handed it to her. Once they were dressed, they curled up under the covers, waiting in a comfortable silence for Alicia to arrive. Sure enough, Alicia didn't disappoint. She bounced into the room with an energetic air about her that was unique to children of her age and size. She smiled happily and clambered into her parent's bed, settling down when she was snuggled between them. " Morning, Sweetie," Scully murmured as she kissed Alicia's forehead softly. Alicia smiled up and giggled as a stray strand of her mother's hair tickled her cheek. Mulder watched, entranced by their open display of affection, knowing that he was finally part of a family that he belonged to. " We go to the beach again today?" Alicia asked eagerly, her eyes and her face lighting up. Mulder chuckled at her enthusiasm, feeling a little bad that they were going to have to disappoint her. " Sorry, 'Licia," he apologized. " But Mommy has to go back to the lab and I have to make a start getting to know our neighbors better." " Work?" Alicia made a face of displeasure and then her face brightened again, having been struck by a sudden thought. " I play with the other kids?" " Yeah," he nodded, carefully studying Scully for her reaction and hopefully a sign of her consent. She seemed to approve, smiling at the thought of Alicia playing with some children her own age. " We can go to the park while Mommy's working and you can play as I talk to the other kids Mom and Dad's." " Go soon?" Alicia giggled, genuinely excited to be making friends with some of her neighbors as she missed playing with her friends from back home in DC. " As soon as we're all ready to leave," Scully answered. " Go and get some clothes to wear and I'll run you a bath." " Okay!" Alicia took the time to kiss both of her parents quickly and then left as quickly as she'd arrived for her own room. Scully's eyes followed her, a smile still curling her lips. She turned to face Mulder, only to find he was playfully pouting. " Will you run me a bath, too?" He gave her his 'hurt little boy' look and she rolled her eyes in amusement. " You'll have to wait a little while for that one," she told him softly. " Maybe till we get back home for real." " I guess I can wait," he answered slowly, wondering if things between them would change when they did go home - for real. Scully picked up on the change in his mood and lay a hand on his shoulder. " Is something wrong?" " No, not at all," he shook his head, shaking clear any doubts or fears that were lingering and then turned to her with a broad grin. " I just can't wait till we're really home." " You mean as a real family, not just pretending?" She inquired curiously. " Yeah," he nodded. " Unless it would be moving a little too fast for you..." She laughed at that and moved closer, resting her head on his shoulder as he turned onto his back, taking her with him. " Mulder, I don't think we can move too fast at this stage. This isn't the first time we've been at this point. Things are just a little different now. Sure, it might take a little readjusting on my part but Alicia's settling in with having us both around just fine and I'm not reacting that badly to it, am I?" She closed her eyes and smiled. " The only things I'd be a little...apprehensive about are whether you're truly ready to give up living on your own for having a family and whether us living together will affect our chances of working together." " Well, allow me to set your mind at rest about the first point." He kissed the crown of her head. " I'm ready to settle down, as long as it's with you and Ali. I don't want to be alone anymore. And it's more that just wanting to be with someone. I want to be with you. I need to be with you, and ''Licia. No one else will ever live up to my standards now." " But we've had it fairly easy for the last couple of days. Family life isn't always as smooth going as this. Alicia isn't always the perfect daughter, believe me. She's on her best behavior now, I think she's trying to make a good impression on you so you stay with us. And I can be a bitch sometimes. A real bitch," she laughed. " Trust me on that one. And you can't be Mr. Perfect all the time." " Oh, I'm not," he chuckled. " And I remember one time when we were living together in California, even though it was just for the week, when we had our first fight. You're right, you can be a bitch. And I can be one arrogant son of a bitch, too, as I'm sure you remember. But that's life for you, I can deal if you can." " I'm in." She opened her eyes and tilted her head up, accepting a nice, long kiss to seal the deal. " And as for work... We'll just have to see how it goes," Mulder continued once their kiss had ended. " But there shouldn't be a problem as long as we can separate our private lives from our professional lives. I think we can live with that." " Me, too," she smiled again and would have said more if the moment hadn't been interrupted. " Mommy!" Alicia shouted. Scully laughed and left Mulder's arms. " I wanna bath now!" " I'm wanted, you'll have to excuse me," Scully smiled, her cheeks flushing a healthy pink color. " We'll finish this later." " There's nothing to finish!" Mulder called after her as she left the room. " Then we'll have to start something else later!" Her teasing voice floated back to him, making him laugh and wonder for the umpteenth time how on earth he had become so lucky. X~X~X~X~X Half an hour later, all three of them were washed, dressed and fed. Alicia and Mulder both kissed Scully goodbye and watched as she drove down the street until they couldn't see her. Then Mulder helped Alicia into her coat - after she had raced upstairs to collect 'Amy' to take with her - and took her to the small park in the center of the estate they were living on. Other children played and giggled, filing the air with happy and joyous sounds. Alicia was a little shy at first until she was approached by another little girl her age who shyly asked if she liked playing with dolls. Alicia had grinned widely and nodded before introducing her new friend to her doll, Amy. Mulder smiled as he watched Alicia play with her friend, a blond haired girl called Helena. Some other children soon joined them and he allowed himself to relax once he was certain Alicia was happily fitting in. He sat on a bench and was later joined by Jessica Philips, the woman who had welcomed them to the neighborhood when they had first arrived. " It's William, isn't it?" She smiled warmly and he smiled back. " Yeah...You're Jessica, right?" He moved along a little bit so she had more room. " Right," she nodded and looked to the playground. " I see your daughter's hit it off with the other children." " Yep." His grin grew a lit wider at her words. It was one thing to think of Alicia as his daughter and hear it from Scully but another to hear in from someone else. " Have you any children?" " Helena's mine," Jessica answered. " And I've got a son, Mikey, who's at school and another daughter -" She pointed to the far end of the playground where a group of three boys and two girls where playing a chasing game. Mulder was surprised to see one of the girls was identical to his daughter's new best friend. " And that's Mary, Helena's twin. Three of them in total." " I imagine they're a handful," Mulder commented, multiplying the exhausting time he had had with Alicia the last time Scully had been at the research institute by three. " Oh, yeah," Jessica agreed with a laugh. " But it's so rewarding in the long run. Besides, my husband helps out a lot, especially with Mikey. He's definitely not a Mommy's boy." She sighed contentedly and tilted her head to look at him. " Have you and your wife considered having more children?" " We've talked about it," he answered, knowing that it wasn't a lie. They had talked a little bit about it and he knew that Scully definitely wanted more children. So did he. " We've agreed that it'll happen someday, it's just the question of when we're going to be able to make room and afford it." " Is your wife working?" Jessica asked curiously. " Usually, it's just Mom's here. Except for Jay Brown. His wife's pregnant again so he's taken some time off to keep an eye on her and their kids, Tanya and Keith. Keith's over there with Mary, Tanya's in Mikey's class at school. She's a real sweetheart, great role model for the younger kids. Mikey has a thing for her, too." There was a note of amusement in her tone. " Sounds like a close-knit neighborhood," Mulder murmured. " Must be good for the kids." He paused for a moment and then remembered her question about Scully. " My wife's working, yeah. Dana would love to be at home, though. She loves spending time with Alicia but then we both do. Ordinarily, I'd be working, too but I've taken some time to get settled here and help Alicia settle down. When I go back to work, I suspect Dana'll take some time off with Ali until she's needed back at work." " What about your brother-in-law and his wife?" She leaned back and Mulder decided he'd found the neighborhood gossip. She was certainly nosey - curious - enough to be. " Do they have any plans for children?" " I don't think so." He fought the urge to laugh at the thought of Fowley and Lamana having a child - together. " They don't really strike me as the parenting type," Jessica spoke knowingly. " But you and your wife - Dana? - are, obviously." " Why obviously?" Mulder couldn't help but ask. She turned and gave him a big smile. " You have a very happy daughter. And you two have that look about you," she told him. Seeing his confused look, she plowed on. " You look like a young couple in love, with a lot of love to give. Alicia's proof of that." " Yeah," he smiled proudly. " Yeah, she is." Alicia chose that moment to run up to them with Helena, one of Jessica's twins and another girl that Mulder recognized from earlier. Helena hugged her Mom and Alicia, still giggling as usual, moved to hug her Dad. Mulder took her in his arms immediately, hugging her warmly and lovingly. She pulled back and smiled at her other friend. " Daddy, this is Helena and Ro," Alicia introduced them. She then smiled proudly. " This is my Daddy." " Hi," the little girl - Ro - smiled shyly as Helena giggled. He smiled at them both and before long, the three girls were off again, playing with their dolls on the climbing frame. They came back a few moments later, whispering about something, when some 'bigger kids' took control of the climbing frame. Before Mulder or Jessica could say anything else, her other daughter - Mary - bounded up to them after waving to her friends. Mulder saw Alicia's eyes widen at seeing Mary, an identical version of her friend. Mary and Helena moved together and smiled at each other. " Mary, meet Alicia," Jessica introduced the two. " Mary and Helena are twins, Alicia. They like pretending to be each other to confuse people." " Hi." It was Alicia's turn to be shy as she mumbled her greeting. Mary grinned widely at her, greeted her with an enthusiastic " Hi!" and soon the four were playing and talking a few feet away from their parents. Mulder watched in amusement as another girl - obviously one of Mary's friends - joined them. Then Kim - or Kimi, as Mary called her - suggested that they play in the sandpit. Pretty soon, all five of them were playing in the sand. Alicia sat between the girl Mulder knew as 'Ro' and Helena and seemed to be fitting in nicely - much to his relief. He knew Scully had been worried that Alicia would find it difficult to make new friends especially with her knowing she was going to leave them. Scully knew from experience, from moving around a lot with her father's job in the Navy. He sighed contentedly as he watched his daughter play, nodding politely every so often at Jessica's constant chattering. X~X~X~X~X The institute was busy with students, doctors and lab technicians bustling about and going up and down the many corridors. Scully was reminded a little of her years at Medical school, which reminded her of California, which reminded her of Mulder. She laughed inwardly at how everything in her life recently seemed to go back to Mulder in some way. Shaking herself mentally, she carried on until she came to the lab Dr. Gellar had led her to the previous day. She used the security card she had been given to get into the research lab and was surprised to find there was no one else there, having expected Dr. Gellar - Pam - to be there. Sighing to herself, Scully pulled the folders she had been meaning to look at whilst she was at home from her bag. She hadn't read any of them, having been distracted the previous evening, but had only brought a few of them with her to the institute. She could work well without the others and that also gave her more time to get through them at home. Scully settled herself at one of the desks and opened the first folder after putting on her reading glasses. She had a feeling that it was going to be a very long day. X~X~X~X~X Two hours later, Mulder and Alicia said their good-byes and made their way home. They fixed themselves a light lunch and found a message on the answering machine. Mulder pressed the button as Alicia stood by the machine, eyeing it curiously. " Hi guys, it's me," Scully's familiar voice came through. " I have no idea what time I'm gonna be home so have dinner without me if I'm not back by three. Give me a ring when you get it, Mulder. There's something I need to tell you. Miss you and Ali, be good for your Daddy. 'Bye." " Bye-bye, Mommy!" Alicia giggled and bounced around. " Can we call Mommy now, can we? Please?" " Sure," Mulder rolled his eyes, wanting to talk to Scully almost as badly as Alicia but being a little less obvious about it. He picked up the receiver and dialed, handing it to Alicia after he had asked to be put through to Scully. " Hi Mommy!" Alicia squealed as soon as her mother picked up on the other side of the connection. " Hi Honey!" Scully smiled as she recognized her daughter, setting her lab glasses on the desk and turning away from the microscope she was working with and Dr. Gellar who had eventually arrived with an apologetic smile. " How are you?" " Fine," Alicia giggled. " We went to the park and I played dolls with Helena and Ro and Mary and Kimi." " So you've made some friends," Scully felt relief flood her senses. " It sounds like you've enjoyed yourself." " I did, Mommy. But I miss you," Alicia answered a little too solemnly for Scully's liking. " All the other Mommies were there and Daddy was the only Daddy." " I'm sorry I couldn't be there, Sweetheart," Scully bit her lip. " I promise I'll take you to the park tomorrow or the day after, okay?" " Okay!" Alicia cheered up at her promise and proceeded to tell her Mom that 'Amy' had been to the park, too and had enjoyed herself on the climbing frame and in the sandpit. Then Mulder cleared his throat and reminded her that she was about to miss one of her favorite cartoons. " I gotta go 'cause Daddy wants to talk to you." " And it's time for cartoon hour," Scully spoke knowing, from experience. " Love you, Honey. Be good." " I love you too," Alicia giggled. " Bye-bye, Mommy." There was a pause and a silence before Mulder managed to untangle the phone cord from around Alicia and greet Scully. " Hey." " Hey," Scully smiled softly at his voice. " How's she been?" " Perfect," he grinned. " And I got to meet three of the neighbors. Jessica, the woman who welcomed us here. And then two others, Caroline Sanderson and Lyndsey Hume. They're really nice, I doubt anyone here has anything to do with what's going on. They avoided the topic, though. As if talking about it would mean it happened to them." " Jessica? Caroline and Lyndsey?" Scully raised an eyebrow. " Not getting too friendly with them, I hope." " Nah," he laughed. " Why? Did I detect a note of jealousy, Mrs. Mulder?" " Nope," she murmured. " Just afraid you might blow our cover." " Good come back," Mulder chuckled. He leaned against the wall casually. " So what was it you wanted to talk to me about? I take it you've found something big?" " Well." She paused and he could hear the rustle of papers and her heels on the ground as she walked away from somewhere. She sighed before speaking again. " I'm afraid it's not good. In fact, it adds a whole new dimension to the case." Mulder sighed heavily and sunk to the floor, preparing himself for the worst. " Go ahead." " I can't say much now, it's not exactly...a private connection," she murmured, keeping her voice low. " And I get the feeling someone's been hiding things, maybe protecting someone else. That's all I can say till I get home." " Hurry home, then," he responded, feeling a little let down. " And be careful, Dana." " I will," she promised quickly before hanging up, leaving Mulder listening to a dialing tone and the feeling of dread lingering in his mind. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Eleven. Past Pretending - Part Twelve. The clock on the mantelpiece chimed six o' clock. Mulder paced up and down the living room as Alicia watched from her place on the couch. Scully was late. She had said she would be home at four at the latest. Two hours had passed and there was no sign of her in the darkening street and she hadn't called to say she was running late. Mulder had called her mobile whilst Alicia was eating dinner but there had been no answer. Now he was beginning to get really worried, her words on the phone that evening coming back to haunt him. And to add to this, Alicia was refusing to go to bed without saying goodnight to her mother. He finally sat down beside Alicia and she climbed into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, kissing her forehead tenderly. Alicia snuggled close and then looked up, a questioning glimmer in her eyes. " Where's Mommy?" She wanted to know. " She's never late without phoning to tell me night- night." " I don't know, Sweetie," Mulder murmured, tightening his hold on her protectively. " But I'm sure she'll be home soon." There was a small pause as Alicia snuggled closer and stifled a yawn, trying to hide it from her father but he saw it, anyway. " Why don't I take you to bed and read you a story? I'm sure Mommy will be home before I'm finished and then she can tuck you up." Alicia nodded her agreement and let Mulder carry her up stairs to her room. Neither of them paid much attention to the story she chose, both wondering and worrying about Scully. Every time some car headlights flashed through the thin curtains in Alicia's room, they would wait with baited breath to hear if the front door was being unlocked. It never was. Another half-hour passed before both Alicia and Mulder were sitting on her bed, holding each other and trying not to think the worst. Neither of them was paying any attention to the headlights outside the window anymore, they weren't paying much attention to anything. They were just sitting in silence, hoping and praying to whoever or what they believed in for Scully to either ring or come home soon. The sound of keys turning in the lock brought them both out of their thoughts. They looked at each other and grinned with relief before heading downstairs to greet Scully. " Hey!" Scully smiled, pleasantly surprised at the enthusiastic reception that she received when Mulder and Alicia embraced her, both grinning wildly. " Wow, I guess I should be late more often if this is what I get." " Where were you?" Alicia demanded. She moved away - just a little - and stood with her hands on her hips. X~X~X~X~X Scully stifled a sigh as she looked from Mulder's concerned expression to the pout on Alicia's face. She knelt down to be on the same eye level as her daughter and forced a smile. " I got caught in a traffic jam, Ali," she explained softly, seeing her daughter's worried expression change a little. " I tried to call you but the batteries in my phone are dead. I'm sorry for making you worry, Sweetheart. I got home as soon as I could, though. Forgive me?" Alicia smiled a small smile and threw herself into her mother's embrace. " Daddy and me was scared." Mulder was about to correct Alicia's mistake but saw the guilty look on Scully's face and thought better of it. It was obvious Alicia had been more than a little scared. To be honest, so had he. But putting himself in Alicia's position, he understood how frightening it would be for her to possibly lose her mother, the only person she'd been able to depend on for the whole of her short life. He waited until Alicia was done hugging her mother and had started back up the stars towards her room and then he turned towards Scully. She looked as though she was about to go after Alicia so he reached out and took hold of her wrist, pulling her close to him for an embrace of their own. She went willingly and he held her with his eyes close, reflecting on the fact that she was solid and was there. The terrible thoughts that had plagued him for the last hour or so vanished as he absorbed the information that she was actually in his arms and not lying in a wrecked car, injured and dying in a ditch. " You had me worried," he murmured in her ear. Scully closed her eyes and tightened her arms around his neck, pressing her lips against his neck in a quick, reassuring kiss. " I'm here now," she whispered back. " And I'm fine. I'm sorry you worried but if I'd stopped off to use a pay-phone, I'd be even more later than I am now so be grateful." " I'm grateful," he assured her. " Very grateful that you're not lying in a ditch along side a road somewhere and that you're here, with me and our daughter, where you belong." " Mmm." Her lips curved in a sweet smile. " Speaking of our daughter, if we don't go upstairs and tuck her in soon, she'll get cross and throw a tantrum and we'll never be able to get her to sleep." " Good point," Mulder agreed, just as a voice from upstairs called down. " Mommy! Daddy!" Alicia shouted. " Where are you!" " We're coming, Ali," Scully called back up. She broke away from Mulder with a smile. " We can talk later." " I guess we can," he smiled back and let her lead him by the hand up the stairs and towards their daughter's bedroom. X~X~X~X~X Alicia was cuddled up beneath her quilt when they got to her room. She wore a serious and solemn expression that made a smile tug at Scully's lips. The expression vanished once Scully sat on Alicia's bed and Mulder knelt on the floor beside them. Alicia and Scully shifted positions until Scully was sitting against the headrest and Alicia was leaning against her. Mulder then got up off the floor and joined his favorite women on the bed. Scully read softly from Alicia's favorite storybook and Mulder watched silently, entranced by the naked emotions playing on Scully's face. She had never looked more beautiful than she did now, relaxed and content, with her daughter snuggled up. They were the perfect picture of the loving bond between mother and daughter. And when Mulder joined them; they were the perfect picture of the perfect, loving family. After a while, Scully felt Alicia relax against her. She lifted her head and met Mulder's eyes who nodded in response to her silent question. He had watched the sleepiness on his daughter's face increase and had watched Alicia's eye lids droop sleepily until finally, they closed. Scully eased out from behind Alicia and watched her daughter curl up on her side and instinctively reach for 'Amy', her doll. She stood back watching Alicia sleep for a few moments, until Mulder took her hand and led her quietly out of the room. He shut the door behind them and they walked downstairs in silence. He settled Scully down on the couch and went into the kitchen area. He returned a few minutes later with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. He placed them on the small table as she watched him in amusement. He turned lit the fire and turned off the lights before he joined her on the couch, sitting close together and leaning into one another. Mulder poured them each a glass of wine and they sat in silence for a while, gathering their thoughts and watching the fire as it burned brightly, filling the room with a warm, atmospheric light. Eventually, he spoke up. " So what was it you didn't want to talk about over the phone?" He questioned curiously. When it looked like there was no answer forthcoming, he nudged her shoulder gently. " Scully? Dana." " What?" She turned slightly to face him, a blank expression on her pretty face. She blushed at his grin. " I'm sorry, I was miles away. What did you say?" " I asked what it was you didn't want to talk about over the phone," he repeated. " But where were you? You were really out of it." " I was back in California." A smile played with her lips as she leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. Mulder grinned again and kissed the top of her head lovingly. " Were you alone?" He asked, his voice low and soothing. " No." A dreamy expression danced briefly across her face as the shadows created by the fire swiftly moved over her features. He noted how relaxed and peaceful she looked and wished he didn't have to even think about working until they were home in Washington. Unfortunately, that wasn't going happen. " You were there and so was Alicia." She sighed heavily and the smile faded. " Guess it'll just have to stay a daydream for a little while longer." The smile returned for a moment. " But at least I know it could happen sometime in the future now, you're here now." " And I'm not going anywhere," he reassured her. " There's no where else I'd want to be." Silence washed over them again until they shifted their positions till they were both lying on the couch facing each other, the half-empty wine glasses on the table along side the forgotten bottle of wine. " So, why couldn't you tell me what you wanted to tell me over the phone and what is it that's so important?" " I don't trust them," she responded simply. " I don't trust any of the scientists at the institute because I get the feeling they're keeping something from me. They know something. Especially Dr. Gellar. She was so edgy today while I was working; I could feel her watching my every move. And she kept getting in the way; it was almost as though she didn't want me to find anything. That was why I didn't really feel like telling you my findings over the phone when she was in the same room with me." " And did you? Find anything, I mean?" He arched a curious eyebrow and pulled her closer, sensing her unease. " Yes, I found something I didn't like at all," she closed her eyes tightly and buried her head in his chest. Mulder was silent, letting himself speak with comforting actions rather than using just words. He held her until she was ready to continue. After a while, she opened her eyes and pulled back slightly, looking him squarely in the eyes as she spoke, as though she was trying to assess his reaction to the news. " Something weird is going on, Mulder. When I compared my findings against the preliminary report done by Dr. Gellar... I noticed several discrepancies that can't be explained even with her lack of expertise in this area." She momentarily broke eye contact, looking away and taking a deep, calming breath. " This…This substance. The substance found in the houses in place of the missing people…its properties are amazing. I mean, this substance… Not only is it made up of a chemical extract with an unknown origin, it seems to have a digestive quality. Like the Venus flytrap, only much more advanced. I don't know what this is, Mulder. All I know is it's not 100% organic as we've been led to believe, it's partly synthetic...And there was evidence of human DNA in the substance...I checked it with the information we have on the most recent couple and the DNA was a perfect match with the DNA of one Elizabeth Robinson…" She broke off again and met his gaze evenly, a slightly worried glint in her eyes. "Do you know what that means?" Mulder, who had found himself shocked speechless during her answer, struggled to get his voice somewhere close to normal. His eyes were wide and he stared at her in silence before replying to her question. " It means," his voice cracked slightly and he continued slowly after swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. " It means that we're not just investigating a series of disappearances...." His voice trailed off. " We're investigating a series of murders," she finished for him. X~X~X~X~X Ten minutes passed and neither one said a word. Scully moved closer to him and closed her eyes, letting the motion of his hand drawing circles on her back soothe her and calm her nerves. Mulder, too, closed his eyes. He let her words and their meaning sink in and pondered what little they knew about the case. There were no suspects and no clear motives. He mentally shivered and tightened his grip on her slender waist, wanting to feel her close to reassure himself that she was till here in his arms. They were both wondering about the same things. Possible motives and possible suspects. It wasn't easy. There weren't many. How many people could get their hands on partly organic material and make it into a deadly but synthetic chemical that could digest a human body and leave no visible trace? This new information changed everything. Now they could assume that all three couples were dead, presumably murdered. And this make the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end when they thought about living, with Alicia, in the same neighborhood - never mind the same house - that the couples went missing in. Alicia was the main cause for concern. It was part of Mulder's job to face danger and it was something Scully had been prepared for during her years at the Academy. But Alicia... Alicia was only a child and didn't ask to be put in a reasonably dangerous position. They both felt uncomfortable, knowing she was sleeping peacefully and innocently upstairs, unaware of the possible danger she was in. They knew the murderer, whomever it was, could use her against them if he or she got nervous. And that scared them both, more than they were willing to admit. The thought of anything happening to her shook them down to the very core of their being. " Alicia's not safe here, is she?" Scully asked in a small voice that didn't sound like her own. Mulder opened his eyes and looked at her tenderly. " As long as we find whoever is doing this, she'll be fine. And you know I will never let anything happen to Alicia or you, for that matter. It's going to be okay, Dana." He used his hand to tip up her face, gazing deeply into her eyes. " I promise. Alicia will get through this. We all will." " Well, my guess is that whoever is responsible for these murders was behind the break-in at the institute. That's the only way I can explain the genetic make-up of whatever it is that killed these couples. It's the only way I can explain how anyone could manufacture a compound like this," she sighed. " We're going to have to be careful but we're going to have to find out what was taken. I don't want to arouse any more suspicion there as I do have to work there and get the feeling I'm not exactly popular anyway." " I'll take care of it," he volunteered. " When you're with Alicia, I'll go check the institute out and when I'm at home, I can e-mail those friends of mine who got me your address to see what they can dig up on the place and the break-in." " The computer hackers," she remembered. " I really don't want to know how you met them and befriended them, do I?" " Not yet," he grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. " It's a long story and I'll no doubt tell you it when we get home." " Okay," she nodded, showing her agreement with his plan. " There's one more thing we have to consider." " What's that?" Mulder frowned slightly, wondering what he had forgotten. " Fowley and Lamana," she supplied. " What are you going to tell them and what are they going to do?" Mulder sighed heavily. " As awful as it is to say this, I don't trust them. I vote we don't tell them we have a lead and let them continue interviewing neighbors, maybe ask them to try and get a description of anyone who was in this area on the nights of the murders who isn't a local. That could help us with finding our suspect." He looked at her honestly. " I don't trust them enough to let them go to the institute to ask 'subtle' questions. They'd end up stirring anyone's suspicion and I don't like the idea of that given the fact that our murderer has to have some link to the institute and you still have to work there. That's my opinion." " I agree," she smiled weakly. " But remember if they complain to Skinner about being left out of the loop, you'll be the one who gets the blame, unless Diana finds a way to blame me. Remember you are the Special Agent in Charge of this investigation." " I remember, Agent Scully," he grinned slyly. " Now in my opinion as SAC, I say we both go to bed and get some sleep. We've got a long day of research and writing reports and keeping Alicia occupied ahead of us." " Sleep?" She raised an eyebrow. " If you say so, you are the boss." She got off the couch and helped him up. He put out the fire as she returned the glasses and wine to the kitchen, leaving the washing up till the morning. They then headed upstairs to their bedroom and got ready for bed. Once they were settled beneath the quilt and in each other's arms, Mulder and Scully allowed themselves to relax the best they could, with nagging fears and doubts at the back of their minds. " We're going to be okay, Dana," Mulder promised sleepily. " All three of us." " Don't make promises you can't keep, Mulder," she yawned. " But you can promise you'll try, just as I will." " It's a deal," he mumbled. Shortly after, they both fell asleep and the only sounds in the house was the ticking of the clocks in the hall and on the mantle place, and the soft breathing of the houses three occupants. X~X~X~X~X Morning came earlier than Mulder and Scully wanted it to. They were quite content, forgetting about the case and shutting out the rest of the world, lying in each other's arms, kissing and snuggling close. They were content when Alicia joined them and snuggled between them, only to fall asleep a few minutes after. Their oblivion faded with a rather rude awakening - loud knocking on the front door that could easily have passed for impatient pounding. They shared a look of mild disappointment and eased themselves out of Alicia's embrace. Mulder put on his robe and went down to answer the door as Scully peered out of the bedroom window. She groaned and rolled her eyes on seeing no other than Agents Fowley and Lamana on their doorstep. Scully took the time to quickly dress as Mulder opened the front door and let their unwelcome guests in. She was leaving the bedroom when Mulder returned in order to dress himself. They stopped in the doorway and shared a sweet kiss, parting reluctantly when they found they couldn't forget about their company. Scully woke Alicia and took her through to her own bedroom, helping her dress and then the two of them met Mulder, now fully clothed, on the landing and they proceeded to go downstairs together. Scully walked into the kitchen after settling Alicia down at the dinner table to find Diana Fowley looking suspiciously at the open bottle of wine and empty wine glasses in the sink. She smiled a little smugly at the furious expression on Fowley's face and wondered if the older woman would actually turn green with envy. She didn't. Fowley turned sharply on her heel and left the kitchen, holding her head high although that did nothing to hide the seething look she wore. Scully's smile spread as she fixed Alicia's breakfast and made in back into the living room in time to see Fowley completely freeze Lamana out. Scully shared an amused look with Mulder at the obvious 'trouble in paradise' between the other two Agents before returning to the dining room to keep Alicia company. Mulder watched her go and felt the grin spread across his face. He sat down in the chair facing Lamana and told them a very brief summary of all that Scully had found and what he was 'assigning' them to do. Neither was impressed. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Twelve. Past Pretending - Part Thirteen. It was early evening and the Mulder family were getting ready to go to an after-dinner party. After a day of investigating the break-in at the institute, Mulder could reveal that the break-in was, in some way, connected to their case. Scully had spent the day with Alicia and some of her new friends at the park and had become friendly with the parents of Mary and Helena, Kimi and 'Ro' which was short for Rotem. Jessica, Mary and Helena's mother, had agreed to Diana and Jerry's 'gracious' invitation for a little 'after-dinner' gathering on behalf of her family as had Susan, mother of Kimi, and Carla, mother of Ro. Scully had learned quite a lot about her neighbors and agreed with Mulder's opinion that they were a close-knit neighborhood and very nice people. The clock struck six and Mulder stood in the hall by the front door. He grinned at his daughter and waited patiently for Scully to descend the stairs. His eyes widened when he saw his 'wife' in a simple but elegant black dress. " Wow," he spoke up once she had joined him and Alicia at the bottom of the stairs. "What did I do to get this lucky? I get to arrive at the Lamana's with two beautiful ladies on my arm." Alicia giggled and blushed prettily as Scully smiled and rolled her eyes. " Ali," Scully smiled. " Don't forget what we told you, okay? You call Agents Fowley and Lamana Aunt Diana and Uncle Jerry. Just pretend Jerry's like your Uncle Charles." " I like Uncle Charlie," Alicia piped up. " Do I have to pretend to like them?" " Just a little," Mulder cut in. " But don't worry about it, Sweetie. We invited your friends over, too, so you can play while Mommy and me talk to their parents." Alicia seemed okay with it after that so the Mulder's left their house and made their way down the street to where the 'gathering' was taking place. Neither Fowley nor Lamana had been impressed when Mulder had told them they had to befriend their neighbors and invite them over for a small gathering so they could discreetly get to know a little more about them. But Mulder was the SAC of this case and they had to follow his orders or face the risk of being reported to AD Skinner. Mulder had insisted it was necessary for them to fit in socially with their neighbors if they were going to stay undercover successfully. Reluctantly, Fowley and Lamana had invited the people Mulder knew lived in the street for a friendly drink and chat. Even more reluctantly, they had extended the invite to include their children, for Alicia's sake. As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for someone to answer the door, Mulder and Scully shared an amused look. Something told them that they were in for quite a show that evening. X~X~X~X~X When Fowley answered the door, looking flustered and flushed, it took all Mulder and Scully had not to burst out laughing. Fowley narrowed her eyes at them and turned on her heel, stalking away from them and the open door. Scully smiled and took Alicia's hand, leading her into the 'happy' Lamana home. Mulder followed and shut the door behind them before proceeding to the living room. Lamana and Fowley were sitting tensely on the couch as Jessica and her husband, Daniel Philips, talked to the Moms of Kimi or Ro, both of whom were sitting without their husbands. This made Scully remember hearing that Kimi's father was away on business in Chicago and Ro's father was on nightshift, so he would not be able to join them. Alicia caught site of her friends in the dining room and ran to join them. Scully and Mulder watched her go, sharing a smile at her excitement. They moved over to the only available seats and sat close together. " Hello, Dana, William," Jessica greeted them warmly. " This is my husband, Daniel. Daniel, this is Dana and William Mulder, Alicia's parents. Dana is Jerry's cousin." " Hi," Daniel smiled. " It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about your little one from Jess and the twins." " Nice to meet you, too," Mulder returned the smile and squeezed Scully's hand in his own. " Alicia won't stop talking about Mary and Helena, either. We're thrilled she's made some friends already." " It must have been a hard decision for you to move from your old home here," Daniel made conversation as Jessica went back to her conversation with Caroline Sanderson, Kimi's mother and Lyndsey Hume, Ro's mother. " Where did you move from?" " Washington D.C," Mulder answered. " Our jobs often mean we have to travel around quite a bit. Hopefully, we'll be settling down sometime soon. It's hard on Alicia to move around and have to make new friends." " I imagine it must be quite unsettling for her, as well as the two of you," Daniel addressed both Mulder and Scully as Fowley and Lamana kept to themselves. " It must be hard having to make a new home for your family at the same time as having to fit in to a new company with new colleagues." " We manage," Scully smiled at Mulder. " Somehow, we manage." She glanced towards the dining room door. " If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go keep an eye on the kids. I know Alicia can get herself into a lot of trouble if she's not supervised." " Tell me about it," Jessica joined the conversation as Caroline and Lyndsey nodded in agreement. " The last time I left Helena and Mary alone in a room, I came back to find they had designed a new wall paper for the living room. Scully smiled again and left the room as the parents shared more horror stories of their children getting up to mischief. During this conversation, Mulder noticed Fowley and Lamana go pale before they both excused themselves quickly, as if to make sure that the children weren't making too much of a mess of their home. Mulder hid a smile, knowing that if anything was damaged in the house whilst the two Agents were living there, they would have to pay for the repairs themselves before the house was resold after the case was over. Luckily, Alicia had understood and agreed to ask their permission before she did anything in the house they were staying in. They hadn't said anything about asking permission in the Lamana household, though... X~X~X~X~X By the time Scully got to the five children, her suspicions had been confirmed. It had been too quiet in the other room. Alicia, Helena, Mary, Kimi and Rotem were sitting around the room, with colored pens, pencils and crayons all around them. An open and empty crayon box that must have belonged to one of the children lay in the corner of the room as they sat quite contentedly, drawing pictures and scribbled lines all over the walls. Scully cleared her throat and the children instantly stopped what they were doing. Alicia looked down at the floor guiltily, refusing to meet her mother's gaze as her our friends and conspirators gazed up at Scully with big, innocent eyes. Before she could say anything, however, Fowley and Lamana had came into the room to survey the damage. Lamana looked furious, his eyes were wide and full of fury as his jaw dropped at the colorful sight. Fowley just looked pale. She scowled and glared at the children, making a few bottom lips tremble. " Look at what you've done!" Lamana roared. " You little..." A quick glare from Scully shut him up as big tears rolled down Alicia's face and the others sniffed tears of their own. " Jerry, calm down," Scully quickly spoke before anyone else could speak. She knelt on the floor next to her daughter and hugged her as the other children moved closer, as though they knew she would shield them from another angry outburst. She rubbed Alicia's back soothingly as her little girl clung onto her. " It's okay, Sweetheart." " I'm sorry, Mommy," Alicia sniffed. " Sorry?! Saying you're sorry isn't going to tidy up this mess!" Fowley cried out, speaking for the first time. She looked to her acting husband for support. " This isn't my responsibility," Jerry protested at her accusing glare. He turned his attention to scolding the children. " It's those selfish little brats who did this! They're the ones who'll have to tidy this up because I'm not going to take the blame when." " 'Licia," Scully cut him off sharply and loudly, worried his anger was going to blow their cover. " Why don't you and your friends go into the other room and watch television for a little while, okay?" " Okay," Alicia agreed. She quickly got up and led her friends into the other room, moving as quickly as she could. Scully waited until they were gone. She stood and looked Fowley and Lamana squarely in the eyes. " It's not as bad as it looks," she told them firmly. " This is the kind of thing children do when they're unsupervised. If anyone's to blame, it's you. You are supposed to be hosting this thing, you should have planned something for the children to do and you should never leave children this young in a room alone for a long period of time." " They're not our children!" Fowley argued, indignant. " It was probably your child that started this! You should have been with her." " It's your house," Scully retorted icily. " And if I'd known how careless you are around children, I would have come through. I guess I gave you more credit than you deserve, I actually thought you knew the basics about looking after kids. Alicia is a well-behaved child, I have no reason to believe her friends aren't as well. You should have planned something for them to do, you've had all day!" " It's not my fault!" Fowley insisted. " I don't care much for children." " That much is obvious," Scully muttered. She turned her gaze to Jerry. " What's your excuse? And what gives you the right to call my daughter a selfish brat? Or the right to call any child that? Especially not to their faces! Do you know how upsetting that could be to them?" " Like they care!" Jerry retorted. " You must really spoil your kid if she gets all whiney and tearful at being told off for what could be the first time in her life! You might let her get away with blue murder in your own house but not here! Those children are not my responsibility. If you ask me, they wouldn't be like this if their parents weren't too soft on them and knew how to discipline them!" "Would you like to go through there are tell your supposed guests that you think they spoil their children?" Scully asked, her voice dangerously low and controlled. " Go ahead, I know I'm not the only parent who takes exception at that. Don't blame me or anyone else because you can't handle looking after some kids for an hour or so." There was a deafening silence as Fowley and Lamana refused to meet Scully's eyes. Under different circumstances, their behavior would be laughable. They were acting a lot like spoilt children being scolded for misbehaving. Scully closed her eyes briefly and summoned up as much patience as she could. She had a feeling she was going to need it to get through the rest of the evening without using her gun. " Okay," she finally spoke. " Here's what's going to happen. Jerry, you're going to go through to the living room and ask what everyone wants to drink. Then you'll come back and tell Diana and the two of you will fix the drinks and some snacks for the kids. Have you got any potato chips?" " Yeah, I brought some with me," Jerry answered uncertainly. " They'll do for the kids," Scully sighed. " No buts, Jerry," she added quickly when it looked as though he was about to protest. Her tone took on a more noticeably sarcastic edge. " You'll be reimbursed by the Bureau, I'm sure." " And what are you going to do?" Fowley asked. " I'm going to get some warm, soapy water and try to get the worst of this off," Scully replied matter-of-factly. " So you will excuse me, won't you?" Without wait for a reply, she left the dining room and went through to the kitchen, helping herself to a washing-up bowl, some soapy washing up liquid as she turned the hot tap on. X~X~X~X~X Once in the same room as her father, Alicia relaxed slightly and went to sit on his knee. The other children did the same thing, all of them still looking solemn and sniffling a little. Mulder shared a concerned look with the other parents before quietly addressing his daughter. " Ali, Honey. What's wrong?" She didn't answer. He shared a bewildered look with Daniel just as Lamana stepped into the room, his expression dark although he was obviously trying to hide it. " Would anyone like a drink?" Lamana asked, forcing a polite smile Mulder saw straight through. " I'd love a glass of red wine," Jessica requested with a small smile. She knew something was up but had wisely decided to pretend nothing had happened. Caroline and Lyndsey echoed the request whilst Mulder and Daniel opted for a bottle of beer each. " And the children?" Lamana asked a little sharply, forcing yet another smile. " I think there's some orange juice in the fridge." " That'll be fine," Jessica answered on behalf of the others with another smile. " Thanks." Without saying anything else, Jerry left the room. Mulder gave the others an apologetic look, feeling somehow responsible for Lamana's impolite and uncivil behavior. " I apologize for his behavior. I don't think Jerry and Diana knew what they were getting themselves into," he said as way of explaining their behavior. " Next time, you'll have to come over to our house." Alicia nodded in agreement. " Where's your Mom, Sweetie?" " Other room," Alicia answered with a small pout. " Aunt Diana and Uncle Jerry got mad with us 'cause we colored in a little on the walls. Mommy's takin' care of it." " How much is a little?" Caroline asked Kimi. " Just a little, Mommy," Kimi answered a little meekly. " A little?" Lyndsey turned to Rotem with a raised eyebrow. " Just a bit," Ro murmured, not meeting her mother's eyes. When she did, her eyes were full of tears again. " We were just playin'." " And they didn't have to shout at us," Mary chimed in, her eyes also filling with tears as she held her twins hand. " They were mean, Daddy," Helena agreed. Alicia cuddled closer to her father's chest, sharing the same fear as her friends that their parents would be upset and disappointed with them. Mulder hugged Alicia tighter to him. " My cousin-in-law and his wife probably over-reacted a little," he told the other parents as well as the children. " They aren't exactly the parenting type." " I got that impression," Jessica agreed quietly, with a knowing smile. " I think we should go and help Dana out. It isn't fair on her to have to clean it up herself." " I'll go help Mommy!" Alicia volunteered. " Me, too," Helena, Rotem, Kimi and Mary echoed, much to the surprise of their parents. They all got down from their parents knees and followed Alicia through to the dining room. Mulder, also, excused himself and went to help out. X~X~X~X~X Scully scrubbed a patch of colored pen from the wall with a sigh. It was taking quite a while but it was beginning to shift and for that, she was grateful. She was so engrossed in cleaning the wall that she didn't hear Alicia and the others enter the room until Mulder spoke. " Hey," he greeted her. " Need a hand?" She looked up and smiled at him and the children. " Sure. You wanna go and get some more cloths from the kitchen?" " Consider it done," Mulder nodded and left, returning a few moments later with enough cloths for all the kids as well as another bowl of warm, soapy water. Once everyone was sat down and concentrating on their allocated patches, he settled down next to Scully, ready to help her tackle the biggest work of art. " You know, you should have left this to Diana and Jerry," he whispered. " I wanted to," she whispered back. " But that would only make them come down harder on Alicia and she's scared of them enough as it is." " So they got as mad as 'Licia said?" He looked surprised. " I thought she was exaggerating." " Put it this way, if you ever suggest Diana and Jerry baby-sit Alicia, I'll shoot you and them before I agree to it," Scully retorted warily. She rubbed her forehead and rolled her eyes. " If they ever have children, with each other or with anyone else, God help the children." " Well, I think it's definitely safe to say they won't be having kids anytime soon," Mulder smiled. " And that's a good thing, from the sounds of it." " Very good," Scully agreed, allowing a smile to spread across her face. " How did you get the kids to help out?" " I didn't. They wanted to help." At her doubtful look, he laughed. " Really. I think they wanted to thank you for saving them from the nasty people. Besides, I think they're all as sweet as Alicia and she's as sweet as her mother so...You can't really be surprised." " Were you born with this much charm or do you have to work at it?" She asked with an amused smile. " It's a gift," he grinned. " One I don't show that often. Or at least one I don't show that often when I'm not around you or Ali." Scully rolled her eyes again and concentrated on cleaning the wall. A while later, the walls were as free from scribbled pen marks, pencil drawings and crayon pictures as it was going to be. Mulder and Scully cleared the water, bowls and cloths away whilst the children went back through to the living room. Mulder and Scully soon joined them and the evening drew to a close shortly after the drinks were finished. They all left together, much to the evident relief of Lamana and Fowley, who looked as though they were about to pass out with exhaustion. Mulder carried Alicia and they maintained a friendly conversation with the other parents as they walked the short distance to their own home. " You really will have to come round to our house sometime," Caroline was saying. " Yes, it was quite nice tonight to sit with other parents," Lyndsey agreed. " We should do this more often." " We could take it in turns," Jessica suggested eagerly. She looked at Scully for confirmation. " Fine by us," Scully smiled back at her. " As long as Jerry and Diana aren't included, I think it'll be fun. I don't really think they enjoyed themselves tonight." " I don't think they'd come even if they were asked," Jessica rolled her eyes. " I think it's a parent thing, you have to know what to expect." " I agree," Mulder smiled charmingly. " We'll have to sort something out." " Yeah, maybe we could go for a drink sometime, William, while the ladies indulge in a little girl talk," Daniel nodded. " Fine by me," Mulder agreed. " We'll no doubt see you tomorrow. Good night." Good-byes were said and Mulder and Scully went home. They tucked Alicia up in bed and she fell asleep almost immediately. Then they went to bed themselves, exhausted but satisfied that they're first impressions of their neighbors had been right. They were all nice people, with the exception of Fowley and Lamana. And they were certain that their 'partners' would have something to say to them in the morning. Mulder fell asleep moments before Scully, his arms around her tightly as they fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Thirteen. Past Pretending - Part Fourteen. Alicia crept quietly into her parents bedroom as the clock changed from 03:59 to 04:00. She was planning on creeping in their bed without them noticing but, as always, her mother opened one eye and caught her. She smiled shyly, her smile spreading when her Mom lifted the quilts back and let her climb in. Yawning softly, Alicia snuggled close to her mother under the quilt. Her father's arms automatically moved to engulf her in his embrace and she fell asleep smiling, hoping that they would continue to be a family even after going home. X~X~X~X~X The alarm on the bedside table woke Scully up. She slowly opened her eyes and found Alicia lying where Mulder should have been and no sign of him. She forced herself to sit up and looked around the bedroom. There was no sign of him and when she listened, she couldn't hear anything that would indicate he was still in the house. Sighing to herself, Scully got up from the bed and pulled on her dressing gown. She checked on Alicia and kissed her daughter's forehead before leaving the room, carefully and quietly as not to disturb Alicia's sleep. Scully checked all the rooms of the house and there was still no sign of her acting-husband. She noticed his leather jacket was gone which meant he had probably gone out. When she got to the kitchen, there was a tray with a rose, two empty cups and a teapot on it. There was also a note. Her blue eyes quickly scanned Mulder's familiar scrawl as she absorbed the information. He was sorry he hadn't woken her but hadn't wanted to risk waking Alicia and would be back hopefully before breakfast. He had gone 'investigating', whatever that meant. He said he'd explain over breakfast, when he got back. Shaking her head slightly, Scully went back upstairs to get showered and dressed and to wake Alicia. Since Mulder hadn't specified a time he would be back and they usually had breakfast at nine, she only had an hour to get herself and Alicia ready and make breakfast. X~X~X~X~X Mulder stood outside the Research Institute, staring up at the gray stone building. The break-in had been on the ground floor and he had Scully's security pass, which meant he could probably get to the actual scene of the crime. The problem was how he could get there without seeming too inconspicuous. He walked round the building a couple of times, trying to get a feel for the place before deciding to try his luck and go for it. If he were stopped by anyone, he would show his ID and tell them it was 'official' business. Using his photographic memory to aid him, he followed the directions briefing given in the report and by Scully to get to the scene of the break-in. Luckily, no one stopped him. He received a few suspicious glances but that was all. The corridor by the lab was almost deserted. There was yellow police tape over the door, something that he quickly discarded of. He swiped Scully's card through the lock mechanism and watched the red light flash off and the green light flash on. Then he put his hand on the door handle and pushed down. The door opened with a soft click and he slipped discreetly inside. X~X~X~X~X The lab that had been broken into had the windows boarded up. Mulder decided to use his torch instead of trying the light switch, just in case it gained him some unwanted attention. The thin beam of light from his small torch sliced through the darkness as he shone it around the lab. It looked as though it were more than just another of the institutes labs to him, it looked as though it had been somebody's office as well. A filing cabinet caught the light and his attention. Mulder quickly crossed the room and tried one of the drawers. It opened easily, surprising him. There were a dozen or so magnolia files in the drawer. He quickly glanced at the tops of them, seeing a list of chemicals he didn't recognize. Each file was on a different chemical, it listed the properties and structures and possible uses for each one. Sighing, he shut the drawer carefully and resumed his investigation. A few minutes later, he came across a door that separated the main lab from the main office. He shone his light on the nameplate on the door and made a mental note of it: Dr. Jordan Leslie. The name seemed familiar but he couldn't place it. He would have to ask Scully when he got home. Thinking of Scully and Alicia, he checked his watch and saw that it was 7:45. That gave him another three-quarters of an hour to finish his investigation and half an hour to get home in time for breakfast. Continuing on, he stepped into the office and quietly moved over to the desk. He sat at the chair and opened all the drawers and emptied their contents onto the desk. From the state of the office and lab, he presumed that no one had been in since the break-in investigation had been crossed off as vandal-related and so he thought it was fairly safe to presume that no one would be checking up on the lab for quite sometime. Before that time came, he planned to be back in Washington D.C with Scully and Alicia. The minutes passed and he found a few items of interest. One was a folder that held details of a substance with properties similar to what Scully had told him about the one they were dealing with. The folder had no name on it and all the notes were handwritten instead of typed, something that stood out when compared to all the other folders, with typed insides. Another was a journal, apparently a private journal of Dr. Leslie's, although there were enough references to his work that made Mulder think it could be relevant to the case and therefore of some interest to Scully. He decided to take it with him, as he couldn't make head nor tail of all the scientific jargon written in the same handwriting as the notes in the unmarked folder. Mulder went through the files, scanning and discarding of them quickly. He didn't find anything else that was of any particular interest and when he checked his watch again, it had already hit half-past eight. He put everything except the journal and unmarked folder back into the drawers, not paying much attention as to whether he was putting them back in the right drawer. He just wanted to get out of there fast, before he was spotted. He slid the folder inside his leather jacket and put the journal in his pocket before making his careful exit. He slipped easily out into the corridor without being stopped and smiled at a few people he passed, walking as quickly as he could to the entrance of the building. The car was right were he left it and he allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief once he was safely behind the steering wheel. He put the journal and the folder on the passenger seat and drove away, unaware that he was being watched. X~X~X~X~X Across the road from the Institute, in a small apartment, a man watched the car that he knew belonged to Special Agent Scully – or Mrs. Mulder, depending on whether you believed their undercover story – pull away from the curb. He had watched the man carefully, had seen him circle the building before entering it cautiously. He had watched and waited until Special Agent Fox Mulder had left the Institute and he had observed through the binoculars that hung on a string around his neck as Mulder had taken the folder and journal from his jacket. There was something about this undercover couple that set him on edge. They were more than just another couple of FBI Agents. They were getting close, to the case and to each other. And he was planning on using one of them to his advantage. X~X~X~X~X The aroma of coffee, tea and bacon greeted Mulder as he entered the house. He set the folder and the journal down on the living room coffee table and made his way through to the kitchen. Alicia sat at the small kitchen table instead of the dining room table, sipping a glass of orange juice and watching her Mom fix breakfast. He stood in the doorway for a few moments, taking in the scene with a smile. His silent study stopped when Scully turned, as though sensing his presence, a warm smile on her face that made his heart begin to race a little. " Hi," Scully turned her attention back to the cooker. " Did you find what you were looking for?" " Maybe." Mulder answered, moving over to her. He paused on his way, to give Alicia a kiss but soon reached her and embraced her from behind. " A full breakfast? What did I do to deserve this?" " You did nothing," Scully smiled again. " Alicia asked for bacon, eggs and toast and that's what she's having. You're more than welcome to share it with her, if she lets you." " Can I, 'Licia?" He asked his daughter with a grin. Alicia giggled and nodded, making a strand of hair fall from her plait onto her forehead. Mulder leaned in to tenderly brush it aside, earning a smile from both mother and daughter. " Sit down, then." Scully ordered. " Pour yourself a coffee and me a cup of tea, please." " Ys, Sir," he mock saluted and sat down opposite his daughter. Alicia giggled again and took another sip of her juice. A little later, Scully served him and Alicia with bacon, eggs and toast and herself with toast and strawberry jam. She sat down, ignoring his arched eyebrow, and began to eat her breakfast. X~X~X~X~X Once Alicia was settled in the living room with her dolls, books and some other toys, Mulder and Scully moved through to the dining room so they could talk about work and keep an eye on her at the same time. " So where were you this morning?" Scully asked as she sat at the table. He handed her the folder and journal silently, hovering behind her. He leaned in so his mouth was close to her ear and then answered her question. " I went to do some investigating of my own at the Institute," he murmured, his voice so low and so close to her ear she involuntarily shivered. " Do you recognise the name Dr. Jordan Leslie?" " Yeah." She opened the folder and then looked up at him, her features forming a questioning glance. "He's the botanist and chemical analyst at the Institute. According to Dr. Gellar, he's on vacation at the moment. I wanted you to get those friends of yours I'm trying to pretend I don't know about to dig up some information on him. Why?" " These came from his office, which is coincidentally sealed off with the lab that was broken into. His lab," he informed her. " And this," he leaned over and patted the folder. " This has details of a chemical with the same properties as the one we're dealing with." " So the break-in at the institute is connected with our case," Scully arched an eyebrow. " That doesn't explain why we were lied to. Or why Dr. Gellar lied to me. She seemed friendly enough when we first met." " It was just when you started making headway with this case that she turned suspicious," Mulder reminded her. " You don't think she's involved in this, do you?" She frowned a little. " I don't know, something about that doesn't sit right with me. Pam seemed nice enough. I don't think she's got it in her to murder anyone." " Then maybe she's covering for someone," he suggested. " Maybe a colleague of hers who she's scared of." " Dr. Leslie." Scully looked down at the folder in front of her and sighed. " Why don't I go through this and you contact your friends? If you'd rather use e-mail than the phone, I've got my laptop with me." " Thanks," he kissed her forehead softly. " We'd better get started…" Someone knocking at the door cut him off. Alicia, predictably, raced towards it and peered through the window. When she saw who it was, she got excited. She hopped from foot to foot as her parents reached her and Scully opened the door. Standing on the doorstep, looking a little shy, were Alicia's friends from the playground, the same children who accompanied her to the Lamana and Fowley residence the previous night. Scully smiled at them as Alicia pushed her way between her parents to stand at the front. " Hi," Mary smiled shyly. " We were wondering if Alicia was allowed to come with us to the park," Helena finished for her twin. Alicia looked up at her parents hopefully. Mulder and Scully exchanged looks, wondering if an adult would be supervising them until another voice spoke up. " We'll be there to keep an eye on them," Caroline appeared on the scene, followed by Lyndsey. The children had obviously been a little anxious to reach the Mulder household, leaving their chaperones lagging behind. " We thought we'd give Jessica a break from looking after them and the kids wanted Alicia to come, too," Lyndsey explained. " I don't have any problem with it," Scully answered with a smile. " If you're sure you don't mind keeping an eye on them all." " No problem," Caroline shrugged. " Consider it our way of saying thanks for taking charge last night." " Fine by me," Mulder agreed. " Alicia, go get your coat," Scully told her excited daughter. Alicia dashed off to do as she was told and reappeared a few moments later with her jacket on. She kissed both of her parent's goodbye before leaving with her friends, making a mad dash to the playground and leaving Caroline and Lyndsey following them at a leisurely pace. Scully shut the door with a smile and went back through to the living room. Mulder followed and took advantage of being alone in the house with her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a lingering kiss when she turned to face him. " We have work to do," she murmured when the kiss ended, resting her forehead against his. " It can wait for an hour or so," he protested, stealing another quick kiss from her lips. " Besides, I can call the Gunmen and get them working on it and it'll be a couple of hours at least before they can get back to me." " Mulder…" Scully rolled her eyes at him. " I've got some reading to do." " You can do it later," Mulder told her. " How often are we going to get some time to ourselves?" " That's besides the point," she argued. " We're here to work. The sooner we're finished, the sooner we go home and the sooner we get to spend some time together." " It's only ten o'clock," he responded. " There's plenty of time to work…" He leaned in and kissed her again, long and tenderly. " Please…" " You're incorrigible," she rolled her eyes and broke away. When she turned to face him, he had his puppy-dog expression on again. " Fine!" She threw her hands up in mock surrender. " But you have to call your friends first." " I'll get right on it," he grinned triumphantly and went to the phone in the hall, leaving Scully shaking her head after him. X~X~X~X~X Later on in the day, Mulder and Scully were sitting in the living room. Scully was reading the journal, having already absorbed most of the information in the folder and Mulder was playing games on her laptop computer, waiting for a reply from his friends back in Washington, a group of three misfits called the Lone Gunmen. The shrill ringing of the phone startled them both as they expected the Gunmen to e-mail them with their findings. After exchanging a look with Scully, Mulder reached for the cordless phone on the coffee table. " Hello?" He answered it, still keeping one eye on the game he was in the middle of playing. " Agent Mulder," the voice of Assistant Director Skinner greeted him, making him forget about the game. " Sir," Mulder responded, looking at Scully. " Is there something wrong?" " No, Agent Mulder," Skinner replied. " I was just ringing to see how the investigation is going and to find out if you have any idea when you will be ready to leave Florida." " It's going fine," Mulder answered, feeling a little relieved but hoping he didn't sound it. " I believe it should be wrapped up within a few more days." " How is working with Agent Scully and the others turning out?" Skinner questioned, a note of curiosity tingeing his voice. " Working with Agent Scully is fine," Mulder started. " Agent Fowley and Agent Lamana are being a little uncooperative but we're working through it. I think they were just trying to adjust to the living arrangements." " And how are they turning out?" Skinner pressed. " Is Alicia handing everything okay?" " Alicia's fine," Mulder smiled. " She's adjusting well. I think we're all getting used to it." " Good." There was a pause. "Well, keep me informed of any changes, Agent Mulder." " I will, Sir," Mulder nodded. " 'Bye, Sir." " Goodbye," Skinner hung up. Mulder shut the phone off and looked to Scully with a casual shrug. " He just wanted to know how it was going," he answered her questioning look." Nothing to worry about." " Okay," Scully went back to reading the journal. Mulder was about to say something else when the laptop beeped, letting him know that there was some e-mail waiting for him. He sensed Scully close the journal and move closer as he opened the e-mail program and waited for an e-mail from the Gunmen to appear in his inbox. After a delay of a few seconds, an e-mail appeared. The two shared a look and braced themselves for whatever his friends had discovered. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Fourteen. Past Pretending – Part Fifteen. They waited with baited breath for the attached information to fill the small screen. It seemed to take forever but it eventually appeared. They sat in silence, scanning the information. They both looked up at the same time, their eyes wide. The information the Lone Gunmen had found said a lot about Dr. Leslie and the house they were living in. They had been unable to find anything that could point suspicion in the direction of Dr. Gellar but had found some incriminating evidence concerning the missing Dr. Leslie. And he was missing. According to what the Gunmen had found, Dr. Leslie had been forced to leave his job at the Institute and hadn't been heard of since. " Dr. Leslie use to live here," Scully spoke slowly, the information taking a while to sink in. " With his wife until she left him," Mulder finished. " And he went on a trip around Asia and Southern America afterwards…He could have picked up the plant extract on his travels." " And synthesised the substance when he got home at the institute?" Scully arched an eyebrow. " It does say he was fired for some 'unauthorised experiments,'" Mulder read aloud. " Looks like we found our killer." " Why?" Scully asked, looking a little doubtful. " I agree he's our suspect but what motive has he got for possibly wanting to kill three couples in cold blood?" Mulder was silent for a few minutes, as he pondered the question and re-read a section of the information. " His wife left him," he said as though that was answer enough. " And that's reason to murder?" She shook her head. " Hundreds of couples split up, not everyone goes out murdering other happy couples because of it." " If he loved her and she walked out on him, then he would be understandably upset and angry. If he lived round here, he would see a lot of happy couples which would be like salt in the wound," Mulder explained. " If he loved her enough, it could explain why. He's probably emotionally unstable as well as mentally unstable." " I still don't know," she sighed, leaning back against the couch. " Trust me on this. If he loved his wife as much as I love you, I'm right," he answered quietly. Scully smiled softly and looked at him but he ducked his head in embarrassment, avoiding her gaze. She took the laptop from his knee and put it on the coffee table. She moved closer and rested her head on his shoulder. " That's sweet, Mulder. Unbelievably corny but sweet." " It's true," he kissed the crown of her head. " Corny but true." They sat together, enjoying the peace and quiet and each other's company. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, shifting their positions until they were lying on the couch together. " Where do we go from here?" Scully asked, reluctantly breaking the silence. " We take a few moments to be together," he answered. " Then I go and have a word with Dr. Gellar while you stay here waiting for Alicia." " Why do you get to go?" She asked softly, feeling a yawn creep up on her. " Because she knows you," Mulder answered. " And just in case someone at the Institute is getting nervous." " Okay," she sighed. " I guess I'll have to go along with it, you are the boss, after all." " You got that right," he grinned cheekily. He leaned in and kissed her softly. " Take care of yourself." Scully answered him with a playful shove. He caught her hand and pulled her closer for a long, passionate kiss. She smiled sweetly and wound her arms around his neck pulling him closer for another kiss. X~X~X~X~X Half an hour later, Mulder had left for his second trip to the Institute. Scully was still at the house, curled up on the couch with a book in her hands. She had been planning to start making dinner but Mulder had insisted on her waiting until he came home to help. So she had nothing else to do but read. She didn't mind, though. It was a rare occasion when she had the time to herself to curl up with a good book. Work and looking after Alicia – and more recently, spending quality time with Mulder - usually kept her pretty busy. That was why she was allowing herself the chance to relax and spend some quality time with herself, especially since she had no idea of how long she would have before Mulder or Alicia returned. However, having read and re-read the first paragraph of her book, Scully decided to give up trying and just relax and think. She closed her eyes and thought of Alicia and Mulder, her parents, Mulder's parents and the future waiting for them all. Hopefully, it would be a future together. She smiled and pictured the expressions on her parents' faces when she introduced Mulder to them. Her mother would be thrilled. She had always wanted to see him for herself, in person instead of in a photograph. Her father would be happy for them. He'd most likely ask Mulder a dozen or more questions about him and his family and then he'd find out if Mulder's intentions were honourable. Scully wasn't worried, though. Her parents were sure to love him. As was her sister and her younger brother. The only one who would have trouble with it would be her big brother, and even he would warm to Mulder eventually. She wondered about Mulder's family and what their reactions would be towards her and Alicia. She had already spoke to a friend in D.C and had organised for a paternity test to be done when they got home. She knew Mulder was Alicia's father, there was no reason for there to be any doubt in her mind or in her heart. Mulder was the only possible person Alicia's father could be. But she knew some people might react to their news with scepticism, like Fowley and Lamana had. She wanted to be absolutely certain that there would be no doubt in his family's minds. Still, even after the test, she knew there could be problems. She wanted Alicia to be accepted, she wanted Alicia to be as close to Mulder's parents, if possible, as she was to her Grandparents on Scully's side. Scully shook her head and closed her eyes again. She was about to let her mind wander off on another random trail but the knock at the door told her Alicia was home. With a smile, she went to greet her daughter. Alicia bounded into her arms and waved goodbye to her friends, who were standing at the bottom of the path with Caroline and Lyndsey, all of them looking a little worn out. Scully smiled a quick smile of thanks before carrying Alicia inside. " Did you have fun, Sweetheart?" She asked. " Yeah!" Alicia grinned, despite her tiredness. " We played on the climbing frame and on the slide and the swings!" She was quiet for a few moments and a serious expression came across her pretty little face. " Mommy?" " Yes, Ali?" Scully murmured, helping her daughter out of her coat. " When we go home, can my friends come and visit me?" Alicia questioned. Scully stifled a sigh and knelt in front of her daughter. She stared into the big, hazel eyes that stared back and a smile spread across her face. " I don't see why not, Honey," Scully answered. " Your friends can come visit you and you can talk to them on the phone. And I'm sure we can come back here for a holiday sometime so you'd get to see them then." " Good," Alicia beamed. " They're really nice." " I'm glad you made friends, Ali." Scully pulled her daughter to her for a hug. " Me, too," Alicia agreed, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. Scully picked her up and carried her over to the couch. The two settled down close after Alicia had briefly moved away to turn the television on and stayed like that for a while. X~X~X~X~X At the Institute, Mulder had eventually managed to find his way to Dr. Gellar's office. For some reason, he had taken a wrong turn down a corridor and had ended up at a dead end. He grinned, thinking to himself that Scully must have a good sense of direction and started again. Now he was outside the office, raising his hand to knock on the door. He did and the door opened, having not been shut properly. Cautiously, he entered, one hand automatically going for his gun, to make it sure it was still there. To his surprise, he heard someone crying. " Hello?" He called out. He walked slowly about the office, his eyes searching for the person the cry belonged to. He walked round the desk and found Pamela Gellar curled up in a ball, tears streaming down her cheeks. " Dr. Gellar? Pamela Gellar?" He called out softly. She jumped, despite the gentleness of his tone. " Who are you?" Dr. Gellar asked, wiping the tears from her cheeks. She stood and stared at him suspiciously. " I'm Agent Mulder, I'm working with Dana…Agent Scully," he answered, chiding himself inwardly for his slip-up. " I'm here to ask you a few questions on Dr. Leslie." " Why?" Dr. Gellar asked sharply. Her tone of voice did nothing to hide her fear, though. " I don't know anything." " I'm sorry, but I don't believe that," Mulder told her softly. He sat on the edge of her desk facing her. " I know he's responsible for the deaths of those three couples. I know he killed them because they were living happily in the house that used to belong to him and his wife. What I don't know is why you're covering for him." Dr. Gellar remained silent. " We could talk here or I can talk you down to the police station. Your call." " Jordan…He isn't to blame for what he's done," Dr. Gellar began shakily, reluctantly. More tears spilled down her cheeks and she wiped them away angrily. " I…I am." The last thing she said was barely a whisper. " How?" Mulder asked quietly, leaning slightly forward. " We were married. I'm his wife. Well, ex-wife," she admitted. " I'm the reason he's like this." " What's he like, Pamela?" He knelt down beside her chair, trying not to be too intimidating. " He…He's gone crazy," Pamela sobbed. " When he came back, from his trip, he was changed. He had met some guy over there, someone interested in voodoo or something else, I can't remember. He…He started…experimenting…in the lab. When our superiors found out he was creating something new, something deadly, he was fired. That was the final straw. He…He's dangerous. He broke into the lab and took some research. I hadn't seen him again…Not until today." Tears streamed down her cheeks and she buried her head in her hands. " He told me that if I didn't stop you, he would. He said you and Agent Scully were getting too close to the truth and that he would take care of you." She looked up, her eyes pleading. " You have to stop him. If you don't, he'll kill again. And the next couple on his hit list is you and Dana. Please… I…He's not himself, you have to stop him." " Where is he now?" Mulder demanded, suddenly scared for Scully and Alicia. " I don't know," Dr. Gellar wept. " I don't know…" Mulder turned away and whipped out his cell phone. He quickly punched in the number of the house, of his home with Scully and Alicia. He let the phone ring for a full three minutes before he hung up. " I have to go," he told Dr. Gellar. " Go to the police station or to security and wait until you hear from me." Wordlessly, she nodded and he all but ran from the room. Mulder was beyond the capability of rational thought. All he could think about was getting to Scully and Alicia before Dr. Leslie did. He wanted to get home and have Alicia and Scully laugh at him for being too worried and over- protective. He wanted them to be okay. He needed them to be. He hadn't just found them to lose them again. He had already lost Scully once and he couldn't do it again. He got in his car and drove as fast as he could. Sometimes obeying the speed limit, sometimes ignoring it completely. He didn't really care, he couldn't really care. All his energy and thoughts were concentrated on getting home before it was too late. X~X~X~X~X The television was still on and the light radiating of it lit the dim room. Scully and Alicia lay on the couch, sleeping lightly in each other's arms. The door was unlocked. Jordan Leslie was surprised when he tried the door handle as it opened easily. To him, it was ironic. All the other couples he had killed in this house had locked the doors and made it difficult. The FBI Agents were making it easy for him. The door was unlocked and when he crept in, Agent Scully and her little daughter were sound asleep on the couch. Dr. Leslie grinned, his green eyes glowing in the eerie illumination of the television. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial full of greeny-yellow fluid. His formula, the one he had created after months of work. The one he had been told how to make in Asia, with the help of a man known to him as only 'My Lord'. His eyes sparkled with insanity as he leered at the sleeping Scully. He moved away to the other end of the room, beginning to twist the cap of the vial. One more, he had promised. One more and then he'd leave town. Maybe leave the country, go back to Asia. Maybe. He couldn't leave yet, though. The blasted FBI had got too close. If he left loose ends untied, he would regret it. They would find him. They would arrest or kill him. He couldn't afford for that to happen. Dr. Leslie was about to take the top off the vial when Scully stirred and woke, as did Alicia. Alicia saw him first and screamed. Scully sat up, a look of pure alarm on her face. She saw him and recognised him instantly as Dr. Leslie, having seen his photograph amongst the information the Lone Gunmen had sent Mulder. " Alicia, go upstairs," she ordered her daughter, surprised when her voice came out calm and strong, instead of shaking as she'd expected. Alicia reluctantly and slowly did as she was told as her mother locked eyes with the murdered. " Agent Scully," Dr. Leslie grinned sarcastically. " What a pleasure it is to meet you face to face." " I'm sure," she retorted curtly. " Now what the Hell do you want?" " Don't insult your own intelligence," he rolled his eyes. " I wanted you and your husband dead…Or should I say partner? After all, that's all he is, isn't it?" She didn't rise to the bait. She stood up slowly, her eyes never leaving his. " Get out." Dr. Leslie laughed. " As though I would leave like that. It's too dangerous." He took a step closer. " If I let you and your little one go, you can identify me as the killer. I'm not that stupid." " You've already been identified as the killer," Scully swallowed the lump in her throat. " Nothing you can do or say now will change that." " No…" He shrugged carelessly. " But I plan on trying, anyway." The phone started ringing. Scully made a move in the direction of it but was stopped by the sound of the safety guard on a gun being removed. She turned to face Dr. Leslie again and saw a gun pointing at her head. " Answer the phone and I'll blow your pretty little head off." His voice oozed venom so she turned her back to the phone and faced him squarely. " I didn't think that was your style," she responded, her voice still amazing her as it remained calm and didn't betray her true feelings. " Wouldn't that be too messy?" " No," he shrugged again. " When I'm through with you, they won't be able to tell what happened." Something about the way he said it and the fact that he said it with a leer made her skin crawl. Scully turned her face away in disgust, desperately trying to come up with a way of getting Alicia out of there and perhaps getting some help. Alicia was her first priority, though. " Let Alicia go, please," Scully bit her lip. " She didn't get a very good look at you. She won't recognise you from your picture, I promise." " I can't do that," he apologised insincerely. " It's too big a risk." " Then what are you going to do?" She challenged, knowing that if he wasn't going to let Alicia leave, she'd have to stall for time until Mulder got home. No matter what it took, she would do it. She had to, for her daughter's sake. " I haven't decided," Dr. Leslie answered slowly. " But I usually give my victims a chance to ask me questions." He shrugged and lowered the gun to his side, Scully's eyes watching as he moved. " It gives me time to decide and them time to hope. That's the best thing about it, when they think they're going to get away." He grinned, a sick and twisted grin. " So, any questions? At least I know you won't ask me some of the ones they did, you know too much. That's why you're gonna be next. So… Anything?" " Not really." Scully sat down when he motioned for her to. " I already know who you are, why you're doing this…The only thing I'm having trouble with is how." She shrugged one shoulder casually, dismissing his raised eyebrow. " Not literally, I think I that understand about the substance you created using chemicals from the lab and plant extract…" Her voice trailed off and she met his gaze evenly. " I mean how, as a human being, can you do this? How can you inflict harm on innocent people just because they're happy and you're not?" Dr. Leslie looked at her blankly, his eyes slightly glazed over, as though he were unaware she was even addressing him. " Okay, I have another question," she spoke up, her voice slightly louder. His eyes cleared and he smiled sadistically. " A couple, actually." " Ask away," he grinned. " I'm sure they will be off interest." " Do you kill them before you use that…that substance on them? Or do you let them suffer? I imagine it will be pretty painful, a bit like hot acid." She shrugged casually. Then her eyes narrowed and her tongue sharpened. " Do you watch them die? Do you enjoy it?" " You have me painted as being a monster," Dr. Leslie chuckled heartily. " You are a monster," she spat at him. " How else would you explain your actions?" " My dear," Dr. Leslie sat down on the chair opposite her, his fingers drumming idly on the cold metal of the gun. " I am not a monster. Merely a man with a broken heart and spirit." " You don't have a heart to be broken," she retorted. " I doubt you ever had one." " You think I am unfeeling," he concluded. " Maybe I am, now. But I wasn't always, she did this to me." " Your ex-wife." " Pamela, yes," he nodded. " She did this. She changed me. I'm just reacting to her betrayal." " Your ex-wife," Scully began, masking her surprise that Dr. Gellar was either his ex-wife or had the same name as her. She couldn't help wondering why the piece of information had not been included in the Lone Gunmen's report. " May have betrayed you, I don't know. But you're the one in control of your life. You're the one with the gun and the knowledge to make such a deadly compound." There was a long pause of deadly silence. Dr. Leslie looked away. When he turned back, his eyes were hard and his expression tight. Still, he smiled crookedly. " I'm tiring of this conversation. I think I'd have more fun if I asked you the questions…" X~X~X~X~X Alicia sat on her parent's bed, her head buried in her hands as she sobbed helplessly. She wanted her Mommy and she wanted her Daddy. She wanted the nasty man downstairs to leave. She would have preferred the company of Agent Fowley or Agent Lamana to that of the man downstairs with her Mom and that was saying something. She cried harder, her small body heaving and shuddering with the effort. " Mommy…" She wept, turning on her side and curling up into a ball. She buried her head into the pillow and inhaled her mother's scent. That only made her cry more as she squirmed under the quilt, wanting the whole thing to be a nightmare and have her mother there to comfort her when she woke up. X~X~X~X~X Mulder was met by two police cars at the entrance of the estate. He drove on towards the house and they followed, sirens silenced and lights off at his request. He parked where he usually did and got out of the car, quietly shutting the door behind him. He strode over to the first police car that parked and waited impatiently for the officers to get out. " What's the situation?" One of the officers asked, obviously recognising him as being one of the FBI Agents sent to help with the case. " Our killer's inside, with my partner and our child," Mulder answered quickly, ignoring the expressions of surprise that appeared on the officer's faces. " His name is Jordan Leslie, he's a scientist at the Research Institute. He was recently made unemployed and has since been a very disturbed man." Mulder paused and looked at the house, noticing the light in his bedroom he shared with Scully was on as well as the living room light and the hall light. " I think it would be best if I went in alone at first. If I can catch him off guard, I'll call for back up." He looked back up at the bedroom window and saw the curtains move. Narrowing his eyes, he saw the silhouette of Alicia. " Has anyone got any binoculars?" There was a quiet murmur as the officers looked at each other. Then a pair was handed to Mulder from his left. He took them and brought them up to his eyes without moving his gaze from the window. Sure enough, Alicia was standing at the bedroom window and from what he could tell, she was extremely frightened. " Okay, this is what we're going to do," he sighed. " I'm going in alone. I'll find out where Leslie is and let you know." " How?" One of the police officers asked. " You got a radio?" Mulder responded quickly, taking his eyes off his daughter for a moment, feeling the anger in him rise and course through his blood. If anything had happened to Scully or Alicia…If that man had done anything to either of them, Mulder would make him pay. X~X~X~X~X In less than two minutes, Mulder was equipped with a bulletproof vest, a radio and his weapon. He had tried to tell them that a bulletproof vest would not be able to protect him from the toxic substance Leslie had created but no one listened. They all decided they didn't want to know and said it was procedure for him to be protected. Finally, he was set. He started walking towards the house, a cold chill sweeping over him when he saw that the front door was still slightly ajar. His fists clenched at his sides and he took a moment to compose himself before going in. He heard voices as soon as he had stepped over the threshold. He paused, his heart drumming in his chest. He heard whom he assumed to be Dr. Leslie, asking a personal question to Scully. " Your relationship with Agent Mulder, it's much more intimate than most partnerships, isn't it?" Dr. Leslie inquired. For a few longs seconds, there was no answer and Mulder was filled with a sense of dread. What if she couldn't answer? What if she was already dead? Then, finally, she answered coolly. " My relationship with Agent Mulder is none of your concern," she responded. Mulder allowed himself to let out the breath he was holding slowly and began his ascent up the stairs. Once he had made it onto the upstairs landing, he went straight towards his bedroom and opened the door. Unsurprisingly, Alicia was there, ready to greet him with open arms. He knelt down and hugged her fiercely as she threw herself into his arms and sobbed silently into his shoulder. He closed his eyes, thankful she was okay and kissed her hair, holding her tightly to him. The two eventually parted. Alicia stood looking at him, her eyes big and tearful. She was the first one to talk as he was too overcome with emotion, having felt a strong surge of relief and love he had never felt before. " The bad man's got Mommy," she told him solemnly, a tear trickling down her round cheek. " He's not nice." " No, Sweetie, he isn't," Mulder agreed. He held both of her hands in his own. " But I won't let him hurt your Mom, I promise. Will you come downstairs with me? You'll have to be quiet, it's important he doesn't know I'm here." " What you gonna do?" She asked uncertainly. " I don't know," he replied with a sigh. " I want to make sure you're safe first. You can go outside, with some nice people until Mommy and me can be with you, okay?" " I s'pose so," Alicia nodded, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout. He smiled encouragingly at her and unhooked his radio from his belt. " This is Mulder," he spoke into it. " I've got Alicia." " We read you," a voice responded after a few seconds of static. " I'm bringing her down. Have someone meet me at the front door to take her. And be quiet." " Yes, Sir." Mulder picked Alicia up and carried her quietly downstairs. She kept her promise and was silent, going willingly with the officer than met them at the door. Over the man's shoulder, Mulder caught sight of Fowley and Lamana and grimaced. Where had they been earlier? Shaking his head, he slowly made his way to the living room door and pried it open. He saw Scully and felt relief wash over him when she seemed to have escaped any injury. She was sitting on the couch. Dr. Leslie was standing – with gun in hand – in between the chair and Scully. Sighing, Mulder took a deep breath and stepped into the room, making his presence known. Dr. Leslie looked surprised – and angry with himself for being caught unaware. He, however, was not Mulder's first concern. " Sorry, I'm late," he apologised mock-sincerely, his eyes locking with Scully's. " Traffic was terrible." When she gave a discreet nod in answer to his silent question, he turned his attention to Dr. Leslie. " I don't believe we've been introduced." He brought his gun up and pointed it at the older man. " Then again, I don't think introductions are necessary." " Put the gun down or I kill her," Dr. Leslie growled viciously, raising his gun and pointing it at Scully, who had since stood. His finger moved to cover the trigger. " I'm not joking." " Who is?" Mulder took a step closer, and another one, until he was standing in front of Scully. He shifted so he was in between her and Dr. Leslie. " Now, there are two cars full of armed police officers outside. Your chances of getting out of here are slim to none. Your chances of getting out of here alive depend on whether you're going to put the gun down and hand me the vial." For the first time since he had got there, Dr. Leslie actually looked uncertain and a little scared. Scully pitied him but not enough to forget how disgusted she had been with him earlier on in the evening. " I don't believe you," Dr. Leslie scoffed scornfully, still looking a little uncertain. " If there were police officers out there, you wouldn't have come in here alone." Mulder fired a single shot just inches from Dr. Leslie's head. Both Scully and Dr. Leslie jumped, startled. " Now. Put the gun down and give me the vial," Mulder ordered in a no-nonsense tone. Shaking, Dr. Leslie slowly bent down and put the gun on the floor. He straightened and looked at the vial in his hand. He raised his eyes to meet Scully's. " You said you thought it would feel like acid. Let's find out, shall we?" Before Mulder and Scully had a chance to react, he pulled the top off the vial and threw the top in their direction. He held the vial in a shaking hand above his own head. Scully felt her heart pounding in her chest, horrified at what he was about to do. X~X~X~X~X The next few minutes lasted an eternity for Scully. One moment she was watching a man about to take his own life, the next she was watching that same man be tackled to the floor by the man she loved. She couldn't remember if she had called out to him but if she did, it didn't stop him. She watched the two men crash to the floor, watched with an aching heart as the vial fell from Dr. Leslie's hand, onto the patch of carpet by their heads. The substance began running out of the vial and onto the carpet and she felt tears of fear sting her eyes. Mulder saw the substance and jerked away from it, pulling Dr. Leslie with him. They sat to the side as Scully watched with her hand over her heart. The substance seemed to burn through the carpets, eating the fibres as it smoked a little. She felt sick to her stomach, remembering that that was how the three couples had been killed and imagining the pain they must have gone through. Time seemed to stand still. She closed her eyes and sunk down into the couch, knowing that it could have been Alicia that substance was burning. Or Mulder, if his time had been a second off. The thought of losing either of them made her head swim as she closed her eyes tightly and let the world go on around her. X~X~X~X~X She didn't open her eyes or speak or even cry until Alicia came up to her. She was still on the couch, where she had been for the last twenty minutes. Still silent, still in shock. Dr. Jordan Leslie had been arrested and taken away. The floor where the substance had spilt had been cleaned trice over, had had the carpet removed and was sectioned off. Mulder held Alicia as she sat still, wanting to give her time to come to terms with what she had seen, knowing she was in shock and not blaming her for one second. He could have lost her and Alicia. Then, innocently, Alicia had pulled herself up onto the couch beside her and looked at her with her tear-filled eyes before speaking the word that was Scully's undoing. " Mommy?" It was what she said. It was the worry and love that she said it with. Scully pulled her daughter to her, hugging her close and crying silent tears of relief into her hair. She gently rocked Alicia in her arms, the motion soothing them both. Mulder joined them and cradled both mother and child against him and that was where they stayed, thanking fate and whatever else that had spared them the pain of losing each other. After hours of comforting silence, the three fell asleep together. Alicia was the first to go, then Scully, after a few encouraging looks and kisses from Mulder. He waited until he was sure the women he loved were asleep before he gave into the urge himself. Before he gave into the desire to join them in the safe dream world where they all sought the much needed comfort and support. The support and comfort that would get them through the night, until morning came and until they were free to return home. Home to a house where only happy memories would be created and where there would be no constant memories of how close they had come to loosing each other. X~X~X~X~X End of Part Fifteen.