I do not own these characters. If I did- My Struggle III and My Struggle IV... especially IV would not have... Okay... This is more of an ending that Scully and Gillian (as well as Mulder) deserved.
The car ride back to the secluded house was eerily quiet. Skinner was taken to the hospital. Due to his quick, well-trained dive his life was not in serious danger. Monica. Mulder sighed as he thought of the woman that delivered William. He would give more thought to her later. Right now, his red haired passenger was his main concern. She had said nothing since leaving the pier. She sat, hands in her lap, and looked out onto the empty road ahead of them. Other than her random brief touches to the cross around her neck, she remained still.
He pulled up the dirt drive and turned the engine off. Looking at Scully, he lightly ran his hand over hers before getting out and guiding her gently over the wooden stoop. He bolted the door against the early morning sky. Securing them in. Turning back, he saw Scully slowly making her way up to the bedroom, protectively holding her, still flat, middle. He closed his eyes against the flood of emotion that the image created.
He gave them both a few moments before following behind her. The bedroom was dark, but her small, huddled form was visible buried under the covers. She didn't even turn when his name was murmured from her lips. That's all he heard. The whimper broke his heart. Mulder took off his jeans and lowered himself to spoon against her. His right arm under her head and his left over her front- his fingers moving slowly over the life growing inside. He kissed the back of her head. The side of her neck. She whimpered an unintelligible sound before twining the fingers of both their hands together.
Three days. Three days she had stayed in the bedroom. She had not spoken a word other than a murmured thanks when he would bring her light meals- cereal, pancakes, soup. All of which she would only nibble on before curling herself into a ball under the heavy blanket once again. She'd take long showers. Only getting out when there was no more heat left to leave the red blotches on her fair skin. He wished upon every star in the sky that Maggie was there. He knew Scully was silently crying. He'd feel both fresh and dried tears on her cheeks. Her mother was the only one that Scully would have been willing to take comfort from in those moments.
A slight nod was all Mulder got when he told her he needed to make a trip to the store. He promised he would be as quick as possible when he saw her back involuntarily stiffen.
He was putting the last of the groceries away when she cautiously made her way downstairs and over to the kitchen. He allowed her to take the lead. She came up next to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the Knicks shirt she had long ago acquired as her own. She opened her mouth to speak before closing it. She once again put a protective hand over her stomach as she took a shuddering breath. "Mulder, I'll leave whenever you want me to. I understand. I do. I know… Just tell me when. I-"
"Leave? Why would I ask-"
"I lied to you. I promise I didn't… When the doctor asked if I had anyone in mind. You, Mulder. I couldn't imagine anyone other than you."
"Scully-"
She continued speaking while looking at his chest. "Rape. What else could you call it? And not just once. First, they took.. I was empty. Barren. Then, what I thought to be a miracle- our miracle- was another invasion. William is alive. I know he is. I didn't even get to look into his eyes when he told me he knows that I love him. I feel… I feel.. I don't know how to feel. Numb. Maybe. I don't… And I'm sorry. I would never knowingly… I can't imagine what you're-"
Mulder wrapped her in his arms. "You asked me. You asked me to father your child. William is my son. Our son. And this little one," he said, with a smile, as he put his larger hand over hers.
"I didn't want to tell you the way that I did. I wanted it to be a happy moment…" She stopped as Mulder knelt and kissed her stomach. She ran her fingers through his dark hair as he stayed where he was. After a deep breath, she, so softly he barely heard her, said, "I want to come home. Can I please come home?"
"Stay here." She raised her eyebrow and watched as he went to retrieve a bag from the the couch. He reached inside and pulled out the contents. Handing them over to her, "I was thinking pale yellow and green for the nursery."
Scully looked down at the baby blanket and stuffed white whale. A fresh track of tears ran down her face as she slowly smiled at him. "I.. I love you, Mulder. I don't know that I've ever actually told you."
"Oh, you have. Every single day. For years now. I love you just as much. Trust me."
"Oh, I do." Scully stepped into the shelter and safety of Mulder's arms, their newest little one between them.
~FIN~