As I opened his eyes, my surrendering's were unfamiliar but her voice is one I have heard a thousand times over. I winked one eye open and then slowly my other followed.
Mulder took a look around at the living room he laid in. Family photos laced the walls with two people that he knew; himself and Scully but one he did not recognize. A teenage boy that had the build of him but the nose and eye color of Scully.
The night before when I closed my eyes I was alone in the home I once shared with Scully but she had been long since gone. Left for only reasons I could blame himself. Mulder rubbed his eyes trying to wake himself up out of this dream that he had wished for many years was his real life.
His thoughts were quickly cut off when he heard Scully yell from the back of the house. "Will? William Fox Mulder are you ignoring me? Dinner is almost ready." I started walking through the house to the back and noticed I knew my way around this house; it was my family's old lake house on the Vineyard. He made his way to the back and watched from a far. He saw two boys throwing a football around in the back by the lake. Possibly a friend of Will's. And there she was sitting on the deck steps watching them pass around the ball. Her hair was lighter than when I last saw her and god she looked even better. I always would think to myself when I would look in the mirror and see my wrinkles get deeper in my face Scully somehow found a way to roll back time and not age. Scully dressed in a long summer dress but with the back low enough that I can just see the top of her tattoo show through.
"Josh you need to go home to your own family tonight; tell them we will all catch up soon."
"Come on Mom, Josh just got here. Can I at least stay over his house later tonight? Josh's mom said I could."
"I'll ask your father at dinner and make sure it's okay with his parents."
Then she began to make a quick stride inside I presumed to make sure dinner was not burning. My reaction was to hide behind a wooden beam in the living although I was not as skinny as I was when we first met in 93'.
"Fox? What are you doing….?" Fox I thought to myself that was strange. She came up to me and kissed me quick but felt meaningful.
"How was your nap? You didn't sleep well last night so I didn't want to wake you."
I cut her off unintentionally but I couldn't concentrate on trying to have an actual conversation like this. "Scully, what year is it? How long have I been sleeping?"
"Don't start these games again, dinner will burn if I don't get it out of the oven. Can you tell Will it's time to come in and wash up?"
She answered so abruptly as if I have done this to her time and time again. I slowly started my path back to the back yard. I noticed more details on how much the house had been renovated. No longer were was it dark and dusty but now light airy and lived in by a family. I approached the backdoor leaning against its frame. I found myself staring at the young man that I feared I would never meet again.
"Hey Dad, wanna throw the ball around with us real quick?" Dad? Wow I convinced myself over the years I would never hear a child call me by this title but it felt good.
"Sorry bud gotta get inside to get ready for dinner before your mother has your and my ass. Josh time to go home."
"Alright Mr. Mulder, don't forget to call my parents about Will staying over!"
With that Josh was gone and Will and I were walking inside. I noticed while walking side by side into the kitchen that he took after me in height. Will looked to be around 14 years old and Scully was looking up in order to speak to him. Poor woman on a good day in tall heels barely made it to 5'4.
This was becoming to be one hell of a dream that I couldn't wake myself out of but I couldn't help but admit that this feeling was amazing. Quite honestly I didn't want to wake up out of it.
"Fox do you want red, white or a beer with dinner tonight?"
"I'll have whatever you're having." With that I saw her pour two glasses of red and begin to enter the dining room. Growing up I rarely had a sit down dinners with my family like this and I am sure Scully didn't have many as well with her father out to sea most of the time. She looked to really enjoy cooking dinner and ensuring Will and I had everything we needed before she took her seat.
"So Will, did you finish your summer reading books, school is just around the corner."
"Dad said I just need to Google the foot notes online and I'll be fine."
I nearly spit out my food and covered my mouth quickly to hid my smirk. Granted this would be something i would tell my son, I didn't expect him to throw me under the bus so soon. Scully shot me her one eyebrow rise of a death stare.
"Well, Will that wasn't exactly what I told you to do…" Hoping that I didn't actually give Will this guidance.
"Dad, yes you did you showed me the website.."
"How about finish your dinner and we can talk later about starting the book?" Best way to diffuse the situation I thought. "Oh Scully we need to call Josh's parents about Will staying over tonight. Do you have their number, do you know these people at all?"
Scully and Will stopped mid bite after this and I felt I said something wrong.
"Fox, Josh's parents are Monica and John yes we know them." Well that explains that I guess.
"And why are you calling mom Scully?"
"Hey Will" Scully interjected. "Why don't you finish up and go upstairs and pack your bags for tonight to stay at Josh's? I called earlier and his parents said it was fine for you to stay over."
With that, Will quickly finished his dinner and exited the table. At the same time Scully finished her wine and began to pour more.
"I'm sorry" I started. "Did I do or say something wrong?" Scully at this point standing collecting the plates and making her way back into the kitchen. I followed close behind to finish the conversation. She still facing the sink, I came up behind her and wrapped my arms around her. Even in my dreams she still smelled of the perfume she had worn for years now. I placed my head in the crook of her neck and it felt as if she melted into me. She turned around now facing me and took the wine from my hands placing it onto the butcher block counter. I moved in slowly but passionately. My lips met hers which tasted like the merlot she had just finished. My hands began to travel feeling the small of her back. I loved this feature on Scully; her back toned but showcased curves. I remember nights when we first became intimate I would trace from down her neck to her serpent at her tail bone. Our mouths began to part with my tongue entering her mouth first but she gladly accepted.
"Gross guys! I'm gone three minutes!" Will came down the steps with his backpack ready to go.
We quickly parted as if we were teenagers being caught by our parents.
"I'll clean up here why don't you walk Will down to John and Monica's?" Scully smiled as her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.
"So Will, what are your and Josh's plans for tonight?" That was all I had as we walked down the street with Will showing me the way to John and Monica's house.
"You're having another flashback aren't you Dad?" Will blatantly responded and left me stunned for a slight second.
"What are you talking about?"
"Dad, you do this every couple years. You start talking about what year is it, asking mom about what you do for a living, asking how old I am. Mom has to remind you all the time. Sometimes I hear her crying at night because you get really good for a year or two and we are waiting for you to wake up one morning and not know where you are."
This kid was too damn smart for his own age and god to think what I have put him and Scully through all these years. It was all a punch to the gut. I raked my hand through Will's already messy hair as we continue down our path.
"Well buddy, I will make sure this is the last time."
William smiled at me as if saying 'I know you mean it but it will happen again'
"Well we're here."
"Hey Fox!" I could recognize his NY accent anywhere. I shot him a smile and a small wave. I always thought John had feelings for Dana. Wow Dana, in my real world I haven't called her Dana in years but here it just feels so natural. Anyways, I had always thought he had feelings for her even while pregnant with our child. But he took care of her, of them while I was taken and away. I should thank him every day of my life because of that.
"Why don't you and Dana come over tomorrow night for dinner?" This is the same man that joined the same journey I was on for a good portion of my life now asking me to come over for dinner. I wasn't used to this domesticity of life. I had always wondered what it would be like and of course only had this vision with Scully by my side.
"I'll bring it up to her when I get home, see you later. Will, have a good night!"
"Yeah dad I'll be fine bye." He shouted as he ran into the house.
I began my journey back home to Scully, Dana, my wife.