Title: February 23rd, 2018

Author: KS

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Post ep Ghouli. After the events of finding their son, Mulder has a birthday surprise for Scully.

a/n: Special thanks to WildWingSuz for beta-ing!

Mulder had confiscated the surveillance tape before they hit the road again. It was a three hour drive back to Arlington, but Mulder and Scully rode in silence. He hadn't seen Scully that happy in a very long time as she was while watching that tape. Their son had a unique ability to mask his identity using other people. He had told Scully he was going across the country for a road trip. He was just a 17 year old boy though and that worried him. He turned and looked over at Scully who was gazing out at the overcast sky as if she were lost in thought.

She had been looking at the sample of hair she had saved after the DNA test was performed. He reached over with his right hand and gently squeezed hers. She squeezed it back and held on for a short while. He turned away from the road and glanced at her every once in a while. He could see the dried marks of tears on her face. Happy or sad ones he wasn't sure of. He guessed both.

He pulled into a rest stop for another bathroom break so they both could get out and stretch. They were only an hour or so from home, but he also needed to stretch again. It wasn't easy getting old. Mulder finished his business and walked back to the car. Scully was surprisingly back before him. She had draped her coat over her legs and as he slipped back into the car, he noticed her looking down at the snow globe she had taken from William's room. She didn't look up at him at all when he got back into the car.

He sighed and looked at the snow globe that was taking up so much of her attention. It looked different. Scully was startled when Mulder reached over and took it out of her hands. That was when he noticed it was cracked. The water and some of the snow had leaked out. Scully looked up at him as he examined it. He looked back at her and he could see she was upset by it.

"What happened to it?" He asked.

He knew she had gone out of her way to take it from William's room and told him she had wanted something to hold onto.

Scully sighed and closed her eyes. "Right after I told you about it, I was talking outside and it was knocked out of my hand before I could put it back in my pocket. I was crushed. There's something else I didn't tell you though, Mulder."

Mulder looked away from the object Scully seemed to love so much and back at the love of his life.

"Our son didn't just appear to me as the man at the gas station. I saw him before, right outside of the hospital after his body was discovered missing. I wasn't paying attention and I ran into him, I dropped it and it cracked. He picked it up and handed it to me," her voice broke as more tears threatened to fall. "And asked me if I liked windmills."

Mulder handed it back to her and she clasped it tightly in her hands. "All while probably thinking, Mom, what are you doing stealing my stuff?" he said with a chuckle.

Scully laughed and rubbed at her eyes. "He...he also told me not to give up on the bigger picture."

Mulder looked intrigued. "That line is meant for you, Scully. I think he may have bumped into you just for a chance to talk with you, even if he couldn't show you who he really was."

Hearing that made Scully feel more reassured. "He heard everything I told him, Mulder, while lying in that body bag," she said with realization.

Mulder reached over and gently clasped her shoulder. "That's why he said the things he did to you at the gas station, Dana. You didn't fail him, ever, and he knows that."

Scully held the globe tightly in her hands. "It doesn't stop me from worrying about him. I want so badly to follow him. He's only 17 and driving across the county alone."

Mulder nodded. "I know, but he'll be fine. We'll see him again...soon," he said with certainty as if reading her mind. "He knows about what's going to happen. He knew we were just trying to keep him safe. That's what he's doing now, trying to keep us safe since everyone around him is in danger. That's why he appeared to you as he did."

Scully smiled. "I know...I just, now that I know him, I can't help but worry. I stopped by his therapist's office yesterday. He loved his adoptive parents, Mulder, and ultimately they made the sacrifice because of his ties to us."

Mulder pulled out from the rest stop and drove towards home. "Why were you there, Scully?"

"After seeing his medications I was worried that he might really have a mental illness to some degree...I just needed some answers. I saw what your depression did to you and I just-"

Mulder gripped the steering wheel. "You think it's genetic," he said trying to hold back the resentment he felt at that moment. She didn't need that right now, that was in the past.

Scully sniffled and looked back at him. "It is highly genetic," she started noticing Mulder's body language. "But I didn't stop loving you ever, Mulder and if our son has it too, I want to be there to ease his pain. I know, I never should have left. I'm so sorry for that Mulder, I could only think about myself at that time."

Mulder relaxed slightly and reached back to touch her hand reassuringly. "I know-we both made choices we regret," he said recognizing this wasn't all her fault. "Did you want me to drop you off, Scully?"

She looked over at him. "No, Mulder. I want us to go to the house tonight. I don't want to be alone right now."

He smiled. "Home it is then, Scully."

Part 1 of 3

This is going to be a short 3-4 part story. To be continued...