Title: Micaela
Author: KS
Rating: G
Summary: Just a ton of fluff after Scully has the baby. And maybe a little surprise.
A/N: Many thanks to my BETA, WildwingSuz!
Mulder looked down at the tiny bundle in his arms. Their little miracle was fast asleep. She was already worn out from her big day as was her mother. He looked over to see that Scully was fast asleep. "You may not know it yet, but your mother is the most amazing person I know," he whispered as he thought back to how difficult and challenging Scully's pregnancy had been due to her age. He would never be able to thank her enough for making him a father to this tiny being. As if on cue, the baby's eyes slipped open and she mewled. "You are our little miracle," he whispered as he smoothed down the tuft of copper hair and lifted her to kiss her head. "We love you so much."
Mulder looked over to catch Scully gazing at them sleepily. He rewarded her with a wide smile and moved to hand the fussing baby to her. She sat up in the hospital bed as she received the baby. The hospital gown she was in was growing uncomfortable. Tiny arms waved about to indicate her dissatisfaction at being moved from her father's arms. "Hey there, baby girl," she whispered. The infant quieted instantly at the familiar sound of her mother's voice. Mulder and Scully had talked to the baby a lot while Scully was pregnant. She had explained that babies could make the distinction of their parents' voices fairly early while in utero.
"Have you decided on a name?" Mulder asked. Scully gazed down at their daughter who began rooting for the source of her food. Gently, she moved the baby's mouth towards her chest as she exposed one of her breasts and helped her latch on. It was another one of the many ways his partner was amazing. Not only because she was a doctor, but she had done this before. Even if it was many years ago.
"How about Micaela?" Scully asked. "My mom said if she'd had another daughter, she would have named her Michaela, because it means "God's gift" and well, she is. Sometimes, I still wake up wondering if this is real."
Mulder nodded. "It's beautiful, just like her."
"There are so many ways to spell it nowadays though," Scully laughed.
"At least it isn't Fox," he smiled.
"I was thinking of Micaela, but without the "h", that way people don't confuse it with "Mitch"."
"It's perfect, Scully."
Mulder smiled as she watched his daughter suckle hungrily at her mother's breast. He looked up at Scully. Her free hand was stroking the tiny arm that rested against her chest. "You told me you had wanted another child, and then told me in that church that you wanted another chance to start over and make things right. I lit that candle not because I believe in God, but because I believe in you. And then you told me a week later that I was a father," his voice broke. "But you know me, I want to believe, and I believe our daughter is a gift from God," he added with a teary chuckle. "I'd never thought I'd say this, but her existence makes me believe."
Tears welled in Scully's eyes as she looked back down at her daughter. She had beautiful eyes and only time would tell if she would have her or Mulder's eye coloring.
"I just wish my mom was here to see her. She had always wanted a granddaughter," her voice broke and the tears spilled over her cheeks. It was difficult holding back. Technically Emily was her granddaughter, but she died before Scully could be a mother to her.
"I know. She'd love her. She does. The dead aren't lost to us," he reminded her.
Scully imagined that her mother would say the baby was a gift from God. Especially since she was infertile and pregnant at fifty four. Her mother had told her about St. Rachel when she was much younger. A saint that was infertile and became pregnant late in life. The name of that motel they stayed in. She couldn't believe she didn't realize it sooner.
Mulder leaned down and kissed Scully's forehead. He reached out and stroked the baby's tiny cheek as she nursed.
Scully missed the close bond she had shared with her mother. The same bond she'd desperately wanted to have with Emily before she passed. It was the connection only a mother and daughter had. She hoped she would have that same bond with their daughter.
"I want to be able to give her everything that Mom gave us."
Mulder sat down on the bed next to Scully and their daughter. "We will. Age isn't going to change how much we love her." The baby had stopped suckling and Scully pulled the top part of her hospital gown back up as she moved to burp the baby with expertise.
"How about Micaela Margaret, after your mother?" Mulder suggested.
Scully pulled the baby back once she finished nursing and gazed down at her. "It's perfect. She's perfect."
"Just like you," Mulder smiled. "You still got it goin' on," he teased.
Scully narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm going to kill you if you say 'scoot in your boot' one more time, Mulder. That's what got us into this situation," she said knowing full well she'd do it all over again.
She'd had mixed feelings when she first found out she was pregnant so late in life, but she loved and wanted this child no matter how impossible it was. She knew Mulder did too.
The newly-named Micaela watched her parents as Mulder moved in to kiss her mother with a fierce passion. She mewled and tiny hands reached towards their faces.
Mulder pulled back a bit and they both stifled their laughter at their daughter's protests. That was when a nurse came into the room to check on Scully.
"I'll be right back, I need to use the boys' room."
Scully nodded. "Okay, don't be long."
Scully looked down at her daughter, her eyes full of love. "I love you so much, I need you to know that." William had told her that he knew she loved him, although it was when he was disguised as Mulder. She still felt the need to make sure her child knew every day, even if she was never great at verbalizing her feelings. The baby cooed in response. When she first found out she was pregnant, Scully had no idea how she was going to do this again at fifty-four. She was in utter shock, yet she felt an immediate connection to the tiny being growing inside of her. Despite a difficult pregnancy, Scully yearned for this moment. "I'd do it all over again, just for you."
Micaela crooned in agreement.
Mulder returned in less than three minutes. "Hey,"
"That was fast," Scully said.
"Can't stay away from my girls long," he chuckled.
Scully's arms were growing tired. "Could you take her?" She needed to stretch desperately, as much as she didn't want to move her sleeping daughter.
Mulder gently took her into his arms and rocked her. "Hey there," he whispered.
.
The baby opened her eyes and mewled. It was a scene that melted Scully's heart.
He rocked the baby for a moment and then looked up suddenly as if he forgot something and handed the baby back to Scully, who looked at him curiously.
"I'm going to grab some coffee, I'll be right back."
Scully nodded and smiled. "You better."
The baby started whimpering once Mulder left. "Hey sweetheart, it's okay. Daddy will be back soon, okay?"
As if on cue, Mulder walked back into the hospital room. Without the coffee.
"No coffee?" Scully asked curiously.
Mulder stopped and looked at her. "No, I'm good. Just had to use the restroom. Why?"
Scully's mouth opened slowly in startling realization.
Mulder grew worried. "What is it, Scully? Was I supposed to get you coffee? I'm sorry-"
Scully looked back at him in shock. "Mulder, he was here!"
"Who?"
"William... Jackson," she said as she gently rocked the baby.
Mulder gave her a puzzled look.
"He was here, Mulder. After you left... you came back and held our daughter and then said you had to go get coffee." She started to get up.
"No, Scully. You can't, he reminded her. Her recovery would take a while longer since she had a C-section.
Before she could protest, he ran into the hallway outside the hospital room and looked around. Even though part of him knew it was futile, he hurried down the corridors, much to the surprise of the staff.
He finally gave up after several minutes of looking.
In the distance, Jackson, while disguised as a nurse, watched as Mulder returned to join Dana in her hospital room. That had been very close. Mulder had nearly run into him, so he had to make the visit with his sister fast. She was beautiful and looked a lot like their mother, and he could see Mulder in her eyes and skin tone.
One thing was clear, they were dead set on finding him. Even now. He had wanted them to believe he was dead so that they could move on, but he still couldn't control all of the visions that he knew connected him with his mother. She knew he was alive.
He assumed that Mulder knew by now that Jackson, or William as they called him, wasn't biologically his child, but that didn't stop the man from chasing after him.
He knew they both loved him, but how much was hard for him to contemplate at times. No one else had cared that much, other than his adoptive parents, the Van De Kamps. They had already died because of him and he was determined that no harm would come to anyone else he loved.
The danger seemed to be over though, at least for now. The man that called himself his creator was dead.
Maybe he could go home to them someday.
END