Mulder startled awake, Faith's sharp cries sounding from the other room. He felt Scully stir beside him, groaning as she stretched. Her feet brushed against his shins, and he smiled.

"I got her, Scully," he said, turning toward her, and nuzzling into her neck. "You sleep." He kissed her on her head, before pulling back from her, and rising from the bed. He shivered as he pulled on a sweatshirt, stopping to kiss her cheek.

"Thank you, Mulder," she breathed, burying deeper into her pillow. He smiled and left the room, heading to see what the fuss was about.

Pushing Faith's door all the way open, he walked over to her crib and looked down at her. "Hey now, none of that," he said quietly, reaching to touch her chest. As soon as she felt his touch, and heard his voice, she quieted. "What is it, my love? Are you hungry? I don't think so, so let's see what's going on."

Picking her up, he held her close and kissed her soft cheeks. Breathing in her baby smell, he smiled and hummed to her, as he began to rock her slowly. Her cries subsided, as she yawned and sighed.

"So what is it, my girl? Did you just need to know you weren't all alone in the world? Needed to feel safe?" He moved her to his shoulder, rubbing her back, and patting her diapered bottom. "You ever feel that way, that you need to feel loved, to know you're not alone in this big big world, you give a shout like you just did, and I'll come running. Every time. Deal?" She sighed again and he smiled.

Walking with her for a couple of minutes, he could smell she needed a fresh diaper. Laying her on the changing table, he undressed her and changed her diaper. He kissed her warm belly and she grabbed at his hair. Laughing softly, he moved her fingers and redressed her. Lifting her, he kissed her cheeks again, marveling for the millionth time, in the past five months, at how beautiful she was, how perfect.

"So, little one," he said, turning to walk over to the rocking chair, grabbing a blanket on the way. "I don't think you're hungry. Mama fed you just a couple of hours ago. Maybe you just need a little cuddle? And perhaps a story?" Sitting down in the rocker, he put her on his chest and covered her with the blanket. He began to rock and she settled into him.

"Let's see now, where did we leave off? I've told you about Puerto Rico, the Flukeman, and how terrible it smelled down in that water. It was truly awful, my girl. I've told you about Darren Peter Oswald and how horrible he was as a person, aside from his powers. You need to stay away from boys like him. Shifty and troubled," he said, rubbing her back and listening to her breathing.

"Oh, I've got it, baby girl. One I can't believe I haven't told you of yet, considering it's the beginning. But, I suppose it fits with how all stories seem to go, the origin one coming later, instead of first. Let's settle in, little one, this is a good one," he said softly, kissing her head. Taking a breath, he closed his eyes, remembering back so long ago, when he first met Scully.

"Years ago, Daddy was working for the FBI. I was working in a different department before I found the one that fit for me. Mama was there too, but I hadn't met her yet. One day, I was told I was getting a new partner and I was not happy about it. Partners always slowed Daddy down, with their silly questions, and inability to follow what was happening. I wasn't looking forward to having a new person who would poke about and get in my way," he said, thinking of how he felt when he was informed about a new partner. He smiled at how stupid he had been.

"I was told I was being paired with your Mama, so I checked into her background. Well, my love, I can't tell you the surprise I felt when I read your Mama's words in her thesis statement. She was smart, Faith, truly so smart. I was intrigued, but … still not happy to have a partner," he paused and listened, moving her a bit, finding her eyes still open. He smiled and took it as a sign she was enjoying the story.

"When my office door opened and I saw her, well, I was at a loss for words. She was so beautiful. So young too …" he paused as he visualized it. Smiling again, before continuing. "She walked right up to me and shook my hand. Cool as could be, while I fought to keep mine. Faith, as much as I tried to deny it, I started to fall love with her the second she smiled at me." He thought of decades of Scully's smiles- happy, sad, annoyed, joking, every one of them were beautiful.

"I've told you the story of Evaline. Who she was and how your Grandma and Auntie repeatedly drew her pictures. They are hanging on your wall in here, and one day you will see in them what I see: your Warrior Mama. A woman destined to find your Daddy, so she could save his sorry ass over and over. Whoops, I mean butt." He laughed softly and she whined. Patting her, he rocked in silence for a minute.

"Well, after our first meeting, we set off for our first case, and your Mama was wonderful in the field. She was inquisitive, engaging, and didn't put up with any of my bullsh- … nonsense. She kept me on my toes, letting me loose and then pulling me back when I had drifted too far. It was her first introduction into an extraterrestrial case and while she didn't believe in it, she listened and didn't laugh, not too hard anyway, and she was eager to find closure for the people affected." He paused, remembering her trying to stop Teresa's bloody nose, the look on her face when she realized Billy had indeed been out of his bed, and her raised voice telling him it was crazy that this was happening.

"Your Mama," he said, shaking his head slightly. "She was sent to shut me down, my love. Our superiors didn't like your Daddy much. No, I was an annoyance they wanted to be rid of, and they had sent your Mama to do it. They underestimated her though, and her ability to see the good in someone, to see their worth, and stick with them. Even if she didn't always agree or believe in the same things I did, she respected the journey. She was there because she believed in me and saw my worth. For that, my sweet, we both have her to thank for our existence."

He closed his eyes again and rocked in silence, an idea forming as he held his girl, the world dark and quiet around them. Shifting her to lay in his arms, he watched her sleep, her cheeks rosy and mouth open. He looked at her chest rising and falling and shook his head. So much beauty in such a small package.

Standing up, he carefully laid her down in her crib, watching her settle into sleep. He covered her with her light blanket and headed back to bed, closing her door halfway.

He walked back to their bedroom, pulled the covers back, and laid down beside Scully. She turned over and snuggled into him, her head on his shoulder, an arm wrapping around his middle. He kissed her head as she sighed, and pulled him closer.

"She's okay?" she asked breathily. "She didn't need to eat?"

"No, she was okay," he said, running his fingers up and down her arm laying on his stomach. "Think she just needed to know she wasn't alone in that big room and wanted some extra snuggle time."

"Hmm, a girl after my own heart," she said sleepily, snuggling closer to him. "She's a smart girl. Already has you wrapped around that little finger of hers."

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. "As if any other outcome would have been possible." She laughed softly, and within minutes was sleeping once again, her breathing slow and steady.

He lay there, his mind racing with plans. Smiling at the idea he was secretly formulating, he held her closer and joined her in slumber.