A Note: I've decided to ignore the evidence presented in "Beyond the Sea" for the ages of the Scully children, it's just too complicated. Instead I am using assumed ages based on the "Christmas Carol" episode where the actor playing young Bill Jr. was clearly playing someone at least a few years older than the young Dana character. Since we never really meet Charlie, but know that he and Bill Jr. gave Dana a BB gun one year when she was still young, I place his age at no more than 2 years her junior. Melissa, as evidenced from the show, is about 2 years older than Dana. Therefore, for this story, I've decided on the following facts regarding the children's ages: Bill Scully Jr. is 13, Melissa Scully is 10, Dana Scully is 8 and Charles Scully is 7. Please accept the 3-2-1 age differences as a personal reference for the author who celebrates her birthday on March 21st. Another thing I'd like to make clear is the status of William Scully as head of the household. He, as many military men of the time have been described, is strict in this story, expecting close adherence to the rules he sets forth, but is not abusive. I do not buy any of this child abuse crap that I see in other stories, particularly relating to the Mulder family, but as they're not involved in this story, I'll just make it clear that this will not be an avenue I visit here.
Also, disclaimers all around. I didn't create any of the characters (so far) in this story.
The day began as normal. Margaret woke up around 5:30am to prepare breakfast for her husband and children. He would be going on a tour (of duty) the following day, and she wanted everything to be perfect for his last breakfast with the whole family. She'd known when she married him that it might be difficult to deal with her husbands prolonged absences, but had gotten used to it and found great comfort in her Ladies Group meetings that she and some of the other Navy wives had weekly. As the waffle iron worked its magic, she began frying up the bacon for the morning feast. A shiver ran down her spine when she felt William press his lips into her neck. She gave a smile and kissed him back before turning back to her breakfast preparations. The children would be awake soon, and if not they would be turned out of their beds by her husband. He insisted on order and part of that order was the necessity that the family eat at least 2 meals a day together on days when he was home. For them this meant rising by 6am and being at the table by 6:15am to correspond with his schedule on the base, which had him leaving the house at 6:45am sharp.
The boys generally needed more help tidying their room in the morning then did the girls, but it was the girls who seemed to have the most trouble being up and ready by 6:15. Dana, who was clearly her fathers favorite, was generally the first one at the table while Missy required some coaxing just to get her out of bed. Bill Jr. and Charlie would always arrive right on time, but they were a sight, and the condition of their bedroom was normally the source of arguments between the eldest child and the father. As for this day, all the children wanted to impress their father, they knew he would be leaving them for a long time the next day and wanted to experience only the best with their father before he left.
"Good morning, mom. Sir." Bill Jr. greeted his parents as he brought the paper to his father from the porch. The first one downstairs, he was proud of the smile he received from his father as he saluted. He was 5 minutes ahead of schedule and knew this would please the Naval Captain.
"Hi dad!" Charlie called as he ran full speed at his father, anticipating a welcomed reception to his neat and fully dressed appearance. The boy had even remembered to make his bed that day, along with his older brother, and couldn't wait to spread the good news. "I made my bed this morning, dad!"
"That's a good sailor." William said as he patted the boy on the head, returning to his paper. Margaret glanced up at the ceiling, wondering what was keeping her two daughters; she didn't want anything to be thrown off course that day. "Bill, where are your sisters?"
"I don't know, sir." He replied, amazed that for once he was at the table before Dana. She always seemed to have the edge on him when it came to time management, and how an 8-year-old had gotten that edge he had no idea.
"We're here daddy." Missy said with a smile on her face as she led the way into the kitchen. She quickly got the plates and began setting them into their places on the kitchen table; it was Dana's turn to set the silverware out. Quietly and efficiently the girls set the table before taking their places on either side of the table. Melissa sat at her mothers right side, while Dana sat at her fathers right; Charlie was seated next to Dana and Bill Jr. sat across the table from her. It was a constant reminder to her not to upset her older brother at the table or her shins would surely show it in the bruises she'd receive from a swift kick under the table. Margaret brought the food to the table and began serving her family, William first, of course. That day there would be waffles, eggs, bacon and orange juice for the morning feast. The adults sipped coffee quietly and the children each got a glass of milk to work on while they waited to be served.
"Bill, are you prepared for your math test today?" William asked. His objective was to ascertain their status for the coming day so they and he would know what to expect at their dinner conversation.
"Yes sir." He replied as he swallowed a piece of the waffle that had been smeared with butter and drenched in syrup.
"And Melissa, I believe you have a paper to turn in today?" he didn't expect much from this child, or not as much as from the other more serious students.
"Yes dad, I finished it last night." Melissa replied as she cut into her pile of eggs. "I didn't finish reviewing my spelling on it yet, but mom said she'd help me before school."
"That's fine, that's fine." He replied. His Starbuck appeared to be avoiding his eyes and he wondered just why she would be so quiet and distant but thought better of questioning her and simply moved on to Charlie. "Charlie?"
"I don't have any tests today, but I want a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich, please." He said, wondering what exactly he was supposed to have said when his father questioned him. A piece of bacon came flying out of his mouth and onto his sister Dana's plate, obvious to the entire party who'd gathered at the table. He giggled, "Sorry Dana."
Dana merely pushed her plate back, looking towards her mother with pleading eyes, "May I be excused, please?"
"Dana, you've hardly touched your food," William admonished. "Your mother worked very hard on this meal and you'll eat it."
"Yes sir," she sighed. Slowly she pulled her plate back into its place and cut into the dry waffle to extract the bit of unwanted bacon off from the rest of her meal. The conversation continued; even as Dana sat, engrossed in her own little world of breakfast food she knew that things were being decided. The last thing she wanted was to make a fuss, her Ahab would not be pleased if she disturbed the morning family rituals, but out of necessity she repeated her earlier question, "May I please be excused?"
The conversation stopped, everyone turning to look at the suddenly shy girl who stared hopelessly into her lap as she prepared for a lecture. She had interrupted William in one of his anecdotes about the Navy. This was not the right way to begin a plea for mercy, and she regretted having opened her mouth. Before her husband had a chance to react Margaret Scully opened her mouth, hoping that for once a reply other than 'fine' would be given as the answer to her question. "Dana, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." She replied solemnly without hesitation.
"Dana Katherine Scully, when I give an order I expect it to be followed. Now, if you insist on interrupting breakfast, why don't you clear your plate and go to your room until it's time for school. This act of insubordination will be dealt with when I get home." The rest of the children at the table sat silently, shocked that their sister had actually been on the receiving end of one of their fathers infamous lectures.
"Yes sir." She replied as she slowly pushed her chair back and carried her still full plate to the kitchen sink. The glass of milk followed and when she'd finished she walked out of the kitchen, eyes towards the floor, and began the climb towards the bedroom she shared with her sister.
The conversation never truly became normal again as the Scully clan finished their meal in almost total silence. William bid farewell to his family as he walked out the door, pausing to glance up the stairs. What had happened to his little Starbuck? He wasn't looking forward to returning home that night, knowing he'd have to punish her in order to maintain the control he had over the household.
Margaret surveyed the table and her children, who were disappointed when breakfast was concluded without the same excitement it had begun, noting that supper needed to be about 50 times better to makeup for the events at breakfast. "Bill, you and Charlie will clear the table and do the dishes this morning. You've got about 20 minutes before the school bus arrives and I expect them to be washed and dried."
"Yes ma'am." The boys replied in unison as they jumped out of their seats and began to clear the table.
"Missy, why don't you go and get your paper for me, I'll check your spelling." She said, turning towards her daughter, the one who was still at the table.
"Yes ma'am." She said as she followed her mother's instructions, wondering if there would be any time to correct the spelling before she had to turn the paper in. She supposed it would be possible to complete on the bus ride to school, but hoped that she wouldn't have many to do all the same. As she ascended the stairs she wondered what she'd say to her little sister. Walking through the door, she saw Dana sitting at their desk, head down. "You're in a lot of trouble, you know."
"I know." Dana responded quietly.
"Why'd you do it?" Melissa asked as she picked up her paper and a pencil for her mother to use. Before Dana could answer, their mother called up to Melissa that she needed to hurry up about it and Melissa left saying, "I'm so glad I'm not you."
Any other day the younger might have replied to the older with something clever to the juvenile mind like, 'I'm glad I'm not you either' or 'You wish you were me', but that day she simply sighed and put her head back down onto the desk and whispered, "I know."
It seemed like seconds to Dana, when in reality it had been a quarter of an hour, when she heard her mother approach her. "Dana, I've been calling you for a couple of minutes. It's time to get ready for school, young lady. Your daddy has the car and I don't have time to walk you to the bus stop so you need to be ready when the school bus gets here; am I clear?"
Dana nodded and slid off the desk chair, moving towards the door silently as she bent down to pick up her book-bag, which had been packed the night before. She wanted to break down and tell her mother everything, but that would be showing weakness, she had to be strong. She couldn't let her guard down, everything needed to be fine for Ahab and her brothers and sister. As she turned to leave, Margaret approached her once again, she knew there was something not right with her daughter, "Dana, are you sure…"
"I'm fine." She responded before the question had even been asked and walked down the hall towards the stairs where she could see her brothers knocking each other around playfully as they descended the stairs to wait at the front door for their bus. The school uniforms required by the sometimes too strict Catholic school the children attended had to be pressed and clean before wear. Any wrinkles had to be ironed out, and Margaret took great care to ensure her children would leave the house looking as prim and proper as possible. Dana and Melissa were dressed in white blouses with traditional peter pan collars. They had navy blue jumpers, white knee socks and Mary Janes; to complete the look, both girls had their fiery red hair clipped out of their faces to the right. The boys had long navy pants, white collared shirts and grey vests. Their hair was simple, clean cut and combed, and socks and shoes consisted of simple black socks and polished shoes.