'Do you, Fox William Mulder, take Dana Katherine Scully to be your wife?' Father Michael deliberately used the most archaic version of the catholic wedding vows, leaving out all legal contexts. He liked the satire, given the gravity of the situation. God, he considered silently, didn't stop the clergy from having a dark sense of humour nor a man like Mulder appreciating it. 'To have and to hold,' he continued without missing a beat, 'from this day forward, in sickness and health so long as you both shall live.'

'I do,' Mulder couldn't help the ironic smile curling the corners of his mouth. He'd never imagined being an active participant in marriage, let alone inside a catholic church, during his forty odd years. There had been that undercover assignment, two in fact, when he'd been forced to wear a wedding ring. However, in his wildest dreams, Mulder never considered himself husband and father material.

Watching Scully, shock cursed through her blue orbs. She'd long ago given up any hope of mother hood. Until their miracle, their son's inexplicable conception, even then, Dana didn't believe until she held the tiny boy in her arms. With the history between them, a soul deep connection without actually talking about their deepest feelings, neither considered a legal and binding agreement enough to define their bond.

After Scully took her turn, Father Michael concluded with, 'what God has joined, let no man separate. Go in peace and safety my children.'

'No ring, Mrs…' Mulder stopped as Scully gave him The Look. It forced a heartfelt chuckle from deep in his soul. Leaning down, William still in his mother's arms, Mulder kissed his lover soundly on the lips. His eye's made promises. They'd talk about this later and act on it after that.

'If you'll follow me,' Father Michael indicated the church vestry, 'I'll take you to temporary accommodation after I've completed the secular paperwork.' Stopping in his tracts for the briefest period, the elderly priest smiled. Whoever placed that haunted look in the eyes of this couple would have to dig into the parish records to find any trace of them, which he considered unlikely in the extreme. 'Ursula used the cottage attached to the rectory after Hans passed and she became too frail to care for her son alone. Our community embraced her in her hour of need. All of Jo…your son's possessions are stored there.'

'Thank you,' Scully murmured, closing the door of their tiny two bedroom space behind the priest half an hour later. Surveying their new home, it resembled any of the shabby motels they used in the last weeks. Small and functional, if somewhat cleaner and better equipped for self-catering, it came nowhere near Scully's self-imposed expectation for her child's environment.

The small cottage had once served as the rectory for the parish when the church employed a priest full time. Father Michael, they understood, only attended All Souls two days a week so Scully had been fortunate to find him in attendance. 'I'll go back to the hotel, collect our belongings and check out,' she told Mulder, setting William cautiously down with reluctance.

'No,' he stated, already hating this depressing, airless box. His eye's followed his son, crawling over to a small box of toys in the corner. 'If we're going to make this town our home, I can't remain completely unknown. There are going to be times I need to take William out because you're working. It's better if everyone knows I'm your significant other and begins to trust us as a family.'

Nodding in agreement, Scully looked around the dingy space. 'We need to start looking for a home, Mulder,' what her tone didn't convey, her expression did.

She didn't need to say more. Mulder's gaze signalled his understanding and a desperate need for safety at the moment, considering this new development. For whatever reason, be it the hand of fate or destiny, they'd been drawn to this little town, to Father Michael and his church. The stars and planets had aligned allowing the universe to conspire, making all the elements meet, the circumstance co-inside, much like many of their investigations. Mulder almost felt in the middle of a new X-file, staring himself, Scully and their son. No matter how hard they looked, there would never be an adequate explanation for why this occurred.

'When we first came together,' Mulder remembered a night, so long ago, sitting on his worn, comfortable couch in his D.C apartment, 'we started to considered fate. Destiny uniting us in a single moment in time, regardless of the decisions or paths we'd previously taken in our lives.'

'All roads leading to the same destination,' Scully queried. 'You think this is another of those times,' a slight smile curved the corners of her lips as she remembered the same moment.

'You fell asleep on me, before we could discuss it,' Mulder returned. His eye's promising they'd recreate that night together once they'd settled William into his crib. Forcing his gaze from Scully's, he closed his lids. 'We have enough cash to keep us for at least a year if we live a quiet country life. A car wouldn't go astray either,' he suggested, 'but it'll have to be in your name, as will any lease. Your wage will have to cover everything else. Drawing from the accounts in the first year could prove dangerous.'

'Looks like you're going to be Mr Scully, house father of one,' she finally found something to tease him about, 'whether you like it or not.'

'Anything beats Mulder,' he returned, completely serious, 'if it keeps us all safe.' Pausing to let his emotions infuse down the bond they shared, Mulder added, 'I'll pick up a paper so we can research the local real-estate and vehicle market. Maybe you can call Stephen. I bet he has insider knowledge of what's for lease or sale in the local vicinity.'

Raising an auburn eyebrow, Scully watched Mulder prepare to leave their new accommodation. I guarantee Dr Jackson is acquainted with more than he takes credit for, Scully silently acknowledged, fingering the business card.

Turning it over onto the flat of her palm, Dana re-read Stephen's message. Considering the implications, Scully's mind worked furiously to link the clues. The good doctor had known them the instant he'd seen them, it had been obvious from the shrewd sweep of his eyes. Somehow, somewhere, Dr Stephen Jackson became acquainted with the Gunmen, taking up their challenge to protect William.

Why, the question haunted Scully, why'd he agreed to hide their son. Hearing the door close for the second time in as many minutes, she finally picked up the phone and dialled the number. Anxiety assaulted the usually unflappable, professional woman. Glancing over the tiny kitchen counter, she watched her son happily playing with a brightly coloured toy he chosen from the box. Would we be wiser taking William and disappearing, Scully questioned, before coming to the conclusion, Stephen's keep our secret so far.

'Hello,' Stephen's voice echoed down the line breaking into her private revelry. The simple act of being present while the child of her heart played contentedly in her presence infused Scully with a love and warmth she'd never considered possible again. Dr Dana Scully's heart felt like singing.

'Thank you,' the word came out softly, like a caress. Scully managed to hold the tears of joy at bay. She didn't elude to the reason why. She didn't need to because Dr Jackson knew. He'd kept her child safe, away from the darkness and she'd never be able to thank him enough.

'You're welcome,' Stephen replied lightly.

'We've decided to take up your offer,' Scully informed in a more professional tone.

'I'm glad,' Stephen sounded relieved, 'I've needed another practice doctor for some time. Our mutual friends spoke highly of your skill and professionalism. I'll be happy to have any one on board who's as dedicated to their patients as I've been lead to believe you are.'

'Oh,' Scully managed to utter, re-evaluating everything that had occurred in the last twenty four hours.

'Your family will need a car and more permanent housing,' Stephen continued without a break, as though he could sense her apprehension through the phone line. 'Come by the clinic this evening, about seven and I'll show you around. We'll talk more then. I have some options you might like to consider.'

'Thank you,' Scully replied, replacing the receiver in the cradle. Sitting down in the middle of the living room, she felt stunned by the sudden changes in her life. William looked up, smiled brightly displaying several new teeth, moved to sit between her outstretched legs and returned his attention to the musical board in front of him. He'd taken the change in carer remarkably well, as if he knew his parents would return for him.

Mulder found them both asleep in the middle of the faded rug an hour later. Carefully depositing the two back packs, large duffle and laptop on the worn sofa, he joined his family on the floor. It didn't take him long to join his wife, how strange that sounded and son in slumber.

Stepping out the door a quarter of an hour before seven, Mulder took his time to become acquainted with the stroller. Bathed, dressed in a light blue one piece suit, the infant slept contentedly in his pram. In control of the expensive buggy, Scully linked her arm with his. They looked like a family out for an evening stroll. Both knew nothing could be further from the truth.

Watching their surroundings with an investigative focus, they began the two mile walk to the community clinic on the edge of town. They chose a route taking them past three homes for rent. Checking out the community, Scully and Mulder mostly walked in companionable silence. The occasional glance all the communication they required to dismiss any of the possible houses.

'Hello,' a tall, blond woman greeted at the door of the clinic moments after their first knock, 'we've been expecting you.' Ushering the family through the waiting room and into the only consulting suit the decrepit building held, she indicated the pot, 'please help yourselves,' she invited before seating herself beside Stephen.

Langley's sister, Mulder asked down their unique bond, only to get a silent but positive response from Scully.

'My wife,' Stephen introduced, 'Spherion is both my practice nurse and receptionist.'

Glancing at Mulder, he gave his new wife the floor. Choosing her words carefully, Scully took the woman's hand, shaking it firmly she said, 'I'm sorry for your loss.' Looking the Spherion in the eye, Dana saw her statement hit a nerve.

'Thank you,' Spherion face displayed how deeply she still felt at Ringo's death, 'like many twins, I knew the moment is occurred. We'd always been close, even if we lived in different parts of the country and followed different life paths. When my brother contacted me a few months back and asked if I could help him with a problem, I immediately agreed. I knew how much this meant to him'

Before Mulder or Scully could respond, Stephen picked up a folder. Handing it to Dana he indicated she should open it. 'A run down on the practice. I understand you've been out of general medicine for some time, so I'll act as your mentor. I've had a standard contract of service drawn up, stating your salary and conditions. You'll need to sign it before commencing work on Monday morning. In the very back is a lease for a new vehicle in the clinic's name but the payments will be deducted from your salary. We also have a house on Mountain Rd, which will be considered part of your salary. The farm land surrounding the old farmstead is under contract to Mr Beresford, your next door neighbour. The five acres surrounding the house are wooded, giving you privacy and limited access to the property. I do warn you, the house is in need of some work. It hasn't been occupied in…' Stephen stoped and looked at his wife in askance.

'Just over five years,' Spherion supplied easily, 'since my brother and his conspiracy theorist friends asked us to aid a friend. Two years before that, we helped a young man who needed to reinvent himself. I believe you knew him as the thinker.'

'The dat tape,' Mulder muttered, his eyes searching out Scully's.

'I hope you make us an exception to your ethos of trusting no one, Mr Mulder,' Stephen stated, 'because the gunmen trusted us enough to know exactly who you are and what you've done to expose the conspiracy. There are others following your work, all be it less spectactuly.'