October 31st-early morning
Mulder woke up to hushed voices and a baby crying. He sat up and saw Scully with Karla by her side. Scully was holding the baby and Karla was talking to her.
He got up and went to the other side of the bed to see what they were doing. He yawned as he watched Scully holding the baby to her breast. The baby was searching around and Scully was trying to get her to latch.
Finally, she seemed to figure it out and Scully breathed out in exasperation.
"Took her a long time this time," she said to Mulder, shaking her head.
Karla smiled at them, "It's completely normal for that to happen. You just keep trying and if there are any problems, ask for help. The lactation specialist will be in here later today. But you are doing great." She patted Scully's arm and left the room.
"You should have woken me," he said with a yawn, watching the baby at Scully's breast. He looked at Scully as she looked at the baby. She was so beautiful. Sweaty and tired, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"Didn't need to wake you. She needed to eat, or try to anyway. You couldn't have helped with that, unless you've got a secret you haven't shared," she said, smiling at him.
He laughed softly. He looked at the clock. 4:15. "Every two hours huh? She'll come in and check on you?"
"Yeah. Make sure I'm not bleeding too hard, I'm comfortable, helping me if I need to pee. She's great. I like her," Scully said as the baby unlatched and moved her head.
Scully cooed at her as she helped her latch back on her breast. Mulder watched her, completely fascinated by what she was doing.
He turned to get the chair and he scooted it toward the bed. He sat close, quietly watching while the baby nursed. Scully reached for his hand while he sat there, connecting them in the moment.
When the baby was done, she laid her down on the bed. She covered herself and then began to unwrap the baby and take off her cap.
"I want to see her, all of her," she said, as if she could read his mind as he wondered what she was doing.
They looked at her tiny body together. Poking out of her little shirt, were her long wrinkly legs with knobby knees, her tiny arms were covered, her toes and fingers. Scully stroked under her shirt and she smiled, no doubt feeling her heartbeat. Her fingers then trailed across her face, Mulder's joining hers as together, they touched the child they had made.
Every tiny feature was so perfect and delicate. Mulder bent and kissed her softly on her head as he stroked her hair.
Scully wrapped her back up. Not exactly the same as Karla, but she would get better. She put her cap back on, handed her to Mulder, and then leaned back.
"Hi, sweetheart," Mulder said, his voice exceptionally low and a bit shaky. "You're so beautiful. I've been waiting for you for a long time. We're going to go on so many grand adventures together."
He walked around with her, rocking her slowly as he did and humming softly. She slept, her belly full, her body warm. He looked at Scully and he smiled.
"I can't believe I'm actually holding her," he said as he looked at the baby again. "Of course, I knew it would happen, but it's just so unbelievable still. All of it. She's truly a miracle. Scully?"
She was crying and he stepped over to her. He asked her if she wanted the baby and she nodded. She held her and she cried. Tears running down her face, great sobs shaking her body. She handed her back to him and he put her in the bassinet.
He turned around and she had her face in her hands. He sat down in the chair and said nothing, simply let her cry.
"I'm sorry," she gasped out. "I.. I don't.."
"Scully, just cry, it's okay," he said softly.
She did and eventually she slowed down. She moved her hands and took sobbing breaths until she was finally quiet.
"I'm so tired, Mulder," she whispered. She turned her head and looked at him.
"Sleep, honey. I'm here. You're okay, she's okay. Just sleep," he said, helping her to get more comfortable. He stroked her hair and she was asleep in minutes.
He watched her for a bit. He knew it took a lot to break her down to the point of sobbing. His support and care in those moments was what she needed. If she needed to cry or sleep, he would be there for her.
He walked over to the baby and watched her sleep. So perfect. A little hand had worked its way to the top of the blanket and he could see her fingers. He stopped himself from touching her so as not to wake her. He was content to simply stare at her.
He stood there for a little while, before he noticed the name on her bassinet: "Baby Girl Scully." They needed to get to fixing that, to give this girl a name. After Scully slept, that would be the number one priority.
He saw that the sun was beginning to peek through the window. He pushed the bassinet closer to it and opened the blinds, so he could watch the sunrise with his little girl.
Halloween morning was dawning. He had always loved this day. The fear, the excitement, the costumes, and the candy. He would come home with a pillowcase half full of candy and it would last him for months. He loved the feeling of walking down the street with other kids in the neighborhood, having fun and scaring each other.
When he was nine, he had had the best haul of candy ever. He had never been more excited for Halloween than on that night. It was his best Halloween memory and it was the one he called up when he started to see fall decorations popping up.
He looked at the baby again. No longer would his old memory be good enough. A treasure trove of candy and a costume he had loved was nothing compared to the overwhelming happiness at the sight of their baby being laid across Scully's chest. The feeling of her soft hair, her tiny back under his hand, and hearing the words "it's a girl." The birth of his spooky Halloween baby girl would now be his best memory.
The sun came up and he made sure the blinds were closed again, so as not to disturb Scully. He looked around and straightened up the room a bit. Folded his blankets, fixed his pillows. He found their bags. He took out a change of clothes and set it aside.
He took out Scully's hairbrush and her toiletries bag. He put that stuff in the bathroom, brushing his teeth while he was in there and using the toilet. He washed his hands and then looked in the room. They were both still sleeping.
He opened the main door to their room and looked around. No one was walking by and he did not want to leave them alone. He was about to go back inside when Karla walked out of a different room. She smiled and walked over to him.
"Did you need something?" she asked.
"I was going to take a quick shower, but they are both sleeping and I don't want to leave them alone. Would you mind coming in the room? Or should I wait?" he asked her, hesitantly.
"I could come in the room for a few minutes. Check on them again. That's not a problem," she said kindly.
"Thank you so much," he said, feeling a great sense of relief. "I will be really quick."
"Let me grab some extra towels for you, and I'll be there," she said, walking away.
He went back in the room and grabbed his clothes, putting them in the bathroom. She was back quickly and he took the items from her. He went in the bathroom and undressed, took a quick shower, and dried off. He put on his fresh clothes and his shoes before he walked out.
She was watching the baby sleep and smiling. She raised her eyes to him and looked surprised. He walked close to her and put his clothes down.
"That was quick," she whispered. "That will be helpful when you go home."
He smiled and thanked her for staying. She asked if he needed anything and he said he would love some coffee. She nodded and left. He sat down on the couch and looked over at Scully. She was still sleeping. Good. He hoped she did for awhile.
He scrubbed a hand down his face and closed his eyes. What a fucking fast paced night. He felt extremely tired, but would never say so after watching what Scully had gone through. Jesus.. she was amazing and seeing her do what she did, made him love her even more.
The door opened and Karla brought him coffee in a paper cup. She had cream and sugar packets in a bowl as well and she handed that to him, sitting on the couch next to him.
"I will be going off my shift in a little while. There will be a day nurse here to check on her and the baby. Her doctor will be in as well. There will actually be a few people coming in and out. There is also a lot of paperwork you two will need to sign," Karla told him quietly.
He nodded, glancing at Scully. She still slept, moving a little, trying to get comfortable.
"She should sleep as much as possible. Her body went through a whirlwind of activity fairly quickly. She's going to be sore and tired for awhile," Karla continued.
"I know," Mulder said. "I've been reading some books, getting up to speed on what I should expect and also what may be unexpected. I've had some time on my hands recently and so I've read anything I could find."
Karla smiled as she looked at him. She seemed to be searching him. She nodded, apparently agreeing with what she found.
"I have to go, but I'll be back in just a little while with the next nurse," Karla said, getting up and heading out the door.
A couple hours later, Scully was finishing her breakfast and Mulder was holding the baby. She was starting to move around and he was smiling like a fool at her expressions.
He got a kick out of the way she scrunched up her face, her eyebrows going up and then coming down. She seemed to be trying to figure out how her facial muscles worked. Her eyebrows went up again and then she opened her eyes a few times, the light seeming to bother her.
"You don't like that, huh?" he asked her quietly, as he got up and walked where the room was a little darker.
She opened her eyes a bit easier and he smiled. "Scully, her eyes are so blue," he said, staring at her as she looked at him.
"Mulder, her eyes may change as she gets older," Scully said as she took the last bite of her pancake.
"I know, but I hope they don't. It's one of the things I love most about you. Your eyes are beautiful. I can read so much when I look in them. The windows to your soul, and all that shit," he said and she laughed.
The baby started to make noise and then to cry out. He tried to calm her, but she did not seem to want what he was offering.
"Uh, Scully?" he said, as he looked at her.
"Bring her over here," she said, already opening her gown.
He walked over to her and handed her the baby. He moved the bedside table out of the way and stood watching her move the baby around to get her on her breast. It seemed to be quicker this time and she sighed, looking up at Mulder.
He kissed her forehead and whispered again how amazing she was and how he loved her. She hummed, closing her eyes for a second. They both looked at the baby again.
They watched her eat, although it was not long until she was done and asleep again. Scully rested her on her shoulder, patting her back gently. She laid her on the bed, after a few minutes, covered herself up with Mulder's help, and then attempted to wrap the baby again. Mulder sat down in the chair next to the bed.
"Scully, I don't know if you've noticed the name of the baby in her bassinet, but I'd like to make a change on it," he said quietly as he stroked the baby's head.
"I noticed," she said as quietly as him, touching the baby's cheek.
"You said you would know when you saw her face what her name should be," he reminded her. "What has her face told you?"
She hummed a laugh, her fingers continuing to touch her face and then holding her little fingers in her own, before she wrapped her up again.
"Well, Mulder," she said smiling softly at the baby, "it didn't happen the way I thought it would. I thought I would know when I saw her, but it was opposite. It was when I saw you."
She looked at him and smiled. He looked at her, confused.
"The first time I got up to use the bathroom, you were asleep on the couch. You had your hand on the bassinet as you slept, as we all slept. Standing guard, in a small way, making sure she was okay," she said, finally closing up the blanket, and leaving her lying on the bed.
"I'm not following you," he said genuinely confused.
She smiled at him then looked at the baby. "It's something that gave me pause as I saw you sitting that way. It made me think of our past. The way back past. The times I'd woken up to you at my bedside, asleep after something had happened to me. The times I'd sat at yours, praying for you to wake up and be okay. I thought of you, Mulder. And me."
"Scully, it's been a long night, I'm not following you," he said, feeling frustrated.
"One thing, Mulder. One thing ties all those times together and kept us pushing forward, no matter what happened," she looked at him and she smiled. A big huge smile that seemed to radiate the whole room in light.
"The one thing we've always had Mulder, in ourselves, in each other, in the truth," she said quietly.
"Faith," she said, staring in his eyes.
He looked at the baby sleeping on the bed and his heart burst. He looked back at Scully and tears were pooling in her eyes.
"It is the one constant we have always had, Mulder. My faith for so long was in science, then you came along and that faith was tested many times over. My religious faith was also tested and questioned. Mulder," she said, touching his face. "One thing could not be shaken though, the faith I have in us. Faith that no matter what happened, we would find our way back to each other. That faith has led us to this moment."
Mulder had tears in his eyes and so did she, tears of happiness and love. She touched the baby's chest again and watched her sleep. Mulder watched her, her words healing a part of him he did not know was still aching.
"I want to name her Faith. The constant reminder that we always had a faith that was intangible, but now we have one we can hold in our hands. One we can keep close to our hearts. A faith that will grow and flourish with our love and guidance. The reminder of the faith that kept us looking, learning, and loving one another," she whispered to him. "I told you what I wanted when we stood in that church, my leap of faith. Well, I'd say we took a huge leap here, Mulder."
He still had tears in his eyes beside her. His memories running rapid fire in his head of hospital stays, worries over her health, the times he would call out to anyone to please help her, the nights he cried for her when his personal faith was shaken, the days and nights without her when the thought of any faith filled him with anger, then the faith and hopefulness he felt that day in the church.
He put his hand on hers lightly as she still had it on the baby. He laid his head on the bed and he cried, his emotions from the last day, taking over for a few minutes. He felt her hand move and instead it was on his head, his hand alone on the baby's chest. She murmured quietly to him and he put his other hand on her arm, gripping her wrist. Her fingernails scratched lightly at his scalp.
He sat up and wiped his eyes. She handed him a tissue with a small smile and tears of her own on her face. He blew his nose and stood up. He put his hand on the back of her neck and bent his lips to hers. A sweet, soft kiss. A thank you to her for loving him, for staying with him, and for believing in him. For always having faith and for giving his back to him.
He stood back and took a deep breath. He rubbed her neck and then reached for the baby. He scooped her up, sat back down, and looked at her sleeping face. At the nose that was definitely his, but with blue eyes that he knew would lead to him caving in to extra stories or cookies before dinner. He stared at this person they created and he felt love like he had never felt before.
"Hello, Faith. Your mama has indeed chosen a perfect name. You don't understand now, but one day you will. You will learn why she chose your name and what it means to us," he said softly, his lips grazing her forehead.
"You have a big brother, Faith. His name is William and your mama named him too. His name is also Jackson. He has two names because the love we felt for him was so big, he had to be shared with another family. He's not close by, little girl, but one day he will come back to us. We have faith he will. Our faith has guided us this long, we won't lose it now," he whispered to her as he heard Scully crying beside him.
"Faith, I can't think of a better name for you. You are exactly who we needed to complete our little family. Four of us, strong on all sides, nothing but love in the middle. Happy birthday, my sweet Faith Katherine Scully," he whispered before kissing her lightly on the cheek.
"Mulder," Scully said hoarsely through her tears.
"Hmm?" he said, not taking his eyes off of Faith.
"No, her last name is Mulder," she said with a sob.
His head snapped over to her. She smiled through her tears and nodded.
"Scully," he said, attempting to change her mind.
"Mulder, there are Scully's in this world, in this family even," she said, taking a deep breath. "My brothers each have two boys who will carry on the name and a girl who will decide what she wants to do with hers. There are none of your Mulders left, and that needs to change. There needs to be more Mulders in this world. People who are dreamers, who see beauty where others might not. Ones who see the magic in the stars and want to know more about everything. She's a Mulder. A Mulder who will change the world with her dreams and ideas."
He gave a soft laugh tinged with tears, as he held the baby close to him. His daughter, the one who would carry on his family's name.
"You don't.. don't want to give her both names?" he asked with a shaky breath.
She laughed softly. "Faith Katherine Scully-Mulder sounds like a law firm. Or a rich divorcée who doesn't want to give up the "status name." Faith Katherine Mulder. That's a name that could run for President."
"Oh, no Scully, don't put that on her," he said with a look of disgust. "President is small potatoes anyway. She seems more fitted to be queen of the universe."
She laughed again and he stood up before sitting on the edge of the bed. He began to softly sing happy birthday and Scully joined him. He turned his head and kissed her. He leaned back and looked at her, not knowing if he could love her more.
"I love you, Scully," he said leaning his forehead into hers.
"Well, you'd be a fool not to," she said quietly.
Together they sat, foreheads together, quietly laughing. Their faith in each other and in Mulder's arms. Faith to keep looking, to move forward, but mostly to be there for each other no matter what else happened.