Starting Over

Part 7

by

Trycee

Time-Line: 2023, five years after Season 11

Disclaimer: This is written for fun, not for profit.

Mulder fumbled through his desk drawers. He pulled out a notebook and handed it to William. "This is all the information I have on CGB. All the concrete information I have. It's not easy tracking down definite information on him."

"Do you think he's still alive?", William asked, slipping it into his back pocket.

Mulder glanced at his son. "When I shot him, he looked surprised. There had been many chances for me to shoot him in the past. Times where I pulled a gun on him but didn't shoot, mainly because I knew that in killing him there was a chance I could be convicted which meant I would lose your mom. It was always her face I saw which stopped me. I didn't even know the bastard was my father then. I just knew he was the most evil man I had ever known. But, I couldn't do it then. I couldn't risk losing her. So five years ago, after he shot you, I shot him several times and pushed him off the docks. He looked shocked that I had finally done it. But, they searched the river for his body and yours, and you both were gone. So, I think he's still out there. He never seems to die."

"Do you think he'll come after you? After Zoe?"

Mulder contemplated the possibility. "I hope he'll leave her alone. He's left her alone so far. Maybe because she's normal."

"Must be weird," William said. "Being as old as you are and having a four year old."

Mulder stared at his son. "Zoe certainly was a surprise but so were you. We weren't spring chickens then either."

"Yeah well, now especially," William spoke, pointing to Mulder. "I mean, I get it though. My adoptive parents were older too."

"What I was going to say, " Mulder said, squaring his jaw, sitting up in his seat.

"I don't mean to call you old," William said, his hands raised. "I mean, you both are old. But, I mean... I just saying,", he stammered. "Having a four year old at your age has to be hard."

Mulder smirked. "Relax. I get it. I was twenty one once and thought everyone was old too."

William sat back in his seat, looking down at his feet.

"What we can do, William, is use our connections and get you somewhere safe. Somewhere permanent."

"I still don't see how that's going to happen," William stated. "When you've been on the run for five years, you just don't see the end to it."

Mulder glanced at his son. "Did you have someone to watch your back?"

William shook his head. "No", he said. "I've been a loner. I haven't had friends or anything else since I was seventeen."

Mulder sighed heavily as he stared at his son. "That's exactly why we need to help."

William stared down at his hands. Mulder could tell he was embarrassed with the offer of charity.

"You know, believe it or not, we have a lot in common," Mulder added.

"The past five years, I kept thinking", William said. "That the old man, who I thought was my father, wanted to kill me, just like he was going to kill you. I've spent a lot of time alone, trying not to get attached to anyone."

"I see that it's hard for you to accept that we want you," Mulder said. "All we wanted was to get to know you, our son, and do whatever it took to protect you."

William shook his head. "You do know that you can't protect me, right? I'm a walking weapon. I appreciate it but you can't protect me."

"I know. I saw what you can do," Mulder said. "I know we can't keep them from coming after you. You'll have to protect yourself. But what we can do is give you a place that's yours."

"I'm not afraid of starting over. I'm not afraid of being alone. That's all I know now."

"Being alone isn't the answer," Mulder spoke.

"Its worked so far."

"This house here was a comfort for your mom and I but that's not how I saw it," Mulder said, looking around. "I spent a few years closed off in here, staring at the same four walls in this very office, waiting on the day they would bust in here and haul me away. I couldn't go outside for fear of being seen. So, I locked myself away in here. Away from her, away from everything. It put a strain on our relationship," Mulder said. "Your mom would go to work and shop for us and basically do everything for us. And while she was doing all that, I was locked away in my own world. It took time to come out of it. Even after we got married, I was still locked away mentally. We broke up for several years, living apart. It took time to get back to myself. I don't want that for you. I want you to stop running and have a life. But most importantly, be open to others again."

"I don't see that," William said. "I don't see myself doing anything more than what I've been doing."

Mulder sighed. "You're young. Your entire life changed five years ago. You haven't had any stability since then. You will have to learn to trust someone. I'm hoping that you'll trust us."

William ran his hand through his long hair and stared back at Mulder.

"You're going to relocate to Homer, Alaska."

William sat up in his seat. "Alaska?", he said, horrified. "But, it's freezing cold there."

"l already purchased the house," Mulder said, placing his phone down on the desk. "The house will be under a pseudo name that can't be linked to you or us. We need a new birth certificate, everything you'll need to start over so you won't have to run. We just need to know you are alright."

"I feel like I don't deserve it though.."

Mulder stood up and placed a hand on William's shoulders. "The last time I saw you, I saw you being shot in the head and falling into the river. That image has stuck with me for the past five years. Your mom believed you were alive based on the fact that she could feel you. We didn't have any definitive evidence that you were dead or alive."

"I'm sorry," William said. "I thought it was best if you thought I was dead."

Mulder locked eyes with his son. "Seeing you get murdered is not an image any parent wants to see. Ever. But, I get it. You barely knew us."

Scully ducked her head in the doorway. "Mulder, it's getting late. I'll cook us something for dinner, if you wash dishes. Deal Mulder?"

"Deal," he said, as Zoe rushed to his side.

Zoe strolled up to her father and pulled on his pants leg. "Daddy, can you swing me on the swings?"

Mulder smiled. "Yeah, just give your old man a second."

"Right now? She'll need a jacket," Scully warned.

"William, you wanna come with us?" Mulder said, as Zoe watched her parents, her eyes settling on her brother.

"Yeah, sure," William added.

"Okay," Scully said. "I don't know what you like to eat, William. Is fried chicken okay?"

William rubbed his stomach. "Sounds delicious."

Mulder walked over to Scully. "It's okay," he said, wrapping her tighty in his arms. " I know your anxious but we're gonna have a nice family meal and spend this time with both of our kids, alright."

Scully gazed up into Mulder's eyes. "Okay."

Scully turned to see Zoe twisting in a circle as she waited. "Daddy, COME ON!", she demanded.

Scully smiled. "Wrapped around your little finger."

"As if you aren't?," he smirked.

Scully smiled shyly and then reached up on her tip toes to kiss Mulder's lips. She sighed. "I Love you."

"Love you too."

Zoe grimaced. "See, kissing all the time. It's GROSS!"

William watched his parents showing affection. He couldn't remember ever seeing his adoptive parents being so affectionate towards eachother. He felt a pang in his heart. He hadn't thought about his adoptive parents relationship in some time. They had been much more reserved than his biological parents who seemed so in love from what he'd seen. Zoe grabbed William's hand and began to pull him towards the backdoor. "Come on, brother," she said. "Push me."

William watched as Mulder kissed Scully one last time before following them out the door to the back yard. Scully watched them out of the kitchen window as Mulder and William alternated in pushing Zoe on her swing set as she shouted instructions to them. The entire backyard had been transformed into a mini-playground for Zoe. Scully felt her heart surge as she watched them. Reluctantly, she tore herself away from the window and began to start dinner. She gripped the sink, feeling wobbly on her legs, feeling her own nervousness. She had been feeling dizzy lately but she dismissed it, willing herself to keep going.

Zoe ran into the kitchen and grabbed Scully's legs, wrapping her small arms around her mother. Scully picked her up and kissed her on the cheek. "Did you wear daddy out again?"

"Yeah," Zoe sighed. "He and brother are sitting down in the chairs outside. Daddy told me to come ask if dinner was ready."

"You're daddy is funny," Scully said, sarcastically. "Tell him if he wants to rush me, he can come help me."

"Ohhhkaaaay," Zoe sighed exhaustively, as she raced back out the door and approached her father. Mulder smiled as he turned towards William. "Scully women."

She watched as they stood up and headed back into the house. "Mommy," Zoe's voice rang out as she reentered the kitchen.

"Yes, sweetie."

"I told him and he's coming in."

"Thank You, Zoe."

Mulder headed for the kitchen table and sat down. William followed him, sitting besides his father. Scully crossed her arms in front of her, glaring at Mulder. "I thought you were coming to help me?"

Mulder smirked. "I'm doing the dishes."

"SO," Scully smirked. "I should use every dish in the house then, right?"

Mulder's eyes grew wide. "Ah, no, Scully."

She winked at William and returned to the stove, turning over the frying chicken in the cast iron skillet. Zoe walked over and stood on her pink step stool placing her hands on the counter. "Can I help?"

"Wash those hands," Scully said, pointing towards the sink.

They watched as Zoe pulled her step stool over and stood up at the sink. She washed her hands using a purple kids soap. Zoe climbed back down and then pulled the step stool close to her side. "What can I do, Mommy?"

"Well, Zoe," Scully said, opening the fridge door and placed the salad dressing on the counter. "You could pour some of this over this salad," she said, pushing the large bowl in front of her daughter.

Zoe poured the salad dressing under the careful watch of Scully. "You're such a big help," Scully smiled.

Zoe jumped down and then looked around. "What else can I do?"

"You could talk to me," William said, glancing nervously at his parents. "I don't really have all that much experience around little kids though."

"It's okay," Mulder said. "I mean, Zoe will help you with that."

William sat back. "There's a lot of things I don't know," he sighed. "Like, what would I do in Alaska? I don't know anything about Alaska. Wait, don't they have six months of daylight or something like that there?"

"You'll learn," Mulder answered. "The question is, what name will you use? Who will you be while there? My contact needs to know," he said, checking his phone.

William sighed heavily. "I have no clue what name to use."

Mulder locked eyes with Scully. William continued. "Whatever name we choose, that's who I'll be for the rest of my life, right? This is where I'll live for the rest of my life, right?"

Mulder nodded. "Yeah, it is."

William thought about it. "Well," he said, turning to Scully. "You named me the first time, right? I'll let you name me again."

"Alright," Scully said. "I'll think about it."

Mulder stood up and grabbed two glasses out of the cupboard. William watched as the color drained from Mulder's face. Mulder turned towards Scully. "There's a car at the end of the road."

"What do you mean?", Scully said, standing on the step stool to gaze out the window. She turned to look back at Mulder. "Whoever they are, they haven't triggered our alarms."

William glanced at his mother. " I'm already putting you in danger."

"No," Scully answered. "We've had visitors before, just not for awhile."

"We might have to leave, at some point," Mulder said.

Scully turned towards Zoe. "We've planned for this."

They watched as the car started the engine, made a U-turn and then drove off in the distance.

"Don't worry, Your safe as long as I'm here," William stated.

Mulder patted William on the back. "We know."

William glanced down shyly. He was surprised when Zoe opened her arms to him. He held her in his arms as she stared into his eyes. "You just go from one open arm to the next, huh?", he chuckled.

"I'm a Princess," Zoe answered.

"Yeah well, Princess, you're kinda heavy," he said.

He turned to his parents. "That's the second time I've seen that car parked there," William added.

Mulder looked at Scully and then back at William. "We installed motion detecting equipment but unfortunately, it only has a range of twenty feet from the house. Anyone that comes near this place will set off an alarm. We learned our lessons from the past," Mulder said, looking down at Scully. "We're prepared," he said, pointing to the gun lockers he had placed high on the walls out of reach of Zoe.

Mulder could tell Scully was anxious which was making their daughter anxious. Mulder placed his hand on Scully's shoulder. "We need to go about our normal routine, don't you think, Scully?"

Scully stared at Zoe and then her eyes locked with Mulder's and then William's. "Yes," she said, as Zoe teared up, feeding off their nervousness. Mulder picked up their daughter, handing her to her mother.

"She's pretty sensitive, isn't she?", William asked.

Scully smiled. "You were the same way. If I cried, you cried," she said."You'd mimic my moods," Scully said, as she rubbed Zoe's back, trying to keep her calm. "Are you hungry?", she whispered in her daughter's ear.

"Mmmm hmmm," Zoe sniffled.

Scully turned towards Mulder. "Take her, feed her."

Mulder prepared a plate for Zoe and watched as she ate.

"I realize you're both on edge, but you don't need to worry. Anyone comes near here, I'll drop them quickly."

William could tell that Scully was still distressed. He grabbed his mother's hand and held it. "That chicken smells really good. I'd love to sit down and eat it."

Scully gripped his hand and looked into her sons eyes. William could tell she was reassured. Scully's jaw squared and her tone changed. "Go sit down at the table," she ordered, heading for the kitchen.

Mulder patted William's back. "Come on," he said. "My stomach is growling."

William smiled and followed his father back to the kitchen table. After dinner, William grabbed up the dishes and began washing them. Mulder stepped up to his side, drying each dish as William handed it to him. 'You know, I used to stare at your baby photo and imagine you growing up."

William turned to his father. "Watching Planet of the Apes and shooting off rockets?"

Mulder looked stunned. "How'd you..."

William shrugged his shoulders. "It's like a radio signal. I can pick up your thoughts, if I choose too."

Scully grabbed Zoe's hand, leading her to the bathroom. "You know," Mulder said. "After the docks, after we did the DNA test and found out I was indeed your father, no question, I'd wake up sweating from nightmares."

"What were they about?"

"That the test came back that I wasn't. I'd jump up out of bed and race to my office and check the papers again and again before returning to bed. Scully said I did that about twenty times before I stopped."

William stared at Mulder. "I see how I look like you. The same build, the same hair..."

"Only much longer than mine."

"I could use a haircut," William stated. "But, really, standing here. I can see it. I even have your hands," he said.

Mulder placed his hand alongside his sons. They both laughed. "Yeah, that's my hand."

Scully reemerged with Zoe, whose hair was wet. She was dressed in pink pajamas with Disney Princess all over them. Mulder immediately picked Zoe up. "You wanna say goodnight to your brother?"

Zoe shook her head no. "I'm not ready to go to sleep. I wanna stay up with Brother. He gets to stay up."

The adults laughed as Zoe pouted. Mulder smiled. "You can stay up a half an hour, then you have to go to bed."

Zoe jumped around excitedly. "Brother, will you watch tv with me?"

William smiled. "No problem. What should we watch?"

"What do YOU want to watch?", she asked.

Scully gasped. "She never asks that..."

Zoe smirked as she turned her attention back to her brother. William grabbed the remote and scrolled through the choices. He settled on a kids show and Zoe sat back, satisfied. Within ten minutes, she was asleep. It was ten more minutes, before William tore himself from the screen and noticed he was watching it alone. He turned to see his parents cleaning the kitchen in between kisses and whispers. Mulder noticed that Zoe was asleep. "I'll lay her down. It's just a matter of time before she wakes back up through the night. The girl never sleeps the full night."

"She gets that from you," Scully piped in.

"What you have insomnia?", William said, surprised. "I have always suffered from insomnia."

Mulder nodded as he picked Zoe up from the couch. "Guilty," Mulder added. "I'll be back. Just gonna put her down."

"I wonder what other traits I get from you."

Scully touched his cheek. "From what I see, you're handsome like your father. You're smart like him," she smiled. "Spitting image. Like a young Fox Mulder."

William smiled back. "Thank You."

Mulder winked. "I''ll be right back."

"Alright, " William said. "I'll keep guard."

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