Margaret Scully was a well educated, well travelled lady of substance who although had lived a reasonably safe life in terms of her limits knew her way around the block, so to speak. She had tried her best to instil into all of her children from a young age the importance of self worth, academia and faith, not only in their own actions but in god as an immortal guide to help navigate the complexity of the world when all felt lost. As she sat looking at the unfolding story in front of her she felt like she had failed.

Her eldest Son although solid in faith was weak in emotion. His ability to misinterpret the thoughts and feelings of others around him was embarrassing to say the least. The fact that he had made the concious choice to hide away with his old family knowing his new family needed him emotionally and physically at this time was a weak choice. Armed with the knowledge of this and still choosing to defend and protect her son's actions was weak. Margaret Scully had failed.

Her eldest daughter, was clearly homosexual and while this didn't phase Margaret in the way you may think it would a god fearing woman she felt an overwhelming sense of failure that Melissa hadn't felt that she could confide in her mother about her sexuality. Did she imagine she would be embarrassed, disown her? Nothing could be further from the truth. Yet still she remained distant, travelled most of the year to avoid being near the family home. In this respect Margaret Scully had failed.

Her youngest Charles only flew back to the nest out of sheer obligation. If he had his way he would never come into contact with the family as long as he lived. Margaret had been troubled by this behaviour for a number of years. Was it something she did, could rectify? Over the years of watching from a distance she had grown to understand this was just who he was. A bird that could not be tamed, with broad strong wings that could not be clipped.

It is a horrible realisation to reconcile with when we begin to understand that our children are never truly ours. From the day they are born they begin to move away. As with everything in life we are only the caretakers. There to nurture until such a time until life can thrive alone. In this mortal world we are the owners of nothing.

Margaret Scully felt she had embraced this fact too late in life and in this respect she had failed.

A sigh escaped her softly as she turned in the chair she occupied to gaze at her children. There stood near her fiancé was Dana. Her headstrong, emotionally conflicted, beautifully intelligent Dana. What by the grace of god had Margaret done so wrong as to be forced to watch the charade that was unfolding in front of her eyes. Engaged after two weeks?! She looked miserable. Was this a tick box exercise for her? Did she feel like this is where she 'should' be heading in her thirties.

If so Margaret Scully should hang her head in shame. Enough.

Her front door creaked open and interrupted her thoughts. There she saw Melissa walking through the front door followed closely by non other than Fox Mulder. Had god heard her? Had he sent a saviour in her hour of need? Why did she not think of him before?

Margaret stood instantly and gravitated towards him.

"Fox, you're most welcome" Margaret beamed as she embraced him. "What brings you here?". Margaret looked down and observed her eldest daughters fingers interlaced with Mulder's. She quickly side glanced backwards at her youngest daughter whose head and eyes remained bent on the carpet. Her new protector firmly by her side.

"Good evening Mrs Scully" Mulder's response was quiet but the smile that presented itself across his face was polite enough. "Oh I came for Melissa naturally" Mulder replied as convincingly as he could.

It didn't work. Margaret smiled sweetly and blinked several times at the new couple.

OK really Enough!

Margaret let out a long sigh and smiled.

"Fox, Melissa we're about to toast the happy couple" nodding her head towards Dana and Jack. "Would you mind giving me hand to organise the drinks in the kitchen?".

Mulder's jaw tightened at the use of the phrase 'happy couple'. This action did not go unnoticed by Margaret.

"Of course Mrs Scully. Lead the way". Mulder smiled politely towards his host. Sensing another motive behind the request.

The threesome headed in the direction of the kitchen. Melissa pulling Mulder along behind her like a lovestruck schoolgirl pulling her first beau.

Scully had quietly overheard the exchange behind her and had chanced a glance at Mulder over the shoulder of a distracted Jack who stood talking to his opposite, Bill. As the newly confessed couple past by her piercing blue eyes caught Mulder's attention as he was dragged by. His eyes returning the act, sparked a silent conversation between the pair. A thousand words were exchanged in that moment. An act only they knew how to accomplish. She smiled genuinely at her partner and felt a sudden rush of emotion deep within. How could she have been so weak ? Inside she was screaming. She had been for years and only now she had decided to listen to that inner voice.. Her mind fearing this might be too late. Blinking quickly her eyes bore into his longingly and began.

You're here?

I'm here.

Please don't go

I'm not going anywhere.

I'm sorry I don't understand what's happening to me.

I won't leave you.

The contact was broken.

"Fox come on" Melissa pulled him onto the kitchen and nearly collided with her mother.

Margaret closed the door quietly on the soft noise in the other room and proceeded to turn and face the now guilty looking pair. Her face steeled emotionless. Melissa gulped quietly. Even she had the sense to realise this wasn't going to be good.

She began slowly.

"I don't know what is going on here and I'm not sure I want to know either but for the love of all things holy stop messing around and Melissa let go of his hand!" her voice now raised, eyes glossy.

The pair shot each other a sidewards glance and Melissa released Mulder's hand.

Her breathing steadied.

"Now I don't know just who you're both trying to fool but this performance has to be the most wooden thing I've seen since, well since ever!. So who is going to tell me just what is going on?"

Melissa careful of her mothers emotions relayed her version of events to both Mulder and her mother quickly. Acutely aware of the lack of personal time available to them. Margaret stood silently and listened intently to her eldest daughters account of the past two weeks, as did Mulder. Melissa shifted from her left foot to right as her monologue came to a close. Margaret sighed heavily.

"Fox what's your take on this situation"

"I haven't been around for the past two weeks Mrs Scully, so as you can appreciate my source of information has been limited"

"I appreciate that Fox, and its Margaret not Mrs Scully. You know Dana better than any of us and it pains me to say that. She is my daughter but she's your love"

Mulder stood stunned.

"I don't think we should draw rash conclusions from our professional relationship Margaret. Besides…"

"FOX ENOUGH! ENOUGH! I JUST CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS" Margaret's hands covered the hot stream of tears that had now begun to fall freely from her eyes. Melissa bit her bottom lip as she hurried to embrace her mother.

"I don't care any more something has happened to my daughter and I allowed it into my house! Do you not realise how that makes me feel. I deliberately placed my daughter in danger!"

"Mom please stop, you wern't to know" Melissa tried but was ignored.

"I am broken Fox! So right now I cant deal with you lying through your teeth about your feelings for my daughter. I just need you to help her".

Mulder hung his head. Part in shame and part in guilt. Margaret wasn't the only one who had allowed this to happen. "Margaret I'm sorry." He began softly, then changed tack. "Ma'am I can't mend your conscience with promises I am unsure of whether I can keep but I swear on my life I will not let anything happen to Dana from this moment… You're not the only one who has failed".

Margaret sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes as she pulled away from her eldest daughter to compose herself.

"Thank you Fox. Now the pair of you go and sort this mess, I'll sort the drinks".

Turning to face Mulder, Melissa's worry projected through her eyes and onto his soul.

"What are we going to do?"

"I have a few ideas but it all depends on Dana's reactions. Were just going to have to play this by ear so I'll need you to go with it 100% whatever feels right okay?"

Melissa nodded furiously. "Okay".

A few seconds of pulling themselves together saw Melissa and Mulder re-emerge into the living room to join the rest of the groups. Mulder quickly scanned the small group and located Scully standing next to Jack now near the window. A nod to Melissa sent her towards her younger brother and four purposeful strides delivered him next to Dana's side.

An image moving in her direction flickered out of the corner of her eye. Mulder. A broad smile formed across her lips as she sipped from her drink. Turning her head to face him her heart swelled at the goofy grin covering his face. God she'd missed him.

Walking straight through Bill and Jack Mulder placed his hand on her right hip, kissed her cheek and placed himself on her opposite side of her to Jack.

"Mulder" Bill greeted soberly sipping from his drink as he spoke.

"Bill. I hope Tara is well" He reciprocated.

"As well as can be expected, Thank you for your concern".

Dana's eyes shot from side to side. This was unusually civil for Mulder and Bill.

"So this is the famous Mulder" Jack interjected shooting out his hand Mulder griping returning the gesture.

Mulder eyed Jack quickly, assessing the large framed man in front of him. On observation he towered over Scully quite imposingly. He stood legs shoulder width apart, drink in one hand, the other on Scully's back. He chuckled and decided to test the water.

"Famous is quite an achievement, what have you been saying Scully?".

Dana's eyebrow arched.

"Oh no more than usual"

"Scully you're too good to me" he smiled and placed his hand on her lower back, a timeless action familiar to them both. Scully involuntarily hissed and jerked forward towards Jack. Mulder's brows furrowed. "Scully, I'm sorry are you ok? I'm so sorry I didn't mean to startle you".

"No, No you didn't Mulder I'm sorry, I've hurt my back. I fell recently".

Bill closely observed the scenario play out. Truthfully he had never been Mulder's biggest fan. He truly believed he disregarded his sisters well being and placed work ahead of her welfare. He could however never deny the close friendship they had. This was a standard gesture for the pair of them. For Dana to react in this manner was bizarre to say the least.

"When, you never said?" quizzed Bill eyeing his sister unconvinced.

"Er last week, I think"

"You think?" retorted Mulder now staring directly into Scully's eyes.

"I think" Jack said calmly, smiling as his eyes focused into Mulder's. "What Dana is tying to say, subtly, is that she doesn't want you to touch her".

Dana's head dropped to the floor. This action instantly caught by Bill. Mulder seeing red, glared at Jack and straightened his back in an animalistic gesture fighting for his territory.

"She's never complained before!" he retorted.

Dana's eyes grew wide and looked between Jack and Mulder.

"Well she is now" Jack grimaced.

"She? There's me thinking her name was Dana".

The tension was becoming evident from across the room Melissa could see things becoming heated. This was not the plan she made her way over and as if on cue Margaret appeared with a tray of champagne.

Champagne was issued to each family member with the addition of Mulder and Jack and Margaret instructed Bill to lead the toast.

To Mulder's delight Bill kept his speech short and he kept his eyes on the 'happy couple'. A plan had hatched in the back of his brain he just needed to set the wheels in motion. Truth was he was never going to be able to speak to Scully properly here. He needed her away, somewhere quiet they could talk. As he came to from his daydream Bill was coming to a close.

"It is now with great pleasure that I ask my future brother in-law to reciprocate and bore us all like he does on duty" - this received a small chuckle. "Ladies and gentlemen I ask you to raise your gasses, I give you Jack and Dana".

Glasses raised. Mulder wretched. This gesture did not go unnoticed by Melissa who nudged him.

"Too loud" she whispered.

As his eyes rolled he noticed Melissa held not champagne but a large glass of red wine. The light bulb went on white shirt plus red wine…

"Spill it on me" he whispered, his eyes gesturing to the wine. Melissa's eyes darted from the glass back to Mulder, she looked quizzically and responded "How?" her eyes fixated all the while on Jack, who now stood alone in front of her mothers fireplace. Drink in hand.

"I don't care just do it" Mulder shouted in a whisper not looking at Melissa instead eyes fixated on her younger sister. Who's eyes in turn were fixated with her mothers carpet.

Melissa smirked. Turned, and gasped loud enough for the next door neighbours to hear.

"How DARE You! That's disgusting!" She screamed and before Mulder had chance to register what she was doing his face was full of red wine.

The room turned to see the finale of Melissa's performance. Mulder glared at Melissa. His jaw set as he leant into her. "I said Spill it not Throw it" he said quietly through gritted teeth. It was all she could do to hold back the laughter.

Maggie on the other side of the room was about to chastise Melissa for her performance when she saw the opportunity that they had opened.

"Melissa! What on earth! Dana go and help Fox clean up". Mulder's eyes thanked her from across the room.

Right on cue Jack jumped in "Surly he can clean himself up? He's a big boy after…" Margaret's hand went up. "Jack I appreciate your comments however this is my house and one of my children has been extremely rude to our guest. It is up to me how I deal with this".

"Ma'am" Jack nodded unable to win this argument. She looked pretty pissed.

"Dana Go" Margaret instructed leaving Jack to watch as Dana placed her drink down on the coffee table and lead the way into the kitchen followed by closely by Mulder who shook his head slightly at Melissa as they went.