So this was originally posted on Friday (Okay Satuday morning) but I had a problem with unintentional copying so I went back through and tried to change that bit to the best of my ability. I had no idea and loved the scene incredibly, so it was hard to change.

Thank you to those that reviewed and alerted, again. :)

Anyway. I'm off to figure out Memento Mori ...still.


Part 7
Simple Comforts

"She just won't stop." He was panicked, his voice tired and she could bet he looked like hell had broken free and redecorated his warm expressions. Danica was back from three days with his mother. Night was falling and it was usually around the time she was drifting off to sleep and her daemons were usually starting to take over her dreams. But tonight, tonight was different. These weren't her daemons taking revenge they were his.

She'd curled up in the furthest corner of his sofa and for a moment she watched the fish, traced their movements against the glass with her fingertips. She was in her own world, until he'd spoken to her. She'd screeched like a banshee and her screams were still yet to stop. She'd shut down, the only words she spoke were German and she was far too fast for him to decipher her words. He was scared, tired and could bet his neighbors were inches away from pounding on his door, or calling child services. He'd lost control and called the closest person that came to mind.

"Mulder, she's three and capable of speech just ask her." Mulder shook his head, his partner couldn't see it nor could she hear Danica's wails though the phone line. She didn't understand how much this was killing him, this girl was in pain, upset about something and he couldn't help her. He was helpless yet again.

"Scuulleee" Mulder whined, he'd treated her coldly earlier that morning but right now he needed her. She'd still be pissed with him but she'd help him out and get him back later. "She's not making any sense. Usually I can understand her but this, her words are all over the place and she's frantic. I don't get it, I don't understand." He was close to cracking and she could hear that he himself was frantic.

"Mulder," She sighed, she didn't know what to do. "You being upset can't make this any better for her. Take a deep breath and think. You're a psychologist. What do you think is wrong?" She needed him on a calm base, she needed him to think, to bring himself to a professional level. Treat this like a case, not a child. She was scared and he needed to find out why.

He must have been in the other room, because all of a sudden Danica's screams hit her ears causing her blood to run almost cold. That wasn't a healthy scream. "Psychological. Psychological trauma." He suggested. "She's been through a lot, but Scully the only real factors she's displaying, she's just having nightmares and she's weary of adults. Sure, that's trauma, but this, this is different. Something else is going on here." She sighed into the mouth piece as he did the same. She could almost imaging his hand running through his hair as he thought of what step to take next.

Danica's screams were horrific; a million things were running through her mind that would put the girl in that state. There really was no explanation, she'd been with Teena that was as much as Scully had known, the period of time she was uncertain about but that hadn't mattered, Danica was fine before that too and she'd heard that the little girl had enjoyed being with her 'oma'. "I don't know how to help." She felt as helpless as him, how the hell were they going to figure this out? "I thought you were going to look into this Mulder, maybe she is sick. Maybe they did something to her out there and you're subjecting the rest of us to it." She was teasing him at first, but when she finished her statement Scully quickly realized that could very well be the case.

"I doubt it, Scully. And you know, top secret government project it takes time. But, I'm working on it." She wanted to cock an eyebrow but the action was wasted over the phone. She didn't believe he'd taken the initiative to look into the young girls beings in Russia, he'd get there eventually.

"Can I, can I bring her over? Maybe she's sick, I need you now. I don't know what to do."

"Fine, bring her over." No matter how angry she was with him it paled in comparison to the compassion she felt for him. She'd do anything and right now he needed her help with this girl.

She was waiting on the front steps of her building when he arrived. By the sound of it Danica's cries had settled but only slightly. Scully smiled at him softly as he got out of the car and walked around it to get Danica out. She didn't move to help, he couldn't doubt that she'd been standing there long, she was wearing a pair of blue silk pajama pants and a white singlet. Her arms were crossed over her chest the only physical way she could keep herself from helping, she wanted to help but had already exposed herself enough of her street to her sleepwear that she refrained from moving herself from the front step.

"People were looking at me like I kidnapped her." Mulder exclaimed Danica crying into his shoulder, her little body fighting his grasp as Scully lead them into her unlocked and waiting apartment.

"Kidnap is usually defined as taking someone away illegally by force, typically to obtain a ransom. I don't think you're looking for ransom, and Danica seems as though at the time she wouldn't have protested. But it all falls under the same category. You kidnaped her, Mulder."

His hissed playfully, his face twisted as he thought. "Kidnap is such a strong word Scully. I prefer," He was putting Danica down on the sofa and had started to sift through the little girls bag when Scully jumped in for him.

"Abduction?" Mulder shook his head, his face had fallen; something was missing.

"Surprise adoption." His voice wasn't in it anymore as he'd given her his answer. He was thinking, something wasn't right. "The bear!" He grumbled in frustration. He'd practically emptied the entire bag on Scully's living room floor and he still hadn't found it.

His life couldn't get any worse, he'd forgotten the bear.

"The bear?" Scully asked her voice confused. She didn't know anything about Danica's bear, he'd never brought it up with her. Yet, he found himself slightly irritated that she hadn't known. It wasn't Scully's fault of course, but in that moment everyone should have known about the bear.

"Schatz." Mulder stood up as he started to pat down his own pockets and did a small circle like a dog would do if it were chasing its tail. Danica was looking around the room in distress, as though her tiny efforts in a completely different apartment would make her teddy suddenly appear. Her words started to finally make sense.

"Oh, Schatz." Her little hand sat on her forehead, her little fingers tangling in her light orange bangs. She let out a disgruntled sigh her face showing every sign of complete and utter frustration. Just when Mulder had thought all her words were about to make sense he turned to the young girl and asked her where she'd left the bear. In a split five seconds Danica's words were a frenzy and no sense was being made.

"Her bear, Schatz, he's not here. I must have left him in the apartment. Will you be okay with her while I go get the bear?" Scully looked stranded, a deer stuck in headlights. What was she supposed to say? Well, she knew what she was supposed to say, yes, but she didn't know how to handle Danica. The little girl was so different compared to her godson Trent. He knew her, for one. He understood English and best of all he'd hardly ever been handed to her whilst he was still screaming for something unknown.

She swallowed a lump that had suddenly formed in her throat and nodded her head assuring the man that she'd be fine with Danni for twenty minutes. Mulder kissed the girls hair despite her loud protests to go with him and whispered that he'd be back before he thanked Scully and dashed out the door.

"So …" She turned to the still sobbing little girl. Scully had one hand on her hip, the other rubbing her hairline as she looked the three-year-old over. What on this planet was she supposed to do with the child for twenty minutes? "Danica," Her voice was soft as she inched closer to the young girl. "Do you want to watch 'Annie'?" The little girl gave her a blank expression, she hadn't understood.

Just as Scully was about to give up, Danica hummed softly as she stuck her thumb in her mouth and nodded. Her tears were still streaming silently but it was evident that whatever was upsetting the little girl she'd had enough of it. Mulder had mentioned something on the phone about it being past Danica's bedtime and Scully was surprised the girl was still wide eyed. Moving so she was on her stomach Danica slid off the sofa her thumb still in her mouth and padded over to where Scully had sat on the back of her legs to be at the girls' level. Danica promptly sat herself on Scully's lap, seemingly in a way to tell the woman she had liked her idea.

"First," Scully told her patting the side of her leg. "we need a blanket." Danica got up, her tears gone as she toddled over to where she'd been sitting on the sofa. The patchwork blanket Mulder had bought her in Russia had been carried inside with her. She held it up over her head proudly, the blanket much larger than herself toppled over and fell over the top of her head covering her face from Scully. Taking that moment to make the girl smile Scully called out for Danica, suggesting to no one that the little girl was gone. Creeping up she flicked a bit of the blanket over Danica's head and whispered "Boo" At first the girl jumped, actually frightened that Scully had found her and been so close to her. That feeling washed over in a second and quickly Danica was giggling as she flicked the blanket back over for Scully to do it again.

Wrapping her arm around Danica's tiny waist she hoisted the girl up onto her hip. "Second, we need…" She hummed to think for a second. Releasing one hand that held Danica she tapped her chin. "Candy?" She asked the little girl. Danica nodded, unsure of what it was Scully was talking about but her tone of voice made the whole thing seem fantastic. "No," Scully stopped. "Papa might get mad. But maybe we want him too." She sighed as they entered the kitchen as one. "He's a good person Danica. He may not say it or show it a lot but he cares and he knows how to care silently. Sometimes he keeps his love to himself. But that's just because he wants to protect you." She was talking like an adult as she placed Danica on the kitchen counter so she could shift though the back of her cabinets. She knew there was a packet of Gummy Bears in there somewhere, she always kept spares for Trent.

At the second thought of her godson, Scully jotted down, on the pad of paper behind Danica's hip to call Ellen. She hadn't seen Trent in years and both she and her old friend had lost touch. Trent would be quite a number of years older than Danica but maybe the two could learn something from one another.

Finding the gummy bears at last she handed them to Danica. A bowl in one hand a little girl in the other, Scully looked over her kitchen as though she could see what was in each of the cabinets just by looking at them. Deciding she had everything the little girl would desire she moved them both back into the living room. Danica sat on the sofa while Scully sorted through her drawers looking for the right video. Finding it she slid it in the VCR player and joined Danica on the sofa.

With a throw rug over her lap Scully sank into the comfort of her sofa and the old film. She'd been eighteen the first time this had come out in the theatres and Melissa had dragged her out to see it. They'd made it a yearly tradition between themselves to find time in their busy lives to sit down and watch the film about the curly red haired orphan. She hadn't touched the tape since Missy died, but in a way this was better – it would never succeed watching the film with her sister every year, but watching Danica's young face as she discovered the story for the first time brought an amazing joy.

They hadn't gotten all that far into the movie when Danica moved and snuggled herself into Scully's side. The older woman froze a moment before brushing the girls' hair out of her face and relaxing back into the film. They'd fallen asleep like that, not even half way through the film, the little girls arm across her stomach, her ear pressed to Scully's soft heartbeat. Scully's hand had was occasionally subconsciously stroking Danica's hair as they both slept, each of them enjoying the simple comfort they gained from the others actions.

That was exactly how Mulder had found them when he returned still without the bear two hours later than he said he would be. The only light in the room was that coming from three different places. The film was scrolling through its credits but an illuminating blue light from the television set had cast a blue glow across the coffee table. Soft moonlight had drifted into the room and ignited both Danica and Scully's bright hair. The moonlight danced across their faces. The light that mingled in the air, escaping from the bathroom door she'd left ajar illuminated their clasped hands that lie holding the other tightly, the strongest lifeline the other could find in the dark. The hand Scully didn't have in Danica's hair, found it's place holding the little girls hand on her stomach.

Together they looked so peaceful, two broken souls joined together in their separate dreams. He knew he should wake them that the weight of even the tiniest three-year-old paired with the small space of the sofa, things were going to get uncomfortable and he could bet Scully would end up on the floor. But something about their serenity made him stop, just for a moment to breathe the scene in and capture that memory. There was nothing quite like seeing a child, a child he was pretending to belong to him sleeping soundly in the arms of the woman he loved.

Danica's lips smacked together in her sleep as she shifted only slightly. He froze mid-step his father mode had kicked in and he was quietly picking up the scattered pieces of Danica's belongings. He took that moment in half wakefulness to scoop the girl into his arms. He thought about leaving, his heel turned and his arms were full of Danni's things but the tiny thought of Scully waking up panic made him turn and take Danica into his partners' bedroom. He would have optioned for the guestroom but had known Scully kept the room unmade unless she actually needed its use.

The little girl snuggled instantly into the woman's quilt. She tucked herself further under the covers in her sleep. Her little body almost completely gone in the cool crisp blankets, the only indicator that she was there were the wisps of her long hair across the pillow and the tiny lump in the blanket. Whispering "Gute nacht" he left the room this time in search for his other sleeping beauty.

Just as Danica had Scully let a soft sigh pass her lips when he entered the room again. She shifted in her sleep, her legs bending at her knees only to fall against the side of the sofa. She straightened her back out, an arm thrown over her eyes, her body conscious that the little girl wasn't there anymore. With a content sigh she settled her body further into the cushions. He slipped an arm under her shoulder blades and the other under her knees. He shifted her slightly, measuring out her weight in his arms. He lifted her quickly, yet softly. The minute her body was off the sofa she instinctively moved in toward him, an arm wrapping around his neck even in sleep. She brushed his chest with her cheek, inhaling deeply she let out a content little mumble.

"Stay." He froze, she'd surely rip his head off when she realized exactly where she was and who was holding her. "Stay." This time she moaned ever so slightly her fingernails scrapping across the back of his shirt, almost as though her life very well depended on it, the corner of her thumb was striking across the bare flesh of the nape of his neck. Goose flesh rippled down his spine and electrifying tingle caused the hairs on his arms to stand to full attention. She giggled softly, her body shifting in his arms as she wrapped her other arm around his neck. He wondered, for only a split second if she'd had anything to drink. But upon his inspection of her apartment when he arrived he couldn't' find any evidence that she had been. "Stay." She purred, her lips were against his collar bone, as simple hairs breath away, he could feel her breath lingering there, his arms almost gave way nearly dropping her completely.

This couldn't be his Scully. The pragmatic Dr. Dana Katherine "ice queen" Scully? No. It was a funny joke, but no. His partner, although he believed she had a heart and an amazing one at that, she wasn't capable of loving him. No one was, only in his fantasies would he accept that and that was all it was – a fantasy. He'd believe her insane if she came on to him at all let alone with her mind still lagged with sleep.

But none the less she'd done it. Her finger tips were brushing the hairs on the back of his neck while her subtle lips lingered barely there on his jutting out collar bone; those same pink rose colored lips purred his name and asked, begged, for him to stay. "Scully," He wanted to moan her name back but held back on his urges. What the hell was happening to them anyway?! "That's insane." She purred again, this time with no words. "Where will I sleep?"

"With me." Her fingers were still stroking his skin as she whispered her response.

"Danica's in your bed."

"Here, on the sofa." Her words were starting to bite, she was getting sick of his clueless game. Mulder put her back down and she instantly moved as far as she could into the back of the sofa, her eyes were still closed when she mumbled again. "What?" She's sensed the fact that he was just standing there, staring at her as though something had gone terribly wrong.

"What am I going to sleep in?" He could sense the roll of her eyes. She reached for his pant leg and pulled weakly on the denim. He'd changed out of his suit when he and Danica got home that afternoon, choosing a pair of trusty old jeans and a grey t-shirt over the constricting fabric of his expensive suits. "What?' He stuttered, his feet completely rooted to the floor.

"You're wearing boxers aren't you?" Mulder nodded even though she couldn't see him and even though he felt things could possibly get out of hand he'd pulled of his jeans anyway and folded them over the back of one of the living chairs before settling himself on the sofa. The minute his back his cushion, Scully wiggled positioning herself so one leg was over his waist and her head was tucked under his chin. She continued to squirm trying to get comfortable. The silk of her pajama pants rubbed against his bare legs and the exposed plain of his stomach where his shirt had risen up, the sensation was igniting fires he didn't know how to put out.

"Dana," His voice was hoarse as his rough hands found her wiggling hips. "You need to stop fidgeting." He managed to get his words out leaving Scully to giggle softly in the moonlight as though she were a young teenager, finding out the effects she had on boys for the first time. Apologizing meekly she pulled an arm over his chest, trapping him to her as she fell asleep. These actions were so untypically them, Mulder couldn't help but wonder for the second time that night if something was wrong; if this was actually the woman he had been working with for four years or if it was someone else entirely. Either way the whole thing was entirely sweet and soft almost as smooth as warm honey and milk.

He settled, let his body relax completely only to marvel at her size in his arms. She was tiny, no, Danica was tiny. His Scully, she was something different, but a little more, she couldn't be defined as miniscule, that would be offensive against her personality, and small was just too plain a word. He wanted to call her petite, which had fit to her but; his Scully was something extraordinary her size couldn't be measured. He had remembered something from school, a play he once had to read and found himself completely entrapped in the world of literature and the description of the woman William Shakespeare had portrayed, "though she be but little, she is fierce," Although he couldn't remember her name for the life of him that night, the little "vixen" was someone he strived to find. In those moments of darkness Mulder realized he'd found her.

He awoke in the morning, her body no longer attached to his and the smell of fresh coffee threading through the morning air. Rubbing his hands over his face he sat and stretched for the moment his world only consisted of that in front of him until Danica's little voice shrieked his new title in complete excitement. "Papi!" She called and his head turned to catch her maneuvering his partners' apartment in order to get to him.

"Share with your papa, what you learnt, Honey." Scully appeared only a few steps behind Danica a spatula in her hand and flour all over the jeans she was wearing. Upon noticing that about his partner, he noticed also the little girl who was now in his lap also had flour covering her green leggings and pink flowered top. He had to pinch himself, what was this domestic dream that he'd woken to? Surely the Dana Scully he knew was not standing in front of him covered in flour and reminding his daughter to share with him something that she'd taught her.

Mulder looked down at the little girl in his lap with a bright smile, Danica looking up at him with the same bright expression. "Danni made pancakes!" She whispered worried that her words were wrong. The she watched Mulder's eyes for a moment before turning and checking with Scully. The woman nodded at the girl with a bright smile. Danica squealed jumping in Mulder's lap before repeating her words. "Come, come" She grabbed his hand pulling him straight off the sofa eager for the man to try her cooking.

"Are you sure there's any left you've got it all over yourself and Scully." Mulder teased unbeknownst to the little girl who giggled as she pulled him along to the dining table.

As they spoke over breakfast that morning Mulder couldn't help but notice a flame in his partners eyes. It was only a small flicker at first but by the time Danica had moved away from the table to color in her books, and the dishes were cleared from the dining table and the mess from the kitchen that flicker had broken out like wildfire.

"Oh, I forgot." Scully jumped, holding out a finger for him to wait while she disappeared down the hallway. "I read over this a few days ago." She dropped Danica's files down on the dining table in front of him. Mulder smiled up at her softly. "Nothing odd came up Mulder. I checked in with data bases, she's not missing nor are her parents. It doesn't make any sense."

"A kindergarten didn't file a disappearance? Maybe her parents had no family, that would make them easy targets neighbors would just think they left town." Mulder was watching Danica out of the corner of his eye waiting for a reaction out of the girl. Eventually names were going to come up and she would remember them.

Scully shook her head. "Nothing, her mother, Angelika …" Scully paused, sucking in a small breath. Some children hardly recognized their parent's names when they're young but she wanted to be cautious over the little ears that were still in the same room. "was an elementary school teacher; whatever her father, Klaus did for work wasn't recorded in specifics, but these are just general files you know how basic they are." She was frustrated that they couldn't get to any basic point; he was surprised she hadn't mentioned this earlier. "Mulder, they both quit their jobs two years ago. The whole thing was unexplained, I managed to get an international phone call out and I spoke with her mother employers. They didn't know why she left. In fact she never handed them her resignation instead mailed it. This woman Mulder, she was scared for her family, for Danni. I don't know what about, but I know she was scared, why else would see leave her job?"

"Two years?" He asked softly, his heart ripping in two. He begged a higher power that that little girl didn't have to grow-up where he found her for two years. "Do you think they were on the run? Maybe they lasted a little while. But Scully, there were possibly hundreds of people in Russia. What had they all done, why them?" Scully shrugged, her actions upset.

"Everything looks like it was planned. I can't get any further than that. Her family records are sealed tighter than anything we've come across. I want to know why. I want to know who did this to that little girl." She was leaning against the table, her face close to Mulders as she pointed to the quietly drawing Danica. "We need to protect her Mulder what if someone comes looking for her? Like you said what have they done? Why a little girl and her parents? Among hundreds of people?"

"No one's going to come after her, we're going to find out what happened out there. What's still happening out there. I promise." She looked at him through her eye lashes as he slid his hand across the table to clasp her smaller one. This was going to be one hell of a ride.

"But what if …" Mulder looked to the little girl sitting on the floor, unaware that all their attention was on her. He hoped for his sake and Scully's that no one would come after this child. That she'd be safe for the rest of her young life. But even Mulder knew he couldn't promise that, not really.

He scoffed softly. "Whoever has done this, they're not going to get her." He breathed deeply. "What man, or woman," He corrected at her glare. "would want to risk attempting to take a screaming child out of the country."

She raised a brow that statement. She had otherwise assumed that Danica was quite complacent with Mulder. Especially in his escapade to get her out of the country. "I don't know Mulder, you would." He smiled at that.

"But, let's say this is a government operation. Who would want to risk that in order to get a little girl?"

"Easy, she could spill their secrets. Tell the world what happened to her."

"Would I let her do that? Would you? I rather her in a safe environment that getting revenge." Mulder gained another eye brow raise. "What? She's a little girl, Scully." He wanted to laugh. Sure he wanted revenge for what happened to Samantha, but most of all he just wanted an explanation behind his sisters disappearance. The right explanation. The Truth.

"But what if, Mulder? What if they're desperate. What if it was an experiment and she's carrying some experimental virus? You just don't understand the lengths people could go to to cover up their secrets. You could potentially be putting a target on our backs. Free reign for these men to kill us."

"If that ever happens." Mulder spoke his voice genuine as he watched his partner sink into the chair next to him. Danica have given up on her drawing, instead optioning for wandering around the apartment her little voice calling out for Schatz. The missing link to her upset state was still yet to be found but she had found life okay still without the safety blanket she'd acquired and now lost.

Giving up on her search for the bear, Danica carried over an art book along with a small pack of crayons. She placed them on the edge of Scully's dining table before climbing up on Mulder's lap silently. Noticing that the hair tie in her hair was failing in it's up keep Mulder pulled it out. With his hands running through her soft hair in order to collect it all for a neat pony tail he continued talking. "I don't think anyone will try. We're happy like this and Danica's establishing her own freedom and independence. Who wants to put up with a noisy three-year-old? Besides we're teaching her English and I want to get her ahead on the school curriculum. But not too far ahead that she'll be picked on for being smart, but enough that she's not going to be the stupid kid either."

Scully smiled her elbows on the table and her head resting in her palms as she watched Danica draw intensely. "Which one were you Mulder? I bet you were too far ahead, spooky from the start." She teased with a sweet smile that fire in her eyes again.

"I wasn't spooky from the start." He fought back in a teasing tone. He had a soft smile on his face, one to match her own, his mind was in that dream world now and he couldn't stop spinning the story. The idea of Danica growing up with him had been in his mind for a while and he couldn't help but to admit that he liked the idea. Especially with Scully. "And these people Scully, these Russians. I don't know if they had much on sport but Danni's taking a liking into my baseball tapes and the ice hockey. I thought maybe when she's old enough and understands both the sport and English a little more I'll join her up to a little leagues team and a swim team in summer."

"What about ballet and violin lessons, Mulder. She needs to be well constructed." He gave her a crooked smile, he hadn't expected Scully to join in on the fantasy. She reached out for one of Danica's crayons as Scully herself scribbled on the back of the envelope encasing Danica's files.

"I learnt piano as a kid." He offered, maybe that might be a bit easier for the little girl to learn.

Scully shook her head. "But, all the kids know how to play the piano. Danica needs to stand out … but not too much." She looked up at him shyly though her eyelashes, her hair falling in front of her eyes slightly. He still couldn't wipe the crooked goofy grin off his face.

"And then, she'll become a teenager" He paused for effect and squeezed the little girl who had no idea what they were talking about. "Not only will these people not want to be around her, we won't either." His inclusive words weren't lost on Scully, she smiled softly trying to concentrate on the very girly flower she was drawing. "Of course, she'll be shorter than you Scully and she'll have to fight to be heard. It'll be about the eighth grade and she'll try to be taller than me, but she will only be as tall as you, but I'll pretend for her and stand up for her. Then she'll try to beat me at swimming laps and outsmart me and then she'll start shaving her legs and well … she won't be my little girl anymore." His face was sullen, he didn't want this little girl to grow up.

"You know, Mulder. Eventually you're going to have the 'sex talk' with her." She told him pointing a crayon at his face with a mischievous grin. The prospect of Mulder trying to tell a young girl made Scully want to roll over with laughter.

"Me?" He visibly swallowed, his cheeks flushing.

"Yeah, Mulder. You." She told him bluntly. "You are the father." He looked at her and she could practically hear the wheels in his head turning.

"But, you are the doctor." Shrugging as a way to tell him 'so what?' she turned back to the drawing.

"And you're the acclaimed playboy with a series of videos that you claim," She hooked her fingers "'Aren't yours.' I'm sure you know plenty." She teased him, poking and prodding until he was red in the face. "What next, Mulder? What will change in her life that these people won't want to take her?" She knew the events of ones life. The stereotypes and the very real heartbreak but coming from his smooth monotone voice with his teasing jokes and sweet smiles she couldn't let him stop. Not yet anyway.

"Isn't Danica being a hormonal teenager enough?" Scully shook her head as she picked up another crayon and drew a small red heart. "Well, she'll … I don't know if you want to know." She looked up her eyes fluttering like a butterflies wings asking him innocently 'what?' without the worlds. "She'll be interested in boys." Scully pretended to gasp. "No, I'm serious. And maybe the only boys they have are really ugly ones. No, no that won't do. Danica will want something that challenges her, as always."

"As you forced upon her, to be challenged that is." Of course Scully could bring the blame of their daughter's choice of boyfriends on him.

"She'll want someone dark, mysterious, forbidden. Someone slightly older than her with experience and a tattoo, maybe even has facial piercings. His eyes will be intense and that's what she'll love the most. She'll forever be looking for intense eyes like that of her first boyfriend."

Scully looked at him slightly surprised. "'like that of her first boyfriend'? Won't he be the one?" Mulder had never seen his partner romanticize this much before.

Mulder shrugged. "You can't hit the nail on the head every time. He'll break her heart and it'll be tragic and you and I will both want to kill him. But that'll lead her to new paths, new people, a different perspective on life. It'll be good for her, but." He paused for effect, his eyes boring into hers. Danica held her hand out for the crayon Scully was holding. Exchanging with the girl she waited, Mulder was watching both girls softly. "it'll be rough first." Scully nodded. She knew that. "She'll mope, and whine and probably cry. She'll hate me, because all of a sudden. Due to one boy it's every man's fault." He sighed, Scully was watching Danica with a soft fondness. "You'll talk to her about respecting people's feelings. That not everything happens the way we think it should and that she shouldn't be so harsh on me." Scully rolled her eyes. "You'll be the one who fixes her up and she'll go to you for all her secrets and all off a sudden it'll be the two of you against me."

"Me?" she looked at him, like he'd looked at her when she suggested he was to be the one to have the sex talk with Danica. He'd referred to her quite a lot, insinuating that she would have a lot to do with Danica's later life. But, he was kidding with her. Eventually he'll realize their jobs are too dangerous and he'll leave, she'll have to leave. Eventually their ways would part.

Wouldn't they?

"Yeah, Scully because you'll be the …" He stopped midsentence the sudden ringing of his phone had Danica tugging on his sleeve carried him away from their fantasy future. Shifting Danica in his arms he stood to that he could get the phone out of his jeans pocket, the pants in which he was wearing again. "Mom." He answered surprised at her call. Mulder was still yet to get used to the relationship they'd started to fix. "You do?" He set Danica down on the floor where she just looked up at him while tugging on her pant leg asking to be picked up again. "No, no. We'll meet you half way if that's okay. Thanks, I'll see you soon."

Scully looked up at Mulder bewildered, their fantasy life popped due to the shrill ringing of his cell phone. Sighing deeply she asked why his mother had called. "She found Schatz under Danica's bed at her place this morning. That would explain the screaming yesterday, she didn't have her teddy." Mulder looked down at the small child who just grinned meekly.

"Boo?!" She muttered her palms raised to the ceiling as she shrugged her shoulders. Laughing softly Mulder hoisted her up on his hip.

"If we leave now I can meet my mother halfway. Sorry to run out on you like this." Danica sensing their departure packed up her coloring. Scully shook her head waving him off as she tried to put off her disappointment. Smiling he kissed her forehead and thanked her for everything since the night before. Scully walked them to her Mulder's car and buckled Danica into her car seat. It wasn't until Mulder's car was disappearing down the road and Danica's waving little hand couldn't be seen any more that Scully realized she was angry with him, that she had something on her mind they were still yet to discuss.