'Come on sleepy head,' Scully shook the slumbering man beside her, 'time to get on the road.'

'Scully,' he moaned, burying his head back into his pillow, 'you call me an insomniac,' Mulder complained.

Looking at the digital display on the bedside clock, Mulder sighed. They'd made love last night and he'd ensured he'd taken his time. He'd never treated Scully to such a slow, gentle, passionate display of his feelings toward her. After Scully fell into a comforted sleep, Mulder lay and watched her chest rise and fall. He became entranced by the relaxed expression softening her features. The worry lines around her lips had magically vanished.

'The sun isn't even up yet,' he grumbled into the mounting silence.

'Car's leaving in 10 minutes,' Scully announced unperturbed, 'I'll treat you to breakfast when we get the other side of Memphis.'

'Come on Scully, I need a shower to wake me up,' Mulder protested, suddenly finding an aspect of this situation he liked, 'you could always share with me. Save water.'

'As tempting as that sounds,' Scully responded with a happy grin covering her lips, 'the car's still leaving in,' glancing down at her watch, Mulder realised she'd dressed and packed, 'eight minutes.'

'Impatient, Scully,' wiping the sleep from his eye's, Mulder gave up on the thought of a shower and grabbed the nearest items of clothing Scully had laid out for him.

'I'm going to bed with both my boys tonight,' she humoured him, a teasing eyebrow promising they'd make it to Virginia before the day ended.

'Oh, Scully, you know just what I like,' placing a hand in the middle of her back, he ushered her from the room into the cool predawn air.

'I cleaned out all those videos and magazines that weren't yours after you "died" Mulder,' she returned, 'I should know exactly what you like, being exposed to it and you for ten years.'

'Touché, Scully,' the return of her humour didn't surprise him. Last night, she'd wrestled with her demons, and won a hard fought battle. This new day bringing her closer to her dream, to her son and partner in a house Scully could call her home.

No longer needing to stay under the radar, Scully dove at least ten to fifteen miles above the speed limit, demonstrating her need to be in Virginia sooner rather than later. Noon saw them another six hundred miles closer to their destination. Mulder insisted, actually demanded Scully stop for lunch near Knoxville, much to her dismay. They ate quickly and in virtual silence before he took the key from her trembling hand.

'I'm driving the rest of the way, Scully,' he told her, giving the small but determined woman at his side no choice in the matter.

'I need to keep busy,' she whined, unable to stop the insecurities plaguing her mind. They had at least four hours by her estimate before reaching their destination. Four hours for her to worry and analyse and think.

'You need to sleep if you want to be of any use to our son tonight,' Mulder retorted, 'we'll arrive about five pm.'

'Just in time for William's dinner, bath and bed,' the thought of the regular routine thrilled Scully. It also brought tears to her eyes. 'Mulder, you never got to do any of that with me, with us.'

'Plenty of time, Scully,' he soothed, taking his eye's from the road for an instant to belay her rising fears. An entire conversation passed in that moment before he continued with, 'we have the rest of our lives to catch up on all the family moments I've missed,' Mulder promised, taking a seed from the bag and splitting it between his teeth. He would not allow his doubts and insecurities to be on display to Scully. Mulder knew she held enough for the both of them. 'Besides, what am I going to do all day while you're at work? I won't be able to have the very public profile you can.'

'That doesn't mean you have to be locked away indoors,' Scully retaliated, wondering how his enforced isolation had already affected his mind. The Mulder sitting beside her demonstrated much more self constraint and imperviousness than the man who investigated the X files at her side a decade before. He'd lost much of his all consuming devotion and passion to the truth. His self imposed seclusion hadn't changed the essence of the man, but decreased his intensity. He'd become harder.

'No, I won't have to stay locked up in the basement,' his attempt to tease failed, 'but Skinner definitely said to be circumspect. That decreases my personal and employment opportunities considerably.'

'We'll work it out, Mulder,' Scully sighed, placing a hand on his forearm.

'Scully,' his voice almost pleaded, 'I think I'd like to have a few weeks of family time before we make any future plans. I want to reconnect with you and our son.'

'I'd like that too, Mulder,' the tears she kept at bay cascaded down her cheeks. 'You and William need time together to bond. I just hope he remembers me. Three weeks to an eight month old is like an eternity. God, I've missed him so much.' With that Scully fell into wracking sobs. Finally expunging the last of her tears and grief, she slept fitfully as they transversed the Appellation Mountains.

When they finally manoeuvred the car up the gravel drive, the sun hung low in the western sky. The sight of their home caused equal amounts of trepidation and glee within Scully. I am so close to holding my baby again, and I'm never going to let him go, she promised.

As the car tires ate up the road, Scully's heart rate increased. What if he doesn't remember me or rejects my touch, the thought brought tears to her eyes. As the sun disappeared behind the horizon, Scully's breathing became more rapid and shallower. How much damage have I done, physically, emotionally and mentally by forcing so many changes on this child, she wondered, this child I wanted so badly then gave up. As Mulder pulled on the hand break, Scully's mind shut down completely. Unable to move at the enormity of this moment, Mulder guided her out of the seat and towards the farmhouse.

Maggie's gold Ford held pride of place in front of the porch. A cherry red Taurus sat beside it. Each step past the vehicles became murderous for Scully. Her steps slowed as her mind attempted to integrate the maelstrom of though creating the destructive force of a tornado in her mind.

'Mulder,' she pleaded, 'are we doing this for ourselves, or for William.'

'You're having doubts now, Scully,' he asked stunned by her sudden turn around.

'What if he's still in danger,' placing a hand on his, Scully forced Mulder to face her, look her in the eye. She needed to be heard, obliterate her fears and have Mulder refute them utterly. 'What if they're still after him, can we really protect him, can we give him the life he deserves?' shattered, Scully looked into the face of the man she loved beyond reason or rationality. 'If I go in there and hold him in my arms, I'll never be able to let go again. I have to be sure, Mulder, that we're doing the right thing for our son.'

'I'd die before giving either of you up again, Scully,' Mulder groaned, pulling his petite partner into his arms. 'We are going to walk into our home, we are going to greet our son, and we are going to be a family. We are never going to be separated, ever again.' Shaking at the emotional effort the words cost him, Mulder pulled slightly away. 'Do you understand, Scully, no one, no one in this world or any other can protect our son like we can. NO ONE.'

Nodding, she turned, griping his hand so tightly Mulder's finger tips turned mottled purple-blue. Together they walked towards their house, their home, their destiny. They walked up the stairs, opened the door and into the waiting arms of their son.