Dedicated to all my great reviewers. And special dedication to Ashley for trying not to annoy me, and to Emily for great inspiration, especially for the last chapter! Thank you so much everyone.

Chapter 10 – The trial

Tanya was waiting for us outside the courtroom. Elias was going to testify. Tanya had tried her best to prevent that but he had simply been too smart. Even though he was only five, he was far more developed than most kids his age. Mulder was going to testify as well. That scared Scully a bit. She didn't know who knew about him and her. Skinner didn't even know and she hadn't told her lawyer, Tanya, either. Scully had decided she would whisper it to her once they were inside the courtroom. Then she couldn't have a reaction, but she would be prepared, Scully figured.

Elias was holding Scully's hand and he was beginning to get really nervous. Mulder and Scully had told him, that he had to talk to the judge and tell her what he wanted to do. They had also said he shouldn't be nervous, but he couldn't help it. He knew he could be separated from his parents and that frightened him. He had never really known what it was like to be part of a family. Now he knew and he knew he couldn't stand to get taken away from them. They were his mom and dad. And he had cousins, uncles and aunts as well. And a grandma. He loved Maggie so much. She was with them today too, walking right next to Elias and Scully. She tried to look as if she was at ease with everything, but even she couldn't hide her nervousness.

"I love you, mom!" Elias said and held Scully's hand extra tight.

Scully picked Elias up, which she never did because she was trying to break that habit, and hugged him lovingly.

"I love you too, Elias. And we are going to do everything we can to keep you with us!" she promised him.

Tears started to form in Elias' eyes. Mulder saw this and saw how Scully was just about to break herself. He walked quickly to them, and took Elias from Scully's embrace.

"Don't cry, E. It's gonna be fine", Mulder whispered to him as he held the boy tight and let him cry on his shoulder. "We love you so much, Elias. And the judge will see that. She can't send you away!" he tried to calm Elias down just as much as he was trying to calming himself down.

"We need to go in now", Tanya informed us.

Just as she had said this, Elias' biological uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Quinn, walked past them across the hall and into the little courtroom. They looked to be in their mid forties. Mr. Quinn was tall and thin. He wasn't muscled but looked rather soft. He had slick black hair with gray tones. He was wearing a shiny black suit with a red tie. He looked very much like a banker. He walked in a straight path into the courtroom without even looking at them. His wife walked right behind him trying to keep up. She was almost as tall and thin as her husband. She was wearing a cerulean blue skirt suit with matching hat, purse and shoes. They looked as the upper class and seemed rather snobby and cold. Without knowing it, Mulder tightened his hold on Elias, and Scully grabbed the little guy's hand.

They walked into the courtroom. Elias was still holding onto Mulder's hand. Scully sat next to Tanya. In the opposite side of the room sat Mr. Quinn with his lawyer, while Mrs. Quinn sat behind them. Behind Scully sat Maggie next to Elias and next to him Mulder. Mulder gave Scully a vague smile while he was holding Elias' hand. She tried to smile back. Elias' crying had ceased, but his eyes were still a bit red. Scully couldn't believe he had to do this. But she still couldn't do anything to stop it. She was helpless.

Judge Dover walked into the courtroom, while someone said; "All rise". I have no idea where it came from but did as said. Soon we were seated again. The lawyers and judge rambled and rambled along. It was all technically and didn't make much sense to Scully. She couldn't concentrate on what they were saying anyway. Suddenly the lawyers were sitting again, and Mr. Quinn took place in the witness crank. His own lawyer asked him about many things and they established he was sane and rich. Now it was Tanya's turn to ask Mr. Quinn some things.

"So, Mr. Quinn: How much contact have you had with Elias throughout the years?"

"I haven't seen him since he was around a year old. I didn't get along with my brother very well", he said.

"Then why is it that you suddenly show this interest in the boy? Does it have something to do with your wife and you not being able to conceive yourself?"

"He is family. And I think he is better off with me and my wife than some strangers. And it has nothing to do with the fact that we can't have children. My wife and I have come to terms with that."

"But aren't you a stranger to him yourself? You said you hadn't seen him since he was one. He has lived with Ms. Scully for several months now."

"I am still his biological family. He has no connections to this Ms. Scully. She has probably been a nice foster mother, but she can't love him as his family, not really."

"So you don't believe that adoptive parents can love their child as much as biological parents?" Tanya asked in disbelief.

"Certainly not. That's why my wife and I never attempted adoption before. Because it wouldn't be real!"

Everyone in Scully's side of the room wanted to hit Mr. Quinn right about then. Even the judge looked at him a bit weird. I guess this was good for their defense, Scully thought, and tried to forget what that horrible man had just said. Now it was Scully's turn to swear an oath and answer questions. Tanya determined how close Elias and Scully was, and Scully's love for Elias was evident. She seemed way better for Elias than Mr. Quinn had. Tanya smiled as she sat down, but feared what the lawyer was gonna ask.

"Ms. Scully. You work for the FBI, right?" he asked and looked really dodgy and self-confident.

"Yes. Yes I do."

"And which kind of work do you do there?"

"I am a special agent. I work on a unit called the x-files."

"And what exactly does this unit do?"

"OBJECTION!" Tanya exclaimed and stood up. "I can't see the relevance of this, judge!"

"I think it's important to establish what Ms. Scully do. Since I don't think any of us has ever heard about this special unit it would be nice to have it explained."

"Objection overruled, but get to the point, lawyer!" Judge Dover said harsh.

"So tell me about this unit, Ms. Scully", he carried on.

"We investigate otherwise unexplained cases. Cases which are thought to have something to do with the paranormal somehow."

"Paranormal? So have you ever seen a ghost?"

"OBJECTION!" Tanya shouted a bit angrier this time. She obviously wasn't as used to someone making fun of people's profession as Scully was.

"Sustained!" Judge Dover said at once. "Stick to the case, lawyer! And stay out of religious and personal believes. That doesn't matter in this courtroom!"

The lawyer just nodded, and tried to look respectful. It was clear he had hoped to get Scully down on the x-files. But that wasn't happening. Mulder smirked at that.

"Alright. But you have a partner at work, right?"

"Yes. Mr. Mulder is both my partner and my friend", she answered trying not to let on how nervous this topic made her.

"But you are more than just friends, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you are lovers aren't you?"

I looked to Tanya. I hoped she would object to this. But the look she gave me said there was no denying it. How the hell had they found out though?

"We are in a relationship, yes!" Scully answered him harsh.

"And you sleep together with Elias in the apartment?"

"Well, yes. But not in the same room."

"Is this a relationship with a future? Or are you going to introduce the boy to a lot of men?"

"It's not like that. We love each other. And Elias loves Mulder as well. Even if it doesn't work out between us, Mulder and Elias would still see each other! I would never deny them that! They are too close."

"So when both you and your boyfriend", Scully cringed at the word boyfriend. It didn't explain their relationship to the fullest. It didn't even come close. "…are both special agents, and probably out of town from time to time, then who will take care of Elias?"

"His grandmother. My mother. She takes care of him if both Mulder and I are out of town or working late."

"Do you often work late?"

"No. And if we do, we try to coordinate it, so one of us will stay while the other one picks up Elias. Like I suspect most parents do."

"Aha. And do you think you live a life like most parents?"

"I am not sure I understand, what you mean."

"Well, is your home a safe place for Elias to grow up?"

"Yes. Of course it is. We love him!"

"I meant is it safe for him! People have been shot in your apartment, haven't they?"

Scully looked down to her family, as if to find the answers there. Maggie looked sad. Mulder looked sad and guilt-ridden. Elias didn't seem to be paying attention to the boring adults, but were looking outside the window. Scully was happy he didn't hear this.

"In fact, your own sister was shot in your apartment, because they thought she was you, didn't she?"

"Yes", Scully said sad looking down.

"And how can you prevent this from happening to Elias as well? Your work leaves you with quite a few enemies, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does. But I will never let Elias be alone in the apartment. Mulder and I will always be there to protect him."

"Have you ever shot Mulder?" the lawyer suddenly changed the subject making Scully confused.

"What? I only did that because…"

"A simple no or yes answer will do, Ms. Scully", the lawyer told her. "Have you ever shot Mulder?"

"Yes, but it was…"

"Thanks. That will be all, your honor!" he said directed to the judge and sat down next to Mr. Quinn again. Both Mr. Quinn and his lawyer had a smug on their faces and seemed even more evil now.

Scully sat back down again. The next witness was some family therapist. She explained how people who weren't related could have even deeper connections sometimes, and how a kid shouldn't be moved from family to family. It was the same therapist who had spoken to Elias earlier that week, and he told the court about his analysis on the boy as well. He spoke for Scully, but the courtroom still echoed those words which had been said a few minutes earlier. Or at least they echoed in Scully's head. 'In fact, your own sister was shot in your apartment, because they thought she was you, didn't she?', 'Have you ever shot Mulder?'

Now Elias had to witness. Suddenly everything went quiet. Even inside Scully's head. Mulder walked him up to the witness crank holding his little hand, telling him it was okay, when Elias looked pleading at him, asking with his eyes, if he had to do this.

"Hello, Elias. I am Harriet", Judge Dover said to Elias.

"Hello, ma'am", he answered her polite.

"Do you promise to tell the truth today?" she asked him as the protocol said she had to.

"Yes, ma'am, I promise", he nodded and looked to Tanya as she neared the crank.

"Hello again, Elias. I am going to ask you some questions now. Is that okay?" Tanya asked him letting him know what was going on.

"It's okay", he said and smiled at the familiar face.

Tanya just asked him about stuff like how much he loved Mulder and Scully. Tanya established that Elias would rather live with them, and that he already thought of them as his mom and dad. Now it became Mr. Quinn's lawyer's turn to question Elias. Mulder, Scully, Maggie and Tanya all held their breaths.

"Hi, Elias. My name is John!" he said trying to do right.

"Hello", Elias said and looked scared and nervous.

"So how long have you known Ms. Scully and Mr. Mulder?"

"Since New Year's Eve."

"And how did you come to know them?"

"They found me. I had run away because I didn't want to go to an orphanage."

"Where did they find you?"

"In the backseat of Scully's car. I was sleeping."

"Scully? You call her Scully?"

"Sometimes. At first I did. Because that's what Mulder calls her. But then I started to call her mom. I can't remember when."

"So what do you think of Mulder?"

"He is my best friend", Elias proudly announced and lit up. He smiled down to Mulder and he smiled back nodding approving.

"And do you think him and Ms. Scully are a good couple?"

"Yes. Of course. They feel like my mom and dad. More than my real mom and dad did. I know they love me."

"How do you know that?"

"Because they tell me everyday", Elias said, not doubting a thing like the lawyer was trying to make him.

"Is there anything you don't like about Mr. Mulder?"

"Ehm… I don't like it when he is kissing Scully."

"Really. Why not?" the lawyer asked suddenly sounding happy.

"Because kissing is gross! Eww!" Elias exclaimed and made a face as if he was gonna be sick, making the whole courtroom laugh. Well, the whole courtroom bar three.

The lawyer finally gave up, and sat down again. But Elias turned towards the judge.

"Ma'am?" he asked her gaining her attention.

"Yes?" she asked him smiling.

"Can I show you something?"

"Yes, sure you can", she told him repositioning in the chair to better focus on him.

"I have drawn you something. It's a drawing of me and my family", he told her handing her the drawing. "Do you want me to tell you who they are?"

"That would be nice", she told him leaning down so they could both see the drawing.

"Well, it's me in the middle, I am smiling because you have just said I can stay with Mulder and Scully. It's them who are standing beside me, holding my hands. That is my grandma, and she holding a pie we have made together, she is really good at baking and always let me help. These are my uncles. The cranky one is Uncle Bill. He just saw Mulder and Scully kiss and is totally grossed out. The happy one is Uncle Charlie. He is laughing because Bill is cranky. That is my cousin Tom. He is fun to play with. He is holding a soccer ball because that's his favorite sport. Mine are basketball and baseball. Just like Mulder's is!" he said and finally looked up from the drawing and straight into Judge Dover's brown eyes.

"Objection, your honor!" Mr. Quinn's lawyer said. "This can be something Ms. Scully has put him up to. To gain your sympathy!"

"Why have you drawn this, Elias?" Judge Dover asked but in a nice way, and only to be able to sustain objection.

"I thought it would be easier to show you my family with a drawing", Elias explained. "This is my family!" he said and held tight on the drawing. "They love me and I love them. Please don't take me away from them, ma'am! I don't wanna live with them, they scare me", he said pointing to Mr. and Mrs. Quinn.

"It's alright, dear. Just go sit down again", she told Elias smiling.

Scully was paralyzed again. Just like in her dream. Everything happened in slow motion. She watched the judge come back through the door in the back of the little courtroom. All she could hear was the small humming of the AC. As if a million years away, like an echo from the last century, she heard that strange and monotone voice yell; 'All rise!'

The watch on the wall ticked away but the judge's ruling she couldn't hear. Her ears started to ring and then she heard a scream bringing her back to reality. Her ears tuned in on the present and the world went back to its normal paste. The scream had come from behind her. Her mom was hugging Elias who was clinging onto Mulder. They parted and looked at her smiling. Elias jumped into her arms and exclaimed; "We will always be together now, mom! You are my family forever!"

Tears ran down Scully's cheek as she comprehended what had happened. Was this for true? Yes! In that moment she was happier than she had ever been in her whole life. Mulder walked over to her and kissed her hair while hugging her and Elias. He too felt the happiness warm his soul and heart.

They were all back at Scully's place celebrating. They had invited the whole family over as soon as they had heard the verdict. They had invited Tanya back to their place as well, and Skinner had joined them too. They seemed like more than friends. And they made a great couple. Mulder stood up on a chair and clinked on some random wineglass gaining everyone's attention.

"Many of you already know this, and a few of you don't. I am in love with Dana Scully!" Skinner turned his head with a speed even lightening would envy at this. Tanya, however, nudged his arm and told him she would explain later. "Today was a very important day for her, and for me as well. The boy we proudly call our son", he said and smiled at Elias who smiled back from his grandma's lap. "Was allowed to stay with us forever. To be a part of our family. Now there is something I want to ask you, Scully!" he said serious and turned to her. He jumped down from the chair and held her hand. "I considered asking you this on your birthday but I didn't have the guts. And I promised myself I would ask you today, no matter how this day might have ended." He took a deep breath, and pulled a perfect engagement ring from his pocket matching the jewelry he had given her on her birthday. Everyone in the room practically gasped. "I love you, Scully. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You and our son!" he got down on one knee, holding her hand in one of his and the ring in the other. "Will you do me the great honor of being my wife?"

"Oh, Mulder!" Scully said not able to believe what she was hearing. She had never thought he would do that. If she wanted to marry him, she would have to drag him up the aisle, she had thought. And she would have been happy to do that, as long as she got to spend the rest of her life with him.

She had been so happy she had forgotten to speak. She was just holding her hand for her mouth in mere shock. Mulder's eyes started to get sad, and his head moved downwards to the floor.

"YES!" she exclaimed. "Oh, yes, Mulder! I love you!" she said as she hugged him. Due to he was still sitting in his knee he kind of lost balance and feel to the floor with her on top of him. People laughed at her eagerness and his clumsiness, but most of all because they were happy on their behave.

"Save that for the honeymoon!" Charlie howled characteristic.

Mulder and Scully got up from the floor blushing slightly. Soon Scully got dragged into the kitchen by Maggie, Tanya, Jill and Tara. Mulder was at the same time surrounded by Skinner, Charlie and even Bill.

The ladies:

"Oh, Dana! Show me the ring!" Tara exclaimed whining.

Scully proudly lifted her hand, for the first time taking a real good look at it herself. "It matches", she mumbled not noticing until now.

"What? Matches what?" her mom asked.

Scully told them about the gift Mulder had given her on her birthday and they all smiled and went; "Awwww!" as she did so.

"Did you know he was gonna ask?" Tanya asked her interested.

"Ehm, no. I never thought he would! He never gave me any hints or anything", Scully told them as she was suddenly getting bombarded with questions.

"Where are you gonna have the wedding?"

"I think you should get married in our church, Dana!"

"Or maybe on a beach, that would be super romantic!"

"How long are you gonna wait until you finally do it. You are not gonna be fiancées for like, years are you?"

"Wow-ow! Relax, girls! I have only known about this as long as you have. Now if you will excuse me, I have to use the bathroom", Scully said and left the kitchen, where she could hear the women babbled on about how romantic it had been and how much they were looking forward to the wedding already.

The dudes:

"Mulder, you dog! You should have told me about this!" Charlie exclaimed smacking him rather hard on his shoulder.

"Congratulations, Mulder. I hope you will take good care of my sister. I know we have had our differences in the past. But I know you really love her now. And if you are that serious, you deserve a chance. But this doesn't mean I like you!" Bill told him.

"Thanks, Bill. That means a lot", Mulder nodded slightly laughing, but more of a nervous laughter. He really wanted to be with Scully right now. But the men had surrounded him.

"Well", Skinner began. "This certainly came as a surprise!"

"I know it must have, sir. And I am sorry, I just…"

"It's okay, Mulder", he grinned. "I am happy for you."

"Thank you, sir", Mulder thanked him sincere.

The men kept asking him stuff, but Mulder couldn't concentrate. Not until he had seen Scully. He catched a glimpse of Scully, standing behind the men in the door opening. She waved him to follow her.

"Hey, Elias!" he called Elias over. "Why don't you show these guys that fine drawing you showed Judge Dover?"

"Okay!" Elias said happy, and pulled it from his back pocket. While he showed them Mulder snuck out on them.

"Hey, you!" he whispered to Scully as they were alone in the bedroom.

"I never thought they would let me go!" she whispered back relieved.

"I know", Mulder grinned. "So… are you happy?" he asked her running the back of his hand down her cheek.

"More than I have ever been before!" she told him honest taking his hand in hers and looking him straight into his beautiful emerald eyes.

"I love you so much. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you", he told her stepping closer to her capturing her lips in the most gentle and loving kiss.

"You are such a romantic!" she told him back smiling and glowing with happiness.

"Only for you", he answered her and kissed her again. A bit more forceful and passionate this time though.

"Mmh, Mulder", Scully moaned making him even more passionate.

They walked slowly towards the bed before landing on it. Mulder was lying on top and started kissing her neck.

"We can't Mulder. We have the house filled with people!" Scully tried to reason.

"I know", he simply answered her stopping his kisses. He looked into her eyes.

They began to smile and then they kissed again. Mulder rolled onto his back and then Scully pulled her sweater off, exposing her red bra. She began undoing his buttons on his shirt while he undid her pants. He listed his hands onto her hips and pulled her even closer to him. She moaned at the contact and as she had finished with his shirt she ran her hands over his chest.

Suddenly the door went up and in came Maggie Scully. "Dana, are you in… Oh my God! I am so sorry! I am gonna go again! I am so sorry…" she ranted on as she left the room.

"I can't believe it! My mom just walked in on me!" Scully exclaimed but couldn't stop laughing.

"Well, that's going to be embarrassing", Mulder laughed as well.

They got up from the bed and tucked their clothes back in where it belonged. Then they gave each other a little kiss before joining everyone in the living room.

Just before Charlie was about to open his mouth and say something, someone knocked on the door. Mulder and Scully both went to answer, to hide from the embarrassment a few minutes longer. Mulder opened the door, surprised to see the man standing behind it.

"Agent Roberts?" Scully questioned him. "What are you doing here?"

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