Thanks to MonikaFileFan for helping beta this chapter! Sorry for the long wait-hope you all enjoy the next three chapters!

Mulder followed Scully close behind as they made their way out of the building. He stayed close to her, trudging along despite the injuries he sustained while being held captive. Though he knew she was fully capable of protecting herself, he would be damned if any harm came to her or the baby. Finally, they reached the car and he noticed by her faltering step that she was tired, both physically and emotionally as much as she tried to hide it. "I'll drive," he said reaching for the keys.

"Like that?" She asked skeptically, eyeing his orange outfit. He sighed and shrugged the top off.

Thankfully, he had a white shirt on underneath. Tossing the orange shirt to the side of the road, he took the keys in Scully's outstretched hand.

Scully let out a long breath as they got into the car. "William, he...destroyed the surveillance footage and anything tying you to those murders."

Mulder stepped on the gas anyways but regretted it when Scully gasped and braced her arm against the door. "Sorry, I know. He may have had a troubled life, but he's a good kid."

Scully reached into her coat pocket and examined the windmill snow globe. "He came to the house last night...after you were taken."

Mulder looked over at her in surprise.

"He said he could help you. We didn't talk about much else. It was unreal…he thinks the baby is a girl."

Mulder's features lit up at that. "Really?" He couldn't help but imagine a little girl that looked just like Scully. He'd always wanted a daughter to protect in a way that he couldn't with Samantha.

Scully smiled. "I don't know why, but I'd have to agree with him. It's just a feeling I have."

"Ah, maternal instinct?"

"Something like that."

Mulder watched as she toyed with the snow globe in her hand. "You really like that snow globe, huh? Maybe I should have taken a few more for you. I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Mulder teased.

Scully smiled. She had the most beautiful smile and she was even more beautiful with that pregnancy glow.

"It's the only tangible thing of his I have aside from those photos."

Mulder reached for her left hand and clasped it tightly, sensing her affliction. "He'll be okay, Scully."

After several glances back to ensure they weren't being followed, Mulder pulled up the graveled driveway of their home. Home. He was afraid he'd never see it again. He looked over at Scully, who had dozed off at some point. She looked up as he killed the engine and they both got out of the car in resignation. Mulder was eager to burn the orange pants in the fireplace later.

Times like this were when Scully yearned for some coffee. It was still early in the day, but they were both exhausted and trudged up the stairs. Scully stopped by William's room and reached into her coat. She set the small snow globe back in its proper spot on the shelf.

As she turned to leave, she noted the neatly made bed. He was definitely her child. That was when she noticed a small piece of hair on the pillow. It was dark and too long to be Mulder's. Then she got an idea.

"Scully?" Mulder asked from the doorway. He has already changed into a t-shirt and sweats.

"I need your hairbrush, Mulder."

He gave her a confused look. "Why?" And then it dawned on him. "Scully..."

"He's our son, Mulder," she said without hesitation.

"He is your child, Scully. Like Emily was. I wouldn't hesitate to be a father to her either."

"No Mulder, he's ours. "

"But you said-"

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have believed him. The smoking man is a liar. A master manipulator. Do you remember when we did the IVF and it didn't take?"

Mulder nodded. The news was devastating and they had made love afterward, finding comfort in one another's arms.

"We later found out those doctors were involved in creating alien hybrid babies and then taking them from their mothers' wombs. They weren't to be trusted," she explained, pacing anxiously.

Mulder shook his head as Scully walked closer. "What are you saying, Scully?"

She paused for a moment. "What if it didn't take, because there was nothing to take? What if it was a cover-up? A violation of our fundamental human rights?"

"Scully, are you saying you think they took our specimens and used it for their own sick, twisted agenda?"

Scully nodded. "It's the only way I can explain it. I ran so many tests on William when he was a baby, but I didn't doubt that perhaps another hand had been involved. I didn't want to believe there was any outside involvement in his conception"

Now it was Mulder was afraid to hope. He still considered William his son as he was still Scully's child without question, just like Emily. Still, he was afraid to relive that soul-crushing revelation. He knew Scully was heartbroken, just as much as he was. He didn't want her to get her hopes up either.

"Okay," he nodded. "What did you have in mind?"

"I have a friend who owes me a favor at OLOS."

Mulder placed his hand on Scully's shoulder. "Tomorrow," he said as he assessed her tired features. "You should rest, Doc." Mulder smiled.

Scully sighed, knowing he was right. Just then, she felt the vibration of her phone in her pocket. It was a text from Monica.

"What is it, Scully?" Mulder asked as he watched her expression as she looked at the screen.

"It's Monica," she said. "She found John and they're going to come back to D.C."

It had been ages since Mulder had seen either of them…if you didn't count the near-death encounter.

Though he had questioned Monica's motives, he trusted Scully's judgment of her character. She was in a similar predicament as Skinner had been in with the smoking man, yet Skinner never failed to help them. Scully, William, and the baby were safe because of them and he was forever grateful for that.