Disclaimer: I don't own TXF.

AN: I apologize for the long wait. Life is moving faster than I catch up. I did manage to get this out though. There should be another couple chapters and then "Nothing Important Happened Today" will start. Be mindful that in Season 9 I will be skipping a few episodes. Don't worry because all the important ones will be covered. Enjoy!

Thought-Speak: Italics

Fantasy: Bold

Thought-Speak in Fantasy: Bold, Italics

"Wake up," William thought, "Layla, wake up."

"What?" Layla groaned in her mind, "I'm tired."

"Mom and Dad are talking," William said, "I think Dad is going to leave."

"What do you mean?" Layla asked.

"I mean Dad is saying that it isn't safe for us if he's here and it isn't safe for him either," he replied.

Layla got up and went into the kitchen. Both of her parents were at the table; her father held her mother's hands in his. She saw that her brother was in his carrier sucking on a pacifier.

"Scully," her dad said, "It's for the best. I want all of you safe and with the threats to my life and everything it's not safe for me to be here."

"We will be safe if we stay together," Scully replied, "How am I supposed to do this on my own?"

"You won't be alone. Layla's here and I'm sure your mother will help," he said.

Scully gave him a look and Mulder grinned and she smiled.

"I can't do this without you, Mulder," Scully said, "I won't."

"Scully, you are one of the strongest, most stubborn people I know. You've fought for your life, mine, and the lives of our children alone, you can do this. Once it's safe again, I'll come back and we'll get a place somewhere in the outskirts of the city so that Layla and William can have some space. I know you can do this," Mulder said.

"You can't leave!" Layla exclaimed as she ran over and threw herself into her father's arms. Mulder held her close. "Daddy, you can't leave us," Layla cried, "You promised you'd protect us! How can you if you're not here?"

"I'm going to protect you by leaving," Mulder explained, "Bad people want to hurt me and they'll hurt you, Mommy, and William to get to me. It's safer if I go away."

"If you go, I'll miss you," Layla said tearfully.

"I'll miss you too, but I promise that as soon as your mom says it's okay I'll come back," Mulder said.

Layla looked at her mother for confirmation. Scully was teary-eyed, but nodded.

"You promise?" Layla asked him.

"I promise," he replied. Layla hugged him tightly.

"I love you, Daddy," she said.

"I love you, too," he replied.

"When are you leaving?" she asked softly.

Monday, after I take you to school," he replied. Layla nodded.

"Hey, Munchkin," Scully said, "How about some breakfast and cartoons?"

"Can Daddy watch, too?" Layla asked.

"Yes, I can for a little bit," he said, "Then your mom and I need to do some stuff, so Grandma is gonna come over and watch you and William."

"Okay," Layla said smiling.

Scully poured Layla a bowl of cereal, added milk, and sat it on the table.

"Thank you, Mommy," Layla said.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," Scully replied.

"Are you angry that Dad is leaving?" William asked.

"No, I'm sad because I'm going to miss him and I'm scared because I don't know what's going to happen when he leaves," Layla replied.

"I'll help keep you mind off him until he comes back, "William offered.

"How? You're a baby. There's not much you can do," Layla said.

"Well, how about telling me all about you, Mom, and Dad. I'd love to hear some of the stories," William replied.

"Okay," Layla agreed.

Layla finished her breakfast just as William began to fuss for his. Layla looked at him as Scully moved to begin making him a bottle.

"Mommy?" Layla said.

"Yes," Scully replied.

"Can I feed him?" she asked.

Scully looked at Mulder and back at Layla.

"Let's let your father feed him and you can feed him lunch, okay?" Scully compromised.

"Okay!" Layla exclaimed, happy that she would get to feed her baby brother.

Layla and Mulder moved to the couch and she flipped on her Saturday morning cartoons. Scully brought William and the bottle over and handed them to Mulder. Mulder settled William into the crook of his arm and stuck the nipple of the bottle into William's mouth. William latched on and began sucking. Layla looked over and her cartoons were forgotten as she watched her brother eat. Scully took that moment to pull out her camera and took a couple of pictures. Layla looked at her mother and smiled as Mulder put William on his shoulder to burp him. Scully smiled back and William let out a belch. Mulder laid him back into his arms and began feeding him again.

"Mommy, set the camera up and get a picture of us all," Layla said.

"That's a great idea!" Scully replied.

She put the camera on the TV and set the timer. She moved quickly to join her family. The camera's beeping sped up and it flashed capturing that precious moment on film.

After a few minutes and pictures, William was ready for another nap. Scully put him to her shoulder and began patting his back gently. William kept fussing.

"Here, let me try," Mulder said.

Scully handed William to him and Mulder tried to get him to calm down, but it didn't work. Layla looked at both of her parents becoming frazzled that they couldn't calm her brother down.

"Why are you crying so much?" she asked, "They just want you to go to sleep."

"It's not comfortable enough to sleep," he said, "Why don't you try?"

"Mommy probably won't let me," she replied.

"You never know unless you ask," he said.

"Mommy, can I try?" Layla asked.

"Not right now," Scully said.

"Told you," she said.

"Just wait," he said.

"Come on, Scully. Let her try," Mulder said. Scully thought for a minute.

"Okay, but be careful," she said.

Layla sat down on the couch and Scully laid William gently in her daughter's arms. William's cries soon became sniffles and then he was quiet. Layla smiled as he looked at her and he seemed to grin again. He shut his eyes and fell asleep. They waited a few more minutes and Scully went to take William from Layla. His face scrunched up as soon as Scully had him in her arms. He began to whimper.

"Mommy, why don't I go lay with him in your bed until he falls asleep again?" Layla asked.

Scully looked at Mulder and nodded as William began to fuss again. Layla went into Scully's room and got up on her bed. Scully laid William gently next to Layla. Layla wrapped her arms around her brother. He settled down again and went to sleep. Layla studied her brother's features and smiled as he looked so innocent when he was asleep. She thought about the troubles that they could get into as they got older.

Layla got home from school to see her little brother at the table doing his homework.

"Hey Will, how was school?" she asked.

William looked at his sister. She gasped as she saw the black eye. Layla went over next to him and put her arm around his shoulders.

"Will, what happened?" she asked, "Why didn't you "call" me?"

"It's no big deal, L," William said.

"No, it is a big deal! You've got a black eye! Do Mom and Dad know?" she asked.

"Grandma called them when I came home," he said.

"Where is she?" Layla asked.

"Downstairs, doing laundry," he answered.

"William, what happened?" she asked again. William sighed.

"Connor Matthews hit me," William mumbled.

"I should've known. Why did he hit you?" Layla asked.

"When Dad dropped me off, I heard Connor's mom thinking about Connor's real dad," William said.

"Mr. Matthews?" Layla asked assuming where this was going. William shook his head.

"Oh boy, and you told Connor?" Layla asked.

"Not right away. We were walking to class, Eric and me, when Connor came up and started messing with Eric. He was saying that Eric's dad left them cuz his mom wasn't good enough and that he was sure Eric's dad was happy to leave him behind because his dad wasn't his," William explained, "That's when I told him about his mom and real dad. He pushed me and yelled at me to take it back, but I told him the truth hurts. That's when he punched me."

"Well, tomorrow I'm going to go with you to school," Layla said, "I want to have a talk with Connor about messing with my brother."

"No, L, don't do anything. He's just a bully," William said, "I'm not worried about him."

"Will, he gave you a black eye! I'm not gonna let him get away with that!" Layla exclaimed.

"Mom and Dad said they'd take care of it. You don't need to," William said.

"Will, I'm your big sister. I'm supposed to look out for you, and that's what I'm gonna do," Layla said.

William looked at her and nodded. She hugged him.

"I love you, little brother," she said.

"I love you, too, big sister," William replied.

The next morning, Layla and William set out for his school together. When they got there, Connor's mom had just left. Connor spotted William and made his way over.

"Hey freak. I see you got your sister with you today. Is she your bodyguard?" Connor asked laughing as well as some of the other kids.

"Leave me alone, Connor," William said.

"'Leave me alone, Connor,'" Connor mocked him.

"Will, don't let him talk to you like that," Layla thought.

"I don't want to cause trouble," William said.

"Stand up to him, Will! That's the only way to deal with a bully," Layla told him, "You remember Kyle?" William nodded. "Now we're friends because I stood up to him."

"I'll try," William said.

"Hey freak, how about we pick up where we left off yesterday?" Connor said smirking.

"Connor, leave me alone! At least my dad is the real thing!" William snapped.

Connor's expression went from mean to shock to fury in a matter of seconds. He stepped closer until he was face-to-face to William.

"You better watch your mouth. It's about to give you another black eye," Connor snarled.

"Try it," William said, "Then go tell the mailman all about what happened because I'm sure he'd love to hear what his son did."

Connor pushed William down and Layla tripped Connor. She pulled William to his feet.

"Ha! Just like a wimp! You have to have your sister to defend you!" Connor said standing up.

"My brother isn't a wimp! You are because you can't take the truth!" Layla said.

Connor went after Layla and William tackled Connor to the ground before he could reach her. William threw a couple punches, the second hitting Connor's nose and triggering it to bleed.

"Leave my sister alone," William said darkly.

Connor began to cry and William got off of him. Connor got up and took off. Layla looked at her brother and smiled.

"Good job, Will," Layla said.

"Thanks for your help," William said.

"William Scully! Layla Mulder! My office, now!" Principal Giovanni yelled.

Layla looked at William.

"We're in trouble," Layla said.

"Yep, but it was worth it," William said. They walked hand-in-hand into the principal's office.

Layla smiled at the fantasy as she kissed her brother's forehead.

"I'll always protect you," she said as she drifted to sleep with him safely in her arms.