AN: This story is almost done – thanks for reading.
Warning: If you are offended by adults having intimate moments you should not read this chapter.
Chapter 11
The Captain found himself standing next to Sucellos on a cliff overlooking the ocean. He stared at the waves, and then the distant sea, recognizing the part of him that longed to once again be there, be in command of his own ship and his destiny. But the part that loved Carolyn was larger and that was his present just as the sea was his past, and oddly he felt somewhat content with that.
"What do we need to discuss?"
Daniel regarded the higher spirit and was surprised to find warm tendrils of friendships, although he had been a frequent pain in the ass, he was also extremely helpful.
"I have another favor to ask."
"Which is?" Sucellos turned to him with a curious expression.
"I want a ship, a relatively modest ship. One that can be handled by a small crew but sturdy enough to survive ocean travel in my capable hands."
Sucellos eyes twinkled in amusement. "Are you breaking your promise to your lovely wife?"
"I'm doing no such thing! In fact, this is about her. I have had trouble…adapting to being human again."
"Go on," the other spirit encouraged with a nod of his head.
"I am doing somewhat better," he admitted gruffly.
"And?"
"And I'd like to take her on a sea voyage, a sort of honeymoon as it were. Since I am a real man now we need some time together."
"You do want a real marriage with her."
"Why would you think otherwise? After all that she has done for me, all that she has given up?"
"It's not just gratitude."
"No! Why would you think that? She is everything to me. I love her," he finished simply.
"Excellent. She is a rare and remarkable woman. I will grant your request. You will have knowledge of your vessel and a small crew to sail it. You will need to interview them yourself, but they will come to you."
"Do I get to keep the vessel after we return?"
"That is up to you. It is yours. Keep it or sell it, it matters not to me."
"Good, very good." He shifted a bit uneasily and then turned to his elder. "And I want to thank you for all that you've done for Carolyn, for my friends Fox and Dana, and for me. I know you didn't have to do any of it and that some of the other elder spirits will consider it meddling, but I thank you."
"You are most welcome, my boy." He smiled at the Captain. "You do realize that I was serious when I said I may need your help in the future?"
"Yes, I know that. It will be most interesting without the ghostly abilities that I am so familiar with."
"Some of them will come back to you given time. Due to the length of your demise we were unable to completely restore you to the human you used to be. Technically you are mostly human with some ghostly traits."
"Hmm. I suppose I will deal with that when I must."
"A good philosophy." He reached out and shook Daniel's hand. "I will be in touch, but until then, happy sailing."
Daniel grinned at him and in a surprise move, reached out and grasped him in a tight, manly hug.
"You're welcome," Sucellos said when he was released. "Take care of your family."
"On that score, have no doubts."
The elder spirit nodded and vanished, and with a sigh of contentment, Daniel made his way back to the house.
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One month later the bench on the porch of Gull Cottage swung slowly back and forth as Scully rested against Mulder as they watched the sun set over the ocean. They exchanged a sweet kiss, and with a happy smile, he rested his hand on the slight swell of her belly.
"I can't wait to meet her," he said.
"Why do you think it's a her?"
"We already have a boy, we need a mini-Scully now."
"That's not very scientific." She paused and looked into his eyes. "And if it's a boy?"
"Then I'll be equally happy." He shook his head and placed both hands on her stomach. "How can there be another person in there?"
Scully laughed. "Well, I'm barely showing. Give me a few months and I'll be waddling around again." She said with a grimace.
"Really? I can't wait!"
"You want to see me fat?"
"Fat? Scully, it's the miracle of our child! And this time I'll be there for the entire thing, and this time everything will be normal." He laughed. "Well, as normal as it can be for us."
"As long as you don't go running off anywhere."
"Dana, I'm done with that, no more conspiracy theories. An ancient ghost has told me they have it in hand, so why should I doubt him?" He scratched his chin. "Though it would be fun to see them irritate the aliens."
"No. You're not going anywhere. I need you around, with me, and with William."
"And the baby."
"Of course."
Mulder bent down and started talking to her stomach. "Do you hear that, little one? Your Mommy wants me to stay home with you, to take care of you. Should I do it?" He grinned up at his wife. "I think I will. I want to be a house husband. A kept man."
"A kept man? Really? Hmm." She eyed him with appraising eyes. "And where should I keep you?"
"That's up to you. I'm good for anything." He looked around him. "Should we stay here tonight?"
"Why not. You are the property manager while the Captain and Carolyn are gone. And we're here."
"Yeah, it's kind of like a second home, isn't it?"
She nodded and leaned back against him. "I wonder how they're doing?"
"Probably great. I'm glad that Danny found a way back to humanity. I never thought how hard that could be for him."
"Neither did I. It makes sense though."
"I guess."
"So, when are you going to take me on a honeymoon?"
"What?" Mulder sat up in surprise. "We had one."
Scully snorted. "Barely. Certainly nothing exotic."
"You want exotic? You never said anything."
"We weren't settled. Now that we are." She shrugged.
"Hmm. I think that's a great idea. Let's ask Danny and Carolyn when they get back. I'm sure they'd watch William while we're gone, and we won't be taking a cruise that lasts months."
"We'll see how far along I am by the time they return."
"Fair enough. We'll get to it, Scully. I promise."
"Good." She snuggled against him again. "I wonder how they are."
"I'm sure they're fine, probably having a wonderful time."
"I'm glad. They deserve to be happy. So do we."
"I can't wait until they get back, I want to hear all about their trip."
"I wonder when they'll be back, they said three months, but maybe longer?"
Scully shrugged." I wonder where they are…"
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Nestled within the warmth of Daniel's arms, Carolyn realized she was very happy and opened her eyes to find herself staring into deep pools of blue, filled with love and amusement.
"You slept in quite late, my love. Any reason for that?" He asked, as his supple fingers began to play over her breasts.
"You know perfectly well what the reason is, Daniel Gregg!" she snapped, though she was obviously play acting.
"And what would that be?" his low baritone voice caressed her ears and she relished the sound of it. She placed her head against his chest and heard the strong sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear and sighed.
"My love?"
"You are alive, Daniel."
"Yes, well, I thought we had established that quite spectacularly on our sojourn in the tropics."
"I know, but I'm so happy about it. You're real, and your mine." She placed her hands on his chest, feeling the muscles beneath and smiled.
"Shall I prove to you once again how much I love you?"
"Daniel, we haven't even gotten out of bed for the day!"
"Exactly my point. We don't have to worry about removing those bothersome clothes. We are already prepared."
"Prepared? For what?" She blinked at him in innocence and he growled into her ear.
"You make me positively mad with desire for you, Carolyn Gregg. And I will have you."
"Not if I have you first," she murmured.
"My love, you have no idea what you do to me."
"I think I do," she said and took him in hand.
"Carolyn," he gasped.
"Having a little difficulty?"
"A big difficulty," he groaned. "Please unhand me so that we may do this properly."
"Such polite talk as our parts become intertwined," she whispered in his ear.
"Enough sass, you saucy wench!" He pulled her to him and began to devour her in a searing kiss that obliterated both their senses until they came up for air. They relished the moment of their joining and then then he began a hard rhythm, eager to finish their union.
"Ohh, Daniel," she moaned. "Yes, love, yes…."
He felt her suddenly clench and tighten around him and he groaned, his release coming within seconds of hers.
He rolled over to his side of the bed and took her in his arms, happy beyond belief.
"Are we ever going to get out of this bed?" Carolyn asked, amusement in her voice.
"I do not think so, my love. At least not anytime soon."
"We have to eat."
"Point."
"And we will be in Jamaica tomorrow."
"Maybe then we can get out of the cabin," he agreed, sleep beginning to overtake him.
"The sex is better now," she murmured, snuggling against his chest.
He mumbled something incoherent and they let the tendrils of sleep claim them once again.
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AN: Thanks for reading – one more chapter left.
