March 28, 2006

Mulder and Scully rarely have pre-production appointments, but when they do, they take them seriously. They look at each other, and straighten their shoulders before walking into the boys' side of the elementary gym.

"Coach Miller, glad you could meet with us." Scully smiles, hoping to start things off on the right foot.

Their children's coach isn't as big as David likes to pretend, but he does have a sizable spare tire around the middle, as opposed to the lack of hair on top that he covers with an ever-present baseball cap. "Good to meet with you, Mr. and Mrs. Mulder," he says, shaking their hands. He's also the gym teacher, and has agreed to speak with them during his free period which is fortuitously in the morning.

"I'm Scully, he's Mulder," Scully automatically corrects him, as she's done since their children first signed up on his little league teams. "We wanted to talk to you about April."

"Same here. We all want what's best for her, long term, right?" The coach looks at her and her husband, and they nod. "So do I. She's got a good arm, good reflexes, and as long as she keeps healthy, she'll probably get to college on an athletic scholarship."

There's some pride in Mulder's eyes as he answered, "I thought so."

"But here's the thing," Coach Miller says, leaning forward. "Our little league team only goes up to a certain grade, and then they're off to whatever teams their school has, junior varsity, varsity, and so on. She says she wants to stay on the team, and I want her to, too, honest, I do, but the reality is, once they hit fifteen, varsity teams have more clout for colleges than little league does."

"Sixteen is the cut-off age for little league," Mulder says, carefully not looking at his wife's suddenly-furious eyes. "And as long as she wants to play, that's when April's going to be on your team."

"Really?" The coach blinks at him. "Even if it might cost her a scholarship?"

Scully's voice and expression are perfectly composed as she says, "If she's as good as you say she is, that's not going to hurt her chances. Besides, wouldn't you want to keep a good player on the team as long as possible, so others can learn from her example?"

"Ye-yeah, well, when you put it that way," the coach stammers slightly, and while it's still a cool a morning, Mulder thinks he sees the other man sweat a little. "Sure. It'll be hard, but if she really wants to stay on, we'll keep her on."

"I hope you show the same amount of understanding with the other girls and their parents, too." Mulder smiles, doing his best not to bare his teeth, and knowing that they're the first ones to talk to the coach about this. "Because if the girls have been pressured to leave the team, the other parents might make a stink about it. We wouldn't, but there are a few lawyers in the bunch, and you know how they are." His smile deepens, and so does Scully's, as they pick up their things. "Have a nice day."

"You, too," the coach says, a little faintly, to their backs.


Mulder Home
March 30, 2006

It's not typical for someone to knock on the door after nine o'clock on a weeknight, but Mulder hears it just as he's walking down the stairs after sending all but the three oldest children to bed.

"Hold your horses," he mutters at the door as he reaches for the door knob. When he swings the door open, he's somewhat startled. "Frohike?"

"Hi Mulder," he says, sounding sheepish. "Hope I'm not disturbing anyone by dropping by at this hour."

"No, it's okay. Most of the kids are in bed, and those who aren't are watching a show." He glances over his shoulder. "No idea what Scully's up to."

"Oh. Do you think you could find her?" Frohike asks nervously.

Mulder frowns, beginning to get worried. "Fro, is something wrong?"

Frohike blinks and looks started. "Uh, no! I just have something I want to ask the two of you about."

"Okay…I'll go see if I can find her."

"Thanks."

Mulder shakes his head, and leaves Frohike standing in the foyer. Page, Sammy and April are in the den, watching an episode of Ghost Whisper that Scully has grudgingly agreed that they're mature enough to view. Mulder had argued that given two of the three kids have lived in a house that's haunted all their lives, nothing in the show should give them nightmares. And so far he's been right. "You guys seen Mom lately?" he asks, poking his head in. On screen the eponymous ghost whisperer is trying to convince a dead man's son that racism is wrong.

"I think she said something about laundry," Sammy volunteers.

Mulder thinks he hears April mutter something about how no one should need a ghost to tell them that racism isn't okay.

"Okay, thanks."

Scully's not in the laundry room, but there are several stacks of clean linen folded up neatly, so Mulder can see that Sammy had heard her correctly. There are more towels than he can carry at once without dropping, so he only takes half of them with him as he continues to search for his wife.

Eventually he locates Scully putting sheets in the linen closet. He hands her the stack of towels that he's holding, and she looks pleased that she will have one less trip up and down the stairs for them herself. "Hey, Frohike's here," Mulder tells her. "There's something he wants to talk to us about, but he won't say what it is."

She gives him a look like she doesn't think that Frohike acting oddly is odd, but says, "I guess we should talk to him, then."

Scully marches down the stairs, and makes poor Frohike jump when she and Mulder appear behind them. "What's up?" she asks, then without waiting for a reply, suggests, "Let's go in the kitchen."

Frohike trails behind her, looking shyer than Mulder has ever seen him. It makes him really wonder what's on his old friend's mind.

Without saying anything, Mulder pulls out the pound cake left over from dessert and cuts them pieces. Scully smiles as he puts a piece in front of her. Then she turns her gaze on Frohike, who wilts. "Well?"

"Right," he stammers, playing with the fork Mulder has just handed him. "As you know, Steph and I are still making our wedding plans."

"Uh huh," Mulder says, relaxing a little. If anything is truly wrong, Frohike wouldn't be wasting their time on talking about his upcoming wedding. Unless of course he was infected with some sort of brain worm, the sort of parasite that eats all of your good sense.

"Well, Steph thinks that Zoe and Brianna would make wonderful flower girls." Frohike doesn't look either of them in the eye. "And you know I love the little buggers. They're both very smart and cute as hell."

Scully raises an eyebrow. "You came over tonight to ask us if our youngest daughters can be in your wedding party?"

Frohike's face flushes. "Actually, the twins and William."

Mulder turns and looks at Frohike. "I'm all for kids trying things out to see if they like them, regardless of whether or not there the' correct' gender for that thing, but I can tell you now but there's no way in hell you're going to get William to throw flowers for your wedding guests." He considers for a second. "Unless of course he is allowed to literally throw flowers at people, really assault them with them."

Looking miserable, Frohike just shakes his head. Eventually he's able to say, "As the ring bearer, Mulder."

"Oh." Upon reflection, that actually does seem like a far more reasonable request. Especially of a rough-and-tumble little boy. "Don't you worry that he could lose the rings?"

"Yes…"

Scully waves a hand. "Wait, let's get back to the idea of my baby girls being flower girls. Steph has a little girl. Wouldn't she be a better choice for her own mother's wedding?"

Frohike looks surprised. "Cordelia? She's twelve. I don't think we could bribe her with anything that would make her agree."

Mulder perks up. "Frohike, are you planning to bribe my children? My youngest, most impressionable, children?"

"Steph thought we could have a special cake made for them."

Scully groans. "That would do the trick."

"Well, can they be in the wedding?" Frohike asks, sounding a little desperate. Mulder reads between the lines, realizing that Frohike's fiancée must be pushing for it really hard.

Turning to Scully, Mulder asks, "Well, when you say?"

"I say…" she trails off, and something in her eyes makes him think that she's enjoying toying with Frohike. "Sure."

Frohike stands up so fast that the chair he was sitting in wobbles behind him. He doesn't notice though, because he has engulfed Scully in a giant hug. Mulder grabs the chair just before it topples. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Letting her go, Frohike shakes his head rapidly. "You don't understand, I was going to have to sleep on the couch if you refused. I think that Oliver is doing some sort of Manhattan project science experiment under there," he says, referencing Steph's nearly ten-year-old son. Generally speaking, Frohike really enjoys spending time with his soon-to-be stepchildren, so, whatever Oliver has under the couch must be truly horrific.

Scully gives him a long look. "You're saying that we saved you from having to sleep alone?"

This time when Frohike blushes, his face is nearly purple. "Um… Uh…" He stammers for a moment, but then the old Frohike resurfaces. "Nah, you're just making sure that she isn't deprived of my company tonight."

"Incorrigible," Scully mutters. But she doesn't take back her agreement that the kids can be in the wedding.

"Well, thanks a lot," Frohike says quickly. "I'm going to go tell Steph the good news."

"Okay…" Scully says, sounding doubtful as their friend rushes out of the house.

As soon as the door closes, Mulder turns towards his wife. "You know, he only left that quickly because he was terrified that sticking around would make us change our minds."

She nods thoughtfully. "I almost expected him to say 'no take backsies' and slam the door behind him."

"Hey, me too."

Scully suddenly snorts. Then she looks apologetic when he stares at her. "Sorry, it's just so hard to believe that Frohike of all people is getting married."

"Scully, do you know that expression 'it takes all kinds'?"

"Yes Mulder."

"Well, Steph must be all kinds," Mulder says solemnly.

And then they both laugh so hard that the kids up watching TV come down to see what's the matter. "Is something on fire?" Sammy asks, wide-eyed as he skids into the kitchen in socked feet.

"No, no," their mother tells him. "We were just amused by our conversation about your Uncle Frohike's wedding."

"I can't believe that guy is getting married," Page mutters, and Scully shrugs helplessly.

"It's kind of nice," April offers loyally. "I mean…"

"I think it's awesome," Sammy declares.

Mulder gives him a look. "How come?"

"If he can find a nice woman to marry him, and he's him, imagine how cool the woman I marry's gonna be," Sammy tells him.

That's my boy, Mulder thinks, trying not to sigh. His kids are pretty awesome, though, so he expects them to bring lovely people into their family someday. And Sammy's right, he thinks glancing at his wife who is exchanging smirks with their daughters, if even guys like him and Frohike eventually get it right, his kids have nothing to worry about.

The End


Authors' end notes:

So, by our count there were three big events in the next three stories foreshadowed in One Fine Summer and here in Confessions and Connections: one in a conversation Scully had, one in a conversation Mulder had (neither with each other,) and one instance of foreshadowing in a scene that didn't involve anyone talking. Any guesses what they were and what we'll be tossing your way in fics to come? Come on, you know you want to guess =)

Stay tuned for "The Family G-Man: I Want to Believe," coming later this year