William opened eyes slowly looking up at the ceiling of the Doggett living room. Looking around the room he could make out six different faces all staring back at him. A friendly voice next to him asked,

"Hey there. Do you think you can sit up?"

Will nodded looking at the woman. She had long light red hair and eyes that were red from crying. Will sat up slowly and scooted himself over to the front of a couch to lean his back against.

"Monica, do you have any juice?" the lady asked as she scooted closer to Will's right side on the floor.

"Oh, I've got orange juice in the fridge, I'll be right back," she replied as she scurried off to the kitchen. William was staring at this lady's face. They both looked into each other's eyes, and he could tell the resemblance. He definitely had her eye color and lips. "William, I'm a doctor, my name is Dana Scully. Do you know where you're at?"

William nodded. Reyes walked back into the living room with a glass of juice in her hands.

"Do you recognize any of the people in this room?"

Will scanned the room left to right. A man who sat on his left didn't look familiar, yet they strangely had the same nose and eye shape. Another man he didn't recognize sat on the couch behind him; he wore glasses and his head was bald. Agent Harrison stood helplessly next to the coffee table and waved at Will with a smile. Doggett stood a few feet in front of him leaning up against the kitchen wall and Reyes stood behind Scully handing Will the glass of orange juice.

"I recognize Agent Harrison, John, Monica… and I see you Dana Scully." To which both Will and Scully smiled.

"Can't you hear our thoughts?" the man to Will's immediate left inquired.

"Not right now. My head feels like it's swimming, and I'm actually kind of tired."

Disappointed, the man offered his hand to shake and introduced himself, "I'm Fox Mulder."

"Your first name is Fox? Really?" Will asked, to which Mulder rolled his eyes. "That's actually pretty cool."

The two of them shook hands and Mulder replied, "If only you were there to explain that to the rest of my colleagues growing up. Just call me Mulder."

"I'm Will."

"Walter Skinner. Just Will?" Skinner stood up shaking Will's hand.

"Yeah," Will smiled. Once he finished the glass of orange juice he handed it back to Reyes.

"Do you think you can walk to your bedroom?" Scully asked.

"Yeah, I think so." William used Scully and Mulder as a brace to stand up. He felt slightly dizzy and he trembled slightly. He felt like he was about to fall again. Noticing Will's wobble, Mulder suggested, "How about I carry you instead?" Will nodded and was scooped up Mulder.

"Monica, you wouldn't happen to have any soup or saltines?" Scully inquired.

"Both, actually. I'll get started on the soup." Reyes replied.

"I'll get the crackers and show you the room," Doggett chimed directing Mulder carrying Will to the room. Doggett led the way to Will's bedroom as Mulder and Scully followed closely behind. It appeared that everyone in the house was doing something except Agents Harrison and Skinner. Feeling awkward with the silence Agent Harrison stood up and said, "I'm going to go see what I can do to help Agent Reyes in the kitchen."

"I think I will too," agreed Agent Skinner.


Doggett opened the door to the bedroom William resided in. Mulder carrying William was followed by Scully into the bedroom. Standing by the doorway, Doggett saw the family reunion and figured it best to leave them alone for the time being. He bowed out of the room and closed the door. Mulder gently laid William on the bed as if he was still an infant. Mulder grabbed a chair to sit beside Scully who was sitting on the bed next to William's feet. Breaking the silence Mulder stated, "You know, the last time I held you like that you were this big."

He held up his hands to demonstrate the length of his last recollection and held his hands about eighteen inches apart. Both Will and Scully grinned identically. Nothing was said, but Mulder could tell where Will got his quiet reservation from. Scully placed a caring hand on Will's knee and stared curiously at Will. Will looked back and forth at both Mulder and Scully.

So these are my birth parents, Will thought.

"William," said Mulder, nodding his head in approval, "That's a good strong name that you have there. My father's name was William too. It means desire and protection."

"And Fox?" Will asked. Mulder smiled and took a deep before responding, "Not as strong of a name. However, I believe that it's actually derived from the Scandinavian term Faulkes, which in translation means Falcon or Falconer, or Hawk-hunter."

Both William and Scully gave Mulder an incredulous look. "Really?" inquired Scully.

"Or it could mean an actual 'fox' and the 60's were incredibly cruel to me."

The room went back to being silent. Scully could only imagine what Will was feeling at this moment. Seeing that Will was tired, she had something she wanted to get off her chest before he slept. She looked down at the bedding, unsure on how to word what was on her mind. She spoke hesitantly, "Will… I can only imagine what you're going through, but… I wanted to let you know that we don't ever intend on replacing your parents. That we," Scully looked at Mulder then back at Will, "have never stopped loving you." She paused for a moment then continued, "When you are ready to… have us, we would love to have you."

A couple of knocks could be heard and Doggett walked in with a food tray containing more juice, chicken noodle soup and crackers.

"Didn't mean to interrupt you guys. Here's something that should make you feel better Will," Doggett said setting up the tray on William's lap. "We'll be in the kitchen when you guys are done."

Mulder, Scully and Will all nodded as Doggett left the bedroom once again and closed the door.

"Chicken soup… mmm… dinner of champions," Mulder replied trying to lighten the mood.

"Often times when people pass out it's usually because they don't drink enough fluids. I think if you eat and drink everything here plus some well needed rest, you'll be right as rain. Are you ok?" Scully asked.

"I believe so… strange… I… feel so much better when you're around," Will said looking at Scully. Scully grinned ear to ear. She too felt whole again.

"And what about me?" Mulder asked.

"Well, I haven't felt like myself lately," Will closed his eyes and waved his hands in front of Mulder's face as if performing a Jedi mind trick, "but I sense great potential in you," Will opened his eyes and grinned, turning the mood of the conversation from serious to playful. He had almost forgotten how good it felt to smile again.

"Oh ho! We've got a kidder here," Mulder smiled back.

"A sense of humor is always a good sign. We'll let you eat in peace. But holler if you need anything, ok? We won't be too far away." Scully rubbed her son's legs and gave a comforting pat before standing up and heading toward the door. Mulder gestured with his hands, "I've got my eyes on you." He then smiled and waved before heading out the door. Scully followed Mulder to the door and halted. She turned around slowly to look at William and gave him a loving smile. Will looked back at her and reciprocated the expression. They both mutually understood each other and were at peace.

"Good night," Scully said softly to Will. She really wanted to hug and kiss him good night, like she did over ten years ago.

"Night."


Skinner clutched his coffee as Reyes filled the tea kettle with water. The hours of traveling from the Canadian border was finally catching up to him. Both he and Agent Harrison sat on the stools by the kitchen counter. Doggett stood up against the counter inside the kitchen next to the sink holding his freshly brewed coffee. Harrison took a sip of her coffee before speaking, "I totally agree with your idea Agent Doggett."

"Which one was that?"

"I'll go back to the office and be on the lookout for anything bizarre, well, more bizarre than usual. That way I'll be able to intercept any other mysterious files and such. I seem to be the receptor of odd information anyways." She took another sip of the coffee. The hazelnut creamer permeated through to her nostrils which gave her a moment of solace. Out of that moment of serenity she remembered the file that she still had in her briefcase. "Ooh… that reminds me."

Agent Harrison got up off her stool and placed the mug of coffee on the counter. She walked over to her brief case which she left by the doorway. She fingered through the other files she stuffed in the briefcase until she found the one she was given earlier in the day. "This was the file that was pushed under my door this morning."

She walked back to the kitchen where everyone stood and watched her hand the file to Skinner.

"Look, I've got to head on out," said Harrison as she grabbed her jacket and slipped it on. "If I've been unknowingly nominated for some strange reason and I have to find out who's been tapping my shoulder. So, I think the less I know the better. That way if I'm compromised, I won't have a lot of information to relay. This is a war… is it not?"

Her words were quick, direct and poignant. The entire room took heed to what she said and felt the gravitas of their situation finally being thrust upon them. Everyone in the room realized that this was a war that would undoubtedly lead to their end. Doggett felt that these past ten years had been squandered away in ignorance and denial. Life was forced to move on. The government had gotten better at denying any existence of extra-terrestrials. So much so, that it's been over a decade since their last reunion and the admittance of an alien apocalypse. Doggett couldn't believe this was happening. And his life, marriage, and now kid on-the-way, was evidence of his disbelief. There was no way that they were prepared for what was coming their way. The entire room went silent with that sobering thought.

"Something smells good in here," Mulder said gleefully entering the kitchen. His comment broke the silence. Scully followed Mulder and stood beside Skinner next to the counter. Mulder stood in front of the refrigerator.

"That would be good old fashioned coffee brewed by yours truly," Doggett said handing Mulder an empty mug.

"I've boiled some hot water for tea if any of you are interested," Reyes said reaching for the kettle which was now steaming.

"I would actually love some tea," said Scully who received an empty mug from Doggett. Scully looked over at Agent Harrison who looked ready to leave. Scully asked, "You leaving already?"

"Yeah, I've got to go home and then back to work and do some of my own investigative work. Someone has been using me to relay this information to you, and I want to know who it is and why." Harrison paused before continuing, "I don't want to be the reason you guys fail."

Feeling the awkwardness in the room, Agent Harrison swallowed and bowed out of the room.

"It's been in my experience," Mulder addressed Agent Harrison, stopping her in her tracks, "that the 'why' often times explains the 'who'. Don't go into this alone. It's in the solidarity of people that there is still hope left in this world; and the camaraderie of those people that brings forth the best part of our humanity. If you try, you will gain the knowledge and experience necessary to never fail. I have the upmost confidence in you Leyla."

Mulder lifted his cup of coffee to toast the moment to her. Everyone else nodded and followed suit in agreement. Agent Harrison was honored by the boost of confidence given by Mulder and the rest of the group. She was touched by the gesture, which made Harrison want to cry.

Doggett smiled and asked, "Do you still have that Apollo 11 medallion?"

"Always," Harrison replied, smiling as she lifted the chain that had been hanging around her neck. The medallion hung delicately on a beautiful chain and it reflected well in the kitchen light. Mulder wrapped his arm around Scully's shoulders as they both grinned to themselves over the significance and sentiment of the item. "Thanks you guys. I'll call if I get any news."

When Agent Harrison left, Reyes asked, "What Medallion?"

Doggett raised his eyebrows in surprise. He neglected to mention that one detail prior to their marriage. Realizing that both Reyes and Skinner were out of the loop, Doggett went ahead and explained, "I handed the Medallion years ago to Agent Harrison to show her my support. That it symbolized the fruitful results of teamwork and camaraderie. It was actually Scully who gave it to me when I first started working on the X-Files."

"Well…" Mulder held up his finger to interject, but Scully looked right at him with an eyebrow raise. Mulder looked at Scully and decided against his intention to explain the medal's origin. Instead he said, "Well… that's a nice gesture."

"I concur, however this gesture is not." Skinner was done skimming through the contents within the folder that Agent Harrison left behind. "This file has everything containing the personal information and whereabouts of Andrew Lucas."

"Who's Andrew Lucas?" Scully asked.

"Andrew Lucas is Gibson Praise."

"What?" Mulder exclaimed.

"When we escaped from that prison, we all met at a rendezvous point, remember? It was me, you, Scully, Doggett, Reyes, Kersh and Gibson. When Reyes and Doggett got back from their venture to New Mexico chasing after you guys, we all sat down and pulled our resources together to make sure Gibson Praise was secretly relocated with a foster family under Witness Protective Services. We made sure that the only people who knew of his true identity were Kersh, Doggett, Reyes and I. However, there's been a leak. I haven't spoken to Kersh in a while, but it appears that I'm going to have to look him up again and see what he knows. Since we don't know whether or not he's been compromised, I'll make sure to not let him know of your current whereabouts." Skinner finished the rest of his coffee and opened the folder for everyone in the kitchen to see.

"So this is the folder Leyla was slipped," Doggett remarked.

"This is obviously a taunt. The powers that be must want us to find him." Reyes concluded.

"How do you mean?" Skinner asked.

"Well, think about it. This information was too readily available. I mean, this information that was given to us, was just way too convenient."

"But if these 'Powers that Be' already know where he is, why not take him out themselves?" Mulder asked.

"Perhaps Gibson no longer poses a threat. What if… they want us to find him? What if Gibson and William meeting were clandestine? And if we know about their possible meeting, couldn't this also benefit us? The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Meaning, there's someone out there in high places that's looking out for us."

"Or perhaps it's someone with so much power that exploiting it, or us, is just a means to its end," spoke Scully solemnly.

"Where is Gibson's current location?" Mulder asked.

"Middlefield, Ohio."