A/N: I totally got you with the last chapter, didn't I? That was my evil plan all along. Mwahahahaha! In other news, my feet are so cold that they are numb.

The room was silent save for the ticking of the clock. They stared at each other, neither of them sure what the protocol was for a situation like this. She wanted to explain, but that seemed trite. He wanted to yell, but that would just make things worse. So they sat. For a long time. It was like an awkward scene from a straight to video movie, and she knew she had to break the silence somehow.

"Mulder, say something."

Way to pass the buck, Dana.

"I don't know what to say."

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that I don't like this idea. I'm thinking that I want to support you, but I don't know how. I'm thinking that this sucks."

She shifted a little on the couch so she could face him.

"It's not exactly the easiest decision I've ever made. You look mad."

"I'm trying not to be. I just wonder if you really have to move."

"I don't know what else to do, Mulder. Gavin found me, and he could come back."

"But if he found you here, what makes you think that he won't find you somewhere else?"

"He won't have anything to go on, Mulder. He knew I worked for the FBI, so it was a natural deduction to figure out that I lived here. If I go to New York or South Carolina or French Lick, Indiana, he's not going to have a clue where I am."

He sighed and stood from the couch.

"Scully, do you really want to spend the rest of your life running from him? You haven't even been home in five days."

"I didn't know we were a bother," she whispered, looking down at her hands.

"You're not. I love having you here, but I don't want you to spend your life like this."

"Mulder, that man is a violent rapist and murderer. Do you really think I should risk this? What if he took Wes?"

"Scully-"

"My mind is made up, Mulder. I have to leave. Maybe it's running, but her safety is more important than saving face. If it was just me I wouldn't bother, but I can't put her in danger."

"I get that. Believe me. There is nothing I want more than for you two to be safe. But do you really have to move that far?"

She sighed and nodded her head slowly.

"You're really going to take her away from the only home she's ever known? The only father she's ever had?"

"You're not her father, Mulder."

"I'm the closest thing she's got. I'm sorry, Scully. I understand why you're leaving and I'll support that decision to a degree, but I can't bear the thought of living without seeing the two of you every day."

"Mulder, as much as I love you, this isn't about you."

"I didn't say it was, Scully. I'm just having a hard time processing all this."

"You're not the only one, Mulder."

"I don't want you out of my life, Scully. You're going to leave and then life is going to take over and we're going to fade away from each other."

"Mulder, that's not going to happen," she said, her voice rising to meet his.

"Why not? You don't need me. You've made sure you don't depend on me, so what is keeping us together?"

She stood up from the couch too and tossed the remote onto the table. The mute button slammed against the wood, and the volume came back on, startling both of them. Mulder took the remote and turned the TV off and they stared at each other again.

"I thought we were friends, Mulder. Best friends. Two minutes ago, you were Wes's father, and now you think that a little distance is going to change that? We don't see each other as often so we don't love each other as much? Is that what you're saying?"

"No! I'm just… I don't… how is this going to work, Scully?"

"I didn't claim that I knew that, Mulder. I don't know how it's going to work. No one said that we can't visit each other. No one said you couldn't move too. No one said that the phone is now obsolete. We're not going to become strangers."

"I don't think you get it, Scully," he said, running a hand through his hair as he started to pace. "My entire life, my family, everything, it's you two. If you were gone, I don't know what I would do."

"Mulder, we're not going to be gone! Yeah, maybe we're not just a fifteen minute drive away, but we're still in your life."

"Then let me take care of you! Let me be the friend that you say I am. Let me help you make this decision."

"I can't do that. Yes, you're my friend, and we do consider you family, but when it comes down to it, you're not my husband and you cannot make this decision with me. It's not about your life, Mulder. I love you and I want your support, but part of being my friend is accepting the decision that I have made instead of second guessing it."

"So you only want me around when it doesn't trample on your independence, is that it? Well too bad, Scully. It doesn't work like that. Either I am your friend all the time, or I'm not your friend at all."

"Mulder, that's not fair."

"Yes it is, Scully. You can't just keep shutting me out and letting me in and shutting me out and letting me in whenever it suits you. I can't keep up with that, and I can't really be in your life if that's how it's going to be."

He turned away from her and started to leave the room and she moved quickly to follow him.

"Mulder, don't."

"Scully, I can't do this anymore. I love you, but-"

They both stopped walking as they noticed a little figure in the hallway. Her nightgown fell to her ankles and she chewed on one finger while tears rolled silently down her cheeks.

"Oh baby," Scully breathed, taking a step towards her.

"Don't yell anymore," she said, wiping one tear away. "I don't like it."

Scully crouched down in front of her and took her hands.

"I'm sorry for yelling, honey. Sometimes grown ups argue."

"But it means you don't love each other."

"No it doesn't."

"But we're going away."

"Sweetie, that has nothing to do with the argument."

"I don't want to move, mommy."

Scully sighed, wishing she knew what to say. As a kid, she had always vowed that once she grew up she would never move. And she'd done a good job until now.

"Lynnie," Mulder started, lifting Weslynn into his arms. "Sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do because they're good for us. Like taking your vitamins or going to bed on time."

"But Papa, I want you to come with us!"

"I know, honey. But mommy's right, we'll still see each other."

"But not every day like now."

"I know."

She hugged his neck and rested her head on his shoulder, sniffling a little.

"We're sorry for yelling, honey," Scully said, rubbing her daughter's back.

"Yeah. We'll try not to do it anymore."

"Okay."

"Do you want us to tuck you in again?"

She nodded. They took her back into the bedroom and settled her in the middle of the bed.

"Where's Bear Bear?"

"He's right here, honey," Scully answered, handing her the worn teddy bear. "Close your eyes and go back to sleep."

"Are you going to lay down with me?"

"I'll be back in a little while. I have to talk to Papa first. Okay?"

"Alright."

They returned to the couch and sat down.

"I wasn't trying to second guess you, Scully. I really wasn't."

"I know."

"You're my family. You're all I have and I don't want to be without you. I don't want to miss Wes growing up. But if that's what it's going to take for you guys to be safe, then I understand, and I won't fight it."

"Mulder, like I said, you can see us anytime. We'll figure it out. But this is the only solution I can think of."

He hesitated a moment, then drew her into his arms, kissing the crown of her head.

"I wish it didn't have to be this way."

"I know."

"I'm sorry I yelled, Scully."

"I'm sorry I yelled back."

"I love you."

"I know. I love you too. We'll be just fine."

"Promise?"

"Of course I promise."

He sealed the promise with a forehead kiss and tucked her under his chin. They would be fine. They had to be.