My aim was to post this yesterday on the 20th anniversary of the most awesome show ever but I'm a little bit late. Still, Happy 20th, and hopefully someday we'll get that third film we've been waiting for.

Mulder pulled up outside the apartment building and killed the engine, glancing nervously at the woman next him. "We're here Scully".

"Right". The words didn't seem to register with her. Not that he could blame her; she'd lost her sister just hours before. It was the end of a nightmare few days for both Mulder and Scully, beginning with the drugging of Mulder's water, the murder of his father and culminating in the shooting and subsequent death of Melissa. Mulder had stopped by the hospital to check in on Scully and her sister, but he ended up holding his partner after she'd informed him of Melissa's death, before breaking down in front of him. Finally, her tears spent, Scully declared that she wanted to collect Ashley from the babysitter's and head home. And that was when Mulder realised there was a problem. "Umm Scully?" he'd began, wondering exactly how to broach the subject.

She'd looked up at him as he stood. "You can't go back to your apartment. At least not yet. It's a –"

"A crime scene", she answered, her face crumbling, but no tears fell.

"We can go to my place", Mulder suggested, immediately regretting it. It wasn't as though his apartment was any better – after all, just days before his water supply had been tampered with. "Or get a motel", he added.

"Whatever", Scully replied non-commitedly. "Just get me out of here".

And so he'd done as she'd asked.

"Do you want me to go up and collect Ashley?" Mulder asked once they'd arrived at the babysitter's. His partner looked as though she was about to cry again.

"What am I going to tell her Mulder? She's six years old and she's already lost too many people. I can't keep doing this".

"You can't keep this from her Scully, she's going to find out soon enough. Tell her…"

"The truth? That someone tried to kill me but Melissa got in the way?"

"That wasn't what I was going to say", Mulder replied, gritting his teeth. It was his fault Melissa was dead, he told himself. His fault that Scully was targeted in the first place. If she hadn't been working with him, her sister would still be alive.

"I know, I'm sorry".

*I should be the one apologising to you*, Mulder thought to himself sadly. "I'm just saying she's a smart kid".

"I know. I just don't know if I can do this".

"I'll be here Scully, if you need me that is".

Scully turned to face him, and after a moment she nodded, forcing a smile. "Thank you."

With that Mulder turned and got out of the car, already dreading having to break Ashley's heart once again.

Xxxxxxxxx

In the end Mulder opted for a motel; stopping off briefly at Walmart for Scully to pick up some essentials for her and Ashley. He paid for two rooms without even checking with his partner, and followed her and her daughter into their room for the night. Scully hadn't mentioned anything about Melissa to Ashley so far, instead half listening to the little girl's tales of what she'd been up to at school earlier that day. Ashley didn't even seem fazed by the fact they weren't anywhere near her home; instead excited over the adventure of staying somewhere new. As soon as they entered the room, and Mulder closed the door, Scully sat her daughter down on the bed.

"Ashley baby, we have something to tell you". She crouched down in front of the little girl and Mulder followed suit, placing his hand at the small of Scully's back for reassurance. "Your…Aunt Missy…she…she died this afternoon".

Ashley frowned. "What do you mean Mommy?"

"Melissa died. Remember how Grandpa and –"

"But I don't want her to die", she replied adamantly. Mulder could feel his partner's control slipping. "Why did she die Mommy?"

"Because…" Scully took a deep breath, her voice shaking. "Because there was a bad man. And he did something very very bad".

"Is he in trouble?" The little girl asked.

Scully nodded. "Yes he is".

"Did he hurt Aunt Missy?" Her mom said nothing. "Will he hurt me?"

"No, no he won't". Scully got up and sat on the bed, pulling her daughter onto her lap as Ashley burst into tears. "Nobody's going to hurt you baby. I promise you." Realising his partner was close to tears, Mulder took a seat next to his partner and wrapped his arms around her, determined to keep the two of them safe.

xxxxx

It had taken Mulder and Scully some time to settle Ashley after they'd broken the news of Melissa's death to her. Finally her tears had dried and she'd drifted off to sleep in her mom's arms. But it wasn't Ashley that Mulder was worried about, as he sat on the sofa watching his partner stretched out on the bed, holding her daughter. Scully had been worryingly quiet since they'd arrived at the motel, and had yet to break down again. She's been through a lot in such a short space of time – as had her daughter – and she needed to let it all out.

He looked up as Scully shifted on the bed, grimacing. "You ok?"

"Mmm. I think I've got set".

"Is she out?"

Scully nodded. "Like a light". She carefully extracted herself out from under Ashley, but made no effort to move from the little girl's side. Instead, propping her head up on her elbow, she watched as her daughter slept, tenderly brushing her hand through tendrils of blonde hair. "How many more times am I going to have to do this Mulder?" He didn't answer. "Life isn't meant to be this hard; not for a child. I can't keep breaking her heart. When she was born I promised her I was going to make her happy. All I've done lately is bring her misery".

"None of what's happened is your fault Scully". Mulder rose from the sofa and made his way over to the bed, perching on the edge of the mattress. He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her everything would be ok, but he knew his touch wouldn't be welcome.

"Melissa died because of me. If she hadn't been at my apartment –"

"Then it would have been you. Or Ashley".

She nodded sadly and Mulder suddenly wondered whether she was going to leave him. It was her involvement with him and the X Files that resulted in her sister being killed after all. She was better off – and safer – without him in her life. She could get a transfer, take Ashley and move away and finally be happy. "It's my fault", he answered sadly. "I'm to blame, and I understand if you want to leave, I-"

"I'm not leaving Mulder", she replied adamantly, tiredness evident in her voice. "I can't leave now. I'm going to find the bastard who murdered my sister, and the man who killed your father, and I'm going to make them pay". Her eyes filled with tears. "I'm going to find the people behind my abduction and I'm going to make sure that my little girl can go to sleep at night and dream of fairies and princesses rather than monsters and murderers". Her tears began to fall. "I don't want Melissa to have died in vain".

"She won't". This time Mulder did reach out and he rested his hand reassuringly on her arm. "We'll find him Scully and we'll get justice for Melissa. And Ashley will be happy. You've both been through a hell of a lot, but I know you Scully; you're strong. And you don't have to do it alone".

She nodded. "Thank you".

"The last thing you should do is thank me".

"You've lost your father".

"And you lost yours. Not to mention Jack and your sister".

"I just wish I could have said more to her", Scully said, almost to herself. "Just given her one last hug or something. She always looked out for me, even as a kid, and she was there for me when Jack wasn't". Scully glanced down at her daughter. "I just wish things weren't quite so hard".

"I know, and if there's anything I can do for you Scully, anything at all, you know where I am".

"I know".

Reaching down to squeeze her hand, Mulder moved to stand up, deciding to give his partner and Ashley some time alone and head to his room.

"Mulder?" Scully's eyes met his as she rolled over to face him.

"Yes?"

"Will you stay tonight?"

He thought for a moment before nodding. Removing his shoes, he sat back down on the bed, and shifted so he lay out next to Scully, mirroring her position. Without warning he put his arm around her and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly as her tears fell until finally she succumbed to sleep.

Xxxxxxx

Mulder startled awake, taking a moment to find his bearings. He hadn't intended to fall asleep; he'd merely sat down on the sofa and watched Ashley sleep while Scully took a shower, but after a night without much sleep, he was feeling the effects of the past few days. He sat forward, rubbing his eyes, before he became aware of a presence in front of him. "Hey Ash". The little girl looked up at him with sad eyes. She'd clearly just woken up too, her hair matted and eyes puffy. She let out an impressive yawn before speaking. "Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

"Did your daddy die?"

His breath caught in his throat at her question, and suddenly he was wide awake. "Yes he did".

She nodded sadly. "My daddy died too".

"I know he did sweetheart".

"Did you love your daddy?"

"Yes". It was easier to tell her what she wanted to hear rather than go into the complicated tale of his family.

"Your daddy is watching over you now like my daddy is me".

Tears clouded his eyes, and Mulder nodded. He reached forward and pulled Ash onto his lap, embracing her in a tight hug. "What would I do without you Ash, huh?"

She shrugged against him. "You wouldn't help me learn how to swim".

He laughed. "That's true. Good job you're around then".

"Mommy seems sad".

"Yes she does. She's sad about your Aunt, like I'm sure you are too".

Ashley nodded. "I miss Aunt Missy".

"So does your mom, but you'll both be ok. I know you've already been through a lot, but things will get better. And I'm going to make sure that nothing bad happens to you again, ok?"

"Ok", she whispered, shifting on his lap to snuggle up against him. And that's where Scully found the two of them minutes later, both fast asleep.