A/N: I don't know why but I seem to treat the gunmen like they have some hive mind/triplet-y thing going on... for some reason the only get one line of speech between them all. Weird. So I'm working on it :P
Chapter 26 – Oh, My Baby Boy
"Oh Mulder, he's beautiful." Scully whispered, she had only been awake a few minutes, but the second she awoke Mulder passed their son over to her, allowing her to stare at him for a while, just as he had been the whole time she was asleep.
"l know," he replied softly
She ran her finger along his cheek, revelling in the way he turned toward it. She kissed the top of his head "He's perfect," She sighed, as a doctor she had seen quite a few newborn babies, and couldn't quite understand how people thought they were cute. Pink, wrinkled and screaming was all she saw, until now. The baby in her arms wasn't actually that wrinkled, and had only the faintest pink hue, but best of all he wasn't crying.
"Yeah, he looks like you."
She looked up at him.
"Too sappy?" He asked
She nodded.
"Sorry,"
"Don't worry," She rested her head against his shoulder "He has your eyes,"
"What, they're your blue!"
"Yeah, but they're your shape, they'll probably change,"
"Hmm..." He didn't sound convinced
"And he has your toes!" She grinned up at him, "Look!"
"Scully they're just toes!"
"Yeah, yours!"
He shook his head, obviously the drugs hadn't quite worn off yet. She giggled and buried her face in his chest, sleepiness and drugs clouding her mind. She fell asleep, with the baby still in her arms.
She was awake again when her Mom poked her head around the doorway.
"Come in," She smiled
Her Mom grinned back "Teena! She's awake!"
Maggie, closely followed by Teena came and sat by the bed, their faces with matching expressions of wonder.
"He's gorgeous Dana," Teena murmured
"Yeah, I think he's getting Mulder's dark hair already," She spoke softly, acutely aware of her son's sleeping state. It was true, the fine hair on the baby's head had darkened obviously in the past hour.
"Do you have a name yet?"
"No, we still can't decide."
"Well, you can't let him grow up being called baby!"
"We know, it's just all the names we think of have negative connotations that we remember sooner or later,"
"It can be hard," Teena agreed and Scully disguised a laugh with a cough.
"Here," Scully handed Teena the baby
"Hello baby," She cooed "I've been waiting to meet you for so long! And her you finally are!" She kissed his cheek.
Maggie began talking to Scully about diapers and sleeping patterns, leaving Teena for a few private moments with her first baby grandchild,
"You've got great parents you know. Your Daddy adores you and your Mommy, he'll do anything for you two, and your Mommy will teach you things, and make sure you're as safe as possible all of the time. You're lucky baby. I love you." She kissed his cheek another couple of times before handing him over to Maggie "I better go help Fox deal with your friends, apparently they're blocking up the corridor."
"Joy," Scully grinned, "Tell Langley to behave for me,"
"Langley?"
"The blonde one,"
"Okay," Teena gave them a small wave and blew a kiss toward the baby.
"Dana, he really is truly beautiful," Maggie murmured, looking down at her newest grandchild
"Can you believe you wanted me to kill him?" Scully replied, more harshly than she had intended
Maggie looked up at her with tears in her eyes
"Sorry Mom, I didn't mean that!"
"...Yes you did. And no...I can't...I can't believe I wanted you to terminate him..."
"Jesus Mom, I'm really sorry I didn't mean that!"
"I deserved it."
"No you didn't, you apologised."
"It wasn't the sort of thing that can ever be truly forgiven."
"No, but I'm trying."
"Thank you."
"And I promise never to tell the baby about this till he's old enough to understand."
"Understand? How could he ever understand what I asked, what I demanded of you?"
"No-one could, but he could understand your viewpoint, that you thought you were doing the right thing."
"Dana, that is the strongest thing I think I have ever seen someone do."
"Thank you Mom," She pulled her Mom in for hug, the most sincere since their reconciliation. They stayed that was until the baby began squalling and whining.
"Looks like he's hungry," Maggie stood "I'll leave you to it."
"Thanks Mom,"
"I'll tell Fox to give you a few minutes,"
"Don't bother, send them in."
"Okay, bye baby!"
Mulder poked his head around the door a few minutes later, the gunmen in tow.
"Hey," He whispered, leading them into the room
"Hi. Hello. S'up." They greeted her.
Scully smiled warmly at them, "Hey guys,"
"Is this the little guy?" Byers asked, walking right over to her
"Yeah, do you wanna hold him?"
"Yes please-"
"Hey! How come he gets to hold him first!" Frohike asked, sounding indignant
"Yeah!" Langley agreed.
The baby looked between the three of them warily.
"Guys, guys!" Mulder soothed "...Uh...I'm thinking of a number?"
"7." Langley said swiftly
"230363. The lovely Dana's birthday." Frohike announced a moment later, a smug grin contorting his features.
"...42." Byers suggested after 30 seconds of thinking
"Right." Mulder grinned
"His apartment number?" Frohike asked quizzically
"It's the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything."
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Scully raised an eyebrow.
"...Yes." Mulder replied sheepishly
She shook her head, "Byers, sit here," She patted the edge of the bed "Here," She placed the baby in his carefully cradled arms.
"He's adorable, Dana." John whispered, holding the small baby tightly
"We know,"
"Hey buddy," John whispered
"You're such a sap Byers!" Langley muttered
Scully glared at him. Langley was silent.
Byers passed the baby over to Frohike after a nod from Scully. To everyone surprise, Frohike held the baby like a well-seasoned professional.
In answer to everyone's stares, he commented "My Mom remarried, then had three kids. They're all at least 13 years younger than me."
"Oh..." Mulder murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"We'll teach you all about computers, and video games," Frohike promised, tickling the small infants side, causing his eyes to open wide with surprise at the new sensation.
Scully rolled her eyes as Langley stepped purposely on Frohike's foot and plucked the baby from his arms.
"Ignore him, I'LL teach you about computers, and bands." He turned to Scully "I'll lend you some of my Ramones CDs so you can educate him from an early age."
Scully shook her head "It's okay Langley, really, I've got my own."
"Ramones CDs?"
"Yep."
"Whoa," Langley grinned "You're Mom's damn cool little man." His grin widened "You can be Manhammer Junior!"
"Oh my god." Mulder murmured, eyes rolling
"They were your friends first." Scully reminded him
"I know... I'm still in shock." He kissed the top of her head.
"Guys, does he have a name yet?" Byers asked, looking at the inquisitively
"No. We still can't decide." She sighed
"How about Daryl?" Langley suggested
"No." Scully answered
"Uh, Hal?"
"No." Mulder replied
"...Melvin?" Frohike asked
She raised an eyebrow "No."
"You guys are picky!" Langley muttered
"I don't want him to get stuck with an appalling name like Fox." Mulder informed them "Kids are mean to people with bad names."
"Fair enough."
Scully yawned suddenly, causing Byers, who was once again holding the baby, to place him gently in his crib.
"See you soon Dana, Mulder, Kid." Frohike murmured, leaving followed by Langley who fist punched the baby (or tried at least), and Byers who waved at them all on his way out.
"I am so tired!" She yawned,
"You have good reason to be,"
"I slept for ages earlier!"
"You slept for 2 hours,"
"...Whatever."
"Sleep more, we'll still be here when you wake up."
"This feels like a dream. I don't want to wake up and be back at my apartment alone after having the best dream of my life."
"I'll stay with you."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They were released out the hospital two days later. It appeared that Scully had lost rather a lot of blood more blood than she should have, and because it was their first child, much advise (wanted and not) was given during their elongated stay. Holding one of her hands tightly, and carrying the baby carrier in the other, Mulder opened the door. She grinned at the sight of their home, and kissed his cheek before almost skipping into their living room. He sat the carrier on the couch, and smiled as he watched her flick the kettle on then jump up on the counter, not missing the wince as she pulled at her stitches.
"Coffee?" She called
"Please!" He replied, lifting the sleeping child out of his restraints.
Once he was close enough, she took the baby into her arms and kissed his small head.
"We really need to think of a name."
"I know," He sighed "Go sit down and I'll make the coffee, we'll think of one then."
"I'm already sat down." She grinned
"Do not even start with that!" He smiled back, before ushering her into the living room.
"Fine!" She called back, then settled herself on the couch.
He arrived two minutes later, coffee and name lists to hand "Okay," He sat down "Adam?"
"Ex boyfriend."
"Benjamin?"
"Ex."
"Charlie?"
"Brother, duh."
"Oh yeah. Uh, Daniel? Oh wait, no, ex?"
"Yup."
"Ethan."
"Definite ex."
"Wasn't he that dick you dated when we were first partnered?"
"Uh-hu."
"Okay. Fido?"
She rolled her eyes.
"No?"
"No."
"George."
"Nope."
"Ex?"
"No, just doesn't suit him."
"Okay."
"Henry? Heinrich? Harry?"
"Ex. Ew. Ex."
"That's it! We're swopping! You chose names, I'll hold kid."
She complied and received the book "Before we start, any ex's you want to mention."
"We're looking at boys names Scully." He replied defensively
"Just checking!" She muttered as he gaped at her.
By the time the still nameless baby woke up they were only on the h's. Scully was far more thorough, and had thought about almost every name with great care.
"C'mon Scully," Mulder tugged on her hand "We'll try again tomorrow."
"Yeah," She replied absentmindedly, he knew she hated to leave things undone.
"Lunch?"
"Sure."
Mulder set about heating some soup, while Scully sliced the bread.
"Oh my god!" She yelled, he span on his heel, brandishing his wooden spoon, looking for some horrific injury.
"WHAT!" He yelled "What is it!"
"James!" She exclaimed
"What?"
"James. We should call him James William!"
"...Oh..."
"What? Don't you like it?"
"Yeah, I do, I'm just restarting my heart."
She rolled her eyes, and turned back to the bread.
"James... It's settled." He allowed a wide grin to spread across his face.
"Yes." She agreed kissing him slowly, his hands around her waist. That was until the soup boiled over.
Rolling her eyes a second time, and sighing exasperatedly, but somewhat contentedly, she passed him the dish cloth.
"We'll just have to finish that later," Mulder waggled his eyebrows. Scully raised hers. "Or not," He muttered.
The sound of a whimpering baby floated through from the living room. On her way to feed James, Scully slapped Mulder's ass "We'll see." She cooed, leaving him in a state of awe. She never failed to surprise him.
A/N2: Name, at first I didn't want to call him James, mainly cos I want his middle name to be William, and my best friend is James William. But it seems fate was determined, and quite a few of you suggested it. And the name I had had picked out sucked, and had loads of not so great connections to the show. So yeah...
Also, I'm sorry it took so long! Computer trouble and exams among other things :/
Please review. It's like and addiction.