"Ok girls, here we go." Mulder stopped the car and removed the keys from the ignition.

"Thank you Mulder," said Ashley's friend, Holly from the backseat. Mulder had driven his daughter and her best friend to the mall along with Scully. The girls were going to spend a few hours shopping while Mulder and Scully browsed for a few bits and pieces for the baby. They had pretty much all they needed from William and Ryan, but Scully wanted a few new things for their baby girl – outfits and impossibly tiny shoes, Mulder surmised. Maggie had volunteered to look after William for the day, and for that both Mulder and Scully were grateful. William hated the mall at the best of times, and Mulder suspected his son would be even less enthusiastic once he realized they'd be shopping for his baby sister. Scully was seven months pregnant now and William was still in denial that the baby was a girl. He was no longer interested in Scully's pregnancy, rarely touching her belly to feel the baby kick. Maggie had assured her daughter that William would come around eventually and that Bill had apparently reacted in a similar manner when she was born. Mulder just didn't want to think that William was going to turn out like Bill Scully.

"We'll meet you at the food court at one," Scully reminded the girls. "Be careful."

"Yes mom," Ashley sighed, having heard her mom's safety briefings far too many times.

"Don't talk to any strangers."

"Mom, it's the mall."

"Exactly, there are lots of strangers around."

"We're sixteen."

"Have fun girls," Mulder interrupted, not wanting an argument to break out. Scully and Ashley disagreed at the best of times, but a pregnant Scully and hormonal Ashley were almost off the scale. Mulder didn't want Holly to witness it.

"Thanks dad." Before Scully could argue, the girls let themselves out of the car and hurried off the in the direction of the mall entrance. Mulder's smile faded however when he turned to see Scully glaring at him. "What?"

"You just let them go off on their own?"

"Scully, I can see them from here, walking towards the entrance." He pointed ahead. "Theyre safe. They're smart."

"They're teenagers."

"Ashley has a cellphone. I'll call her shortly to check on her. Come on," he said, tapping Scully's leg. "Let's go baby shopping."

"Restrooms first," Scully said, wrinkling her nose up.

"Yes dear," said Mulder, used to his partner's now frequent trips to the bathroom.

"And we're not going to go crazy today. We already have a lot of things for this baby."

"Right."

"We don't need to buy much."

"Of course not."

Famous last words.

Xxxxx

"Hey Scully, what about this?"

Scully looked up to see Mulder holding a giant pink fluffy teddy bear. She raised her eyebrows. "And where would we put that?"

"In the baby's crib."

"In the crib? Mulder, it would smother her. It's huge."

Dejected, Mulder returned the bear to the shelf and continued to browse. Moments later he called her again, this time pointing towards a stroller. Once again Scully shook her head. "We've already got one."

"This one has pink inside."

"The one we have is brand new. We had to get a new one for…Ryan…" Scully swallowed hard, trying not to think about everything new and still in its original packaging, never used.

Nodding, Mulder walked on, knowing when not to push things. Just as Scully paused to look at onesies, Mulder appeared at her side. "What about this?" he said, holding up a tiny pink sleeping bag. "I remember Will used to love his in summer."

Scully smiled politely. Mulder was doing his best, and he was certainly enthusiastic at the thought of shopping for their impending arrival. He was excited, even more so after Scully's twenty week sonogram revealed the baby was healthy, and then shortly after when he'd finally felt their little girl move for the first time. He couldn't wait to meet her.

"We've already got one."

"But I thought we threw it away when William had that vomiting bug?"

"We got a new one. For –"

"Ryan." Scully nodded, her eyes damp. "I'm sorry Scully," he said, kissing her nose. His free hand came to rest briefly on the swell of her stomach, and the baby immediately kicked, either registering her dad was nearby, or trying to push him away, he wasn't sure.

"It's ok."

"It's not ok."

"It's just a little harder than I thought it would be."

Mulder nodded in understanding. "Why don't you tell me what we need and we'll go from there."

Scully glanced down at the list she'd spent the previous week compiling. "Ok –"

"Actually, you know what? Let's start again."

"What?"

"Let's start afresh. New baby, new things."

"Mulder –"

"I'm serious Scully."

"We have a lot of things already."

And I can see it in your eyes that just thinking about them is causing you pain. I know they were meant for Ryan. I know they've been boxed up and sitting in the room we've refused to call the nursery for the past few years. But this is a new start for us. We've said all along that this baby won't live in Ryan's shadow. He's our son, and he'll always be a part of our family. So let's start afresh."

"We can't afford this," Scully protested, knowing full well they could.

"Yes we can."

"What about the things we already have? What will we do with them?"

"We can give them away, or sell them, or save them for the day when, God forbid, one of our kids has a baby of their own."

"Mulder, you're crazy." He could tell she was wavering.

"That's why you love me. Let's do this Scully. Please? I didn't get to do this for Ashley, or William for that matter. By the time I'd stopped acting like a dick you were all set on the baby front. Let me make up for it now. I want to get our little girl everything I wasn't able to get for Ashley."

"This is such a waste of money."

"This is our little girl you're talking about."

"You know what I mean." Scully threw her head back, as though praying to a higher power to give her strength. "Ok."

"Ok?"

"Ok. But don't go too crazy."

Grinning, Mulder hurried off to retrieve the teddy bear, leaving Scully to wonder what on earth she'd let herself in for.

Xxxxx

"You girls didn't seem to buy much," Mulder said, glancing into the rear view mirror to peer into the backseat.

Both girls giggled and exchanged a look, which didn't go unnoticed by Scully.

"We got some things," said Ashley, and they giggled again.

Curiosity got the better of her mom. "Ok guys, what's so funny?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing Dana."

"Do we believe them?"

Scully shook her head at her partner. She had been young once too, and kept secrets from her parents. The thought only served to worry her further. "What did you guys get up to at the mall?

"Nothing," the two girls said in unison.

"They only had a few hours Scully. They couldn't have got up to too much trouble in that time."

But Scully wasn't quite so sure. Aware that she wasn't going to get anything out of them anytime soon, she stopped the questions. For now.

Xxxxx

"Hey baby," Scully entered the house to find William sprawled on the sofa, engrossed in a cartoon as he munched on a cookie. The little boy paused in his chewing, his eyes wide at being caught. "Where is everyone?"

"Daddy's upstairs," he replied, his mouth full.

"And Ashley?"

"In her room."

"Uh huh. And did daddy give you those cookies?"

Will gave her a chocolatey smile, saying nothing, but his grin told Scully what she already suspected. "I didn't think so. No more please," she ordered. "Else you won't eat your dinner. Don't tell me," she sighed. "Daddy hasn't made a start on dinner?"

"He's been busy."

"Don't what?"

William shrugged. "He's in the baby's room."

"The baby's room?" Curiosity getting the better of her, Scully left her son in the living room and headed upstairs in search of her partner. The door to the nursery was pulled to, and as Scully opened it she gasped in surprise. "Mulder!"

Her partner looked up from his position on the floor. "Oh hey Scully."

"Mulder, what have you done?"

"What does it look like?"

"It looks like…I don't know what it looks like."

"Do you like it?"

"It's…" To say she was speechless was an understatement. In the few hours that she'd been at work, Mulder had transformed the nursery. When she'd left the house that morning, it had been acting as a storage room of sorts, containing boxes of William's old baby clothes, and the crib, stroller and changing table that had been set up for Ryan. But now it had all changed. Freshly painted cream walls – the color Scully had picked out just a few days before – covered the previous lemon, and were now framed by a pale pink border. The crib – a new crib they'd purchased during their trip to the mall – had been assembled and now contained a pink mattress, along with the teddy bear that Mulder had insisted they buy. A cream closet and dresser had also been assembled, and as Scully opened a drawer, she saw a few of the little outfits they'd already purchased had been folded up and placed inside. In the corner of the room sat a rocking chair that Scully had never seen before. "When did you get this?" She asked in amazement. "How…how did you manage to do all this?"

Mulder shrugged, as if it was nothing. I may have had a little help this morning from the Gunmen. But," he added, sensing Scully's uncertainty. They just did the painting. Frohike wasn't allowed anywhere near the crib." He let out a deep breath. "What do you think Scully? Is this ok?"

"It's…it's…" She was struggling to take it all in. "It's perfect," she said finally, and Mulder sighed in relief. "I can't believe you did all of this today?"

"Well I started the painting yesterday when you were at work."

"But still –"

"Is it too much?"

"Of course it's too much Mulder. I already told you it was but –"

"You think she'll like it?"

Scully smiled. "She's a baby." Mulder came up behind his partner, slipping his arms around her waist. His hands came up to settle on her stomach and as he pressed, he felt the baby shift against him. "I think she'll love it."

"I sense there's a "but" coming."

"I think I'm just in shock. I certainly wasn't expecting this today Mulder. I mean…why now?"

"Why not? I didn't have anything better to do today, and the rocking chair was delivered so I figured there was no time like the present." Letting go of Scully, he moved so he was in front of her. "You think it's too early."

"I thought we said we'd wait?"

"I know what you're thinking Scully, but it's going to be ok. We're past that stage now." He sighed. "I can change it back again if you like. Ryan's things are in the attic –"

"No," Scully answered quickly. "No, I love it."

"Not too much pink?"

She smiled. "If this baby is anything like Ashley, there's no such thing as too much pink."

"Should I add more?"

Scully laughed. "No, no, it's perfect. Thank you. I'm sorry," she added. "I didn't mean to be so down on this. It's just this time last time –"

"You don't have to explain yourself to me. It's ok Scully." As if on cue, the baby kicked. "You see? She's agreeing with me. Another daddy's girl."

"Just what we need." Scully leant forward and kissed him. "Thank you Mulder."

"You can thank me later."

"Oh really?"

"Mmm. I've heard stories about pregnant women."

"Women in their second trimester maybe. I'm in my third, in the "keep your hands off me unless you're rubbing my back or my feet" stage."

"I'll see what I can do later – oh hey stranger." Both adults looked up as Ashley entered the nursery.

"It smells in here."

"Your dad's been painting."

"Why isn't it pink?" Ashley asked, looking around and not looking overly impressed.

"Does it need more pink?"

"No," said Scully, just as Ashley said "yes."

"What have you been doing?" Mulder asked his daughter. "You've been tucked away in your room all day. The Gunmen say hi."

"Mom, can I talk to you?"

"Sure honey, what's wrong?"

Ashley glanced at Mulder, but he paid no attention. "I just need to speak with you."

"What's wrong?" Scully walked over to her daughter, placing the palm of her hand against Ashley's forehead. "You look pale sweetheart."

"I've got stomach ache."

"Oh." Mulder suddenly blushed. "If it's umm…women's problems –"

Scully eyed the way her daughter was clutching her stomach. "Ashley, what's the matter?"

"I think I need to see a doctor."

"Oh god", said Mulder. "Please do not tell me you're pregnant."

"I'm a doctor," Scully said, interrupting. "Tell me what's wrong." Ashley said nothing, and before she could react, her mom had reached down and lifted up her shirt.

"No!"

"Oh Ashley."

Mulder followed his partner's gaze, frowning. There was no denying what Ashley's problem was. Their daughter – their previously innocent and well behaved daughter – was now the owner of a naval piercing. A very infected naval piercing by the looks of things.

"When did this happen?"

"At the mall," said Ashley. "Holly got one too."

"The mall?" Scully glared over at Mulder. "I told you we shouldn't have let them go off on their own."

"We're sixteen mom."

"Far too young to get pierced."

"At least it wasn't a tattoo, eh Scully?"

Another glare, this time positively poisonous. "That's not helpful."

"Why did you say…hey mom, do you have a tattoo?"

"Don't change the subject."

"Can I see?"

"No you cannot. You're in big trouble young lady. How dare you go behind our backs with this."

Aware that Scully wasn't in the mood to be distracted, Ashley tried another tactic. "It hurts mom."

"That serves you right," Scully replied, shaking her head. "Go get your jacket", she told her daughter, who hurried out of the room. "I'll be right back. I'll take her to the pharmacy to get sorted. And I don't know what you're smirking at," she warned Mulder. "We've got all this to come again in sixteen years. And if her older sister teaches her her ways, this one will be even worse."

Mulder's smile faded. "Is it too late to ask for a boy?"