AN: Last chapter! The FF website has stopped counting hits this last week so I have no idea how many people are finishing this out. If you have read the whole story please help me out and send a review.

Please read my notes at the end, and thanks for taking this journey with me.

Chapter Thirty Eight

The next day was spent recovering from their ordeal. The Mulders quietly spent the day together, having received the all clear from the hospital and released earlier that morning. They only briefly saw Carolyn when she came down for some coffee and a quick lunch.

The second day out everyone felt better and things seemed more normal. Carolyn came down and joined her guests for breakfast and her much needed coffee. She drank several cups in silence before noticing the concerned eyes of her friends on her.

"Carolyn, are you all right?" Dana asked. "You look exhausted."

"I am. God, Daniel was so far gone I almost lost him."

"Can I check you over when you're done with breakfast? It will make me feel better," Sully said, her doctor mode kicking in.

"If you want," she shrugged but Scully noticed her skin tone was an ashen color and frowned.

"Uncle Danny!" William said and pointed at the air next to Carolyn's chair as he looked up from his cereal bowl.

Captain Gregg materialized next to Carolyn looking closer to his normal self, just a bit more translucent than usual.

"Danny! Glad to hear your back among the living….err…"

"It's all right, Fox," he waved off Mulder's apology and looked every one over, concern marring his features. "You have all recovered?"

There were nods all around, so he turned to William. "You are a very special, young man, you know that, don't you?"

"I am?" William smiled, happy to receive praise from the Captain.

"You are. Without your help I could not have come back to you and my wife."

"But you're my uncle, I couldn't leave you there!" His logic made perfect sense to a seven year old boy.

"I thank you." He gave the boy a squeeze and then turned to Mulder. "And you! What do you think you were doing risking your neck for me?"

"Hey! It seemed the neighborly thing to do!"

"Damn it, Fox. You could have gotten yourself killed!"

"Daniel, language," Carolyn reprimanded him quietly.

"Hey, I helped bring you back, how about a little gratitude? And by the way you were busy saving our asses! I thought maybe you could use some help!"

"Mulder, language," Scully cautioned.

"Fox, that's Daniel's over bearing way of saying thank you. If he wasn't concerned he wouldn't yell at you. It took us all a while to understand that about him."

Daniel gave his wife an unhappy look.

"It's true and you know it. You don't always express your feelings well."

"I'm glad you have all survived that trauma, and happy to report that demon Pflaster will never bother any of us again."

Dana stepped over to him and looked him in the face. Tentatively she reached out to touch his face, but her hand began to disappear through it.

"Alas, Miss Scully, I cannot yet manage corporeal yet as I am still recovering."

"Oh, I didn't know." She brought her hand back to her side and stared into his eyes. "I have no words to thank you for what you've done for us. For bringing William back to us, for getting rid of that vile creature at the risk of your own existence." She stared into his blue eyes with genuine compassion and love for the ghost before her. "I will do anything you ask of me, you have given us so much."

"Me too," Mulder agreed and tried to clap his hand on the Captain's shoulder only to have it disappear through him. "Ooops. That doesn't hurt, does it?"

"No, Fox, it doesn't hurt at all." The Captain smiled.

'Speaking of hurt, you seem to be making a nice recovery."

"Well, it was questionable."

"He didn't want to come back," Carolyn said in a short voice. "He thought himself too horrible to be among us since we had seen his other form."

"You mean scary Captain Gregg? That was cool!" Mulder said, and Scully hit him.

"But it was!" William agreed.

The Captain was silent, clearly disturbed by the topic of conversation. He was wondering how to change the subject when there was a ripple in the air a few feet from him and Sucellos appeared in front of the group.

"Greetings," he said and bowed to everyone before straightening.

Startled, Mulder and Scully fell into each other's arms, Carolyn moved closer to Daniel who sighed, and William's eyes widened as he smiled.

"You're a strong spirit, stronger than Uncle Danny," the boy said, completely unafraid.

"Yes, my boy, I am. Greetings to you all."

Mulder grinned at their new visitor, and Scully gave him an exasperated look.

"He is one of the spirits, one of the Powers That Be, Lord Sucellos is his proper title," Daniel intoned.

"Spirit royalty?" Scully asked.

"So it would seem," Carolyn said.

"At your service," he inclined his head and Daniel snorted.

"Our service? We could have used your help a couple of days ago."

"Ahh, the demon incident. You all did exceptionally well," he said.

"Thanks for nothing," Daniel muttered.

"Daniel, you did us a favor by getting rid of that creature, and after the fact we realized he was much stronger than we first anticipated. We wish to offer our apologies and I have come to pay our debt to you."

The Captain watched quietly but said nothing, waiting to hear what the other spirit was going to say.

"William will be able to stay with his parents."

"But we still have so many things to take care of, so many legalities," Scully said.

"Do you want him with you?" Sucellos said looking at the Mulders.

"Of course."

"Then it is taken care of, he is yours in every way including legally and no one will question it. You will find the appropriate papers at your house to prove it. And you are still Mr. and Mrs. Fox Mulder, no need to fake a death or anything else so dramatic." He gave Mulder a significant look. "As long as you keep a low profile, and stay away from the conspiracies that you used to concern yourself with, you and your family will remain safe."

"But I can't just sit back, there's a war coming!" He said, clearly uncomfortable with bringing that up in front of his friends.

Daniel and Carolyn exchanged a look.

"The aliens." He swallowed. "They have a date for colonization, December of 2012. They will try to take over the earth," Mulder said in great earnestness.

"They will not," Sucellos said as he studied his nails.

"How can you say that? You don't know what's happening?"

"I don't know what's happening?" Sucellos brought himself to his full height, which was still shorter than the Captain, but the power he exuded was unmistakable.

"Umm, you don't know what's happening, sir," Mulder said as Daniel chuckled to himself.

"There are more people than you Mr. Mulder that are aware of aliens and their plans for earth. There are many people such as yourself that have taken up the cause and are doing everything they can to prevent such a thing from happening." He smiled. "And there are many spirits that will also help to prevent such an occurrence."

"Spirits, really?" Scully looked from Sucellos to her husband, who looked stunned.

"Yes, really, Miss Scully. We were part of this world until we had to depart and have no wish to have it taken from us. Though we are not all as earthbound as Daniel, we will do whatever we can to save this earth." He looked at the others in the room with confidence. "There will be no invasion, earth will stay as it is, and everything is fine."

"Aliens?" Daniel stared at the other spirit in disbelief.

"Daniel, don't be such a stick in the mud. There are many things in this world and the universe of which you have yet to learn, or maybe accept? There are aliens and they are not always friendly. So we will take care of them." He chuckled evilly. "They really have no idea what to do with us, it's quite fun."

Mulder was stunned, he blinked, looking at Scully in shock.

"That's really true?" Scully asked.

Mulder stared at Sucellos for a long moment, and then looked over to Daniel, his expression one of astonished wonder as he began to speak, glancing over at Scully. "I want to believe that the dead are not lost to us, that they speak to us, as part of something greater than us, greater than any alien force, and that if you and I are powerless now; I want to believe that if we listen to them speak they can give us the power to save ourselves."

Sucellos and Daniel exchanged a smug smile and stood tall.

"I think you have your answer to that, Fox, don't you?" Daniel said in a soft voice.

He could only nod as Scully took his arm.

Sucellos nodded to them and then turned to Daniel. "Is that satisfactory? "

"Yes, but what about Jared?" He looked around. "And Melissa, I haven't seen her around since I returned."

"We have rescued Jared, and Melissa is helping him to recover. Will that do?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Aye, it will do," Daniel said and smiled at Sucellos.

Are you content with what we have done for them?" Sucellos indicated the human couple.

"Wait, all of this was for us?" Mulder said, clearly agitated.

"For you and William," Carolyn said, standing beside the Captain. "We felt we needed to help you."

"You did ask me a favor," the Captain chided Mulder gently.

"But I didn't expect this, what you went through…"

"It's what best friends do, isn't it? Help each other?" The Captain said with a long suffering sigh.

"Really? Best friend?" Mulder let out an excited whoop and everyone laughed.

"I knew I would regret saying that," Daniel rubbed his head.

"And I have a wonderful friend as well," Dana said and went over to link arms with Carolyn. The women hugged one another and smiled happily, wiping away tears from each other's eyes as they laughed together.

"So we would like to do something for you as well, Daniel," Sucellos said with a smile.

"What did you have in mind?" Daniel gave him a suspicious look.

"I'm not going to tell you, at least not yet. It will be a surprise I think."

"Oh, joy," Daniel said with a pained expression.

"Oh, you will like it, I have no doubt, but there's a few things you will have to figure out first."

"Like what?"

"You'll know when you get there. What fun is anything without an adventure?" Sucellos eyes twinkled with great mischief.

Daniel said nothing, but crossed his arms in front of him and grumbled.

"Any chance that I'll like it too?" Carolyn asked the other spirit.

Sucellos tilted his head back and though for a moment and then offered her a happy grin. "I think you will most certainly like what we have decided to reward Daniel with and when the time comes you will most certainly have a chance to accept or decline our offer."

"Sounds intriguing," Carolyn agreed, and smiled at Daniel who continued to grumble.

"It has been, a pleasure meeting all of you but I must be on my way. We will be in touch soon." He paused for a moment. "There is a simple thing that I can do now before I leave and that is to restore you to your normal spirit self." With a wave of his hand the Captain knew he was back to normal, complete power radiating through him.

"Thank you," he inclined his head to Sucellos.

"My pleasure." He paused and looked at Carolyn. "You are a most remarkable woman, Carolyn. To have put up with this spirit as you have is in and of itself is a feat worthy of high praise," he said waiting for the reaction he knew he would get from the Captain who was once again muttering under his breath.

"But what you did, to pull him back from the brink of non–existence, to restore him to himself despite the hazards to you." He shook his head. "You are truly one to be admired, your courage is outstanding. You do not deserve to be punished for this and so I am restoring you to your normal, healthy levels as well." With a wave of his hand, Carolyn suddenly felt immensely better.

"Thank you," she said and leaned over to kiss the spirit.

"You are most fortunate, Daniel, see that you take care of her."

"I always take care of her," the Captain said.

"Goodbye everyone, I will be in touch." And with that he was gone.

"That was interesting," Scully commented. "What kind of reward do you think he has for you?"

"No doubt something far too interesting," Daniel said with a glum expression.

"Captain, Daniel, you and Carolyn did so much more for us than was necessary and we are eternally grateful. There are simply not enough words to thank you," she walked over to him and placed a chaste kiss on his lips and hugged him tightly.

Surprised the Captain hugged her back. "You are most welcome, Miss Scully."

"Well, I should thank you too, I know that you did more than your share to bring William back, and to get rid of Pflaster for us." Mulder gave her a megawatt smile. "May I kiss you, Carolyn Gregg?"

"Only if I can kiss you, Fox Mulder," she said, and he pulled her into his arms and placed a friendly kiss on her lips.

"Thank you, Fox," Carolyn said and placed a gentle hand on his face for just a moment.

"My pleasure. You're a beautiful woman, Carolyn Gregg, thank you for everything you have done for us."

The two of them looked at the other two and there was an awkward moment or two as they figured out what to say next.

"Well it would seem we have finished with that," the Captain said.

"Not quite," Mulder said and surprised the Captain by pulling him close and giving him a bear hug. "Thanks, Danny. If you ever need anything, just ask. I'll do anything to help you."

The Captain reluctantly hugged Mulder back. "You're welcome, Fox. Be sure to take care of them now. I will not go through anything like this again."

"I will." He let go of the Captain and stepped away.

"Are you done kissing?" William said from the table looking thoroughly exasperated.

The adults laughed, and Scully went over and rubbed her son's hair.

"Yeah, Will, we're done."

"About time," he said and then grinned at them.

"What is it, William?" Daniel asked the boy.

"I know what's going to happen." He clapped his hands together.

"What would that be, lad?"

"We're going hunting for aliens!"

"I beg your pardon," the Captain straightened up and scowled.

"It's where you'll get your reward, but you have to go."

"I'll do no such thing."

"Will, I don't see that happening," Mulder admitted, looking a bit ashen at the thought.

"But that's what you do?" William turned a puzzled look on his father.

"Not anymore, buddy."

William looked crestfallen for a few moments but then smiled back at them. "It will happen. You have to get your reward."

"My lad, I love you but that will simply not happen." The Captain looked over at his wife. "My dear, will you meet me upstairs?"

"Yes, give me a few minutes," she said and the ghost nodded disappeared.

"Carolyn, thank you for everything," Scully hugged Carolyn for a few moments before releasing her.

"Now I need to take my two men home." Scully gave Carolyn the happiest smile she had ever seen from the woman, and she knew it's because the problems that weighed her down were now gone. She was happy.

So was Mulder, the wattage of his smile matched that of his wife.

They left hand in hand, with William running out ahead of them. As she watched them disappear down the walk she felt Daniel's presence beside her. She turned to look at him as he watched their friends leave.

"That was one hell of a favor," she murmured.

"Yes, it was, and I had no idea what it would entail when I agreed to it."

"Are you sorry?"

"No. Look how happy they are, they have their son back. That makes it all worthwhile."

"You're pretty special too," she said closing the front door and leaning against it as she studied him. "You know that I'm okay with everything, don't you?"

He suddenly seemed as if he wanted to run away, so she stepped over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Only you could have made this happen, only you could have made everyone so happy. And I love you so for the man that you are," she said, searching his eyes.

"Spirit, I am but a spirit," he said sadly. "All I have ever wanted was to be a man, a mortal man for you, but I can't. I'm so sorry."

"Do I look like I need an apology? After all of these years you should know better than that by now. I love you, as you are, I always have so stop apologizing for what you are."

"Truly?" he asked and she tried not to see the tears in his deep blue eyes.

"Truly, now shut up and kiss me," she said and pulled his head down to her.

"Your wish is my command, my dearest wife," he said and pulled her into his arms, his heart filling with a happiness that he was sure he didn't deserve.

THE END

AN:

Thank you so much for reading my crossover novel – I appreciate you sticking with me to the end.

Now I have a favor to ask you – since this novel is complete, please leave feedback for me. Your reviews about this story, what you liked, what you didn't like, did it work, and so forth are of great value to me and will help me to become a better writer. So please help me by leaving reviews for this story.

And last but not least since I have now created this strange AU universe that seems to work for these characters, would you like to see more stories for them? I have several in mine and if there is still an audience out there I will be happy to add them to this series. Just let me know!

Thanks again for following this story to the end! You guys are great!