July 3, 2021

Scully looked at Rachel with a smile as she sighed, rubbing her rapidly expanding belly. They were lying beside the pool of the rental home they had come to for the holiday weekend, having not seen each other in a couple of months.

Rachel, six and a half months pregnant, moaned as she shifted positions and then stood up with some difficulty, rubbing her back with a whiny groan.

"God, I'm so uncomfortable. What is it like 200 fucking degrees out here today? I'm so hot. I need to get in the pool." She walked, or rather waddled past Scully, who was sensible enough to keep her thoughts to herself.

Sighing as she sunk down into the water, Rachel visibly relaxed and Scully smiled again, feeling in need of a dip herself. She got off her chaise lounge, adjusted her bathing suit, and joined Rachel in the water.

"So much better. I'm thinking I should just move into this pool," Rachel stated, floating with her eyes closed. "These babies are heavy and being weightless in the water is a godsend."

"I'm sure," Scully responded with a chuckle, remembering how heavy it was carrying one child, let alone two at once. Rachel opened her eyes and looked at her with a worried expression.

"I don't want you to think I'm complaining too much."

"Not at all," Scully assured her, moving her arms through the water.

"I know I'm lucky to be having a child, I don't want to sound ungrateful."

"Rachel, trust me, you don't," Scully said with a smile. "Having a baby is beautiful and wonderful, but also hard on our bodies. And you have two! That's a lot to carry around."

"I'm so glad you understand," Rachel said with a sigh, stepping closer and grasping Scully's hand. "I feel like when I complain it sounds bad, so I try not to do it too often."

"And what would you tell a patient who says the same thing?" Scully asked, squeezing her hand and raising an eyebrow.

"I know," Rachel answered with a sigh, letting go of Scully's hand and floating back, her belly poking out of the water a bit. "I just don't want Walter to worry. Although…" She raised up and smiled conspiratorially. "I have noticed that, while we don't generally argue, we do disagree sometimes, but we haven't as often recently. Since I've been pregnant, especially big like this and growing every day, if I say something and I know he wants to disagree, I see his eyes drop to my stomach and I can almost hear him thinking 'don't stress her out, stay calm' and it makes me laugh. Internally, of course." They both laughed and Scully shook her head.

"That's genius," Scully said, shaking her head, still laughing. "Wish I would have thought of that when I was pregnant with Faith."

"It's been quite comical for me. But don't tell him."

"Oh no. Not a chance." They both laughed again, Rachel closing her eyes and swimming back, floating on her back. They fell silent and Scully dunked under, swimming around, enjoying the cool of the water.

When she came up, she heard voices and turned to see Skinner and Mulder standing by the side of the pool. Skinner had a box in his hands and a huge smile on his face, Mulder was holding a sleepy eyed and messy haired Faith, who had just woken from a nap.

"No it's not," Rachel said with a smile, walking toward the stairs. "Are you serious?"

"What is it?" Scully asked, swimming closer herself, wondering what they were talking about.

"Mama, I want to swim," Faith said with a yawn, rubbing her eyes and putting her head on Mulder's shoulder.

"Yes, my love. Daddy can get you ready and you can come in with me." She smiled at her as Faith nodded and turned her head, seemingly in no hurry to join her. Mulder winked at Scully and she smiled at him, her attention returning to the box Skinner was opening.

He took out the contents inside and held it up, causing Rachel to laugh and shake her head. Scully stared at it and laughed with her when she realized what it was: a colorful pool float with a designated hole in it for a pregnant belly to fit.

"That is perfect," Rachel said, beginning to leave the pool and Skinner stopped her.

"Stay. I'll blow it up and you can try it out." She nodded and pushed back to float around as she waited. Mulder took Faith inside to dress her and Scully swam under the water before she would be unable to do so as she would be holding Faith.

When the float was ready, Skinner, out of breath and rather red faced, walked into the pool onto the second step and laid it down. Rachel smiled as she came to him, giving him a quick kiss of thanks, before he helped her to lie down and get situated properly.

"Ohhhh," she sighed in relief, laying her head on her folded arms. "Do you have any idea how much I've missed lying on my stomach?"

"I do," Skinner replied gruffly. "I've heard it said a few times recently."

"Hmm… thank you, you wonderful man," Rachel said, her voice muffled, relaxed and sounding near sleep. He grinned at her and then glanced at Scully who smiled back with a quiet chuckle.

"So," Mulder said as they sat down to eat a meal of barbecued chicken a couple of hours later, all of them in bathing suits with damp hair. "How goes the house hunt?" Skinner sighed, looking over at Rachel, who was placing some strawberries onto Faith's plate.

"I feel you staring at me. You can stop," she said and they all laughed. Turning back to them as she set the fruit down, she looked at him and shook her head. He leaned toward her and kissed her temple as she sighed and closed her eyes briefly.

"That good, huh?" Mulder teased and Scully smiled softly as she watched them, happy that Skinner was so happy.

"Raycho, I have more wahmelon?" Faith said, pointing at the bowl of watermelon in front of her.

"Eat some chicken first, my girl," Mulder said, showing her where it was on her plate. "You eat that and you can have some watermelon, okay?"

"Yes, okay, Dada," she agreed, eating a piece and chewing it happily. "I have wahmelon now?" They laughed and he shook his head, putting a couple of pieces on her plate, unable to argue with her logic. She grinned as she held it, biting into it, as juice dripped down onto her bathing suit.

"It's not that we haven't seen some great places," Rachel said, bringing their attention back to the question asked. "I just… they don't feel right." She looked at Skinner and he took a deep breath, turning to them with eyebrows raised. He yelped and Scully knew Rachel had to have pinched him under the table and it made her laugh.

"We've seen so many places," he said, rubbing his leg with a look to her, and Scully's thoughts were confirmed. "Great places, new and modern. Some older and in need of some work, but good solid homes. Though the prices on all of them are insane. Houses are ridiculously priced. We can afford it, even more so after I sell my place, it's just shiii…you know?" He had looked at Faith, who grinned at him, and stopped his swear from going too far, all of them laughing again.

"Not just that, but…" Rachel rubbed her belly and sighed. "They don't feel like home, you know? Like the place I would want to live my life, bring our children home and raise them. They haven't felt like that to me."

"I understand," Mulder and Scully said simultaneously and he grinned, kissing her cheek and whispering 'spooky.'

"My apartment where I lived, I knew right away," Rachel said with a smile. "It had a glassed-in porch that wasn't like the other units and the apartment manager actually apologized for it, but I loved it immediately. It was between the two rooms and it felt like my own private area, although I was the only one who lived there. I loved it and knew right away that was the place for me. When I came over to Walter's, though sparsely decorated and rather… sterile, I loved it there too." She put her arm through his to remove the possible sting of her words and he nodded as she motioned to them with her other hand. "Likewise your place, though rather out of the way, it has a feeling of comfort and being homey. That's what I want."

"And we'll find it," Skinner said, moving his arm and putting it around her shoulders, kissing her head. "We'll find it, honey."

"I hope so… before the babies are born. I know if we have to bring them to the townhouse, it will be okay, but I'd rather everything was settled and done before they arrive." Skinner hummed and Mulder raised his bottle of beer.

"To finding the perfectly feeling homey house," he said and Rachel smiled, picking up her glass of juice. They all followed suit, even Faith who picked up her cup saying 'cheers' and waiting while they all clinked their glass to hers, chatting and laughing.

All except for Scully who said nothing, a seed of an idea growing within her.

July 7th

Turning off the car, Scully let out a deep breath, holding the keys and staring at the house before her. Stepping out, she walked up the walkway, and paused at the door before unlocking it and entering quietly.

It was the same as it always was, the air heavy and silent. The afternoon sun filled the room with light and she sighed as she closed the door behind her, locking it and pocketing her keys.

"Hey Mom," she whispered, walking further into the house, staring at the room she loved so much. "It's been awhile, I know, but…" She continued in and ran her fingers gently across the dining room table, smiling as she did. Dinners, games, Christmas meals… all had been enjoyed at that table.

"Mom…" she said quietly, shaking her head. "It's been five years since you left us… left me." She breathed out as she walked away from the table and into the kitchen. "This house has sat empty, well empty of life anyway, as your things are still here. I haven't been able to do anything with it, leaving it as it was. I just couldn't face it."

Looking around the kitchen, she remembered her father sneaking cookies before dinner, her mother smacking him playfully with a wooden spoon when she had caught him at it, and how they had laughed.

She and Melissa sitting on the countertops talking one night, both a bit tipsy, laughing quietly so they did not get caught.

"Jesus, Mom…" she breathed, walking back through the house and upstairs, the sound quiet on the carpet. "It's hard to imagine someone else living here, this being their home…" She touched the walls, the spots that had been marked by furniture being moved over the years, suitcases carried up and down the stairs, and other calamities it had met, forever leaving its marks.

"There are signs of us here, all of us. They don't go away, and yet… they must. They must make way for new memories, new lives being lived." She smiled as she remembered shouts up and down the halls, her father yelling for quiet, Charlie making faces unbeknownst to him, her giggling as she shoved him into his bedroom before he was caught.

"So many memories and yet… Mom, I think it's a good idea. It's sensible, the location is good, it makes sense." She looked at the bedrooms, opening all the doors and closing her eyes, hearing her radio playing her favorite songs, Missy coming in and laying on her bed, singing along or remaining silent.

"This house… it needs life in it again," she whispered, opening her eyes and smiling. "It needs to be lived in and loved, not empty and silent. Mom…" She began to cry, sinking to the floor and holding her head in her hands.

She thought of the memories that the house held, not wanting to lose them, but knowing she would not technically lose the house. If they accepted, she would always be welcome, encouraged even to come over as often as she liked. It was a good idea.

Her tears slowing, she got up and looked around again, this time seeing it in a different light. There would need to be changes, some updating to it, but it could work.

There was the main bedroom- good sized with the walk-in closet and the large bathroom attached.

Two bedrooms, the ones she and Melissa had lived in, shared a connecting bathroom. Charlie's old room, which was now the guest room she and Mulder had usually slept in, also had its own bathroom.

It was the perfect size, almost fated.

"It's like it's been waiting," she whispered as she stood in her old room, picturing it as a nursery, smiling slowly as she nodded.

She looked in the other rooms, imagining them as children's rooms, decorated to their personal tastes, laughter and happiness filling the rooms and spilling down the hall.

Back downstairs, she walked into the room her father had considered his office. It was sparsely furnished, her father never having a need for much extravagances.

There was a neatly organized desk and a large bookcase holding many books and models of battleships, war planes, and vintage cars. Medals, awards, letters of commendation, pictures and detailed drawings of ships hung on the walls. A grandfather clock that had broken years ago and no longer kept time, stood in the corner; beautiful but obsolete.

It was dark with both the blinds shut and the color of furniture in the room, but there was potential. With some work done, it could be a good home office for Rachel, who would need a separate space in order to focus on her work.

"Dad…" she whispered, pulling out his office chair and sitting down, the faint smell of the leather hitting her nose, the scent reminding her of him. "I used to love to come in here. I would watch to see if the door was open or closed. If it was slightly ajar, I knew I could come in without it being a bother. You would take down that battleship model on the shelf, quizzing me on the names of the parts of the ship." She smiled as she remembered thinking of them over and over, wanting to get them all right.

Shaking her head, she sighed and closed her eyes, hearing the quiet sound of the now silent clock, her father's low chuckle, as she breathed in the scent of the leather chair, and ticked off the carefully memorized names.

Keel, deck, bridge, Chart House…

She knew she had it right when he would hum a certain way and when she was wrong, he would wait, the clock ticking behind them. Anxious, she would try again, waiting for that hum of approval.

Opening her eyes, she pushed up from the chair, wiped her eyes, and tapped the desk with a sad smile.

Leaving the room and closing the door, she went to the backyard, thinking of her and Mulder's wedding reception, the people filling the area. Dancing and happy, it had been a wonderful night.

It was a good sized backyard, with the big brick porch, and large lawn. The fence could do with being replaced and some landscaping changes would be good.

"Or a pool," she said, something they had always asked for, but her father would not spend the money on when the Mitchell's next door had one which they used all the time. That it was not the same, he would not hear. "Yeah. This place needs a pool."

She smiled as she walked back inside and took her phone out of her pocket to send a message to Mulder, when it slipped from her fingers. She tried to catch it, but she missed. It dropped to the floor, the face of the pop up thing she had on the back popping off and bouncing toward a small cabinet and rolling underneath.

"Shhhhit," she groaned with a heavy sigh.

Picking up the phone, which was thankfully unscathed, she stood up and walked to the cabinet. Kneeling down, she turned on her phone's flashlight and looked under the cabinet.

She saw the piece lying face down on top of a fine line of dust beside a small piece of crumpled paper. With a sigh, she reached underneath, and pulled both items out.

Wiping off the dust, she reattached her round pop up to her phone. She smiled at the silver spaceship against a blue starry background with a tractor beam in primary colors that Mulder had given her on Mother's Day. He had been so excited by it, taking her phone and putting it on right away, smiling when he handed it back.

Such a weird, wonderful man.

Turning off the flashlight, she picked up the piece of paper and as she began to open it, she caught a glimpse of Rachel's handwriting.

"What?"

Opening it fully, it was a piece of paper from the personalized pad her mom kept by the phone. Rachel's name was written on it plus Dinner and dancing? but nothing else.

"How did this get under there? How long has it been there?" Looking under the cabinet again with her phone's flashlight on, but found nothing. Had this been from their wedding party?

A slow grin spread across her face and she nodded. If she had been looking for a sign, she believed she now held it in her hand. Somehow, this note was there, nearly two years later, already taking up residence.

"Maggie Scully… still working that quiet magic," she said quietly as she shook her head again.

Standing to her feet, she folded the paper and slid it into her pocket as she walked toward the front door.

"Everything okay at your moms?" Mulder asked as she walked in a little while later.

"Yeah, it's good," she replied, smiling at Faith who was having a tea party at her small table with her stuffed animals and Grey, who sat on one of the chairs, her tail twitching as she watched Faith moving plates around.

She felt him watching her and smiled at him, walking over to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. He pulled back and searched her face, causing her to chuckle softly.

"Stop profiling me," she whispered and he laughed softly, his arms loose around her waist. "We'll talk later, after Faith's in bed."

"Hmm," he hummed, kissing her again, his eyes still searching, and she knew he would be asking at the first opportunity.

"Okay. Out with it," he said, Faith finally sleeping soundly as they sat on the porch steps, Bella chasing after a ball he had thrown. Scully chuckled and nodded, clasping her hands over her knees.

"I wanted to see something, if an idea I had, would be feasible."

"What idea is that?"

"If my mom's house would work for Rachel and Skinner," she said, watching him out of the corner of her eye. He froze and then turned his head quickly to look at her. They stared at one another and she nodded.

"That's a perfect idea. But, are you sure you want to do that? You'd be okay with it?"

"I don't see us ever living there."

"Do… do you want to live there? I don't think I ever even asked." She slid an arm through his and laid her head on his shoulder with a sigh.

"No. I love this house. This porch, the roots we've put down here… this is our home." He nodded against her head, interlocking their fingers.

"But if you did, you know I would do whatever made you happy," he said softly and she smiled.

"I appreciate that, but living there wouldn't make me happy. Not there anyway. I like to visit, but living permanently… no." He nodded again and she sighed.

"But for Skinner and Rachel…" he said and she could practically feel him thinking. "Four bedrooms… those two have the connecting bathroom… your dad's office could be good for Rachel… the backyard is good sized for two kids, but that fence should be replaced… it would need some updating, but it could work. I could definitely see it." She lifted her head and stared at him with a smile.

"Everything you just said… were exactly my own thoughts."

"Ohhh… so spooky," he teased and she laughed.

"Very spooky," she agreed, kissing him gently before putting her head back on his shoulder.

"Do you think they would agree to the idea? To buy the house I mean, as I know Skinner would never allow it to be a gift."

"Could you imagine him just accepting it?"

"Hell no."

They both laughed, Bella running up with her ball and dropping it beside Mulder, her tongue lolling out. He threw the ball and she leaped from the stairs, chasing after it in the porchlight.

They continued discussing it, devising a plan they felt would work. For all of them.