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Title: And Baby Makes Two

Written by: Jamalyn Rascher

Disclaimer: Everything X-Files, including

characters belongs to Chris Carter and 1013.

Rating: PG

Spoiler: Requiem and 8th season

Email: stdjdr13@shsu.edu

Summary: Mulder is returned to his Scully,

and they receive a beautiful Christmas surprise.

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And Baby Makes Two (Part 2)

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WA Memorial Hospital

4:00 AM

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Mulder wasn't dead. Mulder isn't dead. It just didn't make any sense. Despite the fact that she had always vowed never to give up looking for him, the actuality of having him back was just too much. Scully desperately wanted to run to him and find him awake, waiting for her, but a fear held her back, a fear that this was just all some horrible trick her mind was plying. Then before she had even begun to sort this out, they were there. The doctor stopped at the door, pushing it open and smiled. Scully looked through at the darkened room. No, Mulder wasn't there looking for her. She moved a few steps into the room and could hear Frohike shuffling in behind her. She realized he had yet to say anything since they had met the doctor in the hall. Not much actual time had passed, but it felt like an eternity.

Scully couldn't bring herself to actually check the form on the bed. She cursed herself for her insanity, her weakness. Somehow how Frohike sensed her inability to continue and so moved past her to find out the truth himself.

Scully turned her head away as he lifted the blanket a bit to get a better view of the person underneath.

Scully's head snapped back as Frohike let out a short laugh and a "That's the G-man, alright." The little man was grinning from ear to ear. It was Mulder, Frohike said it was Mulder, but somewhere inside, something still stalled. Then she heard it, her proof undeniable.

"God…Frohike, get out a my face." Scully knew she would recognize that voice anywhere. That was her Mulder.

Scully ran as well as she could to him, as Frohike stepped aside and pretended in intense interest in Mulder's charts, which lay clipped to the foot of the bed, in an attempt at offering them some privacy.

At first, Scully didn't say anything. She really didn't know how. She just looked at him and from somewhere deep inside began to cry.

Mulder immediately became animated, worried about his Scully and looking for any reason to touch her and hold her close. He couldn't even remember the number of times he had come up yearning for her. He really couldn't remember anything, besides a few feelings—yet. But at his movements, Scully made to quiet him, still unsure of his true condition.

Frohike gave a small cough and excused himself, mumbling something about a cafeteria style coffee and left. Scully smiled after him and then at Mulder who was still trying to sit up in the bed.

"I'm fine." Mulder complained, but Scully's eyes still ran over him, checking everything, finding emotional strength in her old scientific training.

Scully sat down on the chair pulled next to the bed. Luckily despite his protests, he still seemed a bit unaware, the room was dark, and the chair very low. She wanted to tell him her news herself, not shock him into a heart attack with sudden reality. She smiled at Mulder, reaching up to take his hand in her own, staring at his eyes unable to get enough.

Finally, after what had seemed yet another eternity, she began to get her wits in order. Scully reached for her phone and at Mulder's inquiring look said, "I'd better call Skinner. I know he'd want to know immediately."

Mulder smiled, "Let's hold off on letting him in for a while." He cocked his eyebrows, pouting, quietly asking for a few more minutes, which Scully was more than willing to give. For a while they just sat in their comfortable silence, each unable to get enough. Finally, Mulder broke the silence.

"So tell me about work," he suggested, "Any new X-Files I should know about?" Mulder's eyes lit up with his typical exuberance but, Scully began to chew on her lip, a sure sign of distress.

"I think you'll find work a little changed," she finally started, after a long pause, "There's been a new agent, Agent Dogget, assigned … to me," she finished quickly when he began to look worried.

"He's good," she added softly when Mulder didn't respond, "But it has never been the same." She looked up at Mulder, the tears threatening once more. At his look of concern, however, she smiled, asking forgiveness, trying to make him believe her.

"I've missed you," she whispered, "a lot." By now her voice was almost to soft to be heard, even in the sleeping hospital.

"I've been thinking about you, especially since Skinner decided to put me on mandatory administrative leave." Scully smiled again to soften the bitterness in her last remark. Mulder's mind raced with possible reason for this, but he just didn't know. He had missed too much. He wanted to beg her for the information, wanted to hear everything that had happened, but he knew better than push her. It would all come out in good time.

But, despite his patience, she didn't continue. She seemed lost in her own world, desperately searching for the words. Finally Mulder softly pried, "Why?" Scully's attention immediately snapped back to him.

"Mulder?" she queried, "There's something you should know." When she didn't continue, yet again, he asked, "So you've finally, actually quit the FBI to become a spokes person for the ab roller? Or perhaps you married Charles Nelson Reilly?" She let out a small laugh.

"Oh God! No, Mulder."

"Good" was his only reply, then "Nothing can be worse than that. Come on, out with it." He smiled at her encouragingly. Funny, Scully thought, she never imagined it would be harder to tell Mulder than it was her mother. Finally she decided that shock was the only way. She stood up, motioning to her full body and let his eyes trace over her before stating the very obvious.

"Mulder, I'm pregnant."

For a moment she thought she had gone too far. She wondered if she could live the fact that she was the one who killed Mulder. But no-he was still breathing.

For a moment, Mulder was flat out scared-witless. Scared it wasn't his. Scared she'd found someone else. But then he knew, knew in the very depths of his being that it all was right with the world.

"Oh, Scully" was all he seemed to be able to say, but he reached out with his arms to her, as best as he could anyway with the IV and trappings.

Scully smiled at his acceptance, possibly the best smile of the night, but said, "Mulder, there is no way both of us would fit in that bed.

Scully stepped up next to the bed again and smiled down on Mulder. Just then, Frohike stepped back in the room. He had to clear his throat to get their attention. Even then, though, Mulder continued to finger the pocket flap on Scully's jumper.

"I, ah, spoke with your Dr. friend," he started, looking over Mulder to Scully. Mulder's interest instantly peaked. "He says that theirs really nothing wrong with Mulder. In fact, he, ah, seems perfectly healthy. So, umm, if we wanna check him out and head home, we can." Still though Scully was unsure. She decided to actually talk with the good Dr. herself. It's not that she didn't trust Frohike…

As Scully left the room, Frohike leaned over his friend and whispered, "I think your doctor has a crush on Scully." Frohike let out a short laugh as Mulder tried to give him a punch.

Soon however Scully returned with a nurse who began to prep Mulder to leave. It was already nearing 6:00 am and the hospital was coming back to its active day life. Soon Mulder was ready to go. Unfortunately, he hadn't arrived with any clothes, not that could be found anyway, so he had to make the trip back to Scully's apartment in the flimsy hospital gown.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Scully's Apartment

8:30 AM

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It had taken them much longer to get back to Scully's apartment than they had thought. Rush hour on the freeway had nearly proven to be deadly. When Scully walked in and caught the clock, she let out a groan. Her mother had been expecting her over an hour ago. Oh well, she thought, I'll just call mom and tell her I won't be able to make it over there. Mulder came in behind her, wrapped in an emergency blanket from the car as protection against the icy December winds just in time to hear an even louder groan.

"What is it?" he asked, casting a worried glance around the apartment. "My dress, my beautiful, expensive dress." She let a little ironic laugh. Mulder was still confused. Scully gave him a smile and explained in as few words as possible. He just smiled back at her. "We could go to your mother's dinner." he said. "I'm not a fragile doll. Anyway, I want to see that dress." Scully blushed at those words, cursing her Irish heritage. "But first I need to change." Mulder said, "I don't think I'm dressed for the occasion. Do you still have one of my spare suits over here?" Scully led him to her spare bedroom where his entire apartment lay in boxes. Mulder looked around at all the neatly labeled items with a bit of disbelief.

"I couldn't afford to keep up with both rents, so I just moved your stuff over here. Frohike and the guys helped." Scully felt a little embarrassed, like she might have stepped over the line, but Mulder didn't seem to mind. In fact, he was actually rather pleased. This was the best way he could side step the issue of ever leaving her alone again. Mulder began checking each of the boxes looking for his clothes.

"Everything's there somewhere, err, except your, ah, tapes." Scully told him. Mulder looked up, "I guess I kinda knew Frohike'd step in for those pretty quickly." he said with a smile. Scully let out a small cough.

"Ah, it wasn't Frohike." she said, "It was Byers."

"Byers?" Mulder laughed. "I never guessed." Mulder shook his head in disbelief. Mulder found the large box of clothes and began to dig through them.

"I've hung a few of your dress shirts and pants in the closet. Well," Scully paused, "I guess you can figure the rest out." And with that and a smile Scully left the room and shut the door.

Frohike was waiting by the front door. She had forgotten he was even there, and now felt a little bad. But he didn't seem to mind. He was still grinning like a fool.

"I guess I had better be getting back." Frohike said, "The guys and I are hopping online to spread a little Christmas cheer." Scully smiled at that remark. Frohike turned to leave, but paused just before he was gone and said, "I'm glad he's back."

"Me too," was all Scully could say.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

En route to Maggie's House

9:15 AM

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Mulder was driving. He seemed to relish the sensation, and Scully wasn't able to anyway. Really they were making excellent time. Scully had phoned her mother before they left, saying she had overslept and that she would be there as soon as possible. She really didn't understand why she hadn't just told her the truth. But she kinda liked the idea of showing up on her mom's doorstep with her very own Christmas surprise.

Scully looked over at Mulder, who was happily tapping along with the "Little Drummer Boy" that was playing on the radio and couldn't help but grin. He turned towards her with a ba-rum-da-bum-bum and a smile.

"I really like your dress," he said fingering the silky gray shoulder strap. Scully brushed his hand off with a pretended impatience.

"Just watch the road," she said, "I don't want to die on Christmas day." His only response was to smile and return to his steering wheel drum.

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Maggie's House

11:06 AM

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Mulder pulled up beside the mailbox, as the driveway was already blocked by four other cars. Mulder climbed out as Scully began to pull her coat on to block the chilly wind she knew would hit her the moment she stepped out. Then before she could get the door, Mulder was there, offering his hand. Scully raised her eyebrows questioningly at this foreign courtesy. Mulder just shrugged, his hand still there for her to take, and Scully thought she detected a slight reddening of his cheeks not due to the cutting wind. She accepted his hand and allowed him to help her out of the car and lead her to the front door. He rapped lightly on Maggie's door and stood back to wait.

Suddenly Scully let out what could best be described as a cross between a cough and a gasp, or at least that's what Mulder thought. He turned towards her and was surprised to see her eyes wide and some of her color gone. "Bill," she silently mouthed, and then a bit more audible, "I forgot about Bill." Just then, as if summoned by some evil spirit, presumably the devil, the door opened and there he stood.

Bill and Mulder had never really gotten on together. In the good times, they tolerated each other, but underneath the surface there was always the knowledge that Bill blamed Mulder for everything that had happened to Scully. Needless to say, he blamed him for the whole pregnant sis/disappearing act.

For a moment Bill just stared, as if nothing made any sense. Scully took a step closer to Mulder, lightly touching his arm laying her support where she felt it belonged. Mulder's only response was to continue to study Bill, although Scully didn't think he felt very defensive, just curious. By now, several moments had passed and Scully was beginning to notice how cold it was.

Finally she heard their respite from inside. "Bill," Maggie called, "Who is it? Tell them to come inside." At that moment she made it to the door, and standing on her toes to see over Bill, who blocked the entire doorway, she beamed one of her great mom smiles. A particularly cutting gust caught Scully off guard and she gave a small shiver. Maggie smiled again, when she saw Mulder's protective arm go around her daughter's shoulder.

Maggie stepped back, pulling Bill with her as if everything was perfectly normal, and people who had who had been missing for months just showed up on her doorstep regularly.

"Hurry in," she said, "You'll catch your death of cold on a day like this." Scully immediately took her advice, Mulder following behind. Bill stalked down the hall. Scully could read the anger that seemed to flow over him, and she still wasn't sure that everything had passed, but Mom seemed to have it all in hand. Scully often sat and wondered over the differences between her mother's and her personality. Maggie began to help Mulder remove his coat.

"Hello, Fox," she said, "Long time, no see, eh?" Scully had long since given up on trying to get her mother to call Mulder, Mulder. Mulder just smiled somewhat sheepishly.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Scully," he said, "I hope you don't mind me crashing your party."

"Of course not!" she declared, "It's really good to see you." Maggie reached for Scully's coat. "You see, I told Dana to invite you," she said with a wink in Mulder's direction.

"Mom…really," was all Scully said. Maggie hung the coats on the rack and ushered them into the living room where a small group of people had already gathered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Maggie's House

4:00 PM

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Dinner had been absolutely wonderful, as it always was. By now, most of the guests had left, and the house that had been on the verge of too full now seemed a bit empty. That was when Scully realized that Mulder had gone missing. She hadn't seen him since she had gone to help her mother and sister-in-law with the dishes.

Scully began a through search of the house, going through all the rooms on the bottom floor first, then the tops. Just as she was beginning to get frantic, she nearly collided with her sister-in-law as she was leaving the last bedroom.

"Whoa," she said, then catching to frightened look on Scully's face, "Hey, what's the matter?" It took Scully a few minutes to focus in on what was being said. When she did, she asked, "Have you seen Mulder? I can't find him anywhere." Scully immediately began chewing on her top lip, glancing down the hall.

"Sure," Her sister-in-law answered, "He is in the back yard with Bill." Scully shot off down the hall, intent on getting to Mulder before Bill did.

"Dana, sheesh," her sister-in-law called, "Your gonna hafta learn to slow down."

Mulder hadn't been very excited about the way that Bill had approached him, but he understood where the man was coming from. He imagined he would be just as protective of Sam if he had ever been given the chance.

Scully saw Mulder and Bill through the big picture window the minute she stepped into the living room. So far, it didn't look like they had come to blows. Still, Scully didn't like the idea of the two of them alone. She quickly made her way to the back door over near the breakfast nook.

Bill was coming back inside just as Scully was starting out there. She didn't even bother with grabbing a coat, just scooted out to Mulder, who was still standing on the patio watching the first few flakes begin to fall. He didn't even notice her until she said, "So what were you and bill discussing?" He turned toward her with a smile, then a frown.

"Scully, your gonna freeze," he said, taking off his coat and wrapping it around her. "You better learn to pay attention to these sort of things." She frowned at him in return, but then just shook her head with a sigh. Leave it to Mulder to start talking like he had always been the mature responsible one.

"Lets go inside," he said, rubbing his arms with his hands, "I'm freezing." He ushered her back towards the door, his hand now in the small of her back. When they got inside, they were immediately called over to the kitchen table, where someone had set up a game of trivial pursuit. Well, Scully thought, it wouldn't be Christmas without trivial pursuit.

The game lasted late into the night, when Maggie and the girls finally pulled ahead and won. They were all trying to think of something cruel to make the guys do for losing when everyone headed up to bed.

It wasn't until Scully went to crawl into bed that it sunk in that her mom had placed Mulder in another room. Now her mother readily acknowledged that Scully was carrying Mulder's baby, but she could bring herself to let them share a room. But Scully didn't want to be away from him for even one more night. She knew she'd never be able to sleep anyway. Scully sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the house to go to sleep so that she could sneak down to Mulder's room.

Finally, the house was quiet enough and Scully felt safe enough to try and make it down the hall. She grabbed her pillow and began to tiptoe across the floor. As she reached for the door it began to silently open. She jerked back immediately, holding the pillow to her stomach. Mulder's messy head peeked around the door and when he saw her standing there, he smiled.

"I got lonely," he admitted quietly. Scully reached for the door, opened it the rest of the way and reached for Mulder's hand. She pulled him into the room, and quietly closing the door again, led him back to her bed where they both curled up. "You realize this means I've got to marry you," he whispered into her ear. She turned her head slightly trying to see him, but his arms prevented her from turning over. "I'm not going to sleep in another room every time we visit your mother," he finally explained. Scully let out a quiet chuckle. "Good," she whispered back. Mulder turned out the light over the bed and they both fell asleep.

Scully woke up later and immediately knew something was wrong. She could place the time as after midnight by the weight of the darkness. What woke me up, she thought. Mulder's arm was still wrapped around her; she was warm, and comfortable. But she didn't feel right. She gently slipped out from under Mulder's arm to sit on the edge of the bed, trying to remember what she had been dreaming about. But then she felt it, a pain from deep, deep inside her. One of her hands instantly went to her distended belly, the other to shake Mulder awake.

Mulder awoke with a start. "Scully?" he asked, "What wrong?" Even in the dark room he could see how pale she looked. He sat up and scooted over beside her.

"Go get mom," she said, "Go get mom and tell her I need to go to her hospital." Mulder looked at her for a moment, his mind trying desperately to grasp reality. Then Scully blanched slightly again, biting her lip, her eyes closed tight. Mulder jumped up and throwing open the door, ran down the hall and began banging on Maggie's door. Scully began to breath deeply as the pain passed, and began to actually hear how much noise Mulder was making. He would wake the entire house. Next she heard her mother's worried voice and then they were both in the room. Mulder was fidgety, switching his weight from foot to foot. Maggie on the other hand was the perfect calm. She gently helped Scully up from the bed, and began to lead her towards the door.

"Fox," she quietly said, "go and bring us her coat and then get the car warmed up." Mulder turned and ran to the staircase, taking the stairs in twos and threes. Scully hoped he didn't fall. Bill came out of his room, an old trophy held menacingly in his hands just as Mulder came bounding back up the stairs with their coats.

"Everything's fine, Bill," Maggie called as she took the coats and helped Scully into hers. "You wait here and I'll call you later." Bill lowered the trophy and watched Mulder hurry back down the stairs and Maggie and Scully follow at a somewhat slower pace.

Mulder had the car going by the time Scully and her mom made it to the bottom of the stairs. He sat behind the wheel, his feet and hands nervously tapping. Maggie opened the passenger side door and gently helped Scully in.

"Back seat, Fox," she said, motioning with her thumb. Mulder unbuckled and jumped in the back as Maggie sat behind the wheel, pausing to pull the seat up so she could reach the petals.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

MD Hospital

8:00 AM

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"She's absolutely beautiful," Mulder said, looking down on his new baby girl. Scully looked at the misshapen head, and the mottled newborn skin, and smiled at Mulder.

"Well, maybe she's not beautiful, yet," he whispered into Scully's ear, "but I'm sure she'll be soon. Scully smiled at her young daughter, and cooing at her, kissed her nose. She couldn't get enough of her tiny Christmas miracle. Scully rubbed her thumb over the tiny little knuckles, silently marveling at how absolutely perfectly miniature everything was.

"When are you guys coming home?" Mulder asked. "Well," Scully said, "The nurse said that they'll probably release me in the afternoon."

"That soon?" Mulder asked, surprised. "Hey, it's the fast '00's," Scully joked, "And this is a busy hospital. They've gotta keep us running through." Then she narrowed her eyes, "Why?"

"Scully!" Mulder replied, hurt, "There's no ulterior motives here." It wasn't working, and Scully still looked suspicious. "Well, maybe the guys came over last night to, ah, celebrate out Christmas present, and I might need a few moments to pick up the, umm, streamers." At any other time, Scully might have been up set, but she just couldn't be anything other than happy.

Soon Maggie arrived, along with the rest of the family, and Mulder slipped out with a kiss on Scully's cheek to go and clean up the apartment. Everyone ohhed and awwwed over the baby until the nurse came to take her to rest. Soon it was obvious that Scully was about to fall asleep, so Maggie ushered everyone out, and let her rest.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Skinner's Office

9:00 AM

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Mulder was pretty sure Skinner was just about the only person who came in on January 1st. The halls were absolutely empty. Skinner's assistant wasn't even in, which made things easy for Mulder and Scully, who just sneaked into the inner office to await his arrival.

You know, this could count as some seriously cheap irony if this is the first time he doesn't show up for work on New Year's Day. Scully leaned over again to check Samantha, who was still sleeping in her little car seat/carrier. At the moment, Scully was in a bit of a quandary. She didn't want to leave her baby with a sitter day in and day out, but she didn't want to stop working with Mulder either. She knew little Sam would be the one who won in the end, but for a while, she could come along for the ride. Scully wouldn't miss this reunion for the world.

She had her mother call Skinner after Samantha was born and tell him, but he arrived at the hospital during one of the few pockets of time that Mulder hadn't been there. And she knew that Mulder wanted to give him a big surprise. The only thing she didn't know was if it was because he had a secrete death wish for the AD. So in the end, she had forgotten to mention Mulder. She felt a little bad, but her intentions were good.

Just then, she heard the doorknob creak a bit. She felt a shiver run up her spine, whether from nervousness or anticipation she did not know.

Skinner walked into his office, for a moment surprised to see the light on. But Mulder gave a soft cough, drawing his attention. For a while, Skinner didn't say a word. Mulder mused over the fact that he had seemed to have this effect on people a lot lately.

Skinner shook his head, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. There was a flesh and blood Mulder sitting in his office. And it had to be him because Scully was there too. Still he couldn't resist poking him in the shoulder to make sure he was real.

This was honestly the first time Mulder had ever seen Skinner speechless without his being incredibly angry. He waited for the AD to make the first move. Skinner moved around his desk and sat down. Then he turned towards Scully.

"Agent Scully," he began, "You were given a direct order to halt your search for Agent Mulder." He took a short pause to re-gather his wits then added, "And you were forbidden to return to work until I judged you ready."

Mulder watched Scully's face, trying to figure out what was going on. When Skinner didn't seem as if he was going to continue, Scully began, "Sir, I haven't continued my search for Agent Mulder, he found me. And I don't want to return to work," she smiled down at little Sam, "yet."

Finally Skinner let out a laugh, one of the first Mulder had ever heard from him. "God, Mulder," he said, "Just where the hell do you think you've been?" he asked.

"I don't know," Mulder finally said. He looked up at Skinner, who was still sitting behind his large desk. "I don't know," Mulder repeated, glancing this time at Scully, "But I know that this time I'm going to find out." Skinner just nodded, everyone already knew that this was going to be a tough road.

Finis