So far, Scully dumped Mulder and went to Doggett, taking William
with her. Mulder came to ask why she left him and Scully gave
him many reasons. Now, she is about to surprise him once more,
with news about their baby.


***

Scully stepped out of range and went to stand by Doggett's side.
"Remember what I was saying about the baby's name? I have some
news for you, Mulder. I came up with a much better one than William
-- Walter Jonathan. Isn't that beautiful?" She turned to smile at
Doggett, who grinned back. Even William/Walter gargled in seeming
agreement.

The only one who was obviously unhappy about the alteration was
Mulder, who shouted, "Walter Jonathan! That's crazy! You can't get
away with it. I won't let you."

"You're being awfully presumptuous," Scully informed him. "You
*were* only a sperm donor, after all. That doesn't mean you're
qualified to be a father, or to have any input in the naming of my
child. We had this discussion a long time ago, remember? You
*promised* you wouldn't interfere. You said I could trust you."

'Damn,' Mulder thought, 'she has me dead to rights on that point.'

Apparently sensing Mulder's discomfiture, Doggett offered, "We
figger Walt's a good name for the kid. It's nice an' short, kinda
snappy."

"After Skinner, naturally," Scully added. "You did say yourself that
you thought Walt resembled him."

That statement, too, Mulder recalled. Just before the ill-fated,
life-altering kiss, he had recited the very words that were coming
back to haunt him in a most unexpected way. "Please, Scully, think
about this," he entreated. "Then you'll see how ridiculous it all
is."

As Scully rolled her eyes, Doggett rose with a scowl. "Mulduh, I
think it's time you were goin'. Don't you?"

Mulder cast one last imploring look at Scully, but her stone face
gave him no hope. "Fine. I'll leave, for now. I'm warning you,
though, this isn't the end of things." He didn't know precisely
how, but he was going to get through to Scully. No matter what it
took.

***

The minute Mulder was out the door, Doggett turned to Scully and
noticed that she looked a little shaken. "How ya doin', Dana? You
gonna be OK?"

She nodded, color seeping back into her wan cheeks. "It had to be
done. It's best that I spelled matters out as soon as possible and
got it over with."

Doggett wagged his right index finger in front of Walt's face and
considered how best to broach the next touchy subject. The baby's
bright eyes tracked the movement; as he latched onto the waving
finger with one chubby fist, Doggett spoke. "I hate to bring this
up, but what if Mulduh decides to cause trouble, like by fightin'
for custody?"

"Well, there's no way he could win," Scully reasoned. "Think about
it. Who stands a better chance? Mulder, an undead man who recently
was fired and has displayed a long pattern of insubordination and
mental instability? Or you and me, settled professionals?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Poor Mulduh. I almost feel sorry for
him."

"Me, too," Scully quietly admitted.

Her plaintive voice nearly broke Doggett's heart, and he said
seriously, "Dana, I need you to be 100% totally honest. Do you
regret pickin' me? Because if you're not happy, you gotta tell me
now so I can bow out."

"What?" Scully's head shot up and she stared at him with wide eyes.
"Did I give you that impression, John? I'm so sorry. You have to
know that I love you and I want to be with you. In fact, never doubt
that for a second. Mulder is my past; you're my future. I can feel
sorry for him without loving him."

Yes, Doggett decided, she could. She was that generous a person,
and he had her and Mulder didn't. He would everything in his
power to keep Mulder from taking her son away. Thinking about
which. . . "How do you feel about beaches, Dana?"

***

Coming up, Mulder hasn't given up on Scully yet.