Well, here's a third one for the Hope universe. This chapter falls between Two Means Yes and Hope. But it can stand alone.
The photo prompt for this one sees Scully in a hospital bed, holding hers and Mulder's very brand-new baby girl. She has eyes only for her. Mulder is leaning over the bed. Kissing Scully. Their first moment as a family.
Femke, thank you for the inspiration. Even if you didn't intend for it.
Growing up, Doctor Dana Katherine Scully had imagined all sorts of things for herself. She blamed it of being caught in the riptide of three (very overdramatic) siblings. And... It was a way to pass time.
One scenario she'd spent a lot of time imagining was her future children. Because what little girl didn't imagine so? Even one time?
She would have two children.
A daughter. A son. She would be a very successful doctor. He would be the mayor. Then a congressman. From there? United States president. A perfect plan.
Her children wouldn't be too far apart. They'd be best friends. And... In the future, her children would have children of their own. It would all be perfect. No matter what.
The names that she'd had chosen, since age eight?
Emily. William.
Scully also held on to her dreams as an adult. With reason.
Her world had come crashing down upon her when upon learning of her inability to have children. 'Crippling' was the word.
Melissa's preference for the New Age lifestyle would not have allotted for her to be a mother. Or a wife. And Melissa had made peace with it.
Then... There came Christmas of '97. Unbearable. Scully and her mother visited Bill Junior and his wife Tara at their home on a service base in San Diego. But Scully was yet reeling in the diagnosis of her barrenness. And the discovery of Emily Sim's existence. Did it help that Tara was eight months pregnant? No.
In the years to come, little Matthew would be joined by five more siblings. All sisters. Melissa (for the lost elder Scully sibling). Pippa. Dalia. Keira. Zofia. The last two were even twins. Identical.
But to Scully's immense relief, after a lifetime in the service, Bill Junior had now earned enough seniority to be assigned nearby. At Fort McNair. Permanently.
Had Scully been jealous of her big brother's good fortune? Yes.
Had she long since been over it? Also yes.
But it was a good thing she'd worked through her feelings when she had.
Because… Then there was Charlie.
Poor bastard. He was a widower. His wife had spontaneously slipped away in her sleep one night, just before their youngest's birthday. No warning. The children she'd left? They were called Roman, Xander, and Aurora. Ages? Ten. Five. One. Georgetown was home for them.
And Scully was glad of it. Charlie needed the help. Bill and Tara tried. When they weren't busy with work. Or their own children. Only Scully was left to show up for Charlie consistently. So she did. Often.
Scully also doted on Charlie's children.
In fact… During her most recent visit, Aurora had fallen asleep hugging Scully's baby bump. To feel her cousin move was to be mesmerized. Completely.
Did Scully move from the couch? No.
She'd just let Aurora sleep.
On the other hand… Scully also didn't get up because she'd been beset by memories of Emily.
That being said… Instead of a pleasant memory of her mystery child, she'd been hit with a chaotic one.
Scully didn't remember leaving the funeral chapel. Or getting to the hotel.
But Mulder did.
His best friend was a wreck. And he wasn't too many steps behind her.
They'd just lost a child. One who had fallen out of the sky and stolen their hearts. Just in time for the universe to spirit her away to the heavens.
If it had been socially acceptable for Scully to lay on the floor of the funeral home after Emily's service, he would have let her. But it was over. And time to go.
"Hey."
Mulder had to speak firmly to Scully. He'd been guiding her away—she couldn't function under her own steam.
But someone down the building hall was beckoning to him. They wanted to talk. Alone.
"Stay here." he told Scully. "I need to go do something. But I won't be long."
Scully halted as she mumbled, "Okay, Fox."
He then headed towards the summoner.
It was Maggie. The look of determination on her face, Mulder noticed, was one he saw on her daughter's face. Constantly.
Mulder steeled himself.
Adjacent to the matriarch, Bill Junior read the room. Fast.
"You know what, mom?" he said to Maggie. "I'm going to go pull the car around. Tara and Charlie will wait in the foyer."
Maggie bobbed her head in thanks.
But she didn't speak until they were gone. And Mulder was level with her.
"Fox," (she called him by his name with such authority that he didn't stop her) "How are you?"
"I… Pardon?" he hadn't been expecting this.
"You heard me. But… also… I saw how you were with Dana at the service, holding her, drying her tears. Are you in love my baby girl?"
Like he could tell this woman a fib. "Yes, m'am. Dana is… the greatest love of my life."
"Have you told her?" Maggie implored.
"No, but I'm not about to tell Dana now. She's in a bad way." Mulder shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "As for me… I'm shocked about Emily. And sad for Dana. Sad with her."
Maggie patted Mulder on the arm. "I won't pretend to understand the whole situation about Emily… And I'll pray for my granddaughter's soul for the rest of my days. But did you spend time with Emily? At all?"
Mulder nodded mutely.
For though he remembered getting Emily to laugh, he also remembered holding her. As she'd burned in fever. Nightmares were ahead.
"I did spend time with her, Missus Scully. Dana introduced me to her." said Mulder. "And Emily thought I was funny."
"Okay." said Maggie. "That's good."
Maggie glanced back in the direction of where her third-born was. Rooted to the spot. And staring at nothing. She really hadn't moved.
The matriarch looked back to Mulder. "Are you going to look after Dana?"
"Mhm." said Mulder. "I'm going to go rent us hotel rooms when we get out of here…"
But he sobered up. Margaret Scully was giving him a look that said they both knew he'd be holding her daughter in or on a bed. Within the hour.
"I am a vault." Maggie told him. "But promise me you'll be good to my daughter."
"I promise." Mulder answered her.
"Good. Because I will haunt you when I die if you don't look after Dana. And I'm serious."
Mulder would have laughed. But he couldn't tell if Maggie was kidding or not.
"Yes, m'am. Thank you." was all he could tell her.
Satisfied, Maggie moved something from her pocket to Mulder's own.
She pointed to it. "That should be enough cash for tonight."
Mulder tried to protest. "I couldn't possibly…"
"Nonsense." Maggie waved a hand in dismissal. "You can. And you will."
Mulder capitulated. "Thank you."
Maggie hugged him warmly.
Then she straightened his coat out. "You're welcome. And Fox?"
He looked at her again. "Yes?"
"Take care of yourself, too. I am so sorry that you and Dana are going through this. No one deserves it. But please know I also care about you."
Dazed by her kindness, all Mulder could say again was, "Thanks."
Maggie gave him a parting hug before heading away to the rest of her family.
Mulder strolled back to Scully.
She looked up at him, "What did Maggie want?"
"Just checking in on me. Perhaps I'll send her a thank you card." Mulder put an arm around Scully's shoulders. "Ready to get out of here?"
"Yes. More than anything." Scully leaned against him for support. "I will follow you anywhere."
They both kew she meant in more ways than one.
Getting to the hotel and registering for a room was a blur. Even to Mulder.
At least they both had their belongings. Mulder had even checked out of his airport-adjacent motel that morning. And Scully couldn't bear to go back to her brother's house. Her heart hurt too much.
After settling in a room on third floor, Scully just sat on the bed. Unable to function. Paralyzed by knowing that Emily was gone from their lives. Forever.
So Mulder undressed Scully. Helped her into her pajamas. Neither said a word. Because neither had to. Their trust in each other ran deep. After all they'd been through… Even before Emily… Mulder helping Scully out this way was… an act of love.
He held her close as she expressed her feelings. And wept with her.
Did Scully remember the screaming? No.
But Mulder did. He would never forget the sound of his best friend's extreme anguish. It felt like his heart was getting ripped into pieces. Again. And again. Over and over.
KNOCK KNOCK!
Someone came calling just as Scully was cried out, cleaned up, and crawling under the covers.
Mulder pressed a kiss of reassurance to Scully's temple before heading to answer the door.
On the other side was the young night manager now. He was taken aback to see that the room occupant was... heartbroken.
Mulder was bleary. "Can I help you?"
The young man stuttered, "I… Uh… I have received concerns about this room. Is everything okay?"
Mulder desperately wanted to say no. "We just laid our child to rest."
"Oh. I… I'm so sorry." the man then tacked on an offer. "Please let us know if we can help."
"You are very kind." Mulder said. "Thank you."
The manager bade Mulder a good night before heading away to the elevators.
Time to make sure Room 305 was given a wide berth.
Mulder hung a 'DO NOT DISTURB' sign on the door before closing it.
"Please don't turn off the light." Scully murmured when she saw him reach for her bedside lamp—the room's only light source. "I don't want to have that vision right now. Not again."
Mulder knew that Scully meant the one with nothing but a desert sand plain.
"Alright."
He shucked off his shoes. Kicked them out of the way.
"What do you need? Right now?"
"Hold me. Please?" tears cascaded down Scully's face. "I can't stop shaking…"
Mulder laid beside Scully. Held her close.
But Scully wasn't shaking. Instead… She was quaking. A fresh round of tears was on the verge of spilling over. Quite a long night of grief was ahead.
"Okay." Mulder whispered to her. "It's just us. I'm right here. Not going anywhere."
But Scully was already too weepy to respond.
It wouldn't be until many more years down the road that Scully would learn the hard that just because they weren't going anywhere…
That didn't mean it would be true.
Today…
Scully was in the biggest dazed haze of her life.
Absolutely nothing about anything was normal. But such had been the way of things in her world—for years now.
But this…
It took… everything.
MULDER HAD VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE.
There was also the very blindsiding news that the doctor had just dumped into her lap.
Just what was she going to do? Only God could answer.
If He was even looking in her direction. Which He probably was not.
Skinner headed to Scully's hospital room. And his shoes felt leaden.
For as much as the agents from the basement drove him batty, he really did care about them both. Very much.
What he had to say would possibly drive Scully over the edge.
"Agent Scully." the man greeted her.
"Hi," was all she could manage hoarsely.
"Hi." Skinner echoed. "How are you feeling?"
This was the first thing he could think of to say. Hearing of Scully landing herself here was… Well… Tantamount to rubbing salt in a wound.
But Scully forced herself to speak. "I'm feeling fine. They're just running some tests on me."
"Well… Um…"
Skinner had just readied himself to deliver the news.
But then he'd noticed that Scully wasn't wearing her cross necklace. That woman always wore it. Every day.
Her not having it now was a terrific red flag.
He felt his heart plummet when he saw that Scully was about to start crying.
His companion told him, "I already heard."
And Skinner's voice broke. "I lost him. I don't know what else to say. I lost him. I'll be asked… what I saw. And what I saw, I can't deny. I won't."
Scully finally began to cry. "We will find him. I have to."
Skinner gave a nod of understanding. It was all he could offer his friend. The events of the day also had him pretty freaked out. To the max.
He made to leave.
But Scully called after him. "Sir, um… There's something I need to tell you. Something I need for you to keep to yourself."
The man turned, shooting her an inquisitive look. But waited for her to speak.
Momentarily, Scully wasn't sure if she would next cry or weep. Her next words would just seem so… absurd. But the reality of them conveyed hope.
"I'm pregnant." she whispered.
And Skinner could only stare. Today was just too much.
Because why not?
The next sound Scully made was a sob and a laugh.
Now Skinner forced himself to speak. "Is this a good thing, Dana?"
She nodded as she tentatively touched her hands to her middle. "It is. And now I have a piece of him with me. But it's also a lot to find out."
On the whole, Water Sergei Skinner was not big on showing physical affection. It was the way he'd been brought up.
Still…
He gave his friend's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Then I am happy for you. Call me if you need anything. I mean it."
Scully's composure was fast circling the drain. "I will remember. Thank you, Walter. Truly."
"Then I will see you back home. Whenever you get there."
Scully just nodded to convey agreement.
Bellefleur, Oregon suddenly felt ten galaxies away from her cozy apartment in Georgetown.
How she wanted her own bed. More than anything.
Such was the intensity of Scully's grief when she was finally alone that she had to be sedated.
But… Scully didn't even fight it.
Her slumber was dreamless. Eventually. But not before she dreamed heavily of her longed-for son.
William.
Scully also remembered her son's birth. It had been extremely traumatic.
At least Monica had helped her to bring William forth.
Yet… Knowing that didn't erase the fact that Mulder hadn't been there. Even in spite of the circumstances being beyond their control.
Nothing anyone could do about that. Short of time-traveling.
But Scully still remembered, when she'd told him about giving William up, the promise Mulder had made her.
Should they ever be blessed with another child, he would do absolutely everything in his power to make sure he was there. For everything.
Today, he kept the promise.
And his heart was dizzy with joy.
"She's here, Dana."
Mulder leaned over the bed and smoothed a lock her long red hair back. Pressed a kiss to her temple. It was the first thing he could think of, to convey affection.
"I love you."
Scully heard his words and responded, "I love you, too."
But she couldn't look at him. Couldn't. But Mulder understood.
Their baby was mesmerized. Her squalls had already quieted. Just from the sound of Scully already talking to her. She was content. She had even figured out how to suck one of her thumbs a few moments ago.
And yes, she was covered in birthing fluids yet. So was her blanket. But her parents were near.
So she was content.
The IV line and monitoring lead attached to Scully's hand felt they weighed a thousand pounds. Each. But she fought through it.
Touched her daughter's little fingers. On both hands. Counted every digit. Twice.
Everything was more than a little surreal.
"You have no idea how much we love you, baby girl." Scully whispered to her daughter. "I don't have the words. Daddy doesn't, either. But that's a good thing. I promise."
From across the room, Doctor Colfax watched the family.
She was privately pleased this one had been assigned to her. And she was glad. 'Fascinating' best described them.
All the way to the point where her patient's mother had been a step short of begging when she'd made the plea to hold her baby at the first chance. Before the little one was taken away to an operating room. So she could have her nasal feeding tube put in.
Colfax wouldn't have refused them, but then she learned of the couple's lost children. And their history of traumatic birth. She immediately promised her patient's parents that they would be about to have their bonding time. Each thanked her. Profusely.
And she hated to ruin the moment.
But… Duty called.
"Mister Mulder." she called into the quiet. "It's time."
He displayed acknowledgement.
Then he turned to his other half. "Come on. She'll be okay. They're going to help her."
"Mhm. This is about her quality of life." Scully eased their daughter into Mulder's arms. "She'll come back."
Startled by the transition, the baby made unhappy sounds. All she wanted was to be still.
"Don't worry, darling." Scully whispered to her. "The doctors will help you out. And then they'll bring you right back. You can sleep all you want after that. I promise."
And the baby relaxed.
Mulder laid his daughter in the warming bed that Nurse Mae had standing by. She looked so small. Especially once she was outfitted with wires for health monitors and external oxygen that would be needed for the procedure. But she was mighty.
The nurses even let Mulder give his daughter an extra good-bye when they saw him observing. And he was grateful.
The next while saw a few more things.
Helping Scully expel the afterbirth. Cleaning up from that.
Moving to a recovery room. Settling in. Stopping. For a moment of pause.
Mulder also cleaned Scully up. Helped her bathe. Dressed her in a new paper down. Tucked her back into bed. Lovingly. Without complaint.
And he knew she wanted to sleep.
But he also knew that she wouldn't. Not until their daughter was in her arms again.
So… They waited.
She was in her bed. He was sat in a chair beside it. Neither spoke. Because all they could do was just… wait.
Finally—
After what seemed like two lifetimes gone…
"Somebody is all done!" came a familiar voice.
Mulder and Scully turned as one towards the door to see that Nurse Mae had returned. With the precious cargo.
Scully said softly to Mulder, "Please go bring her here."
Mulder obliged.
His daughter was minus a few health monitors and her external oxygen, but she had one brand new feeding tube in place. She looked much bigger now.
"Everything went just right." Nurse Mae laid the baby into Mulder's arms. "I will be back with Doctor Colfax after Doctor Westlake gives the report."
Westlake was the surgeon.
Mulder nodded. "Much obliged."
"Any questions for me?"
"Not at the moment."
So Mae moved the baby's bed closer to Scully's.
"Is there anything that you would like? I can send for food…"
Eating for herself just then had completely escaped Scully's mind. But only because she had no appetite. Yet.
"No. But thank you." she responded. "Is it alright if I take you up on that later? Please?"
Mae responded, "Absolutely. I will see all of you in awhile."
Mae showed herself out.
Mulder brought the baby back to Scully. Laid her in her arms once more.
"Hello again, darling. The doctors fixed you all up." Scully whispered to her. "Now you can sleep. If you want. But daddy and I will be showing you how to eat in awhile."
The baby's eyes were closed, but at the mention of the 'e' word, her bottom lip wobbled dangerously. As if the effort of receiving nourishment was distressing.
But Mulder swooped in before so much as a tear could be should. "Not to worry, princess. There's time before we get there. Just rest."
And the baby did.
Encouraged, Mulder happily whispered kind words and promises to her.
Among them were words about how her feeding tube was just necessary swag. And that they would teach her all about it. When she grew bigger.
Scully could have sworn the baby had a smile on her face. Even… If it was (probably) just gas.
But the baby cooed at the sound of her father's tone. It seemed she was enjoying their chat.
Mulder eventually shifted his attention back to Scully. There was a far-off look on her features now.
"Dana?" Mulder kissed her brow. "You look a million miles away."
Hot tears fell down her face just then. "Fox, I need you to promise me something."
"Okay." he wiped her tears. "Go for it."
"Promise me that we'll find John and Monica. Obviously, they weren't around when we knew Emily. But I bet they read her file." Scully sighed. "But they looked after me in their own creative ways when I carried William. And then Monica…"
"She helped you bring our son into the world." Mulder finished.
"Yes." confirmed Scully. "Monica fell out of the sky to talk to me last year, but… I haven't seen John in… Way too long."
Mulder nodded.
He remembered Agents Reyes and Doggett. Very well.
And he thought of them. Often.
Scully spoke again. "Please, Fox? Monica's visit made me remember how she and John kept me from totally falling apart while you were gone. I wouldn't be alive without them. Literally. And William…"
Hot tears fell down Scully's face again.
To say that William would have probably suffered harm on the night of his birth was too hard.
So she went a different route. "We owe John and Monica so much. I want them to meet our daughter. Even if… Monica… strayed for awhile… I don't think there will ever be a day when she won't have a piece of my heart. John, too. Am I crazy for that?"
"No." Mulder wiped Scully's tears agin. "I promise that you aren't crazy."
"Good. Because…" her words trailed away as she processed her next thoughts.
"You love them." realized Mulder. "Your feelings are valid. We'll find them, Dana. I promise."
Scully's heart flip-flopped. "Thank you, Fox. I love you."
He gave her a gentle hug. "I love you to the end of time. And beyond."
Awash in emotion, Scully reciprocated her soulmate's affection.
Both parents even lit up when their daughter opened her eyes for a few moments. It was the first time she'd done so. At least… So far as her parents had noticed.
But… They were happy.
Just the three of them.
