Present Day—
Fox is sitting on the front porch of his cabin enjoying a cup of coffee when a black SUV pulls up. A government issue agent steps out of the vehicle, and approaches the porch.
"If you're selling anything just know that we aren't buying. If you're peddling religion I'm not interested. I am already fully insured. I don't want to waste your time."
The agent offers an eye roll as she stops in front of the porch swing.
"I am here on official business pertaining to Dana Scully."
"And you are?"
"Star Buck of the treasury department."
"The treasury department? Ma'am I don't know who you think you are, or what your intent is, but I am not buying any of this."
"Can you please just retrieve her, sir?"
He nods, and opens the door. He steps inside, and finds Scully sitting on the couch reading her tablet.
"A treasury agent who alleges her name is Star Buck is on the porch requesting your presence."
Dana's head snaps up. She secures her tablet on the coffee table, and collects her purse, and phone. He watches in utter disbelief as she exits the house, and follows the imposter to the car. He takes a seat on the steps, and watches in shock as she disappears down the driveway.
In the SUV Scully finally manages to break the silence after ten minutes of driving.
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to surprise you, but I was hoping not to turn your entire world upside down."
"I haven't heard from you in such a long time. You didn't even come home when your grandmother died."
"I couldn't get leave. I was on assignment."
"And for the last six years?"
"I'm sorry."
"You don't owe me an apology."
"I do. Even as an adult it's not fair to disappear from your life for years, and pretend like that is okay."
"So why show up here after all this time, Peyton?"
"I know that we have had a strained relationship in the past. I am fully aware of my part of that in adulthood. I can't make up for lost time."
"Where is this coming from?"
"I was out of town for work when I got a call that my significant other passed out at work. I had to go off the grid for a while. When I got back in communication I found out that he had a fatal heart arrhythmia, and that he did not survive. When I got home I sat in his office staring at all of the pictures of our life, and I realized that I had been totally sucked into trying to make the world a better place that I hadn't been present in my own life for the people that matter the most to me. All of a sudden the walls came crashing down on me. It hit me all at once. I realized why you didn't want me to join the Marines, and why you cautioned me about the alphabet soup. One morning I woke up, and looked in the mirror, and all I can see is you looking back at me. In that moment I understood that any decision you could possibly ever make about my life would be a sacrifice on your part, and that you did the best you could with the hand that you were dealt."
Dana hangs her head, "I could have done better by you."
"I have spent so many years trying to push you away, instead of dealing with my feelings, and that isn't fair to you."
"All of it is very complicated," Scully insists.
"I didn't mean to barge into your life, and disrupt it with no notice. I just…" she trails off.
"Breathe."
"I needed my mom," she begins to cry.
Scully unbuckles her seat belt, and hugs her. After a few moments Peyton returns to her side of the car. She wipes her face with a tissue.
"I'm sorry. I know I can't just show up out of the blue. I know that your life didn't stop because I pushed you away."
"That is the thing about time, it always marches on."
"I don't want you to have to keep a secret from Mulder. I also don't want to disrupt your life with him."
