Disclaimer: I forgot to put in chapter nine that all of the stuff about the Mind's Eye is made up. Some of it may be true, but I don't have any knowledge on the area.

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New Beginnings: Chapter Ten

After making sure the Lone Gunmen could handle Scully's baby for the night, everyone departed from the dusty office. Scully and Mulder headed off to his apartment. Mulder had a couple theories about the whole Mind's Eye concept, and of course he wanted to test them out.

Mulder unlocked the door to his apartment and opened the door for Scully. She settled herself on Mulder's worn leather couch. She seemed ill at ease, but Mulder did not notice. Instead, he immediately went to his bedroom closet. He began throwing various articles of clothing and shoes sporadically out of his way. Finally, he pulled out a tie. Mulder held the tie out in front of him, smiling triumphantly as he entered the living room where a stiff Scully sat staring at the wall. She did not even look at him when he entered.

"Can I put this over your eyes?" Mulder gently asked Scully. Her eyes widened in fear. Mulder gently touched her arm. "I'm not going to hurt you. I won't even touch you."

Scully studied his face, trying to determine if he was genuine. Finally, she hesitantly nodded her head. Mulder squeezed her arm reassuringly before tying the tie around her head, making sure that it covered her eyes. Mulder regretted not having a bandana but he figured that a tie would work all the same. Finally, after smoothing her hair, he stepped back to view his work. For the first time since he watched that spaceship fly over him, taking Scully away, Mulder prayed. {Please, God, let this work.} Mulder walked over to his desk and sat down.

Though he knew that the Mind's Eye would probably not begin to take over immediately, each passing minute made Mulder's faith in his theory fade until doubts and Mulder's so-called "logic" took over his mind. After about twenty minutes, Mulder had given up all hope. As he passed by Scully's line of vision (that is, if she did not have a tie covering her eyes) to remove the tie, she spoke.

"Mulder?"

"Scully?" Mulder asked, not knowing if she recognized him or merely called him what everybody else did.

"How did I get to your apartment?" Scully asked, to which Mulder grinned.

"What's so funny?" she insisted.

"You don't remember?"

Scully shook her head, causing the back of Mulder's tie to swing back and forth.

"What *do* you remember?"

"We went on a trip. Something about alien sightings. Crop circles. A bright light. Then darkness."

Mulder sat in guilty silence. Scully felt it. "Mulder, was I abducted. Again?"

Mulder nodded, even though he knew she was still wearing the tie. He could not bring himself to speak.

But Scully saw. "How long?" she muttered.

"You've been gone eighteen months." Mulder replied.

"But?"

Mulder jerked his head up, staring at her.

"But?" she repeated.

Finally, Mulder answered her question, "You weren't found under normal conditions."

"What are you talking about?"

"You were found in a warehouse with about twenty other hostages. And you've been with me for a week."

"But I don't remember any of that. And I've *been* here?"

"Well, not exactly. I found you in the warehouse...I quit the X Files...I brought you back here, but you didn't remember me. Or anything for that matter. And you had a baby with you. I thought that-"

"Oh my God." Scully interrupted him.

"What?" Mulder asked, confused.

"So I didn't imagine it."

"Imagine what?"

"William."

"Who's William?!" Mulder asked, bewildered. Ironically, this situation brought more questions than answers.

"And I didn't get a chance to tell you." Scully continued, ignoring his persistent questions.

"Tell me what?"

"I was afraid of how you would take it..."

"Take what?"

"Maybe you never expected it..."

"Expected what? Scully, you aren't making any sense!"

Scully turned her head quickly towards Mulder, as if she had forgotten he was in the room. She looked as if she was about to speak, but she closed her mouth and just sat in silence.

"The IVF worked. I lied to you and told you it didn't. I'm sorry. I just got scared. Like somehow you agreed only because you didn't think it would work. I was about to tell you, but then-well-this happened. I'm sorry Mulder."

Mulder replied with an understanding nod (forgetting she is blindfolded) and "I understand."

Silence enveloped the room once again. Slowly, a small smile danced on Mulder's lips, "So, I have a son?"

Scully just nodded. Then sat still. All of the sudden, she broke down crying. Her emotions took over as she covered her face with her hands. Her head whipped up; she stared at Mulder.

"What's on my face? Did I hurt my head?" Scully asked as she gently felt her face, searching for the tender spot.

"No, Scully, you're blindfolded. It's a tie." Mulder replied, confused because he thought she knew.

"But I can see you. You're standing right in front of me!"

Mulder stood in front of her, surprised. Scully sat in front of him, utterly confused. Mulder thought that the blindfold would return her identity, not her sight.

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a/n: I know I know, what a shitty way to end a chapter! It's not even a cliffhanger. But I really want to post this and I've been super busy. Please review. The button is right there!

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