Title: Remember When?: Peace
Author: Jen Zoromski
All other information is in the first chapter
Author's Note: Well this is it! Larger note at the end. Please R&R and of course enjoy!
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June 10, 2052
Bethesda Hospital
"So that was it?" Jack asks.
"Were you expecting more, Mr. Doggett?" Scully inquires, arching her eyebrow.
"No, it's just amazing that you could remember all of that. Especially since --"
"It baffles me too," Scully responds looking around the hospital room.
She'd always hated hospital rooms, but this one seemed a little more friendlier -- maybe it was because it had acquired a few faces. William sat in the chair next to her bed. Kate and Jack sat at the foot of her bed, looking like they'd just hit the jackpot. They'd been able to talk to someone who they had only read about in the X-files. Someone they had thought was long gone.
"You found your truth, then?" Will asks rubbing his mother's hand reassuringly.
"I don't think we ever needed to look further than within ourselves. It sure would have saved us a lot of trouble if we would have started there instead of looking in outer reaches of space."
"Mrs. Mulder, I appreciate everything you've told us. You have no idea how helpful this will be when we start to investigate in the department again," Jack says.
"Jack, I'd be careful if I were you. You never know what you may find and what you may lose in that office."
"I plan on being extremely careful," he smirks -- almost looking like John Doggett with the skeptical grin.
"Don't laugh at the workings of life, Mr. Doggett -- you will never know when and if you should have taken a left instead of a right. When dealing with the X-files you need to take many things into consideration.'
"Aunt Dana, don't you agree with me that Kate should leave them alone."
"Will, I can't tell her what to leave and what to take on. You know I was about her age when I started on in that department."
"But you lost so much."
"I did. But I also found myself. That is something I would have never found if I would have done what my father had wanted me to. I followed my heart and I've ended up here. I've got to tell you that the unpredictability of my life made it all worthwhile."
Pink and orange paint the sky as the sun starts to sink below the horizon. Will looks to the clock and then over at his niece, "It's been a long day. Maybe we should head out."
Kate nods her head and looks to Scully, "Thank-you for sharing this story with me. I don't think I'll ever forget it."
"Thanks for listening," Scully replies pulling the young woman in for a hug, "Go where your heart leads you," she whispers.
"I will Grandma, I will."
Jack extends his hand and grins at her, "Thanks."
Scully pulls him in for a hug, "Say hi to your grandparents for me and take good care of Kate."
"Kate?"
"She's fond of you. I can tell."
Jack sheepishly grins and joins her at the door -- ready to start the journey of a lifetime. Both so young and impressionable, but ready to fight for a future rid of evil -- much like the old woman laying in the hospital bed.
"Let's go, Kate."
"You know Jack after hearing that story you'd think that we'd be frightened for what we are about to take on."
"But your not?"
"No, we have a truth to find."
"And what truth is that?"
"Well we will know once we find it." She turns on her heel and heads down the hallway. Jack laughs at the prospect of his skeptical partner turned a little more into a believer by the tale of an old woman. It was going to be a long road ahead for them -- but a good road to travel none the less.
"Aunt Dana," William whispers hugging her tightly.
"Good bye, Will," she says.
"I'll come and see you tomorrow."
"I'm sure you will."
"And you'll be here."
"I can't make any guarantees William Mulder. Take care of yourself and of Kate."
"You know that I wouldn't want to do anything else."
"Good."
He kisses her gently on the cheek and leaves her to her own thoughts. Alone. A person comes into the world alone. And a person leaves the world alone. As the twilight begins to fade into the darkest night Dana Scully closes her eyes and dreams of him. Of Mulder.
As a young field agent Dana Scully walks up to the door in the basement labeled 'FOX MULDER'.
"Sorry nobody down here, but the FBI's most unwanted," he says as she enters.
"Agent Mulder? Hi I'm Dana Scully. I've been assigned to work with you."
"So who'd you tick off to get stuck with this detail, Scully?"
Mulder grins at her mischievously.
"Actually I've heard a lot about you. I'm looking forward to working with you."
"Really? I was under the impression you were sent to spy on me."
Five years later Scully bolts out of Mulder's apartment. Trying to run away from him. He catches up to her before she gets on the elevator.
"You're wrong," he says referring to what she said about him never needing her.
Scully turns and stares at him, "Why was I assigned to you?" she asks fiercely. "To debunk your work. To rein you in. To shut you down."
Mulder shakes his head, "No, you've saved me, Scully." He puts his hands lightly on her shoulders and gazes down into her eyes, "As difficult and frustrating as it's been sometimes, your goddamn strict rationalism and science have saved me -- a hundred times over. You've kept me honest and made me a whole person. I owe you everything and you owe me nothing."
He lowers his head, "I don't want to do this without you. I don't know if I can. And if I quit now they win--"
Scully opens her eyes briefly to the darkness, "Mulder!"
Mulder doesn't come to her. A sharp pain goes through her body. Then a bright light and nothing.
Counting on TV Ten…Nine…
Mulder looks over at Scully with a grin as the ball drops on the news millennium and the year 2000. He leans in carefully and catches Scully's lips with his own.
They share a sensual kiss and then he pulls away.
"I guess the world didn't end."
"No, Mulder it didn't."
Eight…seven…
Mulder stares into her eyes, "When the world was falling apart you were my friend -- you are my constant, my touchstone."
"And you are mine," Scully responds with tears in her eyes.
Six…five…
The darkness of the forest takes over as Mulder tries to keep from going into shock.
"I once heard that the best way to regenerate heat is to get into a sleeping bag naked with someone else."
"If it starts raining sleeping bags, maybe you'll get lucky," Scully says smirking.
Four…
Mulder gently kisses Scully on the forehead, her heart is broken at the though of not being able to conceive a child. Tears glisten in both of their eyes.
"Never give up on a miracle," Mulder whispers into her shoulder.
Three…
Sitting side by side on Scully's couch Mulder lazily puts his feet up.
"I once considered spending my whole life with this man. What I would have missed…"
"I don't think you can know. I mean, how many different lives would we be leading if we made different choices? We...We don't know."
"What if there was only one choice...and all the other ones were wrong? And there were signs along the way to pay attention to…"
"Hmmm. And all the choices would then lead to this very moment. One wrong turn, and... we wouldn't be sitting here together. Well, that says a lot. That says a lot, a lot, a lot. That's probably more than we should be getting into at this late hour…"
Two…
Scully sits on her bed gently soothing the small child in her arms.
"How's everybody doing?"
She stands up and walks over to Mulder with a smile on her face,
"Everybody's doing just fine."
"What are you going to name him?"
"William -- after your father," Scully replies moving closer to him.
She looks down at their son.
"Mulder, when I first became pregnant, I feared the truth... about how... and why. And I know that you feared it too."
"I think what we feared were the possibilities... the truth we both know."
"Which is what?"
Mulder leans in and kisses her. Scully pulls him closer, revealing in the feeling of their small family -- and of Mulder finally here with her keeping her safe.
One…
Laying on the motel bed looking into Mulder's eyes Scully urges him, "I know you, Mulder. You can't give up. It's what I saw in you when we first met. What made me follow you. Why I'd do it all over again…"
He looks at her realizing that this is all he's ever wanted in life.
Mulder slowly crawls onto the bed with her and curls up facing her with his forehead resting on hers.
He whispers softly, "Maybe there is hope."
Darkness takes over.
She finds herself walking along a beach. The beauty is breath taking as the sun begins to set on the horizon. Her body no longer pains her with the aches of old age -- but rather the vigor of younger years has taken over her limbs.
Up ahead of her is a tall man with brown hair.
He turns, sensing her.
Scully runs to him -- embracing him with tears in her eyes.
"What took you so long?" he inquires playfully.
No words can express what she feels as she leans in to kiss him. After years of fighting, losing and sacrificing Dana Scully is finally at peace.
At peace with Mulder and her memories.
THE END
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Author's Note: Wow! I can't believe that this is over -- it is probably one of my favorite fics and one that has taken the most to write -- especially keeping everyone and everything straight. I hope you've enjoyed the story and please tell me what you thought. Thanks so much for being a part of the experience and my 86 page epic here -- also the longest fan fiction I've written.
Thanks so much for the continued support. Please read and review! And I hope to hear from you all again -- when I write my next fic (which might be awhile…lol). Well thanks again!
~Jen
