I could see Mulder getting uneasy as we neared moms house, "don't be nervous Mulder. Im sure Charlie won't hate you…he tends to think opposite of what Bill does."

"Let's hope. Have you ever heard of the Chaos Theory before Scully?"

Why is he asking me this? Im a doctor, I've heard of probably ever theory in the world. What's he getting at this time? "Sure. It's otherwise known as 'the butterfly effect'. It pertains to the idea that something as small and insignificant as a butterfly flapping its wings can cause an effect as profound as a tsunami half was across the world. Why do you want know?"

"Do you believe in it?"

I sighed, what is his point with all this? "It's a plausible idea Mulder. Newton's 3rd law of motion states that 'for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction'. What's stopping the action from having a significantly greater reaction? But then again Mulder, it is just a theory. And we both know the difference between theory and reality." I kept my gaze on locked on him, "again I ask. Why?"

"I don't know, what if--by coming here with you--a reaction occurs. Something not desirable."

"Such as?"

"Oh Scully, I don't know. Something not good. Like getting the shit beat out of me by your little brother, going for a walk and getting hit by a car…"

Admitting your feelings to me.

Oh hey, where did that come from?

"Ok, all probable reactions I guess, but what if something good comes out of it?"

"Like what?"

"You earn at least of my brothers respect, you actually have fun for a change…"

You admit your feelings to me.

Did I just think that again. Stop it Dana, stop it right now.

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T find out what it--"

"Oh hey, trust me, your not going to earn my brothers respect by singing like that in front of him."

"Do I sing *that* bad?"

"Yes."

"Ouch Scully, that hurts."

"Ooh…I bruised your male superego once again. Point two for me. So the score is what now? Me 2 and you 0?"

"I didn't even know that we were playing a game."

"Yes you did. I told you remember? In the autopsy bay."

"Oh, well. I didn't know that we were still playing."

"Well, now you do."

"Hey Scully?"

"Yes Mulder."

"Do you believe in fate? That everything is planned out for us before we're even born."

"Do you? I mean, wouldn't you have to believe in some form of god to believe in fate?"

"I don't suppose so. I mean, destiny doesn't really have much to do with religion."

"It's got everything to do with religion Mulder. If there's nobody out there who plans our fate?"

"You never answered my question."

"What's that?"

"Do you believe in fate?"

"Oh, im not sure. Fate is a bit overwhelming. I'd like to believe that some things in my life I choose for myself. But other things, like whom you'll marry, the children you will or won't have, the affect you have on the world, those things are already predestined. Do you?"

"It's a comforting idea."

"Mulder, it's exactly what you'd been talking about with The Chaos Theory, The Butterfly Affect. You talked about maybe getting hit by a car, well…if it's fated for it to happen it's going to happen regardless right? Be you here with me or out running in Alexandria. So, that's not going to work. It's not a good enough excuse. Im not going back."

"You know me too well Scully."

"Im beginning to think so. And what are all of these questions about?"

"We never talk Scully, well other than about a case. I just wanted to get your outlook on the world, or a small part of it at least. So, while were on the subject of theories what do you think about the Big Bang Theory."

"It's a load of shit. I don't see how people could possibly think that all of this, the stars, the ocean, the mountains, came from a bunch of gas and matter going 'bang'. It just doesn't happen that way, and by slapping theory at the end it just makes it less believable."

"But you said that the chaos theory was, and I quote, plausible."

"Ok Mulder, think of it this way. Cause and effect, that's what the chaos theory is. You remember that case we had in Chicago, with that extremely lucky man. Ah, I forget his name. That's what he kept talking about, cause and effect. Something like a butterfly flapping it's wings could cause an effect like a tsunami, just like his luckiness would cause harm to others. Those aren't exactly equal and opposite reactions are they?"

"No. I guess they aren't." He said as I pulled into mom's driveway.

"Well, no turning back now." I smiled, I could see mom coming out of the house as I turned off my car. She walked to greet me and Mulder and smiled widely at me, "hey mom."

"Dana." She said hugging me, "it's so good to see you. Im glad you could come."

"I am too." I smiled. Then I saw Anne stick her head out the door.

"Ah! Charlie, Dana's here!" She called running down towards me and engulfing me in a hug bigger than mom's. But then again I haven't seen Anne in years. I hugged her back and she finally let go of me and looked towards Mulder. "Who's this? Boyfriend?"

"Oh…Mulder? No. Mulder's my partner."

"Oh, so this is the Mulder that I've been hearing so much about. Well. It's nice to finally meet you."

He smiled politely at her, although I could tell he was nervous about meeting the rest of my family. But I don't blame him, after meeting Bill I would be too. "What exactly have you heard about me?"

She hesitated for a second, "well--"

Charlie cut her off by coming outside with his little girl in his arms, he came up to where we were standing, handed Kylie over to her mother and hugged me tightly, so tightly I could barley breath. "Im glad to see you too Charlie, but you think you could loosen the death-grip? Please?"

"I never knew that you were so wimpy sis."

"Oh I don't know Charlie, I think if you were to ask that to Mulder and some of the other people I work with they'd tell a different story. Mulder here knows first hand."

"Oh really?" He looks at Mulder, "how so?"

"She never told you? Your sister shot me in the shoulder."

"Really Dana? That's not very nice."

"Oh, don't let him play the sympathy card. I gave him a choice, he ignored me. I had to, he would've shot somebody and gone to jail…it's his fault and he knows it." I gave him an evil look and he flinched.

"You still shot me."

"Whatever Mulder, I don't feel like arguing. It's cold, lets go inside. We can talk further in there, ok?"

"Yeah sis, sure. Let's go."

So we all walked inside where we sat in moms den and mom brought out some hot chocolate. We talked for well over 2 hours before mom announced that dinner was done so we all went into the kitchen and sat down. Mom had made beef stew, Charlie's favorite. While we sat at the table Anne asked me about my case. "So, Dana, your mom tells me that he was crazy?"

"In so many words yes. He had a disease called Dissociative Identity Disorder, or Multiple Personalities. One of his personalities thought that he was the devil…and that's who was doing all the killing. George Powers, himself, tried to save these girls. But throughout the whole time he knew what was going on, so in his right mind he knew what was happening and said nothing. And that's where we are going to win the case. He knew, he did nothing, therefore he's responsible for those 3 girls deaths, an the attempted murder of Rebecca. We're going for death penalty. Hopeful he'll get the injection as soon as possible."

"It's a good thing that you guys found him." She said, "there are some crazy people out there."

"Yeah, and your married to one." I joked.

Charlie thought for a second, "hey!"

We all laughed and I helped mom clear off the table. After that we filed into the den once more where Anne brought Kylie (who is 16 months) and Bradley ( who is just over 3 years) into the room to talk with aunt Day. This was the first time I'd met either one of them, but I had talked with them on the telephone.

I cradled Kylie in my arms because she was close to passing out from exhaustion and rocked back in forth gently. I could feel eyes on me but didn't look up for fear the eyes belonged to Mulder. The last thing I wanted to do at that moment was blush. After a few minutes of rocking Kylie fell asleep so I finally looked up to see Bradley looking at me.

"Auntie Day."

"Yeah Bradley?"

"Did you mail Santa a wetter?"

"You mean letter? No honey, Santa doesn't come for adults. Only little kids."

"Why no come for awdlts.?"

"Because, adults don't need gifts."

"Daddy got you gift. Mommy did too."

"Bradley, shh. Your not supposed to tell Aunt Day that." Anne says. "It's a surprise."

"Sorrie Mommy."

"It's ok Bradley." She said picking him up and hugging him close to her. "It's your bedtime mister. Come on." They went upstairs and I followed carrying the still sleeping Kylie in my arms. I laid her in her crib and me and Anne started towards the stairs.

"Your partners cute Dana. Is there something going--"

"No."

"You didn't let me finishing my question."

"The answers still no. There's nothing going on between Mulder and I, ok Anne? Can you trust me on this one?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sure. Whatever. It's just, he was staring a bit."

"Oh, he was not."

"Whatever you say Dana." She said as we walked back into the den, Charlie and Mulder were talking about baseball. When they saw us coming they finished their conversation and Anne and I took our seats back on the couches. We talked some more until after 1 in the morning. I don't remember what all we talked about, but a lot of it had to do with work and our last case, but then our conversation turned to Bill.

"Just what has Bill said about me?" Mulder inquired?

"Trust me man, you don't want to know."

"That bad huh?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"Don't be, I could really care less. I've probably heard worse before…you get use to it I guess."

"Yeah, at some point it just becomes a part of life, you don't even pay attention to it anymore."

"What to you mean?"

"Oh, as if you don't know Charlie. I get just as many looks working on the x-files as Mulder does. I tell you, the people in the FBI remind me of when I was in 9th grade. Mrs. Spooky doesn't bother me very much, but my personal favorite is the ice queen."

"People actually call you that?"

"Like I said, a bunch of teenagers."

"What's with Mrs. Spooky?" Anne asks.

"My universal nickname is Spooky, therefore, Scully is Mrs. Spooky."

"Ah," she smiles over at me, "I see."

I roll my eyes at her and yawn. "Im going to head up to bed. You guys better go as well. It's already late."

So we all head up the stairs and to our rooms. Mulder's is right next to mine and Charlie and Anne's is on the other side of the house, by moms. "See Mulder." I say when we reach our doors, "I told you that Charlie wouldn't hate you. He actually seems to enjoy your company, although im not sure why." I smiled, "how's your break turning out so far?"

"Better than expected."

"Im glad to hear that. I'll see you in the morning."

"It is the morning."

"Well, fine. I'll see you later. Sweet dreams Mulder."

"You too Scully, goodnight."

I went into the room, changed into something to wear to bed, and fell in the bed. Before I knew it I was asleep.

**********

a/n: well. Hope you like it. I don't exactly know when I'll have the next chapter out, probably later rather than sooner. Im trying to focus all my attention onto Return to Me and To Save the World. Anyway, please review!

~Brittany~