A month later
"So explain to me again what's going on?" Frohike's voice sounded static-y so I wondered what unsavory place he was calling from. I didn't really want to know.
"About six weeks ago, I was poking around looking for answers- "
"Naturally."
"- and the building I was in seemed to be on fire. Before I could use the brains God gave me and make a quick exit, I heard a baby crying. So I rescued her."
"Good man."
"And...she's not exactly a normal baby. She's, um, a super soldier baby."
"I bet Scully was thrilled when you came home with that."
How'd he know she'd be unhappy? "Yeah. She was pissed. But Scully eventually came to the same conclusion I did - this kid's best shot at growing up to be normal is to be raised by a couple who know what she is, and who'll do their best to counter-act any inborn violent tendencies she might have."
"So this family is you, Scully and Will?"
"Exactly. I think we'll be the best thing that could ever have happened to Evie. It's nature versus nurture, Melvin. It's very scientific."
"Don't call me Melvin." Frohike groused. "So, when are you leaving?"
"Next month. Scully had to give her notice at the hoover building, and arrange for a transfer to the area we're moving to."
"And what about you, are you going to be a kept man?"
"I prefer stay-at-home Dad, but yeah, I'll be staying home with Will and Evie until they start school. I've got money I inherited from my folks, so things should be just fine even without me earning an income."
"If only we could all be so lucky...Oh. Good luck with the new kid."
"Thanks, but I don't think we'll need it." I told him, cuddling Evie to my chest. "Everything is going to be smooth sailing from here on out."
"God knows you deserve some happiness and an easy life."
Maybe he was right. Things had finally gone my way because I'd paid my dues. All I knew was that I was going to have the family I wanted, and that was the best thing in the world.
THE END
Epilogue-
Six Year Later
I had a bad cold, but fortunately Scully and the kids all managed not to get it from me. Daytime tv didn't seem to have much charm, but I was too tired to get up and turn off the tv, so I let the irritated talk-show voices dull my senses until I was in a half awake stupor.
The jangle of the phone's ring broke the swaddling of ennui that I'd covered myself with, and I snatched it up, thinking only to stop the noise. I couldn't imagine who'd be calling, since Scully promised to call at noon, and it was only 10:30.
"Hellow?" I knew I sounded as bad as I felt.
"Could I speak to Mister Mulder please?" An unfamiliar feminine voice asked.
"Spea'ing."
"Mister Mulder, I'm the principal of Green Oaks elementary school. I need you to come to the school immediately. There's been...an incident."
My heart skipped a few beats. "Involving Will or Evie?"
"Both, but mostly your daughter. It seems as thought another boy was picking on William during morning recess, and Evie intervened. If a teacher hadn't witnessed it, I never would believe... the other child was injured, Mister Mulder. By your daughter."
My grip on the phone tightened, my knuckles white. "How badwy injured?"
"Very badly, she said curtly. I half expected her to go on and say the boy was dead. What she said next wasn't much better. "He's in the hospital. In the ICU. His parents are talking about police involvement."
I said nothing.
"Hello? Mister Mulder, are you still there?"
Oh, God. How could I have been so wrong?
"So explain to me again what's going on?" Frohike's voice sounded static-y so I wondered what unsavory place he was calling from. I didn't really want to know.
"About six weeks ago, I was poking around looking for answers- "
"Naturally."
"- and the building I was in seemed to be on fire. Before I could use the brains God gave me and make a quick exit, I heard a baby crying. So I rescued her."
"Good man."
"And...she's not exactly a normal baby. She's, um, a super soldier baby."
"I bet Scully was thrilled when you came home with that."
How'd he know she'd be unhappy? "Yeah. She was pissed. But Scully eventually came to the same conclusion I did - this kid's best shot at growing up to be normal is to be raised by a couple who know what she is, and who'll do their best to counter-act any inborn violent tendencies she might have."
"So this family is you, Scully and Will?"
"Exactly. I think we'll be the best thing that could ever have happened to Evie. It's nature versus nurture, Melvin. It's very scientific."
"Don't call me Melvin." Frohike groused. "So, when are you leaving?"
"Next month. Scully had to give her notice at the hoover building, and arrange for a transfer to the area we're moving to."
"And what about you, are you going to be a kept man?"
"I prefer stay-at-home Dad, but yeah, I'll be staying home with Will and Evie until they start school. I've got money I inherited from my folks, so things should be just fine even without me earning an income."
"If only we could all be so lucky...Oh. Good luck with the new kid."
"Thanks, but I don't think we'll need it." I told him, cuddling Evie to my chest. "Everything is going to be smooth sailing from here on out."
"God knows you deserve some happiness and an easy life."
Maybe he was right. Things had finally gone my way because I'd paid my dues. All I knew was that I was going to have the family I wanted, and that was the best thing in the world.
THE END
Epilogue-
Six Year Later
I had a bad cold, but fortunately Scully and the kids all managed not to get it from me. Daytime tv didn't seem to have much charm, but I was too tired to get up and turn off the tv, so I let the irritated talk-show voices dull my senses until I was in a half awake stupor.
The jangle of the phone's ring broke the swaddling of ennui that I'd covered myself with, and I snatched it up, thinking only to stop the noise. I couldn't imagine who'd be calling, since Scully promised to call at noon, and it was only 10:30.
"Hellow?" I knew I sounded as bad as I felt.
"Could I speak to Mister Mulder please?" An unfamiliar feminine voice asked.
"Spea'ing."
"Mister Mulder, I'm the principal of Green Oaks elementary school. I need you to come to the school immediately. There's been...an incident."
My heart skipped a few beats. "Involving Will or Evie?"
"Both, but mostly your daughter. It seems as thought another boy was picking on William during morning recess, and Evie intervened. If a teacher hadn't witnessed it, I never would believe... the other child was injured, Mister Mulder. By your daughter."
My grip on the phone tightened, my knuckles white. "How badwy injured?"
"Very badly, she said curtly. I half expected her to go on and say the boy was dead. What she said next wasn't much better. "He's in the hospital. In the ICU. His parents are talking about police involvement."
I said nothing.
"Hello? Mister Mulder, are you still there?"
Oh, God. How could I have been so wrong?