Mulder followed Scully up the stairs and into their room. He started to close the door but paused when he heard Will and Mel's voices in her room.

Whatever they were talking about…she did not sound happy…

In Mel's room, Will took a seat on the edge of her bed and watched her pace frantically.

He watched her bite her already injured lip and tug the little strands of hair that always floated in front of her face. He watched her eyebrows furrow deeper with every step that she took. He watched a single tear trace a slow trail down her cheek…and that was when he spoke.

"Mel, sit with me," his voice low and strained.

She stopped pacing and looked into his eyes. He flinched when he saw the pain written within them. He reached out a hand to her and she let him tug her onto the bed beside him.

She sat slouched, unspeaking for a long time until Will placed his hand over hers. She then let the tears fall freely, her body shaking with every sob that retched from her body.

Will swallowed the lump in his throat and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms tightly around her small waist.

"I hate him," she sobbed.

"I do to," he murmured into her hair.

"I can't believe he did it," she said, pulling away from him and touching her split lip with the tips of her fingers.

"Well his face is a lot worse off than yours is at least," Will joked, removing her hand from her face.

She smiled and said, "Thanks for that, I wish I could have beat him as well."

"I wish I could have finished the job," he muttered, his jaw clinching.

"No, it'll be ok now. He's gone and I don't plan on ever seeing him again…but that goes without saying I suppose," she told him, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Can I ask you something?" Will asked, meeting her eyes.

"Yes, of course," she replied.

"Has he ever hit you before?" he asked.

She looked down at her lap and nibbled on her lip again.

"Oh, Mel…" William whispered.

"It wasn't like I never hit back," she retorted.

"Still…"

"Yeah, I know. It is stupid. I don't want to talk about this anymore ok?" she said as she got up and tried to wipe her face free of tears.

"Sure, ok," he replied softly.

"I'll bet Mulder and Scully think I am a total mess," she said, sighing.

"Naw, they were young once too," he replied.

She looked at him thoughtfully and started to say something, but shut her mouth and went back to cleaning herself up.

"What?" he asked.

"What, what?" she replied, not looking at him.

"You were about to say something," his eyebrows arched.

"Well..it's just that..did Skinner ever tell you who your real parents were. I know we never talk about this sort of thing…" she said slowly, as if testing the water.

Will sighed and laid back on the bed.

"He told me they were wonderful people that loved me very much but knew I'd have a better life without them. I never pushed the subject. I guess I don't really care to know," he told her.

"Oh.."

"Why?"

"Well…you have noticed how much you resemble them?" she asked, laying down next to him.

"Who, Mulder and Scully?" he asked, turning to look at her.

"Yeah…she has your eyes Will."

He looked back at the ceiling, letting the idea turn over in his mind.

"Why come back now though? They would have said something by now anyway."

"Maybe. I don't know. It was just a thought. I've just always been curious I guess," she said.

In Mulder and Scully's room, Mulder turned to face Scully.

A tear slid down her cheek.

"We have to tell him, Mulder," she whispered.

"I know. Tomorrow. We'll wait til tomorrow"