Today was the longest day of my life. I had a very difficult time concentrating on anything due to what happened last night and this morning. Now that I've reconnected with Mulder, he is on my mind even more than before. I see his face every time I look at a man; hear his voice as someone speaks to me. Sometimes I think I even hear him whispering in my ear when the wind blows. I really don't know how much more of this I can take. And all day long I've been contemplating in my mind what is going to happen tonight when I see him again and when I bring William with me. Does Mulder know that William can be with us in the astral plane? And more importantly will William be willingly to do this with us?

I unlock my apartment door and step inside. "Mom? I'm home."

My mother comes walking from the back room. "Dana, hi you have perfect timing. I just got him to sleep."

"I'm so sorry I got back so late, Mom." I take off my coat and hang it in the closet. "I really didn't intend on that happening."

"It's ok, Dana. I know that things come up at work sometimes. And besides William is an angel to take care of, I don't mind." She watches as I toss my satchel onto a chair before collapsing on the couch. "Dana, is everything all right?"

"I'm just tired, Mom." I answer rubbing my temples.

"Long day?"

"It's not just that, Mom. It's grading papers, teaching, assisting in cases…" I let out a sigh. "I really wish I was a robot at times like this."

"Dana, if you need me to take William for a while to give you some relief I can."

I lift my head. "No! I mean, no that's ok, Mom. He actually helps me get through some of this believe it or not."

"Actually, yes I can. I know that when your father was away, having my kids around helped me to…" She then notices me lower my head and put my face in my hands. "Dana, what is it? It's Fox, isn't it? I'm sorry I didn't mean to say that to bring him up."

"I…I just miss him so much."

My mother takes a seat next to me on the couch and pulls me to her. "I know you do, sweetie. And I don't truly understand just why he left you and William the way he did but…"

"He did it to save us, Mom."

She lets out a sigh. "I know you told me that before Dana but at what price? Right now William needs to see his father. It's very crucial at this point in his life."

I lift my head from her shoulder. "Do you really think I don't know that, Mom? All I have been dealing with for months is that Mulder left because he abandoned William and me. Because…he wasn't ready to be father and so he used an excuse to bail on us."

"Dana, I never said that."

"You don't have to, Mom. I can see it in your eyes." I pull away from her. "And just so you know Mom, I know Mulder did not abandon us. And I know that this is killing him as much as it is me if not more."

"But HOW do you know, Dana? You haven't spoken to him in months!"

"I just know ok? You may not understand this but we have a connection that goes beyond physical, Mom. We know what the other person feels." I shake my head. "I don't expect you or anyone else to understand but we do. And the important thing is that I know what he feels about this situation and that is all that counts. I love him and he loves William and me more than anything. And he will come back for us when it's safe."

She lets out a sigh. "Then I guess there is nothing more left to say, Dana." She rises from the couch. "I should get back. As I said William is sleeping comfortably in his crib and has already been fed."

"Thank you, Mom."

"Anytime. Get some rest ok?" She reaches forward and hugs me tightly.

"I will." I answer hugging her back.

She kisses me on the forehead. "Take, care Dana." She then gets her coat and purse out of the closet. "And remember that offer I gave you about William still stands." She then opens the door and steps out.

I let out a sigh as I slowly rise from the couch. I know what Mom is feeling about this. She does think that Mulder abandoned us. This is just the first time she has verbally suggested it. I suppose it doesn't help when I come home looking like this. I know she is just concerned for the well being of William and me. I make my way to the nursery where sure enough William is sleeping peacefully in his crib. I'm so lucky to have Mom near by to help me take care of him. And I can tell how much William just adores her as well. I reach down and carefully kiss him on the cheek so as to disturb him. "Sleep well, William." I whisper before pulling away from him and quietly leaving the nursery.

Walking to my bedroom, I take off my clothes and slip into my pajamas. There are days when it feels good to get out of your clothes and this is definitely one of them. I almost feel like burning the outfit I was wearing today. I surprised it wasn't fused to my skin. I pull back the spread from the bed and slip under the covers. Normally I read a little before going to sleep but tonight I won't need that. Tonight, sleep will overcome me naturally. As soon as my head hits the pillow, my eyes instantly close.

It seems like I've just barely gotten to sleep when I hear a voice in my ear.

"Wake up, baby."

My eyes open and I turn to see Mulder standing on the side of the bed. "Mulder?"

"The one and only." He replies with a smile as he stretches out his hand to me.

I slowly sit up and take his hand. "How…how did you get here so quickly? I mean I just fell asleep…"

"You've been asleep for hours, Scully."

"I…I have?"

He nods. "I just didn't want to wake you quite yet." He pulls me from the bed. "Are you ready?"

I turn back around and see myself still lying on the bed with my eyes closed. "Oh my god." I whisper. "So we are…"

"Astraling." He finishes. "Yes, Scully we are. Are you ready to go to our special place?"

"Not quite yet."

He looks at me with a confused look. "What…what do you mean?"

I take his hand and lead him down the hallway and to the nursery. "We are a family, Mulder. That means no one is excluded." Remembering what Missy taught me about calling Mulder, I use the same technique for William as I approach the crib. Reaching down my hands, I slowly pick up William leaving his physical body still in a state of rest. The surprised look on Mulder's face is incredible and I feel the exact same way as I walk up to him. "Now we can go as a family."

Mulder smiles and then reaches down kissing William on the forehead. "Hey there, buddy. Did ya miss me?"

William lets out a cooing and reaches up his tiny hand toward his father.

"I think that's a yes." I answer with a grin. I then hold out William to him. "Why don't you take him, daddy?"

I see Mulder's entire face light up as he takes William into his arms. He looks just like that night he first held him. As proud as any father could be. He looks down at William. "Awww, I've missed you too pal. Listen, I need you to hold on tight to daddy ok? Cause we're going to take a little ride. And where we are going is real nice. There are birds and butterflies; waterfalls and nothing can hurt you. Sound good to you?" He laughs as William lets out a high-pitched squeal. "I thought you would like that. Only stipulation is when your Mommy and I want some private time, you give it. Deal?" He reaches out his hand to William and gets a response involving a tiny hand. "All right." He turns to me. "Ready, Scully?"

I walk up to Mulder and William. "I'm ready, Mulder."

"Ok, then close your eyes and imagine the field just like we did last night."

Opening my eyes I once again find myself in the field Mulder and I were in last night. It looks just as beautiful now as it did then. I look down and see I'm wearing the same white dress I had on last night as well. I guess this is going to be my attire whenever I visit this field? Not that I mind it of course. I look over and see Mulder throwing William up into the air. Panic instantly grips me as I run toward them. "Mulder!"

Mulder turns to me as he catches William. "What is it, Scully?"

"You….you shouldn't toss him like that."

"Why not?" He looks down at William. "You want to go flying again, little buddy?" He receives another high-pitched squeal followed by a shaking of two tiny hands excitedly. "Here we go!"

"No!" I yell but it's too late and William is already airborne. At first I am absolutely terrified at what I am witnessing and I cover my eyes waiting to hear a thump. But instead all I hear are cries of laughter. I uncover my eyes and see as William flies up into the air, with the field echoing his happiness. He is not scared at all. And his giggles encourage Mulder to toss even higher.

"It's ok, Scully. See he likes it." He then holds William in his arms. "Ok, little buddy let's take a little break before we give mommy a heart attack."

"I'm sorry I over reacted like that. I was just afraid that something would happen to him."

"It's ok, Scully. Here he has nothing to fear. It seems this place is actually good for him." He takes William and places him on his back. "Why don't we go by the water?"

"I think that's a good idea."

He looks up at William. "Hang on partner." Bracing William with the back of his hand, he starts walking down the path with William on his shoulders.

I can't help but smile as I watch Mulder move up and down as he walks emitting giggles from William. This is what I've always wanted to see: father and son playing together. This is like a dream come true for me. I know now that Mulder and William have never lost that bond between them. And Mulder is the happiest I have ever seen him. I just wish mom and everyone else could be here to witness this to know that their theories about Mulder abandoning us are not true. I follow them down the path and over to the same bank Mulder and I were at last night.

"Ok, coming in for a landing!" Mulder calls to William as he slowly starts to squat down. He then leans forward, gently sending William rolling to the ground.

At first, I look on apprehensively until I hear the high-pitched squeal from William again. "You really do have a way with him, Mulder."

"What can I say?" He asks grinning as he lies back and puts his hands behind his head. He then pats the ground beside him. "Daddy wants mommy to sit with him."

I carefully take a seat next to Mulder. Glancing over I see William stretching out his arms toward a butterfly. "He seems so happy here."

"He is and so am I." He reaches out his hand, caressing the side of my face. "But I know something that would make me even happier."

"What's that?"

"A kiss from mommy."

"What about William?"

"He's being detained by that butterfly. He won't even know."

"Then how could I possibly say no?"

"You can't." He answers leaning into me slowly and placing a kiss on my lips. He rubs my cheeks slowly as he deepens the kiss slightly.

I can feel that energy passing once again between us as our lips are joined in a kiss. It is truly the most wonderful feeling in the world. This one kiss alone is worth more than any physical pleasure. All of the worries from today are being purged from me in this kiss. And he is once again rekindling that part deep inside of me that refuses to lose hope. I wrap my arms around his neck as I deepen the kiss even more, pushing myself to him.

Snaking his arm around my back, he continues to kiss me as he pulls me to the ground with him. He then starts to run his hands slowly down my side and under my dress. "Mmmm….Scully."

At first I answer him with moans from his touches. But then I realize we are not alone and I pull away. "Mulder, we…we can't."

"Of course we can." He whispers before starting to kiss my neck.

I push him away again. "Not with William, here."

He lets out a sigh as he rests his head on my neck. "Oh, yeah. I uh kind of forgot about that little detail."

"It just wouldn't be right, you know?"

He nods. "I know. But next time you come…" He places his mouth to my ear. "You come alone."

I take a swallow as I feel his hot breath on my neck. "I…I will. I promise."

"Good." He answers pulling back again. He looks back over at William who is still playing with the butterfly. "You cost me some lovin' partner. Guess I'll have to do something about that huh?" He then starts to tickle William. William starts to giggle and kick wildly as his father tickles him. Mulder then pauses and looks at me with his eyebrows raised.

"You wouldn't dare."

"And tickle mommy too!" He yells before reaching forward and tickling my sides.

The rest of our visit we spend just like a family would at a park minus the picnic. We lay on the bank next to each other with William in the middle. We hardly say a word just indulging in this closeness. And then eventually, comes the inevitable: the time to leave.

"Mulder, it's late." I reply looking over at William yawning. "He loses much more energy here than I do."

Mulder lets out a sigh. "I know. Guess we tuckered the little guy out too much." He reaches over and gently picks up William in his arms before rising from the ground.

I slowly rise up next to him. "Mulder, you know this won't be forever."

"I know, Scully. It's just you don't want a good feeling to ever leave you."

"It won't Mulder, remember?" I place my hand on his heart. "William and I will always be in there with you."

He glances down at William who is contently sucking his thumb. "I was just afraid he had forgotten me."

"That will never happen, Mulder. And now that I know William can travel with us, I will never lose hope again."

"Nor will I."

"And I know that you will find a way to come back to us eventually."

"I promise." He reaches forward kissing me on the lips. He then feels William wiggle in his arms. "Uh-oh someone wants to go back, I think." He hands William to me. "Take good care of him, Scully."

"Always." I whisper trying to hold back my tears. "Does…does this get any easier?"

Mulder shakes his head. "I don't think so. But remember you promised me that next time we would be alone. I'm going to hold you to that now."

I let out a chuckle as I sniffle. "I promise." I reach forward and kiss his forehead. "I love you."

He touches my cheek. "I love you, Scully."

I step away from him with William in my arms and close my eyes taking us back to the physical realm once again.

Every night Mulder and I see each other. Sometimes as a family and other times just with each other. The rumors and gossip about us just bounces off of me because of these astral visits. And with each one, I become more confident and strong that he will come back to his family. And until he does, the night belongs to us. It's been said that the night belongs to lovers and now after all this time, I truly understand what that phrase means. I only hope that some day I am able to share with William just what happened on those nights in the field with his father. But perhaps he already knows? Regardless of that, at least we are a family and always will be.

THE END