July 31st, Present Day, Doggett Residence...

Monica was about to leave work when she found the card she had bought for Phoebe that morning in the bottom of her bag. She took it out and placed it on Phoebe's desk not knowing if she would be back before she left. She had felt guilty about turning down her offer of a drink, but there was no way she'd make it past her first glass before she'd be in tears and overwhelmed with guilt at being here without John. Right on cue Phoebe walked into the office with a great big '30' badge pinned to her shirt. Monica laughed.

"Very nice."

"They made me wear it until I got down here. It was so embarrassing." Monica picked up the card she had put down and placed it in Phoebe's hand.

"Happy birthday." Phoebe smiled and didn't know what to say.

"Wow, thank you. You really shouldn't have bothered."

"It's just a card Phoebe. I gotta go, but have a great evening."

"Yeah. You too."

"Thanks." Monica turned to leave but was held back by the ringing phone that she reached for whilst Phoebe began ripping into the cards that had been collected from several offices around the building.

"Monica Doggett... yes... oh I see... yes, that's right... he's ok? ... Great, that you so much..." Monica put down the phone and looked at Phoebe smiling.

"Well here's something to put a birthday smile on your face. Luke Mathers was found this afternoon. He's ok, a little shaken, but he's back home with his dad, mom's there too."

"That's terrific news! Well, maybe this will bring them back together."

"Who knows. See you Monday Phoebe."

"Night."

Monica wasn't the best cook in the world. But she had invited Mulder, Dana and their boys around for a meal so that she could celebrate her anniversary in her own special way, and not be alone at the same time. Anna was very excited as she tried to help her mother, and Monica was growing increasingly frustrated with the four year olds idea of help. Monica had picked up a few cooking tips from John, but had so far managed to only just stop herself from making pancakes.

Dana helped out in the kitchen upon arriving leaving Mulder to entertain the kids with more of his magic tricks in the garden.

"Where'd he learn that stuff anyway?"

"Are you kidding me? He's got so much time on his hands that I'm surprised he hasn't come up with an entire act and started selling his services to kids parties."

Monica laughed and was startled by the red faced Anna that came pounding into the kitchen asking for a glass of juice. As Monica poured the drink Anna raced up the stairs saying she needed the toilet first. As Monica and Dana continued to salvage Monica's attempts at cooking they were both alarmed by Anna's cries for her mother from her bedroom. Even Mulder heard her shouting and came inside telling William to stay outside with Jack. The three adults ran up the stairs, Monica in front and straight into Anna's room.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"

"Anna what is it what's wrong?!"

"It's daddy! Look!" Anna pointed to her bedroom window and had the biggest smile on her face that Monica had ever seen. But John wasn't there. Even as Monica felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of him being back, she knew it couldn't be true.

"Anna, there's nobody there. You shouldn't say things like that..."

"He's standing right there! Why are you saying that?!"

"Anna enough! I won't have you lying. Now come on."

"He's right there! I'm not lying! Don't ignore him!" Monica walked over to the window and couldn't stop herself getting angry. Of all days, why did Anna have to choose today to play something like this?

"Where Anna? I'm standing right here, where is he?" Anna began to cry and Dana stepped forward to intervene but Mulder held her back.

"He's trying to talk to you. Why wont you listen?" Monica was crying too now and Anna was upset.

"Anna don't do this to me, please."

"He's right beside you! He says he's sorry that he isn't here for you tonight, that he loves you, and that he misses us both... He says that... He says he has an anniversary gift for

you..."

"Anna please... stop..." Anna's eyes were wide, she didn't move them from the same spot at the window and Monica was on her knees in tears. Dana was crying too and Mulder had drawn her close to him to comfort her. But Mulder believed what Anna was saying she could see.

"He says that you're going to have a baby, mommy, that's his gift for you..." Everybody's jaw dropped but Monica ran out of the room and down the stairs. She was out the front door before anybody could even think about chasing after her and Anna didn't move.

July 3rd, Silver Spring, Maryland, Gooding Residence...

Monica was angry with the FBI party that was now happening on the Gooding's front lawn. For a week she and John had been thrown into this case head first, and now there were more lives in danger and the entire bureau wanted a piece of the action. What annoyed John the most was the fact that Skinner was there. He knew he shouldn't have been surprised, but he had pissed John off too much lately to have earned any respect or cooperation. Monica walked over to Detective Alan and he smiled appreciatively.

"Thanks for getting over here so quickly."

"What's going on?"

"Well, Mia has a gun and she's holding Casey and Daniel Gooding, Adam Davies, Michael Dawson, and Lucy Collier hostage. She says she demands justice and won't talk to anyone but you. She blames you. But you're our only chance to get everyone out of here alive."

"When did this happen?"

"Around eight am, Mia invited them all into the house for what she told them was a memorial for the Gooding's now that none of them were suspects in their murders anymore. We got a call from a neighbour who heard shouting and Mia walked past the window several times before realising we were out here, we saw the gun, we want this dealt with quickly and quietly."

Monica nodded her head and was distracted by Dana walking over to her with Skinner.

"What are you doing here Dana?"

"Skinner wanted me here. To help out if I could." John stepped forward and took Monica's arm.

"Mon, you're not goin' in there."

"John I have to."

"Over my dead body."

"John what's wrong with you?"

"Are you kiddin' me? This girl wants you in there and we just send you in to walk to your death?"

"She wont be unprotected, and we have camera's providing a picture of what's going on in there."

"So then wait until she's in the open shoot the son of a bitch and leave my... leave Monica out of it."

"Watch your step John, and your mouth. You keep this up this will look very bad for you."

Skinner walked away and left the three agents bewildered and tense. Detective Alan came back over with another group of men who wanted to wire Monica before she entered the house. John walked away unprepared to see anyone put his wife's life in danger. Dana followed him and tried to calm him down.

"I can't let her do it Dana, I can't."

"John you and I both know that if Monica wants to go ahead with this then she will."

"It's a trap! And that bastard doesn't give a crap about her!" John was looking at Skinner and Dana could feel his anger and concern.

"John. We can end this now, we can let it all be over and we can move past it."

John looked at Dana with a look she remembered from the short time they had been partners. He was furious, and he held anybody who didn't agree with him to blame.

"I'm not going to lose her, do you hear me? No way."

Monica was nervous. And it wasn't like her but she took it as a good sign that she would be on her toes and that she would keep her wits about her. If she was nervous it was a professional nerve, not personal. She just needed so badly for this to be over. To stop feeling so guilty about everything that had gone wrong in Mia Dukes' life. John walked over to her and she tried to smile but he wouldn't show the same recognition.

"John..."

"Don't Monica. I know you're going to do this, but the second you're in danger, if you get out of there then so help me God I'll drag your ass out of their kicking and screaming myself. I will not lose you to this girl."

"You're not going to lose me John. I love you." She kissed him softly and they both did a quick damage report and looked around to see if anyone had seen them. Detective Alan came over and smiled.

"Agent Doggett you can watch with the rest of the bureau's agents in that van there, Agent Reyes, if you could follow me."

"Wait, how does she know I'm here?"

"She called the phone line we set up and said she was ready for you." Monica took a deep breath and didn't look back. If she had she knew that one glance at John and she would have changed her mind.