When Scully read the letter telling her and Mulder that they would be in court on the 18th

January she got butterflies in her stomach and felt incredibly nervous. They had an appointment with their lawyer on the 15th to go over everything that they might be asked and what might come up in the courtroom. It was all rather exciting for Scully and the thought of the day of William's return home drawing nearer made her feel so alive.

Mulder had managed to put his family news to the back of his mind for the time being.

There was nobody he could turn to for answers, or to ask for help from because his parents were dead. He wanted to call Reyes, he wanted to know how she was. She was after all his sister. This was the most shocking news of all. How had he known? What had made him persist with his poking into finding out who she really was?

Well now he wished he hadn't bothered. He wished that he had never found out who his father really was or that he had another sister. And knowing that Samantha wasn't his father's daughter was unbelievable to him. So much of this was unreal. But he had to stay focused. His priorities lay with Scully and their son.

After their meeting with Collin Winters they had been advised to find at least two people that could vouch for Mulder and Scully, to speak up on their behalf and to help them in getting the judge to believe that William was better off with his biological parents. They had agreed to go and see Doggett and Reyes and ask for their help, it was their best chance at getting someone who knew them well enough and who knew how badly they wanted William back.

When they got to the FBI they somehow managed to get Mulder passed security, again. Scully couldn't believe how easy it was, but on the other hand there wasn't a person at the bureau who didn't know who Mulder was or who wanted to go up against him in any shape way or form. When they got down the X-Files office they both saw Doggett's disappointment at who was walking into the room.

"Agent Scully, Mulder. What can I do for you?"

"How are you John?"

"I'm fine. What's the problem?" Scully was trying to approach this as a friend, but something was clearly preventing Doggett from accepting this.

"We need to talk to you and Monica, it's about appearing in court as character witnesses, to help our case to get William back." Mulder was being very sensible and stayed very quiet. He let Scully do all of the talking because he knew that Doggett didn't hate her.

"Well I'd love to help you Dana, but unfortunately Monica isn't here right now. She hasn't been in DC since the 27th of December, I don't know when she'll be coming back, but I'll be sure to pass along your message if she ever calls me."

"Were is she?" Doggett looked at Mulder as if he couldn't believe he would dare speak to him.

"New Mexico. Looking for answers. Now if you'll excuse me I have work to do."

"Agent Doggett..."

"Look Mulder, don't push me ok, this is all your damn fault, I hope you're happy because thanks to you she may never even come back, I don't know what she's found out there or what her parents have been saying to her. You screwed up my whole life, now I know what it's like to be you." Mulder took Scully's hand as she moved to speak again and she didn't object as he led them both out of the building.

When Mulder called the airport for flight details to New Mexico Scully didn't object. She understood that Mulder was worried about Monica and that he wanted to bring her back. She couldn't hide her disappointment though that Doggett had been so unfriendly towards her.

"I'm sorry Scully, I have to go. I have to bring her back before she finds out what kind of man my father really was."

"I know. I understand. I just wish you didn't have to go. I feel that whenever things are going just right for us something else comes up to bring everything crashing down."

"I'm sorry. I will be back as soon as I can." Mulder kissed Scully and looked into her eyes as she tried to understand. It was then that he knew what he really had to do.

Mulder threw the plane ticket down on Doggett's desk and was about to walk straight back out when Doggett called him back.

"What the hell is this?"

"A ticket to New Mexico. You have to bring her back."

"What are you talking about?"

"If you love her you have to bring her back. I can't do it, she wont listen to me, I'm the one who's turned her life upside down. Go after her. Believe me, if you do it right it'll be worth it." Mulder turned to leave again.

"Wait a minute. Why are you doing this?"

"Because I've spent my whole life feeling lost and confused, questioning truths and desperate to have my family back together. Well now I have my own family to think about. I don't want Monica to go through this alone like I did. You're the one she needs. So bring her home."

Mulder walked out of the office and Doggett stared after him before looking at the ticket and trying to figure out exactly what he was going to do.

When Scully first set eyes on the Van de Kamps she knew right away who they were. It made her sick to the stomach that these strangers had her son and were keeping him from her. Mulder took her hand as a security link between them, to show that they were going to beat this and they were going to get their boy back.

When the judge sat and listened to all of the arguments put forward Mulder was so relieved that nothing had been brought up about his whereabouts when William was just a baby living with Scully. He was even more relieved that nobody had dug into his past at the FBI and found out all about the parts of him that would not make him seem like a suitable father figure, which was ridiculous because he was William's father.

The judge appointed a date for Mulder and Scully to have their home inspected and to be interviewed by a welfare officer who specialises in allocating children to their homes. Court was adjourned until February 7th when he wanted to see the welfare officer's report showing that Mulder and Scully could offer a stable and loving environment for the child and evidence from independent witnesses that could speak on Mulder and Scully's behalf.

As Mulder and Scully walked out of the courtroom neither could hide their joy at the thought of another hurdle being knocked down keeping them away from their son. As they left the building Scully caught sight of Mrs Van de Kamp and couldn't help feeling sorry for her. She then hated herself for feeling guilty for what she was doing, William was her son, and she was not going to let that woman keep him from her.