Scully walked around the empty apartment and listened as William played with his toys in his room. Mulder had been gone for three days now and she had left William's bedroom door open just so that there was another voice in the apartment than her own. She was lonely and she only had herself to blame for it. But she had done the right thing. She didn't know how Mulder felt or what he was thinking but it wasn't important because she wasn't even sure how she felt herself.

Yes she had been here before, yes she had always made the best out of bad situations, yes she had always trusted Mulder and his decisions, but she was a grown woman, she was supposed to be his equal now, not the agent placed to spy on him. So what the hell was going on? What was going so terribly wrong that she hadn't stopped him from walking out like he had? She wished she had someone to talk to, someone to tell her what to do, to tell her whether she was being silly and needed to just trust that this time everything would work out as it had every time before.

She was so lost in her head that she didn't notice when the front door opened and closed quietly and she didn't even notice when Mulder was standing directly behind her as she cradled a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. It took his hand on her shoulder for her to turn around and see him. The coffee went everywhere.

"Jesus Mulder!" She stood up and moved to run her burning hand under the cold tap. Mulder followed and tried to take her hand to look at the glowing red palm but she pulled away.

"I'm sorry, I thought you heard me."

"Well I didn't."

"I'm sorry." Calming down Scully turned off the tap and walked into the bedroom to change her stained blouse. Mulder followed again and watched as she carefully unbuttoned the shirt and removed it. It fell to the floor and she moved to the wardrobe to pull out another.

He watched in complete awe at being able to see her like this. For so long he had wished they would take the next step and they had. And look where it had gotten them. But she wasn't shy, she didn't hide her bare back or chest covered only by a seductive black bra, because she still trusted and loved him. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, to tell her how sorry he was, but that was old to her now. He'd gone past the point of apology. Now it was time for actions to speak for both of them.

He walked over to her and held her hands down as she began to fasten the blouse. She looked up to him and was about to object but Mulder's lips against her own prevented any words escaping. He kissed her passionately, not softly like she was used to, his kiss told her that this was more than a kiss, and then his hands moved around her waist and then underneath her blouse, up and down her spine. Her legs started to weaken as they always did at Mulder's touch against her skin, her own hands had moved up around his neck and she was pulling him closer to her, he felt so good.

They somehow made it to the bed where Mulder lay her down and she reached to unfasten the button and zipper on his pants. He was already more than ready for this she noticed as she pulled the pants down, and without her even realising he had somehow removed her pants too. He still kissed her persistently, then his lips moved from her mouth down to her neck, her chest, her breasts, down to her naval, he knew exactly what he was doing, and Scully writhed beneath him as his touch set her alight.

He moved back up her body fast and returned to kissing her lips, he caught her by surprise and her breath caught in her throat as their tongues joined and explored each other's mouths. With one hand Mulder pulled down Scully panties and then pulled down his boxers, he was completely in charge of the situation and Scully didn't care. As he finally entered her she convulsed on the bed and their bodies were crushed together. They were both panting and holding onto each other tightly as Mulder thrust himself in and out in perfect time with the movement of Scully's hips against him.

As they moved almost rhythmically with one another, dancing against one another's bodies, they reached their climax together, something that made their love making all the more special. Mulder slowly lowered himself down over Scully's body and she nuzzled into his chest as he gently pulled out of her and turned to lie beside her. He pulled her to him and they lay together basking in the aftermath of their lovemaking.

"Dana..."

"It's ok Mulder..."

"But..." Scully placed a single finger on Mulder's lips.

"Shh. I was wrong. I love you. It's always been enough. And it always will be." Mulder looked at her and kissed her softly this time on the lips.

Some time later, neither of them were sure when, Mulder and Scully got dressed and went into the kitchen. Mulder moved to clean up the spilt coffee from when he arrived and Scully checked on William. When a knock came hard and heavy on the door they stood together again, Scully closed the door of William's room and they walked to answer the door. Mulder took out his weapon and Scully opened the door fast.

"Krycek."

"He's coming."

"What?" Krycek moved into the apartment and didn't give Mulder or Scully time to object.

"Gibson is on his way here, now. He's coming for William. You have to get him out of here. Before it's too late." Mulder didn't move. Scully looked at him and was sure her heart was beating twice its normal speed.

"Mulder..."

"It's ok. Scully, we gotta get Skinner here. And I need you to trust me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you trust me?"

"You know I do." He walked over to her and kissed her again. It was a surprise; they never showed affection for one another like this in front of people before. But the kiss didn't allay Scully's fears that this was the end or the beginning. And it didn't stop her being afraid.

When Gibson walked into the building he could sense the fear, he could taste it. He loved it. For years it had been him who was afraid, he had run for his life he had done everything he had been told. But one day it had hit him that if he was so important he had power. And he could use that power. So that was his plan. Stop the running and the fighting. Sure he was still only young, but he was old enough to know that this was his game now, and he controlled all of the players.

He reached out his hand on the off chance the door was open, of course it was locked. They were stupid but not that stupid. He knew that the whole family were inside; he could even sense the unborn one. He just wished he could hear her like William could. Picking the lock with great ease he then opened the door slowly so as not to alert anyone to his arrival. He was confused at how many people he thought were in the apartment, but it didn't matter. He was here for William and he wasn't leaving without him.

He went straight to the boy's room and was slightly surprised to find Scully standing holding the boy in her arms. He was in a blanket and by the looks of things he was being rocked to sleep. Gibson wanted to laugh; did she really think that if he were sleeping William wouldn't feel the pain? Wouldn't know what was going on? She didn't know her son at all. He crept up behind her taking his time and then quickly and with complete precision he lifted his arm and pushed Scully to the ground. She let out a startled cry as Gibson reached down and grabbed the bundle from her arms.

"What is this! You tricked me? How the hell did you even know I was coming!"

"I've been waiting for this for weeks Gibson. You should know me better than that."

"You always were so easy to read. You wore your heart on your sleeve and it's your biggest downfall."

"Well, I managed to make you think I was holding William just now, I can't be that transparent." He didn't like that.

"It doesn't matter. I'll find him. I can promise you that."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah, you ruined my life, you and Mulder, and you're conspiracies, well now I'm here to ruin yours! I'm tired of you getting away with ruining everything for everyone around you! This is where it ends! You won't have to die, but your children will, and any children after that, because when you're gone, the problems gone. You and Mulder, when I've wiped out your family line it's over, this whole thing is your fault, both of you!" As Gibson yelled at Scully she didn't know how she was keeping so calm and still. But she could see what Gibson couldn't. She could see Mulder and Skinner getting closer to Gibson, getting ready to grab him. Gibson's mind was so full of fury and anger for Scully that he didn't pick up on the others gaining in on him.

Gibson was so fired up in fact that he didn't know there was anyone there until Skinner and Mulder had jumped him from behind and he was lying flat on the ground. Everything went very black as he was knocked unconscious.