"I came across a fallen tree

I felt the branches of it looking at me

Is this the place we used to love?

Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?"

Spring 2000

Mulder's Apartment

Scully smiled up at Mulder as she took another swig of her beer.

"So what's the occasion?"

Mulder shrugged slightly as his eyes gazed at Scully, "I don't know. It just felt like the thing to do. Cheers."

He clinked his glass against hers. She eyed him suspiciously, "Cheers."

Mulder watched her for a moment taking in all that was Dana Scully. How he loved her. His heart wrenched out in pain as the clock ticked on reminding him of how much time he had with her. At least he wouldn't have to watch her die, he thought selfishly. Touching her cheek slowly, he smiled.

"I don't know if you noticed, but, um, I never made the world a happier place.

She furrowed her brow for a moment and then spoke, "Well I'm fairly happy. That's something."

"Yes it is." He replied as he thought about how true that statement really was.

"So what was your final wish anyway?" She asked eyeing him again.

Mulder said nothing but looked at her. She watched his face slowly change expressions; his eyes showed pain but then he blinked away that pain and smiled at her. She nudged him, "Oh come on; you can tell me."

He shook his head, "It doesn't matter anyway. I have you and that's all that matters."

He knelt down and kissed her.

June 2000

Bellefluer, Oregon

Mulder's Motel Room

Mulder wrapped his arms around her tightly, "It's not worth it Scully."

She said nothing for a moments time as she took in the warmth, "What?"

"I want you to go home." She looked out beyond the walls of his room.

"Oh, Mulder, I'm going to be fine."

"No, I've been thinking about it. Looking at you tonight, holding that baby... knowing everything that's been taken away from you; a chance for motherhood and your health and that baby. I think that... I don't know, maybe they're right." He spoke the words with a hint of regret and sorrow.

She held the tears that threatened to fall from her, "Who's right?"

"The FBI; maybe what they say is true, though for all the wrong reasons. It's the personal costs that are too high." He stated adamantly. She let silent tears slip down her face. Bring his mouth closer to her ear, he whispered.

"There so much more you need to do with your life. There's so much more than this," He stroked her face slowly, "There has to be an end, Scully."

She stayed silent for a moment before the tears ran more fluid. Taking short labored breaths, she muffled a cry.

"It's not fair, Mulder. I use to want those things more than anything. But now all I want is for you to be better. I don't think I have the strength to go on without you…" Her words fell into sobs.

He clutched her tighter, "Scully please. I know how hard this is but I can't…"

She moved out from underneath him and turned to face him, "I love you Mulder." Her words came abrupt and unhindered.

He smiled through his own tears. Each time she spoke it, he felt it more than the last.

He pulled her close to his body, "I love you too."

FBI Headquarters

Washington D.C.

Mulder watched her as she held her jaw tight, "Scully, you have to understand that they're taking abductees. You're an abductee. I'm not going to risk..." Mulder's words cracked as he spoke, "losing you."

She pulled her lips tight as she held in the pain. She walked into his embrace, "I won't let you go alone." She stated firmly in a muffled voice.

He chuckled a bit, "That's my Scully."

"I'm serious, Mulder. You can't really expect me to let you go out there alone."

He shook his head, "And I'm serious about this Scully. The line has to be drawn somewhere. You mean the world to me and I can't risk this."

"Mulder…" She started.

He touched her lips softly, "I'll take Skinner then."

Her eyes protested but he stood his ground. She nodded slowly in defeat. He dipped in and brushed his lips against hers. She accepted taking in all of him. As they pulled apart, she looked down at the floor.

"Be careful and come back to me."

He nodded, although only to appease her. Something told him that he wasn't coming back. The pain in his head was intensifying by the moment. His end was near. Hugging her one last time, he broke apart and walked remorsefully away.

She unknowingly watched him for what was would be the end.

St. Josephs Hospital

Washington D.C.

Scully stared out the window. Her heart hurt in a way she could not describe. Mixed emotions ran through her as she sat there replaying her conversation with Skinner. He had informed her of Spender's accident. So the bastard was dead. He had taken her deal to the grave and what had she gotten? Nothing. Mulder was gone. Gone. The words stabbed through her heart like a thousand spikes.

Of all the cruel ironies of the world she had been bestowed the one she had never thought possible. Pregnant; with the child of her soul mate no less, who was now missing although to her, he felt almost dead. Surely his health had declined rapidly within the last month and he had only weeks to live or so the doctors had said. She had little hope of finding him. His illness would kill him first. What would she tell her child; about its father?

She sat back in her bed, and let the tears fall. All that she had accepted and let in was now gone. Had it not been for his child resting in her, she surely would have gone mad and killed herself from the pain that ate at her but somehow something called her back with this sour blessing. She instinctively clutched at her chest searching for her faith; her cross, but she found nothing but a frail heart.

"So if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
So why don't we go

This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?"

"Somewhere Only We Know"

By Keane