13:27pm
Charles and Katie Scully Residence
King of Prussia, PA

"Daddy and Aunt Dana are here!" Squealed a little red hair boy as he bolted out the door and into the front yard.

"Danny!" Scully screamed capturing the young boy in her arms.

"Aunt Dana, are you really coming to live with us? Is it true?"

"It sure is. My how you've grown, you'll be taller than me pretty soon." She turned him around in her arms before kissing him on the forehead.

"Yea, mommy says I'll be tall like daddy one day."

"I hope so, I couldn't stand it if her inherited your stature sis."

"Hey, I've done quite well with my height, I'll let you know!" She pushed her brother in the shoulder and he mimicked it actually hurting.

"You'll be here for my 8th birthday won't you!" She nodded her head to affirm her attendance.

"Speaking which, aren't you glad to have your old man back?" Charles stooped down and rustled his youngest son's hair. "Where's your mom and Stevie? Just as he finished the question , Katie and Steve came strolling out of the house.

"Dana, I'm so glad you've come, It'll be good to have another female around the house." Katie spoke while engulfing her sister-in-law in a hug. Katie was petite like Dana, but about four inches taller than Dana. She had long brown hair and dimples. She and Dana really got along well, ever since Dana helped her out back in high school. She and Charlie had been together since high school and Dana was only a years older than Charlie. It was a shame that that lived apart for so long.

"Hi, Aunt Danes." Her oldest nephew strolled over and gave a quick hug.

"Wow, Steve your getting to be such a handsome young man. She remembered that he actually didn't care for the nickname Stevie. "Pretty soon your going to have to start swatting the girls away." She patted his shoulder while taking notice how much he looked like his father, even though he hadn't inherit the Scully family trade mark.

"Yea, he starts high school this fall, I don't know what we're going to do." Charles play punched Steve while wrestling him to the ground. "Boys, enough of that, you've got a lot of stuff to move." They were interrupted by Katie's scold.

"Dad you are so done the next time we play flag football."

"Hey, Aunt Dana, would you help me with my science project maybe later, please?" He asked after a beat. He ran over to the car and grabbed a few boxes taking them into the house.

"Sure, kiddo." She smiled and waved him off before turning to Katie.

"Not here ten minutes and already you've got request for your scientific advice. Stevie, why don't we let Aunt Dana settle in first before we start in on her, ok?" Katie scoffed, before wrapping her arm around Dana's shoulders and guiding her into the house.

"So tell me Dana, how is everything?" They were seated in the living room facing each other. Dana knew what she was getting at and didn't think that she would ask this soon, so to keep her at bay for now she would simple answer as truthfully as possible. " Some days are good some day are not, but I get through it, you know."

"You know if you ever want to talk, or need to talk, to a woman that is, I'm always here for you." Katie patted her hands and then stood walking into the kitchen. "Would you like something to drink? Eat?"

"No that's alright, I'm fine thanks." She begin to admire the architecture of the home, it was breathtaking almost, well compared to her small apartment.

"Kate this house is amazing, I love the high ceilings with the sunroofs and all. Thanks so much for letting me stay here until, well you know…" Katie had joined her back on the sofa. "Don't say another word, your always welcomed here you know that. You know ever since high school you were always there for me and I'm just happy that I can return the favor now somehow." They both stared at each other like two sisters finding each other again after a long time. Finally Katie reached over and pulled Dana into an embrace.

"I'm so sorry this had to happen to you." Katie's sweeping had caused her to begin to cry.

"Kate, it's not your fault, don't be sorry, there is some good in this, it brought me here to you guys didn't it?." She sat back and whipped her face.

"Plus, I here there is some great shopping to be had at said local mall!" Dana smiled and pulled her sister in law into a quick embrace.

"We've got a lot of catching up to do."

"Yes we do, and I think we should start in the guest suite that we have set up for you. Well it isn't exactly set up, we left that much for you. Come on I have to show you exactly why I feel in love with this house the first time I saw it." They both retreated down the hall passed the dining room and kitchen and on into the back of the house.

"This Dana is your domain, complete with your own bathroom and an extra room that can be made into a sitting area or whatever you want."

"My God Kate, all of this can't be for me, it's too much!" She walked into the bedroom admiring the walk in closet and southern exposure to the landscape outback. The room they were in now was about the length of half the downstairs. She imagined that her furniture and décor would fit perfectly in there. The room was a bit smaller with a wide bay window stretching across most of the southern wall. She didn't know quite what she would do with it, but it would come to her.

"I see you've taken to showing her around without me Katie.." Charles interrupted from the doorway.. Dana turned around and almost ran into her brother's arms.

"Charlie, I can't believe you and Kate went through all this trouble just to give me so much, I don't know what to say. I think I'm speechless."

"Well just say thank you and remember us on holiday's and birthday's" He hugged his sister back, not remembering her being this affectionate when they were younger. He wondered if this Mulder guy had anything to do with it.

"So that's why you told me don't bother with putting my things in storage. You guys are really going to make it hard for me to move when the time comes that is." She looked enamored at the both of them.

"Since this is my first night here and its Saturday, what do you say I treat you and the boys to dinner. It's the least I can do."

"PIZZA HUT!" Yelled Danny who had wondered into the room also. He was carrying what looked to be a lab top carrier.

"Honey, where did you get that, put it down before you drop it, you know its not a toy." She frowned at him before taking the bag from him.

"I know, but Aunt Dana let me on it the last time we visited so I thought she might want it first"

"Thanks, Danny I really appreciate it, but I need a desk to put it on and a chair to sit at and those won't be here until Monday. But I have an idea." She bounced her finger on her chin as if she was in deep thought.

"What's that Aunt Dana?"

"How about I let you set it up in your room until the rest of my things get here.."

"Oh Dana that's not necessary, I don't want him to break it or anything."

"Ah mom why not? Please?" Charles chucked at his son. He was staying out if it for now.

"No worries Kate, I know he knows how to use it and I trust him with it, it's quite alright really, I doubt that I'd really need it right now anyway."

"Well since you've put it that way…" Danny grabbed the bag out of his mother's hand and dashed out the room and down the hall toward the stairs.

"Daniel Patrick Scully! What did I tell you about running in the house and with the lap top for Christ sake. I didn't hear a "thank you" either young man!" He yelled out a quick reply for scampering up the stairs.

"Aww Kate let him go, we'll have plenty of opportunities to discipline him about that lap top later. Speaking of which, since you ladies now know where the stuff is going to go why don't we get the stuff and start putting it where its suppose to go."

"Aye aye, Captain."

"You know that Captain crap doesn't cut it with me Danes."

"Yea, but I love teasing you with it."

"Yea right whatever Danes remember its me Chucky. Some come on Bucky let's go before it gets dark." He wrapped his arms around her shoulder ushering her out the room and down the hall.

"Charlie you know I can't stand it when you call me Bucky." Dana could be heard, chiding her brother as they walked shoulder to shoulder down the hallway.

"Yea, I know but I love teasing you with it." Katie was left to chuckle to herself. She always remembered the relationship that her husband and his sister shared. It was special and unique. Sometimes she felt a ping of jealousy for not ever having that kind of sibling relationship in her life. She could hear Dana's voice as they opened the front door. "Kate come on we'll need your help too." Sister-in-law or not, Dana was always the closet thing that she'd ever come to a real sister and maybe that's all she really ever needed. "Yeah no wiggling out of this one honey." She walked down the hallway joining them, maybe Dana was meant to help in return for them helping her. Things always happen for a reason and maybe these reason would soon be discovered.

10:45pm

Dana laid curled up on her side on the living room sofa, Her furniture, that was in storage wouldn't arrive until Monday, so she would be bunking on the sofa for the next few days. Her thoughts floated back on the days events, it was so different than what she was accustomed too, yet so much the same. Cleaning up after pizza, answering all kind of outlandish question. She chuckled to herself before pulling her favorite blanket under her chin.

'It couldn't be?' She thought to herself, inhaling the faint scent of something familiar. She inhaled once more just to make sure. 'Yes definitely she recognized that scent. How can it be? It's been at least a month, it couldn't possibly linger around that long could it?' As her mind reeled to the possibilities, she fell into a light sleep, it wasn't until she wrapped the blanket fully around her that she lapsed into a full deep sleep. This would be the first night that she would finally rest peacefully.