Setting: post S11 of The X-Files, namely taking in to account the events of its very last scene.

This is your last chance to turn back if you never made it to season 11. Or if you've never seen this show. Major spoilers ahead.

This fic was borne of an unintentional photo prompt on Twitter. It shows Scully happily holding a brand new baby, in a hospital setting. The baby is curled against her, asleep. But has a nasal feeding tube in place. The idea that became this fic popped into my head after that. And I had to write it down.

Disclaimer: I only own what I make up.

Femke, this one is for you :)

Doctor Dana Katherine's life was not quiet.

But it hadn't been… ever since she'd been assigned to work in a certain basement office at the J. Edgar Hoover Building. All the way back in 1993. Felt like another lifetime ago.

Twenty-five years. A quarter of a century.

This was how long Fox William Mulder had been part of her life, and she, his. But... She wouldn't change it.

And forever into Scully's memory was how Mulder had been towards her during their first meeting.

Cheeky. Weirdly flattering. Slightly manic. Quite sarcastic. Very paranoid.

But the events of their first case—less than a day later—jumpstarted their innate trust in each other. Scully loved it. So did Mulder.

They had been permanently bonded ever since.

And then there was all the two of them had been through together in these twenty-five years.

Life. Death. Life again. Plus all the sheer absurdity.

But the older Mulder and Scully grew, the more they were coming to dislike the absurdity. Which was understandable.

One (unwanted) highlight of Scully's past quarter century was loss.

Incredible, devastating loss.

Mulder's parents. Her own parents. Melissa. Samantha's final conclusion. Deep Throat. Max Fenig. Mister X. Cassandra Spender. Even Diana.

Frohike, Langley, Byers.

Not knowing what had become of Gibson Praise.

To list all of the loss, however, would be a full-time job.

The doctor would also be hard-pressed to forget Monica Reyes and John Doggett. Each would have a piece of her heart. For the rest of her life. Scully hoped they were well. Believed they were together. Needed them to be.

Still... Above all, there were two names that brought her equal parts joy and grief. Always.

Emily. William.

Her lost children. Members of hers and Mulder's little unconventional family.

The numbers of ways the two of them had saved each other? Innumerable.

Scully would also have to actually die before she could begin to forget their case involving the Temple of the Seven Stars in Apison, Tennessee. Learning via 'baptismal fire' that she and Mulder had been soulmates in an actual previous life.

Scully would be especially remiss to forget their 'adventure' in Antarctica.

Or… her sheer and utter despairing panic at the sight of Pusher's hold over Mulder.

But the duo would be damned for eternity if they ever forgot the time Scully had driven through the night—fueled both by blind faith and outright rage—to look for Mulder. He'd been in captivity of psychopathic body traffickers.

A private joke between both Mulder and Scully was that ever since her with Alfred Felling, the death photographer, she'd achieved immortality.

But… That was another tale.

Scully also noticed over time that her entire thought process towards any 'broader picture' had evolved.

But so had her feelings about pursing activities that most (normal) people would find too hazardous. Maybe it was an aspect of being older.

Yet… After their most recent adventure… After letting their son go… Even Mulder had known it was time to really grow up.

Why?

Life had blindsided them. Again.

But in a happy way.

Mulder and Scully stood on the dock. In the cold. In the dark. Transfixed. Heartbroken.

All they could do was watch the spot where William had gone under the water. Vanished from this plane of existence.

In that moment, the couple felt only emptiness. Any other feelings would be had later. At home. In private.

Mulder tore his gaze from the murky depths first.

He tried to speak. But when words failed him, his despairing expression increased. Tenfold.

Scully looked up at Mulder.

In moments like this, she could comfort him. Usually.

But all she felt was her heart fall out of her chest when she came up short.

And her voice was hardly above a whisper when the words finally came. "He wanted us to let him go. He… wasnt't meant to be."

But Mulder was loud, adamant. "WILLIAM WAS OUR SON!"

Scully shook her head. "No."

Mulder echoed his thoughts again. "SCULLY, HE WAS OUR SON!"

"No." she moved closer to him. "William was an experiment, Mulder."

He shook his head as he looked Scully in the eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"He was an idea. Born in a laboratory."

"But you were his mother!"

Scully's heart had found its way back into her chest, only for it to almost fall out a second time as she responded, on the verge of tears, "I carried him. I bore him. But I was never a mother to him. I wasn't. No. William… William was an…"

She wanted to say 'idea' once more, but she couldn't bring herself to.

The word was too harsh. Despite how true it was.

Right before Scully's eyes, she watched Mulder sink right back down into the despair they both felt.

He forced himself to speak after a few beats. "For so long… I believed. What am I now, if I'm not a father?"

Scully's heart now took a flying leap. But in joy.

For all the madness that had unfolded tonight, she had genuinely forgotten about a certain life-altering fact that had been confirmed for her at her doctor's office. Just that morning.

She laughed. Simply because it didn't feel real. At all.

Her whispered tone was not as despairing. "You are a father."

Mulder frowned in actual confusion as he repeated an earlier statement, but with a touch more urgency. "What are you talking about?!"

Scully took one of Mulder's hands in her own. And she held it. Flat against her lower middle.

She looked to him again.

Watching. Waiting. Hoping.

For him to make the connection.

Finally—

"But that's impossible!" Mulder blurted.

"I know." Scully found herself nodding as a new daze hit her. "I know it is. It's more than impossible."

Mulder felt the hope returning to his heart.

All he could do in response was to pull Scully into a warm hold. Words were failing him again. But only because he was also trying to process her joy. Her surprise. Their joy. Their surprise.

It seemed the universe was giving them two things.

Another chance. And hope.

Scully's whole body shook with unfettered emotion as she began to weep.

Did Mulder mind?

No. Because they both knew the world wasn't over.

And now…

Their reason for that hope, their daughter, was here.

She was already a few days old. Very happy. Cherished. Perfect, in her parents' eyes.

Even though she had been born different.

Quite unlike Emily and William before her, she was wholly human. And… also newly-dependent on a feeding tube. Receiving nourishment the traditional way had not gone well.

But her parents did not feel worried.

To the doctors' amazement, the new parents held their daughter. Comforted her. Promised they weren't sad. Reassured her they would do whatever it took to help her thrive.

Even though it was pointed out that the feeding tube would most likely be longterm. Or when mention of a possible heart defect was had. And talks of different therapies in the months to come.

Her parents didn't worry. Why? Mulder and Scully both had complete faith and hope that everything needed would come to pass. Be completely successful.

After all they'd been through since they'd met, Mulder and Scully were just pleased that their child was in the world. In their arms. Breathing. Basking in their love. Continually content.

Every little thing about this child filled her parents with complete joy.

But Scully sighed, as she sat on her hospital bed. The sound was childlike. Borderline petulant.

Mulder had elected to take baby girl for a short walk. Both of them were out. A hospital intern had tagged along, to wheel along the baby's health monitors.

Rather an unexpected thought had seized Scully just then. Grief had washed over her. Out of nowhere.

All that could help out?

Holding her baby. Cuddling. Just feeling her weight.

A voice broke Scully's thoughts. "Dana? Are you crying?"

She came back to it to see that her family had returned.

Mulder stood near the crib, holding their daughter. But now he was wondering how he could make his other half smile.

The intern fixed the patient's monitors back in their designated spots.

He then approached the mother on the bed. "Your baby is beautiful. And a dream."

Scully's grief wave lifted slightly at the unexpected compliment.

She responded softly with a smile, "Thank you. How kind."

The intern made a motion of acknowledgement before making an exit.

When he left, Scully wiped her tears away as she rose to her feet.

"I was crying, Fox." she told him. "Yes."

Mulder was not without his own flip-flopping emotions about his daughter's existence in the universe. Mostly because he knew that his parents and his sister would have loved her. Very much.

On the harder days, Scully held him. Kissed him. Comforted him. Without question. Every time.

"Come here." Mulder made a beckoning motion with his head. "Please."

She joined him, saying, "Emily just crossed my mind while you two were out."

"Hm. I was also just thinking about her."

"Yeah?" Scully said in surprise. "What were you thinking?"

"Oh, about how I wished she and William could be here." Mulder turned wistful. "And you know something? I've always imagine that Emily Christine would've turned out to be an accomplished physician. Just like you."

Scully promptly worked double-time to not cry any more than she already had. She knew Mulder thought about their lost children. But it wasn't often that they spoke of them in this way.

"Do you imagine anything else about her?" Scully asked curiously.

"Mhm. I also like to think that Emily would be married with kids, and work as a successful pediatrician. On the road to having her own practice."

Mulder kissed his partner.

"What's on your mind about her?"

"Just that… Emily would be twenty-four now. An adult." Scully explained. "One time when we were visiting her at the group home, she sat on my lap and told me something."

Mulder lifted an eyebrow. "Just what did Miss Emily say?"

"She expressed the wish for a baby sister."

Now Mulder understood why he'd found his soulmate so forlorn.

He stood straighter and gently adjusted his very sleepy offspring. "I think baby girl needs time with her mommy now."

Scully smiled a little more. "Yes, please. Thank you."

He helped Scully hold their little girl to the point where they were both comfortable. Mulder also made sure his daughter's tubes and wires weren't compromised.

After the little one recognized her mother's familiar scent, she relaxed. Made happy sounds. Moved closer to the warmth. Her mother made her happiest.

"Oh, baby girl." Scully held her close, even carefully supporting her neck between two splayed fingers. "You have two big siblings who would have loved you. More than you could know. And your sister? She would have hugged you and kissed you. Probably even help you get into mischief. How do I know? My big sister was the same with me."

A few feet away, Mulder captured the moment in pictures on his phone.

And he just watched Scully talk to their child.

For the first time in a long time, he could see that Doctor Dana Katherine Scully was at peace. Just like him.

And Mulder was thrilled for her.

It also happened that neither Scully nor the baby were due to be released from the hospital for a little longer.

But that was okay.

He knew that for Scully, being in the column of 'older mother' was an ever-present fact. So was her feeling her age. Recovery? Its own project.

Still… As Scully wore her favorite cardigan over her hospital down and even double-checked the teddy bear patch that was keeping their daughter's primary support tube in place… Mulder thought 'perfectly radiant' described Scully just then.

Perhaps he would avail her of a certain surprise.

The sound of Scully's voice pulled him into reality. "Fox? Everything alright on your end?"

Now or never, he thought.

"Yes. Everything is perfect." he told her. "I have a surprise for you."

The doctor looked at him skeptically. "But I haven't anything for you, babe."

Mulder's heart fluttered. Even though Scully wasn't the type to use pet names all the time, but she always made it count. And she was good at it.

"But you gave us both a kid to love." Mulder retrieved something from his pocket. "I found this for you awhile ago. Do you like it?"

He presented her with a beautiful but pleasantly simple braided silver band. One heart-shaped turquoise gem say in pride of place. To indicate December. Their daughter's birth month.

Long ago, Mulder and Scully had come to agreement that neither was the marrying type. But they had also known for even longer that they were it for each other. So they would (since they already had) love each other across lifetimes. Neither felt that marriage was necessary for them.

But Scully had also said, during the later months of her pregnancy, that she would not object to something not over-the-top to commemorate their daughter's birth.

Meaning that she answered Mulder from the bottom of her heart. "I absolutely love it. Thank you."

Pleased, Mulder slipped the ring on to Scully's left ring finger. It fit well.

"Dana, the madness is finally over. We're in a brave new world. That ring is a promise that you and I will spend the rest of our lives reveling in it." he motioned to their offspring. "Having adventures with her. A kind that are an ordinary normal."

Scully said in amusement, "Did you say 'an ordinary normal'? What beautiful words. I love them. And Fox?"

He responded, "Yes?"

"I am absolutely looking forward to having with you and our girl all that is an ordinary normal."

Before Mulder could say anything, the baby chose that moment to let out a sneeze bigger than she was. But her face crinkled up in fright. The surprise had scared her.

But Scully murmured to her, "Don't worry, princess. You're safe. Daddy and I are here to chase your ills out. I promise. You're okay."

The baby fell back asleep after a few moments more.

Scully eased herself into the comfortable recliner beside the bed. Mulder helped her with adjusting before pulling up his own chair. He could already see that Scully wanted to talk of a new topic.

"Our little gem has everything she needs right now. Except for a name." Scully lamented. "We can't keep calling her by a 'moniker of the day' now."

"You're not wrong." Mulder agreed. "We also can't keep saying 'Not yet' to Nurse Mae or Doctor Colfax when they ask if we've come up with a name."

So both parents tossed possible name ideas.

Mulder had an epiphany after awhile. "Dana… What about Margaret?"

The redhead's heart jumped. "For my mom?"

"Uh-huh. She was always really good to me."

"That's true." Scully reflected. "Maggie was fond of you. In her own way."

Mulder chose his next words carefully. "During your first abduction, Maggie picked me up off the floor—proverbially—and reminded me to keep searching. To not give up."

A smile fluttered across the redhead's features. "Just like how you once told me to never give up on a miracle. I didn't. And here are. I also love what Margaret means."

Mulder said sheepishly, "I didn't even think that far head. What does it mean?"

"Pearl. Heaven only knows that our girl is precious to us like one."

Just then, the baby stretched out in Scully's arms before smiling to herself as she curled back up.

"Well," remarked Mulder as he stroked the little one's cheeks. "It looks like we have our Margaret."

"We do." Scully agreed. "It suits her."

They skipped over the part about last names. Which one to use had been an immediate agreement.

"Since we're going down the road of family names now," Scully began. "What about Elizabeth? For a middle name?"

Elizabeth 'Teena' Mulder had been Mulder's mother. She'd left the world on her own terms because she had been very ill, but Mulder still had plenty of memories of her that were good. To use her name felt right.

"Perfect." Mulder declared. "But I also noticed that you said a middle name. Got something in mind for a second one?"

"Depends." admitted Scully. "Did Samantha have a name she ever really liked? Just in general?"

An old memory came back to Mulder. "Yeah. Her middle name was Ann, but I know for a fact that since she found it super boring, she'd planned to change it when she was older."

"To what?"

"Hope."

"Wow. This has worked out even more: Melissa was our Melissa Hope." Scully indicated baby Margaret. "How does Margaret Elizabeth Hope Mulder sound?"

"Absolutely perfect."

KNOCK KNOCK! Reality soon brought the family out of their bubble.

But Scully lit up.

Margaret's doctor, Colfax, had arrived. She was very kind.

But… She would now have test results with her. About the status of Margaret's heart.

She said cheerfully, "How is everyone right now?"

"I'm not feeling as run over," Scully quipped. "But we have finally decided on the baby's full name."

"Excellent. I saw in her file that her last name is Mulder." noted Colfax. "What is the rest of her name?"

Mulder provided her the answer. "Margaret Elizabeth Hope. They're family names."

"Wow. Very beautiful."

Colfax then pointed to her name on her lab coat, stitched just above the breast pocket.

Mulder and Scully found it to read 'H. COLFAX, P.E.D.' in dark blue thread.

Colfax told them in amusement, "The h stands for Hope."

"What?" Mulder and Scully bleated, taken aback.

"It's true. My folks named me Hope when I came into the world."

She politely indicated the little one.

"Your girl is darling. And… Forgive me for being so on the nose, but I come bearing some hope for Margaret."

"Oh?" Mulder and Scully spoke in a second unintentional tandem as they sat up straighter.

"Mhm." Colfax closed her file folder after double-checking the print on her papers. "I am happy to report that the tests to check her heart for abnormalities all came back negative. Margaret Elizabeth Hope Mulder has one fully-functioning, very healthy heart."

She paused to watch her patient's parents.

Had Mulder and Scully not been sitting down already, their legs would have given out.

Each had been ready to learn how to care for Margaret, in regard to any abnormalities. They had been warned that those would probably arise because of Scully's older age. But they would have tackled any heart-related obstacles.

Doctor Colfax's words were, understandably, an immense relief.

Mulder looked to Scully. Kissed her forehead.

She smiled in response but hugged Margaret a little longer. Just last week, she had cried for awhile in worry. Her body alone had been through a lot in the past twenty-five years. The idea of an unforeseen complication had frightened her.

Doctor Colfax's good news was taking her a touch longer to process.

Which left Mulder to address Colfax. "Thank you for this update. Truly. Is there anything we should know about the status of Margaret's need for a feeding tube?"

"I'm afraid not." replied Colfax. "But I want to reiterate what I've mentioned before."

Scully finally spoke. "You said that Margaret's feeding tube will be in place for the next year, to start with. But you want to have a reassessment at six months."

Colfax nodded. "Yes. Doctor Scully, do you have any medical objections to this plan?"

Scully suddenly felt very thankful that Margaret had not been born at any hospital she was associated with. Talks of hers or Margaret's care would not have gone so smoothly.

"I don't have any objections to that proposition." Scully said. "And pediatrics is well outside my wheelhouse."

Mulder chimed in, "But we trust you."

Colfax's feelings of humility fast turned to puzzlement when voiced a new thought. "How are you two so calm? Were you Feds in another life?"

Mulder didn't miss a beat. "Yes. It's a real 'You wouldn't believe it, even if we told you' scenario."

Beside him Scully added, "The two of us have seen just about every shade of 'totally absurd' there is. Margaret is literally our miracle. We're overjoyed that she's here with us. We will do anything for her."

"That's beautiful."

Colfax cleared her throat as she got back on track as she glanced at a nearby wall clock.

"For now, I'll send Margaret's nurse over. She can help with name records. And feeding the baby. I see it's almost time."

"Thank you, doctor." Scully told her sincerely. "We will be right here."

"Very well." Colfax gave a nod of understanding. "Nurse Mae will be along soon."

Exiting, Colfax conducted herself towards the nurse station.

Mulder and Scully continued to speak quietly with each other. To Margaret. Back in their happy bubble.

After a few moments, however…

Scully felt now a tremendous feeling of peace. It made her shudder. Physically.

Mulder tore his gaze from Margaret to look to Scully.

"Hey." he said gently to her. "What's up?"

Scully smiled at him. "I know we lost William that night, but just now, I had an overwhelming sense of peace… As if…"

Mulder picked up the torch. "As if our son is telling us that it'll all be okay."

"Mhm. And that he's watching over us, with all of our fallen loved ones. We have seen stranger things. But…"

"It's just nice to hold on to a thought so ordinarily wonderful."

"Exactly, Fox."

He smiled: his other half was the only one who could get away with calling him by his first name. But to hear it from Scully felt very nice.

"I also feel it, Dana." he told her. "And the feeling is hope. For the future. For us. For our daughter. What do you think about that?"

Scully kissed him. "I think you're completely right. And that I would do it all again. Because it led to today."

Mulder didn't hesitate in reciprocating the affection. "I would do all over again for the same reason, too."

Scully gave Mulder her most heartfelt smile yet. "I love you."

He hugged her. "I love you, too."

Out in the hallway…

The same intern who had helped Mulder and Margaret on their walk earlier was watching the family bond. He just operated covertly.

Witnessing the scene was rewarding. In all aspects.

Remembering his place, the intern ambled on his way, making hellos and acknowledgements to anyone that looked at him. No need to throw the rhythm.

But instead of heading to a place where he could be helpful, he made his way down a side staircase. All the way to the hospital's parking garage. He had a motorbike waiting.

Just before mounting the transportation unit, he looked to his reflection in the nearby elevator doors.

Every other person saw a young hospital intern. Tall, nondescript. Run-of-the-mill.

But whom did the intern see?

Someone tall, but with fair skin, dark hair and dark eyes, dressed for a journey.

He saw his truest self. William Scully III.

Although it was risking everything, he'd gone to see his family.

Having tabs on them after that night by the river had been worth it.

For now his family had the one thing they deserved most.

Hope.

done