"I can't handle this anymore, Mulder. I have to go for a run."
"Honey, I'm sure they'll call it soon. They're waiting on the results."
"They've been waiting on them for days, Mulder. I… I need to get out of here, clear my head."
"Okay..."
She ran until her chest burned and her eyes watered, imagining their daughter growing up in the current world they were living in. She stopped, bending and trying to catch her breath as she sniffed back tears and shook her head. Turning up the music, unable to listen to any news, she began to run again.
Once more around the path she normally took, she turned up the driveway, her legs aching, but the endorphins kicking in and making her feel better than she had in days. She opened the gate and shut it behind her, closing her eyes as she paced, cooling down as her breath slowed to normal.
Bang bang bang
Startled, she turned around and saw Mulder on the porch, banging a pot. Faith stood beside him, shaking her little tambourine, grinning happily.
Pulling her headphones from her ears, she walked closer to them, shaking her head, not daring to believe it.
"Whooooo!" Mulder yelled, a huge smile on his face as he hit the pot.
"What? Mulder… please. What?"
"They called Pennsylvania. 273."
"Oh, God," she cried, a hand on her chest as tears filled her eyes.
"They did it. She's the next VP." He grinned and she laughed through her tears.
She stepped close enough to scoop Faith up and spun her around in the grass as they both laughed, the tambourine shaking melodically.
"VP, VP, VP!" Scully shouted and Faith mimicked her, both of them shouting it as Mulder beat out the rhythm on the pot with a wooden spoon.
Raising her head, she pulled Faith's head to her chest, tears streaming down her face, hope and happiness filling her heart in a way she had not felt in four years. She smiled at Mulder as he put his arms around them and he grinned.
"It's going to be better now," he said quietly and she nodded, as he kissed her forehead.
"VP, VP, VP!" Faith shouted, lifting her head and looking at them. Mulder laughed and began to jump, holding them close.
"VP, VP, VP!" They all shouted, jumping in their little huddle, the tambourine shaking out a happy tune, as a new future shined as brightly as the sun.