Chapter 3

It was a lovely morning and Dana sat in a chair on the porch by Carolyn, a small table between them on which their coffee cups rested. Carolyn was unusually quiet, and her coffee remained untouched. Scully cleared her throat and Carolyn started and then gave her a sheepish smile.

"Dana, I'm sorry. You must think me a poor hostess."

"No, not at all. Just a friend who has something on her mind."

Carolyn nodded and finally sipped her coffee for a few moments before setting it down.

"Dana, can I confide in you?"

"Anytime."

"It's Daniel. Something's wrong with him but I don't know what it is. He won't talk to me."

"Men!" Scully huffed, and Carolyn laughed.

"Yeah, men!"

"Maybe he just has to work through something."

"Well, that's probably true. It's just that I'm so used to sharing things, sharing everything with him. But since he's become human, I can't."

"What does that mean?" Scully's brow wrinkled in puzzlement.

"We could connect on more levels when he was a spirit…with a lot less work. Now he has to talk and verbally share his thoughts and feelings and he seems to be having trouble doing that."

"Oh, that's hard."

"Yeah, he's keeping things to himself."

Scully sighed, understanding that need all too well. "Maybe he's a different man when he is human than he was as a ghost?"

Carolyn gave her a frightened look. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"I don't understand, why?"

"What if he's so different that I don't know how to be with him, so different that he doesn't know how to be with me?"

Scully smiled and took Carolyn's hand. "You two have the most incredible love that I have ever seen. I think you both need time to adjust to the changes that this will bring, and he may be a different man in his actions, but not fundamentally. Fundamentally you know who he is."

"And who would that be?"

"The man you fell in love with."

Carolyn laughed, giving her friend a grateful look.

"You're right of course."

"And we all thought this would be easy for him. Maybe it's not. Maybe being a mere mortal has a downside that we never thought of."

"I hadn't thought of it that way." Carolyn sighed. "But you could be right. So, patience?"

"I think so, don't you?' Scully gave her friend a squeeze and then retrieved her coffee cup.

"Yes, I just have to remind myself and give him some space." She looked at her friend. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. What are your plans for the day? I have a free day and would like to spend it with someone other than Mulder."

"Well, since Daniel has been spending copious amounts of time by himself I have time as well."

"Then, lunch later? Maybe shopping?"

"That would be great, but let's finish enjoying our morning first."

Scully nodded, and the two women set to the task of finishing their coffee.

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The local bar was just starting to get busy as Mulder and the Captain sat at a table, perusing the menu.

"The food's not bad for a small-town bar. Scully likes the soup best, they make it fresh every day." He looked across the table to the Captain who was staring out the window. "Danny, pick something to eat or I'll pick something for you."

"You've become quite the mother hen, haven't you?" He scowled at the other man.

"Can't help it, Scully's taught me well."

"Very well, I'll have the…fish sandwich."

"I'm having a big, juicy pub burger. And I'll get us a round of beer. Do you have a preference?"

"Hardly. I've barely been out of the house since…"

"Got it. This is a good start then."

The waitress came by and Mulder placed the order as she left their complimentary popcorn. Mulder studied the Captain who scowled at him from across the table.

"Why so cranky, Danny. Relax. We're out alone, the wives are at home and we can talk and relax. It's all good."

"It's not that simple."

"Why not? It can be. You have to at least start."

"Start what?"

"Living. It seems to me you've forgotten how to do that. Which means you have to learn it again."

"And you're going to teach me that?" The Captain gave him a bemused smile.

"It won't be easy, but yeah. I'm going to drag you back kicking and screaming to the land of the living."

"You sound determined."

"I am. I've been in a bad place when I couldn't believe in anything or anyone. I'm going to get you through this."

Daniel chuckled as the beer arrived and he took a long draught. "You almost make me believe I will get through this."

"Do you want to?"

"Of course." He took another sip of the beer. "I remember this, the taste, and texture of beer." He made a face. "Though this is a poor excuse for a beer."

"What do you like? Dark, or red? I know of a pub that has a better selection in a nearby town. We can go there."

"You'd like me to go with you?"

"Why not? We're friends, we can use time away from the women, and Scully can't go now. At least not for the beer."

"Ahh, yes. That small detail."

Mulder tried to hide the grin that spread across his face and looked down at the table.

"Fox, there's no need to hide your joy."

Mulder couldn't help himself, he laughed, actually giggled, and bit his lip.

Daniel chuckled too and reached across the table and gave Mulder's arm a quick squeeze. "Congratulations again. How do you feel about it?"

"I don't know. There's been so much to take in the last couple of weeks, that this small detail hasn't set in yet. But, I'm happy and so is Scully." He shrugged. "Having William back was more than we could hope for, but now we're together again as a family, and have been blessed with our youth, and to add another child is incredible…"

"I'm happy for you."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Well, because of that weird time paradox you're now Candy and Jonathan's biological father too. That's great but has to feel kind of strange."

"I'm elated, but my mind has not completely wrapped around the idea. My love for them hasn't changed one iota though. But the fact that I left Carolyn alone to raise them…"

"Time travel is a bitch, isn't it?"

The Captain made a disgruntled noise.

"Has it occurred to you that you and Carolyn have a do over as well? You're both young and alive. You can live a normal life and start a family of your own."

Daniel looked up from his beer and over at Mulder and grimaced.

"Danny what? That's bad? How can that possibly be bad?"

"You don't understand."

"You're right, I don't understand. Tell me."

The Captain chugged his beer and wiped his mouth, and the waitress chose that moment to bring their food to the table. After she left Mulder stared at the Captain.

"Danny? Talk."

"I don't want to. Is that what is expected of men in this era? To talk about their feelings?" His voice rose ever so slightly in anger.

"Yeah, welcome to the modern world."

"But a man doesn't talk, he has to be strong."

"And that doesn't involve sharing your feelings with those you love?" Mulder snorted. "You sound like Scully."

"She doesn't talk?" The Captain raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say that it took her a while." He dug into his hamburger and after swallowing continued the conversation. "I think you must be that part of the equation between you and Carolyn. But even with that, I still don't get it. You two have been talking for years."

"But not like this," the Captain took a bite of his food and then pushed the plate away.

"Like what? One human to another?" Mulder took another large bite of his burger, clearly enjoying it. "Better get used to it."

"I have no choice, do I?"

"None. So, get over your stiff upper lip and start talking to your wife, or at least me."

"You in no way resemble her," Daniel rumbled.

"I think that's a good thing, we would all be rather disturbed by that." He finished the burger and smacked his lips in appreciation. "Really good. You should have finished your lunch."

"Are you always so…chatty?" The Captain scowled at his friend.

"You hadn't noticed?" Mulder laughed. "I think Scully intentionally sends me on errands sometimes just so she can have some peace and quiet."

Daniel couldn't help himself, he laughed at his friend.

"That's better." He grinned at the Captain. "Lunch is my treat, but I need you to go home and do something."

"What's that?"

"Talk to Carolyn. At least start. Tell her your fears, she'll understand. She's a very compassionate woman."

"Yes, she is, she is remarkable."

"You'll start with that?"

"Yes, I will."

Mulder nodded. "Good, really good."

"I'm glad you approve," the Captain said, amusement in his voice.

"But don't get too comfortable," Mulder warned with a devilish grin.

"Fox?"

"I'm picking you up tomorrow and we're going out for a man's day."

"I beg your pardon, what?" Daniel blinked at his friend in confusion.

"You know, two guys hanging out, doing guy things…"

"With you?"

"I'll try not to resent that," Mulder said in an offended voice.

Daniel studied his friend, quietly wondering what kind of a man's day out that the two of them could possibly have together?

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The Captain arrived home late afternoon and walked up to the porch where he sat down, preparing to talk to Carolyn. It should be the most natural thing in the world, but here he was, learning to talk to his wife all over again.

What in the hell is wrong with me?

He was sitting there a half an hour later when she came out to him. He heard the door open and he could sense her hesitation, but after a few moments she cautiously approached and sat down beside him. He offered her a weak smile.

"Hi," she said.

"Hello, Carolyn."

"You've been gone all day."

"I was talking to Fox."

"You must have had a lot to talk about," she tried not to let the hurt tone creep into her voice, but he noticed.

"Well, as much as I ever talk to anyone."

"But Daniel, you've always talked to me," she said, and he saw the hurt in her eyes.

He swallowed, unsure of how to answer her. "I know," he said at last, "and I am truly sorry if my actions of late have caused you pain, it's only that…"

"I think I get it. You're having trouble with being human again."

He nodded.

"I don't understand, I thought this is what you wanted. To be human, for us to have a life together…"

"It is, oh, Carolyn, don't for a moment believe that I don't want this, but I didn't think learning to live again would be this…difficult….

"But why is it difficult? I mean you managed it, rather successfully, I may add, twice when you were time travelling."

"Well, the first time was hardly my fault if you recall," he studied her with fond eyes, "it seems a young woman who was kind enough to take care of me also took advantage of me while I was not myself. I was there and then back in the present and faced with a new problem."

"But the second time?"

"I was on a mission to save Jonathan, and even with that, had you not agreed to our…tryst…I do not think I could have completed what was…necessary. I still did not have any time to adjust to…this," he gestured to his now human body.

Carolyn moved over so that there was no space between them, so that the sides of their bodies were touching, and although he tensed up, he didn't move away.

"Do you still love me?" she asked, and he couldn't stand that he had put the doubt in her voice and in her eyes.

"How could you doubt that? After all we've been through together?" He said softly.

"This last week hasn't been very convincing, but I guess I never stopped to consider that this could be difficult, that it would be hard for you to go back to something you've been away from for so long." She sighed and placed her hand on his arm. "You're asking for time?"

"Yes, my dear. Please allow me that."

"Okay."

"I will try….to talk to you more often. I did not realize how much I relied on our spiritual communication until it was gone."

"And now you're a mere mortal."

"Fox told me that as well." He chuckled.

"All right, then I will try to give you some space and time as well. But you have to agree to something."

"What?" Daniel's brow wrinkled in concern.

"This," she said and leaned over and kissed him. A sweet, chaste meeting of the lips that was filled with love and promise.

"Ahh, that much I am capable of at this point. As I can do this as well," he said and opened up his arms to her and pulled her close.

"Thank God, Daniel. I've missed you so much."

"My apologies, my love. I will find my way back to you, but I need…"

"…time, yeah I know." She smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss before pulling away from him.

He looked at her in curiosity.

"I'm making dinner and need to get back to it."

"You are?" he tried to mask his concern as they both knew he was the better cook.

"You can wipe that look right off your face, mister, as I'm making the stew that we both like so much."

He laughed and then remembered something.

"My dear, I think I will be gone for the day tomorrow?"

"Oh? Doing what?"

"I am not exactly sure. When Fox dropped me off he told me that we were going to have a 'man's day" out tomorrow. Whatever that means," he rubbed his chin, still puzzling the matter.

"Fox is taking you out for this?" Carolyn laughed. "Somehow I don't think I have anything to worry about…."