Last Wish

Part 17

By

Trycee

Time-Line: Alternative Universe. Season 10 After Home Again and before My Struggle II.

Disclaimer: This is written for fun, not profit.

10 p.m, Unremarkable House, Somewhere in Virginia:

Mulder sat on the porch as the mosquitoes circled around him. He checked his phone for the sixth time as he impatiently waited for her. She hadn't answered his calls and he was nervous. Mulder sipped on his glass of bourbon. He finally relaxed when he saw her headlights. She parked and walked up the steps. She was exhausted and he could see the anguish on her face. Mulder stood up and grabbed Scully's hand, leading her to his chair. He sat back down and leaned Scully down into his lap. She leaned down into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, laying her head against his ear, breathing softly as his hands worked up and down her back, kneading it. Mulder listened to her whimpers near his ear. He pulled Scully back and pressed his lips to hers. He searched her eyes, seeing the same turmoil mirroring back to him, a gut-wrenching pain that only could be understood by them alone.

Scully sighed and lay her chin on his shoulder, listening to their hearts beating as one. "I need you, Mulder," she said, turning to lay her head on his shoulder. "Please, Mulder can I move back home."

Mulder was surprised. "Are you sure, Scully?", he asked carefully.

She nodded her head, sitting up. "I realized this past month with William that you were always with me during that. You were my shoulder to lean on. I don't want to let that go."

Mulder pressed his head to her chest, gripping her tightly. She lifted his chin and looked into his eyes. "We love each other, Mulder. We do."

"Yes, we do," he agreed. "That's what William saw, that we truly love each other."

"I want to come home. I want to be able to do this with you and talk about him."

"Your home," he sighed in relief. "That's what I wanted," he said, closing his eyes and returning his head to her chest.

Scully smoothed her hand down his back, cradling him. So many times she had thought she could live without him but she knew she never could. He was more than her lover and best friend, he was apart of her skin. Scully knew just as he did that they were in this together.

They're phones buzzed and they looked at each other. Scully pulled out her phone as Mulder slipped his out of his pocket. They looked at the screen and smiled. William had taken a Selfie of himself standing next to the Liberty Burger logo. He also sent them a newer photo of a greasy burger, with the words, "This is what a burger looks like", underneath. Scully grinned and responded. "Looks good. I miss you."

William texted her a sad face emoji with the words I miss you too. Scully sighed and looked at Mulder.

"I know," he added. "We'll have text messages from him. We can face-time him, as soon as I figure out how to do it."

Scully shook her head.

"The point is," he said, embarrassed. "He's still in our lives. He might not be physically here but he is in our lives."

"I know," she huffed. "Like an open adoption where the adopted parents let us communicate with our son."

"Yeah," Mulder added. "Come on, the temperature is dropping. Did you eat?"

"You took cooking classes while I was gone?", she said, surprised.

"No," he said. "I still make soup and operate a microwave," he said, as she stood up off his lap.

"Soup and a sandwich sounds good," she said, as Mulder opened the front door, leading her into the living room.

Mulder looked at Scully curiously. "I could order some soup and sandwiches...the fridge is a little sparse."

"Ah," Scully smirked.

Mulder grinned as he switched on a lamp. Scully looked horrified as she looked around at the clutter and papered walls and then back at Mulder. He threw up his hands. "I know. I know. I'll start cleaning up tomorrow. I promise," he said, crossing his heart.

"Okay," she sighed heavily, looking around.

Mulder pulled her over to the couch and sat down next to her. He wrapped Scully in his arms. "We can talk about things if you want," Mulder added.

Scully looked at Mulder's empty glass. "Got any more of that bourbon? It's going to be a long night."

3 A. M. Jackson, Wyoming:

William could feel their presence before he could open his eyes. A enormous bright light lit up his entire room beaming into his windows. William, opened his eyes as as he realized what was happening. He was horrified as creatures walked around his bed on all sides. He sat up but a white beam shot out at his chest, forcing him back down, paralyzing him from the neck down in his bed. William lay frozen struggling to escape as several 4 ft tall creatures surrounded him. William could hear them speaking in his head as they examined him, poking and prodding with their long four fingered digits. Incapacitated, he attempted to move his head but could only see the creatures as they came into his sight. He was petrified as he fought to regain control of his body. Suddenly, a large deep black inhuman eyeball appeared in his face, larger than anything he had ever seen, probing the depths of his soul. William attempted to scream but the sound was cut off deep in his throat as the taller alien stepped back and he could see that it was a larger six foot tall alien standing over him. William begged them to let him go but they were emotionless and mechanical in nature.

William could hear them in his mind discussing the changes in his blood. The taller Alien was speaking to the smaller creatures, telling them how they would have to try again until they destroyed him. William attempted to scream, as they discussed taking him and harvesting his organs. Williams fear turned to a rage and suddenly he broke through the beam that was paralyzing him and stood up suddenly much to the surprise of the beings, who stepped away from him. William glared at them and held out his hand. "Get out of here!", he screamed so loudly the walls began to shake.

The smaller beings vanished without a trace but the larger remained defiant. William stood toe to toe with the being whose black frightening eyes began to swirl like a whirlwind in its orbs. William reached out his hand again and a bolt of energy blinded him from the stronger being. William covered his eyes and struggled to see the larger being as it dissolved.

Mr. Van DeKamp raced up the stairs just as the white light faded. "Was that an earthquake? What's happening son? Why were you screaming about?"

William was standing in the middle of his bedroom floor unmoving, his eyes unfocused. Mr. Van DeKamp turned on the light and walked up to him, snapping his fingers in front of his face. "Will?"

Standing in the doorway, Mrs. Van DeKamp tried to catch her breath as she clasped her robe shut. "What's happening?"

William glanced at his parents but said nothing. He turned and crawled back into his bed, covering himself up. The Van DeKamps looked at each other and then glanced back one last time before turning off the light and stepping out into the hall. "What was that?"

"Sleep walking maybe?", Mr. Van DeKamp answered. "I don't know. He's still not talking to us."

"He'll get adjusted to life back at home. It's just a matter of time."

Unremarkable House, Somewhere in Virginia:

Scully awoke suddenly, looking towards the bedroom window, feeling as if she were being watched. She shivered as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she was able to distinguish furniture in her old bedroom. She pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, covering her naked body. She felt uneasy and reached out, shaking Mulder awake.

"Hmm?", he yawned, as he focused on her and moved in closer, kissing her neck.

Scully could feel Mulder's body heat warming her as he nibbled on her ear and kissed her jawline. She felt safe as they kissed and touched. After they had made love again, Mulder spooned up to her, draping her in his warmth and comfort. She finally closed her eyes but the feeling that something was wrong stayed with her.

One week later, Jackson, Wyoming:

First Baptist Church was a mid-sized church where the seats were often pushed into the wall like a high school gym, making way for children's events or church suppers cooked and prepared by the entire congregation. The Van DeKamps sat in Pastor Dennison's office, a small stiff office with a wall of books and stain glass windows with depictions from scenes from the Bible . The bible was open in there laps as they took counsel from their minister.

"He didn't want to even come to his welcome home party," Mr. Van DeKamp spoke.

"Well, he came," Pastor Dennison answered. "That's all that seems to matter."

"This is so unlike him. He's not eating. He's depressed, I think."

Pastor Dennison, a portly man listened behind his large glossy brown desk. He was surrounded by degrees that hung on his wall and photos of his large extended family and grandkids. He nodded as he continued to listen.

"He didn't want to return home with us," Mrs. Van DeKamp said, grabbing a tissue from her purse to dab at her eyes. "I know God sent us there for a miracle."

"Praise God," Pastor Dennison added.

"He delivered William into the hands of his biological mother to save him."

"Praise the Lord," the Pastor continued.

"But, I'm his mother!," she cried. "I changed his diapers, I bathed him, I sang him to sleep, I cooked countless meals for him. I held him when he cried. That was me!", she said, as her husband held her hand to comfort her. "Not her. I did that."

Pastor Dennison sat back and shook his head. "The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. He comes to steal your joy and rob you of the blessing of his healing of your son. But God is good, Sister Van DeKamp. God is good. He brought you back with your son."

"Yes, he did," she agreed.

"And God gave you the wisdom to consult with the lawyer as well. God gave that boy to you and there is nothing the devil can do to tear him away from you."

The Van DeKamps turned to look at each other and smiled. Mr. Van DeKamp turned back to the Reverend. "We waited years for a child and had almost given up when William was given to us. He is our miracle. A true blessing."

"And a wonderful asset to the community," Pastor Dennison added. "All you can do is continue to pray for the boy and give him space. Let God work on his heart to see that his hand was on him from the moment he was given to you. God will teach him to appreciate you, his parents. I guarantee you, he will understand in time. But as we all know, teenagers aren't the most gracious creatures," he chuckled.

"No they aren't," Mr. Van DeKamp sighed.

Pastor Dennison looked straight at them. "He was raised in this church. He knows that the most important commandment that God has ordained was to honor thy mother and father. That was grilled into that boy in Sunday School and in church, so I know he knows it."

Mrs. Van DeKamp nodded.

"His attachment to them will soon fade. This is just new. He will change back to the happy-go-lucky kid we knew before he got sick. Let's just continue to thank the lord for his miracle and grace and give him a little more time."

Washington D.C:

Scully slid out of bed and toed her way to the window. She looked down at the glaring city lights from the height of her high rise luxury apartment. She looked off towards the moon, studying the bright white globe that seemed to be so large in the sky. She looked back to see Mulder sleeping, his soft rhythmic snores was familiar and comforting. Scully turned back to the window. She couldn't sleep, again. She hadn't slept through the night since William left.

It was disheartening, seeing their son, loving their son, saving their sons life just to lose him again. It was like her mind couldn't shut off. At night she saw every smile, every breath that she had observed of William within the last month. Her mind cataloged her every mistake which often lead to horrifying nightmares of burying William. She had fitful dreams and woke in cold sweats, much to Mulder's dismay. Scully tried sleeping pills and just old fashioned wearing herself out with physical exertion but nothing worked, nothing seem to change.

Scully jumped when two arms encircled her. Mulder kissed the top of her ear as he pressed his lips to her hairline. "Can't sleep, again?", he whispered.

"Yeah," she said, sadly. "I keep trying but I just can't."

"Bad dream about William again?"

"Not this time."

Mulder dropped his hands to the side and walked up to the window, turning around to face her. "Got anything good to eat?"

She shook her head. "I don't live here anymore, remember...", she smirked.

"No, but we're crashing here tonight, Scully. We could use a good midnight snack," he said, heading for her living room, switching on the lamp. She followed behind him and watched as he threw open her fridge door and searched through the meager offerings for something to eat.

"I haven't shopped lately," she said, shyly.

Mulder glanced at her and shook his head. "Looks like fridge at the house."

"Which reminds me, we need to go shopping. I'm planning on having plenty of home meals," she said, with her eyebrow raised.

Mulder ignoring her flirting, looked concerned. "Are you keeping this place for awhile, Scully?"

"Until the lease is up, Mulder. But, I don't live here anymore. Well just come here when it's too late to go home, okay?"

Mulder cocked his head to the side, looking at Scully. He had picked up on something in her tone and so he abandoned his search for food and walked up to her. "What do you need, Scully?"

She glanced down and then looked up to him. "Can we sit on the couch and maybe watch a movie?"

He gripped her elbow and bent down and kissed her lips. "Yeah. Go get a blanket and I'll see what I can find to eat."

"There's popcorn," she said, pointing to the cabinets.

Mulder opened a cabinet door. It was nearly empty except a few boxes. He grinned to himself. "At least you have this."

She looked at him surprised. "Well, I worked alot. Alot. Alot."

"Well, you through yourself into working and I..."

"Covered our house in photos and scraps of paper..."

Mulder smirked. "Yeah..."

Scully smiled at him. "Hurry up with the popcorn, okay."

He turned from her, grabbing the popcorn bag and placing it in the microwave. He pushed the button and then retrieved a bowl. Scully returned with a blanket and sat on the sofa, scrolling Netflix until she found a movie she wanted to see. Mulder returned to her side and scooted up to her, covering them up with the blanket. His long arms stretched for the coffee table and he sat back with the bowl of popcorn in his hand. Scully picked at a few kernels and pretended to watch the screen. Mulder leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Your not watching this...", he said.

She sighed and then switched off Netflix. She turned towards Mulder, his hand squeezing her arm. Mulder turned her chin towards him. "So it is about William, isn't it?", he asked.

"Of course, it is," she added. "What can we do, Mulder? William hasn't texted us or returned our phone calls in a week. Did they take his phone away from him? Is he upset with us? Should we fly there? I mean, are we being shut out? What's happening?"

"We can contact Skinner."

"And then what?", she asked, frustrated.

"I could file for custody. Perhaps Skinner's contacts could cut through the red tape."

"Perhaps..."

"We'll see what we can do in the morning. But, for right now, Scully, you need to sleep."

"I try but I can't stop my mind from replaying every moment from the moment I saw him laying there in that hospital bed. Or from the moment I gave him up as a baby."

"A Mother's Curse," Mulder sighed.

Scully stared at the blue screen of the tv. "It's more like a Mother's Nightmare. I feel him. I am connected to him but I can't do anything right now. I swear I think he's depressed right now," she said, turning back to Mulder, realizing that William's depression might be hereditary.

Mulder sighed, realizing the same thing.

"I just want answers, that's all," Scully said. "I could only imagine what his life was like before. I can't go back to that."

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