A/N: Ok, I am back! Sorry it took so long but school has been taking it's toll on me. Regardless, I am back. There are some references in this story to my other story HEAT but you don't really have to read it in order for this one to make sense. Please read and review. And thanks to all of my reviewers so far! There really helpful and inspirational.

Mandy

"Do we have to do this?" Mulder's voice whined like a small child's.

"Mulder, they're my family. We have to tell them sooner or later and I'm sure Bill will be perfectly fine."

Despite his protests, Scully had dragged him and William out to her mother's house for a family dinner. Mulder hadn't seen Bill in years but he knew the hatred would still be there especially since he was livid when he found out that Mulder had become a fugitive and dragged Scully off. He couldn't blame him, he supposed. Mulder wasn't sure there was anyway to get out of this one.

As the door swung open, Mulder held his breath. Maggie's eyes brightened as she eyed her daughter.

"Dana, Fox, I'm glad you made it." She hugged the two of them tightly before she took her grandson from them and trailed in parading William to all the family and friends. Mulder smiled half-heartedly at Scully as he took her coat.

As Scully went around introducing Mulder, he kept his eyes away from Bill who seemed to ignoring him which was, to Mulder's great relief. Maggie was the most jubilant hostess ever. She regaled the group with stories of how Dana met Mulder at work and how she had secretly rooted for them all these years. Even as she complimented Mulder, Bill remained quiet but at a great cost to him as his eyes betrayed.

Scully fed William as her uncle spoke up, "So, with a history such as that, and a son; when in god's earth is the wedding!" Her eyes sparkled slightly as she looked up and pulled up a chain from underneath her blouse that revealed not only her small cross but a bright and shiny gold ring.

Maggie cried out with glee, "Is it true!" Her eyes traveled to Mulder who very uncomfortably nodded.

The whole group broke out in chatter about dates and traditions and other such nonsense as Mulder glanced back at Scully who smiled back. Even at this moment Bill seemed to bite his tongue as he nodded at his sister curtly.

The small dinner party had almost come to an end with no problems but it would have been too good to be true. As poor William was passed around Scully followed slightly behind making sure he didn't fuss too much. Mulder was left to fend for himself. As luck would have it, he found his way right in Bill's way.

"So Mr. Mulder, I suppose I owe some sort of congratulations." His words were sharp and quip.

"Uh, thanks." Mulder replied. His eyes shifted around.

"I never thought she'd really stay; always hoped she come to her sense that you were no good but then she tied herself down to you with her pregnancy. And then I thought maybe she would still leave you after you found yourself a wanted man; I heard all about that at the base myself. But still she stayed. I know Dana doesn't always make the right choices but…"

"HOW DARE YOU BILL!" Scully's voice rang out with fury. Her face flushed deep crimson as she stood there shell shocked.

"I knew you disliked him but still I hoped you respected me more than that! You've never liked anyone I've ever brought home." She was near tears and Mulder couldn't find any words to pull her away. The moments went by so fast no one had even moved yet.

Bill was anything but taken by her words. It was as if this fight had been going on for years. Before anyone else could step in Bill blurted out, "That's anything but true, Dana! I liked that guy you brought home several years back and you worked with him, didn't you?"

Scully's eyes grew wide and the color of her face drained quickly leaving her pale. Not one word could escape her lips before he added quickly, "His name was John, wasn't it?"

As though one blow to her was not enough, Bill had done the ultimate sibling backstab. Mulder felt the blow hard as the name John filled him with coldness. Had he just said that to upset him? Could it be true? He knew it had to be from the pallor of Scully's face.

As mothers usually do, Maggie jumped in as quickly as she could but it was too late to undo the damage. Her presence at least kept them silent as Scully blinked back the tears.

"That's enough! Bill, I'd like to see you in the kitchen." Her voice grew quite stern and he was ushered into the kitchen leaving Scully livid and embarrassed. She quickly regained enough composure to grab her coat and dash out the door leaving Mulder standing there staring at all of her relatives and friends.

"Um… please to meet you all." His words came out mumbled as he took William from the arms of Scully's cousin and left quickly. As he rounded the car, he found Scully sitting in the passenger seat staring forward. The silence was thick and languid as he buckled William in and then started the car. She said nothing and she never moved her stare from the road ahead. In fact she said nothing as she walked up the walkway and went straight to the bedroom. Mulder dressed William in his pajamas and put him to bed before heading towards the bedroom. As he came in, he found her already sleeping or at least feigning it.

Feeling completely at a loss for words, Mulder quietly left the apartment and went up the street to the closest bar he could find. He sulked as he drained his emptiness in several shots of vodka. There was no mistake as to what Bill had been mentioning. He saw it in her face. He had no right to be angry but still he had taken the blow pretty badly. Regardless of what had happened, he had been "dead". A reason that would justify anything she had done but he couldn't think about that right now. Not yet, at least.

"You okay?"

Pulled from his thoughts, he looked up at the petite brunette bartender as she offered him a somewhat sincere smile.

"I've been better." He managed to mumble as she wiped down another bottle.

"Haven't we all?" She offered back.

Mulder nodded as she put the bottle down, "They say the best medicine is an extra ear; besides bartenders are nosy as hell."

Mulder smirked as he nodded slowly, "I suppose you can't worsen my situation."

She smiled sweetly, "You don't even have to start. Let me guess. Woman troubles."

He nodded drunkenly as he looked down at his shot glass, "That obvious?"

She smirked and nodded quickly.

Shaking his head slowly he continued, "Bill was right," Mulder muffled a laugh slightly as he drained his shot glass, "I've been so selfish. She never wanted this."

She kept quiet as he poured out over his glass, "But he's right, you know. I was gone for all that time and she moved on but I came back and she felt obligated. I should have known! She's been hiding her pregnancy from me for the past three months. I've tied her down to a life she despises. I've taken everything from her." A choked sob grew in his throat as he came to this realization; all this time, she's felt she owed him this love. She was with John when he was "dead" and still she came back to him when he was returned. Did she really believe her debt was that much? No, of course not, Mulder mused. She stayed because of William. He tied her down. That was it.

Feeling his heart break, Mulder paid his tab and stumbled out into the night ready to face his demons.

TBC...