A/N: I love Bill... then I hate him. Kind of like that Celine Dion/ Luciano Pavarotti song. Last chapter!

Despite the snow on the ground and the fun the kids were having making forts in the basement, mom suggested that we all go to a movie. The theatre is not far from her house, so she figured a short car ride would be okay. We all knew better than to argue with her, so after half an hour spent bundling and strapping in each kid, we were ready to go. We ended up having to take two cars. When I suggested that Mulder sit in the front with me, he looked over at Dana like he wasn't quite sure what to do. She just smirked and climbed into the back seat of the mini-van. He shot a glare in her direction, then buckled himself into the passenger's seat.

We drove in silence to the theatre, and I could tell he was uncomfortable. I had to give him props for not cowering in the corner, or just refusing to come with Dana at all. I might not like him, but at least I could respect parts of his character. Especially when he caught mom when she slipped on the ice in the parking lot. I guess chivalry is only mostly dead.

I pretended not to notice that he was holding Dana's hand as we stood in line for tickets. She was smiling and when he leaned down to whisper something to her, she wacked him on the arm. He just laughed and she rolled her eyes. I pretended to be more interested in helping Tara with Matthew than I was with watching them. A fascinating mechanism mom had once called them. I'm still not sure if that was a compliment, or her way of saying that she didn't get them either.

We all bought tickets and went into the theatre. Charlie's kids begged for concessions and after much debate, we all got in line. It was moving rather slow, and I peeked around the people in front of me to see what the hold up was.

And a hold-up is precisely what it was. A disheveled man was standing at the counter, presumably holding a gun, and leaning close to the high-schooler, who looked scared out of her mind. Mulder noticed what was going on about the same time I did, and he exchanged a glance with Dana.

"Packin'?" he asked. In another situation, I might have hit him for asking such a thing.

Dana shook her head.

"You?"

"Just the one," he answered, motioning down to his foot. She didn't look even half as surprised as I was when he took the gun from the ankle strap and handed it to her. They were quiet for a moment before she nodded and he moved closer to the front of the line. Dana waited a moment, then snuck the other way. I was pretty sure I knew what was going to happen, and I wasn't sure if I should help them, or if standing there was a better option.

As it turned out, I couldn't move.

The man at the counter was getting agitated, and my sister with the impeccable timing chose that moment to make her presence known.

"FBI, freeze!" she commanded, aiming her gun at the man. I think everyone in the room froze at her command. The man turned around and aimed his gun right back at her, and all the color drained from mom's face.

"Put the gun down," Dana said, taking a step towards him.

"You!" he hollered back. I glanced around for Mulder. Where was he?

"Put the gun down or I will shoot you."

"You men in black are all the same. Shoot now, take names later!"

What did he want her to do, ask him his mother's maiden name before she shot him?

"I won't have to shoot you if you put your gun down. Your choice."

She almost sounded bored with the whole thing.

The man faltered for a moment, the gun shaking in his hand. I saw Mulder out of the corner of my eye and in a split second, he rushed the man, knocking him to the floor, but not before the gun went off. I couldn't see the scuffle that ensued, but I was aware of Charlie grabbing my arm and pulling me towards it. Mulder had pinned the man to the ground, and had managed to get the gun out of his hand. Charlie kicked it further out of the way, then helped to hold the man down, while I just stood there.

I, William Andrew Scully Jr. am a big, huge chicken.

It was a moment before Dana came over. She was just hanging up her cell phone.

"Police are on their way. You didn't happen to have cuffs with you?"

Mulder smirked.

"That was a joke, wasn't it?"

She grinned, and that's when all three of us noticed the blood on her shoulder.

"Dana! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just a graze," she said, looking down at it non-chalantly. Mulder's face turned a little grey. I could tell he wanted to check the wound out for himself, but he was busy with a now raving lunatic.

"Dana, why don't you sit down?"

"I'm okay, Bill. It's really not that bad."

Her voice shook just slightly, and I could see Mulder about to protest, but she shot him a look. He shot one back, and she sighed.

"Okay, I'll sit down."

I grabbed a chair from the small café across the room and brought it back to her. She accepted it, looking pretty disgruntled just for being asked to sit down. But that's my little sister for you.

The police arrived just moments later and cuffed the man who was laying on the floor. He was hauled outside to a squad car, while several officers took statements from witnesses. It seemed like a flurry of activity, and it wasn't long before I lost my family. I was alerted to their location by Matthew's cry. They were all standing in a group by the door. I caught Tara's eye and she smiled at me, then motioned over my shoulder.

Mulder was crouched in front of Dana, and I couldn't tell what they were talking about. They seemed to be arguing, but Dana smiled a little as Mulder brushed a strand of hair from her face. He said something to her, his face serious. She nodded and took his hand, standing up from the chair. They made their way towards us, and mom gave them a watery smile.

"Dana, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Doesn't even need stitches."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep. It's nothing, I promise."

"Can we get out of here?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, they're done with us. Mulder and I have to write a report later, but we can go ahead and go home," Dana answered as Mulder helped her slip into her coat. She winced just a little as it went over her left arm and he quietly apologized. I noticed that he moved to her other side and took her hand as we all went out to the cars.

After the hectic events of the day, we were all exhausted. We ended up just sitting around the house, watching TV and playing board games. Mom talked Mulder and Dana into staying another night, and they didn't really put up much of a fight. I noticed that he kept his eye on her most of the day, and even managed to keep tabs on her when she was in the other room. Maybe it was because I had just witnessed my sister in the line of fire, or maybe my patience was running out, but for some reason, I was starting to get annoyed with him.

I know my argument against him is weak, but I hate to see Dana go through all the things she does with him. It grates on my nerves when he's around. If she's going to be his partner, then that's fine. But that doesn't mean he has to be around her every waking moment.

I had made exactly three snide comments at him before Dana cleared her throat, and in no uncertain terms invited me into the other room. I felt the same as I had when mom would catch me doing something wrong. Only this time the conversation wasn't going to end with tears, hugs, and cookies.

"Bill, I thought we had this talk already."

"We did."

"Then what's the problem? You were fine with him last night."

"He shouldn't be here, Dana! He puts you in danger at work, and that's enough. He doesn't need to do it on your off time too."

"I can't believe you!" she shouted. To be honest, I couldn't believe me either.

"Dana-"

"No. If you only knew, Bill! He didn't cause that to happen today. Did you ever stop to think what would happen if he wasn't there? I'll tell you. I wouldn't have been the only one that was shot. And I'm not just saying that, Bill. The last time I worked with someone other than him, I ended up in the hospital, shot by my supposed partner. That's what happens when Mulder isn't there. He might not be able to prevent what happens, but at least he softens the blow."

"Fine. Let him do that in the line of duty. Don't bring that life here, around your family. He's your partner, Dana, he has no place in your outside life."

"Yes he does, Bill."

"Why?"

"Because! Because he's my best friend. Because I'm in love with him."

She looked as shocked as I felt that she finally admitted it. For as loudly as she said it, I knew Mulder had heard. Dad and Missy had probably heard beyond the grave.

Dana just stared at me, her eyes wide.

I stared back.

"You're in love with him?"

"I... I guess so... no, I'm not."

"Dana."

"Yeah."

The look on her face was enough to make me forget what I had been mad about in the first place. She looked peaceful, for the first time in her life.

I couldn't help drawing her into my arms and chuckling a little.

"I would apologize for making you admit it this way, but the expression on your face is just too priceless."

She giggled, her face turning red.

"I never expected this."

"What?"

"Admitting it. To you of all people."

She stepped out of my arms and I smiled.

"I'm pretty sure he heard all that. Want me to send him in here?"

"No, he already knows."

"He does?"

"He's known for a long time."

"And you haven't done anything about it because?"

"Work. You."

"Me?"

"I didn't want you to hate him more than you already did, so I didn't pursue it."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I kind of understand."

It was around midnight when I came downstairs for a drink of milk. Heartburn plagues me whenever I eat mom's enchiladas, but they're worth it.

I found Dana and Mulder on the couch in the family room. He was changing the bandage on her arm and talking to her softly while she smiled. He finished quickly and sat back against the cushions. She snuggled up next to him and he smiled. I couldn't hear what he said, but it made her blush, and she rolled her eyes. He touched her face gently, then kissed her. When he pulled away, he looked at her with such reverence that it almost hurt my chest. He loved her. He probably loved her more than I did, and more than I would ever understand.

And for the first time, that was just fine with me.