A/N: I am so sorry this took forever to update but I have serious writer's block and then we had technical difficulties. Thanks to the whole three peoples who reviewed the last chapter, you're awesome. Honest. no sarcasm intended.
Dedication: Rachel, she seriously keeps me writing updates. Hope she's having fun in Arizona.
Disclaimer: Not, Not mine (ala Phoebe)
"So who are we watching tonight?" Mulder asked, they were in his truck heading out to what could only be described as the boondocks.
"All of them." Scully said, her flip-flop clad feet resting on the dashboard and her reading glasses sliding down on her nose as she tried to finish her homework.
"Awesome." Mulder said sarcastically, the McMurray children were known for being anything but calm and/or complacent
"Look, if you can occupy Hannie, I'll take the boys and get them to finish their homework." Scully said, she had been babysitting for the McMurrays at least once a month since she was fourteen years old and was used to handling them by herself.
"That I can do." Mulder said, Hannah McMurray was the most well-behaved of the bunch.
"Thank you." Scully smiled, filling in the last problem on her math worksheet. The weather was warm and appearing to stay that way, so they could take the kids outside after dinner and homework was done.
"Spring Break is next week, any idea what you want to do?" Mulder asked.
"Nah, lounging around doing a great deal of nothing sounds really awesome." Scully said as she slid her book into her backpack. Mulder turned down a tree covered gravel lane that lead back to a lawn filled with children's toys and a big old white house. Mulder parked next to Mrs. McMurray's mini-van. Scully slid out of the cab and straightened her jeans and her tank-top.
"DANA! DANA'S HERE!" Hannah flew off the front porch and into the arms of her favorite baby sitter.
"Hey there Hannah Jane." Dana spun her around.
"I missed you." Hannah wrapped her arms around Scully's neck.
"I missed you too." Scully said.
"Hi Hannie." Mulder smiled at the little girl who buried her head in the crook of Scully's neck.
"It's just Mulder, Hannie Bananey" Scully reassured her, "He's nothing but an oversized version of your brothers." She tickled Hannah's sides and the girl giggled.
"Hi Dana." Mikey McMurray stepped on to the porch, barefoot in shorts and a shirt that was covered in dried mud.
"Mikey did you take a bath in mud?" Scully teased.
"Jamie shoved me in the big puddle." Mikey explained.
"Oh." Scully said, shifting Hannah to one hip to accept a hug from the dirt covered boy.
"Hey Mikey." Mulder said.
"MULDER!" Mikey exclaimed and launched into his arms, spider monkey style.
"Monkey Mikey." Mulder chuckled as he held the seven year old boy.
"Hey." Mrs. Mc Murray called from inside the open door and the two teenagers carried the kids inside.
"Hi Mrs. McMurray." Mulder smiled.
"Hi." Scully said, "How are you?"
"I'm fine." Mrs. McMurray said, flitting around the house picking up toys and clothes the kids had left everywhere, "How are you two?"
"We're good." Scully smiled, setting Hannah down.
"Good." Mrs. McMurray, paused to talk to them, "I should be home by nine. You know how it works, Mikey and Hannah need to be in bed by eight. Nik and Jamie have homework to finish. The stuff for Macaroni is sitting on the counter."
"Okay." Scully smiled, "Have fun at your meeting."
"Oh yes." Mrs. McMurray said dryly as she kissed each of her children good-bye, "Behave for Dana and Mulder, remember Daddy said if you're good we'll go get ice cream after church on Sunday."
--
"Mulder, can you take Mikey and Hannie and get dinner started?" Scully asked, sitting down at the card table with the two older boys.
"Sure." Mulder said and lead the little kids into the other room.
"Alright boys, show me what you got." Scully said, tucking her leg under her.
"I have two pages in math." Nik McMurray crinkled his nose.
"But you're good at math." Scully commented, "Why don't you want to do it?"
"Cause it's boring. I've already done it." Nik sighed, grabbing a pencil from the plastic box.
"Alright, Jamie. What do you have to do?" Scully asked.
"I have to read a chapter in this book." He held up a paperback book and then his work sheet, "And do this."
"Alright, you know how we do this." Scully grinned, "First person to finish and finish correctly gets to chose the movie. Any fighting and Hannah gets to watch her 'My Little Pony' videos as loud as she wants."
"Not the videos!" Nik exclaimed and hit his head against the table.
"Well, I guess you better get to it." Scully ruffled his hair.
--
"Mulder." Hannah pulled on his pant leg as he was cleaning the table off after dinner.
"Yes, Hannah?" Mulder looked at the blond haired little girl.
"Will you play wif me?" Hannah asked, her brown eyes pleading with him.
"Sure Hannie, what do you want to play?" Mulder asked as Scully took the boys outside to get them to burn off some energy.
"Barbies!" Hannah exclaimed.
"Barbies? Are you sure?" Mulder asked, "We could play Legos! Yeah, Hannie, how about Legos?"
"No." Hannah shook her head, "I wants ta play Barbies!"
"Okay, Hannah." Mulder gave in.
"YAY!" Hannah pulled his hand and lead him into the other room, she pulled out a hot pink tub that was filled to the top with Barbies and accessories, she pulled out Barbie and Skipper, "Mmkay, I'm Barbie and you can be my little sister."
"What about Ken?" Mulder asked, searching for the last piece of dignity, "Don't you need a Ken?"
"Nope. You're Skipper." She handed Mulder the doll, laying down on her stomach and holding her doll, "Hello Sister."
"Hi Barbie..." Mulder gave in, putting on his best girl voice, "You look pretty."
"Oh thank you, Skipper!" Hannah made her Barbie do a curtsy, "Do you like my dress, it's new -Mulder ya hafta to pretend her dress is pretty. The stupid dog put a hole in it."
"You look very beautiful Sister." Mulder said and heard a snort from behind him, he turned, "Scully."
"Oh no, don't stop because of me." Scully chuckled, "Hannie, where's your Band-Aids?"
"In the bathroom cupboard." Hannie replied, putting tiny plastic shoes on her doll.
"Thanks." Scully smiled, "Please, resume." Scully said, chuckling as she ran off to get a Band-Aid.
--
"Here, Jamie." Scully motioned him over, sitting on the wooden step.
Jamie came over and stuck out his foot, he had scraped it on a piece of siding that had blown off in the storm, Scully placed the Band-Aid over the wound, "Good as new."
"Thanks." Jamie said and Scully smiled, nodding.
"Did you guys feed the dog?" Scully asked, the McMurray's had a huge Siberian Husky.
"Yeah." Nik said.
"Okay. What do you guys want to do?"
"Can we ride bikes?" Mikey asked.
"Sure." Scully shrugged, the boys hopped on their bikes barefoot and helmet less, riding up and down their driveway.
--
"Mmkay, I'm done with Barbies." Hannah decided, tossing the toys back in the bin.
"Thank God." Mulder muttered under his breath, "Now, what?"
"Will you read to me?" Hannah asked, yawning.
"Sure, Hannie. Go grab a book." Mulder collapsed on the couch.
"Thank you." Hannah ran off to grab a book from her shelf, she came back to the living room, one of Lewis Carroll's books in her hands. She climbed up on the couch and leaned against Mulder's side.
"Nice choice." Mulder smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and opening the book to the page that was bookmarked, "'The time has come' the Walrus said, 'to speak of many things: Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. And why the sea is boiling hot. And whether pigs have wings." Mulder stroked Hannah's blond hair, tucking it behind her ear.
Glancing down the little girl's eyes fluttered and Mulder continued to read, "'But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried, 'Before we have our chat; for some of us are out of breath, and all of us are fat.' 'No hurry' said the Carpenter. They thanked him very much for that."
Hannah yawned and snuggled deeper into Mulder's side, "Sleepy." She murmured.
"It's okay." Mulder whispered, "You sleep and I'll read."
"Mmtay." Hannah mumbled.
Mulder continued to read for a bit, his voice growing quiet as Hannah fell into a deep slumber. Around seven forty-five Scully came inside with the boys, "She fell asleep?"
"Yeah. Right in the middle of Oysters and Walruses." Mulder chuckled quietly.
"Okay. I need to go supervise some teeth brushing, can you put her to bed?" Scully asked, resting her chin on top of Mulder's head and her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Sure." Mulder smiled, he turned his head and kissed her lightly.
Scully let him go and he stood up, scooping up the feather weight little girl, "Bed time, Hannie." Mulder explained when she woke up slightly.
Scully watched him, keeping one eye on the boys in the bathroom, she watched Mulder tuck the little girl in, smooth her hair and turn on her nightlight. Mulder stepped out of the room, shutting the door partway, "What?"
"Huh?" Scully shook her head.
"You were staring." Mulder explained.
"Oh." Scully glanced down and then looked up, grinning at him, "You're so good with them."
"I try." Mulder chuckled, hugging her.
"Are you gonna kiss?" Mikey asked, coming out of the bathroom with toothpaste on his chin.
"No." Scully laughed, reaching out and wiping the toothpaste off with her thumb
"Good." Mikey made a face, "Kissin' is gross."
"You're right." Mulder laughed, picking him up, "I do believe it's time for bed little man."
"But..." Mikey protested, sticking out his lower lip.
"No buts.." Scully told him, "You have school tomorrow."
"Fine." Mikey sighed, he hugged Mulder and then Scully, "Night."
"Good night." Scully laughed.
--
Mrs. McMurray came in the door at fifteen after nine, Scully was asleep, her head resting on Mulder's lap. He was running his fingers through her hair with his left hand, his right hand was holding one of hers.
"Are they all in bed?" Mrs. McMurray whispered.
"Yes Ma'am." Mulder replied.
"You two are good." She chuckled, "You should get Dana home, tell her I'll pay her at church."
"Yes ma'am." Mulder smiled. Mrs. McMurray went to check the answer machine and he was faced with the task of waking Scully up enough to get her to the truck, "Scully." He shook her shoulder lightly, "Wake up." She moved her head but didn't wake up, "C'mon. Wake up Sleeping Beauty." Still nothing. Giving in, he picked her up, carrying her out of the house.
He took her out to the truck, buckling her in and getting in himself.
--
"Scully, ya gotta wake up." Mulder whispered in her ear.
"Hmm?" She groaned, her head resting against the window.
"You're home." He whispered, kissing her lightly.
"Uh, no. sleep." She mumbled.
"Wake up and you can sleep in your own bed."
"Grr." Scully forced her eyes open, "How'd I get to the truck?"
"I carried you. Mrs. M said she'd pay you Sunday." Mulder explained.
"Okay." Scully said, Mulder got out of the truck, walking around he opened her door.
"C'mon." He wrapped an arm around her waist, helping her up the sidewalk. When they reach the front door they heard yelling.
"JOHN! DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME!" Monica yelled.
"Why!? You don't love me!" John yelled back.
"What the hell?" Scully asked, they entered the house, Monica and John stood in the foyer in a full on screaming match.
"I don't love you!?" Monica asked, "I love you John! God, you're such a damn idiot!"
"Yeah, Monica. I'm just the stupid fool who knocked you up." John shot back, "Face it, if you weren't pregnant, we wouldn't be together right now."
Monica's palm connected with his jaw, "I hate you John Doggett, get the hell out of my life."
"Gladly." John turned, pushing his way past the shocked Mulder and Scully, leaving the house and running outside.
"I'm going after him." Mulder said and Scully nodded.
Monica turned and ran upstairs, Scully hot her heels, "Mon!"
"Leave me alone Dana." Monica swiped at her tears.
"No." Scully said, grabbing her friend by the arm, turning her and pulling her into a hug.
"He doesn't love me." Monica sobbed into her friend's shoulder.
"He loves you, he's just an idiot. Mulder is gonna kick his ass." Scully promised, squeezing her best friend's shoulders, "C'mon." Scully lead Monica to her room. Monica collapsed on Scully's bed and Scully sat next to her.
--
"John!" Mulder yelled, sprinting to catch up.
"Leave me alone Mulder." John grumbled.
"No." Mulder grabbed the edge of John's jacket, spinning him around, "Tell me what happened before I beat the shit out of you."
"Sure. Take her side man." John pulled away.
"I'm not taking sides, but I am NOT letting you walk away from your kid." Mulder said, sprinting around him and stopping him.
"Get out of my way." John said.
"John, whatever is going on with you two, you can fix it." Mulder said.
"I don't know if I want to fix it." John said, "I don't want this."
"John, if you walk away from her and this kid, you're a fucking fool." Mulder said, his blood boiling.
"Mulder, you don't know jack, so get out of my way." John shoved him and Mulder broke, swinging his arm, his fist connected with John's jaw. John rushed him, shoving him against the fist, "Leave me alone."
"No." Mulder shoved him back, "You're not walking away from her."
"You don't get to decide that." John said, wiping the blood from his split lip.
"Look, I know your life has sucked. It's not fair Luke died and you're growing up faster than you should, but the John Doggett I know would never walk away from Monica and definitely not their unborn child."
"Maybe I'm not the John Doggett you used to know." John walked past him and Mulder pulled him back.
"Grow up man. If you leave, Mon will be fine. This kid will be fine without you, you're the one who is gonna be missing out." Mulder let go of his jacket and John walked away.
--
"I don't get what I did." Monica sobbed into Scully's shoulder.
"I know." Scully rubbed her back.
"I know he's going through a lot, but dammit so am I!" Monica said, "I don't know I can do this without him."
"You won't have to. He just needs someone to give him a good shake and if Mulder can't do it, I will." Scully promised her, "And if you do, you won't be alone. Cause Mulder and I -we aren't going anywhere."
"Thanks." Monica sniffled.
"You know I got your back." Scully promised, "Us against the world."
"And all the stupid guys." Monica wiped her tears, "He'll come back. He's probably not even mad at me, he's just mad at the world."
"Exactly. Give him time. Let him work through all that crap." Scully reassured her.
--
Scully came downstairs when Monica had fallen asleep, she stepped outside and sat down on the porch swing in her pajama pants and tank top, "Did you find him?"
Mulder had been sitting on the porch bench since John walked away, "I found him. I split his lip and told him not to walk away from it."
"And?" Scully asked.
"He walked away." Mulder said.
"This is crazy." Scully ran her hand through her hair.
"My sentiments exactly." Mulder took her hand.
Scully leaned against his shoulder, playing with his fingers, "I love you."
"I love you too." Mulder whispered, "They'll be okay."
"I know." Scully said, tucking her legs under her, "Can we just sleep here tonight?"
"Sure." Mulder said, playing with her hair, he pressed a kiss to her temple.
A/N: I left it at an awkward place. Don't worry John isn't gonna keep this 'tude of his for long. I just had to do something to help set up the next chapter. Thanks to Rach who helped me come up with this idea and to the real Nik (Domnik), Hannie (Hannah), Mikey (Michael), & Jamie (Jimmy) I love you kiddos.