"But everyone has one!"

"Not everyone, Wes."

"Yeah they do! Even some kindergarteners have one. And I'm in first grade. I should have one too!"

"Weslynn, not everyone has a digital camera. You have a disposable one and that's just fine."

"But I can't see the picture right after I take it."

"It's better that way. Then when you get the pictures back, it's a surprise."

Weslynn thought for a moment, figuring that was a good compromise, then followed Scully away from the cameras.

"Alright, did we get everyone on our list?"

Weslynn pulled the crumpled paper out of her pocket and licked her lips before reading through the list.

"We got the slippers and bathrobe for grandma, and gift certificates for my aunts and uncles, some books and toys for my cousins, and a scarf for my teacher. All we have left is Papa."

"Yeah, we're going to have to figure something out. Nothing sounds good enough, does it?"

"No. We need to get him something really good."

"We'll figure it out later. There's still time before Christmas. Let's go ahead and get our bags out to the car, and then we can go have lunch, okay?"

"Can I get whatever I want?"

"Within reason."

"So that means no chocolate cake for lunch, doesn't it?"

"It certainly does. Can you carry one more bag?"

"Is it heavy?"

"It's not too heavy. I just don't have enough to fingers to find my keys."

They maneuvered the bags around until they were both comfortable, then headed out to the parking garage.

"Can we have lunch somewhere fancy, mommy? I want lemon in my water."

"Sure. Let's get our stuff in the car and then we'll call grandma and see if she wants to come too."

"Okay. Could we get appetizers? And dessert?"

"You must be hungry today."

"Shopping is hard work."

"That's very true."

The reached the car and Scully opened the trunk, wondering how they had managed to buy so much stuff in less than three hours. They put all the bags in the back, rearranging a few times to make it fit, then Scully closed the trunk and hit the button on the keychain to unlock the doors.

"Dana."

She spun around at the sound of her name, and even before her eyes focused on the person completely, her breath caught in her throat. She knew that voice, as well as she knew Mulder's, as well as she knew Weslynn's.

Gavin stepped out of the shadows, and she cursed herself for sleeping in and not finding a parking space that was closer to other cars.

"Hi, Dana," he repeated, stopping a few feet away from her.

"Mommy's who's that?"

"Wes, get in the car."

"But-"

"Weslynn, get in the car, now."

She didn't turn around to make sure Wes obeyed, but in a few seconds she heard the car door open and close.

"Go away, Gavin."

"I just wanted to see you."

"I said go away. Now."

"You don't have to worry, Dana. I'm not taking you away."

"You need to leave."

"I just want to talk to you. I've wanted to talk to you for weeks, and I figured this was as good a time as any."

She didn't know what to say, and years ago she had learned that it was best to let him take the lead in the conversation.

"I miss you, Dana. I know that I shouldn't come around, and I know what will happen if I get caught. But you were the only one who ever understood. You were the only one who ever cared. And I really needed to see you again."

"Gavin-"

"Your daughter is beautiful. She looks just like you."

"Don't."

He was quiet, staring intently past her and she knew he was looking at Weslynn. She stepped to the side to block his view.

"Dana, is she… is she mine?"

"No, she's not. You need to leave now, and don't come back."

"I'm sorry I upset you, Dana. You're right. I should leave."

He gave her a short nod, then moved away, back into the shadows. She stood there for several minutes, listening as his footsteps faded away and then became silent. She realized she'd been holding her breath, and she let it out quickly before running to the car and jumping into her seat.

"Mommy?"

"Wes, honey I need you to just be quiet, please."

She knew she was going to hyperventilate, and the rational side of her mind warned her to slow her breathing. But she couldn't do it. She began to feel like she had almost seven years ago. Afraid, floating, out of control. She didn't know what to do, so she just let it come. It would happen and then it would be over, and she could let her logical mind take over.

She felt a tiny, cool hand cover hers and she turned to find Weslynn, her eyes round with concern.

"Mommy? Are you okay? I'm scared."

"Fine," was all she could get out before she had to lay her head down on the steering wheel. She was faintly aware of the beeping of her phone, and Weslynn's wavering voice.

"Papa? Something is wrong with mommy. She's breathing really hard and she's crying. Some man came and talked to her. He was scary. He's gone now. He walked away. He stared at me. I couldn't hear what he said. Mommy looks bad, Papa. Please come get us. We were shopping and we parked in the big building. We didn't ride an elevator to get inside. Can you find us? I'll stay on the phone."

She knew she was scaring her daughter, but she just couldn't get control over herself. She tried to take deep breaths, but chills kept running up and down her spine, and the image of his face covered every corner of her mind. His voice was the worst though. She had heard nothing but his voice for days, and what felt like years. She still heard it, clear as day in her dreams, though she would never admit that to anyone. She was supposed to be fine and over it, but she had been just sliding by and faking it for so long. Now it was back to bite her.

It must have only been about twenty minutes, but it felt like an eternity later when Weslynn tapped on her arm to inform her of Mulder's arrival. He opened the door slowly and she looked up at him, finally able to calm down at least a little.

"Scully, what happened?" he asked, crouching down so he could look her in the eye.

"Gavin was here."

"What?"

"He's been watching us."

He grabbed her clenched hands and held them until they relaxed. She looked up at him and took a deep breath, not sure when it was that the hyperventilating had stopped.

"I'm going to take you home, okay?"

"Can't go home. He'll be there."

"He won't be there, Scully. He's come out of the woodwork, and he's going to hide again. That's who he is."

"I can't go home."

"Alright. I'll take you to my place, or to your moms. But you can't drive like this."

"I can make it. I'm okay."

"Scully."

She let out a shuddering sigh and tipped her head back against the seat.

"I don't know what to do."

"Just come with me, Scully. I'll have the gunmen come and get your car. Okay?"

"Alright."

He helped her move to his car and made sure she was comfortable before going back to get Weslynn. She was sitting there quietly, staring at the pattern on her jacket.

"Hey Lynnie.

"Papa, is mommy okay?"

"She'll be fine, sweetheart. She just got really scared."

"She looked sick."

"I know. I think she's just tired and needs some rest. She's okay. She didn't mean to scare you."

"Was that man bad, Papa?"

"Yes he was. But he's gone now. Okay?"

"Okay."

He lifted her out of the car and made sure it was locked up, then settled her into the backseat of his car. She sighed deeply and he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"Everything is fine, sweetie. Don't worry."

"You got it covered, Papa?"

"Totally."

She smiled at him and he closed the door, then went around to the other side of the car.

"Ready to go?" he asked, reaching over and taking Scully's hand.

She nodded, already looking better.

"Yeah. Let's get out of here."

She spent the majority of the day sitting on the couch quietly. He knew she was trying to move on from the event without confronting it, and he suddenly realized what a good actress she had been these last few years. He had never once suspected that all was not right in Who-Ville. She had probably even lied to him about going to counseling. He could feel himself getting angry with her, but knew it wasn't going to help matters. He knew they needed to talk though, and as soon as Weslynn was sacked out on the floor, he turned the TV lower and took her hand.

"Scully?"

"Yeah?"

"You've never been alright, have you?"

"No."

He nodded and scooted closer to her on the couch, wrapping his arm around her.

"Why did you lie?"

"Because. I didn't want Wes to grow up with a mother who was scared of every little noise, who couldn't sleep without the lights on, who would retreat into her own head for days, who cringed when someone sat on the side of her bed. That's no life for a child. I couldn't teach her to try new things and take risks when all I could do was sit at home and listen for the door opening when it wasn't supposed to. So I faked it. I faked it until I really thought I was fine. I knew it was stupid, Mulder. But that's all I could think to do."

"Why didn't you talk to me about this?"

"I didn't want you to be disappointed in me. And I know you never would be, but for some reason, all this makes me like a thirteen year old girl who has no common sense and can't make any decisions emotionlessly. Mulder, I simply didn't know what to do. I still don't. I really screwed up today. I scared her to death, and I never even asked if she wanted to talk about it. What am I doing Mulder? It's all wrong."

He pulled her closer as the tears started to trickle down her cheeks.

"It's not wrong, Scully. You're a good mother. You know that. Yes, you made a mistake. But so does everyone. I don't know where to go from here, or how to help you, but I do know that everything is going to be okay. Between you and me, Wes is going to be just fine. I don't want you to worry. Alright?"

She nodded against his chest and he settled them back against the couch, pulling the old scratchy blanket over them.

"He asked if she was his."

"What did you say?"

"I lied."

"Good."

"Mulder, he's been watching us. For weeks. He knows where we live, where Wes goes to school. He knows our routines. He could grab me, or her and take us away."

"I called Skinner. They've got a task force out there looking for him. If he gets close, they'll find him."

"They looked for him before, Mulder. They couldn't find him."

"I know."

"Even from that letter he sent, they couldn't track him down."

"I know."

"What if-"

"No. Don't mess with that right now. You just trust that they are going to do their job so you can focus on yours."

"I don't want to be scared for the rest of my life."

"I don't want that for you either. I wish I could say or do something that would make this easier, but I can't. It all has to be you."

She nodded again and he brushed her hair away from her face.

"Go to sleep, Scully. Nothing bad is going to happen tonight. I'm right here."

"Thank you."

They were quiet for a long time, and she finally gave in to the emotional and physical exhaustion and fell asleep. Mulder held her as she slept, his mind trying to find the elusive cure for this, the one clue that could lead them to finding Gavin and locking him up forever. Just as she had been haunted by the event for so many years, he had been haunted by the fact that that one time, he hadn't gotten there fast enough. Just that once, he'd been too late, and now her entire life was defined by it. Neither one of them would change the outcome, but the path they'd had to take to get there would be better erased from both of their minds.

He'd kill Gavin if he could. There was no doubt in his mind that once he got his hands on the man, he would be committing manslaughter. He'd ruined lives and then run free. Even the conspiracies he'd uncovered didn't seem that unjust and wrong.

"Papa?"

"Go back to sleep, sweets."

She ignored him and stood up from her sleeping bag, rubbing her eyes.

"Can I sleep on the couch with you and mommy?"

"Sure."

She climbed up next to him and wiggled herself under his other arm.

"Is mommy feeling better, Papa?"

"Yeah sweetie. She'll be just fine."