Easter 1994-
Dana is the last one of her siblings left after Easter dinner at her mother's. She silently stares out the kitchen window as she scrubs the last fork. She places it on the rack to dry, and pulls the drain plug. When she turns around she finds her mother leaning against the kitchen island staring at her. She's ditched her apron, and her arms are folded neatly against her chest.
"I didn't realize that you were standing there."
"It seems like you were pretty deep in thought," Maggie points out.
"The dishes are done. I can help you put them away."
"Everyone is gone, Dana. You can drop the act. It's just the two of us here."
A furrowed brow, and an upturned face meet Maggie's glance, "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Something is obviously eating at you. You didn't quarrel with either one of your brothers, or offer the first condescending remark to Melissa. I scraped the majority of your dinner into the trash. Would you like to tell me what's on your mind?"
"I have just been thinking about dad, I suppose."
Maggie shakes her head, "Nope. That isn't it."
"Mom, please."
"Obviously part of you wants to talk to me."
"I should get home. I have work tomorrow," Dana turns to leave the kitchen.
Her mother's hand wraps around her arm. She stops dead in her tracks.
"And how exactly are you going to balance your job given the circumstances?"
Dana spins around, and looks her mother dead in the eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Dana Katherine Scully I was not born yesterday! I know you. Perhaps you have forgotten that I have four children."
"What's your point?" She snarls through gritted teeth.
"I am going to excuse your tone because I can only imagine how scared, and vulnerable you might be feeling right now."
"Can I please just go?"
Maggie points to the couch in the living room, "You absolutely are free to go as soon as you assure me that you have some sort of plan for what you are going to do regarding your pregnancy."
Scully falls utterly silent. Her mother gesticulates towards the sofa. Dana begrudgingly sinks into the cushion. Her mother lowers herself into the adjacent cushion. Scully leans against the arm, and faces her mother.
"This is where you pour your heart out to me, and I empathetically listen."
"I don't want to talk about this."
"You have to discuss it at some point."
"What do you want me to say? I find myself experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, and I am terrified that it means I am throwing my entire career away. All while totally letting down anyone that cares about me?" She becomes teary eyed.
"Is that what you think? That is where your head is?"
"And that I don't have what it takes to be anyone's mother."
"Is that what you want? Do you want to be this baby's mother?"
Dana's face contorts in several different directions. She finds herself unable to utter intelligible thought.
"You have a choice," Maggie points out.
"What?"
"I said that you have a choice."
Dana shakes her head, "I heard you. I just don't know what you mean."
"Motherhood is not the path for everyone. It is okay if it isn't for you."
"What?! Since when is that your viewpoint?"
"That has always been my viewpoint, Dana. Regardless of any religious convictions I have, I do believe that women are human beings that get to make relevant choices in their lives. Especially my daughters, who are both capable, bright women."
"Oh."
"So, I'll ask again. Do you want to be this baby's mother?"
"Yes, but…"
Maggie shakes her head, "No buts. Yes, is all I need to know."
"I don't know how."
"If this is the path that you want to follow then I'll help you."
"I'm sorry for letting you down. I didn't follow through the way that you, and daddy hoped with my career choices. Now I feel like I've just gained some traction in my chosen career path, and now I find myself single, and pregnant."
"All I want for your life is for you to be happy."
"Right now I am simply petrified."
"A baby changes everything."
Her mother's words ring in her ears as she sits at the kitchen table, disassociating into her cup of tea. She looks up, and finds a figure standing next to her. She offers him a smile, as he pulls out a chair, and takes a seat next to her.
"Morning, mama," he offers a toothy grin.
"Good morning, Cam."
"Summer is about over."
"Yes, that is true. We are headed back home in just a few days."
"And I have to go to school."
She nods, "Yes."
He slides out of his seat, and onto her lap. She gently rubs her fingers through his wily hair.
"You're going to have to get your ears lowered before you start school."
"Dad said we're going to a baseball game."
"That is what we have on the agenda for this afternoon," she confirms.
"Could we go fishing, instead? Just the two of us?"
"Is there a reason that you don't want to include your dad?"
"I think he needs the baseball game more than we do."
She smiles at her precious, and considerate five year old, "That is a thoughtful thing to say."
"We can break it to him real gently."
The lines at the corners of her eyes show as she offers a toothy grin, "Good plan."
"Maybe the girl on the porch swing would want to go."
"What girl?"
"I don't know if she's really a girl. She's probably a grown up, but she is much younger than you, and dad. Her eyes look like yours."
"Did you talk to the girl on the porch?"
"I tried, but daddy shooed me. She said her name is Peyton."