Thank you to all of you who reviewed an alerted.

I'm having only a minor freak out here, but I'm worried that I might end up/am moving things too fast, if it's going to fast and you're sitting there thinking that I'm very possibly high, or just insane. Let me know, I'm only ever insane.

Anyway, I'll leave you to read.
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Part 4
Airplanes and Names

He'd realized, as they boarded the plane two things.

One, he was forever grateful towards James Pearson for booking them tickets in business class and for getting them this far.

The second, the far more important – he was completely responsible for this child. She was under his charge. She was his, on paper anyway. He'd legalize it, eventually, once he found out exactly what was going on in Russia. He'd fix up his life and hers before coming clean. It would work, he was sure of it.

He'd hoped as they stepped onto the plane that he could keep her quiet, he didn't want to be the man with a screaming child and if her nightmares were anything to go by, someone would probably call Child Protective Services. He'd stocked her backpack full of coloring books and pencils, which he'd hoped would entertain her for hours on end. But honestly, he had no idea what would work in keeping her occupied, hell, he could barely keep his own mind occupied for four hours let alone twenty-four.

He was merely a child in his own life, ironic, that he was now in charge of a real child. He'd made an adult decision, not one that other men usually make when they father a child. But, just like most men, he hadn't thought about the consequences attached to looking after another life. So, maybe he was going about it all the same. Irresponsible and young, with no clue about his life yet alone the life he now has to make sure walks the right paths. It was there he decided most men had it lucky; at least they were involved in the contraception of their children. Every input he had was all make believe and lies.

Danica watched as people walked past them to find their own seats. She as fascinated by the number of people and the small space, yet all the same she was a little terrified at the exact same prospect.

She sat quietly, happy just to watch, she smiled softly at every child that walked past her and towards anyone else who offered her a soft smile first. Mulder couldn't help but notice, she was lenient to enjoy attention. He could understand why, the bruises on her skin must have caused attention upon her being both of the positive and negative effect.

Mulder was thankful that it was a woman who took the seat on the opposite side of the aisle. Glad that he didn't have to deal with an anxious Danica worried about the man. The woman smiled softly, first at him then at Danica who gave her a shy smile hidden half behind Schatz the bear. "Home or holiday?" She asked as Mulder jumped up to help her with the luggage she was struggling to get into the overhead compartment. Her accent suggested she was European but her words were American.

"Home. I'm taking her home. What about you?" She smiled as they sat again.

"To what used to be home." She said the melancholy clearly evident in her voice.

"Sorry." Mulder muttered, knowing it was most likely something she didn't want to have to think about. Then again, she did tell him.

"Don't be. I get to see my little boy for a few days again. That's all that mattered after his father and I split. It's my fault anyway, I said he could have Damien. I'm far too busy with work. Look at me," She laughed "You probably didn't want to know all of that." She was scolding herself for the momentary lapse in being able to keep her private life private. Mulder shrugged telling her it was fine. "I'm Alice by the way." She extended her hand with a soft smile.

He took the gesture introducing both himself and Danica. "How long have the two of you been in Russia?" She asked, looking for conversation.

"Not very long. Danica is supposed to be living in Moscow with her mother, I came to visit. But, ah, I …" He stumbled with his words, finding it an actual struggle, not an act. "I found out some things and I couldn't let my daughter be hurt like that, the things they did to her." His voice broke softly as tears threatened to spill over his cheeks. He wasn't acting, Mulder actually felt this hurt. How could someone hurt an innocent child?

"Oh," Alice gasped. "I'm so sorry. That's just horrible." She reached across the aisle to grab his hand. Her eyes told him that she could understand his pain.

"Papa?" Danica whispered the words so surreal Mulder thought he was hearing things. His heart skipped a beat, once he realized she'd actually said it out loud. He never told her to call him that, he'd never initiated or implied to her out loud. This was Danica all on her own.

He didn't know what to say, what could he? She wouldn't be able to understand him. Then he realized what was wrong. The plane was taking off and the cabin pressure was rising in her ears. Tears were filling her eyes; he didn't know what to do and quickly expressed that to Alice. The woman unbuckled her seat belt with a soft smile even though the sign said for belts to be fastened. She slipped past Mulder's legs, losing her balance as the plane hit turbulence and nearly fell into his lap. She crouched down in front of Danica who quickly pulled away. "It's okay sweetie." She told her with a careful hand on her knee. Before she could start her next sentence Mulder informed her that "his daughter" could only understand German. Alice looked at him slightly confused before she let her mind switch over. "Schatz" Alice's noun caught his ears.

He watched quietly as she caught Danica's attention and instructed the young girl to press her fingers to her ears and push in and out to release the trapped air. The girl complied slowly tears still making her vision. Her ears still hurt but she was a bit better.

Slipping out of the small gap and returning to her seat she spoke, "You know, if you're really distressed about her being upset you can take her out of her seat? Just pull your buckle across both of your laps." Mulder hadn't noticed that his pain was actually showing on his face until Alice mentioned it. He was quick to do as she said, longing for Danica to rest comfortably in his arms. What Alice had told her helped a bit, but she was still crying and her ears were yet to pop.

Clicking Danica into his lap he wiped the tears off her cheeks and hugged her tight. "You called Danica 'Schatz', doesn't that mean treasure?" Alice nodded.

"As a noun it means lots of thing; Sweetheart and Love too, and that's how I meant it. Although most people when calling another Love or Sweetheart use 'Liebchen'. You don't speak German?" He shook his head. "Not a word?"

"I know Schatz." He teased, with his playful, young boy smile.

Alice looked worried. "Won't you struggle with raising her? If you don't speak the language, how do the two of you communicate?"

Mulder smiled, again glad someone was actually looking out for the girl. "Her mother taught her German, I can teach her English. My partner used to do German in high school, I think. So she'll help out. Danica and I, we have a silent understanding, she'll tell me when I'm doing things wrong and well, she never does things wrong." Alice couldn't help but laugh even though her spirit was dampened but the fact that he has a partner.

"You don't know the languages your own girlfriend speaks?" She laughed yet again, one tends to find those things out relatively quickly.

"Not girlfriend. Work partner" Mulder corrected.

Alice was quick to change the subject. Happy to know he was a free man again. "Did you know, Danica is Slavic for Morning Star?" She asked softly.

Mulder shook his head. "I didn't actually."

"You want a history lesson?" Her smile was brilliant.

"Sure" His smiled was wide as even in the dim light her eyes seemed to sparkle.

Making herself comfortable Alice began. "Danica originates in ancient Slavic mythology. Before Christianity came to the Slavs of Eastern Europe, the deity Danica was preyed to in the early morning when she was said to appear in the dawn sky as the first star, or morning star. Danica was associated with the sun and was thought to be the sun's younger sister. With the expansion of monotheism Danica became less associated with the deity and instead became a common name for girls. The meaning is only really connected to the proper pronunciation given by the Slavs, Dah-nee-tza. The Latin pronunciation Dan-ick-kuh is Dutch, and doesn't have a meaning, yet it's connected more to a white bush –coclearia Danica which mainly grows in Northern Europe. Sorry." She laughed when she finished. "Professional hazard."

Mulder was impressed, he could remember his fair share of random bits of knowledge, yet that was a lot. "What do you do?" he asked with an impressed smile.

"I'm a cultural and linguistic anthropologist." Well, that was something you didn't hear every day. "I guess, that explains my ability to just click into German so quickly too." Mulder nodded with a small smile that had brought a question to his brain when she'd done it.

His mind was preoccupied to the point that the conversation that flowed between him was not recorded in his memory bank. Had her parents named her with the intention of it being Slavic or Dutch? He'd used the Dutch term and so would everyone else that met her. But he'd noticed Pearson say the Slavic. When Danica gave both Mulder and Pearson her name she was far too quiet to detect the way it was pronounced.

He guessed it would become one of those things in life that was dependent upon the person. He let his mind rest as they flew. He occasionally joined conversation with Alice again or helped Danica color. When the girl was asking of his attention Mulder took the chance to nap or read. She was safe there tucked in between the window and his seat.

After eighteen hours on a plane Danica hadn't shut her eyes. He could tell she was tired, he knew she was tired and he knew she must also sleep. At that present thought Danica was sitting in his lap again, playing quietly with his fingers. Her body had sagged against his chest a while ago, but she was still awake.

He stood, the girl in his arms, he shifted her to his hip before starting to pace the aisle one hand holding her to him the other varying between rubbing and patting her back. Danica relaxed, her head fell to his shoulder and sleep claimed her eyes. But she wouldn't give in. It took him close to an hour to coax her into sleep as he hummed the same Elvis song into her ear and continued to pace.

A few times Alice offered to help knowing his body would start to ache. But he politely turned her down, knowing that'd only rile Danica up more. She seemed to be only trusting of Mulder. He was the only one who'd touched her in days. Other than Alice with the air pressure in her ears, but even then he noticed the girl tense and try to pull herself away. Besides, he knew he could get her to sleep on his own; he had to figure out how to do it.

Once Danica was asleep he found that she slept heavily and this time, nightmare free. He was also glad that she slept the rest of the flight. He was glad she got a peaceful sleep, not only for her sake but for his too.

When he moved to wake her as the plane was landing he was happy to find a bright eyed and chipper young girl. He could sense flying made her uneasy, just as it had made Scully on their first case and Danica dealt with it the same way too. He had every intention of getting off the plane and taking her shopping to get the extra things they needed before taking her to his apartment but he didn't know where to start.

She needed more clothes that he was sure of. But then, she'd need someplace to put the clothes. And in order to have a dresser he'd need somewhere to put that too. It was a never ending circle. He'd need a bigger apartment; he couldn't let her sleep on the sofa or in his large bed. She needed her own space.

Settling on the idea to just clear out one of his drawers until they were settled and he could find a bigger apartment he took her to a smaller mall for extra items of clothing. Knowing the items he'd picked in Russia were the perfect size he converted the numbers over in his head. His intention was to let Danica pick what she wanted, which she did and he'd just make sure the sizing was right.

Entering the store Danica was bewildered, not with the lights or the clothing, no, nothing like that. It was the people, the smiles they offered her, the greetings they gave Mulder as they entered yet another child's clothing store. But most of all, he suspected it was the accents that'd put her off. Danica had clung to his neck; usually happy to walk around on her own she didn't want to be put down.

He placed most of her discomfort on jetlag and new surroundings, the rest came with the language. He'd learnt a bit more German on the plane, reading through the dictionary Pearson had bought him and a 'German: How to Speak and Write it' book. Using Alice as his test subject and bits of Danica here and there he'd learnt quite a bit. Setting the girl down he moved so she could climb on his back, leaving him to be able to switch hands without holding all of her weight. She was hesitant to move when he'd put her down but he'd whispered to her in German that everything was okay, to trust him and she did as he asked.

They'd left the mall with a cart full of bags coming from various stores. It was fair enough to say, he'd spoilt her rotten. Getting back to his car, Danica was happy to walk again. He had her standing in the trunk of the car as he passed her shopping bag after shopping bag. She was helping him pack the shopping in with a bright smile, she chatted to him, in German and this time he was able to notice a few words. He'd chat to her back in English hoping she'd pick a few things up. He told her about what they did the shopping and the things they bought and every now and then she'd try to repeat a word back to him.

She was doing that as he walked her around the car to her door in the backseat, except this time she'd started off in German "danke schön, papa." She told him sweetly as he moved to buckle her in.

"You're welcome, mein liebchen. Can you tell me 'thank you'?" She looked at him for a minute. "Danke schön is thank you." She knitted her brows, something he'd come to notice as he thinking face. Her mouth moved, trying to bend the words, trying to make them come out.

It took her a few goes but eventually Mulder received a very sweet, yet still rusty. "Thank you, Papa." She kissed his check as he moved in to double check her restraints, knowing that she could and would get her arms out.

"Gern geschehen, mein liebchen." He'd adopted the noun for Love from Alice very early into their flight, he loved the way Danica smiled every time he said it. "You're welcome, my love." He told her again in English as he smoothed down her red hair. "How about, I take you home? Yeah?" She nodded, and Mulder knew she'd understood apart of what he'd said when she repeated,

"Home!"

"You know, Danica?" He started talking again after closing her door and making his way around to his side of the car. She watched him as he turned to face her. "You don't have to call me Papa." She watched him, her eyes telling him she had no idea what he was talking about. He didn't know if that was because she wanted to call him that and he was being the stupid one or if, in fact she didn't catch a word he'd said other than her name.

On the way home, he didn't indulge with a child's music station, he kept it at the same one the entire time he had control over the radio, an old, yet good station that played a mix of the classics and the new stuff to come right off the charts. It was by chance, and sheer luck that on their ten minute drive back to his place Elvis' or what was quickly becoming his and Danica's song 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' Started to play. He was humming along to the words, every now and then taking his eyes off the road to watch her in the back seat. She had Schatz on her lap as she swayed his stuffed body to the melody of the music. He noticed halfway through the song that Danica herself was humming as she made her bear dance.

He'd pulled up to his apartment as the song finished and let the last notes of the music play out before he turned the car off completely. Danica sat patiently locked into her seat, happily humming even though the song had finished. He made his way around the car quickly; he didn't want her to have to wait for him long.

He had to think for a moment as she climbed out of the car, he couldn't remember the word exactly and it took him a little while. Even by then, he'd found a better idea. Letting Danica climb back onto his back again, he told her to hang on tight while he filled his arms with all of their shopping and luggage. Alone, it's okay to make several trips out to the car for shopping, with another person, with a child that you also have to cart in and out of the building is just an annoying waste of time. Danica's giggles were unabashed as she gripped her hands around his neck and let Schatz dangle between her finger tips, thumping against Mulder's chest every time he took a step.

As he struggled with the door, Mulder nearly gave in all together, if he put a shopping bag down, he'd never be able to pick it back up again. But a voice sounding behind him restored all hope. "Why, hello Fox. I haven't seen you in such a long time."

"Hi Mrs. Peniston." He smiled happily as she motioned to pull the door open for him. The old woman lived just down the hall for him and often called on Mulder to fix some things up around her apartment.

"You know, son. Traditionally it's the men holding the door for the old ladies. Not the other way around." She joked, following him into the building. "Why, who's this?" She beamed, tapping the back of Danica's leg as she moved to stand in front of him to check her mailbox.

"This is my daughter Danica, Mrs. Peniston. She's coming to live with me." The elderly woman looked shocked; he knew she had every right to look like that. You could live across the hall from someone and never know their deepest secrets. Even though Danica wasn't actually his, it was just like that.

"I had no idea you were a father, Fox." She had her hand on her chest in surprise and awe. "She looks so much like your partner, umm, Scully wasn't it?" Mulder nodded. "I didn't know agents of the FBI were allowed to copulate." She spoke as they boarded the waiting elevator. Mulder smiled broadly, the first person to think that Danica was both a creation of his and Scully's had to be the sweet old lady from down the hall, the woman who'd only ever seen Dana and heard of her, yet never spoke with her at all.

"We're not. Danica's mother lives in Europe. Scully's not her mom." The woman looked as though she'd horrified herself further, Mulder couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him at her look.

"Oh, I'm so sorry for implying that Fox. She's a very beautiful girl might I add. You're gorgeous my dear." She turned her attention to the deer large blue eyes that seemed so lost in this place.

"Unfortunately we're working on the language thing. She's lived in Germany all her life." Mrs. Peniston smiled softly as she reached out to rub her thumb along the girls hand affectionately. Danica tried to move away but if she did, she'd fall.

"You know, George fought in World War II, he'd know a thing or two about German. He'd adore her too. We've always wanted grandchildren. If ever you need a break Fox. You know where we are." She offered him as they stepped off the elevator and took their separate paths down the hall.

"Thank you, Mrs. Peniston. I'll keep that in mind."

"It's Julia, Fox. You can call me Julia you know." She stopped to smile at him.

"Yes, Mrs. Peniston. I know. Say 'hi' to Mr. Peniston for me."

He missed Danica's reaction as they walked into his apartment; she was still draped across his back, her arms still tightly around his neck and her legs hanging onto his ribs. He knew the place was a mess, and she'd probably be appalled, but it was tidier than usual, and at least it hadn't been ransacked while he was gone.

He dropped the bags of shopping while he closed the door with the back of his foot. Crouching down he let Danica slip off his back. "Home?" She asked softly, stepping around the bags and his legs, her little eyes drinking it all in.

"Home." He told her, adding in that he needed to clean, and the landlord wanted him to repaint the place. But he doubted she'd even heard that. "Go look." He added, with his hands gently pushing her shoulders.

His mind ran over a mental check, there was nothing dangerous lying around, that he could remember. His gun was still in his carry-on bag, making it through security checks because of his badge. The video's that weren't his were tucked away in the bottom of his closet, at least he thought they were. And any trace of raunchy magazines were usually stuffed under the couch, away from Scully's line of sight. He'd move those things later, when Danica was sleeping or doing something else that children do. For now, they were safe where they were.

As he watched her take in his apartment, take in her new home. He suddenly left like he failed. The place needed to be repainted, it needed to be cleaned, boxes needed to be thrown out, things stored away. He needed more space but, he liked it like this, cramped and cluttered like his mind. But now, suddenly it wasn't good enough. He couldn't expect a child to live here. Not a child he was calling his own anyway. How had he let himself live there? Have the guys over and even Scully? He'd let people into this cramped space and expected them to like it like they liked him. No, that was insane.

He would find a new place to live, for he and Danica to actually live like a family did. But in the mean time he'd clean, he'd make this a home first.

Danica was in the living room, watching the fish like they were magical creatures on their own. Sneaking up behind her, his cover blown by the reflection in the fish tank Mulder scooped Danica up; her squeals of delight were almost as cheesy as music to his ears. "What do you say to lunch, Danni?" He asked, applying a new nickname. She nodded her head, already knowing what the term 'lunch' instilled; paired with his happy tone she was ready for anything.

Mulder knew for a fact that he had no food in the cupboards. Deciding on having luncheon down the street somewhere then picking up a few grocery's for dinner on their way home Mulder tucked Danica under his arm and Schatz under the other before carrying them both out of the apartment and building. He left the shopping in the front doorway, deciding he'd clear it up and wash it all when they got back.

They had been out for hours, the sun starting to set as he'd climbed the stars this time as they entered the apartment, Danica sitting on his shoulders. She seemed to like the height, her ability to be so untouchable when she was on his back, or sitting on his shoulders. She giggled happily, her hands holding onto his head and quite clumsily his hair. He held a bag of simple groceries in one hand and kept the other free, waiting for the girl or her bear to fall.

Both things nearly toppled to the ground when Mulder noticed the red hair belonging to the pragmatic doctor Scully only a little way up the hall. Her back was to him so of course she hadn't noticed them yet, he thought for a split second about turning and running back down the stairs.

This wasn't how he wanted to face her. She rapped on his door again, her back arching as she stretched on the spot. He noticed a pizza box in her hand and could practically smell the cheese melting. Danica giggled at something in her own imagination breaking the silence of the hall. Scully span on her heel, quick to catch the source of the child's laughter. It was there she'd caught him. Her six foot something partner, clad in jeans and a grey t-shirt. A little girl dangling off his shoulders in frilled pink.

She blinked. Hard, hoping that was she was seeing was a dream. That wasn't possible, her partner wasn't a father. When she opened her eyes, her was still standing there, the girl present also, yet, now they were getting closer.

"Mulder?" She asked, confused, her mind begging her to pinch herself or rub her eyes.

"Hey, Scully." He replied, his tone calm as though nothing was out of the ordinary. As though a child wasn't sitting on his shoulders giggling happily. She didn't know how to go about it, how does one bring up in conversation a child that suddenly appears? She just looked at him, her face openly showing panic.

He grinned at her, his usually schoolboy charm. "I, ah, have some explaining to do." He smiled again as he unlocked the front door and let her in. "duck" he told Danica as even he had to bent down to make sure she wouldn't hit her head on the door frame.

She watched as he crouched down for Danica to slide off his shoulders. The girl was hesitant with Scully's presence but got down anyway and quickly busied herself with a coloring book, hoping not to draw to much attention. Scully listened as he whispered something to Danica in German before running his hand over her hair and leaving her in the room. He still held the groceries in his hand and had every intention of putting them away before addressing his still shocked to silence partner.

"What the hell?!" She hissed, cornering him in the kitchen. "What. The. Hell. Mulder?!" She repeated this time puncturing her words as she jabbed a finger in his direction.

"Well, I guess. It's about time you knew." He shrugged, loving the game.

"Knew what?" He shrugged again with a quiet smile.

"She's my daughter."

So I may or may not have ripped you off with having Danica meet Scully, but this chapter was longer than I usually let them get, so I thought I'd leave it there. Besides, I have no idea what I'm doing.

I'm off, don't forget your reviews. I might have a date with 'Kalifornia' and 'Straightheads' tonight, but that doesn't mean I won't be checking. ;P

Annaliese