Chapter 14

They had retired to their room for the night, and Mulder had just shut the door when Scully smacked him on his chest.

"Oww, what was that for?"

"That's for convincing me to have sex with you before things were settled!"

"Hey, you wanted to canoodle too! Though I do think five times plus halves is some sort of record!"

She hit again and scowled at him.

"What is the problem?"

"This, Mulder! This is the problem." She dropped her hands to her flat belly.

"Yeah, that." He looked chagrinned. "Umm, sorry about that?"

"Mulder, it's been one night. How can Sucellos know that I'm pregnant?"

"I don't know. How does he know anything? I tend to believe him though."

"But I don't want to be, not now, not yet."

"Dana, why? I thought you wanted another baby?"

"I did, and if things stay like we are now, I do, but if Daniel can't do what's needed, if he can't reset the timeline, then we won't have this baby girl." He eyes were so said that Mulder reached out and pulled her into his arms. "Would you believe me if I tell you that it will be okay?"

"If everything is reset than we will lose this child," she sniffed against his chest.

"Scully, we can't lose something we've never had. If everything is reset then we won't even know about her, we won't even know that this was possible." He stroked the top of her head. "We were happy before this. We were together, I was cleared to live a life again, we had William back…that's really a lot."

"I know, Mulder, but this is so…"

"Amazing? Stupendous? Incredible? I know, Scully. I want her too." He held her against him rocking her in her arms. "And the sex was mind blowing too. Makes me wish we would have started sooner!"

"Mulder!" He felt her sadness turn to laughter and pulled back so that he could turn her face so that she was looking up at him. And he kissed her, a sweet loving kiss filled with love.

"Are you trying to canodle with me again?"

"As the saying goes, the horse is already out of the barn, no point in locking it now." He waggled his eyebrows at her until she laughed.

"You know you're impossible, don't you?"

"Of course, it's my specialty. "Hey, Scully."

"Yes Mulder?"

"If everything works out and we have sex so soon? Do you think we can make twins?" He grinned at her, and pulled her close, kissing his way down her neck.

"You know it doesn't work that way."

"A good thought though," he said.

"Mulder," she purred as he unbuttoned her blouse and let it drop to the floor.

"I'm gonna make you feel so good," he promised and began to apply himself to the task at hand.

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When Carolyn awoke found herself exactly where she went to sleep, wrapped in Daniel's strong arms. Her back was against his chest, and he had a possessive arm draped around her, holding her close. She sighed contentedly and realized that her body wanted to feel him again, wanted to be with him in every way possible.

Her mind and body were in conflict and she didn't know what she wanted more, but she knew that if it was making love with Daniel she would have to wake him this time.

A son with Daniel? Truthfully, in her most private imaginings when she had let her mind wander she had pictured them together with a family. But to have him blatantly tell her that the life of her son, a man who already existed depended on them recreating him was a huge responsibility to be sure. And she didn't know what to do with it. To have two children as a single mother would be difficult, it was already difficult enough with just Candy, but to repeat what so many others considered a mistake would be difficult to live with and give her a most unwanted reputation. She realized that she could probably give in to Bobby and marry him to salvage some of her reputation, but now she couldn't imagine doing that. She'd much rather make a go of things on her own.

But a son! A lovely wonderful son of Daniel's to raise as her own, and eventually with him. If she ultimately ended up with him no matter what the others thought, wasn't that what mattered? She wanted to live her life, not the one everyone expected of her.

In his sleep he mumbled her name and pushed against her, and she couldn't help but smile. Her feelings for him were still relatively new, but she knew now that they were correct, they were meant to be together. And in the grand scheme of things, that was what really mattered, wasn't it? That and giving her son his life back.

Without conscious thought, she swirled her bottom against him, and he mumbled her name again and words of love.

She was fighting a losing battle and she knew it. She wanted to be with him and she wanted a life with him, and to give her son his life back. Slowly, she turned within the Captain's arms and then began to pepper soft kisses on his chest. He groaned and blinked his eyes open in surprise only to have Carolyn kiss his lips, deepening it in a way he didn't expect. He pushed her away and she saw his adam's apple bob as he swallowed, trying to get his bearings.

"Carolyn, are you sure?" his voice rumbled, and she saw the desire and love in his blue eyes, heard it in his voice.

"Does this answer your questions?" She attached her lips to his and kissed him passionately, her hand grasping and gently rubbing him until he groaned again.

He rolled her onto her back and using only his body to speak to her of his endless love, he joined with her and filled her with himself over and over again during the rest of the night.

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If only the room would stop spinning and he would stop feeling so miserable, Jonathan thought to himself. The last time he felt so bad was when he had a bad bout of food poisoning several years ago. He hadn't eaten Thai food since.

He shifted his eyes to see who was entering the room, as he knew he was being checked on at regular intervals by everyone invested in this mess. He was somewhat relieved to see his mother and he sighed. Though he was a grown man with a family of his own, being with his mother was something he now thought of as a comforting luxury. And he was more than happy to have her comfort him right now.

She sat in the chair beside his bed and he was once again struck by how beautiful she was. He always knew that but was unable to appreciate her true beauty when he was a child. She was always pretty to him, but she was also always 'Mom' and just looked the way she did. Now he knew that she was an amazing, gorgeous woman and not only from her physical beauty but the beauty that radiated from her soul. Just as he knew that the Captain was the perfect match for her as he had the same qualities but on the male side of the spectrum.

"Mom," he said and in one word conveyed his relief at her presence.

"Ahh, my boy," she said and placed a soothing hand on his forehead, before she leaned over to kiss it.

"I love you, Mom."

"And I love you. Why the earnest confession?"

"Well, you know…just in case…"

"Ahh," she gave him a knowing look. "Just in case Daniel can't follow through with what he has to do."

"Yeah, that." He said and shifted. He felt uncomfortable talking about his mother and father's love life, especially when he needed to be the result of that love life.

Carolyn laughed and offered him a heartfelt smile. "You have nothing to worry about, you know that, don't you?"

"Mom? How can you say that? You know how Dad feels about you. I believe him when he says that during his lifetime he seduced many women…"

"Oh, you do, do you?"

Jonathan reddened slightly but continued. "But I also believe that he couldn't willingly do that to you."

"Why not?"

"Because he loves you too much."

Carolyn studied her son for a few moments, the smile still on her face. She rarely let anyone see how much she actually felt for the Captain. The kids knew, of course, but the expression was so rare that Jonathan knew him Mom was sharing something special with him.

"Jonathan, your Dad and I have a very, very special relationship. I don't know how to explain it except to say that we are truly two halves of one whole. People fall in love, get married and have great relationships in the normal course of living, but once in a while you see someone that has an amazingly exceptional relationship with another person. Sometimes it is a bond of deep friendship that transcends everything else, and sometimes it is that and more, where the other person is needed to make oneself complete. Your Dad and I need each other to be complete." She watched him, but he only gave her a puzzled look.

"I don't really understand what you're trying to tell me. I mean, I kind of already know what you just said, though it is fun to hear you say it out loud. But what does that have to do with this situation? With you and Dad? And with me?"

"Jonathan, no matter what you think, this will work out. Daniel and I will be together whether it is in this time, that earlier time, or two lifetimes from now."

Jonathan wrinkled his brow at her. "You make it sound like you are star crossed lovers."

"No, well maybe to a point. But we are inevitable. We will always strive to be together whether we are even aware of it or not, and no matter how many fights or disagreements we may have, not matter how many obstacles we may face. We will be together."

"And because of that you are sure that the earlier you won't reject him?"

"Jonathan, we will not lose you. I suspect my timeline will become much more interesting for a few years, and probably difficult. But it was difficult the first time as well, so I know I will get through it." She laughed and shook her head. "It's so strange to feel like I'm talking about someone else, but I am in a way. This version of me will have memories of having lived through all of that after Daniel returns. Hmm." She gazed out of the window for a moment at the lovely day outside. "Do you feel like getting up and going outside?"

"No, Mom. I feel awful. I just want to lie here."

"Okay, that's fine. But remember, Jonathan, this is only temporary. Daniel will have his way with me, or I'll have my way with him, not completely sure how that will work out yet, and then there will be a you." She offered him a smile filled with love. "Even the knowledge of having a son like you with Daniel would propel me to do it."

"Even knowing he would be gone? That's a lot to ask." He worried for his mother.

"Stop worrying so. God, sometimes you are just like him," she shook her head and laughed.

"Is that really so bad?" He gave her a crooked grin.

"Not bad at all. But are you okay with it? Candy seems okay but has had some reservations."

"Yeah, I know, but she loves him too."

"Yes, I think she's fine now."

"He's always been my Dad. Being his son in every way would be amazing," he breathed, and Carolyn saw the happiness in his eyes.

"Good, because you will be. Hang in there, I suspect as soon as he returns, whenever that may be, you will recover and be back to your normal self. Except you may look a bit different. I wonder how much you will resemble him?" She studied her son with interest.

"Yeah, me too. Candy was pretty before, but now she's gorgeous."

"You are already a handsome man, you know that, don't you?"

"Thanks, Mom, but you're obligated to say that."

"Not true, there are some loopholes in the 'Mom clause'. But we shall see." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "No saying goodbye to anyone, you will be with us."

He offered her a happy smiling, feeling much better than when she first entered the room. "Inevitable?"

"Always," she nodded. "Do you want me to stay? Or do you want to go to sleep?"

"Nah, stay and talk, we haven't just talked in a long time."

"Okay. Tell me about my grandchildren. How is school going for them…"

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Unable to help herself, Carolyn's eyes opened at six am, the time she usually got up for work. It took a moment for her to realize where she was and who she was with, and when she remembered she could only smile. It had been a very physical night with Daniel and she had no regrets, but his stamina was something she hadn't expected, and since it had been a while she was a bit sore. She yawned and stretched and suddenly realized that she was alone in the bed.

Where had he gone? He hadn't left already, had he?

Panicked, she swung her legs out of bed and she was walking towards the bedroom door when she heard him, humming quietly in that pleasant baritone voice as he walked towards the bedroom. She stopped and waited for him, and he entered just a moment later, looking surprised to see her out of bed.

"What are you doing up?"

"It's morning, so…"

"Well get back there, I am making breakfast for you."

"Making?" She raised an amused eyebrow.

"Fine, I ordered it, but still I did have breakfast in bed in mind for you."

"Are you going to serve it to me as well?"

"Actually yes, I thought I might. Now, if you would get back in bed," he gestured to the bed.

"In a minute, I need to use the bathroom."

There was a knock on the door and he excused himself while she was in the bedroom.

When he returned she was sitting up in bed leaning against the headboard. She gave him a dazzling smile as he wheeled in the food cart.

"My God, Daniel, there's only two of us, how much did you order?"

"I worked up an appetite, my dear, and all do to you."

"Well I am a bit hungry," she admitted.

"Good."

"I already took today off, I think I'll call in sick tomorrow."

"Can you do that?" He asked, dishing up a plate for her based on what she was pointing to.

"Given the circumstances, yeah, I will."

"Excellent." He stepped over to her, put a tray across her lap, and set down the plate she ordered before leaning in and touching his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. Then he stepped back and regarded her.

"What?"

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"I think the one you've asked is big enough, don't you?"

"Well, yes, but…"

She laughed at him. "Go ahead. Ask."

"It's just that…well…blast! I would very much like to meet my daughter, Candy."

Carolyn looked up into pleading blue eyes and knew she couldn't refuse his request.

"Isn't there some code about not interacting with too many people while you are time travelling?"

"I think so," he grimaced, "but I suspect I have blown that to hell."

She laughed. "Based on that assumption I'm thinking I shouldn't introduce you to my parents."

"That and the fact that I've left you as an unwed mother."

"Yeah, that too." She sighed. "Probably better they don't meet you to make that assumption."'

"Might you go and get her? Or I should meet you somewhere?"

"Well, if you are willing to have her here with us for the day I will ask Martha to bring her over."

"Martha?" His face blossomed into a heartfelt smile. "That is a name I have not heard for a very long time. How is the dear woman?"

"My goodness, you are fond of her. The future?"

He nodded. "Yes, and it took a good bit of time, but she is stalwart, and loyal, and loves you like a daughter. You could not have a better friend. If you haven't already thought of it, ask her to go with you when you go to Gull Cottage."

"I have already thought of it. She doesn't have much time for Bobby or his parents, and sometimes not even my parents." She laughed. "And she has never been afraid to give me her opinion."

"Good to know some things never change…" he chuckled at her.

"Help me eat this breakfast," she said and patted the spot beside her on the bed.

"As the lady wishes," he said and brought over his plate as the shared the tray. "Do you think she'll like me?"

"Who? Martha? I doubt it, at least not at first."

"No, not Martha," his voice was quiet.

"Oh, Candy." She squeezed his hand and offered her encouragement. "You will do fine with her, she'll love you."

He sighed and ate his food in silence.