A few years later, a tired yet exhilarated Mulder pulled up to Maddie's school. He was running on fumes after the long night at the hospital—Scully had given birth to their son, William—but he couldn't stop smiling. The digital camera in his coat pocket held the first pictures of their baby: William moments after his birth, Mulder cutting the umbilical cord with Scully watching, Scully breastfeeding for the first time, and one of her holding a fully cleaned and clothed William which Mulder intended to show to Maddie.

As soon as the 8-year-old climbed into the car, her backpack slumped over one shoulder, Mulder smiled at her in the rearview mirror.

"Hey, popcorn. How was school?" he asked, bracing himself for her usual playful jab at his first name.

But to his surprise, Maddie just shrugged, looking a little worn out herself. "It was okay," she said, her red curls bouncing slightly as she buckled her seatbelt.

"You're certainly tired," Mulder observed, his voice warm with sympathy. "It wasn't really fair to drop you off at Grandma's in the middle of the night, but you know, babies come when they come."

Maddie shook her head with a small smile. "I know, and that's fine. Grandma made me a really nice breakfast this morning right after you called to tell me Mommy and the baby are okay."

Mulder grinned, relieved at her easygoing response. "Speaking of food... I thought we could have lunch together before we go see Mommy and your brother. They went to sleep when I left to pick you up. So… how about we get something to eat and I'll tell you all about William while they enjoy their nap? If the doctors give the all-clear, we can take them home tonight."

Maddie's eyes brightened at the mention of her new baby brother, but after a moment, her expression grew thoughtful. She stared out the window, quiet for a beat, before speaking. "When the baby grows up… he'll call you Dad, won't he?"

Mulder felt a pang of nervousness at her question. This was a conversation he and Scully had anticipated for a while, knowing Maddie's sharp mind would eventually bring it up. He turned off the car and shifted to face her, giving her his full attention.

"Eventually, William will learn to talk, and he'll call Mom 'Mom' and me 'Dad.' That's right," Mulder said, his voice steady but gentle.

Maddie fiddled with the strap of her backpack, her expression pensive. "That's because you're his father."

Mulder took a deep breath. "Well, Maddie, you remember when Mommy told you about the seed that Mr. Chicken has to give to Mrs. Chicken?"

Maddie nodded, her curls bouncing as she looked up at him, her bright eyes curious.

"That makes Mr. Chicken the biological father," Mulder explained. "But here's the thing—you can give someone your seed and then never take care of the child. That doesn't make you a dad. A dad is someone who picks up the kid from school, feeds her soup when she's sick, and has tea parties with her and her stuffed animals."

Maddie's eyes lit up, and her voice grew excited as she chimed in. "Does her homework with her? Teaches her how to play baseball?"

Mulder smiled warmly, his heart swelling. "Exactly."

Maddie hesitated for a moment, her voice quieter now. "So… I can call you Dad too?"

Mulder's chest tightened at her question, his voice soft but filled with emotion. "If that's what you want, Maddie, then please, call me Dad."

A beaming smile spread across Maddie's face as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him from the back seat. "You promised lunch, Dad."

Mulder chuckled, equally beaming as he started the car again. "The special place?"

"Yes, the special place!" Maddie said, her joy infectious as she settled back into her seat.

As they drove off, Mulder glanced at Maddie in the rearview mirror, his heart full. For all the twists and turns his life had taken, this moment—the trust and love in Maddie's eyes—made everything feel more than worthwhile.

At their favorite diner, Maddie sat across from Mulder, munching on an omelette and looking thoughtful. She set her fork down for a moment and tilted her head. "Are you sure about the name William, though?"

Mulder looked up from his coffee, a bit surprised. "You don't like it?"

Maddie shrugged. "It's fine. It's just…" She hesitated, then added, "It was your father's name and Mommy's father's name, right?"

Mulder nodded. "That's right. And your Uncle Bill's name is William, too."

Maddie wrinkled her nose, her expression a mix of thoughtfulness and youthful bluntness. "But being named after two dead guys and one who never smiles…"

Mulder couldn't help but chuckle, thinking of Scully's brother, whose feelings for him ranged somewhere between intense dislike and outright loathing. "Fair point," he said with a grin, leaning back in his chair.

Maddie stabbed another piece of her omelette, but her tone softened. "It's fine. Really. It's just… I'm not named after anyone. Like, not even a little bit."

Mulder leaned forward, his brow furrowing slightly. "What do you mean? Your name is Maddie, and your Grandma's name is Maggie. That's pretty similar."

Maddie shook her head, ever the little lawyer in the making. "Yes, but my real name is Madeleine, and her real name is Margaret. So, not that similar."

Mulder nodded slowly, taking her point. "Fair enough. But you know what? That makes you unique. There's no one else in the family with your name, Maddie. You're one of a kind."

Maddie chewed on his words—and the last bite of her omelette—before asking, "So I get to be the first, and my kids can name their kids after me?"

Mulder smiled warmly, watching her as she worked through the thought. "Exactly. You get to set the trend."

Maddie seemed to accept that, her frown replaced by a small, satisfied smile. She pushed her empty plate forward and looked up at Mulder. "Okay. William's fine, then."

Mulder chuckled softly and raised his coffee cup in mock salute. "Glad we have your approval."

Maddie grinned, swinging her legs under the table. "Just don't expect me to call him Willie or something."

Mulder laughed, shaking his head. "Deal."

The moment settled into a comfortable quiet as the two shared a smile. Unique as she was, Maddie always knew how to make her point—and Mulder couldn't be prouder of the sharp, confident young girl she was becoming.

At the hospital, Maddie sat in a cushy armchair, cradling her newborn baby brother in her arms. Her red curls framed her face as she beamed with pure joy, carefully adjusting the blanket around the tiny bundle. Mulder hovered protectively over both children, his hands resting lightly on the arm of the chair, his expression a mix of pride and love.

Scully, sitting up in bed and looking remarkably fit after the birth, watched the scene unfold with a contented smile. She leaned back against the pillows, her eyes darting between Maddie and Mulder, glowing every time Maddie called him "Dad."

"He's just like my dolls," Maddie said, giggling as the baby squirmed in her arms. "But more fun, because he moves and makes noise."

Scully laughed softly. "But you can't toss him in the box under your bed when you're tired of playing with him."

Maddie nodded solemnly, her freckles crinkling as she grinned. "True. Very true. I won't. I promise." She glanced up at Mulder, her smile widening. "I can't wait to play baseball with him and Dad!"

Mulder chuckled, brushing a hand gently over Maddie's curls. "Me neither. But that'll take a few years, you know. He's gotta learn how to hold a bat first."

Scully raised an eyebrow, her tone playful as she said, "How about one of you baseball players helps me pack up? I got the okay to leave tonight. Let's get out of here."

Maddie looked up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Tonight? Really?" She carefully handed William to Mulder, her small hands lingering for a moment as if reluctant to let go. "Okay, I'll help you pack. And I'll help make dinner tonight, too!"

Mulder adjusted the baby in his arms, grinning down at him as he whispered, "Looks like you've got a big sister who's already got your back, little guy."

He turned to Scully, watching Maddie diligently pick up Scully's hospital bag and gather her mother's belongings. His voice was low but full of emotion. "She's an amazing kid, Dana."

Scully's smile grew softer, her eyes shimmering as she gazed at the little family they'd built. "She is," she said warmly. Then, with a glance at William nestled in Mulder's arms, she added, "And William will be just as amazing as his big sister."

Mulder nodded, his eyes meeting hers with quiet determination. "We'll make sure of it."

Together, they watched Maddie moving around with purpose, her small frame radiating responsibility and joy. As Mulder cradled William and Scully prepared to leave the hospital, they shared a look—an unspoken agreement that, whatever challenges came next, they were ready.

As they stepped out of the hospital, the cool evening air greeted them. Maddie walked a few steps ahead, her red curls bouncing as she carried Scully's hospital bag. She suddenly stopped in front of the building, turning back to Mulder and Scully with a determined look.

"We need a photo of all of us," Maddie declared, her hands on her hips. "One you can put on your desk at work, Dad. So you can finally get rid of my alien drawings."

Mulder chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll never get rid of those, Maddie. I'm still chasing those two guys."

Scully arched an eyebrow at him, amused.

Mulder softened, looking at Scully, then down at William cradled in his arms. "But a family picture would be nice. All four of us—not just for my desk."

He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small digital camera. He quickly scrolled through a few pictures he'd already taken of William shortly after his birth. His expression was a mix of pride and fondness.

Spotting one of the nurses enjoying a cigarette break by the door, Mulder walked up to her with a polite smile. "Excuse me, would you mind doing us a favor? We'd like to take our very first family picture."

The nurse smiled warmly, stubbing out her cigarette. "Of course! Hand it over."

Mulder passed her the camera and returned to where Scully and Maddie were waiting. He carefully transferred William into Scully's arms and positioned himself next to Maddie. Maddie wrapped one arm around Mulder's waist, the other resting lightly on Scully's arm.

The nurse lined up the shot, grinning as she took a few steps back. "All right, big smiles, everyone!"

The four of them stood together, framed by the soft glow of the hospital lights in the background. Maddie beamed with pride, her red curls catching the light. Scully looked radiant despite the long day, cradling William with practiced ease, while Mulder stood tall and relaxed, one arm protectively around Maddie, the other resting lightly on Scully's shoulder.

The camera clicked, capturing the moment.

After handing the camera back to Mulder, the nurse smiled. "Looks like a beautiful family to me. Congratulations!"

"Thank you," Scully said warmly as Mulder checked the screen. He showed the picture to Maddie first, who squealed in delight.

"It's perfect!" Maddie declared. "Now you have to put it on your desk, Dad."

Mulder laughed, his eyes glinting with emotion. "It's going front and center." He glanced at Scully, his voice soft but full of meaning. "I think we're off to a good start, don't you?"

Scully nodded, her smile as steady as her gaze. "I do."

With that, they turned toward the parking lot, ready to head home. It was their first official photo as a family of four, but far from their last.