Back in the delivery room, Scully lay back against the pillows, her body utterly spent but her mind still buzzing with adrenaline. Lisa worked efficiently, her tone calm and professional as she guided Scully through delivering the placenta.
"You're doing great, Dana," Lisa said as she pressed gently on Scully's abdomen. "I know this part isn't as exciting, but we're almost done."
Scully gave a weak smile, too exhausted to respond. Her legs trembled slightly as another small contraction rippled through her, and with one final effort, the placenta was delivered.
"Perfect," Lisa said, her voice warm with encouragement. "Everything looks good. No excessive bleeding, and your body's doing exactly what it's supposed to."
Scully nodded, her gaze drifting to the empty space where Mulder had been sitting moments earlier. Despite her exhaustion, a flicker of loneliness passed through her. She had asked him to take their son for his first check-up, knowing it was the practical thing to do, but now the room felt eerily quiet without them.
Lisa noticed her expression and offered a reassuring smile. "He'll be back soon. And so will that baby of yours."
"I know," Scully said softly, though her voice lacked conviction.
Lisa busied herself with cleaning up and making Scully comfortable, her movements precise and practiced. "You did amazing, Dana," she said after a moment. "Not that I expected anything less. You've always been tough as nails."
Scully let out a quiet laugh. "It didn't feel that way an hour ago."
Lisa chuckled. "Trust me, every mom feels that way in the moment. But you pushed through—literally—and now you've got a beautiful, healthy baby to show for it." She paused, her expression softening. "You should be proud of yourself."
Scully blinked back unexpected tears and nodded. "Thank you, Lisa. For everything."
"It's my pleasure," Lisa said warmly. "Now, let me grab a warm blanket for you and get the room set up so you can cuddle with that little guy when they bring him back. We'll try feeding for the first time then, too."
Scully leaned back into the pillows as Lisa stepped out for a moment, leaving her alone. The silence felt heavier now, and her thoughts wandered to Mulder. She remembered the look on his face when she'd asked him to stay, the way he'd seemed torn between retreating and stepping up.
It wasn't perfect—not by a long shot—but he was here. That was something.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts, and a moment later, Mulder stepped in, cradling their son in his arms.
Scully's breath hitched at the sight of them together. "How is he?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Mulder crossed the room and carefully placed the baby in her arms, his expression soft and unguarded. "He's perfect," he said simply.
Scully looked down at her son, his tiny face serene and his eyes closed in contentment. A wave of emotion crashed over her, and she bit her lip to keep from crying.
Mulder sat on the edge of the bed, his hand brushing hers as they both gazed at the baby. For the first time in what felt like forever, the silence between them wasn't uncomfortable.
Lisa returned with a warm blanket and smiled at the scene before her. "There's the happy family," she said gently, draping the blanket over Scully and the baby. "You three take all the time you need."
She moved with practiced ease, helping Scully adjust to guide the baby to his first feed. Mulder watched the entire scene in quiet awe, his heart hammering in his chest as he witnessed the small, instinctive way the baby turned toward her. But his awe quickly turned to concern when he saw Scully wince, a brief flicker of discomfort crossing her face.
"You okay?" he asked quickly, his protective instincts kicking in.
Lisa gave a reassuring smile. "It's normal. It takes time for both mom and baby to get the hang of it."
Mulder still looked uneasy. "Are you sure? Maybe we should try formula instead—"
Scully cut him off with a tired but knowing look. "Mulder, this is how it's supposed to go. It'll get easier."
Lisa nodded. "Exactly. It's a learning curve, but nature has a way of figuring itself out." She patted Mulder's shoulder lightly. "Your job is to be supportive, which you're already doing."
He exhaled slowly, nodding, but his eyes lingered on Scully, searching her face for any sign of distress. She met his gaze and gave him a small, reassuring smile, letting him know she was okay.
As Lisa left the room, Scully looked up at Mulder, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's really ours."
Mulder nodded, his gaze fixed on the baby. "Yeah. He really is."