From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org
Date: 9 Oct 2001 02:56:13 -0000
Subject: Man to Man Talk IV by Girlie_girl7
Source: direct

Reply To: FoxfireX@hotmail.com


Title: Man to Man Talk IV
Author: Girlie_Girl7
Date: 10-07-01
Category: Baby FF
Rating: G
Spoilers: You must be kidding at 
this point.
Archieve: Anywhere up to and including
 the Library of Congress.
Disclaimer: Fox owns M&S but M&S own William.
Note: Thanks to FoxFireX, who can actually
figure this posting thing out enough to get
my work on. P.S. you should all read her smut-Oh Baby!
Oh and I'm not a 9er.


                   Man to Man Talk IV

A man pushes a baby stroller out of a store and 
into the mall concourse.
He rolls his head to loosen the tense muscles in
his neck and back. His sweatshirt feels too tight
and his feet are killing him. He's been at this
far too long and is in need of a break.

Making his way to the snack food area, he purchases
a cup of coffee and sits down. He brings the coffee 
to his lips, his eyes grow wide. He's frozen in fear,
lines appear across his forehead, beads of sweat
form on his brow.

"It can't be." He mutters.


~Fox Mulder has just spotted Bill Scully at the mall~


Bill sees Mulder at the same time and makes his way 
over to the table. 
Mulder, good to see you."  Bill says as he awkwardly 
thrusts out his hand.

Mulder returns the handshake.  "Bill what are you doing 
here?"

"I'm on leave, and when I can't stand the wide open
spaces anymore, I come to the mall."  Bill says as he 
shruggs his shoulders and looks around.  "It reminds
me of my ship, long, enclosed and filled with people. 
I guess that's what I'm use to."

Mulder nods his head and sits back down.  "Care to 
join us?"

"Sure."  Bill says as he sits down.  "Boy he sure
has grown since the last time I saw him."

"Where's Dana?"

"Home." Mulder replies as he hands Will a toy duck.

"This is 'mens' day out."

"She let you take the baby?"

Mulder smiles.  "I'm not totally inept."

Bill looks intently at Will.  "He sure does look
like Dana."

"Scully says he's got my long fingers and feet."

Bill looks up at Mulder?  "You're still calling her 
Scully."

Mulder sets the coffee cup down.  "See Bill, everyone
calls her Dana, but she's special to me, so I've 
always called her Scully.  I'm just grateful she wasn't
born Dana Lipshitz."

Bill has to chuckle at that.

Mulder lifts the little boy from the stroller.  Will 
looks at Bill and extends one small, well chewed finger.

Bill takes Will's tiny hand.  "So what are you 'men' 
doing at the mall?"

"I thought Will could use a pair of shoes."

"And Dana doesn't?"  Bill says as he lets go of Will's
hand.

"She says, 'babies do not need shoes until they are 
walking'."

"I wish Tara had felt that way.  Matthew must have 
had a dozen pairs of shoes before he took his first
step."

Mulder straightens out Will's small blue sweatshirt. 
"You have to admit they are cool."

"So what did you get him?"

"Blue Nikes with white stripes."  Mulder pulls out 
a tiny shoe box from behind the stroller.

Bill opens the box.  "Bet those set you back a 
few bucks."

Mulder lifts Will into the air.  "It's only money."
Bill puts the shoes back into the box.

Will starts' to fuss and draws his legs up.  Mulder
knows from experience that Will's winding up for
a big one.  "Can you grab that bottle from the bag?"
Bill produces a small baby bottle.

Mulder takes the bottle from Bill and shakes it. 
"Sorry buddy, mom provided you with a meal but 
it's gonna be a little cold.
Bill grabs the bottle and heads for the hot dog stand.
He hands the bottle to the clerk and a few seconds 
later he returns with it, handing it to Mulder.

"They'll heat it up if you ask them."

"Thanks, thanks a lot."  Mulder says as he stuffs
the bottle into Will's mouth.

"Anything for my nephew."  Bill says as he rubs
Will's head.


The two men sit in silence, staring at the whispy, 
red-haired baby boy.

Will reaches up and grabs Mulder's thumb that's 
wrapped around the bottle.  Mulder smiles down at him.

"I never pictured you as the 'fatherly' type Mulder."

"Funny thing, neither did I.  But now I can't 
imagine being anything else."

I'm not sure how Dana pulled this off but if she's 
happy then so am I."

Mulder looks at Bill, a little surprised.  "I'm glad 
to hear you say that."  He says as he runs his fingers
along Will's sleepy face.  "Besides we both know 
Scully can kick my ass anytime she wants."

"I'm sure she can."  Bill grins.

Mulder continues to feed Will.  "Bill, can I ask you 
something?"
Bill just nods his head.

"You ever feel like you might let your kid down?"

"Sure Mulder, everyone does from time to time, that's
what makes you a good parent."

Mulder looks puzzeled.

"See Mulder, the minute you let yourself think you're 
the perfect parent, that's when 'it' hits the fan."

"No need to worry about that happening to me, I'm scared 
'it'-less."  Mulder grins.

Bill chuckles.  "You'll do fine."
"I hope so.  I couldn't bear to let Scully or Will down."

"You going back to work?"
"Maybe.  I'm not sure when.  I hate to miss anything
Will does, and he needs me."

Bill leans foreward with his elbows on his knees, 
rubbing his hands together.  "That's the one thing I
regret Mulder, I'm away from home too much.  Don't
ever let that happen to you."

"I won't"

Bill has a far-off stare on his face, then he snaps 
out of it. "I'd better get going.  I told Tara
I'd pick up a Halloween costume for Matthew. 
You 'men' have a good time."

Mulder looks up as Bill stands up.  "Thanks, we will."

Bill wanders off into the hoard of mall shoppers.

"Say Will, you wanna go trick or treating this year?"

                       ~The End~