From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org
Date: 24 Sep 2003 01:49:36 -0000
Subject: A Day In The Life - 4 A by Girlie_girl74
Source: direct

Reply To: girlie_girl74@yahoo.com


Title: A Day in the Life (part 4)- The Visitor 
Author: Girlie_girl7
Email: Girlie_girl74@yahoo.com
Category: Family fic
Spoilers: Existence then AU
Date: 09-30-03
Rating: PG
Archive: Anywhere
Disclaimer: Fox owns 'em
Summary: Part 4 in a series but can be read as a
stand-alone.


                    
                        ~ The Visitor ~

Thursday ~

Scully isn't sure how Mulder will take the news.  They
hadn't planned on another arrival so soon, but it's
going to happen... her brother Bill is coming to
visit, again.

Mulder has classes scheduled for all day today and
won't be home for another hour, but Scully is already
nervous.  Granted, Bill had been congenial when he and
Tara came to see William, shortly after his birth. 
But Mulder was still recovering from the torture he
had endured during his captivity, and subsequent
death.  Bill never did fully wrap his mind around
Mulder's version of the big dirt nap, but he had at
least been civil to him.  Only this time, they're
staying at her house for a full week!  Scully isn't
sure that Mulder won't want to crawl back into the
ground once he hears the news.

Scully turns off the PC, putting away her notes
regarding the case she's been assisting on in an
advisory capacity, for one of the FBI field offices. 
She hasn't really been concentrating on it since Tara
called with the 'wonderful' news.

Suddenly the kitchen door opens and shuts; which means
one 
thing. . .Mulder is home.  "Hey Scully, I'm home."

"I'm in here," Scully replies, trying to keep the
nervousness out of her voice.  

Mulder comes through the doorway and tosses his jacket
on the nearest chair.  He walks up behind her and
kisses the crown of her head then begins to work his
way down her neck.  "Where are the kids?"  He breathes
on the shoulder that he is now nibbling on.

"What kids?" Scully moans.

Mulder stops long enough to chuckle, before he draws
her out of the chair and continues his lip-trip south.

"Oh," Scully sighs, "you mean 'our' kids."  Then she
slaps him on the arm.  "Mulder stop that."

Mulder acquiesces and releases her.  "So where are
they?"

Scully walks into the kitchen with Mulder trailing
along behind her.  "My mom took them for the day."

"She can handle them both at once?"  Mulder questions.

Scully smiles at him as she pulls a bottle of water
out of the fridge.  "Mulder, she raised four kids,
most of the time by herself."

Mulder grabs the bottle from Scully after she has
taken a drink.  "Yeah, but she's older now."  Mulder
tips up the bottle and nearly drains it.

"She's watched them for us in the past."

"I know, but Katherine is starting to squirm."

Scully is confused, "Starting to squirm?"

"You know, she's suddenly aware that there is a whole
big world out there, and she wants to be a part of
it."

Scully laughs and looks up at her partner.  "She is
five months old Mulder, how much 'squirming' can she
do!"

Mulder hands the nearly empty bottle of water back to
Scully.  "Remember Will at five months?"

Scully's face goes blank, as she remembers her son at
that age.  "But Mulder, we didn't know what we were
doing the last time."

Scully drains the bottle and tosses it into the
recycle bin.  "Anyway, the kids will be home around
seven."  She sits down at the island counter.  "I have
something to tell you."  Mulder sits down across from
her, wide-eyed and tense.  It finally dawns on Scully,
he's afraid of what she might say.  "No, no, Mulder,
it's not cancer."

Mulder drops his head and lets out a long breath. 
"Scully, don't ever start a conversation with me with
the words, 'I have something to tell you'," he rasps
out.

Scully reaches across the table and takes his hands in
hers.  "I know Mulder, I'm sorry."

Mulder swallows hard.  "So what is it?"

"Bill, Tara, and Mathew, are coming to visit.  They'll
be here Saturday, and are spending the week," Scully
blurts out.

"Sooo, they're staying here?"  Mulder looks around the
kitchen.

Scully licks her lips and lets go of Mulder's hand. 
"I'm afraid so," she softly replies.

"And you were afraid to tell me.  Why?"

"Well, I know Bill hasn't been the nicest person to
you in the past."

"Scully, he had no reason to be nice to me in the
past."  Scully looks up, surprised by what she is
hearing.  "Look, I know he thinks I'm a prick, but I'm
ready to prove him wrong.  I'd like to think, in some
way, I've contributed to your being happy."  Mulder
looks down at the counter, then raises his eye's to
glance across at Scully.  "You are happy, aren't you
Scully?"  He softly asks.

Scully gets off the stool and walks around to stand
behind him.  She wraps her arms around his chest,
steps close to him, and whispers in his ear, "Mulder I
am happy, no qualifiers, no stipulations, just happy,
solidly happy."


Mulder swings his stool around to face her.  Scully
steps between his bent knees and places her arms
around him once more.  Mulder kisses her lips before
Scully continues, "Thanks to you, I have two lovely,
brilliant . . ."

"Squirmy."  Mulder chimes in.

"Squirmy," Scully laughs, "children, who love their
father almost as much as I do."
 
"Thanks Scully," Mulder quietly says, then ruins the
moment by adding, "and don't forget, I bought you this
monster house and a really cool SUV."

Scully pats his shoulder and steps back from him.
"Mulder, do me a favor and don't speak to our children
until they're twenty."

 
Friday ~

Dana has spent the day with her mom, Katherine, and
William.  They bought groceries, paid bills, picked up
the dry cleaning, and ordered pre-cut flowers, all in
anticipation of her brother's visit tomorrow.

Maggie puts away the groceries, so that Scully can
work on the case she is currently involved with.  Will
does interrupt her long enough to have his shoes tied.
 He can almost do it himself, but Scully has a
terrible time getting them off his feet with so many
knots in the strings.   So the rule now is; mom ties
the shoes.

Maggie fed Will, while Scully fed Katherine, and now
both kids are asleep.

Maggie pops her head into the office.  "Honey, how
about some lunch?"

Scully sighs and removes her glasses, then stretches
her arms over her head.  "Sounds good to me.  Want
some help?"

"Nope, it's all ready, just go wash up."  Maggie says,
then disappears around the corner.

Scully smiles at her mother, still insisting she wash
up first, just like when she was a child.

Maggie is setting two glasses of iced tea on the
kitchen island when Scully walks in.   "So how did Fox
take the news about Bill coming here?"

Scully dries off her hands.  "He took it quite well,
actually."

Maggie sits down on one of the tall stools.  "I hope
your brother is civil to Fox.  If Bill could only get
past the ill feelings he has for him, I'm sure they
could become friends."

Scully sits down opposite her mother and picks up the
tuna sandwich that's on her plate.  "Mom, I doubt they
will ever be buddies."  Scully says, before taking a
bite of her sandwich.

Maggie looks surprised.  "Dana, why would you say
that?   Doesn't Fox like Bill?"

Scully smiles, "Well, Bill hasn't really given Mulder
a reason to like him, but yes, he does seem too."

Maggie takes a drink of her tea.  "I always thought
Bill and Fox would get along even better than Bill and
Charles did."

"That wouldn't take much," Scully laughs, pulling a
piece of dill out of her sandwich.  "Bill used to
terrorize Charlie so."

"Yes," Maggie laughs, "but Charlie always managed to
get his big brother back."

"You think he ever figured out who set the bucket of
water on the top edge of his bedroom door?"  Scully
chuckles.

"No, and I'm still trying to figure that out too, what
a mess."  Maggie scolds.

"Well, don't look at me.  I was too short to put that
bucket up there."  Scully laughs, before popping a
potato chip into her mouth.

Maggie finishes a bite of her sandwich.  "For some
reason, I suspect your father and Charles were working
as a team."

The phone rings and Scully gets up to answer it. 
"Hello."

"Hey Scully, how's it going?"

"Fine.  Where are you?"

"I'm on my way out."

"Class all done?"

"They were good little agents, so I let them out
early."

"You're getting to be an old softy, Mulder."  Scully
can hear him laugh.   "So did you want something, or
did you just call to annoy me?"

"No, not this time.  Frohike called just as I was
leaving, he wants me to stop by."

"Why, did he get a new blow-up doll?"  Suddenly,
Scully realizes her mother is sitting there.

"As a matter of fact he did, it has red hair, and big,
blue eyes."

"Well, you two have fun."

"We always do."  With that Mulder hangs up.

Scully's face is crimson.  "That was Mulder."

"So I heard."  Maggie smiles.

--

Sometime after 5pm Mulder walks in the back door. 
Scully is in the kitchen arranging the last of the
flowers.  Will is playing on the floor with his trucks
and cars, while Katherine is sitting in her carrier
next to him, watching him play.

"Hey Scully," Mulder says, maneuvering past the little
ones on the floor.

"Hello Mulder," Scully replies, pushing back a strand
of hair.

Mulder kisses his partner then stoops down to cup his
daughter's downy-soft head in his large hand, the baby
responds to her father's touch.  He moves over beside
his son, "What cha doing Will?"

"Paying," Will responds, never looking up.

Mulder unbuckles Katherine and lifts her up, a long
string of baby drool lands on his tie, while the baby
is laughing and squirming in his arms.   "You want out
of that old hard carrier, don't you."
The baby scrunches up her face and babbles, as Mulder
takes off down the hall with her.

"Don't you two go very far, I've ordered pizza,"
Scully yells behind them.

Mulder carries his daughter up the wide, wrap-around,
front staircase and into his and Scully's bedroom. 
Katherine is laid down on her tummy, in the middle of
the bed, while Mulder changes clothes.

Scully enters the bedroom with an arm full of Mulder's
dry cleaning.  "Mulder, I've told you to put some
pillows around her, if you're going to lay her on our
bed."

"I'm watching her," Mulder says, jumping up and down,
trying to get his leg into his jeans.

"One of these days Mulder, she will crawl right over
the edge of the bed," Scully says, sitting on the bed
next to her daughter.

Mulder finally manages to get his jeans on.   "So are
we all set for tomorrow?"   He asks, zipping and
snapping his jeans.

"I hope so," Scully replies as she strokes her
daughters tiny back.  "I've bought enough food to feed
an army."

"I wouldn't say that around a navy man," Mulder
teases.  "Wouldn't it be easier to just order out?"

"Mulder, we have a huge grill out back, let's use it,
and speaking of ordering out, I need to get downstairs
to wait for our delivery."

Scully leaves the bedroom to wait for their dinner
while Mulder plays with Katherine.  Suddenly Scully
screams, "William!  What have you done?"

"Ot oh, Katherine, it sounds like your brother is in
the deep stuff."  The baby babbles and rubs her nose
with her fist.  Mulder picks her up and tosses her
into the air.  Judging from her response, she likes
it.  "Let's go downstairs and see what Will has done."

Mulder finds Scully in the kitchen scrubbing Will with
a sponge.  The little boy is screaming in peals of
laughter.  "Hold still William."

Will wiggles around on the counter.  "Dat tick-olds!"

Scully looks up at Mulder and places one hand on her
hip.  "Your son decided he needed a tattoo on his
stomach."  She moves aside so Mulder can see the
black, indelible, drawing on Will's stomach.

He stares at it, then turns his head.  "I don't know
Scully, it's either an anchor or a naked lady."

Scully frowns at him.  "A lot of help you are."

Mulder hoists Katherine up a little higher in his
arms.  "Will, what did you do that for?"

Will looks down at his decorated tummy and says, "I
dwawd it."

"You certainly did."  Mulder laughs.

Scully is drying off her hands, when the doorbell
chimes.  "That's dinner.  Will, stay here until I get
back," she says, pointing a finger at her son.

"Come on," Mulder says as he lifts William down.  The
little boy scampers off, while Mulder puts Katherine
in her swing.

Scully comes in with several boxes in her arms.  "I
swear Mulder, it costs more each time we order out."

"Well, Will only likes cheese pizza and we're supreme
eaters, plus he wants breadsticks."

Scully sets out plates, and glasses, and a sipper cup
on the island then grabs some silverware.

Will is pushing his highchair up to the island. 
Mulder laughs, "Tattooing must make you work up an
appetite."  He swings Will up and into the highchair
and they all sit down to eat.  

Will lifts his sipper cup up, but nothing comes out,
so he bangs the cup on the tray.  "William!  This is
not prison, stop that."

Will holds his cup out, "Wanna dink."

Scully realizes she hasn't gotten them anything to
drink.  She starts to get up, when Mulder places a
hand on her arm.  "No, let me get it."

"Thanks," Scully mumbles, as she opens a pizza box.   

Mulder pours iced tea into two glasses and fills the
sipper cup, Will having developed quite a fondness for
the beverage.

He sits back down just as Katherine begins to fuss. 
He takes a bit of dipping sauce on his finger, and
feeds it to the baby.  She makes an awful face, and he
and William laugh at her.  She grins back and smacks
her lips.

"Mulder, why do you insist on making our children
living garbage cans?" Scully scolds.

"I am not!"  Mulder defends himself, then adds,
"Besides, she likes it!"

--

It's well past 9PM and Mulder is busy on the computer
while Scully has just finished cleaning the fridge. 
Both kids have been in bed for over an hour, with
Katherine not due up again until well past midnight. 
Scully walks into the office rubbing her tired hands
together, having washed them for the umpteenth time
today. 

"What time is your brother due in tomorrow?"  Mulder
asks, continuing to stare at the computer screen.

Scully flops down on the old leather sofa and brushes
her hair back from her face.  "Early," she huffs out.

Mulder turns to look at Scully; she is frazzled and
dragging.  He shuts down the PC and walks toward her. 
She looks up, as he plops down next to her on the
couch.  He grabs her and pulls her into his lap, then
begins to shower her with big, sloppy kisses.  Scully
laughs and tries to push him away, but not very hard. 
"Mulder, I have work to do!"

Mulder has his head buried in the nape of her neck,
"No, you don't. Time for play."

Scully pushes him back; "I still have to change the
sheets in the spare room."

Mulder looks into her eyes with a feral grin on his
face.  "Tell Tara to change her own damn sheets, I
have plans for you!"

Scully laughs.  "Tell you what, you help me change the
sheets and then," she kisses the end of his nose, "I'm
all yours."

Mulder lifts Scully off the couch and carries her to
the staircase.  "Mulder!  I can walk."

"Oh no, you're gonna need all the energy you have
left."  Mulder hefts her up in his arms, much the same
way he does Katherine.

Scully tosses her hand out, "Lead the way."

And up the stairs they go.



Saturday ~


A Mercury minivan, bearing a Lariat Rental sticker,
pulls into the large circular driveway in front of the
Mulder household.

Bill Scully ducks his head under the visor to get a
good look at the tall, white brick house, which his
sister now occupies.  "His old man must have been
loaded, for him to be able to afford this place."

"I love it!" Tara exclaims.  "Can you imagine Mathew
growing up here."

"I can't imagine paying the taxes."  Bill huffs,
pulling the van to a halt in front of the large front
door.  He and Tara, along with Mathew, crawl out of
the van and make their way up the steps.  Tara starts
to ring the bell, when Bill stops her.  "We're family,
just walk on in."

"Bill, we can't just walk in unannounced."

"Sure we can." Bill pushes the door open. "Anybody
home?"

Bill is answered by Scully screaming his name, and
running into his arms.  He scoops her up and twirls
her in the air.  "Hey, little sister, good to see
you."  He hugs her and puts her down.  

Tara embraces Scully and they exchange hugs.  Mathew
stands beside his mother; unsure of what is going on;
behind Scully stands William, thinking the same thing.
 Tara pulls Mathew out, "Matty, do you remember your
Aunt Dana?"  The little boy nods his head.

William grins at his cousin, like this is the first
time he has ever seen a child near his age.  Scully
pulls him out from behind her to face his cousin,
"William, this is Mathew, he's your cousin."  Will
chews on his finger, hiding his grin.  The two boys'
stare at one another, but it's apparent that they are
going to enjoy the week together.

Mulder walks down the wide staircase holding five
month old Katherine.  Tara spots the baby first, and
runs toward Mulder with her arms outstretched.  "Oh
my!  What a cutie you are!" 

"Thanks," Mulder replies much to Bill's chagrin.

Tara pokes Mulder's arm, "Oh Fox, I was talking about
the baby."  She scoops Katherine up into her arms and
runs her hand over her soft, baby fine, brown hair. 
She looks at Scully and laughs, "Dana, this is one
beautiful little girl you've got here."

Scully blushes.  "Thanks, we like her too."

By now, Will and Mathew have disappeared into the
house.  Mulder shakes Bill's hand, "Bill, good to see
you, you want some help getting the luggage?"

Bill shrugs, "Sure."

Scully leads Tara and Katherine into the living room. 
Tara looks around at the massive crown molding
decorating the high ceilings.  "Wow, this is some
house!  You have got to show me the rest of it."

Just then Mathew runs into the living room with
William right behind him.  "Mom!  Mom!"

"What is it, Matty?"  Tara asks, still holding
Katherine.

"Will'um has a pool!"  The little boy's eyes grow
wide.  "Can we go swimmin' in it?"

"Mathew, let's get settled in first, then we'll see." 
Tara looks up just as Bill and Mulder are bringing in
the bags.

Scully stands at the bottom of the staircase.  "Here,
let me show you where your room is.  I thought Mathew
could sleep in the youth bed in William's room."

Tara still hasn't put the baby down.  "Hear that
Matty, you get to sleep in Will's room with him."

"Aww wight!"  Matty exclaims, while Will looks on, a
little confused but excited.

Scully starts upstairs, with Tara and Bill following
her, and Mathew and William in front of Mulder.  She
walks to the end of the hallway and opens a door. 
Tara follows her in and stops in her tracks.  "Dana,
this is a beautiful room!"  She looks around the
large, pale green bedroom, filled with limed-oak
furniture.  

"You can thank Mulder for the room, he spotted this
house."

Bill and Mulder tote the bags into the room and drop
them on the floor.  Mulder turns to Bill.  "You wanna
beer?"

"Do I have to look at more furniture to get it?"  Bill
deadpans.

"Nope, not one stick."

"Oh, you two!"  Tara laughs, as the guys head back
downstairs.  

Matty runs in and pulls on Tara's shirt tail.  "Mom, I
found Will'ums woom, come see it!"  Scully, with Tara
still carrying Katherine, follows Matty and William to
Will's room.  

Tara steps in and looks around.  "This is pretty cool,
huh Matty."

Scully is a bit embarrassed by how ostentatious the
house is.  But Mulder loved it, and how could she
refuse him when he was sucking on her neck at the time
he asked her if he could buy it; Mulder never did play
fair.

The boys' busy themselves by emptying the toy box,
while Tara and Scully wander through the rest of the
upstairs rooms.

--

"So Mulder, what cha doing these days?" Bill asks, as
he takes the offered bottle of Shiner Bock from
Mulder's hand.

Mulder leans against the counter, twists the cap off
his bottle and takes a long drink.  "I teach at the
academy."

"So you're out of the Bureau?"

"Not in so many words, but I don't investigate cases
anymore, at least not in the field."

"Dana, she stays at home with the kids?"

"She does for now.  Her family-leave is up in October,
she has to decide what she wants to do."

"She thinking of going back to work?"

"I don't know, I haven't really discussed it with
her."

"I suppose if she does, mom will be doing the
baby-sitting."

"No, if Dana does go back to work, we'll work it out
so that one of us will be at home with the kids."

"You, playing Mr. Mom?  I just can't see it."

"I did when Will was six months old.  I worked
half-days and so did she.  I don't mind being at home
with my kids."

"I'd go nuts, if I had to be home with Matty all
week."  Then Bill catches himself, "It's not that I
don't love my son, but I've been so use to being out
to sea, that I get antsy, and when I get antsy Tara
and Matty pay for it."

"What are you going to do, if you're posted to shore
duty or have to retire?"

Bill thinks for a moment.  "I'm not sure, but it's
this always knowing that I have such a short time at
home, before I have to leave that gets me.  Maybe I
don't get close to my family because I have to leave
them again."  Bill takes a swing of his beer and
laughs, "Shit Mulder, we sound like the women."

Mulder swallows another drink.  "You might, but I
don't."

Bill laughs and tosses his now empty bottle into the
trash.  "Come on, let's go see what Tara is impressed
with now."

--  

The two men find the woman admiring Mulder's office. 
Tara is still holding Katherine, while William and
Mathew are playing upstairs.

Tara walks over to her husband and hits him with her
shoulder, "Isn't this a lovely home?"

"Lovely," Bill belches.

Mulder looks down at Scully and smiles.

"So when do we eat?" Bill asks, with Tara glaring at
him.

"Anytime we want, Mulder is grilling out," Scully
says.  "I have to call mom, she wanted to know the
minute you arrived."  Scully takes off for the kitchen
with Tara following her.

"Come on, let's go start the grill," Mulder says,
leading him out the French doors to the flagstone
patio, but not before Bill grabs two more beers.

Bill looks out over the full acre backyard, with the
pool in the middle, and playground equipment tucked
into one corner, while a high fence surrounds the
entire lot.  He takes a swig of his beer and points
with the bottle.  "So, what did this set ya back,
three-quarters of a mill., maybe more?"

Mulder smiles at him.  "Something like that."

Bill continues to stare at the backyard.  "You know
Mulder, you weren't my first choice for Dana, hell,
you weren't even my last, but she seems happy, and you
seem to treat her right."

"Thanks for the ringing endorsement," Mulder laughs.

Bill turns to face Mulder. "But, if you ever hurt her,
I'll kick your ass from here to China."

Mulder looks solemnly at Bill.  "I wouldn't expect any
less."

Bill smiles and slaps Mulder on the back. "Let's go
burn some meat."

Scully hangs up the phone and turns to Tara, "Mom's on
her way."

"How is mom doing these days?" Tara asks, bouncing
Katherine on her lap.

"She's fine.  We see her a lot, but unlike what Bill
thinks, she isn't constantly babysitting."

"Bill's just a little jealous of the time mom can
spend with you and Fox."  Suddenly, Tara holds out a
very crimson faced Katherine.  "That look can only
mean one thing."

Scully laughs, "Upstairs, next to your room, under the
dressing table."

Tara takes Katherine to change her diaper.  Scully
yells, "You might check on the boys."

--

Maggie arrives and hugs are shared all around.  She
helps Scully prepare lunch, while Tara watches the
kids.  Mulder and Bill finally get the burgers done
and the meal is served in the backyard.

Katherine sits on the picnic table in her carrier,
while Will and Mathew eats at the plastic kiddie
table.  Mulder and Scully sit together next to the
baby, while Tara, Bill and Maggie sit on the other
side.

The two boys' finish their lunch and head for the
swing set.  Will is fascinated by the exploits of his
older cousin, and Mathew likes playing the part of big
brother to William.

It's past two when lunch is over.  Scully takes
Katherine into the house to feed and change her,
before being put down for a nap, while Maggie and Tara
take the leftovers in.

Mulder checks on the boys while Bill wonders around
the yard.

"Anyone for coffee?" Maggie asks, stepping out the
French doors.

Both men decline. Mulder walks over to Bill who is
currently admiring the pool.  "Wanna take the boys for
a swim?"

"Sure, Bill replies.  "Matty, get your suit on, we're
going swimming," he yells.

"Aw wight!" Mathew exclaims.  Will is equally excited,
but he's not sure why.

Mulder grabs up his son and carries him into the
house.  "Scully, Will and I are going swimming with
Bill and Mathew."

Scully is coming down the stairs.  "Okay, but watch
him close, and put a life jacket on him."

Mulder leans into her, "Don't worry Scully, I won't
let anything happen to your little boy."

"You better not," she warns.

Soon all the men in the group are in the pool acting
like typical males.  Maggie and Scully are sitting
nearby watching them show-off.  Tara comes out with
Katherine sleeping in her carrier.  "Do you mind if I
bring her out here, Dana.  She was fussing."

Scully smiles at the slim excuse Tara is giving her. 
"No, not at all, you're a good babysitter."  

Tara sits down next to the sleeping baby.  "I'd just
love to have a little girl."

"Well, feel free to spoil mine all you want."

Tara grins at Scully, "Thanks!  I will."

Mathew is jumping off the diving board and into his
father's arms, while Mulder carries William around on
his shoulders, much to the little boy's delight.

Maggie laughs and takes a sip of her coffee.  "Do you
think any of them are acting their age?"

"Well, Will and Matty are," Tara comments.

Mulder has been looking over at the woman sitting in
the lounge chair.  "Hey Scully," he yells.

"What?" Scully yells back, as she draws up her knee. 
Mulder motions for her to come join them in the pool. 
"Not me!  You guys play too rough."

Mulder looks at William and says something to him. 
Will nods his head and claps his hands.  He lifts Will
off his shoulders and stands him next to the pool.  He
walks up the pool steps and heads for the patio,
dripping wet and with a feral grin on his face. 
William is watching intently while bouncing on his
feet and clapping.  "Come here, Scully," Mulder says,
motioning with his finger.

Scully grabs the arms of her chair and plasters
herself against the back, shaking her head. "Oh, no,
no, no!"  She protests while Will screams in a fit of
laughter.

Mulder grabs her by the hands pulling her out of the
lounge chair. Scully isn't putting up as much
resistance as she could be, or as much as Mulder has
seen before.  He tosses her over his shoulder,
straightens his back, and marches off to the swimming
pool.  Now Mathew is screaming in laughter along with
William.  Scully is kicking her feet and trying to
squirm out of his grasp.  He stops at the edge of the
pool switching Scully around so he is cradling her. 
"So, William, what do you think we should do with
momma?"

The little boy, with the spiky hair and red eye's,
laughs and jumps up and down.  "Fro her in da poo,
da-dee!"

Scully pleads, "No Will!  Tell daddy no."  But it's of
no use; Mulder tosses her into the pool.  William and
Mathew scream with delight.  Tara and Maggie sit stone
still, unsure what will happen next.  Scully comes up
for air and swims to the end of the pool with William
running along side her.  She stands up, her shorts and
T-shirt sticking to her, as she pushes the wet hair
away from her face.

"Momma, gots wet," William howls.

Scully stands in the shallow end of the pool and
glares at Mulder with her hands on her hips, but
trying not to smile.  "See if you get any soon!"

"Da-dee's gettin' any soon!"  William parrots.

The adults all roar with laughter.  Will isn't sure
what he has said, but he laughs too.

Mulder helps Scully out of the pool and pulls her
close.  He softly speaks to her and picks the wet hair
away from her face.  He releases her and she walks
toward the house.   "Mom, can you keep and eye on
Katherine?   Tara, grab your suit, I've got a score to
settle."

-To Be Continued-

--------------
   
Part 4 (B)

Over two hours later, four very tired adults, and two
exhausted little boys are dripping all over Scully's
kitchen tile.

Scully looks down to see a red-eyed William, shaking
like a leaf.  She lifts her son up and rubs his
concave back.  "Come on sweetie, let's get you warm
and dressed."  She takes him upstairs and into his
room, gathering up his clothes as she goes.  She heads
for his bathroom and sets him on the potty-chair, then
dresses him in a pull-up diaper, clean shorts and a
T-shirt.  "Did you have fun, William?"  Scully softly
asks. 

"Um hum," Will says yawning.

"Did you think it was funny that daddy threw me into
the pool?"

"Yeah," Will softly says, with a huge grin.

"All done, but let me comb your hair first."  She
parts Williams's hair just like his fathers, then she
sets him down on his feet and bends down, "Go find an
adult, okay Will."

"Okay," he agrees.

"I'll be out as soon as I get dressed."  She grabs her
sons jaw and kisses him, he returns the kiss and turns
to try and open the door, but Scully has to help him.

Will meets Matty coming out of the guestroom.  The two
cousins walk down the backstairs to the kitchen, where
Maggie is bouncing Katherine on her lap.  Mathew pats
his grandmother on the shoulder,  "Gwamma, I'm
hungwy."

Maggie turns to face her two grandsons, "You are! 
Well, lets see what we can do about that."  She puts
her grand daughter in the swing, then turns to open
the refrigerator.  "How about a ham sandwich and some
potato salad?"

"Yeah!" Mathew yells.  "Yeah," William parrots his
cousin.

"Can we have sompin' to dwink too?"  Mathew asks,
crawling up on a stool.  Will tries to do the same
thing as his cousin, but he can't get on the tall
stool.  Maggie lifts her youngest grand son up,
putting him on a stool next to Matty.  Will looks over
at his cousin and rests his arms on the counter just
like Mathew does.

Maggie opens two juice boxes for the boys when Bill
comes in the kitchen.  He looks in the refrigerator.
"So, what's to eat?"

"Sit down, I was just getting ready to feed the boys."

Bill pulls out a stool next to Mathew. "I'm a boy too.
 Mathew did you know I'm grandma's son?"

Mathew stares at his father with large eyes. "Awe
not!"

Bill laughs, "I am too."  He wraps his arms around
Maggie. "I was grandma's little boy once."

Mathew looks at his dad.  "Yower lying to me!"

Maggie finally speaks up, "No, Matty, it's true.  Your
daddy is my oldest son, and William's mommy is my
little girl."

William isn't sure what's going on, but Mathew seems
surprised, so he is too.

Tara and Scully walk into the kitchen chatting. 
Mathew speaks up, "Mom, mom, daddy's gwamma's little
boy, did you know 'bout that?"

The adults all laugh hysterically.

Tara pats Mathew on the back.  "Of course I did,
Matty."

Maggie sets a pile of sandwiches in the middle of the
counter just as Mulder comes in.

Scully comes in the kitchen and grabs a baby bottle of
juice from the fridge.  "Oh, let me," Tara asks,
getting up from her stool.  Scully hands the bottle to
Tara, and lifts Katherine out of the swing.  She sits
down next to William, and cuts the crust off his
sandwich, as Mulder slides onto the stool next to her.
 Maggie continues to pile salads, and chips and
drinks, onto the counter.  Mulder gets up and walks
over to her.   "Enough Maggie, we can get anything
else we need, ourselves."

Maggie looks around.  "Oh, alright Fox."

"You go sit down," Mulder softly says.

Bill is watching Mulder interact with his mother and
seems pleased by what he sees.

Mulder returns to his stool and rests his arm across
the back of Scully's.  She turns to smile at him.  He
grabs her hand, which lies on the table, and gives it
a squeeze.

Katherine is finally dozing so Tara takes her to
Mulder's office and lays her in the downstairs
bassinet.   Scully and Maggie finished clearing off
the counter.

Bill walks around the corner of the kitchen and into
the dining room when his foot nudges something.  He
looks down, to see William, asleep on the floor. 
Mulder steps past him and gently lifts his son off the
floor.  Bill looks puzzled.  Mulder just shrugs, "When
he gets tired, he lays down and goes to sleep.  We
never know where we're going to find him."  He carries
the sleeping child upstairs as Bill stares at them.

Mathew is now sitting on his mother's lap, half asleep
himself.

"Where's William?" Tara asks.

"Mulder took him up to bed."

"I think this one is about ready to go upstairs too."

"Let me take him," Bill offers.

Tara relinquishes her son to her husband, gets up,
stretches, and wanders out onto the patio where Maggie
is sitting.  She leans over and squeezes Maggie's
shoulder, "That was a great meal, mom."

"Thanks dear," Maggie says, grabbing her arm and
squeezing it back.

Scully is out in the yard picking up towels and toys
that are strewn about.

"This home is so beautiful," Tara comments to Maggie.

"Yes, it is.  Fox, was so set on buying it, but Dana
wouldn't budge."

"What changed her mind?"

"They were living in Dana's small apartment with all
of Will's things and Katherine was due in a matter of
weeks.  I think Dana panicked, and said yes."

"Mom, I know Bill loves me, but he never looks at me
the way Fox looks at Dana."

"Don't feel bad dear.  I've never seen that look
either on any other man toward the woman he loves."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the dangerous job
they shared.  Dana once said, if she were to tell me
everything they had been through, I would probably
lock her in the house and throw away the key."

The door opens and Mulder walks out.  He passes Maggie
and Tara, and heads straight for Scully, who is now
fishing a raft out of the pool.  He bends down to grab
it for her.  Together they finish the job, never
having said a word.  Mulder takes Scully's hand and
leads her to the back of the lot.  He's pointing to
things that aren't there.

"I'll bet Fox is on another building project," Maggie
says, all the while never taking her eyes off the
couple.

"Why do you say that?" Tara questions.
 
"This house had a vacant backyard when they bought it,
but right away Fox had plans."  Maggie turns to Tara. 
"He fenced in the entire lot, put the pool in, the
patio, and the eating area.  He said, he wanted a
safe, private place, where he and Dana could relax
with the kids."

"You think he wants to add-on?"

Maggie looks back at her daughter, who's intently
shaking her head no, but listening to the man standing
before her none the less.  "I'd say so from the stoic
look on Dana's face, and the pleading expression on
Fox's."

"Who will win?"

Maggie watches them interact.  "He will, he always
does."

--

The evening has turned chilly, so the entire clan is
tucked away in the big house.

Will and Matty are playing with the toys.  Katherine
is lying on a blanket on the floor, trying to eat her
toes, while Scully and Tara chat next to her.  Bill is
dozing off in the recliner while Mulder checks the
scores on SportsCenter.

Maggie walks in and announces, "Well everybody, I
think I'm going home now."  She kisses both of her
grandsons and wiggles Katherine's tiny toes.  Tara and
Scully hug her, then she walks over to Bill and kisses
his forehead.  He jumps but doesn't wake up.  "Night
son."

Mulder gets off the couch and walks Maggie to the
door.  She stands on tip toes and kisses his cheek,
then smiles and says, "So what are you trying to get
Dana to agree to let you put in the backyard, this
time?"

Mulder turns red and grins.  "A basketball court, but
in the winter it can be flooded and the kids can skate
on it."

"Good idea," Maggie agrees, "keep working on her."

"Oh, I will."  Mulder smiles.

"Night son."

"Night, Maggie."  Hard as he tries, Mulder just can't
bring himself to call Margaret 'mom' yet, but he's
getting closer.

--

Tara has put Mathew in William's youth bed, while Will
is sound a sleep in the crib.  Both boys were too
exhausted to be of much trouble.  Scully fed Katherine
and tucked her into her bassinet, in her and Mulder's
room.

Bill finally wakes up long enough to crawl upstairs
and flop into the guest bed.  Tara says her 'good
nights', and follows him.

Scully goes around checking the locks, and turning out
the lights, messes will just have to wait until
morning to get cleaned up.  She sees the lights on in
the office and finds Mulder sitting in front of the
computer.  She walks over and runs her hand across his
back.   "It's late, you coming to bed?"

Mulder leans back in his chair and rubs his red eyes. 
"Yeah, I'll be there soon."  He swivels the chair
around and pulls Scully into his lap.  He rubs her
back while she encircles him with her arms.  "I'm
sorry about today, Scully."

"What about today," she murmurs.

"You know, tossing you into the pool, like I did."

"Well, Will seemed to enjoy it."

Mulder smiles.  "He did, didn't he."

"Why did you do it?" Scully asks, looking into his
eyes. 

"I don't know," Mulder shrugs.  "I guess, I wanted
Bill to see us as a normal couple.

"So you tossed me into the pool?"

"Well, yeah, normal guys do that."

Scully kisses his throat.  "Mulder, if that's normal,
then I prefer you spooky."

"Okay, okay," He softly laughs, "I get the message,
loud and clear."

"But Will did enjoy it," Scully sighs, getting off
Mulder's lap.

"I'll be up in a few."

"Don't make me wait," Scully says, slipping out the
door.

Immediately Mulder starts shutting down the computer,
he gets that message too.



Sunday ~

Mulder comes in from his morning run to find the house
quiet.  He assumes the family has all gone to church. 
It's not that he doesn't occasionally go with Scully,
but this is a tradition she shares with her family.

He grabs the coffeepot and begins to pour a cup when
he hears, "Dana, said to tell you, they went to
church."  It's Bill, dressed in jeans and a light
green button down shirt.

"You didn't go?"  Mulder glances back at him as he
sips his coffee.

"No, I attend every Sunday on the ship.  This is my
vacation," he smirks, grabbing the coffeepot.  "So
what's on the agenda for today?"

Mulder is leaning against the counter, his legs
crossed at the ankles, his sweaty shirt plastered to
him.   "I don't know, probably
a visit to the zoo."

Bill pulls out a stool and sits down at the island. 
"Why do women do that?"

"Do what?" Mulder questions.

"You know, we all have to caravan around for a week,
being entertained.  They will organize every minute,
of everyday, we're out here."

Mulder smiles over his coffee cup.

Bill takes a drink from his cup and continues, "We all
have to eat at a set time, leave at a set time, come
back at a set time.  Shit, it's like still being
onboard ship."

Mulder puts down his cup.  "Can you wait until I take
a shower?"

"Sure, why?"  Bill puzzles.

"Let's cut out and ditch the rest of them."  Mulder
grins.

"You got it!"  Bill laughs.  "Just let me put on some
shoes, and we're out of here."

Before Bill and Mulder take off, they leave a note on
the counter.
--

Scully walks through the back door.  "I don't
understand it, Mulder should have answered his cell
phone."

Tara walks in behind her, carrying Katherine.  "Bill
should have at least answered when we called the
house."

Maggie comes in with her grandsons trailing along
behind her.

Scully finds the note and pauses, then furrows her
brow.  "Now it all makes sense."

"What?" Maggie asks.

Scully waves the note in the air, "It seems our
missing men are together and they have ditched us. 
Mulder left a note, saying they'll be back gone most
of the day, and for us to go do whatever we had
planned."

Scully pokes her tongue into the side of her cheek and
hits her leg with the note.

"Dana, don't be too hard on Fox, we can take the kids
with us."  Maggie clutches Scully's arm, "Just be
glad, he and Bill, are getting along."

Scully rubs her forehead and sighs, "I guess you're
right."  She then nods to herself, having made up her
mind, "Everyone upstairs, out of our dress clothes,
we're all going to the zoo."

--

The Bar-None sports bar and grill has the usual Sunday
baseball crowd, plus two very happy husbands.

"Mulder, I gotta admit, I enjoyed the tour of the
bureau."  Bill says, downing a drink of his beer.  "I
still don't understand how Dana has the stomach to cut
up stiffs.  That autopsy bay was just creepy," he
says, taking a bite of his Rueben sandwich.

Mulder puts down his iced tea.  "The first time I saw
Scully slicin' and dicin', I almost lost my lunch, but
after changing diapers, nothing scares me anymore."

Bill laughs, "Don't I know it!  I swear, every time
Tara got pissed at me she would feed Mathew stewed
prunes then leave him with me, while she spent the day
shopping."

Mulder laughs, "The first time I had to change a messy
one, I had Scully come in and give me her medical
opinion, then she shocked the hell out of me by saying
there would be more."

"Made ya regret having kids?"  Bill laughs.

Mulder turns quiet, "No, never."

Bill clears his throat, "So where to next?"  He looks
at his watch, "I figure they're just about up to the
monkey house by now."

Mulder spreads his arms across the back of the booth
and motions for the check.  "I've got some friends
that you might find interesting."

--

Tara is pushing Katherine in her stroller while Mathew
and William run ahead.  Scully has just paid for the
train tickets that will take them into the African
Safari section of the zoo, and is currently waiting
for her mother outside the restrooms.

"Mathew, William, stay here, we have to wait for
grandma and Dana," Tara says, adjusting the sunshade
over the now sleeping Katherine.

Scully and Maggie catch up with Tara and the kids. 
"Okay, are we all set now?"  Scully asks.

The little group makes its way to the train station
and wait in line with the other zoo visitors.

--

Fox Mulder stands outside what looks like a derelict
warehouse.  Bill nervously looks around.    

Mulder pounds on the steel door once more.  "Open up,
Frohike."

Without any warning the door swings open and before
Bill stands a myopic, little man, in need of a shave. 
"Mulder!" Frohike yells and looks around both men. 
"So where is the delightful Scully?"

Mulder grins and points to Bill.  "Here he is."

"Stop shittin' me, Mulder," Frohike growls.

Bill steps forward, "I'm the 'delightful Scully's'
older brother, Bill."

Frohike swallows hard and blinks.  Mulder holds back a
laugh.

"Mulder!"  Suddenly, Byers appears to save the day, or
at least Frohike's skin.

Langley wanders in from the back and Mulder motions to
his three friends.  "Bill, this is Langley, Byers, and
you've already met Frohike.  Guys, this is Bill
Scully."

Byers thrust out his hand, "Bill, glad to meet you."

Bill frowns, "Geeze, doesn't anyone in DC go by their
first name."

They all walk into the main room.  Bill wanders around
looking over all the computers and equipment that's
crammed into the small space.  "What is all this
stuff?"

The guys all eye Mulder.  "It's okay, he won't rat you
out."

Soon the guys are explaining and demonstrating their
hardware.  Bill is overwhelmed at just how deep into
'the system' that these guys can go.  They even pull
up his personnel file, which reveals he has been
reprimanded for mooning a lieutenant.

--

Scully is carrying a limp, sleep of the dead, William,
over her shoulder.  He'd fallen asleep beside the
penguin tank.  Maggie is carrying a wide-awake
Katherine, while the much too big Mathew, is asleep in
her stroller.  Scully brushes back her hair, "I don't
know about you two, but I'm about 'zooed' out for the
day."

"Me too," Tara sighs, as she pushes the weighted down
stroller.  "My feet are killing me."

Scully turns to Tara and Maggie, "Let's put these guys
to bed, get on our suits, mix up a pitcher of
margaritas, and hit the pool."

"Sounds good to me," Maggie sighs.

Scully and Tara both stare at one another.  "I can
have fun too," Maggie blushes.  Tara and Scully both
laugh.

--

Bill puts down his piece of pizza.  "You're shittin'
me!  You guys can decode HBO!"

Frohike shrugs his shoulder, "Piece of cake."

Mulder reaches for the last piece of supreme pizza, as
Bill finishes off the pepperoni.

"So where's Dana?" Byers asks.

"Shit!" Mulder exclaims and looks at Bill.

"Shit!" Bill parrots, looking back at Mulder.

Mulder swipes a napkin across his mouth, "We better
get going."

Langley laughs, "So you two sneaked out, huh."

Bill swallows hard.  "We did leave a note," he says
meekly.

Mulder looks at his watch.  "Yeah, we did, about nine
hours ago."

Frohike pats Bill on the back, "Man, if your wife is
anything like Dana, you are in big trouble."

Bill looks stoically at the little man; "Dana was
trained by Tara."

Mulder laughs and grabs Bill's shoulder.  "We need to
get going."



--

Scully is lying on her stomach on an air mattress in
the middle of the pool, wearing her deep blue,
one-piece suit.  Sunglasses cover her eyes and a drink
glass rests in her hand.  Maggie is sitting on the
pool steps, while Tara is drifting around the pool in
the middle of an inner tube.  A drink glass is also
clutched in each woman's hand. 

Tara sleepily lifts her head, "Dana, you think I
should go check on the kids?"

"No need, the guys wires the whole house, all I had to
do was turn on the outside speaker.  If a pin drops,
we'll hear it."  Scully says, without even bothering
to lift her head.

Tara drags her hand through the water and takes
another sip of her drink.

Scully hears a vehicle pull up and two doors slam. 
"That had better be Mulder," she mumbles.

The French doors open and Mulder steps out, followed
by Bill.  "Hey Scully, we're back."

"'Bout time," Scully growls, never moving.

"And where were you, William Scully?" Tara demands.

"Aw, don't start raggin' on me, Tara.  Mulder got to
keep his balls."  Then Bill spots his mom sitting
there and blushes, "Sorry, mom."

Maggie chuckles at her son's embarrassment.

Tara plows ahead, "Balls or not, we got stuck with the
kids, all day."

"Tara," Bill teases, "if I had known our son was going
to be such a burden to you, I would have taken him
with me."

Tara's eyes close to little slits and she flicks water
on her husband.   "You are so full of shit, Bill
Scully!"

Mulder smiles at the interplay going on between these
two."

Finally Scully comes to life.  She raises up, then
props her sunglasses up on her head.  "I think those
that played hooky today, should go pick up dinner."

"Fair enough," Mulder agrees, knowing he and Bill got
off easy.  "What would you like?"

"Pizza!"  Scully says.

"Ohhh," Mulder and Bill both groan.


Monday ~

Mulder is up and out early.  He has class until noon
and then he's free.

Scully has been up, since shortly after Mulder left
the house.  She has picked up the house, started a
load of laundry, and made scrambled eggs and sausage
for breakfast, which is now sitting in the oven
keeping warm.

Bill has just wandered in.  "Got any coffee?"  He
asks, scrubbing his face with his hand.

Scully sets a mug in front of her brother and pours
herself one.  "Sleep well?"

"Well enough," Bill croaks.  "Dana, I've been wanting
to talk to you."

Scully eyes her brother.  "About what?"

"I've got the chance to take a desk job, back here in
New London.  I haven't told Tara yet."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not sure I want to be land locked, so to
speak."

Scully sits down next to her brother.  "Don't you
think she deserves to be in on the decision?"

"Yeah, but remember how hard it was for dad, when he
finally retired."

"But Bill, he was much older than you are, and all of
us were out of the house by then, and we both remember
what happened, he and mom didn't have that much time
together."

Bill ponders what his sister has said.

"Bill, you're still young with a young son, wouldn't
you enjoy spending more time with him?"

"But, I get so antsy when I'm on leave, and I know I
take it out on him and his mother."

Scully rubs her brother's arm.  "People can change."

Bill smiles at her.  "I know, Tara is yammering to
have another kid too.  I guess it would be easier if
we weren't 1,500 miles apart."

Scully giggles, "That would make it easier."

"I guess if Mulder can settle down, I can."

"It's not easy Bill.  We work at our relationship, and
at raising our children, all the time.  It's not
always easy.  It used to be, if I got pissed at Mulder
when we were on a case, I would take a long, hot bath
and when he got mad at me, he would go out for a run. 
It isn't always possible now, but you know what?"

Bill looks Dana in the eyes.  "What?"

"I'm right where I want to be and so is Mulder.  
After years of pouring ourselves into our work, we
finally are pouring that same energy into our
children, our home, and our own relationship."

Bill looks down at his coffee cup.  "You make it sound
so simple." 

"Believe me, it's far from simple, but well worth it."

Tara walks in yawning and running her fingers through
her blonde hair.  "Do I smell sausage?"

Scully and Bill both grin at one another.

--

The morning is spent playing around the pool and
relaxing in doors.  Around noon, Maggie arrives with a
huge pot of her homemade chili.  A salad is fixed, and
hot rolls are pulled from the oven, just as Mulder
walks in the door.

William runs to his father.  "Da-dee!" He screams. 
Mulder picks up the little boy and kisses his cheek. 
Scully brushes past him.  "Do you want to change
before we eat?"

"I should." Mulder says, carrying William upstairs
with him.

Tara is washing Matty's hands while Maggie is dishing
out the boys' soup to cool.

Bill comes in from using the computer in Mulder's
office.  "Hey, great!  Mom made chili.  I haven't had
hers in years."

Maggie smiles at her son.  "Sit down and I'll dish you
up a bowl."

"Do you have any Cheddar cheese?"

"That's right," Maggie laughs, "you always ate a big
chunk of Cheddar with your soup."

Mulder comes downstairs, dressed in loose-fitting
jeans and an old blue T-shirt, with Will riding on his
shoulders.

Scully looks up at her partner and smiles.  "I'd be
careful, Mulder, he hasn't been changed yet."

Mulder puts Will down on his feet.  "He did, he used
his potty chair."

Scully rubs Will's sandy-red head.  "Way to go,
William!"

They all cluster around the big island counter in the
kitchen.   Tara sets Mathew on a stool, but the little
boy sticks out his bottom lip and crosses his arms. 
"What's the matter now, Matty?  She asks her son.

"I wanna sit by Will'um."

"But honey, he has to sit in his high chair."

Mathew continues to pout and Bill is getting annoyed.

"Hold on a second." Mulder says, before stepping out
the French doors leading to the patio.  Bill looks
over at his sister but she just shrugs her shoulder. 

Mulder walks back in carrying the plastic Lil' Tyke
picnic table over his head.  He plops it down in the
corner of the room.  Scully grabs a dishcloth and
wipes it down.  Mulder lifts Matty from the stool,
"Come on big guy," he says, sitting him on one side of
the picnic table, then Will is set down on the other. 
Now everyone is happy.

"So how was work, Fox?"  Tara asks, reaching for the
crackers.

"Not bad, teaching is easy, once you get the hang of
it."

"Do you miss being an agent?"  Tara prods.

"I'm still an agent, I'm just not in the field, much,
anymore."  Mulder blushes, "Yeah, at times I do, but
not enough to go back.   

Scully smiles at Mulder and wipes her mouth, "I think
those that left us with the kids yesterday should
watch them today, so mom and Tara and I can go
shopping, right Mulder."

Mulder whines, "Can you at least take Katherine with
you, she's a girl too."

"Nope, you've had enough practice, now you can
baby-sit."  Scully says as she pops an oyster cracker
in her mouth.  

Tara smiles at Maggie and Maggie smiles at Dana.

--

Everyone has been well fed and the dishes all put in
the dishwasher.

Maggie has left to change her clothes and to wait for
Tara and Dana to pick her up.

Scully comes downstairs in a light blue, scoop neck
shirt and tan shorts.  She pauses before the mirror at
the foot of the stairs, fixing her hair, when Mulder
walks up behind her.  He looks at the beauty reflected
in the mirror.  "Do you need any money Scully?" 

Scully smiles at him, "No, I have money and my credit
cards."  She turns, and stands on tiptoes kissing him,
then wipes off the lipstick she left behind.  Mulder
wraps his arms low around her back.  "You, stay safe,
okay."

"I will, and please don't feed Will the junk you and
Bill will no doubt eat, and remember Katherine stayed
home with you.  She 'is' in the house."

Mulder laughs.  "I know, I will."

Tara comes down the stairs, dressed similar to her
sister-in-law.  "All ready?"

"Let's go," Scully says, pulling away from Mulder.

"You two stay out of trouble," Mulder teases.

"We will," both women say before shutting the door.

Mulder looks up the stairs to see Bill standing at the
top with a scowl on his face.  "So what now?"

Mulder stares up at him.  "Bill, do you golf?"

--

It's well past seven when Tara and Dana return home. 
Tara trudges into the kitchen, her arms burdened down
with packages.  Scully comes in carrying just her
purse.  Mulder wanders in to see what the women are up
to.  "Hey Scully, didn't you buy anything?"

"Yes, I did, but I need you to unload it for me." 

"What did you buy?" Mulder exclaims.

"Go look."  She teases.

Mulder can tell something is up, by the gleam in her
eyes.  He walks out to the garage and opens the rear
hatch on Scully's SUV.  Before him sets a basketball
backboard with a large red bow on it.  Scully walks up
beside him.  He looks down at her with a confused
expression on his face.  "What's this for?  I thought
you didn't want a court in the backyard."

Scully rubs his arm.  "Well Mulder, it would give you
a place to play and maybe someday, Will can use it
too."

Mulder squeezes her around the waist.  "Thanks Scully,
I'll call the contractor tomorrow."

"Whoa, whoa!" Scully laughs, "No so fast, let's wait a
few days."

"Okay," Mulder blushes, kissing her head.

They walk into the house and Scully pauses, "You left
my packages out there."

"Wow Scully, you bought me more?" Mulder teases.

"No, I got William some jeans, Katherine some
sleepers, and a sexy little nightie for myself."

"See," Mulder grins, "you did buy me something else."

Will runs in, ""Momma, momma, I wanna a toy too."

Mathew comes in with a small remote in his hand and a
little car trailing behind him.

"You did get him something too, didn't you, Scully?"

"Of course I did, its out in one of my bags."

Soon, both boys are playing in front of the fireplace
in the family room.  Bill is spread out on the couch;
Mulder is sitting in the rocker, watching the baseball
game.

Tara comes in from the kitchen.  "Matty, are you
hungry?"

"No," the little boy shrugs, "we ate at the goff
couwse."

Bills eyes snap open.  "You ate at the golf course?"
Tara questions with a frown on her face.

Scully has now walked into the room.  Tara turns
toward her.  "Dana, did you know the boys ate at the
golf course?"

Bill looks at Mulder, his eyes round as saucers. 
Scully crosses her arms and leans on one leg. 
"Mulder, did Katherine eat at the golf course too?"

Mulder swallows hard, trying to act casual.  "Of
course not, she ate here, before. . .we. . .went. .
.to the golf course," he trials off.

Scully looks over at Tara and runs her tongue over her
top lip.

Bill sits bolt upright on the couch, he's not going
down without a fight.  "What's the big deal!  We
played a little golf and fed the kids."

Scully turns her head back to look at Mulder.  "You
went golfing?  Mulder, who took care of Katherine?"

Mulder looks down at his hands.  "We did.  We strapped
her carrier to the golf cart."

"And William and Mathew?"  Scully dips her head,
trying to catch Mulder's eyes.

"They rode in the cart too."  Mulder looks up at
Scully then over at Bill.  For some reason Bill is
laughing.  Mulder can't help it, even if he has to
sleep alone for the next month, he laughs too.

Tara doesn't think it's as funny as Bill does, but
she's not really mad.  She bends over to talk to
Matty.  "Did you have fun today, Mathew?"

"Yeah!  The little boy says, getting up to stand in
front of his mother.  "We wode on the cawt."

"You did!" 

William gets up and stands next to his cousin,  "We
ate hot dawgs and woot beew!"  Matty exclaims.

"Yeah," William chimes in.

"And we picked up goff bawls."

"And what did Katherine do?" Tara asks, knowing she is
now getting the truth.

"She was a sweep.  We wach'ed her."

Bill groans.  "Oh for heaven's sake, we all watched
her, she was fine."

"Da bee-bee wiked to goff," William offers.

Scully scoops William up in her arms, "And I know one
little golfer who needs a bath."  Scully turns to
Mathew.  "Matty, I'm going to bath Will in my big,
bubbly, bathtub.  You want to bath too?"

"Suwe!"  The older boy exclaims, following Scully and
William upstairs.

Tara looks over at Bill with squinted eyes.  "You got
lucky this time, mister."

Bill stands up and grabs her around the waist and rubs
her back.  "I got lucky the day you married me."

Tara pulls away, "And don't you forget it!"  She walks
upstairs to check on the kids.

Bill looks over at Mulder.  "What a great vacation,
twice I got my nuts caught in the grinder and twice
Tara didn't turn the handle."
Mulder laughs.

-To Be Continued-

--------------
   
Part 4 (C) 

Scully has bathed Will, washed his hair, and dressed
him in a pair of lightweight cotton pajamas.  He is
sitting on her lap getting his hair combed.  His
bright, blue eyes snap at every utterance his mother
makes.  He's so much like Mulder, it's spooky, but no
one can deny the closeness William shares with his
mother.

Mathew struts into Scully's bedroom, wearing his San
Diego Padres pajama set.  His hair sticks up in
sandy-colored spikes, and when he grins, he reminds
Scully so much of Bill.  "Alright young man, so this
is where you got to!" Tara chastises her son.  "You
were supposed to be in bed."

"I'm waitin' for Will'um."

Scully pats Will's back and slides him off her lap. 
He turns to look at her, with his hands twisted
together up near his face, he softly says, "I wanna
sweep wif him."

Mathew understands Will first.  "Yeah!  Aunt Dana, can
Will'um sweep wiff me?"

Scully looks a little stressed. "Oh, I'm not sure
that's such a good idea, Mathew.  He might fall out of
bed."

"I can sweep in front."  Mathew argues.

Scully smiles at Tara, "He would make a great lawyer."

Tara holds up a finger. "Give me a minute," she says,
leaving the room.

"Please, Aunt Dana, let him sweep wiff me."

Scully is torn.  She sees Will standing there, wanting
so badly to be a big boy like his cousin, and yet he's
still her little boy, who might get hurt.

Tara yells from the boys room, "All set, you can come
in now."

Mathew and William run into the room with Scully
following them.  Mathew stops and gasps, "Aw right
mom!"

Tara has taken the top mattress off the bed and placed
it on the floor.  Both boys are jumping up and down on
it.  William falls flat on his butt and gently rolls
off onto the floor, no worse for wear.

Scully is leaning up against the doorframe with her
arms crossed, smiling and laughing at the boys'
antics.  "I'd say that works just fine."

Tara claps her hands, "Now settle down guys.  It's
time to go to sleep."  Mathew falls down and William
follows him.  They lay in bed, side by side, breathing
hard.  Tara covers them both with a blanket.

Suddenly a soft crying can be heard.  Scully looks
over her shoulder, "I think I hear a hungry little
girl."  She goes to check on Katherine.

Tara tucks both boys in and kisses each one, then
turns on the nightlight and shuts off the overhead
light.  "Good night boys," she says just before she
pulls the door nearly shut, then walks into the
guestroom to get ready for bed.

Mulder comes into the bedroom just as Scully is
finishing up feeding Katherine.  She lays the baby on
a blanket in the middle of the bed.  Mulder crawls up
along side her, they both sit quietly, looking at
their little, brown headed girl.  He catches one tiny
flailing hand in his.  "She really is beautiful, isn't
she."

Scully is propped up on one arm; she looks up at
Mulder with a smile.  "Yes, she is."

Mulder runs his large hand over his daughter's small
head.  "We really did take good care of her today," he
softly says, not looking at her mother.

"I know you did.  You would never do anything that
might put her in harms way."

"No, never," Mulder solemnly looks up at Scully.  "I
would die for my children," he pauses, "or for you." 

Scully runs her hand over his cheek then draws his
close and kisses him.  "I know, I have no doubt."  

She pulls away and slips off the bed to pick up
Katherine, but Mulder stops her.  "Here, let me."

"Okay, I'm going to check on Will," she whispers.

Mulder gathers his daughter up in the blanket, and
sits down in the rocker.  They are holding a very
private conversation between father and daughter.  He
showers her with his thoughts of how their lives
together will be, while Katherine coos and pours all
her attention onto her father. 

Scully finds Mathew lying on his stomach fast asleep,
and William is, as usual, curled up in a little ball
next to him.  She brushes back his now dry hair and
kisses her son and nephew goodnight.

Bill is coming up the stairs just as Scully is closing
the boys' door.  "Kids asleep?" he asks.

Scully opens the door for him to see.  Bill chuckles,
"Well, I'll be damned."

"They wanted to sleep together, Tara figured that
out."  Scully says looking in at the boys.  "I'm glad
they're close.  Mathew is so good to William."

Bill's chest puffs out as a smile crosses his face. 
"He's the man of the house when I'm gone."

Scully looks up at Bill wistfully, "But he's still
just a little boy."

Bill gets the meaning hidden behind her words.  Scully
grabs him around the waist and looks up at him.  "Have
you had fun here?"

"Yeah, I have," Bill answers a bit surprised, "and
Mulder is okay too."

Scully lays her head on his chest, "I'm so glad you
feel that way." She gives her brother one last hug and
walks across the hall and into her own room.


Tuesday ~

Morning dawns with Mulder at work, and Tara and Dana
doing their combined laundry.  Bill is getting ready
to go visit some old navy buddies and won't be back
until late.  The boys have been fed breakfast and are
playing on the swing set.

Scully is opening the washer to add the bleach, when
Tara comes in with a huge basket of laundry.  "This is
the last of the dirty clothes."

Scully looks over her shoulder.  "Oh, Tara, you didn't
need to empty all the hampers.  I could have done
that."

"Nonsense," Tara replies, "you're busy, and it didn't
kill me."

The dryer 'dings' and Scully opens the door, pulling
out piece after piece of baby clothes.  Tara begins to
fold the tiny shirts.  She sighs, "I do wish Bill
would agree to have another baby."

Scully is surprised, "He doesn't want too?"

"He says, he thinks we should wait until his future is
a bit clearer."  She continues to fold the sleepers
and little socks.  "I'm not sure what he's even
talking about, I thought the future was twelve more
years in the service."

Scully decides its time to change the subject.  "Why
don't you go get Katherine and I'll get us a glass of
something cold."

"That sounds really good," Tara says, moving around
Scully to go get the baby. 

Scully checks on the boys, before she gets their
drinks.  Tara comes back carrying a very happy baby. 
Scully lovingly looks at her daughter and strokes her
head.  "This poor child can't wait until she is able
to crawl."

Tara holds the baby on her lap while Katherine waves
her arms.  "It looks like she is trying to fly," Tara
laughs. "Dana, why don't you call her Kathy or Kat?"

Scully winces, "I wouldn't mind calling her Kate but I
prefer Katherine, although William always calls her
'da bee-bee'.  I just hope that doesn't stick."

As if on queue, William and Mathew burst through the
back door.  Mathew speaks up; "I'm thiwsty."

Will pipes up, "Me too!"

"So you are!" Tara laughs at the grimy little pair
standing before her.

Scully opens the refrigerator door and steps back. 
"What will it 
be?"

William spots a small red can, his eyes widen and he
grows excited, "'Mato juice!" He says.

Mathew crinkles up his nose, "What's that?"

Scully pulls out the small can, shakes it, and pops
the top handing it to William.  "Tomato juice, Matty. 
Will loves it.  Do you want to try some?"

"No!"  Mathew shakes his head and wrinkles up his
nose.

Will walks over to Tara, drinking his tomato juice. 
He tucks the can into the crook of his arm and pats
Katherine's head while giving her a kiss.  Tara
laughs, "That was very nice of you William."

"I wanna juice box," Mathew says.

"What do you say Matty?" Tara scolds.

Pleeease!' Mathew says.

Scully pulls out a box of juice and sticks the tiny
straw in it then hands it to Mathew.

"Thank you," Mathew softly says.

--

It's nearly noon, when the laundry is all done and put
away, and Mulder is due home any minute.  Scully and
Tara are busy scrubbing the boys clean while Katherine
watches from her blanket on the floor.  She finds the
soap bubbles that escape from the tub particularly
fascinating.

A soft knock is heard on the bathroom door.  "Anybody
home," Mulder asks, peaking around the door.

"Oh hi," Scully says a bit surprised, "is it that late
already?"

Mulder smiles at her, "'Fraid so."

"Sorry," Scully says getting up from crouching on the
floor. "Lunch will be a little late."

Mulder rubs her back. "Why don't we all go out for
lunch?"

Scully looks at Tara and the three kids. "Bill isn't
here, he went to see some friends, you sure you want
to deal with three kids?"

Mathew speaks up with a big grin on his face; "I'll be
good!"

"Me too!" William chimes in.

"See," Mulder says, "two out of three say they'll be
good."  He picks Katherine up and holds her over his
head.  "And this one isn't talking."  The baby squeals
with laughter.

"Sounds good to me."  Tara says, crawling off the
floor.  "Let's get the boys dressed.

--

Mulder is still in his suit while Scully and Tara are
clad in simple cotton tops and trousers.  Mathew has a
pair of bibs on and William is dressed in a light blue
shirt and matching shorts.  Katherine is dressed in a
light green, one-piece sun suit.

Will and Mathew are buckled in the back seat, while
Tara and Katherine occupy the middle, and Mulder and
Scully sit in front of the SUV.

"So where too?" Scully asks.  "McDonalds, Burger
King?"

"No," Mulder laughs, "not kid food.  How does Marco's
sound?"

Scully closes her eyes, "Sounds heavenly."

--

They pull into the parking lot of the neat little
Italian restaurant and begin to unbuckle the kids. 
They all wait patiently in the foyer for their name to
be called.

Katherine is seated in a high chair, for the first
time, while William sits on a booster seat.  To
Scully, it's another sign that her children are
growing up.  Matty sits between William and his
mother, while Mulder and Scully sit on either side of
their daughter.

"So, what's good here?" Tara asks, scanning the menu.

"Mulder likes the Sicilian beef and I usually get the
Seafood Fettuccini.  William likes the hot dog on a
plate with a side of kids' spaghetti."

Mathew speaks up; "I want that too!"

Tara smiles, "Then I guess it's up to me."

All the orders are placed, with Tara finally deciding
on the Sicilian Beef.   Coffee is served to the
adults, while the kids just have water.  Scully is
digging a bottle of water out of her bag for
Katherine, when her cell phone chirps.  "Hello, oh hi
mom."

"Bill went to see some friends from the navy, and
Mulder took the rest of us out for lunch."

"I don't know, I'll put her on."  Scully hands her
phone to Tara; "Mom wants to talk to you."

Tara looks surprised but takes the phone, "Hi mom."

"Sure, I'd like to do that."

"Right after lunch.  Oh wait, Bill has the van, let me
ask Fox."

Tara pulls the phone away from her ear, and looks over
at Mulder.  "Fox, can you drop Matty and me off at
mom's, after lunch?"

"Not a problem," Mulder says.

Tara returns to the phone,  "Mom, he says he'll drop
us off.  Great, I'll see you then."  She shuts off the
phone and hands it back to Scully.  "Mom, wants Mathew
and I to spend the afternoon with her, you don't mind
do you Dana?"

The food is beginning to arrive.  "Of course not,"
Scully says, sitting Will's plate down in front of
him.

Tara laughs, "I'm sure you need a break from us being
under your roof."

Scully cuts up William's hot dog.  "I like having
adult company for a change."

"I'm adult company," Mulder pouts.

Scully pats his hand, "You're close, Mulder."

Tara and Scully both laugh at the look on Mulder's
face.

--

The meal is eaten and as usual, Mulder has stuffed
Katherine with anything that he can get past Scully.

The SUV is loaded once again and the group heads for
Maggie's place while Scully calls her mom to tell her
they're on their way.
Maggie meets them out front, just as Mulder pulls up
in front of her building.  He turns off the vehicle,
and runs around the front, to help Tara get Mathew out
of the car seat.  "Here we go big guy," he says,
lifting Mathew out.  William begins to struggle in his
car seat.  

Maggie pats Mathew on the shoulder and hugs Tara. 
"All set?"  She asks.  Suddenly a wailing can be heard
coming from inside the SUV.  It's William.

Scully turns around to see huge tears streaming down
her son's face while his fingers are in his mouth. 
"What's wrong, William?"  Scully asks, with concern in
her voice.

Mulder looks in at his son. "You wanna go too, don't
you."

William gulps back the tears, wipes his arm across his
face and pitifully answers, "Yes."

"Can he come too, gwamma?"  Matty asks, tugging at his
grand mother's arm.

"Well, of course William can come too!"   Maggie steps
up to the open door and unbuckles her grandson.  "We
wouldn't leave you!" She says, lifting the little boy
into her arms.  Mulder pulls out his handkerchief and
cleans up his son's face.

Scully exits the SUV and kisses William.  "You be good
for grandma okay?"

Will nods his head and quietly answers, "I will."

"You sure you want both of them here?"  Scully
questions.

"Don't worry so much Dana, we'll do fine."  Maggie
says, before turning toward her building.

Mulder shuts the side door of the SUV and returns to
the drivers seat.  "Poor Will," Scully sighs, "he's so
glad to have another little boy to play with."

"I've noticed that," Mulder says, pulling into the
traffic.  He also notices the troubled look on
Scully's face.  He adjusts the mirror so he can see
Katherine.  "She looks happy," he says nodding at the
mirror.

Scully looks back to see her daughter playing with her
toes.  "Hey!  Where did her shoe go?"  Scully turns
around, trying to see if the shoe is on the floor. 
She sighs and closes her eyes, "I hope she didn't lose
it at the restaurant."   Mulder pulls up to a red
light and puts the SUV in park.  He unbuckles his
seatbelt and turns around, scrounging around on the
floor he comes up with a little white shoe and a tiny
pink sock.  "Thanks," Scully says in relief.

Mulder put the SUV in gear and continues.  "Scully,
you know we could put William in daycare for half a
day.  He could make some friends there."

Scully shakes her head, "No, I don't want him in
daycare."

"Scully if it's because you're doing a better job
teaching and caring for him, then I agree, but if
you're worried he won't be safe, then I think we have
a problem."  

Scully's eyes flash at her partner.  "Mulder, how can
you say that, after all we've been through!"

"Scully, we have never had any threats made against us
or the kids.  We don't matter anymore.  The kids
aren't what they thought they would be.  They're
normal, beautiful, children."

"I know," Scully sighs, looking at her daughter. 
"It's just so hard not to be looking over my shoulder
all the time."

Mulder senses her angst and grabs her hand.  "Maybe we
can find some kids in the neighborhood to invite
over."

Scully brightens up, "You know, I could invite some of
the little kids from the church over to swim and play
on the swing set."

Mulder laughs, "See, I knew you would find the answer,
you always do."

Scully blushes, "Well, you did help."

Mulder squeezes her hand; "We still make a great
team."

"Yeah we do," she squeezes back. 

Suddenly, jabbering, and babbling, coming from the
backseat breaks the mood.  Mulder laughs, "She really
does have lousy timing."

Scully smiles, "Just like her brother."

--

Mulder pulls into the driveway and shuts off the
engine.  He turns to Scully, "What are you going to do
this afternoon?"

"Enjoy the quiet," Scully smirks.

"Lucky your mom called."

Scully gets out of the SUV, "Luck had nothing to do
with it, she knew I needed a break."

"Way to go, Maggie!"  Mulder says, pumping his fist in
the air.

Scully pulls Katherine's carrier out of the backseat. 
"Here, let me," Mulder says, grabbing it.

Scully puts her arm around his waist, "I could almost
guarantee, that she knew William would react like he
did, when he was being separated from Mathew."

Mulder looks down at her.  "I knew your mother was
intelligent, but devious too!  My admiration for her
only grows."

"Oh you!" Scully responds, as she unlocks the door.

Mulder follows her inside. "Where do you want her
put?"

"Let me take her.  She needs cleaning up and her
clothes changed."

"Kitchen sink, or upstairs?"  Mulder grins.

"No, I'm taking her upstairs for a sponge bath." 
Scully picks up the baby and starts upstairs.  Mulder
heads for his office to check his Email.

--

Katherine has been cleaned up, powdered, and dressed
in a diaper and undershirt.  She is slowly being
rocked, while Scully feeds her.

Mulder walks in and stops to stare at the two most
important females in his life.  "I'm gonna shower and
change," he says as he walks to the dresser, pulling
out a pair of well-worn jeans and a T-shirt.

Scully grabs his arm and says, "Don't be too long,
she's almost asleep."

Mulder is surprised by the innuendo in Scully's
statement.  He doesn't want to ask her to clarify
herself, so he leaves his clothes on the bed, just in
case he isn't going to need them.

--

Bill Scully walks into the kitchen and sticks his head
in the fridge, pulling out a beer.  He twists off the
cap and takes a big swig, and walks around downstairs
looking for a sign of life, but he can't find any.  He
walks out onto the patio, but no one is there either. 
He heads upstairs with his beer in hand.  He checks
the guestroom, but can't find anyone there.  He checks
the boys' room, but finds it empty.  He shrugs his
shoulder and starts back downstairs, when suddenly he
hears a giggle coming from Dana and Fox's room.  He
walks over, pressing his ear to the door again he
hears laughter.  He knocks on the door, "Dana, you in
there?"

"Shit!" Scully says, pulling the sheet up her nude
body. "Bill's home."

"So what!"  Mulder exclaims, nibbling on Scully's
neck.

"Mulder, that's my brother on the other side of the
door!"  Scully huffs, blowing the hair out of her
eyes.

"Dana, you there?"  Bill knocks again.

Scully pushes the mass of hair off her face.  "I'll be
out in a minute," she yells.

"No she won't!"  Mulder yells.

Scully turns and swats him on the arm, "Mulder, stop
that!"  He laughs at her near panic.

"Take your time," Bill answers, heading back
downstairs.

Scully is pissed, and she can't get untangled from the
sheets.   "Mulder, now Bill knows what we were doing!"

Mulder pins her to the bed.  "Scully we're married, we
have two children, of course he knows what we were
doing."

Scully sighs, and smiles up at him.  "Sometimes I
wonder about you Mulder, but not enough to ever leave
you."

Mulder smiles back and kisses the end of her nose. 
"Mulder?"

"Yes," he replies kissing her neck.

"Get off me, before I ensure William and Katherine
will never have any more siblings."

Mulder chuckles as he works his way down her shoulder,
"You wouldn't do that to a guy would you?"

Scully tries not to laugh, "Don't try my patience,
Mulder."

"Okay, okay," he concedes, getting up to head for the
bathroom, while Scully is still struggling to get out
of the bed.  She untangles herself and follows him in.
 He ambushes her, but she slaps him on the arm again. 
They clean up and get out of there in record time, no
thanks to Mulder.  

By now Katherine is wide-awake.  Scully lifts her from
the bassinet and carries the baby into her future room
to be changed.

Mulder is coming out of their room, just as Scully
leaves Katherine's.  "Mulder, I think it's time we
bring her crib into our room and get her out of the
bassinet."

"Why don't we just put her in the crib in her own
room?"

Scully tilts her head and draws in one shoulder. 
"Okay, okay, I get the message.  I'll move the crib in
before bed time."

"Thanks!"  Scully says as they head downstairs.

Bill is in the family room, slumped on the couch,
watching the five o'clock news.  "So what took so
long?"

"We were having sex." Mulder announces.

Scully hits him in the gut with the back of her hand,
"Mulder!"

Mulder gasps and says, "I was wrong, I guess we
weren't having sex."

Bill smiles a wicked smile, first at Scully, then at
Mulder.  "I know Tara and I always groan and giggle
when we're not having sex too."

Scully rolls her eyes and heads for the kitchen
muttering, "Men."

"So where are the rest of them?"  Bill asks.

"They're over at your moms house."

Bill laughs and drains his bottle.  "She must have
known Dana needed some time to relax," then he narrows
his eyes at Mulder, "Lotta good that did her."

Mulder would love to comment back, but he doesn't
fancy being hit by Scully again.


Wednesday ~

The extended family has now settled into a routine. 
Mulder goes to work, Bill drags out of bed, and Tara
and Scully fix breakfast. 

Mathew and William are running through the house. 
They have become so close in such a short time;
they're inseparable.  "Come on, Will'um, yow too
slow!"  Mathew laughs.

"Hew I come!" William yells.

Tara catches Mathew by the shirt collar, "Hey, I told
you, no running in the house!"

Scully is in the kitchen when she hears William
screaming.  She drops what she is doing to go find
him.  He is lying at the bottom of the backstairs
holding his head.  By now Tara has heard the screams
and she too comes running.  Scully rolls him over
before picking him up.  By now he's wailing and asking
for her.  She tries to calm him while she gently
checks his head and eyes.  The skin over his right eye
is broken but not bleeding and he has a rather large
bump.   Once she is sure he isn't concussed, or
suffering from a neck or back injury, she picks him
up.

Tara looks at William, white as a ghost.  "Gosh Dana,
is he going to be all right?"

Scully is cradling him to her chest and shushing his
crying.  "Yeah, he'll be fine, it looks worse than it
is."

"Dammit!  I told Matty, no running in the house!"  Now
Tara is mad.

"No, no," Scully says, "it isn't his fault.  Tara,
please don't take it out on Mathew."

Mathew is standing there with big tears rolling down
his cheeks.

Scully sits down on the step, trying to quiet her son.
 "Tara, I'm so glad Mathew plays with William.  He
needed the companionship."
Tara smiles, "Thanks, Mathew loves to play with him
too.  We don't have many younger boys on the base. 
She looks sympathetically at William, I am sorry he
got hurt."

"It's just a bump."  Scully pulls William away from
her to look at his face.  "And maybe a little shiner."
 Then she nods toward Mathew, "I think someone else
could use a hug."

Tara looks over at her son.  "Come here, Matty," she
says opening her arms.  He runs to her and begins to
bawl.  "I didn't mean to huwt Will'um."  Tara hugs him
and sits down on the floor holding him.  "You didn't
hurt him, Mathew."  She strokes the hair away from his
eyes.  "The mean old floor did," she hits the floor
with her hand, "bad floor, bad, bad."  Both boys think
this is funny.  

Scully carries William upstairs, to clean him up and
fill him with baby Tylenol.  Tara follows her,
carrying Mathew.  Both little boys need time to calm
down.

Bill comes in from walking around the backyard.  He
hears noises upstairs, so he heads for the family
room.  Katherine is sitting up in her playpen, holding
on to the mesh that surrounds it.  Bill sits in the
chair across from her.  She eyes her uncle and babbles
at him.  He looks across the room at her, "Hi, how ya
doing?"  He asks.  Katherine answers him with more
babble.  "Yeah, tell me about it."  She furrows her
brow and jabbers on.  

Bill can't stand it any longer; he gets up from the
chair and walks over to the playpen and picks up his
niece.  She stiffens her back and stares at him with
wide-eyes then promptly hits him in the face.  "Hey,
watch it, or I'll put you back in your cage."

Suddenly, the baby is wracked with hiccups.  "Oh,
don't you just hate that," Bill says to her as he sits
down in the rocking chair.  "I don't think we have
been formally introduced, I'm your Uncle Bill and you
are. . ." he pauses, "the spitting image of your
father."  Katherine hiccups once more.  "You know, my
wife thinks you're the greatest thing since sliced
bread.  Now she's gonna start whining for one just
like you."  He holds the baby close to his chest.  "I
don't know, I guess you're not so bad."  The baby
points to his nose and jabbers on, then smiles a big
toothless grin at him.  Bill returns the smile.

Tara comes in the family room to find Bill rocking the
little girl.  She smiles at her husband and leans in
to whisper, "Wouldn't it be nice to have a little one
like her around the house."  She kisses Bill's cheek
and leaves the room.  Bill looks down at the baby who
is busily chewing on her fingers.  "See, what did I
tell you."  He squeezes her tight to his chest and
smiles down at her.  "You're a bad influence." 
Katherine stares back at her uncle and promptly
hiccups.

Scully comes downstairs carrying William, a tiny
bandage covering the wound.

Bill looks up, "What happened to him?"

Scully brushes the hair away from her son's eyes, "He
fell when he was running and hit his head on the
bottom of the staircase."

Will lays his head on Scully's chest, sucking on his
thumb, with an occasional whimper bubbling up out of
him.

Bill looks at the dark ring that is beginning to
circle Will's eye, while the little boy gives his
uncle a watery-eyed smile.

The phone rings and Tara comes in carrying the
cordless.  "Dana, it's the bureau."

Scully shifts William around in her arms and takes the
phone, "Hello."

"Today?" She sighs. "I'll be right there."  She hands
the phone to her sister-in-law and looks down at
William, then up at Tara.  "The case I'm assisting on,
they need me to put in an appearance.  Can you watch
the kids for a few hours?"

"Sure, Tara replies, lifting William from Scully's
arms.  We'll be just fine, don't worry about it."

Scully pauses, "I guess I had better change clothes
and get going."

"Come on William, lets you and I go find Mathew, then
we'll all go outside to play."  Tara rubs soothing
circles on William's back as she heads upstairs.

Scully watches them leave then pauses, "Shit, I need
to call Mulder."

Bill steps up, "Anything I can do?"

Scully looks around, "Katherine.  Where is she?"

Bill walks into the family room and scoops up his
niece and carries her to Scully.  "I'll watch her," he
smiles down at Katherine, "we've become good friends."

Scully rubs the back of her daughter's tiny hand,
kisses it, and starts up the stairs.  She changes
clothes and dials her partner while applying her
make-up.   "Mulder, it's me."

"What's up?"

"I've been called into the bureau."

"Why?"

"They want me to look over the latest victim, and
before the wheels start turning in your head, they
have already caught the guy."

Mulder grins at the implication.  "So why do they need
you then?"

"He's telling several different stories, and I need to
find out if he killed her where she was found, or
somewhere off site."

Scully sighs and rubs her forehead.  "Look, I'll be
home when I can, oh, and Will fell down and hit his
head."  She finishes applying her lipstick and begins
to look for her pumps.

"Is he going to be okay?" Mulder asks, with concern in
his voice.

"Yeah, but he is going to have a black eye."  Scully
stands up and brushes off her trousers.

"I'll come straight home from here.  Try not to
worry."


"Bill and Tara, are going to watch them for me, but
I'm sure Will would feel better if one of us were with
him."

"I'll be there soon.  Call me when you get the
chance."

"I will." Scully says, closing up her cell.  She takes
one last look in the mirror, slips downstairs and out
of the house.

--

12:30 PM

Mulder makes it home in record time.  He walks in the
kitchen door to be met by the smell of cooking.  Tara
is pulling fish sticks out of the oven, the table is
set, and milk has been poured.  She turns around to
see Mulder standing behind her.  "Oh Fox!  I didn't
hear you coming in.  I hope Will likes fish sticks."

Mulder smiles, "Next to hot dogs, they're his
favorite."  Mulder's mood now changes, "How is he
doing?"

Tara fans her hand in the air.  "He's fine.  He does
have a bump on his head, but it hasn't slowed him down
any," she smiles.

Mulder lets out a long breath.

She dumps the fish sticks onto a paper towel to cool. 
"Fox, can I give you a little advice?"

"Sure."  Mulder nods.

Tara sits down across from him.  "Don't sweat the
small things that happen to kids, or it will drive you
crazy."

Bill starts to walk in the kitchen, but hesitates when
he hears Tara.  "I know what I'm talking about, with
Bill out to seas so much, I've had to learn not to
panic every time Mathew gets hurt."

Mulder nods.  "It must be hard raising him by
yourself."

"Oh, I'm not totally alone, Bill does get shore leave
from time to time."  She twists a paper towel into
tiny knots.  "The worst part is knowing what Bill's
missed, Matty's first steps, his first words, prayers
at night."  She grows quiet.  "Things he can't
recover."

The backdoor flies open and in run two giggly little
boys.  Bill turns around and heads back upstairs.

Mulder lifts up his son.  "Hey buddy, what happened?"

Will pats his forehead.  "I huwt my head."

"I can see that." Mulder tells him, examining his
head.  "Mom, said you were very brave."

"He cwied." Mathew offers.  Tara shushes her son.

Will's mouth turns down, "It huwt, da-dee."

"I know Will, but it will get better, and you do have
a pretty cool bandage on it."

Mathew hasn't missed a thing. "He gots a bwack eye
too!"

Mulder looks closer.  "He sure does, Mathew."

Mulder sits Will a little farther up in his lap. 
"William, Aunt Tara fixed you some fish sticks."

Will's mouth opens to a perfect 'O'.

Tara and Mulder chuckle.  Think you feel like eating?"
 Mulder asks his son.

"Yup," William grins.

-To Be Continued-

--------------
   
Part 4 (D)  

Everyone is fed, Mulder has changed clothes, and the
kids are all out in the backyard.  Mulder is swinging
Katherine in the infant swing on the swing set; Mathew
and William are in the pool with Bill.  It's after
three when Mulder's cell finally rings.

"Hello."

"Mulder, its me."

"How's it going, Scully?"

"Slow."  Mulder can hear the frustration in her voice.

"Need my help?"

Scully smiles,  "Not unless you want to crack a
cranium."

Mulder winces. "No thanks, I'll leave that to the
professional."

"How are the kids?"

"Will and Mathew are swimming with Bill, while I'm . .
." Mulder stops to peer around the swing, "pushing a
soundly sleeping baby in the swing."

Scully looks at her watch, "Well, it is past her nap
time."

"Scully, don't worry, do your job and get home when
you can, we'll be waiting."

"Thanks, I will.  I had better go."

"I'll save you some dinner."

"Thanks," Mulder can tell she is smiling now.  "See ya
soon." Scully hangs up, feeling much better.

--

9PM

Scully pulls into the garage.  Her feet hurt, her
shoulders ache and she's starving.  Mulder is holding
the kitchen door open for her.  She drags in.  "You
look beat."

Scully plops down on a kitchen stool.  "I feel like it
too."   Mulder rubs her shoulders.  "Um, that feels
good."

"All done?" Mulder questions.

Scully shakes her head.  "It was a waste of time.  He
confessed an hour ago."

"Ow."  Mulder sympathizes with her.

"But my findings do confirm that his last statement
was true.  Skinner is pleased."

"I'll bet his is."  Mulder kisses the crown of her
head.

Scully looks up at him and he kisses her lips.  "Is
that barbecued chicken I smell?"

Mulder chuckles.  "Here, I thought that big smile was
caused by me, but it's only the damn chicken."

Scully kisses him once more.  "Mulder I love you, but
right now, I would fight you for that chicken."

Tara walks in the kitchen. "Dana, I didn't hear you
come in.  I have a plate of food for you in the oven."

"Oh, that sounds great."

Mulder pats her on the back and sits down next to her.
 "So how were the kids?" Scully asks.

Tara pulls a hot plate of chicken, Irish potatoes, and
warm rolls out of the oven.  "They were great. 
Everyone ate their dinner."

"Let me guess," Scully says looking at Mulder,
"Katherine likes barbecue sauce too."

Mulder blushes and shrugs.

Tara sets the plate in front of her sister-in-law. 
She gets out silverware, a salad and a glass of wine. 
"Fox said, you would need this."

Scully smiles, "If he says so, then I must."  She
takes a drink then a bite of her chicken.  "Tara, this
is wonderful.  Where did you learn to cook like this?"
  

"I love to cook, but with just Matty and me, it
doesn't make sense to make a whole meal."

Everyone looks up to see Bill coming in.  "Well, she's
down for the count.  Dana, I didn't hear you come in."

Scully takes another sip of her wine.  "You put
Katherine to bed?"  

Bill frowns, and steals a small piece of her chicken
from her plate then looks at everyone staring at him. 
"What?  I'm not a total caveman, I have my sensitive
side too, you know."

Scully laughs, nearly choking on her dinner.  Bill
sits down across from her.  "Dana, you have a very
charming daughter.  Makes me want one of my own."

Tara drops the pan she is scrubbing and turns around. 
"Bill, do you really mean that!"

Bill turns around on the stool.  "Let's talk about it
later, but yeah, I think I do."

Tara hugs her husband.  "I'd like that too."

Mulder looks over at Scully to see she has the same
grin on her face as he has on his.

--

Tara walks upstairs to see Scully going into Will's
bedroom.  She softly opens the door and bends down
next to her son, brushing back his hair and examining,
the now black and blue eye.  Tara stands in the
doorway. "He did just fine, Dana."

Scully looks back at her.  "I know, you did a great
job."  Scully gets up and hugs her sister-in-law,
"Thanks."

"You're welcome."  Tara hugs her back.

--

Scully comes out of the bathroom to find Mulder
already in bed.  He pulls back the blankets for her. 
She crawls in and snuggles up to his bare chest. 
"Umm," she sighs.

Mulder rubs her arm and reaches over to turn out the
lights.  He kisses her head then kisses her lips.  "So
you don't have to go in tomorrow?"

"No," Scully yawns and softly says, "Skinner said, I
could fax in my report some time tomorrow."

"Can you get it done with all the madness going on
around you?"  Mulder asks, stroking her arm.

"I'll just have to."  Scully is getting sleepier by
the moment.  "Maybe mom will take Tara and the kids
out for a couple of hours."

"I'll be home around noon, I can take everyone out, if
you want the free time?"

"I love you Mulder, but I would not force this bunch
off on you. I'll figure out a way to get it done."

Mulder takes her hand, playing with her fingers,
"Scully I know I don't tell you this often enough, but
I am proud of you.  You are so good with the kids,
William can count and he's starting to read, while
Katherine is a happy, well-fed baby.  I always knew
you could handle anything, but you really excel at
motherhood and that's a far more important, and hard
job, than anything you ever did at the bureau." 
Mulder can hear her softly snoring.  He grins and
kisses her once more then snuggles in next to her.


Thursday ~  

The day dawns with Mulder off to work and Tara getting
breakfast.  Bill is sitting at the counter, holding
Katherine while Mathew and Will are seated next to him
eating cereal.

A black and blue eyed William looks up from his bowl,
"Unca Biwl?"

"What is it William?"

"Wew's momma?"

"She's still asleep.  She had to work late."

"Wew did she wok?"

"She went to the FBI."

"Wike Da-dee," Will grins.

Bill laughs, "Yeah, like daddy."

Tara smiles, pushing the curly hair out of Will's eyes
and away from the wound.

Bill puts Katherine over his shoulder and pats her
back, then frowns.  "Tara, Mathew could use a trim, in
fact, so could William."

Tara sets a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her
husband.  "We can get Matty's haircut when we get
home, and as for William's, it's none of your
business."

A yawn is heard and in walks Scully, wearing her robe
and pajamas.  "My, the whole family is here.  I guess
I over slept."

Bill holds Katherine out.  "Tara wouldn't let the kids
wake you."  

Scully scoops up the baby and sits down next to
William.  "You hungry, baby?"

"I found a bottle in the fridge and fed her, I hope
you don't mind."

"No, not at all, just saves me doing it."  Scully
says, but doesn't mean it; she looks foreword to the
time alone with her daughter.  She looks down at
William, who is busy shoveling cereal into his mouth. 
"How's the head, Will?"

The little boy wipes his mouth off on the back of his
hand.  "Okay."

"Can I look under the bandage?"

"Okay," Will answers.

She pulls the little patch off his head and squints. 
"It looks much better William, I think we can leave
this off now."  She shifts Katherine in her arms and
pulls off the tiny bandage.

"What will it be, Dana?" Tara asks.

"Just toast and coffee."

Bill sits down his coffee cup.  "So you all done on
that case?"

Katherine bounces up and down on Scully's lap and
chatters to no one in particular.  "All done but
finishing up my report.  Tara, do you think you and
mom could watch the kids for a few hours?  I need to
finish it.  Mulder will be home by one." 

Bill speaks up, "You don't need mom, I can do it! 
It's about time the boys and I have a day out
together."

Scully sits her daughter down on her lap.  "I'm not
sure."  

"Dana, let me have some fun with the kids, I promise I
won't take them golfing," Bill laughs.

The black-eyed Will chimes in, "Da bee-bee wikes to
goff."

The adults laugh, and Scully agrees, "Alright, but
don't get into trouble."

Bill claps his hands, "Come on boys eat up, we're
going out for the day."

"Good," Tara says, "and I'll take Katherine to moms
with me.  You'll have the whole house all to
yourself."

Scully laughs, "I'm not sure I can stand the quiet."

--

Scully kisses her daughter goodbye and shuts her SUV
door.  Tara has to take it because Bill will have
their rental.  "Dana, call moms anytime you want."

"I will," she replies, just as Bill comes out with
Mathew and William.  Will runs to Scully's vehicle and
tries to open the door.  Scully grabs him, "No,
William, you're going with Uncle Bill."  

Bill picks up his nephew and walks to the minivan. 
"You're going with me, buckaroo."  He sets Will down
and picks up his car seat, securing it to the
backseat.  Matty has already crawled into his own car
seat while Bill is buckling William in.

Scully waves to Tara, then walks over to look in the
back of Bill's minivan.  "Will, you be good for Uncle
Bill and Matty you hold Will's hand so he doesn't get
lost."

"I will Aunt Dana." Mathew replies.

Bill turns around in the driver's seat.  "Dana, give
the kid some freedom!"

Scully would love to explain to Bill why she is so
protective, but he wouldn't understand, or believe,
any of it.  

Bill starts the minivan, everyone waves, and he takes
off down the driveway.

Scully walks back into the house and heads to the
kitchen for a mug of coffee, and then it's off to fire
up the computer in Mulder's office.

--

Thanks to all the work she had to do, the day goes
fast for Scully.  She no sooner faxes her report to
Skinner and Mulder walks in.  She turns to smile at
him; "I'm all done."

"That's good, I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner,
but a couple of students nailed me in the hallway
after class, and I couldn't get away."

Scully shuts down the computer.  "It was an X File,
you were discussing, wasn't it."

Mulder gives her a half-grin, half-embarrassed smile. 
"Yeah, it was."

Scully picks up her mug and brushes past him.  "It's
okay, Tara and mom have Katherine, and Bill has the
boys with him."

Mulder looks wide-eyed, "And you let him?"

Scully walks into the kitchen with Mulder right behind
her.  "I think I need to loosen up a little.  You were
right Mulder, they are normal children and maybe I am
overprotective."

Mulder sits down on a stool.  "But Bill!  Scully
that's like putting an ape in charge of the monkey
house."

Scully poured each of them a cup of coffee.  "While
I'm slightly offended at your calling my brother an
ape, I was smart enough to put Matty in charge of
William."

"Well that's a relief," Mulder says, shutting his
eyes.  "Have we got time to go grab some lunch?"

"I don't see why not.  Where to?"

"How about one of our old haunts, back when we were
young, energetic agents."

"Mulder, I gave up that crap, when they closed the X
Files.  I'm not lowering myself to eat like that
again."

Mulder grabs her around the waist.  "I think I liked
you better when you were a cheap date."  Scully laughs
and leaves him to go change her clothes.

--

It's around five, when Mulder and Scully return home. 
He unlocks the door and grabs Scully's hand.  They
walk into the big, quiet house.  Scully looks around,
"I don't think anyone else is home yet."

"I guess so."  Mulder pushes her toward the staircase,
"Come on, we're got time for a quickie."

Scully resists and stands her ground.  "Oh no," she
laughs, "we're not getting caught again."

Mulder pulls her to him and grins; "They're leaving
tomorrow, right?"

Scully wraps her arms around his waist and buries her
head in his chest.  "Early, I hope."

He strokes her back; "It has been fun though."

Scully looks up at him and smiles, "Well, we did find
out that Katherine likes to golf."

They both snicker and hear the front door open. 
"Anybody home?" Tara yells.

"We're in here," Scully yells back as she and Mulder
separate.

Scully takes Katherine from Tara.  "Was she good
today?"

Tara sits down the diaper bag she has slung over her
shoulder.   "She was the perfect baby."

Maggie tickles her grand daughter's tiny toes.  "Mom! 
She didn't lose her shoes, did she?"

"No, Tara took them off her when she put her down for
a nap, we never put them back on."

"Thank goodness, she is always taking her shoes off."

Maggie laughs, "Dana, I think she's ready to start
crawling any day now."

"I do too," Scully says, looking down at her daughter.

Tara pushes back her blonde hair.  "Bill called from
his cell and said he wanted mom and I to be here with
you and Fox when he gets home, he said it was a
surprise."

Scully looks up at Mulder; "Wonder what it is?"

Suddenly a honking horn can be heard coming up the
driveway.  They all make their way out the door just
as Bill pulls up out front.  He has a huge grin on his
face, but the side windows are too dark to see in the
minivan.  He shuts off the van and gets out.  "I'm
glad you're all here, you gotta see this!" 

The assembled crowd is stumped as to what his surprise
might be but the words, ape and monkeys, immediately
comes to Mulder's mind.

Bill walks around to the passenger side of the van and
opens the back door.  Scully can see movement and hear
giggling, but that's all.  He appears to be unbuckling
the boys, but neither one of them has come out yet.

He steps aside and out jumps Mathew, clad in a sailor
suit with shiny black shoes, and a sailor hat perched
on his head.  Bill helps William out and he too is
similarly attired.

Maggie gasps, "Oh, how cute!  Where did you find
these, Bill?"

"At a kids specialty shop, they had everything in
there."

William is beaming from ear to ear along with his
cousin.

"Look mom, I look just like daddy."

Tara laughs, "You sure do, Matty."

Scully, holding Katherine, looks down at her son. 
"That's pretty neat, William."

"I wook wike him," William says, pointing to Mathew.

"You sure do, son!" Mulder chuckles.

"Sorry Mulder, they were all out of G-man clothes." 
Bill teases, adding, "Wait there's more."  He turns to
the boys and says, "Take off your hats."

Both kids remove their hats to reveal buzz cuts.

Scully's eyes grow wide, and her jaw drops.  "Holy
shit Bill, what in the hell, did you do!"

Maggie touches her daughters arm and whispers, "Dana,
not in front of the kids."

Scully gulps and calms down, some.

Tara has her hands on her hips.  "Bill, it is one
thing to scalp your son, but to do it to Dana's, is
quite a different matter."

Mathew is running his hand over Will's fuzzy head. 
"That feels funny," he laughs.  William runs his hand
over his own head, and grins.

Scully is speechless; her eyes begin to grow red. 
Finally, Mulder walks up to William and stoops down. 
"What do you think of your haircut, Will?"

The little boy in the sailor suit, sporting one black
eye, softly says, "I wike it, da-dee."

Scully is holding Katherine in one arm while her hand
is over her mouth; she looks like a woman in shock. 
Mulder looks up at her, "He says, he likes it,
Scully."

Bill is looking a little remorseful. 

Finally Scully sighs and shakes her head.  "I guess if
Will likes it, it's ok."

You can hear a communal sigh being released.  "But
Bill, next time, you ask first," Scully warns then
adds, "Mulder go get the camera. They're too cute not
to have pictures of them."

Bill follows Mulder into the house to look for the
camera.  "Will really saved my ass back there."

Mulder smiles back at Bill as they enter the office. 
"Every time Will needs a haircut, Scully acts like
they're going to remove a limb."

Bill watches Mulder look for the camera.  "The barber
thought they were cool."

Mulder looks up from his pawing through the bottom
desk drawer.  "How did you explain Will's black eye?"

Bill shrugs, "I told his he was in a bar fight."

"You didn't!" Mulder laughs.

"Yes, I did." Bill beams.

Mulder spies the camera on the shelf behind Bill and
walks past him to retrieve it.  He turns and puts his
hand on Bill's shoulder,  "Bill, that is one story I
don't think we should share with Dana."

Bill chuckles, "Damn straight, we won't."

--

The pictures have all been taken, plenty of the two
little sailor boys, and even more of one of them with
his sister.  Family group shots and shots of all the
kids together are also snapped.

Scully has downloaded the pictures from the digital
camera and sent copies to Bill's computer and made
hard copies for Maggie.  She especially likes the one
of Mulder sitting on the staircase, with her sitting
one step below, and William one step below her, then
Katherine sitting one step below him, between his
legs.  Bill walks in just as she is finishing Maggie's
prints.  "I'm glad we took all of these pictures, it
might be a long time before we see you guys again."

Bill pulls over an office chair and sits down next to
his sister.  "Don't be so sure about that.  I'm going
to tell Tara about the job in New London."

Scully leans over and hugs her brother.  "Bill, that's
great!"

Bill laughs, "Does that make up for the haircut."

Scully leans back to look at her brother. "Almost."

Tara comes in carrying Katherine.  "You two ready for
supper?"

--

Maggie has patched together a late supper for her
family.  It's being served on the patio while the sun
sets in the background.
The table is piled high with cold cuts, chips and a
veggie tray.  The adults gather around the table, with
Katherine still in Tara's arms.  The boys, sans white
sailor suits, are seated at their little plastic table
that Mulder has brought back outside.

Tara has placed half a sandwich before each boy,
Will's of course, without the crust.  The food is
passed around the adult table, and then Maggie says a
prayer for her family, those with her, those far away,
and those taken from her.

Tara speaks up, "Dana, Fox, I have enjoyed this week. 
You've both been very gracious to all of us.  I hope
you can make it out to San Diego for a visit real
soon."

Bill clears his throat.  "That might not be such a
good idea."

Tara looks at Bill with a startled look on her face. 
"Why not?"

"Because there is a desk job opening up in New London,
and I'm applying for it."

Tara holds Katherine with one hand and puts the other
one on her husband's shoulder.  "Bill!  You aren't
kidding, are you?"

A large smile breaks out across Bill's face.  "Nope,
I'm not."

"How wonderful," Maggie interjects.

"Well, after having spent the week here, I see what
I'm missing," Bill swallows hard, "and I want to spend
more time with you and Mathew."

Tara hugs her husband.  "Bill, I love you so much." 
Bill blushes and clears his throat.  "Mulder pass the
potato salad."

Everyone laughs at Bill's futile attempt at changing
the subject.

Scully speaks up, "Well since this is a day for
announcements, I have one of my own."

Mulder leans over, "Don't tell me you're pregnant
again?"

Scully turns red.  "Shut up, Mulder."  He puts his
hand on top of her shiny, red head and shakes it, then
chuckles.  The adults now are all laughing at Scully's
expense.

"Like I was saying, before I was so rudely
interrupted."  Scully looks directly at Mulder.  Bill
is enjoying this little battle of wits going on in
front of him.   "I've talked to Skinner and told him
I'm not coming back after my leave, but, he has
offered me at home work, much like the last two cases
I've been asked to assist on."

"That's great." Mulder replies.  "I think that's a
wise choice."

Maggie gets up from the table and takes Katherine from
Tara.  "Does that mean I won't be baby sitting?"

"No mom, I'll still have days when I have to go in,"
Scully looks at her brother, "But remember, you'll
have Matty nearby soon."

"That's right!" Maggie says, looking over at Mathew.

Mulder drops his napkin and steeples his fingers.  "My
turn. I have an announcement of my own."  He looks
directly at William.  "Dammit Scully, I like Will's
hair!"  

The entire table roars with laughter, except for
Scully, who sits with her elbows on the table and her
fingers laced together under her chin giving Mulder a
sideways glare.  Mulder begins to laugh at her and
finally she laughs too.  "Well, don't get use to it,"
she says.

William has gotten up and carried his plate to Mulder.
"Da-dee, want mo' 'tatos."

Mulder picks up his son.  "But I want them all!"  He
teases.

"No, da-dee!" Will laughs.  "Der mine!" he says,
grabbing the bowl of potato salad and hugging it to
his chest.  Mulder rubs his fuzzy head and helps him
get some salad.  By now Mathew has crawled up into his
fathers lap.  Laughing, happy family members surround
the table.

--

It's late when the last of the dishes are done and put
away.  Will and Mathew are going for one last swim
with their fathers.

Scully and Tara are on the floor in the family room
playing with Katherine.  The baby is on her hands and
knees, chugging back and forth, but not going
anywhere.  She frowns, as she tries to pick a flower
off the pattern on her blanket.  She babbles, and
jabbers, and drools on her blanket.

Maggie comes in carrying three mugs of coffee.  Not
wanting to chance burning the baby, Tara and Scully
get off the floor, and sit on the couch.  Maggie sits
in an armchair across from the two younger women. 
"This has been a wonderful week."

"I can't believe how fast it went, but Bill has to be
back on ship by Tuesday.  Tara looks out the window at
the activity in the pool.  "I still can't believe Bill
is going to apply for a desk job in New London."

Scully blows on her coffee.  "I'm so happy for you."

"And who knows, maybe in a year, I'll have a little
one just as cute as Katherine."  Tara's eyes grow
wide, "Dana look!"  Tara points to the baby. 
Katherine is crawling toward her mother.

Once the baby has made it to the couch, Scully picks
her up.  "You finally did it!"  She kisses her
daughter's cheek.  "Your dad is going to be sad that
he missed this."

"Call him in, now that she's done it once, she'll do
it naturally," her grandma says.

Tara goes to the French doors and calls Mulder to the
house, while Scully puts the baby back on the blanket.
 Mulder comes in the door with a towel draped over his
shoulders and shedding water.  "What's
Up?"

"Look!"  Scully points to their daughter who is
motoring toward her mother once more.

A big grin covers her father's face, "Way to go, kid!"

Will runs in and stands next to his father.  His face
registers total shock as he looks up at his dad.
"Wook, da-dee, da bee-bee is cwalin'"

"I see that Will."  Katherine has now made it to her
mother.  Scully lifts her up and stands her on her
feet.  The baby bounces up and down and sings out a
loud string of jabber, then hiccups.  Everyone laughs
at her antics.  Her eyes grow big as saucers at the
commotion surrounding her.

"I think she'll walk early."  Maggie says, with Scully
adding, "I think you're right mom."

"Mulder, Will is shivering, either take him back to
the pool or let me dress him."

"I wanna swim some mo'," Will protests.  Mulder scoops
him up and heads back to the pool. He jumps in holding
William.  Will can be heard laughing, "Do 'gin,
da-dee."

--

The day has grown to a close.  Mathew and William are
sound asleep on their mattress they share on the
floor.

Katherine has been prompted to crawl until she's
exhausted.  She too is now snuggled down in her crib
in her mother and father's room.

Maggie has kissed and hugged every family member and
left for her own home as Bill and Tara head upstairs.

Scully is sitting on the edge of the pool with her
feet in the water.  Mulder wanders out clad in shorts
and a T-shirt.  He sits down next to her and puts his
feet in the warm pool water.  They sit there in
silence for a few minutes enjoying each other's
company.  Mulder drapes his arm across her shoulders. 
"Been a good week, hasn't it."

Scully grins, "Other than Will's tattoo, his head,
black eye, and that awful haircut; it was nice."

Mulder rubs her back, "Scully, it will grow back,
eventually."

They sit in silence a few more minutes.

Scully looks up at the stars.  "I'm so glad Katherine
has learned how to crawl, she wanted too so badly."

"She's stubborn, just like her mother."

Scully glares at him, Mulder laughs.

Mulder looks up into the night sky, then down at his
partner.  "Scully, how many nights have we spent
looking up at the stars."

"You mean in general?"

"Our lives together have always ended up under the
stars.  Remember our first case?"

"How could I not, I was standing in a cemetery, soaked
through, while you were doing a victory dance."

"And there was Pusher, that was the stakeout where you
first drooled on me, now I know where Katherine gets
it from."

"I remember the night we had to run for our lives
through that damn cornfield."

Mulder grins at her, then grows quiet.  "Then there
was the night we were looking for my sister, but she
wasn't to be.  Lots of important events in our lives
have happened under the starlight."

Scully's eye grow red and moist.  She softly says,
"The night I found you," her voice breaks, "in the
field, lying there under the stars, dead."  She begins
to cry.  Mulder holds her close and lets her have the
release she has never had, at least in front of him. 
"I wanted to die, but I knew I had to be strong to
bring William to term, he was all I had left of you." 
She sobs even harder.  "Mulder, I loved you so much!"

Mulder wraps his arms around her.  "I know, I know,
but it's over now, and it won't happen again."

Scully rubs her nose with the back of her hand and
giggles, "Look at me, I'm a mess."

Mulder stroke her head.  "Yes, you are, but you're a
pretty mess.  Come on lets go inside and check on the
kids."  He grabs her hand and helps her up.  She wipes
at her eyes and walks hand-in-hand with her partner. 
"Scully."

"Yeah?"

"You said, you loved me so much; past tense.  You
still do love me that much don't you?"  He is now
teasing her.

"Nope, I don't."  Scully plays along.  Mulder is now
wondering.  "I love you even more now."

Mulder pulls her close.  "I'm glad to know, now let's
go to bed." 


Friday ~

12:45
Mulder pulls into his driveway to find Bill and Tara
loading the rented minivan.  Scully is standing beside
the van, holding Katherine, who has on a sunbonnet and
no shoes.  The black-eyed William and Mathew are
chasing each other and rolling around on the lawn. 
Tara notices them and yells, "Mathew, get off that
grass!  You're going to get stains on your new jeans."

Mathew stands up, huffing, and puffing, and giggling. 
He walks to the van with William following him.

Mulder drives on into the garage and the boys' run to
meet him.  "Da-dee," William hollers, running up to
his father.  

Mulder lifts his son up.  "What are you and Mathew
doing?" 

"Paying," William says.

Mulder rubs his nephews shaved head.  "We're going to
miss you around here, Matty."

"I know," the child huffs out.  Mulder grins down at
him.

"Mathew, come on, we gotta get going!  Bill yells.

"Come on Will'um," Mathew yells over his shoulder as
he runs to the van.  William squirms in his father's
arms until Mulder puts him down.  He takes off at full
speed, running after Mathew.

Bill lifts up his son, and puts him in the van, while
Tara and Dana talk.  He buckles Mathew into his car
seat, and turns around to see Will trying to crawl in
the van, too.

Bill lifts him up to keep him from crawling in, but
Will thinks he is going to be buckled in, and lunges
for the open door.  "Sorry little guy, but you have to
stay here."

"Wanna go wiff Mat'ew." Will mumbles.
 
"Yeah dad, he can come wiff us." Mathew screams.

"Not this time Matty, we're going home."

"We awe!" Mathew says, looking confused.  "But, I
don't wanna go home." Big tears fill the small boy's
eyes.

Will starts to cry too, "I wanna go wiff Mat'ew!"

Mulder takes William from Bill.  "No Will, Mathew has
to go home."

"I wanna go too!" William cries.

"I wanna stay wiff him." Mathew pleads.

Suddenly Scully hears the commotion. "Shit, I was
afraid this might happen."  She walks around the van
to see Mulder struggling to reason with his son.  She
hands Katherine to Tara and takes William from Mulder.

Will continues to sob, "I wanna go pay wiff Mat'ew."

"But he has to go to his own home, he lives far away,"
Scully softly says to her anguished son.

"But I wanna go wiff him."  Scully holds her little
fuzzyheaded boy close to her.  Will looks at the van
and sniffles and pleads, "Can he stay wiff me."

Scully tries to make Will understand.  "Sweetie,
Mathew just came to visit us for a few days, but he
will come back."

"When?" He pleadingly asks.

Scully is at her wits' end, when Bill walks over,
"William, we're going to see you again, real soon. 
I'm trying really hard to move here and if we do, you
and Mathew can play together all the time."

"Okay," Will softly says, laying his head on Scully's
shoulder.  He reaches up to play with the soft strands
of his mother's hair.  Scully has come to realize, he
does this when he is stressed and in need of comfort.

In the meantime, Tara has handed Katherine to Mulder,
and is calming Mathew down in the back of the van. 

Bill hugs his sister and kisses his nephew.  He walks
over to Mulder and shakes his hand.  "Mulder, I never
thought leaving you would be hard to do," he smiles,
"but it sure as hell is."

"Thanks," Mulder smiles back.  "I hope you get the
job."

Bill looks back at Tara and Mathew. "You know, I hope
I do too."

Tara is still talking to Mathew in the back seat, so
Bill just shuts the side door and crawls in on the
driver's side.

Scully and Mulder both wave as the van moves down the
long circular drive.  Will is still playing with his
mother's hair and Katherine is squirming in her
father's arms.

--

Scully walks in the front door of the house and
carries William to the downstairs bathroom.  She wets
a wash cloth and carries him into the family room,
sitting down in the glider-rocker.  "Here, let me wash
your face," she softly says.  Will pulls back
slightly, allowing her access.  "Your eye looks
better," she soothingly says.

Mulder walks in and sits down on the couch.  He has
shed his suit jacket and removed Katherine's bonnet. 
He puts her down on the floor and she crawls toward
one of her dolls.  She tries to pick it up but she
can't do it with both hands on the floor.

Will lifts his head to watch his sister's antics.  
Eventually, he crawls down from his mother's lap and
walks over to his sister.  Mulder and Scully watch as
their children interact.

Will lays down next to Katherine and she immediately
crawls onto her brother.   Will laughs and draws up
his legs.  Katherine jabbers and pats Will's stomach. 
Will tries to roll away from her.  "Wook mom," he has
picked up the word, mom, from his cousin. "Da bee-bee
is cwalin' on me!"

Scully smiles at her children playing together, before
this time, Will didn't have much to do with his
sister, except to look at her occasionally.
 
Katherine rolls over on her butt and tries to get up. 
Will sits up on his knees and helps her get back on
her hands and knees, then he falls down in front of
her.  Katherine cackles in laughter so he does it
again, once again she laughs.

Scully gets out of the rocker, and sits down next to
Mulder, with her legs drawn up under her.  He grabs
her hand and laces his fingers with hers.  "I think
William has found a new playmate."

"I can't understand, why all of the sudden he has
taken an interest in her."

"Its simple Scully, Will needs to fill the void left
by Mathew, and Katherine is suddenly mobile.  He
teaches her and she keeps him entertained." 

Scully draws back and looks at him.  "Wow, you really
are a psychologist."

Mulder grabs her shoulder and tips her down onto his
lap.  "One more crack like that, and you won't be my
playmate, anymore."  He kisses her lips as giggles
bubble up from her chest.


                              
                           ~ The End ~